Gu Yingzhou’s eyes lit up.
"Thank you for your hard work. It is still early so take your time, and if you need my help, just let me know," he said.
As he spoke, he took out the banknotes he had with him.
"You can use this for now..."
Before he could finish, Lin Tang stuffed the money back to him.
"I have money, keep yours for yourself," she said.
Seeing the girl’s stubborn eyes and sensing the glances from a few tables around, Gu Yingzhou didn’t insist any further.
It was okay.
After all, once they were married, his money would be Tangtang’s anyway.
It didn’t matter whose hands it was in right now.
-
Before they knew it, several days had passed.
On this day, the vibrant Shuangshan Brigade was thrown into excitement by the arrival of a jeep.
The members all stopped their work and looked on eagerly.
"This four-wheeled car is pretty classy!" a farmer from the village admired, "Though it seems a bit small, can’t even fit two bags of grain; the truck that the third from the Lin Family drives is more powerful."
The others nodded in agreement.
"That’s right, us country folks value practicality."
"Wonder who such a classy car is here to see in our village," they speculated.
As the villagers chattered, the car came to a stop, and its passenger descended.
An older farmer stared blankly for a moment, hardly daring to believe his eyes as he rubbed them.
"...Is that fellow, could it be Heping?" he asked.
The person next to him felt a chill in his heart, "No, no, that can’t be. Heping, Heping was reported dead, wasn’t he?"
It wasn’t supposed to be a ghostly appearance in broad daylight...
Xiao Heping hadn’t been home for many years and hardly remembered anything about his hometown.
Seeing the well-maintained roads in the village, he was slightly surprised.
Yan Sui followed behind him.
Looking at the current Shuangshan Brigade, he revealed a contented smile.
"Surprised, aren’t you? This is the result of the brigade members working hard to bee prosperous, you will understand in time," he said.
Xiao Heping, who hardly ever smiled or spoke unnecessarily, showed no emotion on his face and simply nodded lightly.
Just then, an elderly man from the village slowly approached.
"Are you Heping?" he asked.
Xiao Heping stepped forward to support the older man.
"It’s me. Uncle, I’ve e back," he said.
The stoic man felt an inevitable twinge of sorrow in his heart upon seeing an elder who had watched him grow up bee so aged.
The old man noticed that Xiao Heping was using a crutch and his face changed dramatically.
"...Your leg?"
Xiao Heping, who seldom spoke, said tersely, "I’ve been injured."
The old man, concerned, asked, "Is it serious? Does it affect your walking?"
This was a hero who had fought for his country.
They were all hoping for his good health.
Xiao Heping fell silent for a moment.
"...It’s nothing," he replied.
The elder didn’t believe his claim of it being nothing, but seeing Heping’s reluctance to discuss it further, he did not press on.
"Good to hear it’s nothing serious! The village has changed a lot, you probably don’t even recognize which house is yours anymore, do you?" the old man said with a laugh.
After speaking, he sighed softly.
"Let’s go, I’ll take you home."
Xiao Heping’s revolutionary resolve was as firm as iron.
He had never wavered, no matter the injuries he faced abroad.
Yet upon hearing the phrase ’I’ll take you home’ from the elders of his hometown, his defenses were thoroughly shattered.
The eyes of the man of steel resolve moistened in an instant.
Xiao Heping closed his eyes.
Waiting for his emotions to settle.
He leaned on his cane, trailing behind the villagers.
Yan Sui wanted to step forward to assist him, but was stopped by Xiao Heping’s guard.
The guard was a young soldier.
He had a baby face, with bright eyes, looking like a high school student.
Yet the firmness and sharpness that occasionally flitted through his eyes betrayed his difference.
The guard shook his head at Yan Sui.
Their captain, who had been through the crucible of gunfire, didn’t need help.
Yan Sui looked at the young rade’s determined eyes, stepped back, and insisted no longer.
After a few steps, the villagers nearby snapped back to reality and crowded around.
"It really is Heping! Heping, you’re not dead!"
The first to speak was Yi Weiliang, who grew up with Xiao Heping; the villagers all called him Weizi.
No sooner had he finished than he was slapped on the head by a woman beside him.
"Get lost! Shut your mouth if you can’t speak properly.
The moment you open it, you’re cursing people. You’d be dead long ago if you were anywhere else."
The others too glared angrily at Weizi.
Yi Weiliang wore a wronged expression.
He really hadn’t cursed anyone.
He barely had time to be happy that his buddy was back from the war.
"Heping, you know me, I really didn’t curse you. I’ve been looking forward to your return every day," Yi Weiliang hastily explained, worried his buddy would be upset.
A man who had also grown up playing with Xiao Heping gave him an elbow.
"Disgusted, he said, "Heping has Aunt Yang worrying for him, he doesn’t need your concern. Off you go..."
Xiao Heping looked at this vivid scene, feeling as if he had been transported back to that carefree age.
A faint smile appeared on his stern face.
"... From now on, I will stay with the brigade, and we can be just like before," he said.
Yi Weiliang and others, seeing that their buddy hadn’t changed a bit and didn’t look down on them, grinned happily.
"Deal! With someone as worldly as you here, our brigade will definitely keep getting better."
Lin Fu, hearing that Xiao Heping had returned, hurriedly brought the brigade leadership to join them.
They arrived just in time to hear that last statement.
In his heart, he thought that it was a sure thing.
rade Xiao was capable and had the heart to help the villagers generate ine. Their brigade was set to soar!
"... Wele home, hero! You’ve had it tough these years..." Lin Fu stepped forward to shake Xiao Heping’s hand, saying earnestly.
Li Jiancai and the rest followed suit: "Thank you for your hard work in defending the nation!!"
"Aunt Yang has been waiting for you; finally, you and your mother are reunited."
Xiao Heping, seeing the sincere smiling faces of his fellow villagers, felt an indescribable warmth in his heart.
Even the pain from his wound seemed to be eased by a warm current.
He held his cane with his left hand, standing erect.
He gave a solemn military salute.
"... Thank you!"
The young guard with a baby face looked at the scene before him, his eyes watering and the tip of his nose turning red.
Xiao Heping’s hometown really was wonderful!
No wonder the captain had given up the good post in Jing City, resolutely returning home.
If it were him, he would e back too.
Lin Fu shook his head, his voice filled with emotion.
"Thank us for what? It is we, who you protect, that should be thanking you."
Without the silent sacrifices of these ordinary heroes, there would be no peace today.
Seeing Xiao Heping still standing on his cane, Lin Fu gave Yi Weiliang and the others a stern glance.
"What are you standing there for? Don’t you have any sense? Can’t you see Heping has injured his leg? Why aren’t you taking him home quickly? Don’t tell me you don’t know where the Xiao Family lives?"
Yi Weiliang was shocked by the brigade captain’s look, shivering all over.
Two people approached and supported Xiao Heping.
Before he could react, they were whisking him away to the Xiao Family like a gust of wind.
The baby-faced guard and Yan Sui: "..."
Lin Fu smiled and said, "I’ll take you to the brigade department to rest first.
Heping probably has a lot to catch up on with Aunt Yang, we’ll go over later."
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