"Jiaojiao, the captain said you need to see me urgently. What's wrong?" Bai Zhiman was also a little anxious. This child had never made such a call home before. What could have happened to her?

"Dad, I met Mom's brother. His identity seems genuine. From what I heard, he wants to reconnect with our family."

After Bai Jiaojiao finished speaking, she listened to the sounds coming from the other side.

There was no sound of Bai Zhiman gripping the phone tightly coming from the receiver; only silence.

“They are, after all, your uncles, you should acknowledge them,” Bai Zhiman said after a long pause.

Bai Jiaojiao glanced at Bai Shibo and handed him the phone.

Bai Shibao said, "Dad, my sister said that her whole family went to fight in the war, leaving only my mother at home. Then you took my mother and ran away. Is that true?"

Bai Shibao's question was so direct that the nurse next to him couldn't help but strain her ears as if she had heard something earth-shattering.

"Bullshit!"

Bai Zhiman's voice was so loud that Bai Jiaojiao could hear it clearly even without putting her ear close.

Bai Shibao picked at his ear, realizing why his sister had handed him the phone. He quickly said, "Dad, don't be angry. I just felt you couldn't do this, so I asked."

Bai Zhiman found it difficult to speak about this: "Back then, there was news that your mother's three older brothers had all died in battle, and your maternal grandfather's will had been delivered to her. Your mother thought she was all alone, which is why she came with me."

"Then what do you mean by...?"

Bai Shibao didn't dare to say the words "elope" again.

Back then, information was scarce, and war was inherently a matter of life and death, so it was quite normal to receive incorrect information.

Bai Zhiman said, "When your mother first married into the family, it was just gossip in the village, and we couldn't explain it to each family. Later, when the war was won and the troops returned, we saw your grandfather's name in the newspaper and learned that he was still alive. Your mother is stubborn. She might have been angry that they didn't care about her, or she might have felt guilty towards the Yang family for leaving with me like this and couldn't explain it to them. So she told me to just pretend that she didn't have this family and let the Yang family treat her as if she had died outside."

This was Yang An's idea. Even though she left, Bai Zhiman did not go against his wishes. Even knowing that his father-in-law's family was powerful and influential, he would rather live his own hard life than get involved with them.

Listening to the voice on the microphone, Bai Shibao was a little worried about whether he could accurately recount such a complicated story to Bai Jiaojiao.

Bai Zhiman sighed on the other end of the phone: "When Jiaojiao went to Yancheng, I guessed this day would come. Give the phone to Jiaojiao."

Bai Shibao obediently handed the phone back to Bai Jiaojiao.

"Hey, Dad."

Bai Zhiman said, "Your maternal grandfather didn't do anything wrong. Back then, those people went to the battlefield with the mindset of certain death. It's normal for them to write their wills in advance to settle their affairs. As his granddaughter, you shouldn't blame him. Your mother is stubborn, and I can't persuade her. But as a father, I still hope that you children will be well. Now that things have come to this, and they've already found her, you should do your best to be filial to your mother!"

Although Bai Jiaojiao didn't hear Bai Zhiman and Bai Shibao's explanations, she could guess the gist of it from Bai Shibao's changing expressions.

"I understand, Dad," Bai Jiaojiao said, wanting to discuss it with Bai Shibao after hanging up the phone. "Are you doing alright in the village? Do you need anything? We can buy it here and send it to you."

“We have everything we need at home. You should keep some money with you. Money is the one thing you can’t do without when you’re out in the world.”

Bai Zhiman gave instructions.

Now that his family is doing business with Wang Fushun, their lives are better than some of the people in town who are on government-subsidized grain rations, so what else could Bai Zhiman complain about?

He knew his youngest daughter was capable and didn't want to hold her back.

"Okay, Dad, we'll hang up now. If you need anything, have my brother send us a telegram. Eat and dress as usual at home, don't worry about saving money for us!"

Bai Jiaojiao hung up the phone after giving her instructions.

Bai Shibao also wanted to know what Bai Zhiman and Bai Jiaojiao had said: "Our sister's personality might just be inherited from our mother."

"No way." Bai Jiaojiao saw Yang An in the photo and thought she must be a gentle person.

"Dad said it himself, Mom is stubborn."

Bai Jiaojiao helped Bai Shibao back to his ward, talking as they walked. The nurses at the nurses' station hadn't heard the whole story yet, and were itching to hear it, but they were too embarrassed to stop her and ask.

After discussing Bai Zhiman's opinion, the two decided that no matter what, they should go and see their maternal grandfather on behalf of their mother.

According to Yang Fenglin, their grandfather is almost eighty years old and they don't know how many more years he has left. If this worry can be put to rest, it would be a good thing for the old man.

The two decided that, just as Bai Jiaojiao had previously discussed with Yang Changping, they would visit the Yang family next weekend.

Bai Shibao's injury has almost healed, and he originally planned to be discharged from the hospital at the end of this month and rejoin the team.

Shen Heng went on a business trip without even leaving a phone number. Bai Jiaojiao couldn't find him and could only overthink things when she got home.

Bai Jiaojiao couldn't fall asleep, so she went to the living room, picked up the sleeping Bai Doudou, and put her on the sofa.

"DouDou, your older sister thinks this whole thing is too messy."

Today, Bai Jiaojiao has gathered the perspectives of both the Bai and Yang families and is gradually revealing the truth of what happened back then, but the whole thing is too bizarre when pieced together.

Given the limited communication and transportation at the time, why did the news of the three Yang brothers' sacrifice be mistakenly transmitted?

Moreover, according to Yang Changping, back then, Grandpa Yang only went to oversee and command the operation, and did not go to the front line at all. How could he suddenly write a will and send it home?

"No, I have to call Dad tomorrow and ask him about the will."

After Yang Fenglin and Qi Yunxin left last time, they never showed up again until the weekend, when Yang Fenglin drove to the school gate to pick up Bai Jiaojiao.

"Come home with me first, I bought some things." Bai Jiaojiao was still carrying her schoolbag; she had spent an hour studying at the library with Shu Manling and the others that morning.

"Alright." Yang Fenglin readily agreed.

"Why didn't Qi Yunxin come?" Bai Jiaojiao was a little puzzled. The two of them were like inseparable, so it was a bit strange to suddenly see Yang Fenglin alone today.

Yang Fenglin laughed and said, "Sister, we're having a family gathering today, what's he doing here?"

Bai Jiaojiao thought about it and realized it made a lot of sense.

Bai Jiaojiao lived in a narrow alley, so Yang Fenglin's pickup truck couldn't get in and had to park outside the alley.

The sound of the car engine attracted everyone to stop and watch.

"Oh, Jiaojiao, who is this?"

"My cousin, I'm sorry the car is blocking everyone's way, we'll be leaving in a bit."

Bai Jiaojiao didn't say much and took Yang Fenglin back to her home.