"Little man, when Daddy wasn't home, did you protect Mommy and your sister well?" Zhou Bingchen patted his son's head and asked.

"Yes. Last time my aunt scolded my mother, I threw pebbles at her," Zhou Jiakai answered, puffing out his chest.

Zhou Bingchen was stunned for a moment, then turned to Zhao Zhenzhu and asked, "Did you and Liang Xiaohe have a falling out?"

“Liang Xiaohe and I had a falling out. She accused me of sucking my parents’ blood and causing their deaths.” Zhao Zhenzhu said sadly.

"Pearl, I couldn't get leave to come back for a while, you suffered." Zhou Bingchen's eyes were full of heartache.

"It's okay, it's all in the past." Zhao Zhenzhu lowered her head, shook her head, and tried hard to hold back her tears.

Before marrying Zhou Bingchen, Zhao Zhenzhu had already prepared herself mentally.

That's how it is for military wives; they have to shoulder most of the difficulties in life on their own.

Her husband dedicated himself to the country, so she protected the rear area for him.

In front of the children, Zhou Bingchen couldn't continue discussing private matters with Zhao Zhenzhu. The children, though young, were already able to speak. If they accidentally let something slip, it would only cause trouble.

"Good boy, you know how to protect your mother now." Zhou Bingchen praised, squatted down, and picked up Zhou Jiakai with his other arm.

"Dad, I'm a big boy now, I don't need to be carried anymore." Zhou Jiakai's face was red, but he was very happy.

Zhou Jiakai felt a fleeting pang of envy when he saw his father holding his younger sister. Just a fleeting moment.

He hugged his father when his father came home last time.

“No matter your age, you are both your father’s children. I’m not old yet and I can still carry you. In a few years, when I can’t carry you anymore, I won’t carry you anymore!” Zhou Bingchen glanced at his son, who was saying one thing but meaning another, and said with a smile.

Zhou Bingchen had originally thought that his son was now grown up.

Just now, seeing his son's envious look at his sister, Zhou Bingchen couldn't resist picking his son up as well.

He's rarely home these days. Pearl has raised the children very well.

As the father and his sons were talking, Zhou Fugui's voice came from outside the door: "Bingchen~! Bingchen~!"

"Yes," Zhou Bingchen replied.

"Come over when you're free later." Zhou Fugui didn't go inside; he just called out from the doorway and left.

This morning, Zhou Fugui heard from Zhao Zhenzhu that Zhou Bingchen had returned. He and Ding Ermei stayed home all morning, waiting for Zhou Bingchen's gift.

I didn't expect Zhou Bingchen to sleep so much today, only getting up at this hour.

Zhou Fugui couldn't contain himself and urged them to hurry up.

After Zhou Bingchen put the children down and helped them stand up, he said to Zhao Zhenzhu, "Zhenzhu, I'm going to talk to Mom and Dad first."

"Take these things with you." Zhao Zhenzhu handed the cigarettes and pastries to Zhou Bingchen.

Zhao Zhenzhu knew the character of Zhou Fugui and his wife.

Anyway, this thing has to be given sooner or later, so Zhao Zhenzhu won't stop Zhou Bingchen from fulfilling his filial duty.

Zhou Bingchen carried his things out of the room.

Since Zhou Fugui didn't come to call him, Zhou Bingchen planned to go and talk to Zhou Fugui after finishing breakfast.

Zhou Bingchen wanted his father to discipline his older brother properly.

Brother, you can't keep making this mistake.

"Bingchen, sit down." Zhou Fugui was still very polite to Zhou Bingchen, his son who brought him honor.

"Dad, these are for you and Mom. It's a long way, and it's hard to carry so many things, so please don't mind," Zhou Bingchen said, placing the things he was carrying on the table.

Zhou Fugui was very satisfied.

When my son came back last year, I gave him three packs of Daqianmen cigarettes. This time it's a whole carton, seven packs more!

This time, he can brag about it to his acquaintances for a whole year.

Ding Ermei stood to the side, but pursed her lips.

How much is a bag of pastries worth? The third brother is so stingy. Every time he comes home, he just gives her a bag of pastries to get rid of her.

"Bingchen, how long will you stay at home this time?" Zhou Fugui asked, touching the cigarette on the table.

“Dad, I plan to leave in a week,” Zhou Bingchen said.

"A week? You used to be able to stay at home for half a month at a time?" Zhou Fugui's face darkened.

In the past, Zhou Bingchen would stay at his father-in-law's house for two or three days every time he went home.

Zhou Fugui was very dissatisfied.

After finally waiting for Zhao Qingshan's family to die, Zhou Fugui thought his son would be able to stay at home for a few more days this time!

"Bingchen, is the army urging you to go back? Are you going to be promoted again? Well, you've been a company commander for several years now, shouldn't you be promoted to battalion commander this time?" Ding Ermei was very happy.

Last time, Zhou Bingchen returned to his unit ahead of schedule and was promoted to company commander.

This time, Ding Ermei felt that her son should be promoted to battalion commander.

Her status as the battalion commander's mother will be even more prestigious in the village from now on.

“No, Dad, Mom, my application to accompany the military has been approved. This time, I’m taking Pearl and the children with me. The house the military unit just allocated is empty, so I need to go back and set it up beforehand,” Zhou Bingchen said with a big smile.

Zhou Bingchen didn't dare tell Ding Ermei that he had been a battalion commander for several years.

Ding Ermei is very shrewd.

If they had known that Zhou Bingchen had already been promoted, they would definitely have asked Zhou Bingchen for more money.

Zhou Bingchen also has children and a wife to support, so it's impossible for him to send all his allowances to Ding Ermei.

To keep Ding Ermei in the dark, Zhou Bingchen didn't even dare to tell Zhao Zhenzhu that he secretly saved a sum of money every month while in the army.

"What? You're taking Zhao Zhenzhu and the child away this time?" Ding Ermei exclaimed before Zhou Fugui could speak.

Ding Ermei was very angry.

Her son has become successful, but before she, as his mother, can even enjoy the good life, Zhao Zhenzhu is actually going to follow her son to the big city to enjoy a better life.

“Mom and Dad, Pearl and I will bring the children back to visit you often in the future,” Zhou Bingchen said with a smile.

"Don't just say nice things. Let me ask you, will you still send twenty yuan home every month?" Ding Ermei asked.

“Mom, wasn’t it always ten yuan? I’ll still send ten yuan back every month,” Zhou Bingchen said, feigning surprise.

"I...that..." Ding Ermei stammered for a while, but in the end she didn't dare to tell Zhou Bingchen that she had embezzled ten yuan from Zhao Zhenzhu every month.

"Mom, I'll try to send you more money when I get promoted. It might not be possible for the first year or two, though. After Pearl and the children went to the army, they didn't get any rations and had to buy everything to eat. Once I've recovered, I'll definitely send a few more dollars back." Zhou Bingchen took the opportunity to complain.

Over the years, Zhou Bingchen had kept quiet about Ding Ermei embezzling Zhao Zhenzhu's money, waiting for the day when he could bring his wife and children to join the army.

If Zhao keeps arguing with Ding Ermei about that ten yuan, Ding Ermei will definitely hold a grudge against Zhao Zhenzhu.

Zhou Bingchen was rarely home, and when Ding Ermei caused trouble for Zhao Zhenzhu, Zhou Bingchen was powerless to stop her.

It would be better to spend some money to encourage family members to treat Zhao Zhenzhu and her children better.

If Ding Ermei is kind-hearted, then Zhou Bingchen's actions weren't actually wrong. Since Ding Ermei benefited from the third wife's family, she would definitely take good care of Zhao Zhenzhu and her children.

Unfortunately, Zhou Bingchen misjudged Ding Ermei.