Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, 76 years have passed.

In the past two years, Zhao Huanhuan and the Lin family elders still haven't been able to move to the original city, because 1976 was a sad year.

After a series of major events, Lin Yuan sent a letter home before the Lunar New Year to let his family know he was safe, and then completely lost contact with them.

He didn't even go to the Zhao family again.

Their base is completely sealed off.

Lin Yuan was unable to return home for the New Year of 1976.

Lin Yuan was no longer in Yuancheng. Instead, he was secretly summoned to Kyoto on New Year's Day in 1976 to carry out a secret mission.

It was still the kind of secret mission that involved leaving a letter home.

Once the military confirms his death, this letter will be delivered to his family—the kind of letter sent home.

In the New Year of 1977, people didn't put up Spring Festival couplets or hang red lanterns. Everyone celebrated the New Year quietly, just like any other day.

What made the Lin family feel depressed and stifled this year was that Lin Yuan still didn't come home for the Lunar New Year.

An'an was unhappy, and Zhao Huanhuan was also a little unsure. In the original book, Lin Yuan's accident happened in the spring of 1977.

When school started in the spring of 1977, Fang Mei had already given birth and could go back to class, so Zhao Huanhuan no longer needed to take her place.

Zhao Huanhuan was worried about Lin Yuan, so she decided to take An'an to Yuancheng.

She told the elderly couple to stay home and that she would return as soon as possible if she heard any news about Lin Yuan.

My mother, Zhang Jinlan, will officially retire this June.

After Zhao Huanhuan returned, Zhang Jinhua told her to stay a few more days, saying that Lin Yuan might suddenly come back one day!

Zhao Huanhuan thought about it and agreed, so she settled down at her parents' house.

She and An'an lived in her house.

Sometimes during the day, when she takes An'an out to buy groceries, she will sit and chat with the neighbors to learn about things she wants to know.

An'an is five years old this year, and she herself will start to teach him some things that kindergarten children would learn at home.

An'an is very talented in drawing. Zhao Huanhuan often takes him to Xinhua Bookstore to look at picture magazines. If An'an particularly likes a particular picture, she will buy it for him.

March 15th was a day that filled Zhao Huanhuan with trepidation.

Lin Yuan in the book had her accident on this day. Although she knew that in this life, Lin Yuan had escaped Gu Yifeng and Yang Man's entanglement and that such a thing should not happen again.

However, he hasn't come back or sent any messages for over a year, and he didn't even come home for the New Year. This has cast a shadow over her heart again. Could it be that she still can't escape this life-or-death matter?

But Uncle Lin and Aunt Chu made it through that time safely.

Zhao Huanhuan couldn't tell her parents about her worries yet. Seeing that it was already eight o'clock in the evening, she helped An'an finish drawing a picture. After that, the mother and son went to wash up and prepare for bed. Zhao Fugui heard someone open the door.

He returned shortly after leaving, followed by Lin Yuan.

An'an had just finished washing her face and came out. When she saw Lin Yuan, she happily ran towards him, "Daddy, it's Daddy!"

The little guy, who is five years old this year (by Chinese reckoning), already speaks very fluently.

Zhao Huanhuan was washing her face when she threw down the towel and came out.

Lin Yuan smiled, bent down to pick up her son, and stood up straight as she met Zhao Huanhuan's gaze. She quickly and softly said, "I'm sorry!"

Zhao Huanhuan breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he was alright. "It's good that you're okay. We were really worried about you, so I brought An'an here first, thinking that you could see us as soon as you were free."

"Yes, I just got back from Kyoto yesterday and took leave today. I have a month to settle down here and transfer your household registration. I've been transferred to the military headquarters here, so I'll be working in the city from now on." Lin Yuan told his parents-in-law and Zhao Huanhuan to put their minds at ease.

"That's good. You haven't been home for Chinese New Year for two years, nor have you come here. We were all worried about you, but we couldn't find out anything about you," Zhao Fugui said with relief.

"It's alright. I couldn't contact my family because of the special mission at the time. It's okay." Lin Yuan kissed An'an, making the little guy try to avoid him.

"An'an, come down here. Let Daddy go wash up first, and Mommy will prepare dinner for him." Zhao Huanhuan rolled up her sleeves and prepared to go into the kitchen.

"Huanhuan, I've already eaten. I left work after eating. I originally planned to come and let my parents-in-law know I'm safe and sound before going home tomorrow. I didn't expect you to be here." Lin Yuan called out to Zhao Huanhuan.

Zhao Huanhuan responded.

The family chatted for a while, and then it was ten o'clock. They all went back to their bedrooms to rest.

"Huanhuan, why don't you let An'an sleep with us? Your bed is a bit small, it can't fit three people, can it?"

"No, I want to sleep with Mommy and Daddy." Upon hearing this, An'an hugged her father's leg and wouldn't let go.

Lin Yuan smiled and said, "Mom and Dad, it's okay, I'll sleep on the floor."

Zhao Fugui agreed, saying that was the only way. He personally helped his son-in-law lay the mat on the ground and went back into the house.

"Why don't you sleep in the bed with your son, and I'll sleep on the floor?" Zhao Huanhuan was a little embarrassed to let him sleep on the floor at his father-in-law's house.

"It's alright, we've slept on the grass before," Lin Yuan said softly.

Zhao Huanhuan stopped talking and the couple put their son to sleep together.

Fortunately, An'an is quite independent now. As long as Zhao Huanhuan sits by the bed and reads him a story, he falls asleep.

After that, it was time for the couple to be alone.

At his father-in-law's house, Lin Yuan couldn't do anything else with Huanhuan, so the two of them lay on the mattress on the floor, covered with blankets, and just chatted.

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