Chapter 270 Patient Companionship

She smiled as she said this, as if she had remembered something particularly interesting.

He was stunned for a moment, and a blurry image gradually appeared in his mind—the earthen wall under the old locust tree, the ripe red dates on the tree, and the rooster that always liked to chase after him and peck at him.

Those long-forgotten memories are awakened anew, carrying the warmth of the sun.

When she called out "Mom," it was so natural and so affectionate.

It's not a forced address, nor a polite formality, but a genuine sense of reliance and closeness that flows from the bottom of one's heart.

His throat moved, as if something was blocking it, or as if he was being quietly melted by a warm current.

He tentatively said, "I... went to the military base today."

These words were spoken very softly, yet they required immense courage.

Qiao Wanyin tossed the towel aside, hopped to the bedside, and her eyes lit up instantly: "Really? How does it feel?"

Her excitement was undisguised, as if she had been waiting for this day for a long time.

"good."

His voice was soft, his gaze fixed on the blanket, not daring to look her in the eye. "Political Commissar Wang said that once I recover, I can go back anytime."

The light in her eyes exploded instantly.

The light was like a firework suddenly bursting into bloom in the dark night sky, dazzling and bright, almost illuminating the entire room.

Her eyes were filled with surprise, hope, and indescribable emotion, as if every change in him was a gift from fate.

She grabbed his hand tightly: "That's great! It means you're getting better!"

Her fingers trembled slightly, yet she gripped him tightly with all her might, afraid that this moment of warmth would vanish like a dream.

The warmth emanating from her palm was real and resolute, finally allowing her to believe that all the long torment and countless silent prayers throughout the night had not been in vain.

He was truly waking up little by little, emerging from that closed-off gloom, and returning to their side.

Looking at her smiling face, which resembled a crescent moon, he felt a warm, bittersweet feeling in his heart.

That smile was as pure as the rising sun in the morning, gently falling on his heart and dispelling layer after layer of long-accumulated gloom.

Her eyebrows were curved, fine lines appeared at the corners of her eyes, and her mouth was wide open, revealing a row of neat, white teeth.

At that moment, he suddenly felt that he would be willing to act out another illness just for that smile.

Yet, a surge of warmth welled up inside her, but a pang of sadness welled up in her nose, as if something was quietly melting away.

The next morning, Qiao Wanyin rushed into the kitchen, almost knocking over the bowl of porridge: "Mom! Li An said he's going back to the army!"

She walked quickly, her heels clicking crisply on the floor, and the porcelain bowl she was holding wobbled violently, almost spilling the rice porridge.

She disregarded everything else, her voice trembling with excitement, speaking rapidly as if afraid of missing some important news, "He said I can go back to report for duty today! The doctor agreed too!"

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her breathing was a little rapid, and her eyes shone with disbelief.

Song Yazhi's hand trembled, and the porridge spoon clattered into the pot: "Really? Heaven has opened its eyes!"

The sound of metal striking the earthenware pot was particularly jarring, disrupting the peaceful morning.

Song Yazhi was stunned, her hand still frozen in mid-air, her face first showing shock, then overflowing with joy.

She murmured to herself, her voice choked with emotion, "Please, God, help me... I really didn't hear wrong, did I? Li An can really go back?"

As soon as she finished speaking, her eyes immediately reddened, tears welling up in her eyes, but she held them back from falling.

She turned and rushed into the closet, pulling out a red cloth bag that still smelled of incense: "This is a peace charm I got from the temple. Tell him to keep it close to his body!"

The red cloth had been worn and faded, with frayed edges, but it was still clean and tidy.

She held it in both hands as if it were the most precious treasure.

The moment it was opened, a faint sandalwood scent wafted out, a testament to her countless mornings of devout prayers before the Buddha.

She moved with extreme care, afraid of wrinkling the talisman. "It must be placed in an inner pocket, it cannot get wet, and no one can touch it... This was specially made for your brother."

Qiao Wanyin took the talisman, her fingertips slightly burning.

It wasn't just the lingering warmth of her mother's hand, but also the profound expectation and love she felt.

The cinnabar characters on the yellow paper were ancient and mysterious. Although she couldn't understand the content, she instinctively felt that it carried some kind of power.

She held the talisman gently in her palm, as if she could pass on this blessing to Fu Li'an.

“I will give it to him personally,” she whispered, “so that he can always carry it with him.”

"Mom, please don't push yourself too hard."

Her voice softened, "I've noticed you haven't closed your eyes properly these past few days."

She spoke in a softer tone, her voice a mixture of heartache and reproach.

She remembered passing by the living room at two o'clock last night and seeing her mother sitting on the sofa mending Fu Li'an's old military uniform. The dim light reflected on her tired face.

His face was dark and sallow, his brows were furrowed, yet he remained focused on meticulously embroidering the insignia on his epaulets.

Song Yazhi waved her hand: "I'm not tired. As long as Li An gets better, it's worth staying up several nights in a row."

She smiled and shook her head, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes deepening, but her expression was incredibly resolute. "You know what? I dreamt of your father yesterday. He was standing in front of me and said, 'The child is back.' When I woke up, I knew in my heart that it would be soon, our good days would be coming soon."

She paused, then lowered her voice, "I'm not afraid of hardship, I'm just afraid I won't live to see that day."

Before she could finish speaking, her nose tingled, and the words caught in her throat.

She quickly lowered her head, pretending to adjust her apron, but secretly wiped her eyes.

The tear finally slipped down her cheek and into her clothes.

She didn't want her daughter to see her vulnerable side, but a mother's love is never an iron shield; it is soft, and it can be worn down by longing and soaked in worry.

In the following days, Fu Li'an's "condition" fluctuated, but it always moved in a positive direction.

Sometimes he would suddenly fall silent for a long time, staring blankly out the window; other times he would take the initiative to talk about his childhood at the dinner table, making Qiao Wanyin laugh.

The doctor said this is a normal fluctuation during the recovery period; the emotions are still unstable and require patient support.

But his overall trend is upward.

He gradually regained his energy, talked more, and stopped dragging his feet when walking.

He started occasionally going to the military base, and he was even willing to chew his food a little more.

At first, it was just a short stay, to meet with old comrades and sit on the parade ground to bask in the sun; later, they could stay for half a day, and even help organize files and guide new recruits in training.

After returning home, his appetite improved significantly. He used to eat as if it were just a chore, but now he can chew each bite of food slowly and deliberately. He even finished a plate of burnt potato shreds that Song Yazhi had cooked with a smile.

Every time he moved even slightly, Qiao Wanyin and Song Yazhi would beam with joy, as if they had found a gold ingot.

Even small things like him pouring a glass of water or folding a blanket would earn him praise from both of them.

"Li An is so sensible!"

"Look how neatly this blanket is folded. People from the military really know how to behave!"