In the end, everything was packed into a leather bag, which also contained scripts and games.

After Zhao Haozheng left, Zhang Hongmei's life returned to its usual routine.

The children progressed very quickly. In the blink of an eye, the quadruplets were five weeks old.

Gu Chuanming and Zhang Xingguo specially took the children to the military base today. They even let them touch a gun.

Zhang Hongmei baked a cake for them at home. Although it didn't have cream, it made the four children very happy.

Zhou Shixiong came over for dinner that evening and gave the four of them very generous gifts: a three-courtyard house for each of them, located very close to the palace.

"Uncle, this is too expensive." Zhang Hongmei really didn't want it. Why give them houses? Last year, Liu Jingze gave them four houses in Shanghai, and Zhou Shixiong did the same this year.

“My children are so noble, what’s so valuable about these things? After I die, I won’t give you anything I have; I’ll divide it equally among the four of them.”

"But they are still so young."

“They’re not young anymore. According to the older generation, they’re all seven years old. Boys and girls shouldn’t sit together after the age of seven, which means seven is a dividing line for children. Besides, my grandsons are all very smart. I’ll leave these things to them to keep themselves. I’ve already asked Chang’en to transfer the ownership. Tomorrow, I’ll have Chang’en take them to see their own yard and get familiar with their home.”

Gu Chuanming glanced at Zhang Hongmei and nodded slightly.

Zhang Hongmei just felt it was a thorn in her side. She genuinely didn't want it.

"For a child's birthday, a few toys are enough. Giving such a big gift will only make them forget how to appreciate things and the hardships of life later on."

“My child would never do that.”

"Ancestor, we will definitely manage the house you gave us well." Zhang Weiyu was overjoyed; he now had a home, his secret base.

Zhou Shixiong affectionately patted the third child's head. "Our child is the most considerate, even more obedient than your mother."

“Grandpa, my mom is also very well-behaved.”

"You guys are so well-behaved. The older you get, the less likable you become."

After seeing Zhou Shixiong off after dinner, the four children called their grandmother again. It's been almost two years since they returned home, and the four children have been calling her every week without fail.

The couple was left alone that evening. "Do their courses even cover interpersonal skills? I feel like they're all more tactful than I am?"

"I'm telling them about Guiguzi."

"Could they understand?"

"Not bad. You understood it quite well."

"Hongmei, the person in charge on the mountain has come down to see the area and wants to take the four of them up the mountain."

"Brother Zhang, didn't you say you wanted them to be six years old?"

"But now their culture has progressed to the junior high school curriculum, and their martial arts have improved even faster. If you don't want to, then it'll be next year."

Zhang Hongmei remained silent for a long time, and Zhang Shouyi became a little scared. "Wife, it's alright, we'll go over when they're six years old."

"Will Grandpa and Dad go too?"

"No, they're not going."

"Alright, let's go. If you think they're a good match, then I'll let go. I knew it was only a matter of time."

Zhang Hongmei rejected Zhang Shouyi, turned her back to him, and kept thinking about everything from the birth of her child until now.

Zhang Shouyi knew that Zhang Hongmei was unhappy and unwilling, but since she had already spoken up, he decided to let it go.

The next day, Zhang Hongmei went to the children's room after class.

“Zhenye, Ruifeng, Weiyu, Yaozu. The four of you are five years old.”

"Mom, what's wrong with you today?"

"No, I just feel like you guys have suddenly grown up."

Has your father talked to you about this?

"Mom, is it about Dad wanting us to go up the mountain?"

"Um!"

“We knew about it a month ago.”

Zhang Weiyu moved closer to Zhang Hongmei and hugged her arm. "Mom, we all miss you."

"Mom is also reluctant to part with you. But Mom can't selfishly hold you back."

Zhang Zhenye looked at Zhang Hongmei and said, "Mom, we may only be able to come back once a year."

"Mom can come to see you."

All four of them shook their heads. Zhang Ruifeng also came over and said, "Mom, we asked, and you can't go. Even Great-Grandpa and Grandpa can't go often."

"What can we do? Will Mom only be able to see you once a year?" Zhang Hongmei's nose tingled with emotion.

All four children gathered around, and Zhang Hongmei embraced them.

"Mom, we will work hard and try to pass the test as soon as possible so that we can go home."

"Okay, Mom will be waiting for you at home."

The children stayed at home for another ten days, and Zhang Hongmei stayed with them every night, as if to make up for what she had missed before.

Zhang Shouyi didn't dare to do anything out of line during this time. He was so angry. Was his wife holding a grudge against him?

Ten days later, Zhang Hongmei took leave and stayed home to see her four children off.

Watching the four of them get into the car with red eyes, Zhang Hongmei's tears finally fell. They'd left her when they were only five; would she ever have time to be with them again?

In an average family, they would spend at least ten more years with their children, right?

Zhang Shouyi put his arm around her shoulder and said, "Wife, don't be sad. You have to have faith in them. They promised to come back in seven years, even though it's been ten years."

"You make it sound so easy. Ten years, seven years, what does that even mean? Seven years! I've only been pregnant with them for six years."

Zhang Hongmei shook off Zhang Shouyi's arm, ran into the room crying, and locked the door behind her.

Seven years, that was seven years, more than 2,500 days. How was I supposed to get through them?

Zhang Shouyi stood outside the door, trying to open it, but knew he was being turned away.

“Hongmei, if you really can’t bear to let them go, then we won’t let them go.”

Zhang Hongmei lay on the bed, tears streaming down her face, without answering his question.

Suddenly, Zhang Hongmei sat up and thought, "Can I go up the mountain too?"

"I want to go up the mountain, I want to be with them."

"Wife, I can't get in."

“I’ll go there as a coach. I may not be good at martial arts, but I can teach academic subjects.”

"Wife, open the door. I have something to say to you."

Zhang Shouyi waited for a while, but there was still no movement. "Wife, the instructor on the mountain is Jia. He doesn't need you."

“I speak better foreign languages ​​and have a higher level of education than them. Why can’t I go?”

"Everyone there is a professional. Honey, stop fooling around."

The couple had been married for many years, and today was the first time they had ever argued, although it was only Zhang Hongmei who started it.

Zhang Hongmei lay down dejectedly, thinking, "No, this won't do."

What should be done? Thinking about these two thousand days and nights, Zhang Hongmei suddenly burst into tears.

Zhang Shouyi found the spare key, opened the door, and came in. Ignoring Zhang Hongmei's struggles, he hugged her.

"Wife, how about we have a daughter? We won't send her anywhere in the future."