Miao Yang was quite perceptive and understood Zhu Jiabao's meaning. She said, "At my stage, what is there that I can't say? I'm about to die, and I need to go down to apologize to my husband. This is also the last time we'll be together. I have nothing to hide."

Today she is content. The new nation has been established, farmers have risen from the mountains to become masters of their own destiny, men and women are equal, women are no longer oppressed, and she has witnessed the new face of the country. She has no regrets in dying.

Zhao Tiezhu also said, "Commander Zhu, you don't need to feel that we are speaking ill of each other during the New Year. I know my own body well. I am not in much pain while I am alive. I am very grateful to Vice Dean Liu. Although we are not in the same regiment, I have heard about your deeds. Our regimental commander admires you very much. Now that I can spend the New Year with Commander Zhu, I will die without regrets."

The regimental commander kept praising Zhu Jiabao in his ear, saying that he knew Commander Zhu was a brilliant commander, and that his men were all brave, skilled, and resourceful. Zhu had participated in countless battles, large and small, and had almost never been defeated. The regimental commander regretted not having met Commander Zhu before he died, and today he had fulfilled the regimental commander's regret.

Miao Yang also praised, "I've heard about Commander Zhu's deeds, but I didn't expect him to be so approachable in private."

Yu Min and her husband lived like any other loving couple, which was truly enviable. The war death rate was so high that many high-ranking officials today are second, third, or even fourth marriages. It's rare for someone like Yu Min, who was married for the first time, to be married. She'd heard of several high-ranking officials who remarried during the revolution when their wives were missing. Now that peace was restored, their missing wives and children had come looking for them, causing quite a scene, which they euphemistically called "historical issues."

Zhu Jiabao seemed to realize something and said disdainfully, "My wife and I were born into ordinary families, so naturally we don't have those airs. Our military doesn't have that much trouble."

Only a few years after the founding of the People's Republic of China, a few politicians, for some reason, started to put on airs, acting like they were in charge of everything, giving orders everywhere without even considering their own rank. Those who were several ranks higher than them didn't act that way.

Miao Yang agreed, saying, "We soldiers are the pillars of the country, so naturally we don't engage in any unhealthy practices or talk about anything heavy. The new China has already been built, and the country is under construction. It will only get better and better in the future. Let's drink to the prosperity of our motherland!"

The people in the room raised their glasses again. On this happy day, they didn't talk about heavy topics and started talking about cheerful things. As they were talking, Miao Yang suddenly said sadly, "I don't know who's left in my family. I wonder if we can find my husband's grave. I did something wrong. I don't know if everyone will accept me when I go back."

The villagers were very xenophobic, and marriages were mostly between people from the same village. She was a woman from another village who married into the village, and she was disliked by the villagers and tormented by her mother-in-law. If it weren't for her husband, she wouldn't have been able to endure it and would have hanged herself long ago. Who knew that in the end she would kill the only person who was kind to her? After liberation, she realized how wrong she had been. Her husband was a Red Army soldier, and they were in the same organization. She hadn't trusted him at the time and had even caused his death. She could never get over this hurdle in her life.

Zhao Tiezhu also felt something: "I don't know if there are any survivors in our village, and whether I will be able to see them in my lifetime."

Perhaps he's really getting old. He always thinks of his old friends in the village. Seeing the seedlings, he longs to return to his roots. He also wants to go back to his hometown so that he will have no regrets. He doesn't want to be buried in his hometown because he's afraid no one will pay their respects. If he comes back, his life will probably be coming to an end, and he can be laid to rest in the martyrs' cemetery.

The topic turned heavy again, and Lin Wu couldn't help but drink a few more cups. He thought of his brothers on the battlefield. His superpower was supportive and couldn't be of much help, but his brothers still protected him well and didn't let him get hurt. Now, only he, the least capable one, survived.

Time flies, and it's almost midnight. There were no New Year's bells or firecrackers, but the group still felt that the new year had begun, and their mood suddenly improved.

A group of people took out red envelopes and handed them to Zhu Fanfan one by one, saying words of blessing. Zhu Fanfan happily took them in her hands. She was just that materialistic and loved money.

Since they were all elderly, they quickly got sleepy and found places to sleep.

Zhu Jiabao's family and Lin Wu spent the first day of the Lunar New Year in the hospital. Those who can spend the New Year in the hospital are either elderly soldiers with hidden illnesses who have to be hospitalized, or those who are seriously ill. This year, Liu Yumin volunteered to be on duty, after all, if their family had not adopted Fanfan, they would be in the same situation.

Zhu Jiabao said smugly to his wife, "I'm not going back because we only have one child, while they have a whole bunch. If we go, they'll have to give us red envelopes, and we'll be at a disadvantage. If we go back after today, they won't get any!"

Liu Yumin turned and left immediately, simply because she didn't want to see other families enjoying a lively reunion. She thought that when Fanfan grew up next year, their family would also have a lively time.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Yan Xiaoxiao was sent to the hospital. She was about to give birth. When Liu Yumin found out, she took Zhu Fanfan to see her. Zhu Fanfan immediately lost interest when he saw the dark, fat and ugly baby. Who said babies are all fair and chubby? Liar!

Yan Xiaoxiao almost cried: "Aunt Yumin, I clearly had someone check and it was supposed to be a girl, how come it's a boy, waaaaah..."

Everyone could only advise that it was better to have a boy, and that when he grew up, they could bring back a daughter so that the family would be lively. They also said that no new mother would cry during her postpartum period, as it would cause her to go blind.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, although the weather was still cold, Miao Yang insisted on being discharged from the hospital to return to her hometown. She was afraid that if she was late, it would be too late. She wanted to see her hometown one last time before she died.

Even with a special car to take her, the bumpy ride was still quite grueling. The hospital did not recommend that she be discharged, but Miao Yang insisted, so they finally let her go. The organization decided to escort her back to her hometown and bury her with her husband.

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, everything returned to normal, and life became ordinary and busy again. Until two months later, Miao Yang's ashes were returned. Liu Yumin knew that Miao Yang had been returned because Miao Yang left her a letter, which was handed to her by the returning young soldier. This could be considered her last letter.

In her suicide note, she said that she had been destitute and alone all her life. Her parents didn't love her, her brothers weren't friendly, and her husband's family tormented her. She had never felt the care of her family in her entire life. She only felt alive after joining the revolution. She thanked the Party for giving her a second life.

Returning home this time, everything had changed. She didn't even have a place to stay. She wanted to confide in someone, but after going through all the people she knew in her mind, she couldn't find a friend she could trust. Finally, she decided to write a letter to Liu Yumin. The handwriting trembled at the end of the letter. At that moment, she knew that her life was coming to an end.