“Those days, she was so busy that she didn’t have a moment to spare. She cleaned the house and prepared for the New Year. She seemed to have inexhaustible energy. I don’t know when she found a moment, but she secretly crocheted a new sweater for Huaiyue, Xiaowei, and that little granddaughter she had never met.”
The old man shook his head, his tone full of tenderness for his wife:
“I also advised her, saying that she was just wasting her time. It had been more than three years since they last met, and there wasn’t even a single photo. How could she know if Huaiyue and Weiwei had gained or lost weight? As for that little girl, she didn’t even know their height or weight. If she crocheted this sweater, it would most likely not fit properly.”
His intention was to persuade his wife not to overwork herself and to take a break.
But Qin Peilan, upon hearing this, not only didn't stop, but actually thought it made sense. She immediately rushed to the supply and marketing cooperative, bought back a large bag of yarn, and said enthusiastically:
“Old man, you’re right! Then I’ll knit an even bigger one for each of them! Whether they’re fat or thin, they can all wear it, there’s bound to be one that fits!”
At this point, Shen Zhenbang's smile deepened, but it also appeared more wistful. He sighed softly.
"That day, that day was Lunar New Year's Eve. The residential compound was incredibly lively. Firecrackers were popping and crackling all the time. Every household had red Spring Festival couplets pasted on their doors and paper-cut window decorations on their windows. The air was filled with the aroma of stewed meat and fried meatballs. Children in their new clothes were running around, and their laughter could be heard from far away..."
“Our Shen family is also decorated with festive cheer. To be honest, since our eldest son, Huai Shan, went missing, it’s been a long, long time since our family has been so joyful and hopeful. Your mother and I are so happy! Judging from the date Huai Yue mentioned on the phone, we estimate that the three of them should be home around today!”
The scene at that time was still deeply imprinted in Shen Zhenbang's mind:
"In our home in City B, there's a big rocking chair. That day, Peilan sat in the rocking chair, busy crocheting the last sweater for Zhouzhou. The crochet hook moved rhythmically, and she had a smile on her face. Huaichuan and I sat next to her reading the newspaper... The whole family was waiting to hear a knock on the door, waiting for our son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter to push the door open and call out, 'Dad, Mom, we're home!'..."
His voice gradually lowered, the smile on his face faded, and he continued:
"...Who...who would have thought that instead of a knock on the door, we'd be greeted with...another phone call..."
"At first, we naively thought it was Huaiyue calling to say that train tickets were hard to buy and we'd be home two days later... We even happily answered the phone, never expecting... that the news on the other end would be devastating..."
Shen Zhenbang suddenly lowered his head, his rough hands covering his face tightly, his broad shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
This upright and indomitable veteran seemed to have all his strength drained away, utterly defeated by that cruel memory.
Zhou Qiqi sat to the side, feeling as if a knife had been plunged into her heart, the pain making her nose sting and her eyes instantly well up with tears.
Seeing her father-in-law's heartbroken state, she felt extremely distressed. She quickly stood up and, her voice choked with sobs, comforted him:
"Dad! Dad, please stop talking. Take a break, have some water... Or maybe we shouldn't talk about it today, and we can talk about it tomorrow..."
Shen Zhenbang shook his head vigorously, wiped his face haphazardly with his hand, raised his bloodshot eyes, and said firmly:
"No! I'm fine. This matter had to be said sooner or later, and these old bones... can still hold on!"
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions, and said in a low voice:
"Besides, the sooner we clarify these things, the sooner we can help Zhouzhou find a cure. I believe... even though Huaiyue and Weiwei are lying in hospital beds, they are hoping... hoping we can do this..."
Zhou Qiqi watched her father-in-law struggle to suppress his grief, yet still insist on finishing what he was saying. Her heart filled with respect and sorrow. She nodded emphatically, sat back down, and said:
"Okay, Dad, please continue. I'm listening carefully. Let's work together and we'll definitely find a way to cure Zhouzhou!"
Looking at the determination in Qiqi's eyes, Shen Zhenbang seemed to draw some support from them.
He nodded emphatically, making a great effort to suppress his surging emotions, and said in a deep voice, "Okay."
Then she continued, "That phone call... wasn't actually the most heartbreaking thing."
Over the phone, the other party only vaguely said that Shen Huaiyue and Lin Xiaowei were at the Y Province Military Region Hospital, and asked the elderly couple to go there as soon as possible.
The elderly couple felt a pang of sadness, but they still held onto hope, assuming that their son and daughter-in-law had been injured while on duty.
They were both people who had survived countless battles, and getting injured was commonplace for them, so the elderly couple didn't initially think too badly about the situation.
Besides, Huaiyue and Xiaowei are young and strong, with good physical condition. Even if they are seriously injured, it is unlikely to be fatal.
The two even discussed it privately, and even if, in the worst-case scenario, they were left with disabilities, such as becoming lame or blind, the Shen family would support them for the rest of their lives!
At worst, the elderly couple will just live out their lives with their son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
