Chapter 119 Holding hands, growing old together
Another ten years have passed.
Time flies, and years pass quickly.
The osmanthus tree in the courtyard of Xishan has grown lush and verdant, its branches spreading wide like a canopy. Every autumn, the entire courtyard is filled with its sweet and refreshing fragrance.
It was an early autumn evening, and the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the courtyard in a warm golden light.
On the lawn in the yard, a unique "family military exercise" is underway.
Thirteen-year-old Lu Nian'an already stood tall like a young poplar tree. As the commander-in-chief, he was holding a telescope model and issuing orders in an orderly manner.
"Lu Chen, your Blue Team squad, flank from the left! Stay concealed!"
"Yes, Commander!" Eight-year-old Lu Chen's features were increasingly resembling his father's, and he exuded a calm and composed demeanor even at a young age. He gave a standard tactical hand signal and, leading several children of similar age from the military compound, silently infiltrated behind the flowerbed.
"Lu Xi, medic! Be prepared for immediate rescue!"
"Received!" Eight-year-old Lu Xi had grown into a beautiful young woman. She wore a white nurse's dress and carried a medical kit on her back, which was filled with candies and cookies of various flavors. She squatted at the back of the "battlefield," her bright eyes fixed intently on the front, her expression focused.
Su Wanqing sat in a rocking chair on the veranda, holding a cup of hot tea, watching the lively scene before her with a smile. She wore a simple cotton and linen dress, and time had been extremely kind to her, only adding to her increasingly calm and gentle temperament.
The kitchen door opened, and Lu Zhanting came out carrying a plate of freshly cut fruit. He was now nearing forty, but years of training had kept him in peak physical condition. However, his sharp eyes were always filled with tenderness when he looked at his family.
He walked to Su Wanqing's side, placed the fruit plate on the small table beside her, and then very naturally put his arm around her shoulder from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head.
"Our commander-in-chief is becoming more and more capable." He looked at his eldest son in the yard, his voice filled with laughter.
"Isn't it all because of what you taught him?" Su Wanqing leaned against his broad chest, feeling the familiar and steady heartbeat. "Chen'er is just like you, always with a stern little face. Only Xixi is a little more like me."
“Xi Xi is just like you, that’s why she’s got those guys all smitten.” Lu Zhanting lowered his head and kissed his wife’s smooth forehead.
The exercise ended with Lu Chen's Blue Team "capturing" all their opponents. The children cheered, and Lu Xi immediately grabbed her "medical kit" and rushed over to "treat" the wounded who were lying on the ground pretending to be dead. She stuffed a piece of candy into everyone's mouth and then announced that they were all fully recovered.
The sun completely sank below the horizon, and night slowly descended.
After playing all day, the children washed up and quickly fell asleep.
The entire courtyard fell silent, with only the low chirping of autumn insects remaining.
Lu Zhanting held Su Wanqing's hand, and neither of them spoke. They simply walked slowly along the path in the courtyard.
Today is their 15th wedding anniversary.
There were no grand celebrations, no expensive gifts, only this mutual support and companionship.
"Do you remember the first time we met?" In the end, Lu Zhanting spoke first, his voice low and hoarse.
Su Wanqing paused, a smile playing on her lips: "How could I not remember? In that alley, you blocked my way like a wall, fierce and domineering, and you practically 'dragd' me back to the army."
“I was afraid you would run away back then.” Lu Zhanting gripped her hand tightly, as if afraid she would really disappear. “I’ve never seen a woman like you. You look so delicate, but your eyes have an indomitable spirit. Especially when you tore up that marriage certificate, I thought to myself, this woman is mine.”
Su Wanqing turned her head to look at his sharply defined profile. In the cool moonlight, his features appeared much softer.
“I was actually quite afraid of you back then,” she said softly. “The most fearsome and ruthless battalion commander in the entire military region, who wouldn’t be afraid of him? I thought that marrying you would mean the end of my life.”
"And the result?" Lu Zhanting raised an eyebrow.
“In the end,” Su Wanqing laughed, “I am indeed ‘finished.’ I’m completely trapped in your hands, and I can’t escape it for the rest of my life.”
The two looked at each other and smiled. The moonlight shone on them, stretching their shadows long and intertwining them tightly.
Their thoughts, as if carried by the moonlight, returned to that youthful and stumbling past.
“I remember when we first got married, you laid down three rules for me.” Lu Zhanting’s voice carried a hint of nostalgia. “Now that I think about it, it seems like I didn’t keep any of those three rules.”
“Yes.” Su Wanqing also remembered, “I said we should keep to ourselves, but you cover me with a blanket every night. I said we shouldn’t interfere with each other’s lives, but when you see someone gossiping about me, you get even angrier than me and shut them down so they never dare to show their face again.”
"And the first meal you cooked for me," Lu Zhanting added, "I've never eaten such delicious noodles before. At that time, I thought that if I could eat your cooking for the rest of my life, it would be worth it even if I went to the battlefield every day."
“You too.” Su Wanqing’s gaze softened. “I thought you were a rough person who didn’t know how to be considerate. But you would secretly bring me my favorite brown sugar cake. I wasn’t feeling well at the time, and you would wait outside. As soon as you heard me cough, you would be the first to rush in.”
Those seemingly insignificant details, like pearls, strung together the beginnings of their love. Clumsy, yet incredibly sincere.
"Later, we went to the capital," Lu Zhanting continued. "When facing the Lu family, I was actually very worried. I was afraid you would be wronged, afraid you wouldn't be able to handle it."
“But you’ve always stood in front of me, haven’t you?” Su Wanqing looked up at him. “At the family banquet, when everyone was questioning me, you took my hand without hesitation and told everyone that I was your wife, the rightful young mistress of the Lu family. At that moment, I knew that I could trust this man for the rest of my life.”
"I've cured your grandfather's illness, seen you make a name for yourself in the medical field, and gained recognition from more and more people. Do you know how proud I am?" Lu Zhanting's eyes shone brightly. "My wife is the most amazing woman in the world."
“My husband is also the most remarkable hero in the world.” Su Wanqing gently stroked his cheek. “When I was trapped in the zombie base in the south, in my most desperate moment, it was you who descended like a god and pulled me out of hell. When I was kidnapped and on the verge of life and death, it was you who crossed thousands of miles to come for me.”
They've been through so much together.
From the mundane family matters in military compounds to the power struggles within wealthy families in Beijing.
From a virus-ridden base fraught with danger to a global catastrophe.
They once stood side by side at the pinnacle of the world, receiving the admiration of millions; they also once retired to the countryside, enjoying the most ordinary and mundane life.
In countless life-or-death situations, they were each other's strongest support.
On countless quiet nights, they were each other's warmest harbor.
“Qingqing,” Lu Zhanting stopped and turned around, cupping his wife’s face in his hands, his gaze deep and unfathomable, “Do you know when I truly realized I couldn’t live without you?”
Su Wanqing looked at him quietly, waiting for his answer.
“It was when you confessed the secret of the space to me,” Lu Zhanting said, enunciating each word clearly. “When you told me such an important secret, opening your heart to me without reservation, I realized that in your heart, I was someone you could entrust everything to. The shock and joy at that moment were stronger than any military medal I had ever received. At that moment, I swore that in this life, my life, Lu Zhanting’s life, is yours, and everything I have is yours. Anyone who dares to harm you in the slightest will be utterly destroyed by me.”
Su Wanqing's eyes welled up with tears. She reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing herself tightly against him.
“Me too.” Her voice trembled slightly. “When I decided to tell you the secret of the space, I had already given you everything. Lu Zhanting, I trust you more than I trust myself.”
Their love has long transcended the initial passion and attraction, evolving into a deep-rooted trust and dependence.
They are husband and wife, comrades-in-arms, and inseparable partners in each other's lives.
"Fifteen years have passed in the blink of an eye," Lu Zhanting said with emotion. "We have three lovely children and this warm home. I feel like I'm dreaming."
“This is not a dream.” Su Wanqing tiptoed and kissed his chin. “This is the reality we created together. It is a home we built bit by bit with love, trust, and countless days and nights of being together.”
"Yes, it's our home." Lu Zhanting smiled, a smile filled with unprecedented contentment.
He took her hand and led her to the swing in the center of the yard. He had made it for her himself a few years ago.
The two sat down side by side, the swing gently swaying.
“In a few years, Nian’an will be taking the military academy entrance exam.” Lu Zhanting gazed at the distant starry sky, his voice filled with longing. “He said he wants to become a soldier like me and protect this country.”
"As for Chen'er, he'll probably follow in his footsteps. That kid is born to be a soldier."
“Xi Xi is different,” Su Wanqing replied with a smile. “She’s not interested in your gun. She’s always pestering me to teach her to identify herbs and learn acupuncture. She says she wants to be a doctor like me in the future, to save lives.”
“They are all good kids.” Lu Zhanting’s voice was full of pride.
“Yes.” Su Wanqing leaned on his shoulder and said softly, “We don’t need them to become great heroes. As long as they can do what they like and become kind, upright, and useful people to society, we will be satisfied.”
“When they’ve all grown up and have their own families, we’ll retire completely,” Lu Zhanting planned for their future. “We’ll move back to the space. I’ll help you grow herbs and fish. You can tell me about the pharmacology I’ll never remember, and I’ll tell you stories of my wars when I was young.”
“Then, we will grow old.” Su Wanqing’s eyes were also filled with longing for the future. “You will grow white hair, wrinkles on your face, your back may become hunched, and you will no longer be able to carry me.”
“Then I’ll use my cane to walk with you.” Lu Zhanting squeezed her hand. “As long as I have a breath left, I will hold your hand and never let go.”
Holding your hand, we will grow old together.
This ancient vow seemed so real and moving at this moment.
"Lu Zhanting".
"Um?"
"I love you."
"I love you too, Qingqing. From the first day I met you until the last second of my life, forever."
The man lowered his head and kissed his wife.
This kiss lacked the fervor and intensity of youth, but possessed a richer, more mellow tenderness refined by time. Like a fine wine aged for many years, it was intoxicatingly fragrant.
Behind them, the lights of the small building were warm and bright. The children slept soundly, their breathing even.
In the distance, the city lights and the starry sky complement each other, creating a peaceful and tranquil scene.
Their legend has long since become a page in the history book.
But their story is not over.
In these long and gentle years, in this ordinary yet real world, they will continue to hold hands, watching the flowers bloom and fade, listening to the tides rise and fall, until the end of time.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com