Tan Juan eventually died.
After using the imported antibiotics that Gao Mingcheng had painstakingly found, Tan Juan's health gradually recovered. She stayed in the hospital for another half month before being discharged and returning to Xiaogaozhuang.
Gao Mingcheng is still living in the house halfway up the mountain, and it's impossible for him to give it up. Given her current health, it's not suitable for her to go back to live halfway up the mountain. So, Captain Gao discussed it with Gao Mingcheng and decided to let Tan Juan live in the house in the Gao family. Anyway, the Gao family only has a few children now, and since they are in the village, it will be convenient for them to take care of them.
Tan Juan had no objection.
Although life here is not as affluent as over there, she still feels more comfortable living here, after all, this is her home.
Every day after breakfast, she takes a walk around the village, talks to some old ladies, and then goes to sit by her father's grave on the mountain to talk to him. She lives a very leisurely life.
More than a month has passed in the blink of an eye.
That day, Tan Juan took a walk around the village as usual, chatted with a few old ladies for a while, and then prepared to go up the mountain. Unexpectedly, she met Aunt Hao when she reached the foot of the mountain.
Aunt Hao called out "Juanzi" and asked, "Did you go up the mountain to see your father again?"
Tan Juan nodded: "Where are you going?"
Aunt Hao waved the envelope in her hand: "The postman just delivered a letter from Mingcheng. It seems to be from the military base in Beijing. I was worried that something important might be wrong and that it might be delayed, so I quickly sent it to him."
Thinking of her past conflict with Gao Mingcheng, Tan Juan felt a little awkward upon hearing his name. She forced a smile and casually replied, "Oh, I see," without saying anything more.
Aunt Hao didn't treat Tan Juan like an outsider, and chattered about Gao Mingcheng's family affairs, her words filled with worry: "Zhao Zhao suddenly ran off to her brother's place for some reason. Mingcheng didn't say anything. I haven't seen Zhao Zhao for several days. When I asked him, he finally told me that something had happened, but he didn't know what it was. It's been two months now, and she hasn't come back. I'm really worried that something might have happened to the young couple."
Tan Juan's expression was somewhat complicated. She said, "He said Xing Zhaozhao went to her brother's place?" So, he didn't believe what she said about Xing Zhaozhao and insisted on waiting for her to come back? How could there be such a foolish man?
Aunt Hao nodded: "Yes, that's what he said. I don't even know when Zhao Zhao left. I haven't seen her at all. I hope nothing really happened to the young couple. They haven't had a good time these past few years."
As she spoke, Aunt Hao began to tell Tan Juan about what had happened to Xing Zhaozhao and Gao Mingcheng over the past two years.
Tan Juan was extremely conflicted. Had she... done something wrong?
As they were talking, the two of them had already reached the stone house halfway up the mountain. Gao Mingcheng was just coming out of it with a basket on his back when Aunt Hao quickly called out to him, "Are you going into the mountains, Mingcheng?"
Gao Mingcheng's cool gaze quickly swept over Tan Juan, finally landing on Aunt Hao, and he nodded: "Yes. What brings you here, Aunt?"
Aunt Hao handed over the letter in her hand: "Your letter seems to be from the military in Beijing. I was afraid that something important might have delayed it, so I brought it to me as soon as possible."
Gao Mingcheng thought of the discharge application he had sent to the army not long ago. He took the letter, opened it immediately, and saw that it simply said: "Get lost. I'll give you another month's leave. Come back immediately after that, or you will be treated as a deserter."
"..." Gao Mingcheng's lips twitched involuntarily.
Aunt Hao peeked over and, since she couldn't read much, asked, "What does it say?"
"I want to retire from the army, but the commander doesn't agree," Gao Mingcheng said casually.
"What?" Aunt Hao exclaimed in shock, her eyes widening as she looked at Gao Mingcheng. "Are you crazy? Captain Gao said that you're a regimental commander at your age, and your future is limitless. Are you stupid to want to retire now?"
Tan Juan was also shocked. She knew the inside story and roughly knew why Gao Mingcheng wanted to retire from the army, so she found it even more unbelievable. Was he really planning to wait here for the rest of his life?
"Why?" Aunt Hao wanted to ask further.
Gao Mingcheng refused to say more and quickly left, saying, "I have to go now, Auntie."
Aunt Hao hurriedly shouted, "Come back here, Gao Mingcheng!"
Gao Mingcheng ignored him completely.
Aunt Hao turned around and went back in a huff.
Tan Juan looked in the direction Gao Mingcheng had left, her eyes filled with mixed emotions.
She arrived at Grandpa Tan's grave, her mind uneasy. She sat down on the ground and remained silent for a long time before asking softly, "Father, do you think I did something wrong?"
Unfortunately, Mr. Tan could no longer give her an answer.
Just then, a rustling sound suddenly came from the bushes not far away.
Tan Juan turned her head curiously and asked tentatively, "Who's there?"
No one said a word.
Tan Juan frowned, about to ask again, when she suddenly saw a huge black creature emerge from the bushes. It was a wild boar, staring straight at her with its crimson eyes.
Tan Juan turned pale with fright, stumbled to her feet, and turned to run away, but it was too late.
The wild boar charged at her, knocking her flying.
Gao Mingcheng chased after the wild boar and witnessed this scene. He exclaimed, "Watch out!" But it was too late.
Tan Juan was already old and had been injured and operated on, so her health was not good to begin with. The moment she was hit by the wild boar, she knew it was over. She was immediately sent flying and hit her head on a tree, clearly hearing a "crack" sound on her neck.
Having dealt with Tan Juan, the wild boar immediately turned its head and glared menacingly at Gao Mingcheng.
Gao Mingcheng took a deep breath and raised the machete in his hand.
When Gao Mingcheng dealt with the wild boar and found Tan Juan, she was already on the verge of death.
When Gao Mingcheng saw Tan Juan lying on the ground in an odd, twisted position, he knew something was wrong. His expression became extremely serious as he said, "Don't panic, I'll go find a doctor."
Tan Juan smiled bitterly, "No need. I know my own body. I won't live much longer. I just wanted to say sorry to you. You don't need to wait for Xing Zhaozhao anymore. She won't come back. She's dead. I killed her with my own hands. That door can only let one person through at a time. I could only come back after I killed her."
Gao Mingcheng looked horrified and grabbed her from the ground: "What did you say? What exactly happened? Explain yourself."
Tan Juan had already closed her eyes and was no longer breathing.
Gao Mingcheng gritted his teeth, but he was powerless to do anything about it.
After Gao Mingcheng delivered Tan Juan's body to the village at the foot of the mountain, explained what had happened to Captain Gao, and cooperated with Captain Gao to return to the scene to confirm that everything was correct, it was already quite late when they were finally able to go home.
He looked up at the sun, which had already passed overhead and was slowly setting in the west. His expression hardened, and he hurried home. It was well past dinnertime, and his three children at home were probably starving.
As soon as the door opened, Gao Mingcheng hurried into the house, saying anxiously, "I'm sorry, Dad is late. You must be starving. Dad will cook for you right away."
Suddenly, the cheerful laughter of three little ones came from inside the house.
Gao Mingcheng paused, a hint of doubt creeping into his mind. Since Zhaozhao left, the three children hadn't laughed so happily in a long time…
He quickened his pace and entered the house. When he saw the familiar figure holding little Hongling and talking to his two sons, he thought for a moment that he was seeing things and called out, not quite sure, "Zhaozhao?"
Xing Zhaozhao looked up at Gao Mingcheng, her eyes red: "I'm back, Mingcheng."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xing Zhaozhao felt a sudden darkness before her eyes. Gao Mingcheng had already darted to her, pulled her into his arms, and held her tightly...
—End of text
This concludes the full story. Further chapters will be included in the side stories. Thank you all for your support during this time.
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