After listening to this, Zhou Jiao smiled and said to the old man, "Grandpa, I'm very happy too. I grew up listening to your stories. It's because I have a good grandpa that I received a lot of kindness and care. Of course, the most important thing is that I have someone to support me. I can stand up straight. We are both grandparents and grandchildren. Don't be polite. I have listened to everything you said. I won't blame my mother. It's not easy for my mother. I am a mother myself, and I can understand her. Many things happened so coincidentally that we were separated for so many years. But my mother is my mother. She gave birth to me and raised me. She has been searching for my father for 17 years and has been waiting for him alone. These are enough for me to respect and move me.
There are many kinds of maternal love in the world, and it's not fair to say my mother failed in her duty by not personally caring for me. If my father were by her side, she could have been there for me, keeping him company. She wouldn't have had to wander around alone, searching for him. She couldn't come see me in person, and while others might resent her, I know that despite the inconvenience of war and the transportation, she was obsessed with my father. He was the faith that kept her going. She valued him dearly. That was enough for me. To me, as a daughter, she cared deeply about my father, and she was already a great wife and mother.
Grandpa, don't feel guilty. Although I haven't received so many things over the years, I still want to thank you relatives. These things have allowed me to stay in that home safely. Okay, without so many polite words of thanks, can you stay for a few days this time?"
Lin Xinsheng laughed heartily, feeling happy when Zhou Jiao, his granddaughter, whom he met for the first time, praised him. She looked like her grandmother and spoke sweetly, unlike the other girls in his family who wanted to hide as soon as they saw him. But his Jiaojiao was a smart child. She was so proud to have him as her grandfather. He said that it was not that he was not good, but that the other children in the family were not compatible with him.
"Good, you are worthy of being your grandma's granddaughter. You can talk and look the most like your grandma. Your grandma always says she misses you when she sees your photos. Whenever you and Guoqing are free, please take the children to visit her. She can't stay in the north because her health can't stand it. I will rush to the military area tomorrow night. The military order is as heavy as a mountain. I won't be able to come back later. You can discuss how your mother will go back."
After saying that, she looked at the people around her and signaled Xiao Zhou and his men to go outside to check. They were to be vigilant and not allow outsiders to enter. Zhang's mother looked at her and sent her two daughters-in-law to the kitchen to prepare dinner, and took the stones with her out. The two brothers looked at Zhang Guoqing and asked if they should go out as well. Zhang Guoqing shook his head and told them to stay and there was nothing that could not be told to outsiders. The two brothers were not talkative people.
Xiao Zhou came back, nodded slightly, and left. Lin Xinsheng then spoke: "Don't be nervous, Guoqing, you brothers all stay. Guoqing's father, this time it's about Zhou Jiao's father, my son-in-law Zhou Xiaozheng. Didn't I just say that something big happened when Jiaojiao's mother was planning to come over? It was this matter. During that time, someone from above sent me a message that my son-in-law and eldest son were still alive and had returned from a mission.
Besides Mr. Zhou's deliberate attempt to prevent Zhou Jiao from returning to Beijing, why hadn't I come to see Jiaojiao? Why hadn't her father's friends shown up? Jiaojiao must have had her suspicions. Before my eldest son left on his mission, he let slip something, and I've always suspected that nothing had happened to him and my son-in-law, that they were on a secret mission. Unfortunately, my secret investigations yielded no results, but I knew someone was secretly watching my eldest son's two children. Plus, Jiaojiao's mother kept saying her husband was fine and still alive. Others said she was crazy, but my own daughter knew for herself, so she must have had some confidence.
The situation was quite complicated at the time. Someone secretly told me to protect Zhou Xiaozheng's daughter. There had been no news of the two of them. Even if something happened during their journey, their families wouldn't be notified unless they were still breathing. I didn't dare tell anyone, not even my wife.
I let Jiaojiao's mother continue working, fearing she'd leave the army and get into danger. I didn't dare take Jiaojiao back. Before liberation, I'd been risking my life every day. Back then, just being alive was all that mattered. At least Zhou Jiao was safe in the village. After liberation, I planned to take Jiaojiao back. Her grandmother wasn't in good health, but she had a nanny, and her mother would return to Beijing from time to time, so she had enough help. Besides, the military compound was safe.
I hesitated again. I didn't know if they were still alive, or if they were still hiding. Perhaps Zhou Xiaozheng held the highest position among them, and Jiaojiao was the most vulnerable. So I secretly made the decision to keep Zhou Jiao in the countryside for now, at least until she was old enough to understand the dangers, and then I could see how the situation would develop before bringing her back. Zhou Xiaozheng had several close friends who would come to me to ask about Jiaojiao, but I didn't dare tell anyone where she was. Over the years, this child had suffered so much hardship and injustice because of a series of twists and turns.
Let me be clear with you all first. You don't know about Zhou Xiaozheng's return, but I think Guoqing and Jiaojiao have some idea, right? Her father will be back in a month or so. They completed this mission very well and are directly responsible to their superiors. A few months ago, we learned from the superiors that his father and uncle are still alive. We're still keeping it a secret. You should all know the situation first, but don't tell anyone else. Everyone will know when he returns."
Zhou Jiao held her mother's hand tightly and looked at her in disbelief. Seeing her mother smiling and nodding, she couldn't stop crying. Before, they had guessed that she was really alive, but this time it was really confirmed.
With tears in her eyes, she hurriedly looked at Zhang Guoqing and cheered, "Brother, my dad is really alive and well. I've been worried for the past two days, but I'm finally relieved. He's out of danger."
Zhang Guoqing smiled and nodded, "Yes, I said he's fine, he must be fine. He's always worried about you."
Lin Lishan looked at her daughter and son-in-law, and then looked at Old Man Lin in disbelief. Her father had guessed right. Really, the couple had guessed that Zhou Xiaozheng was alive a long time ago.
Lin Xinsheng looked at the young couple with a smile. He'd only heard a few things from his eldest son, and he'd always suspected them. But he'd only learned the news a year ago, so how had they guessed it? The reason they hadn't taken Zhou Jiao back before was just someone's whisper. He'd been skeptical and had never told anyone, not even his wife.
"You two, please tell me how you guessed it. Apart from the few people above, it hasn't spread yet. Tell me how you came up with this."
Zhou Jiao cursed herself for letting herself get carried away and letting herself down. She bared her teeth at Old Man Lin and secretly stuck out her tongue. "Grandpa, this is a long story. Let me tell you about my dad first. Let Guoqing tell you in person. He guessed it yesterday after he came back from announcing the good news. I only found out yesterday, too."
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