Chapter 218 Is my brother-in-law leaving today?
"When did you do this? It looks beautiful."
Xu Zhili looked around the small space with emotion.
"I did this while you were at the sewing group during the day. What do you think? Does it look good here?"
Xu Zhili gently hugged Xie Yunce's waist, nodded vigorously, and said with great joy, "Beautiful!"
Xie Yunze smiled and took out a cloth bag from the corner. Inside were a few apples and a pot of water. "I wanted to have a meal with you here."
Xu Zhili felt a lump in her throat. The tough soldier in front of her was still the same caring and considerate amnesiac boy from back then.
The two sat side by side on the edge of the treehouse, watching the setting sun through the things in front of them.
It was quiet outside the treehouse, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.
"Do you remember the first time we ate here?" Xie Yunze asked softly.
"Remember."
Xu Zhili smiled faintly and said softly, "That day I made spicy rabbit and amaranth and pork dumplings."
"At that time, I thought, my sister cooks so well, I must protect you."
Xie Yunze held her hand, "I never thought that after regaining my memories, I would still be able to like you."
“But you came back.” Xu Zhili leaned on his shoulder. “And we got married.”
The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the small window, casting a warm light into the treehouse.
Xie Yunze took out a small paper packet from his pocket, and inside were several White Rabbit milk candies.
"Here you go, my mother-in-law says this is your favorite."
Xu Zhili took the candy, peeled off a piece, and put it in her mouth. The sweet taste melted on her tongue, as if she had returned to the apocalypse.
In the apocalypse, whenever her mother promised to give her candy, she would immediately give it to Xu Zhili, saying with a smile, "Have some candy. Even in this apocalypse, being able to taste something sweet will make life a little easier."
Xu Zhili leaned on her mother's shoulder with a smile, laughing as she talked about how many zombies she had killed and how many crystal cores she had collected that day.
After my mother passed away, I always remembered her smile, and even eating candy still made me feel bitter.
Every time she touched the candy in her pocket, it was as if she could still hear the words "Life will get sweeter." When she bit into the candy, the sweetness mixed with tears became the strength that kept her going.
“Ah Li, sometimes I wonder what we would be like if we hadn’t joined the army,” Xie Yunze suddenly said.
"Perhaps I'll still be a sent-down youth in Xiangyang Brigade, and you'll still be Brigade Leader Xie's youngest son."
Xu Zhili smiled and said, "But I think, no matter what, we will eventually be together."
"Because when you call me sister, I will cure your illness."
Xie Yunze turned to look at her, his gaze deep: "Why are you so sure?"
"Because you promised me."
Xu Zhili gazed at the magnificent sunset before her.
"You said you would protect me, and that you would never let anyone bully me again."
Xie Yunze paused for a moment, then smiled: "So you still remember."
"I remember everything."
Xu Zhili said softly, "I remember the schoolbag you fixed for me, I remember you teaching me to climb trees, I remember you telling me stories about the army here..."
Silence fell over the treehouse, with only the sound of their breathing mingling together.
Xie Yunze reached out and gently stroked Xu Zhili's cheek: "Then I'll make another promise: no matter where I am, you'll always be in my heart. No matter how far I go, I'll always return to your side."
Xu Zhili nestled into his arms, feeling his strong heartbeat.
In this little treehouse that holds countless memories for them, she felt an unprecedented sense of peace and happiness.
The sky had completely darkened, and the treehouse was pitch black.
Xie Yunze fumbled to light the kerosene lamp he had brought, and its warm glow instantly filled the entire space.
"It's time to go back," Xu Zhili said softly. "The dumplings aren't cooked yet."
"Just a little longer," Xie Yunze said, reluctant to part with this rare moment of peace.
So the two sat for a while longer, chatting under the kerosene lamp, as if they had returned to that time. Only this time, they were no longer alone, but husband and wife who had promised to spend their lives together.
It was already dark when they got home, but Xu Zhili still cooked dumplings, and the two of them ate their belated dinner by the light of a kerosene lamp.
A simple meal felt especially warm and cozy because of the daytime visit to the treehouse.
Before going to sleep, Xu Zhili placed the book "Principles of Mechanical Design" on her bedside table and said to Xie Yunze, who was making the bed, "Thank you for your book, I really like it."
Xie Yunze turned to look at her: "When I return to the army, you can use this book to continue your design. Next time I come back, I want to see what new inventions you've come up with."
Xu Zhili nodded, already thinking about how she could apply the knowledge from the book to her designs.
As night deepened, the lights in the courtyard were turned off one by one.
Xie Yunze held Xu Zhili in his arms, listening to her even breathing, and felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
He knew that such peaceful days would not last long, and soon he would have to return to his unit to continue his duties.
But no matter what, he knew there was someone, and there was a place, that would always be waiting for him to return.
In Xu Zhili's dream, she returned to that little treehouse, but this time, she was no longer alone; Xie Yunze was by her side, just like in reality.
She knew that no matter how many separations they would face in the future, their hearts would always be closely connected, just like the roots of that old locust tree, deeply embedded in this land, growing stronger with each passing storm.
On the fifth day after the Lunar New Year, Xiangyang Brigade was still immersed in the festive atmosphere of the New Year, but a faint sense of melancholy lingered over Xie's courtyard.
Before dawn, Xie Yunce had already packed his bags. His crisp military uniform made him look exceptionally tall and imposing, yet also exceptionally distant.
Xie Jianguo and Wang Xiuying arrived early. Wang Xiuying was carrying a cloth bag containing dry food and pickled vegetables that she had made overnight.
"Remember to write back when you get to your unit."
Wang Xiuying straightened her son's collar, her voice choked with emotion, "Don't worry about home, your father and I are fine."
Xie Jianguo stood to the side, silently smoking his pipe, before finally speaking after a long while: "Do a good job in the army, and don't bring shame to the Xie family."
"Father, Mother, don't worry." Xie Yuance nodded solemnly. "I will."
Xu Zhili silently put the last piece of luggage into the jeep, then turned to Xie Jianguo and Wang Xiuying and said, "Dad, Mom, it's cold, you should go back first. I'll take Yun Ce to the village entrance."
Wang Xiuying held Xu Zhili's hand, her eyes red, and said, "Zhili, Yun Ce isn't home, so you have to take good care of yourself. If you have any difficulties, just tell us. The Xie family will always be your home."
"I understand, Mother."
Xu Zhili smiled and nodded, "You all take care of yourselves too."
After seeing her in-laws off, Xu Zhili returned to her room.
My younger brother, Xu Zhian, had already gotten up and was rubbing his sleepy eyes.
"Sister, is brother-in-law leaving today?"
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