Jiang Yonghua returned home in the middle of the night.
After not seeing each other for half a year, Jiang Yonghua has changed from a graceful scholar to a skinny and frail middle-aged man with gray hair. Standing next to Zhang Debao, they are actually on par with each other.
It was late autumn and the temperature was very low at night. The troops' winter clothes had already been distributed, and everyone in the compound was already wearing small cotton-padded jackets.
Seeing that Jiang Yonghua was still wearing two thin military uniforms, Zhang Debao grabbed Jiang Yonghua's hand and said, "Xiao Jiang, they didn't even give you a cotton-padded jacket!" He hurriedly took off his own cotton-padded jacket and said, "I just put it on to warm you up. Hurry and put it on."
Jiang Yonghua smiled and waved his hand: "No need, I'll just go inside and get a coat to put on."
Zhang Debao wiped the tears from his eyes and said, "I'll go light a fire, boil some water for you to wash, and make you something to eat. It will warm your stomach and your whole body."
Hong Guizhen followed him to the kitchen: "Old man, let me help you. It will be faster if we work together. Qiangzi, your hands are small, come and help grandma pick up some pickled vegetables."
Leave the father and daughter in the living room so that they can talk to each other without being disturbed.
Jiang Lan snuggled up to Jiang Yonghua, hugged Jiang Yonghua's arm and cried. She couldn't say a word except calling him dad.
Jiang Jun sat down opposite Jiang Yonghua, and said excitedly, "Dad, how are you? Are you feeling well?"
Jiang Yonghua smiled: "I'm fine. I feel relieved that I can still look at you."
Jiang Jun covered his mouth and choked with sobs. If Jiang Yonghua said this, he must have received death threats.
Jiang Yonghua carefully looked at his two daughters and breathed a sigh of relief. It was great that they were able to come back alive. It was better than anything else. "Xiaojun, I feel relieved that you have taken good care of the family."
Zhang Debao cooked a pot of pickled cabbage noodle soup. Everyone had a bowl, and he gave Jiang Yonghua a large bowl. "Xiao Jiang, come here, you take the lead in eating. Our whole family will follow you and eat together. It's hot and lively. After eating, you will feel warm physically and mentally."
Jiang Yonghua took a sip of soup and sighed with emotion: "Ah, Dad, please don't call me Xiao Jiang anymore. Look at my hair. Just call me Lao Jiang. Our Xiaojun is growing up and will start working. People will call her Xiao Jiang now, and I can only be Lao Jiang."
Zhang Debao sighed, "Alas, everyone gets old one day. When the children grow up, parents will have to grow old too. Okay, I'll call you Old Jiang."
After eating the noodle soup, Jiang Yonghua went to get some hot water to wash up, and urged everyone to go to bed: "You all should go to bed quickly, the wake-up call will be blown soon."
Jiang Jun didn't move: "Dad, I have something important to tell you first."
Jiang Lan pouted: "Dad, I want to listen to you talk to my sister too."
Dad finally came home, but what if he just ate a meal, changed his clothes, and left again? What if I woke up from another sleep and couldn't see him again?
Jiang Yonghua felt distressed and helpless: "Go to sleep. Dad will talk to you when you wake up, okay?"
Jiang Jun nodded: "Dad, Xiaolan can listen to what I say to you."
Children from poor families have to grow up early, and now that the family is in an unstable situation, it is Xiaolan's opportunity to grow.
Jiang Yonghua looked at his determined eldest daughter and sighed, "Okay, let's cut to the chase. I have to go to the division headquarters to take care of some things."
Jiang Lan misunderstood and thought Jiang Yonghua could still work: "Dad, but my sister no longer has a job. She was fired."
Jiang Yonghua said sadly, "I know everything. Xiaojun, I'm sorry. It's Dad who has implicated you."
Jiang Jun's tears finally flowed down his face. "Dad, we are a family. Please don't say sorry to me! You have suffered so much, and I can't help you at all. That's why I want to say sorry to you!"
Jiang Yonghua wrung out a hot towel and wiped his daughter's tears. "Don't cry. As long as you are all well, you have helped me a lot! Xiaojun, you have helped Dad a lot!"
Jiang Jun wiped away her tears, and while Jiang Yonghua was washing up, she whispered to Jiang Lan, "Xiaolan, you're not a child anymore, you're a little adult. You have to listen to what's going on at home and take responsibility for it, okay? When I talk to Dad later, if you think there's a problem but you can't solve it, you can only listen, don't interrupt, and don't cry. We can't add any more burdens and worries to Dad! If you can't do that and you cry at the slightest provocation, then don't listen. Just like Qiangzi, go to bed obediently!"
Jiang Lan blushed, clenched her fist and swore, "Sister, I promise to be like you, to make Dad feel at ease and not cause him any trouble!"
After Jiang Yonghua finished washing up, he changed into clean clothes and put on his military coat. He looked much better and refreshed.
"Xiaojun, what do you want to say to Dad? Now that you've said it, go back to sleep for a while. I'll tell you about Dad's recent situation after I finish my business at the division headquarters."
Jiang Jun didn't waste any time and went straight to the point: "Dad, Zhang Xiuying is waiting for you to come back. She wants to make trouble with you!"
Jiang Yonghua smiled. These things were all expected. "Let her make a fuss. There's no need to worry about face now."
Jiang Jun mustered up his courage and said, "Dad, Zhang Xiuying blamed you for affecting her job, so I told her that if she didn't want to be implicated, she should just divorce you!"
Jiang Yonghua smiled and nodded. "Well, I went to the division headquarters to submit my divorce report. I'm already in a precarious situation. If we get divorced, she can keep her job and have a salary to support herself. It can also ensure that Xiaolan has enough food and education. Otherwise, if she follows me, she'll be left with nothing."
Jiang Jun was stunned. At this time, Jiang Yonghua was still thinking about Zhang Xiuying.
Jiang Lan cried and hugged Jiang Yonghua's arm: "Dad, I want to be with you. Wherever you go, I will follow. I want to take responsibility for you like my sister."
Jiang Yonghua shook his head: "Silly child, stay with your mother first. Dad will come to pick you up when he is settled."
Jiang Lan cried and begged Jiang Jun: "Sister, please talk to Dad for me. Don't abandon me. I want to be with you."
Jiang Jun smiled bitterly: "Don't beg, maybe Zhang Xiuying doesn't want you at all."
What he said came true.
Jiang Yonghua went to the division headquarters to do some work and went to the service center to get a haircut. When he returned to his home, he saw Zhang Xiuying, who looked like she was going to accuse him. "Xiuying, you're back. Let's go in and talk."
Zhang Xiuying came in with even more rage than she had the previous few days: "Bah! Jiang Yonghua, are you afraid people might hear? I'm not! I'm telling you, I'm drawing a line between myself and people like you. I want a divorce!"
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