Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 2686 A Glimpse into the Lives of All Beings (Part 2, Seeking Monthly Tickets and Subscriptions)

Facing the gaze of others, unlike her past timidity and cowardice, she stood tall for the first time in many years.

Although she never saw her husband again after waiting for decades, her feelings were completely different now, because her husband was a martyr.

And so, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the mother and son helped each other into the courtyard.

Sun Qifan took his mother's hand, tidied his hair as they entered the courtyard, and then walked over.

When Liang Mei received the death notice, she carefully read every word on it.

This was supposed to have been received by her 35 years ago.

However, due to a series of unforeseen circumstances, she had to wait for so many years.

Looking at her husband's name, she placed the death notice to her chest, pressing her hands against it as if she were feeling her husband's embrace.

After a long while, tears welled up in my eyes, not many, just sliding down my cheeks.

"Sir, thank you."

Liang Mei looked at Song Fan in front of her and said.

"Thank you for bringing Yibang back. Thank you."

As she expressed her gratitude, tears welled up in Liang Mei's eyes, though not many, after all, she had spent decades, day and night, with love and gratitude.

The tears had almost all been shed.

The teenage girl has now become a woman in her fifties.

After 35 years of waiting, 35 years... the answer has finally been found.

Over the past 35 years, she has raised her children and taken good care of her parents-in-law.

Now, she has finally received news from her husband. Although it is different from what she had hoped for, at least she has heard from him.

At least we know what happened to him.

This is a kind of liberation, and also a kind of relief.

"Commander, may I know where Yibang is buried? I... I want to see him, and my in-laws also want to see him... if possible,"

When Liang Mei asked this question, she didn't even have any expectations, after all, she knew that her husband was buried abroad.

Their family circumstances clearly prevented them from fulfilling this wish, but even so, he still asked, perhaps out of a glimmer of hope, or perhaps because he had to say it.

How is this possible?
Standing to the side, Xu Shengli thought to himself, after all, that person was very likely buried in France. Going to France to visit the grave?
Are you kidding me?!

"Madam, after Sergeant Sun's sacrifice, he was buried along with other officers and soldiers who died in the same battle at the SEA Military Cemetery in Toulon, France..."

Song Fan's answer made everyone's hearts sink. Everyone knew what he was going to say next, because the burial place was in France, far away in Europe.

How could this family afford to live so far away?
Upon hearing that they would be buried in France, a look of helplessness flashed in the eyes of Mr. Song and his wife, followed by a heavy sigh.

Well... there's no other way.

Just as they were letting out this helpless sigh, Song Fan continued:

"So if you have this wish, we will assist you in completing the relevant procedures before sending you to France to mourn your family."

what?
Song Fan's answer surprised everyone present, their eyes filled with shock.

"That, that's France..."

Sun Qifan said with some uncertainty,

"Can we really go?"

In response to his question, Song Fan said:
“Mr. Sun, your father sacrificed his life for the cause of justice. It is our responsibility to allow his family to pay tribute to him.”

He then explained:
"We will provide all the assistance we can to help you achieve this goal."

Director Liu, standing to the side, said in a surprised tone.

"That's France! They're going abroad? That's going to cost a lot of money."

There's no need to look at the Sun family anymore. He knows the situation of every household in this street; the Sun family is dirt poor too. Although Old Sun has had his hat removed and received back pay, that's for going abroad, which will cost a lot of money.

“We will cover all expenses. The military has a corresponding visitation program that can cover all costs for immediate family members to visit Europe. If…”

Song Fan continued to explain:
"If you choose to have your remains returned to China, the government will cover all costs of transporting the remains back to China. However, the family will be responsible for the domestic burial and future memorial services thereafter."

If a family chooses permanent burial in an overseas cemetery, these cemeteries are permanently maintained by the SEA War Memorial Cemetery Committee. For families choosing overseas burial, it is officially assumed that family members will be responsible for the costs of future trips to Europe to pay respects at the graves.

However, every year on Remembrance Day, the military provides free chartered flights for immediate family members to travel to Europe to pay their respects. In addition, the Veterans Affairs Commission also provides "honor flights" every year for veterans and the immediate family members of fallen soldiers to travel to Europe...

However, they were mostly buried in Europe. After all, they were already at peace, and no one wanted to disturb them anymore. Moreover, the two cemetery plots in France and Belgium were granted to the SEA as permanent territory, so theoretically, they were still buried on SEA territory.

Hearing his explanation, Sun Xiuqi asked in an incredulous tone:

"Can we really go? What... when can we go?"

For them, who have waited 35 years, the question was filled with anticipation.

After all, they had waited 35 years; after all, they had been waiting for this news all these years.

In fact, to some extent, they already knew the answer; they were just now truly certain.

Seeing the expectant looks from the family, Song Fan said:

"If you need it, we can arrange it for you right now. We will arrange everything for you in the shortest possible time."

At this moment, someone nearby said:
"It can't be any shorter. Anyone can get that passport if they want to."

The words of the onlookers reached Sun Xiuqi's ears, causing him to involuntarily turn his gaze to Xu Shengli.

Faced with the old man's gaze, Xu Shengli chose to avoid it, since he had not given any instructions on this matter and could not give a reply.

Song Fan then answered from the side,

“No problem, Mr. Sun. Back then, we formulated preferential treatment regulations for the families of military personnel. The immediate family members of military personnel—parents, wives and children—can apply for immigration. You can immigrate to SEA.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding area erupted in an uproar.

The Sun family is going abroad.

And it's a developed country like the SEA. It seems like no other country is worse than the US.

Or it's similar to the United States.

Although it has only been a little over a year, people now have a basic understanding of SEA, their neighbor across the sea.

Most of my understanding comes from domestic news reports and field investigations. However, most of it focuses on the economy.

People only know that the economy there is very developed and that many of their compatriots live there.

But that's enough, to make them all understand that life there is completely different from life here.

Their family actually managed to travel to a developed country!
This is just too lucky!

What happened next was completely unbelievable to everyone.

Just two days later, people from the embassy came to the Sun family again, this time to help them with their immigration procedures.

"You mean that any of Sun Yibang's immediate family members can immigrate to SEA?"

Zhang He, who came from the British Embassy, ​​nodded and explained:

"Yes, this is being implemented in accordance with the regulations for the preferential treatment of the families of military personnel that were formulated back then, and the Prime Minister's Office has also issued a special decree allowing these regulations to continue to be implemented for specific groups."

This specific group refers to the immediate family members of the more than 1500 soldiers who died in action and did not receive their death notices.

Of course, this immediate family is limited to their parents, wife and children.

To some extent, this is both a continuation and a remedy of the policy.

Then he said:
"In addition, according to the resettlement plan at the time, the government will provide you with a house."

Everyone was stunned when they heard this—they were actually going to give them houses!

"That means they will give us a house."

This time, it wasn't Grandpa Sun who spoke, but his other son, Sun Yichen, whose eyes were full of expectation as he asked the question.

He seemed to already see himself moving into a new house, just like those people in the factory who had just had their policies reinstated and some of them moved into two-bedroom apartments.

If my father could also get a two-bedroom apartment, then he… but the apartment seems to be located overseas.

Can I get there by myself?

As the thought flashed through his mind, Sun Yichen's heart was filled with anticipation. Even his younger sister and brother-in-law, standing beside him, looked at the foreigner with the same expectation.

That would be wonderful if they could go to developed countries too!

Looking at the family before him, Zhang He sensed their barely concealed longing and said in a calm tone:

"Yes, the government will provide housing for the families of military personnel; this is the most basic resettlement."

"And what about us? That's my older brother, my own flesh and blood."

"He's also my older brother, and I'm his younger sister."

"I'm very sorry. This term of immediate family only includes the parents and their wives and children of the fallen soldier. His or her siblings are not included."

Actually, the original plan included his siblings. This plan was designed to care for the parents, wives, and children of fallen soldiers, and also to attract labor. After all, recruiting people was the most important thing at that time.

However, there is clearly no need for this now, so the scope of immigration has been limited to parents, wives, and children. Even so, this is because the Prime Minister's Office issued the corresponding administrative order directly.

Otherwise, they would not have had the opportunity to immigrate in this way. Those who had been envious of the brothers secretly chuckled upon hearing Zhang He's answer. Well, that's it, their hopes were dashed.

"Oh, I see..."

Although somewhat disappointed, Sun Yichen nodded. He didn't say anything; after all, everything was earned with his elder brother's life.

But—Grandpa, is Grandma really going abroad?
I was in an unfamiliar place.

They're all so old, is it appropriate for them to go abroad?

If it were me, that would be so much better. At least I could still work and wouldn't be a burden on the country.

Old men and women are more suited to stay here, after all, this is where they have lived for decades.

How can one grow old and then leave their hometown?

While Sun Yichen was thinking this, he didn't dare to say it aloud, because it would be too embarrassing to say it out loud.

However, the brother-in-law, who was standing to the side, said rather anxiously:
“That won’t do. Our grandparents are so old. There’s no one to take care of them there. How can that be acceptable?”

You can't just think about your own reputation and ignore the old man's health; he needs someone to take care of him.

Upon hearing his uncle's words, Sun Qifan, who had been silent all along, spoke directly:
"I will take care of my grandparents then."

The reason he retorted to his uncle was because, over the years, his uncle had always said that his family was a burden to him.

Even though his own nephew treated him like that, how could the uncle-in-law be rebuffed by just one sentence?
Then my uncle said:
"Qifan, how can they be the same? Your aunt is a woman and she's better at taking care of people. Besides, you'll still need to find work later... This is for your own good."

When the uncles said these words, they all looked like they were concerned for their nephew. If he were only a teenager, Sun Qifan might have believed them.

But he's not the same person he was a decade or so ago. He's over 30 now and has seen it all.

“When Grandpa and Grandma are at home, I don’t see you coming to take care of them often. Isn’t it always my mother who’s running around taking care of everything?”

"Set sail."

Liang Mei quickly replied to her son's words:
“Your uncle and his family usually come to help out, but they are busy with work. You just got home and don’t know anything yet. Little sister, brother-in-law, don’t worry about it. The child is still young.”

Hearing her sister-in-law's words, Sun Yichen's wife almost snorted out loud.

She's already 35, she's still young, so just protect her shortcomings.

But when she looked at her sister-in-law, she couldn't help but feel jealous.

She and her son are going abroad.

From now on, they'll be foreign guests and enjoy a life of luxury.

They're all from the same Sun family, so why is there such a big difference between them?
Thinking about this, when she looked at her husband, she found all sorts of things disagreeable.

Look at them, look at them, they're all going to developed countries, while we're still stuck in this wretched place.

"Oh, oh, oh! Sister-in-law, what are you saying? It's precisely because she's a child that she needs to be taught more. Otherwise, when she goes to a foreign country and is unfamiliar with the place, who knows how much trouble she'll cause you. Don't you think so?"

His wife's words made Sun Yichen frown, and then he said:

"What are you talking about?"

Then he turned to Zhang He and said:

"I'm so sorry, please excuse us. These women are just naive and talk nonsense. They're only concerned about their parents. They're just anxious and confused, so please forgive them."

Hearing him say this, Zhang He said:

"The old man and woman's retirement is not a problem at all. We have a dedicated organization and staff to take care of the retirement of military dependents. In other words, we hire caregivers for them."

Zhang He's words stunned everyone around him, and some were even surprised.

"Wow, they even have a nanny. This is just too, too good..."

"That's right, having a nanny is a privilege reserved for high-ranking officials."

"They're not some big leaders."

Is there anything strange about having a nanny?
There are nannies everywhere in the Philippines, Java, Sumatra, and Bangladesh! Their monthly salary is only a few hundred dollars.

As Zhang He thought this to himself, he looked at them and secretly realized that if he were to hire them, it might only cost a little over 100 yuan.

Of course, since there is no such agreement between the two countries, it is obviously unrealistic to hire nannies or other laborers from here, at least in the short term.

However, this is not a big deal. After all, the countries that have signed relevant labor export agreements have hundreds of millions of people. They can easily support the domestic service industry in the SEA region, and even the entire Southeast Asia.

Moreover, those countries and regions already have corresponding training institutions. Many girls receive relevant vocational training from junior high school onwards, so they are quite proficient in this area.

If there is enough cheap labor, why isn't it enough?
“Those nannies are all professionally trained, and there is absolutely no problem in taking care of them.”

Zhang He then looked at Sun Xiuqi and his wife and said:
"Of course you can live there for a while first, and if you don't adapt well, you can come back."

Hearing Zhang He say this, although he didn't know much about that country, at this moment, Sun Xiuqi was thinking more about his son who was buried in a foreign land.

To some extent, he was unwilling to live abroad. After all, returning to one's roots is an old tradition.

However, this might be the only way to visit his son buried in France, since it is very difficult to travel abroad from China.

However, he still asked in a tentative tone:

"Sir, besides us, my other son and daughter, and their families, are not allowed to come over, is that right?"

Even if they already know the answer, a father can't help but ask, because, after all, they need to go there more than they do themselves.

"Yes, this only applies to you."

"If we don't go, we can have them instead."

The answer is, of course, no.

At this point, Sun Yichen and his sister finally let out a long, disappointed sigh.

Their expressions were filled with helplessness, but on the other hand, it was understandable. After all, it was their brother who had died in battle, and it was only right for them to take care of the parents, wives, and children of fallen soldiers.

As for them, what are they anyway?

……

A few days later, the Sun family of four finally boarded a plane from Jinling to Chang'an. They were not the only ones on the plane; there were also several other families of fallen soldiers who had been found. With the assistance of the authorities, the search went very smoothly, and all sorts of clues were coming together. Their families finally received the long-awaited news, as well as the belated compensation.

As the plane flew south, most of the passengers at the airport seemed a little nervous, after all, this was their first time traveling abroad.

What are foreign countries like?
What will life be like after I get there?
A variety of questions lingered in their minds.

People always feel a bit nervous about unfamiliar things. But within that nervousness lies a kind of anticipation. This anticipation stems from…

More than an hour later, the plane finally arrived in Chang'an. Like everyone else, as the plane adjusted its course and flew towards the airport, everyone looked out the window at the city skyline. Looking at those skyscrapers, everyone was in a state of extreme shock.

The city's prosperity far exceeded their imagination. How were those skyscrapers built? Why are there so many cars here?

While the prosperity astonished them, what surprised them even more was what truly surprised them.

As soon as they stepped off the plane, they felt an emotion they had never experienced before.

When Sun Xiuqi arrived at customs and presented his passport, a customs officer greeted him.

"Welcome, sir. Thank you for your family's loyal and selfless service."

At the same time, the airport police and military personnel nearby would salute them.

As they walked out of customs, reporters who had heard the news were already pointing their cameras and video cameras at them.

The arrival of this belated "honor flight" caused a sensation throughout SEA.

The television station was interviewing some of the fallen veterans' comrades-in-arms. People once again saw the stories of those who created the nation, and of course, their sacrifices, on television.

Of course, there are also the stories of those who haven't received news of their loved ones' deaths for many years. Their stories and experiences bring tears to everyone's eyes.

This is why their arrival has attracted nationwide attention.

Although this honor flight was not chartered by the Veterans Affairs Commission, the Commission still held a fundraising event to help the families of these veterans settle in SEA.

In just a few weeks, tens of millions of yuan in donations have been raised.

The enthusiasm was unprecedented; almost the moment they arrived, they felt an unprecedented warmth.

Everyone was grateful for the sacrifices and contributions of their families, and everyone was overjoyed at their arrival.

Everything seemed almost unbelievable, after all, it was completely beyond their imagination.

Not only were there many reporters, but also many ordinary people who came here. As these people walked out of customs, people watched them silently.

On both sides of the passageway stood honor guards, holding flags and standing at attention, quietly welcoming these people with their ceremony.

"Is this...is this...welcoming us?"

While surprised, Sun Xiuqi seemed to have thought of something, and then said:

"Because we are family members of Yibang."

At this point, tears streamed down his face, for in that moment he seemed to understand, to comprehend his son's death, and to truly understand his own.

"It was worth it, even if it meant death..."

Beside them, an old man wiped away tears as he spoke, saying:
“Honey, can you see? Our son is a hero, a martyr, really, look… really, they all remember his good deeds…”

Looking at everything around them, the expressions on the faces of these newcomers were first shock, then emotion, and then tears streamed down their faces!
At this moment, tears seemed to express their emotions, to tell the story of the past, to recount the years of waiting, and to remember their loved ones.

(End of this chapter)