The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 556: Visiting Relatives!!!
In the cold winter of early 88, the Second Squadron of the "Black Panther Commando" ended its rotation, and the army finally gave Liu Wu and his men their annual home visit leave.

Deputy Squadron Leader Sun Xinchun excitedly packed his luggage and prepared to take the train back to his hometown to visit his parents.

After not seeing each other for many years, he missed everything at home very much.

As the luggage was too heavy to carry, Sun Xinchun had no choice but to take the most important items with him.

The specialties brought back from southern Xinjiang, the things bought for my parents, and my wife Wang Xiaomei’s favorite snacks and gifts, all of these are indispensable.

Daily necessities for the military camp were also brought with them to avoid causing trouble at home.

Although he knew that the luggage would be overweight, Sun Xinchun didn't care as he would be able to see his family soon, so he stuffed everything into two large suitcases.

Dragging his heavy luggage, Sun Xinchun happily came to the train station and started queuing up to buy tickets.

Seeing several passengers in front of him carrying large and small bags being called aside by the staff to weigh their bags, and then released after paying a fine, Sun Xinchun couldn't help but regret carrying so many things.

Alas, it’s too late to say anything now.

Sun Xinchun tried his best to look relaxed and natural, hoping to have better luck and escape the disaster.

"Next, please put your luggage on the scale to be weighed." When it was Sun Xinchun's turn, the ticket inspector said seriously with a serious face.

Sun Xinchun gritted his teeth and put the two large boxes on the scale. The weight immediately squeaked and the numbers kept jumping.

His heart was in his throat, but he tried to pretend that he didn't care and asked the ticket inspector with a shameless face: "Sister, I am going back to my hometown to visit my relatives in the next few days, and my luggage is indeed a little over the limit.

Could you please let me take it with me? I will dispose of some things when I reach the destination."

"Brother, please don't make it difficult for me. Rules are rules, there is no such thing as leniency. Look, you are 15 kilograms overweight!
According to regulations, a fine of 1 yuan is required for every kilogram of excess weight. You have to pay at least 5 yuan. "The lady said seriously.

75 yuan is not a small amount of money. Sun Xinchun’s monthly allowance is not much, and he has a family to support.

Sun Xinchun's forehead broke out in sweat after hearing this. He thought it was all over. This was a matter concerning whether he could return home, and he was actually trying to evade the rules and even wanted to ask for leniency. This was totally wrong.

Just when I was thinking about paying the money honestly, the expectant faces of my parents and my wife Wang Xiaomei suddenly appeared in my mind.

Just think about how disappointed they would be if he was detained and not allowed to go home! When Sun Xinchun thought of this, his eyes suddenly became blurred and his nose felt a little sore.

"Hey brother, what's wrong with you? Did I speak too harshly and scare you? Believe me, this is all part of the job, don't take it too seriously." Seeing that Sun Xinchun's eyes were red and he was very emotional, the ticket inspector's tone immediately softened.

Sun Xinchun explained to his aunt: "Sister, I haven't been home for many years. My parents and wife must miss me very much.
If they can't catch the bus today and don't know when they can go back, how disappointed they will be!
I really know I was wrong, but please forgive me.

I promise to repack my luggage when I come back so it won’t be overweight.”

After listening to what Sun Xinchun said, the ticket inspector was silent for a while, as if she was hesitating.

After a long while, she sighed and said, "Forget it, since you are a soldier and you are going to visit your relatives, I will make an exception and let you go.

But you still have to pay a little, just 20 yuan, and you don’t have to pay the rest.”

After hearing this, Sun Xinchun was so excited that he almost jumped up. He quickly took out money to thank the elder sister for her leniency. The joy in his heart was simply beyond words.

It turns out that the feelings between people are so precious that even under strict rules and regulations, human care and warmth are needed.

Sun Xinchun once again sincerely thanked the ticket inspector for her kindness.

Holding the ticket, Sun Xinchun pushed his suitcase and ran to the station platform. The train was about to depart, so he found his seat and sat down, looking out the window.

The train started moving slowly and the familiar scenery receded before his eyes.

Sun Xinchun took a deep breath and felt that everything was so good that it seemed unreal.

Just then, the ticket inspector came over to find Sun Xinchun with a warm smile on her face.

She handed him a paper bag and said, "Brother, these are the snacks I packed. Take them to fill your stomach. Be careful on the road, and say hello to your parents for me."

The train went farther and farther away, and Sun Xinchun's hometown was already within reach.

Biting the sesame bun given by the ticket inspector, Sun Xinchun felt extremely warm.

This reminded him of the taste of home cooked by his mother, which increased his homesickness.

At this moment, the ticket inspector suddenly turned around and said to Sun Xinchun: "By the way, we are both soldiers, and since you miss home so much, I will make an exception and let you pass.

My son is also serving in the army and will be back next year. I understand your feelings very well."

Sun Xinchun suddenly realized that the elder sister gave him the opportunity to be lenient because they had the same identity as a military family member.

Sun Xinchun once again expressed his sincere gratitude to her.

The connection between people is magical, and today’s experience has only further proven that.

The train was moving steadily on the track, and Sun Xinchun was extremely excited.

Although he has gained a lot from his life in the army in the past few years, separation from his family is still the most difficult thing for him to adapt to.

Having finally made it to today, Sun Xinchun can't wait to see his parents and wife.

……

Two hours later, the train pulled into Yanjing Railway Station.

Liu Wu ran out of the carriage carrying his luggage and looked around for his parents.

Sure enough, he saw his father Liu Zhiye standing in the crowd waving at him.

"Son, welcome home!" Liu Zhiye smiled and hugged Liu Wu.

"Dad, I miss you so much!" Liu Wu's eyes turned red with excitement.

"Come home with me quickly to meet your grandma, grandpa and mom. She has been waiting for you all morning!" Liu Zhiye said with a smile. It was rare for him to take time out to pick up his son today.

Sitting in his father's private car, Liu Wuzhang looked out the window at the familiar streets of Yanjing, and a long-lost sense of familiarity surged in his heart.

An hour later, the car arrived at the gate of the Liu family compound. After Liu Wu got out of the car, he ran into the yard in two steps and saw his mother Gan Ning standing at the door to greet him.

"Xiao Wu, you're back!" Gan Ning hugged Liu Wu excitedly, and the smile lines at the corners of her eyes were stained with tears.

"Mom, you look a few years older." Liu Wu teased.

"It's only been two years since we last met, and you're already saying that I've grown old and lost my composure!" Gan Ning scolded with a smile.

Liu Wu laughed and asked, "Where are my grandparents?"

Gan Ning's originally somewhat happy expression suddenly dimmed, "Your grandpa and grandma have returned to Nanluoguxiang!"

Liu Wu was full of doubts, "I'm going home today, why aren't they waiting for me at home? What are they going to do?"

"Hey!" Gan Ning sighed, and then said: "Xiao Wu, do you still remember the old lady in the backyard?"

Liu Wu nodded. "Of course I remember. If I remember correctly, she must be over 90 years old! What happened to her?"

"Well, the deaf old lady passed away yesterday. She was over 90 years old. This is a happy funeral. Your grandparents went to pay their respects! She will be back in the evening!" Gan Ning nodded.

"Don't just stand at the door. Come inside and talk first." Liu Zhiye urged the mother and daughter when he saw them standing motionless at the door.

"Xiao Wu, your great grandfather is at your great grandfather's house. Go and greet him first and ask them to come over for a gathering in the evening!"

"Okay! I'm going right now!"

Liu Wu hadn't been home for more than two years, and his family was eager to go home, especially his grandmother Deng Ru. When she saw Liu Wu, she crossed her arms and kept saying, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. You've lost a lot of weight in the past few years, right? Are you used to the food you eat after being exposed to the wind and sun every day?"

Liu Wu responded with a smile, but he felt a little sad in his heart.

His grandmother is getting old and has been in poor health recently. This time when he came back, he wanted to spend more time with her.

Unexpectedly, within a few days, Grandma Deng Ru started complaining of stomachache.

At first, I thought she might have eaten something bad, but the pain didn't get better after a night of pain, so I rushed her to Liujiazhuang Central Hospital.

It's the end of the year and the hospital is very crowded, with patients hanging on IV drips in the corridors.

Deng Ru was arranged to stay in the hospital, in a double room.

Liu Wu was busy handling the formalities while taking care of her, and he was very nervous.

In the bed next to mine was a middle-aged man with a pale face, lying there gasping for breath.

Sitting next to him was a girl who looked to be about twenty years old, with two pigtails and a green cotton jacket. The cuffs were a little frayed, but otherwise clean.

She was peeling an orange with nimble hands and feet. When she saw Liu Wu coming in with his grandmother, she looked up and glanced at him as a greeting.

Liu Wu nodded and said nothing more.

The next morning, Liu Wu went to the water room to get some water, thinking of bringing a pot for the person in the next bed as well.

When I came back, the girl was leaning against the bed, fiddling with something with her head down.

Liu Wu put down the kettle and said casually, "Your father just finished the examination, and he probably needs to drink more hot water. I'll make some for you."

The girl looked up at Liu Wu and instead of saying thank you, she asked, "Are you from the army?"

Liu Wu was stunned for a moment: "Yeah, how come you can tell?"

"Wearing a military coat." She raised the corner of her mouth and said with a half-smile, "You are quite enthusiastic."

Liu Wu found this a bit strange, but he didn't care. He just smiled and didn't respond.

As a result, over the next two days, the girl always spoke in a sarcastic tone.

Once, Liu Wu ran into her in the corridor. She looked at the kettle I was filling and suddenly asked, "Do you think that by helping others, you can look special?"

Liu Wu was a little amused: "I really didn't think so, it was just something that happened conveniently." The girl snorted, turned and went into the ward, leaving Liu Wu confused.

However, gradually, Liu Wu also saw through her character.

On the surface, she seems to be harsh in her words, but in fact, she is very delicate at heart.

When her father coughed badly, she would quietly turn her back and wipe away her tears; she was busy taking care of others, but never complained of being tired.

Sometimes, the ward was very quiet and Liu Wu sat with her grandmother by the bed. She would always find an excuse to come over and talk.

"Does your unit train every day?" she asked Liu Wu.

"Well, it's not that easy." Liu Wu replied with a smile.

"Is the food delicious?" she asked.

"It's okay, but it can't compare to the delicious food at home." Liu Wu teased her deliberately.

"Come on, no matter how bad your food is, it's still better than my house." She curled her lips, but her eyes were shining.

Only then did Liu Wu know that her name was Li Qinglan, she was 19 years old, and was an elementary school teacher in a village near Liujiazhuang District.

The family's financial situation is not very good. Her father is in poor health and has been taking medicine all year round. This hospitalization has emptied the family's savings.

"As a soldier, you must get a lot of allowance, right?" she suddenly asked.

"It's not a lot, but it's enough to supplement the family's expenses." Liu Wu did not tell the truth.

"Then your family should be very happy that they can rely on you to earn some money." Her voice lowered, but her eyes showed some envy.

Liu Wu didn't know how to respond for a moment, so he could only nod.

A few days later, grandma's condition stabilized and the doctor said she could be discharged from the hospital after two more days of observation.

Liu Wu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that his trip home was not in vain.

But that night, Li Qinglan's father's illness suddenly worsened.

That night, Liu Wu was dozing off beside the hospital bed when he vaguely heard suppressed moans coming from next door.

Liu Wu quickly stood up and saw Li Qinglan supporting her father, sweating profusely from anxiety.

"What's wrong? Do you need help?" Liu Wu asked quickly.

"The doctor said I might need urgent surgery, but at home..." She bit her lip, her eyes red.

Liu Wu didn't wait for her to finish speaking and turned around and ran to call a doctor.

The operation was arranged quickly, and Liu Wu and Li Qinglan together sent her father out of the operating room.

Li Qinglan sat on the bench, her hands clenched tightly, her head lowered and she said nothing.

Liu Wu comforted her: "Don't worry, the doctor will do his best."

Li Qinglan looked up at Liu Wu, her eyes full of helplessness: "If something really happens, I don't know what to do."

"It's okay. Your father is a lucky man." Liu Wu patted her shoulder.

The operation lasted for several hours and ended at dawn.

The doctor came out and told them that the operation was successful and that they would recover slowly as long as they rested well.

Hearing this, Li Qinglan suddenly collapsed in her chair, tears welling up in her eyes.

Liu Wu didn't know what to say, so he could only stand beside her and accompany her.

After the operation, Li Qinglan was busy taking care of her father, and Liu Wu was busy preparing for his grandmother's discharge from the hospital.

On the day that grandma was discharged from the hospital, Liu Wu was packing his things in the ward when Li Qinglan suddenly came over and handed him a small package.

"Here, it's for you." Li Qinglan said in a low voice.

"What is it?" Liu Wu took it.

"These insoles were made by my mother. They're not worth much, but I just want to say thank you for your help these days." Li Qinglan's voice was very soft.

Liu Wu looked at her and felt warm in his heart.

"Will I be able to see you again in the future?" Li Qinglan suddenly asked.

Liu Wu was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "If you want, we can definitely meet again."

After hearing this, Li Qinglan lowered her head and said nothing more.

……

Liu Wu returned to the army, and coincidentally, his cousin Liu Xiaotao was also going home to visit his relatives at this time.

This year marks Liu Xiaotao's third year in the military.

Liu Xiaotao was working hard that day when the instructor suddenly came to him and told him: "Taozi, congratulations, you have been promoted!"

When Liu Xiaotao heard the news from his instructor, he was very happy but did not show it.

Liu Xiaotao finally felt relieved after all matters concerning promotion were settled, and he put on the "four-pocket" clothes he had longed for.

During the years he served in the army, Liu Xiaotao never returned home once.

So after being promoted, he immediately asked his superiors for a period of home leave.

Afterwards, Liu Xiaotao took the train back home, but what he didn't expect was that an accident happened just after he got off the train station.

Liu Xiaotao had just walked out of Yanjing Railway Station when he suddenly saw a girl sitting on the ground in front of him, shouting, "Catch the thief!"

At the same time, not far from the girl, there was a man running away desperately with a backpack. Liu Xiaotao immediately dropped the luggage in his hands and chased after him.

Soon Liu Xiaotao caught up with him, jumped up and kicked the bag thief to the ground.

Unexpectedly, just when Liu Xiaotao was about to catch the thief, a dagger suddenly stabbed at him. Fortunately, he dodged in time, but he still cut his arm.

Liu Xiaotao ignored the injury on his hand. Relying on the fighting skills he had practiced over the years, he knocked the dagger away in a few moves and subdued the thief.

At this time, the girl behind also caught up. Liu Xiaotao picked up the bag on the ground and handed it to the girl: "Here, I have subdued the thief. Check if there is anything missing in the bag."

After the girl took the bag, she opened it and checked, and saw that everything inside was intact.

Then he bowed to Liu Xiaotao and said, "Thank you so much, brother soldier. The money in my bag for my father's medical treatment was not lost."

Just as she finished speaking, the railway police arrived. The girl cooperated with the recording as she watched them take the thief away.

Liu Xiaotao was about to leave, but at that moment, the girl caught up with him, holding a bundle of bandages in her hand, and started to bandage his injured hand.

Liu Xiaotao wanted to refuse: "It's okay, it's just a minor injury, it will be healed in a few days."

The girl ignored what he said. She grabbed his hand and bandaged it carefully. She said her name was Sun Qingfang and she was a nurse at the county hospital.

Because her father had an accident, she came back with money and prepared to take her father to the city for medical treatment, but she didn't expect to encounter this kind of thing.

Seeing Sun Qingfang's serious look, Liu Xiaotao felt something in his heart.

Sun Qingfang had two ponytails, a pair of bright eyes, fair skin, and was pretty and a little cute. As the bandaging was completed, he gradually came back to his senses.

Afterwards, Liu Xiaotao thanked Sun Qingfang and left. Before leaving, she gave him some White Rabbit milk candies.

After returning home, Grandpa Liu Yuanhai and parents were very happy to see Liu Xiaotao, whom they hadn't seen for several years, suddenly come back.

In the evening, I prepared a sumptuous meal for him.

At the dinner table, Liu Xiaotao told my family the news of my promotion.

The mother burst into tears: "You must have suffered a lot these years."

Liu Xiaotao quickly comforted her: "It's okay, Mom, be happy. I have endured all the hardships and tiredness. I am no longer the same person as before!"

After dinner, Liu Xiaotao returned to the house.

Looking at the candy in his hand, his mind was full of Sun Qingfang's figure. Then he sighed, thinking that perhaps that would be the last time they would see each other.

The next morning, the mother happily found Liu Xiaotao and said, "The daughter of a distant relative of mine happened to come back yesterday.

You are not young anymore, so I have asked a matchmaker to find you a partner. You two can meet at noon."

Liu Xiaotao had no intention of doing so, but he did not reject his mother's kindness and agreed.

Unexpectedly, at noon, when the two sides met, Liu Xiaotao was stunned, and the other party was also stunned, and then they smiled knowingly to each other.

The person who came was none other than Sun Qingfang. The mother looked at the two of them and asked, "Why, do you two know each other?"

So Liu Xiaotao told his mother what happened before he came back.

"That's great, it saves us from having to introduce each other, you two can just continue chatting!"

With that, Liu Xiaotao's mother left the room, leaving Liu Xiaotao and Sun Qingfang alone in the room.

After everyone left, Liu Xiaotao and Sun Qingfang both burst into laughter.

In the days that followed, Liu Xiaotao and Sun Qingfang got along very well and were interested in each other.

So they quickly confirmed their relationship, and her home visit leave was coming to an end.

(End of this chapter)