While Shen Nanchu’s side was peaceful and harmonious, Zheng Tongwei’s place was in complete uproar.

Father Zheng, Mother Zheng, and Zheng Qianqian had heard that he was being transferred back to the Cultural Relics Bureau in the capital, so they blocked his doorway early in the morning.

As soon as Mother Zheng entered, she sat on the ground, slapping her thighs and wailing.

“Zheng Tongwei! You heartless wretch! Have you forgotten who raised you? Now that you’re going back to the capital, you’re actually not taking us with you! Are you trying to abandon us? Do you want us to suffer in poverty in this village?”

Zheng Qianqian stood to the side, wearing a newly bought floral padded jacket, and said tearfully,

“Brother, take me to the capital with you! I don’t want to stay in the village anymore! You’re a cadre at the Cultural Relics Bureau now, you can definitely help me get transferred back!”

Zheng Tongwei looked at them, his eyes as cold as a river at the end of winter.

“You were the ones who kicked me out of the Zheng family in the first place. You were the ones who said you were cutting all ties with me. Now that I’m returning to the capital, you come begging? It’s too late!”

“You… you ungrateful wolf!”

Father Zheng trembled with anger, pointing at Zheng Tongwei’s nose and cursing,

“We raised you and paid for your schooling, and you treat us like this! Was your conscience eaten by dogs?”

“Raised me?”

Zheng Tongwei sneered, his voice full of mockery.

“You raised me just so I could be a stepping stone for Qianqian! When we were young, all the good food went to Qianqian, all the nice clothes went to Qianqian. When we grew up, the job assigned by the commune had to be given to Qianqian. Now that I’m relying on my own abilities to transfer back to the capital, you want to ride my coattails? Let me tell you, it’s impossible!”

He stepped forward and pushed the three of them toward the door.

“Hurry up and leave, don’t get in the way of my packing. From now on, my business is none of your concern, and don’t come bothering me with yours!”

Mother Zheng still wanted to throw a tantrum, but Zheng Tongwei shoved her out the door.

…

On the day they left Wangjia Village, before dawn broke and just as the village roosters crowed for the first time, the villagers all came to see them off.

Wang Jianguo led a few young men to help load the luggage onto the modified tractor.

Yu Lanhua held Meiqiu. Around Meiqiu’s neck was a red string with a small bell attached—something Yu Lanhua had specially braided for it.

The village elders all brought the eggs and peanuts they had saved up, pressing them into Shen Nanchu’s hands.

The children surrounded the tractor, tugging at Pei Yunzhou’s clothes, asking him if Beijing University was very big and when he would come back to tell them stories about the capital.

Pei Yunxi and Wang Weimin stood to the side, reluctant to part. Wang Weimin had already received his transfer orders from the Central Military Region and was to report for duty in three days. Having just been transferred, their chances to meet would be very rare.

“Yunxi, ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‍when you get to the capital, take good care of yourself. Eat on time and don’t always stay up late studying.”

Wang Weimin’s voice was a bit hoarse.

“I will write to you, and when the unit allows phone calls, I’ll call you too.”

Pei Yunxi nodded, tears welling up in her eyes but she held them back from falling.

“You need to take care of yourself too, and pay attention to safety during training. I’ll study hard, and when I become a doctor, I’ll go see you.”

The tractor slowly drove out of Wangjia Village. The villagers followed behind, waving their hands and shouting for them to come back and visit often and to have a safe trip.

Meiqiu ran after them for a distance, whimpering toward the tractor with its tail wagging non-stop.

Sitting in the driver’s seat, Shen Nanchu looked at the retreating Wangjia Village in the rearview mirror, watching the shrinking figures of the villagers. Her heart was filled with reluctance to leave—although this wasn’t her hometown, it had given her the warmest support.

Meanwhile, at the 301 Hospital in the capital, Pei Zhengnian was sitting on his hospital bed, his brows tightly furrowed.

The wound on his right shoulder hadn’t fully healed yet. The doctor said he needed to stay in the hospital for at least another half a month, but his heart was burning with anxiety. He had already promised Shen Nanchu that once he recovered, he would go to Wangjia Village to bring her and her family back to the capital. But now, he was trapped in the hospital, unable to even send a message.

“Zhengnian, how are you doing?” Pei Zhengwei pushed the door open and walked in, carrying a fruit basket filled with apples and oranges, both rare fruits for this season.

Wearing a hypocritical smile, he walked to the bedside and placed the fruit basket on the nightstand.

“I heard your wound is recovering well, so I came especially to see you. Dad asked me to pass on a message: rest easy and recover, and don’t worry about matters at home.”

Pei Zhengnian looked at him with a dispirited gaze.

“Big brother, I’m completely useless now. Even if I can recover, I won’t be able to return to the military.”

Pei Zhengnian deliberately pretended to be severely injured to make Pei Zhengwei lower his guard.

“Zhengnian, it’s alright. We are blood brothers. I will carry your share and serve the country well.”

Pei Zhengwei sat on the chair by the bed, feigning concern as he spoke.

“Even if you can’t walk in the future, it doesn’t matter. Your big brother will be your legs.”

Seeing Pei Zhengnian’s desolate expression, Pei Zhengwei felt a secret thrill of satisfaction.

“By the way, I heard Professor Liu has returned safely. Shouldn’t the blueprints in Dad’s hands be brought out to contribute to the country now?”

“Dad is getting old, and you’re injured. Why don’t you leave this matter to me?”

Pei Zhengnian’s heart sank, knowing that Pei Zhengwei was about to make his move.

He pretended to endure the pain of his wound and sat up straight.

“Big brother, this was originally my responsibility, but now I have to trouble you.”

A flash of secret delight crossed Pei Zhengwei’s face.

“Rest assured, I guarantee I’ll handle this perfectly.”

“Alright then, I’ll go speak with Dad this afternoon.”

Pei Zhengnian’s words brought a gleam of smugness to Pei Zhengwei’s eyes.

“Great. You focus on recovering, I won’t disturb you anymore.”

As soon as Pei Zhengwei left, Pei Zhengnian immediately pressed the call bell at the head of the bed.

Not long after, Sun Xuelin ran in.

“Commander, what are your orders?”

“Hurry and contact Commander Pei for me, use the encrypted line.”

Pei Zhengnian lowered his voice.

“Tell him the fish has taken the bait. Have him arrange his men immediately and prepare to pull in the net.”

“Also, help me with the discharge procedures. I’m leaving the hospital right now.”

“Commander, the doctor said your wound hasn’t healed yet, you can’t be discharged!” Sun Xuelin grew anxious.

“There’s no time.” Pei Zhengnian’s tone was firm. “Pei Zhengwei won’t wait for me to heal, he’s making his move now. If he takes the blueprints, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Sun Xuelin didn’t dare to argue further. He hurried to contact Father Pei and process the discharge paperwork.

That afternoon, wearing a thick overcoat and a sling over his right shoulder, Pei Zhengnian got into a car and headed straight for the Central Military Region.

At this time, Father Pei was sitting in his study, holding the blueprints sealed in kraft paper, his expression solemn.

Seeing Pei Zhengnian enter, he quickly stood up: “Zhengnian, why are you here? Didn’t the doctor tell you to stay in the hospital?”

“Dad, Pei Zhengwei is about to make his move.”

Pei Zhengnian walked up to the desk and lowered his voice,

“If I don’t show up, he’ll get suspicious.”

“After all, given my personality, how could I rest easy without seeing the handover with my own eyes?”

Only with Pei Zhengnian personally entering the board would Pei Zhengwei be completely at ease.

“But, can your body handle it?”

“It can.”

Pei Zhengnian knew his own body very well.

It naturally could not compare to how things usually were, but it was still more than enough to deal with Pei Zhengwei.

Father Pei nodded, carefully placed the blueprints into his briefcase, and zipped it up securely.

“Alright, I will leave this matter in your hands.”

“Be careful with everything, and whatever you do, do not push yourself too hard.”

…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep