“What did Sister-in-law Wei say?”

Walking below the hospital, Xia Xiaolan held Zhou Cheng’s hand continuously.

Zhou Cheng wanted to light a cigarette. He had just pulled the pack from his pocket when remembering this was a hospital, he stuffed it back.

“She just cried when she heard it. When I brought Shi Kai’s ashes back, I was going to tell them… The academy leaders said given the Shi family’s situation – the elderly disabled, the young one mentally challenged – they feared Stone Auntie and the others might lose control emotionally, so they didn’t let me tell them.”

Zhou Cheng had been dreaming constantly these days, dreaming of the grenade explosion, of Shi Kai being blown to pieces before his eyes.

That scene played like a movie on a loop – few people could withstand such trauma.

If the Shi family couldn’t forgive him, it would inevitably increase Zhou Cheng’s psychological burden!

Zhou Cheng was already under enough pressure; Xia Xiaolan couldn’t panic now. “It’s normal for Sister-in-law Wei to feel resentful. I could even accept if she took it out on me. She can’t accept losing her husband, just as I couldn’t accept losing you. Just because Shi Kai saved you, I’m willing to yield to Sister-in-law Wei for life! Zhou Cheng, this isn’t just your burden – it’s something we’re destined to face together.”

Zhou Cheng wasn’t angry about Wei Juanhong’s attitude; it only made him feel more guilty.

Everything he had now was indeed preserved because Shi Kai saved him with his life. How could he deny Wei Juanhong the right to feel resentful?

“Sister-in-law Wei said she doesn’t want Stone Auntie to know. She told us not to tell Stone Auntie.”

Not tell Stone Auntie?

Xia Xiaolan felt that since the hidden truth had been revealed, why not tell everything at once?

But this was Wei Juanhong’s only request – how could Zhou Cheng and Guan Huie refuse?

Well, if they weren’t to tell, then they wouldn’t. Stone Auntie had just had surgery; they shouldn’t make her cry again.

Xia Xiaolan’s attention returned to Zhou Cheng. “Your leave must be almost over? When do you return to the academy?”

“Once Stone Auntie’s condition stabilizes, I’ll have to go. Xiaolan, I feel sorry for you.”

The entire holiday had been spent running errands for the Shi family. This was what Zhou Cheng should do, what he had to do! But besides his responsibility to the Shi family, shouldn’t he also spend time with Xia Xiaolan as her boyfriend?

He had failed both the Shi family and Xiaolan.

Xia Xiaolan wanted to lighten his mood: “I have good news to tell you. Two weeks into the semester, the school hasn’t mentioned anything about the ‘exchange student’ program. It must have been pushed to sophomore year. I won’t have to leave this semester, and when you return to the academy, I can visit you!”

How close was Beijing to North Ji Province?

A weekend round trip left plenty of time. Xia Xiaolan didn’t think it would be difficult – life would only get better.

As Zhou Cheng was about to speak, Xia Xiaolan stood on tiptoe to kiss him, mumbling:

“Don’t speak… this is what I want…”

What was a train ride? Time and money could always bring them together. Having Zhou Cheng standing whole before her, Xia Xiaolan already felt incredibly fortunate.

Shi Kai’s sacrifice had put pressure on Zhou Cheng, but it had also moved Xia Xiaolan.

She even had an impulse now – didn’t Zhou Cheng want to get married? They could just go get their marriage certificate now, simple as that, and they’d be married.

“Zhou Cheng, let’s get mar… mmph…”

Zhou Cheng took control, deliberately preventing her from speaking again.

Had Zhou Cheng not heard clearly?

Xia Xiaolan felt dizzy from Zhou Cheng’s kiss, temporarily unable to think straight.

That impulse came and went quickly. As Reason returned, she remembered that she and Zhou Cheng weren’t old enough. Xia Xiaolan recalled that the 1985 Marriage Law was different from later versions – even with the marriage age requirement of 22 for men and 20 for women, she was still a few months shy of turning 20.

Zhou Cheng, however, would soon be 22.

The second thing that sobered Xia Xiaolan was the reality that the school would never approve of their marriage.

Universities in 1985 weren’t as open-minded as in later times about allowing undergraduates to marry. They might turn a blind eye to dating, but marriage was forbidden.

Xia Xiaolan had Zhou Cheng keep her company downstairs for quite a while. When they finally returned upstairs through the bustling hospital, Stone Auntie had awakened.

Zhou Cheng knew he needed to report back to the academy, but he asked Wei Juanhong again about her earlier matter:

“Sister-in-law Wei, about your work…”

Wei Juanhong’s eyes were bloodshot: “I’ll stay and work in Beijing. Our whole Shi family will stay in Beijing, alright?”

Her tone was somewhat aggressive, sounding more like defiance than careful consideration.

Xia Xiaolan and Guan Huie had thought Wei Juanhong would want to return home, given how restless she seemed in Beijing.

Who knew she would choose to stay?

Zhou Cheng naturally wouldn’t refuse; this had been his plan all along.

Stone Auntie, her eyes wrapped in bandages, could speak from her hospital bed as the anesthesia wore off: “Juanhong, we should return to our hometown, not stay in Beijing.”

While everyone yearned for the capital, Stone Auntie knew her family’s circumstances well.

The family only knew farming and had never done anything else.

Zhou Cheng said the state would arrange work for Wei Juanhong and Shi Ping, but that should be in Botong County. They’d have to give up some farmland back home, but their house plot remained. Returning home would put Stone Auntie’s mind at ease. Once her eyes could see, she could help look after the children and farm the land herself, definitely not becoming a burden to her daughter-in-law and Shi Ping.

What could the Shi family do in Beijing?

Everyone in Beijing spoke Standard Mandarin. Coming from a southwestern village, Stone Auntie felt self-conscious about her rural accent.

Staying in Beijing made her nervous and uncomfortable. She was a rural person, from the southwestern countryside – after her treatment, she should return to the southwestern countryside… Her daughter-in-law Wei Juanhong had said the same thing, but now suddenly changed her mind, making Stone Auntie anxious.

Had Juanhong been dazzled by Beijing’s prosperity?

Though Stone Auntie couldn’t see clearly, she could sense the differences between Beijing and the countryside.

Having cars to ride, clean guesthouses, and being able to eat without cooking – these things were nice.

But were they things the Shi family should enjoy?

When Wei Juanhong didn’t respond, Stone Auntie raised her voice: “Juanhong?”

Wei Juanhong took a couple of steps: “Mother, why can’t we stay? Shi Kai was a martyr, the state arranged work for me and Shi Ping. In the future, both children can attend school in the capital. We might be rural people, but the children should be city people.”

At the mention of Shi Kai and Wei Juanhong’s two children, Stone Auntie opened her mouth but didn’t know how to argue back, though she clearly disapproved of Wei Juanhong’s idea of staying in Beijing.

The state arranging work for martyrs’ families didn’t necessarily mean arranging it in the capital.

If everyone rushed to the capital, it couldn’t hold the entire country’s population.

Wouldn’t they still end up troubling Zhou Cheng?

Unable to convince her daughter-in-law, Stone Auntie began breathing heavily in agitation.

Seeing the mother and daughter-in-law about to argue, Xia Xiaolan tried to lighten the atmosphere:

“Auntie, Sister-in-law Wei’s thinking makes sense too. People naturally seek better opportunities, and if we have the chance to stay in a good place, we should certainly try. To be honest, my family also moved to Beijing from elsewhere, and we’re gradually adapting.”

Even if Wei Juanhong was acting out of spite, Zhou Cheng couldn’t refuse. Xia Xiaolan could only step in to ease the tension.

What was wrong with staying in Beijing?

Even without relying on the Zhou family, Xia Xiaolan herself could manage it. She had the confidence to help Zhou Cheng solve his problems!