The team leader’s family welcomed Lin Zhen with warmth and hospitality.
Meanwhile, the entire village buzzed with the news of Lin Zhen’s return. Children crowded around the leader’s home, marveling at the sight of soldiers in uniform, their excitement and admiration palpable.
The villagers, however, couldn’t help but sigh at Lin Zhen’s condition.
“Wonder how he got hurt? Look at his leg all bandaged up.”
“Does this mean he can’t serve in the military anymore?”
“I don’t know about that, but have you seen how tall and strong he’s grown? There’s no one in our brigade built like him. Just standing there, he looks intimidating!”
“But where’s he going to live now? Old lady Lin sold the house his parents built. Surely, he’s not going back to live with the Lin family?”
“You think old lady Lin would let him?”
“Why wouldn’t she? Having a soldier in the family brings honor!”
“You’re joking, right? When has old lady Lin cared about honor? And now that he’s injured, there’ll probably be medical expenses. Knowing how stingy she is, no way she’ll be happy about that.”
“True… but what’s Lin Zhen going to do now?”
Song Wei arrived at the team leader’s house with Heidan, catching snippets of the villagers’ discussions.
Injured leg? Could he be discharged?
She pondered this while carrying Heidan through the crowd.
The sight of them drew attention. Aunt Wang and a few other women quickly noticed and called out:
“Make way, everyone! Heidan’s here! Let him through—he’s Lin Zhen’s little brother!”
Spotting two familiar faces trailing behind Song Wei, Aunt Wang leaned closer and whispered, “What’s going on? Why are those two with you?”
The two women were none other than Deng Chunhua and Lin Lao Si’s wife.
Song Wei chuckled coldly, her tone dripping with sarcasm:
“Oh, they came to the educated youth dormitory demanding that I hand over all the firewood Heidan collected. And if that wasn’t enough, they claimed old lady Lin ended up in the hospital because Heidan jinxed her. Never mind that half the village saw what really happened—spinning lies and blaming others must be their family’s specialty.”
The surrounding villagers overheard Song Wei’s words, and their expressions turned to scorn.
A few elderly women even spat on the ground in disgust.
“How shameless! Must be a family tradition of theirs to be this brazen. Like mother-in-law, like daughters-in-law!”
“Do they really think Heidan is still the same helpless boy he used to be? His brother is back now, and he’s not someone to mess with. Even injured, Lin Zhen could probably line up every man in that family and thrash them all for what they did to Heidan!”
The mention of Lin Zhen brought a flicker of fear to Deng Chunhua and Lin Lao Si’s wife.
They vividly remembered the time Lin Zhen had grabbed a knife, ready to avenge his mother, his fury making him a terrifying sight.
Shrinking back, they tried to bluster their way through:
“He wouldn’t dare! He’s a soldier now, and we’re family. If he lays a hand on us, let’s see how long his career lasts!”
Song Wei ignored them and turned her attention to Heidan, who was craning his neck to catch a glimpse inside the leader’s home while clinging nervously to her clothes.
His little face was taut with tension—he clearly wanted to see his brother but felt too timid to approach.
With a sigh, Song Wei gave in and led him toward the house.
Aunt Xinghua greeted them warmly:
“Ah, Heidan! Come inside—your brother was just asking about you!”
Song Wei hoped Aunt Xinghua would take Heidan the rest of the way. After all, what business did she, a stranger, have with Lin Zhen?
But Heidan clung tightly to her hand, looking up at her pleadingly.
“Sister Song, can you come with me?”
She ruffled his hair and teased, “That’s your big brother in there, not some wild beast. Be a good little man and go on your own.”
But despite her encouragement, Heidan only turned red and shook his head.
“Fine…”
Song Wei reluctantly took his hand and led him slowly toward the room where Lin Zhen was staying.
At the doorway, Heidan peeked in nervously, hiding behind Song Wei.
Inside, Lin Zhen, reclining on the bed, immediately sensed their presence. His sharp, dark eyes locked onto the doorway.
The moment their gazes met, Heidan froze like a deer in headlights and darted behind Song Wei, using her as a shield.
Lin Zhen’s eyes then shifted to Song Wei, who offered him an awkward smile and a sheepish wave.
“Uh… hi,” she managed, feeling silly under the scrutiny of not only Lin Zhen but also his two comrades.
Quickly regaining her composure, she dropped her hand and adopted her usual gentle, composed demeanor.
“I just brought Heidan over…”
But before she could finish, she felt a tug at her leg.
Heidan was clinging to her with all his might, refusing to budge.
“Come on now,” she chided, tapping his head. “Go on.”
It took a while, but Heidan eventually shuffled out from behind her, his head bowed and his hands fidgeting nervously. He stole a glance at Lin Zhen before quickly looking down again.
The little boy was overwhelmed by a mix of emotions: curiosity, excitement, and confusion.
All his life, the people closest to him had either hit him or scolded him. He didn’t know how to approach someone who might genuinely care.
“Come here.”
Lin Zhen finally broke the silence, his voice low and weary.
Heidan hesitated, looking up at Song Wei, who gave him an encouraging nod.
Finally, he mustered the courage to approach his brother, step by step.
When he reached Lin Zhen, the towering man raised a large, calloused hand and tousled the boy’s hair.
Then, with a deep sigh, Lin Zhen said the words that had weighed on him for years:
“I’m sorry.”
Heidan froze, his wide eyes brimming with tears.
The apology was more than his small heart could handle.
The floodgates opened, and he began to cry—first quietly, then in loud, gut-wrenching sobs.
Without a word, Lin Zhen pulled his little brother into a protective embrace, holding him close as the boy poured out years of bottled-up pain.
Understanding the need for privacy, Song Wei and the two soldiers quietly left the room.
Outside, she took the opportunity to ask about Lin Zhen’s situation.
One of the soldiers, a burly man with a gruff voice, glanced back toward the room and sighed.
“Captain Lin—” he corrected himself, “Lin Zhen was injured during a mission at the border. His left leg took severe damage, and the doctors said it’ll never fully recover.
“So… he was discharged.”
The soldier’s tone grew heavier.
“He’d planned to bring Heidan with him after this mission. But now…”
He trailed off, his frustration and sadness evident.
Lin Zhen had been injured while saving others—a duty he’d willingly accepted. But that didn’t make the outcome any less bitter.
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