“Both Commander Sheng and Dr. Gu are truly remarkable. I’ll never doubt their words again.”
“If only Commander Sheng and Dr. Gu could stay on Huansha Island forever.”
By the time Gu Jianing finished her postpartum confinement and stepped outside again, she noticed that her “friends” seemed to have multiplied.
Wherever she went, it felt like everyone knew her, greeting her warmly.
Honestly, the sudden surge of friendliness made Gu Jianing feel a bit unaccustomed.
After her confinement period, Gu Jianing resumed work at the hospital.
However, since Tuantuan was still young, she requested reduced working hours and asked to bring the baby along.
The hospital naturally agreed.
Little did they know, during Gu Jianing’s leave, countless patients had been waiting for her, and surgeries had piled up, all reserved for Dr. Gu.
It wasn’t that others couldn’t handle them—it was just that patients trusted only Dr. Gu.
Thus, Gu Jianing began balancing work with caring for Tuantuan.
If she had to perform surgery, other available doctors or nurses would help look after the baby.
The medical staff at the county hospital were very kind, and Tuantuan was an exceptionally well-behaved and adorable child.
So, life settled into a harmonious rhythm.
Meanwhile, Sheng Zexi, after his month-long leave, returned to training. A few days later, he was dispatched on another mission with an uncertain return date.
Time flew by, and soon it was 1979 after the New Year.
As the 1980s approached, everything was flourishing.
Gu Jianing counted the time—when they first arrived on Huansha Island, she had been three months pregnant with Tuantuan.
Now, Tuantuan was already two months old.
In three more months, they would have spent a full year on Huansha Island.
By then, Brother Xi would be transferred to Beijing, and she would move there with the children as a military family.
After the Lin family’s arrest, the military district on Huansha Island seemed to enter a period of calm.
Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
By now, Tuantuan had grown from a tiny newborn to a five-month-old baby.
Lately, the little one had been trying to sit up whenever lying in bed.
Whenever someone was nearby, he would babble, asking to be helped into a sitting position.
Once seated, he could happily play with toys on his own.
For Sheng Zexi, the transfer to the Beijing Military District was confirmed.
Due to his accumulated merits, he would be directly promoted to brigade-level cadre upon arrival.
At just over thirty years old, Sheng Zexi’s rapid rise to such a high rank was exceptionally promising.
For context, Lin Chushi had only reached brigade-level rank in his late forties.
Meanwhile, Gu Jianing was assigned to Beijing First Hospital as department head.
Beyond that, she received an invitation from Peking University to serve as an honorary professor at the medical school.
She had already held this title before, but now they hoped she could dedicate some time to teaching medical students in Beijing, alongside her hospital duties.
Gu Jianing thought: Being a doctor, a teacher, and a mother—this is way too busy!
So, she agreed to both roles but insisted that her schedule be properly coordinated.
Thus, even before Gu Jianing arrived, Beijing First Hospital and Peking University began arguing over her schedule—both sides wanted more of her time.
Today was the official day for Sheng Zexi to complete his transfer procedures at the Huansha Island military base.
By the time he returned to the family quarters, Gu Jianing was already busy packing with Xingxing, Yueyue, and Amber.
“Xingxing, Yueyue, make sure you pack your own things properly.”
“Okay~”
“Amber, bring all your belongings too. Take everything you’re used to.”
Amber responded with a soft whine.
Meanwhile, Tuantuan, sitting in his stroller, watched his mother and siblings bustling around. Thinking they were playing, he clapped his hands happily, babbling, “Ah-ah-ah!”
When Sheng Zexi returned, he immediately joined the packing.
“This time, we have over a month before reporting to the Beijing Military District. I’ll first accompany you back to your hometown in Huaihua Village.”
“Then, we’ll go to Haishi to visit your eldest brother and sister-in-law.”
“After that, we’ll head to Beijing.”
“How does that sound?”
Gu Jianing’s eyes lit up. “We get that much leave? That’s wonderful! Let’s do it exactly as you said.”
At the mention of family, her eyes brimmed with longing. “My parents and brothers haven’t even met Tuantuan yet.”
“And it’s been so long since they last saw me—they must miss me terribly.”
Especially after the recent typhoon disrupted communications, cutting off contact. She could only imagine how worried and anxious her parents had been.
Perhaps only after marriage does a daughter truly understand the depth of missing her parents.
Or perhaps only after becoming a parent herself does she grasp the heartache of a parent’s endless worry for their child.
Time would mature her, steady her—but it would also age her parents.
Once married, home becomes scattered across distant lands.
Opportunities to reunite grow fewer.
Every meeting becomes one less.
Understanding this, Gu Jianing cherished every chance to see her family.
So hearing they could return home filled her with joy.
“Mom, Dad, are we really going to see Grandpa, Grandma, and Uncle and Aunt?”
“I miss Brother Shitou and Brother Zhuangzhuang!”
Xingxing and Yueyue were equally thrilled at the prospect of returning to Huaihua Village and eagerly crowded around to ask.
“Of course! Dad will take all of us!”
“Yay! Yay!” The two children cheered, clapping their hands.
Seated in his stroller, Tuantuan didn’t understand the excitement but joined in, clapping along with his siblings.
Just then, Gu Jianing noticed Amber’s subdued silence. She turned to Sheng Zexi and said, “Before we leave, let’s visit the military dog training base.”
The moment she said this, Amber froze, her eyes glistening as she looked at Gu Jianing.
‘Sister…’
Gu Jianing walked over and stroked Amber’s fur. “I know you must miss Zaizai and the others.”
“Xingxing, Yueyue, and I miss them too.”
At this, Xingxing and Yueyue’s nostalgia surged.
“I miss Hongying.”
“I miss Leiting.”
Truthfully, they missed all of them—Shandian, Lijian—but Hongying and Leiting had spent the most time with them, forging the deepest bonds.
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