Huo Jingrui glanced at his wristwatch. "There’s still half an hour; the car should be here by then. As for Mom, I’ll have to trouble you, Dad, to comfort her and help her understand."
Huo Shanhe couldn’t help but let out an exasperated laugh. "You little rascal, so you’re even scheming against your old man now?"
Huo Jingrui stood at attention and gave a military salute. Just then, a car horn sounded from outside. "Dad, I’m leaving," he said. "Please tell Mom I’m sorry." With that, he turned and quickly left through the front door.
Huo Shanhe watched his son’s figure disappear beyond the main gate, then withdrew his gaze. He knew there was a tough battle ahead.
Before he could think of an excuse to offer his wife, an anxious voice cried out from outside, "Shanhe, where’s our son?"
Huo Shanhe cleared his throat, preparing to explain, but Jiang Jingya gave him no chance. She ran straight upstairs, calling, "Son! Jingrui!" She hurried back down moments later. "Shanhe, where is my son?"
Huo Shanhe said gravely, "Comrade Jiang Jingya, a soldier’s primary duty is to obey orders. You are a military spouse; you mustn’t hold our son back."
Jiang Jingya was so angry her hands trembled. "He’s a soldier, yes, but you’re his biological father! Don’t you know his wounds haven’t healed yet? Does the army stop functioning just because he’s not there?"
In her agitation, she blurted out, "I think you two, father and son, are just conspiring to anger me to death! Huo Shanhe, what are you playing at? Are you trying to anger me to death so you can marry a fourth time?"
Huo Shanhe looked at his fuming wife, took a step forward, and pulled her back into the room. "Look at what you’re saying! Aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughingstock?"
Jiang Jingya was truly frantic. She started pummeling him with her fists. "Huo Shanhe, you heartless bastard! How could you be so cruel? His body hasn’t even recovered, and you let him go on a mission! If you’re so displeased with me and our son, just say so!"
Huo Shanhe knew his wife was in a towering rage and didn’t retort, letting her vent her frustration.
Jiang Jingya rained blows and kicks on Huo Shanhe until, exhausted, she slumped onto the bed. "If anything happens to our son this time, we’re through!" With that, she kicked off her shoes, yanked the blanket over herself, and covered her head.
Huo Shanhe sighed softly, sat beside her, and reached under the blanket, trying to take her hand. "Jingya, listen to me, please."
But Jiang Jingya wouldn’t let him. "I want some peace and quiet! Get the hell out!"
Huo Shanhe truly doted on his wife, who was fifteen years his junior. When her temper flared , he was genuinely at a loss. But what could he do? He loved her. Even if her temper was atrocious, hadn’t he been the one to spoil her? What else could he do but continue to indulge her?
"Jingya, please don’t be angry," he coaxed. "When our son left, he specifically asked me to explain things carefully to you, worried you’d get upset and it would harm your health."
The more Jiang Jingya listened, the angrier she became, her voice laced with tears. "If you were really worried I’d get sick from anger, you wouldn’t treat me ! None of you, old or young, are any good!"
Huo Shanhe tried to pull the blanket away, wanting to reason with her. "Scold us, hit us, do whatever you want, but let’s get this blanket off first. Don’t smother yourself under there, alright?"
When Huo Shanhe saw his wife’s tear-streaked face, his heart ached terribly. "Jingya, it’s my fault. Hit me, scold me, whatever you need to do. Just don’t take it out on yourself, please?"
Jiang Jingya also understood, of course. Her son had his own aspirations; he cherished that military uniform above all else. It wasn’t that she was being unreasonable; it was that her son’s injuries hadn’t fully healed, and now he was off on another mission. What mother’s heart wouldn’t ache with worry?