In the evening, Luo Zhiyong came back from work and said that the military was starting to grant leave for family visits from the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month.
However, only a small portion of the people could go back, and the majority would still be spending the New Year in the military.
Luo Zhiyong had taken family leave to celebrate New Year at home last year, so naturally, he didn’t have time this year, and aside from the New Year holidays, he still had to return to the military base every day.
As soon as he got back, Luo Honglan told him about the request from home to make a phone call, and Luo Zhiyong frowned and thought for a while, then after dinner, he also made a call to the Village Branch Secretary’s home.
The call was picked up by Luo Dashan, who said on the phone, "Zhiyong, your mom and I just want to see the two children. Ever since they were born, I haven’t seen them yet. If you guys have time, come back for a visit, but if you really can’t find the time, then never mind."
For Luo Dashan, Luo Zhiyong had always felt somewhat guilty. He fell silent for a long while, then said, "I will see what I can do. If I can’t make it back, I’ll have Hong Lan take some money back for you all to spend during New Year."
After hearing this, Luo Dashan felt somewhat disappointed, but also did not insist on Luo Zhiyong returning, only saying, "If you cannot come back for New Year, then don’t bother with the money. With you not at home, we won’t spend much anyway, and your mom and I still have money."
After speaking a few words with Luo Dashan on the phone, Luo Zhiyong hung up.
Later, when it was time to sleep, Fang Pingying asked Luo Zhiyong, "Do you have time to return home for the New Year?"
Luo Zhiyong, who was reclining in bed reading a book, put down the book upon hearing Fang Pingying’s question, and hesitated before replying, "There’s no leave from the military; if I really go back, I can’t stay for very long, just manage to spare three or four days."
Fang Pingying sensed that he wanted to go back but didn’t say much, she softly added, "Then it’s up to you. It’s fine if you want to go back for New Year. Anyway, staying here with Yaoyao and Ruirui and enjoying New Year with both sides of grandparents is lively enough, and the kids have someone to look after them, so you don’t need to worry."
Luo Zhiyong glanced at Fang Pingying and then patted the edge of the bed, signaling Fang Pingying to come over.
After Fang Pingying moved closer, Luo Zhiyong tried to discuss with her, "Pingying, actually, dad wants to see Ruirui and Yaoyao."
"No, Ruirui and Yaoyao are too young. The weather is too cold right now. If they have to take a train and a bus, they will certainly catch a cold. Besides, we’ve already agreed that, barring any special circumstances, we wouldn’t go back." Fang Pingying said, and recalling that Xu He was added to the family this year, she became even more uncompromising, adding, "Your mom already makes fusses, and now there’s Xu He in the household, we can’t enjoy a peaceful New Year at home at all. What’s the point in going back?"
Luo Zhiyong frowned slightly. He indeed felt that the home was not just Xu He’s, but also his, as it was his money supporting the family – what right did they have to force Xu He.
Moreover, as Luo Zhiyong, he felt that since his parents were getting older, if he could show filial piety and visit them more often, he still wanted to.
As soon as Fang Pingying saw his expression, she guessed what was on his mind and frowned, "Also, don’t forget past pains when scars are healed. You know full well what Luo Zhiming and Xu He have done to us. Do you think I can just return there and genuinely enjoy a happy family reunion like before?"
Luo Zhiyong merely had this idea and wanted to discuss it with Fang Pingying, but seeing her opposition, he did not persist and said, "If you don’t want to go back, then we won’t go back. After the New Year, when I have some time, I will go back and visit dad. Besides, the elderly do love their grandchildren, so it’s not wrong for them to want to see the children." Thɪs chapter is updated by novel-fire.net
When Luo Zhiyong said this, although he did not argue with Fang Pingying, his tone was a bit displeased.
"Zhiyong, I’m not stopping your parents from loving their grandchildren. If they really want to see their grandson, they can pick a time to come and visit Ruirui. But I will not let Ruirui go back with you under such weather and home circumstances," Fang Pingying replied, hearing the displeasure in his tone and becoming somewhat impatient herself, "Furthermore, if you can’t stop worrying about your parents, you can also go back and spend the New Year with them. I won’t interfere."
After hearing this, Luo Zhiyong didn’t argue with Fang Pingying any further, and they stopped talking.
In summary, the couple ended up parting on a somewhat unhappy note over this matter.
Luo Zhiyong did harbor a wish to take the kids back for Luo Dashan to see, but Fang Pingying’s points also made sense. With the weather being so cold and Fang Pingying unwilling to go back, he, being a man, couldn’t handle the kids alone. He just thought it was worth discussing with his wife.
Thus, the matter of going home passed, and in the end, Luo Zhiyong decided not to return before the New Year, telling his family that he couldn’t obtain leave from the military and couldn’t make the trip back.
Fang Pingying knew that Luo Zhiyong was somewhat upset about this matter, always feeling guilty toward Luo Dashan. There were things Fang Pingying was willing to compromise on for him, but when it came to their children, she wouldn’t budge at all. Pretending not to notice his inner thoughts, she remained unaware.
However, Luo Zhiyong’s reaction gave Fang Pingying a bad premonition.
Clearly, Luo Zhiyong was not at ease about the situation at home; he still wanted to shoulder the family responsibilities like before. So, if some issue arose back home in the future, he truly wouldn’t be able to do as he said and not get involved.
If he continued to meddle, their small family’s life would not be easy.
Therefore, due to this incident, Fang Pingying felt that an underlying problem had begun to arise between the couple, and her confidence in their marital relationship was no longer as strong as before.
Having lived through two lifetimes, she had seen too many couples end up divorcing over such issues, and her own previous divorce from Luo Zhiyong was to some extent due to this reason as well.
Perhaps at the beginning, both sides had hoped the other would compromise or felt they could endure, but in the end, someone would tire, unable to bear it any longer. After prolonged struggles, they still couldn’t manage to stay together.
Having experienced it, Fang Pingying admitted that she was more fragile-minded than most people. If Luo Zhiyong continued to waver, causing the same issues as before, even if it didn’t lead to divorce, she still couldn’t continue on.
Yu’er and the others were coming home on the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, and Cheng Fei came to Fang Pingying’s house on the afternoon of the 27th.
Cheng Fei, though timid and afraid of trouble at home, was a child raised by upright Uncle Er, so his character was still good.
He worked for Zeng Weiguo for several months without causing any trouble for Fang Pingying’s family, was honest in his work, and Zeng Weiguo praised Cheng Fei in front of Fang Pingying many times, saying that after the New Year, he planned to transfer Cheng Fei to the factory as a technician so he could learn something and earn a much higher salary than as a security guard.