At the end of July, when Zheng Kai arrived at the train station, Zheng Long picked him up in a jeep. On the way, the father and son caught up on each other’s lives.
Zheng Long had planned to give his son a surprise, so he didn’t mention Zheng Xuan’s situation to him. When they arrived at the military family compound and he took an infant of just two months from the arms of a big sister, Zheng Kai was shocked.
"Dad, did you get married?"
This statement made the big sisters and aunties of the family compound burst out laughing, and even Zheng Long’s face turned red for a moment. "Go on, go on, if I got married, would I not inform you?"
"Then whose child is that?"
When Zheng Kai found out that his father had picked the child up from the trash bin, his eyes immediately reddened. "Dad, you, you’re truly amazing."
"Go on, none of that amazing talk. Your school start date isn’t set yet, right? So during this time, you’ll take care of her,"
Zheng Kai immediately became flustered. "Dad, I don’t know how to take care of a child!"
"It’s okay if you don’t know; I’ll teach you. I have a single dormitory; we’ll take turns looking after this little girl. You’re called Zheng Kai, and I’ve named her Zheng Xuan. Together, you two are like ’triumphant return.’ Next spring, I’ll take her to be registered in the household."
"Xuan Xuan? That’s a nice name, but Dad, if you adopt another little sister, will anyone still want to marry you?"
"Didn’t I tell you? In this life, I’m content with just you and your little sister. What marriage? No need for that anymore."
"But Dad, there are still decades ahead. Surely you can’t spend them all alone?" Read complete version only at novelꞁire.net
"Why can’t I? Alright, enough talk. Go wash up, and in a bit, I’ll teach you how to care for this little ancestor,"
Zheng Kai never expected that his welcome to the military would involve diapers and pee. Because there were no disposable diapers in those days, he didn’t dare to use them. Instead, he cleaned and ironed his old clothes and bedsheets, making nappies for the child. Anytime there was an accident, they had to be washed—so there it was, Zheng Kai became a full-time nanny and thoroughly enjoyed being a big brother.
By the time Zheng Kai’s admission notice arrived in mid-August, everyone in the regiment rejoiced with him. After all, college students were precious in those days, especially since it was Zheng Long’s adopted son who was a future military doctor; they were naturally happy for him—they might even bump into Zheng Kai if they needed medical attention!
The school started in mid-September, and there would be military training right from the beginning. All things considered, he would likely only be able to stay for half a month.
"Dad, I really want to stay and help you take care of little sister. How could such a cute little sister be abandoned by her father?"
"In these times, life is tough for everybody. Add to that the one-child policy; there are too many families discarding or giving away girls in hopes of having a boy to carry on the family name. You better off not asking about this. But if you do, you’ll find out it happens in every village. The ones thrown in the trashcans are actually the lucky ones. Some are drowned by their grandparents immediately after birth."
Zheng Kai was downright appalled. "How could they bear to do that?"
"Heh, why couldn’t they? They’re not the ones who gave birth, they don’t feel the pain, so they can’t comprehend a mother’s suffering. That’s why when I found this child, I felt I couldn’t let go. Little Kai, when you’re at school, you must respect your female classmates and teachers, because girls really do have it tough. The reason I haven’t married is that I don’t want to hold anyone back. Let’s not bring this up again, okay? Dad doesn’t need you to continue the family line. Whether you have sons or daughters in the future, I don’t mind. Remember that?"