He Teng didn’t have a chance to tell the family this good news. Even though it was simply a promotion to a small ranking position, it was nevertheless an important turning point in He Teng’s career.
"Really! That’s great! Brother, I’ve always known that my awesome brother can’t just be a low-level leader." He Dongxue was extremely excited when she heard, and said to their father standing beside her, "Dad, my brother got a promotion! He’s currently pursuing further education at the military academy in the capital, and he’s with his wife there!"
"Good! Good!" He Da nodded repeatedly, his aged face seemed to glow, "Let your brother focus on his studies in school, and not worry about our home, we’re all doing well. He should take care of your sister-in-law!"
"Don’t worry, dad. My sister-in-law is my brother’s wife. Although my brother is not talkative, would he neglect his own wife?" After speaking with their father, He Dongxue deliberately asked He Teng over the phone, "I’m correct, right? Brother?"
He Teng, teased by He Dongxue, just nodded awkwardly to the phone, and reacted upon hearing He Zhilan’s chuckle, saying, "Um... let dad answer the phone."
"I’ll talk to dad!" When He Zhilan heard the phone being passed to their father, she directly snatched it from He Teng’s hand and yelled sweetly, "Dad! Happy New Year! I’ve been missing you!"
When He Da heard her, he couldn’t help but laugh, "Why haven’t you been writing home recently? Is it because the study load has been heavy?"
He Zhilan agreed, "It has been quite busy recently." Actually, she hadn’t written to her family since He Teng was hospitalized. On the one hand, she didn’t have the time, and on the other, she was afraid that she would involuntarily reveal He Teng’s circumstances. Plus, these days, her studies indeed became intensive since final exams were approaching. Thus, she hadn’t gotten around to writing.
"If you’re busy with studies, don’t write. Studying is most important, and you’ve always taken your studies seriously. The competition in university will be fierce, don’t overwork yourself. Though we may not eat well at home, we have to eat enough. If it’s not enough, dad will wire you more money. You can’t be studying while starving."
"Dad, everything is fine, don’t worry. I eat plenty every day." He Zhilan choked upon hearing her father’s nagging, "Dad, I’m not coming home during the winter vacation. A friend introduced a part-time job to me in the capital, which provides food and accommodation. It also allows me to earn some money. But most importantly, I want to spend the New Year with my brother in the capital. My brother has always been alone in the army during the New Year’s before. This year, since I happen to be in the capital, I want to join him in the army to celebrate."
Upon hearing that He Zhilan wasn’t coming home for the New Year, He Da sighed. Truth be told, it had been nearly half a year since he last saw He Zhilan. During his free time after finishing farming work, he would sit in the yard smoking, his thoughts drifting to his children.
He Teng had always been in the military, barely at home since he turned sixteen. Now that he was finally married, it was a load off He Da’s mind. He Teng was mature from a young age, so while He Da missed him, the worry was not as intense.
He Dongxue was his youngest daughter, always by his side, so he wasn’t worried about her.
The ones he thought about the most were He Zhilan and He Da.
One was a child bride bought into the family who was never easy to handle, the other had grown up and left the home to start his own life. As a father, he had too many worries. He feared He Zhilan would suffer hardships due to her temper, and that she would struggle to take care of herself as a front-line soldier. He worried she wouldn’t have enough money and would feel inferior to her peers, and that she would ruin her health out of dedication to her studies.