He was still far from being successful. If he were to break up with Zhai Hua now, all his previous efforts would be in vain.
“We’ll see when the time comes.” True enough, the affections of Zhai Hua toward Wei Wei had vanished to the point of no return. All her longing for Wei Wei was completely gone.
Hence, when Wei De brought up Wei Wei’s matter, Zhai Hua could not bring herself to sound happy. “I have some matters to settle in the army. I won’t chat with you further.”
“I’ll go and fetch you when you’re coming back, okay?”
“…Wei Wei is just a child. It is not safe for him to be at home alone. Since you wish to be a good uncle, you should spend more time to keep him company,” Zhai Hua said. She was feeling very perplexed.
Wei De smiled. “This auntie-in-law is really very good to Wei Wei. If Wei Wei is not filial to you when he grows up in the future, I’ll definitely smack his backside. Don’t worry. I’m a grown-up man and I have never been a father. How will I possibly know how to take care of a child? So, I simply hired a nanny to take care of Wei Wei. Wei Wei won’t have the opportunity to be alone at home. You don’t need to worry about Wei Wei. Wei Wei is only my nephew but you are my wife, the mother of my future children. To me, only you are the most important.”
“Humph, who knows if what you’re saying is true or false.” Zhai Hua finally smiled.
“Of course it’s real. It’s more authentic than gold.”
After appeasing Zhai Hua and hanging up the phone, Wei De experienced cramps in the three veins on his forehead.
Even though he had successfully appeased Zhai Hua, the mention of ‘break up’ by Zhai Hua this time was a warning bell for Wei De.
True enough, after being separated for some time, Zhai Hua seemed to be on the momentum to kick up a ‘family dispute’.
It was just that unlike in the past, he could no longer stay in the army camp, where he could be together with Zhai Hua all the time as long as he did not have to attend any training sessions.
Zhai Hua spent most of her time in the army. When she was occasionally on leave, she still had to consider the situation at the Zhai family. The time that the two spent together was thus greatly reduced. This was only the first year and there were already talks about breaking up. He was fearful that if he had not married Zhai Hua in the second year, instead of talking about breaking up, Zhai Hua would just notify him directly that it was ‘game over’ for the two of them.
However, what could he do to let the Zhai family approve of their relationship within one year such that he could marry Zhai Hua?
Despite dating Zhai Hua so many years, they were purely dating. He had always relied on his five fingers to relieve his sexual desire. Zhai Hua not only did not help him but also refused to give herself to him. At the thought of this, Wei De felt more sullen.
If Zhai Hua had become his woman long ago, given his ability, she would have been pregnant with his child.
He did not believe that those in the Zhai family could bear to let the child in Zhai Hua’s womb become one that did not have an official father.
The Zhai family was a family of soldiers. How could they do such a thing?
At the thought of this issue, Wei De felt troubled. Was this the only way out for him?
After it happened, what if Zhai Hua were to flare up at him for scheming against her and wanted to break up with him?
Wei De was scratching his head hard and he simply tugged a few strands of hair off. “This won’t do. I really have to think of a way to marry Zhai Hua this year and let Zhai Hua give birth to a child as soon as possible.”
Once there was a child, the Zhai family had to accept him. They would also gradually treat him better because of the child.
Zhai Hua loved children very much now. When they were out dating, Zhai Hua always liked to tease other people’s children that she saw on the streets. If he could teach Wei Wei well such that Wei Wei would be sweet and affectionate to Zhai Hua, it might be a solution too.
Zhai Hua was totally unaware that Wei De had thought of so many scenarios after she hung up the phone.
A few days later, Qiao Nan did not expect that she would really meet the legendary hero of the wartime, Old Master Zhai, who was still as hale and hearty as before.
Even Qiao Nan felt a little uneasy. Qiao Dongliang felt even more awkward and he did not know where to place his hands and legs.
“O-old Chief Zhai, good day.” At the sight of Old Master Zhai, Qiao Dongliang’s face swelled in red. He stood courteously and gave a ninety-degree bow to Old Master Zhai.
With the presence of Old Master Zhai, only Old Master Zhai was qualified to be addressed as the old chief.
“Comrade Qiao, good day.” Old Master Zhai laughed. “We’re going to be a family soon. Don’t need to be so nervous. This is not the army. It is just an ordinary family gathering. Why do you need to be so nervous? I heard that you have left the army for a long time. Nevertheless, your bow still meets all the criteria.”
Only someone who had been thinking of and missing the army would maintain this kind of state after leaving the army.
Okay, not bad.
“I’m nervous to meet you.” At that moment, Qiao Dongliang said honestly as he could not contain himself.
“Haha, don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous. If you meet me in the future, you can address me as uncle.” Old Master Zhai was very approachable. He did not have any intention of making things difficult for Qiao Dongliang.
Zhai Sheng secretly squeezed Qiao Nan, who was sitting beside him and having sweaty palms, to calm her down. “The old master is quite a good person. You should know when you see how carefree my mom has been these past few years.”
“It is normal for me to feel nervous at this time.” Emotions were not something that could be controlled as one wished. If Brother Zhai was not by her side, Qiao Nan might even tremble.
“Don’t be polite, everyone. Quickly sit down.” This was Old Master Zhai’s first impression of the Qiao family. He did not feel any revulsion toward the father-daughter pair of the Qiao family. “I heard that your daughter has just become the top scorer of the college entrance examination? She’s a talent.” Her grades were excellent. It was still compatible with that of his grandson.
“Luck, it was luck. My family’s Nan Nan doesn’t have a lot of hobbies. She just likes to study.” Qiao Dongliang wanted to be modest but he also wanted to express Qiao Nan’s willingness to learn. In the end, he said something where the first half of the sentence contradicted with the remaining half.
“Uncle Qiao, have some tea.” Seeing that beads of sweat were dripping from the side of Qiao Dongliang’s cheeks and him looking embarrassed and awkward, Zhai Sheng stood up and poured everyone a cup of tea.
Qiao Dongliang was also aware that he did not perform very well. He quickly moved the cup of tea before him and took a sip of it. He almost burned his tongue. In the process, he also wet his shirt.
Facing Qiao Dongliang’s loss of composure, Qiao Nan did not have much reaction. She calmly took out her handkerchief and passed it to Qiao Dongliang. “Dad, wipe yourself. Although it’s summer now, you’ll still feel uncomfortable. You can drink the tea when it’s cooler. No hurry.”
“Aye.” Qiao Dongliang felt so embarrassed but he listened to his daughter. He briefly wiped the tea on his shirt. When he took a sip of the tea when it turned cooler, he seemed to have calmed down a little.
Old Master Zhai nodded quietly. Not to mention Qiao Dongliang, he had seen many soldiers of Qiao Dongliang’s generation behaving in this way in front of him. It was not strange. Old Master Zhai was already used to it. Instead, he termed the reactions of these people as honest and forthright.
Qiao Dongliang had embarrassed himself in front of others, yet Qiao Nan was so patient. She not only did not blame Qiao Dongliang but also consoled him with usual words and calmed Qiao Dongliang down. This was hard to come by.
