Reborn in the 1980s: I became a stepmother in the 1980s Ⅱ

Part 264 Letter from Zhou Yueshen

But how was her husband not coming home related to Lin Sisi? Zhang Cuimei was being naive. Si Nian's father was not someone who was particularly sentimental.

With a half-smile, Si Nian replied, "That's true. I guess I'll find some time to visit the military district to check on Uncle and see what's going on. It's been a while since I visited Qianqian anyway."

Zhang Cuimei's face turned pale upon hearing this. Fu Yang had been promoted, a fact she had kept from Si Nian. If Si Nian went back and visited Fu Qianqian...

The mere thought made Zhang Cuimei's heart race with anxiety. What was she thinking, coming to Si Nian for help? Her daughter was already in trouble, and if Si Nian returned, how disappointed would her daughter be?

"I only came to chat with you. You have classes and children to take care of, so you're busy enough as it is. It's better not to go. Besides, your father is always at the military base, and not everyone can get in there," she urged, trying to deflect Si Nian from the idea.

After saying that, Zhang Cuimei hurriedly left. Si Nian watched her leave, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Comrade Si, you have a letter!"

It was a letter from Zhou Yuanshen.

Surprised, Si Nian opened the letter. Inside, there was quite a bit of writing. He mentioned that he might not be back for a while and apologized for not telling her sooner. He reminded her to eat on time and reassured her that she didn't need to worry about the pig farm; they would make sure to send meat regularly. If she craved anything specific, she should let them know. He also advised her not to overwork herself at her job, saying that she didn't have to cook for the kids every day and could ask him to bring back anything she wanted.

The letter was filled with caring words. Though the phrasing felt a bit awkward, the thoughtfulness from this "older man" was evident.

Si Nian respected his decision and understood the demands of his work. After reading, a smile spread across her face.

Just then, the two older boys came home.

"Xiao Dong, Xiao Han, your dad's letter!" she called out.

The two children paused for a moment before running over eagerly.

"Mom, mom! What did dad write?"

"I'll read it myself; I can recognize the words," Xiao Dong replied confidently.

Zhou Zehan took the letter and read it for a long time, only to find that it was mostly addressed to their mother.

Finally, at the bottom, he spotted the words meant for them: "Don't cause trouble for Mom. Stay safe, and don't worry." — Zhou Yuanshen.

That was it?

Zhou Zehan flipped through the letter again, confirming that it only contained those few words. Both children fell silent.

...

Two days earlier, Zhou Yuanshen finally arrived in the Northwest.

Even after two days on the train, he and his companion still sat upright, as if they were in a competition of sorts. The tired security guard beside them exchanged glances with the other people nearby, both looking bewildered.

At last, they reached the Northwest train station. The security guard stepped off the train, taking a deep breath of fresh air. He felt as if the world was incredibly beautiful.

"Commander, I've already contacted the military district. Someone will come to pick us up. We just need to wait here," the guard reported.

The two of them stood by the roadside when they noticed a man across from them, also stepping off with luggage.

Zhou Yuanshen couldn't help but glance over, only to see the look on his commander's face worsen even further.

"Are they enemies or something?" he thought, puzzled. He didn't understand why the commander harbored such hostility toward a fellow comrade who was just there to work.

The two men were hardly comparable!

The other man seemed to come from modest means and was merely working. Zhou Yuanshen's commander had wealth and power, excelling in every aspect. He couldn't fathom why this other man would provoke such ire.

"Is it because he married a beautiful and virtuous wife?" Zhou Yuanshen recalled hearing about his commander's troubled romantic history and thought this might be the reason.

Just as he was contemplating how to soothe his commander's apparent discomfort, he noticed a military vehicle approaching.

He quickly waved his hand and said, "Commander, the car is here! We can finally head to the base!"

The guard looked at the driver and exclaimed, "It's actually Colonel Wang coming to pick us up! I remember him from my previous training here; he's a big deal around these parts, having accomplished so much for the Northwest! It seems the Northwest Military District holds you in high regard, Commander!"

Zhou Yuanshen noticed his commander's expression brighten slightly as he moved towards the vehicle.