Chapter 168: Chapter 126: Zhou Xiaozheng’s Return (Part 2)
Disguising herself, forcing herself to hold on, because no one gave her support, no one stood up for her, no one solved her problems. She had to rely on herself step by step, cautiously afraid of making mistakes, because no one would protect her, determinedly guarding her own bottom line, facing everything with a facade of strength.
His daughter, his Jiao Jiao, was only 17. After enduring hardships for too long, at a young age she learned to read people, to compromise, and to be patient, to be composed and calm. Only because she had experienced so much, her heart grew cold, making it hard for her to trust others, hiding everything inside.
When other 17-year-old girls were acting spoiled, reaching out to their parents for money, wanting this and that, his daughter had already learned to observe silently, to protect herself secretly, and to plan for her own future. Who wouldn’t want to grow up carefree and innocent? His daughter, at the age of 17, lived carefully, calculating every step, just like an orphan with no one to rely on, wishing to escape far away from trouble. It was because he wasn’t there supporting her, she lacked a father to stand by her, struggling for 17 years like an orphan, living like a weed by the roadside.
It seemed like she was crying, but wasn’t this also a way to vent? 17 years of grievances, she had too much bitterness in her heart that she couldn’t tell anyone, and only her father could be someone she could trust. But how could he deserve the trust of his daughter, whom he should have treasured like a jewel?
His daughter was well-behaved and sensible, kind and gentle. Even so, she suffered from the so-called relatives’ abuse, insults, and nearly lost his Jiao Jiao. With her character, if Huang Zhaodi’s schemes had succeeded, she wouldn’t have survived, then who would seek justice for his daughter? He was never so grateful to the heavens for allowing him to live to see his Jiao Jiao, and for his Jiao Jiao still waiting for his return.
Looking at his daughter, with her yellowish, thin face, her whole body as thin as paper, poverty taught her to be content, well-behaved, and understanding, knowing that without him standing behind her, she endured mockery, grievances, and learned to read people by observing them, staying calm and steady, keeping everything in her heart.
He wasn’t blaming his wife; he understood his own father too well. If things had gone as he imagined back then, if his wife had stayed with their daughter in the army, who would dare to target her? But he couldn’t say it out loud. As a man, the only one he could blame was himself. His wife searched for him all over the country in the 17 years he was lost, always waiting for his return. She endured tears and longing, so how could he bear to resent her? He had no right to blame his in-laws. Even his own father ignored the child, making things worse, hitting them when they were down.
This iron-willed man, never shedding a tear through numerous serious injuries over 17 years, not even when he grew up, not even when he thought of his distant Jiao Jiao, he didn’t shed a tear. Even when the longing felt like a stabbing pain in his heart, he just hoped to complete the task sooner and return sooner. But now, seeing his daughter in his arms, whispering, ’Dad, why did it take you so long to come back,’ he could no longer hold back his tears.
How many times had he imagined what it would be like when he saw his daughter? How would she react? But he never expected to see her sobbing uncontrollably. Hearing her repeatedly ask why he took so long, without a single word of blame, brought him indescribable heartache.
Many times he wondered if he had died, would his Jiao Jiao forget her dad? Would she not know that he worked hard in this world just to see her—to tell her that he hoped she would live as her name Jiao Jiao meant—spoiled and pampered, able to live proudly, treasured like a princess.
During these past days, from his father-in-law’s words and his wife’s conversations, he learned that his daughter grew up like a weed, learning from her surroundings to grow. But in her bones, she inherited his strengths. She’s truly his daughter! His Jiao Jiao, resilient, kind, steady, thoughtful, knowledgeable, quick-thinking, but never spoiled. Life gave her hardships, and she learned to be magnanimous, to hide her struggles, to understand many principles of life. He felt both proud and heartbroken.
Zhou Xiaozheng saw someone approaching from a distance and quickly wiped away his tears, gently patting Zhou Jiao, ’Daddy’s Jiao Jiao, my good daughter, don’t cry. Daddy is back; I won’t let you cry anymore. Someone is coming. Let’s take daddy inside first.’
Zhou Jiao was a bit stunned from crying, dumbfounded and just staring at her dad crying. It was Lin Lishan who couldn’t bear it, pulling her towards home, and she finally reacted, hurriedly shouting, ’Mom, don’t pull. Dad, dad hasn’t come in yet. Dad, come in quickly...’
Lin Lishan held her hand, rolling her eyes with a bit of irritability, her red eyes were not glamorous, ’Are you stupid? Your dad is holding your hand, and you only care about being close to your dad, huh?’
Zhou Jiao didn’t have time to talk to her, just looked at her dad, stupidly clutching his hand. When she noticed Zhang Guoqing running over, she cried out excitedly, ’Brother, my dad is here! Brother, my dad really came back! My dad is still alive! Look, this is my dad, it’s my dad!’ After saying this, she eagerly held up Zhou Xiaozheng’s hand.
Zhou Xiaozheng just kept watching her, watching her tightly grasp his hand, holding on firmly, showing off like a child, proudly like a child, her big eyes once clouded by tears now clear as water, her face full of a satisfied smile.
With Zhou Jiao’s loud cheers, people in the distance heard the sound, saw Zhou Xiaozheng in military uniform, and curiously all ran over. Zhou Jiao’s dad was Zhou Xiaozheng. Everyone was from the surrounding villages, who didn’t know Zhou Xiaozheng? That was Zhou Xiaozheng, who became an officer and married a general’s daughter. Zhou Xiaozheng, said to have been dead for over ten years.
In the crowd were childhood friends who grew up with Zhou Xiaozheng, all running towards him in surprise, rubbing their eyes in disbelief, hadn’t it been said he was already a martyr?