"Uncle, you seriously don’t know?"

Ling Zhiwei shot up from his chair, his eyes widening even more.

"You two are planning something secret behind our backs? That’s not cool at all!"

The moment he spoke, all eyes in the room fell on Ling Anxun.

Ling Anxun felt a little embarrassed under their stares and could only shake his head honestly.

"I really don’t. She hasn’t said a single word to me about it these past few days, not even a hint. I know nothing."

Everyone’s gaze swiveled in unison to Shanshan.

But she stubbornly refused to say a word.

"You guys will just have to wait for the birthday!"

"You’ll find out then. I guarantee you’ll be surprised, delighted, and moved to tears!"

Ling Anxun finally pulled her into the bedroom and gently closed the door.

"Alright, spill it. What’s this treasure you’re hiding? If you don’t tell me, Daddy’s going to have to get serious."

Shanshan looked up at him, then stood on her tiptoes and leaned close to his ear.

After whispering, she quickly took a step back.

After all, this was no small surprise. Her dad had to be the one to carry it out.

"But..."

Ling Anxun’s brow furrowed after he heard her out.

"So many people will be at Grandma’s birthday banquet—all our relatives and friends. Doing this... isn’t it a bit too much? Too conspicuous? Daughter, can we think of a different surprise? Something more low-key would be good too."

"No! It has to be this one!"

Shanshan immediately shook her head, her little face set in a determined expression.

She threw her arms around Ling Anxun’s arm.

"Daddy, you promised you’d do the most special thing with me, you said so yourself! Besides... besides, this isn’t just a surprise. It’s something I decided on after thinking about it for a very, very long time."

"When I used to go fishing with Grandma and Grandpa, we’d sit on little stools by the river, and I’d always hear other grandmas praising ours. They’d say she was so lucky, that she married a good husband to have such a blessed life. With a house full of children and grandchildren, with so many sons, grandsons, and granddaughters, she’s truly a fortunate person."

"Grandma would just smile and nod, but I could tell... she wasn’t happy inside. It was a forced smile, like she was holding something back."

Ling Anxun froze, not comprehending for a moment.

Shanshan continued.

"Dad, haven’t you all always said that when Grandpa was young, he was away on missions all year round? He’d be gone for months at a time, not even home for New Year’s Eve."

"Eldest Uncle, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and you—Grandma raised all of you through hardship. From the time you were little, every meal you ate, every piece of clothing you wore, wasn’t it all made by Grandma’s own hands?"

"She stayed up late at night mending clothes and got up before dawn to cook, never complaining about the wind or the sun. But why does everyone now say that Grandpa was the one who supported this family? It’s as if Grandma did nothing, just sat at home enjoying a life of leisure."

’She’s right.’

’Every single thing in this household, inside and out—wasn’t it Mother who shouldered it all by herself in silence?’

’She took perfect care of her four sons, and later, she doted on her grandchildren, raising all four of them to be healthy and chubby.’

’Without her supporting this family day in and day out, how could Father have focused on his work outside without any worries?’

’How could any of us brothers have achieved what we have in our careers if we hadn’t been standing on our mother’s shoulders?’

’Mother was always a person whose word was law.’

’She was intelligent and resolute in her youth.’

’If she hadn’t been held back by the family, if she’d had the chance to leave this courtyard and build a career, she might not have been any less accomplished than Father.’

’But she chose to stay home.’

’And now?’

’No one ever mentions her.’

’But what’s the truth?’

’She’s the real unsung hero.’

A pang of sorrow shot through Ling Anxun’s heart, and his eyes reddened before he knew it.

He lowered his head, then quickly raised it again.

"Okay."

"Daddy will listen to you. We’ll do it your way."

On the day of the birthday party, relatives arrived one after another.

Ding Qin, dressed in a dark red velvet blouse, sat in the seat of honor, accepting everyone’s well wishes.

The relatives presented their carefully chosen gifts one by one.

When it was the turn of her youngest son, Ling Anxun, and her little granddaughter, Shanshan, the atmosphere in the living room suddenly grew a little quieter.

All eyes were involuntarily drawn to them.

After all, Ling Anxun was away most of the year and wasn’t a man of many words. No one could guess what he would give today.

Ling Anxun stood where he was and took a deep breath.

Then, he pulled a small, dark brown wooden box from the pocket of his military uniform.

The box wasn’t large, but it was exquisitely crafted, with a small five-pointed star carved on it.

He took Shanshan’s small hand, and the two of them walked step by step toward his mother.

Under everyone’s gaze, he raised his right hand in a standard military salute.

"Comrade Ding Qin, greetings."

"Today, on behalf of the entire Ling family, I formally present you with the ’Medal of Meritorious Service to the Family’."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone was stunned.

Ding Qin was completely frozen in place, her eyes wide with shock.

She stared blankly at her son, then at her granddaughter.

Meanwhile, Shanshan had already quietly pulled a prepared script from her pocket.

"To my greatest grandma!"

"You have never worn a military uniform, yet with your slender shoulders, you have carried this family through storms and turmoil."

"You have never worn a medal, yet with your daily toil, you have written the most moving story of loyalty."

"You have never stood in the spotlight, yet with your own two hands, you have silently lifted up our entire family’s future."

"Today, we will no longer let you be forgotten. We will no longer let your sacrifices be understated."

"This medal is not the end of your honor, but the beginning of our awakening."

"Grandma, you deserve to be seen, you deserve to be remembered, and you deserve the deepest respect in this world."

Listening to this, Ding Qin’s tears streamed down her face, and others in the room quietly wiped their eyes as well.

Finally, with trembling hands, she accepted the medal from her son.

Ling Zhenkang, who had been sitting silently to the side, slowly stood up.

He walked over to Ding Qin, bent down slightly, and personally pinned the medal to her blouse.

Shanshan continued speaking.

"Grandma, Dad and I designed this medal. We chose the brightest silver-plated border and engraved the four words ’Backbone of the Family’ on it. There’s also a ring of osmanthus flowers, because you love the scent of osmanthus. You are our family’s greatest hero."

"Dad says he’s sorry for making you wait so long. After all these years, someone is finally putting this respect into words, and someone is finally truly seeing your contributions."

"It’s not too late, it’s really not. It’s never too late."

Ding Qin said.

She was smiling radiantly, but tears were still welling up in her eyes. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Thanks to the performance Ling Anxun and Liu Yingzi put on together, the birthday banquet was a massive success.

People were chattering, saying what a thoughtful child she was, and that Ding Qin’s lifelong sacrifices hadn’t been in vain.

Ding Qin kept Shanshan held tightly by her side.

"Ah Qin, your granddaughter is truly a treasure sent from heaven! She’s smart, considerate, and so sweet with her words. Not like that grandson of mine, who only knows how to eat, drink, and play all day long. He can’t even say a single kind word. Last time you were hospitalized, he didn’t even call, said he was busy playing video games. It makes my blood boil!"

"Exactly! Girls are just more thoughtful. It’s the heart that matters, and that child Shanshan truly keeps her elders in her heart; she’s so dutiful. She’s bound to have a blessed future."

In Ding Qin’s heart now, no one was dearer to her than Shanshan.

The children and grandchildren who had once been her greatest concern were all overshadowed in this moment.

As the banquet ended and the guests were leaving, every person who passed by couldn’t resist pinching Shanshan’s little cheek.