After dinner, Ling Chengyan took little Jiajia to the hospital again.

Wang Xiangyong was already awake and was very happy to see Jiajia.

Jiajia was also happy to see her dad and sensibly told him that Aunt Ling and sister gave her new clothes and delicious food.

Jiajia talked to her dad for a few moments and then wanted to find her grandma.

Ling Chengyan asked Fu Qiang to carry her to ask the nurse if grandma had woken up.

Watching Fu Qiang carrying Jiajia out, Ling Chengyan turned back and met Wang Xiangyong’s knowing gaze.

"Grandma Wang fell and hit her head, causing a brain hemorrhage. They couldn’t save her," Ling Chengyan didn’t hide the truth and told Wang Xiangyong honestly.

After waking up, when Wang Xiangyong asked the doctors and nurses, he noticed their vague and evasive manner, which made him suspect something. Now, hearing it confirmed by Ling Chengyan, he wasn’t surprised but couldn’t suppress his sobbing.

"It’s all my fault..." he whimpered.

Ling Chengyan silently watched him cry for a while. When his emotions subsided a bit, she handed him a damp towel: "Since it happened, you have to try to find peace. You still have Jiajia."

Wang Xiangyong covered his eyes with the towel and after a while, slowly nodded.

Ling Chengyan explained Jiajia’s situation to Wang Xiangyong, shared the benevolent lie she told, and described how she saw the child when she first met her: "... I thought the child might fall ill, but the little girl is stronger than we imagined. She is truly your daughter."

Wang Xiangyong felt both sour and helpless in his heart, sniffed his nose, wiped his eyes again, and then turned his head to express gratitude: "Thank you."

The little girl went to ask the nurse but, of course, didn’t get the answer she wanted. The nurse told her that grandma was sick and went to see the doctor. She would come back once she got better.

The little girl returned, feeling very low.

Thankfully, she didn’t insist on waiting for grandma anymore, nor did she insist on staying by her dad’s side. Because Aunt Ling had told her she was still a child, and staying there would worry her dad. Only by being good could her dad feel at ease enough to recover quickly.

Wang Xiangyong also cooperated by persuading his daughter to go with Aunt Ling, promising that once he recovered, he would come to pick her up and bring her home.

"And don’t forget about grandma," Jiajia solemnly reminded him.

Wang Xiangyong nodded with a choked voice, "Mm."

The next day, the special task force collected over two thousand three hundred yuan in donations.

Upon learning of the situation, the large area also started a fundraising activity, collecting over eight thousand yuan.

After further investigation, the group that caused the damage and injuries was quickly identified. The ringleader was a local official’s son, who was notorious for his indulgence and tyranny.

This person gathered people to watch some imported restricted films, and when the machine broke, they brought it to Wang Xiangyong for repair. Instead, Wang Xiangyong destroyed the films directly.

Having no means to retrieve the discs, they falsely claimed that Wang Xiangyong hadn’t repaired it and then resorted to violence.

Because the large district intervened, the case quickly progressed. In less than a week, all participants were apprehended.

When the individuals weren’t detained, their parents and relatives used every connection to advocate for the spoiled brats, pleading and exonerating them. But once they were detained, these people were truly anxious and rushed to the hospital, coercing and enticing Wang Xiangyong, promising high compensation in hopes of gaining his forgiveness, which he refused.

A few days later, the ringleader’s father was removed from his position.

The action of making an example deterred others from stirring up any trouble, allowing the case to be investigated and resolved efficiently.

Half a month later, when Wang Xiangyong was discharged from the hospital, the case was largely settled. Although the sentences hadn’t been finalized, the main perpetrator was facing at least 20 years, while the accomplices were looking at ten years or more.

Given Wang Xiangyong’s situation, he was temporarily placed in a convalescent home to recover. Jiajia went to pick up her dad from the hospital and followed him there, telling Ling Chengyan that with grandma not at home, she wanted to stay with her dad.

After settling the father and daughter, Ling Chengyan finally had the time to ask about Hongjun’s situation.

This time, Hongjun came back for a matchmaking meeting. The other party was one of Hongling’s classmates, a nurse who had just graduated from nursing school.

Wang Liansheng smiled and nodded as his wife inquired: "Both sides are quite satisfied. Given Hongjun’s special circumstances, the parents have met and they’ve settled the engagement."

Ling Chengyan couldn’t help but laugh: "In one month, from matchmaking to engagement, that’s impressive."

Wang Liansheng said, "What’s the big deal? It’s not easy for soldiers to get leave to go home, often matchmaking and marriage registrations happen in quick succession."

Being a soldier herself, Ling Chengyan had heard such stories from veterans, so she was well aware.

"Isn’t Hongjun going back to the team soon? Let’s take a day off and go home to see, also visit Uncle and Aunt."

Wang Liansheng nodded but asked, "There won’t be any impact from the navy’s downsizing, right?"

Ling Chengyan shook her head, "Don’t worry, Hongjun graduated from military academy and is educated; the downsizing won’t affect him. Furthermore, the navy is one of our weaknesses, and it’s only going to see development, not reductions."

In fact, when the downsizing news was released, it was essentially settled, mainly affecting the army.

Though no one wanted such a thing to happen, with the changing times and circumstances, strengthening the nation and military required high-tech development and elite forces. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Modern warfare relies more on high-tech equipment, and the era of large-scale human-wave tactics has become history.

Before leaving, Wang Hongjun was advised by Ling Chengyan: "Don’t give up on learning, and continue to pursue further studies if the opportunity arises."

Wang Hongbing was no longer the rookie he once was in the team, and naturally understood these principles.

He nodded solemnly in agreement, saluted his family standing at the train door, then turned and boarded the train.

The train whistled and slowly pulled out of the station.

Ling Chengyan turned back and greeted the family to return.

Especially addressing the girl standing with Hongling, Wang Haiyan: "Haiyan, today’s your day off. Don’t rush back; come with me. We’ll make dumplings for dinner."

Wang Haiyan seemed a bit embarrassed, but Hongling and Xiaoyu each took her by the arm and followed along.

After sending off Hongjun, it was time to send Xiaoyu to school.

Xiaoyu was successfully admitted to the Provincial University, and since it took only half an hour to get there by car, she said she could report by herself, but Ling Chengyan vetoed it.

Wang Liansheng borrowed a car, loaded the luggage, and went with Ling Chengyan to send Xiaoyu to school.

Xiao Xing and Shi Tou had already started school and couldn’t go along, both were quite resentful about it.

As Wang Liansheng drove, he laughed and said, "Back then, I always aspired to get into the Provincial University. Unfortunately, my scores weren’t high enough, so I ended up in a technical school."

Before he finished, he felt his wife’s hand reaching over to rest on his knee.

Warmth flooded his heart, and he smiled back at her.

Speaking of the past, Ling Chengyan remembered Old Mr. Lian: "I heard Old Mr. Lian got sick, it’s not serious, right?"

The smile on Wang Liansheng’s face faded, replaced by a solemn expression. He shook his head, "Not good... bladder tumor."