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Unexpectedly, Nan Yi caught him red-handed and glared at him: "What are you laughing at? I'm just... showing affection to my wife!"

"Okay, okay." The two quickly lowered their heads and drank.

After a few rounds of drinks, Nan Yi said with emotion, "Erhe, I have to thank you. If you hadn't transferred me to the steel rolling mill and the machinery factory back then, I would have been killed by the attack, let alone marry such a good wife as Ladi."

The two people next to him covered their mouths and chuckled, while Nan Yi angrily slammed his cane on the ground: "What are you laughing at? Ladi may be fierce, but she's really good to me! By the way, Erhe, where's that kid Dapeng?"

“Dapeng is no longer a kid; he’s been a grandfather for several years now.”

Nan Yi paused for a moment: "So he's still... single?"

"Yes, a few years ago some people introduced him to potential partners, but for some reason he rejected them all."

Nan Yi listened without saying a word, then smacked his lips for a while: "I reckon he still has Doctor Ding in his heart! By the way, Erhe, do you know where Doctor Ding went?"

Zhang Erhe popped a peanut into his mouth. "How would I know! Maybe he's regretting it somewhere."

In a hospital in Panzhihua, an elderly woman shakily took out her cell phone from her pocket, pondered for a long time, and finally dialed the number.

In a research institute far outside Beijing, Guan Suo straightened his back as he emerged from the lab. At fifty-three, he had followed his older cousin into the materials science institute for years, and the daily grind had taken a toll on his health. He was about to go to his office to call home and check on things when his phone rang in his pocket as soon as he opened the door.

Guan Suo picked up his phone and saw it was an unknown number. Given his current status, scam calls wouldn't dare reach him, so he answered, "Hello."

There was no response from the other end.

Guan Suo thought it was a prank and was about to hang up when someone on the other end suddenly spoke: "Is this... Suo Suo?"

Upon hearing this title, Guan Suo was momentarily dazed, his thoughts abruptly pulled back to decades ago.

"SuoSuo, listen to me... I didn't mean to call you. This number was given to me by your dad. I just... I just wanted to see you one more time."

Guan Suo sighed: "Is it necessary to see him or not?"

"Suo Suo, Mom doesn't have many days left... Mom knows that Mom has made many mistakes in her life, but Mom just wants to see you and Ya Ya one last time before she goes."

"...Okay, I see."

Guan Suo neither said he would go nor he wouldn't. After hanging up, he called his sister again.

Ya Ya is now a music teacher, and after hearing her brother's story, she was filled with emotion. She doesn't have many memories of her mother—Ding Qiunan left when she was less than two years old. Her memory of "mother" is always of her aunt, Guan Xue.

Unable to make up their minds, the brother and sister went to see Guan Linpeng that night.

When Guan Linpeng heard that Ding Qiunan didn't have much time left, his hand trembled slightly.

"Since she wants to see you, then go ahead."

"Dad, aren't you going?" Ya Ya asked.

Guan Linpeng stood up, poured the tea from his teacup outside the door, stared at the water stains on the ground, and remained silent for a while: "What's done is done. Let bygones be bygones."

Chapter 571 Withering

As the end of June approached, Zhang Jue suddenly returned to the courtyard.

Guan Xue looked at her son, whom she hadn't seen for several years, and tears welled up in her eyes. She rushed over and hugged him tightly, crying, "You heartless little brat! It's been so many years! So many years!"

Zhang Jue gently patted her mother's shoulder: "Mom, you know what my job is like..."

No matter how important your work is, you still have to come back and see us!

"Mom, it'll be just for this period of time. Once I'm done with this busy period, I'll be able to get back to normal a bit, and then I can come over and spend more time with you and Dad."

"I don't need you to accompany me!" Zhang Erhe still stubbornly insisted.

Guan Xue chuckled: "Your dad, before you came back, he kept asking Secretary Chen, who delivered the mail, 'Why haven't I received any mail in so long?'"

Zhang Erhe blushed when his secret was exposed: "Go away, who asked? Go and cook! Gou Dan is here, he should at least have a home-cooked meal before he leaves."

Zhang Jue's lips twitched when he heard this nickname—there were probably only three or four people in all of China who would dare to call him by that nickname, and there were two of them standing right in front of him.

After the meal, Guan Xue knew that the father and son had finally met and must have something to say, so she quickly cleared away the dishes and took the opportunity to slip away.

Zhang Jue carefully took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out and handed it to Zhang Erhe: "Dad, I'll put these cigarettes away for you quietly, so my mom won't find them again."

"No, definitely not!" Zhang Erhe nimbly took the cigarette, walked to the door frame, stood on tiptoe, and shoved it high up. He turned around and said smugly, "Your mother definitely can't reach this spot."

Zhang Jue rolled his eyes—his own father was just like a child. If his mother couldn't reach something when she stood up, wouldn't she be able to stand on a stool? But he was too lazy to say anything. His sister, Zhang Jiao, had told him long ago that the old couple loved to tease each other: Zhang Erhe would try his best to hide cigarettes, and Guan Xue would try her best to find them, no matter where they were hidden.

After the joke, Zhang Jue's expression turned serious: "Dad, do you think we're confident this time...?"

Hearing this, Zhang Erhe's smile faded: "How many have you built so far?"

"On the surface, we currently have one Varyag and one Kuznetsov, both of which were towed back from Russia in the 90s under your supervision, and we subsequently refitted them. Secretly, one has already been put into service as a unit, and another one is currently being expedited, and it is estimated that it will be able to be forcibly put into service in another seven days!"

Four!

Zhang Erhe exhaled a smoke ring: "What about the other side?"

"Across from us are the USS Reagan, USS Ford, USS Nimitz, and USS Bush—four aircraft carriers. Add to that one each from the US and France, and along with the Koreans and Japanese, they've formed a combined fleet, looking quite menacing."

Zhang Erhe scoffed, "A bunch of chickens and dogs. The moment the US runs away, they'll be right behind them."

"Dad, even in this situation, they still want to run away?"

"Definitely. Those guys on the other side are used to slicing sausages, and they always think that if they make a cut, we'll definitely back down. I said last time—there are a few senile old men at the top who keep giving in. Truth is won through fighting, not by giving in. This time, as long as you stand firm, I guarantee they'll all have to run away in the end."

"But there are so many people..."

“Remember this, Gou Dan.” Zhang Erhe stubbed out his cigarette. “Someone once said that imperialism is all paper tigers. No matter how loudly they shout, they can’t hide their cowardice. As soon as a fire starts, they’ll be the first to run.”

Having been reassured by his father, Zhang Jue left feeling much more relaxed than when he arrived.

July 12th afternoon.

Zhang Erhe usually takes a nap at this time, but today he can't sleep. He lies on a recliner in the yard, smoking one cigarette after another. Guan Xue, contrary to her usual behavior, doesn't stop him, but silently keeps him company.

Just after four o'clock, a car screeched to a halt at the entrance. Secretary Chen rushed in, waving a document: "Old Zhang! Old Zhang!"

Zhang Erhe forced himself to stay alert: "What's wrong?"

"A resounding victory! The other side ran away—led by the Americans! Our people are chasing after them and bringing them to safety!"

Zhang Erhe sat up abruptly and burst into laughter: "It's only polite to reciprocate! Since we've managed to get everyone together like this, let's take a short trip to Huangshi Island and let them see our military might!"

"Old Zhang, the higher-ups agree with you—our ship has already passed."

The news was calm that day, with some TV stations even broadcasting cartoons. Most people had no idea that in the southern seas, the largest accidental clash in history had nearly occurred—unfortunately, some people chickened out first.

Zhang Erhe was secretly delighted, but he couldn't tell anyone. He walked around the yard with his hands behind his back, unable to suppress the smile on his face.

In the end, Zhang Erhe couldn't resist. He called Nan Yi and Sha Zhu from next door together, and the three of them sat down at a table and enjoyed a nice drink.

In the winter of 2016, Sha Zhu was the first to succumb. Before he passed away, Zhang Erhe and Nan Yi both went to pay their respects. Sha Zhu held Nan Yi's hand, and Nan Yi's eyes were red, tears welling up in his eyes.

Sha Zhu, however, took it in stride, grinning, "Old Nan, why are you crying? In my life, I've had my share of hardship and happiness. And in the end, I've even caught a good time. You shouldn't be crying, you should be laughing! Wait here, I'll go down and scout things out first. Once everything's settled, you and Uncle Erhe will come down, and the three of us brothers will have a good drink together."

Zhang Erhe didn't speak, but Nan Yi nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.

After Sha Zhu left, Nan Yi's health deteriorated day by day, and he would only go out to bask in the sun every few days. Zhang Erhe would occasionally stroll over and sit for a while. In April 2017, Nan Yi also passed away, and less than half a month later, Liang Ladi followed him.

From then on, Zhang Erhe was completely without his old companions in the courtyard.

In 2018, Liu Guangtian passed away. Later that year, Yan Jiefang and Yu Li also passed away.

Jia Zhangshi finally passed away in 2020—she was the longest-lived person in the courtyard. When she died, Liangliang respectfully went to her door to kowtow and asked Zhang Erhe to see her off on her final journey.

Zhang Erhe went there leaning on his crutches—he had suffered a serious illness this year and almost didn't survive Jia Zhangshi's death. Although he survived, he could no longer be without his crutches.

At the funeral, Liangliang wanted Zhang Erhe to say a few words. Zhang Erhe picked up the microphone, stood there for a long time, but didn't say a single word.

How should I put it?

Throughout her life, Jia Zhangshi ruined Old Jia and Jia Dongxu. But in her old age, she suddenly realized her mistakes and managed to raise Banggeng's son to adulthood, preventing him from going astray.

Zhang Erhe opened his mouth, but ultimately put down the microphone. Let others decide everything. Like autumn leaves, his old friends have fallen one by one. Zhang Erhe, leaning on his cane, stood in the cold wind. It was time to say goodbye.

Chapter 572 Farewell 1

Outside the 301 Hospital in Haidian District, a group of middle-aged people stood in a circle outside a special care ward. A little further away, their respective secretaries waited.

Wu Fa patted Zhang Jue on the shoulder: "Brother Jue, can you give us some advice on this?"

Zhang Jue turned her head: "Sister Yun Duo, what do you suggest we do?"

Ma Yunduo's hair had turned completely white. She sobbed, "Jue Di... you should make the decision."

Zhang Jue sighed. Ma Qianli's son died in an accident in 2012. Ma Qianli collapsed after that. A year later, Qiqige also passed away. This year, Ma Qianli finally reached the end of his life.

"What's the situation with Uncle San?" Zhang Jue asked.

Wu Fa gave a bitter smile: "My dad is only kept alive by medication now, he can't even leave his room?"

"How about... we don't tell Second Uncle and Third Uncle about this?"

“No.” Zhang Jiao suddenly spoke up. “This matter must be told, at the very least, my dad must be told. If he finds out that Fourth Uncle is gone and he couldn’t see him one last time, with his stubborn temper, he might even go on a hunger strike.”

After discussing it for a long time, the group finally decided to tell Zhang Erhe first, and keep it from Wu Qian for the time being.

That evening, Zhang Jue was pushed to Zhang Erhe's doorstep. It wasn't that he wanted to take the job; everyone had unanimously decided that only he could do it.

When Zhang Jue went inside, he saw that his father looked quite well. Zhang Erhe had been recovering well recently; although he still used a cane, he no longer walked unsteadily.

As soon as I entered, I saw Zhang Erhe pleading with Guan Xue: "Guan Xue, boss, just one more, I'll go to sleep after just one more!"

"No way!" Guan Xue said sternly. "Have you no shame? You've already had three today! The doctor said the maximum is two a day, and I've already given you a three-times grace period. Do you still want more? Don't push your luck!"

"Oh dear, just one—"

Just as Zhang Erhe was about to make a few more witty remarks, he caught a glimpse of Zhang Jue entering and immediately straightened up, saying, "Fine, I won't give it to you then."

Zhang Jue held his forehead with one hand: "Dad, the doctor said you can't have any more seizures."

"A health care doctor? I'll live as long as he lives!"

Zhang Jue sighed. His father was becoming more and more like a child as he got older.

"Dad, let's go to the yard, I need to talk to you about something."

"Okay." Zhang Erhe strolled out the door.

Once in the courtyard, he nudged Zhang Jue with his cane: "Hurry up, give me a cigarette."

Zhang Jue was taken aback: "How did you know me...?"