AYLS – Chapter 115

This night was destined to be a quiet one, especially compared to the commotion at Li Ermei’s house.

With this incident blown up, Li Ermei felt utterly embarrassed and deeply annoyed. On top of that, she suspected that if it wasn’t Zhang Tuo they were interested in, it might very well be her husband, Old Chen.

Given Old Chen’s nature, he might not be able to restrain himself, which made her even more intolerant. She was convinced that his parents bringing Sun Qiao over wasn’t with good intentions. She firmly demanded that they return to their hometown immediately.

Old Instructor Chen’s Parents were also baffled by Sun Qiao’s actions. Even if they were daring, they wouldn’t dare cause a scene inside the military.

This was the army, after all, full of fellow soldiers. If anyone knew they were causing trouble here, how many would spit at them in contempt?

The Chen family might be bold, but only within the boundaries of their own village—they dared not step outside it.

They were preparing to leave, but they weren’t willing to walk away quietly. Especially with Li Ermei being so defiant—if they slunk off now, how could they expect their third son to help out in the future?

So they confronted Instructor Chen, demanding compensation. They insisted he make up for the money lost over the past few months and that he send at least fifty yuan home every month. With so many children, if there wasn’t enough money, everyone would live a hard, miserable life.

Instructor Chen, already muddled from today’s events, felt his mind collapse under this new wave of demands. He thought this family was truly impossible to deal with.

Particularly his parents—after such a huge incident, they didn’t even consider how it might affect his relationships with his comrades or his reputation in the unit. All they wanted was money.

And they were asking so directly.

Instructor Chen, who should have been shaken but composed, truly couldn’t take it this time and bolted outside.

Su Weizhen and her husband had already been listening to the commotion next door, but hadn’t wanted to get involved. When they heard someone running out, they looked outside and saw it was Instructor Chen.

Su Weizhen nudged Xu Yuanzheng, signaling him to go after Instructor Chen and try to calm him down. She, on the other hand, called Li Ermei over to her house to sit and chat.

Having been through similar situations herself, she knew that no matter how much a woman fusses in these matters, it ultimately comes down to the man’s attitude. Unless you intend to leave him, you have to get his mindset right—only then can you face life together in unity.

Meanwhile, Instructor Chen rushed to the training ground and began furiously hitting a punching bag. When exhausted, he would squat down, clutching his head, tightly closing his eyes to stop himself from crying.

Xu Yuanzheng walked over, steadied the swaying punching bag, then plopped down beside it. “Big guy, shedding a few tears isn’t shameful.”

Instructor Chen: “…”

Hearing Xu’s words, Instructor Chen felt frustrated. When the Xu family had come causing trouble earlier, he had secretly felt relieved that his own family cared about him sincerely. Now he had been slapped in the face by reality.

“Old Xu, I thought you understood me, and now you’re teasing me too.”

“Who’s teasing you for no reason? I’m here to advise you. Stop acting like a kid. You’re about to become a father, yet here you are, sniffling and crying—what’s that about?”

Instructor Chen wiped his tears. “You don’t understand. My parents were really good to me. Out of all the brothers at home, I was the only one who went to school.”

“Wasn’t that because you had the best grades and the school wanted you?”

Chen: “…But they did support me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Xu Yuanzheng said, “So you didn’t bring any money home? Come on, tell me honestly—how much did your studies really cost your family?”

Seeing Instructor Chen unable to reply, Xu continued, “Let’s not dwell on that old account. I just think you need a change in mindset. We’re all adults now. Your brothers have families, right? Don’t blame your family for focusing on themselves and not being as close to you. It’s your mindset that’s stuck. Everyone else has grown up and moved forward—you’re still living in the past.”

“Take your wife, for example. She’s going to spend her life with you. Why should she endure hardships just because of you?”

“As adults, we need to recognize our place. That’s being good to your family, your wife, and yourself.”

Instructor Chen, frustrated, said, “Wait… are you the instructor, or am I? Now you’re the one lecturing me.”

Xu chuckled, “On this matter, I suppose I’m the senior here.”

Instructor Chen: “…”

Xu didn’t say much else, thinking Instructor Chen had to figure this out himself. No one could do it for him. “I’m going to see Old Gu. I heard he’s in the cafeteria with Comrade Zhang Tuo. Want to come along?”

Hearing Zhang Tuo’s name, Instructor Chen froze for a moment, but after thinking it over, decided he had to apologize.

Today’s mess was entirely caused by his own family. He was truly ashamed to face anyone.

He wanted to apologize, but Zhang Tuo was irritated just seeing him and didn’t want to talk.

Zhang Tuo felt that today’s trouble stemmed from being too close to Instructor Chen’s family; otherwise, none of this would have happened.

Instructor Chen sincerely apologized, repeatedly saying it was entirely caused by his family and promised it wouldn’t happen again.

Zhang Tuo gritted his teeth and, for the sake of harmony, accepted the apology. But he had already decided to minimize contact in the future.

Instructor Chen felt the rejection, and his chest tightened—the most miserable he had ever felt in his life.

Both family ties and friendships had suffered serious blows, more tormenting than Li Ermei’s previous antics.

Yet, no matter how deep the wound, he still had to go home and make sure his parents got some rest.

Perhaps exhausted from the quarrel, when he returned, Instructor Chen’s Parents were unusually quiet, just keeping stern faces.

Mother Chen asked when Sun Qiao would be back—she needed to give her a proper lesson.

Instructor Chen said that there would still be an investigation.

Hearing this, his mother was startled, “What investigation?”

“I’m not sure yet. It happened in the army, so we need to see if there’s a deeper problem. You don’t need to worry about it.” Instructor Chen didn’t want to talk much with them now.

His words, however, settled his parents for the night.

Instructor Chen, on the other hand, couldn’t sleep at all.

He recalled many childhood scenes—the hard times, going hungry, worn-out clothes, holes in the pants that let in the cold.

Back then, the family had managed to get by. Now, life was supposedly better, yet things had turned out like this.

Had everyone changed while his mindset stayed stuck?

The next morning, he suddenly missed Ermei terribly.

On his way to deliver food to the family, he brought Li Ermei along to work.

Li Ermei said, “What are you doing, all sticky and clingy today? I’m telling you, don’t try sweet-talking me—you need to leave quickly. I don’t even know how to face Li Yan later. Do you even have the face to see Zhang Tuo?”

Instructor Chen didn’t respond to this, but suddenly asked, “Ermei, are we going to live like this forever? Just like this, never changing?”

“You’re being foolish first thing in the morning,” Li Ermei said suspiciously.

“Nothing. I just worry that one day we might change. That thought scares me.” That sense of life slipping away felt terrifying.

Li Ermei rolled her eyes, “Nonsense. Who doesn’t change? Won’t we grow old eventually? Have to raise kids, raise grandchildren. You’ve had an education—why are you thinking nonsense now?”

Instructor Chen’s heart ached. “Right, that’s true. We’ll grow old together. Raise children, grandchildren. Ermei, let’s raise our children properly. Treat every child the same. As long as they live well, that’s enough. We won’t take money from them, won’t make them rely on each other. Agreed?”

Li Ermei pursed her lips. “Aren’t you just stating the obvious? As long as the kid I raised can take care of me in my old age, what good is all this ‘helping out’? If you’ve got no ability, just keep it to yourself. I’ve suffered enough from this kind of thing myself; there’s no way I’d do something that annoying.”

Instructor Chen, being treated as a cautionary example, could only say, “…”

Sometimes, growing up seems to happen in an instant.

Instructor Chen realized that, in the past, he had been completely unaware. Looking back, he hadn’t wronged those who had helped him, but he had wronged his own wife and child.

Li Ermei had no idea how much Instructor Chen’s heart had changed; she was just focused on sharing her messy family affairs with her girlfriends and, on the way, apologizing to Comrade Li Yan.

Li Yan didn’t take the matter to heart at all—she knew it had nothing to do with Li Ermei. Besides, she was still thinking about her future with Zhang Tuo and didn’t care about anything else. She accepted Li Ermei’s apology calmly.

And then went right back to being absent-minded.

Li Ermei went over to Lin Qiao and asked if Li Yan had been upset by something. Lately, everyone seemed off—the old Chen included. Today, he seemed different from usual.

“I don’t know. Don’t ask me.” Lin Qiao yawned as she spoke.

She was also listless—not because of her mood, but because she was physically tired.

Last night, after Gu Huayuan had gone home, she had hurried to ask him if he knew anything about Zhang Tuo and Li Yan, but he refused to say anything.

Gu Huayuan explained that some things are hard to put into words.

Lin Qiao had brushed it off at the time, saying it was no big deal—everyone has a first crush. Liking someone is normal. Either you’re a fan of looks, or of talent; in any case, you’re always a little obsessive.

Gu Huayuan was shocked by her attitude toward relationships and deliberately asked if she had ever liked anyone before.

Of course, Lin Qiao had her crushes. She’d sometimes glance longer at someone who looked nice, or had little romantic notions—but all of that was completely normal.

She didn’t know why it had provoked Gu Huayuan, but they had ended up arguing like mischievous spirits all night.

Now, her eyes were still dark-ringed and lifeless.

Li Ermei had no idea and thought she had just been worrying all night. She said, “Ah, all this trouble came from my family side. When I get home, I have to tell Old Chen how much impact this has had on you all.”

Beside her, Su Weizhen commented, “Your Old Chen? He’s pitiful, but irritating.”

Li Ermei: “…”