Chapter 161: Bygone Days

When Han Chunxue arrived, Han Jingchen had just finished a phone call, looking troubled.

All these years, he never gave up trying to find his wife and daughter. Although back then they only got their marriage certificate without having a banquet, in his heart, she was his only wife.

Previously, there had been some news, but now the trail had gone cold again. Every time he thought of the hardship his wife and daughter might have endured these years, it felt like his heart was being cut, making it hard for him to sleep at night.

Seeing Han Chunxue come in, his expression softened a bit: "Chunxue, why did you come over at this time?"

Han Chunxue set down the things she was carrying: "Second Brother, why have you lost more weight again?"

Han Jingchen heard this, looked down at himself: "No way, I’ve been eating well and resting well recently. Even the health doctor said I’m in particularly good shape lately."

Just then, Su Jingsong, who was responsible for Han Jingchen’s living affairs, walked in. Han Chunxue said: "Mr. Su, I bought some apricots on the way. Could you please wash some and bring them over? Distribute the rest for everyone to taste."

Su Jingsong nodded to Han Chunxue: "Sure, then I’ll thank you on behalf of everyone."

Han Chunxue waved her hand: "It’s nothing special. You have everything here. I just thought they looked fresh, so I bought some."

Su Jingsong left, and Han Jingchen looked at his sister: "Tell me, what’s this visit for?"

Han Chunxue said in response to her second brother: "How did you know I came over for something? Can’t I just be visiting you specially?"

Han Jingchen’s expression hardened: "You run around busy like something all day. If there’s nothing, would you take leave on a weekday to come over?"

Han Chunxue was caught by her second brother, laughed: "Ah, nothing escapes your sharp eyes, Second Brother."

Han Jingchen got up to pour his sister a cup of tea: "Have some water first."

Han Chunxue, who cycled over, took the cup: "I am really thirsty."

Han Jingchen sat back in his seat: "If it’s not enough, help yourself."

After Han Chunxue finished her tea, she said: "This time I came to tell you, Zhenjun brought back someone he’s seeing. The girl, like her, is a sent-down youth, but she’s from Sichuan, seems quite sprightly, and quite likable. Tomorrow, I’ll have Zhenjun bring her over for you to have a look. If you think she’s okay, I’ll arrange their marriage."

Hearing that his nephew had brought someone home, Han Jingchen finally smiled: "Then what is the girl’s family’s attitude? This needs to be careful. It’s best for both families to meet, and at the very least, have a phone call. That’s the basic respect owed to them."

Back then, he made this mistake, missing his true love, so he brought it up directly.

Hearing her second brother say this, Han Chunxue knew she had touched on the old wound in his heart: "Second Brother, I’m sorry, I....."

Han Jingchen waved his hand: "It’s fine, just be sure to get the consent of the girl’s family before proceeding. My marriage with Wanqing is a lesson learned."

Han Chunxue sighed: "Second Brother, I believe good things will eventually happen. You’ll certainly see each other again one day."

At this moment, Su Jingsong came in with the washed apricots: "Sir, they’re washed, please taste them."

Looking at the golden apricots, Han Jingchen suddenly lost his focus, remembering that before his separation from Wanqing, she mentioned wanting to eat sour and sweet apricots. He had picked them for her in the suburb of the Capital, and she had smiled brightly. It was two months later when he received her letter, then he realized Wanqing craved apricots because she was pregnant and having morning sickness.

At that time, he ran four or five miles like a madman, shouting to the mountains: "I’m going to be a dad!"

Later, because he was on a mission, the letters Wanqing wrote to him could sometimes take months to reach him. Later, he learned Wanqing had given birth to a daughter, and he wished he could grow wings and fly back to them.

Unfortunately, Wanqing didn’t get to see the day he returned to visit them. Her family encountered trouble, and by the time he rushed back, he couldn’t find them. He nearly went insane at that point.