Chapter 1230 1229 Wait for Me to Return

Chapter 1230: Chapter 1229: Wait for Me to Return Chapter 1230: Chapter 1229: Wait for Me to Return “””

The rural wilderness, tranquil and serene.

Here, dozens of farming households subsist on agriculture, working from sunrise to sunset.

In the village, there’s a family of three, the husband in his thirties, known for being a reliable man.

However, this man is not a native villager, but a newcomer who married a local girl and then settled down, having a healthy son a few years ago.

In recent days, though Zhao Tiesheng toiled in the fields as usual, his attentive wife noticed something troubling her husband’s mind.

The wife is just an ordinary peasant woman, not particularly beautiful, but she possesses a keen intuition not found in most women.

That day, as Zhao Tiesheng returned from the fields, his wife had already prepared the meal, took the hoe from his hands, and told him to wash his face.

Zhao Tiesheng smiled at his wife, his eyes filled with tenderness.

Their son, only six or seven, was already sitting at the dining table, salivating over the food, obviously hungry; but thanks to his mother’s teaching, the child knew to wait for his father to sit before he could start eating, enduring his hunger in the meantime.

Zhao Tiesheng washed his face, and the family of three sat down to eat. This was the time Zhao Tiesheng enjoyed the most, watching his child eat heartily and looking at his gentle and kind wife, he felt profoundly content.

After the meal, the woman sent the child outside to play with the other village kids. Zhao Tiesheng was tidying up the dishes when his wife suddenly asked, “Is something troubling you?”

Zhao Tiesheng’s movements faltered, then resumed as usual, and he laughed, “No.”

The woman looked at Zhao Tiesheng, “I can tell, something’s on your mind, you’ve been restless these days.”

Zhao Tiesheng put down the dishes and sighed, yet remained silent, his dark face showing a complexity of emotions.

Having lived together for six or seven years, the woman knew her husband well; indeed, he was a steadfast man, yet one who could not hide his feelings.

It was for this reason she had agreed to marry Zhao Tiesheng, because she believed he was a man worthy of a lifetime’s trust.

“I’m your wife, you can tell me anything that’s bothering you, perhaps I can help share the burden,” she said softly, taking one of Zhao Tiesheng’s hands in both of hers.

Zhao Tiesheng looked at his wife and sighed deeply, “Tang Country is in peril, the enemy has invaded, and I cannot stand idly by.”

Upon hearing this, the wife’s heart trembled, and she gripped her husband’s hand even tighter.

“Are you going to leave?” the wife asked, though Zhao Tiesheng had given no such indication, but as a woman, she was more sensitive than men.

The woman had long known the origins of Zhao Tiesheng, understanding that her husband was no ordinary farmer. He was an outsider with exceptional abilities, who had willingly stayed in this small village for her sake.

Over the years, the woman had always feared that he might leave, for she knew that ultimately, he did not belong here.

“I will not go away, you and the child are here, why would I leave? This is my home,” Zhao Tiesheng said, comforting his wife.

The wife gazed into Zhao Tiesheng’s eyes and smiled, her plain features taking on a unique charm at that moment.

Late at night, the occasional bark of a dog could be heard throughout the village.

Zhao Tiesheng’s child had long since fallen asleep, while his wife was still mending clothes under the lamp.

“You should rest soon,” Zhao Tiesheng draped a garment over his wife, speaking softly.

She smiled and said, “You’re about to go on a long journey, I need to get these clothes mended quickly, lest you find yourself without a change of clothes when you’re away.”

Zhao Tiesheng’s hands trembled as he embraced his wife from behind.

“I won’t go,” Zhao Tiesheng said.

The wife said nothing, just quietly continued her work.

Life went on as usual, without any waves.

A few days later, a young man who had left the village to seek his fortune returned, announcing to everyone that chaos reigned beyond, with half of Tang Country’s territory now occupied by the Seven Seas Barbarians.

“””

Zhao Tiesheng did not hear these words, yet his wife did.

That evening, the woman mended all of Zhao Tiesheng’s clothes and quietly packed them in a bundle.

Life went on as usual with no changes; the woman did not bring up Zhao Tiesheng’s departure again, nor did he, and they lived their mundane life as before.

After ten days, a few more young men returned to the village to seek refuge, bringing the latest news with them.

However, these young men were just commoners, and the only news they could bring back was where in Tang Country a new war had broken out, and how many people had died there.

Yet even such news made many villagers uneasy, fearing that one day the war might reach their peaceful hamlet.

Zhao Tiesheng knew of these tidings, but he still attended to his farming, living his own days.

And his wife did not mention letting Zhao Tiesheng leave again.

That night, as Zhao Tiesheng lay in bed, he found sleep elusive for a long time.

To be precise, he had not been able to sleep properly for many days.

His wife had not fallen asleep either, watching Zhao Tiesheng silently; neither spouse spoke a word.

“At dawn, you should leave,” his wife finally said after a long while.

Zhao Tiesheng was taken aback, “Leave for where?”

With a gentle smile, his wife replied, “To the place you belong, to do what you must.”

Zhao Tiesheng understood what his wife meant, but he did not want to leave; he wished to stay and be with his wife and child.

But his heart also worried for the safety of Tang Country; as a man of Tang Country with the ability to fight, he found it conflicting to hide in this small village and only live his own peaceful life.

Zhao Tiesheng’s wife was well aware of her husband’s dilemma: he could not let go of this small home, even less of Tang Country, the larger home.

If Tang Country ceased to exist, then even this quiet and secluded little village would no longer survive.

“Go, do not worry about me and the child. I have prepared your pack. You will leave first thing tomorrow morning,” his wife said.

Zhao Tiesheng shook his head: “I’m not leaving.”

Gently embracing her husband, his wife said, “No more words are needed, just come back safely. Remember to take care of yourself when you’re out.”

Zhao Tiesheng did not look at his wife; he did not wish nor want to see her cry.

With the crow of the rooster, came the dawn.

Zhao Tiesheng’s wife was the first to rise, preparing breakfast and taking out the already packed bundle before attending to all household chores.

After breakfast, Zhao Tiesheng sat there, lost in a daze.

His wife brought over the bundle and handed it to Zhao Tiesheng.

“Go now, stop thinking,” his wife said, her expression remarkably calm.

Suddenly standing up, Zhao Tiesheng embraced his wife, then went to the corner of the room to retrieve a long wooden box.

This was the only thing he had brought with him to the village.

From the wooden box, Zhao Tiesheng drew out a silver spear, shouldered the pack, bid farewell to his wife and child, and stepped out the door.

“Wait for my return!” came the voice of Zhao Tiesheng, filled with resolve but also reluctance.

Behind him, his wife wept silently, her heart aching intensely, faintly feeling that her husband might never return.

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