Chapter 212

After finishing this cup, Chen Hongfu said to Luo Wenchang: "Little Luo, eat some dishes, eat! You haven't had these in a year—this is home cooking!"

Luo Wenchang's hometown is Luo Feng Township in Hongshan County, just one mountain ridge away from Meng Hu Ling Township; though the two places belong to different counties, their dialects, customs, and diets are very similar, so Chen Hongfu called this his home cooking too.

Luo Wenchang nodded: "Yes, it's been a long time since I've eaten home cooking."

Luo Wenchang picked up a chopstick of cured pork with bean dregs, put it in his mouth, chewed for a while, swallowed, then nodded contentedly: "Home cooking still tastes the best!"

Luo Wenchang's unit is stationed in northern Hudu Province, bordering Yudong Province—its customs and diets differ greatly from those of Shangjun County in southern Hudu; though he's served there for years, he still isn't fully accustomed.

Luo Wenchang raised his cup, pulled Cheng Taoxian up, and stood to say to Chen Hongfu and others: "Secretary Chen, Director Dong, all the leaders—Taoxian here has relied on your care. I toast you all!"

Chen Hongfu said: "Little Luo, is this worth a toast? Little Cheng is our employee—we're supposed to look after her, especially since she's a military wife!"

Luo Wenchang still insisted on toasting everyone a full cup.

After a few cups, the atmosphere at the table grew livelier.

After drinking a few more, Chen Hongfu, slightly drunk, said to Luo Wenchang: "Little Luo, Little Cheng is truly a good woman—raising Weiwei alone, she's suffered so much, yet she's never let her child interfere with her work."

Chen Hongfu's words left Luo Wenchang silent; he glanced at Cheng Taoxian with regret, and she looked back—both their eyes held tender emotion.

Luo Wenchang raised his cup to Cheng Taoxian: "Taoxian, I'm sorry—you've endured so much these past years!"

Cheng Taoxian shook her head: "It's nothing. Since the day I married you, I knew it would be like this—but I've never regretted it!"

Seeing this touching moment, everyone clapped.

At this welcome banquet for Luo Wenchang, everyone ate and drank their fill before leaving happily; they said they shouldn't disturb Luo Wenchang and Cheng Taoxian's long-awaited reunion, making Cheng Taoxian blush.

The next afternoon, Cheng Taoxian specially invited Su Xinghui and Wan Xing to her home for a meal, saying Luo Wenchang had heard from her that on that night when Weiwei fell ill, they'd helped take him to the hospital, so he wanted to thank them with a meal.

Su Xinghui, unable to refuse, went with Wan Xing to Cheng Taoxian's home.

Cheng Taoxian also lived in a single dormitory, but alone—she occupied the room at the end of the corridor, where she'd placed a gas stove by the door for cooking.

When Su Xinghui and Wan Xing arrived, Luo Wenchang was busy cooking; seeing them, he smiled: "Little Su, Little Wan, sit inside for a bit—the dishes will be ready soon."

Su Xinghui said: "Brother Luo can cook?"

Luo Wenchang laughed: "Not well—please be understanding. Taoxian's worked hard all year; now I'm back, I'll do more housework."

Wan Xing said: "Brother Luo is truly a good man."

Luo Wenchang stirred the wok, shaking his head: "What good man? I left my wife and child at home—when our son got sick, I had to rely on you to take him to the hospital—I'm ashamed!"

Su Xinghui said: "Brother Luo, don't say that—you're serving in the military, defending the country; that doesn't mean you don't love your wife and child."

Luo Wenchang shook his head: "Forget it—enough of this. Okay, last dish—come on, let's go inside and drink!"

Cheng Taoxian's dining table was a foldable one—when not in use, it was folded and stored against the wall to save space; now opened, the room had little room left.

The foldable table was now piled with dishes, with a beef hotpot in the center; Luo Wenchang opened a bottle of wine, poured for Su Xinghui and Wan Xing, raised his cup: "Come, I toast you both—thank you for taking my son to the hospital that night!"

Su Xinghui said: "Brother Luo, don't be so formal—Sister Cheng is a woman here, and Weiwei got sick late at night—what else could we do but help?"

Wan Xing nodded: "Yes, yes, Brother Luo—that's what we should've done."

Luo Wenchang kept urging drinks; the atmosphere was warm and harmonious—he was army-trained with a solid tolerance, and Su Xinghui and Wan Xing drank readily, leaving Luo Wenchang with a very good impression of them.

Luo Wenchang's leave was to visit his wife, child, and parents—he's now a deputy regiment commander, so he has forty-five days' leave; he first came to see his family, and after Cheng Taoxian's break, he'll take them back to Luo Feng Township for the New Year, then return to stay with them again after she resumes work.

Luo Wenchang fought in the self-defense counterattack, earned merit, was later recommended by the military to attend officer's school, which is why at thirty-two he became deputy regiment commander—his future in the military is bright.

But today he kept shaking his head and sighing, feeling he'd failed his wife and son; Su Xinghui and Wan Xing kept comforting him, yet in the end, he drank too much.

Su Xinghui and Wan Xing helped Cheng Taoxian get Luo Wenchang into bed, then left.