Sorry, My Beloved Is The Motherland - Chapter 22.3 - To Dedicate One's Self To The Country

Don’t know who taught her, but when she was a child, she used to be arrogant and naughty. Now, however, she knows how to act coquettishly.

He reached out and took away the comical red flower from Ning Fu, unfastened the string of dried mushrooms, and scolded, “Alright, go put your luggage away!”

Ning Fu quickly called to Xiao Wu to go upstairs with her and put things away.

Wei Yuhua was about to persuade him a few more words, but then she saw her husband gently stroke the delicate creases on the red flower, and carefully place it in a prominent spot in the living room.

Even though this big red flower doesn’t match the decorations in the house at all.

She was just showing a slight smile at the corner of her lips when Ning Boyuan turned around, stuffed the dried mushrooms into his wife’s hand, and said, “Make this, add it to the food.”

Wei Yuhua exclaimed in surprise, “We already have four dishes!”

Ning Boyuan’s face was tense, and in a commanding tone, he said, “I want to eat mushrooms, go quickly.”

Wei Yuhua couldn’t hold it in and let out a ‘pffft’ of laughter, then, before Ning Boyuan really got angry and started stomping his feet, she went into the kitchen.

*

After finishing the meal and tea, Ning Fu sat quietly, with her eyes observing her nose and her nose observing her heart, listening to Xiao Wu report ‘work’ to the leader.

Xiao Wu had stayed in Tulaga banner for quite a long time, and the locals were happy to tell him Ning Fu’s legendary stories, like how she gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a sheep, how she protected collective property from wolves, how she held literacy classes for everyone….

Ning Boyuan, however, remained calm, while Wei Yuhua, listening nearby, felt a mix of heartache and fear, tightly holding onto Ning Fu.

Xiao Wu spoke until his mouth was dry, and Ning Boyuan said, “Alright, you’ve scared Doctor Wei half to death.”

Wei Yuhua wiped her eyes and scolded lightly, “Exactly!”

She stroked Ning Fu’s black and shiny hair and said, “Our Jiaojiao came back safe and sound, it’s truly thanks to Chairman Mao’s blessings*.”

T/N: This is a cultural reference. During certain periods in China, people often invoked the name of Chairman Mao (referring to Mao Zedong, the founding leader of the People’s Republic of China) as a form of reassurance or hope, believing that his blessings or protection would keep them safe, an expression of gratitude here.

She said this out loud, but in her heart, she was also proud.

Ning Fu: Well-behaved.jpg

Until Ning Boyuan spoke up—

“Let’s go to the study and talk.”

After saying this, he was the first to stand up and head upstairs.

Wei Yuhua was a little surprised.

In the Ning family, Ning Boyuan never put on the airs of a ‘chief,’ but he did care about preserving his little bit of patriarchal pride.

However, his study was off-limits to everyone. It was always about work, and no one was allowed to interfere.

In other words, in every part of this house, he is a husband, a father, but once inside the study, he becomes the deputy chief of staff of the B City garrison.

For Ning Fu to be allowed into his study, it shows that Lao Ning has already started to see this child as an adult.

Moreover, an adult with a shared cause.

Wei Yuhua let out a soft sigh.

When Jiaojiao was born, her health wasn’t good, and she couldn’t have any more children. Lao Ning held the child in his arms and said, “Who says women are not as good as men? Our daughter, in the future, I will teach her just the same—graceful and valiant with a five-foot spear!”

But again, they gave the child a nickname “Jiaojiao”.

This is the contradiction of being a parent.

They wanted her to be a majestic eagle, a towering pine, to become a dragon or a phoenix, soaring freely in the vast sky. Yet, they also wished for her to live a life of peace and ease, surrounded by love and care.

But now, Lao Ning’s words from back then, perhaps they’re really going to come true.

Their child, named Jiao, gradually grew into someone with a proud spirit*.

T/N: literally ‘arrogant bone’, implying someone with inner strength and dignity.

*

Study.

Ning Boyuan didn’t speak for a long time, and Ning Fu wasn’t impatient. She silently rolled him a cigarette beside him.

Ning Boyuan liked to smoke rolled tobacco; it was a habit he’d kept from his military days, and he usually rolled them himself. This was something that inexperienced beginners couldn’t roll properly due to a lack of patience.

“Okay, you can leave it ba,” he said. After speaking, he walked over and took a look. To his surprise, his daughter’s roll was actually quite neat and well-done.

Ning Boyuan was slightly surprised. Unable to resist, he picked one up and lit it. As the smoke rose, he stayed silent for a long while before finally saying, “You’ve grown up. You’re calmer now when doing things.”

Then, remembering how Ning Fu had looked when she was seen by the political officer earlier, with her disheveled appearance, he added, “You still need to be a bit more steady.”

Ning Fu nodded in agreement.

Ning Boyuan fell silent for a moment, then said, “Have you thought it through? This field of study, if you want to master it, it’s not easy. If you want to delve deeply, it will be difficult. The road ahead won’t be easy.”

Ning Fu said, “I’ve thought it through.”

After finishing a cigarette, Ning Boyuan patted Ning Fu on the shoulder.

“Study well.”

He simply gave this instruction.

He left one sentence unsaid—Let me be proud of you.