Reborn in the 70s: Pampered by Regiment Commander

Chapter 1774: Chapter 1164: Worry (Part 2)

"I’m Zhao Yushan, Zhao Qiliang’s dad. Hold on a second, I’ll go call my daughter‑in‑law..."

Before Zhao Yushan could hang up, Yun Doudou blurted out anxiously, "Uncle Zhao, please don’t hang up yet. Asking you is the same, I just want to know if Zhao Qiliang has called home."

"He did, he called in the late afternoon."

Yun Doudou’s heart instantly sank. Since Zhao Qiliang had already called in the late afternoon, and now it was almost midnight, yet Zhou Hanliang still hadn’t called...

"You’re Doudou, right?" Not hearing any response, after a brief hesitation, Zhao Yushan asked.

"Uncle Zhao, it’s me." Forcing herself to pull it together, Yun Doudou replied, "Zhou Hanliang still hasn’t called home, everyone at home is really worried, so I thought I’d check with Xiaoqiong’s side. Thank you, Uncle Zhao."

"You really called at just the right time. I’m here to call Chuxia’s husband’s family. She called home in the late afternoon, only talked for two or three minutes before hanging up.

Her grandma and grandpa are worried sick, so they were hoping he might call again later, and asked me to come over from time to time to call the Zhou family and check. I figure the phones over there are pretty booked up. You wait a bit longer, maybe he’ll call you in a little while.

Hanliang is a leader, it’s not the same as Qiliang. Xiaomi also couldn’t call home, I guess the two of them are together, letting the soldiers all finish their calls before it’s their turn. Don’t worry too much, talk to your husband’s family too, tell them to try and ease their minds a little."

"I understand, thank you, Uncle Zhao. Let me wish you an early New Year—may your whole family be safe and healthy, and happy and fulfilled!"

"Good, good, good, thank you, child. Uncle also wishes your whole family safety, health, and a happy, fulfilled life..." Pausing for a moment, Zhao Yushan asked again, "Do you want me to call Xiaoqiong over so you two can chat for a bit?"

"No need, it’s freezing out, let’s not run back and forth. Actually, I called just now to try my luck, I didn’t expect such timing. Uncle Zhao, you’d better go home quickly. After the New Year, when you come back with Xiaoqiong, our whole family will treat you to a meal."

"Alright, then I won’t stand on ceremony."

After saying goodbye and hanging up, Yun Doudou looked at the anxious eyes behind her and told everyone the situation truthfully. Seeing her father‑ and mother‑in‑law looking even more worried, she forced down the ache in her heart and tried to comfort them: "I think what Uncle Zhao said makes sense. If something had really happened, no one would be able to call home. It’s probably just too many people and their turn hasn’t come yet. As a leader, he has to set an example at a time like this. If we wait a bit, I’m sure he’ll be able to call home."

She herself knew her comforting words didn’t carry much weight, but apart from this, she really didn’t know what else to say.

The whole big family, weighed down with worry, sat back at the dining table, but none of them had an appetite anymore.

According to local custom, the New Year’s Eve dinner starts a little after ten at night and goes on until after midnight. Then everyone goes out to light firecrackers to welcome the New Year, and after eating vegetarian dumplings, they can each go back to their rooms to rest.

"Let’s light the firecrackers." Father Zhou stood up. "No matter what, we can’t let our worries ruin the New Year. This sets the tone for the whole year. Let’s all cheer up a bit—maybe by the time we finish the dumplings, Hanliang’s call will come in."

"Right, it definitely will." Zhou Hanying stood up as well. "Dad, since big brother’s not here, I’ll go light the firecrackers with you."

"Mm." In past years, Father Zhou would definitely have scolded his daughter—this was a job for the boys, what was a girl doing fighting over it? But today, he didn’t say a single reproachful word and just agreed.

Quietly wiping away her tears, Mother Zhou also stood up: "In‑law, in‑law ma’am, you two sit for a bit, I’ll go boil water and cook the dumplings."

"I’ll help you," Lan Ailian said.

"Don’t." Mother Zhou hurriedly refused. "You’ve already gone out of your way to come spend the New Year here with us country bumpkins who can’t put on a show. His father and I are already deeply grateful, how could we let you busy yourself too?"

"In‑law ma’am, that’s really too polite. The kids aren’t home, we came over thinking it’d be more lively together. Otherwise, staying home for the New Year would just be cold and quiet and no fun.

The New Year is only lively when everyone’s busy together. We’re one family now—if you’re this polite with me, you’re treating me like an outsider."

Mother Zhou wasn’t good with words; she just stood there, tongue‑tied, not knowing what to say.

"Mom, let my mom work together with you. It’s the New Year, everyone pitching in feels better. If only one person’s busy, what New Year’s spirit is there?" As she spoke, Yun Doudou pulled up the dazed Yun Guoguo sitting beside her. "Come on, let’s go out and watch Dad and Hanying light the firecrackers..." She turned to Yun Fengshan again. "Dad, will you lift your noble butt and come along too?"

"You little rascal..." Yun Fengshan looked at his daughter helplessly. "You go, I’ll stay with Huhu. We can’t all go off to be busy and leave my eldest grandson here with no one watching him, can we?" As he spoke, he reached out and playfully tapped the little one who was staring at everyone with big curious eyes. "Look at him, he knows it’s New Year’s—still so full of energy at this hour."

Glancing at the little one in the cradle, dressed up like a New Year picture doll, Yun Doudou felt her heart melt into a puddle. She bent down to kiss the baby’s soft cheek, then tugged Guoguo out the door...

Standing in the open yard outside, watching the neighbors all shouting and laughing as they ran out, listening to the unending crackle of firecrackers, Yun Doudou felt her chest swell up—that was a feeling called pride!

If it weren’t for you, standing guard at the frontier and fighting with your blood, what kind of scene would it be at this very moment?! (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)

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