Chapter 20: How Could I Press It Against His Head?

When Commissioner Kang arrived, Old Shi had already composed himself. Upon seeing him, he immediately saluted. "Commissioner."

"How is he now? Has he woken up?"

"Not yet. But the doctor said, fortunately, his reflexes are good, and the timely rescue prevented any serious harm."

Kang nodded and paced briefly before turning to Old Shi. "What happened? How did this come about? According to the plan, we still had over half a year left. Who authorized you to alter the plan? This is insubordination. Shi Yongmeng, you and Song Mingrui aren’t afraid of being punished?"

"No, Commissioner, it’s not like that. The situation changed suddenly. If we hadn’t acted then, we might have lost track of the tiger again. Although the plan was altered, the outcome was positive—we caught the tiger. All these years of hard work finally paid off, didn’t they?"

Shi Yongmeng gave a sheepish smile as he looked at Commissioner Kang, his gaze briefly flickering toward the hospital room.

Kang took a deep breath twice. Were it not for the flawless completion of the mission, he would have given Song Mingrui a stern reprimand. But seeing him covered in wounds, lying quietly in the hospital bed, he felt a pang of unease.

"The mission was accomplished, yes, but I wanted all of you unharmed. Do you know what the doctor said? If that ox cart had veered even slightly more, Song Mingrui would have met his end. Our vice commander of the Cheetah Unit nearly got gored to death by an ox. Isn’t this a disgrace?"

"Yes, but it’s not all Song’s fault. It’s Qin Wangyuan’s doing. Somehow he found out about Song’s wife and cursed her harshly. You know, Song has always felt guilty toward his wife and child for being away on missions. When he suddenly heard they were nearly abused to death, how could he not react?"

Kang, feeling somewhat guilty, raised his voice sternly. "Even if he can’t bear it, he must endure it. He is a soldier."

Shi frowned slightly, feeling stifled as he looked at Kang.

"Commissioner, don’t you think that’s a bit harsh? Song has risked his life countless times. You said you’d arrange care for his wife and child, yet this is what care looks like. If his wife had left him, they might not have survived. Your negligence nearly cost the lives of four people in Song’s family, and you still have the nerve to shout at his hospital door? I heard from Song himself that after the mission, you promised his wife a job, letting Song bring them along with the unit. Now she’s an apprentice at the photography studio. Why don’t you also arrange something for her in Yucheng? Otherwise, how will you face Song again?"

Kang was speechless.

---

Heaven knows, how could he blame this on himself? He was swamped every day; how could he constantly watch over a woman?

If there was blame, it was on the subordinates who were supposed to help care for them but didn’t take it seriously enough. This time, he was determined to teach those people a lesson.

“Hmph. Don’t provoke me. When Vice Commander Song wakes, tell him to rest well and bring his wife and child with him on the unit. I will make sure to fulfill what I promised.”

Kang hesitated at the hospital door for a long moment but did not enter. As Shi said, he felt ashamed for not having kept his promises properly.

After Kang left, Shi wiped his tears and pushed open the hospital door. Song Mingrui, eyes closed and resting, slowly propped himself up.

"You heard what Commissioner Kang said. Once you recover, you can take your wife and child back to Yucheng. You won’t have to hide your past marriage anymore, and no one will threaten your family."

Song was momentarily dazed. During the mission, Qin Wangyuan’s words had affected him somewhat, but he was a soldier—not one to be distracted during an operation.

When the two ox carts charged at him, he clearly could have dodged, but his legs felt as if welded to the ground, unable to move. Then, suddenly, he felt freed from some force, but it was too late—he was injured.

"Yes, luckily I called Old Lü before the operation and learned about Xiao Yao’s recent situation. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known how to face the three of them at home."

"Song, it’s good it all turned out well. If your wife knew your struggles all these years, she’d forgive you, maybe even feel sorry for you."

Song Mingrui did not share such optimism. Knowing his wife’s temper, she would never forgive him without a fight.

He had spent every day thinking about finishing the mission quickly, returning home to reunite with his wife and child, telling them his troubles, proving he was not a coward but a hero.

Now that the mission was over, he was afraid to go home. He feared Wei Yao’s tears, feared Song Yang’s tears, and most of all, feared their cold indifference to his explanation, their unwillingness to forgive him.

After all is said and done, all the noble words could not hide the fact that he had caused them pain and hardship. He was neither a good husband nor a good father.

Song Mingrui felt a deep melancholy.

---

Early on New Year’s Day, Wei Yao hung a tray of firecrackers at their door and asked a neighbor to light them. As the fire in the kitchen stove heated up, she dropped the pork and cabbage dumplings from the small dustpan into boiling water, prepared the dipping sauce, and took out a plate of marinated meat from the storage space to make a cold dish. She drained soaked dried shrimp and stir-fried four eggs.

Song Yang and Song Hui woke early but refused to get out of bed, playfully rolling around and laughing together.

"Stop lying in bed. Mom prepared new clothes for you to wear today. We’ll go out later to pay New Year’s greetings to the neighbors. Without their help these past months, the three of us wouldn’t have gotten by so smoothly."

"Mom, are the dumplings ready? We eat dumplings on the first day of the New Year!"

"Of course! I also made marinated meat and fried eggs for you. Just eat up. Hui Hui has her tasty food too. Now hurry up and wash."

"Okay~!"

Wei Yao dressed him, laughed at his mischievous antics, then tidied Song Hui up to stand properly. The three of them began to eat. Wei Yao fed Hui a spoonful of steamed egg custard, which made the little girl laugh with delight. She had added a drop of flaxseed oil and some minced dried shrimp—it tasted fresh and delicious.

While they were eating, a knock sounded at the door. Wei Yao put down her chopsticks and went to open it, expecting New Year’s visitors. But when the door opened, the broad smile on her face froze, her lips trembling slightly.