The next day, Han Dong got up at 5:30, went out for a run, and came back to see his father practicing Tai Chi in the yard.
I remember that my father was a fierce tiger in his past. Now he is old and can’t do strenuous exercise. He can only practice Tai Chi.
"Dad!" Han Dong called out Dad and prepared to go back to the house to take a shower.
"Stop." Han Jianguo called to his son.
Han Dong had no choice but to stop and stand there waiting for his father to finish the thirteen Tai Chi moves leisurely.
Seeing his father finished work, Han Dong handed him a towel and said with a smile: "Dad, you are good at Tai Chi, it flows smoothly, combining hardness and softness."
Han Jianguo glared at his son and said, "Stop flattering me. When I got home yesterday, you were nowhere to be seen the whole day. You only came back in the middle of the night. Your mother wanted to talk to you but couldn't find anyone. Is that reasonable?"
"Han Jianguo, you want to talk to your son yourself, why are you dragging me into this?" Zhou Shuping leaned her head out of the kitchen window and exposed the old man's lie.
The old man has been very annoying lately and I am increasingly displeased with him.
Han Jianguo wanted to retort, but then he thought better of it and decided not to bother with a woman.
Han Dong suppressed his laughter and said, "Dad, I didn't come back in the middle of the night. It's not even twelve o'clock yet."
Han Jianguo motioned to his son to follow him, and the two went out for a walk.
"Did you go to see Su Ran yesterday?" Han Jianguo asked as they walked.
"Yeah, I miss her." Han Dong admitted generously. Even if his father didn't talk to him, he would still have a good talk with his father.
Han Jianguo nodded, showing his understanding. It was normal for young people to have romantic feelings. He was young once too.
"It seems you are serious."
"Dad, I want to marry her as soon as possible."
Han Jianguo walked a few steps in silence and asked, "Have you met her family?"
"Yes, I have met her. Su Ran only has her grandparents. Her mother went to Xinghai Country when she was very young and never came back. Su Ran grew up with her grandparents. Her grandfather was a soldier and her grandmother is a teacher. They are both very sensible people and they brought up Su Ran very well." Han Dong introduced Su Ran's family situation truthfully regardless of how much his father knew.
Han Jianguo raised his eyebrows: "Isn't her grandfather a carpenter? He was also a soldier?"
It seems that the old woman doesn’t understand it very carefully!
"I did. I became a carpenter after I was discharged from the army. Dad, you haven't seen Su Ran's grandfather. He's 75 years old, but he's still very strong and looks like he's in his 60s."
Han Jianguo glared: "You mean I'm old?"
He is 67 too.
"Dad, you look like you're only in your fifties at most, and you can still fight for the revolutionary cause for many years!" Han Dong quickly made amends.
Han Jianguo sighed. She was only seven years older than him, while his granddaughter was already in her twenties. The age gap was a bit awkward.
However, he is responding to national policies and marrying and having children later is honorable.
"Bring Su Ran home one day and let your mother and I see her." Han Jianguo said.
Although he basically understood Su Ran's situation, what others said and what the media wrote were always incomplete and even exaggerated, so he still had to see it with his own eyes, seeing is believing!
Han Dong was happy: "Dad, I was just planning to tell you about this. If there is no work arrangement in the army tomorrow, I will take Su Ran home tomorrow."
"Okay, I don't have any work arrangements tomorrow." Han Jianguo usually doesn't have a day off, he is very busy, but this weekend because his son came back, he deliberately made time to meet Su Ran.
Han Dong's heart was relieved. Judging from his father's tone and attitude, he should not object to him and Su Ran being together.
"Dad, then... Mom..." Han Dong was a little worried. His mother had a prejudice against Su Ran and had an ideal candidate for daughter-in-law in mind, so she disliked Su Ran even more.
"I told her, however, that you should also be mentally prepared. Your mother is a stubborn person," said Han Jianguo.
It would be so disappointing if Su Ran couldn't withstand this little difficulty and pass this test.
Han Dong thought to himself: Aren’t you the most stubborn person in the family
However, his father was quite reasonable when it came to his and Su Ran's affairs, and he never called his father old-fashioned again.
While eating breakfast, Zhou Shuping asked, "Old Han, aren't you going to report with Xiaodong?"
"Mom, how old am I and why do I still need someone to accompany me? It's so embarrassing." Han Dong had a frown on his face. He would be laughed at to death.
"How can it be embarrassing to ask your dad to support you?" Zhou Shuping disagreed.
When Xiaodong went to Qingzhou to serve as a soldier, Lao Han resolutely refused to say hello and ordered that no one should know that Xiaodong had a father like him. Xiaodong really suffered a lot. Others were promoted immediately after making a second-class merit, but what about Xiaodong? Even though he made so many merits, Lao Han still suppressed him when he was promoted. Xiaodong did not benefit from his father at all and suffered a lot. Zhou Shuping therefore had many complaints about Lao Han.
Han Jianguo put down his chopsticks and said with a straight face: "Do you want me to save face or do you want me to lose face?"
Zhou Shuping sneered and said sarcastically, "Oh, oh, oh, you are the most upright and selfless. Everyone else knows to make plans for their own children, but you treat Xiaodong as if he is your illegitimate child and are afraid that others will find out."
"Others are others, I am me, I have to set an example and not do such things."
"What did I ask you to do? Isn't it just to show your face? Don't you know how fierce the competition is here? It's even harder to get ahead without a background or a backer. Besides, is Xiaodong that bad? Compare carefully for yourself. Whose child can be more promising than our Xiaodong? It's an honor for you to have a son like Xiaodong. You have to figure it out."
Han Jianguo said angrily: "This society is in a mess because of people like you who only know how to take advantage of opportunities."
Zhou Shuping got angry and slammed her chopsticks: "Han Jianguo, please explain clearly, how did I take advantage of others? How did I become so smoky?"
Han Dong frowned when he saw the two quarreling. "Can you let me eat properly? You quarreled during my first meal since I came back. I think I should come back less often in the future."
Zhou Shuping and Han Jianguo glared at each other, but finally they kept silent.
"Mom, I think what Dad said is right. I also don't want people to say that I rely on Dad's connections. I feel at ease when I rely on my own real abilities." Han Dong said.
He had already experienced this. Once people knew he had such a father and such a family background, no matter how much effort he put in, people would deny and discount it. They would think he was just leaning on a big tree to enjoy the shade. So, in Qingzhou over the years, he had worked his way up from an ordinary soldier to where he is today. Although it was hard, he was steady and comfortable. Everyone recognized him and regarded him as a role model. Looking back, he really wanted to thank his father for giving him real training.
Zhou Shuping said angrily, "You two, father and son, are just venting your anger through the same nostril. Okay, I will no longer care about your affairs from now on."
Good intentions are not rewarded.
There is one more update and it will be late, please read it tomorrow! Don't wait, go to bed early.
(End of this chapter)