Chapter 301: Chapter 301: That Child, So Outstanding

Xu Huai’an instinctively glanced at his right arm, where there was indeed a crescent-shaped birthmark.

“I suppose so. I’ve had this mark for as long as I can remember.”

Yun Runtong took a deep breath, feeling as if he were in a dream.

“May I take a look at the mark?”

It was a somewhat odd request, but since the other man was also male—and a superior officer at that—Xu Huai’an agreed.

He unbuttoned his cuff, rolled up his sleeve, and revealed the crescent-shaped mark on his right arm.

Yun Runtong leaned in for a closer look.

The temperature in the plane was comfortable, yet beads of sweat formed on Yun Runtong’s forehead, trickling down his skin.

His expression gradually shifted from tense to excited.

He had dreamed countless times of finding his missing son by this crescent-shaped birthmark, never imagining that one day, it would come true.

Back then, when Zhouzhou first went missing, he was afraid he’d forget what the birthmark looked like, so he drew it carefully and often took it out to look at, recording it again and again, terrified he’d forget.

At last, it was this special mark that helped him find his child.

Yes, he was almost eighty or ninety percent certain that this young man was the son he’d lost for over twenty years.

Although the mark had grown as the boy grew, it was in the same spot, with the exact same shape. What were the odds?

He recalled his wife saying back then, “Runtong, that child looks a bit like you when you were young, even his temperament is similar.”

They had once brushed past each other, only to miss the truth by a hair’s breadth.

If they had checked back then, would they have found him sooner?

At this thought, Yun Runtong’s hands trembled slightly, at a loss for how to face the son he’d lost for over twenty years.

He wanted to tell him everything right away, but felt the setting was inappropriate.

More importantly, he wasn’t mentally prepared; all words felt pale and inadequate.

So he decided to take a roundabout approach, to get closer first, then talk about the rest.

Seeing Yun Runtong no longer looking at his arm, Xu Huai’an lowered his sleeve, buttoned up, and sat upright.

“That’s quite a unique mark. By the way, I haven’t asked your name yet?”

“My name is Xu Huai’an.”

“Hello, Xu Huai’an. I’m Yun Runtong.”

Yun Runtong took out a handkerchief, wiped his hand, then extended his right hand for a handshake, looking very serious.

Xu Huai’an was startled—not just him, but the other soldiers and guards nearby were all internally squealing in shock.

Who was this young man, to make the commander introduce himself so humbly?

Yun Runtong kept his hand out, waiting for Xu Huai’an.

Xu Huai’an, flattered and a bit at a loss, reached out and shook Yun Runtong’s hand.

The moment their hands clasped, Yun Runtong’s eyes grew moist. He had waited so, so long for this moment, holding tightly to his son’s hand, unwilling to let go.

How many thirty years does a person get in a lifetime? He had once thought he’d never see his son again.

But heaven had not forsaken him; when he was in despair, his son was returned to him.

He was supposed to stay in Guang Province for a day, but was suddenly called back to Beijing.

Perhaps it was fate: on an ordinary day, on an ordinary flight, he met an interesting young man—who turned out to be the son he’d searched for all these years.

Xu Huai’an thought a handshake would suffice, but Yun Runtong wouldn’t let go, gripping so tightly that Xu’s palm began to sweat, making him awkwardly try to pull back.

Reluctantly, Yun Runtong let go.

“I hear a bit of a northeastern accent in your voice?” Yun Runtong had spent years in the Shenyang Military District and was sensitive to such accents. He remembered clearly that the nanny they’d had back then was from the northeast.

That was why he’d chosen to stay in the Shenyang Military District for so many years—to make it easier to find his child.

“Yes, I’m from the northeast.”

“What year were you born?”

“1948.”

The timeline fit. Yun Runtong’s grip tightened a bit more.

“You’re out here on your own—your parents must worry about you? Do you have any siblings?” Yun Runtong asked casually.

Xu Huai’an felt a bit awkward—why did it feel like the commander was checking his household registration?

But he answered honestly: “There are four siblings in my family. I’m the second, stuck in the middle, the least favored. I left home to make my own way at sixteen, but I’ve been free ever since.”

Hearing his calm, understated words, Yun Runtong’s heart ached.

He started supporting himself at sixteen?

“Did your parents… not treat you well?” Yun Runtong asked, suppressing the pain in his heart, fists clenched.

Xu Huai’an didn’t want to talk about it with outsiders, only saying, “It’s hard to treat every child exactly the same.”

Seeing he didn’t want to say more, Yun Runtong didn’t press.

But in his heart, he was even more certain—Xu Huai’an was his long-lost son.

Everything would have to wait for confirmation.

Suddenly, Yun Runtong thought of something. “You and Qinghuan seem to have a special connection. Her uncle was my old comrade. She used to come play in our compound when she was little.

My wife liked her a lot, and even made an agreement with her mother that she’d be our daughter-in-law.

Who would’ve thought, after all these twists and turns, you two would end up together.”

The daughter-in-law Zhiqiu had chosen didn’t marry their stepson, but ended up bringing their real son back to them.

Fate had played a big joke on them.

Yun Runtong felt a surge of gratitude toward Gu Qinghuan.

Now that he was transferred back to Beijing, he would do his best to clear their family’s name as soon as possible.

Xu Huai’an, unaware of the truth, was alarmed by Yun Runtong’s words.

Gu Qinghuan and Yun Nianzhou had grown up together, even had a marriage agreement.

If Yun Nianzhou hadn’t broken off the engagement and sent Gu Qinghuan to the Xu family’s village, Xu Huai’an wouldn’t have met her.

So what did Yun Runtong mean by bringing this up?

Still, he wouldn’t show weakness.

“Yes, if your son hadn’t broken off the engagement, I wouldn’t have met Qinghuan. It’s all fate.”

Yun Runtong heard the jealousy and slight displeasure in his tone and couldn’t help but laugh. This kid really cares about his wife—so devoted, just like someone from the Yun family.

“Haha, it’s my son’s loss. You and Qinghuan are a great match,” Yun Runtong replied, following his lead.

Now that was more like it. Xu Huai’an was satisfied.

No matter what, Gu Qinghuan was his now—no one else could have her.

They continued chatting, and whenever Xu Huai’an talked about Gu Qinghuan, he became noticeably softer.

Yun Runtong was happy to go along, and the two had a great conversation.

The more they talked, the more Yun Runtong learned, the more gratified he felt. Even though his son had grown up away from them, in a strange land, he’d become exactly the kind of person they’d hoped for.

Sincere, generous, upright.

He believed his wife would be just as proud and comforted when she found out.

The two chatted away, leaving everyone else stunned—when had the commander ever been so easygoing, so polite to a young man?

Time flew by, and soon the plane landed smoothly at Beijing airport.

“Goodbye, Commander Yun,” Xu Huai’an said politely, standing to take his leave.

Yun Runtong wanted to ask him to stay, to tell him everything right away, but with only a birthmark as evidence, he had nothing truly convincing to offer. Saying more would be pointless.

He told himself: Yun Runtong, just wait a little longer. There’s plenty of time ahead.

Once he had thoroughly investigated the past, he would personally confess to his son and beg for forgiveness.

“Huai’an, goodbye. Don’t lose the phone number I gave you—keep in touch. If I have time, may I visit you at school?”

Yun Runtong’s reluctance was genuine, and Xu Huai’an was touched. They’d only just met, yet the commander seemed so unwilling to part.

“Of course! No problem.” Xu Huai’an nodded, thinking Yun Runtong was just being polite, never expecting they’d actually meet again.

He left quickly after saying goodbye, leaving Yun Runtong feeling lost and empty.

He’d found his child, but couldn’t recognize him right away—what a cruel twist of fate.

As soon as Yun Runtong arrived in Beijing and settled his transfer, he immediately had trusted people investigate Xu Huai’an’s background, and soon obtained Xu’s military record.

Xu Huai’an had been specially recruited into the army at sixteen, performed exceptionally, and was repeatedly promoted. He’d participated in hundreds of missions, earned thirty-two third-class merits, twelve second-class merits, and even one first-class merit.

He was promoted to battalion commander at twenty-four, leading his men in numerous battles against Vietnamese soldiers. In the Guang Province military, he was the undisputed king without a crown.

He was also the sole survivor of the nationally shocking 715 Incident.

Unfortunately, after the 715 Incident, his mental state deteriorated badly, and after accidentally injuring a comrade due to emotional instability, he was forced to retire.

There was a two-year gap in his record.

Then, early last year, Xu Huai’an officially joined the Ministry of National Defense, again as a special recruit.

His record clearly stated that he’d led a six-man special ops team to fight terrorists, single-handedly holding off over a hundred enemies for five days and nights without sleep, buying his comrades time to counterattack and wiping out the enemy.

That same year, he trained fifteen elite special ops teams, making huge contributions to the field.

He also ranked first in the nationwide selection for worker-peasant-soldier students, becoming a mechanical engineering major at Huaqing University.

Military records are usually dry and factual, but whoever wrote his clearly admired him.

There were many exclamatory phrases, as if afraid their words couldn’t do justice to his courage and excellence.

The record was still growing—he’d already created one miracle after another, and there would surely be more to come.

Holding the thick stack of documents, Yun Runtong was overwhelmed.

He’d expected the child to be outstanding, but not this extraordinary.

As a father, he was so proud to have such a remarkable son. Despite lacking love and care, Xu Huai’an had disciplined himself and grown into a towering tree.

But at the same time, Yun Runtong felt deep sorrow and guilt.

On the plane, Xu Huai’an’s simple words—“It’s hard to treat every child exactly the same”—revealed so much hardship.

Who can truly love someone else’s child as their own? He himself couldn’t—Yun Nianzhou had called him “Dad” for over twenty years, but he’d never truly seen him as his son.

By that logic, what kind of life had Xu Huai’an endured in someone else’s home?

Especially since that family had three other children of their own.

At sixteen, what was Yun Nianzhou doing? He was in high school, sneaking out with friends in the family car, making them search for him all night.

He didn’t study hard, spent money like water, was competitive, vain, selfish.

At that moment, Yun Runtong’s guilt and anger reached a peak.

He’d pampered and spoiled someone else’s son, while his own child suffered who-knows-what hardships.

Heaven truly had no eyes.

At sixteen, not even of age to enlist, Xu Huai’an was specially recruited. What had he gone through?

The record looked glorious, flawless, but as a father, all Yun Runtong saw was the weight—those countless medals were earned with his life. How hard had his son worked to get here?

A child without an umbrella has to run harder. If only someone had shielded him from the wind and rain, he might have had it easier.

It was his failure as a father.

Yun Runtong locked himself away and wept in secret.

He didn’t even dare tell his wife right away, afraid she couldn’t bear it.

Half a month later, the people he’d sent to investigate returned.

They brought back Xu Huai’an’s life story in the Xu family’s village, along with two important pieces of news.

First, Xu Huai’an’s mother, Liu Guifang, had gone back to her family home for a period the year he was born.

Coincidentally, that same year, Liu Guifang’s aunt, who had been married away for years, suddenly returned to the village.

In all these coincidences, there seemed to be hidden clues.

Yun Runtong only knew that the nanny they’d had back then was called Aunt Chun—her real name unknown. Her home had been flooded, leaving only her and her daughter, and with nowhere else to go, she’d come to work for them.

She took good care of Yun’s mother, and was treated well in return, working for years without any major issues.

After Zhouzhou was born, they trusted her to help care for him.

Who could have guessed what would happen later?

Fortunately, the investigators brought back a photo of Liu Guifang’s aunt.

Though it had been twenty or thirty years and people change, Yun Runtong recognized her at a glance. Her face was wrinkled, stooped with age, but the eyes didn’t lie—she was the Aunt Chun he’d searched for all these years.

If only he’d known what would happen, he’d have checked her background thoroughly.

For so many years, with only a sketch and a northeastern accent, he and his wife had searched the northeast like looking for a needle in a haystack, with no news. She’d moved back to the countryside, hiding away—no wonder they couldn’t find her.

Now, Yun Runtong was certain: Xu Huai’an was his son.

Though he’d suspected, the confirmation filled his heart with the joy of regaining what was lost.

He immediately went home to share the news with his wife.

When Liang Zhiqiu learned their son had been found, she was stunned, tears streaming down her face.

“Runtong, you’re not lying to me, are you? Are you sure he’s really our Jiuzhou? Take me to him, now! I want to see him right away!”

As soon as Liang Zhiqiu recovered, she rushed to go find her son, wild with joy.

Yun Runtong held her back. “Don’t rush. Actually, I met him half a month ago… It was that meeting that made me suspicious, so I sent people to investigate and finally confirmed it.

You’ve actually met him too.”

“I have? Who is he?” Liang Zhiqiu couldn’t believe it—her son had brushed past her, and she hadn’t recognized him?

“Remember at Nianzhou’s wedding, the man who came with Qinghuan?

I remember you said he looked a bit like me when I was young, even had a similar temperament—upright, like a soldier.

We were so busy dealing with the wedding mishaps that we didn’t get to talk to them, and missed our chance.

But fate gave us another opportunity.

That day on the plane, I saw him and felt an instant connection, so I asked him to sit with me.

We talked a lot. I thought he was an outstanding young man—I liked him a lot.

Later, when the attendant spilled water and he took off his shirt, I happened to see the crescent mark on his arm.

It was all fate. After so many years, our perseverance has finally paid off.

Zhiqiu… Zhiqiu, don’t be like this…”

Liang Zhiqiu slapped herself hard, over and over.

Yun Runtong grabbed her hands to stop her.

“Runtong, I’m not a good mother. The first time I saw that child, I should have realized!

He looked so much like you when you were young, even his gestures. Why didn’t I ask about him? We missed almost two years because of that.”

Liang Zhiqiu, forgetting her composure, knelt on the floor and sobbed her heart out.

“What have I done! I should have realized!”

…

Yun Runtong knew she needed to vent her emotions, so he let her cry it out.

When she finally calmed down, he comforted her: “Zhiqiu, it’s not your fault. If there’s blame, we both share it. What matters now is how we make it up to our son.”

“You’re right!” Liang Zhiqiu wiped away her tears.

The couple wanted to understand Xu Huai’an’s past before deciding how to tell him the truth.

Yun Runtong proudly placed Xu Huai’an’s record in front of his wife.

Liang Zhiqiu read through the perfect record, crying and laughing at the same time, her emotions a tangled mess."

"Chapter 302: Xu Huai’an’s Story

She once thought her own child should be as outstanding as this. But when the day finally came, when someone told her that such an exceptional child was actually her biological son, she felt nothing but deep, overwhelming pain.

Because she knew all too well: without the support of a powerful family, to achieve such a perfect resume, that child must have endured unimaginable hardship and effort, even risking his life time and again, living on the edge of danger.

She would have preferred if he, like Yun Nianzhou, had been adopted by a kind family—even if they couldn’t give him perfect love, at least he would have grown up well-fed and carefree, living an easy life.

Perhaps this is the contradiction of being a mother: wanting your son to become a man who stands tall, yet wishing he never has to suffer, that he can live a safe and peaceful life.

Especially after the two of them finished reading the rough account of Xu Huai’an’s years in Xujiatun, their hearts twisted in pain. The couple held each other and wept bitterly, wishing they could take his place.

Liang Zhiqiu felt as if her heart was being cut by knives. She pressed hard against her chest as tears streamed down her face, her heart feeling like it was being tortured, sliced into a thousand pieces.

Yun Runtong rarely shed tears in his life. When their son was lost, he was heartbroken, but at least he still held onto a sliver of hope.

Maybe, he thought, there would be kind-hearted people out there, just as they had taken in Yun Nianzhou, who would adopt his son and give him a good life.

But at this moment, years of hope and longing were shattered.

His heart hurt even more than when the child first went missing, as if a sharp knife was twisting inside him, making it hard to breathe.

Men don’t cry easily—unless they’re truly heartbroken.

He had imagined that his son’s life with an adoptive family might not be easy, but he never expected it to be this hard.

From a young age, he was invisible at home—never the first to eat or drink, all the chores fell to him, serving the family like a hired hand, constantly scolded and beaten.

As a child, he tried hard to please his parents, taking care of his younger siblings, doing housework, earning work points, always hungry, wearing hand-me-downs from his brothers and sisters, yet still single-mindedly striving to improve himself.

But no matter how hard he tried, he never received a shred of care or compassion from his parents.

Always hungry, he learned to hunt from the old hunter in the village.

He earned his own tuition to go to school, always at the top of his class, praised by teachers and classmates alike, only to have Liu Guifang tear up his books, saying he wasn’t worthy of an education.

Rather than say those heartless parents adopted him, it was more accurate to say he was desperately struggling to survive on his own.

At sixteen, with not enough food at home and nearly starving to death, he was forced to join the army.

Every month, aside from his own basic living expenses, he sent all his money home for his parents and siblings. Even his discharge pay was tricked away by Liu Guifang, leaving him penniless.

Especially when they saw those two missing years in his records, and thought of Xu Huai’an’s situation in Xujiatun, the couple wished they could tear Xu’s adoptive parents to pieces.

It’s one thing not to love him, but why hurt him so much? After raising him all those years, was there really not even a shred of affection? Even in death, shouldn’t he be given a little dignity? How could they—how could they!

How hopeless must that child have felt, tied up and left to die!

He was so kind—he could have selfishly lashed out at others, but instead he chose to restrain himself, to keep everyone else safe, and not a single person spoke up for him; instead, they trampled all over him.

If Gu Qinghuan hadn’t appeared at just the right time, if this kind-hearted girl hadn’t refused to give up on him, helping him recover bit by bit, warming his heart...

Maybe they would never have seen their son again in this lifetime. Maybe one day, he would have died alone and hungry in the wilderness, and the Xu family wouldn’t even have bought him a coffin...

The couple shuddered at the thought, a chill running through their bodies.

They didn’t know that this was exactly what had happened in a previous life.

“Runtong, I’m so glad we didn’t insist on Nianzhou marrying Qinghuan back then. Otherwise, our son might have...”

“I know it’s cruel to say this about Qinghuan, but I’m truly grateful she went to the countryside, grateful she saved our Zhouzhou, grateful to Zhong Zijun for raising such a good daughter, grateful for everything.”

“Gratitude can’t just be words.”

“Now that the political situation is clear, no matter what it takes, we have to get the Zhong family back as soon as possible, or we’ll have no face to meet our in-laws.”

“You’re right. Without Qinghuan, we wouldn’t have our son. We owe them too much. No matter what it takes, we have to get them back quickly.”

They both wanted to acknowledge their son right away, but Yun Runtong felt it would be too abrupt. He didn’t know how to say it, worried Xu Huai’an wouldn’t be able to accept it all at once, so he decided to take it slow.

He also planned to visit Xujiatun, to find Aunt Chun and those heartless parents, to get to the bottom of everything. His son couldn’t have been lost all those years for nothing.

Liang Zhiqiu didn’t care about any of that—she just wanted to see her son immediately, right now!

With his wife’s orders, Yun Runtong had no choice but to find a way.

Fortunately, he had already found out which department Xu Huai’an studied in, and after checking which classroom he’d be in that afternoon, the two of them went straight to the university.

It was just after school, and after waiting a while outside the cafeteria near Xu Huai’an’s class, they immediately spotted him standing out from the crowd.

He had a buzz cut, stood tall and straight, with sharp, handsome features and an air of integrity. His eyes showed a determination that couldn’t be hidden.

Perhaps because of years of military training, his bearing was completely different from those around him. He didn’t look like a boy from the countryside, but more like a well-educated young gentleman—every gesture pleasing to the eye.

Like all parents, the couple felt proud and delighted for their child. He had made his way, step by step, from a small village in the northeast to the best university in the capital.

Hardship hadn’t broken him; it had made him stronger. He was truly worthy of being their son.

No wonder people say, “A dragon gives birth to a dragon, a phoenix to a phoenix, and the son of a mouse knows how to dig holes.”

Some things are in your bones—something that fake back home could never learn.

Even though Yun’s mother had hired all sorts of famous tutors for him, he was still a poor imitation.

Yun Nianzhou was hopeless, short-sighted, and in every way inferior to Xu Huai’an.

After admiring him for a while, Yun Runtong quickly waved at him.

It took two tries before Xu Huai’an noticed them—mainly because the couple were dressed in plain clothes today, and he hadn’t recognized them at first.

He jogged over, almost saluting, but held back.

“Commander, do you have any instructions?” Xu Huai’an hadn’t expected Yun Runtong to actually come looking for him, and even brought his wife along.

“Don’t call me ‘Commander,’ call us... Uncle and Aunt. We’re here as friends, not in any official capacity, so there’s no need for so much formality.” Though he wanted nothing more than to hear “Dad” and “Mom,” he held himself back.

Now, while Xu Huai’an had no defenses against them, they needed to build a good relationship, to win his trust from the heart. Only when the truth finally came out would it be less awkward.

Liang Zhiqiu was speechless. Looking at her son before her, her tears threatened to fall again.

Yun Runtong quietly pinched her behind her back.

Liang Zhiqiu wiped her tears and beamed, “The wind got in my eyes. You must be Huai’an? Such a fine young man—Qinghuan has good taste!”

A smile instantly spread across Xu Huai’an’s face.

This aunt really knew how to talk—she’d managed to praise both him and Gu Qinghuan at the same time. He was happy.

“Hello, Auntie!”

“Good, good!” Seeing the light in her son’s eyes, Liang Zhiqiu knew at once—this guy was a hopeless romantic. Just mentioning his wife made him smile uncontrollably.

But then, Qinghuan really was worth it.

Just the fact that she didn’t mind Xu Huai’an’s illness and insisted on helping him get better showed she was a good girl.

Not to mention how she worked hard without complaint, raising two children, giving Xu Huai’an the chance to work, go to university, and change his life.

This new life was something that girl had built for him with her own shoulders. No amount of gratitude would ever be enough."

"Chapter 303: Meeting, Arriving at Xujiatun