Volume One, Chapter Seven: This Is My Letter of Apology

As for the seven-year-old child, he was his elder brother’s. Both his brother and sister-in-law were prominent figures in scientific research and had long been considered “missing.”

He treated his niece as his own child.

Therefore, she had to pretend not to realize she had touched something unusual.

After openly and honestly dividing the eggs, she took out the cornmeal pancakes prepared by Su’s mother and a green military water canteen, then quietly sat by the train window to eat lunch.

Huo Xiaohan looked at the eggs handed over to him, his cold, deep eyes swirling like a black hole, filled with vigilance. His thin lips pressed tightly.

She had not selfishly kept all the eggs for herself but instead shared them. This was something he had not expected and had misjudged based on his own assumptions.

Yet, a person’s true nature could not change in such a short time. This unusual behavior suggested she was hiding a deeper scheme.

Last night, after leaving the Su family, he had deliberately visited the village secretary’s home to verify the villagers’ claims, all of which were true.

It could only be said that this young woman was exceptionally cunning for her age, scheming to climb the social ladder in Beiping by projecting an image of gentleness and serenity.

But matters must be addressed factually.

After giving his eggs to Su Wanying, he opened his blue work notebook and took out a pen, carefully writing something on it.

Han Wei, knowing that Commander Huo kept records of his work at all times, glanced sideways and was startled to see in bold, powerful characters the words “Self-criticism Letter.”

Wow, he was writing a self-criticism letter to Comrade Su Wanying.

Although Commander Huo constantly wore a stern face and drilled them relentlessly, who could not respect and admire such a leader who was strict with himself and always reflected on his mistakes?

Han Wei grinned, showing his white teeth, and took back the eggs he had been given, returning them to Su Wanying. “Comrade Su Wanying, you should keep these.”

“No… it’s fine…” Su Wanying waved her hand, about to speak, but choked on the egg yolk.

Seeing this, Han Wei quickly helped her open the water canteen and handed it to her.

Unbeknownst to them, Commander Huo raised his cold gaze, giving Han Wei a warning look.

That glance was overwhelmingly oppressive, sending a chill down Han Wei’s spine. He wondered what he had done wrong.

Could it be that Commander Huo had feelings for Comrade Su Wanying and disliked Han Wei showing her undue attention?

He was innocent; he hadn’t done anything.

Just now, he saw Comrade Su Wanying struggling to open the canteen but did not ask for help, so he didn’t dare to offer assistance first.

Su Wanying took the canteen, took a sip, and felt her throat instantly soothed. Gratefully, she said, “Thank you, Comrade Han Wei. One egg is enough for me.”

Su’s mother had tightened the canteen cap firmly, fearing it might leak. She had tried several times but failed to open it, intending to try again later.

Now drinking the sweet, cool water, she gulped down several big mouthfuls, finally quenching her thirst.

But drinking so much water meant she soon had to use the restroom again.

The train’s aisle was cluttered with luggage and poultry cages on both sides. She struggled to reach the restroom, and upon returning, saw Huo Xiaohan standing rigid and solemn by the aisle, like a statue.

Su Wanying assumed he had also come to use the restroom and lowered her head to walk past him.

“Comrade Su Wanying, this is my self-criticism letter. Please take a look. If there are omissions, I can add to it,” Huo Xiaohan said coldly, expressionless, handing her a densely written sheet of paper.

Su Wanying was surprised, not expecting him to take self-criticism so seriously.

“Comrade Huo, you’ve already apologized to me. There’s no need to be so solemn.”

But Huo Xiaohan’s expression remained unchanged as he firmly extended the letter. “An apology is one thing; recognizing one’s mistakes is another. If I am wrong, I should reflect and self-criticize promptly.”

This man was truly upright and principled, clear about right and wrong.

Su Wanying did not want to take it but had no choice. Her freshly washed hands still had traces of water, leaving a thumbprint on the clean paper.

Huo Xiaohan looked at those fair, delicate hands and involuntarily recalled how those very hands had touched him just moments ago…

But the thought was immediately suppressed.

“Xiaohui said the letter I wrote to her was taken by you? Please return it,” the cold, metallic voice spoke again, exuding an icy pressure.

He had just learned about this and, since Xiaohui was too shy to ask for it, she had cautiously told him.

Huo Xiaohan had known Su Xiaohui for half a year and had sent only four or five letters, all formal and dull, resembling reports, written in the tone of an old cadre urging study and physical exercise.

This was also one reason the original owner did not fancy Huo Xiaohan.

But those letters had long been burned in the stove by the original owner, with Su Xiaohui watching nearby, even trying to rescue them.

It was obvious that Su Xiaohui, seeing she could not gain the upper hand openly, took advantage of Su Wanying’s trip to the restroom to tear apart the gentle and generous image she had just established in front of Comrade Han Wei.

She wanted everyone to see Su Wanying’s truly ugly side.

Su Wanying had a clear plan for studying in Beiping. Aside from aiming to enter university and secure an easy yet well-paying government job, she wanted to sever all previous relationships and rebuild a social network where no one knew her past.

After all, in the conservative, information-isolated 1980s, the fact that the original owner had almost caused a fatal incident over a romantic rival would bring lifelong gossip and severely impact her future.

Even Huo Xiaohan and the entire Huo family were on her list of people to cut ties with.

So she chose to admit the truth frankly: “Sorry, Comrade Huo, those letters were already burned by me. Xiaohui knows this too.”

Before she could finish, a shadow fell over Huo Xiaohan’s eyes, dark and somber. He then coldly turned and left, his silhouette sharp and imposing.

Clearly, there was no need to hear more.

Su Wanying did not mind; after all, she had already witnessed Commander Huo’s coldness in the past.

When Su Wanying returned to her seat, Han Wei’s gaze held a trace of curiosity, but he still smiled at her sincerely, and she returned the smile.

By the time the train arrived in Beiping, it was already half past seven, completely dark, and raining.

The military district compound, the Huo residence.

A car’s headlights gleamed on the stained glass of the second floor. Huo Jianguo, sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper, knew at once that Huo Xiaohan had arrived with the two Su sisters.

On the other sofa sat the elderly revolutionary matriarch, Huo’s grandmother. Removing her reading glasses, she glanced coldly at the car outside the window and said indifferently, “They’re here.”

She then lowered her head and continued reading the newspaper without further reaction.

Regarding Su Wanying coming to Beiping to study, Huo Jianguo had quarreled fiercely with his wife, Xie Bailing, who adamantly opposed having a near-murderer—someone who had almost harmed her own sister—study in Beiping and lodge at the Huo family home.