Chapter 35: The Entire Ye Family, Loyal and Brave!

Cong Gui did not dare to speak, only following Ye Yan'an as she pulled the weeds from the other graves.

Once all the weeds had been cleared away, Ye Yuan turned his back to them and said softly, "Yan'an, pay your respects."

"Yes."

Ye Yan'an nodded obediently and began to kowtow to each of the graves in turn.

A while later, the three of them began their descent down the mountain. Ye Yuan led the way, with Cong Gui and Ye Yan'an following behind.

Just as the car parked by the roadside came into view, Cong Gui could no longer contain his curiosity. "Yan'an, tell Uncle Cong—are those graves up there for your grandmother, your father, and your mother?"

"They are for my grandmother, my eldest uncle, and my aunts," Ye Yan'an answered in a low voice. "My father and mother are still alive. Grandfather told me they are working on something very important, and that they might not be able to return even by the time I graduate from university."

Cong Gui was stunned. Ye Yuan still had a child in this world? But what kind of important task could that child be working on? A tragedy of such magnitude had befallen their family, yet they had been nowhere to be seen!

Cong Gui asked softly, "Then... how did your uncle and aunts... pass away?"

"War."

As Ye Yan'an said this, her hands were clenched tightly. Cong Gui noticed her small gesture, and a look of pity crossed his face. An entire family, and in the end, only the grandfather and granddaughter remained. For a young girl, such a fate was truly cruel.

"But I have always felt that Grandfather was lying to me," Ye Yan'an said, shaking her head gently. "I have always felt that my uncle and aunts aren't dead. Those graves only contain things like their clothes. They must still be alive; they just can't find their way home. But one day, they will come back."

Cenotaphs! Cong Gui felt a jolt in his heart. Of the six graves he had just visited, five were cenotaphs? What kind of circumstances would lead to the creation of five such memorials? He dared not even continue that train of thought. He looked up, his gaze falling upon the frail, aged back of the man walking ahead.

For the dead, it is the end. But for the living, they must bear it all. If he were in Ye Yuan's position, he wasn't sure if he could endure it.

***

The group got into the car. Ye Yuan sat in silence, not saying a word. Cong Gui, hoping to ease the solemn atmosphere, offered a strained smile. "Yan'an, have you applied for university yet?"

"Yes," Ye Yan'an nodded without hesitation. "The National Defense University."

"Oh?" Cong Gui instinctively glanced at Ye Yuan. Ye Yan'an was the provincial top scorer in science; with her grades, she could attend any university in the country. And yet, she had chosen the National Defense University. This meant that the path she would follow was destined to be different from that of ordinary students.

He couldn't help but think of those six graves again. All five of Ye Yuan's children had died in times of war, and now, even his only granddaughter was going to dedicate her life to the country? A sense of tragic heroism welled up in him. A family of absolute loyalty! He could find no other words to describe Ye Yuan. What kind of heart must one possess to make such a choice? He wanted to stand up and express his profound respect for Ye Yuan, but the words died on his lips. Ye Yuan’s spirit was beyond what ordinary people could comprehend; to Cong Gui, any praise he might offer would only serve as an insult to the man.

"The entire country must know of the sacrifices the heroic Ye family has made for the nation!" Cong Gui vowed silently, his expression resolute.

***

When the car passed by Kaoshan Village, Cong Gui asked, "Old Hero, would you like to go down and have a look?"

Ye Yuan turned to look at the entrance of the village and gave a slight nod. The car stopped by the road, and the three of them stepped out, walking back into the small settlement. This was the first time Ye Yan'an had returned since being rescued.

Standing before her home, Ye Yan'an was filled with disbelief. She had never imagined that the home where she grew up would be burned to such a state.

"How... how could our home be burned like this?" she murmured.

Just then, a voice filled with surprise called out from the neighboring yard: "Yan'an! You're okay! Grandfather Ye saved you!"

Her childhood friend, Yanzi, ran out and wrapped Ye Yan'an in a bear hug. The warmth of her friend eased the sorrow in Ye Yan'an's heart, and the two girls walked off hand in hand.

"Old Hero, look," Cong Gui said, pointing toward the vegetable garden. The excavation work was still proceeding in an orderly fashion. With the intense digging, several more military medals had been unearthed. However, the badge of the Japanese officer, which Ye Yuan had thrown into the latrine, had not yet been found.

"Let's go inside and take a look," Ye Yuan said, stepping into the courtyard. The massive boulder unearthed from the garden leaned quietly against the wall, the mud on it baked solid by the sun; it would likely take a heavy rainstorm to wash it clean.

"When I retire, I'll find a village like this to live in, with a large garden in front and behind the house," Cong Gui said with a smile. "I'll grow my own organic food—just thinking about it is wonderful."

Ye Yuan didn't respond to Cong Gui’s remark. His gaze fell upon the storage shed next to the boulder. Liu Dehai had ordered his men to set fire to the main house, so the shed had escaped the blaze. Ye Yuan opened the door and walked in, and Cong Gui followed.

The shed was cluttered, filled with all sorts of items, leaving almost no room to stand. The first thing Cong Gui saw was a square object buried beneath a pile of heavy items. It looked like a plaque, but he couldn't be sure.

"It's so messy in here; it would be a real chore to find anything," Cong Gui remarked.

Ye Yuan explained, "That’s why this shed is basically abandoned. I don't put anything important in here anymore."

"Is there anything in here you need?" Cong Gui asked. "Since we have plenty of hands, I can have them help you clear it out."

"I've almost forgotten what's even in here," Ye Yuan waved his hand. "Let it stay as it is; it's nothing of importance."

As he spoke, a trembling old man approached. It was the village chief. He was younger than Ye Yuan, but his health was far worse.

"Old Ye," the village chief said with a smile, "you've just come back, and I have something for you."