Qiu Yihe's originally relaxed brows instantly furrowed.
Her voice carried a hint of doubt and inquiry as she spoke urgently.
"Not ordinary people? Is it because their family is in the same situation as my first cousin once removed?"
Hearing this, Qiu Zheng slowly shook his head, his movement filled with emotion.
"The same, yet different. Your cousin's luck back then was simply blessed by the heavens. At only eight years old, he threw himself into that brutal movement. His experience was like a legendary adventure novel, 'cheating' his way through."
"The people around him sacrificed themselves one after another. Although he was seriously injured every time, he managed to survive by a stroke of luck."
"At the beginning of Huaxia's founding, he was only eighteen years old, yet he had already left his own mark on history with his illustrious military achievements."
"Unfortunately, over a decade of brutal movement left his body riddled with holes. In the end, he was never able to have children of his own, which became the regret of his life." Qiu Zheng's words were full of feelings for his cousin.
Thinking of her own cousin, Qiu Yihe was full of admiration and pity.
She replied, "So that's how it was. I used to wonder why Cousin and his wife had such a good relationship, so loving, yet didn't have any children of their own."
Qiu Zheng continued, "According to your grandmother, when they were young, they specifically went abroad for treatment. They were gone for several years, and they never went without various precious traditional Chinese medicines. They tried everything they could to have a child, but fate is just that cruel."
"In the end, there was really no other way. So, we were the ones who benefited. Your cousin brought your grandmother's family to the Capital. Because of that, I was able to come into contact with people of Uncle Jiang's social class."
Qiu Zheng paused and then continued, "Cousin always raised my eldest and second brothers as his own children, placing high hopes on them. So from the beginning, he sent them to the army, hoping they could temper themselves in the military and defend the country. Unfortunately, during those years, our Huaxia experienced too much suffering, and the casualties were truly heavy."
"Not just my eldest and second brothers, but even Uncle Jiang's brothers also..." At this point, Qiu Zheng's voice gradually lowered, his eyes full of sorrow.
Speaking of this, Qiu Yihe's eyes also dimmed.
She replied with a serious expression, "If you fall behind, you'll be beaten. Fortunately, over these years, Huaxia has shown its mettle and developed step by step."
Qiu Zheng sighed, his tone full of worry.
"Sigh, we still need to keep working hard. In those years, even the Monkeys dared to challenge us and provocatively insult us. Now, those Indians still look for opportunities to clash with us from time to time, let alone the Pretty Country. This confrontation has made us deeply realize that we still have a long way to go."
At this moment, Qiu Yihe's heart was filled with topics of home and country.
Those words about the rise and fall of the nation and the fate of the people made her heart surge with emotion.
She simply had no time to worry about the friction between her and Qiu Zheng caused by her parents' relationship.
Seeing the wind getting stronger, Qiu Yihe immediately walked quickly behind Qiu Zheng.
She firmly grasped the handles of the wheelchair and pushed Qiu Zheng toward the house.
Seeing Qiu Yihe's skilled and independent manner, a surge of intense guilt and pity welled up in Qiu Zheng's heart.
"Xiao He, Dad is sorry. When you said you wanted to go to the police academy before, I didn't take it seriously. I thought you were just acting on impulse and would give up before long."
"I didn't expect the life at the police academy to be so bitter these past few years, yet you actually grit your teeth and endured it. Now that you want to be a police officer, Dad won't stop you anymore, but I have only one request."
Qiu Zheng's slightly low voice was filled with deep guilt and endless affection.
Hearing these words from her father, Qiu Yihe's moving steps seemed to be under a binding spell, stopping abruptly in place.
After a pause, she asked, "What request?"
Qiu Zheng sighed heavily, looked up, and gazed at his daughter.
With a complex light flickering in his eyes, he said softly.
"Don't charge in blindly when you encounter danger. You can't trade your life for military merit. Our Qiu family only has you left now. If something happens to you, how can Dad go on living?"
At this point, Qiu Zheng's throat couldn't help but tighten, and his voice became slightly hoarse.
Seeing Qiu Yihe nod silently, Qiu Zheng breathed a slight sigh of relief.
But immediately after, he continued.
"Don't look at how Dad acted so righteous and impassioned in front of your Uncle Jiang just now; in fact, every time the night is quiet and I'm dreaming at midnight, I have regretted it too."
"I think, with so many people in the world, why was it me who had to rush forward? The torrent of the times has passed after all. Never mind the future, even now, very few people know of my existence."
"Now my daughter wants to contribute to the people again. If something happens, what am I doing all this for..."
Having said this, Qiu Zheng could no longer suppress the emotions surging within him. His eyes gradually grew moist, and his voice began to choke up.
Seeing her father, Qiu Zheng, shed tears again, Qiu Yihe, standing to the side, immediately panicked.
She hurriedly pulled several tissues from the tissue box beside her and anxiously handed them to Qiu Zheng.
However, when she saw her father's face covered in tear stains.
Qiu Yihe's heart jerked. The word "Dad" escaped her lips, but it was mixed with a hint of unhideable panic and heartache.
She reached out her hands and carefully wiped the tears from the corners of Qiu Zheng's eyes.
Qiu Zheng shook his head slightly, as if trying to shake off the negative thoughts that kept emerging in his mind.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his excited emotions, and said slowly.
"I can't overthink it. I can't let these thoughts occupy my original intentions. So I'm going to the Capital. I'm going to take up a post. I can't be a useless person. Your Uncle Jiang is right; I can be a little selfish. I can use this merit to trade for a higher position. This can be considered as preserving the remaining glory for our Qiu family."
Qiu Yihe nodded. "I understand, Dad. Don't worry about me. I'll listen to you and definitely protect myself. Go to the Capital with peace of mind. If I have a holiday, I'll go find you."
Seeing that Qiu Yihe was no longer as resistant to him, Qiu Zheng continued.
"Xiao He, I saw you getting along quite well with Jiang Cheng just now. Although I don't know Jiang Cheng well, your Uncle Jiang and Auntie Li are both good people, so you can rest assured."
Noticing the hint of testing and expectation in Qiu Zheng's tone, Qiu Yihe's face instantly turned red, like a ripe apple.
Although she was a straightforward girl with a boisterous personality, it didn't mean she wouldn't feel shy when mentioning such topics with her father.