North Family Letters

Early that morning, just as dawn broke and the northeast wind was still a bit chilly, the courtyard had already been tidied up spotlessly.

My mother changed into a clean blue cotton jacket, her hair was neatly combed, and she leaned against the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). Her complexion had improved considerably, but her palms were still slightly sweaty.

Chunyan, Xiahe, Qiuling, Dongxue, Xiaoman, and Xiaoya, the six girls, all changed into clean clothes and stood properly in the house, their ears perked up, listening to the sounds coming from the alleyway.

Suddenly, a familiar yet distant cough came from outside the courtyard gate.

The mother's body stiffened abruptly.

The next second, the door hinges creaked open and were gently pushed open.

A tall, tanned man in military uniform stood at the door, carrying an old canvas bag. He looked travel-worn, but his eyes shone with an astonishing light.

It is Song Changshan.

The room became so quiet that you could hear someone breathing.

His mother looked at him, tears welling up in her eyes. Her lips trembled, and she could only utter two words after a long while:

"...Changshan".

Song Changshan put down his bag, strode in, his gaze sweeping over his wife and then over his six daughters lined up in a row. His Adam's apple bobbed violently.

Without saying a word, he walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), stretched out his hands, which had held guns and fired enemy planes and were covered in calluses, and gently embraced his mother.

"I'm back."

His voice was hoarse, yet incredibly reassuring.

His mother buried her head in the shoulder of his military uniform, and all the worries, anxieties, and grievances she had suppressed for so many years suddenly welled up and she silently shed tears.

Song Changshan gently patted her back, saying over and over again:

"Okay, everything's fine. I'm back, and I'm never leaving again."

Immediately afterwards, he released his mother, squatted down, opened his arms, and faced his six daughters who were dumbfounded and had red eyes.

"Come here, everyone."

Chunyan couldn't resist taking a step forward.

Xiahe, Qiuling, Dongxue, and Xiaoman also gathered around.

The smallest sprout lunged forward.

Song Changshan pulled all six of his daughters into his arms and held them tightly.

The military uniform carried the smell of a long journey, mixed with the scent of sunshine and everyday life—it was the smell of my father.

He buried his face in his daughters' arms, his voice choked with emotion:

"Dad is sorry for you, for making you and Mom suffer."

Chunyan rested her head on her father's shoulder, tears streaming down her face.

"Dad, we're not wronged. Mom is better now, and the family is all together again."

Xia He wiped away her tears, but smiled.

Qiu Ling, Dong Xue, and Xiao Man all had red eyes and couldn't say a word; they just snuggled into their father's arms.

Little Sprout clung tightly to her father's waist, her voice still sweet and childish:

"Dad, I miss you so much."

Sunlight streamed in through the doorway and fell on the family.

The man, dressed in military uniform, was holding his wife and surrounded by their six daughters.

There were no grand pronouncements, only a genuine family reunion.

The earthen bed was warm, and the room was quiet, save for soft sobs and choked sobs.

After so many years of waiting, traveling thousands of miles, and having my heart hanging in suspense, this embrace finally put my mind at ease.

From this day forward, the family will never be separated again. The house was quiet, the earthen bed was warm and cozy, and sunlight streamed through the window onto the kang table, where the family photo was polished to a shine.

Song Changshan gently helped his mother lean against the soft pillows, tucking the blanket around her. His voice was very soft, yet exceptionally steady:

"During this military reorganization, the organization offered two options. One was to stay in the local area for demobilization and resettlement, with stable jobs and good benefits; the other was to apply for demobilization and return to the Northeast for reassignment."

His mother gently held his rough hand, looked up at him, and listened quietly without saying a word.

Song Changshan paused, his gaze falling on his wife's slightly haggard but still gentle face, then sweeping over their daughters bustling outside, his tone hardening:

"I've made up my mind. I won't stay there. I've been guarding the country with a gun for so many years, and you've been the sole breadwinner at home. The children have grown up, and I haven't been there for more than a few days. Now that you're fully recovered, the family needs someone to take care of everything. As their father and husband, I can't leave you all behind again."

He gently patted his mother's hand, his smile serene.

"I've already submitted my application to transfer back to the Northeast. I don't care about the quality of the job; as long as it's close to home, I can stay with you and our six daughters. The whole family can eat together at the same table every day. That's better than anything else."

Her mother's eyes welled up with tears, which slowly streamed down her face, but she nodded firmly, her voice soft and gentle:

"Okay, wherever you go, this is where we'll stay. Your return is the most important thing."

Song Changshan placed his wife's hand in his palm and let out a long sigh of relief.

Having carried a gun, guarded the borders, and witnessed life and death, he finally felt at this moment that his heart was at peace and his family was complete.

The weather in Northeast China is gradually warming up. The icicles under the eaves have completely melted away, and the soil in the yard is soft and damp.

My mother's health is improving day by day. She can now get out of bed on her own and walk slowly in the yard. She can also pick vegetables and start a fire. She is no longer as weak as she was a few days ago, unable to stay in bed. Her face is slowly regaining color, and she has more strength to speak. However, when she occasionally looks south, her eyes still hold a hint of worry.

That afternoon, the postman's bicycle bell rang at the alley entrance, and he called out from afar, "Song family—a letter from the army!"

Chunyan was the first to run out. When she received the letter, the envelope still carried the warmth of the outside sun. Upon seeing her father's handwriting, the sisters immediately gathered around and carefully followed their mother back into the house.

The mother sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), her fingers gently stroking the envelope. She took a deep breath before slowly opening it.

In his letter, Song Changshan said that his transfer to civilian work had been approved and that he would no longer remain stationed in another location. He had formally applied to be transferred back to the Northeast for resettlement.

Once the handover is complete, he will head home and soon be able to step through the door and reunite with his mother and seven children.

The letter also specifically mentioned that knowing his mother had been ill, he was anxious day and night, and now he only hoped to come back soon, to stay home and take care of her, and never be separated again.

The mother pressed the letter to her chest, looked up at Chunyan, Xiahe, Qiuling, Dongxue, Xiaoman, and Xiaoya surrounding her, her eyes slightly red, but she smiled and whispered:

"Your dad... is coming back."

He's transferring back to the Northeast, back to our home.

As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment, and then the sisters' eyes lit up.

The earthen bed was warm, and the window was brightly lit.

A mother whose illness is gradually improving, a father who is about to return home, and six daughters who are growing up.

This family, which has endured so much wind and snow in Northeast China, is finally about to be reunited as a whole.

At night, the oil lamp cast a dim yellow light.

Mother sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and sighed softly:

"Xia He is graduating from high school now. According to the current policy, there's a high chance... she'll have to go to the countryside to work as an educated youth."

Chunyan lowered her head and said, "There are quite a few girls in our factory who were mobilized to leave as soon as they graduated. Some went to the Great Northern Wilderness, and some went to Inner Mongolia."

Xia He sat on a small stool, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers. She didn't say anything, but her eyes were a little red.

She wasn't afraid of hardship, but she couldn't bear to leave her family, which was just about to be reunited.

The mother wiped her eyes:

"If your dad were still in the army, we could only let her respond to the call."

But things are different now... Your dad transferred back from the military and became a local official; he can at least say a few words to you."

Her voice was soft yet firm:

"If all else fails, have your dad come back and think of a solution."

I'm not looking for a fancy company, just a temporary job or a small factory job in the city.

Staying in the city rather than going to the countryside is better than anything else.

Dongxue asked softly, "If you go to the countryside, will you be unable to come home for a long time?"

Xiaoman chimed in, "I've heard that some people go away for several years, and it's hard to say whether they'll ever come back."

Little Sprout clung to her mother's arm: "I don't want my second sister to leave."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Xia He's way out became the first real obstacle for this family that was about to be reunited.