Chapter 81 - The Mannerheim Line Welcomes You (End) (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Two months later.

At a random farm on the border of Finland and Switzerland.

Zhang Heng wiped away the sweat from his forehead and put down the ax in his hand. He moved all the chopped wood back to the storeroom and arranged them neatly among the piles. A loaf of fresh bread and some fish soup was on the table when Zhang Heng entered the house.

The owner of this farm was a 67-year-old lady called Greta. Her husband and only son were tragically killed on the battlefield. She had a daughter as well but had since been married off to a man in the United States. A month ago, she took in Zhang Heng and Simone out of kindness, besides needing help with the farm work as well. Hence, the two of them decided they would put up here for some time.

When anyone asked about the two newcomers, Greta would tell them they were the relatives of her daughter’s husband. Zhang Heng’s fluent English was enough proof. As for Simone, she was a quiet girl and disliked socializing. As time pa.s.sed, people around started to accept who she was. For good measure, both tossed away their weapons on their way here. Simone’s gunshot wound was treated by a doctor who lived in a small town. The sad truth was, Simone had no family left in this world, with her great-grandfather pa.s.sing away two years ago. In other words, there was nothing to hold her back and tie her down in this world.

Once the battle at the lake was over, Zhang Heng initially wanted to settle down in America with Simone only to realize later on that his plan was less than ideal. First, America was located too far away from Finland. Traveling all the way there would take a long time. Secondly, Simone’s English wasn’t the best. She would have a hard time communicating with the locals if she stayed there.

In the end, Zhang Heng thought it best to stay at the border between Finland and Switzerland. Finland was one of the dukedoms of Switzerland, which was why most Finnish could also speak Swedish. As for the people who stayed in the villages near the border, it was common that they would converse in two languages, Greta being one of them. At least Simone could freely communicate with the people here.

Through the window, Zhang Heng could see that Simone was returning from hunting. She had her sniper slung at her back and had a rabbit and a fox with her. As she entered the house, she placed today’s catch in the kitchen, stored her hunting rifle in the attic, and washed her hands before settling in the dining room to have her meal.

Grandma Greta scooped a bowlful of fish soup for everyone with Zhang Heng thanking her in Finnish. This was an ordinary night for them, peaceful and joyful. After dinner, they bid each other their goodnights before retreating to their respective rooms.

Greta was already up in the early hours of the morning, preparing Zhang Heng and Simone’s breakfast. She then put it in a basket Today, Simone wasn’t wearing the hunting outfit that she’d put on each morning. Instead, she had put on a dress with a floral design. Since this was a dress that had been made initially for Greta’s daughter, it seemed a little too small for Simone, looking slightly uncomfortable and squirmy.

“Have fun today,” said Greta while pa.s.sing the food basket to them.

“Bye, Greta!” Zhang Heng replied as he gave Greta a hug.

“Goodbye, children!”

Greta waved at them from afar. They sure looked very much like a couple going for an outing. Zhang Heng hopped on a bicycle, and Simone sat on the back. They soon pa.s.sed the paddy field, and then a square in a small town, where their tiny hospital was plastered with blood donation posters. They enjoyed the serenity of the atmosphere as they pa.s.sed all of it.