As the plane circled and descended over Jiangcheng, through the porthole, I looked at this city that I had not seen for five years. There are many high-rise buildings and flashing neon lights. It is more than twice as prosperous as when I left. But my heart seemed to be clenched tightly by an invisible hand. The closer I got to the ground, the stronger the inexplicable feeling of suffocation became.
Five years.
Five years ago, I, Xiao Bei, was drafted into the army and went to the northern border to protect my family and country. Before leaving, I held my daughter Nian Nian, who was just one month old, and pressed a kiss on her pink face. I promised my tearful wife Lin Xue: "When I come back, I will let you live a good life."
Who would have thought that this farewell would turn out to be a sea of change.
