With a mouth beneath her nose and eyes that opened only to ask questions, Lin Yiqiao inquired her way all along until she finally arrived at the military compound.
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, her small face slightly flushed from the midday sun, she tossed her two thick, dark braids behind her back with a spirited and straightforward air.
Sister Liu, who had originally agreed to accompany her, had been separated by the crowd when they got off the bus. Faced with the heavily guarded compound ahead, Lin Yiqiao hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward.
“Comrade, could you tell me how to get to Zhang Guoqiang’s home?”
The young soldier on guard duty wasn’t much older, with bright, dark eyes. He turned his flushed neck to glance at Lin Yiqiao. “Entry and exit here require registration. I can go in and notify them for you.”
“Thank you so much.” Lin Yiqiao smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.
The young soldier turned and quickly ran into the compound. Lin Yiqiao moved to stand in the shade beneath the guard post, where the glass reflected her slightly reddened face as she continued fanning herself with her hand.
Several soldiers carrying live ammunition stood steadfastly in the scorching sun beside her. The sound of a car horn interrupted Lin Yiqiao’s thoughts.
She turned and met the eyes of a man in the back seat of the car, her heart giving an involuntary flutter.
The jeep’s window was rolled halfway down, revealing a tall, sturdy upper body. Beneath the lowered brim of a green cap, the man was the first to look away.
The soldiers nearby saluted, and the car drove smoothly into the compound without hindrance.
Lin Yiqiao slowly regained her composure.
Before her imagination could run wild, the soldier who had gone to notify them returned, followed by a kind-faced woman.
“Yiyi?” The woman walked up and examined her closely.
“Auntie!” Lin Yiqiao rushed forward and was immediately clasped by the hands of Qian Ru.
“Come, let’s go home. No point getting sunburned out here.” Qian Ru walked while studying Lin Yiqiao. “You’ve grown up, and you’re so pretty now,” she kept murmuring.
Auntie’s home was a standalone two-story house, not exactly luxurious but very tidy and clean. It was located on the outer edge of the compound, while several more imposing houses with courtyards clustered in the inner circle.
Qian Ru led Lin Yiqiao to sit on the sofa. “When I received your letter a few days ago, I cleaned out the small room on the second floor. You can stay here without any worries. With Xiaojie married off, I was just feeling lonely with no one to keep me company.”
“Auntie… thank you.” Tears welled up in Lin Yiqiao’s eyes. “I really didn’t know what else to do.”
“I know all about your situation,” Qian Ru squeezed her hand. “That stepfather of yours is no good. I’ll make a trip to Haicheng later and ask your mother myself—does she want that man or her own daughter!”
Hearing this, Lin Yiqiao blinked. She truly couldn’t rely on her mother.
“Mhmm, Auntie, I knew you’d be the best to me.” She leaned against Qian Ru, sobbing.
Qian Ru patted her head affectionately.
Lin Yiqiao had a sweet tongue, crying while also coaxing her aunt until she was all smiles.
Knowing she would arrive today, Qian Ru had prepared plenty of things: fresh black fish, eggs, and meat were all available.
Lin Yiqiao marveled at how high the standard of living was in the capital. Her stepfather was a minor editor at a newspaper, which was considered decent in Haicheng, but even one egg per person per day was hard to come by—and of course, she never got a bite of it either.
Thinking of this, she resolved that she must make something of herself in the capital.
She insisted on showing off her cooking skills, and the two argued in the kitchen until Qian Ru finally gave in and was chased out.
Lin Yiqiao stared at the ingredients for a few seconds. Truth be told, she really hated cooking. If it weren’t for maintaining her image in front of her aunt, she wouldn’t have stepped into the kitchen at all.
The fish was already cleaned. She placed the blackfish into the pot, planning to braise it in soy sauce. She added plenty of spices and let it simmer over low heat.
The finished dish looked decent enough. She secretly tasted a spoonful of the broth.
Pride really does come before a fall—the next dish, stir-fried greens, turned into a disaster. As it turns out, the simpler the dish, the harder it is to cook.
Though the process was a bit bumpy, all the dishes eventually made it to the table. They looked and smelled fine, at least—the taste was another matter.
Before Lin Yiqiao could finish reflecting, her uncle Zhang Guoqiang arrived right on time for dinner.