The vehicle drove into the military family compound and stopped in front of the bungalow.
He Huai got out first and opened the door for her. There were many families living nearby, and when they saw Su Manning step out of the vehicle, they immediately began gossiping.
“Regimental Commander He, who’s this?”
The matter of Su Manning and He Yan preparing to meet for a possible marriage had not become common knowledge.
A flicker passed through He Huai’s eyes. “She’s Political Commissar Su’s niece. She’s here visiting relatives.”
Su Manning carried a small suitcase. Even though several aunties had gathered around to look at her, she was not the least bit timid. She merely greeted them obediently. “Hello, Sisters-in-law.”
As soon as she finished speaking, two children ran out of the courtyard.
“Is Auntie here?”
“Wow, what a beautiful auntie! Grandma really didn’t lie to me.”
The older boy grabbed her hand and shook it. “Auntie, Auntie, I’m Dashitou. Do you still remember me?”
Su Manning smiled and pinched his not-so-chubby cheek. “Of course I do. I even sent you something for your birthday.”
Dashitou’s little face flushed. He looked shy and bashful, grinning like a silly little fool.
His younger brother, Xiaoshitou, gave a hum and was just about to take Su Manning’s other hand when Second Aunt Zhou Fen hurried out after washing and drying her hands.
“Manning.”
“Second Aunt!”
Zhou Fen was so excited she could hardly contain herself.
Su Manning’s eyes reddened as well. Before she had come, Eldest Uncle had already told Second Uncle why she was coming to the military district.
Although she did not feel that coming to the military district was any hardship for her, when she thought of the fear and unease she had felt before, of losing her job, and of being forced to leave her homeland, she could not help wanting to cry when she saw her relatives again.
Zhou Fen hugged her and gently patted her in consolation. “It’s all right now, it’s all right. From now on, treat this as your own home. The weather’s hot, so come inside quickly, have some water, and rest.”
“Little Zhang, He Huai, you come inside too. Lunch will be ready soon.”
He Huai saw the slight press of Su Manning’s lips, as though she were suppressing her emotions. He wondered if something had happened to the girl that had led her to come to the military district.
He carried the things Su Manning had bought into the house.
Political Commissar Su’s bungalow was not large, but it was still considerably bigger than the homes of ordinary cadres.
There were three rooms and a living room. The bathroom was beside the kitchen, and across from it was a woodshed. There was also a courtyard with a well in it, while some chickens and ducks were kept along one side.
When Su Manning entered the house, she saw a woman in her twenties arranging several porcelain-and-enamel cups on the table.
Her eyes lit up. “Are you Fifth Sister-in-law?”
Eldest Uncle had three sons and one daughter, while Second Uncle had four sons.
The eldest male cousin, third male cousin, and fourth male cousin were all Eldest Uncle’s sons. The second, fifth, sixth, and seventh male cousins were Second Uncle’s sons.
Of the seven brothers, only Second Uncle’s sixth and seventh sons remained unmarried.
However, the second male cousin had joined the army early. She had heard that he had started a family and made a career for himself on one of the islands.
The fifth male cousin was a scientific researcher and normally did not return home. Therefore, this sister-in-law who had remained at home had to be Fifth Sister-in-law.
Fifth Sister-in-law Liu Ming smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes.
“Yes, my name is Liu Ming.”
Su Manning keenly sensed that this sister-in-law did not seem to like her very much.
She was a little puzzled. She had never met this sister-in-law before. Had she done something to offend her?
Zhou Fen suddenly stepped forward, took the kettle from Liu Ming, and called for He Huai and Little Zhang to have some water.
“Your Second Uncle hasn’t gotten off work yet, but he should be back soon.”
“Beicheng doesn’t have as abundant a supply of goods as Sucheng, but this yangzi is a local specialty. Manning, have some.”
When Zhou Fen turned around after speaking, she gave Liu Ming a warning look.
The smile on Liu Ming’s face stiffened as well.
Su Manning did not know what was going on, but she did not dwell on it.
“Second Aunt, is Tongtong doing all right?”
Su Mantong was two years younger than her. After graduating from high school at sixteen, she had been deceived into going to the countryside.
The village where she had been sent was near the Beicheng military district.
She had Second Uncle and Second Aunt to thank for taking care of her during that time.
Zhou Fen smiled and said, “She’s doing well. It’s just that she takes after your Auntie and is stubborn to the core!”
“Oh, right, Manning, I’ve finished tidying your room. Come take a look.”
Su Manning got up and followed her to the room.
He Huai also rose.
Little Zhang had just finished drinking his water when he looked up and saw him. “Regimental Commander, where are you going?”
He Huai glanced at him. “I’m carrying Comrade Su’s things.”
As soon as Zhou Fen heard that, she reached out to take them. “I’m really troubling you, He Huai. That boy He Yan has been away on a mission for so long. Otherwise, I would have had him go pick Manning up today.”
He Huai avoided her hand. “I’ll do it. There are a lot of bottles and jars. It wouldn’t be good if they got knocked around.”
Zhou Fen thought that He Yan and her niece had been corresponding for a whole year. Once the two of them met and married, He Huai would be her niece’s eldest brother-in-law. It was nothing for him to help out a little.
Su Manning’s room really was not large. After all, Political Commissar Su’s family had only three rooms in total.
Second Uncle and Second Aunt occupied one room, Fifth Sister-in-law shared one with her two children, and the remaining, smaller room had been given to her.
Sunlight streamed through the window onto the small kang. Brand-new white curtains hung above it, and a fan had been placed inside.
The desk sat opposite the window, with several bunches of wildflowers gathered from who knew where placed on it.
The room looked neat and cozy.
“The room is a little small, but it gets good light. The kang was newly built when Tongtong came to stay before. Tongtong doesn’t come often, so I’ve always kept the room clean and never let the children run around on it.”
Zhou Fen sounded a little apprehensive. Her eldest niece looked even more delicate than her younger niece, and she did not know whether Manning would be able to get used to living here.
Behind them, Liu Ming pursed her lips.
The young lady was visiting the countryside for the first time. She would surely find everything unbearably unpleasant.
Her mother-in-law was being far too eager to please.
Su Manning sensed Second Aunt’s thoughtfulness. Her gaze was gentle, sparkling like sunlight. “Second Aunt, you’ve gone to so much trouble. I really like it.”
He Huai stared at her from the side, entranced. He only felt that she was more radiant than flowers and gentler than water, and his heart began pounding wildly.
The corners of Zhou Fen’s lips immediately lifted. “As long as you like it. I just aired out this wardrobe too, so it’s very clean. You brought so few clothes. Tomorrow, I’ll take leave and go into the city with you to buy several outfits.”
Embarrassed, Su Manning said, “Second Aunt, my clothes are still at the post office. They haven’t been delivered yet. I don’t lack anything.”
“Even so, it’s Second Aunt’s way of showing her affection.” Zhou Fen pulled her close and patted her gently.
Liu Ming was thoroughly displeased.
This young lady was even better at putting on an act than the previous one.
The northwest had always been short of water. Even though there were wells and rivers in their area, they still had to conserve water.
In summer, people bathed once every two or three days. In winter, they might go a whole month without bathing; normally, wiping themselves down was enough.
Yet these nieces of her mother-in-law’s had all come from Sucheng, where rainwater was never scarce, and were completely unable to adapt to the climate here.
When the previous one had come to their home on leave while working in the countryside as an educated youth, she had refused to bathe at the public bathhouse and insisted that the family boil water for her instead, practically treating the entire family like servants.
She had truly had enough.
And now there was another one. This one was even more favored by her mother-in-law than the previous one. Who knew whether all the good things in the household would end up being taken by her?
She herself could endure it, but she could not stand watching the children suffer along with her.
After Su Manning put her things away, Political Commissar Su returned as well.
The moment he saw her, tears sprang to his aged eyes. “You’ve lost weight, you’ve lost weight. You’re much thinner than the last time I saw you.”
“Second Uncle.”
Su Manning nodded with reddened eyes. Wasn’t it true? She had eaten poorly and slept badly these past few days. Even her chest had gone down a size.
“From now on, this is your home too. Tell your Second Aunt what you want to eat. Beicheng may have fewer supplies, but we don’t lack meat or grain. We’ll definitely nourish you until you’re fair and plump.”
Su Manning had still been nodding when she suddenly caught the flicker of amusement in He Huai’s eyes. Her cheeks instantly flushed.
She stammered, “I’m not thin anymore.”
“All right, all right. Your Second Aunt killed a chicken. Let’s eat first.”
Su Jianjun finished speaking with a smile and called everyone to sit down.
Seeing that He Huai was there as well, he teased him, “He Huai, it’s not that the division commander and I are pressuring you, but you’re not young anymore. You’re already twenty-eight. It’s time to get married.”
“If you don’t get married, how are you supposed to rise through the ranks?”
He Huai suddenly curled his lips upward. “Why doesn’t the political commissar introduce someone to me?”
Su Jianjun clicked his tongue. “Haven’t I introduced enough people to you? If you insist on keeping your eyes on top of your head and finding yourself a fairy, rejecting this one and that one, I’d like to see what kind of woman you end up finding.”
“Isn’t there one right in front of me?”
He Huai’s fingers rubbed against the enamel cup as he lifted his eyes toward the young woman sitting across from him.