The little girl was too timid to speak, her eyes darting away, her small face flushed with embarrassment. The boy beside her, however, was bolder.
“Our mom told us to come. She said we’d get biscuits if we did.”
Niu Zhuang wiped his runny nose with the back of his hand, then casually rubbed it on his pant leg.
Yang Chunmei opened the biscuit tin, took out two walnut cookies, and gave one to each of them.
“Go back now. Your little sister needs to sleep. She can’t play with you.”
As soon as he got the cookie, the boy turned and left. The girl timidly muttered a “thank you” before scurrying away like a frightened rabbit.
“Are they Niu Aixiang’s kids?”
“Yes. The older one is Zhao Chun, and the younger one is Zhao Zhuang.”
“A sapling won’t grow straight without pruning; a person won’t learn without discipline.”
“Ah, why bother arguing with children?”
Lian Qiao turned around. “Sis, you’re just too kind-hearted. The gentle are bullied, just as tame horses are ridden.”
But this wasn’t Yang Chunmei’s fault. Her family was loving and harmonious, teaching her to be well-mannered and reasonable, unlike other households where arguments escalated into fights, even involving knives or weapons. Her older brother was always considerate toward her. Though the family was poor, she grew up surrounded by love.
How could someone like her ever be a match for Niu Aixiang?
She was like a dish served on the table—hardly even a contender.
Yang Chunmei, however, remained optimistic. “The kids are a mess all day. When I was pregnant, I could still help comb their hair, but after Baozhu was born, I haven’t had the time to manage them. It’s fine if they get a little something to eat.”
Lian Qiao walked to the bedside and gently pinched her little niece’s cheek. “So, being born into the right family is also a skill.”
She felt sorry for those two children, but it was only pity.
Li Baozhu, who shared a blood relation with her, was her family.
As for others, they had little to do with her.
She had never had children of her own and couldn’t overflow with maternal affection like Yang Chunmei did.
Sometimes she felt she was somewhat cold-blooded, not gentle enough, not feminine enough—perhaps because she had never experienced the taste of love.
This was how she justified and excused herself.
The clear sound of the drill dismissal call echoed with the fading glow of the sunset, marking the end of another day in the compound.
Li Guozheng walked shoulder-to-shoulder with his comrade toward home, carrying several lunchboxes in his hand.
His first thought was his fellow townsman and good friend Liu Xinjun, though Liu Xinjun’s circumstances weren’t particularly outstanding.
Liu Xinjun was divorced, with his child living with his ex-wife. He had long wanted to remarry, so Li Guozheng approached him first.
To meet the criteria for accompanying a military spouse, one either needed long years of service or a high rank. But most who met these standards were already married and lived in the family quarters.
Being good friends, Liu Xinjun readily agreed as soon as Li Guozheng brought it up. He even changed into fresh clothes, showing he wasn’t taking this meeting lightly.
As soon as the two entered the house, Liu Xinjun’s eyes widened, and he regretted not having taken a bath before coming.
Lian Qiao, holding the child, smiled sweetly. “Brother-in-law, you’re back.”
“Qiao’er, this is my comrade, Liu Xinjun.”
“Brother Liu, please have a seat.”
Liu Xinjun felt dizzy at being addressed so warmly, his ears burning as if he’d had a drink.
“Please sit. Let’s talk while we eat.” Yang Chunmei set the table and invited the guest to sit.
She had heard of Liu Xinjun before but was meeting him for the first time. She wasn’t particularly impressed.
He was shorter than Li Guozheng and darker-skinned. He looked like an honest man, but his eyes remained fixed on the table, not daring to glance up at Lian Qiao.
She glanced discreetly at Lian Qiao beside her, seeing she was still smiling, and felt it wasn’t appropriate to say anything.
Everyone at the dinner table was rather reserved. After the meal, Li Guozheng said he was going to the service center to buy soy sauce, and then Yang Chunmei, holding the child, also went out for a stroll. The room fell completely silent, leaving only the sound of two people breathing.
Lian Qiao openly sized up the man before her. She couldn’t say whether she liked him or not, but she thought it best to take the initiative.
“Brother Liu, do you like children?”
In her previous life, she never had any, and she didn’t know if she could in this one.
Honesty was better than chaos later on; she had no intention of hiding anything from anyone.
Liu Xinjun’s ears grew even hotter.
This was too direct, and he felt a bit embarrassed.
“I do. My daughter was taken by her mother when she remarried, and I haven’t seen her in years. If… if I were to remarry, I’d definitely want another one.”
Lian Qiao nodded. “Then, Brother Liu, if you have any expectations for a wife, feel free to say them. It’s better to get everything out in the open now to avoid misunderstandings later.”
Liu Xinjun swallowed hard, forcing himself to look up and meet her eyes, but he only managed a brief glance before quickly lowering his head again.
She was too beautiful, and a rough man like him didn’t seem worthy of her.
“I hope to marry someone who can wait for me at home, to have a companion.”
“So, after marriage, you wouldn’t want her to work?”
“I can support her. I don’t spend much money myself; I save most of it.”
Liu Xinjun imagined Lian Qiao sitting in his home, calling him “Brother Liu” every day, and his head spun again.
Lian Qiao pursed her lips. “If I don’t work…”
Seeing her hesitate, Liu Xinjun quickly added, “If you want to work, you can. Find something light and easy. I don’t expect you to earn much; I can support you.”
He repeated this sentiment, and Lian Qiao nodded again.
“Then I understand. Would you like some tea? I’ll make you a cup.”
“No, no, I should head back. You… you don’t need to see me out.”
Liu Xinjun stood up as if his pants were on fire, hurriedly walking out without daring to look back.
He didn’t know why he was so shy. He already had a child this old, and it was just a blind date—why was he so nervous? He couldn’t understand it himself.
Lian Qiao stood at the door, feeling a mix of regret and relief.
Niu Aixiang came out to collect the laundry and saw Liu Xinjun leaving the neighboring house, curious.
“Where’s your sister?”
Lian Qiao glanced at her. “She went out for a walk.”
Niu Aixiang gathered the laundry and turned around. “Do you have any sugar at home? I need to borrow some. Niu Zhuang refuses to take his medicine, and I thought I’d make him a bowl of sugar water. We just ran out.”
Lian Qiao blocked the doorway. “Sister-in-law, your husband is a military officer, and you just had a big, healthy baby boy. Your life is so prosperous—why are you always short of this and that? You still haven’t returned the salt and half a bottle of soy sauce you borrowed last time. If I lend you more, I’m afraid you’ll forget again.”
Niu Aixiang’s expression changed at these words.
“It’s just borrowing a little something. Do you have to be so stingy!”
Lian Qiao smiled without warmth. “Exactly. Borrowing little things every day, but you never return them. Whose things aren’t bought with money? My sister has a good temper, but mine isn’t so good.”
Niu Aixiang grew angry, pointing at her. “Who cares about your worthless stuff!”
Lian Qiao crossed her arms and raised her chin.
“Sister-in-law, you said it yourself—whoever comes back for more is a dog!”
Niu Aixiang spat on the ground, turned around, and stormed back home, slamming the door with a loud bang.
Then the sound of two children crying came from inside the house.
“You heartless scoundrel! Look who you think you can bully now! Just because you have a bit of looks, you think you’re above everyone else, acting like some noble lady! Shameless!”
“Cry, cry, cry! All you know is crying! If you have any guts, go learn to be tough like them! What’s the use of raising you!”
“You worthless piece of trash! Don’t even think about stepping foot in our house again!”