“Big Sister! We’re here!”
“Big Sister, we’re back!”
After Li Zhaoye left, Lin Yihan and Luoluo came running in. Luoluo in particular looked worried.
“Big Sister, are you okay?”
Lin Jingwan looked at the two little ones and smiled.
“I’m fine. I’m just tired from arguing!
“By the way, where did you two go?”
“There were too many people just now, so Brother suggested dragging Zhao Chunhua away. We dragged her to Gao Daniu’s house!”
Only then did Lin Jingwan seriously examine her second younger brother.
He was reserved by nature and usually wore a cheerful smile, but he was quite the schemer underneath.
He was only eight years old, yet his mind was comparable to that of a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old. He had solved many of their problems earlier.
I wonder where Mom found this little fox.
Afraid that his sister hadn’t understood, Lin Yihan explained further.
“I was worried Zhao Chunhua would wake up and cause trouble. I was afraid she’d cause problems for you, so I dragged her away.”
He and Luoluo had kept watch all night, so they naturally knew that the man would become their brother-in-law.
And they absolutely couldn’t let anyone discover that Zhao Chunhua was the third woman involved.
Lin Jingwan looked at her little brother, who behaved like a grown-up, and praised him.
“Hanhan, well done.”
Then her expression became serious.
“Do you two want to avenge Mom?”
The two little ones’ eyes immediately lit up, and they nodded vigorously.
Little Luoluo immediately said, “I really, really do! Big Sister, just tell me what to do. I’ll go get my brick!”
Hanhan was much more restrained. He looked up at Lin Jingwan with a trace of anticipation in his eyes.
“Big Sis, do you finally believe that Mom didn’t kill anyone?”
Lin Jingwan paused.
Images of the original owner’s past flashed through her mind, and she sighed helplessly.
Fine. I’ll take the blame for the original owner’s stupidity.
“I used to be too easily influenced and didn’t think things through. I wrongly blamed Mom and made things difficult for both of you. I’m sorry.
“But I’m different now. And I’ve already figured out how we’re going to clear her name!”
“Really?” Little Luoluo excitedly jumped up.
“Of course!”
Lin Jingwan bent down and leaned toward the two little ones, carefully whispering instructions into their ears.
The three siblings had just finished making their plans when steady footsteps sounded outside.
Li Zhaoye had returned.
He was carrying a net bag in one hand containing three lunchboxes and a package wrapped in oil paper. In his other hand, he held an enamel mug.
The moment he stepped through the door, three pairs of bright, sparkling eyes simultaneously locked onto him.
Li Zhaoye paused.
For some reason, he suddenly felt as though he were being watched by predators.
“I went to the state-run restaurant and brought back a few dishes. There’s braised pork and meat buns. I also bought the brown sugar water and ointment you asked for.”
Little Luoluo was the first to move. She hurried forward and took the lunchboxes from him.
“Thank you, Brother-in-law! I’ll help you carry them!”
Li Zhaoye: “……”
Brother-in-law?
Hanhan looked at Lin Jingwan.
He realized that his sister had become amazing. Not only had she become smarter, she had even managed to win herself a brother-in-law.
So he followed Luoluo forward and obediently said,
“Thank you, Brother-in-law!”
At that moment, Lin Jingwan didn’t even have the energy to care about what they were saying. Her eyes were burning as they fixed themselves on the three lunchboxes.
Ahhh! She had literally starved to death in her previous life!
Ahhh! She hadn’t eaten meat in years!
She swallowed hard and practically rushed over.
Seeing the three siblings pounce on the food like hungry little wolves, Li Zhaoye’s cold, stern features quietly softened.
He handed the enamel mug to Lin Jingwan.
“Drink some brown sugar water first.”
“Okay!”
Lin Jingwan took a huge gulp.
It’s so sweet!
Luoluo and Hanhan also eagerly opened the lunchboxes on the table.
The next moment, the only sound in the room was the sound of chewing.
Soft, fragrant meat buns and rich, succulent braised pork filled their mouths with the familiar taste of a proper home-cooked meal that they had missed for so long.
As she ate, little Luoluo couldn’t help muttering,
“The braised pork is so delicious. It’s just not quite as good as Mom’s!”
“The meat buns aren’t as good as Mom’s either!” Hanhan added.
Lin Jingwan’s cheeks were stuffed full as she ate, her taste buds completely overwhelmed with satisfaction.
At that moment, she felt as though the whole world had suddenly lit up.
Ten years in the apocalypse had made food a luxury. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to eat until she was full.
She was so happy now!
Sure enough, the simple pleasures of everyday life ordinary food and having enough to eat were the most beautiful things in the world.
Soon, the food was gone.
Lin Jingwan turned to see her two younger siblings rubbing their full bellies in surrender. Then she looked at Li Zhaoye, who had been quietly watching them eat.
She picked up the last meat bun and held it out to him.
“Sorry, Comrade Li. We were all too hungry. Do you want this bun?”
“No need.”
Li Zhaoye’s gaze softened slightly.
“I ate on the way here.”
Lin Jingwan didn’t stand on ceremony with him. She smiled and happily finished the last bun herself.
As she ate, she studied the man in front of her.
He was tall, strong, steady, and dependable. He also seemed thoughtful and thorough.
He might actually make a pretty good partner for everyday life.
She looked at him with a bright smile.
“Comrade Li, are you married?”
Li Zhaoye: “……”
He suddenly had a feeling about where this was going.
Before he could answer, she continued,
“Since you’re not married, why don’t we just make a life together?”
He was a soldier with a steady government salary. She was about to clear her mother’s name and seek revenge. With him around, things would be much easier.
As for shame or embarrassment?
She didn’t have such a thing.
Li Zhaoye coughed lightly, trying to slow things down.
“Comrade Lin, what happened last night was my fault. I wanted to ”
“You don’t want to take responsibility?”
Lin Jingwan interrupted him directly.
“Do you think I’m ugly? Do you think I’m poor? Do you dislike me because I don’t have a registered household status?”
Li Zhaoye: “……No.”
“Then are you married?”
“No!”
“Then what’s the problem?
“A soldier should stand tall, keep his word, and take responsibility for his actions. You and I already saw each other completely last night. How could you possibly refuse to marry me now?”
“Besides, didn’t you ask me earlier how I wanted to handle this? I’m telling you now I want to marry you!”
Li Zhaoye suddenly didn’t know what to say. He changed the subject.
“Comrade Jing Shuning is your mother, right?”
Lin Jingwan was slightly stunned, then nodded.
“That’s right. She’s my mother.”
Li Zhaoye took a letter from his inner pocket.
“She wrote this letter. I can give it to you now.”
Lin Jingwan opened the letter and read it. The light in her eyes gradually burst forth, and her smile grew wider and wider.
“Big Sister, what does the letter say?” Little Luoluo leaned over and asked curiously.
“It’s Grandma! Grandma had someone send us a letter. We can go find her in the future!”
It turned out that Grandma’s ancestors had once cooked for Empress Dowager Cixi!
The culinary tradition had been passed down through generations and had a deep heritage. Back then, after someone reported her, she had been forced to relocate to the countryside.
To protect her only daughter, Jing Shuning, she had deliberately arranged for her to marry Lin Jingwan’s father, who was about to be discharged from the military at the time.
Her father came from a family of poor peasants and had also been injured while protecting a commander. This background became the best protection for Jing Shuning, helping her avoid the suffering of public criticism and persecution.
Now, with M Country visiting China, the country was at a crucial stage of hosting foreign guests and urgently needed top chefs to prepare state banquets.
Someone had recommended Grandma’s unique culinary skills.
Her cuisine replaced extravagance with elegance, emphasizing a balance of the five flavors and a light, refined presentation. It perfectly suited the simple and solemn atmosphere of national affairs in this era.
She had now been officially brought back into service, and Grandma had only one request: to bring her daughter Jing Shuning and her entire family back so they could reunite.
Only now did Lin Jingwan finally learn that her family had such an impressive heritage.
Her eyes sparkled.
With this background behind her, she would have far fewer worries about causing trouble.
“Comrade Li, my grandma is the head chef for state banquets. My mother’s identity is no longer a problem, so let’s get married.”
Li Zhaoye’s gaze darkened.
Why has she brought the marriage issue back up again?
He looked at the woman whose eyes were shining brightly, and his heart stirred slightly.
Compared with the woman his stepmother had tried to arrange for him, the woman standing before him was straightforward, bold, and even a little domineering.
After thinking for a moment, he asked,
“Comrade Lin, are you sure?”
“Absolutely. One hundred percent.”
“But my family situation is a little complicated.”
“That’s fine. I’m marrying you, not your family.
“If I don’t like them, I simply won’t bother with them. And if they bully me, I’ll hit them ”
She paused.
“ I mean, I’ll argue back!”
Li Zhaoye smiled when he heard that.
That was exactly the answer he had hoped to hear.
“All right.”
“You agree?”
“Mm.”
“Great! Then we’ll go register our marriage later.”
I’ve finally gotten this husband. I can’t let him slip away!
Li Zhaoye was somewhat helpless.
“That probably won’t work.”
“Why not?”
“I’m an active-duty soldier. Marriage requires a strict political background investigation.”
“All right. Let the paperwork proceed slowly. You can first write a statement saying that we’re mutually in love and voluntarily engaged, and that once the approval comes through, we’ll get married immediately.”
Li Zhaoye: “……”
He was silent for two seconds.
She’s creating written evidence to protect herself? Just how afraid is she that I’ll run away?
Seeing that he still hadn’t started writing, Lin Jingwan narrowed her eyes slightly.
“What? Comrade Li, are you planning to abandon me after having your way with me? Are you going back on your word?”
Li Zhaoye helplessly rubbed his brow.
“All right. I’ll write it now.”
I wonder if I’m making the right decision.
Soon, a guarantee letter was written out clearly.
Lin Jingwan looked at the identity information written on it and became even more satisfied.
Beijing Military Region, Ground Forces Regiment Deputy Regiment Commander, Li Zhaoye!
Excellent! A military officer is great. A monthly salary of one hundred yuan should be enough for me to spend.
Seeing the excitement that Lin Jingwan couldn’t hide from her eyes, Li Zhaoye’s gaze softened slightly.
“Are you satisfied?”
“Very satisfied! Very satisfied!”
“Since you’re satisfied…” Li Zhaoye drawled slowly, “then here’s the ointment. It’s time for me to help you apply it.”
Lin Jingwan: “……”
What the heck?!
She looked up at his teasing expression.
Damn!
She hadn’t expected herself to be teased by this seemingly serious older man!
He looks so proper. Who would have thought he had this side to him?
After a brief moment of surprise, a mischievous glint flashed through Lin Jingwan’s eyes.
Her gaze became flirtatious. She raised her hand and lightly traced the line of Li Zhaoye’s jaw, her fingertips slowly moving downward with deliberate teasing.
Feeling the little woman nearly pressing herself against him, Li Zhaoye’s entire body tensed.
The next instant, Lin Jingwan leaned close to his ear and spoke in a soft, sweet voice.
“As long as Comrade Li is willing, I’ll cooperate properly.”
After saying that, she deliberately turned toward the two little ones outside the door.
“Luoluo, Hanhan, go outside for a while. Your brother-in-law and I have some ‘medicine business’ to take care of!”
Li Zhaoye: “……”
He was the one who couldn’t take it anymore.
“Ahem. I’ll take them outside.”
With that, he quickly turned around and led the two bewildered children out.
Before leaving, he even thoughtfully closed the door.
A smug little smile appeared at the corners of Lin Jingwan’s lips.
Trying to tease me? Hmph!
If he really wanted to go another round, she wouldn’t exactly refuse!