“Aunt Fang!”
Su Jiuyue had originally intended to spare her some dignity, but she hadn’t expected the woman to be so unreasonable.
Her voice suddenly turned firm.
“I already said I won’t be looking for anyone, and I won’t be meeting anyone. This is my own life, and I’ll make my own decisions. Please step aside—I need to go home.”
She started to leave, but then another thought occurred to her. She knew that if she didn’t make herself clear now, people would never stop bothering her.
She paused, her tone softening slightly as she looked at Aunt Fang, then at the kitchen staff gathered behind her.
“I’m someone who treasures the past. Even though Yanchuan is gone, I’ll remember him for the rest of my life. There’s no way I’ll be looking for another man anytime soon. So I’d appreciate it if everyone would stop trying to arrange matches for me. Thank you.”
Without waiting to see the changing colors on Aunt Fang’s face, Su Jiuyue slipped past her and walked away without looking back.
The moment she was gone, Aunt Fang exploded.
“Bah! Ungrateful little thing!”
“You’re just a widow whose husband died. Who do you think you are, some noble princess?”
“You’ve got a pretty face and managed to latch onto the division commander as your backer, and now your nose is stuck in the air!”
“What are you so proud of? Let’s see how long you can keep acting so high and mighty without a man! You’re nothing!”
“You ungrateful wretch! No wonder you’re a widow! Let’s see who’d ever want you now!”
Only after cursing for several minutes did Aunt Fang finally leave.
Fortunately, Su Jiuyue had already gone and heard none of it.
Though she could easily imagine what had been said.
The kitchen workers exchanged uneasy glances. Those who had been thinking of introducing someone to Su Jiuyue immediately gave up after seeing Aunt Fang’s humiliation.
But just because they stopped didn’t mean everyone else would.
Most people concluded that Su Jiuyue had only refused because Aunt Fang’s candidate wasn’t good enough.
If someone introduced a man with better qualifications… surely she’d agree then.
Su Jiuyue hurried home, pushing Aunt Fang’s unpleasant words completely out of her mind.
As soon as she pushed open the courtyard gate, she heard the crackling of burning firewood.
Looking closer, she saw Yunsheng.
He was squatting beside the stove, carefully tending the fire.
Before she could walk over, Yunsheng dashed into the house.
A moment later, he ran back out again.
Through the window, Su Jiuyue saw Jiaojiao sitting drowsily on the edge of the heated kang bed. Her messy hair stuck out in every direction, and her little head kept nodding as she struggled to stay awake, nearly toppling over.
Yunsheng scooped half a ladle of water into a basin, added some hot water from the thermos, then tested the temperature with his fingers.
Satisfied, he soaked a clean towel, wrung it dry, and walked over to Jiaojiao.
His movements were awkward but incredibly gentle as he wiped her little face.
“Little Sister, wake up. It’s time to get ready for breakfast.”
The warm towel felt so comfortable that Jiaojiao mumbled sleepily, “Mm…”
Her eyes opened just a crack as she instinctively leaned against Yunsheng’s hand.
Watching the scene, Su Jiuyue’s heart melted.
This child…
He was simply too considerate.
So mature that it hurt to watch.
“I’m back,” Su Jiuyue called, unable to stop herself from smiling.
The two children turned toward her.
Yunsheng immediately set down the towel and stood stiffly, as though he’d done something wrong.
Jiaojiao rubbed her eyes and called softly,
“Mommy…”
“I’m here.”
Su Jiuyue placed two white steamed buns she’d brought back from the cafeteria, along with a small bowl of minced pork stir-fried with pickled vegetables that she’d specially saved, onto the table.
“Come eat while it’s still warm.”
The sight of food chased away most of Jiaojiao’s sleepiness.
She climbed off the kang by herself, grabbed Yunsheng’s hand, and happily walked to the table.
Su Jiuyue carefully examined Yunsheng’s complexion before placing a hand on his forehead.
His temperature was normal.
Only his lips were still a little dry.
“Are you still feeling sick?” she asked.
Yunsheng shook his head.
“I feel fine now.”
Even so, his eyes couldn’t help drifting toward the fragrant stir-fried pickled vegetables on the table.
“Good. Then eat.”
She broke a steamed bun in half for each child and added a generous helping of vegetables.
“After breakfast, Mommy will take both of you to register for school.”
“School?”
Jiaojiao blinked with wide eyes, a bite of steamed bun still in her mouth.
“That’s right. You and Brother Yunsheng are both old enough to start first grade.”
Su Jiuyue gently patted her head.
“You’ve been running wild long enough. It’s time to settle down and learn.”
Jiaojiao didn’t fully understand what school meant, but when she heard she’d get to attend with Brother Yunsheng, she immediately brightened.
“Mommy… will we get new schoolbags?”
“Of course. I prepared them a long time ago.”
Originally, Su Jiuyue had bought one schoolbag each for Jiaojiao and Tao Tao.
Now…
One was perfect for Yunsheng.
She opened the cabinet and took out two brand-new army-green canvas schoolbags, each printed with a bright red five-pointed star.
The design was simple, but in those days, they were considered excellent schoolbags.
Jiaojiao cheered excitedly, nearly forgetting to finish her breakfast before reaching for hers.
Yunsheng stared at the brand-new schoolbag being handed to him.
For a long moment, he couldn’t move.
Finally, he accepted it carefully, his fingers gently tracing the sturdy canvas and the vivid red star.
Something shimmered in his eyes.
After their simple meal, Su Jiuyue held one child’s hand in each of hers and walked them to the nearby elementary school for military families.
School registration was simple in those days, especially for children from the military residential compound.
Although Yunsheng technically wasn’t one of them, Division Commander Huo had personally vouched for him.
That was close enough.
After verifying their identities and paying the monthly tuition and miscellaneous fee of 2 yuan, the registration was complete.
Their teacher was a kind-looking middle-aged woman.
After seeing Jiaojiao’s sweet obedience and Yunsheng’s quiet, nervous demeanor, she nodded with satisfaction and told them to come directly to class the next morning.
When they left the school, both children were visibly more excited than before.
A vague anticipation for school life had begun to take root.
As they walked home, they happened to run into Little Fatty Liu and his grandmother.
The moment Little Fatty Liu spotted Jiaojiao and Yunsheng, he charged over like a tiny cannonball.
“Jiaojiao! Brother Yunsheng! Where did you go?”
“We went to register for school!”
Jiaojiao proudly puffed out her chest.
“Really? I’m starting school too! Do you think we’ll be in the same class?”
His eyes sparkled.
The three children immediately gathered together, chatting excitedly.
Grandma Liu greeted Su Jiuyue with a warm smile.
Seeing how happily the children were talking, Su Jiuyue said,
“Go play with Little Fatty for a while. Just don’t wander too far. Mommy will wait here.”
The three children cheered and ran off to an open patch of ground, where they began playing with pebbles.
Standing beneath the shade of a tree, Su Jiuyue watched them laughing without a care in the world.
Her own mood relaxed as well.
Just then, a familiar figure approached.
It was Sister Zhang, the wife of Regiment Commander Qin.
She was in her early forties, graceful and gentle by nature, always composed and considerate. She was well-liked throughout the military compound.
Walking over, she smiled.
“Chef Su, keeping busy?”
“Sister Zhang.”
Su Jiuyue returned the greeting politely.
“Not really. I just brought the children to register for school.”
After exchanging a few casual remarks about the weather and the children, Sister Zhang smoothly changed the subject.
With just the right amount of concern—and a hint of careful deliberation—she finally got to the point.
“Chef Su, there’s something I’ve been thinking about for several days. I felt I should mention it to you.
“You’re raising these children by yourself. You’re certainly capable, but this can’t go on forever.
“As it happens… I know someone who might be a very suitable match for you…”