The two children’s eyes widened, their pupils sparkling as they stared at the bright, red candied hawthorns.
Niannian and An’an spoke in unison, “It’s candied hawthorn!”
Song Yuntang smiled and asked again, “Do you like candied hawthorn?”
Was an answer even needed? What child didn’t like candied hawthorn? That sweet-and-sour taste alone could make one’s mouth water.
Niannian and An’an nodded vigorously. “Yes!”
Their young faces were full of anticipation. They glanced between the candied hawthorn and Song Yuntang’s face, and in that moment, the candied hawthorn seemed even more appealing than their mother’s face—they couldn’t tear their eyes away.
In their childish minds, Song Yuntang would next take the hardened sugar-coated hawthorn off the stick and hand one to herself, one to their older brother, and one to An’an. The three of them would share a stick together.
Niannian and An’an weren’t greedy at all; just getting one each was enough to make them happy.
However—
Song Yuntang first stood up and took back the candied hawthorn she had been holding in front of the children, then nudged the tall man behind her with her elbow.
She reminded him, “Fu Weicheng, quickly take out the candied hawthorn and give it to Niannian and An’an.”
Fu Weicheng then took out two full sticks of candied hawthorn, each with large, round hawthorn berries, coated in shiny sugar.
He bent down and came close to Niannian and An’an. “Niannian, An’an, here’s candied hawthorn for you. Take it and eat.”
Niannian and An’an weren’t close to Fu Weicheng. They had seen him a few times during meals, always with Song Yuntang in between, and had never interacted directly with him.
Now the sweet candied hawthorn was in front of them, yet the children didn’t move. Their small hands were clasped together, fingers nervously entwined.
Fu Weicheng didn’t know how to coax the children. Even if he wanted to please them, he ended up awkwardly frozen in place.
Finally, it was Song Yuntang who eased the tension.
She said softly, “This candied hawthorn was specially bought for you by your dad. Take it.”
What Song Yuntang said was true. Earlier in the street, Fu Weicheng had been the first to notice the candied hawthorn and had suggested buying it.
In a low, gentle voice, he had said, “Niannian and An’an will definitely like it.”
Fu Weicheng had bought three sticks, including the one in Song Yuntang’s hand. All were bought by him.
Hearing Song Yuntang’s words, An’an seemed to gather courage and extended her small hand, softly saying, “Thank you, Daddy.”
The candied hawthorn rested in An’an’s hand. She opened her wide, sparkling eyes, marveling at how big the stick was.
She loved it!
An’an licked it lightly with her little tongue.
“So sweet!”
“Mom, the candied hawthorn is so sweet!”
An’an smiled, revealing her dimples, and shyly ran behind Song Yuntang, her cheeks flushed.
Because she had said “Daddy.”
Fu Weicheng froze, his chest pounding fiercely. When he had first handled a gun in his youth, he had never been this excited.
She said “Daddy”!
Encouraged, Fu Weicheng handed the next stick of candied hawthorn to Niannian.
Niannian accepted it seriously, saying only, “Thank you,” without adding “Daddy.”
For Fu Weicheng, Niannian being willing to speak to him was already a good start. There was time—no need to rush.
After distributing all the candied hawthorn, Fu Weicheng carried all the large bags and packages into the house. Back and forth, he could hear the joyful sounds of Song Yuntang and the children.
“Brother, hurry up, the candied hawthorn is sweet and sour, really delicious.”
“I’m eating, stop rushing… so sweet!”
“Niannian, you’re eating it wrong. You need to eat the sugar and hawthorn together—it tastes better that way. Big bites, don’t be shy.” Song Yuntang patted his small head and reminded him, “Don’t secretly save some for An’an. We don’t need to be frugal now. Eat as much as you want.”
“Brother, watch me, ah—my mouth is big, I eat like this—ah—”
An’an stuffed a large hawthorn into her mouth, her cheeks puffed up, eyes round and sparkling—an adorable sight.
Soon, the courtyard was filled with the laughter of Song Yuntang and Niannian.
Although Fu Weicheng couldn’t see them clearly, he could imagine the scene: a happy family.
So this was what having a wife and children felt like.
He had already deeply fallen for it.
After setting down the things from the mall, Fu Weicheng carried the groceries Song Yuntang had bought into the kitchen. With Song Yuntang and the children gradually leaving more traces of their life in the house, the home became more lively, the kitchen fully equipped.
Fu Weicheng put on an apron, tied it around his waist, rolled up the cuffs of his white shirt.
The once cold and aloof Regiment Commander Fu was now washing his hands and preparing food in the kitchen.
When Song Yuntang walked in after playing with the children, she saw this scene.
A macho man… cooking?
It was quite a pleasing sight, especially with the floral apron contrasting his tall, broad frame.
His shirt clung tightly to his waist and stomach, revealing faint glimpses of his eight-pack abs.
Song Yuntang’s mind wandered briefly.
Ahem.
She quickly regained focus and asked Fu Weicheng, “You can cook?”
Fu Weicheng replied, “I used to work in the army kitchen. I know some home-style dishes.”
Song Yuntang noticed him holding a knife and cutting potatoes. His movements were skillful, producing thin, evenly cut strips—a clear sign of genuine skill.
Still, she wondered, “Even you had to work in the kitchen?”
Fu Weicheng lifted his gaze, his dark eyes meeting hers. “Do I seem so special?”
“You are special…” She wanted to say, “You’re from the big courtyard! Son of Commander Fu!”
Her words nearly escaped but she stopped. It wasn’t appropriate.
After all, even Fu Weicheng had been sent down. When a real crisis came, no status meant much.
She smiled instead. “It’s good. A man who can cook is great.”
Fu Weicheng asked, “Do you like men who can cook?”
His tone was unusually serious for such a simple question.
Song Yuntang didn’t care. She was secretly snacking on the cucumber slices he had cut. “Of course. Who wouldn’t like a man who can cook? If he can also do laundry and take care of kids, even better.”
After looking around the kitchen and seeing nothing else to snack on, she left.
Fu Weicheng murmured to himself: laundry, cooking, taking care of kids… it’s not that difficult.
After Song Yuntang left, she sorted through the bags, taking out brand-new clothes.
“An’an, look! A new dress! Do you like it? Let’s try it on, okay?”
An’an, distracted from her candied hawthorn by the pretty red dress, immediately nodded and followed Song Yuntang to change.
A few minutes later,
An’an walked out, transformed.
She wore a white round-neck shirt paired with a red skirt. Her fair, recently cared-for face looked beautiful.
“Niannian, An’an, don’t they look nice?”
“They’re beautiful! Little sister looks best!” Niannian shouted, making An’an blush.
Song Yuntang said, “Niannian, An’an, from now on, our days will get better. You’ll have new clothes to wear. Not just An’an, but Niannian too.”
“Brother, you have new clothes too. Go try them on, you’ll look great.”
At An’an’s urging, Song Yuntang took Niannian to change as well.
During the few minutes of changing, An’an’s curious eyes wandered toward the kitchen where sounds occasionally came from.
She carried her half-eaten candied hawthorn and quietly walked in.
An’an approached Fu Weicheng.
Seeing An’an in her new dress, the soft little girl was so adorable that even his tone softened.
“An’an, did you come to see me?”
An’an nodded.
She tugged at Fu Weicheng’s shirt and whispered, “Lower yourself, a little lower.”
Fu Weicheng didn’t understand at first but complied, bending down.
Lower, a little lower.
The tall man assumed a posture of obedience he had never taken before, approaching the small girl in front of him.
Suddenly, An’an held out her half-eaten candied hawthorn to him.
In a soft, sweet voice, she said, “Daddy, you eat too.”