By the time everyone walked out of the department store, their hands were full of purchases. Jiang Wanxi had even gained a brand-new bicycle.
While they had been busy shopping, the salesperson had carefully wiped the bicycle until it gleamed like new and even oiled all the parts that needed lubrication.
Jiang Wanxi hopped onto the bicycle and rode several circles in front of the department store, immediately attracting the attention of passersby.
A beautiful young girl with a smile as bright as sunshine was already eye-catching enough. Add a shiny new bicycle beneath her, and it was practically impossible for people not to notice her.
Seeing that she could ride it smoothly, Shen Menglan simply let her have fun.
Watching Jiang Wanxi ride around like a cheerful little bird, Shen Menglan couldn’t help feeling as though she herself had become several years younger.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yu’s good mood disappeared with every circle Jiang Wanxi made on that bicycle.
She had never envied anyone for owning a bicycle before.
With Jiang Hongtao’s rank, he had an assigned car and driver. The two elderly members of the Jiang family also had an official vehicle at their disposal. In the past, everyone in the family had doted on her, and whenever she went out, she traveled by car.
Why would she ever need a bicycle?
But just now, for the first time, she suddenly found herself envying Jiang Wanxi.
She envied the carefree freedom on Jiang Wanxi’s face as she rode that bicycle.
On the way back, Jiang Wanxi rode alongside her second brother.
Shopping was exhausting work, and by the time they returned to the residential compound, everyone was hungry. So they first went to their grandparents’ house for lunch before returning home to sort through the day’s purchases.
Her brothers had bought Jiang Wanxi a desk lamp, one with a design very characteristic of the era.
They had also bought her paper and pens, thinking that she would probably want to write letters to Ji Province.
Jiang Wanxi was very grateful for how thoughtful her two brothers were.
When she heard that they would be leaving tomorrow, she couldn’t help feeling reluctant to part with them.
Although they had known each other for less than two days, she could clearly feel how much they cared for and doted on her.
Blood ties really were a strange thing.
Her second brother noticed the large bundle of yarn Jiang Wanxi had bought and asked curiously, “Wanwan, what are you going to do with so much yarn?”
The colors didn’t seem particularly suitable for a young girl.
“Knit sweaters, of course! I’m planning to make sweaters for everyone. Big Brother, Second Brother, write down your addresses for me later. Once I’ve finished yours, I’ll mail them to you. You might have to wait a while, though. I need to make Grandpa’s, Grandma’s, Dad’s, and Mom’s first.”
“My little sister even knows how to knit?” Jiang Jin grinned. “Then Second Brother will be waiting to wear the sweater you make for me.”
Jiang Rui quickly wrote down his military unit’s address and telephone number on a piece of paper.
“Wanwan, this is the address and phone number of my unit. If you ever run into something you can’t handle, call me.”
Jiang Wanxi took the paper and stared at the address several times.
She was far too familiar with this address.
“Big Brother, do you know Jiang Aiguo?” she asked eagerly.
“You made all that meat sauce and jerky?” Jiang Rui asked in surprise.
Then he laughed.
“Jiang Aiguo struts around the unit like a peacock every day, bragging to everyone about how capable and beautiful his little sister is. Well, that’s perfect. His little sister is mine now!”
Jiang Rui burst into hearty laughter.
He was usually calm and composed, so it was rare to see him laugh so freely.
“What meat sauce?” Jiang Jin immediately joined in. “Wanwan can make meat sauce too? And what’s this about jerky? I want some! I want some too! She’s not just your sister. She’s our sister!”
Jiang Wanxi hadn’t expected her eldest brother and Third Brother to be stationed in the same military unit.
Could there really be such a coincidence?
Even a novel wouldn’t dare write something this outrageous.
Then she paused.
Wait.
Wasn’t she literally inside a novel?
“Big Brother, you and my Third Brother are in the same unit? How well do you two get along? Which one of you is better? Third Brother told me he’s really popular with the female comrades in the army. Is that true? Do any female comrades pursue you?”
The flames of gossip were blazing brightly in Jiang Wanxi’s eyes.
“We’re not in the same regiment,” Jiang Rui replied. “That brat is pretty capable, I suppose. We’re both deputy battalion commanders now, but personally, I think I’m better than him.”
Just moments ago, Jiang Rui had mocked Jiang Aiguo for strutting around like a peacock and showing off.
Now he was doing exactly the same thing.
Looking at the identical expressions on his younger brother’s and sister’s faces, Jiang Rui knew exactly what they were thinking.
We don’t believe you.
He couldn’t help finding it amusing.
Come to think of it, Wanwan really did resemble the three brothers quite a bit.
Jiang Rui didn’t care whether they believed him or not. He picked up the telephone and dialed his military unit.
“Hello, this is Jiang Rui, deputy battalion commander of the Second Battalion, First Regiment. Please get me Jiang Aiguo, deputy battalion commander of the First Battalion, Third Regiment.”
Far away in the northwest, Jiang Aiguo had been visibly upset for the past two days.
Yesterday, he had received a phone call from his mother, Yao Xiulan.
His mother had been sobbing so hard over the phone that she could barely get a complete sentence out, frightening him into thinking that something terrible had happened to the family.
In the end, it was his eldest sister-in-law, who had accompanied Yao Xiulan, who finally explained everything clearly.
His little sister wasn’t actually their family’s biological daughter.
Sixteen years ago, the babies had been switched by mistake.
Her biological parents had finally found her and had come to take her home.
Originally, his little sister hadn’t wanted to leave.
But his mother had stubbornly forced her to go.