Chapter 32

Chapter 32

The next day, Jin Xiuzhu and Jiang Mingchuan got up early. The couple took out the dough they had prepared last night and made several kinds of pastries in the kitchen behind the guesthouse, carefully wrapping them in greaseproof paper afterward.

They had originally planned to buy some, but after tasting the high-quality pastries Uncle Zhang had given them, the family of four felt that they weren't as good as those made by Jin Xiuzhu, especially since homemade ones were cheaper.

While Jin Xiuzhu was making the pastries, Jiang Mingchuan prepared breakfast. They had noodles in meat broth for breakfast, with a few cabbage leaves added to the soup.

Returning to the third floor with the pot and the cleaned enamel mugs, Jiang Mingchuan divided half of the noodles and meat into the enamel mugs for the children to eat, while he and Jin Xiuzhu would eat from the pot.

He Yan skillfully twirled his chopsticks around the noodles; one mouthful for him, one for his sister. After eating a few bites, they would sip some of the warm broth, feeling content.

Jin Xiuzhu counted the pastries, then put two extra portions into her bag, intending to give them to Jiang Mingchuan's sister's family.

Jiang Mingchuan blew on the noodles on the spoon before passing it to her. Jin Xiuzhu ate it and asked, "Is it alright if we go straight to the train station? Will there be tickets available?"

"There will be. It's only the third day of the New Year, so there won't be too many people at the train station."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded.

Jiang Mingchuan said, "After we finish eating, let's drop by Uncle Zhang's to say goodbye, and then visit a few uncles and aunts. We'll come back at noon to pick up the photos and leave."

Jin Xiuzhu hummed in agreement, listening to Jiang Mingchuan talk about how prosperous S Province was, and how they could take a stroll around when they got there as a family.

He Yan hesitated before speaking up, "Dad, aren't we going to see the little western-style house?"

Jiang Mingchuan and Jin Xiuzhu looked at him at the same time.

He Yan lowered his head, slightly embarrassed.

Fu Yanyan revealed his thoughts, "He's been thinking about Dad's secret base."

Dad had mentioned taking them to see it the day before yesterday, but everyone forgot about it yesterday, preoccupied with exploring the big house.

Jiang Mingchuan smiled, "We can go after visiting the aunts and uncles. It's nearby anyway."

He Yan grinned happily, "Great! Dad is the best."

Jin Xiuzhu teased him, "What about Mom?"

Without hesitation, He Yan replied, "Mom is the very, very best."

Jin Xiuzhu gave him an approving look.

He Yan chuckled. In his heart, Dad was great, but Mom was the very, very best. Although he was usually carefree and forgetful, he could never forget all the care Mom had shown him over the past year—making delicious food for him, sending him to school, sewing clothes for him... There were countless things she did for him, more than even his birth mother ever did.

In truth, he had long regarded Jin Xiuzhu as his real mother.

After finishing their meal, the family of four left the house carrying their gifts. Jin Xiuzhu held a few boxes of pastries, while Jiang Mingchuan carried several mesh bags of apples.

They went to Uncle Zhang's first. Only the old man and his aunt were home; Uncles Zhang Da and Zhang Er had gone out to pay New Year's greetings.

Uncle Zhang had intended to go out visiting, but stayed home in case someone dropped by.

Jiang Mingchuan set down the fruits and pastries, then told him about their plans to leave in the afternoon.

Uncle Zhang was surprised, "Leaving so soon?"

Yesterday, he had deliberately taken a few old friends to the Pans' and scolded the couple harshly. Although he had left the matter for Jiang Mingchuan to handle himself, he still needed to stand up for him.

Mingchuan was a kind-hearted person, but they were not to be trifled with. They had to vent their anger. That house was left to Mingchuan's mother by her own mother, and she, in turn, left it to him. How could that couple have the audacity to try and take it from him after already benefiting so much from him?

If not for Pan Shenglin adopting Mingchuan back then, who knew where they would be now.

"Why are you in such a rush to leave when you've barely returned? Where have you been these past few days? Come stay here. I have plenty of empty rooms. You're just too polite and considerate. Your father and San'er were so close they could share the same pants. They studied together and fought side by side on the battlefield, sacrificing themselves together in the end. I grew up with your grandmother. You don't need to be polite with us."

Jiang Mingchuan knew he meant what he said, and smiled, explaining, "I'm really not being polite. I only took a few days off to return and bring Xiuzhu and the kids to see you. For the remaining days, I want to take them to see my sister."

When Jiang Mingchuan mentioned his sister, Uncle Zhang's face showed a hint of confusion before he remembered who he was talking about. He sighed, filled with emotion, "That girl must be seventeen or eighteen years old now, right?"

Jiang Mingchuan nodded, "She's nineteen this year."

"What does she do for work?"

Jiang Mingchuan's face lit up with pride, "She's in university, studying at Jiaotong University."

Uncle Zhang also wore a pleased smile, "That's impressive. Both your parents were smart, and so are your two children. Back then, your father worked as a janitor while studying, yet his grades were better than San'er's. Later, when your father joined the army, San'er followed him."

Jiang Mingchuan remained silent, hearing these stories for the first time.

Uncle Zhang said, "Bring her back to visit us old folks when you have the chance."

Jiang Mingchuan hesitated before shaking his head, "She doesn't know that I'm her older brother."

At his words, Jin Xiuzhu and Uncle Zhang both looked at him. Jiang Mingchuan pursed his lips, explaining, "Her adoptive parents treat her well. I'm afraid telling her might affect her. I always visit under the guise of a relative."

Uncle Zhang furrowed his brows, then sighed, "Perhaps it's for the best. Ignorance is bliss."

Jiang Mingchuan nodded. All he wished for was for his sister to be happy.

"Go ahead, you should still visit. You're siblings after all."

"Okay."

Leaving Uncle Zhang's, Jin Xiuzhu couldn't help asking, "Is it you who doesn't want to tell her, or her adoptive parents who don't want you to?"

Jiang Mingchuan hadn't expected her to still think about this, and said, "It's the same thing. Not telling her is for the best."

Jin Xiuzhu understood—it must have been her adoptive parents who didn't want him to tell her.

Jiang Mingchuan took them to several elders' homes to pay New Year's respects. Some were his father's comrades-in-arms, others his mother's friends; without exception, they were all remarkable people. Their arrival as a family of four stirred great excitement in these elders. Some even hugged Jiang Mingchuan and wept until their eyes were red, scolding him for being so heartless as to only visit them now.

After giving their gifts, they left the home of an aunt surnamed Wang, Jiang Mingchuan's eyes also red. That aunt had spoken to him at length about his mother, sharing things he knew and things he didn't.

Jin Xiuzhu held his hand, thinking that compared to these remarkable elders, Pan Shenglin seemed rather ordinary.

Jiang Mingchuan didn't stay for dinner. He told Jin Xiuzhu, "Let's go see the small western-style house first, then have lunch and pick up the photos."

He hadn't forgotten his promise to his son.

When He Yan heard this, he looked up at his dad, his eyes curving into a smile. He had been worried that his dad would forget.

The small western-style house was just two streets away, so the family of four decided to walk there. Upon arriving, Jiang Mingchuan headed straight for his childhood secret base. He Yan was the happiest, dashing after him.

It had been so long since he last visited that Jiang Mingchuan had almost forgotten where he'd hidden his stash. He opened the wardrobe and felt around inside for a while until he found something. There was a click, and he pulled out a half-meter-tall box.

The box seemed heavy, and he had to kneel down and use both hands to pull it out.

The box matched the color of the wardrobe's wooden panels, which is why it was his secret base. It must have been embedded in the wall behind the wardrobe, blending seamlessly with it, making it invisible to outsiders.

Jiang Mingchuan found a thin key at the bottom of the box, inserted it into a seam on top, and turned it gently. The lid loosened.

Opening it, they saw a pile of various toys: wooden swords, small dolls, rattles, golden watches, miniature phones encrusted with gems...

Seeing this, He Yan exclaimed, "So beautiful—"

He had never seen so many beautiful things before.

Fu Yanyan squatted on the other side, her eyes lighting up when she saw the golden watch.

Jin Xiuzhu noticed it too, raising an eyebrow. "Is that golden watch real?"

Jiang Mingchuan wasn't sure. Picking up the watch, he examined it. "I don't know. Maybe?"

He handed the watch to Jin Xiuzhu to inspect.

She played with it for a moment, afraid that Jiang Mingchuan might suspect something. In an ambiguous tone, she said, "It seems real."

But she was certain it was genuine.

She squatted down for a closer look. She had expected nothing more than children's toys, but now she realized that some of these items could be considered heirlooms.

She reached in to take out the valuable toys. A golden spoon accidentally hit one of the wooden panels, making a dull sound. Jiang Mingchuan and the two children didn't react, but Jin Xiuzhu paused, frowning. She tapped her finger on the wooden panel twice, producing a hollow sound. But when she tapped the center, the sound was dull.

Jiang Mingchuan and the two children looked at her in confusion.

Without explanation, Jin Xiuzhu tentatively tapped the panel again, then tapped the sides. Finally, she looked up at Jiang Mingchuan and asked, "Can this box be opened?"

"Isn't it already open? What do you mean?"

"I mean the box itself. There should be something inside."

Jin Xiuzhu was certain. This sound was familiar to her. When she was Concubine Jin in the Marquis Mansion, she enjoyed examining and tapping her private treasury. Her small storeroom contained many valuable items bestowed by Lord Marquis, but they were recorded in a ledger. She could use them, but they couldn't leave the mansion, nor did they belong solely to her.

A private treasure chest she had made herself truly belonged to her. Inside were jewels she had bought at great expense. The chest looked unremarkable, but it hid secrets. It contained stacks of bills and gold bars, a contingency plan in case something happened, a backup plan for her future.

She wouldn't mistake that hollow sound.

Jiang Mingchuan was confused.

Jin Xiuzhu took the key from his hand, gently caressing the box's sides. Suddenly, she inserted the thin key into the wooden panel, and a slot popped open in the middle of the left side. He Yan, who was squatting nearby, saw this and curiously reached out to pull the panel, revealing golden objects inside.

Fu Yanyan's eyes widened, recognizing the gold.

Jin Xiuzhu didn't stop there. She turned the other side of the box toward herself and began searching for the lock. Soon, the entire wooden box, including its top and bottom, had slots opened.

Fu Yanyan and He Yan started taking out the small gold bars. He Yan counted aloud, "One, two, three... six... ten... twenty... thirty..."

There was no need to count further. Each side contained ten bars.

Jiang Mingchuan was stunned, never expecting that this ordinary, even chipped, wooden box concealed gold. No wonder it had felt heavy.

He suddenly recalled what his mother had once told him when he was a child, though he later assumed she had only left him the house.

Yes, as a child, he could drag the box out by himself, but over the years, he needed both hands to pull it out.

His mother knew how much he loved his secret base, which is why she hid it here. Only he would find it, not anyone else.

In the end, Fu Yanyan and He Yan were both astonished, mouths agape. He Yan didn't fully understand at first, but when his sister told him that one of those yellow bars could ensure a lifetime of food and drink, he realized how valuable they were.

Without waiting for Jiang Mingchuan to snap out of his daze, Jin Xiuzhu took the gift boxes they had received after paying New Year's respects. She set aside the pastries and other contents, placing half of the small gold bars inside. For some reason, she took out part of them and only kept five bars.

Afterward, she reinserted the remaining small gold bars into the wooden box, along with the toys, and instructed Jiang Mingchuan to return the box to its original spot.

She seriously warned the two children, "Don't tell anyone about this. If someone finds out, our family could be in trouble, and we might never see Mommy and Daddy again."

This warning was mainly for He Yan, fearing he might blurt it out carelessly.

Initially delighted, He Yan quickly covered his mouth and shook his head vigorously. "I won't tell anyone."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded solemnly.

Jiang Mingchuan placed the box back in the wardrobe. Looking at the pastries on the floor and the box in Jin Xiuzhu's arms, he hesitated. "Should we bring it?"

Jin Xiuzhu replied without hesitation, "Of course. These are valuable assets, for emergencies."

Jiang Mingchuan didn't say anything. He knew these were valuable, but he was more moved by his mother's deep love for him than by the gold.

Jin Xiuzhu handed him the gift box, while she and the two children picked up the pastries, each taking a few to eat.

He Yan couldn't help asking softly, "Mom, how are we going to spend so much money?"

"Rest assured, there will naturally be places where we can use it."

He Yan responded with an "Oh."

On their way back, they first went to pick up the photos taken the day before. The family of four stood side by side, and He Yan in the middle smiled the happiest. Fu Yanyan originally thought she was the most aloof one, but when she saw the photo, she found herself smiling too. Unlike He Yan, who showed a row of white teeth, her lips were only slightly raised, and her dark eyes sparkled.

She had never seen herself like this before. She had seen her own photos before—her class graduation photo from her previous life. She stood in the corner, her long bangs covering her eyes, with no emotion on her face, looking eerie overall.

But now, she seemed to have something different about her.

She looked at Jin Xiuzhu standing beside her in the photo. Jin Xiuzhu's right hand rested on her shoulder, deliberately covering her frozen red ears.

Coincidentally or not, in another photo, she held onto her slipping scarf.

In these unintentional details lay all the care Jin Xiuzhu had for her.

After picking up the photos, the family of four went to a state-run restaurant and ordered dumplings and roast duck. They had originally planned to cook lunch themselves, but now that they had money, they didn't mind this meal.

The four returned with greasy mouths after eating. The items in the guesthouse had already been packed. Jin Xiuzhu placed the small yellow croakers in a bag, wrapping them layer upon layer before zipping it up with relief.

Finally, Jiang Mingchuan carried all the bags as he set off with Jin Xiuzhu and the two children on their journey to S Province.