Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Before dawn the next day, Jiang Mingchuan left home.

Jin Xiuzhu was still asleep; she sat up in bed and watched as Jiang Mingchuan got dressed. He turned to look at her; some strands of her hair were damp from the heat of the previous night and stuck to her cheek. Jiang Mingchuan asked if she had slept well last night.

Jin Xiuzhu yawned. "It was alright."

He said, "If you have time today, go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy a few mosquito nets. There are quite a lot of mosquitoes here."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded drowsily.

Jiang Mingchuan smiled and added, "If I don't come back today, eat without waiting for me. I don't know if I'll be able to return. Over these few days, I'll inquire about getting a bicycle sooner. It will be more convenient with a bike."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded again.

After Jiang Mingchuan finished dressing, he walked over to the table and poured a glass of water. Then, he returned and handed it to Jin Xiuzhu, who liked to drink warm water every morning.

She looked up at him and then took the cup to drink.

Jiang Mingchuan thought for a moment before suddenly saying, "You and the children have suffered because of me."

He knew that Jin Xiuzhu wanted to return to the capital and believed it was better there. The capital was indeed good, but he still wanted to stay in the military. Throughout their journey, neither she nor the children had ever complained, even little Liu Liu was very understanding.

She had done a great job raising them.

Hearing this, Jin Xiuzhu wanted to shake her head and say that it wasn't hard, but instead, she said, "You are my husband and the children's father. As long as our family is together, no hardship matters to us."

She continued, "Don't feel burdened. Life is life wherever we are. It's actually pretty good here. There's plenty of delicious food and fun things to do. We're also gaining new experiences."

Jin Xiuzhu spoke sincerely. In her previous life, she was confined to a mansion for over twenty years. Although she enjoyed wealth and luxury, she often felt sad, especially as she read more books and yearned for the world of men. She wanted to see the beautiful spring scenery of the south and the sunset on the border. She imagined herself riding a horse through bustling streets...

The outside world's prosperity and excitement never belonged to the women locked away in grand mansions.

Unexpectedly, she experienced a different way of life here.

She had ridden trains and small boats, worked as a cook in the canteen, taken photos, and attended exhibitions. She worked and earned money like a man to support her family... Here, she felt free, both inside and out, completely belonging to herself.

Even if one day she left Jiang Mingchuan and the children, she believed she could still live well.

This was something she never dared to imagine before.

Jiang Mingchuan didn't fully understand Jin Xiuzhu's feelings, but her words deeply moved him. He imitated what she usually did and reached out to touch her head.

Jin Xiuzhu scolded him playfully, "You're making my hair greasy."

Feeling guilty, Jiang Mingchuan withdrew his hand. He took the cup from Jin Xiuzhu's hands, paused, and then suddenly asked, "What's that over there?"

Without thinking much, Jin Xiuzhu followed his gaze and turned her head. Just as she did, she felt a warmth on her lips, and his rough beard grazed her cheek.

Her eyes widened slightly. By the time she reacted, the man had already left the room in large strides.

"..."

Jin Xiuzhu touched the spot where he kissed her and then wiped it twice on the quilt. He hadn't brushed his teeth last night.

However, after wiping, she couldn't help but smile. They were both adults, yet he still acted like this. How shameless.

After the children woke up, Jin Xiuzhu took them out to eat. Yesterday, she saw street vendors selling noodles and dumplings nearby, unregulated.

In the morning, Jin Xiuzhu and Liu Liu had dumplings, while He Yan and Yanyan ate a type of noodle called snail rice noodle soup, which was spicy and smelly. Jin Xiuzhu couldn't stand the smell, but the two children seemed to enjoy it and said it was fragrant.

After eating, Jin Xiuzhu bought a large bag of shrimp to take home. She also bought a type of seafood with a hard shell. The seller gestured for a long time, explaining that they should clean the shells thoroughly, add ginger slices and green onions, steam them, and make their own sauce.

Jin Xiuzhu didn't need to make the sauce. When she left, Qian Yufeng gave her two jars of chili sauce, which tasted great when mixed with noodles.

The four of them returned home contentedly.

When they arrived home, Jin Xiuzhu asked Yanyan to play with Liu Liu at home for a while. She and He Yan would visit the school across the street.

For this purpose, she changed into a slightly more presentable outfit and neatly combed her hair.

He Yan followed her with his schoolbag on his back, while the two younger ones saw them off. After they left, Liu Liu asked his sister cunningly, "Now that Brother is going to school, does that mean we'll be going soon too? I don't want to go to school."

Fu Yanyan laughed and asked, "If you don't want to go to school, what do you want to do?"

Liu Liu declared confidently, "I want to play at home and eat all kinds of delicious food."

Fu Yanyan replied, "If you don't go to school, you won't get to eat delicious food."

Liu Liu argued, "That's not true. Mom doesn't go to school, but she gets to eat delicious food."

"But Mom studies too. How can she earn so much money and buy you delicious food if she doesn't study? If you could earn that much money, you wouldn't need to go to school either."

Liu Liu pouted and fell silent.

After Jin Xiuzhu and He Yan arrived at the school across the street, they happened to meet a teacher at the entrance. They explained their situation. The female teacher was about to go teach her class and suggested they find the principal, pointing them in the direction of his office and describing his appearance.

Jin Xiuzhu thanked her and led He Yan to find the principal.

The principal was a middle-aged male teacher. He was already there, and the door to his office was open. As they approached, they could see him wearing black-rimmed glasses and writing something with his head down.

Following Jin Xiuzhu's signal, He Yan knocked on the door lightly.

A voice came from inside. "Come in—"

Jin Xiuzhu and He Yan entered one after the other.

The principal looked up at them and asked curiously, "Who are you?"

Jin Xiuzhu explained the situation earnestly. Upon hearing that they were military dependents, the principal hurriedly stood up. "Please, sit down."

He also offered to make tea for Jin Xiuzhu.

She smiled. "No need to be so formal. Please sit down."

The principal still poured her a cup of water.

Jin Xiuzhu, fearing disbelief, took out her family's household registration and marriage certificate from her pocket and handed them to the principal. "Take a look. My husband was recently promoted and transferred here. For my son's education, we decided to stay in the city. We heard about your school's excellent teaching, so we specifically rented a house across the street. Initially, we planned to wait until everything was settled before enrolling him, but I'm worried about delaying his studies. He's already in the first year of high school, and time is tight. So, I wondered if he could start attending classes as soon as possible, even just sitting in on lessons."

The principal took the documents Jin Xiuzhu handed over. Even without these, he was almost convinced. Jin Xiuzhu spoke standard Mandarin, had very fair skin, indicating she hadn't been exposed to the sun much, and her son, though a bit tanned, was tall and straight-backed with a determined gaze, exuding a military aura.

Still, he opened the documents. The photo on the marriage certificate matched Jin Xiuzhu perfectly, showing little change. The man beside her wore a military uniform, exuding righteousness. The marriage certificate also included the man's military ID number, which could be verified. As for the household registration, it clearly listed information for a family of five.

Jin Xiuzhu then asked He Yan to present his report card. He Yan cheerfully pulled out his report card and test papers from his bag. "Teacher."

The principal reviewed them, his eyes lighting up at the impressive grades, particularly in Chinese, where his essays were outstanding. Satisfied, he looked at the young man before him. He preferred academically gifted students over military dependents.

With the college entrance examination now open, having one more student capable of attending university was indeed a good thing.

He immediately said, "In that case, let's start today. There's no need to sit in on classes; I'll take you directly to class."

Relieved, Jin Xiuzhu expressed gratitude. "That's wonderful. With a teacher like you, it's no wonder your school is so renowned. We're truly fortunate to have brought our son here today."

The principal was pleased. "Not at all. Education is crucial; we can't afford to delay a child's learning."

Jin Xiuzhu turned to her son. "Did you hear that? Study hard and don't disappoint your teacher's kindness."

He Yan declared loudly, "I will remember my teacher's benevolence."

The principal was even happier and led them to the first-year class.

As they walked, he told Jin Xiuzhu, "Our school used to have many students, but later only two classes remained—one for each grade. Now, with the restoration of the college entrance examination, many students have returned to study, including educated youths from the countryside. The learning atmosphere is quite good."

Jin Xiuzhu agreed. "That's great."

"Yes, we've finally reached this day."

They arrived at Class 2, Grade 1, and the principal handed He Yan over to the teacher currently conducting a lesson. Without further ado, the teacher led He Yan into the classroom and seated him at the back due to his height.

He Yan didn't object and headed straight to the back. Many classmates turned to look at him.

Noticing Jin Xiuzhu watching from outside, He Yan secretly waved. She smiled, and they left with the principal.

After exchanging pleasantries, Jin Xiuzhu departed, informing the principal that her son would pay the tuition fee the next day.

Upon leaving the school, Jin Xiuzhu saw her two younger children waiting by their home. Liu Liu ran over upon seeing her, looking behind her and asking, "Is big brother not coming back?"

Jin Xiuzhu playfully tapped her nose. "Your brother has started school. I'll take you both after lunch, and then Mommy will have some free time."

Liu Liu immediately tugged on her sleeve, pouting. "No, I haven't played enough yet. Mommy, can I start school in a few days?"

"Alright, but that means you'll have to play alone at home while your sister goes to school."

Liu Liu didn't want her sister to go either. "Can my sister not go to school?"

"That won't work. Your sister is in junior high; if she doesn't attend, she won't be able to go to university."

Liu Liu grumbled, knowing how important attending university was. "Okay, then I'll go to school too."

Jin Xiuzhu ruffled her hair. "You're really your sister's shadow."

Liu Liu giggled. "I'm not a shadow; I'm her little warm coat."

Jin Xiuzhu teased, "Then your sister must be very hot."

"Why?"

"You're so warm, how could she not be hot?"

Liu Liu turned to ask her sister, "Sis, are you hot?"

Fu Yanyan chuckled. "What do you think?"

Liu Liu stated matter-of-factly, "Mom, sis says she's not hot."

Both Jin Xiuzhu and Fu Yanyan laughed. Jin Xiuzhu pinched her cheek. "You're such a live treasure."

Liu Liu happily smiled, holding her mother's hand with one hand and her sister's with the other, singing, "There's only mom who's good in the world, there's only sis who's good in the world..."

Listening to her sister's joyful voice, Fu Yanyan felt her mood lift. When Jin Xiuzhu was pregnant, Fu Yanyan had thought the new sibling wouldn't mean much to her, but now she realized having a sister was truly wonderful.

At noon, He Yan returned home for lunch and then went back to study.

During the meal, he couldn't help telling Jin Xiuzhu, "Everyone is working so hard. They don't even go to the restroom during breaks; there's no talking, just studying in class."

Previously, he found Yang Yingxiong diligent, skipping a grade to match his and Wei Ningqing's level and finishing homework during breaks to study at night. Compared to his new classmates, Yang Yingxiong seemed less impressive; these students were genuinely hardworking.

Fu Yanyan remarked, "How can they not work hard? If they don't, they won't get into university."

In his previous life, He Yan's grades were terrible, and he had to put in immense effort to attend a military academy. Unfortunately, everything was destroyed in the end.

This time, with He Yan and Tang Ying gone, the events of his past life shouldn't repeat themselves.

He Yan nodded, then complained to his mother and sister, "I can't understand the teacher's lectures; they speak too fast."

Fu Yanyan smiled, biting her lip.

He Yan turned to her. "Don't be too happy; you'll be starting school soon."

Fu Yanyan raised her eyebrows but said nothing, thinking to herself that she had disappointed him—she really could understand them.

In her previous life, when she accompanied Jin Xiuzhu to the south, there was indeed a communication barrier at first. However, over time, she gradually adapted. "Just listen more; you'll get the hang of it."

This Jin Xiuzhu couldn't help him either, sympathetically saying, "You'll just have to listen more. You're so smart; I'm sure you'll learn it in no time."

He Yan grunted. He had grown up, yet his mother still treated him like a child.

After dinner, He Yan washed the dishes and then returned to school.

Though he usually acted carefree, deep down, he was competitive and didn't want to fall behind others.

In the afternoon, Jin Xiuzhu took the two younger ones to the junior high and elementary schools across the street. The two schools were next to each other, making pick-up and drop-off very convenient.

After speaking with the school administrators, they arranged to bring the children tomorrow.

It was already past four o'clock by the time they returned. Jin Xiuzhu decided to take the kids for a stroll along the street. At lunchtime, she had cooked shrimp and something called oysters, which the children enjoyed. Jin Xiuzhu decided to buy some more seafood, eager to try things she hadn't tasted before.

She even involved the children in the selection process.

Liu Liu wanted to eat crabs. Initially, Fu Yanyan didn't want to choose anything, but when her gaze fell upon the squid, she hesitated before pointing at it.

Jin Xiuzhu didn't think much of it and skillfully gestured that she wanted to buy crabs and squid, also asking how to prepare them.

Liu Liu squatted in front of the stall, curiously observing the other seafood.

Only Fu Yanyan's gaze remained fixed on Jin Xiuzhu's back. She noticed that Jin Xiuzhu showed no reluctance, a stark contrast to the person she used to be. Still, Fu Yanyan couldn't help but recall the past.

In her previous life, also in the south, there was a time when she accompanied Jin Xiuzhu to buy groceries. In the market, she saw a little girl pouting to her mother about wanting to eat squid. Her mother bought it for her. At that moment, Fu Yanyan felt envious. Without thinking, she mimicked the little girl, pouting to "Jin Xiuzhu" and saying she wanted to eat squid too.

However, she forgot that "Jin Xiuzhu" was "Jin Xiuzhu," not someone else. All she received was scolding for being useless and only thinking about eating all day.

Regardless of the many people watching in the market, those gazes remained etched in Fu Yanyan's memory.

Many times, Fu Yanyan believed she had let go. At least in this moment, when Jin Xiuzhu asked her what she wanted to eat, and she ultimately chose the squid, it was an attempt to give the girl from her past, who stood there being scolded in front of everyone, a satisfying conclusion.

She wanted to tell that girl, "Look, today your mom is buying you squid."

After shopping, Jin Xiuzhu took the children home.

That evening, she steamed the crabs and stir-fried the squid. When she bought the squid, the vendor had already prepared it, so all she needed to do was clean it and cook it.

The squid tasted fine, chewy and enjoyable. Liu Liu loved it.

Yanyan, however, didn't eat much. Jin Xiuzhu noticed and placed some on her plate. "I bought it especially for you; eat more."

Fu Yanyan nodded. She picked up a piece and thought to herself, _So this is what squid tastes like_.

That night, Jiang Mingchuan didn't return. After the family finished dinner, He Yan went back to school to study, telling Jin Xiuzhu as he left, "Mom, go to sleep early tonight. Don't wait up for me. Lock the gate; I can climb over the wall."

Jin Xiuzhu worried about him. "Don't study too late tonight. Your health is most important. You're only in the first year of high school; don't push yourself too hard."

"I know."

Jin Xiuzhu watched He Yan leave, seeing him quickly disappear from view. She shook her head and told her daughters, "Your older brother studies too hard."

Fu Yanyan revealed the truth. "He's probably afraid Wei Ningqing and Yang Yingxiong will secretly study harder. He doesn't want to lose face if he scores lower than them."

Jin Xiuzhu chuckled. "That makes sense."

—

Over the next few days, the three children attended school. Jin Xiuzhu painted in the mornings and read in the afternoons. Life was relatively peaceful, except for the lack of company. Unlike before, when she spent every day with Fang Min—even though Fang Min wasn't very talkative, at least there was someone around.

On Saturday evening, Jiang Mingchuan returned, riding a brand new 28-inch bicycle loaded with various items sent earlier but not yet collected. These were mostly old clothes and shoes they wouldn't need anytime soon.

After setting everything down, He Yan eagerly tried to ride the bike but couldn't. His sisters had to support him from behind. Liu Liu helped for a while but soon grew impatient and wanted a turn.

Eventually, Jiang Mingchuan stepped in to assist.

He Yan was bold and quickly got the hang of it.

Jiang Mingchuan watched proudly and stepped aside to speak with Jin Xiuzhu. "This kid has potential for military service."

Jin Xiuzhu found it amusing. "Potential already?"

Jiang Mingchuan smiled. "You wouldn't understand. His father learned things quickly. Even large trucks in the army—he was the only one who could drive them after just one lesson. He was the fastest learner I've ever seen."

Thinking back, Jiang Mingchuan still regretted his injury, which prevented him from participating in certain missions.

Jin Xiuzhu was surprised; she rarely heard Jiang Mingchuan mention He Yan's father.

She sensed his sadness and said, "If his father could see this, he'd be very happy. You've taught him well."

Jiang Mingchuan smiled, feeling proud.

He agreed that He Yan was doing well.

Fu Yanyan stood on the steps, hearing these words. She turned to look at Father Jiang, then glanced at He Yan, who was riding the bike. Suddenly, she remembered an argument between He Yan and Father Jiang in her previous life. He Yan had blurted out, "If it weren't for you, my dad wouldn't have died."

At that moment, Father Jiang fell silent, looking at He Yan before lowering his head and walking away.

She recalled He Yan's reddened eyes.

In that previous life, no one in their family was truly happy.

Perhaps due to being in the south, Fu Yanyan kept recalling past events these days.

He Yan rode the bike with Liu Liu for a while. After dinner, he ran to the school across the street for evening self-study. The school didn't have lights, so each student brought candles. Jin Xiuzhu wanted him to take a flashlight from home, feeling that candlelight was too dim and bad for the eyes.

But He Yan refused, saying that it would be too ostentatious and he was afraid that his classmates would envy him if they saw it.

He had long realized that both his parents could earn money, so compared to many of his classmates, he and his sister lived a very affluent life, eating well and dressing well. However, he didn't want to rely on this privilege to feel superior or let his classmates envy him.

He told Jin Xiuzhu that he did the eye massages she taught him every day, and it was fine to read by candlelight for a while at night.

Jin Xiuzhu didn't say anything more.

Jiang Mingchuan agreed with his son's actions, telling Jin Xiuzhu not to worry.

Jin Xiuzhu fretted, "I don't know if it's good or bad that my son is so kind?"

Jiang Mingchuan didn't understand, "Of course it's a good thing."

Jin Xiuzhu ignored him and turned around, telling her two daughters not to emulate their father and brother.

Fu Yanyan thought she was worrying unnecessarily, "Fools have fools' luck, just like Dad."

He Yan probably wouldn't be any different in the future.

Jin Xiuzhu tapped her head lightly, smiling, "You're being disrespectful."

Fu Yanyan grunted.

The next day, Jiang Mingchuan rode his bike with the whole family to the nearby beach. Jin Xiuzhu held Yanyan in the backseat, while He Yan and Liu Liu sat on the front bar.

Five people were crammed onto one bike, but it was a testament to Jiang Mingchuan's strength that he could still pedal; otherwise, he might not have been able to move.

They arrived early at the beach because Yanyan said she wanted to see the sunrise. However, they missed the sunrise but did see many locals collecting seafood, each holding a shovel and a basket.

Curious, Jin Xiuzhu and the others went over to watch. Besides crabs and scallops, there were also long, thick worms. They had seen these at stalls before but hadn't dared to buy them due to their unappealing appearance.

Unexpectedly, when they asked, the locals said these were delicious and even taught Jin Xiuzhu how to prepare them.

After listening, the five-member family looked at each other and without hesitation, started collecting as well. Jin Xiuzhu, who had brought a hat, disregarded the sun and used her hat to collect the items.

He Yan even took off his short-sleeved shirt, tied it into a knot, and used it as a basket.

Jiang Mingchuan was worried about his newly bought bicycle getting stolen, so he carefully pushed it along behind them. After a while, boats returning from the sea arrived, and seeing people buying seafood, Jin Xiuzhu joined in and bought many good things.

In the end, the family returned home fully loaded. On the way back, Jin Xiuzhu remarked, "If it weren't so far away, I really wish I could send some of these back to Fang Min and the others."

Standing up to pedal the bike, Jiang Mingchuan, after hearing this, panted, "Wait until winter. It should be better when it's cold."

Liu Liu felt a bit hot and sat sullenly in her brother's arms, urging her father to ride faster so the wind could cool her down.

Jiang Mingchuan gritted his teeth and pedaled harder.

Liu Liu waved her little arms, "Dad, give it your all."

Fu Yanyan watched her father's drenched back and then looked at the gentle slope ahead. She felt a bit sorry for her dad. She turned her head to look at Jin Xiuzhu behind her and found her leisurely looking at the distant scenery, turning her head slightly.

Meeting her gaze, Jin Xiuzhu winked secretly.

Well, it seemed she had worried needlessly.