Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Upon returning home, Jiang Mingchuan cleaned and stir-fried the seafood he had collected. He used the family's chili sauce for the crabs and shrimp but wasn't sure how to prepare the rest, so he simply steamed them.

He Yan was doing his homework while Jin Xiuzhu found a piece of paper to write a letter. She detailed her recent experiences, intending to send it to Fang Min. Jin Xiuzhu knew that Fang Min often needed inspiration for her creative work, which she usually found in books since she rarely traveled. Therefore, Jin Xiuzhu enjoyed sharing interesting stories with her, hoping they would inspire Fang Min's writing.

Jin Xiuzhu found these experiences particularly meaningful. She wrote about the mountains they passed, the seafood they ate, and the dialects they heard, providing vivid descriptions. Concerned that Fang Min might not be able to imagine these things, Jin Xiuzhu also drew many accompanying illustrations.

Liu Liu had been squatting in the courtyard watching ants but found it too hot and moved to the doorway to watch her mother and older brother write. Her brother's handwriting was complex; she recognized some characters but didn't understand them, so she went to her mother instead. There, she saw many drawings and became curious, playing with them.

She even took the drawings to share with her sister, Fu Yanyan, who was helping in the kitchen, rinsing rice in a basin. Liu Liu said excitedly, "Sis, quick look! This is what Mom drew. It's so much fun!"

Liu Liu had seen her mother's drawings before and initially found them intriguing, but over time, she lost interest as they were mostly patterns or other abstract designs. Unlike those, this one featured people, landscapes, and simple dialogues, all based on their recent experiences. Liu Liu loved it.

Fu Yanyan turned to glance at the drawing and was momentarily stunned.

Liu Liu then turned around and showed it to her father. "Dad, Dad, quick look! This is what Mom drew."

Jiang Mingchuan took a moment to look and praised it, saying, "It’s really well done."

Liu Liu nodded vigorously. "I like it so much. I want Mom to give it to me."

With that, she ran outside. Soon after, the sounds of her conversation with Jin Xiuzhu could be heard. Liu Liu asked for the drawing, but Jin Xiuzhu explained it was intended for Auntie Fang. If Liu Liu wanted one, Jin Xiuzhu promised to draw another for her tomorrow.

Liu Liu thought for a moment and decided she wanted to draw something for Fanfan as well.

When dinner was ready, Jiang Mingchuan and Fu Yanyan emerged from the kitchen to find Liu Liu holding a pen and scribbling on a piece of paper, muttering about dogs and cats.

Jiang Mingchuan called everyone to eat.

During the meal, Fu Yanyan suddenly suggested, "Mom, you've always wanted to write a book, right? I think you should consider illustrating and publishing a book."

Like comic books and children's literature in later times, such works were popular among many readers and served as educational tools for young children.

Jin Xiuzhu didn’t fully understand. "What do you mean?"

She certainly dreamed of writing and publishing a book. Each time she saw Fang Min's successes, she felt envious. However, she lacked the talent for it. No publishers were interested in her articles and stories, criticizing her use of overly complex language and obscure references that seemed fabricated.

Jin Xiuzhu couldn’t explain herself clearly and made revisions, but it never felt right.

Fu Yanyan elaborated, "Mom, you could illustrate stories like the ones you drew for Auntie Fang today. Then submit them to publishers and see if you can get a book published. Your drawings are lively and accompanied by explanations. Adding more dialogue would make them even more engaging. You don’t have to write for adults; you could create something for children like Liu Liu, teaching them basic knowledge, similar to how you taught her the Three-Character Classic."

This time, Jin Xiuzhu understood. Her daughter was suggesting she write a book through illustration.

However, she hesitated, feeling that compared to Fang Min’s literary work, her approach might seem less prestigious.

Fu Yanyan lowered her head and added, "Mom’s drawings always touch us in ordinary, unassuming details and highlight things we often overlook. These elements are full of novelty for children."

Jin Xiuzhu hadn’t considered this perspective until now.

Perhaps because she wasn’t originally from this place, Jin Xiuzhu maintained a great curiosity and enthusiasm for everything around her.

Her daughter’s words sparked an idea. If she were to publish a book through illustration, she now knew what she wanted to draw.

Encouraged by her sister’s words, He Yan added, "Mom, you should draw. Your pictures are beautiful. If you publish a book, I’ll show it to my classmates and let them know you’re both a writer and an artist."

Jin Xiuzhu felt touched but said, "Let me think about it."

After dinner, the children rested at home while Jin Xiuzhu accompanied Jiang Mingchuan to his military base.

Jiang Mingchuan had been sleeping in the barracks for the past few days. When Jin Xiuzhu asked if he needed anything, he hesitated before saying he had everything he needed. Unconvinced, Jin Xiuzhu decided to visit him.

The base was located in the mountains, and the road was difficult to navigate. In some places, they had to push their bicycles. After riding for over an hour, they arrived at the base.

From the outside, it looked ordinary, but once inside the gates, they discovered it was quite large. Unlike previous bases, which were built on flat land, this one followed the natural contours of the mountain, with buildings scattered across its slopes.

Jiang Mingchuan’s quarters were halfway up the mountain, a single-story house with blue bricks and black tiles, surrounded by trees, making it hard to see from a distance.

They pushed their bicycles to his quarters. Jiang Mingchuan parked the bike outside and unlocked the door. His room was conveniently located near the entrance.

Just then, a middle-aged woman carrying a bucket of laundry passed by on a nearby path. Seeing Jiang Mingchuan, she greeted him warmly, "Commander Jiang is back?"

Jiang Mingchuan turned and smiled. "Yes, and I brought my wife to visit."

Jin Xiuzhu stood beside him and smiled. "Hello, Sister-in-law."

The woman waved her hands, politely declining the title. "No need for that. My husband works under Commander Jiang."

Jin Xiuzhu smiled. "Men are men; we women don’t follow such formalities."

The woman laughed. "Well, I won’t disturb you. I’ll head home now."

Jin Xiuzhu said kindly, "The path is rough, please walk slowly."

"Thank you."

With that, the woman lifted her bucket and quickly walked away.

Inside, Jiang Mingchuan opened the door, and Jin Xiuzhu followed him in. The room was small but well-equipped, containing a bed, a desk, and a bookshelf and wardrobe against the wall.

Jin Xiuzhu circled the room and felt the bedding, confirming her suspicion—it was damp.

Jiang Mingchuan approached the desk and poured Jin Xiuzhu a glass of water. "This base isn’t as big as the previous one, and there aren’t many family apartments. They’re all old houses without schools or other facilities. Otherwise, I would have brought you and the kids here."

He sometimes found the children noisy at home but now missed their presence, finding the quietness lonely, especially when he slept alone. He wasn’t used to it and often suffered from insomnia.

As a man in his thirties, he didn’t dare admit this to others, fearing they would mock him for being unable to live without his wife and children.

Jin Xiuzhu held the cup and sat at the desk to drink. On the desk lay a book, but only a few pages had been read, with a bookmark on page six.

Jiang Mingchuan took some sesame candy from the bookshelf and gave it to Jin Xiuzhu. "This was given to me by one of the soldiers a couple of days ago. He said his wife sent it, and he shared some with me. I meant to bring it back for you, but I forgot yesterday."

Jin Xiuzhu picked up a piece and tasted it.

Jiang Mingchuan walked over to the window, closing it and drawing the curtains.

The room suddenly became darker, and Jin Xiuzhu found it odd. "What are you doing?"

The sesame candy was very fragrant, sweet on the tongue, with a strong sesame aroma and a faint osmanthus scent.

Jiang Mingchuan lifted her off the stool and carried her toward the bed. Jin Xiuzhu only realized what was happening after a moment, and her face flushed red.

She knew this person had asked her to come over for a reason, even though she had initiated the visit. Still, he had misled her, making her think there was something he couldn't directly say about the place.

Jiang Mingchuan placed her on the bed and lay down beside her.

Jin Xiuzhu tried to stop him, whispering, "It's still daytime, aren't you afraid someone might find out?"

Jiang Mingchuan's hands were already wandering. "No worries, no one is next door."

Saying this, he buried his face in Jin Xiuzhu's neck and took a deep breath, emitting a muffled sound near her ear. "You only have the child on your mind now. It's been a while since we've done that."

Hearing this, Jin Xiuzhu, who had been feeling a bit embarrassed, softened inside.

Liu Liu was young and always slept with them, making it difficult to do such things.

Still, Jin Xiuzhu reached out and tugged at his ear. "Stop pretending with me. I know you..."

Before she could finish, her mouth was covered.

Soon, subtle sounds filled the room.

It wasn't until evening that Jiang Mingchuan cautiously opened the door. Seeing no one outside, he turned back to scoop up Jin Xiuzhu, wrapping her in his coat.

As soon as he touched her, Jin Xiuzhu swung her arm to hit him.

Jiang Mingchuan looked sheepish and whispered, "Let's talk once we get home. If we don't hurry, the kids will start worrying."

Jin Xiuzhu frowned. "Do you remember you have three children?"

Jiang Mingchuan kissed her forehead, then carried her to the bicycle's rear seat. He closed the door and pushed the bike down a small path.

Perhaps their luck wasn't great, as they encountered quite a few people along the way. Jin Xiuzhu used the coat to cover her face and neck, fearing others might notice something.

Once they passed through the military compound's gates, it was better. Jiang Mingchuan rode quickly, arriving home around seven.

The three children had just finished dinner. He Yan had already returned to school to study, while Fu Yanyan helped her sister with homework. The new school term was starting tomorrow, and it was only then that her sister revealed their teacher had assigned homework.

Yesterday, when asked, she had said there was none. Fu Yanyan felt both annoyed and helpless, guiding her sister to complete her assignments. Halfway through, Liu Liu couldn't help asking, "Why haven't Mom and Dad come back yet?"

Fu Yanyan silently rolled her eyes. Who knew what those two were up to?

Still, she replied, "They might be delayed by something."

"Okay."

As she spoke, knocking sounded at the gate, accompanied by Jin Xiuzhu's voice. "Yanyan, Liu Liu, Mom's back. Come open the gate—"

Liu Liu's eyes lit up. She dropped her pen and ran to the gate. However, she didn't immediately open it but cleverly asked, "What's my mom's name?"

Jin Xiuzhu laughed. "Her name is Jin Xiuzhu, and your dad is called Jiang Mingchuan."

Liu Liu happily responded, "Correct!"

She tiptoed to pull the latch to the side, but her strength was too little, and she struggled. She turned to call for help. "Sister, come help."

Fu Yanyan slowly approached.

Upon opening the gate, they saw Jin Xiuzhu standing there and Jiang Mingchuan pushing the bicycle.

Liu Liu was delighted, circling Jin Xiuzhu. "Mom—"

She then called out to Jiang Mingchuan. "Dad—"

After running around her parents, she noticed her mother's head covered by her father's coat. Tilting her head curiously, she asked, "Mom, are you cold?"

Jin Xiuzhu blushed. "No, there are too many mosquitoes outside. It's just to keep them away."

Liu Liu nodded. "Oh, oh."

Jiang Mingchuan cleared his throat. "Have you eaten? If not, I can make you some food."

Fu Yanyan replied, "We've already eaten. There's food left for you in the kitchen."

Jin Xiuzhu, who was already hungry, couldn't help praising her. "My daughter is the best, leaving food for me."

Fu Yanyan said expressionlessly, "Big Brother made it."

Jin Xiuzhu hummed in agreement. "Both my son and daughter are great."

Fu Yanyan turned to fetch the food from the kitchen, unable to resist a slight sneer as she turned away.

She hadn't missed how swollen Jin Xiuzhu's lips were and the numerous red marks on her neck.

Unlike Liu Liu, who knew nothing, Fu Yanyan had attended a private school in her previous life. Many students there had relationships, and some even had children. Although she hadn't experienced it herself, seeing it often naturally taught her a thing or two.

Those two really weren't proper, thinking they were going out for important matters.

Jiang Mingchuan had a meeting the next morning, so he left after eating.

Liu Liu insisted on sleeping with her mother and elder sister that night, leaving Jin Xiuzhu no choice but to share her bed with both daughters.

Yanyan slept quietly, but Liu Liu was different—she moved around all night, once even kicking Jiang Mingchuan's stomach red.

Fortunately, Liu Liu was relatively well-behaved last night, only kicking Jin Xiuzhu's shins twice. Still, Jin Xiuzhu's legs were red when she woke up in the morning.

Struggling to get out of bed, Jin Xiuzhu gave He Yan some money and asked him to buy breakfast near the school.

In recent days, several stalls selling breakfast had appeared near the school. Initially, they only operated after school in the evenings, selling cotton candy and skewered snacks. Seeing the opportunity, more vendors started setting up stalls, including those selling breakfast items like buns, steamed bread, rice wraps, and noodles.

He Yan always ate at home before going to school and wasn't tempted by these stalls.

Never did he imagine that one day, he would be buying breakfast from them.

Usually, it was students who lived far away who bought breakfast outside.

That morning, He Yan bought a rice wrap, two eggs, and two steamed buns. He had a big appetite, so he chose filling items. His mother insisted that he eat well due to his studies, emphasizing the importance of eggs and meat in his diet.

Chomping on his rice wrap, He Yan headed to school. Upon arriving, he noticed the girl sitting in front of him was already there, engrossed in her book.

This was common for this girl, Lin Zhaodi, who arrived early every day. Living across from the school, He Yan could still make it early even if he woke up at six, unlike other students who woke up much earlier and still didn't arrive as early as he did.

Despite this, Lin Zhaodi was always the first to arrive, no matter how early He Yan got up.

He Yan learned that her family's financial situation wasn't ideal. When he enrolled mid-semester in mid-September, Lin Zhaodi was also paying her tuition, only half of which she could afford at the time. She promised the teacher to pay the rest later.

The teacher simply encouraged her to focus on her studies.

Having sat behind Lin Zhaodi for some time, He Yan, despite his outgoing personality and language barriers, had become friendly with most of his classmates except for Lin Zhaodi. She rarely engaged with him unless it was about studying.

He Yan assumed that someone so dedicated to their studies would excel academically, but surprisingly, Lin Zhaodi's grades were average during Saturday's exam.

His deskmate teased him, asking if he liked Lin Zhaodi. According to him, despite her average grades and unapproachable demeanor, she was quite pretty, albeit with slightly darker skin.

His deskmate was a tall, thin boy whose parents worked in a factory. They weren't overly concerned about academic performance, knowing that he could follow in their footsteps if college wasn't an option.

Annoyed by these comments, He Yan felt uncomfortable approaching Lin Zhaodi afterward, fearing misunderstandings.

After settling down, he opened his Chinese textbook and began eating his eggs while reading.

Midway through, he heard a rumbling sound. Thinking it was his imagination, he dismissed it until a louder rumble echoed through the classroom.

Looking up, he saw the girl in front of him with flushed ears, discreetly pressing her hand against her stomach.

He Yan didn't laugh. Instead, he looked at her awkward silhouette and decided to offer help. Rising from his seat, he placed the two steamed buns on her desk.

She turned around instinctively, her dark eyes filled with shame and self-consciousness.

He Yan said earnestly, "You can't study properly on an empty stomach. I've eaten enough; please have these. No one will know."

With that, he took his book and left for the corridor.

As He Yan's tall figure disappeared at the door, the heat in Lin Zhaodi's face gradually faded. She glanced at the steamed buns on her desk, swallowing hard.

Under normal circumstances, Lin Zhaodi wouldn't accept food from others, knowing she couldn't repay the kindness. Her opportunity to study here was already a hard-won privilege. Unbeknownst to her classmates, she left home at three in the morning each day, traversing multiple mountains to reach school.

Perhaps it was He Yan's words or his kindness that touched her heart. Hesitantly, she picked up the steamed bun, glancing around the empty classroom.

Seeing no one, not even He Yan outside, she sighed in relief and unwrapped the paper to take a bite.

The steamed bun was delicious, soft, and subtly sweet. It was the first time Lin Zhaodi had tasted a steamed bun, finding it more delightful than the piece of meat she enjoyed during the New Year.

Wanting to savor it slowly, she feared being seen by early-arriving classmates.

As she ate, tears welled up in her eyes.

She vowed to return the favor to He Yan someday.

That morning, Lin Zhaodi found herself unusually focused during class. She realized that having a full stomach truly helped with learning.

Unlike before, when hunger distracted her from the lessons, sometimes making it impossible to concentrate on what the teacher was saying, only hearing a buzzing in her ears.

From then on, Lin Zhaodi noticed that He Yan brought her two steamed buns every morning without saying much, simply placing them on her desk before stepping outside with his book.

Though they exchanged no words, an unspoken understanding developed between them.

No one at home noticed He Yan's actions. Jin Xiuzhu, following her daughter's suggestion, spent her days drawing.

The protagonist was a seven-year-old girl named Doudou, with pigtails and a round face, modeled after Liu Liu. Jin Xiuzhu privately wished to include her daughter in the story.

Doudou, originally living in the countryside with her grandmother, experienced a life surrounded by nature. After her grandmother's passing and facing reluctance from relatives to care for her, Doudou set out with the money secretly given to her by her grandmother to find her father, who served in the military.

A kind grandfather transported Doudou to the county town using his ox cart, where she met a kind sister who helped her reach the bus station...

Everything was new and exciting for Doudou, a rural girl encountering automobiles, trains, department stores, and more for the first time.

She encountered both good and bad people, narrowly escaping dangerous situations and seeking help from police officers.

Jin Xiuzhu drew meticulously, aiming to accurately depict the world for young readers. If children from the countryside ever came across her book, it would give them insight into the outside world.

At the time, Jin Xiuzhu didn't realize the impact her book would have. She dreamt of its publication by a press but lacked confidence, as she hadn't seen similar works in the market. Despite completing several pages, she hesitated to submit it, fearing it might tarnish her reputation. She decided to write to Bai Jingzhi, asking for her assistance in publishing the book.

After sending the letter, Jin Xiuzhu received a response from Fang Min.

Fang Min wrote in the letter that after they left, Fanfan had lost his appetite for meals. A new family had moved into the neighboring house, and on the day they arrived, Fanfan blocked the doorway, refusing to let them enter, insisting it was Liu Liu and Auntie's home. He wouldn't budge even when they tried to pull him away. In the end, Fang Min had no choice but to smack his bottom twice, only to regret it later. The child was just too stubborn, and she wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing.

Jin Xiuzhu felt a pang of emotion as she read this, smiling at her eldest daughter and saying, "All the love we gave that boy wasn't for nothing."

Fu Yanyan watched Liu Liu, who was happily sorting through gifts nearby. Liu Liu seemed carefree; she hadn't shown any signs of missing Fanfan since arriving here.

Jin Xiuzhu continued reading. In the letter, Fang Min mentioned that Wei Ningqing's parents had returned after they left. They had even brought Wei Ningqing over to express their gratitude for the care he had received previously.

In the past, Wei Ningqing had accompanied He Yan to Fang Min's house for several meals.

There was also Yang Yingxiong. His family had stayed a few days longer, and when people from their hometown came to help pack up, Fang Min saw Yang Yingxiong's grandmother. The elderly woman wasn't as sprightly as before, but she still seemed healthy.

Before they left, Yang Yingxiong had brought his younger brother over to thank her and Zhang Qiulai, promising to visit again when he grew up.

Fang Min had felt warm-hearted hearing this. However, their stay here wouldn't last much longer. The Political Commissar had told her that by next or the following year, their family would be moving as well. But it didn't matter, they could continue to keep in touch through letters.

Jin Xiuzhu chuckled as she read this, unable to resist picking up a pen to write back. She reassured Fang Min that it was fine, no matter how far apart they were, their families' relationship would remain unbroken. She added that the Political Commissar's nephew would be visiting their home during the New Year and asked her to guess why.

She then described her recent life and the various events happening at home. Finally, she asked her to tell Fanfan that his aunt missed him dearly.