The train stopped and started frequently. During the two days of travel, Chu Xia was always on edge, even afraid to sleep deeply at night.

Fortunately, nothing went wrong during this time.

Most people in sleeper cars were either wealthy or well-connected, making it relatively safer compared to hard seats.

Thieves and pickpockets were less likely to come here.

Except for getting hot water and using the restroom, Chu Xia and Cen Huai’an stayed in the sleeper car.

Whenever they went out, Chu Xia kept Cen Huai’an with her, and with careful vigilance, they finally arrived at Ganzhou Train Station.

The station was as crowded as Liangzhou Train Station.

Once they got off the train, they were squeezed in with the crowd.

When Chu Xia finally managed to get outside the station with Cen Huai’an, she discovered that her pocket had been slashed.

Luckily, there was only a few coins in it, so it wasn’t a big loss.

However, her coat had a tear, with cotton stuffing spilling out, and the coat was ruined.

There was no way to repair the coat at the station.

Chu Xia carried her luggage in one hand and held Cen Huai’an with the other, unable to cover the tear, so she had to be extra careful to keep the cotton from falling out.

Outside the station, the crowd was still dense.

Chu Xia looked around but couldn’t find anyone to pick them up.

Before the trip, Chu Xia had called Cen Zhengnian, who told her to wait at the station and not to wander around; someone would come to find them.

Just as she was looking around, she suddenly heard a warm, slightly excited male voice calling, “Chu Xia, An An!”

She immediately looked in the direction of the voice and saw Cen Zhengnian walking briskly towards them, accompanied by a woman in military uniform, who looked to be in her fifties.

The woman was gazing at them with delight.

Chu Xia breathed a sigh of relief.

Her tense body relaxed, and she smiled. She looked down at Cen Huai’an and whispered, “An An, the one in military uniform is Grandma.”

Chu Xia remembered some details about Jiang Shengnan, although they were a bit hazy due to time.

She was coming with Cen Zhengnian to pick them up, and since she was the right age and in military uniform, it was clearly Cen Zhengnian’s mother-in-law.

Cen Huai’an glanced at Jiang Shengnan and then quickly looked back at Cen Zhengnian.

His face was expressionless, but his eyes showed nervousness, joy, and a bit of shyness.

As soon as Cen Zhengnian arrived, he picked up Cen Huai’an with excitement.

His big hand patted Cen Huai’an’s head, and his eyes, full of smiles, looked at Chu Xia. “Was the trip smooth?”

Chu Xia replied, “Yes, it went smoothly.”

Aside from her coat being torn when they exited the station, the journey was uneventful.

They didn’t encounter any pickpockets or troublesome passengers.

Cen Huai’an, snuggled in Cen Zhengnian’s arms, hugged his neck tightly and softly called out, “Dad.”

In Cen Zhengnian’s embrace, Cen Huai’an smiled a small smile.

He was comforted by the familiar feeling and scent of his father, and his little body nestled dependently against Cen Zhengnian.

Months of longing were finally fulfilled.

Cen Zhengnian held Cen Huai’an and looked intently at Chu Xia, feeling fortunate that he had taken time off to meet them at the station and see his wife and child first thing.

Jiang Shengnan looked at Cen Huai’an, then at Chu Xia, her excitement barely contained.

She wanted to hold Cen Huai’an but noticed that he was very dependent on his father.

Instead, she gently patted his head with a loving smile and said softly, “An An, I’m Grandma.”

Cen Huai’an looked at her, then at Chu Xia. Chu Xia nodded, and Cen Huai’an n, not very warmly, said, “Grandma.”

Despite the lack of enthusiasm, Jiang Shengnan was still extremely excited.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she forced a big smile and tremblingly said, “That’s good. An An, call me Grandma once more.”

Seeing her tears, Cen Huai’an called out again.

Jiang Shengnan was even happier, taking out a red envelope and putting it in Cen Huai’an’s hand. “I’ve been too busy to visit you in Liangzhou, so here’s a big red envelope for you to spend.”

Cen Huai’an looked at the envelope, unsure whether to accept it.

At that moment, Chu Xia was also given a red envelope by Jiang Shengnan.

With a look of guilt, Jiang Shengnan said, “Chu Xia, you’ve worked hard these past years.”

Chu Xia accepted the envelope with a smile and said, “Thank you, Mom.”

Cen Huai’an also silently accepted the envelope, feeling happy that his savings could increase.

Jiang Shengnan then noticed Chu Xia’s torn coat and exclaimed, “Chu Xia, what happened to your coat? It looks like it was cut with a small knife.”

Jiang Shengnan tried to close the tear but realized the cotton was spilling out too much, making it impossible.

Chu Xia tried to cover the tear but gave up and said helplessly, “There were too many people when we came out, and I encountered a pickpocket. Luckily, I didn’t have any money in the pocket, so I only lost the coat and not any money.”

Jiang Shengnan’s eyes widened in anger. “Those thieves are really hateful!”

Cen Zhengnian examined the tear on Chu Xia’s coat and frowned.

It was a deep cut, and if it had been any deeper, it might have cut her skin.

He looked at Chu Xia with concern, feeling sorry for her.

She had been on edge the whole journey, but she was so strong that she didn’t complain.

Chu Xia genuinely didn’t mind. She patted her coat and said nonchalantly, “It’s fine. The coat is just ruined.”

The wind outside grew colder, and Cen Huai’an sneezed loudly in Cen Zhengnian’s arms.

Cen Zhengnian quickly adjusted An An’s scarf, took Chu Xia’s hand, and said to Jiang Shengnan, “Mom, let’s go to the car.”

The air outside was freezing, and the wind felt like a blade against Chu Xia’s face, making her feel almost numb.

Cen Zhengnian and Jiang Shengnan led Chu Xia and Cen Huai’an to a nearby jeep.

A young soldier in military uniform was standing beside the car.

When Jiang Shengnan and Cen Zhengnian arrived, the young soldier immediately saluted: “Commander Jiang, Engineer Cen.”

He then opened the rear car door and gestured for them to get in.

Jiang Shengnan glanced at the seats in the back, smiled, and said, “You two sit in the back; I’ll sit in the front.” She walked to the front passenger door, opened it, and sat down.

She waved to the young soldier and said, “Xiao Liu, don’t worry about them; you get in the car first.”

Xiao Liu, who was Cen’s bodyguard and used to taking care of Cen and Jiang Shengnan, promptly saluted and took his seat in the driver’s seat.

Cen Zhengnian held the door open again and looked at Chuxia, saying, “Chuxia, you go ahead and get in.”

After Chuxia got in, he placed Cen Huai’an in the car and then sat down himself.

Once everyone was seated, Xiao Liu started the car.

He drove very steadily, as he was experienced in taking care of Cen and Jiang Shengnan.

As the car drove smoothly, Cen Huai’an sat between Chuxia and Cen Zhengnian, holding one of his parents’ hands in each of his, curiously looking around the car.

This was his first time in a car, and it was very different from riding a bicycle and a bus.

The car moved quickly and steadily, and it was warm inside.

Jiang Shengnan, still unable to calm down, kept glancing back at Chuxia and Cen Huai’an, feeling very pleased.

“Chuxia, An’an, are you hungry? We have snacks.”

Jiang Shengnan offered some snacks and egg cakes from the front seat and asked if they wanted some hot water, which she had brought in a metal thermos.

Chuxia wasn’t very hungry since she had already eaten on the train.

Cen Huai’an had eaten less and was tired from sitting for a long time.

Both of them didn’t have much of an appetite now.

Chuxia told Jiang Shengnan, “Mom, don’t worry about us. We’re not hungry and don’t need water.”

Cen Zhengnian noticed Chuxia looking tired and took her hand gently, asking, “Are you tired? Do you want to rest for a bit?”

“Yes,” Chuxia replied, feeling exhausted from the trip.

She relaxed in her seat and closed her eyes.

Cen Zhengnian let An’an rest in his lap and the car fell silent, except for the sound of the engine and their breathing.

Jiang Shengnan, seeing the two of them asleep, took a military coat from the front seat and handed it to Cen Zhengnian, signaling him to cover Chuxia with it.

The drive from Ganzhou train station to the Ganzhou military base took over an hour.

As they approached the base, the landscape outside became increasingly desolate.

When they arrived at the base, the car didn’t stop.

Since it was a military vehicle, Xiao Liu rolled down the window, and the guards at the gate checked the car’s license plate and his credentials before letting them through.

When they stopped, Chuxia and Cen Huai’an were still sound asleep, with Cen Huai’an’s hand tightly gripping Cen Zhengnian’s clothing.

Jiang Shengnan hesitated, unsure whether to wake them.

If it were Cen Zhengnian, she would have woken him up immediately, but she was more cautious with Chuxia and Cen Huai’an.

“Chuxia, Chuxia, wake up, we’ve arrived.”

As Jiang Shengnan hesitated, Cen Zhengnian gently called Chuxia’s name.

Sleeping in the car was uncomfortable and could lead to illness, so it was better to get to their room and rest.

Hearing Cen Zhengnian’s voice, Chuxia woke up, looked outside, and saw that the car had stopped.

“We’re here?” she asked, covering her eyes with her hand and sitting up.

The military coat she had been using as a blanket fell onto her lap.

Chuxia realized she had been covered by a military coat while she slept, which was why she hadn’t felt cold and had been warm.

“Yes, we’re here,” Cen Zhengnian replied, opening the car door and carrying Cen Huai’an out.

He waited outside for Chuxia.

Chuxia adjusted the coat on her arm, got out of the car, and looked up at the two-story building in front of her.

She knew her in-laws held a significant position in the military, and seeing the building made her understand the importance of that position.

“What’s wrong?” Cen Zhengnian asked when he noticed her strange expression. He looked at the building but saw nothing unusual.

Chuxia shook her head, “Let’s go inside.”

Jiang Shengnan had already opened the door and was standing at the entrance, smiling and saying, “Chuxia, come in quickly, it’s cold outside.”

By the time they got off the train, it was getting dark, and the temperature was very low.

The cold in Ganzhou was different from Liangzhou; if Liangzhou were as cold as Ganzhou, she would have quit her job and stayed indoors all day.

Inside the house, there was a stove providing warmth, making the temperature inside much more comfortable than outside.

At that moment, Cen’s father was sitting on the sofa with a newspaper.

Seeing them enter, he cleared his throat and said, “You’re here.”

His tone was neutral, lacking warmth or expression, making him appear quite serious.

But just after he spoke, Jiang Shengnan, who had walked over to him, gave him a firm tap on the arm and whispered something, giving him a threatening look.

Mr. Cen gave her a stern look and then turned to Chuxia, saying, “Sit down. Have you eaten?”

Cen Zhengnian leaned closer to Chuxia and whispered in her ear, “My dad is always like this; it’s not that he doesn’t welcome you.”

“I know,” Chuxia said, trying to suppress her laughter.

She had just seen that Mr. Cen’s newspaper was upside down.

It seemed he had hurriedly picked it up to act nonchalant when he heard them coming in.

She could tell that Mr. Cen’s heart was not as stern as his appearance suggested; he was probably as nervous and happy as Jiang Shengnan.

The noise outside finally made Cen Huai’an unable to resist; he frowned and opened his eyes.

Nestled in Cen Zhengnian’s arms, he yawned widely, still looking sleepy.

He looked outside and met Mr. Cen’s gaze.

The two stared at each other, wide-eyed.

Cen Huai’an blinked, looked up at Cen Zhengnian, and his eyes were filled with confusion.

Who is this stern-looking man, and why does his gaze seem so strange?

“An’an, call Grandpa,” Chuxia said with a smile, patting his head.

Cen Huai’an looked at Mr. Cen again, curiosity in his eyes, and called out, “Grandpa.”

Mr. Cen responded with a noncommittal “Hmm.”

His expression suddenly became awkward.

He wanted to smile at Cen Huai’an but was so used to being serious that he didn’t know how to smile properly, making his expression seem even more frightening than his usual stern look.

However, Cen Huai’an was not scared.

Sensitive to others’ emotions, he could sense the goodwill from this suddenly appearing grandpa despite his seemingly unapproachable demeanor.

Chuxia had already sat on the mahogany sofa, and Cen Zhengnian was also sitting next to her with Cen Huai’an in his arms.

The warmth of the man next to her was hard to ignore, making Chuxia a bit uncomfortable as she shifted slightly, resisting the urge to move further away.

Jiang Shengnan deliberately cleared her throat and shot a disapproving glance at Mr. Cen, feeling frustrated with her husband for not handling things well.

She secretly pinched him and rubbed her hands, signaling him.

Mr. Cen immediately remembered and cleared his throat, pulling out two red envelopes and handing them to Chuxia and An’an. “Chuxia, this is for you.”

Chuxia looked at Mr. Cen with a happy smile and accepted the envelopes, saying, “Thank you, Dad. An’an, thank Grandpa and Grandma.”

Cen Huai’an’s childish voice chimed in, “Thank you, Grandpa and Grandma.”

Jiang Shengnan’s smile immediately softened into a loving expression. “Oh, you don’t need to thank us, An’an.”

Mr. Cen’s gaze also became a bit gentler.

Jiang Shengnan quickly asked Chuxia and An’an what they wanted to eat.

“We have everything at home—pork, lamb, beef, and fish. Is there anything you want?”

Actually, Mr. Cen, Cen Zhengnian, and Jiang Shengnan hadn’t eaten yet, but their excitement at having Chuxia and An’an with them made them forget their hunger.

Before Chuxia could answer, Cen Zhengnian spoke up, “Mom, An’an likes meat, and Chuxia loves beef and noodles.”

Chuxia wasn’t sure what she wanted to eat; she wasn’t very hungry.

Cen Huai’an, however, seemed to have regained his appetite.

He rubbed his tummy and told Cen Zhengnian, “Daddy, I want to eat noodles.”

“How about beef noodles? Does Chuxia want some?”

“Sure,” Chuxia nodded. The mention of beef noodles made her feel a bit hungry.

“Mom, do you need any help?”

“No, no. Lao Cen, come help me cut the meat.” With that, Jiang Shengnan grabbed Mr. Cen and pulled him into the kitchen.

Chuxia couldn’t help but laugh, watching their retreating figures.

She said to Cen Zhengnian, “Mom and Dad have such a good relationship.”

Cen Zhengnian looked down at her with a smile in his eyes and said, “They’ve always been like this.”