When Xu Ning returned home, Lu Xiaotang had already prepared dinner: steamed rice, braised rabbit, and stir-fried greens.

Seeing her come in, he quickly served the meal. Xu Ning took a bite and found the taste quite good. Although it was a little lacking compared to Xiao An’s cooking, for someone who didn’t cook often, this was already very impressive.

Xu Ning praised him, and Lu Xiaotang placed a piece of rabbit meat on her plate, saying, “When I was little, my parents were always busy with work. We usually ate at the military canteen. My sister and I would go there after school to get food. When she got a bit older, we started cooking at home.”

Xu Ning smiled, “Then Sister Xiaoran must be an excellent cook.”

“She’s a bit better than me,” he said while adding more meat to her plate.

Lu Xiaotang watched the girl sitting across from him, eating. He was leaving for the army the day after tomorrow, and the next time they would meet would be at least a year later. His heart was filled with reluctance.

But he knew he had to return. Right now, he couldn’t stay by her side. He needed to become stronger, so he could protect the family he cherished.

After dinner, Xu Ning asked Lu Xiaotang to help by tending the fire while she made some dried meat for him to take along.

Lu Xiaotang didn’t plan on bringing anything with him, wanting to leave the food for them instead. However, knowing that opposing her would be futile, he went into the kitchen to assist her.

While grilling the meat, Xu Ning said, “Wei Lanlan is pregnant. I’m planning to bring her half a wild chicken tonight to help nourish her.”

“Take a whole one,” Lu Xiaotang suggested. “Both she and her husband are good people. Tomorrow, I’ll go up the mountain again and hunt more.”

Xu Ning quickly responded, “No need to go back up the mountain. We have plenty of meat, enough to last until next year. Tomorrow, take a proper rest at home. No going anywhere.”

Lu Xiaotang looked at her gently, smiling. “Alright, I won’t go. Tomorrow, I’ll stay at home and keep you company.”

Xu Ning… Was that really what she meant?

Because of the time spent making the dried meat, their dinner had gone a bit late. Afterward, Xu Ning wrapped up a wild chicken, ready to visit Wei Lanlan. Lu Xiaotang walked her to the entrance of the youth compound before heading off to the cowshed.

Chen Xiangdong and Wei Lanlan had just finished their dinner when they saw Xu Ning come over that evening. They assumed she had something important to discuss.

Xu Ning waved her hand and said, “It’s nothing. I heard Lanlan is pregnant, and it just so happens that my cousin caught two wild chickens yesterday. I brought one over to help nourish her.”

Chen Xiangdong immediately declined politely, “Xu Ning, how can we accept this? You should take it back and enjoy it yourself!”

Seeing him continue to be courteous, Xu Ning placed the chicken on the table and said, “I brought this to help Lanlan stay healthy. Given how close we are, why wouldn’t I bring her something to eat? Just keep it, and tomorrow make her some soup with it. Add some mushrooms or something for extra nutrition.”

Wei Lanlan laughed and said, “Xiangdong, just accept it! Why be so polite with her? Tomorrow, we can make soup for our son.”

She then teased Xu Ning, “Why are you still calling your man ‘cousin’? How long do you plan to keep up this act?”

Xu Ning cleared her throat and replied, “Seriously? Is it just because you’re pregnant that your skin’s gotten thicker?”

“I learned it from you,” Wei Lanlan retorted playfully.

“Learned what from her?” Yang Xiaomei’s voice suddenly sounded from the doorway.

Chen Xiangdong quickly invited Yang Xiaomei to come in and sit down, then said to the group, “You all chat here. I’ll go check in on Sun Hao.”

Wei Lanlan laughed and explained to Yang Xiaomei, “Xu Ning said my skin has gotten thicker, and I told her I learned it from her. Xiaomei, don’t you think I’m right?”

Yang Xiaomei touched Xu Ning’s face and teased, “It is a bit thick, isn’t it?”

Xu Ning tried to pinch her in retaliation, but Yang Xiaomei quickly hid behind Wei Lanlan, laughing, “Don’t come over! You’re not allowed to touch me—there’s a pregnant woman here!”

The three of them happily chatted for a while. Xu Ning checked the time and noticed it was already 9 o’clock. She stood up and said she should head back. Wei Lanlan insisted that Chen Xiangdong escort her home.

Xu Ning waved her hand and said, “No need to walk me back. It’s just a few steps. I’ll run back in two minutes.”

Before Chen Xiangdong could come out, she had already reached the door. As soon as she opened the gate of the compound, Lu Xiaotang was standing by the roadside waiting for her. Seeing her come out, he immediately walked over and grabbed her hand.

Chen Xiangdong also came out, and when he saw the two of them, he smiled and said, “Xu Ning, your fiancé came to pick you up. I guess I don’t need to see you off then. You two take care!”

Xu Ning wanted to pull her hand away, but Lu Xiaotang didn’t let go. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she said, “Chen Xiangdong, you should head back! Take good care of Wei Lanlan. We’ll be off now.”

Lu Xiaotang nodded to him, and the two of them walked home hand in hand.

As soon as Chen Xiangdong returned to the house, Wei Lanlan asked, “Didn’t I ask you to see Xu Ning off? Why are you back so quickly?”

Chen Xiangdong laughed and said, “Her fiancé was waiting for her at the door. He’s really something—handsome, capable, and a good match.”

Wei Lanlan replied, “Xu Ning is great too. She’s beautiful, capable, and handles things well. Hardly anyone in the village has anything bad to say about her.”

Chen Xiangdong nodded in agreement.

Xu Ning and Lu Xiaotang walked home slowly, hand in hand. Lu Xiaotang reminded her, “Xiao Ning, now that Xiao An has also gone to the city for school, you’re the only one staying here. Don’t go out at night, okay?”

“Brother Lu, I know. I rarely go out at night anyway,” she replied.

Lu Xiaotang glanced around and said, “This place is too close to Daqing Mountain. When the heavy snow blocks the mountains, wild animals can’t find food and sometimes come down. Tomorrow, I’ll reinforce the front gate.”

Suddenly, Xu Ning stopped, turned around, and hugged his waist, burying her face in his chest. She said, “Brother Lu, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about home when you’re away. Just stay safe. We’re all waiting for you to come back.”

Lu Xiaotang held her tightly and said, “Xiao Ning, don’t worry about me. As long as you’re all safe and well, I’ll be at peace.”

The next morning, Lu Xiaotang went up the mountain early and cut down many dead trees. He borrowed tools from the village carpenter and reinforced the front gate. After checking the thorn saplings surrounding the courtyard wall, he finally felt a bit more at ease.

After lunch, they went to the county town to retrieve the photos: two individual ones and two group shots.

Lu Xiaotang took one group photo and one of Xu Ning’s individual photos, placing them in his luggage.

Xu Ning spent the entire day preparing food for his journey and packing the things he needed to take back.

When Xu Mo came home from school, he quietly put his schoolbag in the cowshed before sneaking over. He said he wanted to share a meal with his Big Brother Lu and have a chat.

During dinner, Xu Mo stood at the table and said, “Big Brother Lu, you’re leaving tomorrow. Today, I’ve prepared a poem to recite as a send-off for you.”

After clearing his throat, he began reciting:

“The northern landscape, boundless ice and snow,
Thousands of miles sealed in frost, ten thousand more in drifting snow.
Look within and beyond the Great Wall, only desolation remains;
From the rivers above and below, the surging waves have ceased.”

As he finished reciting, Xu Mo held up his bowl of rice porridge and said to Lu Xiaotang, “Big Brother Lu, today, I offer you this bowl of porridge in place of wine. I wish you a triumphant return soon. I’ll drink first as a toast.”

The poem continued:

“Mountains dance like silver snakes, rivers gallop like wax elephants,
Eager to challenge the heavens in a lofty height.
On a sunny day, behold the landscape dressed in red and white,
So enchantingly beautiful.
Such a charming land, it has drawn countless heroes to bow.
Yet, how we lament Qin Huang and Han Wu, who lacked literary flair;
Tang Zong and Song Zu were slightly less suave.
In this generation of greats, Genghis Khan knew only to draw the bow and shoot the great eagle.
All of them have passed; among the legends, let us look to today.”

With a proud smile, Xu Mo raised the bowl to his lips and took a sip, feeling the warmth of camaraderie and hope for the future.

After finishing his toast, Xu Mo hurriedly gulped down the rice porridge. It had just been served from the pot and was still hot, but before Xu Ning and Lu Xiaotang could stop him, he had already poured it into his mouth.

The porridge burned his mouth, making him want to spit it out, but he felt embarrassed to do so. Swallowing it was too painful, and his little face turned red from the effort.

Lu Xiaotang quickly pried open his mouth, urging him to spit it out. Xu Ning rushed to bring a bowl of cool water for him to hold in his mouth. Thankfully, the porridge wasn’t too hot, and after a while, he felt better.

Feeling especially embarrassed, Xu Mo said, “Sister, Big Brother Lu, I got a bit too eager just now. The porridge hit me hard. You two go ahead and eat; I’ll just sip some cool water to wake up.”

The two couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the scene.