Chapter 64.2

At two in the afternoon, Wen Nuan saw Yang Xiaomei return to the cafeteria.

The letter was placed quite visibly, so it wasn’t long before someone noticed it and handed it to Yang Xiaomei, “Sister Xiaomei, you have a letter.”

Yang Xiaomei took the white envelope, a slight smile forming on her lips. Since there was no stamp on it, she assumed it was from Ding Guoli.

However, as soon as she opened the envelope and saw the thin slip of paper inside, Yang Xiaomei froze on the spot, her face turning pale, and her hand holding the note trembled slightly.

Yet, Yang Xiaomei didn’t lose her composure. She carefully placed the note back in the envelope, folded it up, put it in her pocket, and turned back to continue her work.

Throughout the entire afternoon, Yang Xiaomei didn’t show any signs of sadness.

However, when Wen Nuan went to see Sister Juxiang, she mentioned that Yang Xiaomei felt like she had been affected by something that afternoon.

She had kept her head down, working diligently, finishing even Juxiang’s tasks, as though she had an endless supply of energy.

As the day ended, Gu Qinglan came to find Wen Nuan, saying she wanted to borrow her bicycle to head home.

Wen Nuan, knowing that Gu Qinglan was likely there to check on Yang Xiaomei’s reaction, said, “She didn’t have much of a reaction after reading the note, but she left the kitchen right after work ended. She must have gone home.”

Gu Qinglan sighed in relief, “That’s good. It’s not worth feeling hurt over a man like that.”

Sitting on the back of the bicycle, Wen Nuan asked, “By the way, has that Ding Guoli still been coming to your hospital to find you?”

Gu Qinglan replied with disdain, “Don’t even mention it. I only thought of leaving early today because I saw him lurking outside the hospital.”

After saying that, Gu Qinglan pedaled faster, and before long, they returned to the courtyard.

Lele had already been waiting by Sister Guihua’s door. With her chubby little hands supporting her round face, she immediately stood up and ran over as soon as she saw her mother and Auntie return.

“Mommy! Auntie!”

“We’re back.”

Wen Nuan jumped off the back seat and walked up to Lele, gently correcting her, “You should say, ‘Welcome back.’ Understand?”

Lele giggled and nodded, “Okay~”

“Good job.” Wen Nuan patted Lele’s little head and said, “Come on, let’s go tell Auntie Guihua, then Mommy will take you home to cook dinner.”

“Is our Lele hungry?”

Lele immediately shouted enthusiastically, “Hungry! Want meat!”

“…”

Of course, she’d want meat!

After greeting Sister Guihua, Wen Nuan was about to take Lele home. However, Lele saw Gu Qinglan with her bicycle and started clamoring to ride. Naturally, her Auntie, who adored her, couldn’t refuse.

Once Gu Qinglan secured the little seat, she lifted Lele onto it and said to Wen Nuan, “Sister-in-law, I’ll take Lele for a little ride.”

Wen Nuan, just back from picking vegetables, called out, “Don’t take her to the supply store again, or she’ll start begging for candy!”

Gu Qinglan stuck out her tongue playfully. “Oh, got it.”

Seated on the woven wicker seat, Lele waved her little hand at Wen Nuan, “Bye-bye, Mommy.”

Wen Nuan nodded, then reminded, “Lele, hold on tight, so you don’t fall.”

“Okay!” Lele gripped the handlebars tightly, and Gu Qinglan rode off with her.

Just as Wen Nuan finished rinsing the rice and putting it on the stove, she heard a noise from outside the courtyard. While cutting meat in the kitchen, she raised her voice, calling out, “You two are back already?”

Every time Gu Qinglan took Lele for a bike ride, Lele would inevitably convince her to go to the supply store and buy all kinds of snacks and little toys.

Why were they back so quickly this time?

Could it be that Gu Qinglan actually didn’t go to the supply store?

But when no one responded after a moment, Wen Nuan walked out into the courtyard, only to see Yang Xiaomei at her gate, eyes red.

With a weary voice, Yang Xiaomei called out, “Sister Nuan…”

Seeing Yang Xiaomei’s worn-out appearance, Wen Nuan hurried over and asked, “Sister Xiaomei, what happened?”

“Did someone bully you? What’s going on?”

Yang Xiaomei sobbed for a while, then finally choked out, “I just went to ask Ding Guoli to get back together… but he actually said we’re not suitable for each other…”

Wen Nuan frowned and tried to comfort her, “Sister Xiaomei, he’s not worth your tears. Don’t cry over a man like that. Maybe leaving him is the best thing that could happen to you.”

Yang Xiaomei had suspected this outcome, but it still hurt. She had never thought that a relationship she started with marriage in mind would end like this. She rested her head on Wen Nuan’s shoulder, her eyes red and her voice choked with emotion, “Sister Nuan, do you know today was supposed to be our one-year anniversary? Even though we argued recently, I thought it was just a small fight. I didn’t truly want to break up, and I thought if I didn’t go looking for him, he’d come find me eventually. But he didn’t, not even once.”

“I finally mustered up the courage to swallow my pride and be the one to apologize, and he just said we’re not suitable and wants to break up…”

“I even gave him my money. How could he treat me like this?”

Wen Nuan patted Yang Xiaomei’s back, shocked at how disgusting Ding Guoli truly was. He had even taken money from her?

For a moment, Wen Nuan didn’t know what to say.

She handed a clean handkerchief to Yang Xiaomei, saying, “Here, wipe your tears first.”

“In my opinion, it’s better to find out he’s no good before marriage rather than after. Though it hurts now, remember this: he’s the one losing out by letting you go. There’s no need for you to feel regret.”

Yang Xiaomei looked at the handkerchief but shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I don’t want to dirty it. I’ll just wipe with my sleeve.”

As she spoke, she brushed away her tears with her sleeve.

Then she continued, “Besides, someone even wrote me a letter saying Ding Guoli has been bothering other women. I think he’s just moved on to someone else.”

Wen Nuan gritted her teeth, cursing, “A man like that is just shameless!”

Yang Xiaomei gave a bitter smile and said, “You’re right; he’s not worth it. I just feel a little unwilling to let it go.”

“Thank you. Talking with you has really helped. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be all tangled up in this.”

Wen Nuan squeezed her hand and said, “No need to thank me. Anytime you want to talk, you know where to find me.”

Yang Xiaomei nodded, “Thank you, Sister Nuan.”

“And don’t worry, I’m already thinking of ways to make sure that jerk doesn’t get away with this!”

Before Wen Nuan could say a word, Gu Qinglan arrived at the courtyard gate, ringing her bicycle bell.

After stopping her bike, she first lifted Lele down from the front seat.

“Lele, go on inside first.”

Lele, clutching two pieces of candy, bolted toward the house.

Wen Nuan, worried that Lele might accidentally run into Yang Xiaomei quickly reached out and grabbed her, saying, “Why are you in such a hurry, little one? You’re going to trip again if you keep running like that.”

Lele looked up into Wen Nuan’s eyes, then giggled and held out the candy in her hand. “Here, Mommy.”

“Wow, thank you, Lele!” Wen Nuan patted Lele’s wind-tossed hair and added, “There’s a big sister here, too. What should you say?”

Lele lifted her small head and looked at Yang Xiaomei, recognizing her from the performance with the Kitchen Team. She smiled and called out, “Big Sister!”

Then she held out her hand again, offering one of the candies in her palm. “Here’s some candy for you.”

Yang Xiaomei’s mouth opened slightly, and she glanced over at Wen Nuan, who nodded for her to accept it. So, she reached out and took the candy Lele was offering.

Smiling, she said, “Thank you, Lele.”

“You’re welcome!” Lele said before hopping back over to Gu Qinglan, likely to ask her for more candy.

Gu Qinglan, feeling a little guilty, glanced away from Wen Nuan and then handed another piece of candy to Lele.

—o—o—o—

In the evening, Wen Nuan invited Yang Xiaomei to stay for dinner. Perhaps because there were no men around, they talked openly, their laughter so lively that it drew over Sister Guihua from next door.

With a group of women gathered together, the conversation became even more animated. As the night wore on, they decided to attend the upcoming market fair together in a couple of days.

Yang Xiaomei, inspired by all Wen Nuan had shared, planned to make some changes. She wanted to transform herself a bit, change her hairstyle, buy a few new clothes, and brighten her spirits.

Two days later, the group set out from the residential compound. Gu Qinglan once again rode her bike to town, and Yang Xiaomei rode along as well. Her brother had a bike, too, so the two of them made a good pair.

Wen Nuan, meanwhile, took Lele with her and rode the residential compound’s car with Sister Guihua and Sister Juxiang.

When they arrived in town, they went directly to the state-owned barbershop to wait for the two cyclists.

After Gu Qinglan and Yang Xiaomei locked up their bikes, their faces were flushed from the ride. They joined the others at the barbershop.

Yang Xiaomei touched her long hair, then asked Wen Nuan, “Sister Nuan, what kind of hairstyle do you think would look good on me?”

Wen Nuan hadn’t expected her to ask for her opinion, but after looking at her for a moment, she offered a suggestion. “How about getting some bangs to cover your forehead and cutting your hair shorter, maybe down to your shoulders?”

Yang Xiaomei had a slightly prominent forehead with a hairline that was a bit high. Bangs could soften her look and make her appear younger.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Yang Xiaomei sat in the chair and said to the barber, “Comrade, please cut my hair as this lady suggested.”

The barber gave a cheerful laugh and replied, “Alright!”

He then glanced over at Wen Nuan, nodding approvingly. “It seems you’ve got a knack for styling. This lady has a slightly high forehead, so bangs are a good choice to cover it. They should be thick, too, so they won’t part as soon as the wind blows.”

With skilled hands, the barber made a few quick snips, and soon, a new hairstyle was taking shape. Even though it wasn’t finished yet, Yang Xiaomei already looked quite different from when she had arrived.

Gu Qinglan noticed and hurried over, exclaiming, “Comrade, you did an amazing job! When you’re done, could you give me the same cut?”

The barber beamed with pride. “Sure, sure, just give me a moment.”

In no time, the barber finished up with Yang Xiaomei. Her once-prominent forehead was now covered, and her long hair had been trimmed to a much lighter length, giving her a fresh, neat appearance.

She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. “Is that… really me?”

Wen Nuan brought Lele over and said with a smile, “It looks fantastic! It suits you well.”

Lele giggled and added, “Big Sister is pretty.”

Hearing Lele’s compliment melted Yang Xiaomei’s heart, and she squatted down to look at Lele, smiling. “Thank you, Lele. You’re adorable, too.”

After a short wait, it was Gu Qinglan’s turn. The barber, however, mentioned that her forehead was nicely rounded and didn’t need bangs. So, he simply trimmed her ends for a refreshed look.

Gu Qinglan felt much lighter, and as she was about to pay, the barber turned to Yang Xiaomei and said, “Comrade, your hair is quite nice. I’ll give you fifty cents for it.”

Yang Xiaomei’s eyes widened, and she laughed. “I actually get paid?”

The barber explained, “Normally, the length isn’t enough to sell, but I noticed your hair quality is pretty good, so it’s worth a little something.”

Yang Xiaomei’s eyes sparkled. “That’s wonderful!”

Wen Nuan chuckled softly and whispered to her, “See? Stepping away from the bad environment would make your luck improve.”

Yang Xiaomei nodded enthusiastically. “It does seem that way.”

With her fifty cents in hand, Yang Xiaomei walked out of the barbershop, grinning as she announced she’d treat everyone to a nice meal to celebrate her new beginning.

The group laughed, not taking her seriously. After all, fifty cents wouldn’t go far, maybe enough for one person to enjoy a bowl of noodles. Including the children, there were nearly ten of them, and they wouldn’t dream of having her pay.

With time still on their hands, they headed to the supply and marketing cooperative. Wen Nuan helped Yang Xiaomei pick out a light-colored cotton jacket, perfect for daily wear, and a darker one, suitable for work.

Yang Xiaomei spent money more freely than even Gu Qinglan, not even asking the price. Once she found they fit well, she took them straight to the cashier to pay.

Her bold spending made both Sister Guihua and Sister Juxiang sigh. “It’s nice to be unmarried. Look how easily she spends without care.”

Yang Xiaomei gave a shy smile. “It’s nothing like that. My mom sent me the money, and with winter coming, it’s good to have an extra warm jacket.”

Later, after finishing their shopping at the supply and marketing cooperative, Yang Xiaomei genuinely intended to treat everyone to a meal at the state-run restaurant. However, Wen Nuan and the others were not very keen on the idea.

“There’s no need to treat us,” Wen Nuan said. “There are five adults here, and three of us are working in the Kitchen Team. We don’t need to go out to eat. You should save your money for yourself.”

Just as she finished speaking, Lele pointed at a vendor selling candied hawthorn skewers and exclaimed in her sweet voice, “Tanghulu!”

Yang Xiaomei immediately pinched her little cheek and said, “Sister will buy some for you!”

With that, she dashed over and bought several skewers, returning to distribute one to each person.

When Lele received the candied hawthorn from Yang Xiaomei, she smiled and said, “Thank you, Sister.”

Lele, upon getting her sweet treat, handed it to Wen Nuan, saying, “Mommy should eat too.”

Wen Nuan gratefully took a bite and smiled, “Thank you, my baby.”

“You’re welcome!” Lele replied.

Lele happily munched on her candied hawthorn.

—o—o—o—

Meanwhile, General Lu had also arrived in Wen Nuan’s hometown. Before coming south, he had contacted the son of an old comrade.

Originally, his old comrade had been stationed in the South China War Zone, but he had requested a transfer to the Southwest, making it difficult for them to meet in the future.

Lu Xiangqian and his son, Lu Wei, sighed with relief as they watched General Lu step off the train.

Lu Xiangqian approached and took General Lu’s luggage, teasing, “General Lu, as a prominent Air Force general, you could at least fly in a fighter jet instead of taking a train for days! What’s with the long train ride?”

Ten years younger than Lu Mingdong, Lu Xiangqian had fought alongside General Lu, so he felt comfortable joking around. They had grown up in the same alley, sharing the same surname, which fostered a friendly relationship between their families.

General Lu chuckled and replied, “Look who’s talking! Aren’t you in the Navy? Why didn’t I see you bringing a ship to pick me up? I ended up sitting on that train for two whole days—my backside is flat now!”

He had expected Lu Xiangqian not to come for him, but to his surprise, both father and son had come. It was a nice gesture.

Meanwhile, Lu Wei took the luggage from his father’s hands and said to General Lu, “Uncle Lu, I borrowed a vehicle from the army. Let’s get in the car and chat.”

“Thank you for the trouble.” General Lu said, looking at Lu Wei. “By the way, I heard you’re finally getting married?”

Lu Wei nodded. “Yes, Uncle Lu, my wife is already pregnant.”

General Lu smiled and pressed on, “Arranged marriage?”

Lu Wei paused, speechless.

Lu Xiangqian could no longer resist interrupting the man’s questions. “What did you come here for this time? You haven’t been to the South for half a lifetime. Why did you take a train for two days and two nights this time?”

Lu Mingdong’s choice to take the train must have been for personal reasons, and it seemed that this personal matter was quite important; otherwise, he wouldn’t have made the trip himself.

Moreover, he had asked Lu Wei to help him look up information on a family with the surname Wen. After glancing at it, I saw that it appeared to be an ordinary family. The only notable detail was that the Wen family had a daughter who had married an airman named Gu Qinghan.

Lu Xiangqian couldn’t help but boldly speculate, “Could it be that your Air Force squadron has encountered an enemy spy?”

General Lu frowned, “Go away, stop spouting nonsense. This matter has nothing to do with our Air Force; it’s just my personal affair.”

Lu Xiangqian curiously pressed further, “Your personal affair? Now, I’m even more curious. What could be so important that it would bring General Lu all the way here?”

Seeing how anxious he was, General Lu refused to say, “I won’t tell you.”

“If you want to know, then come with me.”

Lu Xiangqian’s curiosity was shattered, and he replied, “I forgot to tell you, I don’t have time. I’m just passing through this place to see you. I need to catch a train shortly. I don’t even have time to see my own wife, and I’ve already given you enough face. You can say whatever you want!”

General Lu remained silent.

“Alright, you can go. It’s fine to have your son lead the way.”

“Just tell me about it!”

Lu Xiangqian couldn’t stand it anymore; he couldn’t just drop this matter after getting only halfway through.

Seeing his comrade so anxious, General Lu couldn’t help but pull out two photographs and show them to him. “Take a look and see if you notice anything special about the people in these pictures.”

Lu Xiangqian had other important matters to attend to, so he didn’t want to waste time. He narrowed his eyes and carefully compared the images.

After a long while, he slowly said, “The two young women in the pictures look somewhat similar.”

Upon hearing this, General Lu revealed a faint smile. “That’s right. During National Day, I went to Northern City and saw a young woman there who looked very much like my wife, and her eyes were very similar to Tengjun’s.”

Tengjun was General Lu’s son, who had sacrificed his life. So that meant…

Seeing the surprised expressions on their faces, General Lu smiled and said, “Exactly. I suspect she is my missing granddaughter.”

Lu Xiangqian and Lu Wei were both shocked by General Lu’s words.

After all, they had thought that General Lu’s two sons had not left any descendants.

After General Lu took back the photos of Wen Nuan and the others, he asked Lu Wei for information on the Wen family. “Lu Wei, can you give me the information on the Wen family? Do you have any photos?”

Lu Wei didn’t dare to delay and quickly handed over the materials that General Lu had asked him to prepare. “There’s a group photo in there, but it was taken several years ago.”

The moment General Lu received the document bag, the fatigue on his face vanished, and he pulled out the small photograph to take a look.

He immediately spotted Wen Nuan in the picture. Although she looked a few years younger than she did now, her features were easily recognizable.

However, in the next second, he furrowed his brow tightly—

Because the woman in the photo was not his daughter….

Chapter 64.2

At two in the afternoon, Wen Nuan saw Yang Xiaomei return to the cafeteria.

The letter was placed quite visibly, so it wasn’t long before someone noticed it and handed it to Yang Xiaomei, “Sister Xiaomei, you have a letter.”

Yang Xiaomei took the white envelope, a slight smile forming on her lips. Since there was no stamp on it, she assumed it was from Ding Guoli.

However, as soon as she opened the envelope and saw the thin slip of paper inside, Yang Xiaomei froze on the spot, her face turning pale, and her hand holding the note trembled slightly.

Yet, Yang Xiaomei didn’t lose her composure. She carefully placed the note back in the envelope, folded it up, put it in her pocket, and turned back to continue her work.

Throughout the entire afternoon, Yang Xiaomei didn’t show any signs of sadness.

However, when Wen Nuan went to see Sister Juxiang, she mentioned that Yang Xiaomei felt like she had been affected by something that afternoon.

She had kept her head down, working diligently, finishing even Juxiang’s tasks, as though she had an endless supply of energy.

As the day ended, Gu Qinglan came to find Wen Nuan, saying she wanted to borrow her bicycle to head home.

Wen Nuan, knowing that Gu Qinglan was likely there to check on Yang Xiaomei’s reaction, said, “She didn’t have much of a reaction after reading the note, but she left the kitchen right after work ended. She must have gone home.”

Gu Qinglan sighed in relief, “That’s good. It’s not worth feeling hurt over a man like that.”

Sitting on the back of the bicycle, Wen Nuan asked, “By the way, has that Ding Guoli still been coming to your hospital to find you?”

Gu Qinglan replied with disdain, “Don’t even mention it. I only thought of leaving early today because I saw him lurking outside the hospital.”

After saying that, Gu Qinglan pedaled faster, and before long, they returned to the courtyard.

Lele had already been waiting by Sister Guihua’s door. With her chubby little hands supporting her round face, she immediately stood up and ran over as soon as she saw her mother and Auntie return.

“Mommy! Auntie!”

“We’re back.”

Wen Nuan jumped off the back seat and walked up to Lele, gently correcting her, “You should say, ‘Welcome back.’ Understand?”

Lele giggled and nodded, “Okay~”

“Good job.” Wen Nuan patted Lele’s little head and said, “Come on, let’s go tell Auntie Guihua, then Mommy will take you home to cook dinner.”

“Is our Lele hungry?”

Lele immediately shouted enthusiastically, “Hungry! Want meat!”

“…”

Of course, she’d want meat!

After greeting Sister Guihua, Wen Nuan was about to take Lele home. However, Lele saw Gu Qinglan with her bicycle and started clamoring to ride. Naturally, her Auntie, who adored her, couldn’t refuse.

Once Gu Qinglan secured the little seat, she lifted Lele onto it and said to Wen Nuan, “Sister-in-law, I’ll take Lele for a little ride.”

Wen Nuan, just back from picking vegetables, called out, “Don’t take her to the supply store again, or she’ll start begging for candy!”

Gu Qinglan stuck out her tongue playfully. “Oh, got it.”

Seated on the woven wicker seat, Lele waved her little hand at Wen Nuan, “Bye-bye, Mommy.”

Wen Nuan nodded, then reminded, “Lele, hold on tight, so you don’t fall.”

“Okay!” Lele gripped the handlebars tightly, and Gu Qinglan rode off with her.

Just as Wen Nuan finished rinsing the rice and putting it on the stove, she heard a noise from outside the courtyard. While cutting meat in the kitchen, she raised her voice, calling out, “You two are back already?”

Every time Gu Qinglan took Lele for a bike ride, Lele would inevitably convince her to go to the supply store and buy all kinds of snacks and little toys.

Why were they back so quickly this time?

Could it be that Gu Qinglan actually didn’t go to the supply store?

But when no one responded after a moment, Wen Nuan walked out into the courtyard, only to see Yang Xiaomei at her gate, eyes red.

With a weary voice, Yang Xiaomei called out, “Sister Nuan…”

Seeing Yang Xiaomei’s worn-out appearance, Wen Nuan hurried over and asked, “Sister Xiaomei, what happened?”

“Did someone bully you? What’s going on?”

Yang Xiaomei sobbed for a while, then finally choked out, “I just went to ask Ding Guoli to get back together… but he actually said we’re not suitable for each other…”

Wen Nuan frowned and tried to comfort her, “Sister Xiaomei, he’s not worth your tears. Don’t cry over a man like that. Maybe leaving him is the best thing that could happen to you.”

Yang Xiaomei had suspected this outcome, but it still hurt. She had never thought that a relationship she started with marriage in mind would end like this. She rested her head on Wen Nuan’s shoulder, her eyes red and her voice choked with emotion, “Sister Nuan, do you know today was supposed to be our one-year anniversary? Even though we argued recently, I thought it was just a small fight. I didn’t truly want to break up, and I thought if I didn’t go looking for him, he’d come find me eventually. But he didn’t, not even once.”

“I finally mustered up the courage to swallow my pride and be the one to apologize, and he just said we’re not suitable and wants to break up…”

“I even gave him my money. How could he treat me like this?”

Wen Nuan patted Yang Xiaomei’s back, shocked at how disgusting Ding Guoli truly was. He had even taken money from her?

For a moment, Wen Nuan didn’t know what to say.

She handed a clean handkerchief to Yang Xiaomei, saying, “Here, wipe your tears first.”

“In my opinion, it’s better to find out he’s no good before marriage rather than after. Though it hurts now, remember this: he’s the one losing out by letting you go. There’s no need for you to feel regret.”

Yang Xiaomei looked at the handkerchief but shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I don’t want to dirty it. I’ll just wipe with my sleeve.”

As she spoke, she brushed away her tears with her sleeve.

Then she continued, “Besides, someone even wrote me a letter saying Ding Guoli has been bothering other women. I think he’s just moved on to someone else.”

Wen Nuan gritted her teeth, cursing, “A man like that is just shameless!”

Yang Xiaomei gave a bitter smile and said, “You’re right; he’s not worth it. I just feel a little unwilling to let it go.”

“Thank you. Talking with you has really helped. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be all tangled up in this.”

Wen Nuan squeezed her hand and said, “No need to thank me. Anytime you want to talk, you know where to find me.”

Yang Xiaomei nodded, “Thank you, Sister Nuan.”

“And don’t worry, I’m already thinking of ways to make sure that jerk doesn’t get away with this!”

Before Wen Nuan could say a word, Gu Qinglan arrived at the courtyard gate, ringing her bicycle bell.

After stopping her bike, she first lifted Lele down from the front seat.

“Lele, go on inside first.”

Lele, clutching two pieces of candy, bolted toward the house.

Wen Nuan, worried that Lele might accidentally run into Yang Xiaomei quickly reached out and grabbed her, saying, “Why are you in such a hurry, little one? You’re going to trip again if you keep running like that.”

Lele looked up into Wen Nuan’s eyes, then giggled and held out the candy in her hand. “Here, Mommy.”

“Wow, thank you, Lele!” Wen Nuan patted Lele’s wind-tossed hair and added, “There’s a big sister here, too. What should you say?”

Lele lifted her small head and looked at Yang Xiaomei, recognizing her from the performance with the Kitchen Team. She smiled and called out, “Big Sister!”

Then she held out her hand again, offering one of the candies in her palm. “Here’s some candy for you.”

Yang Xiaomei’s mouth opened slightly, and she glanced over at Wen Nuan, who nodded for her to accept it. So, she reached out and took the candy Lele was offering.

Smiling, she said, “Thank you, Lele.”

“You’re welcome!” Lele said before hopping back over to Gu Qinglan, likely to ask her for more candy.

Gu Qinglan, feeling a little guilty, glanced away from Wen Nuan and then handed another piece of candy to Lele.

—o—o—o—

In the evening, Wen Nuan invited Yang Xiaomei to stay for dinner. Perhaps because there were no men around, they talked openly, their laughter so lively that it drew over Sister Guihua from next door.

With a group of women gathered together, the conversation became even more animated. As the night wore on, they decided to attend the upcoming market fair together in a couple of days.

Yang Xiaomei, inspired by all Wen Nuan had shared, planned to make some changes. She wanted to transform herself a bit, change her hairstyle, buy a few new clothes, and brighten her spirits.

Two days later, the group set out from the residential compound. Gu Qinglan once again rode her bike to town, and Yang Xiaomei rode along as well. Her brother had a bike, too, so the two of them made a good pair.

Wen Nuan, meanwhile, took Lele with her and rode the residential compound’s car with Sister Guihua and Sister Juxiang.

When they arrived in town, they went directly to the state-owned barbershop to wait for the two cyclists.

After Gu Qinglan and Yang Xiaomei locked up their bikes, their faces were flushed from the ride. They joined the others at the barbershop.

Yang Xiaomei touched her long hair, then asked Wen Nuan, “Sister Nuan, what kind of hairstyle do you think would look good on me?”

Wen Nuan hadn’t expected her to ask for her opinion, but after looking at her for a moment, she offered a suggestion. “How about getting some bangs to cover your forehead and cutting your hair shorter, maybe down to your shoulders?”

Yang Xiaomei had a slightly prominent forehead with a hairline that was a bit high. Bangs could soften her look and make her appear younger.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Yang Xiaomei sat in the chair and said to the barber, “Comrade, please cut my hair as this lady suggested.”

The barber gave a cheerful laugh and replied, “Alright!”

He then glanced over at Wen Nuan, nodding approvingly. “It seems you’ve got a knack for styling. This lady has a slightly high forehead, so bangs are a good choice to cover it. They should be thick, too, so they won’t part as soon as the wind blows.”

With skilled hands, the barber made a few quick snips, and soon, a new hairstyle was taking shape. Even though it wasn’t finished yet, Yang Xiaomei already looked quite different from when she had arrived.

Gu Qinglan noticed and hurried over, exclaiming, “Comrade, you did an amazing job! When you’re done, could you give me the same cut?”

The barber beamed with pride. “Sure, sure, just give me a moment.”

In no time, the barber finished up with Yang Xiaomei. Her once-prominent forehead was now covered, and her long hair had been trimmed to a much lighter length, giving her a fresh, neat appearance.

She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. “Is that… really me?”

Wen Nuan brought Lele over and said with a smile, “It looks fantastic! It suits you well.”

Lele giggled and added, “Big Sister is pretty.”

Hearing Lele’s compliment melted Yang Xiaomei’s heart, and she squatted down to look at Lele, smiling. “Thank you, Lele. You’re adorable, too.”

After a short wait, it was Gu Qinglan’s turn. The barber, however, mentioned that her forehead was nicely rounded and didn’t need bangs. So, he simply trimmed her ends for a refreshed look.

Gu Qinglan felt much lighter, and as she was about to pay, the barber turned to Yang Xiaomei and said, “Comrade, your hair is quite nice. I’ll give you fifty cents for it.”

Yang Xiaomei’s eyes widened, and she laughed. “I actually get paid?”

The barber explained, “Normally, the length isn’t enough to sell, but I noticed your hair quality is pretty good, so it’s worth a little something.”

Yang Xiaomei’s eyes sparkled. “That’s wonderful!”

Wen Nuan chuckled softly and whispered to her, “See? Stepping away from the bad environment would make your luck improve.”

Yang Xiaomei nodded enthusiastically. “It does seem that way.”

With her fifty cents in hand, Yang Xiaomei walked out of the barbershop, grinning as she announced she’d treat everyone to a nice meal to celebrate her new beginning.

The group laughed, not taking her seriously. After all, fifty cents wouldn’t go far, maybe enough for one person to enjoy a bowl of noodles. Including the children, there were nearly ten of them, and they wouldn’t dream of having her pay.

With time still on their hands, they headed to the supply and marketing cooperative. Wen Nuan helped Yang Xiaomei pick out a light-colored cotton jacket, perfect for daily wear, and a darker one, suitable for work.

Yang Xiaomei spent money more freely than even Gu Qinglan, not even asking the price. Once she found they fit well, she took them straight to the cashier to pay.

Her bold spending made both Sister Guihua and Sister Juxiang sigh. “It’s nice to be unmarried. Look how easily she spends without care.”

Yang Xiaomei gave a shy smile. “It’s nothing like that. My mom sent me the money, and with winter coming, it’s good to have an extra warm jacket.”

Later, after finishing their shopping at the supply and marketing cooperative, Yang Xiaomei genuinely intended to treat everyone to a meal at the state-run restaurant. However, Wen Nuan and the others were not very keen on the idea.

“There’s no need to treat us,” Wen Nuan said. “There are five adults here, and three of us are working in the Kitchen Team. We don’t need to go out to eat. You should save your money for yourself.”

Just as she finished speaking, Lele pointed at a vendor selling candied hawthorn skewers and exclaimed in her sweet voice, “Tanghulu!”

Yang Xiaomei immediately pinched her little cheek and said, “Sister will buy some for you!”

With that, she dashed over and bought several skewers, returning to distribute one to each person.

When Lele received the candied hawthorn from Yang Xiaomei, she smiled and said, “Thank you, Sister.”

Lele, upon getting her sweet treat, handed it to Wen Nuan, saying, “Mommy should eat too.”

Wen Nuan gratefully took a bite and smiled, “Thank you, my baby.”

“You’re welcome!” Lele replied.

Lele happily munched on her candied hawthorn.

—o—o—o—

Meanwhile, General Lu had also arrived in Wen Nuan’s hometown. Before coming south, he had contacted the son of an old comrade.

Originally, his old comrade had been stationed in the South China War Zone, but he had requested a transfer to the Southwest, making it difficult for them to meet in the future.

Lu Xiangqian and his son, Lu Wei, sighed with relief as they watched General Lu step off the train.

Lu Xiangqian approached and took General Lu’s luggage, teasing, “General Lu, as a prominent Air Force general, you could at least fly in a fighter jet instead of taking a train for days! What’s with the long train ride?”

Ten years younger than Lu Mingdong, Lu Xiangqian had fought alongside General Lu, so he felt comfortable joking around. They had grown up in the same alley, sharing the same surname, which fostered a friendly relationship between their families.

General Lu chuckled and replied, “Look who’s talking! Aren’t you in the Navy? Why didn’t I see you bringing a ship to pick me up? I ended up sitting on that train for two whole days—my backside is flat now!”

He had expected Lu Xiangqian not to come for him, but to his surprise, both father and son had come. It was a nice gesture.

Meanwhile, Lu Wei took the luggage from his father’s hands and said to General Lu, “Uncle Lu, I borrowed a vehicle from the army. Let’s get in the car and chat.”

“Thank you for the trouble.” General Lu said, looking at Lu Wei. “By the way, I heard you’re finally getting married?”

Lu Wei nodded. “Yes, Uncle Lu, my wife is already pregnant.”

General Lu smiled and pressed on, “Arranged marriage?”

Lu Wei paused, speechless.

Lu Xiangqian could no longer resist interrupting the man’s questions. “What did you come here for this time? You haven’t been to the South for half a lifetime. Why did you take a train for two days and two nights this time?”

Lu Mingdong’s choice to take the train must have been for personal reasons, and it seemed that this personal matter was quite important; otherwise, he wouldn’t have made the trip himself.

Moreover, he had asked Lu Wei to help him look up information on a family with the surname Wen. After glancing at it, I saw that it appeared to be an ordinary family. The only notable detail was that the Wen family had a daughter who had married an airman named Gu Qinghan.

Lu Xiangqian couldn’t help but boldly speculate, “Could it be that your Air Force squadron has encountered an enemy spy?”

General Lu frowned, “Go away, stop spouting nonsense. This matter has nothing to do with our Air Force; it’s just my personal affair.”

Lu Xiangqian curiously pressed further, “Your personal affair? Now, I’m even more curious. What could be so important that it would bring General Lu all the way here?”

Seeing how anxious he was, General Lu refused to say, “I won’t tell you.”

“If you want to know, then come with me.”

Lu Xiangqian’s curiosity was shattered, and he replied, “I forgot to tell you, I don’t have time. I’m just passing through this place to see you. I need to catch a train shortly. I don’t even have time to see my own wife, and I’ve already given you enough face. You can say whatever you want!”

General Lu remained silent.

“Alright, you can go. It’s fine to have your son lead the way.”

“Just tell me about it!”

Lu Xiangqian couldn’t stand it anymore; he couldn’t just drop this matter after getting only halfway through.

Seeing his comrade so anxious, General Lu couldn’t help but pull out two photographs and show them to him. “Take a look and see if you notice anything special about the people in these pictures.”

Lu Xiangqian had other important matters to attend to, so he didn’t want to waste time. He narrowed his eyes and carefully compared the images.

After a long while, he slowly said, “The two young women in the pictures look somewhat similar.”

Upon hearing this, General Lu revealed a faint smile. “That’s right. During National Day, I went to Northern City and saw a young woman there who looked very much like my wife, and her eyes were very similar to Tengjun’s.”

Tengjun was General Lu’s son, who had sacrificed his life. So that meant…

Seeing the surprised expressions on their faces, General Lu smiled and said, “Exactly. I suspect she is my missing granddaughter.”

Lu Xiangqian and Lu Wei were both shocked by General Lu’s words.

After all, they had thought that General Lu’s two sons had not left any descendants.

After General Lu took back the photos of Wen Nuan and the others, he asked Lu Wei for information on the Wen family. “Lu Wei, can you give me the information on the Wen family? Do you have any photos?”

Lu Wei didn’t dare to delay and quickly handed over the materials that General Lu had asked him to prepare. “There’s a group photo in there, but it was taken several years ago.”

The moment General Lu received the document bag, the fatigue on his face vanished, and he pulled out the small photograph to take a look.

He immediately spotted Wen Nuan in the picture. Although she looked a few years younger than she did now, her features were easily recognizable.

However, in the next second, he furrowed his brow tightly—

Because the woman in the photo was not his daughter….