Chapter 51.1

Qin Qingman kissed Wei Ling—her lips were sweet, but her heart was sweeter.

Wei Ling, the one being kissed, felt the sweetness spreading from his lips to his heart.

Because of this sweetness, he cast aside the worries that had been bothering him moments ago.

Since his wife had assured him that everything would be fine, then surely, it would be fine.

Entering the military unit wasn’t something that could be done through connections—without real skills, no one could get in.

Qin Qingman instructed in a calm yet firm tone. “Ah Ling, if anyone approaches you and used my name in asking for favors in the future, just refuse them outright. If you can’t refuse, pass them to me and let them deal with me directly.”

She had plenty of experience handling such matters; in her previous life, she had encountered similar situations countless times.

In her past life, she had worked her way up from the countryside to the city. Once she became successful, a flood of relatives appeared, seeking to exploit their connection to her.

They all wanted her help—either to borrow money or to arrange jobs for their children in the city.

Each one of them had no small sense of entitlement.

For those who had close ties with her, Qin Qingman would weigh their requests carefully.

But for those with distant or nonexistent relationships, who still had the nerve to ask for help, she had no qualms about showing them the door.

When she hadn’t yet made a name for herself, these very people had spoken ill of her both openly and behind her back, assuming she wouldn’t retaliate.

How wrong they were.

As Wei Ling listened to her, he immediately understood that his wife was someone with clear boundaries, which made it easier for him to handle similar situations.

He glanced at Chuchu, who was playing with two geese nearby, and cautiously gave Qin Qingman a brief hug before letting go.

From that moment, the couple developed a habit of expressing their affection through light touches and playful gestures.

“Ah Ling, after dinner, do you need to head back to the division headquarters?” Qin Qingman asked while pulling out a bundle of sweet potato noodles from the storage room.

“Yes. I need to check which of Du Hongyi’s group isn’t on duty tomorrow. Then I’ll inform them to come over early.” Wei Ling replied.

The two of them had already discussed the plan—tomorrow, on the Winter Solstice, they would make dumplings and invite Du Hongyi and a few others to celebrate the festival together at home.

Qin Qingman placed the sweet potato noodles into the pot, letting them simmer slowly with the fish, before asking, “Should we also invite Colonel Wang?”

She recalled that the division headquarters didn’t yet have a dedicated family area. Whether married or single, most personnel stationed there didn’t have family nearby to care for them.

“No need. Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice, and while the division can’t hold elaborate celebrations, the cafeteria will serve dumplings as a special meal. As the chief, the colonel will need to stay at the headquarters to celebrate with the soldiers.” Wei Ling explained, shaking his head to indicate his reasoning.

“Alright then.” Qin Qingman replied. Hearing that the cafeteria would prepare a festive meal, she stopped worrying about it.

Wei Ling glanced at her thoughtfully and said, “But we can send some dumplings to the colonel. He’ll probably be very busy tomorrow and might not get the chance to eat hot dumplings.”

Last year, Wei Ling himself had been overwhelmed with work during the Winter Solstice. He hadn’t managed to eat hot dumplings—or even cold ones, for that matter.

Qin Qingman was momentarily stunned but quickly understood the meaning behind Wei Ling’s words. Glancing at the simmering sweet potato noodles, she replied, “Wouldn’t it be too late to send the dumplings tomorrow? By the time we’ve finished eating and asked Du Hongyi and the others to deliver them, the colonel might have already eaten something else and be full.”

Giving a gift at the wrong time was as good as wasting the effort.

“If you’re not afraid of the trouble, Wife, we could cook some dumplings after dinner, and I’ll bring them to the colonel tonight to celebrate the Winter Solstice in advance.” Wei Ling said, revealing his real intention.

Colonel Wang Chengping had always treated him well, and Wei Ling, being a sentimental person, respected him as a mentor and elder.

Qin Qingman paused for a moment before smiling warmly at Wei Ling. “Alright, then let’s make dumplings after dinner. It just so happens that I already prepared the dough and was planning to make dumplings tonight anyway.” Earlier that morning, she had promised Chuchu they would have sauerkraut dumplings for dinner.

“Good, I’ll chop the filling in a bit.” Wei Ling said, his gaze soft and filled with affection as he looked at his wife.

“I can help! I can pull scallions and peel garlic!” Chuchu chimed in excitedly.

When it came to food, he was always eager to participate. He quickly abandoned the geese he had been playing with and ran to Qin Qingman’s side, crouching down and enthusiastically declaring his abilities.

Meanwhile, his eyes were glued to the fish simmering in the pot, and he swallowed hard, clearly tempted by the aroma.

Though he had eaten noodles earlier that morning, the enticing smell of the fish stew made his stomach growl with hunger again.

“Hungry?” Qin Qingman asked, noticing the little boy’s greedy expression. Her own stomach grumbled in response, as if in sympathy.

“Big Sis, don’t you think we’re eating too many meals these days?” Chuchu asked, rubbing his small belly with a frown.

He remembered the time when their family used to eat only two meals a day—one dry and one watery. After drinking thin porridge, they would go straight to bed.

Sometimes, the porridge was so thin it felt like drinking water. Even then, it was hard to fall asleep. The gnawing hunger would make his stomach burn painfully.

But no matter how unbearable it got, he forced himself to sleep because only by sleeping could he momentarily escape the hunger and endure another day.

Now, compared to those difficult days, their current life felt almost excessive. Chuchu couldn’t help but feel a twinge of fear, a lingering worry deep in his heart.

He was afraid of going hungry again.

Wei Ling and Qin Qingman both noticed the worry on Chuchu’s face. They exchanged a glance before Wei Ling gently took Chuchu’s hand and led him to sit down. He explained patiently, “Eating three meals a day is a reasonable and healthy arrangement. We’re eating more now because our bodies need it. You’re still growing, Chuchu, and it’s important to get enough nutrition. Only with proper nutrition can you grow up strong and healthy.”

“But… but…”

Chuchu tilted his head back to look at Wei Ling, his little face filled with concern. He seemed to have so many worries he wanted to express but didn’t know how to put them into words.

Wei Ling, of course, understood what the child was worried about. Placing a large, comforting hand on Chuchu’s head, he asked, “Chuchu, who am I?”

“Brother-in-law.” Chuchu answered, slightly puzzled.

“And are we a family?” Wei Ling continued.

“Of course, we’re family!” Chuchu exclaimed, suddenly standing up.

He clenched his little fists, his face flushed with emotion as he stared at Wei Ling. “Brother-in-law, we’re definitely family! If anyone dares to say you’re not, I’ll beat them up!”

Clearly, Chuchu thought someone outside was spreading nonsense, and the very idea made him furious.

Wei Ling’s heart warmed at the sight of Chuchu standing up for him. He pulled the boy into his arms and said gently, “Since we’re family, it’s only natural for me to share what I have. Don’t worry, Chuchu. Brother-in-law is capable of providing for all of us. Even if we eat three meals a day, I can still take care of our family.”

Chuchu’s eyes widened in shock, his disbelief evident.

Wei Ling couldn’t help but chuckle as he ruffled the boy’s hair. “Before we became a family, I used to eat in the cafeteria every day. The food there wasn’t nearly as good. But now that we’re a family—with Qingman and Chuchu taking care of me so well, I feel very happy.”

“But… I haven’t done anything to take care of you, Brother-in-law.” Chuchu said, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

“What do you mean you haven’t? Who heats the kang for us to sleep on every day? If it weren’t for Chuchu keeping the kang warm, how would I get a good night’s sleep?” Wei Ling began listing Chuchu’s contributions one by one.

Chuchu nodded. It was true—he was the one who heated the kang every day.

“When I wash my face, isn’t it Chuchu who brings me hot water and even hands me a towel?” Wei Ling added, continuing to boost the boy’s confidence.

“Just a few… a few times.” Chuchu stammered, his face flushing even redder with embarrassment.

Yet, his eyes sparkled with pride.

Seeing that the boy’s worries had dissipated, Wei Ling concluded firmly, “As a man, it’s my responsibility to support the family. You’re still young, Chuchu. Your job is to eat well, grow strong, and stay healthy.”

“Got it, Brother-in-law. I’ll definitely eat well!” Chuchu promised earnestly, his earlier concerns about the family’s three meals a day finally put to rest.

Qin Qingman, who had been silently observing their interaction, smiled warmly.

She tossed a handful of garlic sprouts into the pot and called out, “Come eat!”

Last night’s fish stew had been transformed into a hearty dish with the addition of sweet potato noodles, simmered to perfection.

The noodles were smooth and chewy, soaking up the flavorful broth much like the frozen tofu did, making them utterly delicious.

With large bowls in hand, the family of three enjoyed another satisfying meal. Chuchu was so full that he let out a loud, contented burp, earning a chuckle from Qin Qingman and Wei Ling.

Since Qin Qingman had cooked, Wei Ling took it upon himself to clear the table and wash the dishes.

There was no need to head to the kitchen; he simply heated water in a small iron pot over the stove to make it warm enough for cleaning.

Perhaps inspired by Wei Ling’s earlier praise for his helpfulness, Chuchu eagerly followed him, offering assistance. He fetched water, handed over the dishcloth, and did everything his small hands could manage. His tiny frame bustled around Wei Ling, brimming with energy and enthusiasm.

Watching this scene unfold, Qin Qingman’s heart felt full. This was exactly the kind of home she had envisioned—a family that worked together, supported each other, and found warmth and sweetness even in the most mundane tasks.

By the time everyone was fed and content, it was already one in the afternoon.

Qin Qingman brought out the cutting board and began preparing to make dumplings.

Making dumplings required finely chopped filling, and who better to help with that than Wei Ling? His strong hands expertly sliced through the frozen, rock-hard meat, reducing it to neat pieces before gradually chopping it into a smooth mince. After that, it was time to prepare the sauerkraut.

The secret to delicious sauerkraut dumplings lay in the perfect balance between the meat and the sauerkraut. Too much meat would overpower the tangy aroma of the sauerkraut, while an excess of sauerkraut would leave the flavor too sour and bland.

Qin Qingman’s culinary skills were impressive, and she had a knack for seasoning dumpling fillings to perfection. She added some mushrooms to enhance the flavor, mixing them thoroughly before finally adding salt and chopped green onions. With the filling prepared, it was time to start making dumplings.

Making dumplings was an activity that strengthened family bonds. All three of them worked together: Wei Ling rolled the dough into skins, while Qin Qingman and Chuchu focused on wrapping the dumplings.

Despite his small size, Chuchu was no novice. Northeastern children often learned to make dumplings as soon as they could walk.

Although his small hands worked a bit slower, the dumplings he wrapped were plump and perfectly shaped like little gold ingots, with not a single one breaking apart.

“Not bad! Our Chuchu is so capable—a great little helper.” Qin Qingman praised after glancing at Chuchu’s neatly wrapped dumplings.

“Big Sister’s dumplings are great too.” Chuchu responded naturally, picking up the art of reciprocating compliments without any guidance.

Qin Qingman burst out laughing, her hands moving faster as she wrapped more dumplings with ease.

Knowing that Wei Ling had a hearty appetite, Qin Qingman had set aside a whole three-pound slab of meat for the filling.

Combined with the sauerkraut, the finished dumplings covered the entire cutting board in neat rows.

“Ah Ling, I’ll make pan-fried dumplings for Colonel Wang. Soup dumplings aren’t practical to transport—they stick together and break easily.” Qin Qingman explained as she worked.

She had already considered this before they started wrapping. In the cold weather, dumplings that weren’t eaten right away would clump together and break apart. Pan-fried dumplings, on the other hand, held their shape after frying.

Once placed outside for five minutes to cool, they stayed intact and were easy to store. Even if frozen, they could be reheated in a mess tin on an office stove without any problem.

“Wife, you really think of everything.” Wei Ling said, deeply impressed by her attention to detail.

If it had been up to him, he admitted silently, he might not have thought this far. Just managing to deliver dumplings would have been good enough in his mind.

Qin Qingman glanced at him with a smile and said, “When we give someone a gift, it should make them happy. If we’re going to do something, we should do it well enough that they’ll remember how thoughtful and special it was.”

“You’re right, Wife. Absolutely right.” Wei Ling said, mimicking Chuchu’s tone to compliment her, earning another bright smile from Qin Qingman.

Qin Qingman and Chuchu immediately burst into laughter, and the corners of Wei Ling’s mouth lifted happily as well.