Chapter 8

Yin Xiaoman did not know if she could save that man by relying on her own abilities.

But she knew that if Shen Qingyun was gone, she and the children would lose their greatest support.

Therefore, she had to try.

The main reason the original owner was unwilling to go with the army was the fear of an unfamiliar environment.

But ironically—

Yin Xiaoman had once lived by the seaside with Grandma until she was seven.

That stretch of blue was a place she longed for with all her heart.

In Shuanggui Village, Yin Xiaoman understood that she had no advantages.

Now, continuing her education was no longer possible. Neither she nor the original owner had any experience working in the fields, nor could they earn any work points.

The few dozen yuan she had would not last for long.

In the end, the most likely outcome was that she would repeat the original owner’s mistakes.

Rather than this, why not change her environment?

The worst result would be that even if she rushed there, she wouldn’t be able to save Shen Qingyun’s life.

But even so, as long as she was by the sea, Yin Xiaoman had the confidence that with her own hands, she could feed the three of them.

It was much better than staying here and waiting to die.

Gao Chong had not expected things to go so smoothly.

He knew that before the captain made that suggestion, he had already prepared himself for rejection.

After all, the location of their military unit was too remote and carried certain dangers.

Except for those who couldn’t make ends meet, there were hardly any people willing to go.

Even the regiment had no other choice and allowed the soldiers to find wives and start families in their station.

In this situation, the reason the captain still wanted to give it a try was clear to everyone—he was simply afraid that the children at home would suffer.

At this thought, Gao Chong couldn’t help but glance at Yin Xiaoman once again, as well as at the two children who huddled close to her, clearly very attached to her.

His gaze was indescribably complex.

As a scout, since he had come, he naturally gathered information about the family’s situation in advance.

So, before visiting, he had made sure to understand everything that had happened recently.

After learning that the three of them had endured so much hardship, Gao Chong had originally expected to meet a woman who had been persecuted, miserable, and full of resentment.

But what he had never expected was that when he knocked on the door, the scene that greeted him was one of a loving mother and obedient children.

“Sister-in-law, I’ll send a telegram to the captain as soon as I get back. If he knows you’re willing to go, he’ll be so happy!”

Gao Chong said with great emotion.

Then, as if afraid Yin Xiaoman might change her mind, he quickly added, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry. Our military unit might be in a remote location, but we have plenty to eat!

Not only do we get enough to eat, but we almost have meat every day—fish, too!”

Yin Xiaoman: “…”

If she hadn’t lived by the sea for many years, she might have believed him.

Living on salted fish mixed with coarse grains every day wasn’t something worth envying.

However, she naturally wouldn’t expose that fact. She simply pressed her lips together and gave a faint smile.

“Then we’ll wait for your news at home.”

“Okay, okay, Sister-in-law. As soon as I get the word, I’ll come right over and tell you.”

Gao Chong nodded repeatedly, excited.

It wasn’t until he was about to leave that he suddenly knocked his head. “Ah! Sister-in-law, I got so happy I almost forgot what I was supposed to do. This is the money the captain asked me to bring you…”

He said as he took an envelope from his military pants pocket and handed it to Yin Xiaoman.

But Yin Xiaoman didn’t take it.

She shook her hand toward Gao Chong. “Sending a telegram costs money too. You can’t pay for this. And also, Comrade Gao, I want to ask you to help me with something.”

“How much can a telegram cost? Here’s thirty… Sister-in-law, what is it you want to do?”

Seeing that she didn’t want the money, Gao Chong originally wanted to persuade her again, but her next words immediately caught his attention.

“I want to ask you to help us buy train tickets. I’m not sure how to do it.”

Yin Xiaoman slowly said, while recalling what the original owner had seen and heard when she studied in the county.

She knew that the distance from here to where Shen Qingyun was stationed was far, and it was said that the train ride alone took two days and two nights.

But she didn’t know exactly what that “train” was like. The original owner had never ridden it.

So, if someone could help her buy the tickets, it would save her the trouble.

Upon hearing this, Gao Chong immediately showed an expression of understanding.

It was his oversight.

Although this little sister-in-law appeared graceful and as if she came from a big family, she was still young.

It would be difficult for her to manage this matter without help.

After thinking of this, he no longer hesitated and nodded. “Alright. I’ll contact the captain, and as soon as the procedures are done on his end, I’ll immediately buy the tickets for you. But this money…”

He intended to say that the money wouldn’t even be used up, but once again, he was interrupted by Yin Xiaoman.

Her tone was calm, yet firm and unyielding: “Any excess will be refunded.”

Even if someone were asked to deliver something from the palace, they would still get a runner’s fee. How could one make use of others without paying?

Gao Chong was momentarily stunned by Yin Xiaoman’s slightly familiar tone.

It felt like dealing with his own captain.

For a moment, he didn’t dare to refuse again.

When he finally realized who he was talking to, he couldn’t help but smile, a bit amazed. No wonder the saying “like mother, like son”—Sister-in-law really did resemble the captain!

How old was Sister-in-law? She looked much younger than himself.

But her words made it clear she had seen the world.

In this day and age, not just in the village, but even in the county or city, who didn’t stretch every penny as far as it could go?

Who would willingly give away money?

This was thirty yuan!

He couldn’t help but click his tongue in admiration.

Thinking about it, Gao Chong couldn’t help but feel that the captain had truly hit the jackpot.

He just came back to deliver the children at home, and within barely a week, he managed to marry such a wonderful wife?

She was beautiful, well-educated, spoke and acted with grace and generosity, and, most importantly, she was genuinely kind to the two children.

Just look at how close Dabao and Erniu were to her. If he hadn’t known the truth, he would never have believed they weren’t her biological children!

Her heart must be so kind!

Gao Chong clenched his fist in secret, planning not to send the telegram to the captain when he returned. Instead, he would find a place with a phone and tell him everything he had learned.

Sister-in-law was a good person, but she couldn’t be treated like this.

He would make sure the captain understood the situation, so he would have some awareness.

If possible, he’d leave a good impression on Sister-in-law. After all, if she knew other women who were as good as her, maybe she could introduce them to him…

After Gao Chong left, Yin Xiaoman sat on the bench in the yard, not moving.

The winter sunlight carried a hint of chill. Staying out a little longer would make one feel the cold seep into their bones.

Yet Yin Xiaoman seemed completely unaffected by it.

Her mind was racing, filled with so many things to think about.

The coldness helped her stay clear-headed.

Since she had decided to leave, there were too many things to prepare in advance.

Having worked as a palace steward for many years had already cultivated her habit of being meticulous in everything she did.

Even with something as small as moving, Yin Xiaoman would not allow the situation to develop into a chaotic mess at the last minute.

When Erniu’s sudden shout startled her, Yin Xiaoman quickly ran back from the room in the palace.

She hadn’t had the chance to think much at the time.

Now that she had some time, she couldn’t help but begin to ponder what exactly had happened.

Recalling the previous scene, Yin Xiaoman was certain that the room did not exist in the real world.

She had stayed there for so long and hadn’t heard a single sound.

It was important to note that the room was only a few dozen steps from the Imperial Kitchen, where there was usually a lot of activity.

Furthermore, in that world, she should have already been dead.

There was no reason for her quarters to remain unchanged in the palace, and for the contents to still be there.

But even so, everything in that room was real.

The jar of milk was still in the kitchen, and Daba and Erniu had actually eaten the almond candies.

Yin Xiaoman’s head ached from all the thinking, yet she still couldn’t make sense of it.

She pounded her head, deciding not to think about it anymore.

Instead, she began to focus on how to make use of everything in that room.

Since she couldn’t go back anyway, it was better to use the things for something useful rather than just let them sit there, especially to improve their current living situation.

“Cold, Mama, let’s go back inside.”

While Yin Xiaoman was lost in her thoughts, she suddenly heard Erniu’s small, soft voice beside her.

At the same time, a thin quilt was draped over her shoulder.

Yin Xiaoman lifted her head and looked at the two little ones standing in front of her, a smile involuntarily spreading across her face.

She suddenly realized that in just two days since coming here, she had smiled many times than she had in her previous life.

“Alright, let’s go back inside,” Yin Xiaoman said as she returned the quilt to Dabao and bent down to pick up Erniu, speaking to them in a tone of gentle affection.

Once inside, Dabao quickly took a couple of steps, picked up a rough ceramic bowl from the kang table, and carefully handed it to Yin Xiaoman.

He gazed at her expectantly but said nothing.

The bowl contained half a bowl of water, still steaming.

It seemed this little one must have made it while Yin Xiaoman was lost in thought.

She took the bowl, sipped a little, and was suddenly surprised to find that the water was slightly sweet and carried a faint almond candy flavor.

She froze for a moment in surprise.

Noticing her confusion, Erniu hurriedly explained from the side, “Brother drank half, this half is for Mama, because Mama is tired.”

Yin Xiaoman didn’t know how to respond for a moment.

Seeing that she remained silent, the two children tilted their heads up to look at her.

In their gaze, there was dependence, concern, but at the same time, an unmistakable hint of anxiety and a desire to please.

Entering the palace at seven, and staying for eighteen years.

Having survived in such an environment, Yin Xiaoman had learned the most, not about cooking, but about people’s hearts.

Not to mention, the thoughts of these innocent children were so easy to read.

She didn’t know how Shen Qingyun raised his children.

Wasn’t it said that his wife had passed away not long ago?

Why were these two children so timid and living so cautiously?

The feeling reminded Yin Xiaoman of what it was like when she first entered the palace, always feeling like wolves and tigers surrounded her, fearing that one wrong step could cost her life.

That intense sense of insecurity and fear had caused her to lose her childhood innocence almost instantly. She was consumed with the daily worry of how to survive.

This kind of emotion shouldn’t have been present in these two children.

Even without their mother, they still had their father, who provided for them, and had people specially tasked to care for them.

So why were they so fearful?

Could it be that, before their father returned, the two children had suffered some unbearable mistreatment in the Military Unit?

Thinking this, Yin Xiaoman’s already limited goodwill toward Shen Qingyun diminished even further.