Chapter 26

“Weren’t you asleep?” Huo Xiao asked gently.

Lin Ting pouted. “I was almost asleep!” But now, she was wide awake. She stared at him in suspicion, wondering if she had misheard.

Knowing his wife wouldn’t sleep well without an answer, Huo Xiao pulled the quilt over her and reassured her, “Guoguo and Miaomiao are the orphans of my comrades.”

It was true?!

Maybe because she was too tired or the news was too shocking, Lin Ting felt dizzy.

Although she had noticed the twins didn’t resemble Huo Xiao and had assumed they took after their mother, she never imagined they were actually adopted!

“So, were you married before?” she asked.

Huo Xiao shook his head. “No, you’re the only one on record. But since children don’t appear out of thin air, I told the villagers their mother had passed away.” He had downplayed the topic to prevent unnecessary trouble, but over time, rumors spread that his ex-wife had run away.

Lin Ting, still sleepy but clear-headed, asked, “Do they have any remaining family?”

Huo Xiao paused before replying, “Only their grandfather, but… his situation is not good, so he can’t take care of them.”

Lin Ting widened her eyes. “You mean…”

Huo Xiao nodded, unsurprised by her sharpness. He didn’t want to hide anything. “No one knows what the future holds, but for now, it’s best not to reveal too much about their origins.”

Lin Ting agreed. At this time, being labeled as one of the “five black categories” ^[1]refers to social classes persecuted during China’s Cultural Revolution, including landlords, rich peasants, counterrevolutionaries, bad elements, and rightists. was dangerous. Thinking about it, she asked, “Are their parents really dead?”

Seeing no disgust in her expression, Huo Xiao finally relaxed. “Yes. The twins are the only ones left.”

He didn’t mention the tragic details, fearing it would frighten her.

“Since you were close to their father, wouldn’t people find out?” she questioned.

“Not many knew of our friendship. Also, I have people backing me. Brigade Commander Wei and the commander in Rongcheng will erase all traces.”

It seemed the twins’ grandfather was more important than she had thought.

For a moment, Lin Ting wanted to ask about their family’s specific identity but decided against it. Too many uncertainties lay ahead. Right now, survival was key.

She reached out and gently rubbed Huo Xiao’s furrowed brow. “Don’t be sad. The dead are gone. We should focus on raising the children.”

Huo Xiao was touched by her acceptance, much more than he had expected. Warmth filled his heart as he held her hand and kissed it.

Blushing, Lin Ting tried to pull her hand away. “I want to sleep.”

Knowing she was exhausted, Huo Xiao settled her in bed. As he tucked her in, he mentioned that he hadn’t explained to Political Commissar Xing ^[2]a political officer responsible for ideological work in the military. that the twins weren’t his biological children.

Lin Ting thought for a moment and agreed. “That’s best for everyone. I’ll talk to Mom tomorrow.”

Huo Xiao kissed her cheek softly. “Go to sleep. We’ll talk more later.”

That night, he had kissed her forehead, fingers, and now her cheek. Though she was glad he had never been with anyone before, she wasn’t used to this level of intimacy yet. Embarrassed, she quickly hid under the covers.

_

The next morning, Lin Ting was awakened by the wake-up call. Before she could open her eyes, she heard Huo Xiao’s hoarse voice: “Go back to sleep. I’ll bring breakfast after training.”

Half-asleep, she quickly dozed off again, unaware of when he left or returned. By the time she woke up, it was already past ten.

After more than ten hours of sleep, she felt refreshed but very hungry. She tidied herself up, folded the quilt, and left the bedroom.

Her mother-in-law and the children were nowhere to be seen, but the once cluttered room was now tidier, with half the luggage cleared away.

Stepping outside, she found her mother-in-law washing clothes by the well, alongside Tang Wenlan and another unfamiliar woman picking vegetable leaves. The twins were drawing on the ground with branches.

Seeing their mother, they immediately rushed toward her.

Guoguo cheered, “Mom, you’re awake!”

Miaomiao raised her arms. “Mom, hold me!”

Lin Ting kissed Guoguo first, then picked up Miaomiao. She exchanged a few words with Tang Wenlan before turning to the unfamiliar woman. “Who is this?”

The woman, around Tang Wenlan’s age, had delicate features. She smiled shyly. “Hello, sister-in-law. My name is Ding Feiyan. My husband is Fang Shuisheng, the deputy chief of staff under Captain Huo.”

She then pointed to the east building. “I live in the third room on the second floor.”

Lin Ting was so exhausted when she arrived yesterday that she didn’t even notice the buildings in the family quarters. Now, feeling more rested, she took a moment to look around.

Seeing this, Tang Wenlan thought Lin Ting wanted to live in the buildings and advised, “Captain Huo arrived late, so the buildings are full. I think the bungalows are better. Climbing stairs is tiring, and the shared kitchen can be inconvenient.”

Of course, this wasn’t her true opinion. Who wouldn’t prefer a cleaner, more luxurious building? But with limited housing, her husband, Mr. Xing, gave up their chance when they drew lots. It earned him a good reputation and praise from superiors, but no actual benefits. Tang Wenlan had secretly pinched him countless times in frustration, though she remained composed in public.

Lin Ting didn’t care about the buildings, especially knowing that everyone had to cook together. In times of scarcity, she and her mother-in-law were willing to spend on food, which often invited criticism. It was better to keep things private.

Smiling, she said sincerely, “Bungalows are nice. I like them.”

Tang Wenlan was surprised by her calmness. At such a young age, Lin Ting was already so composed—no wonder she could manage a man as powerful as Huo Xiao and even win over her mother-in-law. There was much to learn from her.

Lin Ting, unaware of Tang Wenlan’s thoughts, turned to her mother-in-law. “Mom, when did you get up? Didn’t we agree to clean together?”

Hu Xiu smiled. “I sleep less as I get older, and I can’t stay idle. How did you sleep?”

“I feel refreshed, but I’m a little hungry.”

“Then eat quickly. I warmed your breakfast in the pot. Come, let me hold Miaomiao.” She wiped her hands on her apron and reached for the child.

Miaomiao hesitated, hugging her mother’s neck and burying her face shyly. Seeing this and knowing the little girl’s past, Lin Ting’s heart softened. She gently patted her back and said, “She’s just adjusting to the new environment. Let me hold her for now.”

Hu Xiu, also feeling for the child, nodded. “Alright, she’ll get used to it in a few days.”

In March, the Xiangyang Brigade was still covered in snow, but in Tianjin, the spring breeze had already turned everything green. The temperature was around 15°C, so Lin Ting didn’t even need a cotton jacket. She greeted Sister Wenlan and Ding Feiyan before starting her morning routine, holding her daughter in one hand.

Miaomiao, a sensible child, soon asked to be put down. She clung to Lin Ting’s legs, following her everywhere.

Tang Wenlan sighed in envy. “My daughter is still clingy, but my son won’t stay still now that he’s three.”

Ding Feiyan, quiet as usual, just smiled. She thought Tang Wenlan’s words were meant to show her ideological awareness. After all, in this era, boys were generally preferred.

Hu Xiu, wringing out small clothes and tossing them into a bamboo basket, said, “If you like kids so much, have another one. You’re still young.”

A great man once said, “There is strength in numbers,” so most families had four or five children.

Tang Wenlan didn’t mind having more children but feared another mischievous boy.

Hu Xiu smiled. “It’s all fate. My Xiao was naughty too, but he grew up well.”

Tang Wenlan found it hard to imagine the cold-faced Captain Huo as a mischievous child.

_

At noon, Huo Xiao couldn’t come home, so his assistant, He Xiaojun, delivered food from the cafeteria. The communal meals weren’t particularly flavorful, but the braised pork was decent.

“Captain Huo paid extra for the kitchen to prepare this,” He Xiaojun explained.

Southern dishes were sweeter, and Lin Ting worried her northern-born mother-in-law and the children wouldn’t like them. To her surprise, all three ate heartily.

After the meal, while packing the rest of their luggage, Hu Xiu suggested, “Tomorrow morning, let’s go to the military supply store to buy seasonings. Cooking at home is more cost-effective.”

Lin Ting agreed. She preferred her mother-in-law’s northern dishes like pickled cabbage and bone stew. “Remind me to get up early.”