Chapter 36

“Why are you here now?” Lin Ting asked. Normally, since they got off work at the same time, Huo Xiao seldom picked her up at noon.

Huo Xiao glanced at her tired face and regretted worrying too much last night. “I was afraid you weren’t feeling well,” he said. He wanted to carry her back, but since there were students around, he held back.

Lin Ting saw his unsatisfied expression and gave him a helpless look. “No need to carry me.” As she spoke, she noticed Gu Fang had already walked ahead. On a normal day, this would be fine, but today, they had to deliver an apology letter to Liu Wenyan. Lin Ting didn’t want Gu Fang to take all the attention.

She quickened her pace while explaining the morning’s events to her husband. Gu Fang had left early to avoid disturbing the couple, but seeing them catch up, she sighed. “It’s just a letter. Do you really think Liu Wenyan is stupid? She knows exactly how to judge people.”

Lin Ting smiled and took her hand. “We’re on the way anyway.”

Gu Fang felt helpless but also touched. After all, she was the one handling this trouble, and Lin Ting didn’t need to accompany her.

The family compound was once located outside, guarded by a gatekeeper, making it quite safe. However, two years ago, the brigade commander noticed rising tensions and reported it to the division headquarters, leading to a relocation. Within a month, houses were built, and families were moved into the army compound under strict protection.

Normally, brigade-level officers lived in small Western-style houses. But due to tight time and limited materials, everyone moved into the same buildings. However, ranks mattered—Brigade Commander Wei and Political Commissar Liu were assigned the only four-bedroom apartment on the fourth floor. They lived in separate buildings.

This was Lin Ting’s first time visiting Political Commissar Liu’s house, though she had been to Captain Wei’s place before.

When they reached the fourth floor to deliver the apology letter, they saw a well-dressed middle-aged woman scolding a young soldier. “Quick, stand in the corridor! Your sweat is dripping into my room!”

The soldier, only eighteen or nineteen, blushed and awkwardly wiped his sweat. There were boxes of coal at his feet, and his hands were covered in dirt. Lin Ting recalled that the troops had just received a batch of honeycomb coal ^[1]a type of compressed coal used for heating and cooking..

Apparently, the young soldier had struggled to deliver the coal to the fourth floor, only to be treated with disdain.

Understanding the situation, the three remained calm. Huo Xiao took Gu Fang’s poorly written self-criticism letter and told his wife and Gu Fang to head downstairs while he strode over alone.

Lin Ting and Gu Fang, already in a bad mood, didn’t want to linger and waited on the stairs instead. Gu Fang muttered sarcastically, “I didn’t know Sister Wenhui well before, but now I see where Liu Wenyan gets it from. That same look of contempt!”

Lin Ting nodded in agreement.

A few moments later, Huo Xiao returned with the self-criticism letter and the young soldier, whose eyes were still slightly red but now filled with amusement.

The young soldier grinned, saluted Huo Xiao, and called out, “Hello, sisters-in-law!” before hurrying off.

Lin Ting turned to her husband. “What did you do? How did he get so happy?”

Huo Xiao remained expressionless. “Nothing. I personally helped move a basket of coal into the political commissar’s house… and ‘accidentally’ left a lot of footprints inside.”

Lin Ting and Gu Fang exchanged looks and burst into laughter.

Gu Fang lived in another apartment building, so they parted ways. When Lin Ting and Huo Xiao arrived home, little Miaomiao ran toward them. Lin Ting bent down to catch her, but Huo Xiao was faster and picked her up.

Miaomiao blinked at her father, then wriggled in his arms and reached for her mother. “I want Mommy to hold me!”

Huo Xiao gently coaxed her. “Mom is tired today. Can Dad hold you instead?”

Just then, Hu Xiu emerged from the kitchen. She gave Lin Ting a concerned look. “You don’t look well. What’s wrong?”

Lin Ting led her daughter inside and briefly explained the morning’s events. Hu Xiu sighed, lamenting the different kinds of people in the world. She felt sorry for Fang Cuihua and decided to sew some clothes for her child with floral fabric, which would be more decent than wearing urea bags.

It was at this moment that the couple entered the living room and saw Dong Cheng squatting on the ground, playing a card-throwing game with Guoguo, completely at ease.

Huo Xiao frowned. “Why are you here?”

Before Dong Cheng could respond, Hu Xiu playfully slapped her son and said, “What are you talking about? Xiao Dong brought me a lot of fresh seafood, all good stuff. What’s wrong with me inviting him to dinner?”

Then, turning to Dong Cheng, she smiled and said, “Don’t mind Xiao. Xiao Dong, come here every day from now on.”

“Aunt Xiu, you’re the best! Then I won’t be polite.” Dong Cheng grinned. His home was by the sea, and he had an abundance of seafood. Since he had recently been transferred to Huo Xiao’s area, his parents had sent him a package filled with seafood. As soon as he received it, he brought some over and spent time with the children.

Hu Xiu liked lively children and immediately responded, “No need to be polite! You even brought your own food. Besides, you’re connected to Xiao, so you’re always welcome. I’ll go finish the last dish—dinner will be ready soon.”

Hearing this, Dong Cheng proudly lifted his chin toward his good friend with a smug look.

Huo Xiao narrowed his eyes, unsure of what Dong Cheng was planning.

Lin Ting followed her mother-in-law into the kitchen to help, but before she could start, Hu Xiu turned around and said, “Tingting, if you’re tired, take a break. Let Xiao help me with the fire. Stir-frying leeks tastes best on high heat.”

Before Huo Xiao could react, Dong Cheng quickly stood up, picked up the laughing Guoguo, and eagerly followed. “I’ll do it, Auntie! Let me help.”

Lin Ting shook her head in amusement but didn’t go back to rest. Instead, she took Miaomiao from her husband’s arms and sat on the sofa.

The wooden sofa had been modified by Lin Ting and her mother-in-law, with soft cushions made of homespun fabric, making it very comfortable.

Lin Ting settled her daughter and asked what was wrong.

Miaomiao was a smart but quiet child who wasn’t particularly clingy. Since turning four, she rarely asked to be carried, which made Lin Ting worry that she was being bullied.

Miaomiao wasn’t bullied, but after hearing her mother’s question, she looked a bit down. “Mom, I can’t tell left from right.”

Lin Ting was surprised. “You’re still young; there’s no rush.”

Miaomiao pouted. “But… the school already taught it. Many kids can do it—Guoguo can too—but I can’t.”

Lin Ting looked at her husband and asked, “Are they already teaching left and right in middle preschool?”

She hadn’t paid much attention to the preschool curriculum but knew this was usually taught in senior preschool.

Huo Xiao was just as confused. “I think so? Let’s ask the teacher later?”

“No need.” Lin Ting turned back to Miaomiao and asked for details.

She soon realized that Miaomiao wasn’t completely confused about left and right but simply slow to react.

Lin Ting had personal experience with this. She was also slow at learning directions and, even after graduation, was known for having a poor sense of direction.

So, she placed Miaomiao on the floor and said, “Sweetie, clench your left hand into a fist.”

Miaomiao didn’t understand why, but she obediently made a small fist with her left hand.

Lin Ting pointed at the little fist and smiled. “Now, remember: the hand in a fist is your left hand, and the open one is your right. So, if Mommy asks you to turn left, you turn toward the little fist. Now, which way do you turn for right?”

Miaomiao’s eyes lit up as she raised her right hand. “This way!”

“What about left?”

Miaomiao raised her tiny fist. “This way.”

“And right?”

Miaomiao switched to her right hand.

After repeating this several times, Miaomiao’s reaction time improved noticeably.

“Mua! Mommy’s little genius! Let’s try turning left and right now, okay?” Lin Ting was so proud of her daughter that she kissed her cheek and encouraged her.

Miaomiao beamed. “Okay!”

“Alright, turn left!”

Miaomiao hesitated for a second, but then the word “fist” popped into her mind, and she instinctively turned left.

Lin Ting clapped and praised her. “Wow! Our Miaomiao is amazing! Now… turn left… yes, great job… turn right… turn left…”

Miaomiao repeated the exercise more than ten times without a single mistake. With her mother’s constant praise, her cheeks flushed with excitement. Suddenly, she didn’t dislike physical education class anymore.

At the kitchen door, Dong Cheng, who had been watching, felt reassured.

He had worried too much. Given how much care the Huo family put into raising the twins, it was no surprise they treated their own daughter the same way.

Huo Xiao, on the other hand, kept staring at his wife with a soft expression.

Feeling his gaze, Lin Ting became self-conscious. This was the living room, and there were children around. She shot him an annoyed look. “What are you staring at?”

Huo Xiao’s mind replayed the adorable scene of his wife and daughter clenching fists and turning left and right. His eyes sparkled with warmth. “Nothing, just thinking your method is really effective. You’re quite skilled.”

Lin Ting: …