Chapter 48 Forced to eavesdrop?

With their own team leader present, a few young soldiers hastily went through the motions, saluted the three people inside the room, and quickly turned to leave.

Fu Wencheng stood tall in a sharp military uniform, broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted. Standing in Old Master Cui’s office, he made the room feel a bit cramped.

“Thank you, Old Master Cui, for your help. Once I return, I’ll report the situation to the higher-ups.”

“This credit—I can’t take it. The one who went into the bandits’ den alone was Leyao. She deserves the most praise.”

“Leyao’s contributions were indeed great, but they wouldn’t have been possible without your support. I’ll head back and submit a report. Just wait for the good news.”

“Alright then… I’ll just step out for a bit. You two go ahead and talk.”

With that, he got up and trotted out of his own office. Once outside, he even gave himself a thumbs-up—smart old man, he thought. He could tell these two had something going on, so it was best to leave the young ones some alone time.

Inside the now-quiet office, Ming Leyao sat upright on the sofa, lost in thought. Fu Wencheng sighed helplessly and walked over to stand in front of her.

“Leyao, I’m about to return to my unit. Aren’t you going to say anything to me?”

“Huh? Say what?”

“……” This little heartless brat.

“So where am I in your evaluation now? Can you give me an answer?”

“Uhm… not yet.”

Ming Leyao shook her head, her twin braids bouncing on her shoulders, paired with those clear, innocent eyes—so cute it’s illegal.

Though he didn’t get an answer, Fu Wencheng’s heart had already melted. He said indulgently, “Alright, alright. Not yet, then. Take care of yourself. Write to me if anything happens. I’ll send you letters once I’m back in the unit.”

“Okay.”

“Then… I’m leaving?”

“Travel safely.”

Ming Leyao blinked sincerely, as if to say I mean it.

“You… such a little rascal.”

In the end, Fu Wencheng couldn’t resist reaching out to gently ruffle her soft hair before reluctantly leaving Old Master Cui’s office.

With matters wrapped up here, it was almost time for Ming Leyao’s appointment with the team leader. She didn’t linger in the city. With Old Master Cui’s care package in hand, she returned to Shangjia Bridge brigade.

When she entered the house and saw that Gouzi wasn’t home, she immediately figured that Ming Xiaojiang had taken him. She stored away all the things the old man had packed for her, leaving out only a piece of cloth and a can of malted milk, which she placed in her basket and casually headed for the cowshed.

It was the end of the workday. Ming’s Fourth Uncle’s family was sitting around a short table, eating cornmeal porridge with coarse flatbread, a few scallions, and a bowl of boiled greens. For Shangjia Bridge, this was already considered a decent meal—there was both liquid and solids, even if the greens were bright but completely devoid of oil.

“Fourth Uncle, Fourth Aunt, I’m back!”

“That sounds like Leyao’s voice.”

“My Leyao-jie is back?”

The first to react wasn’t anyone in the house, but the dog, Gouzi. Upon hearing the sound, he bolted out the door, running full speed and crashing into Ming Leyao’s calf before tumbling over. Still lying on his back, Gouzi exposed his belly right in front of her.

“You never know how to brake, do you? Keep crashing like this, and you might knock yourself silly one day.”

She laughed and scratched his belly, then patted his head to get him up.

“Leyao’s back? Have you eaten? We just finished cooking. Come eat something at home.”

“No thanks, Fourth Aunt. I came to bring you something.”

“You silly child. You’re living on your own, life’s already hard enough, and you’re still thinking of us.”

“Fourth Aunt, it’s just me. As long as I’m full, that’s all that matters. Life’s actually better now than back at the Ming family’s old house.”

“I think even eating bark is better than living in that old house.”

Ming Xiaojiang pouted and shoved a piece of bread into Ming Leyao’s hand.

“Jie, eat.”

“Jie, here’s some porridge. Come, have a bit.”

Ming Xiaoxue came out with a bowl of porridge and pulled Ming Leyao to sit.

“Alright, alright, in a minute. Let me put the things away first.”

“Jie, what did you buy?”

“This isn’t something I bought; someone gave it to me. The color looks nice—I thought I’d have new clothes made for Fourth Uncle and Aunt.”

“We’re already half-buried in the ground—what do we need new clothes for? This cloth looks big enough; maybe it’s better to make something for you girls.”

“I’ve already set cloth aside for Xiaojiang and Xiaoxue. They’re at the age to wear bright colors. Auntie, don’t decline.”

“Well…” Fourth Aunt turned to her husband for help. Fourth Uncle smiled and said, “It’s the child’s kind gesture. Just accept it. We’re family, no need for formalities. Once the clothes are made, we’ll wear them when Leyao gets married—to show our support.”

“That’s true. Then I’ll accept them. Thank you, Leyao. When I have some leftover fabric, I’ll make a piece of clothing for a child. Soon, Ming Yuehe will be three months pregnant. According to tradition, she has to return to her mother’s house for a meal. It wouldn’t be good for you to go empty-handed.”

“What’s Ming Yuehe’s pregnancy got to do with me? Why should I give her a gift? She’s got some nerve. Auntie, leave me out of it. Even if I go empty-handed, no one’s going to say anything. Let’s say these clothes are your gift—it’ll save me from having to buy anything.”

“Alright then, we’ll do it your way.”

Truth be told, they didn’t want to give a gift either, but gossip can be cruel, and with two daughters still unmarried, being labeled unfilial could ruin their future prospects. As much as Fourth Aunt loathed the old house, reality forced her to compromise.

After dinner at Fourth Uncle’s house, Ming Leyao returned home with Gouzi, gave the house a thorough cleaning, and slept soundly until she naturally woke up.

At dawn, with nothing else to do, she decided to take Gouzi into the mountains for a walk and gather some firewood to dry for winter fuel.

The ground was covered in fallen leaves, and greenery was fading. She gathered a good bundle of branches, stored them in her space, and sent Gouzi off to hunt. They could raise the catch in the space and enjoy some hot chicken stew come winter.

Together, they caught over ten wild chickens and five rabbits, all tossed into her space. Ming Leyao called Gouzi to head back.

Suddenly, a soft voice stopped her in her tracks.

“Comrade Fang… Fang Zhiqing, I… I made this coat myself. I want to give it to you…”

“Comrade Ming Hongdou, please take your coat back. I’ll pretend I didn’t see this today.”

“Fang… Fang Zhiqing, I… I really do like you, and… and the city return quotas for this year are already set. I asked around—you’re not on the list… Maybe… maybe you’ll never be able to go back to the city. Do you really want to stay single forever?”

Eavesdropping, Ming Leyao rolled her eyes. Ming Hongdou really wasted that brain of hers. She just had to hit someone where it hurts. With that personality… who could possibly like her?

“Whether I return to the city or stay single has nothing to do with you, Comrade Ming Hongdou. I have no interest in you. Please conduct yourself with dignity.”