Chapter 24.2

“Can’t figure it out?” Qin Zhengye observed the cozy yet awkward stalemate between the two on the bed.

Xu Jiaojiao nodded sheepishly.

Qin Zhengye glanced at Qin Jiashu’s small hands propping up the cat’s cradle. He leaned over the bed and reached around Xu Jiaojiao from behind. “Let me show you. Hook your pinkies around these two strings, then use your index fingers and thumbs to grab these two and flip them over this section to spread them apart…”

Qin Zhengye explained clearly, even guiding Xu Jiaojiao’s fingers.

Following his instructions, Xu Jiaojiao successfully transformed the cat’s cradle into a new shape. Thrilled, she grinned at Qin Jiashu.

Thank goodness Qin Zhengye knows how to play this, she thought. It would be embarrassing if two adults were stumped by a four-year-old.

“Now it’s Xiao Shu’s turn!” Xu Jiaojiao playfully thrust the string toward Qin Jiashu, her tone teasing and triumphant.

Qin Jiashu pouted and let out a small huff of dissatisfaction. He scratched his head and looked at the string. “I don’t know how… Mommy’s cheating!”

“Pfft!” Xu Jiaojiao couldn’t suppress her laughter.

“Uncle, help me…” Qin Jiashu turned to Qin Zhengye for assistance.

“Hmm? What did you call me?” Qin Zhengye raised an eyebrow at the boy. Having finished teaching Xu Jiaojiao, he nonchalantly moved to the right side of the bed.

Xu Jiaojiao had deliberately left half the bed empty for him. Qin Zhengye sat down, lifted the blanket, and slipped his feet inside.

“Ouch! What’s so hot?” Qin Zhengye’s foot bumped against the hot water bottle. He jerked it back, nearly leaping out of bed.

Xu Jiaojiao, amused by Qin Zhengye’s rare loss of composure, suppressed a smile and explained, “It’s a hot water bottle. I filled it with hot water to warm my feet.”

Qin Zhengye nodded, sat up, and pushed the bottle toward Xu Jiaojiao. “Just keep it on your side. I don’t need it.”

“Okay,” Xu Jiaojiao readily accepted.

“Dad, teach me now!” Qin Jiashu pleaded, waiting for Qin Zhengye to lean against the headboard.

Qin Zhengye casually picked up the picture book Qin Jiashu had placed beside his pillow, prompting the boy to tug urgently at his arm.

Qin Zhengye glanced at Xu Jiaojiao, raising an eyebrow in silent inquiry: “?”

“!” Xu Jiaojiao maintained her cat’s cradle hand position, her gaze sharp with warning.

Though neither spoke, their eyes had already exchanged a silent understanding.

“Even Dad doesn’t know how. You might as well give up,” Qin Zhengye chuckled, refusing the child.

“…Hmph!” Qin Jiashu turned his back to the man, sticking out his bottom. “You’re lying!”

“Cat’s cradle is for girls. You’re a man—you should be reading,” Qin Zhengye said guiltily, shoving the comic book into Qin Jiashu’s hands.

But you seem to be better at it than I am, Xu Jiaojiao thought, suppressing a smile.

“Hmph!” Qin Jiashu, unable to be appeased, returned the comic book to Qin Zhengye. “Mommy, let’s not be friends with Daddy. He’s bullying me!” he declared to Xu Jiaojiao.

“Okay, we won’t be friends with him,” Xu Jiaojiao agreed readily, tucking away the string.

Qin Zhengye suddenly found himself excluded.

“Lie down, Auntie will tell you a story…”

“Not Auntie—Mommy!” Qin Jiashu corrected, shaking his head vigorously.

Xu Jiaojiao’s smile grew even sweeter. “Alright, lie down nicely, and Mommy will tell you a story.”

“Hmm,” Qin Jiashu grumbled, turning onto his side with obvious displeasure.

Xu Jiaojiao nestled closer, lying on her side with her arm gently around Qin Jiashu’s back. They gazed at each other, sharing a tender, loving smile.

“Today, Mommy will tell you the story of the flying chest…”

Qin Zhengye leaned against the headboard, glancing at the pair lying down. He tossed the comic book aside. “I’ll blow out the candle.”

“Okay,” Xu Jiaojiao replied.

Qin Zhengye blew out the candle and lay down.

“Mom, keep going…” Qin Jiashu’s voice was full of anticipation.

Xu Jiaojiao’s gentle voice filled the darkness, telling a fairy tale Qin Zhengye had never heard before.

Qin Jiashu was at an age where he needed plenty of sleep, and Xu Jiaojiao could soon hear the soft, even breathing of the sleeping child.

Normally, Xu Jiaojiao would have closed her eyes and drifted off too. But tonight, with a man in the bed, she felt awkward and tried to restrain her movements as she shifted.

The thought of going to the county town with him to register their marriage after they woke up only added to her tangled thoughts.

Qin Zhengye was also wide awake, staring into the darkness with one hand propped behind his head.

“In a year, you can apply to join me at the military base,” he thought, then said aloud with conviction.

After his reassignment, even as the acting regimental commander, he could have applied for family accompaniment.

But having just arrived at the East China Military Region, he needed to prove himself to his troops. As the acting commander, he had to demonstrate his capabilities to earn their respect.

This meant he would be extremely busy, dedicating long hours to work. If they joined him now, he feared he wouldn’t be able to care for them properly. He wanted to first assess the conditions at the garrison before making any decisions.

“Follow the army?” Xu Jiaojiao murmured softly.

To be honest, she had never imagined she would one day become a military wife.

“Are you willing to follow the army?” Qin Zhengye asked, suddenly worried.

Being a military spouse was incredibly difficult. The bases were often in remote areas with harsh conditions, and many spouses couldn’t endure it.

In the darkness, Xu Jiaojiao’s voice drifted softly: “I am.”

Qin Zhengye breathed a sigh of relief.

“But Qin Zhengye, don’t you really want children of your own?”

After all, he and Qin Jiashu were uncle and nephew.

“My mother passed away early. My elder sister and I lived with our grandfather, and she practically raised me.”

Xu Jiaojiao waited quietly for Qin Zhengye to speak.

His voice was firm: “My sister protected me when I was young. Now that she’s gone, it’s my responsibility to raise her child.”

“I know you’re doing this for Xiao Shu, but someone else could care for him just as well. It wouldn’t stop you from having your own children,” Xu Jiaojiao said, turning from her side to lie flat on her back.

In the novel, the reborn heroine had taken excellent care of Qin Jiashu. By the grand finale decades later, he had reportedly become the wealthiest man in Southern Province.

“How many women, after giving birth to their own children, would still treat a nephew with no blood relation so well?”

Having suffered under a stepmother’s care, he knew that most women only truly cared for their own children. It was hard to say how they’d treat someone else’s child.

Even he couldn’t guarantee that once he had his own children, he would still treat Xiao Shu as his own.

“Even if there were such a woman, she couldn’t possibly treat him better than you do.”

In the darkness, Xu Jiaojiao admitted to herself that she was convinced.

It was true that a woman’s mindset changed after having her own children, but that wouldn’t apply to her. She couldn’t have children.

Since she had already been honest with Qin Zhengye, and he still wanted to marry her, perhaps she should be selfish for once and give herself the chance to be a mother.

With that decision made, Xu Jiaojiao’s thoughts drifted away. She turned over and hugged Qin Jiashu tightly, nestling her head comfortably against him as she drifted off to sleep.

Qin Zhengye waited until Xu Jiaojiao was asleep before closing his eyes to rest.

—

The next morning, Xu Jiaojiao was awakened by the sound of wood being chopped in the courtyard. When she groggily opened her eyes, she found herself alone in bed.

As a soldier, Qin Zhengye’s daily routine was deeply ingrained. He had already been awake before dawn.

“Where did all this firewood come from?” Xu Jiaojiao asked, stepping out of the room and gazing in surprise at the yard piled high with wood.

“I bought it.”

Qin Zhengye only had a few days of leave. He needed to go to the county town to register their marriage, accompany Xu Jiaojiao to her parents’ home the next day, and visit the graves of his grandfather, parents, and elder sister the day after. With only half a day left, he wouldn’t have time to gather much firewood himself.

His upcoming transfer to the East China Military Region would keep him busy, and he likely wouldn’t get another leave for at least six months.

Yesterday, when he went to the woodshed for a hoe and sickle, he noticed the dwindling firewood supply. In rural areas, daily life revolved around cooking with wood-fired stoves, so they needed a good stockpile.

Xu Jiaojiao seemed delicate, and expecting her to gather firewood was unrealistic. If he didn’t help stock up, the two of them might go hungry in a few days.

“Oh,” Xu Jiaojiao replied, not pressing for details about where the firewood came from.

Qin Zhengye was from Qinjia Village. Even after serving in the military for over a decade, a little firewood wouldn’t stump him.

Qin Jiashu was already awake. The little boy, bundled in a green military overcoat, squatted beside Qin Zhengye, playing with a bowl and a small wooden stick.

“Mommy!” Qin Jiashu called out happily.

“Mm, you play. Mommy needs to wash her face and brush her teeth,” Xu Jiaojiao replied sleepily.

“No, no!” Qin Jiashu shook his head, his bowl clattering as he ran toward her.

Xu Jiaojiao stopped and waited for the child.

“Mommy, look!” Qin Jiashu held the bowl high for her to see.

Xu Jiaojiao glanced down at the bowl, completely unprepared. With a gasp, she recoiled in horror, her scalp tingling.

Just moments ago, she had been half-asleep. Now, she was nearly paralyzed by the wriggling firewood worms in the bowl.

Help! Help! Help! This is a major crisis!

Why did they have to hit me with this shock while I’m still half-asleep? It’s terrifying!

“Mommy, these worms taste so good when they’re roasted! They’re so fragrant!” Qin Jiashu said with dreamy enthusiasm after showing off his treasure.

Clearly, he had eaten them before and couldn’t forget the taste.

“…” Xu Jiaojiao’s legs still felt weak.

“Mommy, Xiao Shu will share half with you later,” Qin Jiashu said reluctantly, counting the worms with his small fingers.

Glug!

Xu Jiaojiao swallowed hard, held her breath, and raised a hand. “Baby, can you take a few steps back first?”

“Hmm?” Qin Jiashu looked confused but backed away with the bowl.

Xu Jiaojiao closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then calmly opened them. “Mommy doesn’t eat worms, Xiao Shu. Why don’t you enjoy them all by yourself?”

From the original owner’s memories, Xu Jiaojiao knew that these plump, white firewood worms were indeed edible, and supposedly tasted especially delicious when roasted.

But neither the original owner nor Xu Jiaojiao herself could bring themselves to eat the little creatures. Just looking at them gave her nightmares.

“Mom, aren’t you going to eat?” Qin Jiashu asked, puzzled.

“No,” Xu Jiaojiao replied firmly.

If it hadn’t been Xiao Shu holding the bowl earlier, but Qin Zhengye or someone else, she would have knocked their head sideways on the spot. It was too much of an adrenaline rush.

“Xiao Shu, come help me catch worms!” Qin Zhengye called from where he was splitting firewood.

“Okay, I’m coming!” Qin Jiashu turned and excitedly ran over, bowl in hand.

Xu Jiaojiao remained rooted to the spot, watching the child squat down and pick up the firewood worms with his bare hands, dropping them into the bowl.

Even though they were four or five meters apart, goosebumps erupted all over Xu Jiaojiao’s skin.

She even avoided looking in Qin Zhengye’s direction while brushing her teeth and washing her face.

Qin Zhengye had woken up early to buy a large pile of firewood and had already cooked porridge.

Xu Jiaojiao glanced at the empty bowls on the stove, realizing they must have already eaten. She ladled herself a small bowl of plain porridge and sat down at the dining table.

“Dad’s roasting the worms!” Qin Jiashu exclaimed, having added several more worms to his bowl. Staring at the plump, white creatures, the child’s mouth watered. He tugged at Qin Zhengye’s shirt hem, pleading.