“Ah… ah…” A miserable cry came from inside the house.

Ning Shu said, “…”

Even though she knew that the tailbone could be very painful when sitting down heavily, hearing Er Bao’s cry made her feel a little amused.

Lin Guodong said, “I didn’t use much force. Why are you shouting?”

Er Bao, looking very wronged, said, “It hurts when you touch it, wuwuwu…”

Yi Bao and San Bao looked at him crying and felt very sorry for him.

Yi Bao even unconsciously said, “Dad, be gentler.”

San Bao also blamed his dad, “Brother is in pain, be gentle.”

“Got it.” Lin Guodong tried hard to resist the urge to press harder.

After applying the ointment to Er Bao’s tailbone, the family went to have dinner.

“Wow, today’s dishes…” Er Bao saw a lot of meat on the table, and saliva started dripping from his mouth.

Ning Shu said, “We’re lucky today. We just got some meat, but it’s all ribs and trotters, not expensive. I bought some chicken feet to try as well.”

Hearing his mother say “try,” Er Bao really tried them.

The aroma of lemon chicken feet immediately filled his mouth, and Er Bao’s eyes widened. “Mom, this is delicious.”

Hearing Yi Bao say it was delicious, Er Bao also picked one up, trying it with a curious face, and letting his older brother have some first.

Seeing the two boys enjoying the chicken feet, San Bao wanted to get one with his small spoon, but he was intercepted by his mother midway.

“You eat this.” Ning Shu picked up a piece of rib, rinsed it in cold water, and then put it in his bowl.

San Bao simply used his little hands to nibble on it, his lips turning red, smooth as if he had applied lip balm.

“Are chicken feet and chicken meat sold separately?” Lin Guodong was somewhat surprised. “Don’t they usually sell chicken feet with the chicken meat?”

Hearing him say this, Ning Shu suddenly realized.

Right, she had forgotten about this. In this era, chicken feet and chicken meat were not usually sold separately. “I don’t know, it’s my first time seeing it too.” She couldn’t let this happen again.

Lin Guodong was only mildly surprised and didn’t think much of it.

The family happily ate lunch, with rib and chicken feet bones piled on the table.

Ning Shu looked a bit regretful and said, “It’s a pity we don’t have a dog now. Otherwise, if we had a dog, we could give these bones to it.”

Hearing Ning Shu’s words, Lin Guodong couldn’t help but think, “There are retired military dogs in the camp. Why don’t we raise one?”

Military dogs? Ning Shu’s eyes lit up, then she pretended to be surprised, “Are military dogs soldiers’ dogs?”

“Yes, they are dogs from the military dog unit. They are very powerful and have contributed to our country. If they are injured and can no longer be on the battlefield, they retire and live in the unit.” Lin Guodong explained, “Many military regions in our country had military dog units in the early 1960s. It was only last year that the military dog institutions began to be disbanded, including in our camp. Since the military dog institutions were disbanded, no more military dogs can be trained or bred in the camp. The military dogs in the camp now are all leftovers from before.”

Military dogs

Raising a retired military dog was something Ning Shu had never dared to imagine before, but at the same time, she couldn’t resist the temptation.

If it were any other dog, she might still be afraid, but military dogs were different, highly intelligent dogs.

“When should we go adopt one? If we adopt one, won’t others talk?”

“They won’t talk.” Lin Guodong said, “Get ready, I’ll take you to see.”

“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get ready!” Ning Shu was eager.

The three boys heard their parents’ conversation.

San Bao didn’t understand, but Yi Bao and Er Bao did. Yi Bao was even excited and asked, “Mom, are we going to have a dog at home?”

Unable to resist the temptation of having a military dog, Ning Shu’s children couldn’t resist the temptation of having a dog either.

Ning Shu said, “Ah, let’s go take a look. If it’s suitable, we’ll adopt it. But these dogs are different. They are military dogs, they have been on the battlefield with soldiers, they have fought against enemies, they are heroes. So if one comes to our home, you must respect it, treat it like family, understand?”

Yi Bao nodded vigorously, his little face full of joy. “Mom, don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. I’ll even share my food with it.”

Er Bao also chimed in, “Yeah, I’ll eat with it, play with it, give it my snacks, bathe it, and dress it.”

Ning Shu thought to herself, it’s not necessary to go that far.

The temptation of having a dog was too strong.

The family quickly packed up together.

Lin Guodong fetched ash from behind the stove and washed dishes with Ning Shu in the kitchen.

The three boys stood at the door, waiting for their parents to finish washing dishes so they could go see the dog.

Yi Bao and Er Bao wanted to help wash dishes, but the kitchen was too small, and there was only one basin for washing.

Just then, the Zhang family arrived. “Is Captain Lin here?”

The three boys standing at the kitchen door turned around and saw Zhang Qian. They looked away without saying a word. Yi Bao still shouted into the kitchen, “Dad, someone’s looking for you.”

Lin Guodong naturally heard Zhan Xian’s voice too.

He said to Ning Shu, “I’ll go out and take a look, also talk to Zhan Xian about the moving.”

Ning Shu just made a sound of agreement.

Lin Guodong washed his hands and went out, seeing Zhan Xian, Ning Qin, and Zhan Qian all there.

Seeing Lin Guodong come out, Zhan Xian spoke first, “Captain Lin, unexpectedly, my wife told me about the children fighting at noon, and the children admitted she struck first. I brought her here to apologize to the children. Is the injured child alright?”

Lin Guodong said, “It’s okay, children quarreling is just a normal thing. Er Bao only slighty injured his back not to be worried, the hospital prescribed some ointment, he’ll need some rest for a while. But, I have something to discuss privately with you. Can we talk now?”

Zhan Xian felt relieved hearing Er Bao was okay.

He understood the situation, well, how should he put it? It wasn’t wrong for his daughter to invite the other child home for dinner, and the other child’s resentment towards his daughter because of his own wife and Ning Qin wasn’t wrong either.

But the child said some foul words, and his daughter pushed him slightly, in his view, it wasn’t wrong either.

But overall, the child got hurt. Despite bringing his daughter to apologize, and they would cover the medical expenses, he wouldn’t avoid compensating for it.

“Okay, I’m available now,” Zhan Xian said, then he told Ning Qin, “You and Xiao Qian go back first. Captain Lin and I have something to discuss.”

Ning Qin nodded and took Zhan Qian back home.

Lin Guodong said, “Shall we talk in the dining room?”

Zhan Xian replied with a nod.

Both of them were straightforward individuals, entering the dining room.

After they both sat down, Lin Guodong went straight to the point, “The relationship between Ning Shu and Ning Qin also directly affects our children. It seems that San Bao and your daughter won’t get along well in the future. Similarly, there’s absolutely no possibility of Ning Shu and Ning Qin reconciling. In my opinion, continuing to live like this, the relationship between Ning Shu and Ning Qin might worsen, and there might be other incidents involving the children, like today’s, which might be considered light. What do you think?”

Zhan Xian hoped for reconciliation between Ning Qin and Ning Shu, but Captain Lin firmly believed in what Ning Shu said yesterday.

Indeed, Ning Qin’s words also had loopholes. Before receiving a letter from their hometown, he couldn’t judge the truth of the matter.

However, there were only two possible outcomes of the truth. If it was as Ning Shu said, then… what could he do? Ning Qin was now his wife, the mother of his children.

He couldn’t divorce her. Besides, since they got married, she had been exemplary in every aspect and hadn’t done anything to betray him.

The past was in the past; he couldn’t hold it against Ning Qin because of what happened before.

But if the truth was as Ning Qin said, then it would be very embarrassing for both families.

His rationality told him that what Ning Shu said was correct, but without seeing the outcome, he wasn’t convinced.

“Captain Lin, what’s your opinion?” asked Zhan Xian.

Lin Guodong stated his purpose, “Our two families aren’t suitable to be neighbors. If we’re not neighbors anymore, even if Ning Shu and Ning Qin’s relationship remains poor, it won’t affect us anymore.

The relationship between our children won’t deteriorate further, and we can still be comrades. “

Although he had no issues with Zhan Xian because of Ning Qin’s relationship, in the long run, their relationship would definitely become distant.

Zhan Xian understood Lin Guodong’s intention.

If they weren’t neighbors anymore, one of the families would have to move out.

Lin Guodong’s position was higher than his, so naturally, Lin Guodong wouldn’t yield to him, meaning Zhan Xian would have to move out.

But he was also a man, and moving out would be a blow to his pride.

Zhan Xian originally wanted to refuse, but suddenly, he thought of a solution, “No problem, I’ll discuss this matter with Ning Qin. Also, here’s some money for Er Bao’s medical expenses and nutrition.” He took out ten yuan and handed it to Lin Guodong.

Lin Guodong pushed it back, “It’s not a big problem, no need for this, especially since Er Bao was partly at fault.”

Seeing him say this, Zhan Xian didn’t insist and left. “I’ll head back now.”

Lin Guodong said, “I’ll walk you out.”

Zhan Xian smiled, “No need, no need.”

Lin Guodong insisted on walking him to the gate of the yard.

Turning around, he saw Er Bao staring at him with big eyes.

He raised his eyebrows, “What are you all looking at?”

“Father, did you talk to him?” Er Bao asked.

Lin Guodong went over and gave Er Bao a playful tap on the head, “It’s not for kids to meddle in adult matters.”

Then he went into the kitchen and saw Ning Shu had already finished washing the dishes. “I talked to Zhan Xian; he agreed to move out.”

Ning Shu set down the dishes, somewhat surprised, “Zhan Xian said that?”

Lin Guodong said, “He’s a good person, both in character and ability.”

Ning Shu responded, “Well, I’ll pretend I didn’t say anything. I’m off to see the military dog.”

Lin Guodong asked, “Are you looking forward to it?”

Ning Shu replied, “Of course! It’s such an honor to be able to raise a military dog.”

Lin Guodong chuckled, somewhat surprised that Ning Shu found raising a military dog honorable.