“Twenty.”  

Ruan Qingzhi didn’t tell the truth.  

The bald man looked surprised. “Already twenty? But you look young—more like sixteen or seventeen.”  

Ruan Qingzhi: Pretty accurate guess!  

“Who’s the one hospitalized?”  

“My husband.”  

“Oh? Married at such a young age? Ah, you’re still a kid yourself.” The bald man’s tone shifted from surprise to a wistful sigh.

Then he asked, “Is your husband in the military?”  

He had noticed the military pants she was wearing the moment she walked in.  

Ruan Qingzhi nodded. “Yeah.”  

The bald man let out a long sigh. “… Tough, it’s all tough.”  

He picked up the thermos, poured hot water into his teacup, and before it could cool, blew on it a few times and took a big sip.  

The weather was hot, and a layer of sweat had formed on his shiny, bare head.  

The man grabbed the towel around his neck and wiped his face roughly, then crossed his legs and started chatting with Ruan Qingzhi. “Does putting salted duck eggs in porridge taste good?”  

“It’s alright.”  

Ruan Qingzhi answered softly.  

“Wouldn’t that taste fishy? I’ve been cooking my whole life, and I’ve never seen anyone do it like this.”  

“You’re a hardworking girl, but you’re just making things up. If this whole pot of porridge ends up inedible, what a waste of food! Why not just let your husband eat the porridge and the salted duck egg separately? All this fancy stuff, and you’re just wearing yourself out!”  

“At such a young age, your in-laws are making you take care of your husband all by yourself? No one’s helping out?”  

The man’s Shengyang accent was thick.  

Ruan Qingzhi made up an excuse. “My husband is stationed in Shengyang. I came here to be with him. Both our parents are back in our hometown and can’t come.”  

She stood up and lifted the lid of the pot, slowly stirring the porridge with a spatula.  

That reminded her.  

The Shen family had received news that Shen Zhanwu had lost his hands and feet—injuries that severe, and not a single person had come to see him.  

Were they really that unconcerned?  

The bald man turned his head and spat out a tea leaf. “What, do they live on the moon with Chang’e? Even the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd get to meet once a year. When a son is injured, what parent wouldn’t want to grow wings and fly over?”  

“Girl, don’t take offense at what I’m saying.”  

“I’ve spent my whole life dealing with pots and pans—I don’t know how to say pretty words. But I’ve lived long enough to see all kinds of people. I’m not saying this to stir up trouble between you and your in-laws. I just want to remind you: when it’s time to stand your ground, you’ve got to stand your ground. You can’t let people walk all over you in this life.”  

“I used to cook state banquets for officials in the capital. Me? I just refuse to take any crap. If they don’t treat me right, I’ll leave. There’s always somewhere else for me to go. Worst case, I’ll pack up and head home…”  

Ruan Qingzhi listened with great interest.  

But when the porridge was finally ready, she looked around and realized she had forgotten to buy a lunchbox—she had bought everything else except that.  

The bald man burst out laughing at her bewildered expression.  

The girl’s big, dark eyes were wide, and her skin was slightly flushed from the sun.  

This little thing looked as delicate as a crystal shrimp dumpling.  

So adorable!  

He called out to his apprentice to bring over an aluminum lunchbox and handed it to her.

The man waved his hand with the air of a general directing troops:  

“Use this to pack it.”  

Ruan Qingzhi was touched. “Uncle! You’re such a good person!”  

The bald man crossed his legs again, leaning back in his chair with a proud, almost smug expression after being praised.  

He waved dismissively. “Ah, enough, no need to say anything else. Just take it and use it.”  

“Your uncle here has lived his whole life—I’d rather suffer myself than watch others suffer. Don’t let my rough appearance fool you; I’ve got a soft heart. You’ve just met me, but once you get to know me, you’ll see what kind of person I really am.”  

Ruan Qingzhi scooped the porridge into the aluminum lunchbox, sprinkled in the chopped greens, and gently stirred them in.  

There was still some porridge left in the pot, so she poured it into a large bowl, added more greens, and placed it in front of the man.  

Her voice sweet and soft, she said, “Uncle, there’s some porridge left. Help me finish it, and try my cooking while you’re at it.”  

The bald man’s lips curved slightly, though he tried to hide it. “Fine, I’ll try your cooking later!”  

The girl added, “Don’t mind that it’s leftovers.”  

The man waved impatiently, shooing her off to tend to her tasks, but the smile on his face deepened.  

Ruan Qingzhi chuckled and returned to the stove.  

Once everything was tidied up, she gathered her things and approached him. “Uncle, how much should I pay you for using the stove and this lunchbox?”  

The man lifted his teacup, drained half of it in one gulp, then set it down heavily. “Pay what? No need. A few sticks of firewood aren’t worth anything—there’s plenty on the mountain…”  

He muttered to himself, then suddenly asked with concern, “If your husband’s in the city hospital, his injuries must be pretty serious, huh?”  

Looking at her, his tone grew earnest. “You’re just a slip of a girl, skinny as a chick, no strength in those arms. If you ever need to cook for your husband, just come here. The stove’s sitting idle anyway. And if you ever run into trouble, come talk to your uncle. If I can help, I will. Don’t bottle things up…”  

“Girl, coming to Shengyang to be with your husband was the right choice. Spend a day here, and Shengyang becomes your home.”  

“In Shengyang, if you’re ever in trouble, just shout on the street—someone will always step up.”  

“You’re still young. Life’s got all kinds of hurdles, but if you help me and I help you, we’ll get past every one of them.”  

“Sometimes, don’t push yourself too hard. And don’t let yourself suffer too much, understand?”  

Ruan Qingzhi’s nose tingled with emotion, but she laughed through it. “Uncle, why’d you have to go and say something so touching? You’re going to make me cry…”  

This wasn’t just about traveling thousands of miles to an unfamiliar city.  

It was about crossing entire worlds.  

The moment she opened her eyes in this life, Ruan Qingzhi had felt like a drifting speck—  

Carried by rivers and seas,  

Pushed forward or backward by every passing wave.  

Rootless in life, fruitless in departure.  

But the people she met along the way—  

Their smiles bloomed like flowers.  

She was no longer a drifting speck.  

She was wild grass covering the mountains and plains.  

Warm light above, fertile earth below.  

No wildfire could burn her away; spring winds would always bring her back to life.  

In that instant,  

The confusion in her heart melted into unbreakable armor.  

She understood why Shen Zhanwu charged through gunfire without hesitation.  

Why he buried his name and turned away from glory.  

Why he faced sacrifice without fear.  

She had always understood…  

But in these few minutes, it all took on a clearer, sharper meaning.