Chapter 15

He Bingning was the little daughter of the family, their cherished princess. Everyone adored her. Before she even got home, the meal was already prepared.

Her grandparents doted on her most of all. They were already waiting outside the villa for her arrival.

Through the car window, Bingning spotted them at once. Though elderly, both of them still looked spirited and full of life.

Her heart ached a little. In her past life, if not for her own willfulness, her grandfather surely could have lived to a hundred.

“Grandpa, Grandma!” Bingning jumped out of the car and threw herself into their arms like a child.

“Our precious granddaughter is back! We’ve missed you so much!” Grandma fondly stroked her hair, while Grandpa looked on with a kind smile.

Warmth filled Bingning’s chest. Even though she was married and had children of her own, she could still be treated like a little girl, spoiled and loved.

Gu Huai spoiled her. Her whole family spoiled her. All she needed to do was live happily every day.

After resting a while, it was nearly time for dinner. Mother He went to Bingning’s room and saw her coaxing the twins to sleep. Smiling, she said, “I can hardly believe my baby girl is already a mother.”

Bingning blushed slightly and pouted playfully. “But I’ll always be Mommy’s baby girl~”

Mother He laughed again. “With your temper, if you had married anyone else, we’d always be worried. Marrying Gu Huai was the best. Your grandfather really picked well. You even complained about his decision at the start — now you see how right he was.”

Bingning nodded shyly. “Gu Huai treats me so well. Grandpa’s choice was right.”

Then she grinned cheekily. “It’s true what they say — the older, the wiser!”

Her mother gave her a mock glare. “Honestly, the older you get, the more mischievous you become. Now wash your hands, dinner’s ready.”

“Mommy~” Bingning pouted. “I need to feed the babies first.”

“That’s true,” Mother He said kindly. “The grownups eat, the babies eat too. Did you bring bottles?”

Bingning coughed lightly, a little embarrassed, but answered honestly, “Mom, I’m breastfeeding now.”

Her mother blinked in surprise. “Oh? You have milk again?”

Earlier, Bingning had said she didn’t, so the babies had been drinking formula — the imported kind her brother and sister-in-law helped order from abroad.

“Yes… it just came in recently. I don’t really know why…” Bingning mumbled softly.

The truth was, it was thanks to Gu Huai’s “efforts.” But that was something she couldn’t say, not even to her own mother.

“This is good news,” Mother He said happily. “You and your brother were both breastfed until you were two.”

“Mm.” Bingning nodded.

With her mother’s help, feeding the babies wasn’t too troublesome, and soon the twins were full.

Just as she was about to head out, her sister-in-law Liu Han entered with a smile. “Bingning, Gu Huai called for you. Go answer quickly, don’t let him worry.”

Bingning hurried up to take the call, not daring to delay.

She knew how strict Gu Huai’s work was. Though the army had phones, they couldn’t be used freely, not even during breaks. She had already told him her travel plans, yet he still called — proof of how much he cared.

“Hello, Hubby? I’m home safe now, you don’t need to worry~” she said sweetly.

“Mm. As long as everything’s fine at home, I know.”

“Tonight? You want to pick me up tonight? No need, I can take the train back.”

Just then, her brother He Qirong passed by and gestured for the phone.

Bingning handed it over.

“Brother-in-law, don’t worry. I’ll personally send my sister back tonight. Yes, straight to the military compound. No need for you to come. You’re an officer now — you can’t just indulge her willfulness. Yes, yes, understood. Goodbye.” He Qirong ended the call.

Bingning had tried to eavesdrop, but didn’t catch everything.

Her brother gave her a helpless smile. “Gu Huai wanted to send a car for you. I refused. He’s an officer now — he has to keep a low profile. He’s still young, not fully established yet. You must remember, you’re a military wife, not some warlord’s lady. You can’t always follow your own whims.”

Bingning pouted. “Brother, stop treating me like a child. I understand all this. I also understand why Grandpa insisted I marry a soldier.”

Some things didn’t need to be spoken aloud — everyone in the family knew.

A few years earlier, their family would have been labeled as capitalists — a background everyone despised. For a capitalist’s daughter, marrying into the military was the safest choice.

But He Qirong shook his head. “That’s not the whole truth. There are many officers in this world. Grandpa chose Gu Huai not only because of his friendship with Gu Huai’s grandfather, but because of Gu Huai’s character.”

He Bingning listened intently as her brother went on.

“Gu Huai was an orphan. When his grandfather was stationed in the countryside, he met him and took him in. A few years later, Grandpa Gu passed away. That was when Gu Huai enlisted in the army.”

Bingning was absorbed in the story, until her brother patted her shoulder with a smile. “Alright, go wash up. Dinner’s ready.”

The He family’s dining room was spacious, the table filled with over a dozen dishes, all deliciously prepared.

As they ate, they chatted happily.

“Bingning,” her sister-in-law Liu Han said, “it’s not easy to shop in the military compound. If you need anything, just tell us. We’ll send it.”

“That’s right,” her father added. “We have no shortage of money. Don’t let yourself suffer.”

Even her usually thrifty grandfather chimed in. “If you want to eat something, wear something, just tell us. As long as it’s not too showy, it’s fine.”

“Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister-in-law, thank you all,” Bingning said gratefully. “I know you always treat me the best. But I’m grown up now, I can’t always rely on the family. I’ve been thinking… if there’s a chance, I’d like to try some small business. I hear lots of people are starting their own ventures these days. I want to give it a try too~”

“Good, good,” her grandfather nodded in approval. “That’s a fine idea. No harm in trying.”

“Mm!” Bingning nodded happily. “Gu Huai is always so busy with work, I want to find something to do too. I don’t want to just sit around gossiping with the other women in the compound.”

“Who upset our little princess? Tell me who it was and I’ll go settle it,” Liu Han teased.

“Forget it~” Bingning sighed. “No need to mention them. Oh, right, Sister-in-law, can you help me buy a stroller for the babies?”

Liu Han laughed. “A stroller? Sure, those are available abroad or in Shanghai. I’ll ask someone to get one, though it might take a few days.”

“Great~” Bingning beamed. “Sister-in-law, once I start making money, I’ll pay you back~”

“Hahaha,” Liu Han chuckled. “Silly girl, don’t be so polite with me.”

The whole family brushed off her words. Making money wasn’t so easy, and the He family had no need for her to earn. Gu Huai had a stable career; there was no need for her to struggle. They all assumed she was just joking, daydreaming.

But Bingning herself took it seriously. She truly wanted to earn money — more importantly, she wanted to do something meaningful.