The woman with shoulder-length hair said impatiently, “I don’t know if it will work or not. Don’t keep bringing this up; it’s annoying.”

They walked away, chatting as they went. In a short while, they were out of sight.

Wen Nan hid behind a tree, looking up at the stars. Her eyes grew blurry from counting them, she didn’t know how long she waited, but finally, steady, strong footsteps came from down the road. She didn’t need to hear them to know it was Camp Commander Chen. Wen Nan turned her head and saw him striding towards her. He must have run, because his forehead and temples were covered in sweat. He wiped the sweat from his eyelids with his sleeve, his strong chest rising and falling rapidly.

When he reached her, Wen Nan urgently asked, “Camp Commander Chen, how did it go?”

Chen Xu asked, “Do you have a letter of introduction?”

Even after running, his voice remained steady and strong, without a hint of breathlessness.

Wen Nan nodded, “Yes!”

She pulled the letter of introduction from her bag and handed it to Chen Xu. He took it, struck a match, and quickly glanced at the writing and seal by the light. The address matched Wen Guo’s registered residence, and the name was correct. He had called Wen Guo’s unit and learned that there were three soldiers in Wen Guo’s dorm. One was away on maneuvers, with no clear return date. The other two had been transferred to Xinjiang a few days ago and left by train yesterday morning.

That area was far away, and communication was difficult. Contacting them would be challenging.

He had also called Wen Nan’s home. The head of the Chaoyang Commune answered. He learned about Wen Guo and Wen Nan’s situation from the head. The head went to call Wen Nan’s aunt to answer the phone, but Wen Nan’s uncle spoke instead.

Remembering the unpleasant things Wen Nan’s uncle had said, Chen Xu frowned, looked at the short, thin Wen Nan, folded the letter of introduction, and handed it back to her. “Comrade, the person you’re looking for isn’t me, nor my brother. I called your brother’s unit, and his comrades have either been transferred or are on maneuvers. We’ll have to wait for them to investigate and reply to find out who called you. I also called your family, and your aunt confirmed that your brother introduced you to someone in our unit.”

Seeing Wen Nan’s face pale, Chen Xu was silent for a moment, then said, “Comrade, how about this? Stay at my house temporarily. I’ll help you look for this person in the army, and you can leave once we find him.”

Wen Nan was stunned.

So neither of the Chen brothers was involved?

She lowered her eyes, her lips pursed, her thoughts racing. She realized that the Camp Commander’s offer was the best option for her. He was kindly offering her shelter and help in her search. She couldn’t continue to lie and insist that he was the person Wen Guo had introduced.

Wen Nan nodded, “Thank you, Camp Commander Chen.”

Then she patted her pockets, her face a little embarrassed, “Camp Commander Chen, I don’t have much money or food coupons. I’ll keep track of everything I consume while staying here, and I’ll pay you back when I earn some money.”

Chen Xu didn’t mention the money, quietly instructing, “When you stay at my house, tell everyone you’re a relative on my grandmother’s side.”

Wen Nan was startled. Looking up, she met the man’s dark gaze and guessed that what she had told Zhao Xiaomai had reached the Camp Commander’s ears. She nodded awkwardly, “Understood.”

Chen Xu took Wen Nan back to the courtyard. The gate was ajar. He opened the door and let Wen Nan enter first. He came in behind her, locked the gate, glanced at the lit room, and said to Wen Nan, “Wait here for a moment. I’ll tell my grandmother about your situation.”

Wen Nan softly replied, “Okay.”

While Chen Xu went to talk to his grandmother, she examined the courtyard houses.

A row of houses stretched from the east to the west wall, a total of four rooms. The room next to the kitchen was lit with warm yellow light; it was Camp Commander Chen’s grandmother’s room. The two rooms behind were Chen Xu’s and Chen Zhou’s, but she didn’t know which was which.

The occasional clucking of chickens could be heard. Wen Nan glanced at the chicken coop in the corner of the yard.

The chickens were usually put away by now. Just as she was about to go look at the coop, she heard the grandmother’s angry voice from inside the house, sounding like she was scolding someone.

A moment later, the door opened from inside. The grandmother came out first, her hair neatly tied up, with many white hairs. She wore a black double-breasted jacket and trousers, her sleeves rolled up a little. Seeing Wen Nan in the yard, she remembered Zhang Xiaoe’s visit that afternoon, telling her about a relative coming. The grandmother had been puzzled; she hadn’t been in touch with her hometown much, so where did this relative come from?

After Xiao Xu told her about Wen Nan, she understood.

Grandma Chen smiled, “Xiao Xu said your name is Wen Nan?”

Seeing the grandmother’s kind and amiable expression, Wen Nan’s eyes curved into a sweet smile, “Yes, Grandma, my name is Wen Nan. ‘Wen’ as in warm, and ‘Nan’ as in south.”

Grandma Chen beckoned her to the kitchen. The kitchen wasn’t big; a stove was built against the wall with bricks. A cupboard was placed against the window, next to a cutting board. A large water jar stood in front of the cutting board, with two buckets beside it. Grandma Chen scooped several dippers of water into a pot and said to Wen Nan with a chuckle, “Xiao Xu told me everything about you.”

Grandma Chen covered the pot. Thinking of what Xiao Xu had said, she cursed Wen Nan’s uncle again in her heart.

That man was truly terrible!

For years, Wen Nan’s older brother had sent them monthly living expenses, and in the end, even the condolence money went to them. That man had no conscience! No matter what, she was his niece. How could he say such things, that if Wen Nan dared to return, he would marry her off to the deep mountains?

What kind of place were the deep mountains? Most of the families there couldn’t find wives. Families with several brothers would only marry one wife. Girls who went there would be forced to have children like rabbits.

Wen Nan was quick-witted and sat by the stove to stoke the fire.

There were still embers in the stove, so she added some dry firewood.

Grandma Chen took a rolling pin from the cupboard and reassured Wen Nan, “Consider this your home. Tell me or Xiao Xu if anything happens. Xiao Xu will help you inquire in the army about people named Chen who knew your brother. We’ll find your match slowly; there’s no rush. If anyone in the family quarters asks about you, say you’re my faraway married daughter’s granddaughter, and just call me ‘Aunt’.”

Wen Nan’s heart warmed. Looking at Grandma Chen’s slightly stooped back, and thinking of her own grandmother in the new century, who always gave her a cold face, she washed her hands in the nearby basin, walked over, and took the rolling pin from Grandma Chen’s hand, “Aunt, let me roll the noodles.”

Grandma Chen was startled, “Can you roll them?”

Wen Nan smiled, “Yes, I’ve always cooked at home; I can do anything.”

She was speaking about herself, but also about the original owner.

In the new century, her parents divorced when she was young, quickly remarrying and having their own children. They both considered her a burden and didn’t want to raise her. She grew up with her grandparents, who favored their sons and grandsons and only cared that she had enough to eat. This had made her self-reliant from a young age.

The original owner, although she didn’t have to work in the fields at her aunt’s house, was responsible for cooking for the whole family.

Grandma Chen watched Wen Nan skillfully roll the noodles, her strength and the dough’s texture were just right. She was clearly experienced.

Her hair was long and black, braided into a single braid hanging down in front. Her hands were white and small. She rolled the rolling pin again, some yellow corn flour sticking to the back of her hand. Grandma Chen smiled kindly, tucking a strand of hair that was blocking Wen Nan’s vision behind her ear, “Good child, your good days are ahead. If you have any difficulties, tell Aunt.”

The grandmother’s calloused fingers gently brushed across her cheek.

It was a gentle and delicate touch that Wen Nan had never received from her own grandmother.

Her grandmother always wore a cold face, coldly telling her that her parents didn’t want her anymore, and that she had to be obedient since she was being raised by them. She wasn’t allowed to compete with her two brothers for snacks or meat, otherwise, she would be kicked out to scavenge for scraps.

Her grandfather was always just an observer. When he disliked her, he would use her parents’ divorce and abandonment to hurt her.

Wen Nan’s eyes felt warm. She pursed her lips, forcing back the emotion, and gently nodded, “Thank you, Aunt.”

The kitchen light was dim, scattered at the doorway.

Chen Xu walked towards the kitchen. The door frame was low, and he had to lower his head to enter. As soon as he did, he heard a crisp voice.

“Camp Commander Chen, dinner’s ready.”

Chen Xu looked at Wen Nan standing by the stove. She had taken off her navy blue jacket and was wearing a white shirt with yellow floral print. A hemp-colored apron was tied around her thin waist. She held a bowl in one hand and chopsticks in the other, smiling at him. She scooped a large bowl of noodles and asked him, “Camp Commander Chen, do you want your noodles rinsed in cold water?”

Grandma Chen sat by the stove, covering the embers. Hearing Wen Nan calling him “Camp Commander Chen” repeatedly, she laughed, “Call him ‘brother’ from now on. Don’t keep calling him ‘Camp Commander Chen’; it’s too formal. Tomorrow, everyone in the family quarters will know you’re my niece’s granddaughter, and you’re like cousins with Xiao Xu, so calling him brother is normal.”

Wen Nan subconsciously looked at Chen Xu, who nodded to her, “Call me brother from now on.”

Her eyes curved into a smile, and she asked again, “Brother, do you want your noodles rinsed in cold water?”

Chen Xu said, “I’ll do it myself.”

He took the bowl from Wen Nan and rinsed the noodles himself.

Wen Nan turned to ask Grandma Chen, “Aunt, do you eat noodles with cold or hot water?”

Grandma Chen smiled, “I eat them hot. I’m old, my stomach isn’t good, and cold noodles give me a stomachache.”

The noodles were made from corn flour, very chewy, and went well with Grandma Chen’s pickles.