Chapter 13: Dad’s Nickname

It was quite a coincidence that the letter in Jiang Ningning’s hand happened to be the one Tian Cuifen was planning to send to Huo Donglin. She didn’t know how it ended up mixed in with these family letters.

The first sentence of the letter was…

Jiang Ningning suppressed a laugh and deliberately built up the suspense. “Do you know what your dad’s full name is?”

Manman obediently raised his chubby little hand.

“Alright, let’s have your older brother say it.”

“Dad’s name is Huo Donglin.”

Next door, Lao Quan and the guards simultaneously perked up their ears, hearing the little one’s voice full of pride and admiration. “Grandpa once said that Donglin means ‘the rising sun,’ symbolizing hope.”

“Do you want to know what Dad’s nickname is?” Jiang Ningning patiently continued. “Just like how Manman and Xiaxia are actually their nicknames, when we get to the military district, your dad will give you both real names.”

The two little ones shook their heads in perfect unison, their large, eager eyes filled with curiosity.

“Well… it’s Hei Dan! Hahaha!”

Cough! Cough!

From the other side, loud coughing sounds rang out.

The little ones were completely stunned.

Their image of “Black Egg” (the nickname) as a towering figure in their hearts crumbled once again.

Then they looked at their beautiful mother…

Her skin was pale and smooth, and when her autumn-colored eyes swept over them, it felt like a little hook had scratched at their hearts, causing them to lose their breath in an instant.

When they compared the two, wasn’t “Black Egg’s” dad kind of dark and round, even a bit ugly?

… It seemed like he wasn’t worthy of their beautiful mother!

Xiaxia took out another letter, her voice soft and tender, “Mom, can we learn from this letter instead?”

Seeing the big, pleading eyes filled with innocence, Jiang Ningning didn’t ask further questions and replaced the letter.

The letter she held now had elegant handwriting, strong yet measured, and had an imposing style.

At the beginning, there were simple greetings about the health of her parents, but most of the letter focused on the children’s growth and well-being. Yet, there wasn’t a single word of concern for his wife.

The original host had met her husband through an arranged marriage, and they had rushed into a wedding within ten days of meeting. They barely spent any time together.

After her husband left, the original host spent most of her time wallowing in self-pity, even neglecting her own children.

On the other hand, Tian Cuifen, as a mother, sent letters every now and then, full of care for her children, while subtly criticizing the daughter-in-law.

As for Jiang Ningning, it was fortunate that her relationship with her military officer husband had never been deep. There was no need to pretend to be in love. They lived under the same roof, each sleeping in their own bed, simply cohabiting.

They had quietly endured the tense years, and after their eventual divorce, there would be no need for gossip. It would allow them to live their lives without constraints.

A whirlwind of thoughts passed through Jiang Ningning’s mind as she held the letter, then she looked up and smiled gently. “I wonder if the military district’s kindergarten is enrolling transfer students for the spring. If not, I’ll teach you both at home first, and we can officially start school in the fall.”

Having been through the rigorous training of cram schools as a “post-00s” generation, Jiang Ningning had learned a little about everything, though she was no expert in any particular field.

However, considering the education standards of the 1970s, it wouldn’t be a problem to give the two little ones some basic education.

“Mom will also teach you to draw, sing, dance, and by the way, I can play the piano too…”

With each new thing she mentioned, the two little ones’ eyes lit up even brighter.

By the end, their faces were completely filled with admiration.

Suddenly, a light scoff came from the side: “This comrade’s boasting is off the charts.”

What terrible luck.

Just so happened to be in the same compartment as these country bumpkins.

What could these people even be? The kinds who could now sit in sleeper cabins? They couldn’t have sneaked on without tickets, could they?

Guan Wenxue harbored a strong animosity toward any woman who might catch Huo Donglin’s eye, especially since Jiang Ningning was not only fairer and more beautiful than she was but also exuded a similar air of sophistication.

Moreover, those two children by her side, with their features reminiscent of Huo Donglin, only made Guan Wenxue more resentful. They reminded her of the illegitimate children from Huo Donglin’s hometown, stirring up even more contempt.

Guan Wenxue looked at Jiang Ningning with disdain, her delicate face showing an air of superiority as she sneered, “A piano? Can your family afford one?”

The train was filled with a mixed crowd. Jiang Ningning, carrying a large sum of money, chose to act low-key, so she, along with the two children, were still wearing their usual patched-up and worn-out cotton coats.

At first glance, they looked no different from middle-lower class peasants.

In the 1970s, a piano was considered a luxury item, and it could only be purchased with foreign exchange coupons.

Even if they were lucky enough to buy one, there were hardly any piano scores available, and finding a teacher was impossible, so having a piano at home was like owning a clumsy, useless piece of junk.

Jiang Ningning turned her head and saw a strange face, a woman dressed in the latest fashion with braided hair cascading over her shoulders, exuding the vigor of a spring flower.

This woman arrogantly lifted her chin, and from Jiang Ningning’s angle, it was almost as if she was looking directly up her nose.

“Comrade, I don’t know if I can afford a piano, but you have some very long nose hair,” Jiang Ningning said bluntly.

Pfft!

Someone nearby couldn’t hold back and laughed out loud.

Guan Wenxue raised a hand to cover her nose, her face darkening as if she were a pot bottom.

Jiang Ningning lifted her misty autumn eyes, her voice filled with tea-like sarcasm, “Oh, I was just kindly reminding you, I hope you’re not upset about it?”

Manman, ever the helper, chimed in with perfect timing like a comedic sidekick: “Mom, you’re just doing a good deed. Why should Auntie be angry?”

Guan Wenxue was not just angry; she was so furious that she could almost feel her lungs about to explode as the people around her whispered and pointed.

“You, a country bumpkin, can’t afford one. Why act all high and mighty?” she sneered.

Xue Lao furrowed his brows.

He had already recognized Guan Wenxue’s identity, and he felt disgusted. How could a child from the Guan family be so rude?

With such manners, her old comrades had actually tried to use connections to get her into the propaganda department? No way!

“The countryside can bring forth gold, we peasants are the ones digging for it,” Jiang Ningning shot Guan Wenxue a look as if she were an idiot.

What was her problem? Just because she glanced at her man a few more times, this girl was holding a grudge?

Inwardly, she also drew a line through that man in her mind.

In this generation, everyone took pride in their ancestors being three generations of poor peasants.

As soon as Jiang Ningning finished speaking, the surrounding people began to murmur with approval.

Xue Lao looked at Jiang Ningning with increasing admiration.

Look at her eloquence, her strong words—it was exactly the kind of person the propaganda department needed!

“It’s just a piano, a four-year-old with no foundation could play it, what’s all the fuss about?” Jiang Ningning clapped her hands to silence the carriage, before turning to the two little ones, “Xia Xia, Manman, let’s play a little game.”

Hearing about the game, the two little ones immediately sat up straight, their little hands neatly placed behind their backs.

“Now, dear ones, your left hand is the staff. From bottom to top, the notes are fa, la, do, mi.”

The twins were quick learners, and without hesitation, they chorused, “Fa, la, do, mi.”

“Great!” Jiang Ningning praised them generously.

The two little ones were so excited that their faces turned red.

Hearing this, Guan Wenxue initially looked quite high and mighty.

Jiang Ningning might be able to fool little children, but she was ready to expose the other’s little tricks and show off her superior skills as a level four pianist to regain her dignity.

However, in reality!

“Now, follow mom’s movements and play 1112366543. When you put it together, it’s the song ‘A Puppy Sitting at the Gate’…”

The little ones innocently followed along, singing, “1112366543, a puppy sitting at the gate…”