Chapter 99.2

General Lu stayed in the North for five days. On the day of his departure, it happened to be Lele’s first day of kindergarten. 

The night before, he decided to stay at Wen Nuan’s house so he could join them in taking Lele to school in the morning. 

Gu Qinghan, a light sleeper, heard General Lu stirring early and woke both Wen Nuan and Lele to prepare. 

Everything went smoothly until they arrived at the kindergarten. Lele, who had been so excited the night before, suddenly refused to enter. She clung tightly to Wen Nuan, wrapping her small arms around her and refusing to let go. 

Though Lele was small, her grip was surprisingly strong. Once she latched onto Wen Nuan, she wouldn’t budge. Gu Qinghan, worried about her tight grip hurting Wen Nuan’s arms or her pregnant belly, didn’t dare use force. 

He stood nearby, visibly anxious, unsure of how to resolve the situation without upsetting either his daughter or his wife. 

Wen Nuan looked at Gu Qinghan’s expression and said, “It’s nothing. He probably didn’t get enough sleep and is throwing a tantrum.” 

Last night, because General Lu stayed at their house, and it was the night before school started, the little one had been particularly fussy. Even at ten o’clock, he refused to sleep. 

After getting into bed, he continued being restless for a while. By the time he finally fell asleep, it must have been quite late. 

Wen Nuan patted the child’s back gently, coaxing him, “Mom and Dad have already promised you, after you play with your friends in kindergarten until five o’clock, I’ll come pick you up.” 

“Mom guarantees that kindergarten will definitely be more fun than the kitchen unit. Look, there are so many friends inside.” 

Lele hugged Wen Nuan, pressing his smiling face against her stomach, and said, “But they’re crying.” 

The three adults exchanged glances. To be fair, the little guy was quite sharp. 

Since the kindergarten included children of all age groups, and the elementary school of the family compound was nearby, the sounds of shouting, crying, and laughter were constant. But, understandably, the sharp, piercing cries of the children stood out and scared Lele. 

General Lu then took the chocolate handed to him by Xiao Zhang, walked over to Lele, and coaxed him, “Lele, how about having some chocolate before going in?” 

He wasn’t skilled at comforting children at all. Normally, Lele was well-behaved; even when he fussed, it was just minor squabbles, rarely anything like this. 

However, Xiao Zhang, who had a few younger sisters, was experienced in dealing with children. Before coming to the North, he had prepared plenty of candies and chocolates, and now they were finally coming in handy. 

Lele glanced at the chocolate in General Lu’s hand, hesitated, and seemed tempted to reach for it. 

On the other side, Gu Qinghan, concerned for Wen Nuan, directly picked up the child. Lele immediately pouted, looking as if he was about to cry. 

Gu Qinghan smiled and said, “Didn’t you say you wanted to play on the kindergarten swing? Now’s the perfect time—no one’s on it. Dad will take you to play.” 

Lele’s big, teary eyes, brimming with emotion, lit up when he saw the swing in the kindergarten. He pointed at it and said, “Dad, hurry up and take me there. I want to sit!” 

Wen Nuan watched as Gu Qinghan calmed the child with just one sentence and couldn’t help but smile. 

Meanwhile, General Lu, still holding the chocolate, glanced at it, tossed it back to Xiao Zhang, and muttered, “He’s probably sick of chocolate. When we get back to Beijing, see if there are other snacks to try.” 

He had to be tired of it—otherwise, how could Lele resist his chocolate? 

Xiao Zhang replied enthusiastically, “Understood, Chief!” 

He chuckled quietly to himself, excited about the prospect of testing all sorts of snacks. 

Once Lele finally started enjoying himself, Gu Qinghan invited the kindergarten teacher over to help take the child back to his class. 

This time, Lele didn’t make a fuss. She even waved to Wen Nuan and General Lu, saying, “Bye, Grandpa! Bye, Mom! Bye, Uncle Zhang!” 

Wen Nuan waved back at him and, as he walked into the classroom, raised her voice and called out, “Bye, Lele! Mom will come pick you up this afternoon!” 

General Lu watched the little one obediently follow the teacher into the classroom and finally let out a sigh of relief. “He’s finally willing to go in.” 

So this is what taking care of a child feels like—it’s exhausting! 

Thinking of this, General Lu turned to Wen Nuan and said, “Xiao Nuan, Qinghan and I discussed this. Since you’re taking care of the child alone while being pregnant, we think it’s best to have someone come help you. That way, you don’t have to move around so much.” 

During his stay in the North over the past few days, General Lu had observed Gu Qinghan closely. He acknowledged that Qinghan was a family-oriented man. 

However, as a fellow soldier, General Lu also understood the demands of the military. Gu Qinghan was busy as a test pilot for a new fighter jet. Even when Qinghan wanted to prioritize his family, circumstances often didn’t allow it. 

As for Wen Nuan’s pregnancy with twins, there was little cause for concern. General Lu had consulted Zhao Qinyuan, who assured him that Wen Nuan’s pregnancy was progressing well, and her nutrition was sufficient. Zhao would help keep an eye on her. 

Moreover, Gu Qinglan, being a nurse, could provide additional support, which gave them some peace of mind. 

However, letting Wen Nuan manage a young child while pregnant with twins still troubled General Lu. Wen Nuan was the only offspring of her branch of the family. If anything happened to her, he wasn’t sure he could endure such a blow in his current state, lacking the resilience of his younger days. 

Wen Nuan knew that this matter had already been decided between Grandpa and Gu Qinghan. Most likely, plans were already in motion. 

Gu Qinghan had brought this up around the New Year, but they hadn’t found a suitable candidate, so the idea had been shelved temporarily. 

Still, Wen Nuan couldn’t help but ask, “Would this be appropriate?” 

Hiring help in these times was seen as a middle-class indulgence. Many military wives in the family compound managed multiple children on their own. Now that Wen Nuan wasn’t working as much due to her pregnancy, some people were already showing signs of dissatisfaction, waiting for an opportunity to criticize her. 

However, having someone to help would indeed lighten her load. They could afford it, and it would save her from exhaustion. 

Gu Qinghan thought it over and said, “Don’t worry. Grandpa plans to have Uncle Zhao’s wife come over to help. We’ll just say she’s a relative of Grandpa’s. It’ll be like Sister Guihua, whose mother came to help with her kids—no one had a problem with that.” 

Wen Nuan smiled and looked at General Lu. “Then let’s leave this to Grandpa to arrange. It’s fine if she comes in June or July—there’s no rush.” 

She’d heard that Uncle Zhao had just gotten married. She wondered if his wife needed support on her end. 

General Lu had been worried Wen Nuan might refuse and insist on handling everything herself. But hearing her agree, he broke into a smile. “Alright, we’ll let Grandpa take care of this.” 

“With Grandpa managing things, I’m at ease,” Wen Nuan replied, glancing at the time. She added, “Grandpa, aren’t you rushing for a meeting? It’s about time to head out.” 

General Lu hesitated for a moment, his eyes betraying a trace of reluctance. After glancing at the kindergarten and then at Wen Nuan, he said, “Take care of yourself. If anything comes up, call Grandpa.” 

Then, as if to emphasize, he added, “Don’t run around yourself. Have Qinghan call me instead.” 

“Alright, safe travels, Grandpa,” Wen Nuan said as she watched him get into the car and waved goodbye. 

The car lingered for a moment before finally departing. Wen Nuan stood in place, watching it disappear down the road. 

Initially, she planned to head to the kitchen unit once General Lu left to check on the factory’s spring production schedule. 

But as soon as Grandpa’s car left, Lele suddenly ran out of the classroom, crying loudly, “Mom—” 

The kindergarten teacher quickly chased after him, clearly determined not to let him leave. But the little one cried even louder, nearly tripping over himself. 

Perhaps it was her pregnancy, but Wen Nuan’s heart ached terribly at the sound of Lele’s cries. She found herself wanting to go in and take him home right away. 

After all, they had been raising the little one for so long. Apart from the infant stage when crying was heart-wrenchingly intense, Lele hadn’t cried like this since she could understand and speak. 

Hearing his daughter’s cries, Gu Qinghan couldn’t help but glance back and hesitated. “Should we just…?” 

Wen Nuan immediately guessed what he was about to suggest and stopped him. “Let’s not. If she learns that crying can get her what she doesn’t like or fix something she dislikes, she’ll just cry every time. What will we do then?” 

Lele had always been a relatively reasonable child. Though she cried occasionally, it was never used as a tool to manipulate adults. 

Wen Nuan didn’t want to set a precedent, so she pulled Gu Qinghan and said, “Don’t look back at her. Let’s just leave.” 

However, Lele’s cries only grew louder, calling for both her “Dad” and “Mom” in a heart-wrenching wail. Neither Gu Qinghan nor Wen Nuan could hold out any longer. They turned back and walked toward the kindergarten again. 

As soon as Lele saw them coming back, her cries softened slightly. The kindergarten teacher had already picked her up and was whispering something to her. Slowly, the little one stopped crying, though her chest still heaved with sniffles. 

Wen Nuan went over to wipe her tears and kissed her cheek. “Mom will come to pick you up this afternoon. Then we’ll go buy popsicles together, alright?” 

Lele sniffled, her tear-filled eyes looking up at her. “Mom can’t lie to Lele.” 

“I would never lie to you.” Though Wen Nuan was reluctant, she gently said, “There are many other kids in the classroom who also need the teacher’s attention. Can Lele help the teacher take care of them?” 

Lele nodded, laughing and crying at the same time. “Okay! Lele can sing songs for the kids.” 

Hearing this, the kindergarten teacher smiled and said, “How about we go back now, and you can sing a song for everyone?” 

Lele nodded again and followed the teacher back inside. 

Watching their daughter’s small figure disappear into the classroom, Wen Nuan and Gu Qinghan felt reluctant to leave. However, fearing that Lele might chase after them again, they forced themselves to step out of the kindergarten. 

As they walked back to the family compound, Gu Qinghan suggested, “If you don’t want to come back this afternoon, I can pick her up instead.” 

Wen Nuan glanced at him and smiled. “There’s no need. You go ahead with your training. I’m still moving around just fine. I can handle it.” 

The weather in April was pleasant, and Wen Nuan wanted to take advantage of her early pregnancy to get things done at the kitchen unit while she still could. 

Gu Qinghan looked at her with concern. “Are you sure you don’t need me to help?” 

Seeing that no one was around, Wen Nuan reached out and held Gu Qinghan’s hand, smiling. “I’m sure. It’s just picking up Lele. Besides, I promised her—I can’t break my word.” 

Gu Qinghan relented but added, “Just be careful. If anything comes up or it’s inconvenient, call me right away.”

After the family compound’s phone was installed, Wen Nuan rarely called Gu Qinghan. Most of the time, it was little Lele who would dial him instead. 

Still, Gu Qinghan secretly hoped Wen Nuan would call him more often. 

Wen Nuan smiled and nodded, saying, “Got it. If something comes up, I’ll definitely call you.” 

But she knew how busy Gu Qinghan was. He received many calls daily, and since they already saw each other regularly, there wasn’t much need for casual phone conversations. 

She added teasingly, “Besides, the operators in the switchboard room can hear everything. I wouldn’t dare to call just to say something like, ‘Qinghan, I miss you. When are you coming home?’” 

Gu Qinghan couldn’t help but laugh at his wife’s playful remark. Leaning down, he kissed her lips lightly and said, “Words like that are just for me to hear. No one else is allowed.” 

Wen Nuan nodded in agreement. “Exactly. Of course, I wouldn’t let anyone else listen in!” 

His dark eyes deepened as he gazed at her. “Then will you say them to me tonight when we’re home?” 

Wen Nuan chuckled. “I can, but after I say it, you’ll have to handle it yourself. I’m not helping.” 

Hearing that, Gu Qinghan’s expression darkened like a storm cloud. 

Not only was she teasing him, but she wouldn’t even offer a solution? 

As they bantered, the two made their way back to the Kitchen Unit. 

Gu Qinghan even stopped by Quartermaster Luo’s office specifically to instruct him not to let Wen Nuan do any heavy work. To his surprise, Quartermaster Luo immediately shooed him away. “What do you take me for, Gu Qinghan?” 

Truth be told, Wen Nuan didn’t need to come in person. 

Still, Wen Nuan first toured the factory. The workers were happy to see her return and proactively reported their progress for the past month. 

Since the Border Defense units had given glowing feedback on their supplies last year, Quartermaster Luo mentioned that after the New Year, several other units had called to inquire about collaborating. From the looks of it, the chances of securing new partnerships were high. 

After inspecting the factory, Wen Nuan returned to the Kitchen Unit’s back kitchen. 

As soon as Old Zhong saw her, he frowned and scolded, “Comrade Wen Nuan, why are you here again?” 

A few days ago, word had spread from Sister Juxiang that Wen Nuan was pregnant with twins. This news made everyone even more cautious about letting her move around too much. They worried she might get bumped or hurt, leaving them at a loss for how to explain it to Captain Gu. 

Wen Nuan washed her hands and smiled. “Why not? I’m part of the Kitchen Unit too. Why shouldn’t I come?” 

“Well, I’m here today to arrange some benefits for everyone,” Wen Nuan said with a smile. 

Now that the factory was running smoothly and the workers had gotten the hang of things, she could technically resign or take an unpaid leave. 

Quartermaster Luo had already prepared himself for the fact that she wouldn’t return to full duties until next year. 

However, Wen Nuan had no intention of taking a break so soon. At least not until she completed one final, crucial project. Once that was done, even if she wanted to come back, she’d be hard-pressed to juggle her children and her duties. 

At the very least, until the children could walk, she couldn’t leave home with peace of mind. By the time they were old enough to talk and walk, the college entrance exams would be reinstated, and she wanted to set aside time to prepare for them. 

Old Zhong furrowed his brow. “If it’s for our benefit, you could’ve just told us. No need to come all the way over. If nothing else, you could’ve left us a note.” 

Wen Nuan chuckled and said, “Fine, I’ll tell you now. Just follow the instructions, and everything will be fine.” 

Truthfully, she hadn’t planned to do any hands-on work during this visit—it wasn’t her role to begin with. “I’m not here to work this time,” she explained. “I was thinking about how much everyone here loves drinking. So, why don’t we build a small stove at the back of the Kitchen Unit and brew our own liquor? There’s all that unused firewood storage space anyway—might as well put it to good use.” 

By summer, there would be an abundance of fruits, perfect for brewing fruit wine. This would be especially appealing to the women in the unit who preferred lighter drinks. And for those who didn’t drink at all, it wouldn’t matter. 

Wen Nuan also planned to ferment some sweet rice wine, as she’d heard that several female comrades in the logistics unit loved it. This could serve as her special gift to them. 

Hearing her proposal, Old Zhong’s eyes lit up. “Really?” 

Alcohol was his favorite indulgence. If they brewed their own, they could keep plenty for themselves! 

“Of course it’s true,” Wen Nuan replied with a smile. “But the liquor is strictly for our own consumption—it’s not to be sold outside.” 

Old Zhong clanged his cleaver against the chopping board, his tone turning serious. “Anyone who dares sell our liquor will be picking a fight with me, Zhong Yuguo. Let’s see if I don’t teach them a lesson!” 

Quartermaster Luo laughed and added, “Alright then, I officially declare that any liquor we brew belongs exclusively to the Kitchen Unit. No outside distribution allowed.” 

After finishing their kitchen tasks, the comrades of the Kitchen Unit enthusiastically started building the stove. They worked tirelessly until the end of the day, managing to complete the construction. Now, they just needed to let it dry for a few days before it could be used. 

Wen Nuan timed her visit perfectly and arrived at the kindergarten to pick up Lele. When she got to the gate, there weren’t many parents around, but most of them were familiar faces from the family compound. A few of them seemed eager to chat with her, but before they could, Lele came running out first.

“Mom—” Lele called, her face bright and happy. Compared to the morning, when she’d been crying, she now seemed much more content and energetic, showing no signs of having cried earlier. It seemed like her first day at kindergarten had been quite fun.

The kindergarten teacher, who was escorting over twenty kids, didn’t expect Lele to be the first one running towards the door. She hurriedly called out, “Gu Wan Yue, come back! Don’t run, come back to me!”

Lele, still not fully aware that “Gu Wan Yue” was her name, completely ignored the teacher’s call and dashed straight toward Wen Nuan. 

Wen Nuan noticed the teacher’s panic and quickly stepped forward, blocking Lele’s excited little figure. “Gu Wan Yue, didn’t you hear the teacher calling you?”

Wen Nuan gently took the confused little one’s hand and led her back to the teacher, saying, “Sorry, Teacher Yu, Lele saw me and ran out.”

Teacher Yu wiped her forehead, relieved. “It’s fine, I was just worried she might run outside the school on her own.”

After a few words with the teacher, Wen Nuan knew she needed to leave, so she gently prompted Lele, “Lele, say goodbye to the teacher.”

Lele waved her little hand and said, “Goodbye, Teacher.”

The teacher smiled warmly. “Goodbye, Wan Yue. I’ll be here tomorrow, waiting for you to come play again!”

Wen Nuan was certain Lele was enjoying herself, so she thought her daughter would happily agree. However, to her surprise, Lele shook her head. “Teacher, I’m not coming tomorrow. I have to go work at the Kitchen Unit. You need to work hard too!”

Wen Nuan quickly covered her daughter’s mouth, smiling awkwardly at Teacher Yu. “Goodbye, Teacher! I’ll bring Lele back tomorrow.”

Teacher Yu laughed softly, clearly amused by the little one’s innocent declaration, and waved them off as they left.