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Chapter 10
Jiang Suihan quickly prepared a meal: radish bone soup, stir-fried cabbage, scrambled eggs with scallions, and plain white rice.
The eggs were a gift from Grandma Lin, who had insisted Xu Zhao take them when he borrowed tools from her.
Unlike the countryside, there wasn’t much space in the city for raising chickens. Egg supply was scarce, and even with money, it was hard to get them. Grandma Lin had a small patch in her backyard where she kept two chickens, providing her family with fresh eggs every day. The neighbors envied her, but there was no extra space for raising chickens in the densely packed city.
As Jiang Suihan was about to ladle out the soup, Xu Zhao took the bowl from her. “I’ll do it.”
Jiang Suihan didn’t argue and sat down opposite him. “Try it and see if it’s flavorful.”
Xu Zhao tasted the soup and said, “It tastes great.”
He wasn’t very picky about food. His basic requirement was that it should fill him up. The soup was refreshing and mild, not greasy, and indeed quite good.
He had initially underestimated her cooking skills, thinking that, given her pampered upbringing, her cooking might be average. However, the simple ingredients she used produced a surprisingly good taste.
He started to look forward to their life together.
Jiang Suihan’s smile widened as she saw that her cooking was appreciated. It made all the effort she put into cooking in the hot kitchen worthwhile.
She served Xu Zhao and Jiang Leyun each a piece of egg. “If it’s good, eat more. Here, have some eggs.”
Xu Zhao then noticed a streak of dark smudge on Jiang Suihan’s left cheek. Her pale skin made the mark quite noticeable. “You’ve got something on your face.”
“Where? Here?” Jiang Suihan touched her left cheek. Xu Zhao said no, so she tried the other side, but he still said no.
Xu Zhao reached out and gently rubbed the mark on her left cheek, then calmly withdrew his hand. “There you go.”
The dim light in the room and Jiang Lejun’s focused eating meant no one noticed the faint blush on Xu Zhao’s ears beneath his calm exterior.
Jiang Suihan felt a bit awkward. “Oh, thanks.”
She lowered her head and sipped her soup, her actions a bit flustered.
Xu Zhao smiled silently. “Don’t just eat the rice. Have more vegetables.”
Jiang Leyun, completely absorbed in his meal, didn’t notice the strange atmosphere between his sister and future brother-in-law. He was thrilled to have rice for both meals today. Aside from the morning disturbance caused by his aunt and that annoying person, today was the happiest day he had in a long time.
He hoped Xu Zhao would stay here forever so that not only would there be more delicious food, but he wouldn’t have to worry about bad people bullying him and his sister.
After dinner, Xu Zhao took the initiative to clear the dishes, planning to wash them outside. Jiang Suihan stopped him. “I’ll do it. You’re a guest and have been traveling all day. You must be tired. I can handle this quickly on my own.”
She didn’t mind cooking, but she didn’t like washing dishes. Many people shared this sentiment; after all, she had cooked the meal, so it seemed fair that someone else should do the dishes.
She wanted to let Xu Zhao do the dishes, but she felt guilty since he had paid for the groceries. She had only cooked the meal, not enough to justify letting him do the dishes.
Xu Zhao avoided Jiang Suihan’s outstretched hand. “It’s fine, I can do it. You’ve already worked hard cooking. I shouldn’t just eat and not contribute. Go rest.”
He didn’t hold the belief that men shouldn’t enter the kitchen. His father had often washed dishes and cleaned at home, and he was used to seeing men help out. He didn’t think it was unmanly for men to wash dishes.
Watching Xu Zhao diligently wash the dishes, Jiang Suihan sighed softly.
Jiang Leyun, savoring a piece of milk candy, looked up curiously at his sister and asked, “Sister, why are you sighing? Didn’t you have enough to eat?”
For a child, being well-fed was extremely important. The feeling of hunger was unbearable, and after their father left, he had prayed every night for enough food the next day.
Today, he was full and wouldn’t have to go to bed hungry.
Jiang Suihan pinched her brother’s face gently, not using much force. After pinching, she let go, and the child quietly stood there, letting his sister play with him.
“I was thinking, maybe getting married isn’t such a bad idea. Don’t you think so?”
Xu Zhao was a soldier with a stable and respectable job. From their interactions, it was clear he was responsible, considerate, and pleasant. Moreover, his appearance was exactly her type. The thought of living with him in the future didn’t seem unacceptable.
Okay, she admitted she was a bit of a superficial person; a good-looking man did score points with her.
However, relying on a man for a living wasn’t her life philosophy or goal. But given the current circumstances, she couldn’t support herself and her brother alone. Without a capable support, they might face starvation.
Moreover, given her situation, it was a ticking time bomb, with several years until a thorough reckoning.
It was only 1969, and a few years remained before everything would be completely settled.
Jiang Suihan touched her face. Her appearance had inevitably attracted attention. She was certain that Qin Rongguang wasn’t the first to notice her and wouldn’t be the last.
If Xu Zhao hadn’t been present this morning to handle her aunt and Qin Rongguang, the situation wouldn’t have been resolved so easily. In this era, wearing such an identity makes living a peaceful life nearly impossible. People seemed almost brainwashed, fixating on the Jiang family and refusing to let up. They would not spare her or Jiang Leyun.
If she couldn’t confront them, she had to choose to avoid them.
Marrying Xu Zhao and leaving Mingjiang City to live elsewhere might be a wise choice.
Jiang Leyun didn’t fully understand what Jiang Suihan was saying, but it didn’t affect his blind admiration for his sister. “Sister, whatever you say goes. I’ll listen to you.”
Jiang Suihan lifted her eyelids and glanced at the little guy. “What do you know, kid? With his looks, we won’t have to worry about the appearance and height of our future children. Besides, he’s a soldier—a great and admirable profession. With a stable job, he won’t have to worry about unemployment and should be able to support a wife and younger brother. As for his personality, he seems quite decent—steady, responsible, not the type who expects to be waited on hand and foot at home. That’s definitely a plus.”
She rambled on, then summarized, “Considering all this, his conditions seem pretty good. Should I just be straightforward and agree?”
Jiang Leyun thought his sister might be a bit odd, talking to herself and answering her own questions. Mimicking her earlier expression, he frowned and sighed dramatically, “Do whatever you want while you’re young. Just don’t regret it.”
He popped the last bit of candy into his mouth. It was really sweet.
Jiang Suihan turned to him, surprised. “It’s incredible to hear such rational words from a seven-year-old. I can’t believe it.”
It was amusing to see a child trying to sound so grown-up.
Jiang Leyun glanced at his sister and said, hands behind his back, “Dad said that.”
Once, when Father Jiang’s student visited their home and was talking in the study, the curious little boy had secretly opened the door and eavesdropped. He didn’t remember the conversation’s details but vaguely recalled this line. Now, he was using it to brush off his sister’s questions, without any sense of guilt.
Jiang Suihan patted the boy’s head. His hair was soft and pleasant to touch.
Jiang Leyun wriggled free from his sister’s grasp, puffing his cheeks. “You always bully me.”
“That’s because you’re my little brother. Come here, let me play with you again.” Jiang Suihan raised her hands in mock threat, pretending to pounce on Jiang Leyun.
The child squealed and scampered behind Xu Zhao, feeling protected, and stuck his tongue out at Jiang Suihan.
Seeing a wall of people in front, Jiang Suihan stopped abruptly, a hint of embarrassment crossing her face. Trying to appear calm, she brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. “Uh, I suddenly feel thirsty. I’m going to get some water.”
She fled in a flurry, her back to the others, hands covering her face, filled with regret.
Would he think she was childish and annoying? This was so embarrassing!
Xu Zhao couldn’t help but smile, thinking she was quite endearing.
Jiang Leyun looked up at Xu Zhao, eager. “Brother Xu, what are you laughing about?”
“Nothing,” Xu Zhao denied.
“You’re lying. I saw you. Adults always love to bully kids.” Jiang Leyun wrinkled his nose and asked, “Brother Xu, I want to ask you something.”
Xu Zhao looked back and replied good-naturedly, “Ask away.”
This little kid was sharp, but a bit too thin. His small face made his eyes look even bigger. Children should eat more and get chubbier to be cuter.
Jiang Suihan, hiding in the kitchen, was unaware that Xu Zhao was already thinking about how to fatten up her younger brother.
Was he very perceptive?
Jiang Leyun stood with his hands behind his back, puffed out his chest, and asked pointedly, “Do you like my sister?”
Cough, cough…
It was like a thunderclap. Xu Zhao couldn’t help but cough a few times and hurriedly looked towards the kitchen but didn’t see Jiang Suihan.
Only then did he turn his gaze back to Jiang Leyun. His face flickered through a range of emotions—surprise, embarrassment, and discomfort—as his ears gradually turned red.
He didn’t understand why Jiang Leyun suddenly asked that. Avoiding the question, he said, “Kids shouldn’t be so nosy. The situation between your sister and me is complicated. It can’t be explained in a sentence or two.”
Jiang Leyun said, “I just asked a question. Just answer yes or no. Is that so hard?”
He sighed, thinking that adults were really troublesome, always speaking in circles.
Under Jiang Leyun’s intense gaze, Xu Zhao felt a bit of a headache and slowly said, “No.”
“What?! My sister is so beautiful, can cook, wash clothes, draw, and tell stories. How can you not like her? If you don’t like her, why were you smiling at her earlier? If you don’t like her, why are you planning to marry her?”
Jiang Leyun stood with his hands on his hips, cheeks puffed up, looking like a little pufferfish. He was so angry that someone couldn’t appreciate his sister’s qualities. Many people wanted to marry her—she was talented, beautiful, wise, and gentle.
The person in front of him was utterly blind. Not liking his sister was unforgivable. He decided never to call him brother again.
Because he wasn’t worthy!
**
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Ayalee[Translator]
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I love this kid. Can he be my brother? I’ll take my sister