Chapter 2: The Military Compound

A mouth under the nose, eyes wide open—asking questions nonstop.

Lin Yiqiao inquired all the way and finally arrived at the military compound.

She wiped the sweat off her forehead. The sun had turned her fair face slightly red, and her two long, shiny black braids swung behind her, giving her a bold and spirited look.

She’d gotten separated from Sister Liu in the crowd when they got off the train. Looking at the heavily guarded compound entrance, Lin Yiqiao didn’t hesitate and walked right up.

“Comrade, can you tell me how to get to Zhang Guoqiang’s house?”

The young soldier on duty wasn’t very old, his dark eyes shining brightly. He turned his already flushed neck toward her and glanced at Lin Yiqiao. “Entry here requires registration. I can report it for you.”

“Thank you so much,” Lin Yiqiao replied, her smile curving her eyes into crescent moons.

The young soldier quickly ran into the compound. Lin Yiqiao turned and stood in the shade near the guard post, her flushed face reflected in the glass. She kept fanning herself with her hand.

Several soldiers stood nearby in the scorching sun, rifles loaded with live ammunition. Just then, a loud car horn interrupted Lin Yiqiao’s thoughts.

She turned her head—and locked eyes with a man in the back seat of a jeep. Her heart skipped a beat.

The jeep’s window was halfway down, revealing a tall, sturdy figure. Under the brim of his military cap, the man quickly looked away.

The nearby soldiers saluted him, and the vehicle drove smoothly through the gate.

Lin Yiqiao snapped back to reality.

Before she had time to let her imagination run wild, the young soldier returned, now accompanied by a kind-looking woman.

“Yiyi?” the woman walked up and studied her face carefully.

“Auntie!” Lin Yiqiao threw herself forward and was immediately grasped by Qian Ru’s hands.

“Come on, let’s go home. Don’t get tanned standing out here,” Qian Ru said while walking, eyes never leaving Lin Yiqiao. “You’ve grown up—so beautiful,” she kept murmuring.

Her aunt’s house was a two-story detached building—not luxurious, but tidy and spotless. It was in the outer ring of the compound. The inner ring had several grand homes with courtyards, even more impressive.

Qian Ru brought Lin Yiqiao to the sofa. “When I got your letter a few days ago, I tidied up the small room upstairs. You can stay here as long as you like. Xiao Jie is married now, and I’ve been missing the company.”

“Auntie… thank you.” Lin Yiqiao’s eyes welled up with tears. “I really didn’t know what else to do.”

“I’ve heard everything,” Qian Ru gripped her hand. “That stepfather of yours is no good. I’ll go to Haicheng myself and ask your mother—does she want that man or her own daughter?”

Lin Yiqiao blinked. Her mother? She’d long since stopped counting on her.

“Mhm, Auntie, I knew you cared about me most.” She threw herself into Qian Ru’s arms, crying.

Qian Ru gently stroked her hair, heart aching.

Lin Yiqiao had the sweetest mouth of anyone—crying while also sweet-talking her aunt, coaxing her into laughter.

Knowing Lin Yiqiao was arriving today, Qian Ru had prepared a feast: fresh black fish, eggs, meat—everything you could want.

Lin Yiqiao marveled at how high the living standard in the capital was. Her stepfather worked as a junior editor at a newspaper—considered decent in Haicheng. Even then, it was hard to have one egg per person per day. Of course, she never even got a bite.

Thinking of this, she became even more determined to live a good life in the capital.

She insisted on showing off her cooking skills. The two of them bickered in the kitchen until Qian Ru gave in and got pushed out.

Lin Yiqiao looked at the ingredients and hesitated for a few seconds. Honestly, she hated cooking. If not for keeping up her “good girl” image in front of her aunt, she wouldn’t have stepped foot in the kitchen.

The fish was already cleaned. She started by braising it—adding plenty of spices and letting it simmer over low heat.

The dish looked decent when finished. She sneaked a taste of the soup.

Pride really does come before a fall. Her next dish, stir-fried greens, was a complete disaster. As expected—the simpler the dish, the harder it is to cook.

Despite a few bumps along the way, the food eventually made it to the table. At least it looked and smelled good. As for taste… that was another matter.

Before Lin Yiqiao could even finish basking in her success, her uncle, Zhang Guoqiang, arrived home—right on time for dinner.