Xu Suining was stunned. She stepped outside to collect the telegram, feeling anxious. She really hoped it wasn’t from Xu’s ridiculous former lover.

The mailman waited for her to sign for it, then handed her the telegram along with a letter. “You’ve also got a letter.”

She glanced at the sender’s name. It was signed by Chen Jingchen. Her vision nearly went dark. It really was him.

She had no interest in reading it. She opened the telegram first. Just four words: Father sick, send money.

Xu Suining pretended not to see it and tucked it back into the envelope. She returned inside and brought it up to Huo Qingshan on her own. “One telegram and one letter. The letter’s from someone named Chen Jingchen. I don’t even know him. Why would he write to me?”

As she spoke, she picked up the kettle and tossed both the letter and the telegram inside.

There was no way she was sending money to her so-called family.

Huo Qingshan looked a little surprised. She burned them without even opening them?

Xu Suining quickly used the moment to make her stance clear. She went back into the room, grabbed a diary and some old letters, and threw them all into the stove. Watching the flames rise, she looked at Huo Qingshan seriously.

“I’ve read all of it. I think the version of me before the accident was immature, maybe even influenced by capitalist notions of romance.”

“So I’m drawing a clear line with the past. I want to live a proper life with you.”

Huo Qingshan looked into her determined eyes, stayed quiet for a moment, then said, “Put the kettle on. If the fire flares up, it’ll catch the newspapers on the wall.”

Xu Suining paused and looked down. Sure enough, the flames were about to lick the paper tacked up behind the stove. She quickly set the kettle on. Then she glanced at Huo Qingshan, who had calmly gone back to clearing the dishes.

She wasn’t sure if he really took her words to heart.

That afternoon, Huo Qingshan brought over four soldiers and a cart loaded with logs and wooden planks.

Xu Suining was thrilled. In times like this, it was hard to get materials like that.

Luckily, she had already drawn a simple layout. She handed it to Huo Qingshan and explained the kind of shed she wanted, where the stove should go, and that a sink was needed under the outdoor tap.

Huo Qingshan glanced at her drawing. It was surprisingly clear. He quickly understood and gave the soldiers instructions. They got to work right away.

Xu Suining watched for a bit, then went inside to boil water and make tea.

The news that Commander Huo’s household was building an outdoor kitchen spread quickly. People were shocked. Everyone knew Xu Suining had always acted like a pampered young lady who didn’t do anything and wore a long face every day.

How did she come back after three days and change so much?

Feng Shunhua heard the commotion too. She came out carrying her sister’s youngest son and saw Xu Suining standing next to Huo Qingshan, smiling and chatting with him.

Her heart filled with envy.

She had lived fifty years, all the way to 2004, and had witnessed the country’s economic rise.

How could she lose to Xu Suining?

The child in her arms was only two years old, standing under the sun with sweat pouring down and whining in discomfort.

Feng Shunhua got an idea. “Don’t cry, Huzi. Want to watch the uncles build a house? I’ll take you over.”

She carried the boy toward Huo Qingshan and Xu Suining.

When she reached them, she smiled and explained to Huo Qingshan, “Brother Huo, Huzi was fussing to see the building work, so we came to have a look.”

Huo Qingshan just gave her a glance and turned back around without saying anything.

Xu Suining found it a little funny. Judging by the sweat on the child’s forehead, they had probably been standing in the sun for a while before coming over.

Clearly, Feng Shunhua had been watching from a distance but couldn’t hold back.

Feng Shunhua, seeing that Huo Qingshan ignored her, moved closer to Xu Suining. “Sister-in-law, you’re building a small kitchen?”

Xu Suining nodded. “It’s hot. Cooking indoors is too stuffy.”

Feng Shunhua wasn’t giving up. “Sister-in-law, Brother Huo really treats you well.”

Xu Suining looked at her and said with a hint of a smile, “He’s my husband and the father of my child. If he doesn’t treat me well, who should he treat well?”

She said it loud and clear. Huo Qingshan heard every word. He couldn’t help the redness creeping up his ears. This woman had not only changed but had grown bolder too.

Feng Shunhua was left speechless. She still wasn’t willing to believe Xu Suining really wanted to build a life with Huo Qingshan.

Could it be that her rebirth had changed everyone’s fate?

Or maybe even in the last life, at this point in time, Xu Suining and Huo Qingshan had already begun to grow closer but she died giving birth?

She looked again at Huo Qingshan with a reluctant gaze. Did she really have to wait another six months?

Feng Chunhua came out looking for the child. From a distance, she saw Feng Shunhua holding her son and staring longingly at Huo Qingshan. She rushed over.

“Shunhua, why did you bring Huzi here? He hasn’t had his nap yet.”

She took the child and gave her sister a sharp look.

Xu Suining had clearly seen through their small exchange. So Feng Chunhua knew her sister’s intentions.

Feng Shunhua sounded wronged. “Huzi wanted to come. He pointed this way when he heard the noise.”

Feng Chunhua glared again. “He’s two. What does he know? You’re the one with things written all over your face. Go wash the dishes in the basin. I’ll put him to sleep.”

Feng Shunhua had no choice but to leave. As she turned, she stole another glance at Huo Qingshan.

Feng Chunhua was so angry she could scream. Her sister was shameless.

Xu Suining was quite happy watching the drama unfold.

After Feng Shunhua left, Feng Chunhua smiled and greeted Xu Suining. “Building a kitchen too? Looks pretty well done.”

Xu Suining knew Feng Chunhua didn’t like her. She was only being polite now to ease the awkwardness from scolding her sister. So she smiled. “Yes. It’s just more convenient.”

Feng Chunhua nodded and quickly changed the subject. “Shunhua is still young and playful. Our family spoiled her growing up. But she’s smart. If the times had been better, she’d have done great in school.”

Xu Suining raised her eyebrows. “She really doesn’t seem like an eighteen-year-old. Very mature. Are you thinking of finding her a match in the regiment?”

Feng Chunhua paused, then forced a smile. “She’s still young. Our parents aren’t in a hurry to arrange anything.”

Xu Suining didn’t say more. Whether Feng Shunhua was the female lead in some books didn’t matter. As long as she stayed alive, the original storyline would fall apart.

By sunset, the small kitchen was finished exactly as Xu Suining had drawn it. It even exceeded her expectations.

The soldiers had layered the roof with fresh poplar branches. The scent of the green wood lingered in the air.

Huo Qingshan had found a stone trough somewhere, cleaned it, and propped it under the tap using stones. It became a large and sturdy sink.

Xu Suining looked it over. It was probably meant for feeding pigs or donkeys. But it worked well and gave the space a rustic, down-to-earth feeling.

The soldiers washed their hands and got ready to leave. Xu Suining handed each of them a piece of stale bread. It was the only thing she could offer.

The four young men awkwardly accepted the bread, pushing and joking with each other as they ran off toward the setting sun.

Xu Suining felt a quiet energy just watching them. Then she turned to Huo Qingshan, who was still washing his hands.

“Why don’t you move back in tonight?” she said.