Chapter 21

“Hahaha, Lao Lu, that’s not fair! You wouldn’t say who you were picking up earlier, keeping it all a secret. And look, I spotted her anyway! Is this Di Mei^[1]Younger brother’s wife?” The man had a sturdy build, and compared to Lou Luhui’s tall and slender frame, he was even more robust, like an iron tower. With his thick eyebrows and large eyes, his features were deep-set, suggesting he might have some ethnic minority ancestry.

As he walked over with big strides, he extended his strong arms to embrace Lou Luhui and clap him on the shoulder.

The dull thud of their greeting made Tian Mi, who was hiding behind her scarf, grimace in sympathy for them.

After the men greeted each other, Lou Luhui introduced the two: “This is my partner, Tian Mi.”

As he said this, he glanced down at the little girl, who was only showing her eyes from beneath her scarf, his tone unconsciously softening: “Tian Mi, this is my good friend, A’er Si Lang, the director of the 621 Farm. He’s Mongolian, but his mother is Han. You can also call him by his Han name, Cheng Lang.”

While Lou Luhui was speaking, Tian Mi started to tug at her scarf covering her face, feeling that it was somewhat impolite to continue hiding.

Unfortunately, she had bundled up too much; in the time it took to say a sentence, she could only manage to awkwardly struggle her hand out of her sleeve.

Seeing this, Lou Luhui lightly coughed, suppressing the laughter that had risen to his throat, and lifted his hand to help her pull down the scarf covering her face.

Tian Mi smiled nonchalantly and slightly arched her brows at the man: “Hello, Comrade Cheng Lang! I’m Tian Mi.”

When Cheng Lang saw the girl’s face, a fleeting surprise crossed his eyes, quickly replaced by a scrutinizing gaze directed at his old friend, reasonably suspecting him of being an old cow eating tender grass^[2]Idiom: A romance where the man is significantly older than the woman.: “Di Mei, no need to be polite. Just call me Lang Ge. I have a life-and-death friendship with Lao Lu.”

Tian Mi instinctively looked up at her partner.

Worried she might get cold, Lou Luhui tugged at her scarf to cover her little face again: “Don’t mind him; Comrade Cheng Lang is a good guy.” After saying this, he ignored his teasing friend and led Tian Mi toward the liberation truck.

“Hey! You’re keeping her well-protected,” Cheng Lang didn’t mind his old friend’s attitude; instead, he felt happy for him having found someone special. He chuckled as he climbed into the driver’s seat.

Once the car started moving, Tian Mi looked outside the window.

The scenery behind them quickly faded, and the train tracks vanished from view, replaced by vast stretches of dense forest.

The sky was darkening, and white mist began to rise, faintly swirling around the mountains and trees.

A few wisps of cold wind slipped through the gaps in the car window, prompting Tian Mi to tighten her scarf. Suddenly, she felt a wave of uncertainty and confusion about impulsively coming to such a strange place.

Just as she questioned whether her choice was a mistake, a sudden wolf howl startled her out of her daze.

Caught off guard, Tian Mi instinctively shivered.

“Was that a wolf just now?  

It really was a wolf, right?”  

“Don’t worry! We’re driving, and wolves can’t keep up!” Although Lou Luhui was chatting casually with Cheng Lang, his gaze remained fixed on the little girl. Seeing her frightened, he immediately patted her shoulder to comfort her.  

Once the girl calmed down, he rolled up one of her sleeves and held her hand, tucking it into his pocket.  

Cheng Lang, who witnessed this entire scene through the rearview mirror, felt a pang of jealousy.  

This young man had always been indifferent towards women; Cheng Lang thought his old friend simply lacked that instinct or didn’t know how to charm girls.  

It seemed now that it wasn’t that he didn’t know, but that he hadn’t met the right person.  

Clearly, when someone is in your heart, some actions come naturally, even for a man as aloof and proud as Lou Luhui.  

However, Cheng Lang genuinely felt happy for his friend. He was three years older than Lou Luhui, with a child at home already fourteen.  

Concerned that the girl might be scared away by the environment, he couldn’t help but joke to lighten the mood: “Di Mei, don’t be afraid! What’s so scary about wolves? If you really encounter one, just grab a stick and bang it on the ground. The noise will scare the wolves away!”  

Tian Mi tugged at the corner of her mouth: “So, I’m supposed to bang a stick and then shiver in fear with the wolves?”  

“Hahaha! As long as you act tough, they’ll be scared,” Cheng Lang imagined the scene described by the little girl and burst into hearty laughter.  

“Don’t listen to Cheng Lang’s nonsense. He’s talking about lone wolves. Wolves are pack animals, and banging a stick won’t help. But don’t worry; it’s very safe in the military camp.” Worried that his partner might take his friend’s silly remarks seriously, Lou Luhui gently explained.  

Cheng Lang chuckled at this.  

Tian Mi also laughed; she wasn’t foolish—she had sensed from the start that Cheng Lang was teasing her, which was why she responded that way.  

An hour and a half later.  

The sky had completely darkened.  

With the yellow headlights of the pickup truck, a “squeak” sounded as the vehicle came to a steady stop in front of the guesthouse.  

Lou Luhui got out first, helping Tian Mi down before going to the back of the truck to retrieve their luggage.  

“You two go ahead and check in. I’ll see how dinner is coming along.” After locking the car, Cheng Lang tossed his identification to his friend.  

Once Lou Luhui caught it, Cheng Lang strode into the dusk, calling out from a distance, “Same place as before! Bring your sister-in-law over early; I made the reservation this morning.”  

“Got it!” Lou Luhui replied.  

“Where should we eat?” The darkness loomed like a giant beast swallowing everything, with a chilling wind howling, creating an eerie “whooo” sound that made one’s heart race. When Cheng Lang’s figure disappeared from sight, Tian Mi retracted her gaze and asked, trying to remain calm.  

Lou Luhui immediately sensed her tension from the slight strain in her voice. He balanced all three suitcases in one hand and used the other to wrap around her protectively as they walked into the guesthouse.  

He kept talking to distract her: “It’s not far, about a hundred meters away. Just a few steps and we’ll be there. It’s not a remote place. Uncle Cha Gan’s lamb skewers are famous around here. We’re in for a treat! By the way, do you eat lamb?”  

Tian Mi nodded. As they entered the guesthouse, she handed her introduction letter and money to her partner for check-in before shaking her head: “I’m not picky.”

Inside, she was pondering, Can private business really be done here? Is there a chance for my wallet to get a little fatter? Or is this Uncle Cha Gan also part of a state-run restaurant?

Perhaps sensing her confusion, Lou Luhui spoke softly, “I’ll explain it to you in detail later.”  

After saying this, he glanced at the large bill that was set out, paused for a few seconds, and ultimately decided against refusing her money, calmly reaching out to accept it.  

From their short time together over the past couple of days, he had a rough idea of what kind of person his partner was.  

Although he felt that his money was also hers, it was clear that the little girl didn’t see it that way.  

Lou Luhui, while disappointed, could only comfort himself that there was no rush; she would eventually be willing to use his money.  

While the man was checking in, Tian Mi curiously examined the environment of the guesthouse.  

It seemed to be newly built in the past few years. Unlike the majority of thatched-roof houses made of mud and straw that lined the road, this guesthouse was constructed with red bricks and had two stories, which was considered quite impressive for that era.  

There was also a telephone at the counter; perhaps tomorrow morning she could borrow it to call the police station and report her safety.  

The check-in process was quick. Before Tian Mi could thoroughly inspect the place, the service staff took out the keys and led them upstairs.  

Tian Mi guessed that the military uniforms Lou Luhui had on, with its four pockets, played a significant role in the service staff’s warm hospitality, which made her feel a bit unaccustomed.  

The three rooms were right next to each other, with Tian Mi staying in the innermost room, while Lou Luhui chose the one in the middle.  

Once inside, she didn’t take off her outer coat since they still had to go out for dinner. Instead, she just set her luggage down and glanced around the room.  

As expected, there was a heated kang bed, but it wasn’t lit yet. According to the service staff, it would warm up soon.  

Unexpectedly, in addition to the basic wardrobe and table, there was a half-length mirror embedded in the wardrobe.  

It was bittersweet; ever since she arrived in this world, the largest mirror she had seen was only the size of her palm.  

However, Tian Mi merely sighed, realizing that she was currently bundled up like a ball, so it didn’t really matter whether she could see herself in the mirror.  

Ugh, if only I had a down jacket.  

Old cotton coats and military overcoats were really so heavy!  

“Zī—”  

Hot oil dripped into the charcoal fire, producing a mouthwatering sound.  

It smelled so delicious!  

The lamb, glistening with oil, was grilled to perfection, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Taking a bite was an ultimate pleasure, with the fresh meat being incredibly flavorful.  

Tian Mi felt that the taste was even better than the whole roasted lamb she had specially gone to the grasslands to eat; it must have been due to the quality of the ingredients.  

At this time, the cattle and sheep were fed on green food, all-natural.  

Unlike in her previous life, where advertisements claimed “all-natural” while the food the cattle and sheep ate still contained various undesirable impurities.

The prairie man was enthusiastic, and Cheng Lang didn’t even consider whether the three of them could finish it and ordered half a roasted lamb.

Thanks to her partner cutting it into small pieces, Tian Mi let go of her reservations and focused on digging in.

Earlier, Lou Luhui mentioned that the atmosphere here was not as tense as in the south. Because it was so remote, even if there were disturbances outside, with people alarmed and fearful, it felt stable here.

Most importantly, the indigenous people were united. As long as the public remained discreet and didn’t make too much noise, generally, no one would investigate.

So, Uncle Cha Gan only served familiar customers.

As she swallowed another piece of fragrant roasted leg of lamb with satisfaction, Tian Mi deeply appreciated the benefits of being in such a remote place; otherwise, she would have missed out on this earthly delicacy.

After eating and drinking their fill, when they bid farewell to the honest Uncle Cha Gan, all three of them carried the strong scent of roasted meat.

Tian Mi felt warm all over as her partner held her hand, worried she might fall, and led her back to the guesthouse.

On the way, Cheng Lang invited Lou Luhui to go to the bathhouse after finishing the roasted meat, saying that a soak would be the highest form of hospitality at that moment.

Lou Luhui liked cleanliness and realized it had been several days since he last bathed.

It was inconvenient to freshen up on the train, and he could only wipe himself down in the bathroom every day. Hearing the suggestion made him tempted, but he was also somewhat worried about his partner, so he didn’t respond right away.

However, Tian Mi perked up at the mention of the bathhouse: “Can I go? Is the women’s bathhouse open today?”

Cheng Lang chuckled, thinking his sister-in-law’s straightforward personality suited him well. He raised his voice and said, “Of course! Why wouldn’t it be open? It’s open every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Let’s go! We’ll rest for a bit before heading over. I’ll tell you, after sitting on a train for a few days, soaking in a bath and then sleeping on the kang bed will guarantee you feel completely relaxed tomorrow!”

“…”

It was indeed very comfortable, an unparalleled sense of relaxation.

The next day, when Tian Mi woke up from the warmth, she still felt all soft and fluffy.

Since arriving in this world, she had never slept better or more soundly than she did last night.

Of course, this was likely also due to the fact that she had been restless on the train for an entire week and was overly fatigued.

Traveling alone required vigilance, so she had never slept well; even in the last two days when Lou Luhui came to pick her up, the small bed couldn’t be that comfortable.

Thinking of this, Tian Mi stretched a big lazy stretch under the soft quilt and rolled around a few times before finally getting up to dress.

When she opened the door, the biting cold hit her face, instantly waking her from the warmth.

Tian Mi stepped out from the warm room, feeling the chill in the air; it seemed colder than yesterday. She tucked her chin in and buried her little face into her scarf.

She turned to close the door behind her, glancing at the bright sky, and felt a bit troubled. She wasn’t sure what time it was. It couldn’t be too late, could it?  

Just as she was hesitating whether to go downstairs or knock on her partner’s door, the door next door opened from the inside.

Lou Luhui was neatly dressed and looked refreshed, clearly having been up for a while.

Tian Mi awkwardly smiled, “Good morning, did I oversleep? What time is it now?”

“Good morning! You didn’t oversleep; it’s only seven. Are you going to freshen up?” Lou Luhui said with a smile, and even though he said that, he had already closed the door and walked over, clearly planning to accompany her.

Seeing this, Tian Mi pursed her lips and smiled, “What time did you wake up?”

“Five o’clock.”

“That early?”

“I’m used to it in the army. Did you sleep well last night?”

“Pretty well. Have you eaten yet?”

“Not yet. I’ll wait for you.”

“…”

During their simple and warm conversation, they had already arrived at the public washroom. It provided hot water all day long, with steam rising from the boiler. Lou Luhui was worried Tian Mi might burn herself, so he mixed the water just right and brought it over for her.

Though she had never been in a relationship, Tian Mi had seen others in love, and she quickly set aside the awkwardness of being cared for like a little baby. Feeling cheerful, she bent down to start tidying up herself.  

Ahem, having a partner is actually quite nice.

H Province was vast. Although it belonged to the same city area, it was still over five hours’ drive to get to the army base, assuming the road conditions were good.  

After breakfast, Cheng Lang drove them to the station.  

With no heavy snow these past few days, the farm was busy, and many places needed trucks. Otherwise, he would have driven them directly back to the base.  

“When you get married, you better let me know. I’ve been waiting for Lao Lou’s wedding feast for ages,” Cheng Lang’s earnest reminder made the young couple blush again as they parted ways.

Both of them were too shy to look at each other, only glaring at the blabbermouth.

Seeing this, Cheng Lang burst into laughter and, disregarding their reddening faces, whistled loudly before driving off.

Tian Mi and Lou Luhui were both adults, and after bidding farewell to the warm-hearted Mongolian man, they got on the minibus as if nothing happened.

Most of the seats were already taken, so they took their luggage to the back.

The bus had no heating, and not only Tian Mi and Lou Luhui, but everyone was dressed in thick coats.

After placing their luggage, the two of them sat close together, chatting softly. The journey ahead didn’t seem too unbearable.  

836th Unit.

Tian Yu happily walked home, hugging a large chunk of fresh mutton she had received from the Quartermaster^[3]An officer who supervises logistics and requisitions, manages stores or barracks, and distributes supplies and provisions..

Her husband earned 78 yuan a month, and due to the harsh environment here, the organization provided an additional allowance, so he brought home nearly 100 yuan each month.

After sending 20 yuan back home for the elderly support and occasionally mailing some items to her in-laws, the remaining money was considered their household expenses.

Meat was relatively cheap here, and they grew most of their vegetables themselves. So even if they saved three to four tens each month, life at home was still fairly comfortable.

In fact, they had frozen meat at home, so there was no need to buy more.  

However, Tian Yu was concerned that Mi Yatou wasn’t getting to eat well at home and wondered how thin she might have gotten, so she thought of buying a piece of fresh meat.

The thought of her second sister being able to eat her fill made her chop the meat even more nimbly.

“Saozi, are you home?”

Just as she was putting the chopped lamb pieces into a bucket to wash and soak the blood, Tian Yu heard a familiar voice.

She stood up, wiped her hands on her apron, and quickly walked out, “Xiao Yun? Come in! Why are you standing outside calling?”

As she spoke, Tian Yu had already pushed open the wooden door.

To her surprise, it wasn’t just her good friend Ge Yun standing outside, but also a girl she didn’t recognize.

She smiled and asked, “Who’s this?”

Ge Yun herself was unsure about what her little sister-in-law was up to. She had just arrived on the island yesterday but couldn’t stay still and insisted on coming out for a stroll, specifically wanting to visit Tian Saozi’s home.  

At first, she didn’t want to, but her husband said Tian Saozi was a good person who could chat with anyone in the army. Plus, she was warm-hearted, and perhaps she could help her sister-in-law find a good man, so Ge Yun thought it would be good for her sister-in-law to get familiar with Tian Saozi.

Ge Yun genuinely liked Tian Saozi and didn’t want to introduce someone like her sister-in-law to her. After breakfast, she sent her husband off and busied herself around the house without mentioning the matter.

Unexpectedly, her well-dressed sister-in-law ran out on her own without needing guidance.

Worried that her sharp-tongued sister-in-law might offend someone, Ge Yun had no choice but to put down her work, hold her child, and follow after her.

But upon arriving at Tian Saozi’s home, with an extra sister-in-law present, Ge Yun didn’t go in directly like usual; instead, she stood at the door and called out.

Seeing Tian Saozi still wearing a warm smile, Ge Yun felt even more awkward, as if she was causing trouble. She stammered to introduce, “Saozi, this is my Xiao Guzi^[4]小姑子 – Xiao Guzi: Husband’s younger sister Qian Jingjing, who just arrived on the island yesterday.”

Upon hearing this, Tian Yu greeted them into the house without showing any surprise, but her mind began to churn.

A few days ago, her husband had mentioned that Qian Sheng wanted to introduce his sister to Regiment Commander Lou.  

So, what was the meaning of this visit?  

Especially since this girl named Qian Jingjing, even with a smile on her face, couldn’t hide the scrutinizing look in her eyes and unconcerned gaze.

Was she looking down on her?

She didn’t care much about the scorn of a young girl; she just felt a bit sorry for Ge Yun, the silly sister, for having to deal with such a sister-in-law. Life ahead was likely to be tough.

Plus, there was that pretentious husband of hers. Sigh.

Although Tian Yu had various thoughts in her heart, she didn’t show it on her face. She warmly prepared sweet water for them and grabbed a handful of roasted peanuts before sitting down with her chubby daughter to chat with the two.

Perhaps feeling confident because she had the upper hand, Qian Jingjing hardly spoke throughout the conversation. Instead, she held the sweet water and sipped it delicately.

Her brother was right; Tian Saozi indeed didn’t look as good as her, and her figure was even worse. Compared to her plump sister-in-law, she was hardly any better. One could imagine that her sister, who resembled her, would probably be no better off.

The 836th Army was located on an island.

Aside from a main road, the other three sides were surrounded by water.

Every day, the logistics department of the army would go to nearby farms to buy supplies.

Tian Mi and the others took the 8:30 AM bus.

With stops and starts, they arrived at their destination at around 3 PM.

This was an hour and a half later than expected because it started snowing halfway through the journey.

Fortunately, the snow fell during the second half of the trip; otherwise, if it piled up, the wheels would have slipped, and they would have had to stay on the bus to endure the wait or find a place to spend the night.

Before getting off the bus, the two quickly had a few bites of hard mantou and chewed on some jerky, using the water from the military flask that Lou Luhui had kept warm in his arms to wash it down.

At that moment, they weren’t hungry. Braving the wind and snow, they trudged through the deepening snow, making crunching sounds with each step as they moved toward the spot where the procurement vehicle was parked.

The heavy snow had only been falling for a little over an hour, yet the landscape had transformed completely. The snow on the ground even reached above their ankles, creating a dreamlike white expanse.

Tian Mi suspected it was at least minus thirty degrees, but her mood was good. Despite the biting north wind and the snowflakes hitting her, she still had the leisure to look around.

After all, it was going to be the place she would live in the future.

Perhaps due to the proximity of the army, she noticed that this small town appeared much more organized than most of the houses they encountered on the road.

In the distance, she even spotted a two-story building.

Lou Luhui mentioned that was the place where the army’s guesthouse procurement vehicle was parked, and there was a small pavilion that could barely shield them from the wind and snow.

As they entered, Tian Mi stomped the snow off her shoes and felt a pang of sympathy in her heart.

No wonder her eldest sister hadn’t returned home in eight years; it must have been too difficult.

She was already struggling a bit on her own, let alone her older sister with a child.

“Cold feet?”

“Not cold!” When she got off the bus, her feet were indeed numb from sitting for too long, but after struggling to walk a few hundred meters, she had warmed up. 

Besides, her boots were thick, waterproof, and were specially brought for her by a man, including the military coat she was wearing.

She had to admit that if Lou Luhui hadn’t been so well-prepared, she wouldn’t have been able to withstand it with just her old cotton shoes.

Hmm… Her partner was so considerate; that definitely scores points. 

Thinking this, she amused herself and raised her head to smile at him.

Lou Luhui took off his gloves and gently brushed the snowflakes off the girl’s long, fan-like eyelashes.

He also smiled, and the little girl seemed to have a magical effect; just looking at her lifted his spirits.

Tian Mi blinked awkwardly and tried to strike up a conversation. “When is the procurement vehicle coming?”

Just as she finished speaking, the sound of an engine humming could be heard.

She leaned forward and, sure enough, saw a vehicle faintly approaching through the white snow mist.

There was no sun today.

By evening, the sky had grown dark and ominous.

Tian Yu had been busy all day preparing several hearty dishes.

As she noticed that it was almost dark and her younger sister had yet to arrive, she started to feel anxious. She grabbed her coat, changed her shoes, put on her hat and scarf, wrapping herself up tightly, ready to head out.

Before leaving, she shouted to her older and second child, “Mom’s going to pick up Er Yi^[5]Second Aunt/mother’s sister. You two watch over your sister, and no sneaking snacks, okay?”

Her oldest, Chen Xun, already 13 years old and somewhat of a young adult, rolled his eyes while holding his sister, “Just go already.”

Hey, that brat seems annoyed by her! Tian Yu laughed and scolded him lightly before pushing the door open to leave.

However, she had only taken a few steps when she ran into her husband, Chen Gang, and Zhou Jianxue, who were coming home from work. She greeted them warmly, “Jianxue and Lao Chen, go inside and warm up. I’m going to check on the procurement department.”

Hearing this, Chen Gang frowned. “Lao Lou and Er Mei haven’t arrived yet?”

Zhou Jianxue looked at the darkening sky. “It’s probably the heavy snow; the roads are difficult to drive on.”

Tian Yu felt anxious. “They still haven’t arrived? I’m worried. You two go inside; I’ll go check.” Saying this, she stepped outside again.

Chen Gang let Zhou Jianxue go in first and then hurried after his wife.

On the way, Tian Yu told her husband about Qian Jingjing coming over and sighed, “That girl seems formidable; Ge Yun is going to have a tough time.”

“Did she make things difficult for you?” Chen Gang, thinking his wife had been bullied, darkened his expression and spoke in an unpleasant tone.

He was well aware of the schemes of the Qian siblings. He didn’t care how they calculated things, but putting their intentions on his wife was unacceptable.

Tian Yu waved her hand. “Not really, why would she make things difficult for me? We have no grudges; she barely said anything.” As for being looked down upon, she didn’t plan to tell her husband; it wasn’t worth mentioning. After all, Qian Sheng and her husband were still comrades and would have to work together.

After hearing his wife’s explanation, Chen Gang still felt dissatisfied.

Every political commissar had a few tricks up their sleeve. Therefore, even if the girl from the Qian family said nothing, he could still guess their intentions regarding his family.

Chen Gang didn’t want to share those dirty little thoughts with his wife. He quickly suppressed his anger, raised his hand to support his wife’s back, and said gently, “If you don’t like her, just keep your distance. Their family is interested in Lao Lou; they probably heard about Er Mei and came to probe the situation.”

“So what if they’re interested? What’s the point of making a fuss around us? If she has the ability to make Regiment Commander Lou like her, that’s her own skill. We can find another man for our little sister. Mi Yatou is such a good girl; it shouldn’t be hard for her to find a man,” Tian Yu complained, unable to help but vent her frustration at Lou Luhui as well; it was a hassle that the young man was so good-looking.

“Stop right there; you can’t say that. If Lao Lou had other intentions, would he bother to go pick someone up? Not to mention, he even specifically asked about Er Mei’s shoe size and height before setting off and brought warm clothes and shoes for her. That shows how considerate he is toward her. You’re being a bit ungrateful there, Comrade Xiaoyu!” Chen Gang ended with a playful warning.

Tian Yu was just angry earlier, but after hearing her husband’s words, she realized she shouldn’t have taken it out on him. She quickly apologized, “Oh, my fault, my fault! I’m just worried that Er Yatou might get taken advantage of by that Qian Jingjing. Compared to her, my Tian Mi is just a silly, innocent girl.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Gang smiled but didn’t say anything.

He found it amusing that, based on just a few brief phone calls, he could tell that his sister-in-law wasn’t the type to lack cleverness.

Of course, he meant “cleverness” in a positive way.

People really can’t stand being nagged.

Sure enough, the couple hadn’t even reached the procurement department when they caught sight of a familiar figure through the swirling white mist.

There was no way around it; in the entire 836th Unit, apart from Zhou Jianxue, only Lou Luhui stood out with such height.

Tian Yu’s face lit up with joy as she raised her legs to run forward, ignoring her husband’s repeated caution of “be careful not to slip.” Excitedly, she called out while running, “Er Mei! Mi Yatou!!!”

Hearing the voice, Tian Mi’s eyes lit up as well. She immediately let go of her partner’s sleeve and ran forward, too.

The two sisters met like they were reuniting on a bridge made of magpies, quickly embracing each other, jumping, and laughing in excitement.

Seeing this, the two men who followed couldn’t help but shake their heads with amusement. They looked just like kids.

The sisters cherished each other immensely, especially Tian Yu, who was laughing one moment and crying the next.

She missed her family so much.

People are complex. As a child, for various reasons, she wasn’t favored by her grandparents and mother.

So, by the time she graduated from high school and received a letter from her classmate Chen Gang, who asked if she would marry him and go to the army, she agreed after considering it for just one night.

At that time, she just wanted to escape the place that suffocated her so much.

But now, after being here for eight years, the once vivid and dark memories that had urged her to escape have faded, leaving only the increasingly clear feeling of missing her family.

Introducing her younger sister to the army was also a bit of her selfish desire.

She secretly hoped to have a blood relative from her family by her side.

Crying has always been contagious, and Tian Mi, inheriting the emotions of her original self, was surrounded by an inexplicable feeling of bitterness rising in her heart.

Then, tears flowed out in an instant.  

“Wuwuwu. Mi Yatou has changed; she doesn’t look much like she did when she was little. She’s grown up and has become more beautiful.”

The two sisters cried together for a while, then, under the men’s coaxing, they wiped each other’s tears and linked arms, happily walking toward the family area.

It was at this moment that Tian Yu finally saw her younger sister’s appearance clearly; the little girl was stunning, like a blooming flower.

When she left home, Mi Yatou was only 12 years old. The environment was tough during those two years, and the children in the family didn’t get enough nutrition. In her memory, her younger sister was just a skinny little girl with a pale face.

Now, after several years without seeing her, she had grown into someone so eye-catching. To put it elegantly, she was like a beauty with delicate features and skin as white as snow, and Tian Yu was a bit taken aback.

Tian Mi curved her brows and eyes: “I suppose I’ve grown up and developed. In fact, my eyes still look very much like yours, Jie.”

“Indeed!” Tian Yu fixed her gaze on her sister’s eyes and then began to laugh heartily. “I’ve thought you looked like me since you were little. By the way, how are Lai Di and Pan Di? Have they changed a lot? When I left, one was only 8 years old, the other 5, and the little brother was even younger, only 2!”

As she spoke, she reached out to adjust her sister’s scarf, which had slipped down, playfully chiding, “You know, I just praised you for growing up, and now this reveals the truth—you can’t even wrap your scarf properly!”

Her voice was gentle, and the way she looked at her sister sparkled with warmth and affection, making Tian Mi’s nose tingle again. She suddenly let go of all the inexplicable defenses and ridiculous pride she had built up since coming here.

She reached out and hugged her sister again, rubbing her little face against her shoulder until she wiped away her tears, then softly said, “Da Jie, thank you.”

Thank you for reaching out to me when I was at my most helpless.

Thank you for your attitude, full of joy and warmth.

And thank you for continuously sending warmth my way.

“Foolish girl, you’re my sister; blood ties can never be broken. Why be so polite with me? Just treat this place like your own home,” Tian Yu was momentarily stunned by her younger sister’s words, then hugged her back and patted her on the back, the corners of her eyes crinkling into a beautiful smile.

Tian Mi wanted to say that wasn’t true; blood ties don’t necessarily mean affection.

But the atmosphere was too wonderful at that moment, and she didn’t want to spoil it.

Moreover, what she hadn’t said was that she wasn’t careless about wrapping her scarf.

Actually, once she got on the procurement vehicle, she took off her scarf and began redoing her hair.

This was her first public appearance. 

Still in the capacity of someone’s partner.

Tian Mi considered herself a somewhat ordinary girl; who doesn’t like to look pretty?

It felt a bit like… um… it felt like the time in college when her roommate dressed up nicely to meet her partner’s friends, that careful and excited mood.

At that moment, she had to be the most beautiful one!  

Besides, under safe conditions, she also had a bit of vanity, okay?

It was already ugly enough to be bundled up like a dumpling; if she didn’t put in some effort to present herself, it would be a total waste.

However, all these little thoughts and bits of vanity seemed to become less important amid her sister’s worried reminders about her getting cold.

Ahem, well, of course, not seeing many people on the way was also a reason.

After a long separation, it was a family reunion.

Today, the Chen family was undoubtedly lively.

When she arrived at her sister’s house, Tian Mi placed her luggage in the separate room that had been specially prepared for her. Before she could appreciate the cozy decorations inside, she heard her sister’s loud voice calling everyone to dinner.

Tian Mi curved her brows and eyes with a smile, quickly shedding her heavy military coat and cotton jacket, and stepped out of the room, holding the gifts she had bought for her nephews.

“This outfit looks nice; it’s better than those gaudy red and green ones. The style suits you. I’ve saved up some fabric here to make some clothes for you.” Tian Yu knew the family’s conditions; even if there was fabric, a large portion would surely go to Changqing, so there probably wouldn’t be much for her younger sister to wear.

The girl had grown up and reached the age where she should start dressing up.

Before Tian Mi could refuse, she saw her partner, sitting on the sofa, stand up and walk over.

Then, in the bemused and shocked gazes of everyone, Lou Luhui naturally took the bag from the little girl’s hands and set it aside.

Afterward, the man wrapped his partner’s small hand in his palm and led her to sit down at the table, speaking in a deep voice, “Saozi’s tickets are for the kids. Tian Mi is my partner; the fabric tickets I saved up are for her.”