Chapter 39

The small kitchen of the local police station wasn’t large, and it was cluttered with various odds and ends. Now, with four more people squeezed in, the already cramped space felt even more crowded.

Tian Hongxing sat on a small stool by the stove, his expression serious as he smoked.

Typically frugal, he only smoked half a cigarette each time, but this time he had already smoked several in a row.

When Er Yatou mentioned that she had found a military quota for San Yatou, he felt nothing but joy for his children and for the opportunity to help his younger sister.

However, upon learning that they also wanted to bring Si Yatou along, he sensed something was amiss.

The children… didn’t trust him.

Yu Yatou and Mi Yatou were likely worried that he wouldn’t be able to protect their younger sister.

Tian Hongxing wanted to argue, but he didn’t know where to begin.

Due to his work, he really couldn’t take care of his family all the time. Sometimes, when dealing with difficult cases, he wouldn’t go home for half a month at a time.

In an ordinary family, there wouldn’t be so much to worry about.

But he knew his own situation all too well. Over the years, his wife had become increasingly stubborn and extreme, and even his elderly parents had grown more difficult to understand due to years of guilt.

On top of that, there was the mindless Lao Da and the calculating eldest daughter-in-law.

How could he ensure that he could always keep an eye on San Ya^[1]Ya – shortened Yatou and Si Ya?

After so many years in law enforcement, Tian Hongxing had seen too much evil. At first glance, his eldest daughter-in-law, Wang Hongyan, didn’t seem like someone easy to deal with.

He wasn’t afraid of bad people, but he couldn’t be on guard against them all the time, nor did he have the right to convict someone before they had even done anything wrong.

Wang Hongyan was the type to bully the weak and fear the strong. Based on his years of experience, she wasn’t likely to commit any major crimes because, fundamentally, she was just a petty tyrant in a small setting.

But… while she wouldn’t dare commit serious offenses, she could still be a nuisance in minor ways.

Could he afford to gamble with his daughter’s reputation?

No!

He couldn’t bear to!

But he also couldn’t bear to send his children away!

For all these years, he had been both father and mother.

It was exhausting; bearing the weight of a somewhat dysfunctional family, he truly felt tired.

There was a time when, overwhelmed by the pressure of having so many children at home, he went months without spending money on a single cigarette. When he felt particularly miserable, he would secretly pick up discarded cigarette butts to take a puff, managing to get through it with just the faint whiff of smoke.

Now that the children were gradually growing up and becoming outstanding, smart, and sensible, he felt both gratified and a bit bittersweet.

Especially after marrying off two daughters.

Not only did the children depend on him, but he also relied on them for support. He still wasn’t ready for all of them to fly away under his wings…

Time quietly slipped by in silence, and no one spoke.

After an unknown period, Tian Hongxing took a deep drag of his cigarette and then exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.

He stubbed out the cigarette butt on the ground, already having made a decision. Just as he was about to speak, a cup of water appeared in front of him.

Tian Hongxing’s gaze, momentarily dazed, followed the water cup upward, and he met Si Ya’s worried eyes. His heart ached, and he raised his big hand to ruffle his daughter’s hair. “Dad is fine.”

Pan Di didn’t say anything, just stubbornly insisted that her father drink water and didn’t want him to smoke anymore. Her second sister had said that cigarettes were bad for his health.

“Okay, okay, okay, Dad will drink,” Tian Hongxing replied, smiling at the corners of his eyes as he took a sip from the cup.

Mmm, the temperature was just right; his daughter was considerate.

“Dad! I’m not going,” Pan Di immediately spoke up when she saw her father finally smile.

“I… I’m not going either,” Lai Di stammered.

“Bang!” When he heard Si Ya say she wasn’t going, Tian Hongxing only smiled, but when he heard San Ya say the same, his expression darkened. He glared and reprimanded her, “What nonsense are you talking about? Do you think military quotas are easy to come by? Do you have any idea how many favors your second sister and brother-in-law had to pull? You can’t just say you don’t want it!”

Lai Di wasn’t very afraid of her father. Even when he scolded her, her little face turned pale, but she still dared to retort, “Isn’t it because you look unhappy?”

Tian Hongxing was momentarily speechless, then sighed, “Dad isn’t unhappy; it’s just that I’m a bit reluctant. You’ve all grown up, and you’re going to such a faraway place… I haven’t seen your eldest sister in over eight years.”

As he spoke, he looked at Pan Di again. “Si Ya, your sister-in-law isn’t easy to deal with. She may not dare to commit serious crimes, but she won’t let go of small matters. It would be troublesome to get tangled up with such a rogue. Besides, there are thieves for a thousand years, but there are no thieves who can be guarded against for a thousand years. Your eldest sister and second sister took you away to protect you. You’ve always been clever; you should know what’s best for you. Don’t feel shy about going; she’s your real sister, and Dad will still give you living expenses. It’s still Dad supporting you…”

Pan Di certainly knew, but… she turned to look at her downcast younger brother and pressed her lips together.

Because their mother’s emotions were often unstable, Xiangyang had been raised mostly by his older sisters since he was little.

Especially since she was only three years older than Xiangyang and they played together the most, they were practically inseparable.

If she went away with San Jie, wouldn’t Xiangyang be left living alone at home? Even if Dad said that Wang Hongyan wouldn’t dare to commit serious crimes, she still felt uneasy; after all, her little brother was only ten years old.

She didn’t understand what constituted a serious crime or a minor offense; in her eyes, any harm to her loved ones was unacceptable.

She still needed to find a way to deal with Wang Hongyan and make her realize she should be cautious.

Seeing Si Ya’s stubborn little expression, Tian Hongxing helplessly poked her on the forehead and decided to discuss the matter later.

He looked at the kids, “Don’t talk about Lai Di going to join the military with anyone when you get back, understand?”

The three kids nodded in unison.

“Not even your classmates or friends, got it?”

“Come on, Dad, we know.”

“You’re such a stubborn one. Forget it, let’s not talk about that for now. Dad brought the household registration book today to change your names.”

Lai Di and Pan Di were surprised. “Me… us?”

“Yes, it’s you. Dad has chosen new names for you. Lai Di will be called Tian Xin(芯 – pith of the rush plant,, used as a lampwick)), and Pan Di will be called Tian Tian^[2]恬 – Calm. Different character from the surname.. How does that sound?” Seeing the kids so happy, Tian Hongxing felt a bit regretful; he shouldn’t have given them such undesirable names just because he had three daughters in a row.

Lai Di’s little face started to blush as she repeatedly mouthed the name Tian Xin, clearly overjoyed.

However, Pan Di looked disgusted. “I don’t like this name; it doesn’t sound powerful at all.”

Tian Hongxing laughed, “Then what kind of powerful name do you want? Isn’t it nice to follow your sisters’ names?”

Pan Di thought for a moment. “Since we’re following the sisters’ names, since Da Jie is called Tian Yu^[3]雨- Rain, I’ll be called Tian Bing^[4]冰 – Ice. That sounds more impressive.”

Now it was Tian Hongxing’s turn to be dissatisfied; wasn’t that a boy’s name? So he waved his hand, “How about Tian Xue? Your eldest sister is Rain, and you are Snow; it fits perfectly.”

“Alright…” Pan Di, now Tian Xue, looked a bit reluctant.

Lai Di, also known as Tian Xin, looked up at her father with longing. “Dad, how about… I change to a cooler name too?”

Tian Hongxing, Tian Xue, Tian Xiangyang… didn’t they have any idea what they looked like?

When Lou Luhui came out of the Brigade Commander’s office, it was already past six in the evening.

Winter nights come early, and by this time, the sky was already filled with twilight. Remembering his wife’s reminders from the morning, he tightened his coat and took larger strides.

As he passed by Lao Chen’s office, he noticed that he was still inside. Guessing that Chen was waiting for him, he knocked on the door and called out, “Lao Chen, let’s go.”

Hearing the noise, Chen Gang looked up at the visitor, immediately put down the documents in his hand, and quickly tidied up his things.

After closing the door behind him, he couldn’t help but bounce a bit; after sitting for a while, his feet were almost frozen numb. “So, how did the discussion go? Who’s going south to buy supplies?”

“I’ll go myself.”

“You? Shouldn’t we send someone else? You just got married to Er Mei a few days ago.” After saying this, Chen Gang closed his mouth. If there were someone else, Commander Wang wouldn’t have chosen Lao Lou.

Thinking about this, he frowned and patted his brother-in-law’s shoulder. “You’d better talk it over with Er Mei.”

Lou Luhui pressed his lips together and didn’t respond.

The room with the heated kang was very warm, especially under the dim light, mixed with the rich and enticing aroma of chicken, which instantly relaxed the men who had been busy all day.

With involuntary smiles, the two quickly took off their coats, hats, and gloves, then slipped off their shoes and changed into the cotton slippers prepared by their girls, heading toward the dining table feeling completely at ease.

Seeing the two men ready to sit down and eat, the sisters turned around and simultaneously scolded, “Go wash your hands.”

The men at home were exceptionally obedient, completely lacking the stern faces and imposing attitudes they had at work; they followed their wives’ orders without question.

Sure enough, the two who had just reached for the edge of the table immediately turned and went to the kitchen, their movements smooth and effortless.

The chicken soup ingredients were not from some frozen chickens found outside but were bought from local villagers when Lou Luhui went back to inspect the village.

In this freezing weather, the reason the chickens were still alive was that they were kept at home.

Tian Mi thought that perhaps the chickens never anticipated such a sudden turn of events. Even without the threat of the cold, they still wouldn’t see another spring.

It was also likely that Lou Luhui’s prices were a bit high, as the honest villagers were especially enthusiastic in helping to slaughter and pluck the chickens. By the time the chickens reached Tian Mi’s hands, all she had to do was defrost them and wash them again.

In the chicken soup at this point, no extra seasoning was needed. She only added a few drops of oil, a pinch of salt, and… a few strands of ginseng root.

Since it was an old hen, it had been simmered for hours, first on high heat, then medium, and finally low. Now, served on the table, the aroma was overwhelmingly rich.

Of course, with seven people at the table, one chicken wouldn’t be enough. The sisters prepared several hearty dishes as well, making it feel as lively as New Year’s with the whole family gathered.

After dinner, the two women sat on the sofa, knitting to help digest their food.

Strictly speaking, Tian Yu was teaching her younger sister to knit, while the men took charge of cleaning up.

When all the pots, pans, and dishes were washed, Tian Yu and her husband took their three children home.

The noise subsided.

Tian Mi and her husband didn’t rush to rest but instead got busy preparing the bathwater.

Both were particular about cleanliness, but the army bathhouse wasn’t open every day, so the rest of the time, they bathed at home.

For this reason, they’d specially placed a bath barrel in the guest room, which had a heated kang bed.

The newlyweds were quite inseparable. While Lou Luhui was heating water, Tian Mi dragged a small stool to the kitchen, clumsily working on her knitting while chatting with her husband.

Seeing the smile on his wife’s face, Lou Luhui suddenly felt reluctant to tell her about his upcoming trip.

But Tian Mi noticed his unease first. “What’s wrong? Is there something you want to tell me?”

Lou Luhui hesitated for a few seconds. “Tian Tian, in a couple of days, I’ll have to go on a mission.”

Hearing this, Tian Mi’s hands paused, and the smile on her face faded. She frowned slightly. “What kind of mission… oh, can I ask that? If you can’t say, just pretend I didn’t ask.”

Seeing that she wasn’t upset, Lou Luhui felt a bit relieved. He scooted his small stool over until he was right next to her and said, “It’s not a dangerous mission. It’s just that this batch of gold, Commander Wang has his eye on it. We should be able to get the funds in the next couple of days. Once we have the money, I’ll head to the south with the procurement team to make purchases.”

“Are you driving there?”

“Yes, driving trucks, and we’ll need several.”

Tian Mi didn’t really understand the way things were managed in the army, so she asked, “Isn’t this the procurement department’s responsibility?”

Feeling it was awkward just sitting there, Lou Luhui decided to reach over to hold her.

But his wife raised her hand to stop him, which made his heart skip a beat—he thought he had upset her.

Unexpectedly, Tian Tian looked at him with slight disdain. “You were just handling the firewood, and you haven’t even washed your hands.”

Hearing this, Lou Luhui ground his teeth, suddenly feeling rebellious. He raised his hand, and with Tian Mi’s slightly exasperated laugh, he managed to swipe her pert nose.

Triumphantly, he even flashed a smug smile.

Tian Mi…

With a quick “slap!” she threw aside her yarn and needles, rolled up her sleeves, and started climbing onto her laughing husband, all the while threatening, “Alright, Hui Hui, you’ve successfully annoyed me! If I don’t teach you a lesson today, I’ll take your last name!”

Worried she might fall, Lou Luhui opened his arms to protect his wife as she climbed onto him, laughingly retorting, “In the old days, once you married me, you’d have to take my last name anyway.”

Tian Mi…

An embarrassed woman is truly formidable.

In the end, her shrieks and laughter filled the small kitchen. The man, extremely ticklish around the waist, ended up begging for mercy just to escape from his little queen’s clutches.

Of course, if he had truly resisted, with her small frame, Tian Mi wouldn’t have stood a chance. But he was more than happy to play along and make her laugh.

After their playful moment, Tian Mi didn’t mind the dust on her husband’s hands anymore. Nestled in his lap, she returned to the previous topic. “…So, you mean you’re going along mainly for protection? Are there really people who would try to steal from the army?”

She had heard that during these times, many lacked awareness of the law, and the crime rate was higher than in later years. Long-haul travelers were often robbed, and losing one’s life over it was not unheard of.

But… robbing the army? They’d have to be insane.

Holding his soft little wife close, Lou Luhui rested his chin on her shoulder, lazily replying, “Better safe than sorry. Having me along makes it even more secure. If something really happened, the loss would be too great.”

That was true. If they encountered some unlucky fool who meant serious harm, the loss wouldn’t just be limited to goods and over half of the unit’s trucks; it could also mean the lives of the procurement soldiers.

Realizing the implications of the situation, Tian Mi asked, “So how long will you be gone?”

“If I drive myself, I should be back in about ten days if nothing goes wrong. It won’t take more than two weeks at most.”

“That’s alright. There’s still over a month until the New Year. You go ahead; I’ll wait for you at home.” Before getting married, Tian Mi had been clear about what she would face as a military wife.

“Not angry?” Lou Luhui’s voice suddenly became a bit hoarse. He had always known that his little wife was mature beyond her years, but he didn’t expect her to be so calm about him leaving on a mission just a few days after their wedding.

Tian Mi hugged her husband’s waist, feigning pride as she hummed lightly. “Just feel proud! Being able to marry a sensible, beautiful, and gentle little fairy like me is your good fortune.”

Lou Luhui buried his face in her shoulder, laughing quietly for a while before questioning, “Gentle?”

“What do you mean? Are you saying I’m not gentle?” Tian Mi reached up to pinch the man’s neck, baring her teeth as if ready to argue.

Lou Luhui quickly corrected his expression. “Gentle, especially gentle.”

“Pfft…”

Before taking a bath, the couple had a habit of soaking their feet first.

To be more precise, it was a habit that Tian Mi had dragged her husband into.

Previously, Lou Luhui would just hurry through it, but one time, she noticed several red, swollen spots on his feet and realized they were probably frostbite. She felt a pang of discomfort at that moment.

The man, however, brushed it off, saying that he was doing well compared to many soldiers whose feet were severely frostbitten.

Tian Mi had never experienced frostbite growing up, nor had her original self. But she had once had a teammate in the diving team who got frostbite every year and said it was particularly itchy.

Thus, she knew a little about how to alleviate frostbite, so before she found a suitable ointment, she insisted on soaking their feet together for half an hour every day.

Tian Mi even thought that even if her husband’s frostbite healed, she would still make him continue soaking his feet. Living in a cold place all year round, she felt the risk of developing rheumatism was high, so soaking their feet might at least have some benefits.

Today was no exception.

Considering the frostbite on her husband’s feet, the water temperature wasn’t very high.

With their noticeably different skin tones, the two pairs of feet were placed in the same tub, the water level reaching their calves. Tian Mi stubbornly placed her feet on top of Lou Luhui’s big feet as she chatted with him about her third and fourth sisters.

“…I just feel Si Meir might not come. That girl is especially headstrong…” As she spoke, Tian Mi recounted how, back when she was in trouble, the little girl managed to exchange two packs of cigarettes for an introduction letter. She sighed, “Pan Di is only 13 in nominal age and was born in the latter half of the year… but she already knows how to weigh her options. Before bribing anyone, she made sure she understood the village accountant’s character to be absolutely sure it would work. She’s sharp as a tack and daring, too.”

This was the first time Lou Luhui had heard about this. Imagining his young wife having such a clever little sister by her side during her difficult times made him look more favorably on this sister-in-law he had yet to meet. “She sounds like a good prospect for the army.”

Tian Mi rolled her eyes at him. “Sure, being in the military is great, but with her brains, our Pan Di would be outstanding at anything.”

Lou Luhui, sensing her protective tone, wisely changed the topic. “You’re worried about her being at home alone?”

“You already know my family’s situation,” Tian Mi replied, her expression growing dark. “In times like these, ruining a girl’s life is far too easy. I’ve never met that conniving sister-in-law of mine, but judging from the little I know, it’s clear she’s ruthless and shameless. Pan Di might be clever, but she’s still young. If that woman tries to force things, with Dad rarely home…” Her face grew somber as she spoke.

It wasn’t that she was being paranoid; Wang Hongyan had a track record, so her fears were well-grounded.

After a few moments of thought, Lou Luhui asked, “Do you think Pan Di is unwilling to come mostly because she doesn’t want to leave Xiang Yang?”

Tian Mi nodded.

“Well, that’s no problem. Bring Xiang Yang over, too. If we’re raising one, raising two isn’t an issue.” Er Jie Fu was particularly generous.

“You think I haven’t thought of that? But it’s unrealistic. Dad cares most about Xiang Yang. He’d never agree to let him come here, and sending both children to be raised by a married daughter is something his pride wouldn’t allow.”

What she didn’t say was that if the children came to stay with her, it would mean leaving her father alone to face her grandparents, mother, and troublesome elder brother. After a while, the emotional strain could make him fall ill.

That’s why she hadn’t even considered bringing Xiang Yang from the start. Besides, Xiang Yang probably wouldn’t want to leave, given how much Dad dotes on him.

It was a vicious cycle. Her father and Xiang Yang couldn’t bear to part, and Pan Di, accustomed to looking after her brother, was unlikely to feel comfortable leaving, either.

Yet, with her father working long hours and rarely home during the day, there would be times he’d fail to keep a close watch over the kids.

Just thinking about how Wang Hongyan could disrupt their lives irritated Tian Mi. Clenching her fists, she said angrily, “If I were home, I’d bag that woman up and teach her a lesson! If she dares even think about pulling anything shady, I’ll pay her back by bagging her precious little brother. I heard she’s very protective of him.”

It seemed fair enough. If Wang Hongyan had designs on marrying her sister off to her foolish brother, Tian Mi wouldn’t hesitate to target her treasured sibling in retaliation.

But now that she was no longer in Chaoyang Village, she was out of reach.

Lou Luhui, playing with her foot under the table, casually suggested, “Actually, there’s another way to solve this.”

Tian Mi immediately looked over. “What way?”

Lou Luhui tilted his chin, pointing smugly to his cheek, clearly asking for something in return.

Stifling a laugh, Tian Mi cupped his face tenderly and then, unable to resist, showered his face with a flurry of playful kisses and nibbles until they were both laughing uncontrollably. She pulled back, batting her eyes dramatically, and asked in a flirtatious tone, “Daren^[5]大人- Title of respect toward superiors., are you satisfied with your humble servant’s service?”

Lou Luhui chuckled, wincing slightly from his sore cheek. “Very satisfied, extremely satisfied.”

Tian Mi huffed. “Then out with it!”

Clearing his throat, Lou Luhui explained, “It’s simple, really. If Dad gets appointed as the town’s police chief, he’ll be eligible for housing. Then, he can bring Xiang Yang and Pan Di to live in town.”