Chapter 32: Dumplings on the Car, Noodles on the Bus

The greenhouse had started planting various vegetables, and Lin Momo had planted sweet potatoes in the fertile soil.

When Li He came over, Lin Momo was inside the greenhouse, sorting the vegetable seeds. Li He had brought some vegetables along.

“Li He, we still haven’t finished the vegetables you gave me last time,” Lin Momo said with a smile.

“It’s almost snow season. If I don’t harvest the vegetables from the yard soon, they’ll freeze,” Li He said as she placed the vegetables on the table in the living room.

“Actually, I came over this time because I wanted to ask you something,” Li He said, looking somewhat embarrassed.

“Li He, if you have any questions, just ask,” Lin Momo reassured her.

“Well, Zhao, my husband, keeps saying how good the vegetables from your family taste. He asked me to come over and find out how you make them.”

“Li He, honestly, there’s no secret to cooking. I just brought a lot of spices with me when I came with the military,” Lin Momo explained. Most of the flavor in her cooking came from the spices she bought from the supermarket.

“No wonder. I thought the taste would be the same, but our cooking is different. Now it all makes sense,” Li He said.

“Li He, I’ll give you some of my spices. When you cook meat, just add a little, and I guarantee it’ll smell much better.” Lin Momo went into the kitchen and packed some spices for braised meat.

“You’re too kind, you brought this from home; I feel bad accepting it.”

“It’s fine. My mom will send me more soon,” Lin Momo said with a smile.

“Also, the pickled beans I gave you last time, you can steam them with meat, or stir-fry them with eggs. Both work well,” Lin Momo added.

“They can be stir-fried with eggs? I’ll try that tonight!” Li He laughed, excited to try something new.

The two women chatted for a while, and just then, Cheng Jinghao returned home.

“Zhao’s back home too?” Li He stood up and looked at Cheng Jinghao.

Cheng Jinghao nodded. Li He quickly said her goodbyes to Lin Momo and left.

“Wife,” Cheng Jinghao said as he held Lin Momo’s hand.

“When are we leaving?”

“Two hours from now.” Cheng Jinghao lifted his hand to tuck her loose hair behind her ear.

“Then I’ll make you some dumplings,” Lin Momo said, referring to the handmade dumplings she had bought at the supermarket.

“Mm,” Cheng Jinghao nodded.

As Lin Momo cooked the dumplings, he went into the room to prepare his belongings.

By the time she had finished cooking the dumplings, Cheng Jinghao had changed into his casual clothes.

“I’ve packed a winter coat. When I’m with them, I might not have the time or space to meet you. I’ll leave you a note to let you know I’m safe,” he said.

“Alright, eat the dumplings first,” Lin Momo nodded. She didn’t want her emotions to affect him.

“Mm,” Cheng Jinghao said as he picked up the dumplings and began eating. “The first batch of dumplings I had on my way out was cooked by your mom.”

Lin Momo knew he was talking about his previous life, the time when he first left to join the military.

That was also the only time in his past life that he had the “dumplings on the car, noodles on the bus” experience.

“In this life, I’ll make you noodles every time you return,” Lin Momo said seriously, looking into Cheng Jinghao’s eyes.

“Good.” This was the most touching love confession Cheng Jinghao had ever heard.

Time always passed so quickly, and Lin Momo stood at the door of the living room, watching Cheng Jinghao’s figure as he picked up his bag and turned to leave.

She didn’t say a word. She was too afraid to speak because she feared that the moment she opened her mouth, it would be filled with reluctance to let him go.

Cheng Jinghao turned around, placed his bag on the ground, and saluted her with a military salute.

“Cheng Jinghao, I’ll wait for you to come back.” Lin Momo smiled at him.

“Alright!” Cheng Jinghao nodded seriously, picked up his bag, and didn’t dare look back. He strode out of the yard.

Lin Momo stepped outside and watched as Cheng Jinghao and Zhao Zhigang walked off, their strong and determined figures. She also noticed the figure standing at the gate of the yard.

The two exchanged a glance, both filled with determination and reluctance.

That night, in Lin Momo’s space, she stood in front of the counter and received a note that read “Safety.” She carefully placed the note in the sixth drawer of the counter. The number 6 was Cheng Jinghao’s lucky number.

Actually, Lin Momo didn’t know that as soon as Cheng Jinghao placed the note into the space, he began his journey to a snow-capped mountain in a remote area.

“Old Cheng, talk to me for a bit.” Cheng Jinghao and Zhao Zhigang were at the front, while Xu Gang and Sheng Li stood behind them. The middle and front were occupied by seven other team members.

Everyone was tied together with a rope to prevent being swept away by the snow.

“Old Zhao, you used to be like Xu Gang and Sheng Li’s instructor, why didn’t you join the combat team? Why do you keep nagging?” Cheng Jinghao said, taking a bite of snow as he spoke.

“That’s not possible. Who asked you to be so charming? Big Brother only became an instructor after you became the battalion commander.” Zhao Zhigang proudly said.

“Big Brother, I thank you. So, I should always block you from the front, right?” Cheng Jinghao cursed under his breath and spat out a mouthful of snowflakes.

“Can’t help it, I’m the only one left of my three brothers.”

“Big Brother, I thank you. I’m the only child in my family, and my wife hasn’t given me a child yet.”

“Next time, Big Brother will block you. How about we switch places now?” Zhao Zhigang teased as he tried to switch places with Cheng Jinghao.

“What are you joking about? I’m just messing with you,” Cheng Jinghao shot him a glare.

“Wouldn’t you get the whole team to fall off the cliff if you switched places?”

“You two, can you stop playing around? Eating snow like that, disgusting!” Huo Jun, who was standing in the middle, was very frustrated.

“You’re from the Second Regiment, and you’re sticking with the First Regiment. Doesn’t that feel awkward?” Zhao Zhigang laughed as he shouted.

“Damn, are you discriminating? I used to be in the First Regiment too, didn’t I? If the First Regiment didn’t have a battalion commander position, would I have ended up in the Second Regiment?” Huo Jun was the last of the four to be promoted to battalion commander.

“Haha…” The group laughed without any consideration for Huo Jun’s feelings.

“To the left, dodge!” Cheng Jinghao shouted, and everyone immediately rolled in one direction.

A huge snow pile rolled past them.

“Why are those idiots still in the mountains instead of getting out of here?” Sheng Li, who had been silent the whole night, finally spoke.

“What are you focusing on?” Xu Gang said, speechless.

“What should I be focusing on?” Sheng Li asked.

“The focus should be on how Old Cheng is going to find the way in this snow-capped mountain.”

“No need to think, that’s why he’s younger than us but already a battalion commander. He leads the team while we’re just team members.”

“…You’re right.” Xu Gang nodded.

“There’s a peak ahead. Let’s rest for a bit,” Cheng Jinghao shouted. They had already climbed to an altitude of 1,500 meters.

He handed out water bottles to everyone. “I added some sugar to help replenish your energy.”

He then took out some dry rations and started distributing them. Eleven people sat by the snow-covered mountain peak, eating their dry rations while looking at the map.

“This mountain has two caves. One is at 2,200 meters, and the other is at 4,150 meters. They should be at the 2,200-meter cave,” Cheng Jinghao said.

No one doubted Cheng Jinghao’s words. After refueling, they began preparing to move.

“When we reach 1,800 meters, we’ll untie the ropes. From 3 to 5 AM, humans are at their deepest sleep, so we’ll act during that time.”

“Understood.”