Chapter 55.2

Wei Ling set down the enamel mug, feeling downcast, and followed.

Though he had taken advantage of his drunkenness to tease his wife earlier, it seemed that she was actually upset. He realized he couldn’t provoke her anymore.

Seeing that both the big and small ones had gone to wash up, Qin Qingman went to stoke the kang (heated platform).

Although the stove in the west room was burning, the kang still needed to be heated. Without it, they wouldn’t be able to sleep comfortably at night due to the cold.

After the kang was heated, Qin Qingman went to check the stove in the west room.

Earlier, because no one had been in the room, some of the coal had been smothered with coal dust, and after a few hours of slow burning, there wasn’t much coal left. She used the fire poker to move the grate, and the coal dust fell directly into the drawer beneath the stove.

Soon, the drawer was half-filled with coal dust.

The coal in the stove had also burned down a lot, leaving only a shallow layer of red embers.

Qin Qingman added several large pieces of coal into the stove and set the kettle on top.

The kettle was full of water, and now they always had hot water available at home.

“Wife, I’ll take care of this, you go wash up.” At this moment, Wei Ling and Chuchu had finished cleaning up and returned to the west room. Wei Ling was carrying Chuchu.

“Alright, I’ll go wash up. Turn up the stove a little; we’ll need to seal it off when we go to bed, otherwise, we’ll have to wake up in the middle of the night to add more coal.” Qin Qingman said to Wei Ling before heading to the hall to wash up.

After washing her face and feet, she applied the fragrant balm that Huang Wanqing had given her. Feeling fragrant and refreshed, Qin Qingman returned to the west room.

The kerosene lamp was lit in the west room.

The light from the kerosene lamp was much brighter than that of an oil lamp, but even so, the flickering flames cast shadows that constantly moved. Each flicker of the flame caused the light to waver.

Such lighting was actually very bad for the eyes, but with the heavy snow blocking the mountain roads, the power lines had been affected. The entire Kaoshan Village had to rely on oil lamps or kerosene lamps for illumination.

“Wife, I’m not knitting anymore.”

Wei Ling lay on the bed, waving at Qin Qingman.

Although he wasn’t drunk today, he was being unusually clingy to Qin Qingman.

At that moment, Chuchu had not yet fallen asleep and was tossing and turning in his own bed. When he saw Wei Ling waving at Qin Qingman, he imitated him and waved his hand. “Big Sis, come up to the kang. Let’s all listen to Brother-in-law tell a story. The stories Brother-in-law tells are really fun.”

Qin Qingman looked at Wei Ling in surprise.

She really couldn’t see him as the type who would tell stories.

“Really, Big Sis, Brother-in-law’s stories are so interesting, about a great general. Hurry, come on, let’s lie down together and listen!” Chuchu, noticing Qin Qingman’s skepticism, eagerly recommended Wei Ling’s storytelling abilities.

Wei Ling: …Suddenly, he felt incredibly embarrassed.

The more Wei Ling avoided it, the more it piqued Qin Qingman’s curiosity. She slid open a small crack in the window and, after slipping off her shoes, climbed onto the kang.

As she looked at the two pairs of big eyes, Wei Ling felt an immense amount of pressure.

“Ah Ling, I also want to hear your story.” Qin Qingman said, her words layered with meaning. Her presence here was already rather strange, and with the thoughts of Wei Ling’s often unreal nature crossing her mind, she had a certain guess.

Perhaps the stories Wei Ling told Chuchu weren’t just stories at all, but real events that had actually happened.

Maybe the main character was even Wei Ling himself.

Just as Qin Qingman began to harbor doubts in her heart, Wei Ling had also mentally prepared himself. Some things might be difficult to say directly, but if it was a story, then it would be the perfect way to convey them.

“Ah Ling, you don’t have to start from the beginning. Just continue from where you left off with Chuchu. I can understand.” Qin Qingman said thoughtfully to Wei Ling.

“Alright.” Wei Ling tightly grasped Qin Qingman’s hand beneath the covers.

Of course, in the atmosphere of listening to a story, the listener needed to be quiet and attentive, while the storyteller told the story. After Wei Ling’s consent, both Qin Qingman and Chuchu positioned themselves in the same way, lying on their sides and facing Wei Ling.

As Wei Ling looked at the two pairs of similar eyes, his thoughts drifted back to a time long ago, in an era torn apart by war.

It was the age of cold weapons, where every sword strike and every bullet came with a cost: taking away limbs and spilling blood.

After a battle, many soldiers would leave the battlefield missing arms or legs.

The lucky ones would only have a few holes in their bodies, leaving behind scars that symbolized their achievements. The unlucky ones would die right there on the battlefield.

Thus, in the age of cold weapons, people were reluctant to engage in war, because war meant rivers of blood, and countless families losing husbands, fathers, and sons…

Wei Ling’s voice wasn’t particularly deep, but when telling a story, it was several tones lower than usual, easily pulling listeners into the war scene his words painted.

Qin Qingman and Chuchu both instinctively held their breath, fully immersed in the story.

The two pairs of similar eyes stared at Wei Ling without blinking.

As Wei Ling’s story unfolded, Big Sis and her younger sibling became deeply absorbed in the cruel and cold narrative.

Wei Ling didn’t tell the story for too long before Chuchu fell asleep.

It wasn’t that the child didn’t want to keep listening, but he couldn’t resist the call of sleep. It was his usual bedtime, and despite his efforts to keep his eyes wide open, his body succumbed to its natural rhythm.

When Chuchu’s steady breathing filled the room, Wei Ling stopped the story.

Qin Qingman didn’t rush him or express any thoughts. She took a moment to calm the emotions the story had stirred in her and then gently lifted the covers, slipping into Wei Ling’s arms.

She held him tightly.

When Wei Ling felt his wife’s active closeness, he didn’t speak. Instead, he turned his body, extended his arm, and tightly pulled her waist into his embrace. His head rested in the crook of Qin Qingman’s neck.

Neither of them asked any questions; they simply embraced in silence.

They felt each other’s heartbeat and warmth.

Time passed, and the room remained quiet. As Qin Qingman calmed her thoughts, she gradually drifted off to sleep. Despite not tending to the stove or the coal today, and only preparing a big meal, cooking was still a tiring task that took both time and effort.

After a busy day, she was naturally exhausted.

After hearing Wei Ling’s story, Qin Qingman actually felt a sense of relief.

When a person finally lets go of tension, their mind relaxes, and sleepiness comes naturally.

Wei Ling glanced at his wife’s peaceful face, then looked over at the kerosene lamp beside them. In the end, he couldn’t bear to disturb the warmth of his wife’s limbs wrapped around him. He closed his eyes and peacefully drifted into sleep.

It was just a night of kerosene light; he could afford it.

After the three of them fell asleep, the steel stove continued to work hard, emitting warmth.

The large pieces of coal, full of energy, burned slowly. The stove’s belly became red as the coal burned, releasing a constant flow of heat. The warmth made the west room feel cozy. Normally, such a fire would dry the air out, but the steam rising from the kettle on top of the stove added moisture to the room.

It wasn’t too dry, nor too humid—just warm, like summer.

The three of them slept more soundly and comfortably than before.

Even Qin Qingman, who was usually sensitive to the cold, could feel the warmth in her dreams. The heated kang, Wei Ling’s warmth, and the cozy room made her feel so comfortable that she not only kicked the blanket off her feet but also snuggled closer to Wei Ling.

A soft cushion was far more comfortable than the hard kang.

The Qin family’s conditions were limited, and though each of them had their own bedding, they were all single-sized, with thin quilts. This made it difficult for Qin Qingman, who was used to a soft mattress, to adjust to the firmness of the bedding.

But now, with the room not being cold, she could lay however she pleased, enjoying the comfort.

In the middle of the night, Chuchu was the first to open his eyes. The moment he did, his body froze completely.

For a long while, he slowly sat up in the bright light.

He lifted the blanket, looked down, and saw a large pile of maps on his bed. The child, with his large, dazed eyes, didn’t know what to do.

Wei Ling was very alert. He could sleep deeply in a safe place, but he was also able to wake up immediately in case of any sudden situations. Upon waking, he noticed that Qin Qingman had not covered herself with the blanket and also sensed Chuchu’s unease.

Chuchu, with a frown, was looking at the map when he saw Wei Ling open his eyes.

Instead of seeking help immediately, the child quickly laid back down, pulling the blanket up to cover his head and face.

Pretending to sleep.

The five-year-old had already learned about shame and felt embarrassed.

Wei Ling:…

He practiced martial arts, and not only was his vision sharp, but his hearing and sense of smell were also excellent.

Inside the room, he had already detected a faint scent—a very subtle one, but it was strongly present.

Knowing that the child was embarrassed, Wei Ling didn’t point it out. Instead, he carefully peeled Qin Qingman off himself, wrapped her in the blanket, and quietly got up. After getting up, he went to the hall and started the stove there.

Chuchu had wet the bed, and of course, it had to be cleaned up.

Not only did the bedding need to be dried, but the child also needed a bath, and even the sheets had to be washed.

In extremely cold regions, the stove inside the house couldn’t be extinguished. The temperature in the hall had already dropped a little, but after Wei Ling added more firewood, the stove soon became red-hot, and the temperature in the entire hall rose significantly.

Facing such high heat, the two geese sleeping in the corner were still not used to it.

They opened their eyes, called out softly at Wei Ling, and then turned their heads, putting their backs toward him, and went back to sleep.

It was late at night, and being woken up was so annoying!

Wei Ling didn’t know that he had been scorned by the two geese. He carried the bath basin to the stove and started mixing the bathwater.

There was always a pot of water sitting on the stove in the hall, and there was also a pot in the west room. Both pots had already been boiled, so there was no shortage of hot water at the moment.

In the west room, Chuchu, feeling shy, hid under the blanket, his two ears upright, listening for any sounds.

He could hear Wei Ling getting up but didn’t know what Wei Ling was doing.

Curious, and smelling the not-so-fresh scent inside the blanket, Chuchu finally poked his head out and saw Wei Ling just entering the room.

The child’s face instantly turned bright red.

“Shh.” Wei Ling shook his finger at Chuchu and then glanced at the peacefully sleeping Qin Qingman.

Chuchu quickly covered his mouth with his hand and nodded.

Then Wei Ling opened his arms toward Chuchu.

Without hesitation, Chuchu climbed out of bed and threw himself into Wei Ling’s embrace, who then carried him into the hall.

The hall was not only a bit distant from the west room but also separated by walls and doors, so speaking quietly here wouldn’t disturb Qin Qingman, who was sleeping in the room.

“Brother-in-law, what should I do?” Chuchu’s little face was flushed with embarrassment.

“You take a bath first. I’ll go get the bedding and take care of it.” Wei Ling understood and gently patted the child’s head, placing him beside the bath basin. The hot water in the basin was already prepared, and Chuchu could take a bath.

“Brother-in-law, thank you.”

Chuchu quietly held onto Wei Ling’s clothes, expressing his gratitude.

“Mm.” Wei Ling smiled gently at the child, then turned to head back to the west room to clean up the bedding. The wet bedding had to be dealt with—if not, it could not only spoil the bedding but also leave behind a lingering smell.

Chuchu watched Wei Ling’s retreating figure and hesitated for a few seconds before whispering, “Brother-in-law, I… I haven’t wet the bed in a long time.” Since he was three years old, he hadn’t wet the bed again.

“I know.” Wei Ling turned around, giving the child a warm smile. “Thank you, Chuchu, for helping me drink the honey water.”

The child had drunk so much honey water before bed; it was no wonder he ended up with a wet bed.

“Yes, yes, it’s because I drank too much honey water. I won’t drink water before bed anymore.” Chuchu’s big eyes lit up, sparkling brightly.

Now that he had found the source of his bedwetting, he knew how to prevent it.

The five-year-old Chuchu really felt embarrassed about wetting the bed.

“Mm, don’t drink too much before bed from now on.” Wei Ling nodded in understanding, then reminded, “Hurry up and take a bath, the water will get cold soon.”

“Mm.” Chuchu, relieved from the embarrassment, happily began undressing to take his bath.

With Wei Ling’s help, and having two stoves in the house along with sufficient fuel, everything went smoothly. By the time Qin Qingman got up the next day, she noticed nothing unusual.

Chuchu’s little secret had been successfully covered up by the two men.

Speaking of last night, Du Hongyi and the others not only ate their fill but also went home loaded.

Whether it was the dumplings or the dishes, they had tasted them all and knew what these delicacies really tasted like.

“I wonder if the Colonel and the others have eaten.” Du Hongyi glanced at the wicker basket on the seat, filled with so many dumplings. The Colonel and the Political Commissar definitely wouldn’t be able to finish them all, and he was considering whether to hide some away.

The dumplings were raw, but once cooked, they would cook quickly. They even had a stove in their office.

“Forget it. Whether the Colonel and the others ate or not, these things still need to be delivered to them. Don’t you forget the kindness once you’ve healed, I really don’t want to go hungry again. Skipping two meals, that’s real hunger.”

Zuo Gaopeng patted his bloated belly and still vividly remembered the feeling of being hungry for two whole meals.

They were soldiers, and their daily training was intense. Having to lead training on an empty stomach… the exhaustion… well, he didn’t want to think about it anymore.

If he craved Qin Qingman’s cooking that much, he could always find another chance to go to the Qin family’s house to eat.

Yuan Xiangyang had the same thoughts as Zuo Gaopeng.

As for Xiao Shi, the one driving the car, he wasn’t involved in the conversation; after all, he hadn’t been the one to skip two meals.

Du Hongyi could tell what his two comrades were thinking. With a sharp glint in his eyes, he said authoritatively, “You two, always overthinking things. I’m just concerned if the Chief has eaten, and you’re jumping to conclusions. That’s not good.”

Zuo Gaopeng and Yuan Xiangyang simultaneously rolled their eyes at Du Hongyi.

They had lived together in the same dorm for many years, so they all knew each other’s personalities very well.

“Alright, stop overthinking. Should we go and complain to the Political Commissar?” Du Hongyi quickly changed the subject.

“Complain about what?”

Zuo Gaopeng and the others had been in the Northeast for so long that their accents had become quite thick, and they spoke with a strong regional flavor.

Seeing that his two good brothers didn’t understand his point, Du Hongyi reminded them, “Wife, go find a wife!” The Political Commissar not only handled their ideological work but also their personal matters. Since they didn’t have wives, who else could they turn to but the Political Commissar?

“This thing…” Zuo Gaopeng hesitated.

Yuan Xiangyang also seemed to be thinking it over. “Last time, the Political Commissar kicked us out of the office. Are we really going to ask for trouble again today?”

“This isn’t asking for trouble. Look at our ages. We’re all older than Wei Ling, and he’s already married. Meanwhile, we’re still single. If we were back home, my kid would at least be five or six by now!” Du Hongyi, who was the oldest at twenty-nine, made a “desperate” comment.

“I’d be married by now if I were back home.” Yuan Xiangyang, who was twenty-seven, responded, deeply agreeing with Du Hongyi’s words.

“I remember the Political Commissar had tried to set us up before, and not just once.” Zuo Gaopeng said, noticing that his two friends seemed to have conveniently forgotten. He had to remind them.

It wasn’t that the Political Commissar hadn’t introduced potential partners for them—it was that they had been too picky to be satisfied.

Du Hongyi and Yuan Xiangyang: …

Lao Zuo really knows how to bring up the wrong things, always killing the conversation like this.

“Three Colonels, I heard that a batch of Educated Youth will be arriving in Baicheng soon. It’s said they’re either coming from the capital or from Shanghai. They’re all from big cities—educated, thoughtful, and talented. You could talk to the Political Commissar about prioritizing our division’s issue. There are so many excellent comrades here waiting to get married.”

Xiao Shi originally wasn’t planning to join the conversation, but he couldn’t help adding his two cents.

The car became quiet after Xiao Shi’s words, and Du Hongyi and the others looked at him seriously.

Although Xiao Shi was focused on the road ahead, he could still feel the intense gazes of the three, and he nervously broke the silence. “Well, uh… I’m just making a suggestion, just a suggestion.”

“Hahaha, the twenty-year-old Xiao Shi wants to get married!”

Du Hongyi’s loud laughter echoed suddenly.

Zuo Gaopeng and Yuan Xiangyang also burst into laughter.

“I… I’d be married by now if I were back home.” Xiao Shi tried to explain himself.

The atmosphere in the car grew even more joyful.

They didn’t have to walk. Even though they were driving slowly, it only took about ten minutes to reach the division’s headquarters. After entering, Xiao Shi drove the truck to the logistics department, while Du Hongyi and the others carried the wicker basket and large lunchboxes to Colonel Wang Chengping’s office.

At this time, the cafeteria gathering would surely be over.

Sure enough, from a distance, they could see the lights on in the Colonel’s office, very bright. Through the window, they could make out several figures inside.

“Colonel, Political Commissar, and it looks like there’s someone else…” Du Hongyi wasn’t entirely sure.

“That’s the head chef from the cafeteria, Comrade Huang Xingye.” Zuo Gaopeng immediately recognized who it was.

“So, what should we do? Should we deliver it or not?”

Du Hongyi and the others were at a loss.

Delivering food to the Colonel and the Political Commissar in front of the cafeteria’s head chef—wouldn’t that be like openly rejecting the chef’s cooking skills?