Chapter 8 – Going Home to Pick Up My Wife

When Yan Qingxue came looking for him, Lu Jinyuan had already left the military base.

She stomped her foot in frustration. “Honestly, what’s the rush?”

After grumbling, she shot a dissatisfied look at Song Mingyi and Lin Beixiao. “Why didn’t you two try to stop him?”

“Jinyuan went to carry out an important mission. Naturally, it couldn’t be delayed,” Song Mingyi said. He liked Yan Qingxue and didn’t think she was being unreasonable at all.

Yan Qingxue noticed the slip of paper in Lin Beixiao’s hand. “This is Jinyuan’s handwriting. What does it say?”

“He asked me to send a telegram to his family,” Lin Beixiao replied. He also had a good impression of her.

Yan Qingxue’s eyes lit up. “I just happen to be going to mail a letter. I’ll send Jinyuan’s telegram for him.”

“I’ll go with you,” Lin Beixiao said, thinking it would be a good chance to be alone with her.

“Oh please, you’re such a fussy man.” Yan Qingxue swiftly snatched the note from him. “I’ll go first.”

She hurried away.

Song Mingyi and Lin Beixiao exchanged glances. Now that their biggest rival, Lu Jinyuan, was gone, the two of them naturally had to quietly compete with each other.

Once Yan Qingxue was far enough away, she looked at the note.

Wife, I’ve been assigned an urgent mission. Wait for me to come back and pick you up.

Her jaw tightened at the word wife. What was so special about that woman? She had stayed by his side for seven whole years, yet he still couldn’t forget her.

Yan Qingxue didn’t rush to send the telegram. Since his mission wouldn’t be short, she figured it wouldn’t hurt to let that woman stew in worry for a while.

Puping Town

Ran Jinnian had no idea a certain green tea schemer was causing trouble. Ever since she found out that Song Zehan had been sent to a labor camp for ten years of reform work, she’d been in an extremely good mood every day.

Her appetite had quietly grown, and she’d been feeling a bit sleepy lately.

After a while, Lu’s mother noticed something was off. “Niannian, you’re not… expecting, are you?”

“No way.” Ran Jinnian’s eyes widened. It couldn’t be that fast… right?

But then she thought of the days Lu Jinyuan had been home—he had been clinging to her every day. Now that she thought about it, maybe it wasn’t impossible.

“Come on, let’s go to the clinic for a check-up.”

Taking advantage of a day off, Lu’s mother brought Ran Jinnian to the health clinic.

“You’re pregnant.”

The doctor looked up from the report.

Ran Jinnian felt a little dizzy. She really was pregnant? That was way too fast. She wasn’t mentally prepared to be a mother yet.

Lu’s mother’s face lit up. “That’s wonderful, Niannian, you’re amazing.”

She hadn’t expected her daughter-in-law to conceive so soon.

“Let’s go home—Mom will make you something delicious to nourish you.” Lu’s mother couldn’t stop smiling the whole way back.

Neighbors greeted her cheerfully. “Why are you so happy today?”

“Oh, nothing. Just bought a really nice cut of meat.”

Although she was thrilled, she didn’t want to announce the pregnancy yet. She only told her in-laws.

Wang Xiumei was both shocked and delighted. “Really? That’s wonderful! You’re going to be a grandmother.”

“It’s thanks to you that my son married such a good wife,” Lu’s mother said, holding Ran Jinnian in higher regard than ever.

“Come have dinner at our place tonight,” Wang Xiumei invited.

Lu’s mother didn’t stand on ceremony. She pulled out the few taels of meat she’d bought. “Perfect—I’ll cook it.”

Wang Xiumei didn’t refuse. The two families had been close even before becoming in-laws, and now they were even closer.

That evening, when the Ran family learned about Ran Jinnian’s pregnancy, everyone was overjoyed and became even more attentive to her.

Time passed quickly.

Over a month into her pregnancy, Lu Jinyuan still hadn’t returned. Ran Jinnian wasn’t worried—she knew he had an important military post, and thought he was simply tied up with work.

By the second month, her belly still hadn’t changed much, though her appetite had grown.

But there was still no word from him—not even a letter.

Lu’s mother frowned. “He said he’d be back in a month, but now it’s been over two. How come there’s no news?”

“Mom, maybe he’s on a mission,” Ran Jinnian said. That was the only explanation she could think of.

“I’ll make a phone call.”

As his mother, she naturally had the direct line to the military district.

She went to the phone booth, waited in line for a while, and eventually got through to the southern military district.

“Hello, I’m the mother of Lu Jinyuan from the 3rd Army Unit. I’d like to speak with him.”

The operator quickly transferred her to the 3rd Unit.

“I’m Lu Jinyuan’s mother,” she repeated, knowing the process by heart.

“Colonel Lu received an emergency mission on July 16 and is currently on assignment,” the operator replied.

Her heart tightened—so it was a mission after all. “When will he be back?”

“Unable to disclose.”

Realizing she wouldn’t get an answer, she hung up.

Back home, she told Ran Jinnian, “Jinyuan’s on a mission.”

“How long will he be gone?” Ran Jinnian had guessed as much, but she still felt a pang of disappointment.

She quickly gathered herself. He was serving the country and the people—she couldn’t hold him back.

Lu’s mother shook her head. “I don’t know. But don’t worry—he’ll be fine.”

She was saying that as much to herself as to her daughter-in-law.

“I’ll wait for him at home with the baby,” Ran Jinnian said, silently praying he would return safe and sound.

Lu’s mother doted on her even more after the pregnancy, not letting her do any housework at all.

Every morning before work, she prepared breakfast and lunch in advance.

Only after she left would Ran Jinnian do a little light tidying.

She was lucky to have her space. Every day, after Lu’s mother left for work, she would relax in the villa inside her space—reading, feeding fish, tending flowers. Life was pleasant.

Wang Xiumei was secretly worried about her son-in-law’s absence, but never said so in front of her daughter.

Under the care of both mothers and with the occasional treats from her space, Ran Jinnian grew a little rounder.

She sometimes passed off water from her space as store-bought and shared it with the family, who never suspected a thing.

Days slipped by, and her belly steadily grew.

With plenty of free time, she began knitting baby clothes and shoes. Before she knew it, she’d made quite a collection.

By now she was over six months pregnant, her belly full and round.

But the baby’s father still hadn’t come back.

Was he going to miss the birth entirely?

Ran Jinnian gently stroked her stomach. “Baby, make sure Daddy comes home soon.”

Far away

In the deep mountains and forests—

“Captain, we’ve won! We finally won!” the men cheered.

Lu Jinyuan’s face was covered in a thick beard, his skin much darker than before. There was none of his former dazzling handsomeness.

He exhaled a long breath and patted the man beside him. “Ling Changfeng, the mission’s over. Go back and report.”

“What about you, Captain?” Ling Changfeng asked, startled.

Lu Jinyuan’s grin was bright. “I’m going home to pick up my wife.”