Chapter 79.3

In the past two days, Lu Yu had been tilling the soil at the private plot, while Jiang Nian had been embroidering at home. 

The embroidery was almost finished today, and tomorrow Ge Mei would come to pick it up. Jiang Nian packed up the embroidery and handed it to Ge Mei when she came the next day.

The remaining embroidery work didn’t have a tight deadline, and the soil in the private plot had been drying for several days. Early this morning, He Yue came to find Jiang Nian to go to the market to buy vegetable seedlings for planting. Tian Mai also joined them, bringing along her two daughters, Ning Xiu and Ning Qian, who obediently followed behind her.

Jiang Nian glanced at Ning Xiu and noticed that she kept her head down and would flinch at any slight movement nearby. Jiang Nian hadn’t seen much of Ning Xiu in the past two months, but each time she saw her, her condition seemed to be deteriorating.

The market here was close to several communes, and this was the only big market each week. It was the season for buying vegetable seedlings, so there were a lot of people coming and going.

With a basket on her back, Jiang Nian was almost dragged by He Yue to the stall to grab several kinds of vegetable seedlings. Tian Mai was also grabbing hard beside her, afraid that if they bought late, they would have to rush to another market. 

There was a difference between planting vegetables seven days early and seven days late. Just after buying the seedlings, Ning Qian, the younger daughter, said that her sister Ning Xiu was missing.

Tian Mai was stunned, her hands holding the basket stiffened, “What did you say?”

Ning Qian’s eyes were red from crying, “Sister was here just now, but after we got pushed, she disappeared.”

Tian Mai stomped her feet in panic, Jiang Nian urgently said, “Let’s split up and search.”

The four of them split into two groups to search separately. He Yue wiped the sweat from her forehead and said, “Where could this child have gone?”

From He Yue, Jiang Nian learned that Ning Xiu had gone missing once three years ago. Everyone searched for two days and found her lying unconscious in a small pile of soil near the ditch. The child had passed out from hunger, and it took several days after returning home for her to recover her spirits.

Today, with so many people at the market, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say it was packed. 

Jiang Nian and the others had been out since the morning and continued searching until noon. Despite enduring through the lunch hour, they still hadn’t found Ning Xiu. 

Tian Mai sat on the street at the market, crying with tears and snot, while Ning Qian cried beside her.

Tian Mai cried and cursed, “If it weren’t for that damn old lady always scolding Xiu’er and Qian’er, would I have to keep these two children by my side all the time? She wouldn’t have gone missing like this. My Xiu’er, where are you? If anything happens to you again, how can I go on living?”

Passersby looked over, and some kind-hearted people came over to ask what the child looked like. He Yue quickly told everyone about Ning Xiu’s clothes and hair, and many people began searching in the market and its surroundings.

Jiang Nian, carrying the basket, moved through the crowd. Suddenly, her wrist tightened, and her heart leaped with joy, thinking someone had found Ning Xiu or Ning Xiu had found her. 

She turned around happily, only to see the stern face of Lu Yu, pushing against the flow of people, gripping her hand tightly. His deep voice was slightly breathless, “Why are you running so fast? Is someone chasing you?”

At that moment, Jiang Nian saw a trace of coldness in Lu Yu’s eyes.

She didn’t doubt for a moment that if anyone dared to trouble her, Lu Yu would turn back and deal with them. So she quickly shook her head, “No one’s chasing me. Ning Xiu is missing, and we’re all looking for her.”

Lu Yu relaxed, but his grip on Jiang Nian’s wrist tightened even more. He took off the basket from her back, lifted his hand to wrap around her slender shoulders, and escorted her to the side of the street. “I’ll take you back and then go find Deputy Commander Ning to organize a search.”

Jiang Nian was worried about Tian Mai and wanted Lu Yu to go back alone to call for help. It seemed Lu Yu understood her intention as he held her tighter, his brows furrowed, “I’ll take you back first.”

He didn’t want Jiang Nian to keep wandering in the crowded market, fearing something might happen again.

The incidents with Hu Zhongming and his father last time had convinced him that Jiang Nian was safest by his side.

Seeing his determination, Jiang Nian didn’t insist further.

Everyone was anxious about Ning Xiu’s disappearance. Lu Yu walked quickly, and Jiang Nian had to jog to keep up with him. She caught her breath and asked, “How did you know I was here?”

Lu Yu had already gone to the regiment when she left in the morning. He slowed his pace and said, “He Yue’s daughter said you went to the market. When I saw you hadn’t come back by noon, I came to check.”

Jiang Nian said, “Ning Xiu is missing.”

Lu Yu escorted her back to the family apartment. Jiang Nian asked him again, “Will Ning Xiu be okay?”

Lu Yu pondered for a moment before saying, “We need to find her first.”

He asked Jiang Nian to go back first and turned to find Deputy Commander Ning. On the way, he met Chen Yao and asked him to gather people to rush to the market to find Ning Xiu.

Jiang Nian returned home, put the seedlings away first, and originally planned to embroider, but thinking about Ning Xiu’s situation, she couldn’t sit still on the bench. 

She went to the kitchen to make some lunch. However, after eating a few bites, she couldn’t continue. Soon, there was a knock on the door. She went to open it and was somewhat surprised to see Fang Xia and Fang Guo.

The two shouted, “Aunt Jiang.”

Jiang Nian smiled, “Come in.”

Fang Xia was older, now twelve years old today, and Fang Guo was ten this year. The two sat on the bench, looking awkwardly at Jiang Nian. Seeing that they didn’t speak, Jiang Nian smiled and asked, “What’s the matter?”

Fang Guo glanced at Fang Xia, who hesitated and asked, “Aunt Jiang, is it true that Ning Xiu is missing?”

Her face was filled with worry as she spoke.

Jiang Nian nodded, “She got separated from us, but everyone is searching. We’ll find her soon.”

Fang Xia pursed her lips and said with displeasure, lowering her head, “It must be Grandma Wu who hit Xiu’er again, and that’s why she ran away.”

Hearing this, Jiang Nian looked at Fang Xia and gently asked, “Why do you say that?”

Before Fang Xia could respond, Fang Guo interjected, “Last time Xiu’er went missing because Grandma Wu hit her. When my father found Xiu’er, she had fainted from hunger. Grandma Wu even said, ‘Why didn’t Ning Xiu starve to death? She even learned to run away from home.’ This caused a fight between Aunt Tian and Grandma Wu.”

Fang Xia added, “This time, Grandma Wu must have hit Xiu’er again, and that’s why she ran away.”

Jiang Nian furrowed her brows, thinking back to the time she visited the Ning family and witnessed Tian Mai arguing with her mother-in-law. 

The old lady was sharp-tongued and never backed down. Considering Ning Xiu’s current temperament, she feared something serious might happen if things continued this way.

After spending some time at Jiang Nian’s place, Fang Xia and Fang Guo left because they had school in the afternoon. 

After dinner, Jiang Nian waited until dark, but Lu Yu did not return, nor did He Yue from next door. Jiang Nian made extra dinner and invited Fang Xia and Fang Guo over to eat. They felt a bit embarrassed but couldn’t help but eat more when they saw the delicious food.

They couldn’t afford such delicious meals at home. Even though it was all corn pancakes, Aunt Jiang’s corn pancakes were tastier than theirs, and there was even a plate of scrambled eggs.

After dinner, Fang Xia and Fang Guo insisted on helping Jiang Nian wash the dishes before leaving.

After seeing them off, Jiang Nian was about to close the door when she heard footsteps in the hallway. Thinking it was Lu Yu returning, she happily ran over, only to see a stranger in military uniform. He looked to be in his thirties and appeared somewhat tired. 

She hesitated for a moment but nodded in greeting.

The man smiled and said, “You’re Commander Lu’s wife, right?”

Jiang Nian smiled back, “Yes.”

“I live on the same floor as you guys. My name is Luo Chengyi.” Luo Chengyi walked up and pointed to the house next to the staircase. “I live there.”

Jiang Nian smiled politely and exchanged a few words before returning home.

Having lived here for almost two months, this was the first time she had seen someone from that house.

That night, Jiang Nian couldn’t sleep even after getting ready for bed. She tossed and turned until late at night when she finally heard the sound of the door opening in the quiet room.

Jiang Nian put on her coat and ran out. She saw Lu Yu walking in, his coat draped over his arm, his white shirt unbuttoned at the collar. Upon hearing footsteps, he looked at Jiang Nian who ran up to him. 

He raised his hand and brushed aside the stray hair by her temple. “Still not asleep?”

“I can’t sleep.”

Jiang Nian asked again, “Did you find Ning Xiu?”

Lu Yu replied, “Yes, we found her.”

He held Jiang Nian’s hand and asked, “Have you eaten dinner?”

“I’ve already eaten.”

Seeing Jiang Nian’s worried expression about Ning Xiu, Lu Yu rubbed her head with a doting look in his eyes. “She was staying at an educated youth point at a commune nearby. Several educated youth were talking to her. When they asked her where she was from, she didn’t tell them. It was only after the educated youth found people in the commune and told them about this that we rushed over.”

Jiang Nian breathed a sigh of relief and asked, “You haven’t had dinner yet, have you?”

Seeing Lu Yu shake his head, Jiang Nian stood up to go to the kitchen to cook. She had just taken a few steps when Lu Yu grabbed her shoulder. Leading her into the room, he said, “You go to sleep. I’ll cook.”

Without giving Jiang Nian a chance to react, Lu Yu pressed her down on the bed, kissed her on the lips, and said, “Go to sleep early. Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll go to the private plot to plant vegetables.”

Jiang Nian: …

He really didn’t let her do anything.

Jiang Nian took off her coat and lay in bed, strangely not feeling sleepy. With the curtains drawn in the room, faint moonlight shone through the window, barely illuminating the furnishings inside.

In the quiet night, Jiang Nian could hear Lu Yu’s faint footsteps outside.

His steps were light, as if afraid of disturbing her.

Jiang Nian turned over, closed her eyes, and after a while, heard the sound of the door opening. She secretly buried her head in the covers, waiting for Lu Yu to lift the quilt and lie down on the bed. 

Just as his long arm was about to embrace her waist, she suddenly turned over and threw herself into his arms. Looking at Lu Yu’s chin, she smiled and said, “I’m not asleep yet.”

A smile appeared in Lu Yu’s eyes. “I know.”

Jiang Nian was startled. “How did you know?”

She hadn’t moved since he came in.

Lu Yu held her, “Your breathing is different. When you’re asleep, your breathing is even and steady.”

Jiang Nian: …

As expected of a soldier, his sensitivity is much better than that of ordinary people.

She rested her head on Lu Yu’s arm, her hand on his lean waist and abdomen, lifting her chin to kiss his jaw. Lu Yu’s Adam’s apple rolled a few times, his gaze dropping to Jiang Nian’s bright and beautiful eyes. He grabbed her restless hand, his voice husky, “Be a good girl and go to sleep.”

Jiang Nian had a mischievous idea. She lifted her chin to bite his lips but before she could pull away, Lu Yu held her neck and intensified the kiss.

The scorching breath enveloped the noses of the two, bringing back the long-lost desire.

Since she came out of the hospital last time, Lu Yu rarely touched her. Even when the two made love, he was attentive to her, afraid of hurting her again. Jiang Nian knew Lu Yu still felt guilty about the last incident.

The two were husband and wife, and Lu Yu took care of her body and mind, afraid that she would not be happy here and afraid that she would have another minor illness. As a wife, she did not want to see Lu Yu sad because of this.

Moreover, she also liked it. She liked Lu Yu and was captivated and enthralled by his passion and intensity when they were together.

Lu Yu rubbed against the neck, then kissed her ear, and the hot breath made Jiang Nian’s body all feel comfortable. Her eyes wet with tears, she felt a little pitiful and looked at Lu Yu’s throat.

Suppressing the restlessness coursing through his veins, the man closed his eyes, kissed Jiang Nian on the eyes, pulled the blanket over her back, his voice hoarse, “It’s late, go to sleep.”

Jiang Nian: ???

He’s like an arrow ready to be released, how can he still endure this?

Jiang Nian bit her lip tightly, raised her head from Lu Yu’s embrace, looked at the throbbing blue veins on his forehead, and with a determined heart, suppressing the shame rising within her, she grabbed Lu Yu’s shoulder and suddenly rolled over on top.

Lu Yu’s brow twitched suddenly, he opened his eyes, his dark gaze staring at Jiang Nian whose cheeks were flushed red.