Chapter 42: Soft, Warm, and Fragrant

Tonight… was still their wedding night?!

Jiang Rou’s thoughts raced, and her face suddenly grew burning hot.

She was actually… feeling shy.

No matter what, she had lived two lifetimes as a modern woman. How could she get married and still feel embarrassed like this?

Jiang Rou reached out, patted her cheeks, and tried to disperse the heat rising within her.

…

After parting ways with Yang Hongping, Zhou Zhongshan and Jiang Rou walked together in the direction of the Military Camp.

Along the way, this newly approved couple remained silent, neither speaking a word.

Neither of them knew what the other was thinking, but the joy on their faces was undeniable.

Their eyes, especially, were shining brightly, filled with light—yet neither dared to look at the person beside them.

It wasn’t until they reached the fork in the road that they had to separate.

Zhou Zhongshan needed to go to the Military Camp’s medical room to pick up Zhou Xiaochuan.

Jiang Rou, on the other hand, was heading home. She had left in a hurry the night before, and the house was still a mess. Zhou Xiaohua had been left alone—she had no idea how he was doing.

Both of them were worried and had responsibilities to take care of.

At the fork in the road, Zhou Zhongshan stopped in his tracks.

His legs, which could normally lift with ease, suddenly felt heavy, as if he couldn’t move them.

A rare awkwardness appeared on his rough, strong face.

This usually steady and capable man, who had always been decisive, now found himself at a loss.

His Adam’s apple bobbed heavily.

“Wi… wife.”

His voice was low and hoarse, tight with emotion.

These three words—he had said them before, and in front of so many people at that. He hadn’t felt the slightest bit embarrassed then.

But now, his throat was dry, and speaking felt inexplicably difficult.

He turned slightly and let his dark, intense gaze fall on Jiang Rou—her fair, delicate face, her gentle, smiling eyes.

The restlessness in his heart, without him even realizing it, slowly settled into a steady calm.

The marriage report had already been approved. Jiang Rou was his wife.

This woman was his wife—his wife!  

This was already set in stone, an unchangeable fact.  

“Mm.”  

Jiang Rou responded softly.  

She lifted her head slightly, revealing her small chin. Her bright eyes fixed on Zhou Zhongshan, waiting for him to continue speaking.  

Zhou Zhongshan took a deep breath without making it obvious, his chest rising and falling before he spoke again.  

“Wife, I’m going to pick up Xiaochuan. You go home first and wait for me.”  

“Alright, I’ll be at home waiting for you and Xiaochuan. Walk slowly on the way back—his body hasn’t recovered yet, so don’t jostle him too much. I’ll go home and cook first, so when you get back, you can eat right away. You’ve been busy all night and didn’t even have breakfast. You must be hungry, right? Come back early for a meal.”  

Jiang Rou smiled warmly, nodding as she reminded Zhou Zhongshan, worried that this rough man wouldn’t be careful enough with the child.  

Zhou Zhongshan nodded firmly.  

He was a man with a wife now—someone who cared for him, someone who worried about him.  

…  

When Jiang Rou returned to the small courtyard and pushed open the door, she immediately saw Zhou Xiaohua curled up in a corner, hugging herself into a tiny ball.  

Her face was dirty, covered in a mix of tears and dust.  

She wiped at her face with her small hands, but the more she wiped, the dirtier she got—turning herself into a pitiful little “striped kitten.”  

But this little kitten didn’t even make a sound, not even a meow.  

She wasn’t alone in the house.  

Two slightly older boys crouched nearby—Zhao Guifen’s sons, Dahuzi and Erhuzi from next door.  

Zhao Guifen had sent them over to take care of Zhou Xiaohua.  

The two boys had round faces and sturdy builds. Having grown up in a rural village in the northeast, they carried a simple and honest air about them.  

And as boys, seeing Zhou Xiaohua with her tiny face, big eyes, looking both adorable and pitiful—they couldn’t help but feel protective and fond of her.

Da Huzi held a small piece of biscuit, while Er Huzi had half a steamed bun.

The two of them used the food in their hands, trying to coax Zhou Xiaohua out from the corner of the wall, hoping she wouldn’t be so afraid of them.

But ever since Zhou Xiaohua had been separated from the people she was familiar with, she had become extremely timid and fearful.

Her grape-like eyes were filled with tears, glistening as she trembled, hugging her small body tightly.

She refused to get close to Da Huzi and Er Huzi.

Even when faced with her favorite food, she still didn’t want it.

In Zhou Xiaohua’s world, only her brother was a good person. Her brother would protect her.

As long as her brother was there, she wouldn’t be beaten, and she wouldn’t go hungry.

But her brother was sick…

Her brother had disappeared…

Zhou Xiaohua clutched her tiny body, and at the slightest tremble of her eyes, large teardrops began streaming down her face.

The sight of her was truly heartbreaking.

Da Huzi and Er Huzi desperately tried to comfort her.

“Xiaohua, don’t cry, please don’t cry… We’re really not bad people…”

“Xiaohua, you can have both the biscuit and the bun… Do you want this biscuit? It even has sugar on it. It’s really delicious…”

The two boys spoke in soft voices, both nervous and worried.

They had seen Zhou Xiaochuan holding Zhou Xiaohua before. Back then, Zhou Xiaohua not only didn’t cry but would even show a sweet, adorable smile on her little face.

She was unbelievably cute and soft!

Because of this, when they went home, Da Huzi and Er Huzi had made a huge fuss with Zhao Guifen, rolling on the ground and demanding that they also have a little sister.

They even tried to force Zhao Guifen to give birth to a beautiful little sister for them.

And the final outcome…

Of course, they ended up getting a good beating—what their mother called “bamboo stir-fried meat.”

After all, having a child wasn’t something that could be decided on a whim, let alone guaranteeing that it would be a girl.

So, in Da Huzi and Er Huzi’s hearts, they especially envied Zhou Xiaochuan for having such an adorable little sister.

Whenever Zhou Xiaochuan was around, he would protect Zhou Xiaohua like she was his most precious treasure.

Zhou Xiaohua didn’t even give Da Huzi and Er Huzi a chance to get close.  

Today was truly a rare opportunity…  

But the moment Da Huzi and Er Huzi took a step forward, Zhou Xiaohua’s tears would start falling again, one after another. She trembled uncontrollably with fear.  

Frightened, Da Huzi and Er Huzi hurriedly stepped back.  

A vast distance remained between the three children.  

Just then, Jiang Rou walked through the door and was met with this scene.  

As soon as Zhou Xiaohua heard the door open, she immediately lifted her tear-filled eyes and stared in that direction.  

The moment she saw Jiang Rou—  

Her tears fell even more fiercely.  

All at once, she sprang out from the corner where she had been cowering.  

If Zhou Xiaohua could make a sound at that moment, she would surely be wailing as she ran toward Jiang Rou.  

Jiang Rou crouched down swiftly, spreading her arms wide. She gathered the small child tightly into her embrace.  

【Wuwuwu…】  

【Wuwuwu…】  

The soundless sobs echoed in everyone’s ears.  

The moment Jiang Rou held Zhou Xiaohua, she immediately felt the child’s trembling and tension.  

“Xiaohua, don’t be scared, don’t be scared. There are no bad people here. No more crying, no more tears… Our little Xiaohua is a big girl now, she won’t cry anymore.”  

Jiang Rou continuously whispered gentle reassurances.  

Zhou Xiaohua’s tiny hands clutched tightly at the fabric of Jiang Rou’s clothes, pressing her entire little face against Jiang Rou’s chest.  

It was soft, warm, and carried a familiar, comforting scent.  

It was just like… Mama.