Chapter 21

Huo Xiao set off at one in the afternoon.

There wasn’t enough time to prepare a grand meal, but there was time to make dumplings. Since dumplings are a must when welcoming or seeing someone off in northern China ^[1]which are symbolic of reunion and farewell in Chinese culture., Lin Ting and her mother-in-law got to work while Huo Xiao packed.

The little boy who had cried moments ago was now gleefully riding his favorite toy pony. Carefree as ever.

Meanwhile, Miaomiao sat quietly with a pen and paper, absorbed in drawing.

Lin Ting thought she might be able to buy colored crayons in Tianjin. If Miaomiao liked drawing, she could nurture her interest.

“Time flies so fast,” her mother-in-law suddenly sighed.

Lin Ting struggled with rolling dumpling wrappers. They always turned out jagged rather than round, so she focused on making the dumplings instead. Hearing her mother-in-law’s sigh, she looked up and asked, “Aren’t you happy that Huo Xiao is joining the army? Won’t you get tired of me hanging around every day?”

Hu Xiu smiled, touched by their thoughtfulness. “That’s not it. It’s just… time is merciless. In the blink of an eye, my youngest brother has a grandson, and I—” She suddenly stopped herself. “Ahem…”

“Did you choke? Are you okay?” Lin Ting asked.

Hu Xiu, nearly letting something slip, coughed and waved her hand. “I’m fine… Just thinking about dumplings.”

Lin Ting teased, “Then you should eat more.”

“Yes, I will! But dumplings with leeks and pork are the best.”

“I love them too! When we get to Tianjin, we can plant spring chives and harvest a few crops. I don’t know how to grow them, but I’m lucky to have you!”

Hu Xiu, who had never left her county before, felt both excited and nervous about the move. Smiling warmly, she said, “I’ll grow anything you want to eat.”

Lin Ting grinned. “That won’t do.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re already the best mother-in-law in the world. We should keep a low profile! If I help, I can earn a good reputation too.”

Haha… you have such a sweet mouth, always flattering me.

I’m not joking. My mother said this morning that you’re one of the few reasonable people in the world and told me to be filial to you.

Oh my god, that’s terrible…

In the east room, Huo Xiao was tidying up while listening to his mother and wife chat and laugh. A smile appeared in his eyes at their playful words, but it quickly turned to ice.

Huo Xiao strode to the rear window, picked up a knife, and pushed it open. His gaze fell on a strange woman squatting outside.

Ever since she wore makeup last time, Wang Xiuqin had been scolded harshly by her parents. They suspected she had dressed up for Chen Yingjun, the accountant of the Shanghe Brigade, and kept a close watch on her.

In her past life, Wang Xiuqin had desperately married Chen Yingjun but suffered all her life. Knowing the outcome, how could she willingly step into that pit of fire again?

She wanted to marry Huo Xiao and become an official’s wife, living a life of wealth and comfort. But she couldn’t say it outright. She had already sent him threatening letters, yet he refused to leave Lin Ting.

Recently, Wang Xiuqin had been racking her brain for solutions, but all her ideas seemed flawed. However, plans never keep up with change.

That morning, she overheard her parents mention that Huo Xiao was returning to the army today. She panicked, gave her younger brother two cents to distract their parents, and ran straight to the Huo house.

A soldier could be away for years—who knew when he’d return? At 20 years old, she couldn’t wait any longer. If she didn’t marry soon, she’d be considered an old maid.

But Lin Ting wouldn’t leave—was she supposed to become the other woman? She didn’t dare. Still, she couldn’t accept losing her dream of a rich life.

Her resentment festered ever since Lin Ting’s return ruined her future. The bitterness grew until she even considered exposing Lin Ting’s past: telling Huo Xiao that Lin Ting had run away in her past life and never returned.

Success or failure no longer mattered—she just didn’t want Lin Ting to have a happy life.

But as she neared the Huo house, the cold reality chilled her enthusiasm. She hesitated, unable to take the final step. Fear of being branded a monster for knowing the future held her back.

She became more afraid the more she thought about it, yet she still couldn’t let go. Torn between options, she ended up squatting near the back window—where she had left her letter before—only to be caught red-handed.

Wang Xiuqin had barely seen Huo Xiao since childhood. In her past life, she had only heard of his rise to high office when she returned to beg her parents for money.

No one told her that a high-ranking officer could be this terrifying.

His cold stare stripped away all her petty thoughts and shame. The highest official she had ever met was the village committee secretary—she couldn’t handle this kind of pressure.

Fear and guilt overwhelmed her, and she instinctively tried to crawl away, forgetting her original goal.

Huo Xiao didn’t let that happen. He climbed out the window and chased her down, pinning her into the snow within a few steps.

Her face pressed against the ice, Wang Xiuqin tried to scream.

Shut up! Huo Xiao ordered in a deep voice.

She immediately fell silent, but as realization dawned, she struggled again. I’m not a bad person! Let me go! I’m Wang Liujin’s eldest daughter—I was just passing by!

Huo Xiao ignored her protests, closed the window, and dragged her further away. It was you who left that letter last time, wasn’t it?

Wang Xiuqin froze, her threats catching in her throat. She never expected Lin Ting to have the courage to tell Huo Xiao about the letter.

Denying it was useless. He could verify the handwriting. “If you don’t confess, I’ll have you arrested and sent to a labor camp ^[2]a forced labor facility for criminals or political offenders.”.

Wang Xiuqin, too naive to realize soldiers had no direct arresting power, believed him. Fear paralyzed her. After a long hesitation, she admitted she wanted Lin Ting gone so she could marry Huo Xiao.

Now, she regretted everything.

If she had known how ruthless and terrifying Huo Xiao was, she wouldn’t have dared to scheme against him.

Huo Xiao looked at her tear-streaked, snot-covered face with disdain. Then he asked, The letter said you knew Lin Ting wouldn’t be going to the army?

She couldn’t admit she had lived a second life. I was just… trying to scare her, she stammered.

Huo Xiao saw through the lie instantly. After several rounds of threats, Wang Xiuqin collapsed, spilling the truth.

At the end of her confession, she sobbed, claiming she had suffered too much in her past life and never meant to harm anyone. She even said it would’ve been better if she hadn’t been reborn.

However, Huo Xiao was so frightened that cold sweat formed on his back.

What Wang Xiuqin had just said was simply unbelievable.

Could there really be someone who could live their life again?

At first, he didn’t believe it. But when Wang Xiuqin accurately revealed details about the leader’s death, the twins not being his biological children, and the political turmoil of the next decade, he had no choice but to accept it.

After a long silence, Huo Xiao finally suppressed his emotions and asked hoarsely, “Are you saying that, based on your past life, Tingting never returned after leaving last time?”

Wang Xiuqin, looking drained and defeated, replied, “…Yes.”

Hearing this, Huo Xiao clenched his fists tightly, his expression growing serious.

If he hadn’t met Tingting in person and spent time with her, he might have assumed the worst about her. But now, he was certain—Tingting was not that kind of person. Her respect for her mother and love for the twins were genuine. Huo Xiao believed he had the ability to judge character.

So, in the past life… did something happen to her?

This thought filled Huo Xiao with unease. At the same time, he felt fortunate—at least, Tingting was still fine now.

As for Wang Xiuqin, she couldn’t be let go easily. She knew too much. If someone uncovered his secrets, a few well-placed words could be his downfall.

Before leaving, he had to hand her over to Lao Hu. The organization wouldn’t harm her, but she would need to be under surveillance for the next ten years.

Also, before handing her over, he had to clear Tingting’s name from the false accusations.

Lowering his gaze, Huo Xiao asked, “Have you considered that if what you remember is true, then maybe Tingting met with an accident and was unable to return?”

Wang Xiuqin, who had never considered this possibility, stopped crying and stared blankly at him.

A moment later, realization dawned. Thinking that Lin Ting was the reason for her current situation, she suddenly laughed bitterly and muttered, “That’s good… so good… she died before me… dying before me is good…”

Huo Xiao frowned, bent down, picked her up again, and took her to the brigade headquarters. He asked the old secretary to keep an eye on her.

Someone missing from the village needed an explanation. This couldn’t be hidden from the old secretary, and he had to calm the family members involved.

After that, he needed to contact Lao Hu at the commune to come and take her.

When Huo Xiao returned from town, it was already 12:30 p.m.

That meant he had only half an hour left.

Lin Ting and Hu Xiu assumed he had been handling work matters, so they didn’t question him and hurried through their meal.

The dumplings were stuffed with cabbage and pork, accompanied by two bowls of meat dishes, all brought by Third Aunt Zhang Meihua.

Huo Xiao ate quickly but kept glancing at his wife.

After a few times, Hu Xiu debated whether to take her bowl and eat in the kitchen instead.

Lin Ting also felt uneasy. Her ears reddened, and she picked up some meat with her chopsticks, placing it in his bowl. Unable to bear it any longer, she said angrily, “Eat more.”

Seeing that she was annoyed, Huo Xiao restrained himself.

But then, as if remembering something, he asked, “Have you ever thought about attending the Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers University^[3]refers to university program during the Cultural Revolution in China, aimed at educating workers, peasants, and soldiers.? “

“Huh?” Lin Ting was confused by the sudden question. “Why are you asking this?”

Huo Xiao considered how hard she had studied and figured she must regret not earning a college diploma.

When universities were shut down two years ago, many politically aware people knew it was temporary. A country couldn’t develop without educated individuals.

However, based on Wang Xiuqin’s revelations, universities wouldn’t fully reopen until early 1977.

So, he thought of helping Tingting secure a spot at the Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers University.

Unexpectedly, Lin Ting immediately refused. “I don’t want to go.”

Huo Xiao was caught off guard. “Don’t you regret not getting a degree?”

Lin Ting answered thoughtfully, “Of course, it’s a pity. But life has its twists and turns. Besides, I want to be a teacher. My current education level is enough for that, right?”

In truth, she felt that, for the next decade, nowhere would be safer than the military. And she didn’t think highly of the Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers University degrees.

Huo Xiao, unaware of her concerns, was actually happy she wasn’t interested.

Even though he had acted selfless earlier, deep down, he wanted a warm home, a wife, and children by his side.

So he smiled. “You’re qualified to teach high school.”

Lin Ting was surprised. “There’s a high school in the army?”

“The new unit only has a junior high school.”

“Then I’ll try to become a junior high teacher.”

“That’s great.” It was much better than her moving to the city to teach high school and only seeing him once a week.

Hu Xiu, sitting across from them, grew increasingly irritated. She had thought her son was staring at his wife because he couldn’t bear to part with her—so what was all this?

At the entrance of Xiangyang Brigade village, Minister Hu arrived alone to pick up Wang Xiuqin. He brought no one else.

After picking her up, he waited by the main road, checking the time.

Sure enough, in the bright daylight, a familiar figure soon appeared.