Chapter 22.1

Qin Jiashu heard someone calling his name and tugged on Xiao Yang’s rope to stop.

Xu Jiaojiao also looked over in surprise. In the early winter sunlight, Qin Zhengye stood with his back to the light, gazing at them.

“You’re back?” Xu Jiaojiao asked awkwardly after a moment.

She hadn’t really expected Qin Zhengye to return. Ideally, he would stay focused on climbing the military ranks and send money home from time to time.

“I’ve been transferred to the East China Military Region. I’ll report for duty in a few days. I happened to get some leave, so I came to see you,” Qin Zhengye replied, striding toward them with a green duffel bag in hand.

“Oh,” Xu Jiaojiao nodded.

She wasn’t a military enthusiast and didn’t know much about army matters.

“Don’t you remember me?” Qin Zhengye knelt down in front of Qin Jiashu, looking at the boy, who said nothing.

Qin Jiashu gripped Xiao Yang’s rope tightly, struggling to keep the little lamb from moving.

“Baa…” Xiao Yang bleated in protest, tugging against the rope to escape.

“I’m your Xiao Jiujiu*,” Qin Zhengye said, a trace of disappointment in his voice.

The boy had grown a bit over the past two months and was dressed neatly. His lively run earlier was a stark contrast to the quiet, shy child Qin Zhengye remembered.

Clearly, the little guy had been doing well lately—thanks to Xu Jiaojiao’s excellent care.

“I remember,” Qin Jiashu said. With his sharp memory, how could he forget Qin Zhengye?

“Aunt, it’s Xiao Jiujiu!” he said happily, letting go of the rope and turning toward Xu Jiaojiao with a smile.

“Mm,” Xu Jiaojiao nodded.

“Baa!” Freed from Qin Jiashu’s grip, the lamb bolted forward.

“Xiao Yang…” Qin Jiashu’s eyes widened in panic as he realized what he’d done.

Qin Zhengye stood up. The tall man—nearly six feet—took two long strides and stepped on the trailing rope around the lamb’s neck, easily stopping its escape.

“Wow!” Qin Jiashu exclaimed in awe.

Xiao Jiujiu was so cool! He caught the lamb in just two steps!

“Let’s head back,” Xu Jiaojiao said, walking over with an enamel mug in hand.

Qin Zhengye bent down and handed the rope back to Qin Jiashu. “Hold on tight.”

“Mm,” the boy replied with a nod.

Qin Zhengye carried his duffel bag in one hand and walked beside Xu Jiaojiao.

Xu Jiaojiao glanced at him, unsure what to say. She silently carried the enamel mug toward the Educated Youth Point.

“What’s in the enamel mug?”

“This? Sheep’s milk.”

“Xiao Shu is malnourished and much shorter than other children his age. I figured I’d boil sheep’s milk for him every day so he can get more calcium,” she explained.

Qin Zhengye felt a strange tickle in his chest listening to her soft voice.

It had been over two months since they last met. His memory of her had grown hazy, and their wedding banquet had been hastily arranged. They hadn’t spent much time together—but he still recognized her at a glance.

After all, she was probably the only person who could make an ordinary cotton-padded coat look that good.

“Thank you for taking such good care of Xiao Shu,” he said sincerely.

“You’re welcome,” Xu Jiaojiao replied, shaking her head.

Her affection for Qin Jiashu had begun the moment she transmigrated into the book. She still remembered the little boy hiding behind the chimney—so pitiful and small.

“Weren’t you heading home? Are you sure this is the right way?” Qin Zhengye asked.

He wasn’t entirely familiar with the area anymore after serving in the military for over a decade, but he still remembered that the Qin family residence should be straight ahead at the fork in the road they’d just passed.

“I forgot to mention it in my letter. The day after you returned to your unit, Zhao Guixiang made Xiao Shu and me move out on our own,” Xu Jiaojiao said calmly.

The original owner of this body had been furious and helpless. But Xu Jiaojiao didn’t mind. She actually liked living at the  Zhiqing Compound—it was quiet, peaceful, and free from interference.

Qin Zhengye paused and turned to her. “Where are you living now?”

“At the Zhiqing Compound”

Qin Zhengye fell silent, his breathing growing heavier.

Truthfully, he wasn’t surprised. Zhao Guixiang was more than capable of pulling such a stunt.

“Xiao Yang, you can’t eat that…” Qin Jiashu, leading Xiao Yang by the rope, called out as the lamb stopped by the roadside, preparing to munch on some wild grass.

The chubby-cheeked boy tugged at the rope, trying to pull Xiao Yang back. But the lamb refused to budge. The two entered a tug-of-war that looked utterly adorable.

“Aunt, help me…” Qin Jiashu pleaded, flustered and anxious.

Aunt Liu had warned him, Xiao Yang could only eat fresh green shoots, not dried yellow grass from the roadside.

“Alright,” Xu Jiaojiao said, amused. She casually handed the enamel mug to Qin Zhengye.

He instinctively caught it, then watched as she walked over to help Qin Jiashu pull Xiao Yang away.

“Good boy,” Xu Jiaojiao said, patting the lamb. “I’ll cut some fresh greens for you when we get home.”

Whether Xiao Yang understood or not, it obediently trotted forward on its four stubby legs.

The fork in the road wasn’t far from the compund. Now that she could see it ahead, Xu Jiaojiao didn’t bother turning back for the sheep’s milk. She picked up her pace to catch up with Qin Jiashu and Xiao Yang.

Qin Zhengye’s long strides quickly closed the distance. By the time Xu Jiaojiao arrived at the Zhiqing Compound after chasing after the boy, she turned to see the man easily following behind.

Being tall with long legs is really something…

“Give it to me,” Xu Jiaojiao said, reaching for the enamel mug.

Qin Zhengye glanced at her before handing it back.

“Xiao Yang, you’re too short! You’ll manage once you grow up!” Qin Jiashu struggled for a while at the doorstep, then bent down and picked up the lamb, lecturing it as he carried it inside.

Xu Jiaojiao smiled and followed them in.

“Auntie…” Qin Jiedi, who had been tending the fire in the kitchen, came out when she heard the commotion.

“Jie Di, come look at my little lamb!” Qin Jiashu shouted excitedly as he awkwardly set the lamb down in the courtyard.

Qin Jiedi looked up and saw Qin Jiashu and Xiao Yang—and a tall man carrying a bag at the gate.

She blinked. She remembered him—he was Xiao Shu’s Xiao Jiujiu. The village elders said he was a soldier!

“Uncle…”

“Hmm.” Qin Zhengye stepped inside the compund. His gaze swept across the weed-choked courtyard before he nodded at Qin Jiedi.

“Have you eaten yet?” Xu Jiaojiao asked, turning back toward the kitchen.

TN: “Xiao Jiujiu” (小舅舅) is a term used to refer to one’s youngest maternal uncle. “Xiao” means “little” or “young,” and “Jiujiu” is the affectionate term for a mother’s brother.