Chapter 24.1

Xu Jiaojiao looked at Qin Zhengye and said, “My health isn’t good. I might not be able to have children.”

For most people, having children and continuing the family line is the primary reason for marriage. Qin Zhengye was likely no exception.

Qin Zhengye stared at Xu Jiaojiao, his brow furrowed in silence.

“…Xu Jiaojiao pressed her lips together.

Qin Zhengye’s silence left Xu Jiaojiao feeling slightly disappointed. She understood his hesitation, but that didn’t make it any easier.

Xu Jiaojiao smiled wryly, forcing a light tone. “You don’t need to feel pressured. I should have been clearer about my health from the start. I’m the one who’s let you down.”

Qin Zhengye watched Xu Jiaojiao’s forced smile, a bitter ache rising in his chest.

He hated seeing her so vulnerable, yet pretending everything was fine.

“We haven’t registered our marriage yet,” Xu Jiaojiao continued, calmly laying out the facts. “It was just a small banquet. It doesn’t count as a real marriage, so it shouldn’t affect your career in the military.”

Before transmigrating into this book, she had also longed for a family. After her parents passed away, living alone in their once-lively house, that longing had only grown stronger.

Though she wasn’t as stunningly beautiful as the original Xu Jiaojiao, she was still quite attractive, surrounded by admirers. However, she never hid her medical history. Before entering any relationship, she would honestly disclose that her uterus had been removed due to a car accident.

Upon learning this, most suitors withdrew.

Of course, there were exceptions—men who claimed not to care. But ultimately, none of those relationships worked out.

She had endured countless moments of vulnerability, each time tearing open her raw wounds only to slowly wait for them to heal.

Eventually, she resolved to reject romance entirely, refusing men’s advances and preparing herself for a solitary old age.

Yet now, facing Qin Zhengye’s hesitation, her carefully constructed defenses crumbled, replaced by a surge of fear.

She was afraid—afraid of losing Qin Jiashu.

“Why doesn’t this count as marriage?” Qin Zhengye frowned. “We’ve held the wedding banquet. We’re husband and wife.”

Xu Jiaojiao abruptly looked up at him. “Qin Zhengye…”

Qin Zhengye’s emotions were tangled. He admitted that Xu Jiaojiao’s words had stirred a moment of conflict within him.

But then he remembered the real reason for their marriage, he needed someone to help care for Qin Jiashu.

Xu Jiaojiao had taken excellent care of Qin Jiashu, fulfilling the condition he had set for marrying her. As a soldier, how could he possibly go back on his word about such a significant matter as marriage?

“Didn’t you hear what I said clearly?” Xu Jiaojiao asked, her tone tinged with suspicion.

“I heard you perfectly.”

“Then you’re still willing to register our marriage?”

“Xu Jiaojiao, we have Xiaoshu. Frankly, raising children is a hassle, and one is enough for me.” Qin Zhengye glanced at Qin Jiashu.

The little boy was hunched over, struggling to fasten the buttons of his military coat. His small hands fumbled with the buttons, unable to secure them. He looked utterly adorable in his clumsy efforts.

“You’re joking, right?”

Qin Jiashu was his nephew. Surely he would want children of his own?

In the novel, didn’t he and the female lead, Liu Shufen, have children?

“Auntie, help me with these…” Qin Jiashu, exhausted from his efforts, puffed out his cheeks and whined for assistance.

Xu Jiaojiao snapped out of her thoughts when the boy hugged her leg. She bent down to fasten his coat and straighten the hem.

“Qin Jiashu,” Qin Zhengye called out.

“Hmm?” With his coat finally buttoned, the boy smoothed the fabric with satisfaction. He looked up at Qin Zhengye’s voice.

“From now on, call me ‘Dad,’ okay?”

Call his little uncle ‘Dad’?

Qin Jiashu blinked in confusion, then turned to Xu Jiaojiao with concern. “What should I call Auntie then?”

Qin Zhengye raised an eyebrow, pleased with the boy’s logical thinking. “Call her ‘Mom.’”

Xu Jiaojiao felt a blush creeping up her neck, her ears growing warm.

In that moment, she admitted to herself that she was hopelessly smitten.

“Really?” Qin Jiashu excitedly hugged Xu Jiaojiao’s leg. “So I’ll have a mom and dad now? I won’t be a wild child anymore!”

“You were never a wild child,” Xu Jiaojiao said, gently smoothing his tousled hair with her finger.

“Come here,” Qin Zhengye said, crouching down.

Qin Jiashu obediently walked over to Qin Zhengye. Even crouched, the tall man towered over the boy.

“Say ‘Dad’ for me,” Qin Zhengye teased.

“Dad!” Qin Jiashu readily complied.

“And?” Qin Zhengye nodded, thoroughly pleased, and gestured toward Xu Jiaojiao with a tilt of his chin.

“Mom!” Qin Jiashu turned to Xu Jiaojiao and shouted, then looked back at Qin Zhengye.

The boy’s eyes sparkled with innocent joy, a hopeful smile playing on his lips as he waited for praise.

“Smart, just like me,” Qin Zhengye said, pleased.

Xu Jiaojiao, however, was staring at Qin Jiashu, her heart pounding wildly at the child’s call of “Mom.”

After a long silence, Xu Jiaojiao finally looked up at Qin Zhengye. “Have you really thought this through? Are you sure you won’t regret it?”

“Regret what? Xu Jiaojiao, what man would regret marrying a cultured and beautiful wife?” Qin Zhengye countered lightly.

He was complimenting her looks, but Xu Jiaojiao pressed on. “I only graduated from high school.”

In this era, a high school diploma was merely passable. With the re-introduction of the college entrance exam, junior college and university graduates were becoming increasingly common.

“I only finished junior high,” Qin Zhengye replied. “But I did attend some advanced training while in the military.”

“Let’s set aside our educational backgrounds for now. If you’re drawn to my appearance, I think you should reconsider carefully. Beauty fades with age—I won’t stay young and pretty forever, and looks can’t put food on the table.”

Taking a deep breath, Xu Jiaojiao regained her composure. “With your prospects, you could easily find a better wife in the military—a beautiful city girl, or even a young college student.”

Qin Zhengye could definitely find someone with better prospects than her.

Listening to Xu Jiaojiao’s words, Qin Zhengye found it somewhat amusing. Did she really think she wasn’t good enough for him?

“You’re wrong,” Qin Zhengye countered earnestly. “Beauty can indeed put food on the table. Just looking at you makes me want to eat two extra bowls of rice.”

Xu Jiaojiao blushed, embarrassed.

How could this man spout such nonsense with such a straight face?

“As for finding a city girl or a college student, sure, they have better prospects, but they wouldn’t even glance at a rough country boy like me.”

Have marriage standards risen so high in this era? Xu Jiaojiao wondered. Even a textbook male lead like him can’t catch their eye?

“We both have our flaws, but that’s precisely why we’re a good match,” Qin Zhengye said, his gaze unwavering. “I can’t guarantee others would always treat him well, but I believe you will.”

Though they had only spent half a day together, Xu Jiaojiao’s meticulous care for Xiaoshu and the boy’s obvious affection for her were undeniable.

He was certain that no one could be better for Xiaoshu than she was.

“So sure?”

“Absolutely.”

“Anything else you want to say?” Qin Zhengye raised an eyebrow, pressing further.

Xu Jiaojiao shook her head. “No.”

Qin Zhengye’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Then shall we get our marriage certificate tomorrow?”

“Okay. But you can change your mind anytime before we do.” Xu Jiaojiao still wanted to give Qin Zhengye time for careful consideration.

Qin Zhengye gave her a playful look but said nothing more. Instead, he bent down and picked up Qin Jiashu, who was turning his little head back and forth between them.

“Wow!” By the time Qin Jiashu realized what was happening, he was already perched on Qin Zhengye’s shoulders.

Qin Zhengye ran around the courtyard with Qin Jiashu on his shoulders.

“Hahaha…” Qin Jiashu gripped Qin Zhengye’s ears, laughing heartily as Qin Zhengye jogged.

Xu Jiaojiao stood in the main room, watching their sunlit figures. The tightness in her chest gradually eased.

Perhaps, she thought, I can try to trust him.

In winter, the days are short and the nights long. Before Xu Jiaojiao had time to think, dusk was already approaching.

Entering the kitchen, she surveyed the vegetables and decided to make radish cakes with shredded radish and flour, stir-fried potato slices, and a winter melon soup.

Xu Jiaojiao had a habit of drinking soup with every meal. She could skip the main dishes, but soup was a must.

Like Qin Jiashu, Qin Zhengye was easy to please and not picky about food. All three dishes Xu Jiaojiao prepared were devoured completely.

—

As dinner ended, darkness fully descended, and Xu Jiaojiao’s composure began to crumble.

There was no escaping it: nightfall meant it was time for bed.

Qingdian only had one bed, which indirectly meant she would be sharing it with Qin Zhengye.

“Xiaoshu, would you mind lying in the middle?” Xu Jiaojiao boiled water, filled the hot water bottle, tossed it onto the bed, and gestured for Qin Jiashu to move.

Qin Jiashu nodded happily and scooted to the center. The clever child understood perfectly, “This side is for Daddy.”

Xu Jiaojiao remained silent, offering only a faint nod.

“Auntie—oh, no, Mom—let’s play cat’s cradle!” Qin Jiashu pulled the woolen string Xu Jiaojiao had given him earlier from under his pillow.

“Okay!” Xu Jiaojiao readily agreed.

It was still early, and they needed something to pass the time.

The initial steps of the cat’s cradle game were simple. Xu Jiaojiao and Qin Jiashu easily and happily took turns creating various patterns. But suddenly, Xu Jiaojiao found herself stumped.

The little guy had secretly learned a new trick somewhere, producing a cat’s cradle formation that Xu Jiaojiao couldn’t figure out how to continue.

“?” Xu Jiaojiao looked at Qin Jiashu in bewilderment.

Qin Jiashu, propped up on his tiny hands, chuckled mischievously. “Mommy, hurry, hurry…” The child urged, wiggling his little bottom.

Xu Jiaojiao flushed with embarrassment. “Let me study this for a moment…”

She had taught Qin Jiashu this game herself. Xu Jiaojiao refused to believe she could lose to the little guy. Besides, as an adult, losing at cat’s cradle to a four-year-old would be utterly humiliating.

Creak—

Qin Zhengye, who had taken a cold shower after dinner, now entered the room, wearing only a thin short-sleeved shirt. As the door opened, a cool breeze slipped in.