Chapter 25.2

“Okay,” Qin Zhengye agreed.

“You two can sit closer together,” the photographer instructed. “Keep your eyes on my camera. Don’t move until the flash goes off.”

Xu Jiaojiao leaned against Qin Zhengye’s shoulder, and they took their first couple photo together.

“I want to take a picture too,” Qin Jiashu muttered, squatting beside them.

“Of course, of course,” the photographer chuckled, nodding enthusiastically.

After taking the couple’s photo, the photographer said, “Alright, you can go sit between your parents now.”

Qin Jiashu grinned and stood up. With Xu Jiaojiao’s help, he settled into the middle spot, and the family of three posed for a group photo. Qin Jiashu beamed throughout the shoot, flashing his pearly white teeth.

Following the family portrait, Xu Jiaojiao and Qin Jiashu took another photo against a white backdrop.

“Three photos should be enough,” Xu Jiaojiao said, calculating the cost of the color prints.

“You and Xiaoshu should each take a solo photo too,” Qin Zhengye suggested, unconcerned about the expense.

The photos would be a precious memento, and he could bring a copy with him to the military. Whenever he missed them, he could look at the pictures.

Xu Jiaojiao met Qin Zhengye’s gaze and slowly nodded.

“Print an extra copy of all five photos,” Qin Zhengye said, paying and carefully tucking away the receipt. “How long will they take?”

“Seven days.”

Qin Zhengye frowned. “Can you expedite them?”

“Even with expedited processing, it’ll still take three to four days,” the old man explained. “Color photos aren’t like black and white. The developing process is more complicated and requires precise lighting.”

“Alright, I’ll pick them up in seven days. Please mail the extra copies to me,” Qin Zhengye said, turning to Xu Jiaojiao for her opinion.

“Okay,” Xu Jiaojiao agreed.

By the time they left the photo studio, it was lunchtime. Qin Zhengye took them to the state-run restaurant.

“One order of twice-cooked pork, one braised fish, one vegetable dish, and four bowls of rice,” Qin Zhengye said as he placed the order.

Xu Jiaojiao led Qin Jiashu to find a table. By chance, the same table where they had eaten dumplings earlier was now empty.

“Mommy!” Qin Jiashu happily ran ahead.

Xu Jiaojiao followed, and the mother and son sat side by side, facing the restaurant’s window.

When Qin Zhengye returned from ordering, he saw the adorable expressions of the two waiting for their food, clearly hungry.

The state-run restaurant buzzed with customers, the air thick with the mingled aromas of various dishes.

Despite the bustling kitchen, their wait wasn’t long.

“The twice-cooked pork is ready.”

Qin Zhengye immediately rose from his seat to retrieve the dish, carrying several bowls of rice back with him. Though the state-run restaurant was expensive, a single bowl of rice was substantial.

“There’s too much rice for me to finish. I’ll give you half,” Xu Jiaojiao said to Qin Zhengye.

“You eat first. I’ll take whatever’s left.”

“…Alright.” Xu Jiaojiao had worried that eating first and leaving the rest for him might seem impolite. But since he didn’t mind, she let him have his way.

“Mmm, this fish is cooked perfectly,” Xu Jiaojiao said, picking a piece for Qin Jiashu and tasting it herself. Perhaps because she ate vegetarian food every day at home, the sudden taste of fish truly whetted her appetite.

“If you like it, eat more,” Qin Zhengye said, pushing the fish platter closer to her.

The twice-cooked pork also smelled delicious, but Xu Jiaojiao didn’t eat fatty meat—only the accompanying chili peppers. With fish, meat, and vegetables, she ate more than usual, but still left over half her rice.

Qin Zhengye finished two large bowls of rice and frowned as he watched Xu Jiaojiao put down her chopsticks.

“How is it that you eat even less than Xiaoshu?”

Qin Jiashu, at four years old, could still finish a bowl of rice, while Xu Jiaojiao left more than half of hers untouched.

“I tried my best to eat,” she said helplessly. Her appetite was simply limited.

“You should try taking two extra bites at each meal,” Qin Zhengye suggested. “You’ll gradually get used to it. Xiaoshu, Dad has a mission for you.”

“Huh? What mission?” Qin Jiashu mumbled through a mouthful of twice-cooked pork, his little mouth working diligently.

“Every day, watch Mom eat and encourage her to eat more. Can you do that?”

“Yes! Xiaoshu will make Mom eat more!” The boy promptly picked up a piece of pork and placed it on Xu Jiaojiao’s plate. “Mom, eat meat.”

Xu Jiaojiao smiled. “Thank you, sweetie.”

“Mom, you’re welcome!” Qin Jiashu replied cheerfully.

Xu Jiaojiao patted the boy’s head. While he was focused on his food, she discreetly transferred the pork from her plate to Qin Zhengye’s bowl, then casually looked out the window as if nothing had happened.

Qin Zhengye noticed that Xu Jiaojiao was only eating the vegetables and chili peppers from the twice-cooked pork dish, confirming his suspicion that she disliked fatty meat. He glanced at her beautiful profile, smiled, and ate the pork himself.

After a satisfying meal at the state-run hotel, they walked a few hundred meters to the supply and marketing cooperative.

Xu Jiaojiao had thought the original owner of her body was extravagant, but Qin Zhengye’s shopping habits were equally outrageous.

He bought walnut pastries, bubu gao cakes, rock sugar, dried noodles, and red dates, filling their basket as if money were no object.

“You’re buying too much,” Xu Jiaojiao said, tugging at Qin Zhengye’s sleeve.

“It’s all for tomorrow’s homecoming gift,” he replied earnestly. “Since we’re so late, the gift should be extra nice.”

Xu Jiaojiao considered the local customs. Homecoming gifts did indeed require these items.

When the original Xu Jiaojiao had returned home three days after her wedding, she had gone empty-handed and even taken things from her family. Her sister-in-law had been quite displeased.

“Then you handle the shopping,” Xu Jiaojiao conceded. “I’ll take Xiaoshu to buy frostbite cream.”

Qin Jiashu’s little hands and feet had improved significantly with the cream, but he still needed to use it.

Qin Zhengye finished shopping quickly. By the time Xu Jiaojiao had purchased two jars of frostbite cream, he was already approaching.

The tall man, still in his military uniform, carried the basket and glanced at the nearby counter. “Want to buy a jar of snow cream for your face?”

Qin Zhengye had noticed the wives of the soldiers often bought these creams, claiming they made their skin look younger.

Xu Jiaojiao’s face was already as smooth as a chicken egg. Shouldn’t she be using these creams even more?

“How much is a jar of this snow cream?” Qin Zhengye asked the saleswoman.

“Five yuan,” she replied, sizing him up before casting an envious glance at Xu Jiaojiao.

“I’ll take one,” Qin Zhengye said, paying without hesitation.

He didn’t understand why a jar of cream smaller than his fist cost five yuan, but he paid anyway.

Xu Jiaojiao opened her mouth to mention they already had snow cream at home. The original owner of her body had been generous, buying two jars at a time. The current jar had barely been opened.

But Xu Jiaojiao decided this was Qin Zhengye’s first genuine gift to her. For a five-yuan jar of cream, there was no need to refuse.

After finishing their shopping at the supply and marketing cooperative, Qin Zhengye carried all the bags. Around the corner, he stopped at the food station to pick up a large braised pig’s trotter.

“Is that everything?” Xu Jiaojiao asked.

“Yeah,” Qin Zhengye nodded.

Qin Jiashu and Xu Jiaojiao held hands as they prepared to board the bus back to Qin Family Village. As they passed a narrow alley, the sharp-eyed child spotted an old man carrying a bundle of candied hawthorns.

“Mom…” Qin Jiashu stopped in his tracks, his gaze fixed on the glistening treats.

“Do you want a candied hawthorn?” Xu Jiaojiao followed his line of sight.

“Mmm,” Qin Jiashu nodded hesitantly. He had never tasted one before and was eager to try it.

“Let’s go, Mom will buy you one.” It was just a candied hawthorn; if the little one wanted it, she would definitely get it for him.

“Grandpa, how much for one skewer?” Xu Jiaojiao asked as she approached.

“Three mao per skewer.”

The price was a bit steep, but the hawthorns were plump and round, coated in a thick layer of hardened sugar. It was clear they were worth the cost and looked utterly delicious.

Xu Jiaojiao picked out a skewer for Qin Jiashu and turned to Qin Zhengye, who was trailing behind with their bags. “Do you want one?”

“No, thanks.”

“Alright, then I’ll take two.” Xu Jiaojiao paid six mao, and the pair continued walking, each enjoying a candied hawthorn.

The sugar coating was crisp and sweet, while the hawthorn inside offered a tangy counterpoint—a perfect balance of flavors.

“So delicious!” Qin Jiashu exclaimed, his little mouth smeared with candy coating, his blissful expression utterly adorable.

Xu Jiaojiao nodded in agreement. “It really is delicious.”

It’s better than any candied hawthorns I’ve ever had, Xu Jiaojiao thought. This isn’t just nostalgia, people back then took their food more seriously than they do decades later.

“That good?” Qin Zhengye raised an eyebrow.

“The best!” Qin Jiashu nodded vigorously. “The very best!”

“If it’s the best, how about giving Daddy one?” Qin Zhengye tested his son’s willingness to share.

“Okay!” Qin Jiashu held out his candied hawthorn to Qin Zhengye.

Qin Zhengye glanced at his son, then turned to Xu Jiaojiao.

Xu Jiaojiao was watching Qin Jiashu with tender affection.

“It’s not right to steal from a child,” Qin Zhengye said. “I’ll just have yours instead.” He leaned down and ate the half-eaten candied hawthorn from Xu Jiaojiao’s hand.

“?” Xu Jiaojiao stared at the now-empty stick, her ears warming. After a moment, she offered, “If you want one, I can go buy you a skewer.”

It’s not like we’re far away.

Qin Zhengye calmly finished the candied hawthorn. “I just wanted a taste. Hmm, you’re right, it’s very good.”