Chapter 22 – He’s Not Picky About Any Flavor

“Xiao Song, I’m about to leave with your brother-in-law to join the army unit. You need to study hard and eat well at home, alright?”

As soon as Ye Tao said this, Ye Song felt that even the meat bun in his hand had lost its flavor.

“Second Sis, where are you going?” he asked anxiously.

“Somewhere far away. It takes several days on the train.”

Ye Song’s eyes turned red. “I don’t want you to go.”

Before the words even finished, he burst into loud sobs.

Ye Tao was caught between tears and laughter, coaxing him for a long while before he finally calmed down.

Huo Tingwu frowned in dissatisfaction as he watched. His wife hadn’t even coaxed him yet, and here he was, competing for affection with a child over ten years younger.

Ye Tao gently wiped Ye Song’s tears. “Once I get there, I’ll write you letters, alright?”

Although reluctant, Ye Song knew his second sister couldn’t stay with him forever after marrying. He repeatedly insisted that she must write.

Ye Tao stroked his head and promised she would.

Not wanting to bump into Ye Hongjun and his wife when they came back, Ye Tao didn’t linger long. Before leaving, she gave Ye Song five yuan to use for school supplies.

When they returned home, Huo Tingwu hugged Ye Tao like a spoiled child, leaving her baffled. “What are you doing?” His short hair tickled her neck and made her squirm.

“Coax me.”

Ye Tao thought she misheard, asked again, and got the same answer.

She couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Hahaha! Huo Tingwu, how old are you already, still acting spoiled? Did you see Ye Song acting cute, and now you want to copy him?”

Her words mercilessly exposed him.

Huo Tingwu froze, feeling as though he’d taken ten thousand points of damage.

“Taotao, don’t you know exactly how old I am?” He clasped her hand tightly.

Ye Tao: ? Why do I feel like you’re implying something indecent?

Noticing the dangerous look in his eyes, Ye Tao’s heart skipped—too late. Before she could run, he scooped her up and the two tumbled onto the bed.

“Taotao,” he whispered in her ear.

Ye Tao shivered. “Don’t you dare mess around—we have to travel tomorrow.”

Huo Tingwu chuckled. “You little rascal, what are you imagining? I just want to hold you while we sleep.”

Her face burned red. Flustered, she broke free and curled up in the corner, refusing to look at him. So embarrassing! Being around Huo Tingwu too long was corrupting her thoughts.

Knowing he was at fault, Huo Tingwu moved close again, pulling her back into his arms. He apologized and promised he wouldn’t tease her further.

Ye Tao hadn’t truly been angry, just too thin-skinned. Now that he gave her an excuse to let it go, she did.

That final night before departure, the couple slept in each other’s arms, savoring their last peaceful moment at home.

At dawn, Ye Tao woke up early this time, washed quickly, and didn’t linger in bed.

Liu Wenxiu had been up since three, busy kneading dough for dumplings. Their family tradition was “dumplings when leaving, noodles when returning.”

The leftover chicken from before was just enough for celery-and-chicken dumpling filling. The second son’s favorite was dumplings—he never fussed about flavors.

She remembered how, when the family was poor, they only made dumplings during the New Year or festivals. Back then, the second son never rushed to eat; he’d wait for everyone else to take their share before he picked up his chopsticks. So sensible, even at such a young age.

By the time Ye Tao finished washing, Liu Wenxiu had just finished boiling the dumplings and called them to eat.

“Mother, what time did you wake up?” Ye Tao’s eyes grew misty as she looked at the steaming dumplings.

“I couldn’t sleep knowing you two were leaving, so I got up at three to make them,” Liu Wenxiu said, pouring sauce for them. “Hurry and eat while it’s hot. I’ll bring you two bowls of dumpling soup.”

“Mother, please eat with us,” Huo Tingwu said softly, unable to bear the heaviness in his chest. He gently pressed her back into her seat, then went himself to the kitchen, hiding his emotions where no one could see.

When he returned, his face was calm again.

Meanwhile, Huo Xiaolin bundled up the household’s dried goods into a sack for them. The cured fish hanging from the eaves was wrapped in paper and tucked into the bottom—just in case someone tried to steal it.

After breakfast, Ye Tao checked their luggage one last time to be sure nothing was forgotten.

Huo Tingjie borrowed a bicycle from Tingfeng’s family, and the two brothers rode together to escort the couple to the station.

Ye Tao felt lucky their Tongxiang brigade was conveniently located: only half an hour’s ride to the county town, and about an hour to the city.

At the village entrance, Liu Wenxiu and Huo Xiaolin saw them off, watching until their figures grew distant before turning back home, reluctant.

The train wasn’t until four in the afternoon, so Ye Tao and Huo Tingwu first went to Eldest Brother’s house to drop their things, then to Wen Bo’s place to fetch medicine.

Miaomiao, having heard her aunt was coming, had been waiting at the door early. With limited patience, she soon grew bored and squatted with her little bottom stuck out, pulling up weeds. Just before she uprooted every last sprout, her aunt finally arrived.

“Auntie!” The little girl threw herself against Ye Tao’s legs, blinking her big eyes up at her.

Warmth spread in Ye Tao’s heart as she picked her up. “Miaomiao, have you had breakfast yet? Auntie brought meat buns.”

Yesterday she had steamed plenty of preserved-vegetable-and-pork buns, along with meat sauce. Besides what they were taking for themselves, she set aside two portions for her elder brother and Wen Bo.

Though small, Miaomiao had a huge appetite. The moment she heard about meat buns, her tummy “suddenly” felt empty again. “I ate, but my belly is still hungry.”

Huo Tingwu’s eyes flicked to her little stomach, which bulged obviously. Hungry? Really?

Cao Shuya, who had swapped shifts to be home today since her brother-in-law and sister-in-law were leaving, cut her daughter off mercilessly. “No more. You already had five small buns and a bowl of millet porridge—did you forget?”

Miaomiao pouted. “But my belly’s hungry.”

Cao Shuya pressed a hand against her stomach and, face stern, rejected her plea.

Miaomiao’s eyes darted toward her aunt for rescue. Ye Tao only shrugged helplessly—she couldn’t help either.

“But,” Cao Shuya added, “if you behave, Mama will heat up a bun for you at lunch.”

The little girl furrowed her brows, then reluctantly agreed. “Okay…” Better later than not at all.

Cao Shuya couldn’t help laughing and sighing. Normally, she never starved her daughter of snacks, but the child’s appetite was simply too large—sometimes they had to restrain her.

After greeting her sister-in-law, Ye Tao went with Huo Tingwu to Wen Bo’s home.

The old doctor was drying herbs in the yard. Hearing their voices, he opened the door. “Well now, so early again?”

“Uncle Wen, we’re leaving soon and came to get the medicine,” Ye Tao said.

“So fast? Haven’t you only been back a few days?” he asked.

Huo Tingwu smiled bitterly. In their line of work, orders were everything.

Wen Bo didn’t press further, just had Ye Tao sit while he took her pulse.

“Better this time—slightly improved. But don’t get careless. Keep taking the medicine on schedule.”

Ye Tao nodded quickly.

“Do you want the medicine prepared, or just the prescription?” he asked.

“Could we have both?” Ye Tao asked, embarrassed.

They’d discussed it the night before: the island might be small, but it had decent facilities. The prescription could be filled there, but since they might not have time at first, they wanted to bring some medicine with them as well.

“Alright, that’s easy.” Wen Bo agreed at once—it was no trouble.