Chapter 11: My Daughter Is Going to the Military District with Her Husband

After having dinner at the Rong household, Ye Muqi returned home and immediately saw Xia Ying writing something at the dining table. Several sheets of paper were already filled beside her.

Ye Muqi instinctively glanced at the time. At this hour, Xia Ying should be watching TV. Curious, she leaned over to see what Xia Ying was writing.

“Mom, what are you writing?”

“You’re back, Qiqi?” Xia Ying, focused on her task, only noticed her then. “Oh, I’m just making a list of things you’ll need to take with you.”

Counting the days, half of Rong Jingchen’s ten-day leave had already passed. The trip would take a whole day, so there weren’t many days left to help her daughter pack.

But thinking about it, Ye Muqi didn’t feel there was much to pack. Most of her things could be stored in her space ability. A symbolic set of clothes would be enough.

Yet Xia Ying had already written five pages of items. Even though Xia Ying’s handwriting was quite large, wasn’t this a bit much?

“This is way too much,” Ye Muqi couldn’t help but feel déjà vu from when she first went to university.

Since she had gone up north, her parents had packed her two huge suitcases back then!

“Well, some things we don’t have at home, so I’ll need to go out and buy them tomorrow. I’m just writing everything down so I don’t forget,” Xia Ying explained, noticing Ye Muqi staring at the list.

“But you really don’t need to bring so much. Jingchen said everything’s available there,” Ye Muqi said, a little helplessly.

“You say that, but it’s the capital! Do you know how cold it gets in winter? I’m not worried about you going hungry, but I am afraid you’ll freeze there. I won’t be at ease if I don’t prepare properly.”

“…”

Ye Muqi sighed as she looked at the fully packed list on the table. She understood that this was her mother’s love and concern. If it were possible, Xia Ying would probably want to go with her.

“…Alright then.”

Ye Muqi didn’t say anything more. Only by letting her mother do this could she feel at ease.

The Next Day

Since her daughter was about to leave, Xia Ying had taken two days off from the factory. Armed with her detailed list, she went out shopping. By midday, she had bought a lot of things and was carrying several large bags home.

It was lunchtime, and the workers who had just finished their half-day shift were on their break. Many familiar faces greeted Xia Ying on the road, and she smiled and responded to each one, clearly in high spirits.

From afar, Lin Yanhong spotted Xia Ying. She was dressed nicely and neatly, and carrying so many items—she looked energetic and radiant.

In contrast, Lin Yanhong, having worked on the construction site all morning, was covered in dust and didn’t even feel confident enough to greet Xia Ying…

“Yanhong? On lunch break?” Xia Ying noticed her first and called out with a smile.

She didn’t show the slightest concern over Lin Yanhong’s dusty appearance.

“Yes,” Lin Yanhong nodded and forced a smile, then asked, “I heard Qiqi… is she feeling better now?”

“She’s fine now. Much better. She’s resting at home,” Xia Ying replied.

Given Ye Muqi’s condition, Xia Ying had decided to do the shopping alone. Besides, when she left earlier, Ye Muqi hadn’t even woken up yet.

“That’s good. I’m glad she’s alright.” Lin Yanhong nodded, looking a bit shy, but her concern seemed sincere.

Xia Ying studied her carefully. Since she showed genuine concern when asking about Ye Muqi, Xia Ying decided not to bring up what she had originally planned to ask.

That day when Ye Muqi fell into the river, Ye Huihui had been present too. But from Lin Yanhong’s expression, it seemed she might not know about it.

Should she ask her about it?

Lin Yanhong glanced at the bags Xia Ying was carrying. Although the items were common, wasn’t it a bit early to be buying winter clothes in this weather?

“Yingzi, you’re already buying winter clothes?” she finally couldn’t resist asking.

“Oh,” Xia Ying looked at her purchases, and her smile grew even brighter. “Jingchen is back, and this time he’s taking Qiqi with him to the military district. You know how cold it gets in the capital. I have to make sure Qiqi is well prepared!”

Her voice even got louder as she spoke.

Her daughter was going to the military district with her son-in-law—she practically wanted to shout it out, especially to those people who had been spreading rumors that her son-in-law wanted a divorce!

“Huh?” Lin Yanhong looked surprised that Rong Jingchen had come back.

Even though gossip spread quickly in the town, Lin Yanhong hadn’t heard anything. She’d been too busy working every day to pay attention to such things.

“That’s great news!” After a moment of surprise, Lin Yanhong smiled. “Qiqi and Captain Rong are finally reunited as husband and wife.”

“Exactly!”

Seeing Lin Yanhong’s genuine smile, Xia Ying couldn’t help but feel happy too. She chatted with her for a while longer before heading home.

That night, during their rare downtime, Lin Yanhong handed Ye Weiming a bowl of rice and recounted what had happened at noon.

“I still can’t believe Captain Rong is taking Qiqi back with him to the military district!” she said, still a bit surprised.

A year ago, Rong Jingchen had registered the marriage and left for the military district right away. Everyone could tell he didn’t really like Ye Muqi. Who would’ve thought that this time he’d come back and take her with him?

“…”

Ye Huihui, about to pick up some food, froze mid-motion. Her face instantly darkened.

Why was everyone talking about this now? Even her mother knew?

The news had probably spread everywhere by now. Ye Muqi must be so smug about it!

Ye Huihui clenched her chopsticks tightly, her expression gloomy.

“Well, it makes sense. They’re married after all,” Ye Weiming said after the initial surprise wore off.

As a married couple, they should be together. It was understandable. Soldiers already had a hard time getting married, and divorces were even more complicated. Did anyone really expect Captain Rong to remain a bachelor forever?

“Yingzi looked really happy today. She must’ve spent a lot of money too—those winter clothes didn’t look cheap.”

The two of them didn’t seem to notice Ye Huihui sitting nearby, who had lost her appetite and was angrily poking at her rice like she imagined it was Ye Muqi.

“But isn’t it a little too soon? Didn’t he just come back?”

“I heard from Yingzi that Captain Rong only has a 10-day leave, and the round trip takes two days. So they’re in a bit of a rush.”

“True enough.”

Even if they weren’t overly cheerful, as relatives they felt a quiet sense of comfort knowing that Ye Muqi’s life was turning out well.

Ye Huihui, listening from the side, felt more and more annoyed the longer they talked.

“Bang!”

She couldn’t hold it in anymore. She slammed her chopsticks onto the table.

“I’m full.”

She stormed off to her room angrily.

Ye Weiming and Lin Yanhong: “…?”

Did she eat gunpowder for lunch or something?