Chapter 3

After returning home, Song Ci hung out her wet clothes before she and Xiaoshu began the cleaning. She was the main person, with Xiaoshu handing things off to the side. After a full afternoon, the house was finally presentable. It wasn’t that she was particularly diligent, but rather that she wanted to use the work to numb herself, to stop overthinking and to gain a sense of reality about her current life.

Li Yannian did not return home at night. Song Ci was very relaxed. The mother and son had a simple meal and then went to bed.

The next day, she and Xiaoshu woke up at daybreak. After breakfast, they set out. The troops were deep in the mountains, so to get out, they had to take a supply truck. The dozens of miles of mountain roads were no joke. She arrived early, even before others. When she and Xiaoshu arrived, several of their sisters-in-law were already in the truck. Some greeted her, but not much else.

Song Ci thought this was a good idea, chuckling a few times before sitting in a corner with Xiao Shu. Even when the others exchanged glances in front of her, she ignored them, occasionally answering Xiao Shu’s questions. The child was quite lively, perhaps because he was still young, and he wasn’t upset by his mother’s previous neglect. Even if Song Ci didn’t reply, he would chatter for a long time, quite amusing himself.

As the day grew brighter, more and more people arrived, and beside her, a woman with a worried look on her face appeared. Her name was Xu Yuan, and she had only recently joined the army, so she had not had much contact with the original owner. The book didn’t mention her much, just that no one wanted to talk to her.

Song Ci just smiled at her and turned his head away.

“Why don’t you talk to them?” Xu Yuan asked after sitting down next to her.

Song Ci looked at her in surprise, then made an excuse: “I didn’t sleep well, so I’m too lazy to talk.”

“Oh, I thought you were just as unpopular with them as I am.” Xu Yuan said somewhat disappointedly. She had thought she had found a kindred spirit, finally a companion.

Seeing Song Ci’s puzzled face, she said excitedly: “Don’t you know? They all say I’m Xianglin Sao behind my back.” After saying that, seeing that Song Ci was still puzzled, she couldn’t help but whispered: “When my dog ​​Dan was as big as your tree, he fell into a water tank and couldn’t be saved. I went out to wash some clothes, and when I came back, I saw the child soaking in the tank. I carried the child all the way to the health center, but the doctor said it was too late and there was no way to save him. I, I just couldn’t get over it, so I always wanted to find someone to talk to. If I talked too much, she would… They say I am Xianglin Sao. I know they don’t like me to mention Goudan, but I can’t help it. My Goudan, he was so young and so well-behaved, it’s all my fault that I didn’t take good care of him. People in my hometown didn’t like me either, and I couldn’t stay there any longer, so I came here to join the army. Before I came, my Dajun told me not to mention Goudan anymore, but how could I not mention it? It’s all my fault, I’m sorry for him, I can’t forget my Goudan. Even I have forgotten him, who else would remember him?” As she spoke, she couldn’t help but burst into tears.

Xiaoshu, who had been extremely excited since waking up in the morning, stopped smiling when he saw her crying and looked at Song Ci somewhat bewilderedly.

Song Ci patted his head and said to him, “Hurry up and hug your aunt. Tell her not to be sad. Your brother Goudan doesn’t blame her.”

Xu Yuan was stunned when he heard this, and looked at Xiaoshu with anticipation, just like he was looking at his own dog Dan.

Xiao Shu was frightened by her gaze and turned to look at Song Ci. Seeing Song Ci nod at him, he stood up, hugged Xu Yuan’s head with both hands, patted it gently, and then said what Song Ci had taught him.

“Goudan, damn Goudan. Don’t you really blame me? I beat up your aunt and your grandmother for you. Please don’t blame me, okay?” Xu Yuan suddenly cried.

“Wow…” Xiaoshu started crying and looked back at Song Ci while crying.

Song Ci gave him a thumbs-up. He turned back, patted Xu Yuan on the head and said, “Don’t blame me, don’t blame me!”

At first, the people in the car didn’t take it seriously; after all, Xu Yuan had mentioned her dog more than once. At first, they tried to comfort her, but after a while, they grew tired of it. Now, hearing her sobbing, some looked over, some frowned, some even pretended to ask Xu Yuan a few questions, and some even asked about Song Ci.

Xu Yuan just hugged Xiaoshu and cried, while Song Ci had an expression that said, “I don’t know what happened.” Only the military wives sitting near them remained silent. Only when the driver stopped did Xu Yuan let go of Xiaoshu, wiped her tears, and said she was fine, just too excited.

After the car started again, Xu Yuan patted Xiaoshu’s head, looked at Song Ci, and said very seriously: “Thank you. If you don’t mind, can you let me be Xiaoshu’s godmother? Don’t worry, I promise not to mention Xiaoshu in front of you again.”

Song Ci didn’t agree immediately, but looked at Xiaoshu and said, “Xiaoshu, do you want to recognize Aunt Xu as your godmother?”

Xiao Shu thought about it seriously, then looked at Xu Yuan and said, “Will you treat me as well as my mother did? Will you talk to me and play with me?”

“Yes. I can make clothes and shoes for you. I can also embroider. I’m very good at sewing,” Xu Yuan said as she picked up the basket next to her and took out a round-necked jacket from it. She pointed at the butterfly on it and said, “Look, isn’t it beautiful?”

The little tree shook his head and said, “I don’t like butterflies. I like little tigers.”

“I can also embroider little tigers. I will embroider them for you when I get back.” Xu Yuan said happily.

Xiaoshu was delighted when he heard this and said cheerfully, “Godmother.”

“Oh.” Xu Yuan responded happily, but couldn’t help crying again.

“Don’t cry!” The little tree wiped her tears.

“Don’t cry, I’m just happy. Our little tree is so well-behaved.” Xu Yuan said with his head raised.

Song Ci looked at her silk scarf and said, “Sister-in-law, can you let me see the little jacket in your hand?”

“I made this for the girl from my sister-in-law’s family. Her birthday is coming soon.” Xu Yuan said as he handed over the jacket in his hand.

Song Ci took it and looked at it carefully before saying, “Is this Su embroidery?”

“You actually recognized it. My grandma is from Suzhou. She taught me.” Xu Yuan said with some nostalgia.

“This is really well embroidered,” Song Ci couldn’t help but praise it. Two butterflies appeared vividly on the blue cotton cloth.

“If you like, I will embroider a handkerchief for you.” Xu Yuan finally calmed down at this moment, and looked at Song Ci with gratitude in his eyes.

“That’s not necessary. You just need to embroider it for Xiaoshu. Our Xiaoshu loves the little tiger very much. His grandmother made a cloth tiger for him, and he cherishes it like it’s something special.” Song Ci said with a smile.

“Little Tiger, Little Tree likes it.” Little Tree also laughed.

“Then I’ll make a cloth tiger for Xiaoshu first, so they can make a perfect pair. Then I’ll embroider a handkerchief for you.” Xu Yuan agreed, looking much more energetic.