Chapter 5: Finding a Way to Stay in the Lu Family

On the bustling street filled with voices, Wen Nian got a real taste of the everyday life in this era.

It was the 1980s in Jingzhou, and there weren’t many cars around.

Everywhere, people zoomed past her on “Twenty-Eight Big Frame” bicycles.

Pedestrians dressed conservatively, with relatively uniform styles.

Most wore blue, white, black, or gray, though quite a few young women stood out in brightly colored bulaji dresses.

As they walked, Wang Chunju kept stealing glances at Wen Nian.

Whoa!

This eldest daughter of the Wen family was stunning—like a fairy.

Just by her demeanor, she didn’t seem like someone raised in the countryside at all.

She kept feeling uneasy.

Chen Qiuwei had told her they’d made plans with the Lu family that afternoon—she was to accompany Wen Xue there.

So why had they suddenly switched to this girl?

Wen Xue had simply said her mom changed her mind and had to work overtime at the factory, so she told Wang Chunju to bring Wen Nian instead.

Wang Chunju really didn’t know what the Wen family was thinking.

The whole way there, Wang Chunju smiled warmly, greeting everyone they passed.

But no matter who it was—man or woman—their eyes clung to Wen Nian.

Especially the young men, who kept staring long after they’d passed by.

Wang Chunju talked so much her mouth went dry. She’d never known she could attract this much attention.

Wiping the sweat from her brow, she glanced at Wen Nian walking obediently behind her, feeling a mix of emotions.

Being too eye-catching was a problem too—there were just too many lovesick moths drawn to the flame.

Wen Nian trailed behind her unhurriedly.

She remained quiet, wore a faint smile, and spoke only when necessary.

She was long used to the fervent, chasing gazes from people around her—there wasn’t the slightest trace of discomfort.

People in this era were more reserved. Even if they appreciated her beauty, they didn’t dare to stare openly.

And no one, like in the modern world, would sneak a photo of her with a phone.

The steel factory’s family compound was still quite a distance from the military district compound.

Wen Nian ended up walking for more than an hour.

In this era, not only were material goods scarce, but public transportation was also inconvenient.

In this area, there weren’t even minibuses, let alone taxis.

If you didn’t have a private car, you either rode a bicycle or relied on your legs.

Her feet felt like they were about to fall off by the time they arrived.

Within 500 meters of the military compound, the area was under lockdown. Armed guards stood in formation.

There were sentry booths on either side, each with a soldier standing upright and on duty inside.

Wang Chunju presented her documents and completed the registration before they were allowed to enter.

She glanced back at Wen Nian, who was panting heavily, and frowned.

They hadn’t walked that far, yet the girl was already this exhausted?

Wasn’t she supposed to be from the countryside?

Wen Nian naturally caught the disdain in Wang Chunju’s eyes.

She really did have a frail constitution. She avoided physical exertion at all costs—if she could lie down, she wouldn’t even sit up.

She had always had a chauffeured car when going out, and someone to carry her shopping bags.

After enduring the long train ride yesterday…

And now, after trekking this far today…

Was it a crime to be a little out of breath?

Wen Nian continued following behind her at a slow pace.

She glanced around casually. The family compound was quite open and spacious.

Wide, clean tree-lined roads, Western-style houses arranged neatly, and lush greenery and blooming flowers everywhere.

As they walked, Wang Chunju kept reminding her of the rules in the compound.

Things like: don’t gawk around, don’t talk nonsense, be respectful, and so on.

Wen Nian obediently nodded.

Even without being told, she would behave well.

No matter what, she had to stay in the Lu family.

A graceful middle-aged woman was watering flowers with a spray bottle nearby.

Wang Chunju quickly walked up to her.

“Regiment Commander Lin, this is Wen Nian.”

After the introduction, she pulled Wen Nian forward and urged her to greet the woman.

“Xiao Wen, hurry and say hello to Regiment Commander Lin.”

Wen Nian gave a polite smile and bowed gracefully with calm composure.

“Hello, Regiment Commander Lin!”

A flash of amazement flickered through Lin Siyun’s eyes as she gave Wen Nian a thorough once-over.

When Wang Chunju mentioned that Wen Nian had been living in the countryside and only arrived in Jingzhou yesterday, Lin Siyun couldn’t hide her curiosity and surprise.

Such striking looks and unique temperament—how could that possibly come from the countryside?

Even in her own literary troupe, this girl would be one of a kind.

She smiled slightly.

“Comrade Wang, you may go handle your own business now.”

Wang Chunju was taken aback — was this a hint that she wasn’t welcome to listen in?

Since the hosts had already sent out the unspoken signal to show her the door, she didn’t insist on staying any longer.

Lin Siyun led Wen Nian inside.

She knew that Lu Binghuai had been searching for someone.

Not only did she know, but almost everyone in the upper ranks of the military district knew as well.

Lu Binghuai had used every means and all his power to search for years.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t the slightest clue.

They had thought the child was lost forever, but unexpectedly, she suddenly appeared.

It turned out she had been quietly adopted by someone.

No wonder they had never been able to find her.

They just didn’t know what kind of people had taken her in or what their true intentions were.

They had sent a token and a verbal message to the Lu family.

Saying that the child would be brought over in the afternoon.

That’s why she had been waiting at home all this time.

Wen Nian sat properly on the sofa, not curious or glancing around.

Lin Siyun poured her a cup of tea, which Wen Nian accepted graciously and took a small sip.

Lin Siyun smiled warmly.

“You’re Wen Qingguo’s daughter?”

Wen Nian was momentarily stunned.

She quickly recalled the situation vaguely—she remembered that the supporting actress’s biological adoptive parent’s surname was also Wen.

She nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Don’t worry, your Uncle Lu is not in the city right now. He won’t be back for a couple of days, but he’ll definitely be very happy to see you.”

She then asked,

“By the way, why didn’t your foster father come with you?”

Wen Nian’s mind spun quickly.

She considered whether to tell the truth and reveal that Wen Jiancheng had done some bad things.

But then she thought it wasn’t the right time—she had no proof.

No matter what, Wen Jiancheng was still her foster father, and arranging a marriage for her was obviously not a problem—it was even a kind of shelter.

Trying to secretly switch the child out hadn’t worked, as she had already gotten ahead of him.

After thinking it through, his behavior wasn’t really something to criticize.

At least, there were no cracks she could exploit right now.

If she badmouthed Wen Jiancheng now…

She worried it might leave a bad impression on Lin Siyun.

Wen Nian smiled faintly.

“They were supposed to come with me, but something urgent came up at the factory, so they were delayed.”

Wen Nian paused, then decided to be straightforward.

Her tone held a slight plea.

“Regiment Commander Lin, may I stay here temporarily? I can cook, and my cooking skills are quite good. Also, I can do laundry and cleaning—whatever is needed, I can do it.”

Lin Siyun was taken aback, not expecting this request.

Her eyes flickered, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Although the person had been found, there was no plan yet on how to arrange for her.

Everything would have to wait until Lu Binghuai returned.

She smiled faintly.

Then she shifted the topic, asking some questions about Wen Nian’s cooking skills.

Wen Nian breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as she wasn’t directly refused, there was still room to negotiate.

She answered carefully, one question at a time.

She wasn’t bad at housekeeping, but cooking was definitely her strong suit.

She cared most about food, loved to eat and study cuisine, and had some knowledge of both northern and southern Chinese cooking styles.

Wen Nian had a secret she couldn’t reveal: a small hidden space within her.

It was originally a jade pendant passed down from her grandmother.

When she was a child, she had been mischievous climbing trees and once fell, hitting her head.

Blood dripped onto the pendant, which activated this tiny space of only a few square meters.

Inside, it was bare except for a mysterious spirit milk stone, which produced a small bottle of spirit milk every day.

The spirit milk could not only detoxify the body but also whiten and soften the skin, and shape the body perfectly.

In other words, no matter how much she ate, she wouldn’t gain weight.

If applied directly to wounds, the spirit milk could instantly heal them.

She had tried it once.

After cutting herself slightly with a fruit knife, she put some spirit milk on the cut, and it healed immediately without a trace of a scar.

If consumed, it could refresh the mind.

Mixed with food, it could remove impurities and enhance flavor.

It made the food’s taste richer and the experience more wonderful.