Xu Duomei didn’t know the leader and, hearing his words, asked in confusion, “My dad could trick me into coming down and then go back. How can I trust you?”

Everyone who knew the leader couldn’t help but laugh and cry at Duomei’s response.

The leader, however, wasn’t angry and continued gently, “I’m your father’s superior, the highest authority here. Do you trust my words?”

Lu Hong, who was also present, added, “Duomei, this is the highest leader of our army. He will definitely keep his promises, and Aunt Lu wouldn’t lie to you.”

Duomei recognized Lu Hong and considered her a good person.

Since she said so, Duomei trusted her.

The army leader was powerful, and her father would surely listen to him.

Since Lu Hong was respected and even Grandma didn’t dare argue with her, the highest leader must be even more formidable.

Duomei said, “Then I trust Aunt Lu and the leader.”

With Duomei’s agreement, Lin Guodong instructed, “Go rescue her.”

“Yes, sir.” The soldiers on the rooftop quickly and easily rescued the unguarded Duomei.

Seeing Duomei being saved, everyone below breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhang Xiaoyue and Xu Weilin were especially relieved, sweating profusely.

Lin Guodong stepped forward and untied Duomei.

Watching him, Duomei felt anxious and her face turned pale.

She was worried because she hadn’t had time to hide the rope and was afraid her secret might be discovered.

She feared what might happen if her father and others found out.

Lin Guodong didn’t know about Duomei’s concerns.

As he untied her, he spoke softly, “Don’t do dangerous things like this again. I’ll take the rope and won’t tell anyone. You’re a smart child, and you should always ensure your own safety first. Only when you’re safe can you do the things you want to do.”

Enduring and yielding only ends up making oneself suffer and benefiting others.

Raising a fuss about the matter isn’t wrong, but it’s too dangerous for a child to handle.

Xu Duomei was amazed.

Was he really not going to mention the rope?

“Th-thank you, Uncle.” She recognized him as the father of the Three Children.

Although he had spoken sternly and not as gently as her father, she somehow felt he must be a good person.

Lin Guodong nodded, looked around for the rope but didn’t find it, and had to keep it in his pocket.

Fortunately, it was winter, so hiding a rope in his military uniform wasn’t a problem.

“Duomei… Duomei…” Zhang Xiaoyue and Xu Weilin’s voices came as they ran up to the rooftop, one after the other.

“Duomei…” Zhang Xiaoyue cried out as she and Duomei embraced tightly.

“Duomei, you scared me to death. You really did scare me.” Zhang Xiaoyue cried while holding her daughter, “Don’t do such foolish things again. If something happened to you, how would I live?”

If her daughter had really jumped from the clinic’s rooftop, Zhang Xiaoyue felt she wouldn’t want to live either.

“Mom, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have scared you. Please don’t be angry…” Xu Duomei knew she had frightened her mother and had not told her about the suicide attempt.

Her mother was too scared and would never have agreed, so Duomei did it on her own.

Lin Guodong stepped away from the crowd and went downstairs.

The leaders downstairs were still present.

He approached one of them and whispered briefly about the rope.

The leader showed a hint of surprise, then smiled and shook his head, saying, “She’s a brave little girl.”

Ning Shu, seeing the situation resolved, stayed on to observe what happened next.

She saw Zhang Xiaoyue leading Xu Duomei down, with Xu Weilin following behind.

Once they reached the bottom, Xu Weilin and Zhang Xiaoyue spoke with some of the military leaders.

After their conversation, Xu Weilin followed the military leaders, including Lin Guodong, Yang Fuying, and Lu Hong.

Ning Shu knew that while the issue seemed resolved, it wasn’t so simple.

What appeared to be a family matter was actually the army’s first suicide case, which made it different in nature.

In the military, if a soldier’s child was driven to suicide, especially if it happened out of sight, it would be very troubling to think about.

Just the thought of it made everyone nervous.

The medical office had nothing left to do, so people dispersed.

Ning Shu was curious about the follow-up details and decided to wait until Lin Guodong returned at noon to ask.

At noon, Ning Shu prepared lunch and waited at home, munching on sugarcane until the men and children came back.

“Mom… Mom…”

The first to return were her three children.

“Mom, when we came back, we saw that the medical office was empty. Is Xu Duomei okay?” The children were still worried about what they had seen in the morning and had even checked after school.

“She’s fine. Xu Duomei was rescued and wasn’t harmed, so don’t worry,” Ning Shu reassured them.

But she added, “You must never try to do such things. If you did, it would scare me to death, understand?”

It’s wrong to risk one’s life like that.

But in Xu Duomei’s case, right and wrong didn’t apply.

For someone in her situation, any action that might help was necessary to escape her predicament.

Ning Shu’s own situation had been worse than Xu Duomei’s, as she had no one by her side.

Xu Duomei, despite her hardships, had a caring mother.

However, Ning Shu was more fortunate in some ways because she was an adult with experience, while Xu Duomei was just a young girl.

How much courage must it take for an eight or nine-year-old girl to do something like that?

Or what kind of dire situation must she be in?

“Mom, I wouldn’t jump off a building,” Erbao said first. “It must hurt a lot to fall from so high up. I once scraped my knee and it hurt, so I can only imagine how much more it would hurt from that height.”

Sanbao nodded. “Yeah, it would hurt. I wouldn’t cry if it just hurt, but if I broke my leg and couldn’t walk, I’d definitely cry.”

Ning Shu was speechless.

These kids seemed to be focusing on the pain and broken legs rather than the life-and-death issue she was concerned about.

Yibao agreed with Sanbao and Erbao but from a different angle. “Mom, we won’t commit suicide. We wouldn’t do anything to make you sad. Besides, we’re boys, and Dad says boys should face problems bravely and not resort to suicide. Also, since you’re still here, we don’t want to die. We want to be with you forever.”

Ning Shu felt a sense of relief.

At least one of her children understood her. “Yibao, you’re like a little comforter to me. They say daughters are like little comforters, but it seems sons can be too.”

Ning Shu hugged Yibao, feeling satisfied and emotional.

Yibao hadn’t been hugged like this for a long time.

He was growing up, becoming a big kid and a young man, so he felt he shouldn’t be hugged like this anymore.

But he also didn’t want to push her away.

Her embrace, though not as big as before, was still warm and comforting.

Despite having plenty of parental love now, he still enjoyed being held like this.

Erbao and Sanbao exchanged glances.

Erbao wondered why Big Brother was considered the comforter and not him.

He thought for a moment and said, “Mom, if I can’t be your little comforter, can I at least be your little warm pants?”

Ning Shu nearly laughed out loud.

Sanbao’s eyes widened. “Mom, didn’t you say before that I’m your little warm coat?”

Ning Shu: “…”

She had said that before, but now…

“Sanbao, now Big Brother is Mom’s little warm coat, I’m Mom’s little warm pants, so you can be Mom’s little warm shoes,” Erbao said cheerfully.

Sanbao pouted. “Alright, fine. Little warm shoes it is. It’s the same as the little warm coat and pants; they’re all things you wear in winter.”

Ning Shu smiled as she looked at her three children, feeling a bit wistful.

They were still so young and adorable now, but in a few years, they wouldn’t be so cute anymore.

After a while, Lin Guodong came back.

Seeing the four of them smiling happily, Lin Guodong asked with curiosity, “What’s making everyone so happy?”

Erbao proudly announced, “Dad, now I’m Mom’s little warm pants, Big Brother is Mom’s little warm coat, and Sanbao is Mom’s little warm shoes. What will you be for Mom?”

Ning Shu: “…”

It seemed like they had misunderstood what “little warm coat” meant.

Well, let them understand it in their own way.

Lin Guodong raised an eyebrow.

Although he didn’t quite understand what Yibao meant, he said, “I’m her caring husband.”

Pfft… cough… cough…

Ning Shu, who had been munching on sugarcane, choked on the sweet juice.

What “caring husband”?

She thought this man only said a few “disgusting” things at night, but now he was spouting nonsense like this in front of the kids during the day.

No matter how thick-skinned she was, she felt like she’d shed several layers of skin.

“That won’t do. We’re clothes, pants, and shoes that you wear. You can’t be that,” Erbao protested, looking at Lin Guodong with a “why are you so silly” expression.

Yibao continued, “Dad can be Mom’s little warm scarf. It’s getting cold, and Mom likes scarves.”

Sanbao nodded in agreement. “Big Brother is right. Scarves, warm coats, warm pants, and warm shoes, that way we won’t be cold.”

“Hahaha…” Ning Shu couldn’t help but laugh, “Yibao is still the smartest… Alright, let’s have lunch!”