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As usual, lunch was at the cafeteria.
After Xiao Zheng finished his meal, he returned home and began pulling the weeds from the courtyard.
He was wearing only a sleeveless shirt and military pants, his strong frame squatting down, looking like a small mountain.
Dongdong was also by his side, squatting with his little bottom in the air, pulling weeds and shouting slogans with great energy.
An Huan was holding a water-filled enamel mug and standing by, discussing something with Xiao Zheng. “I plan to visit a few of the neighbors this afternoon. What do you think would be appropriate for me to bring along as a gift?”
Xiao Zheng turned his head to look at her, his expression complex.
Back when they were at the military academy, An Huan never took part in his social obligations. Even when neighbors invited the two of them to dinner, An Huan would give no face, directly saying that she despised them, considering them rude and dirty because they were from the countryside. She didn’t want to have any dealings with them.
But now, most of the families in the military were from rural backgrounds—why didn’t she have such prejudices anymore?
“Did something happen to you? You’re not the same as before,” Xiao Zheng said, his dark eyes fixed on her, his gaze penetrating.
An Huan remained unruffled.
Her personality was very different from the original An Huan, but from the first day she had crossed over, she never intended to mimic the original’s actions; that would be too exhausting. Since she couldn’t mention strange supernatural things in this world, as long as she didn’t feel guilty, no one would think she’d gone through a complete transformation.
And now, even Xiao Zheng only suspected that something had mentally affected her.
An Huan sighed softly. “I’ve read many books, and I’ve come to understand many principles. Being from a rural background isn’t a disgrace, and not having a lot of education isn’t their fault. In fact, it’s proof of the oppression and exploitation they suffered in the old society… In any case, my worldview has been completely reshaped. I’m not the same person as I used to be.”
Xiao Zheng’s eyes widened in shock. “What books have you been reading? They’re that powerful?”
An Huan replied, “…I’ve read books by Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Mao. As a leader of the proletariat, you should be reading these books too.”
Xiao Zheng felt guilty. He liked people with knowledge, but he didn’t enjoy reading himself. Before joining the army, he could barely write his own name. After joining, he had overcome illiteracy, but he still found books overwhelming and only had an interest in military affairs and warfare.
“So your transformation is all because of reading these books?” Xiao Zheng looked at An Huan, his gaze unwavering.
He seemed to want to ask why her attitude toward him had changed so drastically.
“That’s right,” An Huan said. “Before, I didn’t like you because of my pride and prejudice. I thought you weren’t as good as the scholars who had education. But now, I believe that the fact that you grew from a poor, illiterate boy to who you are today shows great courage, wisdom, and perseverance. You are a hero forged in the flames of war, the kind of person who protects the country and its people—the most lovable person.”
An Huan looked directly into Xiao Zheng’s eyes. Her gaze was sincere, and the words she spoke were her true thoughts.
Xiao Zheng was stunned.
He had heard many compliments and seen many people look at him with admiration.
But never before had he felt his heart tremble like this.
“In fact, you can think of me as two different people: one is the ‘old me,’ and that ‘me’ is already dead. The other is the ‘new me’—a completely new, reborn version of myself.”
A completely new… reborn…
Xiao Zheng looked at An Huan seriously. The familiar eyes and brows now showed a completely different expression, one full of vitality and life…
His throat tightened as he swallowed, and after a few moments, he only managed to let out a quiet “Mm,” softly but firmly.
From that moment, something unfamiliar began to grow in Xiao Zheng’s heart. Over time, it would sprout strong roots and vines, slowly spreading to every part of his body and even his soul.
Seeing the sweat bead on his forehead, An Huan brought the enamel mug to his lips. “Drink some water.”
Xiao Zheng’s gaze drifted from her delicate, snow-white fingers to the mug. He lowered his head and drank deeply, as if he were parched to the extreme.
His neck was thick and strong, his body glistening with sweat from the sun. His Adam’s apple bobbed with each swallow, sweat trickling down his neck, disappearing into the fabric of his shirt and the solid chest underneath.
An Huan’s watery eyes trembled slightly. This was the first time she realized that a man, drenched in sweat, didn’t emit a foul odor, but instead a scent of hormones.
Maybe tonight, let Dongdong sleep by himself?
“Dad, I want some too! Save some for me!” Dongdong pouted his dry lips, looking up at his father anxiously.
An Huan chuckled. “Don’t fight, don’t fight. After you’re done, I’ll go inside and pour more for you.”
Once the two of them had drunk their fill, they got even more motivated to continue weeding.
Especially Xiao Zheng, who, like an old ox wound up with a spring, worked tirelessly, turning over the entire front and back yard in just one afternoon.
It wasn’t until Xiao Zheng went to work that An Huan remembered that he hadn’t yet introduced the neighbors to her.
But it wasn’t very urgent. After thinking for a moment, An Huan came up with a plan.
She went to the service center to buy a pound and a half of millet cake, divided it into three portions, and also took out a box of exquisitely packaged cookies she had brought from the Provincial City.
She only visited the homes of the division commander, the political commissar, the chief of staff, and the deputy political commissar, all of whom happened to live around her.
The first visit was to the division commander’s house, and she brought some cookies.
An Huan knocked on the door. After a while, a soft and faint voice came from inside.
The door opened, and the first thing that came into view was a woman in her thirties, with a graceful appearance and well-maintained features. She was wearing a light green qipao that accentuated her slender figure, with a silk shawl draped casually over her shoulder.
An Huan’s pupils shrank slightly. She was still wearing a qipao?
The space had several beautiful qipaos that An Huan had collected, hoping she could wear them one day. But for now, it was certainly not the right time to wear one. Although the so-called “movement” was about to officially arrive in two years, living through history showed that its development wasn’t so clearly defined. The wind had already started moving before the leaves were blown.
For instance, in the Provincial City now, no one could be seen wearing a qipao on the streets. Most people wore worker uniforms, and many women wore bras instead.
It was unclear whether Wen Xueman’s sense of smell was insensitive or if she was just bold. An Huan herself would never engage in trying to be unconventional or go against the overall environment just for the sake of temporary beauty.
“You must be Division Commander Chen’s wife, right? Hello, I am An Huan, Xiao Zheng’s family member. This is my son, Dongdong,” An Huan said with a smile.
Dongdong politely greeted, “Auntie, hello.”
The woman smiled faintly, nodding in a dignified manner. “I’m Wen Xueman. Please, come in.”
An Huan had originally planned to exchange greetings and leave, but unexpectedly, Wen Xueman invited her inside.
She hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, partly because she was curious about what the Division Commander’s home looked like. It would give her a benchmark—not to be exceeded—for how she might renovate her own home in the future.
The front yard of the Deputy Division Commander’s house was entirely paved with stone slabs, swept clean of any weeds or dust. In one corner stood a pavilion complete with a stone table and benches, shaded on three sides with bamboo blinds. A few potted plants were arranged by the pavilion. Along the base of the opposite wall were two rows of flowerpots, bursting with blossoms in vivid colors—simple, yet quite tasteful.
Inside the house, most of the furniture was standard-issue from the organization. However, the spring sofa was clearly a personal purchase. There was also a set of rosewood cabinets, a finely crafted wall clock, and antique flower vases on display… In short, many exquisite details added a refined touch.
“Xiao Qiao, bring some coffee for our guest.”
A girl of about sixteen or seventeen came out. Upon hearing Wen Xueman’s instructions, she quickly responded with a “Yes, Madam.”
An Huan hesitantly asked, “Xiao Qiao is…?”
Wen Xueman replied lightly, “She’s our housemaid.”
Many cadre families would bring in relatives from the countryside to help with housework and childcare—essentially serving as maids—though no one ever actually used the word “maid.”
But Xiao Qiao was clearly very respectful toward Wen Xueman, and she didn’t seem like a relative. That meant it was a true employer-employee relationship.