Chapter 52

After two days of train travel, Jiang Xi arrived in the seaside city and thought, “It’s so warm!”

A local, looking at her strangely, said, “Warm? It’s freezing!”

Jiang Xi laughed, holding the hands of her two younger sisters and carrying a few lighter packages. Pei Hejun carried two large packages. The group squeezed out of the crowd with difficulty and sweated all over.

Fortunately, they soon saw the person who came to pick them up.

The mission Pei Hejun was doing must have been significant, which is why he received such good treatment.

Jiang Xi was grateful not to have to carry her luggage to catch the bus.

The people who came to pick them up were Pei Hejun’s subordinates. Shi Zhonghua, his partner, was still in the army training a group of people, so he didn’t come.

It takes an hour to drive from the train station to the family quarters. It’s a direct route, but if you take a bus, you have to transfer twice. The military area is remote, even more remote than the countryside.

When they arrived at their new home, the young man who came to pick them up helped unload their luggage and then drove away in a hurry to return the car.

Jiang Xi took the key and opened the door. 

As soon as she opened the door, a layer of dust hit her face, so she quickly took two steps back.

Pei Hejun carried the luggage in without changing his expression and said, “Wait outside for a while. I’ll ventilate first.”

Jiang Xi immediately and obediently pulled her two sisters back. She then noticed several women standing at the door of the small courtyard, looking at the place curiously.

When their eyes met, Jiang Xi smiled. The women also smiled warmly and came over with a rag and a bucket: “Sister, we are the military wives who live next door. You probably don’t have anything yet, so we came to see if you need any help.”

“Hello, sister-in-law,” Jiang Xi called out. Seeing what they were holding, she didn’t hesitate to accept their offer and smiled, “Thank you so much. Let me borrow these. I’ll wash them and return them later. Is that okay?”

“No, no, we’ll help clean up. There’s strength in numbers.” The sister-in-law waved her hand and went straight inside. Several people followed, some helping to clean, others bringing dishes and even a piece of bacon, which made Jiang Xi take a second look.

One of the women, the youngest among them, was good-looking and friendly despite wearing slightly worn clothes. 

Jiang Xi noted their appearance and followed them.

They were very efficient, and Jiang Xi had no room to help. Pei Hejun only needed to sweep the floor, and the house was clean. After finishing, the women left quickly. Jiang Xi had prepared snacks in advance and gave them to the women before they left.

Jiang Xi looked at their new home and sighed, “These sisters-in-law are so nice.”

Pei Hejun smiled and said, “Yes, it’s great. I’ve only heard about this before, but now I understand.”

Jiang Yu and Jiang Mi also came to their senses.

Jiang Yu whispered, “Yes, they’re as nice as Auntie.”

Jiang Mi agreed.

Jiang Xi smiled and clapped her hands, “Okay, let’s unpack. Jiang Yu, Jiang Mi, here are your packages.”

She looked around the house. The leader had given them a three-bedroom apartment, which includes a master bedroom, two secondary bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen, with plenty of space.

Pei Hejun had joined the army years ago, so while he was recuperating, his bed and cabinets were already prepared, leaving only daily necessities to bring.

The second bedroom had bunk beds, as Jiang Xi requested. Her younger sisters are not very young anymore, so it’s better for them to have their own space. She let them handle their own luggage.

They knew how to make their beds.

Pei Hejun was in charge of their room.

Jiang Xi managed the display in the living room. This was the easiest part since there were only a few items to arrange, and the rest still needed to be bought.

_

After everything was sorted out, the three of them were very tired. They ate something quickly and went to bed.

The next day, the family borrowed two bicycles and went to the local market to buy daily necessities and vegetables.

When they returned, they were overloaded with items. Jiang Xi was exhausted. She lay on the bed and complained, “I don’t want to ride a bike anymore, and I don’t want to take Jiang Mi with me. She looks thin but is so heavy!”

Especially on that dirt road full of potholes.

Pei Hejun laughed and let her rest.

Jiang Xi asked what he was doing while lying down.

Then her calf was grabbed by Pei Hejun’s large, powerful hands. The massage made her muscles ache intensely, almost making her pass out from the pain.

“It hurts, it hurts!!!” Jiang Xi screamed.

Pei Hejun was very serious: “This is for your own good. Otherwise, you’ll be in more pain tomorrow.”

After massaging her calves, thighs, and arms, Pei Hejun clapped his hands and went outside, asking the two girls peeking in, “Are your legs sore?”

They shook their heads quickly: “Not sore!”

Jiang Xi weakly said, “They didn’t walk much.”

Pei Hejun coughed lightly, pleased with the response. He said, “Then I’ll cook lunch. What do you want to eat?”

“…Let’s have dumplings? Make a lot. I want to send some to the sisters-in-law who helped.” Jiang Xi lay on the bed.

She didn’t know how to make dumplings, so Pei Hejun had to do it.

He would report for duty the next day, so she wanted to make the most of his time.

Jiang Xi added, “Jiang Yu, Jiang Mi, you two go and learn. If you want to eat well, you’ll have to cook for yourselves from now on.”

Before Jiang Yu could react, Jiang Mi’s expression changed, and she quickly went to Pei Hejun: “Brother-in-law, I’ll help you.”

The food my elder sister cooks isn’t very good.

Jiang Yu also remembered to help Jiang Xi by making a cup of chrysanthemum tea ^[1]is a type of herbal tea made from chrysanthemum flowers. and placing it by her bedside: “Sister, take a nap, and you can drink it when you wake up.”

“Yeah.” Jiang Xi nodded sleepily.

Jiang Yu covered her with a quilt before heading out to help Pei Hejun.

Though the door was closed, the sound of chopping meat was still audible. Pei Hejun was very strong, and his knife made loud noises as he chopped the meat. Jiang Xi wasn’t sleepy but felt tired, so she got up when she smelled the aroma.

Pei Hejun, wearing an apron and holding two bowls of dumplings, said, “Get up, wash your hands, and eat first. Then, you can deliver the dumplings to the sisters-in-law after you’re done.”

Jiang Xi shook her head: “No, deliver them first, or they’ll miss lunch.”

She made the decision, and generally, no one objected. Pei Hejun agreed: “Okay, is one bowl enough for eight?”

“Yes.” Jiang Xi nodded quickly, taking two bowls and asking Jiang Yu and Jiang Mi to also carry a bowl. They went to deliver the dumplings to the sisters-in-law who had helped the day before. Most of them knew Pei Hejun and directed them. Jiang Xi led everyone there.

Each family received one bowl. When Jiang Xi reached the last family, she heard two little boys arguing inside: “I remember buying some meat the other day, but we didn’t finish it. I don’t want to eat this. Go buy more meat!”

The woman explained patiently: “We don’t have any more meat coupons. When your father returns, I will ask him to see if anyone has extra.”

“You’re lying!” another boy retorted, “I saw you take out the meat!”

Qin Yue took a deep breath and explained, “Because the uncle and aunt next door just arrived, I sent some meat over for them to have something nice after their journey.”

The main reason was that she felt guilty towards Jiang Xi. Since they would be living in the same military district, she wanted to offer more gifts to ease her guilt.

That’s why she sent the remaining half pound of meat.

However, this didn’t convince the children, who continued to complain: “Who sent the meat? Only your family has so much meat. We don’t have any. And you said you’d take good care of us!”

Qin Yue felt regretful, realizing she had spoiled them with food before.

Jiang Xi, standing at the other door, felt a bit awkward. She recognized the woman as the heroine. Thankfully, she didn’t seem difficult to get along with and had even sent some meat. Despite this, the situation made her feel a bit embarrassed, so she hesitated before speaking: “Is sister-in-law home?”

Qin Yue, recognizing Jiang Xi’s voice, quickly came out: “Yes, how did you get here?”

Jiang Xi handed over the bowl of dumplings: “Thank you, sister-in-law, for the meat. We also bought some meat today, made dumplings, and brought them for you to try.”

“Thank you!” Qin Yue felt relieved. With the dumplings, the children would be quieter. She quickly took the dumplings inside, enough for each child. As expected, the children who had been arguing immediately quieted down and enjoyed their dumplings.

Qin Yue handed back the empty bowl and noticed that Jiang Xi now looked much better compared to when she arrived. Yesterday, Jiang Xi had looked worn out, but today she was clean and tidy, with neatly combed hair and well-kept clothes. The same went for Jiang Yu and Jiang Mi.

Qin Yue felt a bit envious and asked: “Who are these two children…”

Jiang Xi smiled and said, “They’re my sisters. There’s no one to take care of them at my mother’s house, so I brought them here.”

After Jiang Xi finished speaking, Jiang Yu and Jiang Mi greeted politely: “Hello, sister.”

Qin Yue was slightly surprised. In her memory, Jiang Xi had married Lu Jianguo without bringing her two younger sisters. Later, they were married off early and didn’t have a good life. But Jiang Xi was doing well and had been helping them.

It was surprising to see Jiang Xi now with her sisters looking well cared for and bright-eyed.

Qin Yue murmured, “Very good.”

Jiang Xi didn’t have much to say, so they exchanged a few pleasantries before she left. She patted her sisters on the head: “Go back and eat.”

Jiang Mi, energized, started running with Jiang Yu following behind. Jiang Xi also began to walk back.

Qin Yue watched them and felt moved. She asked, “Jiang Xi, how did you teach your sisters to be so well-behaved?”

She wanted to know how Jiang Xi managed to raise her siblings so well, unlike her own difficult step-sons.

Jiang Xi glanced behind Qin Yue at the open door where the children were eating dumplings. After a moment, she said, “My method is to reason with them first. If they don’t listen, I’ll discipline them. If they aren’t afraid of being disciplined, I won’t give them food. After going hungry for a bit, they’ll understand.”

“Discipline the child?”

Qin Yue smiled awkwardly and asked, “What if the child holds a grudge?”

Jiang Xi replied with a smile, “What’s the big deal about holding a grudge? I have my own job and can support myself. I don’t rely on them for my retirement.”

Qin Yue was stunned. She always felt insecure about disciplining her step-sons, fearing they would hold a grudge and not support her in the future, leaving her in a difficult situation.

But Jiang Xi wasn’t worried at all.

Their relationship was just average. After these words, Jiang Xi left, looking carefree and relaxed.

Qin Yue remembered what her sister-in-law had mentioned a few days ago. Jiang Xi was arranged a job as a doctor at a health center, mainly treating soldiers’ wives and local villagers, with a salary of twelve Yuan a month.

Qin Yue wasn’t well-educated, having stopped studying after high school. Later, she married and focused on her family, so she didn’t know much. However, she remembered that doctors were respected and had good incomes even later.

She wasn’t afraid of her children resenting her for strict discipline.

But did Jiang Xi have a career in her previous life?

Qin Yue thought about it but couldn’t recall much. She only remembered Jiang Xi’s grand return home.

Perhaps she should find something to do?

What could she do?

Suddenly, Qin Yue had an idea. She remembered how later generations evaluated this era. In the 1980s and 1990s, there was gold everywhere. Why should she suffer as a stepmother?