Chapter 17

However, all of this had to take a backseat when faced with the delicious dish of rice dumplings.

Without needing to think, almost instinctively, Ning Haocheng immediately picked up a dumpling and placed it in his mouth.

“Mmm!”

As soon as the dumpling entered his mouth, his eyes suddenly widened, and his body stiffened straight, as if even his breath had paused for a moment.

He stared blankly at the half dumpling remaining on his chopsticks. After a while, he finally regained his composure and began to chew slowly.

Ning Haocheng chewed very slowly, as if not wanting to miss any of its flavor.

It took him a long time before he finally swallowed the bite.

The others were not as slow as he was.

While Ning Haocheng was savoring his food, Gao Chong and the two children had already eaten the dumplings quickly and cleanly.

Each of them took a bite and praised: “Delicious!”

The dumplings were practically swallowed along with the praise.

By the time Ning Haocheng finally looked up, the dumplings in everyone else’s bowls were already gone.

“Girl, did you make these dumplings?” Ning Haocheng asked, his voice trembling slightly as he inquired.

“Yes.” Yin Xiaoman nodded.

Many people had seen her preparing the food on the way here. And before leaving, she had specially made some to give to the Shen Family’s parents. It was something that couldn’t be hidden and there was no need to hide it.

Ning Haocheng’s eyes immediately gleamed with a peculiar light. “Then, girl, may I boldly ask, does your family have an ancestor who was an imperial chef?”

Yin Xiaoman froze for a moment.

For a moment, Yin Xiaoman didn’t know how to respond to this question.

“Don’t overthink it.”

Ning Haocheng, afraid she might misunderstand, hurriedly explained: “It’s like this—back in Capital City, I once had a snack at a palace-style restaurant that tasted almost the same as this one. I heard the chef was a descendant of the imperial chefs. It’s been so many years, and I haven’t tasted anything like this again. It really brings back memories!”

As he spoke, it seemed as though he was reliving the scene when he and his wife first met, strolling through the streets and dining together. He was so moved that his voice became choked with emotion, and he could hardly speak.

Yin Xiaoman remained silent.

However, Gao Chong, who was beside them, couldn’t stay quiet.

“Comrade, what are you saying! You can’t say things like that casually!” Gao Chong exclaimed. “My sister-in-law’s family has lived in the village for generations. The farthest they’ve ever been is the county town—how could they have been to Capital City? Her family is made up of poor farmers who’ve lived off the land for generations! They’ve got a very clean family background! Just because you don’t know doesn’t mean you can talk nonsense!”

Gao Chong couldn’t grasp Ning Haocheng’s deeper thoughts.

But after receiving so many years of formal education in the Military Unit, his political sensitivity was still very high.

Talking about someone’s family background like this was not something that could be said lightly.

Although his sister-in-law’s family had been vetted countless times and their innocence was already proven, it didn’t stop others from slandering them behind their backs!

Especially since—

Gao Chong shot a glance at Liu Chuang, who was sitting to the side, stunned by the conversation and too shocked to eat his meal.

Knowing that someone with ulterior motives was sitting in the same car, Gao Chong felt it was his duty to prevent any trouble from being caused for his sister-in-law and the regiment leader’s family.

Ning Haocheng had been personally chosen by the leader years ago and brought back from abroad as a highly skilled talent.

For years, he had worked for the country and had special care and protection. He had been very well looked after.

Although he knew the outside world had changed a lot, there was a difference between knowing and truly understanding.

So, he hadn’t realized that his emotional outburst would cause trouble for the girl in front of him and her family.

But once Gao Chong spoke up, he immediately understood.

“It was my careless remark, I apologize, I apologize.”

Ning Haocheng repeatedly waved his hands towards Yin Xiaoman, even bowing deeply in apology.

Yin Xiaoman quickly stood up to avoid his gesture, and politely returned the bow to show respect.

She didn’t quite understand what Gao Chong had said; some of the words were even completely unfamiliar to her. 

However, Yin Xiaoman knew that Gao Chong meant well and was trying to help her.

So, she silently memorized all those words and promised herself to find a chance to understand them better, as they might come in handy later.

Despite her efforts to cover it up, Yin Xiaoman still felt that the food she had prepared was somewhat too special.

Especially in such a larger context.

So, for the remaining days, she no longer brought out any eye-catching dishes.

Instead, she only had some oil-fried flatbreads and a few boiled eggs.

She finally stopped rejecting Gao Chong’s suggestion and allowed him to go to the dining car to bring back some dishes, which they could eat together along with their own food.

Because of the earlier conversation with Gao Chong, and the fact that it was clear that Yin Xiaoman’s group was running low on food, Ning Haocheng no longer dared to ask if he could share with them.

Instead, every time he bought food, he would deliberately purchase some better dishes and offer them to the two children.

Time passed slowly and steadily, and soon they were nearing the train’s destination, which was also their final stop—Haicheng.

---

At the Haicheng train station platform, Shen Qingyun and the driver had already been waiting for quite some time.

Standing on the simple stone steps with no shelter, staring into the distance where the railway tracks led, Shen Qingyun couldn’t quite put into words what he was feeling at that moment.

Excited?

Expectant?

Perhaps a little of both.

But more than anything, there was a sense of uncertainty and unspoken surprise.

He hadn’t expected Yin Xiaoman to agree to join the army, especially since, on the night before leaving, she had firmly rejected his proposal.

When he received Gao Chong’s call, for a moment, he could hardly believe his ears.

Shen Qingyun couldn’t help but think back to what Gao Chong had said on the phone, as well as the letter his father had sent through someone.

In the letter, his father didn’t mention much about family matters but only said that Xiaoman was bringing the children to join the army, and that he must treat them well.

His father also mentioned that the children weren’t easy to take care of, and told him not to bully the girl just because she was young and had no elders around.

He warned that if anyone in the family found out that Xiaoman had suffered any grievances here, they would never let him off the hook…

This left Shen Qingyun feeling astonished.

He had been in the military for nearly ten years, and the letters from his family could be counted on one hand.

Now, the letter had been rushed to him before anyone even arrived, and, unusually, his father, who wasn’t one to speak much, had written so many words in it.

Anyone could tell there was something different about this.

It seemed that his little wife had truly been wronged back home.

Thinking of this, Shen Qingyun seemed to once again see Yin Xiaoman’s slender, frail figure, her head always lowered, looking so aggrieved…

He couldn’t help but rub his brow.

“Colonel Shen, what are you doing here?”

Just as Shen Qingyun was lost in his thoughts, a clear voice rang out from behind him.

He instinctively turned around and saw a young woman in a military uniform smiling as she walked toward him.

Shen Qingyun faintly furrowed his brow, but his expression quickly returned to its usual calm.

“Mm.”

He responded lightly before asking: “Officer Lin, are you here to pick someone up?”

Shen Qingyun’s serious demeanor was well known throughout the regiment.

After all, he was a true man who had experienced war and come down from the battlefield.

His blooded, sharp edge was understandable.

So Lin Hui didn’t mind.

She smiled and nodded. “Yes, the Colonel sent me to pick up Engineer Ning from the province.”

After speaking, she raised her hand to check her watch, then quietly muttered: “It’s already 2:40, and he still hasn’t arrived. Why is the train delayed again?”

Shen Qingyun didn’t respond. He didn’t even glance at Lin Hui again but instead turned his gaze back to the distance.

He had already heard that Engineer Ning from the military factory was coming to the regiment for research.

But in these times, there were always various research groups coming to inspect the work, and everyone had long since become accustomed to it.

As long as no notice came saying they were required to visit their Vanguard Regiment, there was no need to worry about it.

Seeing Shen Qingyun coldly avert his gaze, treating her like a stranger and saying nothing more, Lin Hui lowered her head.

Reflecting on the time just half a year ago, when she had almost started a relationship with this man and had even once fantasized about marrying him, Lin Hui’s emotions became complicated and hard to describe.

The newly appointed Commander Shen Qingyun of the Vanguard Regiment was young, educated, politically sound, and had a bright future. This was something everyone in the regiment knew well.

So, when Mrs. Vice Colonel Qiao had suggested introducing her to Shen Qingyun and arranging for them to form a revolutionary family, Lin Hui had been very willing.

But just when they had met once and hadn’t had a chance to get to know each other, disaster struck the Vanguard Regiment.

Their deputy commander had tragically died during a mission, leaving two children without anyone to care for them.

It was only natural to feel sorrow over the death of a comrade-in-arms, but Lin Hui had never expected Shen Qingyun to propose adopting the two children!

When she first heard about it, she thought he must have lost his mind!

Even if they had a good relationship and helped financially and with other resources, there was no need for a single man to adopt children, right?

And not just one, but two!

Once Lin Hui realized the situation couldn’t be reversed, she immediately told Mrs. Qiao that she couldn’t accept such a thing.

As a result, her relationship with Shen Qingyun had naturally fizzled out.

Even now, Lin Hui didn’t regret her decision.

But whenever she encountered Shen Qingyun, seeing his handsome face, there was always a slight pang of that feeling of something lost.

Though she knew she had never truly had this man.

“Commander Shen, I heard you’ve gotten married? Are you here to pick up my sister-in-law today?” Lin Hui bit her lip and, unable to hold back, asked somewhat unwillingly.

Shen Qingyun didn’t even spare her a glance, simply responding with a cold “Mm.”

Lin Hui wanted to ask a few more questions, but the driver, excited, pointed to the distance. “Here they come! I can hear the train’s whistle!”

With his words, a train indeed appeared far off in the distance.

Without saying another word, Shen Qingyun strode toward the train, completely ignoring Lin Hui, as if he had forgotten her presence altogether.