Chen Ying got on the bus and got off at the military base stop. But once she got off, she didn’t see the Military District. Instead, she wandered around like a headless fly for over ten minutes before finally spotting the gate of the Military District compound.
The gate was majestic and solemn, with a five-pointed star on top and a flagpole bearing the Five-Starred Red Flag fluttering in the wind. Around the Military District compound was a vast expanse of land, with mountains in the distance. This place was in stark contrast to the bustling city streets. Just one glance left Chen Ying awe-struck.
Chen Ying stood not far from the gate, where a military truck happened to pull up. "Hey! Comrade, comrade! Comrade of the People’s Liberation Army!" she called out, darting forward energetically.
A young soldier jumped down from the truck, dark-skinned. Seeing the visitor was a young woman wearing gray cotton pants and a blue cotton jacket, carrying large bags full of belongings, her face still rosy from the cold winter air and her bright eyes sparkling, he was montarily too nervous to say anything.
"Comrade, I’m here to find a friend, and I’d like to ask you about soone." Chen Ying looked at him and said, "Is there soone here nad Tian Sangsang? Could you help call her?"
If it were soone random, the young soldier might not know, but this was the famous Tian Sangsang! He straightened up and said solemnly, "You an Captain Jiang’s wife, Tian Sangsang, don’t you? She’s not here right now. It’s midday, so she’s gone to pick up the children from kindergarten. If you wait here a bit, you should see her soon."
"Oh, thank you, thank you, comrade."
"You’re welco."
So, Chen Ying stood near the gate, waiting while curiously observing her surroundings. It didn’t take long before she saw a woman not far away holding the hand of a child. And wasn’t the child none other than ng Shuyan! Still looking the sa as before—sharp brows, bright eyes, red lips, white teeth, and curly black hair—but now even cuter than before~
"Little Yanyan!" Chen Ying dropped her bags and dashed over excitedly.
ng Shuyan heard soone calling him. Seeing Chen Ying, his eyes lit up, "Aunt Chen?"
"You still rember ." Chen Ying was delighted, reaching out to touch his head of soft curly hair—a long-lost familiar feeling that was still so comforting.
"Mom, Aunt Chen is here," ng Shuyan looked up and said to Tian Sangsang next to him.
Chen Ying, who had been about to ask where his mom was, was taken aback. She turned her head cautiously to look! The woman by his side was stylish and dazzling, wearing a light-colored wool coat that highlighted her tall, slender figure. She had an incredible physique.
Delicate eyebrows, captivating eyes, an elegant nose, rosy lips, and skin as smooth as cream. Her slightly curled black hair cascaded over her shoulders. Unlike others with deep waves, her hair resembled blossoming pear flowers, softly fluffy and curling inward at the ends—a woman with a radiant and lively charm.
But here’s the issue: This woman wasn’t Tian Sangsang! Yet Yanyan was calling her "Mom"!
So, this fast? A stepmother already! Jiang Jinghuai, how could you! Protecting ng Shuyan behind her, Chen Ying’s tone turned sharp and hostile as she glared at the woman, "Are you Yanyan’s stepmother? Where’s Tian Sangsang?"
The woman burst out laughing with a "Pfft," covering her mouth and laughing for quite a while. She cleared her throat, raised her elegant brows, and teased, "Yingzi, Tian Sangsang is standing right in front of you! I just got cleaned up, and you don’t recognize anymore. How disappointing for us, childhood playmates. You’re hurting my feelings!"
That... that voice! Without a doubt, it was Tian Sangsang’s familiar, teasing, lodious voice! Chen Ying stared at her in shock, looking her up and down with eyes almost popping out of her head. "Sangsang... you... how did you get so... fair!"
"Otherwise, why would I go into skincare?" She playfully winked.
"Aunt Chen, she’s really my mom. She’s just gotten prettier." ng Shuyan tugged her sleeve gently, speaking softly. Only then did Chen Ying finally believe this was indeed Tian Sangsang. Yet she still couldn’t snap out of it and followed Tian Sangsang dumbly. All the way to the Military District compound’s apartnt buildings, she secretly observed her with curiosity-filled eyes until the sight of so other won eventually helped her accept the reality.
When it ca to being shocked, only Tian Sangsang could manage it.
"Sangsang, who’s this?"
"My friend Chen Ying from back ho, visiting us here."
"Whoa, the young lady’s so pretty! Got a boyfriend yet?" You Huixixi asked with a mischievous grin, clearly looking to play matchmaker.
"Huihui sister-in-law, Yingzi is too shy for this."
"Alright, alright, you all go on now."
...
By the door, Tian Sangsang took off her shoes and put on her indoor slippers.
Seeing her actions, Chen Ying thought to herself, "People here sure are ticulous." She followed suit and took off her shoes as well, but...
"Wear this pair; it’s brand new." Tian Sangsang handed her a pair of cozy indoor slippers from the shoe rack.
Chen Ying slid her feet into them. The fluffy warmth was so soothing she couldn’t help but exclaim, "Your slippers are positively warm!"
"Have a seat; I’ll make lunch. Stay and eat with us this afternoon." Tian Sangsang chuckled and led her to the sofa. ng Shuyan handed her a cup of water and sweetly said, "Aunt Chen, please drink so water."
Taking the water, Chen Ying was touched beyond words, "Yanyan is such a good boy."
After taking a sip, Chen Ying stood up and said, "Sangsang, let accompany you and help out in the kitchen."
As a guest, Tian Sangsang would never let her pitch in, much less enter the kitchen. But Chen Ying, idle by nature, wasn’t about to give up, especially since she wanted to chat about recent life updates. "What’s with the fuss between us? You know —I can’t sit still! Oh, my mom sent over so things for you. Let take them out. There’s tea we grew ourselves too."
This house was nothing like her countryside ho. From the mont she entered, Chen Ying had been unusually careful, even while collecting things, mindful not to move clumsily.
"You said you were coming, but you didn’t give a heads-up beforehand." Though pleasantly surprised, Tian Sangsang sighed in mild exasperation. She hadn’t prepared anything in advance. While Chen Ying fetched her belongings, Tian Sangsang slipped into the kitchen and deftly took out so pork trotters, a chicken, and two plump carp, along with a basket of crabs from her pantry. The rest she had on hand would suffice.
Chen Ying brought her items into the kitchen, helping wash vegetables as water splashed audibly. Glancing around, she asked after a mont, "Your Captain Jiang—why isn’t he at ho?"
She noted Tian Sangsang’s radiant, healthy complexion, which didn’t suggest she was doing poorly. Judging by her modern ho’s anities, it was leagues better than what they had in the village. She assud Jiang Jinghuai wasn’t the type to shirk his responsibilities, treated Sangsang well, and felt reassured about her.
At the ntion of him, however, Tian Sangsang shrugged indifferently and replied, "He’s at the base; he’ll be back soon."
Tian Sangsang was cleaning the crabs one by one. They felt heavy in her hands, their shiny shells hinting at how aty they’d be. Suddenly, Chen Ying seed to recall sothing and exclaid, "Sangsang, you should eat fewer crabs."
"Hm?" Tian Sangsang tilted her head, her beautiful eyes full of surprise.
"My mom said for us wonfolk, eating too much of these can make it hard to get pregnant. So people don’t realize it and end up miscarrying because of it."
Seeing Chen Ying’s anxious expression, Tian Sangsang thought for a mont she might be pregnant. But she and Jiang Jinghuai hadn’t been together in over a month, and they’d always been cautious before, with no plans to have another child. It simply wasn’t possible, was it?
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