Chapter 15

On the way to the brigade office, Lu Congge couldn’t help grumbling, “The way he looks, anyone who’d dare cross him must have felt like they have lived too long.”

Lu Miao ignored her silly little brother. When they got home, she immediately held out her hand to her mother, Qiao Yanxiang, asking for money.

Qiao Yanxiang glared at her. “What do you need money for? You’re not planning to waste it again, are you?”

Lu Miao cried injustice. “I just told He Mingchuan to call me when he gets home. You know the brigade charges for phone calls.”

She looked her mom eyes and said sincerely “But if you think that’s a waste of money, I won’t answer the call.”

Muttering under her breath, Qiao Yanxiang tossed her a one-yuan coin. “Save some pennies.”

Lu Miao cheerfully agreed, then called out to Lu Congge, “You go first and wait at the brigade office for the call. I’ll come in a bit.”

Qiao Yanxiang looked disgusted. “What do you need him for?” That kid’s basically a walking third wheel.

But Lu Congge was practically bouncing with joy—he thought this meant his sister still remembered her little brother even though she had a man now.

Lu Miao just said, “I want to go over a bit later. It’s hot at the brigade office. If he waits there first, I won’t miss the call if He Mingchuan calls early.”

Lu Congge: ??? Is this how this works?

Qiao Yanxiang waved him off. “Well, if that’s the case, go ahead.”

Lu Congge didn’t leave right away. He looked at them all sad and betrayed—only for Qiao Yanxiang to call out, “Wait a second!”

Thinking maybe his mom finally grew a conscience, Lu Congge turned back hopefully—only to hear her say:

“This kid’s all tongue-tied. What if he picks up the call and says something stupid? Teach him what to say before he goes.”

Lu Congge stared at the two women in disbelief. So they were the real family, and he was the adopted one....

It’s just answering a phone call—what’s there to teach? Lu Miao gave him a few simple pointers, then waved him off.

She didn’t rush him out at first because she’d figured out the timing from talking to the He family earlier. It had taken them nearly three hours to get there the first time, with the driver getting lost. So realistically, it should take about two hours if all goes smoothly. Since He Mingchuan didn’t take a car back, walking would take close to three hours.

Two hours after they got home, Lu Congge was kicked out to wait by the phone. Then after another hour, Lu Miao finally headed out herself.

Her timing was perfect. Just as she walked into the brigade courtyard, the phone started ringing.

She jogged over and took a deep breath before picking up. “Hello, this is Lu Miao.”

A deep, magnetic voice came through the receiver. “I’ve arrived home safely.”

“That’s great! I’ve been sitting here waiting for your call ever since you left.”

Lu Congge: …You literally just got here.

He couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation, but soon heard his sister say:

“Hearing you made it home safe puts me at ease.”

Her voice was light and cheerful, the kind that would make anyone smile just hearing it.

“Sleep well tonight. Goodbye!”

She hung up just before the minute mark on the timer.

He Mingchuan wasn’t a talkative guy, and most of the call had been Lu Miao talking. Just as he was about to thank her for her kind words, all he heard was a series of beeps—the line was cut.

He stared blankly at the phone for a moment, surprised she’d hung up so quickly.

The woman manning the phone booth gently reminded him, “Xiao He, she already hung up. If you’ve still got something to say, you’d better call back quick—before she leaves.”

“No need.” He Mingchuan pulled out a one-yuan bill and handed it over to cover the call.

The woman looked curious. “That girl you just called—she your girlfriend?”

They’d been neighbors for years. Though He Mingchuan had joined the army young and rarely came home, she was close with his parents. Everyone knew their son was doing well—already a leader in the army, with a bright future ahead.

“Something like that.” Since they were about to get married, she technically counted as his girlfriend.

After he left, the woman scratched her head in confusion. “Either she is or she isn’t—what’s with the ‘something like that’?”

His unit had given him two weeks of wedding leave, so time wasn’t an issue. But Qiao Yanxiang was worried—they might change their minds if they waited too long.

She picked an early wedding date. He Mingchuan didn’t object, so it was settled.

When Lu Miao hosted the wedding banquet at home, Lu Congge happened to be starting school. He had to report two days early, and Lu Miao personally took him there.

Lu Congge knew his sister would be married by the time he came home again. Standing at the school gate, holding her hand, he burst into tears.

Other parents bringing their kids for check-in looked over, puzzled. Sure, it was a boarding school, and some pampered kids didn’t adjust well—but no one else’s kid cried like they’d just lost a parent. Especially not a boy.

Feeling all those curious stares, Lu Miao—normally so proud—finally lowered her head.

Agreeing to take Lu Congge to school was, in hindsight, the worst decision she’d made.

Qiao Yanxiang insisted on a proper wedding banquet.

She wanted to show everyone that her daughter was getting married—and that her new son-in-law was a hundred times better than that loser Li Qinglin.

Lu Miao didn’t think it was necessary. It cost money and made everyone tired.

But Qiao Yanxiang was determined. Even if they lost money, she had to win back her pride.

Lu Miao respected that.

On the He family’s side, there was no banquet—just a meal with close family and friends. Because of He Mingchuan’s position, it wasn’t appropriate to be too flashy.

Or maybe there were other reasons too—but Lu Miao didn’t ask.

The day before the Lu family banquet, He Mingchuan came over.

Tradition said the couple should toast the guests during the feast. Because the He family lived far away, they could either stay at a county guesthouse overnight and come early the next morning, or just spend the night at Lu’s.

Of course, they weren’t going to let him stay in a guesthouse while the family had space.

Qiao Yanxiang warmly invited him to stay the night and shot Lu Miao a look to help persuade him.

Lu Miao didn’t care either way—it didn’t affect her wake-up time.

He Mingchuan agreed to stay, and Qiao Yanxiang breathed a sigh of relief. At least he wasn’t looking down on their family.

When two families aren’t equal, the one at a disadvantage always worries more.

Since Lu Congge had gone off to school, his room was empty—but he’d taken all his bedding. Aside from a few winter clothes, the room had a desk and some old textbooks.

Qiao Yanxiang was busy prepping the banquet—washing veggies, prepping semi-finished dishes—because it wouldn’t be possible to cook everything the next morning.

Lu Miao and He Mingchuan, being the couple, had nothing to do. Even so, Qiao Yanxiang still found time to nudge her daughter to go check on the guest.

Lu Miao didn’t really want to face that cold face. She mumbled, “How come my uncle’s not here to talk to him about U.S.-Soviet relations?”

Her uncle, sitting next door, sneezed twice for no reason.

Qiao Yanxiang gave her a look: behave.

Sighing, Lu Miao made her way to the room, greeting every aunt and older neighbor lady she passed.

She brought He Mingchuan to the west room. “This is my brother’s room.”

She pointed to one side of the kang bed. “He usually sleeps over there. That side’s never been used—you can take it.”

He Mingchuan had seen worse conditions on missions. “Anything’s fine.”

Lu Miao smiled. “Also, that side’s warmer. The stove’s been running all afternoon. It’ll be really toasty tonight.”

That night, things finally quieted down.

Qiao Yanxiang called Lu Miao over. “Go check on He Mingchuan. Make sure he’s not missing anything.”

As the host, it was her job to make the guest comfortable.

Why didn’t she go herself? For one, her son-in-law’s cold face was a bit intimidating. And two, it was good for the couple to spend more time together.

Lu Miao knocked twice on the door, then walked in.

When her brother had lived in that room, she always did the same—two knocks, then an “I’m coming in.” If it wasn’t okay, the door would be locked.

He Mingchuan clearly hadn’t expected her to walk in right after knocking. He was shirtless, mid-workout.

The room was extra warm from the stove.

When Lu Miao opened the door, he was just pulling his shirt on.

She felt a little disappointed—too dark, and he’d moved too fast. She didn’t see anything clearly.

Wiping sweat with a towel, He Mingchuan asked casually, “Something you need?”

“My mom asked me to check on you,” Lu Miao said, shifting the blame. “Hot in here, huh?”

She opened the window. “Let it air out a bit before bed.”

It was cool outside, and the breeze quickly made the room more comfortable.

Out of everyone in the family, Lu Miao was the one mosquitoes loved most. Her room was the only one with screens.

This one didn’t have any, so she had to use the oldest trick in the book.

She dug out a bundle of mugwort, lit it, and placed it by the window. “Still some mosquitoes around. This should keep them away.”

“Thanks.”

Lu Miao felt quite proud solving a big problem after all. She was about to go to bed feeling acconmplished. Looking at her busy figure He Mingchuan hesitated for a moment before saying, “This room doesn’t have any bedding.”

He hadn’t brought anything with him, and her brother had taken his mattress and beddings to school.

Only then did Lu Miao realize, “We don’t have any extra beddings at home.”

She thought for a moment. “otherwise, why don't you just tough it out for one night. It’s not cold anymore so you don’t really need a blanket.”

Then she blinked at him playfully. “Or… do you want to share a quilt with me?”

He Mingchuan’s face turned all kinds of red and white. This woman was just.....

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