Chapter 261: Chapter 259: A Talk

Ling Chengyan returned home from the provincial city; it was almost nine in the evening.

Wang Liansheng couldn’t leave work on time, so her second sister-in-law, Zheng Xiaotian, came over to make dinner for the kids.

Ling Chengyan saw that Shi Tou was sleepy and quickly drove Zheng Xiaotian back.

“Yan’er,” her second sister-in-law called her.

Ling Chengyan looked back while driving and asked, “Second Sister, is there something you need?”

Zheng Xiaotian said, “You and Lao Si are both busy working. Why not let the kids stay at my place from now on?”

Ling Chengyan instinctively wanted to politely refuse, but she hesitated and swallowed the words.

The front line is where she wants to go.

A rotation generally lasts about six months, plus a month beforehand to acclimate and another month for debriefing afterward… If she could truly go, it’d take about a year altogether.

She could hardly focus on home, and with Wang Liansheng being so busy with work, what would happen to the kids if she refused her second sister-in-law?

There was a moment of silence. Before Zheng Xiaotian got out of the car, Ling Chengyan said, “Thank you, Second Sister. I’ll discuss it with Liansheng.”

She opened the door to the house, hearing a sudden clang in the room—a chair had fallen, accompanied by hurried footsteps.

She raised an eyebrow slightly, a smile playing at the corner of her mouth.

Once she entered, Xiaoxing came up to her, dutifully asking, “Mom, you must be tired. We’ve heated up water for you, so you can wash and rest early.”

Ling Chengyan smiled and praised him, “Xiaoxing has grown up, become sensible, and knows how to care for Mom.”

Xiaoxing grinned, “Dad taught me.”

Hongbing chimed in, “Dad said we should take good care of Mom when he’s not home.”

Ling Chengyan patted both kids and had Xiaoxing and Hongbing take Shi Tou to wash up while she went to the kitchen to make each of them a glass of milk.

Fresh milk doesn’t store well, and the subscription has limits. So she bought milk powder for the kids, giving them a cup each, morning and evening.

After being well-fed and clothed, people started paying attention to nutrition.

In the room, Xiaoyu and Hongling were discussing something. Ling Chengyan brought two glasses of milk inside and reminded them, “Don’t stay up too late.”

Outside, Xiaoxing and Hongbing were arguing over brushing teeth. Hongbing claimed he’d cleaned them well while Xiaoxing said he was just rinsing his mouth…

Ling Chengyan didn’t mind them; she just told them to argue outside in the yard so as not to disturb Hongling and Xiaoyu studying.

Shi Tou trains every morning and evening, today being no exception. Though past his bedtime, he was too sleepy to keep his eyes open; still holding his milk, he began to doze off.

His head bobbed like a nodding bug.

Ling Chengyan took the cup from his hands, carried him to the yard, sat him on a small stool, and washed him quickly with warm water before bundling him up in a large towel and bringing him back inside.

Shi Tou lay on his little bed, turned over, and fell sound asleep.

The little rascal had grown again; he stretched his limbs on the child-sized bed, almost taking up the whole space.

Ling Chengyan chuckled, pulled the towel blanket over him, turned on the lamp on the inside, turned off the overhead fluorescent light, and went out.

After washing up, she filled a pot with water and placed it on the sealed coal stove.

Now, when Xiaoyu and Hongling finish studying, there’ll be warm water ready for a bath.

Passing through the small outer hall, Ling Chengyan had a thought, reached out, and touched the TV—it was still warm.

She smiled, but said nothing.

Ling Chengyan fell asleep quickly but was also a light sleeper, waking at the smallest sound.

The front door opened, and someone entered.

She got out of bed, wrapped in clothes, and went out.

The door and light were opened simultaneously.

Wang Liansheng tiptoeing inside was startled; looking up to see his wife standing at the bedroom door, a smile spread across his tired face, “Did I wake you?”

Ling Chengyan replied, “There’s warm water on the stove; wash up and I’ll get you some clothes.”

Wang Liansheng looked at the mud on his feet and pants, smiled, and said, “Okay, you can just leave the clothes at the bathroom door. Get some rest; you have to get up early tomorrow.”

Ling Chengyan agreed, turned back inside, and brought out a vest and shorts for Wang Liansheng.

In the yard, by the faucet, there was a bucket emitting a faint rustling sound.

Curious, Ling Chengyan went over with a flashlight to check—it was a bucketful of wiggling lizards, squeezed together, stacked layer on layer, attempting a jailbreak.

Ling Chengyan placed a bamboo basket over the bucket, took Wang Liansheng’s clothes to the bathroom, and then went into the kitchen.

The weather was hot, so there were no leftovers.

Ling Chengyan lit the oil stove and cooked a bowl of noodles for Wang Liansheng, adding two poached eggs, a plate of pickled Chinese toon, and a plate of homemade shrimp oil cucumbers.

The army has its perks; you get to eat local specialties from all over, sent by the guys’ families. They might not be expensive but they’re certainly authentic.

Like this Chinese toon, made with red-headed toon from the mountains—it’s wonderfully fragrant, whether fresh, salted, or dried, always a treat.

Wang Liansheng loves this dish; with this, he needs nothing else.

Before the noodles were even cooked, Wang Liansheng came from washing, saw the lights on in the kitchen, and walked in.

“It’s so late, no need to fuss. I’m not hungry,” he said upon entering.

Ling Chengyan replied, “Just made a bowl of noodles; eat a bit before sleeping.”

Ling Chengyan knew the conditions at the tidal flats well. With no human presence for miles, they were lucky to have dinner; a midnight snack would be out of the question.

It was already midnight, so after wandering around for half the night, he was undoubtedly hungry.

Wang Liansheng went over and took the bowl from her hand, saying, “Go back and sleep; I’ll serve myself.”

Seeing what’s in the pot, he smiled and said, “Egg noodles and toon shoots—the standard is high!”

Ling Chengyan smiled, bringing the small dishes to the low table as she sat nearby on a small stool.

Seeing his wife not going back to sleep, Wang Liansheng asked, “What’s wrong? Is something up?”

Ling Chengyan shared her second sister-in-law’s suggestion and added, “I’ll be really busy soon, possibly with a big mission.”

She couldn’t reveal the specifics but let Wang Liansheng know she might be away for a long time.

Over the years, Wang Liansheng had grown accustomed to his wife’s distance. Her cooking and keeping him company tonight gave him a bad feeling. Upon hearing her words, his eyes instinctively narrowed.

He wanted to ask when, wanted to say could she not go, but facing her eyes, there was no doubt, no trace of cowardice. He couldn’t bring himself to say anything.

The wife he now knew was calm and composed yet also proactive and ambitious, knowing what she wanted and pursuing it fearlessly. She wasn’t a man but was braver, more decisive than many men, clear about her desires.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep