22: If she's not your sister, is she your boyfriend?
After a good night's sleep, Xiao Niannian heard a knock on the door early in the morning.
Grandma Xiao opened the door and saw Lu Jing and several comrades holding breakfast items like beef noodles, buns, and fried dough sticks.
“Grandma Xiao, this is breakfast from the mess hall.”
“Thank you so much.” Grandma Xiao quickly expressed her gratitude.
“How much does this cost? We'll pay you.”
Hearing Grandma Xiao's words, Lu Jing replied.
“Grandma Xiao, you, Comrade Xiao Niannian, and Uncle Xiao Shu don't need to pay for your food and accommodation here for the next few days. The Old Chief gave the order. After you eat, we will take you to the Family Courtyard.”
“Thank you.”
After breakfast, Lu Jing took Grandma Xiao and Xiao Niannian to the Family Courtyard.
“Grandma Xiao, when we get there, please tell the families in the Family Courtyard that you are my relatives...”
Since the house was assigned to him, claiming they were his relatives would avoid a lot of trouble.
Hearing this, Grandma Xiao nodded.
“Alright.”
Xiao Niannian also nodded.
She saw a courtyard spanning dozens of square meters where they could grow vegetables. After entering the house, she saw a sofa, cabinets, a table, and chairs in the living room, and everything inside was new.
Xiao Niannian felt something was off.
When she went into the kitchen, she saw that everything was fully stocked.
She looked at Lu Jing and said.
“Did you buy these things for us? How much did it cost? We will pay you.”
Hearing Xiao Niannian say this, Lu Jing explained.
“The Commanders ordered these additions; we didn't pay for them.”
Xiao Cui, the messenger standing nearby, widened his eyes. The Commanders had indeed ordered the items to be added, but the Captain said they were ready, and in reality, the Captain paid for everything himself. The Captain was truly kind, doing good deeds without seeking recognition.
Hearing this, Grandma Xiao was even more deeply moved.
“Comrade Lu Jing, please thank the Commanders for us. We are truly grateful. However, it’s really inappropriate for us to use these things now. We must still pay for them.”
Grandma Xiao had never taken advantage of anyone throughout her life.
“Grandma Xiao, we cannot accept your money. This was arranged by the higher-ups...”
It took quite a while before Lu Jing finally managed to dissuade Grandma Xiao.
After putting away their luggage, Grandma Xiao and Xiao Niannian took the car, bought some items, and headed to the Martyrs' Cemetery.
Xiao Niannian helped Grandma walk towards the Cemetery. After walking for more than ten minutes, they reached the tombstone of her Adoptive Father, Xiao Zhan.
Looking at the photo and the inscription on the stone, Xiao Niannian felt a pang of sadness. In the original owner's memories, she had seen photos of her Adoptive Father, Xiao Zhan, as well as books he had left behind and some handmade toys he had crafted.
Grandma said that these toys were made by her Adoptive Father long ago and were meant for his children to play with.
After her Adoptive Father passed away, her Adoptive Mother was taken away by her own family, and her two Older Brothers were also taken. For all these years, Grandma had been trying to inquire about them, but there was no news.
“Zhan'er.”
Grandma Xiao's hands trembled as she touched the photo and the name, tears streaming down her face incessantly.
She took out the cakes made at home, the sweet potatoes she carried from home, the sweet potato slices made from sweet potatoes, as well as bought pastries and two large red apples.
Xiao Zhan's tomb was fully covered with offerings. Xiao Niannian lit the incense and candles and burned some paper money.
“Mom brought your adopted daughter Niannian to see you. It's Mom's fault for only coming to see you after all these years...”
Xiao Niannian knelt on the ground, listening to Grandma talk to her Adoptive Father.
If Grandma hadn't been raising her all these years, Grandma definitely would have been able to visit her Adoptive Father more often.
“Dad, I'm Niannian.”
Xiao Niannian looked at the tombstone, her eyes turning red.
“I will take good care of Grandma, so please don't worry. I will also find a way to locate Mom and my Older Brothers.”
The former Xiao Niannian didn't have the ability to do these things, but now that she was here, she would certainly find a way to take care of Grandma, help her Adoptive Father find his wife and sons, and repay Grandma for her nurturing kindness.
Hearing Xiao Niannian's words, Lu Jing looked at her back. He only just realized that Comrade Xiao Zhan's wife and sons were not living with Grandma Xiao and the others.
It seemed he needed to call someone to help with the search. If they could find them sooner, Grandma Xiao and Xiao Niannian would also be happy. He was doing this entirely because Comrade Xiao Zhan was his senior, his Comrade-in-arms, and a martyr. Grandma Xiao was getting old and wished to see her daughter-in-law and Grandson, so he had to help Grandma Xiao fulfill this wish.
However, since so many years had passed, finding them would not be easy.
Xiao Niannian thought the same way. She wanted to know exactly what happened back then that caused her Adoptive Mother to leave with her Older Brothers. Or was it that her family took her Adoptive Mother away and forbade contact between her Adoptive Mother and Grandma?
Seeing that the incense and candles had burned out, Lu Jing spoke.
“Comrade Xiao Niannian, please help Grandma Xiao stand up.”
Xiao Niannian nodded.
She saw Lu Jing leading his subordinates to clean up and dispose of the ashes from the incense, candles, and paper money.
It was only then that she remembered that such blatant activities were not permitted at this time.
Grandma Xiao was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood.
“Niannian, leave a little bit of the sweet potatoes and dried sweet potatoes for your Dad to eat, and take everything else with us.”
“Okay.”
Xiao Niannian understood that at a time like this, many people were going hungry, and it was impossible to leave all these items here.
Xiao Niannian helped Grandma out of the Cemetery, and they took the car back to the Family Courtyard.
Just as they arrived back at the Family Courtyard, they heard someone greeting Lu Jing.
“Battalion Commander Lu.”
Xiao Niannian looked over and saw a slightly plump middle-aged woman smiling warmly at Lu Jing.
“You're back! I heard your relatives arrived. Is this your Grandma?”
The middle-aged woman quickly walked over and smilingly held Grandma Xiao's hand.
“Hello, Aunt. My son Sun Weiguo is Battalion Commander Lu's Comrade-in-arms.”
Grandma Xiao nodded with a smile.
“Hello.”
Behind Aunt Sun was a girl about the same age as Xiao Niannian, but she was much plumper and shorter than Xiao Niannian.
“Battalion Commander Lu, is this your sister?”
Xiao Niannian was about to answer when Lu Jing glanced at her and replied.
“No.”
Xiao Niannian looked at Lu Jing.
Grandma Xiao was startled but remained silent.
Aunt Sun scrutinized Xiao Niannian, noticing that while she was dressed very simply, her face was exceptionally beautiful.
Sun Hongmei, however, looked at Xiao Niannian with a hint of jealousy.
“Battalion Commander Lu, if she's not your sister, could she be your partner?”
Xiao Niannian detected the jealousy in the remark.
Sun Hongmei's eyes had been fixed on Lu Jing ever since they entered the courtyard. Now, the way she looked at Xiao Niannian made it seem as if she wanted to stab her.
“Grandma, let's go inside.”
Lu Jing ignored Sun Hongmei and helped Grandma Xiao walk inside.
Xiao Niannian followed them inside.
Sun Hongmei still intended to follow them in, but Aunt Sun held her back.
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