Chapter 16: Going on a Mission, Reluctance to Part

“Remember that.”

“Good girl.”

The young woman sitting obediently before him made Lu Changzheng’s heart itch with affection, and his hands felt a bit restless as well.

He reached out and rubbed her head.

He handed her the prepared cash and coupons, instructing her to buy whatever she wanted and not to worry about saving money.

“I can provide for you, and I can provide for our home.”

The man's voice was deep.

Holding the lunch box filled with cash and coupons, Jiang Tang looked at the colorful slips of paper and asked Lu Changzheng, “If these coupons run out, can I make them myself?”

Lu Changzheng was startled by her words. He quickly pressed her hand down, his tone tinged with nervousness.

“My little ancestor, these are powers held only by the state. If you make them yourself, it’s forgery. You’ll be arrested and sent to prison.”

“Oh! Is that so!”

Jiang Tang nodded, having learned quite a bit more.

After finishing his instructions, Lu Changzheng finally left the house.

As usual, he went next door to inform Xu Wanmin and the others, and took the opportunity to give twenty yuan and some food coupons to Zhang Hongying.

“While I’m away on a mission, I’ll have to trouble Sister-in-law to help look after Comrade Jiang Tang.”

“Don't be polite, Xiao Lu. Xiao Jiang is a good girl; I really like her personality.”

“Thank you, Sister-in-law. Her parents passed away early, and there is no one to teach her how to do many things. I’ll have to trouble you to keep an eye on her in the future.”

“Don't worry, don't worry.”

Zhang Hongying hadn't originally intended to accept the money, but if she didn't, Lu Changzheng wouldn't be willing to let Jiang Tang come over for meals.

She could only accept the money and coupons and watch Lu Changzheng walk into the distance.

She said to her husband beside her, “This Xiao Lu... I think he’s raising Xiao Jiang like a daughter.”

Hearing this, Xu Wanmin chuckled. “Then Comrade Jiang Tang is pretty much the same as our Yaya!”

“What kind of talk is that?”

Zhang Hongying gave her husband a disapproving glare. “Don't be like Xu Hongmei in the residential compound, thinking Xiao Jiang is a fool.”

“Sister Xiao Jiang is very clever. You definitely won't find anyone smarter than her in this entire compound.”

Zhang Hongying’s evaluation of Jiang Tang was extremely high.

Xu Wanmin had always been submissive to his wife's opinions.

However, rather than discussing others, Xu Wanmin was more concerned about the child in Zhang Hongying's womb.

“It’s Sunday off. Shall we go to the city hospital to take a look then?”

Currently, they only had one day off a week. If they wanted to go out, they had to wait until Sunday to head into the city.

It wasn't that there were no hospitals near the compound, but first, they hadn't confirmed the pregnancy yet, and second, the conditions at the compound hospital were certainly not as good as those in the city.

His wife was already in her thirties; Xu Wanmin didn't want to be careless.

Zhang Hongying hummed in agreement, and the couple began chatting about other things.

The next day, while Jiang Tang was still dreaming, Lu Changzheng had already left for his mission.

Traveling in the dark was not a one-time occurrence; Lu Changzheng should have been used to it by now.

But this time, as he walked forward, he felt his footsteps were somewhat heavy.

“Captain Lu, missing Little Sister-in-law?”

A comrade teased him with a laugh.

Lu Changzheng looked up toward the direction of the residential compound. His expression softened slightly, but he said nothing and continued walking forward.

When Jiang Tang woke up, Yaya came to call her for breakfast.

After eating her fill, she went to the school library to read, as usual.

It looked like Jiang Tang would spend the entire day there.

However, having learned from yesterday's experience and knowing when Zhang Hongying finished her classes, she no longer stayed in the library until Zhang Hongying arrived.

Instead, as soon as the school bell rang, she stood up and left the library.

Yaya, who had slipped out of class early, came to find her. Upon seeing her, she immediately began babbling about everything that had happened in class today.

The little girl, who was still in the nursery class, finished speaking only to reveal a look of melancholy that was unbefitting of her age.

“Sigh, I wish I could be like Auntie, having to do nothing at all!”

Jiang Tang blinked and refuted Yaya's words. “I’m not doing nothing; I’m studying.”

“The books say that within books, there are beauties like jade, and within books, there are houses of gold.”

She had asked Lu Changzheng about this, and he told her that the meaning behind those words was for her to read more, and that by reading, she would understand many, many truths.

Therefore, Jiang Tang decided to read a great many books.

She wanted to give Lu Changzheng a huge surprise when he returned from his mission.

Yaya, who had always thought her pretty auntie was just playing, was still a bit puzzled. “But Auntie, don't you get lazy when you read by yourself? There’s no teacher watching you.”

“Why would I be lazy?”

Yaya's question truly stumped Jiang Tang.

Jiang Tang asked with total sincerity.

Yaya was also stumped by the question.

Zhang Hongying happened to walk over just as she heard their conversation. She smiled and told Jiang Tang not to mind Yaya; the little girl didn't learn anything else except how to be lazy and avoid studying.

Hearing this, Jiang Tang seriously told Yaya that it was wrong not to study.

Yaya...

Auntie is starting to be a bit like Mommy.

Was she really being infected by Mommy?

Over the next two days, Jiang Tang spent her time finishing all the books in the library of the residential compound's children's school.

Once she finished them, she didn't need to go to the school anymore.

But since she wasn't reading at the school and Lu Changzheng wasn't home, she felt a bit bored.

By chance, she overheard the sisters in the compound chatting about how lively the city was. Jiang Tang thought about it—right, she could go to the city to read!

Sister Zhang had also mentioned that there were large bookstores in the city, and they would surely have even more books.

The "Little Ginseng" who was just learning how to be a person felt that her experience in life was not yet sufficient; therefore, she had to make haste and read books desperately.

Jiang Tang wanted to learn how to be a person properly; she had to work extra hard.

Having made up her mind, Jiang Tang went to find Zhang Hongying to tell her she was going to the city to read.

Zhang Hongying had no reason to stop her.

She told Jiang Tang how to take the bus to the city, and the rest was simply telling her to be careful, not to talk to strangers, and not to trust people easily.

“Especially those old ladies with children. If they ask you for help to lead them somewhere else, you must never agree.”

“Those people are usually human traffickers. Sister, you are so pretty, and you're going to the city alone. If you get targeted, it'll be all over.”

Zhang Hongying instructed her with concern.

Jiang Tang took all her words to heart.

“Don't worry, Sister-in-law, I will be careful.”

The Little Ginseng waved her fair hand in farewell to Zhang Hongying, slung her army-green backpack over her shoulder, and left the residential compound, walking toward the town entrance to wait for the bus to the city.

Lu Changzheng and his comrades were stationed in a small town.

A river flowed through the middle of the town, dividing it in two.

One side of the river was the residential area, and the other side was the residential compound and the training area where outsiders were not permitted to enter.

Jiang Tang didn't have to wait long before the bus arrived.

Just as she boarded and found a seat, she heard a voice filled with immense surprise.

“Comrade Jiang Tang? Are you going to the city too?”

Jiang Tang looked toward the sound and saw He Wenxun looking at her with a face full of pleasant surprise.

She nodded, not particularly wanting to speak.

He Wenxun didn't mind.

He glanced around, didn't see any sign of Lu Changzheng, and walked toward Jiang Tang with an even wider smile, sitting down in the empty seat beside her.

“What a coincidence, Comrade Jiang Tang. I'm going to the city too.”