Chapter 13: Niang en, “…why are you back again?”

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Zhao Lingcheng didn’t catch what was said, thinking his ex-wife had come to transfer her household registration.

Normally, she should have transferred it when they divorced, but not only did she refuse, she kept using it as an excuse to ask him for money over and over.

He couldn’t be bothered to indulge her, so he notified the Security Section to reject all her letters and telegrams, but she finally still came?

He continued clicking on his abacus and said, “Let the Orderly accompany her to handle it.”

Qi Political Commissar asked again, “Have you had dinner? Do you want me to send someone to the canteen for you?”

The verification was about to finish, the monitoring task had no issues, and they could move on to the next stage.

The only task Zhao Lingcheng had left was to write a Report, and just thinking about the canteen food made him nauseous.

He said, “No need, I’ll cook some noodles when I get home.”

Qi Political Commissar thought he understood—after all, just half a year ago, he’d mediated Zhao Lingcheng’s divorce case.

He tried to persuade him through the door, “When you get home, don’t get emotional again. Xiao Chen is pregnant, you should be considerate and understanding, help with the housework…”

With a loud bang, the door opened, and there was Zhao Lingcheng, sleeves rolled up and shirt collar open: “What?”

He asked again, “We’re already divorced, why does she want to come to my house?”

Qi Political Commissar countered, “She’s carrying your child, and she’s already filed for remarriage, didn’t you agree? Besides, now that you’re getting back together, and the guesthouse is full, I let her stay at home—is there a problem?”

So not only was his ex-wife pregnant, she was here to ask for remarriage?

Zhao Lingcheng slammed the door shut with a bang.

Qi Political Commissar believed Chen Mianmian’s child was Zhao Lingcheng’s because Zhao Hui believed so.

Zhao Hui believed it because she trusted Chen Mianmian’s character.

But Zhao Lingcheng’s strong reaction was precisely because of his ex-wife’s character.

He yanked the door open again, looking fierce: “You just believe whatever she says?”

Qi Political Commissar also found it baffling: “Zhao Colonel is your aunt, shouldn’t I believe what she says?”

With another bang, Zhao Lingcheng slammed the door shut.

Why did this involve his aunt again?

He needed more time to process this.

Qi Political Commissar knocked again: “The child is about to be born, what are you still fussing about?”

He added, “The Old General has already been patient enough, but you should give him a grandchild.”

Zhao Lingcheng tensed: “My Grandfather knows?”

It had reached the Old Man at home without him even knowing?

Qi Political Commissar hurriedly said, “Zhao Colonel specifically instructed that you must report the good news yourself.”

He held up a file, “I’ve brought Xiao Chen’s schedule for the past six months for you.”

Zhao Lingcheng replied crisply, “Not interested.”

After a while, footsteps echoed down the hallway, and Qi Political Commissar left.

Zhao Lingcheng looked back at his tidy, clean desk, his mind blank.

Two years of marriage felt like a sandstorm—just recalling it gave him anxiety.

The funny thing was, he once had hopes for marriage.

Most people at the Base had married through blind dates and were doing well after.

He’d grown up hearing his elders say that the most lovable people were the honest, hardworking masses.

Because of an incident where a girl accused him of pushing her into the water and assaulting her.

In his memory, the girl had short hair, a buzz cut, clothes full of patches, and two purple-red blotches on her cheeks—completely a tomboy.

But from the Production Team Secretary to the girl’s Mother, to the villagers, everyone praised her as diligent, honest, warm, and kind.

He remembered what the Leadership said: “Come from the masses, return to the masses,” so he agreed to marry.

The girl was nearly illiterate and couldn’t communicate, so he sent her to school.

To have a common language, he even signed her up for foreign language classes.

Back then, the thin girl followed him, clutching her bundle, cheeks so red they turned purple, then green.

At that time, Zhao Lingcheng once fantasized that after finishing school, she would change, but…

He pushed aside the abacus, picked up his pen, closed his eyes for a moment, and finally managed to focus his scattered mind.

There was just one last set of data—he couldn’t make a mistake, absolutely couldn’t.

In front of the apartment building, a group of five- or six-year-old brats were playing noisily.

Occasionally, there was a sizzle, followed by the aroma of food—families were cooking dinner.

Zhao Lingcheng’s home was in the unit closest to the wall, next to a still-developing farm.

As Chen Mianmian passed by, some kids saw her and shouted, “Look, it’s Xiaxia!”

Another kid glanced back and echoed, “Wow, Xiaxia is here!”

Zhao Lingcheng’s home was on the first floor. 

Chen Mianmian stood on tiptoe and, by memory, felt for the key above the doorframe.

She’d just opened the door when the neighbor came out too: “Xiao, Xiao Chen?”

The neighbor then yelled at the kids, “Don’t give people random nicknames!”

The kids had nicknamed Chen Mianmian “Xiaxia.” 

She smiled and said, “Sister Sun, I’m back.”

It was hot, and she wore only a cotton shirt, her belly bulging. 

Neighbor Sun Bingyu stared in surprise.

A kid ran over and asked, “Xiaxia, didn’t you leave? Why are you back?”

He added, “You don’t know how happy my Uncle Zhao has been lately.”

Sun Bingyu snapped out of it and scolded her son, “Zhan Zhan, don’t talk nonsense.”

Anyone could see they’d reconciled—kids shouldn’t make careless remarks.

Seeing the thick layer of sand and dust in the house, Sun Bingyu said, “Come sit at my place for a while, let the Orderly help you clean up.”

In the Northwest Gobi, if you didn’t sweep every day, you couldn’t even set foot in the house.

Chen Mianmian thanked Sun Bingyu, then left the unit, standing on tiptoe and feeling between the bricks until she found another set of keys.

Opposite was the wall, and against it were three old bungalows. 

She walked to one and stopped at the door.

The kids followed her, and little Zhan Zhan whispered, “She has a lot of Xiaxia, all hidden in that room.”

Little Shuai Shuai wanted to go forward, but Zhan Zhan quickly said, “Don’t, she’ll hit you.”

These were a few abandoned empty houses. 

The Female Supporting Character had locked them up and didn’t allow the kids near.

But Chen Mianmian wasn’t the Female Supporting Character. 

She looked at the kids and said, “If you’re curious, come and see.”

But as soon as she spoke, Zhan Zhan turned and ran, the rest of the kids screaming and fleeing.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Mianmian opened the door.

Even though she remembered, she was still shocked the moment she opened it.

Animal pelts were strung up with reeds, the smooth side facing out. 

At first glance, they looked like upside-down bats.

The dark room was too scary for Chen Mianmian, so she just pulled one pelt from the doorway.

At some point, Zhan Zhan had come over: “Wow, Blind Blind Pelt!”

Sun Bingyu came too, marveling, “Xiao Chen, you cleaned these pelts so well, and dried them perfectly.”

Zhan Zhan clung to his mother’s leg: “Mom, catch me a Xiaxia too, I want one!”

Sun Bingyu laughed, “You little rascal, there aren’t any Xiaxia left here.”

The Base used to be overrun with Xiaxia, but in two years, Chen Mianmian caught every last one.

Anyone from the Northwest knew how precious those pelts were.

The Gobi winters could freeze you to death, but Blind Blind Pelt was even warmer than wolf or bear fur.

If you made a pair of shoes from this pelt, your feet wouldn’t freeze all winter.

While Sun Bingyu was still marveling, Chen Mianmian pulled out another pelt and handed both to her.

She said, “Sister Sun, use these to make Zhan Zhan a pair of winter shoes—my gift to him.”

Sun Bingyu gasped, “Really?”

Zhan Zhan took the pelts and shouted, “Wow, I have two Blind Blind Pelts now!”

But Sun Bingyu felt something was off: “Aren’t these pelts…aren’t they…”

The Female Supporting Character liked to hoard things, never giving or selling, just storing them up.

That was because she had a compulsive hoarding disorder—it was an illness.

And Wang Ximei always told her that raising her was a favor higher than the sky, deeper than the sea.

Whatever she had, she handed over to her Mother, to repay her Mother’s Grace.

To put it bluntly, Wang Ximei raised her daughter like livestock.

And she did a good job—neither of the Female Supporting Character’s sisters were good at anything except repaying Mother’s Grace.

Seeing Chen Mianmian lock the door and walk away, Sun Bingyu caught up, “I can’t just take your pelts for free—name your price.”

She examined them under the light, “Not a single bug hole—these are top-quality pelts.”

Chen Mianmian spoke softly, “Miss, on the Black Market, isn’t a pelt like this worth two or three yuan?”

Blind Blind Pelts occasionally showed up on the Black Market, and they really did sell for two or three yuan each.

Given current prices, the best Yak Milk Powder was only 0.8 yuan per jin, so these were especially valuable.

If people managed to buy one, they’d cut it in half for shoe tops or knee pads.

To make a pair of full-pelt shoes, it wasn’t about the money—you couldn’t buy them even if you had it.

Thinking about Chen Mianmian’s odd temper, Sun Bingyu didn’t dare take advantage: “I’ll give you two yuan per pelt.”

But Chen Mianmian pretended to snatch the pelts back, smiling, “If you pay, I won’t give them to you.”

She patted her belly, “Distant relatives aren’t as good as close neighbors. I’ll need your help a lot in the future—just take them.”

Sun Bingyu felt Chen Mianmian was different than before, but couldn’t say how.

Getting two pelts for free, she went home overjoyed.

Chen Mianmian was thrilled too—she hadn’t expected to find such a treasure.

With a whole roomful of pelts, she was going to make a fortune, exchange them all for cash.

Back home, the Orderly had already cleaned the living room and floor, and was now putting water in the kitchen.

By the rules, the Orderly wasn’t supposed to clean the kitchen, so Chen Mianmian said, “Thank you for your hard work, I’ll handle the rest.”

The Orderly exchanged a few polite words, took out the trash, and left.

Sun Bingyu came in with a few eggs.

She smiled, “You’re too thin, eat some eggs and nourish yourself.”

Chen Mianmian was just wondering what to eat for dinner. 

With eggs, and a bowl of Milk Powder, that’d be a meal.

She’d just taken the eggs and was about to ask something when Sun Bingyu said, “Hey, is Lingcheng back?”

Chen Mianmian immediately put down the eggs and smiled as she went to open the door: “Lingcheng, come in, I’ve been waiting for you!”

But wait—there was no one in the hallway.

What was going on?

Sun Bingyu also found it odd: “I just saw him outside the window, where did he go?”

She added, “Maybe I was seeing things. You get some rest, I’ll wash the dishes.”

It seemed to be a false alarm. 

Chen Mianmian hummed a tune as she washed the pots and dishes.

She set the pot to boil water. 

Her stomach was growling, and Niuniu was squirming nonstop—clearly hungry too.

She simply cracked three eggs at once. 

Milk Powder poached eggs—delicious.

She picked up the bowl, blowing and sipping, determined to fill herself up.

But just as she took a sip, a man’s voice sounded outside the window: “…Why did you come back again?”