Chapter 61 He's afraid I'll burn down the kitchen

"arrive."

"It's cold outside. Wait in the car while I knock on the door."

She had never been to the place Xiao Jinli brought her to. After watching Xiao Jinli get out of the car, he walked to the front of a courtyard and knocked on the door.

An elderly woman opened the door. It was clear that Xiao Jinli was very familiar with the old woman, because she was smiling happily.

Xiao Jinli pointed to the car's location and then continued communicating.

The grandmother smiled and nodded, then opened the door.

Watching him return, Chu Lulu finally realized that the chicken cake wasn't used to pad her chest muscles!

"Get off the bus."

"I'll take you to eat fish."

fish?

Seeing her eyes light up, Xiao Jinli's facial features softened.

"Miss Chu, please have a seat here."

It was that old lady, smiling kindly.

Chu Lulu looked at Xiao Jinli, unsure of how to address him.

After all, this was someone Xiao Jinli knew, so she couldn't just lie and coax him.

"This is Grandma Zhao."

"Grandma Zhao."

One introduced himself, while the other honestly greeted people.

Grandma Zhao responded softly. Her clothes were neatly arranged, and her hair was combed clean. Although the house was simple and looked somewhat poor, it was exceptionally clean.

"You guys wait here, go eat some sunflower seeds first."

"I'll go and stew some fish for you right now."

Grandma Zhao smiled so much that her wrinkles deepened, but she still looked very kind.

"I'll go help you."

Just as Xiao Jinli was about to get up, Grandma Zhao refused, saying, "You stay with Miss Chu, I'll go by myself."

"No one can help with the work in my kitchen."

"Just wait and see."

Grandma Zhao looks quite old, but she is very agile.

Who is this?

Chu Lulu looked at Xiao Jinli. Did they need to trouble the old man for a meal?

Xiao Jinli made a gesture, meaning to wait a moment.

He only spoke after Grandma Zhao had walked away.

"Grandma Zhao's husband, son, and daughter-in-law were all heroes in the War of Resistance against Japan."

“He only left behind a grandson. I refused to let him join the independent battalion four years ago because of his family.”

"Heroes should not die without descendants."

"The Independent Battalion is inherently dangerous, walking on the edge of a knife, and could be crushed to pieces at any moment."

"Later, Grandma Zhao found me and persuaded me."

Xiao Jinli sighed; he had never seen this side of him before.

He always seemed to stand straight; as long as he didn't fall, he would protect everything behind him.

"Something happened?"

She had never seen anyone with the surname Zhao in the independent battalion.

That……

"Yes, during a flood rescue, he was swept away by the flood while trying to save a child. When they pulled him out, he had already died."

Xiao Jinli nodded. Not many people knew about this, especially in the early days after he took over the Independent Battalion.

Those few who knew him knew even more clearly that this was a hurdle in his heart that no one dared to touch.

That was the first time...

He felt the pain of separation and death, felt his comrades being swept away by the flood, and he searched desperately, but still could not overcome it.

This was the first time I had ever felt despair.

Chu Lulu stood up, walked to his side, and gently hugged him while he looked on in confusion.

Those slender little hands stroked his back.

"It's alright, it's all in the past. He must have anticipated this when he joined the army."

"It's over."

Xiao Jinli was stunned for a moment, feeling the unique comfort she offered.

Was she hugging herself?

Was she trying to comfort herself?

Grandma Zhao stood outside the door, and upon hearing the girl's soft voice inside, she went back to the kitchen.

The grandson wanted to protect his home and country, and like his elders, he wanted to dedicate his life to defending the nation.

She was very pleased.

When her grandson had an accident, she didn't blame anyone, just as she had blamed her husband, son, and daughter-in-law for their successive deaths.

They all have their own pursuits, and they give their all for those pursuits, even their lives.

"I'm fine now."

Even though he was reluctant to leave her embrace, he gently pulled her away and sat on the stool for the first time, looking up at her face.

I never knew her chin was so delicate, and her face shape was so beautiful.

There was a faint worry in those eyes that he would never forget.

You are sad.

"If you don't want to laugh, then don't laugh."

Seeing his lips being pulled up, Chu Lulu placed her hands on his face and pulled them down. "Hmm, that looks much better."

A genuine smile is the kind of smile that can infect others.

"Sit down and continue listening."

Xiao Jinli asked her to sit down. The two of them were too close in this position, and he was afraid that he might do something that would frighten her.

She's so timid, she'll be terrified.

"Go ahead and tell me."

Chu Lulu had already sat down and was eating a few melon seeds.

“Grandma Zhao is getting old. If I’m not on a mission, I come over once a month to bring her some daily necessities.”

"And Grandma Zhao's fish is especially delicious."

"Grandma Zhao's family used to be the imperial chefs in the palace."

Xiao Jinli's smile this time was a genuine smile.

There's a little voice inside me, already dancing with excitement, and Lulu is concerned about him.

Then he...

Is there something different about LuLu's heart?

"That's amazing!"

“Xiao Jinli, that’s not your Grandma Zhao, that’s my Grandma Zhao.”

"No, it's my own grandmother!"

"You stay here and don't move, I'm going to help my dear grandma with the chores."

Seeing how energetic she became at the mention of food, her smile froze on her lips.

He suddenly remembered.

She once broke three cutting boards while chopping vegetables, and she also once set the kitchen on fire.

"Wait a minute!"

"LuLu, calm down."

"Come back, I'll go help you, you just wait to eat."

The figure that chased after them did not hesitate at all this time.

The main reason was that I didn't dare to hesitate, for fear that if I was even a second late, the kitchen would catch fire.

As I walked to the kitchen door, I saw Comrade Chu Lulu standing next to Grandma Zhao, wrapping oranges and putting them into Grandma Zhao's mouth.

"Grandma, is it sweet?"

"sweet!"

Grandma Zhao's smile never stopped.

Her courtyard hadn't been this lively in a long time.

Xiao Jinli: So this is the kind of help you're talking about?

If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have been in such a hurry...

"Xiao Xiao, what brings you here?"

Grandma Zhao looked at Xiao Jinli, then at Chu Lulu. Xiao Jinli had changed a lot in the last two visits.

People aren't so cold anymore, and their eyes have changed.

It's probably related to the deer around him.

She's come to terms with many things in her life.

She can't die. They're all dead. She has to live for them, one day at a time.

Help them see China get better and better.

She was gratified to see the changes in Xiao Xiao.

Finally, there's someone who can open his heart, so he doesn't have to carry everything on his own anymore.

He's just a 23-year-old young man!

"I... came to take a look."

What could he say?

Are you afraid the kitchen will burn down?

Seeing Chu Lulu's puzzled look, he not only spoke, but his eyes also became much more upright and dignified.

"I'll go chop wood."

Then……

He ran away!