Chapter 72 Finding a Father for Mai Sui

Lu Xiao gently stroked the thin clothes on Su Tang's shoulders with his thumb.

"I know the burden at home will be even heavier. The hospital work, and... you might even have to move with me. Thank you for your hard work."

Su Tang raised her head and met his deep and honest eyes.

There was no arrogance about promotion, only concern for her feelings and careful planning for the future.

He was discussing with her and telling her: future is important, but she is more important.

Su Tang hadn't thought much about it at first, but now he was calmed down by his words and the warmth of his palm.

She is not an ignorant woman.

She should be happy that her man is capable, responsible, and valued by his superiors.

Isn't it just about being farther away from home? Isn't it just about taking more care of yourself?

Compared to his efforts to build a better future outside, what does this little bit of hardship mean?

She sniffed, suppressed the sourness, and tried to smile, with a hint of anger.

"What's the point of talking about hardship? It's a good thing you're going to the division headquarters. I'm happy for you! But..."

She lowered her voice and said, "I'm just worried that you'll be too busy and not have time to eat or sleep, and that you'll ruin your health."

Seeing Su Tang like this, Lu Xiao felt warm and a little sour in his heart.

He squeezed her shoulders firmly and assured her, "Don't worry, I'll remember what you said. Eat on time wherever you go and try not to stay up late. As for you, don't get too tired in the hospital. Rest when you need to."

"I know, long-winded."

Su Tang pushed him and finally showed a genuine smile on her face, with a little shyness and pride.

"Hurry up and eat, the food is getting cold."

The atmosphere at the dinner table became much more relaxed.

Su Tang picked up several pieces of food for Lu Xiao and chattered about what happened in the hospital.

As Lin Qian and Lin Jianqiu adapted well to the art troupe, Xiao Zhou also gradually recovered.

Lu Xiao listened quietly and ate the hot meal made by his wife with big mouthfuls.

Promotion is a happy event, but looking at Su Tang's gentle face and listening to her trivial nagging, he suddenly felt that this was the future that he felt most at ease with and the one he most wanted to protect.

A few days later, the official transfer order came down.

Lu Xiao was promoted to deputy commander of the division headquarters and took up the post immediately.

As the news spread, people came to the camp to congratulate him one after another.

Lu Xiao responded calmly and completed the handover work meticulously.

The night before leaving, Su Tang quietly ironed Lu Xiao's military uniforms, polished the collar and cap badges until they were shiny, and carefully checked the luggage.

"Once you get there and have settled down, send me a message."

Su Tang put the last folded piece of clothes into the bag and said softly.

"Yeah, I know." Lu Xiao stood behind her, looking at her slender yet strong back.

Su Tang zipped up her luggage bag, turned around and looked at Lu Xiao.

Under the dim light, her eyes were shining, without tears, only full of trust and encouragement.

"Lu Xiao,"

She called his name, her voice was soft, but it seemed to carry a lot of weight.

"Do your best. I'm at home, don't worry."

There were no fancy words, no lingering farewell, just this simple sentence made Lu Xiao's heart warm.

He took a step forward and hugged Su Tang tightly in his arms.

"Um."

He responded heavily, resting his chin on the top of her head and smelling the faint soapberry fragrance in her hair.

All the promises and concerns are melted into this silent hug.

The days pass by like flowing water.

Lu Xiao went to the division headquarters and only came back every few days. Su Tang's life continued to go between the hospital and home.

After the reorganization of the art troupe, Lin Qian and the others became busier in rehearsals. Lin Jianqiu also gradually integrated into the group, with more smiles on his face, and Chang Jia even walked with a breeze.

At noon that day, Su Tang had just finished his work and was about to go to the cafeteria to get food when he ran into Zhang Cui at the door.

Zhang Cui was pulling the wheat ears, but her face was rosier than usual, and the sadness between her eyebrows that was caused by Wang Jianfeng's torture had faded a lot.

Mai Sui has grown a lot taller and now calls me "Auntie".

"Sister Su Tang!"

When Zhang Cui saw her, her eyes lit up and she took a few quick steps, pulling the wheat ear.

"Sister-in-law, are you off work?"

Su Tang smiled and touched Mai Sui's head.

"No, no."

Zhang Cui waved her hands and lowered her voice a little embarrassedly.

"It's... it's Chef Li from the cafeteria, the chef Li Haixin. He... he left a bowl of steamed eggs for Mai Sui and asked me to take her over to eat..."

Su Tang was stunned for a moment, then he understood.

After Zhang Cui got divorced, she worked in the cafeteria. She was diligent and hardworking, and was very friendly, so she gradually gained a foothold.

The chef, Li Haixin, is in his early forties. He lost his wife to illness early in life and has been single ever since. He is a very down-to-earth person and has good cooking skills.

Su Tang had noticed something a long time ago. Master Li was taking extra care of Zhang Cui. He always served her the most generous portions and sometimes even secretly gave her some good dishes.

As for Zhang Cui, every time she saw Li Haixin, her face would turn a little red and she didn't know where to put her hands and feet.

"That's great!" Su Tang was genuinely happy for her: "Master Li is a very down-to-earth person."

"What's good about that?"

Zhang Cui sighed, and the joy on her face was covered by a cloud of worry.

"Su Tang, you don't know. These... these rumors, my ears are so tired of them. They say I hooked up with the canteen chef right after divorcing my husband, that I want to find a man to support me... even worse, they say wheat ears..."

She glanced at her confused daughter and didn't have the heart to say the rest of the words, but her eyes were a little red.

"Mai Sui is still young, but she's also very sensitive. Yesterday, when she was playing in the yard, some ignorant kids made fun of her, saying her mother had found her a 'cook dad'..."

Zhang Cui's voice was choked with sobs.

"I... it's okay for me to suffer a little injustice, but I can't let my child lose face because of me! Su Tang, you said my life... after leaving Wang Jianfeng's hell, am I going to jump into the spit of gossip and drown?"

She gritted her teeth, as if she had made up her mind: "So... I went there today to make things clear with Master Li. This... this is a good intention, I appreciate it, but in the future... let's not do this again. It's not good for anyone."

Su Tang looked at Zhang Cui's tears that were being held back and Mai Sui's timid little face, and her heart felt upset.

These days, it's very difficult for a divorced woman with children to start over.

"Sister Cui, don't worry. This matter... Well, I'll accompany you to the cafeteria."

Su Tang knew that he couldn't persuade her, so he could only stay with her.

When we arrived at the cafeteria, it was almost the end of lunch time.

Li Haixin was wearing a chef's uniform that had been washed so much that it looked bleached, and was cleaning the stove with a large iron shovel.

When he saw Zhang Cui and Su Tang coming in with wheat ears, a smile immediately broke out on his dark and simple face, revealing a row of white teeth.

"Are you here? Come on, sit down!"

He deftly took out a bowl of golden and fragrant steamed eggs from the steamer, garnished with a few green chopped green onions, and placed it on a clean little table.

"Wheat ear, eat it while it's hot!"

Li Haixin really likes Mai Sui, and Mai Sui also likes Li Haixin very much.

But this time, perhaps because Zhang Cui had told him in advance, Mai Sui didn't even call him uncle.

Sensing something was wrong, Li Haixin stood up and looked at Zhang Cui beside him.