Chapter 86

Every year the children have birthdays and relatives come to visit.

So Hu Xiu added two more dishes to the already rich dish list.

In the evening, the family gathered together and chatted and laughed: "...time flies by so fast. I'm already 32."

Li Ting glanced at the elder sister who suddenly sighed, and said with a smile: "Isn't it normal to grow older? Can you still stay where you are?"

Ruishuang took a sip of bone soup and said, "You can't feel it now, but after you turn thirty, every year will pass by in a flash. Look, another year has come."

The 27-year-old Ruiting really didn't feel much. She turned her head to look at her 34-year-old husband and asked, "Really?"

Huo Xiao...

Huo Xiao picked up the spoon and scooped a bowl of soup for his wife and handed it to her: "Drink the soup."

Seeing this, Xie Hao, who was feeding complementary food to his little son Huajuan, shook his head in amusement.

Huo Xiao raised his eyebrows: "Brother-in-law should be the one who feels the most, right?"

Xie Hao, 37 years old at the time... "Eat, eat."

"Pfft..." It was so funny.

Zhuizhu had no idea what her sister was saying. She continued, "Really, I'm not lying to you. These days, little boys have been slipping notes to Pingping and Jiajia."

The two little girls are already in junior high school and will soon be 15 years old.

Pingping in particular looks 80% like her mother and 20% like Zhao Kai. Although Zhao Kai is a scumbag, he is not bad looking. As their child, the little girl is also rare in appearance.

I don't think it's strange that adolescent children behave like this.

But not being strange is one thing, and being constrained is another.

So, she asked, "What did Pingping say to Jiajia?"

Luo Shuang withdrew her gaze from Miao Miao and Guo Guo, and cursed herself again in her heart for being blind. After all, these two children didn't look like her brother-in-law at all. She smiled and said, "My two daughters are so well-behaved. They didn't pay any attention to me."

Tingting was surprised: "Then those boys stopped looking for Pingping and Jiajia?"

Xie Hao coughed lightly and said, "I went to school to pick up the children twice."

Hearing this, Ruting and Huo Xiao glanced at their brother-in-law's face at the same time and understood immediately...

Because I’m worried about my home.

So after dinner, Xie Hao drove home with his wife and children.

After seeing off her sister and brother-in-law, Ruting did not rush to wash up. Instead, she nestled on the sofa, enjoying the warmth of the coal stove, playing some intellectual games with the children and helping them digest their food.

Of course, it was mainly Guoguo who played with Nian Nian, and she played a more companionable role.

Miaomiao didn't have art class today, so she studied with a Russian textbook: "...Mom, how do you read this word?"

Ruting came over and was about to speak when Miaomiao stood up and pointed to the dining table: "Let's sit over there. Guoguo is too noisy."

A pot suddenly fell on his head. The handsome young boy Guoguo turned around, bewildered: "Why did I make such a noise?" I didn't even say anything, okay?

Miaomiao glanced at him and said, "You look noisy."

Guoguo choked and was about to say something to protest when she heard her sister shout, "Brother, hurry up, it's your turn to dance!"

"Oh, I'll do it, I'll do it..."

Ruiting led her eldest daughter to the dining table, and after they sat down, she asked, "Do you have something to tell me?"

Miaomiao tilted her head and asked, "Mom, do you have something to tell me?"

Ruting was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously denied: "Ah? No?"

Seeing this, Miaomiao sighed like a little adult, "Is it about my background?"

I always knew that my daughter was very smart, but at this moment, I was still shocked and instinctively wanted to reply, "How do you know?"

But when the words came to my lips, they changed to: "Why do you say that?"

Miaomiao: "Aunt looked at me a lot tonight...Grandma has been acting strange these days, her eyes were red several times, she must have cried secretly, you and dad have been very careful, but her mood is still much worse than before..." At this point, the beautiful little girl pursed her lips and continued to ask: "What happened with my biological parents?"

"How do you know?" This time, Ruiting was really stunned by shock.

Miaomiao's eyes dimmed: "Although I have always guessed... I never thought that Guoguo and I are not my father's biological children."

It took a while for Ruting's head to come back to her senses. She turned around to look at the brother and sister who were so happy that they became little fools even when playing checkers, and then she took her daughter and went to the bedroom.

After sitting down, she recovered a little and asked, "When did you start to doubt it?" Obviously, she had never mentioned this to her husband or mother-in-law.

The smart little girl's eyes were red now. She leaned against her mother and was silent for a long time before she said, "When I was 6 years old, I asked Auntie Lan when she was chatting with Grandma. She said that Guoguo and I were not like you, Dad, or Grandma. Did we look like Grandpa?"

Ruiting rubbed her daughter's back, her eyes reddened, but she couldn't help but speak with pride: "My daughter is so smart!"

Guoguo was amused: "...Grandma's expression was very unnatural at the time, so I started to have doubts. In the following years, you never mentioned who Guoguo and I looked like, but you always said that Niannian looked more like mom..."

Yes, Miaomiao has always been a very sensitive girl, and these little things connected together were indeed enough to make her realize the problem.

Thinking of this, I felt a little upset...

"So... Mom, what are you worried about recently? Is it really because of Guoguo and I's biological parents?"

Ruting reached out and held the girl in her arms. After thinking for a few moments, she said, "Since you have guessed it, Mommy won't hide it from you..."

Next, she told Miaomiao about her biological parents.

After just a few words, Huo Xiao, who had just finished washing the dishes, came in and asked, "What's wrong? Why are your eyes so red?"

Tingting extended her hand to her husband, and when he took her hand in return and sat down beside her, she said, "Our daughter is amazing..."

After listening to his wife's explanation and thinking about the tragic death of his good brother, Huo Xiao's heart became heavy.

He opened his long arms and embraced his wife and daughter, then said: "Miaomiao, don't resist and don't be afraid... Your father Jiang Jun is a good soldier, a good husband, and a good father. Your mother Zuo Yuan is also a very good person, but... they were born at the wrong time." Otherwise, they would not have been persecuted to death.

But he couldn't say this to his daughter: "Your grandpa...was rehabilitated a few days ago. He was a revolutionary hero worthy of respect. You and Miaomiao are his only two bloodlines that he took great pains to preserve. Now...do you understand our dilemma?"

Miaomiaowo nodded in her parents' arms: "So...Grandpa...want to take Guoguo and me back home?"

Huo Xiao shook his head: "Not yet, but we all think that day will come soon."

Ruting hurriedly comforted the girl who was beginning to shed tears: "Don't be afraid, Miaomiao, your grandfather has returned to the capital to take up his post. Even if he really comes to pick you and Guoguo up, your father and I will find a way to transfer to the capital to accompany you."

No matter how smart she was, she was only 10 years old after all, which was the age when she was dependent on her parents. Her mother's assurance really comforted Miaomiao's heart.

The little girl shed tears for a while before she said, "Wherever my parents are, Guoguo and I will be there."

The implication is that she is not opposed to living with her biological grandfather, but the prerequisite is that her parents must be there too.

After stating her position, the little girl wiped her tears and stood up: "Let me talk about Guoguo's side."

Seeing the young lady leaving after saying so, Li Ting and her husband looked at each other for a long time before asking, "What do you think the old man thinks?"

Huo Xiao... "How about I give the old leader a call and explain our bottom line to him?"

Hearing this, the worried and confused Ruting covered her husband's mouth and said, "Forget it, forget it."

Of course she knew this was the best solution at the moment, but...what if it didn't work? What if the old man didn't mind the child being close to them?

Let her keep quiet for a while.

Capital city.

A certain military region headquarters.

Another busy morning came to an end. Jiang Ke, who finally had some free time, sat in his office, frowning and closing his eyes to rest.

The guard, who was also Hua Jun who risked his life to deliver diaries and photos to the old leader in recent years, knocked on the door.

Jiang Kexian opened his eyes and said, "Come in."

Hua Jun walked in with two lunch boxes in his hands: "Chief, it's time for lunch."

Because the smoke of war has not completely ended, even if Jiang Kexian is reinstated, his current situation is not easy.

If one expends too much energy, he will have no appetite. This is the situation Jiang Kexian is in right now.

However, he had suffered a lot over the years, so he took the meal and started eating.

Seeing this, Hua Jun also opened his portion and sat opposite his leader, eating.

However, after taking two bites of rice, he seemed to remember something and looked up at his old leader.

Jiang Kexian was a simple person. He didn't raise his head when he felt the other person's gaze. "What's the matter?"

Hua Jun coughed lightly and said, "Commander, what do you think about Miaomiao and Guoguo? It's been a few days since you were rehabilitated."

Jiang Kexian's expression remained unchanged: "It's less than a month, why are you in such a hurry?"

Hua Jun was an impatient person, and upon hearing that, he immediately said, "How can I not be impatient? The children are already 10 years old, and they may not..." They may not know that there is a grandfather like you.

Of course, he didn't say the last sentence because he was worried that the old leader would be sad.

How could he not miss his children...Thinking of this, Jiang Ke put down his chopsticks, leaned over, opened the second drawer, and took out a thick envelope.

The envelope was full of photos.

There are one-inch, two-inch, and five-inch ones.

The photos record every bit of life after the twin turned five, all of which he has received over the past few years.

Jiang Kexian stroked one of the photos, and his eyes, which usually showed no emotion, gradually showed kindness.

In the photo, the 7-year-old grandson is running in front holding a little girl with delicate features, while the granddaughter is chasing behind with a feather duster.

Jiang Kexian didn't know any photography techniques, but he felt that the photos taken by Comrade Tingting were more vivid and unrestrained than the last.

It was precisely because of these photos and the thick diary that he began to doubt something for the first time.

The children are very happy, thanks to the careful care of Huo Xiao and his wife, and Comrade Hu Xiu...

Thinking of this, Jiang Kexian carefully put the photo into the envelope and put it in the drawer before saying, "Wait a little longer. I'll call Huo Xiao after I finish what I'm doing."

Hua Jun's face lit up: "You want a child?"

Hearing this, Jiang Kexian glanced at his subordinate who was too stubborn to change his mind.

Seeing that he really thought so, she picked up her chopsticks and said while eating, "You are so shameless."

Hua Jun was confused: "What do you mean? Didn't we agree from the beginning to bring the child back?"

What about the kindness here? What about the children's feelings? There are too many things to consider, and Jiang Kexian is too embarrassed to just take advantage of it.

Just as he was about to say he would go back and discuss this with Huo Xiao, the phone on his desk rang.

Hua Jun stood up to answer the phone, but Jiang Kexian, who had come to his senses, waved his hand to refuse. He put the phone to his ear and said, "Hello? Who is this?"

"...Hello, I'm looking for Grandpa Jiang Kexian."

The tender voice of a child coming from the microphone made Commander Jiang, who could remain expressionless even in the face of poverty, instantly tense his back and his breathing unconsciously slowed down.

In a few seconds, countless possibilities flashed through Jiang Kexian's mind. Finally, he said, "...I am, and you are...Miaomiao?"

Hua Jun, who was still eating, said: "Pfft...cough cough cough...who...who?"

Annoyed by his subordinate's noise, Jiang Kexian quickly waved his hand at the man, signaling him to get out.

But back then, the dragon and phoenix fetus was handed over by Hua Jun himself, and it was the only bloodline of the old leader. Now that he had heard the news, he was reluctant to leave, and he packed up his job at a turtle's pace.

Seeing him like this, Jiang Kexian did not urge him anymore. Of course, he did not have the time to urge him, because the childish voice on the other end of the phone spoke again: "Grandpa, I am Miaomiao, and I am Huo Yinuo."

Hearing his granddaughter calling him Grandpa, Jiang Kexian's heart skipped a beat before he realized that the child said her name was Huo Yinuo.

The meaning of the surname Huo is very clear.

Jiang Kexian was not disappointed. Instead, he asked in a loving tone, "Why did Miaomiao call Grandpa? Are your parents next to you?"

Miaomiao: "No, Mom and Dad didn't know I called you. I looked in Dad's phone book and wrote down Grandpa's number."

Jiang Kexian's eyes were filled with pride: "Then...Miao Miao has something to say to Grandpa?"

Miaomiao took a deep breath on the other end of the phone. Although her voice was a little trembling, she still tried to express the decision she had made after two days of consideration: "Grandpa, I don't object to recognizing you, and my parents won't object either. However, I want to make it clear to you the bottom line between Guoguo and me."

This kid... is so smart and his logic is so clear.

Jiang Kexian should be proud, but this old revolutionary who has fought on the battlefield all his life felt inexplicably sad at this moment.

I don’t know whether she regrets missing out on her child’s growth or regrets that her son and daughter-in-law don’t have the chance to see her child’s excellence: “…What is your bottom line?”

Miaomiao: "My name is Jiang Yinuo, also Huo Yinuo. If I go back to Beijing, I hope my parents will be transferred to Beijing. Please don't object."