CHAPTER 89: CHAPTER 89: WILLING TO BRAVE FIRE AND WATER FOR HER!

Xu Qinghuan had already sprinted two steps ahead and reached the doorway, then turned back and said, "When will you go back? I still need to go to the commune post office to see if my package has arrived. It’s too big to carry back and not convenient to take on the bus."

Jiang Xingye’s heart was filled with sweetness and joy. A glimmer of light appeared in his deep, ocean-like eyes, like a lighthouse illuminating his path in the distance.

He took a few steps closer and said, "Is it okay if I leave at four in the afternoon? If the package has arrived, I’ll use the tractor to bring it back for you. If it hasn’t arrived, I’ll run back to get it for you when it does."

He was willing to brave any danger for her!

After speaking, Jiang Xingye anxiously looked at the person in front of him. Her fair skin shimmered in the sunlight, her delicate red lips slightly curled up, and her long, fluttering eyelashes reminded him of the most majestic and beautiful butterfly he had caught at the threshing floor when he was a child.

So light, so graceful as it rested on her eyes.

She was the most delicate flower under the sun, requiring the most diligent gardener to nurture.

His gaze was too intense, and Xu Qinghuan dared not look him in the eye. Her face flushed, she merely uttered a soft "Mm," then turned and swiftly ran to the gatekeeper.

Jiang Xingye couldn’t bear to take his eyes off her, but he couldn’t stand there forever, fearing rumors might tarnish her reputation, so he had to turn and leave, not daring to even look back.

At the entrance, Xu Qinghuan spoke to the gatekeeper, handing him three cigarettes and saying, "Uncle, could you help call Comrade Li Shouzhi? I’m his niece!"

Li Shouzhi was a minister, and the gatekeeper dared not neglect him. Moreover, Xu Qinghuan handled matters generously and was liberal with her actions, which made the gatekeeper happy to help out.

In those days, phones were not widespread, so the gatekeeper had to run errands in person.

Li Shouzhi came over quickly. Seeing Xu Qinghuan, he froze for a moment, then his eyes filled with a particularly excited look, "Is it Huanhuan? You’ve grown so much! When did you come to Anguang County?"

The original character might not have known, but Xu Qinghuan did. Originally, Uncle Lin was transferred to Shen City with the intention of closely looking after this orphan of a martyr.

Father Lin would also regularly update Xu Qinghuan’s situation to his comrades, annually sending photos to the uncles and aunts who missed her.

It must be said, the camaraderie formed in battle is truly touching; it’s the purest form of affection in this world.

Before Xu Qinghuan went to the countryside, to avoid disturbing the uncles and aunts who cared for her, she hadn’t let Father Lin inform them.

Of course, this was done on the premise that she would regularly write and call the Lin family to report on her situation.

So, when she came here, Father Lin temporarily withheld this news.

"Been here for about a week now!" Xu Qinghuan smiled and said, "Uncle Li, could you please not blame Uncle Lin? I didn’t let Uncle Lin tell you because I wanted to come personally and surprise you."

If Li Shouzhi could be fooled by a little girl, he would have died on the battlefield long ago. He knew this little girl didn’t really mean that; she was avoiding burdening him and had probably not intended to tell him.

"Hmph, seeing that you still have a bit of a conscience, I’ll forgive you this time!"

He led Xu Qinghuan to his office, "Later, come home with Uncle for a meal. Your Auntie has been thinking about you for ages!"

Xu Qinghuan knew she couldn’t refuse this meal, so she nodded, "I’ve been meaning to come and bum a meal off Uncle for a while now."

He asked Xu Qinghuan to wait in the office for a short while as he went off to handle a few things, then led her home.

Li Shouzhi was older than Xu Qinghuan’s father. When Xu Jing’an was a company commander, he was the political instructor, and they worked very well together.

Later, when Xu Jing’an became the deputy battalion commander, they continued to partner, but unfortunately, during one mission, he was injured, which forced him to retire from active duty, separating the two.

Later, Li Shouzhi’s son joined the army and became Xu Jing’an’s subordinate. Xu Jing’an trained him exceptionally well, and now he’s already a battalion commander.

When Xu Jing’an and Li Shouzhi partnered up, neither was married. Xu Jing’an often went to Li Shouzhi’s house for meals, and Li Shouzhi’s wife, Zhang Meifeng, treated all these single comrades like her own brothers, often trying to match them with suitable girls.

Seeing Xu Qinghuan now, Zhang Meifeng was reminded of Xu Jing’an, and tears began to flow uncontrollably as she pulled Xu Qinghuan into her arms, "Child, you’ve suffered!"

She had never thought highly of Song Wanlin back then. Although she was beautiful, her family background was poor, not only coming from a capitalist family but also having an uncle in the United States.

Seeing the bad political climate, she married Xu Jing’an seeking protection.

Even so, she never respected her own husband.

Xu Qinghuan felt especially grateful in her heart, "Auntie, I’m doing great!"

The original character had suffered, but now it was her life, and she was going to live it well.

This hearty and robust spirit was reassuring to Zhang Meifeng, who felt more and more tender towards her, letting go of Xu Qinghuan and gently stroking her hair, carefully looking her over, "You’re so thin. Haven’t you been eating enough?"

There is a kind of thinness called "Mom thinks you’re too thin."

Throughout two lifetimes, Xu Qinghuan felt this heavy maternal love only from unrelated elders, an unfortunate but also lucky thing!

"Auntie, if I ate until I became a little fat pig, I’d not want to live!" she teased with a mischievous smile.

Zhang Meifeng laughed and then pretended to be angry, "Spit, spit, spit, don’t say such inauspicious things!"

Obediently, Xu Qinghuan responded with spit, spit, spit, pleasing Zhang Meifeng, who suddenly remembered what she wanted to ask her about, learned she’d been around for almost seven days, yet only now visited them, and wanted to scold her again.

"Alright, the child just wanted to surprise us. Go quickly and buy some meat to make her something delicious," Li Shouzhi interjected, stopping her, worried that she’d bring up something that might upset Xu Qinghuan.

The fact that Xu Qinghuan went to the countryside was certainly no simple matter; he intended to call Old Lin later to ask about the situation.

Over the years, they were aware the days Xu Qinghuan spent at the Xu Family were not good. They had sent money and supplies, but nothing ever reached her.

She had told them not to send anything further, not wanting it to benefit someone else.

If Xu Qinghuan hadn’t her birth mother, they could have intervened, but Song Wanlin wouldn’t allow them, nor did they dare to openly involve themselves, so they had Old Lin transferred to keep an eye out.

At the very least, when it came to food and clothing, they wouldn’t be harsh on the child.

He never would have expected the child to go to the countryside!

Zhang Meifeng playfully retorted, "Isn’t that obvious?"

She quickly took some money and tickets to buy meat, intending to buy more of the foods Xu Qinghuan liked.

Xu Qinghuan took a can of tea leaves and a box of pills out of her yellow canvas bag, "Uncle Li, the tea leaves I got from a fellow villager. They’re not valuable. These pills were made by a teacher who taught me medicine. They help strengthen the body, especially good for the hidden injuries you have. If you’re okay with it, you can give them a try."

The tea leaves had been placed in space from her past life, once selling for 100,000 yuan per tael, and many people racked their brains trying to buy it.

The pills, made from the space’s herbs, were concocted by herself, offering longevity and were essentially priceless treasures.