The family sat around the dining table for a meal. Qiqi, curious, asked, "Dad, Mom, what were you doing in the room? Sizhe and I were waiting so long!"

Upon hearing this, Sizhe immediately buried his head in his rice bowl. He made a mental note to remind his sister later—there was no need to drag him into this. The kids were older now and understood more. When both parents were home, he rarely disturbed them.

Lin Han looked at his daughter’s sparkling big eyes and couldn’t help but feel fondness. He picked up a piece of meat and placed it in her bowl. "We were talking about work. You’ll understand when you’re older. Eat more so you can grow up, okay?"

Siqi sighed with an air of maturity. "That’ll take forever! My teacher said even if I get smarter, I still can’t go to school in town with Sizhe."

Siqi had once worked hard to learn addition and subtraction within twenty and could count up to several hundred, all so she could attend school with her brother. But the teacher had delivered the crushing blow: "No, Siqi, you’re still too young. You can only go to elementary school."

Lin Han discussed with Nan Sheng, "Let’s install a fan in each bedroom and one in the kitchen first? That way, cooking won’t be unbearable in the heat."

Nan Sheng thought it sounded reasonable. "We’ll buy another one next year for Qiqi."

Lin Han mused that by next year, they might have moved somewhere else—somewhere more spacious.

"Deal!"

The next morning, Lin Han left early to deliver gifts to his current and former superiors. On his way back, he picked up breakfast.

Only three people sat at the table. Whenever Nan Sheng had a day off, she slept in, and the family was long accustomed to it.

Seizing the opportunity, Siqi made a request: "Dad, I want to go to the county to watch a movie again!"

"Got it. I’ll take you and Sizhe when we have time. After breakfast, go play outside, but don’t disturb your mom’s sleep, understand?"

"Mm-hmm!"

Siqi trusted Lin Han completely. Her parents never lied to her or Sizhe.

Sizhe was thrilled too. Kids his age loved going out, and a trip to the county meant eating at the state-run restaurant—children always thought food tasted better when eaten out!

By the time Nan Sheng woke up, it was past ten. She ate breakfast, then changed all the bedsheets and pillowcases, piling the dirty ones in the bathroom. Someone would wash them eventually.

She soaked the cured chicken and cured pork in water. For lunch, she made spicy oil noodles—it had been a while, and the flavor was addictively good.

The chili peppers from Rongcheng were especially potent. Even Siqi, who couldn’t handle spice before, now insisted on adding a bit of chili oil to her food.

Nan Sheng had to remind her, "Just a little. Too much will upset your stomach."

Siqi nodded obediently. The hardships of the past were long forgotten—now, her days were filled with laughter, play, and delicious food.

"Mom, are we having meat for dinner? With potatoes?"

"Potatoes, not ‘yams.’ You’re getting fancy with your words! I’m adding glass noodles today."

Siqi didn’t mind. She started planning the chicken distribution: "This time, the drumsticks should go to Dad and Mom. Sizhe and I can have the wings."

After the meal, Sizhe took charge of washing dishes while the mother-daughter duo lounged. They say a walk after meals leads to a long life, but Nan Sheng didn’t feel like moving a step.

In the afternoon, neither child went out to play. Siqi dragged a stool to the kitchen door to watch her mom work, which meant Nan Sheng had to multitask—cooking and entertaining her little chatterbox.

Meanwhile, Sizhe was in the bathroom, scrubbing bedsheets and pillowcases. If he didn’t do it, Lin Han would have to. Thankfully, both father and son were diligent.

"Mom, Dad said he’ll take us to the county to watch a movie!"

Nan Sheng immediately knew whose idea it was. "No way. We can’t just agree so easily. Let him go alone—the rest of us aren’t going."

Siqi panicked. She jumped off the chair and clung to Nan Sheng’s leg. "Please, please! Qiqi wants to watch a movie too! Mom, you haven’t taken me out in so long!"

After much pleading, Nan Sheng reluctantly gave in. When Siqi skipped off to share the good news with Sizhe, Nan Sheng smirked. The little one was still fun to tease—the older one had gotten too clever.

Still, both children were remarkably well-behaved. They never caused trouble when their parents were busy.

Once the political reforms settled, life would be much more comfortable. When they had time, she and Lin Han could take the kids out more often.

Just as Nan Sheng was about to start cooking, someone knocked on the door. Sizhe went to check—it was Little Hou.

"Uncle Hou, should I call Mom?"

"No need. I’m just here on behalf of the regiment leader. Let your mom know he’s bringing two battalion commanders for dinner tonight."

Nan Sheng, hearing the commotion, walked to the living room. "I heard. You should join us too, Hou. Don’t be shy!"

Little Hou happily agreed. Lin Han had already invited him, but he’d been too embarrassed to accept. Nan Sheng’s offer solved that problem.

With three extra grown men to feed, Nan Sheng quickly prepared more cured pork. Without higher-ups present, she didn’t need to fuss over elaborate dishes—just hearty portions would do.

This worked out perfectly for Siqi. Nan Sheng swapped the glass noodles for potatoes, stewing a huge pot. Before the guests arrived, she set aside two small drumstick pieces for the kids.

"So good!"

Nan Sheng thought, Of course it is. She’d used plenty of oil to fry the potatoes golden and slightly crispy, letting the chicken’s flavor seep in—the taste was unbeatable.

After the chicken stew, she stir-fried the cured pork, sautéed greens, and whipped up an egg drop soup. Three dishes and a soup—done!

As Sizhe carried the dishes out, Lin Han returned with the guests. Han Yongxiang had met Nan Sheng a couple of times, and Little Hou visited often, but Luo Hao seemed awkward.

The three men greeted Nan Sheng first. "Thanks for the trouble, sis!"

Nan Sheng smiled and gestured for them to sit. "No trouble at all. It’s nothing fancy, but there’s plenty—eat your fill!"

After ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‍wiping off her sweat and changing clothes, Nan Sheng returned to find everyone waiting. Lin Han and the others had only just started on their first round of drinks.

Dining with Han Yongxiang’s group was like a battle. Even Nan Sheng ate faster, let alone the kids.

"Your cooking is amazing, sis!"

Luo Hao and the others kept complimenting her as the food disappeared, and rice bowls were refilled again and again.

By the end, even Little Hou felt bad for Nan Sheng—this was white rice! She was too generous.

The men chatted about military affairs, while Nan Sheng stayed quiet, uninterested in the topic.

Until Han Yongxiang asked her, "Sis, about your job—should I mention it to my dad?"