Chapter 52: That Girl, She’s Like a Different Person
He called Yang Dapeng to tell him he was bringing Shanshan back to her hometown.
Yang Dapeng’s booming voice came from the other end of the line.
"Commander? You’re bringing Shanshan back? Oh, that’s wonderful! I’ll tell Auntie Pang right away!"
Ling Anxun briefly went over their travel plans before hanging up.
He gazed out the window at the darkening sky, a sense of peace washing over him.
It may not have been his hometown, but in Shanshan’s heart, it was home.
And home was always something to be treated with care.
As soon as Yang Dapeng hung up, he immediately submitted a leave of absence request to his company.
Zhang Yunhua was leaning against the wall, dry-heaving.
But when she heard that Shanshan was coming back, she suddenly shot upright, the rims of her eyes turning red.
Pushing aside her nausea, she walked into the kitchen, tied on an apron, and began to prepare the ingredients.
Yang Dapeng had intended to bring her a bowl of water.
But as he lifted the door curtain, he saw his wife bent over the stove, dry-heaving.
His heart clenched. He was about to step forward, but Zhang Yunhua suddenly whirled around.
"Get out! Stop getting in the way!"
She didn’t want him to worry about her.
She was determined to finish cooking this meal with her own hands.
Yang Dapeng opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing. He silently backed out of the room.
The door shut with a SLAM, and Yang Dapeng stood outside for a long time.
He knew his wife’s temper; she was incredibly stubborn.
His heart ached for her, but he was also proud.
"Silly woman. After Shanshan eats, you’d better get some proper rest."
He raised a hand to wipe his face and muttered under his breath.
The moment they turned the corner into the village, Shanshan caught the familiar, delicious scent of cooking.
Her little hand clutched the hem of Ling Anxun’s shirt, her steps growing faster and faster.
In the courtyard, a large square dining table had been polished until it gleamed, with twelve dishes arranged neatly upon it.
"Auntie! Uncle Dapeng! I’m home!"
Shanshan’s voice rang out, crisp and clear.
Neighbors in the courtyard heard her and poked their heads out with smiles.
"Oh, Shanshan’s back?"
Inside, Zhang Yunhua was carrying a bowl of soup.
At the sound of the voice, her hands trembled, and she nearly spilled the soup.
She hurriedly set the bowl down and rushed out of the kitchen.
Yang Dapeng also emerged from behind the house, a wide smile on his face.
Zhang Yunhua’s large belly made her gait a little unsteady.
But the joyous smile on her face couldn’t be contained.
She reached her hands out as she walked, murmuring lovingly.
"My little Shanshan, Auntie has missed you to death!"
The moment they embraced, they both burst into happy laughter.
Shanshan stood on her tiptoes, burying her head in Zhang Yunhua’s embrace.
Zhang Yunhua held her, looking her over from every angle while chattering nonstop.
"You’ve gotten taller, and your skin is fairer! Oh, and you’re dressed so elegantly!"
As she spoke, however, her eyes grew red.
Shanshan looked up, reached out to wipe away the tears at the corners of the woman’s eyes, and said with a laugh.
"Auntie, if you keep crying, I won’t be able to eat my dinner!"
The two of them burst into laughter again.
But a moment later, Shanshan touched Zhang Yunhua’s face and froze.
"Auntie, how have you gotten so thin? Are you sick?"
In her memory, Zhang Yunhua had always been pleasantly plump and healthy-looking.
But now, her cheeks were gaunt, her eyes slightly sunken, and even her lips were pale.
Shanshan felt as if a hand had viciously squeezed her heart, causing a tight, aching pain.
"Silly child, I’m not sick."
Zhang Yunhua patted her hand, forcing a smile.
"The doctor says I’m getting on in years, and with a baby in my belly, my body is struggling to keep up. On top of that, I’m always nauseous and can’t eat, so I’ve lost all this weight. Once the baby’s born, I’ll bounce right back."
She spoke casually, but her words made Shanshan’s heart ache.
She knew how dangerous pregnancy could be for an older woman.
Not to mention Zhang Yunhua had a weak constitution to begin with and still had to manage housework and cooking every day.
She secretly circulated her Spiritual Power to sense Zhang Yunhua’s condition, and her heart sank.
She was drained of vital energy and blood, her liver and kidneys were depleted, and even the fetus wasn’t getting enough nourishment.
If this continued, both mother and child would be in danger.
The wind was picking up outside, so Zhang Yunhua grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around Shanshan’s shoulders.
She supported her lower back with one hand as she urged them inside.
"Come on in, don’t just stand out there in the wind. The food will get cold."
As she was pulled along, a bittersweet warmth filled Shanshan’s heart, and her eyes began to burn.
Standing behind them, Yang Dapeng straightened his back and gave Ling Anxun a crisp salute.
Back on the front lines, Ling Anxun had been the commander of the combat regiment.
And Yang Dapeng had been a squad leader in a battalion under his command.
Yang Dapeng had seen him with his own eyes, a figure weaving through artillery fire.
Even in retirement, a man like that would always be the commander he respected most.
As soon as she entered the house, Shanshan was captivated by the aroma of the feast laid out on the table.
"Auntie, you must have been so busy! You have a little baby in your belly, you shouldn’t tire yourself out!"
She circled the table, carefully examining every dish.
Her nose stung, and she almost burst into tears.
Every single one of these dishes was a testament to Zhang Yunhua’s love for her.
"You’re so good to me... From now on, I’ll come back every day and cook for you."
She placed a hand on Zhang Yunhua’s belly, secretly warming her body with Spiritual Power as she cooed softly.
"Be a good little one, now. Don’t cause trouble for your mommy. She’s having a really hard time."
The warm Spiritual Power slowly seeped in, gently enveloping both mother and child.
She could feel the tiny heartbeat.
As the Spiritual Power circulated, a sudden shiver ran through Zhang Yunhua.
She then felt a pleasant warmth spread through her body, and her nausea subsided significantly.
She glanced down at Shanshan’s hand, smiled, and didn’t ask any questions.
The house was filled with warmth and cheer, an endless stream of happy chatter and laughter.
Outside, however, the news had already spread.
On street corners and in alleyways, children huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.
"Did you hear? That wild brat is back!"
"I know, right? Dressed like a little princess, all clean and pretty. You can barely recognize her!"
"And that’s not even the craziest part. She came back in a car! It was polished so bright, even the four wheels were gleaming!"
Cao Jiajia, who was hiding in a corner gnawing on an apple, heard this, and her ears perked up.
She stiffened, grinding her teeth.
"Her? That bastard? What right does she have to come back?"
A chubby boy next to her grinned.
"She just came to see Zhang Yunhua."
"Hey, you really have no idea. The outfit she’s wearing now—the fabric is as soft as a cloud, the colors are bright, and it’s so stylish. It’s even prettier than that new dress your mom bought for you!"
Cao Jiajia’s eyes flew wide, her cheeks flushing bright red.
"Shut up!"
She growled, shoving the boy aside.
Then she turned and bolted.
She ran, breathless, to Yang Dapeng’s house and hid by the doorframe to peek inside.
A single glance was all it took for her to freeze in place.
That girl... she was like a completely different person!
She was wearing a pale pink dress, her hair was done in small braids, and a butterfly barrette was clipped in her bangs.
Even the way she walked had changed.
Her back was straight, her steps light. There wasn’t a trace of the dusty, grimy girl from before.
Then she saw the car parked at the entrance to the yard, its silver body gleaming in the sunlight.
Cao Jiajia let out a loud huff, her eyes red, and turned to run.
She ran right into Cao Daqiang, who was just getting home from work.
"Dad! That bitch Cao Xueshan is back! She came back in a fancy car! She’s dressed better than a TV star! She’s acting so high and mighty!"
"I want to ride in a car, too! I want to wear clothes that nice! Why does she get to have all that and I don’t?!"
She threw herself on the ground, kicking her feet and pounding her fists, wailing and screaming.
But all she got in return was a slap across the face from Cao Daqiang.