Once Jiang Cheng mentioned going home, Li Chunxiang and Gao Zhonghua were both excited.

Li Chunxiang had never been away from home for this long, and Gao Zhonghua simply couldn’t get used to the food here; it was too bland.

George was indifferent, quietly munching on his carrot.

Just off the train, the representative from S City Pharmaceutical Factory, Dong Jianbei, felt like crying a bit.

He’d just spent five days in a hard seat, and now he’s going back?

His not-yet-recovered backside was faintly aching again.

After dinner, Jiang Cheng took out a rocking chair, lay in the yard, drank tea, and listened to the radio.

Enjoyment.

Soon after, two little heads appeared over the fence next door, bobbing along to the music from the radio.

Jiang Cheng noticed and smiled at the two little carrot heads.

The next second.....

"Ah!"

"Caught!"

After a few bangs, an innocent child’s voice rang out.

"My butt!"

"Oh no, your clothes are dirty!"

Just after the two kids spoke, an angry voice sounded.

"You two little brats! Dirty the clothes again!"

"How many times have I told you not to climb the wall, not to climb the wall!"

"No clothes left, you’ll go bare-bottomed!"

What followed was the sound of a furious mother’s roar and the two children screaming wildly.

A few minutes later, two bare-bottomed children ran out, followed by their mother holding a broom.

Jiang Cheng watched, chuckling.

"Your childhood, my childhood... really not much different."

Inside, Li Chunxiang watched Jiang Cheng chuckle and felt happy too.

Finally, seeing Jiang Cheng smile.

Jiang Cheng probably didn’t even realize how serious she had been during the trade fair.

Li Chunxiang continued peeling the orange, and when done, brought it to Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng was in a mood to tease Li Chunxiang now.

"Our Chunxiang is so capable, whoever marries you will die of happiness."

"That can’t be, I’ll only take care of you, I don’t want to serve anyone else!"

Li Chunxiang said, raising her head: "I want to find someone who can take care of me!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng laughed and said to Li Chunxiang: "Not bad, I support you!"

Li Chunxiang chuckled and sat on a small stool next to the rocking chair, chatting with Jiang Cheng.

They chatted until it got dark.

Once it was dark, the group turned on the lights indoors, ready to play some poker.

Jiang Cheng even taught George.

Though calling it teaching wasn’t quite right, as she only explained the rules once and George understood.

Once he understood, they found playing poker didn’t hold much interest.

Because George knew how to count cards.

The most irritating part was he wasn’t even doing it intentionally; he did it subconsciously.

Jiang Cheng enviously said to George: "This brain...I’d be happy with half."

Li Chunxiang, after losing ten games, rudely said to Jiang Cheng: "Are you serious? You won five times, George won five times, what’s the difference between you two?"

Jiang Cheng waved to Li Chunxiang and said: "I know I’m excellent, but you can’t blame me for wanting to be better!"

"That’s called ambition."

Li Chunxiang was amusedly annoyed, her mind thinking only one thing: has your face gone away from home???

No!

Jiang Cheng’s face wasn’t ever home.

The poker game dispersed, and everyone washed up for rest.

The three men squeezed outside, while Li Chunxiang and Jiang Cheng stayed inside.

Once relaxed, Li Chunxiang dared to disturb Jiang Cheng’s sleep.

The two lay in bed, Li Chunxiang slapped Jiang Cheng, and spoke with much sentiment: "I’ve lived without regrets."

"What do you mean?"

Jiang Cheng turned her head.

Li Chunxiang giggled and said: "I can even share a bed with Jiang Cheng!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng said...

"You’re right."

Her affirmative reply made Li Chunxiang’s smile freeze.

"Can’t you be a little modest?"

Jiang Cheng seriously pondered this question and finally replied: "I’m not allowed to be modest given my abilities. I can’t help it; my biological setup is like this."

Li Chunxiang: I really am owed!!

That night, everyone attending the fair relaxed.

The next morning, Jiang Cheng unusually slept in.

Even though she woke up, she comfortably refused to move.

Eventually, it was Li Chunxiang bringing seafood porridge inside that whetted her appetite.

Breakfast, seafood porridge with local specialty custard buns, Gao Zhonghua eating a custom-made large steamed bun.

After eating and drinking their fill, the group went out for a relaxed stroll, starting their outing to Yangcheng.

A few days prior, when Jiang Cheng was accompanying Lao Luke and Todd, she had already walked a few places with them.

This time, they chose different places to visit, and additionally, took photos.

They rented cameras and bought three rolls of film, focusing on taking photos freely.

After one day, they were both tired and happy.

Having returned the camera, they rushed to develop the film, leaving the photo studio and arriving at the department store just half an hour before closing.

Shopping, buying gifts, and preparing to visit Gao Zhonghua and Shen Que’s comrades in the evening.

Local pastries, some fruits, malt milk, canned goods; four kinds of gifts should be enough.

Li Chunxiang took George and Dong Jianbei back to the small yard, Jiang Cheng and Gao Zhonghua went to the comrade’s house.

The comrade was named Lin Muxin.

Jiang Cheng first heard this name and thought: How lacking in wood must this person’s fate be?

Gao Zhonghua was carrying the gifts, leading the way.

"Sister-in-law, we all call him Liu Mu, he works in the police department after retiring, his home is in the family housing compound here."

"The last time I came was....."

Gao Zhonghua paused a bit and continued: "The last time was to bring back my comrade’s ashes, to the small yard where we were staying."

"Oh? Then this time we should pay respects to your comrade."

"No need, I’ve seen him, occasionally chat a bit."

Jiang Cheng frowned listening, what does it mean to chat occasionally?

"Why would you chat on such occasions?"

Gao Zhonghua looked honestly at Jiang Cheng and asked: "Didn’t I say?"

Jiang Cheng already had a bad feeling but asked bravely: "You didn’t say."

"Oh—maybe I forgot, my comrade’s ashes are under the bed."

Words from Gao Zhonghua echoed in Jiang Cheng’s mind: my comrade’s ashes are under the bed.

She and Li Chunxiang had slept on this bed for ten-plus days!

This idea once in Jiang Cheng’s head made her uncomfortable all over.

Not that she despised "the family", just felt it was quite disrespectful.

Jiang Cheng, with her scalp feeling tight, spoke softly: "Gao Zhonghua....."

"Hey? Sister-in-law, what’s up?"

Jiang Cheng looked at the honest Gao Zhonghua in silence and asked: "Did you use to get beaten in the team?"

"Sister-in-law how did you know? Was it Mr. Shen who told you?"

Jiang Cheng shook her head.

"No, it’s quite easy to deduce."

As they chatted, they reached the family housing compound for the department.

Gao Zhonghua found the apartment building according to the address.

"It’s on the third floor, sister-in-law."

"Okay, you go first."

Gao Zhonghua walked in front, Jiang Cheng followed behind, the two climbed the stairs one after another.

This apartment building housed all residents on one side, with a corridor outside.

Each floor had about seven households, totaling four floors.

The corridor was filled with kitchenware, coal briquettes, sundries, etc., with quite a few households outside cooking.

They reached the third floor, and before Gao Zhonghua could say which apartment it was, a basket flew toward his face.