But if you can have more money every month, wouldn't you want to go and where you want to go and eat and what you want to eat, at any time?

Mother He's love for her son made her hesitate a little more: “but my Xiaobao is really weak …”

Lin s.h.i.+heng looked at He Xiaobao's white and fat face, which looked like a bun of white flour before it was put into the pot. His smile grew gentler: “Don't worry, I am his brother-in-law. Wouldn't I take care of him?”

“Mother, give Xiaobao to me and you can be a.s.sured.”

Mother He was still somewhat hesitant, but Li Chunhua, who had already felt this was intolerable, refuted her son's words. “s.h.i.+heng, you have other things to do in the army, and now you have to take care of He Xiaobao too? Isn't that just causing trouble for yourself? No, don't mention it anymore.”

She didn't actually object to it. But as soon as she opposed it, Mother He's mind immediately went into shock, “In-law!  What are you talking about? Our Xiaobao is just like s.h.i.+heng's actual brother, is it troublesome to do things with your own brother?"

For fear that Li Chunhua might stir up trouble for her by meddling with this fine matter, Mother He hurriedly grabbed Lin s.h.i.+heng's hand, afraid that he might go back on his word: “s.h.i.+heng, it's a deal. Later, Xiaobao will be handed over to you; his brother-in-law.”

“Don't worry.”

Lin s.h.i.+heng smiled kindly and patted He Xiaobao's shoulder, who was looking forward to a better life in the future with a full face of happiness.

His magnetic voice was full of stability…

“I'll be sure to take good care of Xiao Bao.”

“Yes, that's what it says …”

Lin s.h.i.+heng stood at the table, slightly bowing his head and looking at He Xuezhu who was carefully writing, stroke by stroke.

Before, she didn't know any words at all. Lin s.h.i.+heng had taught her how to write her name, 'He Xuezhu;' it was naturally the first three words she learned. But now it seems that she was writing 'Lin s.h.i.+heng' more carefully than before.

Although her writing is still a little rusty, 'Lin s.h.i.+heng' appeared on the paper.

“Xuezhu is very clever.”

He saw He Xuezhu put down her pen after writing, looking up at him with some expectation. The man standing at the table wasn't stingy in praising her: “I taught others to learn Chinese characters in the army before, but they didn't learn as fast as you, and they couldn't write so neatly on the first try.”

He Xuezhu has always been brought up in belittling and yelling. Although she has always been praised since her husband taught her to write; every time she hears it, she still can't help but smile shyly with a little joy on her face.

“Come on, write your name again.”

Accompanied by Lin s.h.i.+heng's patient and gentle voice, He Xuezhu picked up her pen and continued to write down her name carefully.

Looking at the words on the paper, Lin s.h.i.+heng sighed as if he had discovered a new continent: “Your memory is really good. It seems that it won't be long before you finish the primary school curriculum.”

He Xuezhu nodded happily. Her husband held out his hand to her back. Her slender fingers fell on the words she had just written. She read: “Lin s.h.i.+heng … He Xuezhu.”

“Our names are next to each other.”

Listening to Lin s.h.i.+heng's happy voice, her face turned slightly red. Looking at the two names she had written on the paper, a sweetness surged in her heart.

The man behind her raised his hand gently and touched He Xuezhu's head: “Xuezhu, come to the army base with me.”

“I asked my mother. She said she would stay and supervise the building of the new house. We can go there first, and when the country settles down or my position is higher, we will buy a house and stay there.”

He Xuezhu looked up in surprise, “but leaving mom alone …”

“Of course, mom won't be left alone, but the new house is being built here. Mom can't help worrying. after a while, mom will come too.”

The couple was talking with tender feelings and sweet words when suddenly there was a woman's cry outside: “Chunhua! Chunhua! Are you there?!"

He Xuezhu recognized the voice of Lins' Third Aunt. The corners of her mouth, which had been tilted up because of her husband's gentleness, fell down again. Her eyebrows twisted as she stood up slightly to see.

She has always known that her mother-in-law didn't like the Lins, and even He Xuezhu, who has always been good-tempered, didn't like the Lins; who always came to their door to taunt her mother-in-law with her three years of childlessness.

Seeing He Xuezhu frowning while getting up, Lin s.h.i.+heng gently pressed her shoulder and let her sit back down. He gently said, “I'll go, you continue to practice.”

He Xuezhu was late to react. Her husband has already returned and she didn't have to deal with those who she didn't want to see.

Because of pregnancy, He Xuezhu; who's brows somewhat looked more motherly and gentler in appearance, gradually relaxed and sat down on the stool again. Looking at her husband, she nodded trustfully: “Okay, call me if there is anything I could do.”

Lin s.h.i.+heng smiled softly and readjusted her grip on the pen before lifting the curtain and leaving out the door.

He didn't have to go out to know why Aunt Lin came. It was just to make him visit the two elders.

It's a fact that that their new house is being built in full swing right now. The old Lins waited for a few days before the dutiful Lin s.h.i.+heng came to visit his grandfather and grandmother as usual. In the end, they couldn't wait anymore, so they sent Lin s.h.i.+heng's third aunt to urge him.

Lin s.h.i.+heng somewhat knew what the Lins were like. Grandpa Lin and Grandma Lin gave birth to three sons. The eldest of them was his father, who died early. After that, Li Chunhua moved away with her son because of her bad relations.h.i.+p with the Lins, leaving the house with almost nothing on them.