Xiao Yanyan moved out all the books she had bought yesterday. "It’s true. My daddy loves me so much; even when I snuck back to our hometown, he didn't beat me. Big Cousin, when are you going to start learning how to read?"
"Learn to read?"
"Yeah. My cousin-in-law is a deputy regiment commander, after all. How can you get by without knowing how to read?"
Chunhua thought about it and realized she was right. "I’ll have your cousin-in-law teach me when we get back. Are your dad and that homewrecker really going to get a divorce?"
"They really are."
"Then... will your dad really go and bring your mom, your brother, and your sister here?"
"He really will. My daddy loves me so much."
"Why am I finding that so hard to believe?"
"If you don't believe it, just wait and see. Are you going back to tidy up, or are you staying here with me?"
"I’ll stay here with you." She wanted to be the first to know if those two had actually divorced.
"Then let's look at the picture books."
They had only been looking for a short while when Wei Tiechui arrived. "What are you two doing?"
Xiao Yanyan: "Looking at picture books."
Chunhua: "Can you teach me how to read? I want to learn."
Wei Tiechui was very happy to hear that Chunhua wanted to learn. "Of course I can." He had learned his characters in the army. It wasn't comparable to someone who had gone through formal schooling, but it was enough to teach his wife. "Come with me to the canteen. The head chef wants to see if you have any talent."
Chunhua was a bit nervous. "We're going now?"
Xiao Yanyan: "I'll go with you."
The canteen head chef’s surname was Yang, and his given name was Fugui.
When Yang Fugui saw Xiao Yanyan tagging along, he almost asked if the little matchmaker was here too. But then he remembered that Xiao Yanyan had been the one to break up Tao Wenrui and Su Yuyao, so he swallowed the words. "Xiao Yanyan, are you here to be an apprentice in the canteen too?"
"No."
"Then what are you doing in the canteen?"
"I'm here to smell the delicious food."
"Hahahaha..." Everyone was amused by Xiao Yanyan.
Xiao Yanyan put her hands behind her back and looked at the group. "Don't laugh. My big cousin cooks really delicious food. Big Cousin, make a dish and make them drool."
Chunhua looked toward Wei Tiechui. Wei Tiechui looked toward Chef Yang.
Chef Yang laughed. "Then go ahead and make a dish to make us drool."
Xiao Yanyan: "You got it!"
With Wei Tiechui and Xiao Yanyan there, Chunhua performed quite well.
Chef Yang took a bite. "Not bad. Come on, everyone, have a taste."
The others tried it and agreed it was delicious.
Chef Yang then asked Chunhua what else she could cook, how she prepared them, and what she should pay attention to. "Can you come to work tomorrow? If so, come over tomorrow. As for which chef you’ll apprentice under, we can decide that after a month."
Chunhua was thrilled. "Yes, I can come tomorrow."
Leaving the canteen, Chunhua still couldn't believe it. "I have a job just like that? I have a job too?"
Wei Tiechui: "Mm. Happy?"
"Happy!"
Xiao Yanyan: "You’re only getting this because of your cousin-in-law, so you can't go losing face for him."
"I won't let your cousin-in-law down. You two just wait for me to cook you something delicious."
When the three of them returned, Tao Wenrui had also arrived.
Xiao Yanyan ran to Tao Wenrui and hugged his leg, looking up at him with a grin. "My big cousin found a job! Starting tomorrow, she’s going to be an apprentice in the canteen. Aren't you happy?"
Tao Wenrui: "..." Your father just got divorced. "Happy."
Chunhua tugged on Wei Tiechui's sleeve.
Wei Tiechui coughed twice. "So... what about you and Comrade Su?"
"We’re divorced."
Chunhua: Today really is a good day.
Wei Tiechui: See? All that nonsense, and you ended up divorced. "Anyway, we were just here to drop off Yanyan. Yanyan, comfort your father well."
With that, Wei Tiechui pulled Chunhua away.
Xiao Yanyan climbed into Tao Wenrui's arms and asked in a tiny, milky voice, "Daddy, what is comfort?"
"Comfort means to soothe someone."
"Soothing isn't good. I don't want to soothe you; you're my daddy."
Tao Wenrui felt both moved and ashamed. He had really been carried away back then. How could he have abandoned his wife and children?
Tao Wenrui buried his face in Xiao Yanyan's embrace. "Daddy is sorry to you, sorry to your brother and sister, and sorry to your mother."
Xiao Yanyan patted Tao Wenrui’s shoulder. "Don't cry, don't cry." If that Su woman hadn't been unwilling to live like a widow, would you have regretted it? Would you have felt sorry for us?
Tao Wenrui lifted his head. "Daddy isn't crying. As soon as I have time, I’ll go pick up your mother and your brother and sister."
Xiao Yanyan rubbed her face against Tao Wenrui's. "Daddy, you're so good to me. I like you so much."
"Daddy likes you too. Daddy will teach you how to read."
"Okay."
On the other side, after Chunhua got home, she looked at Wei Tiechui and asked, "Do you think I should write a letter home to my aunt to tell her they got divorced?"
Wei Tiechui thought for a moment. "Better wait a bit longer. They divorced while they were in the heat of the moment."
"You mean they might still make up?"
"It’s possible."
"Alright then."
Elsewhere, Mother Su felt relieved once she confirmed Su Yuyao was divorced. "At least you’re free now. In a while, Mother will find you someone good."
"Yes, I’m going to rest now."
"Go ahead."
After Su Yuyao returned to her room, she began to wonder if there were any loopholes in her plan.
During this time, she had gone over everything she knew, as well as things she had heard from Wei Tiechui in her previous life regarding Kou Zhenbang.
Three days later, just as Kou Zhenbang rushed into the alley, he collided head-on with a woman. He was about to push her aside when the woman grabbed his arm and exclaimed, "Brigade Commander Kou?!"
Kou Zhenbang covered the woman's mouth instantly. "Keep it down, someone is chasing me."
The woman nodded.
Kou Zhenbang let go. "Who are you?"
"I am Tao Wenrui's ex-wife. I’ve seen you at the military district. Follow me; I know this area quite well."
"I’m sorry to trouble you. What happened to your eyes?"
As Su Yuyao led Kou Zhenbang forward, she said, "It's nothing. Haven't I just divorced Tao Wenrui?"
Kou Zhenbang understood. "What are your plans for the future?"
"I don't know. I wanted to stay at my parents' house, but the neighbors all laugh at me. They all say I was kicked out as soon as I married. I have nowhere to voice my grievances."
"How about this? Why don't we get together?"
"Ah?!" Su Yuyao acted surprised, but inwardly, she felt she was quite charming.
As Kou Zhenbang followed Su Yuyao, he said, "I’ve heard about your situation with Deputy Regiment Commander Tao. Although I am older than you, I have no ex-wife and no children, and my parents were killed by the Japanese. You should consider it."
"I... I just got divorced."
"Are you still wanting to reconcile with Deputy Regiment Commander Tao?"
"No. I... I just didn't expect you to take a fancy to me?"
"Why is that so unexpected? You are both young and educated. If you hadn't been married to Deputy Regiment Commander Tao, I wouldn't have dared to speak up."
Su Yuyao felt even more pleased. "I... I will consider it."
"Fine. You helped me, so let me treat you to a meal. I remember your family runs a restaurant. Can I go to your family's restaurant to treat you?"
"Ah? You?"
"I'm afraid your parents might marry you off to someone else, so I'd like to show my face before your parents first."