Chapter 9

The Jin family currently has eight children: Chunhua, Xiahua, Qiuhua, Donghua, Daqiang, Erqiang, Sanqiang, and Siqiang. Chunhua, Xiahua, Daqiang, and Sanqiang belong to the eldest Jin son’s family. Qiuhua, Donghua, Erqiang, and Siqiang belong to the second Jin son’s family. The third and fourth Jin sons are not yet married. The four Jin brothers are named Jin Ping, Jin An, Jin Xi, and Jin Le. Together, their names represent peace, safety, joy, and happiness.

After Chunhua finished asking, the three girls and the first three boys were all bewildered. Only the youngest, Siqiang, sniffed the air. "Big Sister, do you smell meat too?"

"Yes. Tell me, did you go steal a chicken from someone else's house? Or did you go into the mountains? How many times have I told you? You are not allowed to go into the mountains without an adult. Have you forgotten what happened to Grandpa Sun’s Dunzi, the one snatched away by a wolf?"

Xiahua: "We haven't forgotten." Qiuhua: "How could we dare to steal a chicken from someone else?" Donghua: "If we dared to do that, wouldn't you break our legs?" The four boys: "Exactly."

Chunhua also felt they wouldn't dare. But, "Then why is there the smell of chicken?" Xiahua: "It must be drifting over from someone else's house." Siqiang: "No, no, it’s drifting down from the roof. Our roof is growing chicken legs!"

Wei Tiechui and Xiao Yanyan: *Is this kid’s nose a bloodhound's?*

Chunhua could smell the meat, but she couldn't tell where it was coming from. "Daqiang, bring the ladder." The roof couldn't grow chicken legs, but it could grow thieves.

Daqiang: "You got it!"

Hearing this, Wei Tiechui quickly hugged Xiao Yanyan and jumped off the roof. Once down, he immediately scurried along the base of the wall and into the woods behind the house.

"Phew... I knew I shouldn't have eaten that chicken leg." "Phew... I knew I should have eaten it faster." "What are you 'phewing' for? You didn't even run." "I'm 'phewing' for you. So, how about it? Want to marry my eldest cousin?" "I do." After observing for the past two days, Chunhua was indeed as beautiful and capable as Yanyan had described. "Good eye. Come on, I'll take you to find a matchmaker." "Aren't you the matchmaker?" "I'm too young." "Who do you want to find?" "My mother." "Let's go to the county town and buy some gifts first. I can't go empty-handed." "Okay."

Wei Tiechui carried Xiao Yanyan into the county town, but before they reached the department store, they were intercepted. "Hello, we are from the County Armed Forces Department. Are you Wei Tiechui?" "I am. Is there a mission?" "I don't know about that. Your Regiment Commander is looking for you. Come with us to the Armed Forces Department; there's a phone there." "All right. Thank you." "You're welcome."

Regiment Commander Zhang was busy when the phone rang. He answered it casually. "Hello, who is this?" "Regiment Commander, it's Tiechui. Is there..." Before he could finish, Regiment Commander Zhang roared, "You brat, do you have any idea that Deputy Regiment Commander Tao is on the verge of divorce because of you?" "Huh?" He wasn't a woman; how could the Deputy Regiment Commander be getting a divorce because of him? "Regiment Commander, it's Tiechui." "Do you think I don't know who you are?" Regiment Commander Zhang recounted the whole incident. "Just wait until I get my hands on you! Why on earth did you take Deputy Regiment Commander Tao's daughter away?" "I... well, how do I put this? I took a liking to Yanyan's eldest cousin. If she takes a liking to me too, my personal matters will be settled." Regiment Commander Zhang was stunned. "You took a liking to... wait, you went to Deputy Regiment Commander Tao's hometown just to see that little girl's eldest cousin?" "Yes."

Regiment Commander Zhang’s voice rose by an octave. "How did you even think to go see that little girl's eldest cousin?" "Yanyan told me her eldest cousin was both beautiful and capable." "And so you went?" "Yes." "So it was that little girl who abducted you, not you who abducted her? It turns out you're the one who got kidnapped!" "Yes."

Regiment Commander Zhang didn't want to deal with Wei Tiechui anymore. A Deputy Regiment Commander had been led astray by a four-year-old girl! "If you can't win over that girl's cousin, don't bother coming back! I don't have soldiers as stupid as you!" *Click!* Regiment Commander Zhang hung up the phone.

Wei Tiechui rubbed his nose and was about to leave when the phone rang again. He quickly answered. "Regiment Commander, do you have any further instructions?" "Did you tell your family where you were going?" "I did." *Click!* The phone hung up again.

Wei Tiechui waited a moment to ensure it wouldn't ring again before leaving the room. Outside, he handed out cigarettes to the men from the Armed Forces Department. "Sorry for the trouble." "It's nothing, we're all comrades."

Wei Tiechui chatted with the men for a while before saying goodbye. After buying the gifts, Wei Tiechui carried Xiao Yanyan on his way back, recounting the argument between Tao Wenrui and Su Yuyao. Xiao Yanyan pouted. Weren't they true love? Weren't they kindred spirits? Weren't they soulmates? Were they breaking up so soon?

Wei Tiechui saw Xiao Yanyan was silent and thought she was scared. "If your dad beats you when we get back, run to me. I'll protect you." Xiao Yanyan popped a candy into her mouth. "My dad won't beat me; he loves me very much. Every time I run away from home, he just ends up arguing with Aunt Su." Wei Tiechui didn't think the argument with Su Yuyao would stop Tao Wenrui from punishing Yanyan. "You never know. If he hits you, come find me." "Okay."

The people of Taojia Village saw a man in a military uniform carrying Xiao Yanyan from the village entrance and initially thought Tao Wenrui had returned. They only realized they didn't recognize him when he got closer. "Yanyan, why are you back? Where is your dad?" "My dad is at the base. I came back for a few days." "Is your dad's new wife pretty?" "She is." "And this comrade is?" "My dad's comrade-in-arms." ...

Jin Xing, Jin Qiongyan, and Jin Rushan heard Yanyan was back and ran over. Jin Xing: "You finally returned." Qiongyan: "Did you miss your sister?" Rushan: "And me, and me, did you miss me?" "Yes, I did! Come on, let's go home."

Granny Tian heard the news and ran over as well. "Did your dad send you back?" If her third son had sent this little girl back, it meant his illness was likely cured. "No. I missed my mother and my brothers and sisters, so I came back to play for a few days." *Sigh.* Granny Tian's hopes were dashed. "Is that so? How long are you staying?" "Seven or eight days."

Jin Xing noticed Yanyan was sitting on Wei Tiechui's shoulders and told her to get down. Wei Tiechui smiled: "It's fine, Yanyan isn't heavy at all." Whether or not he would get a wife depended entirely on this little girl. Yanyan: "Home, home! Is my eldest uncle still at our house?" "He is." "Great, let's go!"

Because Jin Ping was there, Wei Tiechui greeted Granny Tian and Tao Wang, left two packages of pastries, and headed to Yanyan's house. As soon as Wei Tiechui left, Xu Zhaodi asked: "Why did he go next door? Isn't he the third son's comrade?" Granny Tian was also puzzled. "Old man?" Tao Wang smoked his pipe. "Let's wait and see."

Next door, Jin Xing watched as Wei Tiechui took a pile of things out of his bag. She hesitated for a long time before asking: "Did Yanyan's father ask you to bring these back?" Wei Tiechui: "No." Xiao Yanyan: "Eldest Uncle, go talk to Brother Wei for a while. I need to talk to my mother about something." Jin Xing: "Why call him 'brother'? Call him 'uncle'." "Hehe..." Xiao Yanyan pulled Jin Xing into the inner room. "Mom, what do you think of him? He’s a Deputy Regiment Commander." Jin Xing’s eyes widened. "What do you mean? You aren't trying to make him your stepfather, are you?" Xiao Yanyan’s eyes widened too. "Mom? Why would you think that? Anyone can see he's younger than you." Jin Xing patted her chest. "You scared me to death. I thought you were like the other women in the village, constantly pressuring me to remarry. I don't even dare to chat with them anymore. As soon as I do, they start lecturing me about remarrying." "Don't worry, don't worry." Xiao Yanyan patted her mother’s chest and said, "Your precious daughter would never pressure you to remarry." "Then why did you ask?" "He took a liking to my eldest cousin. I want you to be the matchmaker for him." Jin Xing was relieved. "How does he know your eldest cousin?" "I took him to see her. Let me tell you..." Xiao Yanyan explained what had happened. Jin Xing was stunned. "How are you so capable?" "Hehe... I'm your smartest child. What do you think of him?" "He seems nice. But I don't know if your Uncle and Aunt or your Grandparents would be willing to let your eldest cousin marry a soldier." "You ask them. If they aren't willing, then forget it. He’s several years younger than my dad but holds the same rank. My dad had people lining up to marry him." "I'll go talk to your Uncle." "Good. But don't mention that we hid at my grandma's house for two days. We aren't exactly known for 'free love' around here." "I know."

Xiao Yanyan came out of the room and started handing out candies to her brothers and sisters. Jin Xing pulled Jin Ping aside and whispered: "He's a Deputy Regiment Commander. Yanyan told him Chunhua was beautiful and capable, and he wanted to see if they were a match." "What?! He wants to see Chunhua?!" Jin Ping could hardly believe his ears. "Keep your voice down. Let's go back and talk to your wife and our parents." "Let's go. We can't let a son-in-law this good slip away." Jin Xing told Xiao Yanyan, "Take good care of Comrade Wei," then smiled at Wei Tiechui before leaving with Jin Ping.

When they arrived at the Jin house, Jin Xing explained Wei Tiechui's situation. "What do you all think?" Old Man Jin looked at his eldest daughter-in-law. "Weren't you determined to marry Chunhua off to the city? Did you find anyone? What were they like?"