The reason Han Ye asked that was because something felt off to him.
After all, the Zhou and Qin families both lived in the same military compound. How could Han Ye not know whether the two families were close?
When Han Ye was in school, he and Zhou Dingwen had been sworn enemies, getting into fights practically every day.
They could have fought one day, then run into each other the next, and Zhou Dingwen would still greet Xiaxia and An'an with a smile.
The Zhou and Qin families exchanged gifts and paid visits during every holiday. After all, Zhou Anping was Qin Yuanzheng's subordinate. They served in the same military district and lived in the same compound, so the families were quite close.
Han Ye knew perfectly well that they were close, which was why he had deliberately asked the question.
Ever since he was little, he had felt that his younger brother and sister belonged to him—only him.
Yet Zhou Dingwen kept coming around to win them over. Was he trying to steal them away?
That was why Han Ye had always minded Zhou Dingwen talking to Xiaxia and the others.
But then he reconsidered.
Before, he had objected because he and Zhou Dingwen had been sworn enemies. Of course he didn’t want his younger siblings associating with his archrival.
But what about now?
He and Zhou Dingwen were no longer enemies. They were good friends now. And yet Han Ye still felt uncomfortable whenever Zhou Dingwen spoke to Xiaxia.
As for why, he hadn’t really thought about it. His younger siblings were his, and Zhou Dingwen trying to get closer to them was simply unacceptable.
With that thought, he continued eating in big mouthfuls.
Holding his bowl, he plopped himself down beside Zhou Dingwen’s bed, blocking Zhou Dingwen from view and facing Xiaxia himself.
He looked Xiaxia up and down a few times, then said, “Xia'er, you’ve been in the room this whole time. How come you haven’t asked about me?”
Xiaxia glanced at his face, then at his arm.
She thought Han Ye was almost as big as Qin Yuanzheng.
Qin Yuanzheng was a big, powerfully built man, which was why Qin Qiao'an had grown tall and sturdy as well. Han Ye had spent more than two years in the army, and he had become just as broad. Clearly, he hadn’t been lacking food.
So Xiaxia asked, “Brother Ye, does your arm hurt?”
Han Ye had eaten his fill this time. How could he still remember the act of suffering he had put on earlier?
He answered casually, “No, it stopped hurting ages ago. Look, I can’t feel a thing.”
As he spoke, he tapped his suspended arm with his chopsticks.
Then he noticed everyone around him staring.
Qiao Lanshu in particular was looking at him with an utterly helpless expression.
Han Ye: “…”
Han Ye pointed at Xiaxia, thinking, Xiaxia, you’re getting pretty mischievous. Two years apart, and my sweet, quiet little sister has suddenly become devious.
He set down his chopsticks, furrowed his brows, and put on a pained expression. “Ow, it’s starting to hurt again. Ah, why does it keep coming and going? Wait, it doesn’t hurt anymore. See? It’s intermittent pain.”
Everyone: “…”
Zhou Dingwen couldn’t hold back any longer. He leaned out from behind Han Ye and said to Xiaxia, “Xiaxia, don’t listen to your brother. He’s faking it.”
Han Ye jabbed him with his elbow. “Get lost! Whether my wound hurts or not, don’t I know that myself?”
Zhou Dingwen refused to back down. “Of course you know. Did you install a switch in your wound so you could turn the pain on and off whenever you wanted?”
Han Ye: “…”
Everyone burst out laughing.
Xiaxia couldn’t help laughing either. “All right, then eat as much as you can while it doesn’t hurt. The food will get cold soon.”
Han Ye went back to eating. After a while, he said to Xiaxia, “You’re a grown woman now. You can’t go around chatting with all kinds of older brothers like you used to. You need to keep your distance, understand?”
Xiaxia: “…”
She looked at him suspiciously, wondering whether Han Ye had somehow forgotten to include himself in that warning.
Zhou Dingwen immediately grew dissatisfied when he heard this. He reached over and nudged Han Ye. “Han Ye, that’s not fair. We all grew up together. We’re not bad people. Is there really any need to keep our distance?”
Han Ye continued eating his braised pork as he replied, “So what if we grew up together? Men and women are different. Don’t you know that?”
Zhou Dingwen felt stifled, but he still couldn’t help glancing at Xiaxia.
Xiaxia, however, didn’t look at him again.
She gave Han Ye a glance, then turned and walked toward the door.
Qiao Lanshu had been sitting to the side, listening to the youngsters’ conversation. When she heard that, she gave Zhou Dingwen a meaningful look.
They were all young and innocent, at an age when they couldn’t hide their feelings.
Naturally, Qiao Lanshu could see at a glance what Zhou Dingwen was thinking.
She said nothing. After all, when a family had a daughter, it was only natural for plenty of families to come courting. Her daughter was beautiful and outstanding. It would have been strange if no one liked her.
With his mouth stuffed full of food, Han Ye saw Xiaxia heading toward the door and called out, “Hey, Xia'er, where are you going this late at night? Stay right here in the room.”
He instinctively wanted to tug on Xiaxia’s braid, but she was a grown woman now. Besides, one of his arms was injured, and his uninjured arm was busy eating braised pork, so he didn’t do it.
Xiaxia leaned against the wall and said, “Wasn’t it you who told me to stay away from all kinds of older brothers? I’m just keeping my distance from you two.”
As she spoke, she gestured toward Han Ye and Zhou Dingwen.
Zhou Dingwen immediately laughed when he heard that.
Han Ye, however, was displeased. He knitted his brows, and even the meat in his mouth no longer tasted good.
“What are you talking about? I’m your big brother. Why are you being so formal with me? Other than me and Qin Qiao'an, it’s the other older brothers you need to watch out for. Got it?”
Even though he was already very familiar with Han Ye, Zhou Dingwen was still stunned by his shamelessness.
He nudged Han Ye with his elbow and cursed, “Han Ye, you might as well just say my name outright.”
Then, still feeling indignant, he added, “Not that I’m saying anything, but Xiaxia’s grown up now. She’s much smarter than you. With a brain like yours, you’ve got some nerve trying to teach her. Just don’t lead her astray.”
Han Ye rolled his eyes, furious. “Bullshit! What’s wrong with my brain? Even if my brain isn’t much, it’s still better than yours. Have you forgotten how, back when the heavy snow blocked the mountain roads, half your body got buried in the snow and I had to pull you out? If your brain were better than mine, how come there were ten people on our team and everyone else was fine, while you were the only one who ended up buried in a snowdrift? You’ve got some nerve talking.”
Zhou Dingwen: “…”
Zhou Dingwen angrily closed his eyes.
He really had no way to explain that one.
It had happened when they had just joined the army.
Although they were both from the north, neither of them had ever experienced such harsh conditions, and Zhou Dingwen hadn’t been paying enough attention. He had simply fallen into a snow pit.
That was also one of the reasons Han Ye and Zhou Dingwen had become such close brothers.
It wasn’t only because of the socks Han Ye had given him. Han Ye had also helped him more than once.
Zhou Dingwen reached up and rubbed his forehead, then stopped talking.
If he said anything else, Han Ye would only find another way to tear into him.
Just then, Qin Yuanzheng came in from outside. He stepped into the room, took a look around, and asked Han Ye, “Finished eating?”
Han Ye nodded. “Finished.”
Han Ye had eaten the most of all the steamed buns and dishes Qiao Lanshu had brought.
Even Zhou Dingwen hadn’t had as much of an appetite as he did. Han Ye had polished off all the food and buns, leaving not even a drop of soup.
Han Ye even asked Qiao Lanshu, “Mom, are you coming to see me tomorrow? Will you bring me pork buns again? If you don’t make pork buns, scallion rolls are fine. Pancakes are fine too, or chive dumplings, or big steamed buns.”
As he listed everything with a frown, Qin Yuanzheng was rendered speechless. “Are you reciting a menu? Doesn’t the hospital have a cafeteria? Use your card and buy something yourself.”
He wanted this and that, but Qiao Lanshu was already busy with work. Normally, he took Qin Qiao'an and Xiaxia to eat at the military cafeteria, all so Qiao Lanshu would have less housework to do and could get home earlier to rest.
Han Ye scratched his head and looked pitifully at Qiao Lanshu. “All right, then. Mom, I’ll just eat at the cafeteria. You don’t have to cook for me anymore.”
Seeing that pitiful look on his face, how could Qiao Lanshu bear to refuse him?
So she said, “You only come home once in a while, and before long you’ll have to return to your unit. Just tell me what you want to eat, and I’ll make it for you.”
After all, she could manage to cook one meal a day.
Three meals a day would be a little difficult. She simply didn’t have that much time.
Han Ye immediately brightened. Sitting close beside Qiao Lanshu, he said, “Thank you, Mom. But you don’t have to make anything else. Just make me some chive-and-egg dumplings. That’s my favorite.”
In reality, Han Ye had far too many favorite foods.
There was practically nothing he wouldn’t eat.
Qiao Lanshu’s cooking was only average, but Han Ye loved everything she made.
Qiao Lanshu ruffled his hair. “All right. I’ll bring you dumplings tomorrow.”
Zhou Dingwen was rather envious of Han Ye. Qiao Lanshu was genuinely good to him—better to him than Zhou Dingwen’s own mother was.
Even after learning that he had returned, Zhou Dingwen’s mother had merely come to see him and bought him a meal from the cafeteria. She hadn’t cooked anything herself.
Zhou Dingwen sat silently to one side for a while. Then he heard Qiao Lanshu ask him, “Dingwen, what kind of dumplings do you like? I’ll make some for you too.”
Zhou Dingwen froze. Looking at Qiao Lanshu, he asked hesitantly, “Me?”
Qiao Lanshu nodded. “I’m making dumplings anyway, so I might as well make a few different fillings. What kind do you like?”
Zhou Dingwen was silent for a moment before answering, “Lotus-root, I suppose.”
Qiao Lanshu nodded. “All right. I’ll make extra and bring them tomorrow.”
They chatted in the hospital room for nearly two hours. By the time they finished, it was already getting late.
Qin Yuanzheng and Qiao Lanshu prepared to leave.
Qin Qiao'an loudly protested, “Brother, can I sleep here with you tonight?”
Han Ye glanced at the narrow single bed and said with deep disdain, “Forget it. Go home and come see me tomorrow. This bed is so narrow I can barely stretch out by myself. If you squeeze in too, where are you going to sleep?”
Qin Qiao'an didn’t want to leave. He still wanted to hear Han Ye tell stories about life in the military.
So he hurriedly said, “I can sleep on the floor! Actually, I don’t have to sleep at all. I can just sit in the chair.”
“Enough, enough, enough. Hurry up and go home. You have school tomorrow. Come see me after class, and if you dare skip school, I’ll beat you up.”
Qin Qiao'an: “…”
He muttered, “How did you know I was going to skip school?”
He had never skipped class, all right? After all, Qiao Lanshu and Zhao Yanfang both taught at his high school.
If he so much as glanced at a girl for a little too long during class, his mother could come to his room that very evening for a serious talk.
What could he possibly dare to do?
Nothing. He didn’t dare do anything.
Even during his most rebellious years, he hadn’t managed to do a single rebellious thing.
However, before leaving, Han Ye grabbed Qin Qiao'an again and asked in a lowered voice, “I heard you were dating Yuan Zhi before. It had been two years, right? Are you two still together?”
Qin Qiao'an looked shocked. “Who told you that?”
“Mom. She mentioned it in her letters, saying you went out with her every day and that you two were very close.”
But that had all been two years ago.
Han Ye had been stationed far away in the military and had never known the details, so he took the initiative to ask now.
“There’s nothing to it,” Qin Qiao'an said. “Yuan Zhi and I are just good friends. Dating? How could that be? I’m not going to date until I’ve become a battalion commander.”
Han Ye was puzzled. “Why? Why wait until you’re a battalion commander?”
Qin Qiao'an replied with absolute seriousness, “Because once I’m a battalion commander, I can have my family join me. Isn’t the point of marrying a wife so she can stay by my side? If she can’t come with me and we have to live apart, what’s the point of finding a partner? Just to have someone as a decoration? No thanks.”
After a pause, Qin Qiao'an added, “Brother, weren’t you the one who taught me that? You said the same thing when I was little.”
Han Ye: “…”
Had he really said that?
Han Ye had long since forgotten.
Even so, he still said, “As for Yuan Zhi, I don’t think the two of you are very compatible. If she ever confesses her feelings to you, you’d better turn her down.”
Han Ye was very good at judging people. He had always felt that Qin Qiao'an and Yuan Zhi were fundamentally different and would never work as a couple.
Of course, he was worrying unnecessarily, because Qin Qiao'an hadn’t realized his own feelings yet.
Qin Qiao'an lowered his voice. “Mom has said the same thing, but don’t worry. Yuan Zhi might not even like me. She’s attending a vocational secondary school now, and once she graduates, she’ll become a teacher. She has a bright future ahead of her.”
Yuan Zhi had chosen vocational school because she wanted to start working sooner.
Graduates were assigned jobs, so it was indeed a pretty good option.
Since Qin Qiao'an had put it that way, Han Ye didn’t say anything more.
He turned to Xiaxia and asked, “Xia'er, what about you? Have you been keeping your distance from the boys at school?”
Xiaxia: “…”
Xiaxia said helplessly, “Brother Ye, why is dating all you ever think about? Do you want to fall in love?”
Han Ye: “…”
His expression turned solemn, and he said awkwardly, “Don’t talk nonsense. When did I ever say I… I’m only worried about you, understand? You’re so pretty. What if some scumbag takes an interest in you?”
Lying on the bed, Zhou Dingwen felt as if he had been struck by an arrow.
Why did Han Ye seem to be taking shots at him from every possible angle?
After Qin Yuanzheng and Qiao Lanshu left with the two children, the lively hospital room instantly fell quiet.
Zhou Dingwen kicked Han Ye with his uninjured leg and said, “Han Ye, try not to say so much about me in front of your family from now on. At least leave me a little dignity.”
Han Ye remained unmoved. “What dignity do you need in front of my family? We’re all so familiar with each other. Who doesn’t know what you’re like?”
Zhou Dingwen: “…”
