The next day, when Nan Sheng woke up, she found that all the dirty clothes from the family the day before had been washed and hung out to dry.
Lin Han wasn’t home, and she guessed he had gone to the canteen to fetch food. The man was diligent—truly likable.
Nan Sheng didn’t idle around either. She found a rag and started dusting. She wasn’t quite used to the climate here; even the bedding in the house felt damp.
If only they could install a fan, it would help air things out.
When Lin Han returned with the food, he also brought back fabric ration coupons. The pastries and fruits had already been delivered. That’s how things worked in this era—if you had good relationships, people would pitch in whenever you needed help.
"Wife, I have a few close comrades here. Let’s find time to invite them for a meal," Lin Han suggested.
He wanted everyone to know that he, Lin Han, was now living the good life with a wife and children by his side.
Nan Sheng agreed. It was only proper. Whenever she arrived in a new place, her first priority was to integrate into the community so she’d have support when needed.
This was called preparing for a rainy day.
"Today we need to go out and buy supplies. Hosting a meal would be too rushed. Why don’t you tell them that we’re still waiting for some local specialties to arrive from home? Once they do, we’ll invite them over to try some regional dishes."
"Good idea!"
In their new home, Siqi was temporarily sharing a room with her older brother. When she got a little older, she could have her own space for more privacy.
After breakfast, the family set out. The town wasn’t far—just a half-hour bike ride on smooth roads.
By this time, the soldiers had already left for training, but the families, finding the indoors stuffy, often took their children out for walks. Along the way, people kept greeting them.
"Battalion Commander Lin, is this your wife and kids? They’re lovely."
Nan Sheng greeted everyone warmly, her smile never fading. It was clear that the interactions among military families here were polite, though compared to the countryside, there was a certain unspoken distance despite the better manners.
As they walked, Lin Han introduced the surroundings to his family. "At the battalion commander rank, we can only live in the family quarters—two households per floor, six floors in total. These buildings are all the same.
Once you reach regimental commander rank, you can apply for a standalone courtyard, just like back home. See those two-story houses in the distance? Those are for division commanders."
Siqi thought the family quarters were taller and more impressive, so she said to Lin Han, "Dad, you should just stay a battalion commander forever. I like living in a building."
Nan Sheng laughed, and Lin Han joined in. "You’re really your father’s girl."
Sizhe, too, was fascinated by this unfamiliar place, especially when he heard the soldiers drilling. What boy didn’t dream of being a soldier?
"Dad, I want to join the army when I grow up!"
Lin Han paused at this, only patting his son’s head without a word. Being a soldier was hard, and the dangers were ever-present. If possible, he hoped his son would choose an easier path.
But Nan Sheng chimed in, "Then study hard. When you’re older, you’ll have more options. If you still want to be a soldier, you can apply to military academy."
Sizhe took these words to heart and from then on studied even harder.
The family took their time, stopping frequently, and it took them an hour and a half to reach Sanwei Town. The name struck Nan Sheng as unusual, so she asked, "What exactly are the ‘three dangers’?"
Lin Han explained, "Old folks say there used to be minor earthquakes every few years, but nothing serious. That’s how the name stuck."
Since they already had rice, flour, and cooking oil at home, Nan Sheng headed straight for the fabric section. The ration coupons she had were just enough. Next, they bought small necessities like seasonings.
She also picked up two more basins—one for each person, for better hygiene.
Passing by the pastry counter, Nan Sheng asked the salesperson to pack two pounds of walnut cookies and two pounds of phoenix-tail pastries for the kids to try something new.
The supply and marketing cooperative even had someone who could sew bedsheets and quilt covers on the spot with a sewing machine.
Nan Sheng handed over the fabric, and within minutes, two sets of curtains were ready. She planned to make curtains for the other room once she had more fabric.
On the way back, Lin Han kept talking—the once-taciturn man seemed to have vanished for good.
"There’s plenty of fruit here—peaches, cherries, loquats, and more. We’ll get to taste them next year."
In the afternoon, the couple took the children to enroll in school. The curriculum here was different from back home, but Sizhe wanted to try skipping straight to fifth grade.
The teacher agreed tentatively but warned that if his final exam results were too poor, he’d have to repeat the year.
Siqi was easier to arrange. Since she was young, she could start in daycare and wait until next summer to begin first grade.
Back home, the new bedsheets and covers needed washing, but Nan Sheng didn’t have to lift a finger—Lin Han took care of it.
Siqi had a habit of skipping when she walked, and after being scolded by Nan Sheng a few times, she now made a conscious effort to walk softly and slowly.
Feeling a little sorry for her, Nan Sheng asked Sizhe to take her downstairs to play. This was a military compound, after all—as long as they didn’t wander too far, there was no chance of them getting lost.
Before Nan Sheng could start dinner, there was a knock at the door. Lin Han opened it to find Little Pan, an aide from Commander Ye’s office.
Little Pan saluted. "Battalion Commander Lin, Commander Ye has ordered you to bring your wife and children to his home for dinner tonight. He said it’s a military command!"
Lin Han acknowledged the order and told Little Pan they’d be there shortly.
Nan Sheng overheard and was relieved they’d bought pastries earlier—it would’ve been embarrassing to show up empty-handed.
Lin Han explained to her that Commander Ye had helped arrange both her job and their housing, though his wife was a bit snobbish.
"If you don’t like her, we can keep our distance. It’s no big deal."
Nan Sheng thought that wouldn’t do—Commander Ye was his superior, after all. It was best to keep things cordial on the surface, or trouble would come sooner or later.
They timed their arrival perfectly, running into Commander Ye just as he returned home. In his thirties, he had a stern face and a booming voice.
He shot Lin Han a disapproving look.
"You rascal, you’ve been back a whole day without reporting to the barracks. I had to send Little Pan to fetch you."
Lin Han reverted to his usual quiet self outside, preferring not to explain. He simply bowed his head and took the scolding, while Nan Sheng smoothly stepped in.
"Commander Ye! Lin Han’s always telling me how much you’ve helped our family. It’s an honor to finally meet you. These are our children—say hello to Uncle Ye!"
With her and the children diverting attention, Commander Ye’s mood lightened. He smiled and greeted them warmly.
"Good, good! Everyone’s doing well. Though, sister-in-law, you’re not quite what I expected."
From the letters, he’d imagined Lin Han had married some fierce shrew.
But this sister-in-law seemed delicate—he wondered if she’d adapt well to her new job...
