By the time Su Lang got home, Jiang Chengzhou had already gotten familiar with Lin Zhilan.
Seeing his uncle return, he quickly rushed over. "Uncle, have you ever eaten pickled mustard fish or spicy crab?"
Su Lang was in the navy; fish, shrimp, and crab were what he ate the most. Just hearing about them made him lose his appetite.
"Never had them. Why?"
"My aunt knows how to make them, and they're super delicious!"
Su Lang chuckled. This kid changed his tune fast. "Bring the food to the table, it's time to eat."
"Yes, sir!"
Su Lang brought out the things he had been hiding behind his back.
Lin Zhilan's eyes lit up. "Coconuts!"
"You recognize these?"
Lin Zhilan paused. "Chengzhou just told me about them. Are there a lot on the island?"
"There's a coconut grove to the east. If you like them, I'll pick a few more for you later."
Su Lang used a knife to chop the coconut open, poured the juice into a bowl, and handed it to Lin Zhilan.
"Why didn't you pour any for Chengzhou?"
"He drinks it all the time..."
"That just means he doesn't hate it." Lin Zhilan took out a cup and poured half a cup for Jiang Chengzhou.
With two children in the house, the biggest fear was showing favoritism.
While it was true she currently loved and doted on her daughter more, if she wanted the two children to have a good relationship, as a parent, she couldn't afford to be biased.
Even biological siblings could fight, let alone the fact that they weren't actually related by blood.
The military canteen served food made in massive pots. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't exactly delicious either.
Lin Zhilan and Linlin had their appetites spoiled by the fresh vegetables from her dimension, so they felt the sea fish had a fishy smell.
Lin Zhilan was an adult and could tolerate it, but Linlin refused to eat after two bites, only hugging her bowl and drinking coconut juice.
She had to distract her daughter and, when the little girl wasn't looking, poured the coconut juice into Su Lang's cup.
By the time Linlin turned back around, only a thin layer was left at the bottom of her bowl.
Linlin pouted, drank the rest of her bowl clean, and looked at her brother's cup.
She had seen her mother pour a lot into it earlier.
Jiang Chengzhou was just about to pour some for his sister when he saw his aunt gently shake her head at him.
"It's too late. If your sister drinks too much, she'll wet the bed tonight."
Jiang Chengzhou immediately pulled his cup back.
Wetting the bed was a big deal. It was better for his sister to crave it a little.
Linlin pouted and looked at her mother aggrievedly. "I don't wet the bed."
"That's right, baby doesn't wet the bed, so you have to drink less water at night, right?"
"Right."
After fooling her daughter and coaxing her into eating a few mouthfuls of plain rice, Lin Zhilan finally said, "I want to cook my own meals, but we don't have any firewood at home. Today, Chengzhou even had to borrow some just to boil water."
Jiang Chengzhou added, "From Regimental Commander Ma's house."
"I understand."
Lin Zhilan didn't press the matter. He had just returned from leave and surely had a lot to take care of.
After dinner, Lin Zhilan gave her daughter a bath and carried her to bed to tell her a story.
Su Lang pushed the door open and saw Lin Zhilan sitting on the edge of the bed.
She had just washed her hair. Her long, soft, jet-black hair fell over her shoulders, adding a touch of gentleness to her usual stunning beauty.
Su Lang couldn't help but cough lightly. The gentle sea breeze outside the window seemed to soften his features as well.
He reached out, took the towel, and began to dry Lin Zhilan's hair, his movements incredibly gentle.
"The family compound turns off the lights exactly at nine o'clock every night, and there's a reveille at six in the morning. Don't worry about it, you can just keep sleeping."
"Okay."
After drying her hair until it was half-dry, Su Lang actually wanted to do something more, but his daughter was still sitting in his wife's arms, staring at him with wide eyes.
Su Lang sighed inwardly. He needed to hurry up and apply for a new house.
Jiang Chengzhou was lying on his bed with his legs crossed, rubbing that military medal in his hands.
Seeing his uncle come in, he immediately hid the medal under his pillow.
"Uncle, why are you here?"
"I want to sleep with you." Not really.
"Come on then," Jiang Chengzhou patted the bed. "Warmly welcome."
Su Lang lay down and pretended to sleep. Jiang Chengzhou said, "Uncle, Auntie is so pretty, and my sister is so cute too. I've decided. I'm going to learn from you, and I'm going to marry a fairy in the future too."
Su Lang scoffed. "You wish. Dreaming is faster."
"Tch," Jiang Chengzhou snorted. "My aunt said nephews look like their uncles. I look like you, so if I'm wishing for something beautiful, it means you're wishing for it too."
"Jiang Chengzhou, can't you sleep?"
"A little bit."
Su Lang got up and supported himself on the floor with all fours. "Jiang Chengzhou, prepare for push-ups!"
"Ah."
Jiang Chengzhou wailed, getting out of bed to do push-ups with his uncle.
Years of training had given Su Lang an excellent physique.
Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, a standard eight-pack of abs, and arms full of solid muscle—none of which could be seen unless he took his clothes off.
After completing two hundred push-ups, Su Lang grabbed his long-exhausted nephew and dragged him out to wash up.
In the yard, cold water poured down from overhead, and Su Lang's muscles seemed to glow under the moonlight.
Unfortunately, the person who should have been admiring this sight was already hugging her daughter, sleeping beautifully.
The military base's reveille sounded right on time. Lin Zhilan woke up from the most comfortable sleep she'd had recently and got up to wash.
As soon as she walked to the kitchen door, she noticed a pile of dry firewood stacked half a person high in the corner.
They were all chopped into pieces and arranged neatly, almost as if done by someone with OCD.
Jiang Chengzhou, who had woken up early, explained to his aunt, "This is the firewood my uncle went up the mountain to gather this morning."
"What time did he go?"
"I don't know," Jiang Chengzhou looked up to observe her expression. "Auntie, are you unhappy? My uncle definitely did it just to make you happy."
Lin Zhilan smiled. "I am happy. I just feel that your uncle is working too hard."
"Does your heart ache for him?"
This child really spoke his mind so directly.
Lin Zhilan said helplessly, "Yes, my heart aches for him."
Jiang Chengzhou grinned widely and was about to run outside when Lin Zhilan quickly grabbed him. "Where are you going?"
"Uncle said that once you wake up, I should go to the canteen to buy some steamed buns."
Lin Zhilan let go of his hand. "Go ahead."
After eating, Jiang Chengzhou's little friends called out to him from outside the door.
"Jiang Chengzhou, come out and play!"
"You guys go ahead," Jiang Chengzhou waved his hand. "I have things to do today."
"What things?"
"I need to accompany my aunt to the supply and marketing cooperative."
Qiangzi sniffled. "Jiang Chengzhou, I heard my mom say your aunt looks like a fairy. Is it true?"
Jiang Chengzhou lifted his chin slightly. "Of course it is."
Lin Zhilan carried her daughter out the door to find a group of little munchkins standing outside.
"Wow~"
Lin Zhilan was amused. "Hello there."
"Big sister, you're so pretty."
Jiang Chengzhou frowned. "She's not a big sister, she's my aunt."
The little boy quickly changed his tune. "Auntie, you're so pretty."
Jiang Chengzhou stomped his foot in anger. "She's my aunt and my aunt alone!"
Linlin climbed down from her mother's arms. Jiang Chengzhou took his sister's hand, his face full of pride. "Qiangzi, this is my sister. Isn't she much prettier than your sister?"
Lin Zhilan frowned slightly. Was he sure that wasn't a provocation?
Unexpectedly, Qiangzi took a serious look at Linlin and nodded emphatically. "Your sister is pretty."
The others chimed in as well. "She's prettier than my sister too."
Lin Zhilan: "..."
These darn brats.
Being their sister would be infuriating enough to kill someone.
Lin Zhilan didn't know it yet, but half an hour later, this outspoken child would shock her once again.
