Ning Qiao followed the younger siblings to the military compound, and the way was clear all the way.
The island was neither too small nor too large—people came and went, and most faces were familiar. The moment they saw Ning Qiao, they recognized her as a new face.
At that point, the three siblings would naturally introduce her: “She’s our little sister-in-law!”
Ning Qiao accepted the curious, probing, or admiring glances with grace, returning each with a polite smile.
The younger siblings grew even prouder—everyone envied them for having such a beautiful little sister-in-law!
The only thing that puzzled them slightly was that, in their past life, when their little sister-in-law first arrived on the island, she had been terribly shy. It was precisely because she seemed so soft and gentle—softer than a little rabbit—that they had kept testing her boundaries until they eventually ruled the roost.
But although they had awakened memories of their past lives, they had been young and inexperienced back then, and their mental ages in this life were still the same as their physical ages—not a bit more mature.
Anything they couldn’t figure out, they simply tossed aside without a second thought. No point making things hard on themselves.
Ning Qiao stood at the entrance of the family compound.
In her memories of the original plot, on her first day of marriage, she had been turned away at this very gate. Her situation back then had been similar to now—forced to marry far away to avoid being sent to the countryside. The difference was that Jiang Heng had been away on a mission and couldn’t make it back in time. When she arrived on the island, the old gatekeeper of the family compound asked her to produce identification or a certificate from the military leadership. Ning Qiao had nothing but a letter of introduction. The old gatekeeper sternly told her that not just anyone could enter the military compound.
And so the military wives compared her to the original female lead, Su Qingshi. When Su Qingshi had first arrived at the compound, she too had been stopped—but she had stood her ground without batting an eye, and in the end, the original male lead had appeared to defend his wife, and the couple had demanded an apology from the gatekeeper.
Ning Qiao understood that the gatekeeper was just doing his job and didn’t think he owed her an apology.
The humiliation in the original plot had ultimately been Jiang Heng’s doing. It wasn’t that he was cruel, but he had still caused her a great deal of hardship.
Now, she met the old gatekeeper’s gaze.
If he tried to stop her this time, she would not blush as if she’d done something wrong.
She had to think of a strategy.
“Big Brother! We brought Little Sister-in-Law home!” Jiang Guoguo’s voice rang out clear and bright, hopping and shouting several times, as if she had boundless energy.
And then, almost without waiting, Ning Qiao saw Jiang Heng striding toward them.
The sunlight in Xicheng was warm and golden, spilling over him.
He wasn’t cold and distant like in the dream—his deep eyes held a smile, and the corners of his mouth were slightly lifted.
He walked so quickly, it was as if he had run to greet her.
His younger siblings, meanwhile, wore expressions of pure pride.
They had been the ones to bring their little sister-in-law back!
The old gatekeeper naturally didn’t stop them.
Ning Qiao was momentarily stunned by the stark contrast between reality and the original plot.
Then, she noticed all the people eagerly watching.
Those were the military wives.
The military wives were dumbfounded.
The Jiang family’s unruly kids weren’t resisting their sister-in-law at all—on the contrary, they were all quite cheerful.
Battalion Commander Jiang, who usually spoke to even his superiors with cool indifference, was actually smiling as he went to fetch his wife.
And most importantly, the new bride about to move into the compound looked like a young girl who had stepped right out of a painting—so beautiful it was almost dazzling!
“You’re here,” Jiang Heng said, his eyes warm with a smile as he gazed at Ning Qiao in the sunlight.
Ning Qiao stood straight, pressed her lips together, and gave a slight nod when their eyes met.
He sensed nothing and continued to look at her.
Everyone in the compound stared intently.
Who had ever seen Battalion Commander Jiang like this? It was abnormal—utterly abnormal!
He Yongyan: Envious—so envious!
Jiang Guoguo tugged Ning Qiao’s hand and ran toward their house. “Little Sister-in-Law, let’s go home!”
The little girl burst with energy, pulling her along at a rapid pace.
Ning Qiao, caught off guard, ran with her, her dark, soft hair streaming in the wind, her surprise still written on her face.
Ning Yang was still waiting for a chance to interrogate Jiang Heng properly about Comrade Luo Qin’s identity.
But the man hadn’t even slowed down—he’d run off with his sister again.
Ning Yang took a deep breath.
A couple days ago, when his future brother-in-law called him “Brother,” he’d been thrilled. Who knew the man was just toying with him!
Now that he thought about it, he was still the same Jiang Heng.
The same Jiang Heng who, at three or four years old, had managed to make him cry in frustration!
The house was a two-story building with a small yard, neatly and beautifully arranged. Two lounge chairs sat in the yard, and Jiang Yuan told Ning Qiao that their big brother had asked the old carpenter on the island to make them overnight.
Jiang Heng remembered that in his previous life, Ning Qiao had wanted to put chairs in the yard so she could sit and enjoy the breeze and sunshine when she had nothing to do.
He had someone make one for her. She loved it and would sit there in pleasant surprise, sometimes spending the whole day there while the younger siblings were at school. Later, Jiang Heng noticed the chair was hard—she’d get sore after sitting too long—and asked if she wanted something more comfortable. Ning Qiao had smiled and said she didn’t need a replacement, but she wouldn’t mind an extra one, so they could sit together in the yard in the future.
After Ning Qiao passed away in his previous life, Jiang Heng had sat alone in that yard countless times.
She, who could spend an entire day there, far from family and without friends, must have been so lonely.
“There are soft cushions too!” Jiang Guoguo said. “They’re so comfy to sit on.”
“Little Sister-in-Law, try it,” Jiang Qi said.
The yard had a nice view, and the two lounge chairs looked well-made and inviting.
Ning Qiao touched the soft cushion and asked curiously, “Only one chair has a cushion?”
“Made by Auntie Wen Min in the compound. She said she couldn’t finish two in time,” Jiang Heng said, looking at her. “The cushioned one is for you.”
Ning Qiao felt something was off.
They were being so warm.
She averted her gaze from Jiang Heng and continued inside.
The house had clearly been cleaned. Like the front door, every corner of the living room and kitchen was plastered with red double-happiness cutouts.
The house was much bigger than Ning Qiao’s childhood home.
She found it novel and wandered around slowly. The kitchen had pots, pans, bowls, and plates, but no jars or bottles of seasonings—only a few small bowls with a little salt, sugar, and such.
She barely glanced at them before Jiang Heng spoke up to explain.
“We don’t usually cook at home—these were borrowed from Director Bai.”
“Big Brother said the mess hall food won’t suit Little Sister-in-Law’s taste. Once you’re here, we’ll start cooking at home,” Jiang Qi said. “We’ll go buy lots of seasonings, and get a new wok too—two stoves going at once, so we can eat in no time!”
Ning Qiao was dumbfounded.
The original plot hadn’t mentioned anything about her having to cook at home!
“I can make prawns,” Jiang Yuan said. “I’ll catch some sea prawns and make them braised in oil!”
“Let’s buy plenty of oil!” Jiang Qi nodded frantically. “It’ll be so fragrant.”
“I’ll pick coconuts and make coconut jelly,” Jiang Guoguo said. “Little Sister-in-Law used to really like—mmph!”
Before she could finish, her second brother clamped a hand over her mouth.
She widened her eyes and covered up: “I mean—I bet Little Sister-in-Law would really like it!”
“Little Sister-in-Law definitely likes seafood,” Jiang Qi said. “We’ll stir-fry seaweed for you, steam crabs, and oh—clams too!”
Their voices filled Ning Qiao’s ears, lively and warm.
She had the strange illusion that she was actually very welcome.
After touring the new house, Ning Qiao returned to her father and brother.
The day before the wedding, Ning Qiao was in a state of complete resignation.
Even if she was a cannon-fodder supporting character, life still had to go on.
And she had to live it seriously, and well.
Ning Yang had grown up with his sister. Though he didn’t know her inner thoughts over these past few days, he still came to a conclusion: “Little sister, right now you’re like—’a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.’”
“Brother,” Ning Qiao tilted her head, “you really don’t know how to talk.”
Ning Yang rubbed the back of his head.
Old Master Jiang reminded Jiang Heng and Ning Qiao that they should get their marriage certificate first.
Chang Fangze had originally prepared a bright red outfit for Ning Qiao, very festive, to wear when they got the certificate. But now that everyone was arranging a proper wedding celebration for them, she decided to save the outfit for tomorrow’s ceremony. As she went out with Jiang Heng today, she didn’t dress up specially.
Big Brother and Little Sister-in-Law were going to get their marriage certificate, and all three little ones wanted to go.
But Jiang Heng refused them flat out.
Watching them walk away, Jiang Guoguo clenched her tiny fists.
“Big Brother is so annoying!”
Jiang Heng had asked around among his married comrades in the regiment about the process for getting a marriage certificate.
There was an office on Qing’an Island. He brought all the necessary documents, and the paperwork was processed quickly.
The clerk asked Jiang Heng if he was willing.
Before the words were even out, he had already answered unequivocally—yes.
The clerk then turned to Ning Qiao. “And you, comrade?”
Ning Qiao’s fingers twisted the hem of her polyester shirt.
After a long pause, she took a deep breath and nodded.
Jiang Heng looked over.
With a heavy thud, the clerk stamped the bright red seal firmly onto the edge of the marriage certificate.
They were finally husband and wife again.
Everything was settled.
When Ning Qiao took the marriage certificate, she opened it and glanced at it.
The pale pink inner page bore their names, genders, and ages.
She stared at his name and felt a strange sensation—as if, at this moment, her life was truly bound to his.
Jiang Heng noticed her hesitation.
Ning Qiao handed the marriage certificate back to him. “Let’s go.”
She walked a few steps before realizing he hadn’t followed.
She turned around. In the glow of the setting sun, his tall figure cast a long shadow.
“Aren’t you coming back?”
Her tone was matter-of-fact as she glanced back and urged him softly.
Jiang Heng snapped out of it. He had been thinking too simply.
After rebirth, not everything would necessarily unfold the same as in his previous life.
That night, Ning Qiao felt a deep sense of calm.
The little girl who had always grown up under the shelter of her parents and brother, protected by their wings, had finally come into her own.
Her brother and father hadn’t returned yet. She sat by the table, resting her chin in her hands, gazing out the window.
It was a long while before they came back.
And they brought a bicycle with them.
Ning Zhiping had just bought it.
A couple of days earlier, he had asked Old Master Jiang to help him find a way to get a bicycle for his daughter as part of her dowry. The old man thought it wasn’t necessary—if there was a need later, his eldest grandson would buy one for his wife. But Ning Zhiping wanted his daughter to marry with dignity. He hadn’t been able to get a bicycle coupon back in Ancheng, so he had to ask the old man to find a way.
Old Master Jiang had no choice but to ask around. In the end, Brigade Commander Cheng gave up the bicycle he had just ordered.
Brigade Commander Cheng had bought it for his son, who was already in high school. The military district high school was far away—if he walked, he’d have to get up at the crack of dawn—so the boy had been throwing fits and refusing to go to school.
Brigade Commander Cheng had used his bicycle coupon to order one. But the bicycles were in short supply; it took nearly half a month for it to arrive on the island. He had just been notified to pick it up when Ning Zhiping got there first.
It was a huge favor—Brigade Commander Cheng was doing it for Old Master Jiang.
“How lucky kids are these days—his dad bought him a bike just to get him to go to school!” Ning Yang touched the handlebars. “Back when I said I wasn’t going to study anymore, my mom said, ‘Suit yourself!’”
In the end, he’d come to his senses and trudged off to school with his bag, grumbling all the way.
The bicycle was brand new and shiny, with a big red flower tied to the handlebars.
Neither father nor son had ridden it, afraid of wearing it out. They just pushed it all the way back to the military compound.
Ning Qiao ran out and saw her brother showing off, patting the seat. “Pretty, isn’t it? It’s yours!”
Her delighted smile made Ning Zhiping beam with satisfaction.
“Get on and try it,” he said. “Take a spin.”
“Alright!” Ning Qiao nodded eagerly, gripping the handlebars. “Brother, how do you ride it?”
Ning Yang had forgotten that his little sister didn’t know how to ride a bike.
All these years, Ning Zhiping and Chang Fangze had let their son run wild, but they always worried about their daughter—afraid she’d get hurt, afraid she didn’t have the strength.
So riding a bicycle had always been a luxury for Ning Qiao.
“Teach me!” Ning Qiao said excitedly.
But it was too late now. How could they teach her to ride in such a short time?
Ning Yang shook his head. “No way. What if you fall and end up all bruised?”
“Then what about this bike?” Ning Qiao asked.
“For admiring,” Ning Yang said with a straight face, giving her a gentle push. “Go to bed. Tomorrow you’ll marry beautifully!”
Ning Qiao wasn’t happy about it and argued in a small voice on her own behalf.
But Ning Yang held firm this time. He pulled out the lock he’d bought, locked up the bicycle, and tucked the key into his pocket.
“When you’re back, I’ll learn on my own,” Ning Qiao muttered.
“No,” Ning Yang said. “You can’t balance on your own.”
“Yes, I can!”
“I’ll tell Jiang Heng tomorrow to keep an eye on you.”
Ning Qiao grumbled quietly.
What was the point of buying a bike if she wasn’t even allowed to ride it?
The soldiers and their families in the compound who overheard the siblings’ bickering all laughed out loud.
Su Qingshi was hanging up freshly washed bedding in her yard.
Her mother-in-law rushed out. “Qingshi, why are you washing the bedding? I’m here—let me do it.”
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