After a sumptuous lunch, Qiao Shu, who had eaten very happily, saw her favorability toward the Feng Family skyrocket.
There was no helping it—who could resist the Feng Family’s delicious meals… and the fact that they didn’t mind her eating so much!
Just as Qiao Shu inwardly marveled that the Feng Family were all such good people,
Number One Good Person, Elder Feng, smiled kindly at her and said,
“Shushu, are you full? If not, Grandpa will have Wu Ma make you some more! Her pastries are especially delicious!”
The moment Qiao Shu—who had just burped from being stuffed—heard this, her eyes lit up again.
“Grandpa, I love pastries too~!”
Seeing more treats on offer, Qiao Shu didn’t stand on ceremony with Elder Feng at all. She sweetly called him “Grandpa” right away.
Her coquettish look was utterly adorable. It could melt the heart of steel in an iron-blooded tough guy who had been through countless battles!
After all, this was the first time in all these years that anyone had ever coquetted with Elder Feng.
Though he had granddaughters, his eldest granddaughter had been steady and opinionated from a young age, even more formidable than his own son.
And his youngest granddaughter, though still little, was a bona fide tomboy—a wild monkey through and through.
Forget coquetry; it was Amitabha, thank the heavens, if she didn’t cause trouble.
So, faced with a granddaughter-in-law who was soft and delicate, obedient and sweet as she coquetted with him, the old man couldn’t resist one bit!
“Heh heh heh~ Good, good, good! Whatever our Shushu wants to eat, we’ll have Wu Ma make it for you…”
Though Elder Feng couldn’t resist Qiao Shu’s coquetry, the most level-headed He Hong managed to hold firm a little.
“Ahem! Pastries can wait until evening. Shushu ate too much today—she just burped. She can’t have more.”
Hearing this, Elder Feng came back to his senses. Qiao Shu had indeed overeaten; otherwise, the girl wouldn’t have burped.
Thinking back to how she had devoured that huge table of dishes, he grew even more concerned about her health.
“Yes, yes, pastries can wait until evening. What do you think, Shushu?”
“Mm! Grandpa, we’ll eat the yummy pastries tonight~!”
Qiao Shu nodded obediently and said.
She had indeed eaten her fill. Though she still had an appetite, eating more would harm her body.
“Here, Shushu, have some hawthorn pills to aid digestion.”
Seeing Qiao Shu’s obedient and sensible look, He Hong liked her more and more. This was exactly the perfect image of a caring little cotton-padded jacket for a mother in her heart!
Thank goodness. Though the girl wasn’t her daughter, she was her youngest son’s wife! Rounding up, that made her a daughter!
Seeing the small pill wrapped in yellow paper that He Hong offered, Qiao Shu took it, unwrapped it, and saw a reddish-brown pill.
She sniffed it close to her nose and caught a sour-sweet aroma.
Popping it into her mouth, the sour-sweet, crumbly-soft, and dense texture made Qiao Shu feel not like she was eating digestive medicine, but post-meal candy~!
“Delicious~! Thank you, Aunt Feng!”
After finishing it, Qiao Shu politely thanked her future mother-in-law, He Hong.
After all, her mom had told her: Be extra polite to your mother-in-law!
But this remark made He Hong frown slightly.
Seeing the frown, Qiao Shu—who had never married or dealt with a mother-in-law—felt alarm bells ring in her heart. She hadn’t said anything wrong, had she?
True to her principle of speaking up about issues and never being a mute bride, Qiao Shu openly voiced her confusion.
“Aunt Feng, what’s wrong? Did I say something wrong…?”
Seeing the girl’s frank, soft-spoken, and obedient inquiry about whether she’d misspoke, He Hong liked her future daughter-in-law even more!
This straightforward personality—speaking her mind without hiding anything—was just to the Feng Family’s taste!
“Shushu, you’re already marrying into our family. Shouldn’t you start calling me Mom?”
He Hong smiled gently and amiably. She seemed calm on the surface, but her heart brimmed with anticipation and joy.
Hearing this, Qiao Shu belatedly realized it was about her form of address.
But…
“Regiment Leader Feng and I haven’t held the wedding or gotten our marriage certificate yet.”
Qiao Shu blinked, saying hesitantly.
She hadn’t even seen her cheap husband’s face yet. Calling her “Mom” right off felt off…
“Ai, that’s nothing! Your marriage report with that boy A Xiao was submitted long ago, and the troops approved it. You’re already A Xiao’s wife and our Feng Family’s daughter-in-law!”
Realizing the girl was hung up on that, He Hong hurriedly explained. “So, Shushu, you’re already one of us in the Feng Family. We’re all family from now on—no need to stand on ceremony…”
As she spoke, He Hong couldn’t help inwardly grumbling about her youngest son.
Such a big deal as marriage, and he didn’t even come back once. Now her obedient and pretty daughter-in-law wouldn’t call her Mom!
“Yes, Shushu. Though my brother hasn’t returned, you’re already family to me. I’ve long thought of you as my own little sister.”
He Yingzi chimed in at the right moment, her expression gentle and utterly sincere.
The two clever little ones hugged Qiao Shu’s arms from left and right, their little mouths sweet as honey as they wheedled,
“Yeah, Fairy Little Aunt, you’re already our family! Even without Little Uncle, you’re still my favorite little aunt!”
“Uh-huh! Kangkang likes Little Aunt the most! Only Little Aunt!”
Hearing the little ones, the Feng Family Members all shook their heads with amused smiles.
These kids—now they had a little aunt and didn’t want their little uncle anymore!
They used to adore their little uncle the most. Yet after just one meeting with Qiao Shu, they had completely defected.
The Feng Family Members didn’t mind, though… After all, their own hearts had leaned toward Qiao Shu too!
Basking in the warm, harmonious family atmosphere of the Feng Family, Qiao Shu—who had been an orphan in her previous life and always longed for family—unconsciously opened her heart to this large family she had just met.
Calling “Mom” was the same word, but facing He Meijun, her body’s birth mother, she had memories and feelings, so it came without pressure.
But He Hong was her mother-in-law, whom she had only met today…
Still, facing those expectant eyes, Qiao Shu finally broke through her mental barrier and softly called, “Mom.”
Though the “Mom” was tiny, like a mosquito’s buzz, it made He Hong’s eyes narrow into slits with joy, vanishing entirely.
“Ai! Mom’s good daughter-in-law. Mom will cherish you like my own daughter from now on. So, Shushu, never stand on ceremony with Mom. If anyone bullies you or makes you feel wronged, tell Mom. Mom will protect you and stand up for you!”
Hearing He Hong’s heartfelt words from the bottom of her heart, Qiao Shu felt deeply moved. She, who had felt a bit awkward calling her Mom earlier, now truly saw this sincerely loving He Hong as another mother.
She felt even more grateful in her heart for choosing to marry Feng Xiao and join the Feng Family.
She had initially married Feng Xiao with some utilitarian motives, but facing the Feng Family’s kindness now, she genuinely regarded them as her own family, without a trace of exploitation.
She only hoped her cheap husband wouldn’t cause trouble, so she could stay with the Feng Family forever without divorcing.
After all, marriage was marriage, but finding such wonderful in-laws as the Feng Family was truly rare.
“Ahem! Now that she’s calling you Mom, she should call me Dad too.”
The usually steadiest and most patient Feng Shengli couldn’t sit still any longer. After a few masking coughs, he glanced at Qiao Shu with feigned casualness and said flatly.
Seeing her husband’s demeanor, He Hong rolled her eyes at him speechlessly.
She had wanted to tell her good daughter-in-law to ignore him, but seeing her husband’s tense, clenched fists, she shook her head with a chuckle and said nothing.
Inwardly, though, she grumbled: If her blockhead son acted this outwardly reserved but inwardly passionate in front of Qiao Shu like his dad, she doubted he’d ever win her over!
No way! For her son’s lifelong happiness—and to keep her good daughter-in-law forever—they’d have a serious talk next time that blockhead came home about how to win Shushu’s favor!
Since she already saw the Feng Family as her own and had called “Mom,” calling “Dad” came without any mental pressure for Qiao Shu.
“Dad.”
“Ai! Good child.”
Feng Shengli’s face bloomed into a flower of a smile. He even pulled several big unity bills from his pocket and handed them to Qiao Shu.
“Here, go buy some candy.”
Seeing her father-in-law treat her like a little child, Qiao Shu felt a mix of amusement and helplessness.
But for Qiao Shu, who had lacked love in her previous life, it was very touching.
“Dad, you’re the best! Thank you, Dad!”
Qiao Shu happily took the money from Feng Shengli’s hand and sweetly thanked her father-in-law.
Without doubt, this made Feng Shengli even happier.
The other Feng Family Members all thought Feng Shengli was too sly! No wonder people outside called him an old fox!
After ribbing Feng Shengli, the Feng Family Members all stuffed red envelopes for Qiao Shu.
“Shushu, this is from Mom. Go buy clothes.”
“Shushu, keep this money safe. Whatever you want to buy, tell Grandpa—Grandpa will get it for you!”
“Shushu, this is from big sis. Take it!”
“Ahem! A little something from your brother-in-law…”
Faced with the Feng Family’s way of showing affection through money, Qiao Shu… loved it~!
After all, who didn’t like money!
With money, she could buy lots of yummy things!
This era had no TV, computers, games, or internet—her only hobby left was food.
Besides, the Feng Family were her family now. Taking money from family was fine.
They were so wealthy; this money was nothing to them. Anyway, she’d share spiritual spring water and spirit-infused fruits from her space later—way more valuable than their money, since no amount could buy those goodies.
In a way, they were getting the better deal~!
Thinking this way, Qiao Shu accepted the red envelopes from the elders without hesitation, utterly pressure-free~!
But what Qiao Shu never expected was—
“Fairy Little Aunt, all my pocket money is yours! Come to my house with me to get it~!”
“Kangkang has money too! Kangkang’s New Year’s money all goes to Little Aunt!”
Lowering her head, Qiao Shu looked at the two little ones stuck to her left and right like tag-alongs, lifting their chubby little faces with big, sparkling eyes gazing at her. She was utterly melted by these adorable kids.
Qiao Shu squatted down, patted their little heads, and smiled.
“Ningning, Kangkang, thank you! But red envelopes are from elders to juniors. So, Little Aunt thanks you for the thought, but I can’t accept…”
Hearing this, the two little ones looked visibly crestfallen.
They wanted to give Little Aunt spending money like Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, and Mom!
Seeing their obvious disappointment, Qiao Shu smiled and added,
“But Ningning and Kangkang can treat Little Aunt to your favorite candies and snacks! Little Aunt loves snacks~!”
As soon as Qiao Shu said that, the eyes of the two little ones lit up again.
“Little Aunt, then I’ll treat you to the small shop! Little Aunt, whatever you want to eat, Kangkang will pay~!”
“Kangkang can too! Little Aunt, Kangkang has yummy chocolate! Kangkang will give it all to Little Aunt~!”
Seeing how generous the two little ones were toward her, Qiao Shu found them utterly adorable and couldn’t help but pull them into her arms.
“Thank you, Ningning and Kangkang. You two are so cute. Little Aunt really likes you.”
The two little ones, hugged tightly in Qiao Shu’s arms, blushed happily upon hearing their little aunt not only call them cute but also say she liked them.
This made the two little ones, who already liked Qiao Shu, even more reluctant to leave the fragrant and soft embrace of their little aunt.
The two little ones clung tightly to Qiao Shu and refused to let go. Since Qiao Shu was squatting down, she nearly lost her balance and fell over.
The Feng Family members watched the three ‘children’ like this and couldn’t help laughing. Though none of them spoke, their eyes all conveyed the same thought—’This wife was the right choice! So beautiful, kind, and popular with kids. Most importantly, so patient with children and good at coaxing them. Feng Xiao must have accumulated blessings from several lifetimes to marry such a wonderful wife…’
If Qiao Shu could hear the Feng Family members’ thoughts, she would have been baffled.
She didn’t think she was good at coaxing children at all. She got along so well with He Anning and Jiang Lekang simply because the two little ones weren’t naughty kids and she particularly liked them.
As for Feng Xiao’s two adopted stepson and stepdaughter, she truly had no confidence in getting along with them.
Of course, Qiao Shu had no mind-reading ability and was completely unaware of what the Feng Family members were thinking.
With He Yingzi’s ‘rescue’, Qiao Shu, whose legs had gone numb from being hugged and squatting, finally stood up.
“Mom, give me money! I want to take Little Aunt to the small shop to buy snacks!”
He Anning, grabbed by the collar by He Yingzi, righteously stretched out her hand for money.
But He Yingzi unceremoniously swatted her hand. “Aren’t you rich? Use your own money to treat her!”
“But my money is at home!”
“Then wait until next time you bring money and treat your little aunt then.”
He Yingzi glared irritably at her eldest daughter. Seeing that her daughter had no sense at all and was still making a fuss, she said directly.
“Alright, your little aunt has been on the train for several days and is tired. Let her rest first. Once your little aunt has rested, you can play with her then.”
He Anning, who had originally wanted to make a fuss and buy out the entire small shop for her little aunt, immediately shut her mouth and behaved upon hearing her mother.
“Shushu, you’ve been on the train for several days too. Mom will take you upstairs to rest properly.”
With that, He Hong led Qiao Shu upstairs.
The room had been selected long ago, cleaned thoroughly, and even the bedsheets and bedding were clean, sun-dried, and changed that very morning.
“Shushu, is this room okay? If you don’t like it, Mom will change it for you.”
Though the room prepared for Qiao Shu was the largest and best among the unused ones in the house, He Hong still asked.
Looking at the spacious, bright room with its small balcony, how could Qiao Shu not like it?
She smiled and nodded at He Hong, saying she liked it. Then He Yingzi directly brought in Qiao Shu’s luggage.
“Shushu, do you want me to help you unpack?”
When Qiao Shu heard He Yingzi wanted to help unpack her luggage, she hurriedly shook her head.
“No need, Sister. I can do it myself.”
After all, she still wanted to take some things out from her Spirit Spring Space to use, pretending they came from home.
After seeing He Hong and He Yingzi out, Qiao Shu opened her suitcase. She replaced most of the clothes brought from home with soft, comfortable, and unflashy ones from her Spirit Spring Space, then lay down on the bed.
Sniffing the faint scent of soap and fresh sunlight from the pillow, Qiao Shu felt comfortable and relaxed.
Gradually, Qiao Shu fell asleep on this sun-scented bed…
While Qiao Shu slept, she had no idea that upon just arriving at the Military District Compound without even stepping out the door, she was already on the verge of becoming a celebrity known to everyone there!
And who was the culprit behind Qiao Shu about to become known to everyone in the Military District Compound?
Of course, it was the most mischievous tomboy in the Military District Compound—He Anning!
“Hmph! My family’s Fairy Little Aunt is the prettiest person in our Military District Compound! Your little aunt isn’t the prettiest!”