Chapter 24: Fu Xiaoxiao's Promise

The meal was a resounding success, with everyone praising Fu Xiaoxiao’s culinary skills.

"Sister, your cooking is far better than mine! My goodness, this soup is truly delicious," Chen Xiu said, looking at Fu Xiaoxiao as if she were a treasure. The soup was so flavorful that she felt tempted to lick the bowl clean.

"I’m glad you like it, Sister-in-law. I can teach you sometime if you’d like," Fu Xiaoxiao said with a smile.

Before Chen Xiu could reply, Li Lei and Li Sen, standing nearby, chimed in impatiently, "Auntie Fu, please teach our mom!"

"You little rascals! Do you want a beating? Is my cooking really that bad?" Chen Xiu raised her hand, feigning an attack.

"Mom, just admit it! The only thing you make well is dumplings," Li Lei said, giving his mother a look of resignation. "Even though you’re my mom, my teacher says that children shouldn't lie, or their noses will grow."

"I’ll see if I can’t thrash you today!" Flustered and embarrassed, Chen Xiu grabbed a broom. Seeing the 'weapon,' Li Lei and Li Sen didn't hesitate; they bolted out the door.

"You little brats, get back here!" Chen Xiu shouted, watching her two sons laugh triumphantly as they ran.

"I’m not that stupid! I’m not coming back!" Li Lei laughed heartily.

Although Li Sen wasn't the primary target, he knew his mother would surely turn her frustration toward him if she couldn't catch his brother, so he wisely followed suit.

Fu Xiaoxiao stood at the door, watching Chen Xiu chase after her panting sons, then turned back to Lu Lin and Lu Chen. "You two wouldn't behave like that, would you?"

"No," Lu Lin shook his head.

"Hehe," Lu Chen offered a cute smile.

When Chen Xiu returned, Fu Xiaoxiao was helping Lu Lin and Lu Chen wash the dishes. Fu Xiaoxiao scrubbed, Lu Lin rinsed, and Lu Chen wiped them dry with a small cloth. Seeing the two children working so obediently without a single complaint, Chen Xiu felt she had truly misunderstood them before. With them being this well-behaved, how could they ever be called troublesome? If they were considered 'naughty,' what would that make her own two troublemakers?

"Xiao Lin, Xiao Chen, go play! I’ll handle the rest," Chen Xiu said, rushing over to take over, but Lu Lin shook his head.

"Auntie, it's alright. My brother and I can help Auntie Fu," Lu Chen said, acting as the spokesperson for his brother. He beamed at Chen Xiu, his hands never stopping as he took the bowls his brother passed him.

"Sister-in-law, it’s just these few bowls left, so don't you worry about it," Fu Xiaoxiao said with a light laugh, scrubbing the final plate and handing it to Lu Lin.

"I’m so embarrassed. You’re the guests, yet I’m letting you wash the dishes," Chen Xiu apologized. She regretted losing her temper and chasing after her boys earlier.

"We’re neighbors; don't be so formal, or we won't dare to come over next time," Fu Xiaoxiao laughed. Being this polite all the time wouldn't do.

"Yes, yes, you're right!" Chen Xiu happily patted Fu Xiaoxiao's hand. Seeing Lu Lin neatly putting the bowls and chopsticks away, she felt a wave of guilt wash over her.

She walked to the cupboard and took out two pastries. "Here, have these. My husband brought them back from a mission; you can't buy them around here." She usually saved them for the New Year, never daring to give them to her own children.

Lu Lin and Lu Chen were stunned. Facing such hospitality for the first time, they didn't know what to do and instinctively looked to Fu Xiaoxiao.

"Take them with both hands and thank Auntie Chen," Fu Xiaoxiao said. She recognized the mung bean cakes; they were a specialty from Shenzhen, certainly not available in this area.

"Thank you, Auntie Chen," Lu Lin and Lu Chen said politely, receiving the treats with both hands.

"It’s so good!" Lu Chen took a careful bite, the light, sweet taste of the mung bean cake making him squint his eyes in happiness.

Lu Lin didn't say a word, but as he ate the cake in small bites, Fu Xiaoxiao could tell he was happy.

"Such good children," Chen Xiu said, watching their adorable expressions, her earlier hesitation vanishing.

"You two go play now; I want to talk to your aunt," Fu Xiaoxiao said, ruffling Lu Chen's hair. Once the children finished their cakes, Lu Chen ran off to play.

"Sister, I feel like I've lived these decades in vain. Looking at these two children, they are clearly so well-behaved... How could I have believed Auntie Li and thought they were bad?" Chen Xiu sighed.

"Sister-in-law, that’s because Auntie Li is too calculating. She does it to make Lu Feng feel guilty. Lu Feng is a man; he doesn't dwell on such things and only gives her more money as an apology. The more miserable she makes the situation sound, and the naughtier she claims the children are, the more Lu Feng—hearing this—won't confront the kids. He’ll only feel he’s failing them because he’s too busy, and he won't bother to verify if what she says is true," Fu Xiaoxiao explained. Chen Xiu’s eyes lit up as she looked at her.

"Eh? What’s wrong?" Fu Xiaoxiao asked, feeling a bit unnerved by her gaze.

"Sister, you are truly sharp! You hit the nail on the head! Every time Battalion Commander Lu returns, I hear things, and it’s exactly as you say. He always gives her a bit more money as compensation!" Chen Xiu had lived next door for a long time and naturally heard bits and pieces of the situation.

It was exactly as Chen Xiu described. Lu Feng was a man who didn't concern himself with such petty schemes, and since the children weren't his own, he didn't even dare to speak harshly to them.

"You know, we’re neighbors, just separated by this wall. My husband is a blunt man, and whenever I asked him to talk to Battalion Commander Lu, he’d just tell me not to meddle," Chen Xiu admitted. She had wanted to help, but her husband feared overstepping and didn't want Lu Feng to think they were constantly spying on his household.

"I understand. Lu Feng won't blame you, Sister-in-law. In the future, if there’s anything concerning the children, just let me know," Fu Xiaoxiao said, patting Chen Xiu's hand comfortingly.

Once Fu Xiaoxiao returned home, Lu Lin and Lu Chen were busy bringing the medicinal herbs inside. Fu Xiaoxiao paused and stopped Lu Lin, wanting to ask him about school.

"Xiao Lin, do you want to go to school?" Fu Xiaoxiao asked, looking at him seriously.

Lu Lin froze. He looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

"What? By the look on your face, you thought I wouldn't let you go?" Fu Xiaoxiao felt she understood his shock.

Lu Lin lowered his head. "I'm not your biological child. Are you really willing to send me to school?"

Fu Xiaoxiao looked at him, her heart complex. What was this little boy thinking?

"Do you trust Lu Feng?" Fu Xiaoxiao crouched down, meeting Lu Lin’s gaze levelly.

"I do." Lu Lin trusted Lu Feng. Despite the lack of blood relation, Lu Feng had adopted him and his brother, swearing to raise them until adulthood. He was a soldier like their father, and Lu Lin believed in him.

"Then when Lu Feng is away, you can treat me as if I were him! The promises he made to you apply just the same with me. What other children have, you will have too. And what others don't have, if I can provide it, I will give it to you," Fu Xiaoxiao said earnestly.

Lu Lin met her gaze. Her unreserved sincerity melted a corner of his cold heart.