Early the next morning, Qin Jian went to the dormitory to find An Hao.
Because it was the holiday, and since Qin Jian was a military man, the dormitory supervisor auntie specially allowed him to enter just this once.
An Hao had already packed up and was just about to go downstairs when she met Qin Jian, who was coming up.
He helped An Hao carry her bags downstairs, and then they got into the car after leaving the school gates.
In the car, Ning Yibin and Zhang Yun were already waiting. Unlike their mood last time, this time they felt relaxed.
And this time, their purpose was different—they were here to visit their future in-laws.
Once again, the car drove back to the village. Because it was so cold, there weren’t many people standing outside, so this time Ning Yibin and Zhang Yun’s arrival didn’t cause much of a stir.
The village had also seen snow, with the roads buried in it. Following the paths cleared by the villagers, they arrived at An Hao’s home.
Ever since An Shuchao and Bai Xue divorced, he had never lived in that house again.
After An Hao went off to college, he moved in here with his uncle An Ping, squeezing into this small courtyard that, while not large, was kept very clean.
Not long ago An Hao had said she would have a holiday in a day or two. He had waited all day yesterday, and An Hao didn’t return.
It snowed heavily in the evening, and worried about the slippery roads, he thought about borrowing an oxcart to go to the town and wait for An Hao, thinking she might return today.
However, just as he had harnessed the oxcart and was about to leave, up came An Hao and with her the family of three including Qin Jian.
"Dad! Where were you off to?" asked An Hao, noticing him about to go out.
"My girl’s back! I was on my way to pick you up!" An Shuchao turned around and, upon seeing Zhang Yun who came with her, was momentarily stunned, "In-laws, what brings you here too?"
Zhang Yun, with a smile, pulled her coat tighter and said, "In-laws! You left in such a hurry last time, there wasn’t a chance to sit at your house. Old Ning really gave me an earful, so this time while delivering An Hao back for the holiday, Old Ning said we should formally pay you a visit."
Having lived his whole life, An Shuchao was seeing such a high-ranking official as Ning Yibin for the first time, and he was naturally a bit nervous, "Oh my, we’re so honored to have the Commander come by in person! Qin Jian, quick, take your parents inside to sit."
"Hey, older brother, that’s rather formal of you! After all, we’re going to be one family soon!" Ning Yibin said with a smile, conveying a friendly and approachable demeanor.
"It’s an honor for me to be related to a high-ranking officer. Please come inside and warm up."
An Shuchao led Ning Yibin and his wife into the house and stoked the stove with a few more pieces of fuel to get the fire roaring.
Then he brought over the hot water kettle, brewed them some tea, and turned to An Hao, "Go wake up An Ping, have him butcher half a pound of meat. Then head to the greenhouse and pick some vegetables; let’s cook a few dishes and properly treat the Commander at noon."
"Oh dear, older brother! Don’t trouble yourself! We’re just here to have a look and chat," said the Commander.
An Shuchao scratched his head and said, "Commander, by age, you should be the elder one, so I should be calling you ’brother.’ But us country folks, with sun and wind on our faces, we look older."
"Oh, then I shall call you ’old brother’."
"Hey. You must stay today, can’t leave no matter what. Go on, An Hao," instructed An Shuchao to his daughter.
"Alright," An Hao said as she got up and went to the west room to wake up An Ping.
An Shuchao lit his tobacco pipe, puffing away while talking to Ning Yibin about Qin Jian and An Hao’s marriage, "Commander, there’s something that’s been weighing on my heart for a long time. Since you’re here, I’ll take this opportunity to ask when you plan to have Qin Jian and An Hao get married?"