Axolotl Translations

The following day, neither Qiao Haoyu nor his older brother ventured out. They planned a leisurely lunch before taking their wives to visit the Qiao family’s ancestral home.

Their grandfather was still living, and with both brothers back, it was only proper to introduce their wives to him.

Furthermore, since Qiao Haoyu intended to hold his wedding banquet at the communal hall in the military compound, he wanted to personally invite their grandfather and inform the rest of the family at the old house.

The two couples, along with Qiao Doudou, navigated two bus transfers and then walked for twenty minutes before arriving at a grand, red-lacquered door.

Knock, knock, knock. Qiao Haoxuan rapped on the door three times.

Soon, light but steady footsteps echoed from within, growing clearer as they approached.

“Who’s there?” A voice called out as the heavy door creaked open, revealing an elderly man with a slight stoop.

“Grandpa! It’s Haoyu and me!” Qiao Haoxuan stepped forward quickly, reaching out to support him.

Seeing his two grandsons suddenly before him, the old man’s eyes lit up, his lips trembling slightly. “You’re both back! Come in, come in, quickly!” He reached out, taking a grandson by each arm, and eagerly ushered them inside.

His attention was completely absorbed by the grandsons he hadn’t seen in years, so much so that he didn’t notice anyone else.

Just then, a small, insistent voice broke the spell.

“Ah~ ah~”

Qiao Doudou, unwilling to be overlooked, made his presence known.

Only then did the old man turn and see the three women standing behind them.

“Is this your son?” The Qiao family patriarch gazed at the child in his granddaughter-in-law’s arms, his expression momentarily dazed. The boy’s face was a mirror of Qiao Haoxuan’s childhood self, stirring a deep sense of nostalgia. He moved closer, extending a hand to gently tease the little one.

However, the child wasn’t interested in entertaining him. Instead, he turned away, burying his face in his mother’s shoulder, refusing to be seen.

“…This little one.” Qiao Haoxuan’s wife quickly intervened, fearing the old man might take offense. “Grandfather, please don’t take it personally. He’s just a little shy. He’ll warm up eventually.”

“It’s alright, he’s still young.” The old master withdrew his hand and shifted his gaze to the unfamiliar young woman standing beside Qiao Haoyu.

“Grandfather, this is my wife, Wei Jiajia. Isn’t she lovely?” Qiao Haoyu stepped aside slightly, as if presenting a prized possession, flashing a mischievous grin and raising his eyebrows smugly.

“…Lovely… very lovely.” Amused by his grandson’s playful display, the old man chuckled and nodded in agreement.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Grandfather.” Ignoring Qiao Haoyu’s antics, Wei Jiajia greeted the elderly man with a respectful bow.

“Good, good! It’s wonderful to finally meet you!” Grandpa Qiao nodded approvingly, satisfaction clear in his eyes.

Until now, they had only heard about this granddaughter-in-law but had never met her in person. He had, of course, been a little concerned. But seeing her now—bright-eyed, intelligent, and graceful—he felt reassured. She was a fine match for his grandson.

When it came to choosing a wife, he found himself agreeing with his third daughter-in-law’s wisdom.

As the saying goes, a good wife benefits three generations!

Looking at his third son’s two daughters-in-law, he saw grace and intelligence, refined manners, and exceptional character. He had no doubt they would be excellent wives and strong pillars of support for their husbands.

This was a stark contrast to his second son’s wife, who had chosen her daughter-in-law solely based on family background, without considering whether the girl was truly compatible with their son.

Did she really think a girl from such an influential family would tolerate her overbearing nature and allow her to dictate everything?

As a result, her son was caught between his wife and his mother, constantly navigating their endless conflict.

Now, whenever the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were in the same room, sparks flew, neither willing to yield. The old man foresaw a great deal of suffering for his second son’s family in the years to come.

But there was little he could do now. The matter was settled, and with the girl’s parents still involved, his authority as a grandfather held little sway in this situation.

With that thought, Grandpa Qiao shook his head slightly, a hint of helplessness in his expression.

As they entered the house, they found the old man alone. A quick inquiry revealed that everyone else was at work.

Most days, it was just Grandpa Qiao and Second Uncle at home.

But today, Second Uncle had stepped out to run some errands. Grandpa Qiao had originally planned to play chess with some friends, but at the last minute, something had come up at his friend’s house, forcing them to cancel. So, he had returned home instead.

Grandpa Qiao led them to the main hall and asked them to sit while he briefly disappeared into his room. Upon his return, he held two small objects.

He handed one to Wei Jiajia and the other to Qiao Haoxuan’s wife, explaining they were for the children and that she should keep it safe for Qiao Doudou.

Wei Jiajia carefully examined the gift in her hands—an exquisite jade Ruyi pendant of fine, icy quality, with a delicate hint of lavender at its core.

“I really can’t—”

Before she could finish, Old Master Qiao cut her off. “Take it. I don’t have many valuable things left, but consider this a small token from me. Just wear it for enjoyment—it’s not worth much these days. And don’t even think about refusing. I gave one to your sister-in-law when I first met her, too. Ask her if you don’t believe me.”

Wei Jiajia turned to her eldest sister-in-law, who smiled and nodded. “Just take it! I’ve been wearing mine for years.”

“Thank you, Grandpa. I really like it!” Wei Jiajia finally accepted the gift, carefully studying it in her palm. This was no ordinary trinket—the old man was definitely being modest!

Meanwhile, eldest sister-in-law also accepted Grandpa Qiao’s gift for her son, playfully coaxing little Qiao Doudou to thank his great-grandfather.

Only then did the old man nod in satisfaction and settle into his seat at the head of the room.

The two brothers took turns asking about the family and the old man’s health.

Without divulging any confidential information, they gave a brief overview of their own lives and how their families were doing. Then, they simply waited for Second Uncle’s wife to return home.

Second Uncle’s wife had made plans that day—she and a friend had gone to the textile factory to pull some strings and acquire some factory-reject fabrics. She returned home in high spirits, only to freeze in place when she saw the unexpected visitors.

“Oh! So Haoxuan and Haoyu have brought their wives to visit Grandpa! It’s been years since I’ve seen you two, and look at you now—so accomplished. I almost thought you’d forgotten about your grandfather entirely!” Second Aunt’s words carried a subtle barb. She even covered her mouth with a light chuckle. “You know how I am—I just speak my mind. You won’t take offense, will you?”

The Qiao brothers, familiar with her personality since childhood, paid her no mind. They simply stood to greet her politely before sitting back down.

Eldest sister-in-law, however, couldn’t afford to ignore her. As the eldest daughter-in-law of the third branch, she had to maintain appearances. Besides, she resented Second Aunt’s implication.

Regardless of her personal feelings, Second Aunt was an elder. Just because she disliked her attitude didn’t mean she could dismiss her entirely—especially with the old master watching.

“Oh, Second Aunt, don’t say that. Haoxuan and Haoyu have been busy with their military duties. It’s not just you who rarely sees them—even though I live with them as a military spouse, there are still months when I barely see them myself.” Eldest sister-in-law responded with a composed smile, neither overly accommodating nor too sharp. Then, she added, “It’s not that they don’t want to visit, but you know their work. Their duty to the country comes first. The moment they had some free time, they rushed back to see Grandpa.”

The old man nodded in agreement. “I’m not so old and feeble that they need to fuss over me. These boys are doing important work. I won’t let them waste their time coddling me!”

Seeing that Second Aunt’s expression had soured, eldest sister-in-law quickly changed the subject. “Second Aunt, I don’t think you’ve met Jiajia yet!” She gestured to the side. “This is Haoyu’s wife—she just arrived from Shencheng with him.”

“Hello, Second Aunt,” Wei Jiajia greeted with a steady, pleasant tone, her eyes calm and composed under Second Aunt’s scrutiny. “I’m Jiajia.”

Seeing Wei Jiajia’s composed demeanor, Second Aunt responded with a broad smile, though inwardly, she seethed with jealousy.

That conniving third sister-in-law!

Ever since that woman, Zhang, had joined the Qiao family, she had been outshining her in every way.

Her husband was no match for Zhang’s—while Zhang’s husband had risen to the rank of a state official, hers remained merely a factory manager.

Her sons were no match for Zhang’s either—both had joined the military and attended university, guaranteeing a bright future. Meanwhile, her own children had no choice but to follow their father’s lead, working in the factory.

She had meticulously chosen a daughter-in-law with either powerful parents or influential relatives, yet now she was being eclipsed once again by Zhang’s two daughters-in-law.

How could she accept this? Would she spend the rest of her life being overshadowed by that woman?

Her eyes fell on Qiao Doudou, sitting obediently in his mother’s arms, looking bright and clever. Her frustration deepened.

Every time she crossed paths with Zhang, she was sure to become the object of that woman’s silent ridicule.

If Zhang Wenjuan knew that Second Aunt compared herself to her in every possible way, she would have been utterly exasperated.

After all, ever since she married into the Qiao family, she had followed Qiao Mingli into battle, and even after the war, they had settled in the military compound. Aside from major holidays, she rarely returned to the old family home. How had she managed to offend Second Aunt so deeply?

Had Wei Jiajia been aware of the situation, she would have immediately understood—it was simply a case of female jealousy, irrational and baseless. She herself had experienced it before…

After all, wasn’t it natural for Second Aunt to resent Zhang Wenjuan? Not only had Zhang Wenjuan been beautiful in her youth, but she also seemed to lead a blissful life. It was inevitable that she would prick Second Aunt’s sensitive pride.

Unwilling to endure the frustration of watching the third branch any longer, Second Aunt found an excuse to retreat to her room.

It was only as she turned that she noticed the large pile of items neatly stacked on the table against the wall. She immediately recognized them as gifts for Grandpa Qiao, and just like that, her irritation subsided somewhat.

Moments earlier, she had been too fixated on observing the third branch’s every move to notice anything else.

Now that her attention had shifted, she began calculating. The two brothers only visited their grandfather every few years—surely, they wouldn’t be stingy with their gifts. There was no way they would bring something cheap and meaningless just to fob off the family.

Knowing Zhang Wenjuan, she wouldn’t let her sons behave that way. That would be an embarrassment to her!

Zhang Wenjuan: …

As Second Aunt speculated about what treasures lay hidden among the gifts and how much their branch might receive, she walked toward the door and stepped outside.

Only after she had left did Eldest sister-in-law glance at Wei Jiajia and shake her head with a rueful smile.

Wei Jiajia returned the smile, indicating she understood perfectly.

Every family has its difficult relatives—that’s just life.

Besides, Second Aunt’s barbed comments were merely passive-aggressive jabs. They didn’t actually cause any harm, so there was no point in letting them get under their skin.

Perhaps it was the gifts that had softened her demeanor, but at noon, when they stayed for lunch at the old house, Second Aunt did something unexpected—she actually cooked for them. And not just any meal—she prepared proper rice. Even though it was mixed grains, it was still high-quality food, and to everyone’s surprise, the dishes even had a touch of oil.

In times like these, serving such a meal to guests was a significant gesture!

Not only were Qiao Haoyu and the others taken aback, but even Old Master Qiao looked up several times in astonishment, as if he barely recognized Second Aunt.

“What are you all staring at me for? Eat! I made this meal especially because you’re back. Hurry up!” she said, before promptly serving herself a large portion of vegetables and starting to eat, paying no further attention to them.

Wei Jiajia couldn’t help but think that Mother Qiao’s words from that morning had proven true—bringing more gifts really had helped them avoid unnecessary trouble.

After lunch, Qiao Haoyu finally told Old Master Qiao and Second Aunt that he and Wei Jiajia planned to hold a banquet at the military compound. He extended an invitation to both the first and second branches of the Qiao family, asking them to attend if they had time.

He also took the opportunity to ask if Grandpa Qiao would like to come and stay with them for a few days.

Before the old man could even respond, Second Aunt eagerly assured them that she would inform the rest of the family as soon as everyone returned that evening. She guaranteed that they would all be there.

Then, without waiting for a reply, she turned and rushed to Grandpa Qiao’s room to start packing his things—so quickly that the old man didn’t even have a chance to object.

Grandpa Qiao missed his third son and wanted to spend some time with his grandsons while they were home. So, he allowed Second Aunt to do as she pleased.

With practiced efficiency, Second Aunt packed a few pieces of clothing and handed the small bundle to Qiao Haoyu.

Qiao Haoyu glanced at the modest bundle in his hands—this was all the old man was taking.

Of course, Second Aunt knew perfectly well that Grandpa Qiao wouldn’t stay long at the third branch’s home. As soon as Qiao Haoxuan and the others left, he would undoubtedly return.

After all, his old friends were here, and at the military compound, he wouldn’t have anyone to talk to. He wouldn’t be able to adjust.

But in the meantime, during those few days he stayed with the third branch, they would be responsible for his food and drink.

And she had made sure not to pack any of his personal grain rations.

In just a few days, that alone would save a considerable amount.

Later, when she cooked meals, she could quietly cut back a little here and there, and no one would notice. The extra food could go straight to her family. And as for the things Qiao Haoxuan and the others had brought today, she could take advantage of a quiet moment to skim off a few items and send those over too.

After all, the first branch wouldn’t even know exactly what had been brought.

Oh, heavens—her poor nephews! They were likely suffering from hunger.

As she thought about this, Second Aunt found herself torn between excitement and a touch of sorrow.

Qiao Haoyu glanced at the small bundle but made no comment. With one hand, he supported his grandfather and guided him outside.

On the other side, Qiao Haoxuan carried little Qiao Doudou, while Eldest sister-in-law and Wei Jiajia followed behind.

They were all aware of Second Aunt’s petty schemes, but they simply didn’t care.

The family wasn’t short on food—not only did Father Qiao and Mother Qiao provide for them, but the supplies Qiao Haoyu and Wei Jiajia had brought back were enough to feed the entire household for a month.

With the entire family surrounding and escorting Grandpa Qiao, they left, under the complex and inscrutable gaze of Second Aunt.

Soon enough, the day of Qiao Haoyu and Wei Jiajia’s wedding banquet arrived.

They had made arrangements with the canteen in advance, providing their own ingredients and paying a small fee for the chefs to prepare the meal.

That morning, members of the Qiao family, along with relatives from the old residence and Father Qiao and Mother Qiao’s colleagues from the military compound, all gathered at the canteen. Under the guidance of Father Qiao’s old comrades, they held a wedding ceremony imbued with revolutionary spirit.

For Qiao Haoyu and Wei Jiajia, this was their second time through the ceremony. Familiar with the process, they enthusiastically chanted slogans along with the others and then went from table to table, toasting the guests.

Since most attendees had work obligations and couldn’t drink alcohol, tea was used as a substitute. After a shared meal, the wedding concluded.

After spending a few more days at home keeping the elders company, the Qiao brothers once again set off with their wives and children, returning to their respective posts.

Though Father Qiao and Mother Qiao were reluctant to part with them, they could only smile and watch as their sons and their families departed.

Such was the fate of soldiers, and the silent burden borne by their families.

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