Axolotl Translations

Today marked the highly anticipated reunion of the five Wei siblings, their first gathering in seven years. Wei Jiajia had been up since the crack of dawn, bustling in and out of the kitchen, having skipped sleeping in entirely.

“Sister, why are you up so early?” Nuannuan asked, still groggy as she stumbled out of her room, drawn by the sounds from the kitchen. She found her sister already hard at work.

Nuannuan had only just arrived the night before, having made a last-minute trip from Shencheng. Because she’d only managed to get a seat ticket, she’d endured two full days and nights on the train and was utterly exhausted. After a quick meal, she’d gone straight to bed. This morning, she was the last one up—even her famously sleep-loving sister had beaten her to it.

Wei Jiajia smiled at the sight of her. “It’s not that early anymore. If I don’t hurry, breakfast won’t be ready before they get back.”

She’d woken up early not just out of excitement, but because the house was packed. There weren’t enough rooms for everyone. Last night, she’d shared a room with her daughter and sister, while the three men’s rooms were divided among the others. With no one disturbing her, she had slept soundly.

As for whether Qiao Haoyu had slept well—only he knew the truth.

“They” referred to Qiao Haoyu and their three sons, along with Wei Jiajia’s three brothers. The group had gotten up early for morning exercises. The sight of so many men moving in unison had become something of a spectacle in the compound.

Among the triplets, the youngest, Third treasure, was usually the least enthusiastic about waking early to train. He’d much rather stay in bed than run drills. But every time, Eldest treasure and Second treasure would drag him out without fail. He never stood a chance.

Surprisingly, this morning, he’d gotten up on his own, without being called. He’d followed the rest out with enthusiasm.

Wei Jiajia figured her youngest must have found it novel, training with so many people. He’d left the house practically skipping. To someone who didn’t know better, it might have looked like he was heading out for a fun day of shopping.

Now fully awake and freshened up, Nuannuan joined her sister in the kitchen to help. With so many people in the house, Wei Jiajia couldn’t possibly manage alone.

For breakfast, Wei Jiajia had decided to keep things simple: congee, steamed buns, and a couple of cold side dishes. She was currently busy rolling out bun wrappers, while Nuannuan started mixing the filling.

Over the past few years living in Shencheng, even though they’d had Aunt Fen around to help, Nuannuan had never been the kind of pampered young lady who relied on others for everything. Back in the compound days, she and her brother Yangyang used to make breakfast together.

While Wei Jiajia had always doted on her siblings, she’d also made sure they were raised to be independent. The first skill she taught them was cooking. After all, there were no delivery apps in those days, and state-run cafeterias weren’t always open. Not knowing how to cook could literally mean going hungry.

Watching her sister’s nimble hands, Wei Jiajia chuckled. “Not bad! I thought you’d gotten rusty, always eating out or having Aunt Fen cook at home.”

“Pretty impressive, right? My cooking skills have improved a lot. Everyone who’s had my food says I could be a professional chef!” Nuannuan said, tilting her chin up with pride. She had just been teased for putting on weight, and now she was puffing herself up again. That smug expression—she looked exactly like her little nephew, who also loved to show off.

Wei Jiajia couldn’t help but laugh. Still the same vain, drama-loving girl. But to be fair, Nuannuan wasn’t exaggerating. Her cooking had indeed improved over the past few years. Though she often ate at the studio cafeteria and Aunt Fen usually handled meals at home, she had plenty of chances to pitch in. It only looked like she didn’t do much, but in reality, that wasn’t the case.

Because of her job, she often had to travel for location shoots. Back then, there were no special effects or green screens. Many films were about revolutionary wars and had to be shot on location all over the country. The actors had to follow the crew from place to place, and when they ended up in remote areas without state-run restaurants, they had no choice but to cook for themselves. Everyone pitched in, and it was through this that her skills gradually took shape.

“How’s work? When does that movie you mentioned come out?” The last letter Wei Jiajia received from her had been sent from a southwestern region, saying they were filming there and would wrap after this production. The movie was expected to hit theaters in a couple of months.

She had even sent back some local smoked meat she found there. It was delicious, and she’d bought extra to send home. That’s how Jiajia found out how far she’d traveled this time.

“End of the month, I think. I heard post-production is just about done,” Nuannuan replied. Her eyes lit up the moment she started talking about the film.

She had been working at the film studio for three years now, mostly in background roles. Though she was the youngest on set, her good looks had stirred a bit of jealousy from colleagues. For the first time, she realized how complicated people could be once she stepped outside the protective shadow of her older siblings. Still, she’d toughed it out.

This film was her first time playing the lead female role—unlike before, when her total screen time barely amounted to a few minutes. She had high hopes for this project.

“That’s great! When the time comes, I’ll take the kids to the theater to support you,” Wei Jiajia said with a smile. She then glanced at her sister’s delicate face. Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a soft glow on her skin, making it look even fairer and more radiant. Her eyes, similar to her own, drooped slightly in that charming peach-blossom shape. Her long lashes fluttered gently, making people want to take a closer look. Wei Jiajia thought that if even she felt that way, how could men possibly resist?

She opened her mouth to speak but hesitated, unsure of how to bring it up. In her eyes, her sister was still only eighteen—barely college age in the present day.

But if she didn’t ask, and something happened… what if her sister fell for the wrong person? After all, at eighteen, she was already legally old enough to get married.

“Do you have any good friends or close coworkers over there?” Wei Jiajia asked tactfully.

“Of course I do!”

“Any guys?” she asked, testing the waters.

“Of course. But there are only two male coworkers I get along well with. I’m closer with the girls,” Nuannuan replied without a hint of suspicion, completely unaware of her sister’s intention.

“How old are the guys? Are they married? What do they do?” Wei Jiajia blurted out all three questions in a rush, suddenly nervous upon learning there were men around.

Nuannuan looked at her suspiciously, unsure why she was asking all this.

“Can’t I ask?” Wei Jiajia said softly, feeling a bit awkward. Was she being too nosy?

“It’s not that,” Nuannuan said, shaking her head. “I just don’t get why you’re asking. You never cared about this stuff before.”

“Ahem… I’m just curious,” Wei Jiajia said awkwardly. Technically, it was perfectly normal for her to ask. Without a mother in their lives, Nuannuan’s future fell to her to worry about. She needed to know what her sister was thinking. But at the same time, she didn’t want to make the girl feel embarrassed.

Nuannuan stared at her for a moment before it suddenly clicked. Realizing why her sister was asking about those male coworkers, her cheeks turned red. She pouted and said bashfully, “Sister~ what are you thinking? I’m still young! And those two guys are just colleagues. We get along, that’s all. At most, we’ve grabbed dinner at a state-run restaurant, and even then, other girls were there too!”

Still, as she said it, a tall figure flashed through her mind—so quickly she didn’t even catch hold of it.

Watching her sister’s expression, Wei Jiajia could tell she had been overthinking it. Maybe Nuannuan really hadn’t opened her heart to anyone yet. Still, she gently reminded her, “Alright, alright, my bad. I was overthinking. But you’re not a little girl anymore. If someone does start pursuing you, don’t be swept away by sweet talk. Take your time. Watch carefully—see what kind of person he really is, what his family is like. Make sure the way he treats you is the same as how he treats others. Don’t be fooled.”

What she feared most was that, with Nuannuan being so young and alone, someone might deceive her with flattery. And by the time she regretted it, it might be too late.

“You’re afraid he might be two-faced, and I wouldn’t find out until after we’re married, when it’s too late?” Nuannuan asked.

“Exactly. Marriage is a lifelong commitment. Choosing the right person requires careful thought.”

Nuannuan nodded, showing she understood, but then asked curiously, “That makes sense. But why does the family matter? Do you mean their financial situation?”

“That’s part of it. If he’s a good person but his family’s a bit poor, that’s okay—so long as he’s ambitious and willing to work hard, he won’t let you suffer,” Wei Jiajia replied. “But the main thing is the family’s character. If his relatives are hard to get along with, you really need to think it over. Even if they’re well-off, marrying into that kind of family will bring you nothing but grief.”

Wei Jiajia wasn’t entirely sure if her advice was perfect, but she passed along everything she believed to be true, hoping Nuannuan could use it as a reference. Seeing her sister nod with comprehension, she finally stopped talking and went back to making dumplings in earnest.

With both of them working together, their pace picked up. Once the steaming baskets were set in the pot, they waited for the buns to cook. Right then, Qiao Haoyu and the others returned in a lively crowd.

Each one of them was dripping with sweat from exercise, but all wore big smiles. The three kids were nestled among their father and uncles, chattering non-stop about everything and anything.

The four adults listened patiently, answering every strange and whimsical question with seriousness. They never brushed the kids off, which made the children feel truly respected—and even more glued to their side.

It wasn’t until the buns were ready that they finally quieted down and followed their uncles eagerly into the kitchen to help serve the food.

At the dining table, Wei Jiajia began asking questions about the three brothers again. There was no rush with Xiangyang—he was only eighteen, still young. Besides, she didn’t actually want him to settle down in the countryside. Not out of snobbery, but because once college entrance exams resumed and Xiangyang left for university, she feared he and a rural spouse might gradually lose their connection, turning into a bitter, mismatched couple. Better to wait and have more options after college.

But Xiangdong and Xiangxi were another story—they were both 25. Even by today’s standards, that wasn’t particularly young to be unmarried. So her attention naturally shifted toward them.

Xiangxi nudged the ever-calm Xiangdong with his elbow when he heard his sister’s question.

As the eldest, it was his turn to answer first.

Xiangdong ignored his brother, calmly put down his bowl, thought for a moment, and said, “Sister, you don’t need to worry. I’ll definitely get married by next year at the latest.”

“You’re dating someone already? How old is she? What does she do?” Wei Jiajia leaned in slightly, full of anticipation. Even the others perked up, eager to hear the details.

Seeing how expectant she looked, Xiangdong smiled. “Sort of. A sister-in-law introduced us not long ago. We haven’t made anything official yet.”

“Do you like her?” Wei Jiajia asked with a hint of concern, worried that her shy brother might not know how to turn someone down politely.

He thought of the girl—those bright eyes that had met his without flinching, the hint of shyness in their first meeting, yet the poise and quiet confidence she carried—and replied, “She’s quite charming.”

Alright, everyone understood. He was interested. Whether the girl felt the same was another matter, but hopefully he’d step up and make good on his word to marry next year.

Now all eyes turned to Xiangxi, who was trying to shrink into himself. Feeling the weight of everyone’s gaze, he chuckled awkwardly, “Why’s everyone staring at me? Hurry up and eat!”

“Don’t dodge the question,” Xiangdong said. As the elder brother, it was his duty to follow up.

“I’m not dodging,” Xiangxi said with a sigh. “Sister, my situation’s different from my brother’s. Our unit is in such a remote place—there’s no way to meet girls. Even if I found someone back home, she couldn’t come live with me. If we were separated long-term, it wouldn’t be fair to her. I don’t want to ruin someone else’s life.”

His words brought a moment of silence to the table. He wasn’t wrong. Just because he was family didn’t mean they should selfishly expect a young girl to become a “living widow,” waiting years for a husband who was never home.

“Alright, let’s not worry about your situation for now,” Wei Jiajia said with a sigh. “We’ll see what policies come along later.”

And with that, the matchmaking session wrapped up. Xiangxi wiped his sweatless brow, silently relieved. Whew, that was close!

He really didn’t want to dive into the grave of marriage so soon. Wasn’t doing research far more fulfilling? Why bring home a woman to boss him around? Okay, maybe he wasn’t entirely making it up—he had spoken the truth, at least mostly.

Not long after lunch, an officer from the publicity department arrived at the Qiao household with a camera.

Since the county town was too far, Qiao Haoyu had spoken to the head of the publicity department and asked to borrow a camera for a family portrait, covering the cost himself. Once the official heard it wasn’t a freebie, he readily agreed.

With a crisp click and a flash of white light, a family photo was born.

In the photo, the men were handsome, the women beautiful, and the three children stood at the front, their eyes full of life. Every face radiated joy and contentment.

One look, and you could tell—this was a truly photogenic family. If the photo were posted online in modern times, it would go viral in an instant, easily outshining most family portraits.

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