The Fourth Entry, Accompanying the Capital Chongqing, November 1940.

Fortunately, only the edges of the photo were slightly stained with water, and the lady felt relieved.

The people below have also secretly speculated. Looking at her mother and daughter's demeanor, speech, and the style of their interactions with relatives, it is not comparable to ordinary wealthy families. However, her clothing is simple, she never socializes, and she hardly interacts with anyone except her relatives.

Linlin looked up in surprise, sensing something unusual in the words.

After two months of separation, she remains as thin as ever, dressed in black with a plain face, without any makeup. Her eyebrows, untouched by any drawing, still resemble the color of distant mountains, while her calm eyes hide the autumn mist of the mountain city.

As winter sets in, the sky darkens early. Outside the window, night has fallen and the houses in the mountain city are dotted with lights.

Thinking of you frowning, "This matter is related to safety, regardless of any misunderstanding between you two, first persuade her to come back before discussing."

Four people sat around the table. Linlin thoughtfully brought a white woolen shawl and draped it over her mother's slender figure in a cheongsam. The little boy, clinging to his father's side, playfully reached out to tug at the tassels swaying on Nie Qing's shawl.

She knows that Minyan, Uncle Xue's adopted daughter, has a strained relationship with her stepmother Lin Yanqi.

In the room, only a small hanging lamp was lit, casting a dim light. During the war, energy was scarce, and even households with electric lights had to limit their usage. Nevertheless, the dining table was covered with a clean white tablecloth, and there were a few simple home-cooked dishes. The spicy aroma of Sichuan cuisine lingered in the air, and the ordinary warmth of the colors was most comforting.

She smiled lightly at him, and the warmest winter sunshine emerged from the mist.

At this moment, Nianqing whispered, "Hong Kong is probably not going to be able to hold on for long. The Japanese are still dominant in the Pacific for the time being, and the Americans are all talk and no action. Hong Kong is a lonely island, once it falls, it falls. It is not wise for Yanqi to stay there. Regardless, you must persuade her to come over sooner."

The servants all like this gentle and quiet mistress, although she seldom smiles and speaks very little, she is very kind to people. Luo Mama has been working here for nearly half a year and is not very clear about the background of the master's family. She only knows that she is a widow, who came to Chongqing from a distant place with her daughter and relatives to escape the war.

When Nianqing and Xue Jinming's eyes met, they suddenly fell silent.

A booklet fell to the ground, and a photo fell out.

The kitchen maid hurriedly ran into the kitchen, worried that the soup stewing on the stove would boil dry. Only half of the windows in the upstairs room had been cleaned when plump Mrs. Luo picked up a bucket and a cloth, and returned to the window, carefully wiping the glass until it was spotless.

Luomama busied herself to help her up, her calloused hands holding onto her arm, not daring to use too much force - she was really too thin, wearing a thick padded cheongsam, her waist still as slender as the plum branches in the garden, so thin that even the wind could break her. In the photo, she should have looked like she did when she was young, but now she looks almost unchanged, not at all like the mother of a seventeen-year-old daughter.

Nian Qing raised her eyes sharply and glanced at her, her gaze clear and cold. Then she quickly resumed her indifferent expression and personally lifted Heng Xing onto her lap to feed him.

The glass above the desk is out of reach. Mrs. Luo tried to tiptoe, but accidentally knocked a book off the edge of the table.

He got up and got off the car, adjusted his tie, and casually looked up, only to see a faint silhouette under the window on the second floor.

I won't come out, you come and catch me.

Linlin jumped out of the front car and eagerly waved his hand, shouting upstairs, "Mom, Uncle Xueshi is back!"

On the stairs, there came the sound of her hurried footsteps, but it was gradually drowned out by the approaching roar of the airplane. Xue Jinming rushed up the stairs and happened to see her running towards him tightly embracing that mahogany box.

The slow-walking child lifted a small face covered in rice grains and shook it quickly, saying "Mommy is mean, mommy is not good."

Luomama was taken aback, "Yes, the car is parked behind. The young lady said early on that she was going to fundraise with her classmates and that there was no need to pick her up."

After escorting Qingjiang up the stairs, he personally washed his face and hands, changed into clean clothes, and combed his hair. When he led him back to the dining table, the clay figurine had turned back into a handsome and clever little boy.

Having raised the funds," Nianqing also smiled," During that period, cotton was in short supply and even with money, it couldn't be bought. Now it's not a problem, everything is ready.

Mrs. Luo forgot that she had water in her hands and hurriedly bent down to pick it up.

Lín Lín stuck out her tongue, hopped on one foot and sat down on a nearby chair. She interrupted her mother before she could scold her, saying, "Mom, I'm starving. Can we have dinner now? Did we prepare any special dishes to welcome Uncle Xue?"

She stood behind the window with the shade of the trees slanting, and the setting sun shining through the branches and leaves, casting a layer of radiance on her graceful figure.

"I'm not going back!" As soon as he heard that he was going back to Hong Kong, his little face fell, and he obediently sat up straight, picked up his chopsticks and quickly shoveled the rice into his mouth, without needing the maid to coax him into eating."

There are no wolves here! She danced with the chopsticks, not afraid of her father's threats at all.

Xue Jinming quickly reached out to grab it, but in haste, he grabbed Nianqing's hand instead. The spoon still fell into the soup, splashing it all over the table.

The alarm sounded urgently, and Nian Qing gave up struggling, lamenting, "It's Zhong Heng's relic."

Xue Jinming reacted quickly. Before Linlin and Hengxing could come to their senses, he had already picked them up one by one and said, "It's an air raid at night! Let's quickly go to the basement!"

Xue Jinming has been silent.

The lady walked to the window and leaned against it, looking down.

Xue Jinming smiled and said, "After this trip back from Shanghai, I can stay in Chongqing for a few more days. We can meet up then."

Always mischievous and bold, the reckless Xing always avoids making Auntie angry. Seeing Nie Qing's cold expression, he hurriedly dropped the bowl and chopsticks, stuttering and unclearly saying, "Min...Min Min said."

What is more important than life? Xue Jinming was shocked and angry.

Lín Lín was startled, quickly bent down to hold the slow-moving person's hand, and turned to pull her mother.

The servants have long since rushed to the air-raid shelter dug behind the garden against the mountain wall.

Only heard a deep voice behind me, "Slow down, what are you doing?"

Old Yu was startled and turned around to see Mr. Xue and his wife standing behind him.

Linlin turned around and walked away, leaving only Xue Jinming and Nian Qing silently facing each other at the table.

The wine is here! Linlin brought the wine, poured it herself, and was about to hand the wine glass to Xue Jinming when suddenly a sharp air raid siren sounded.

Sir, please come out quickly. Oh, would you please be so kind!

What are you doing! Xue Jinming caught up and pulled her back at the stairway.

Nian Qing frowned, "So soon? Minyan said she would be back in a few days. Didn't you wait for her?"

The little monkey clung to Xue Jinming's shoulder and kicked Lao Yu with its tiny legs, saying, "You bad guy, don't you dare complain. My dad has a gun, he will shoot you!"

He loosened his tie and casually replied, "I had a last-minute change in my schedule. I have to finish some things and will be leaving again tomorrow."

Thinking of you, I sigh and say, "Do you know that every day new children are brought to us, all of them orphans of soldiers who have lost both parents? We have already used the entire church on the mountain and are still building new houses, but one day it will be full, and new orphans will continue to be born on the battlefield."

When Mrs. Luo saw the exquisitely designed and embossed cover of the book still lying on the ground, she hurriedly picked it up, wiped it with her sleeve, and handed it to the lady, apologizing incessantly. The lady didn't pay much attention to the book, simply took it and put it aside, carefully placing the photos in a small sandalwood box on the bedside.

A black car parked in front of the door, it couldn't be more familiar.

The dark figure rolled out from under the wheels with agility, and landed on Xue Jinming covered in mud.

Lín lín rěn jùn bù jīn, gù yì dòu tā shuō: "Wèishéme bù huíqù? Xiānggǎng shì nǐ jiā a, nǐ bù xiǎng huíqù kànkan māma?"

Xue Jinming was helpless and could only watch as Xingxing hid in Nianqing's arms, smugly making faces at him.

Minyan is not Uncle Xue's biological daughter. Her birth mother's identity is somewhat controversial, but Uncle Xue has always treated her as his own. However, for some reason, Minyan has always been very cold towards Aunt Yan, refusing to acknowledge her as a mother no matter how Aunt Yan treats her.

Looking at her again, her expression remained calm, and she didn't even shift her gaze towards him.

Then I'll send you back to Hong Kong! Xue Jinming's face sank.

She listened as the long-lost address was called out from his lips, and couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion - "Nian Qing". Now, no one else would call her by this name, only these two words from his mouth, unchanged for so many years.

He smiled at her and casually said, "It's nothing major, I'll be back in a moment."

Luomama came up to tidy up, Xue Jinming scolded Hengxing and threatened him, saying that if he didn't behave, he would be thrown out to feed the wolves.

The lady listened attentively to the sound of the brakes and said, "Wasn't it decided that no car would be sent to pick up the young lady today?"

Lín Lín bit her lip and nodded, then picked up the slow-moving child and quickly ran towards the entrance to the basement under the stairs.

She stepped forward and took the windbreaker draped over his arm, naturally as if they were family, "Why did you suddenly come back?"

Xue Jinming was stunned. The soft and slightly cool hand in his palm only stayed for a moment before slipping away like a fish.

With a twist of her body, Puxiao threw herself into Nianqing's arms, saying, "Auntie, Daddy scolds people, Daddy doesn't care about Puxiao."

Do not touch the photo!

Miss Nian instructed another maid, Qin Mama, to bring Master Hang down.

She looked eagerly in this direction, with a posture of anticipation that made him feel like she was waiting for his return.

The voice of the lady suddenly sounded outside the door.

Nianqing smiled and pushed away Xue Jinming, who was about to hold his hand, saying, "Alright, don't be so fierce. It's not easy for the child to see you once."

Xue Jinming just smiled. Seeing her mother's nervous expression, she said, "It's just a minor skin injury. It can be treated with some medicine, so don't worry."

A loud explosion came from a distance, and the lights flickered twice before suddenly going out.

Ignoring you, I pushed you away and tried to go upstairs, but I couldn't escape from the grip of your hands.

Xue Jinming stood still, letting her struggle and leave, watching her figure disappear around the corner of the stairs... The piercing sound of the alarm brought him back to his senses, and the already faint sound of the plane's roar made him turn his head and sternly say to the two stunned children downstairs, "Linlin, take your brother and go down first!"

Xue Jinming frowned, put him on the ground, and said seriously, "How can you speak like this? Apologize to others quickly."

"Behave!" Nean Qing, who rarely spoke harshly to children, also frowned and asked, "Who taught you to speak like this?"

Lín lín hobbles over, pushing away the servant who hurriedly came to help her, and goes straight to meet her mother who is rushing down the stairs. She hugs her and coquettishly says, "Today is really unlucky. I hurt my foot when the air raid came. Fortunately, Uncle Xue came to pick me up, otherwise I don't know how miserable it would have been."

The air raid alarm has just been lifted, and the servants, who are accustomed to it, have returned to their respective positions as usual and are busy. The Japanese planes in the distant sky are still faintly visible, but no one pays much attention to those mosquito-like small black dots.

Xue Jinming "Hmm"ed without answering.

Upon hearing the words "Shanghai", Nie Qing's expression changed slightly. However, she refrained from speaking further in front of the servants, but a look of worry gathered between her eyebrows. How could she not understand the risks implied by these two words? Shanghai had long been occupied and had become a key area of the Japanese occupation, as well as a hub for intelligence gathering in the Far East. Given his identity, he had to personally infiltrate the enemy-occupied area to accomplish his mission, which could be extremely dangerous.

He clapped and laughed happily, while Linlin scolded him for being naughty.

The atmosphere on the table suddenly became a bit tense. Linlin stood up and said, "Uncle Xue, the wine you brought last time hasn't been drunk yet. Tonight is a good opportunity to have a toast with you!"

Nian Qing hurriedly followed behind Xue Jinming and walked to the car shed in the backyard. From a distance, he could already hear the pleading voice of the driver, Lao Yu.

Linlin laughed, "Definitely in the garage, the experienced one must be fond of playing with cars!"

A boy's cheer came from under the car, "Dad!!"

Lín lín àn zì tàn kǒu qì, yě bù gǎn duō yán.

He looked at her, and smiled lightly.

Xue Jinming smiled and changed the topic as if nothing had happened, "Last time you mentioned that the children in the orphanage were still lacking winter quilts, have you raised enough funds for them now?"

Surrounded by darkness, unable to see anything. He tightly embraced her, relying on his keen perception, and ran down the stairs with her in the darkness. Before the second bomb fell, he kicked open the door to the basement and swiftly took refuge inside.

A child's voice came from under the wheels.

Old Yu frowned and said to Nian Qing, "Madam, the young master insisted on crawling underneath to see why the car was running so fast. I couldn't stop him."

At this moment, it is already evening, and dusk is approaching.

Xue Jinming smiled and said, "No need for fancy dishes, when coming home, having a bowl of hot soup is the best. Isn't it, Nianqing?"

After a while, Qin's mother came down and replied that she couldn't find the young master anywhere in the house.

Meanwhile, the servant had already set up the dining table, and Auntie Luo had also administered the medicine to Linlin.

Old Yu lay on the ground, stretching his hand into the chassis of the car, trying to pull the person out.

She pushed him hard and said, "Something happened to me. Upstairs, I need to go get it!"

Aunt Yan was very busy taking care of the wounded at the Red Cross Hospital and had no time to take care of her children. Minyan grew up with Aunt Bei at Aunt Bei's husband's home. Many years later, even though Aunt Yan still had no time to accompany her children at home, Aunt Bei had too many children at home, so their parents often took care of the siblings. Speaking of which, Uncle Xue's children were closer to their "aunt" and "uncle" and spent more time with them. Influenced by Minyan, Hengxing had little interaction with Aunt Yan, and only had a memory of her being strict and scary, which made him more distant from his own mother. Speaking of which, Uncle Xue's children were closer to their "aunt" and "uncle" and spent more time with them. Influenced by Minyan, Hengxing had little interaction with Aunt Yan, and only had a memory of her being strict and scary, which made him more distant from his own mother.

You go first, I'll come later. Nie Qing pushed her away and rushed towards the stairs.

Even if it's just a momentary illusion, there is still the peaceful return of a tired bird to its nest.

Actually, Aunt Yan is an extraordinary woman. She went abroad to study medicine as a woman, and after returning to the country, she excelled in the medical field, being one of the few outstanding female doctors. Perhaps due to being a doctor, Aunt Yan's temperament is somewhat serious, unlike Aunt Shu and Aunt Bei, who are warm and kind. She is very strict in raising and educating children. People say "strict father, kind mother," but it's the opposite in Uncle Xue's family. Aunt Yan is very strict in educating the children, and once they make a mistake, they will be severely punished; while Uncle Xue is often busy outside and has little time to accompany his wife and children at home. Occasionally, when he returns to Hong Kong, he always shows extreme love and compensation to the children.

Xue Jinming shook his head and laughed in the car. This girl is still so carefree, unable to learn the posture of a lady. No matter how many times I've told her, she won't change.

The sound of a car driving in could be heard from downstairs.

The slender figure wrapped in a black cheongsam hurried in, disregarding everything to snatch the photo from Auntie Luo's hand. Momentarily losing balance, she unexpectedly fell to her knees on the floor. Auntie Luo was startled, staring blankly as she knelt on the ground, carefully wiping away the water stains on the photo in her hands. Auntie Luo repeatedly apologized, looking anxiously over her shoulder, vaguely seeing a picture of the lady and a soldier in uniform, seemingly holding a little child on her knees.

Xue Jinming sincerely praised: "You and Hui Shu work much more efficiently than the government. I never thought that your orphanage could be set up so quickly. It's unbelievable."

"Minyan... ..." Linlin was momentarily speechless.

Thinking of you, just happened to pick up the spoon, was about to ladle soup into Xue Jinming's bowl, but with his pull, the ladle almost slipped from my hand.

Xue Jinming remained silent for a long time, and after a moment of silence, gently covered her cold hand with his, and said in a deep voice: "This battle will be fought to the end. The price paid today will surely inspire this nation in the future. The orphans of today will become the pillars of tomorrow."