Chapter 17

Shortly after returning home, Yu Xiangnian heard a knock on the door.

Cheng Jingmo opened the door to find Xiao Tuanjie, the husband of their neighbor Sister Liu Zhen, holding a small bamboo-woven dustpan with ten eggs inside.

“Deputy Battalion Commander Cheng, we don’t have much at home. These eggs are laid by our own chickens. Please accept them,” Xiao Tuanjie said.

Cheng Jingmo was puzzled, “Captain Xiao, what is this for?”

“Comrade Yu saved Fangzi’s life today. My wife was too afraid to come over, so she asked me to thank Comrade Yu,” Xiao Tuanjie explained.

“Saved a life?” Cheng Jingmo was even more confused, “What happened?”

Captain Xiao recounted how Fangzi choked on candy today.

After listening, Cheng Jingmo didn’t dare to refuse or accept these things on behalf of Yu Xiangnian, so he called her over to decide herself.

Yu Xiangnian had just put the shrimp into the water tank when she heard Cheng Jingmo calling her.

“Comrade Yu Xiangnian, come out for a moment.”

The address was quite formal, even using “comrade”!

Yu Xiangnian rushed out and saw Xiao Tuanjie holding a small dustpan with eggs, instantly understanding what was going on.

In times of scarcity, even ten eggs were a generous gift, but Yu Xiangnian couldn’t accept them!

“Captain Xiao, saving Fangzi was just a small effort. This gesture is too much,” she smiled, “Take back the eggs. Your three children at home are growing; keep them for them.”

Xiao Tuanjie persisted with the eggs, “If it weren’t for you today, Fangzi wouldn’t be here. This is just a small token of appreciation from me and Sister Liu. Please don’t refuse.”

“It’s not about refusing; I just can’t accept.”

“If you don’t take them, Sister Liu might misunderstand again.”

The incident where Yu Xiangnian refused Li Guihua’s buns had already spread throughout the family compound.

Liu Zhen was already upset that Yu Xiangnian had thrown away the steamed cakes she had given her. Now, hearing that Yu Xiangnian had refused Li Guihua’s buns, she was even more angry!

This was clearly humiliating her!

Yu Xiangnian: “… It’s too difficult!”

After thinking about it, it might be better to accept them first and give them something else in a few days.

Just as she was about to accept them, Cheng Jingmo said, “Captain Xiao, I remember you know how to weave with bamboo strips?”

Xiao Tuanjie nodded, “What about it?”

“In that case, could you take back the eggs and weave a backpack for us?”

Cheng Jingmo knew that soldiers like them believed in repaying kindness. Although the family members weren’t highly educated, they understood the concept of reciprocation.

If they didn’t accept something today, they would feel uneasy.

“A backpack? That’s nothing. I’ll cut bamboo tomorrow and start weaving,” Xiao Tuanjie said casually.

“I’ll cut the bamboo; you take the eggs back.”

Xiao Tuanjie took the eggs back.

Yu Xiangnian approached Cheng Jingmo and whispered, “I actually liked that small dustpan in Captain Xiao’s hands. It’s so unique!”

As Yu Xiangnian leaned closer, a faint fragrance drifted into Cheng Jingmo’s nostrils, quite pleasant to smell.

Cheng Jingmo instinctively took a breath but then felt it was inappropriate and stepped back.

He thought to himself, Why didn’t you say that earlier!

Meanwhile, Liu Zhen was at the shoe cabinet, and upon seeing the eggs being taken back, her expression turned cold. “She doesn’t even want the eggs?”

Xiao Tuanjie placed the eggs on the table. “It’s not that she doesn’t want them. She said our three children are growing and should have them.”

Liu Zhen couldn’t believe her ears. “Did she really say that? Why do I find it hard to believe?”

“Could I lie to you? Deputy Battalion Commander Cheng asked me to weave a backpack for them.”

Xiao Tuanjie paused and added, “Let’s not judge people with old eyes. People can change. I think Comrade Yu is a reasonable person, not as unreasonable as everyone says.”

Liu Zhen recalled today’s scene where Yu Xiangnian saved Fangzi.

She could have ignored it, but without hesitation, she lifted Fangzi and ignored the cold remarks from the family members.

If Fangzi hadn’t been saved, those family members, including herself, would definitely have blamed Yu Xiangnian for causing Fangzi’s death. It could have caused a big uproar!

Yu Xiangnian hadn’t thought about all of this, solely focused on saving Fangzi.

Thinking about it now, although Yu Xiangnian had a bad temper, her conscience was actually quite good!

On the other side.

After taking a shower, Yu Xiangnian came out and said to Cheng Jingmo, “Take off your clothes, let me take a look at the wound.”

Cheng Jingmo had just finished showering with cold water from the tap in the courtyard.

“No need, I’m fine!” Cheng Jingmo was worried that Yu Xiangnian would make the wound worse.

Yu Xiangnian was annoyed, “You let Dr. Wu see it, but not me! My medical skills are leagues ahead of Dr. Wu’s! And I still want to see it!”

“Are you going to let me see it, or should I ask Dr. Wu to come over and check it out for you at home? You choose!” she said with a smirk.

It seemed like there were two options, but in reality, there was only one.

If Cheng Jingmo chose to let her see it, she would carefully examine the wound. If Cheng Jingmo chose Dr. Wu, she would still ensure a “thorough” examination.

Seeing Yu Xiangnian’s smiling face, Cheng Jingmo felt a chill down his spine, probably from the cold shower he had just taken.

After some thought, he decided not to provoke Yu Xiangnian.

Over the past six months, he had had enough of Yu Xiangnian’s unreasonable behavior. Finally, a few quiet days.

Just let her look; he wouldn’t die!

Cheng Jingmo sat on a stool and lifted his shirt.

Yu Xiangnian was very satisfied that Cheng Jingmo had made a wise choice. Her smile grew wider, “Take off your clothes!”

She had ulterior motives, wanting to admire this handsome man’s body and muscles.

“Huh?” Cheng Jingmo hesitated, “Isn’t it enough to see it like this?”

“You’re a grown man, still afraid I’ll eat you?” she retorted, “Take off your clothes so I can check!”

She reasoned grandly.

She was considering this man, who even buttoned his clothes up to the top button at home, as if he was afraid she would do something to him.

Cheng Jingmo had no choice but to take off his shirt.

Yu Xiangnian admired the man in front of her up close. His wheat-colored upper body was muscular with broad shoulders, narrow waist, defined six-pack abs, and a wide, muscular back.

This figure made her want to touch him!

Yu Xiangnian swallowed, suppressing her animalistic instincts. She squatted down to examine the wound.

Cheng Jingmo’s body was right in front of Yu Xiangnian. She caught a whiff of the soapy scent on his body.

She had seen many men, but for some reason, her cheeks were slightly flushed at this moment.

Using a cotton ball dipped in alcohol, she carefully cleaned and inspected the wound, which was already almost healed.

Yu Xiangnian disinfected the wound and applied a little medicine. She stood up, “No need to bandage it. Keeping the wound dry will help it heal. I’ll apply medicine again tomorrow morning.”

Cheng Jingmo hardly felt any pain as expected. He was somewhat incredulous, “Is that it?”

“Is this complicated?” Yu Xiangnian retorted, then realized and added, “I learned how to handle wounds from watching my mother help people since I was little.”

Worried that Cheng Jingmo might ask more questions, Yu Xiangnian quickly changed the subject, “You don’t need to go to the canteen for breakfast tomorrow. I bought four meat buns and put them in the cupboard. Just heat them up.”

“And, I bought two pairs of shoes for Xiao Jie, the big white rabbit candies were also for him, and some pastries…” She spoke while heading back to the bedroom.

Cheng Jingmo listened quietly, put on his clothes, his deep and sharp eyes darkened.