Chapter 19

Cheng Jingmo always wore the same expression. “Comrade Yu, our unit needs to collect several pieces of equipment.”

Ding Yunfei saw Cheng Jingmo and greeted him as he walked out, “Deputy Captain Cheng…”

He didn’t dare openly flirt with Yu Xiangnian. If he got labeled with disciplinary issues, it could ruin his future.

Yu Xiangnian opened a drawer, took out keys and a logbook, then walked out.

She led Cheng Jingmo towards the warehouse. Cheng Jingmo followed behind her, feeling a bit uneasy as he watched her slender figure.

Was she in contact with Ding Yunfei like this every day?

Unconsciously, they reached the warehouse door where five soldiers were already waiting.

Upon seeing Yu Xiangnian, they hesitated about whether to greet her.

Previously, a few comrades had greeted her as “sister-in-law” when collecting items, only to be harshly scolded.

The five soldiers exchanged glances. Finally, one timidly spoke up, “Comrade Yu… hello!”

Yu Xiangnian warmly smiled and nodded, “Hello!”

The five soldiers became even more awkward, looking at each other.

Several people entered the warehouse to move items. Yu Xiangnian stood aside, meticulously recording everything one by one without any signs of impatience as rumored, even reminding them to be careful.

The soldiers sneakily glanced at Cheng Jingmo. He checked the items received with Yu Xiangnian in a serious manner.

The five soldiers left with the items. Before leaving, one bold soldier said, “Sister-in-law, we’re heading out first.”

Yu Xiangnian looked up and smiled, “Okay, take your time.”

The muscles on Cheng Jingmo’s face twitched uncontrollably.

Expressionless, he took the logbook Yu Xiangnian handed over, signed it, returned it to her, then turned and walked away.

Watching his military-green figure walk away, Yu Xiangnian suddenly wanted to tease him.

“Oh, Cheng Jingmo!”

Cheng Jingmo halted, then turned after a few seconds. “Comrade Yu, do you need something else?”

With her hands behind her back, Yu Xiangnian walked slowly up to him, tilting her face up. “You’re leaving without even saying goodbye?”

Cheng Jingmo lowered his gaze. Before him was a small face, fair and clean, lips bright, and those bright eyes seemed to be smiling. Blinking, they looked at him.

He felt a bit dry in the mouth, hastily stepped back, and said, “Comrade Yu, goodbye.”

“Comrade Cheng Jingmo, don’t engage in strenuous activities. Take care of your wound!”

Her tone was serious and deliberate. Cheng Jingmo felt his ears burning for some unknown reason.

He didn’t say another word and turned to leave.

Watching his ears turn red, Yu Xiangnian chuckled softly.

This man was too innocent. Even talking to a woman made him blush!

Listening to Yu Xiangnian’s laughter, Cheng Jingmo felt his ears grow even hotter. His pace quickened and quickened.

In no time, he caught up with the five soldiers.

“Deputy Captain Cheng, why is your face red?” one soldier exclaimed in surprise.

“The weather’s too hot, and I rushed,” Cheng Jingmo replied.

“We don’t believe it! You must have seen Sister-in-law, that’s why!” another soldier laughed heartily. “Sister-in-law is really beautiful, not as fierce as they say.”

“Where’s the fierceness? I think Sister-in-law is approachable, like a fairy!”

“Not a fairy, but a woman from a magazine.”

The soldiers chattered away, and Cheng Jingmo spoke in a deep voice, “That’s enough. Want to run an extra ten kilometers later?”

Yu Xiangnian was beautiful, and Cheng Jingmo had always known that gossiping behind someone’s back wasn’t something a grown man should do.

The others quickly fell silent, and Cheng Jingmo’s expression gradually returned to normal.

Towards the end of the workday, Cheng Jingmo returned with soldiers to return the equipment.

In the warehouse, Yu Xiangnian checked everything one by one. When Cheng Jingmo signed the logbook, he said, “I’ll go cut bamboo later. I’ll cook dinner when I get home.”

There was a bamboo forest about three kilometers from the base. If he hurried, he could be back in just an hour.

“Oh, go ahead. Thinking of getting home quickly to cook,” Yu Xiangnian replied.

Cheng Jingmo furrowed his brow for a moment, then finished signing, returned the logbook to Yu Xiangnian, and left without saying goodbye.

Back home, Yu Xiangnian started cooking.

She wasn’t really good at cooking. In modern society, she either ate in the canteen or ordered takeout, rarely cooking herself.

But now she had to.

For the fish, she made braised fish with tomatoes and chili. She wasn’t sure if it would be edible.

For the shrimp, she fried them in oil, sprinkled with salt and Sichuan pepper, making salt and pepper shrimp.

Then, she picked some cucumbers from the backyard and made a soup.

This would have to do.

Just as the meal was ready, Cheng Jingmo returned. He was carrying a large bunch of bananas in his hands and had a small basket on his shoulder.

“Such tall bananas!” Xiao Jie exclaimed.

Yu Xiangnian looked at the nearly one-meter-tall bunch of bananas in surprise. “Didn’t you go to cut bamboo?”

“There are a few banana trees in the bamboo forest. I saw they were ripe, so I cut a bunch.”

“What about the bamboo?”

“It’s at the door. I’ll take it over later.”

Since they couldn’t finish such a large bunch of bananas, Yu Xiangnian suggested, “Then cut a section to send to Captain Xiao’s house.”

Cheng Jingmo had the same idea. He cut some bananas, took them along with the bamboo to Xiao Ying’s house, and had Xiao Jie take some to Dong Minghao’s house.

When he returned, he brought back several packets of eggplant and a bunch of baby bok choy.

Mrs. Liu had just picked them from her own garden and insisted he take them home.

Back at home, Cheng Jingmo took the eggs out of the basket and poured the clams into a bucket of water to keep them alive.

“Did you go shopping too?” Yu Xiangnian asked.

“I ran into some villagers selling things on the way, so I bought them.”

In these times, it was common for local villagers to secretly sell their own grown produce to make ends meet.

Cheng Jingmo bought twenty eggs for six cents each, totaling one yuan and twenty cents.

The clams filled a small basket, probably about four or five catties. He paid the villager five yuan for both the clams and the basket.

Yesterday he didn’t think he’d need the money, but today he had to spend it.

He had never been one to spend money recklessly, but seeing these clams made him think Yu Xiangnian would probably like them.

Most people in Nancheng liked seafood.

Unaware of Cheng Jingmo’s thoughts, which were normal in her mind, Yu Xiangnian said, “Let’s do this: tomorrow, ask Captain Xiao to come over for dinner. I’ll have him take some bananas back with him.”

“Don’t tell him beforehand. After work, just bring him straight here, or else he’ll go shopping again,” she added.

“Okay.”

“Let’s eat. I’ve finished cooking.”

Cheng Jingmo: “…”

He had rushed back home so fast just to cook, and now it was already done? Yu Xiangnian brought out the freshly cooked dishes from the kitchen, and the three of them sat down at the table to eat.

Cheng Jingmo only ate cucumber soup with rice, occasionally picking a bit of tomato from the braised fish.

Yu Xiangnian could tell Cheng Jingmo was trying to save the fish and shrimp for her and Xiao Jie.

She picked up a shrimp she had just peeled and put it into his bowl, then served him a large piece of fish.

Cheng Jingmo looked at the food in his bowl and paused.