Chapter 54

“Wife! Get up!”

Su Xi felt her breath was blocked again as she slept heavily.

She opened her drowsy eyes. She raised her delicate little hand and pushed the handsome face of the man away.

With a turn, she fell back asleep.

The weather in July was already quite hot. As Su Xi turned over, the thin blanket draped over her slipped off.

Revealing smooth skin that was as delicate as mutton-fat white jade beneath her spaghetti strap dress.

Xie Zhen was taken aback by such view early in the morning, and his gaze deepened a few shades.

However, thinking of the many things to do today and realizing that his wife had indeed been exhausted these past couple of days, Xie Zhen could only take a deep breath, casting aside the colorful fantasies in his mind, and continued to coax her: “Xixi, can you sleep more when we come back later? Didn’t you say you made an appointment with Grandma Chen for breakfast this morning?”

Su Xi had been sleeping in a daze, but when she finally processed the man’s words, she sat up with a jolt and squinted at him: “What time is it?”

Seeing his little wife so sleepy, Xie Zhen felt a rare pang of guilt for his lack of restraint over the past few days. He quickly scooped her into his lap, kissed her while she was still half-asleep, and swiftly helped her get dressed, all while replying, “It’s 6:30. Grandma Chen and the others are probably waiting for us.”

Realizing that this was indeed the time they usually had breakfast, Su Xi perked up immediately.

She hopped off the man’s lap and bounced out of bed, but having gotten up too quickly, she stumbled uncontrollably.

Xie Zhen was quick on his feet and caught her in a horizontal hold, concern etched on his face: “Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?”

Su Xi patted his arm: “I’m fine; I just got up too fast. Let me down.”

Xie Zhen scrutinized the little person in his arms: “Really okay?”

Su Xi smiled helplessly at the anxious man: “I’m really fine; I’m not made of crystal. It’s just my legs are a bit sore!”

Xie Zhen, feeling a rare sense of guilt, cleared his throat but did not put her down. Instead, he carried her directly to the washroom.

If it weren’t for Su Xi’s firm refusal, he would have wanted to help her wash up himself.

—o—o—o—

The newlywed couple appeared fresh and spirited in the small courtyard of the Su family, where they received a warm welcome.

Grandma Chen joyfully assessed her granddaughter, noting that although Su Xi looked a bit tired, she appeared quite well overall.

Her small face was rosy and her big eyes sparkled with joy, clearly indicating that the young couple was doing well together.

Chen Xiangyun had lived through the old society. Even though times had changed, she still clung to some traditional beliefs, thinking that a woman would only find true happiness three days after returning to her family home following her marriage.

So, even though she had felt some worry over the past few days, she refrained from intruding on the young couple’s home.

Now, seeing her granddaughter looking so vibrant and exchanging loving glances with her grandson-in-law, she was utterly delighted and cheerfully called out, “Come, sit down, we’ve been waiting for you two!”

Su Xi was not one to be coy; she completely disregarded her status as a married woman and plopped down on a stool, reaching out to take the chicken soup that Grandma Chen offered her.

Lifting the earthen bowl, she savored a mouthful before saying, “Grandma your cooking is still the best! But why did you kill a chicken again? Do we have chickens at home?”

Grandma Chen ladled a bowl for her grandson-in-law as well, responding, “Of course, Grandma raised some since spring. The little roosters that are three or four months old are the most tender.”

Although every household now kept a limited number of chickens, Hongjun Island was remote, and every family in the compound raised a few extra. The authorities turned a blind eye to it; these days, every family struggled to make ends meet, so raising a few more chickens to produce extra eggs was quite advantageous.

The soup was indeed tender, especially the chicken broth, which was a flavor Su Xi had never experienced in her previous life.

This time, Grandma Chen generously killed two chickens and stewed a big pot of soup. Even the little ones, Wen Zheng and Wen Rong, no longer needed their mom to feed them; each held a chicken leg in their chubby hands, devouring it with grease dripping from their mouths.

After finishing a bowl of chicken soup, Su Dong turned to his brother-in-law: “What time are we leaving?”

Xie Zhen passed the chicken gizzards from his bowl to his wife, knowing that Su Xi loved to eat those, and replied to Su Dong, “Let’s head out at 10. We should arrive in the city by noon, then transfer to the provincial capital. We’ll rest at the guesthouse for the night and take the train at 8:10 tomorrow morning.”

Xie Zhen had rarely taken a month off, having saved up his days off since last year to have ample time to return to J City for their wedding.

This was the plan the young couple had agreed upon: to hold a ceremony in the army and then have another celebration in J City.

Xi Yan’nan also glanced at his younger sister, who was deeply engrossed in her meal, and asked, “Have you packed everything up?”

Feeling her brother’s gaze, Su Xi did not lift her head and replied, “Ask Xie Zhen.”

A twitch appeared in Xi Yan’nan’s brow as he coldly scoffed, “Don’t you have hands of your own?”

Su Xi responded nonchalantly, “My husband has hands, and that’s enough!”

Of course, she wouldn’t normally be this lazy, but considering that the man had been acting like a madman these past few days, it was no wonder she lacked the energy to tidy up.

Besides, there was no need to explain these private matters to her brother.

The man referred to as “husband,” Xie Zhen, had a gentle expression, looking quite pleased with himself. “Yes, everything is packed.”

Xi Yan’nan decided not to speak any further; he might as well focus on eating. Today was not the day to meddle.

—o—o—o—

The weather at this time was at its hottest, and food could not be kept fresh on the train. Chen Xiangyun only prepared some dried meat for the young couple to snack on during their journey, bringing nothing else along.

Both Su Xi and Xie Zhen were particular about cleanliness, so their clothes alone filled one suitcase, while the other suitcase contained gifts that Su Xi had prepared for the elders of the Xie family.

At this time, the suitcases resembled vintage-style trunks with combination locks. They were made of sturdy green canvas material, both durable and visually appealing. These two suitcases had been sent over by Su Dong, courtesy of a former college classmate, as a wedding gift for his sister.

The only downside was that these suitcases lacked swivel wheels, requiring them to be carried by hand. Fortunately, both Su Xi and Xie Zhen had plenty of strength, making the two suitcases manageable.

What was truly bothersome, however, was that the train from the province could reach J City directly but took an entire week—definitely not a leisurely journey.

Having experienced the convenience of modern transportation in her previous life, Su Xi truly did not want to travel far unless absolutely necessary.

If it weren’t for the constraints of the environment, Su Xi truly wanted to buy a private car. Both she and Xie Zhen had the financial capability for it. She still remembered the day the man handed over his bankbook, and the amount inside had surprised her.

Of course, it was just a thought; buying a car was out of the question—at least not for another ten years.

—o—o—o—

Early that morning, the young couple had finished breakfast and headed directly to the train station from the guesthouse.

When they arrived at the train station half an hour early, they found the long green train already at the platform, and the station was bustling with people carrying various bags.

Su Xi was empty-handed while Xie Zhen struggled with two suitcases as they navigated through the crowd toward the train.

They had purchased sleeper tickets, and having traveled by train before, they quickly found their compartment.

Xie Zhen had asked a comrade to buy the tickets and had specifically chosen upper and lower berths, so Su Xi could sleep on the top while he took the bottom, allowing for some care for each other.

Upon entering the compartment, they found it still empty.

Xie Zhen quickly shoved the suitcases under the bed and placed his shoulder bag on the lower berth. Watching his wife sit on the bed, fanning herself with her hand, he pushed the window up a bit and said, “Is it too hot?”

Su Xi shook her head. “It’s fine; I just got a bit overwhelmed in the crowd. I’ll be okay after a short rest. You know I’m not very sensitive to heat.”

Xie Zhen was, of course, aware of that. “Do you want to lie down and rest a bit?”

Su Xi was indeed feeling a little tired. Thanks to someone, she had been severely sleep-deprived over the past couple of days, and she didn’t refuse Xie Zhen’s suggestion.

She lay down on the upper berth and closed her eyes to rest.

She knew she wouldn’t really fall asleep—the train hadn’t departed yet, and the noise around her was incessant—but just lying there made her back and legs feel much more comfortable.

Just as Su Xi was drifting off, two other passengers finally arrived in the compartment.

“Brother, hurry up!” A lively and playful girl’s voice carried a hint of spoiled impatience, yet it was not off-putting.

“Slow down; don’t trip again!” A warm male voice replied, tinged with a hint of helpless affection.

“I’m 18 years old! Stop treating me like a little kid!” The girl’s tone was marked by irritation.

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry!”

Su Xi didn’t lift her head; she remained lying on the upper berth with her eyes closed, but the corners of her mouth curled up. She remembered how she often forgot her age and playfully bickered with her brothers.

“Ah! There’s someone here already! Brother, let’s be quiet; the sister above seems to be asleep!” The lively girl’s voice suddenly dropped in volume as she realized that someone occupied the upper berth across from her.

Su Xi thought to herself that this girl was quite adorable. Though a bit spoiled, she seemed very considerate.

Since the girl was so polite, Su Xi felt embarrassed to continue pretending to be asleep, so she slowly sat up.

The girl had been glancing over at Su Xi and, seeing her sit up, said shyly, “Sister, did I wake you?”

Su Xi turned her head, smiling at the girl who was now sitting across from her. She looked just as she had imagined—a cute girl dressed elegantly. “No, I wasn’t really sleeping!”

“Wow! Sister, you’re so pretty! I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful than you!” The girl, named Xing Xing, hadn’t realized Su Xi’s beauty until now; she had only assumed from her figure that she was a young woman, but she had not expected to encounter such a stunning beauty.

Su Xi looked at the girl named Xing Xing, her eyes curving with a smile. This must be the little princess who had been spoiled by her family since childhood; she seemed so innocent.

“Thank you! Xing Xing is very pretty too!”

“Of course! I’m also very pretty! Isn’t that right, brother?” Xing Xing clearly delighted in Su Xi’s compliment and turned to her brother, expecting praise.

The gentle-looking brother smiled at Su Xi and nodded, then turned to the girl and affectionately chimed in, “Yes, our Xing Xing is the most beautiful!”

Xing Xing appeared even more interested in the pretty sister. Without reservation, she stood up, her little hands resting on Su Xi’s upper berth as she curiously looked at Su Xi’s military uniform. “My name is Pang Xing; I’m 18 years old. This is my neighbor, and his name is Tong Yun. What’s your name, sister? How old are you?”

“Xing Xing! You’re going to disturb her rest like this!” Tong Yun said as he organized their luggage and then politely and distantly apologized to Su Xi, trying to pull the girl away.

According to Su Xi’s personality, she wouldn’t usually say much more, especially since she noticed the siblings’ distant demeanor. It was only normal to remain cautious when out and about.

However, seeing the adorable girl with her head drooping, Su Xi spoke directly, “It’s fine, I wasn’t really sleeping either. Pang Xing, nice to meet you; my name is Su Xi, and I’m 20 years old!”

Then, an astonishing scene unfolded before Su Xi. The girl’s expression transformed in an instant, her joy returning like a Sichuan opera face-changing act.

She shrugged off Tong Yun’s hand, leaned over Su Xi’s bed, and exclaimed with a bright smile, “Wow, sister, you’re only two years older than me! You’re in a military uniform—are you part of a performing troupe?”

Su Xi: “……”

Tong Yun covered his face, the distance between them lessening as he awkwardly looked at the bewildered comrade. “I’m sorry, Su Xi Comrade. My sister gets a bit excited around pretty people; just ignore her.”

Pang Xing stomped her foot in frustration. “I’m not excited; I just like looking at beautiful people… uh-oh.” She realized she had let the truth slip. Would this beautiful sister think she was a bad person?

Seeing Pang Xing’s mortified expression, as if she wanted to swallow her own tongue, Su Xi couldn’t help but laugh. Her smile was like a blooming flower, vibrant and captivating, drawing even more glances from Tong Yun, who had feelings for her, while Pang Xing’s eyes sparkled like stars, fixated on Su Xi’s face.

Su Xi found the girl’s candidness amusing and felt a strange familiarity with the scene. Last year, when she met Aunt Siyun… no, now she should refer to her as Mom. Last year, when she first met her mother, she had looked just as starstruck.

Su Xi flipped over and swiftly jumped down from the bed. As Pang Xing gasped in surprise, she playfully patted the girl’s head. “You can just call me Xi Xi; I’m not in a performing troupe. I’m a doctor!”

Pang Xing looked a bit confused. “A… doctor?”

Tong Yun, also a doctor, reacted quickly. “You’re a military doctor, right?”

Su Xi, recognized in her military uniform, didn’t find it surprising. “Yes! I’m a military doctor!”

“Wow, Sister Xixi, you’re amazing! You’re only 20 years old and already a doctor! My brother Tong Yun is also studying medicine, but he just graduated this year. He’s 24 years old—so old!” Pang Xing had originally admired her brother, but now, meeting this beautiful sister on the train made her feel even more impressed.

Tong Yun’s face darkened, and he gritted his teeth, “I’m only 24 years old; I’m not old!”

“Well, the sister is already a doctor at 20!” Pang Xing pointed out.

Tong Yun: “…”

Su Xi couldn’t help but laugh, finding their sibling dynamic endearing, like sweet childhood friends.

“Did you skip grades?” Pang Xing looked at Su Xi with starry eyes, full of curiosity.

Su Xi sat down on the lower bunk and replied, “Yes, I skipped four grades!”

Pang Xing plopped down on the lower bunk across from her, looking at Su Xi with admiration. “Xi Xi, you’re so amazing!”

Tong Yun nodded in agreement; it really was impressive. “Can I ask which university you attended?”

Su Xi replied, “There’s nothing wrong with saying—I attended the First Military Medical University in G Province!”

Pang Xing… so impressive! Although she didn’t quite understand the rankings of medical schools, she was about to ask her brother when the door to the compartment opened.

Xie Zhen returned from the washroom.

He glanced at the two newcomers in the compartment, raising an eyebrow in surprise before handing a damp towel to Su Xi. “Use this cool towel to wipe your face; it’s hot, isn’t it?”

Tong Yun and Pang Xing chimed in unison, “Xie Zhen, how come you’re here?”

---

Mutton-fat Jade:

---