“Hm!”

Hearing Anxin’s words, Bai Yichen’s usually sharp and cold expression softened noticeably.

He couldn’t help but silently sigh to himself—getting married really had its perks.

Not only did his wife prepare delicious meals that made the entire courtyard envious, but she even heated water for his bath.

Normally, when he came down from the mountain, he would wash off under the outdoor faucet with cold water, regardless of the season. Spring, summer, fall, or winter, it was always the same. While he could handle it thanks to his sturdy constitution, having warm water was undoubtedly a luxury.

Now that he had a wife, everything was taken care of—the house was neatly organized, supplies were properly arranged, and there was even a sense of coziness and homeliness.

For the first time, Bai Yichen truly felt like a man with a home.

With that thought, he slipped on the new slippers Anxin had prepared for him at the door and strode toward the bathroom to clean up.

As soon as Bai Yichen disappeared into the bathroom, Anxin breathed a sigh of relief.

The man’s imposing presence was overwhelming, making her feel suffocated whenever they were alone together. She couldn’t help but wonder when such days would end. Yet, it was only the first day after their marriage.

Resigned, she sighed internally and got up to set the table for dinner.

By the time Bai Yichen emerged from the bathroom, steam still clinging to him, he was dressed simply in a T-shirt and shorts. The table was already set, and his petite wife sat quietly at the table, watching him expectantly.

A strange warmth stirred in his chest as he strode over.

“Dinner’s ready,” Anxin said calmly.

It was almost seven o’clock. Truth be told, she was starving, but she had waited for him to return from work before eating.

“Hm,” he responded, sitting down and picking up his bowl.

The dishes on the table were surprisingly hearty: braised pig’s trotters, boiled eggs, chicken feet, and braised pork intestines, all beautifully plated and seasoned. A bowl of blanched greens added a fresh balance, while the aroma of the dishes was enough to make anyone’s mouth water.

The two ate in silence, adhering to the old rule of not speaking during meals.

Several times, Anxin considered serving him food from the dishes, but she ultimately stopped herself.

He’s an adult with functioning limbs, she thought. Why should I serve him? I owe him, sure, but I’m not his maid or nanny. Cooking was already enough effort.

Meanwhile, Bai Yichen focused on his meal but mulled over another matter.

In the morning, he had been so preoccupied with work that he had forgotten to discuss the tradition of returning to the bride’s family (known as “hui men”). He wondered if Anxin had bought gifts for the occasion during her trip to town.

If not, he still had 20 yuan in his pocket, which he could give to his mother-in-law. Their family could surely use the money.

Deciding to bring it up, Bai Yichen raised his head, ready to speak—only for someone outside the door to call out:

“Captain, are you home?”

Both Anxin and Bai Yichen turned toward the door, where a group of young men from the exploration team stood, bowls in hand, looking expectantly inside.

Anxin glanced at Bai Yichen, puzzled. He immediately understood what they were after: they had come to scrounge for food.

He set his chopsticks down, stood, and muttered softly to her:
“Don’t worry, they’re just here to freeload a meal.”

Anxin: “…”

She had noticed earlier that cooking anything fragrant in such a communal living space would draw attention. When she was preparing the braised dishes that afternoon, people had already been glancing over. She had a feeling something like this might happen.

Anxin wasn’t stingy. Since they were Bai Yichen’s coworkers, she could occasionally share meal. Besides, her warehouse had plenty of leftover cuts and scraps—sharing some pig offal wasn’t a big deal.

“Since your coworkers are here,” she said, “invite them in to eat. No need to be so formal; we’re all neighbors.”

At her words, Bai Yichen’s lips curved into a faint smile.

He already knew his wife was an open-minded and generous person. Turning to the men outside, he said loudly:
“You heard her! Come on in. My wife cooked plenty today, but you’d better show her some respect from now on.”

The moment his words landed, the group of young men rushed inside with grins and laughter. One even thumped his chest and declared:
“Of course, Captain! Your wife’s already number one in our books!”

They had tried to eat at the mess hall earlier, but the bland, watery dishes couldn’t compare to the rich, meaty aroma coming from Bai Yichen’s home. Unable to resist, they had collectively decided to come over with their bowls.

Bai Yichen shook his head with a chuckle as he followed the boisterous group inside. “Good food really is irresistible,” he thought.

The men wasted no time, swarming the table and devouring everything in sight. The pig’s trotters, intestines, chicken feet, and eggs were gone in no time. By the end, they were even using the leftover braising sauce to soak their rice.

Despite their rowdy behavior, the men weren’t freeloaders. After eating, they stayed to clean up, gathering the dirty dishes and washing them at the communal sink.

Once the house was quiet again, Bai Yichen picked up Anxin’s coat, gently draped it over her shoulders, and said:
“Let’s go. It’s still early. We should visit your mother.”

It was customary to return to the bride’s family shortly after the wedding. Skipping it would only worry her mother.

Anxin nodded, slipping into her coat. She was satisfied with how considerate Bai Yichen was being. She had half-expected him to forget about this important tradition.

As they reached the door, Bai Yichen suddenly turned back to her, his dark eyes meeting hers.

“By the way, did you buy any gifts for your mother and siblings today?”