Chapter 47

After they got familiar with each other, Ren Ping’an’s true personality came to light—it was clear he was lively and full of energy.

Although he mysteriously tried to get Yin Xiaoman to guess what he had brought, he couldn’t contain his excitement. Before she could respond, he eagerly untied the vine secured around the banana leaf, revealing a large fish inside.

“A grouper?” Yin Xiaoman was astonished. “Where did you get this?”

Grouper was a deep-sea fish, hard to come by even for fishermen working near the coast. Yin Xiaoman had been here for almost a year, and apart from once trading for one with Xiao Yao when she first arrived, she hadn’t seen another since.

This grouper was incredibly plump, weighing at least one and a half pounds by her estimate. Despite having been in Ren Ping’an’s bamboo basket for so long, it was still alive, its fins and tail gently twitching.

When Yin Xiaoman immediately recognized the fish, Ren Ping’an looked a bit surprised. But then he remembered Commander’s credentials and how Sister-in-law and her group had come from the Pioneer Camp. He quickly understood.

“Sister-in-law, isn’t this fish plump? Let me tell you, you won’t find a grouper this size anywhere else besides here! This was caught by the Second Platoon during their patrol at sea today. They had a great catch—several groupers this size, a pile of smaller fish, and even a good haul of shrimp and crabs. 

I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I brought over one fish.” Ren Ping’an explained proudly.

Hearing this, Yin Xiaoman immediately felt uneasy. She quickly declined, saying: “This is all property of the state! You can’t just bring it to my house. If there’s extra that the camp can’t consume, I’m happy to pay for some, but taking it like this isn’t right.”

Her words made Ren Ping’an burst into laughter.

“Sister-in-law, what are you thinking? This isn’t army rations or supplies from the replenishment ships. This is the fruit of our camp’s labor! 

You probably don’t fully understand the food supply situation for our coastal defense units. Here, in addition to the usual food supplements, the most important thing is relying on the sea for sustenance.

Even though it looks like our supply ships come frequently, bringing plenty of goods each time and making it seem easy to get what we need, that’s only because we’re currently in the middle of infrastructure development.” 

“When the construction is completed and passes inspection, the supply ships won’t come as frequently anymore. Do you know how much diesel and resources those trips consume?”

“Normally, for us stationed on the island, the supply ship only comes once a month.” Ren Ping’an continued. “Each trip brings some staples like grains, condiments, dried vegetables, and a few durable fresh vegetables. Beyond that, we rely on ourselves to get by. 

Fishing, farming, growing vegetables, and being self-sufficient—that’s the way of life for our island’s military unit. 

So, whatever we catch or harvest is shared by everyone. There’s no ‘yours’ or ‘mine,’ and there’s definitely no concept of paying for anything.”

At this point, Ren Ping’an chuckled. “Sister-in-law, since you’ll be in charge of the experts’ meals, part of my daily work is to deliver grains and vegetables to you. Are you going to charge me every time I drop something off?”

His words left Yin Xiaoman momentarily stunned. 

This method of distribution was something she had never heard of, let alone imagined. Yet, oddly enough, it didn’t sound bad at all.

Since that was the case, Yin Xiaoman didn’t overthink it and accepted the fish graciously. 

After setting the fish aside, she brought up the question that had been nagging at her. Pointing to the banana leaf that had been tossed aside, she asked: “Xiao Ren, are the banana plants on the mountain free to pick from?”

“Of course! As long as you don’t waste them, you can pick as much as you want.” Ren Ping’an answered without hesitation.

Then, as if realizing something, he glanced at her and grinned knowingly. “Sister-in-law, did you pick green bananas and now don’t know how to eat them?”

Yin Xiaoman smiled sheepishly. She had indeed picked a bunch of green bananas and was unsure what to do with them.

In her previous life, and even in this one, she had never lived in a tropical environment like this. Everything around her was novel, and most of her past life experiences were of little use here.

So, for many things, she felt it was better to ask and be sure.

Just like with the bananas, while Yin Xiaoman knew they needed to ripen before being eaten, she wasn’t sure how to properly ripen them or if there were any specific steps to follow.

Seeing that Ren Ping’an was even using banana leaves as a substitute for wrapping paper, she figured he must be quite familiar with the local ways. Naturally, she decided to humbly seek advice from someone more knowledgeable.

Sure enough, Ren Ping’an didn’t hesitate and immediately started sharing his expertise.

“These bananas can’t be eaten right away after picking. You have to let them ripen for a few days until they turn yellow. 

The locals here usually put them in a bucket with a piece of cloth dipped in white liquor or even a stick of incense. Then they seal the bucket tightly and place it in a warm spot. It usually takes about two to three days for the bananas to ripen that way.

Since we don’t have liquor here, and apart from mosquito coils, we don’t have much in the way of incense either, Sister-in-law, you could use a cardboard box instead. Seal the bananas inside and leave the box on the windowsill outside your kitchen. After four or five days, they should be ripe and ready to eat.

We have spare boxes at the Kitchen Unit. Later, I’ll grab one and bring Da Bao along to help me carry it. We also have some bananas that have already ripened; I’ll ask him to bring them back so you can share them with Little Niuniu.”

The mention of Niuniu reminded Yin Xiaoman of her children. She suddenly thought of how she had scolded them earlier and felt a bit guilty.

She quickly took out a yellow fruit she had picked and asked: “Xiao Ren, do you know what this is and how it’s eaten?”

Ren Ping’an took one look and exclaimed in surprise: “Oh, Sister-in-law, you picked a lemon! This thing isn’t edible as it is—it’s way too sour. We usually cut it up and use it to make lemon water.”

“Lemon water?” Yin Xiaoman considered this and found it acceptable. After all, the fruit’s fragrance was undeniably appealing.

“How do you make it?” she asked modestly.

“Just slice it into thin pieces and soak them in water. Sometimes, we add a bit of herbal grass to it as well.” Ren Ping’an explained further.

“You know, all the cooks in our unit have to go through training at the regiment before starting their roles.” he added, shifting into a tone of pride.

During their training, Ren Ping’an explained, doctors from the health clinic came to give lectures. They specifically mentioned that this fruit, lemons, had an exceptionally high vitamin content.  

“It also has antibacterial properties.” he continued. “When fresh vegetables and fruits aren’t available, they told us to make lemon water for the soldiers to drink regularly. It helps prevent mouth sores and oral ulcers. 

Additionally, the doctors said that if someone gets a minor cut or scratch and there aren’t proper disinfectants around, you can squeeze the lemon juice directly onto the wound to help sterilize it.”

At this point, Ren Ping’an visibly shuddered, as if recalling a particularly unpleasant memory of applying lemon juice to a wound. 

Seeing how intently Yin Xiaoman was listening, he added: “Oh, and a lot of the locals here use lemons in cooking.”

The mention of cooking immediately sparked Yin Xiaoman’s curiosity. 

“How do they use it in cooking? Do you know?” she asked eagerly.

Ren Ping’an scratched his head a bit sheepishly. 

“Sister-in-law, we spend most of our time in the unit and don’t interact much with the locals. I haven’t seen them use it myself. But I’ve heard they treat it like vinegar in their cooking.”

After saying this, he frowned slightly. “This thing is so sour—it’s no surprise they use it as a vinegar substitute.”

Once Ren Ping’an left, Yin Xiaoman decided to experiment with the lemons. 

As a cook, finding a new ingredient and not figuring out how to use it just didn’t sit right with her. 

Since she and Shen Qingyun had only just arrived the night before and had just learned how to start a fire, Ren Ping’an hadn’t yet brought over the supplies allocated to their household. Earlier, he’d offered to send Da Bao over with lunch, but Yin Xiaoman declined. 

Instead, she told her son and daughter to bring back a few steamed buns while they excitedly tagged along with Ren Ping’an, more eager to play than to help with chores.

During her walk earlier, Yin Xiaoman had noticed a vegetable patch near the back mountain. New sprouts of vegetables were growing there, clearly planted by the soldiers who had previously been stationed on the island.

Since the resources on the island were shared, Yin Xiaoman decided to go pick some vegetables later.

First, following Ren Ping’an’s instructions, she sliced the lemon and tried a piece. It was indeed very sour. 

However, the sourness was different from vinegar; the aftertaste carried a fruity fragrance she had never tasted before and quite liked.

But just because she liked it didn’t mean her children would. After all, a sour water with no other flavor would likely have little appeal to them.

After thinking for a moment, Yin Xiaoman took out a small bottle of honey from her space, poured some into an enamel cup, and added the lemon slices. Then, she poured in some warm water.

Suddenly, without knowing why, the words Ren Ping’an had casually mentioned—”you can also add some cool herbs”—flashed through her mind.

She wasn’t sure what he meant by “cool herbs.” but it seemed like such a good idea!

In this kind of weather, something cooling and heat-relieving would be perfect, right?

She couldn’t exactly go to Ren Ping’an now and ask him to identify which herbs were cooling, so she thought for a while and then remembered the mint she had seen growing wildly along the roadside near her door.

Cui Yan had pointed it out to her before, saying that it had a cooling effect when made into tea during the summer, perfect for relieving heat.

Could mint be considered one of those “cool herbs”?

Although she recognized the plant, she had never actually tasted it. The mint Cui Yan showed her was a few small sprigs, carefully tended in a flower pot, and Yin Xiaoman had never had the heart to pick any of those precious leaves.

What surprised her, however, was that this mint, which Cui Yan had cherished like a delicate flower, was now growing in abundance on Zhongshan Island, like wild grass, spreading freely in patches.

Yin Xiaoman walked to the intersection, where she picked the freshest and thickest mint leaves. She first held them to her nose and smelled them, then tasted a small bite, savoring the flavor. After confirming it was the same sweet, fragrant scent she had encountered before, she gathered a handful, washed them clean, and dropped them directly into the warm water with the lemon slices.

Since there was so much mint, she generously added several leaves.

After placing the lemon water in a cool spot to steep and waiting for the others to return, Yin Xiaoman headed to the vegetable garden at the back mountain. She picked two cucumbers, two tomatoes, a bunch of green onions, and a handful of long beans.

The heat was intense; even a short walk had her sweating profusely, soaking her back in sweat. She had completely lost the motivation to stir-fry in a hot pan.

She first rubbed salt over the grouper fish, and since she didn’t have any ginger, she resorted to marinating it with some yellow wine.

Then, she boiled some water to blanch the long beans, cutting them into pieces and soaking them in cold water to prepare for later. Next, she mashed some garlic and chopped the cucumbers and tomatoes.

Just as she calculated the time, knowing the mess hall would soon be serving lunch, Yin Xiaoman began steaming the fish. She squeezed lemon juice to substitute for vinegar and made a simple oil and vinegar dressing.

The dressing was indeed simple.

It was just lemon juice mixed with oil, salt, and pepper. She also added a tiny bit of the honey she hadn’t yet put away, then stirred it vigorously until the ingredients fully blended, emulsifying into a smooth mixture.

Despite its simplicity, the fragrance of the lemon made the dressing both refreshing and appetizing.

Although she hadn’t tasted the dish yet, just the smell alone told her that the three who hadn’t returned would definitely enjoy it. 

She poured the dressing over the sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, mixing everything together to create a large, fresh salad.

Yin Xiaoman took the steamed fish out of the pot and placed it on a plate, topping it with chopped green onions and garlic. She then drained the long beans, added the garlic paste, and placed them on another plate.

Next, she took a soup ladle, poured some oil into it, and heated it over the stove. She casually dropped a few Sichuan peppercorns into the oil.

When the oil was hot, she poured it over both the steamed fish and the garlic beans.

As the oil sizzled, a fragrant cloud of peppercorn oil smoke filled the kitchen, drifting out the window.

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Shen Qingyun who was exhausted after working all morning, felt both tired and sluggish. Even when he saw the small millet steamed buns in the hands of his son and daughter, he didn’t feel the slightest appetite.

Having grown up in the north, the location of the Vanguard Camp was already the southernmost place he had been.

So when he arrived on Zhongshan Island, though he hadn’t told anyone, he felt a bit uncomfortable.

The humid, oppressive environment constantly made him feel like he couldn’t breathe properly.

After several days of continuous work without a proper rest, even someone as strong as him was starting to feel the strain.

Just as he was feeling his fatigue, he returned home. Before even stepping inside, he smelled the familiar aroma of food from the kitchen—the kind of smell that only his wife’s cooking could create.

He instinctively took a deep breath, and the uncomfortable sensation that had been stuck in his throat suddenly seemed to vanish.

Then, he realized that he was actually feeling hungry!

Yin Xiaoman hadn’t expected that, at lunch, the most popular dishes weren’t the grouper fish, but the large mixed salad and lemon water!

It was probably because of the weather.

As newcomers, the family was still adjusting, and only the refreshing, crispy, and tangy-sweet cold dishes really whetted everyone’s appetite.

After the meal, Yin Xiaoman quietly recorded the recipe, planning to experiment with a few variations based on it in the future.

She thought that when the experts arrived, they might encounter the same issues.

During the adjustment period, cold dishes would likely suit everyone’s taste better.

The weather was unbearably hot, and after lunch, without needing any encouragement from Yin Xiaoman, the two children had already wilted and obediently went to their room for a nap.

Even Shen Qingyun, who had never been one to rest in the afternoon, suggested taking a short nap.

It was then that Yin Xiaoman realized that, here, the soldiers also had the habit of taking a midday rest.

After all, with the midday heat so intense, there was a real risk of heatstroke if one wasn’t careful.

Upon entering the bedroom and seeing the two beds together, Shen Qingyun clearly paused for a moment, and then his mouth couldn’t help but break into a wide grin, reaching all the way to his ears.

He turned around, grabbed Yin Xiaoman, and pulled her towards him.