Chapter 14: Looking forward to a new life

The family quarters were abuzz with excitement, as everyone spread the news that Jiang Qingzhou’s wife had come to live with the military. Those who had previously whispered behind his back, gossiping and speculating about his marriage, were now silent, like frost-bitten eggplants, no longer daring to speak carelessly.

By evening, the sky was dyed a brilliant orange-red by the setting sun. Jiang Qingzhou took Fang Yingyue to the Zhao family home for dinner. Even before reaching the door, they could hear the two little ones shouting joyfully in their innocent, high-pitched voices. The door burst open, and the two small figures ran straight toward Fang Yingyue, wrapping their little arms around her legs. Looking up, they said in their sweet childish voices, “Auntie Fang!”

As soon as they sat down, little Niannian tried with all his might to climb up, holding a candy tightly in his hand and offering it to Fang Yingyue.

“Auntie, have some candy! Here!”

His earnest expression made everyone laugh. The two children genuinely adored Fang Yingyue and clung to her closely.

Seeing Auntie Xie busy in the kitchen, Fang Yingyue got up to help. Xie Xiuying glanced back, noticed Fang Yingyue with water dripping from her hands, and quickly waved her off.

“Oh no, you don’t need to help. Go sit and chat with everyone.”

Gently, she ushered Fang Yingyue back to the living room. With no other choice, Fang Yingyue returned to play with the two children, and the room was soon filled with laughter and joy.

Before long, General Zhao returned from work. Jiang Qingzhou and Ji Beiwang reacted quickly, standing up straight with sharp, respectful movements.

“Sit, sit! Make yourselves at home here—don’t be so formal or stiff!”

At these words, everyone relaxed and resumed their comfortable seating.

The kitchen was filled with the aroma of food, and Auntie Xie moved efficiently, preparing a table full of delicious dishes in no time. Everyone hurried to the kitchen, helping carry dishes and set the table, and soon the table was filled with beautifully arranged, flavorful food.

“Yingyue, you just arrived at the camp, and you’re not familiar with things here. If you ever encounter difficulties or if someone treats you unfairly, don’t suffer in silence—come to me, and I’ll back you up!”

Auntie Xie’s words warmed Fang Yingyue’s heart, and she quickly thanked her.

Everyone chatted and laughed, occasionally bursting into giggles watching the little ones eagerly devour the food.

After dinner, as night fell, they exchanged a few polite words and said their goodbyes, walking home under the moonlight. The evening breeze on the island was gentle, carrying a faint coolness. The young couple returned home, eager to wash up and rest, releasing the fatigue of the day.

“I still have two days of vacation. Tomorrow we can go to the market. There are plenty of household items we need to buy,” Fang Yingyue said, nodding repeatedly and counting on her fingers.

“Yes, we need to go shopping properly. We haven’t bought pots, pans, or other kitchenware yet. We can’t eat at the cafeteria every day—we need to cook ourselves to make it feel like home.”

Suddenly, she seemed to remember something important. She sat upright on the bed, her expression serious as she looked at Jiang Qingzhou.

“Hey, since we just moved into our new home, shouldn’t we invite people over to celebrate, like the old custom?”

Jiang Qingzhou couldn’t help but smile at her anxious yet earnest expression. He reached out gently, wrapping his arm around her.

“Let’s skip that. People here don’t really do that. Tomorrow, we’ll just focus on the market and buy whatever the house needs.”

Fang Yingyue agreed and snuggled into Jiang Qingzhou’s embrace, yawning.

“Alright, we’ll do as you say. Let’s sleep now—I’m exhausted.”

Jiang Qingzhou patted her back softly, whispering, “Sleep well.” Soon, the two of them drifted into a deep sleep.

At dawn, the island was still shrouded in morning mist. Jiang Qingzhou and Fang Yingyue got up early, full of excitement, preparing to go down the mountain to the market.

At eight o’clock sharp, the long-awaited bus appeared on the horizon. As soon as it stopped, everyone surged toward the doors, eager to get on and secure a good spot.

Jiang Qingzhou held Fang Yingyue’s hand tightly, carefully guiding her through the crowd. After some “maneuvering,” they finally got on the bus. Jiang Qingzhou quickly spotted an empty seat, ushered Fang Yingyue to sit, and stood nearby, using his body to shield her from the surrounding crowd.

The bus wound down the mountain road for an hour and soon arrived at the bustling market. The noise of vendors calling out and the chatter of people filled the air. Stalls displayed a dazzling variety of goods, leaving Fang Yingyue’s eyes wide with wonder. She looked here and there, touching and inspecting everything with interest.

They first focused on buying household items, and soon their hands were full of large and small shopping bags.

The market was a paradise for food lovers. The air was filled with enticing aromas. Local island rice noodles boiled in large pots, steam rising, with soft, chewy noodles in rich, savory broth that alone made mouths water. Coconut cakes were neatly stacked on plates, with a translucent sheen; biting into one revealed a soft, sweet interior, rich with coconut fragrance. Coconut-coated glutinous rice cakes perfectly combined the chewy texture of rice with the crispness of coconut, offering a layered, delightful taste.

Having sampled all the treats, Fang Yingyue’s stomach was round and full, but she soon became extremely thirsty from eating so much. Without hesitation, Jiang Qingzhou grabbed his personal cup and quickly walked to a stall selling fresh coconut water.

The vendor skillfully wielded a cleaver, splitting open a fresh coconut and pouring the sweet coconut water into a cup. Jiang Qingzhou carefully carried it, jogging back to Fang Yingyue’s side.

Fang Yingyue took the cup and drank deeply. The cool, sweet coconut water slid smoothly down her throat, instantly washing away the heaviness from all the food and leaving her refreshed and satisfied.

With their appetites satisfied, the two of them looked at the small mountain of goods they had gathered, exchanged a smile, and began their journey home. The sunset bathed the island in a warm golden glow as they returned, laden with their purchases.

Back at the family quarters, they were greeted by crisp, cheerful voices. Looking toward the source, they saw Sui Sui and Niannian playing happily on the open field nearby.

The moment the two little ones spotted Fang Yingyue and Jiang Qingzhou, their eyes lit up like two shining stars. Waving their tiny hands and kicking their little feet, they ran over, their childish voices carried far by the sea breeze.

“Auntie Fang! Auntie Fang!”

As they got closer, their little faces flushed red, strands of hair on their foreheads damp with sweat sticking to their skin, yet their enthusiasm remained undiminished.

“Auntie Fang, we missed you! We want to play with you!”

“Of course! Auntie’s been looking forward to playing with you too,” Fang Yingyue replied, handing over the bag of coconut cakes still exuding a sweet fragrance. “Here, try some—it’s delicious.”

“Thank you, Auntie Fang!” The children took the bag carefully with both hands, hugging it tightly.

Jiang Qingzhou and Fang Yingyue watched the children’s adorable expressions, waved at them with smiles, and then headed home together.