Chapter 33: Sneezing in His Sleep

“Let’s go, it’s getting late. We can talk more when we get back,” Huo Tingwu said.

Ye Tao was still immersed in her own imagination. Suddenly, she had a thought and silently wished in her heart: I want to drink coconut juice.

“Ow!” Zhou Chongli, who was holding his son, jumped aside in shock. “Why did a coconut suddenly fall down? Good thing I was walking slowly.”

The coconut had landed only three steps away from them. If they had gone a little further, someone might have been hit. That wouldn’t have been a surprise, but a fright. Ye Tao’s heart skipped in fear at the thought.

“You’re making a fuss. It’s just a coconut. Carry the child and walk in the middle of the road,” Xu Lan said.

There were countless coconut trees on the island, their juice sweet and refreshing. Desserts made with coconut water were favorites among both adults and children. The only downside was the risk of being hit while walking under the trees.

Zhou Chongli decided not to take chances and obediently listened to his wife, moving toward the middle of the road.

Huo Tingwu picked up the coconut and tucked it under his arm. “Wife, let’s go home and drink coconut juice.”

When they passed by the Zhou household, Zhou Chongli went back with his son to change clothes.

Back home together, Ye Tao worried Ruirui might be hungry, so she quickly made him a cup of malted milk.

They then got to work cleaning the seafood they had gathered. The big lobster was best steamed, conch went in as well, scallops with glass noodles became a garlic vermicelli pot, and mantis shrimp were cooked with salt and pepper.

Xu Lan helped out in the kitchen while Huo Tingwu and Zhou Chongli finished putting together the shower room.

Over the past two days, Huo Tingwu had been using his lunch breaks and evenings to build it. By now, it only needed tiles to be complete.

As soon as the shower room was done, dinner was ready.

“Wash up, time to eat,” Ye Tao called out.

She had made a generous pot of garlic vermicelli with scallops, scooped some into a smaller bowl, topped it with shrimp meat, and asked Huo Tingwu to bring it over to Sister Yuzhen’s house.

Ruirui had already washed his hands and was sitting at the table, waiting.

“Daddy, Mommy, Uncle, Auntie—hurry up!” His good manners taught him he couldn’t start eating before his elders, but with the food right in front of him, it was torture. All he could do was loudly urge them to sit down.

“Coming, coming. You’re the youngest, no wonder you’re the most impatient,” Zhou Chongli said, wiping his wet hands on his son’s face.

“Daddy’s mean!” the boy protested.

Sitting down, Zhou Chongli joked, “It’s all Lao Huo’s fault. Ever since he got married, he rushes straight home after work. My sister-in-law’s cooking is just too good.”

He sneaked a glance at his wife’s face as he spoke. Seeing her smile, he relaxed.

Xu Lan added, “Isn’t that the truth? I almost fainted from the smell while helping with the cooking. I already asked her how to make these dishes. If you want, I’ll cook them for you at home.”

Zhou Chongli didn’t dare refuse and quickly nodded in agreement.

When Huo Tingwu returned, everyone finally started eating.

Little Ruirui couldn’t reach the dishes, so Ye Tao cracked open one of the lobster claws, removed the shell, and gave him the pure shrimp meat.

The child clutched the claw and gnawed happily.

Catching a whiff of the garlic aroma, Zhou Chongli went straight for the garlic vermicelli scallops. The scallop meat and frills had been carefully cleaned, leaving only the tender parts. The garlic, braised long enough, had seeped into the meat, while the vermicelli beneath soaked up the rich juices.

A bite of rice followed by a bite of noodles—perfect harmony.

Xu Lan preferred the salt-and-pepper mantis shrimp. She sucked at the shell, then pulled the meat out in one clean strip, the peppery fragrance filling her mouth.

Since seafood was cooling in nature, Ye Tao didn’t dare eat too much. Even when Huo Tingwu served her, he only put two mantis shrimp into her bowl.

“Lao Huo, you’re too stingy. Why not give your wife more?” Zhou Chongli teased.

“It’s not that—she can’t eat too much,” Ye Tao spoke up for her husband. “My health hasn’t been great lately, and I’ve been taking herbal medicine. Seafood is too cooling, so I shouldn’t overeat.”

Zhou Chongli hadn’t expected that. The atmosphere grew a little awkward.

Xu Lan quickly stomped on his foot under the table. “Eat your food.”

“Taotao, just ignore him,” she whispered.

Ye Tao smiled. “It’s fine, Sister-in-law. It’s nothing serious. I’ll be drinking medicine for a while anyway, so sooner or later everyone will know.”

The table was cleared in no time. Afterward, Huo Tingwu and Zhou Chongli took the initiative to wash the dishes.

Ye Tao brewed a pot of brown sugar ginger tea and served everyone a bowl.

Xu Lan leaned in to whisper, “I usually drink this when I have cramps during my period. Never thought it works well after seafood too.”

Ye Tao replied, “Brown sugar ginger tea dispels cold. It balances out the cool nature of seafood.”

Xu Lan had grown up in the capital’s military compound and had met all sorts of people. She’d assumed a rural wife like Ye Tao would be like the other petty, gossipy women she knew. Now she realized she’d been narrow-minded, judging with tinted glasses.

Ye Tao not only knew a lot but was also generous and gracious. With such a capable wife at his side, Huo Tingwu’s future was bound to be bright.

After dinner, Zhou Chongli stayed a while longer, leaving only when Ruirui started nodding off.

Before going, Xu Lan reminded Ye Tao not to forget their trip to the market the next morning.

Later, after washing up and lying in bed, Huo Tingwu asked, “You’re going to the market with Sister-in-law tomorrow?”

“Yes. Didn’t you say we’re hosting guests the day after tomorrow? She told me the market has everything and the prices are fair, so I want to stock up.”

“Can you carry it all? Why don’t I go with you instead?”

Looking at her slender arms and legs, he felt uneasy.

In the dark, Ye Tao shot him a glance. “What would you follow me for? I already agreed to go with her. Besides, you still have things to do at the camp.”

Huo Tingwu pulled her into his arms. “Wife, are you tired of me already?” His voice carried a hint of grievance.

He recalled what Zhou Chongli had said in the office earlier and felt an itch of eagerness.

“I never realized before that you could be so clingy,” Ye Tao muttered. He used to be cool and aloof, but now he was a master of acting spoiled.

“Wife…” His hand reached for hers.

“What now? Did you forget what we agreed this morning before you left?”

He immediately sat up straight. “I remember. But Zhou Chongli said it must’ve been because I was too rough, that’s why you got upset.”

Ye Tao bolted upright. “You told Zhou Chongli about that?!” She wanted to bury her head in shame.

“How could I? It’s between us as husband and wife. He just guessed, and I didn’t respond.” Though I didn’t exactly deny it either.

“That’s better. But listen—you are not allowed to go blabbing, understand?”

Huo Tingwu immediately declared loyalty. “Yes, ma’am. I obey Comrade Ye Tao’s orders.”

“…Then can I kiss you?”

“…Fine. But nothing else.”

“Deal!”

Remembering Zhou Chongli’s words, he lightened his touch and was more mindful of her feelings. When Ye Tao couldn’t take it anymore, he stopped and lay down.

Stuck in between, Ye Tao angrily kicked him. “Are you even capable or not?”

“Wife, does that mean you’re agreeing?”

Her face burned. “What do you think?”

Having gained her consent, Huo Tingwu didn’t rush but served her patiently. For the first time, Ye Tao actually found a trace of enjoyment in the act and no longer resisted as much.

Feeling her response, Huo Tingwu’s heart swelled with joy. Maybe Zhou Chongli really was useful after all.

And just then, in his sleep, Zhou Chongli sneezed.