Chapter 64: The Neighbor on the Right

After dinner, Lin Yue and Zhang Yuandong saw everyone off together. She secretly pulled Mr. Xu’s sleeve and called him aside, wanting to inquire about Zhang Yuandong.

Mr. Xu looked at her with complex eyes, only leaving behind a single sentence: “That child has had a hard time. Be kind to him in the future.”

He then left, leaving Lin Yue standing there in a daze, pondering the meaning of his words.

On the other side, Zhang Xiaohui was also clinging to Zhang Yuandong, asking in a shrill voice, “Yuandong, when I went to your unit to find you last time, I saw a girl in a green military uniform waiting for you at the door. Who was that? I’ve never seen her before.”

Zhang Yuandong had never seen any girl in a green military uniform.

He had been secretly investigating Zhang Xiaohui’s affairs recently, but he wasn’t like the investigators who had received training. Before, he had only assisted with the work, and he wasn’t very good at being insincere. When Zhang Xiaohui came to find him, he only felt that this woman was too annoying. No matter how noisy she was beside him, he didn’t want to respond.

Liu Fang watched from the side, marveling at the scene. When the woman finally left, he jumped out, asking with a gossipy expression, “Brother Zhang, you’re quite capable, huh? Look at how you’ve hooked this little girl, she’s completely lost her mind. You don’t even care that your wife is right there!”

He was dressed in a delicate, little wife-like outfit, but he looked so vulgar, anyone who saw him would want to kick him.

Zhang Yuandong also wanted to kick him. He aimed a kick, but Liu Fang nimbly dodged it.

Zhang Yuandong looked towards the kitchen uneasily, threatening with a straight face, “Don’t talk nonsense. I have nothing to do with her. I’ve hardly spoken to her a few times in my entire life.

Moreover, I suspect something is wrong with her. Keep an eye on her when I’m not around.”

Liu Fang chuckled, “Got it, got it. Why are you so eager to explain? No one suspects you!”

Seeing that Zhang Yuandong wanted to kick him again, he quickly hid behind Lin Yue, who had just returned, and made a face at Zhang Yuandong, with a “What are you going to do to me?” expression.

Zhang Yuandong was amused and pointed at him, then turned back to the house to pack his things.

The house was in a mess. It took the three of them almost an afternoon to tidy up.

After dinner, the three of them sat in the messy yard, watching the sunset on the horizon.

The two little ones also brought out their small stools and sat next to the adults, each holding a large bowl, gulping down their malt milk.

For the first time, Zhang Yuandong had a real home of his own. From today onwards, he would be living here with Lin Yue and the two children. His heart felt full, with an indescribable emotion swirling within him, urging him to say something to Lin Yue, or to get closer to her…

Liu Fang’s loud voice suddenly rang out, “Look, that cloud in the sky looks like a rabbit!”

The two little ones looked up at the sky in unison, following his finger to find the rabbit.

Zhang Yuandong’s thoughts were interrupted, and he looked at Liu Fang with a complicated expression, kindly suggesting, “You should stop talking in the future. Even when no one’s around, try not to talk.”

Liu Fang looked wronged, “Why? I understand if you ask me to be careful when people are around, but why can’t I talk when no one’s around?”

Zhang Yuandong: “If someone hears a man’s voice outside and comes in but doesn’t see anyone, do you think that’s a good thing?”

Liu Fang…

He squeaked, “Got it, brother-in-law~”

Lin Yue almost burst out laughing.

The atmosphere here was relaxed and pleasant, but there was a faint sound of arguing coming from the western courtyard.

At first, the few people didn’t pay attention, but later, the sound grew louder and louder, with occasional women’s scolding and children’s crying mixed in, making it hard to ignore.

The people in the yard stopped talking and looked at each other.

The two little ones had sharp ears. They shouted, “It’s Sister Erman crying!”

The three adults were a little embarrassed and quickly covered the mouths of the two children.

Zhang Yuandong wanted to carry the children directly into the house, but Lin Yue stopped him.

The two little ones had recently developed a rebellious spirit. The more you forced them to do something, the more they would go against you.

She “shh”ed the two children, “Let’s play a game called ‘Quiet Little Mice’, okay?”

The brother and sister covered their mouths with their chubby little hands, their eyes shining brightly, nodding vigorously.

Lin Yue walked towards the house quietly, imitating the movements of a small animal. The two little ones covered their mouths, snickered secretly, and followed their mother, carefully entering the house.

The arguing from next door continued, Sun Yuxiang’s loud voice rang out, “Our Erman just ate an extra piece of pancake, why are you, an adult, arguing with a child! Today at noon, my mother took your son to a banquet, why didn’t you say anything? Look at my two poor girls, they never get to share in these things, and now they eat an extra piece of pancake and they get scolded!”

Lin Yue turned her head and exchanged glances with Zhang Yuandong. The two little ones saw their mother looking back at their father, and they also turned their heads to look at their father in unison.

Zhang Yuandong’s furrowed brows instantly relaxed.

He didn’t think the commotion next door was a big deal. Such things were common in the countryside. He just felt it wasn’t appropriate to continue eavesdropping in the yard.

Now, seeing them looking at him like three sneaky little mice, his expression softened, and he even felt like laughing.

Liu Fang burst out laughing first. He pointed at the three of them and chuckled quietly, but still mindful of the neighbors, he kept his voice low.

That wasn’t enough. He went over and picked up the two little ones, giving Xiao Wanli a “smack” on the cheek. “You two little mice, I caught you!”

The two little ones giggled and flailed in his arms. “Mother, come save me! I’ve been caught by Auntie!”

Lin Yue laughed and patted him, following him into the house.

Zhang Yuandong’s face darkened again.

At night, the long-awaited sound of rushing water echoed in the yard. This time, unlike before, Zhang Yuandong stood confidently in the yard, with his back to the west window, chest out and stomach in. He raised a basin of water and “whoosh” poured it over his head.

Perhaps because the water was too cold, under the bright moonlight, Lin Yue clearly saw the redness around his ears and neck.

Soldiers were different. Look at those broad shoulders, narrow waist, and upright posture. The water flowed down the lines of his muscles, soaking his shorts and making his buttocks appear more defined.

Zhang Yuandong had finally taken a proper bath. Lin Yue didn’t want to hide her nature either. She sat by the window, openly admiring the moonlit scenery.

Thanks to the few pieces of white glass this man had painstakingly brought back from the city a few days ago, she could clearly see everything in the yard from inside the house.

Just as he raised the basin of water again, wanting to pour it over his head, Lin Yue quickly opened the window and urgently stopped him, “Zhang Yuandong, if you pour that water again, we’ll lose all the building materials in this yard!”

Zhang Yuandong’s back stiffened. He held the basin, unable to move up or down.

Just then, Liu Fang had to come over and join in the fun. He returned from outside, cheerfully greeting Zhang Yuandong, “Oh, Brother Zhang, you’re practicing holding a basin in the middle of the night!”

He was clearly teasing. Zhang Yuandong, as if he had been caught doing something wrong, quickly put down the basin.

Lin Yue burst out laughing.

Seeing that he was about to lose face, she quickly found a clean towel and threw it out the window to Zhang Yuandong, “Quickly dry off. Don’t catch a cold in the middle of the night!”

Zhang Yuandong dared not do anything to Lin Yue, he could only glare at Liu Fang.

He and Liu Fang were old friends, having met during previous missions.

He knew Liu Fang had an old habit, he always had to squat for a long time when he went to the toilet.

This man had just said he was going out to use the toilet, he thought he wouldn’t be back for a while, but he came back so quickly.

He wiped himself roughly with the towel and diligently cleaned up the water in the yard.

Liu Fang didn’t know why he was being glared at, but seeing Zhang Yuandong’s silly and dazed look, he knew he had probably ruined something good between the couple. He chuckled and went back to his room.

That night, Zhang Yuandong turned back into that shy and reserved little wife.

The next day was Mid-Autumn Festival, but because of the recent murder case, Zhang Yuandong didn’t come back that night.

Lin Yue had prepared a lot of Mid-Autumn Festival fruits and mooncakes, thinking that this was their first time celebrating the festival in their new home, they could eat mooncakes and admire the moon in the yard.

However, there were outsiders at home, and Zhang Yuandong didn’t come back. Lin Yue had to give up her original plan and just took out a bottle of fruit preserves.

This bottle of preserves wasn’t one of the ones Zhang Yuandong had sent back before. Food preservation wasn’t as advanced as it was in the future, Lin Yue was afraid it would go bad, so she ate it soon after receiving it. This bottle contained her own homemade preserves.

Liu Fang was still reluctant, “Sister-in-law, save this for the children to eat slowly, don’t waste it.”

Lin Yue took out a few small bowls and divided them all into bowls, “What’s the waste? It’s the festival today, let’s at least celebrate! Hurry up and eat, I still have use for this empty jar.

When you and Yuandong leave, I’ll pack some pickles for you to take with you!”

He knew her pickles were delicious.

His eyes lit up, and he smiled, “Then I thank you in advance, Sister-in-law. I’ll buy a few more bottles of preserves later, and we’ll save the jars for you to use for pickles!”

“You have money to burn, huh? If you like it, I’ll pack you a lot in jars! You’ll just have to be careful on the road, I’m afraid it will spill.”

Liu Fang didn’t stand on ceremony with her and happily agreed.

The two little ones were lying on the table, trying to stuff fruit into their mouths. The two adults chatted casually, both wondering how Zhang Yuandong was doing.

Outside the wall, two figures were hiding in the shadows, talking in low voices, then hurried away.