Chapter 45

The 119th Army Family Compound mainly had two types of housing.

Those with the rank of deputy battalion commander or battalion commander, who were allowed to have their families accompany them, were assigned to four-story apartment buildings. Each floor had five households, typically with a two-bedroom, one-living-room layout.

Officers of regiment level or above could apply for two-story small houses. These red brick houses stood among the coconut trees, like a splash of red amidst a sea of green, standing out brightly.

If they were lucky with the location, they could face the sea, with a pleasant view.

Once the military personnel eligible for accompanying families had their applications approved, they could go to the family compound director with the approval form to choose a house.

When Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan arrived in front of Director Yuan Yuzhen, who was in charge of various matters in the family compound, Director Yuan’s eyes lit up.

She knew Captain He Hongyuan, and her husband, the regiment’s instructor, had dealings with him. As a couple, they often talked about the people and events in the army. Director Yuan had heard of Captain He’s exceptional abilities, but she also knew he was difficult to deal with. Over the years, many had tried to introduce women to him, but none succeeded.

Now, he was actually holding an approval form and coming to her to request a house allocation, which was quite a rare thing!

When she saw the young woman beside him, Director Yuan also had some impression of her. She was a relative staying at Brigade Zhou’s house recently, a pretty young girl, and standing next to Captain He… they really looked like a perfect match!

Holding a set of keys, Director Yuan enthusiastically led the soon-to-be-married couple to pick a house. “Captain He, Little Lin, have you picked a good date? When will the wedding banquet be?”

Lin Xiang smiled and replied, “Next month, on the thirtieth. It’s said to be an auspicious date.”

Director Yuan, who liked to think about good dates, quickly recalled, “That date is indeed good. If I’m not mistaken, there’s another couple in the army getting married that day.”

Another wedding on the same day?

Lin Xiang found it amusing, turned to glance at He Hongyuan, and with a bright smile, she said to Director Yuan, “Then it must be a lucky and festive day. It seems everyone agrees.”

Director Yuan led them to a vacant two-story house located a few hundred meters from the compound’s entrance. While unlocking the door, she explained, “This house was previously occupied by Captain Wang’s family, but after they moved, it was left vacant.”

He Hongyuan recognized Captain Wang and nodded in agreement, “It must have been at least a year.”

“Yes, it’s been a while. You can see there’s a lot of dust inside. If you decide to move in, you’ll need to clean it up properly,” Director Yuan said as she showed them around the house.

The two-story house they had seen at the Zhou family’s residence was different from the one they were viewing now. Lin Xiang approached this with the same cautious attitude she had when buying a house in her previous life, carefully considering the layout, lighting, direction, and other aspects. She also asked Director Yuan, “Director Yuan, how many houses can we choose from?”

There weren’t many vacant two-story houses—just seven in total. Three had already been taken by other officers who had applied to have their families accompany them. Director Yuan silently calculated, “There are four left for you to choose from.”

Lin Xiang was already satisfied. It was much better than having only one house left to choose from.

After viewing the first house, they didn’t make a decision right away, deciding to see all four houses before choosing.

Director Yuan led them to view the other houses. These vacant small houses were scattered among the occupied ones, with busy families living around them. Adults gathered in front of their houses, chatting and picking vegetables, while groups of children ran and played nearby.

After viewing all four houses, Lin Xiang already had a rough idea of which she preferred. She turned to Director Yuan, who was holding a handful of sugar to share some joy, and said, “Director Yuan, we’ll discuss it and let you know later. Is that alright?”

Choosing a house was a big deal, and Director Yuan understood. Especially since this young woman was sharp and efficient in everything she did. With several pieces of candy in her hand, Director Yuan smiled, “Of course, I live just around the corner. After dinner, I won’t be going far. Just come find me when you’ve made up your minds.”

“Thank you so much,” Lin Xiang said.

Once Director Yuan left, Lin Xiang quickly asked He Hongyuan, “Which house do you like?”

He Hongyuan, always a logical thinker on the battlefield, was particularly clear-headed in this situation. “Didn’t you want a house facing the sea? The first and third houses won’t work. The second and fourth houses are similar, you can decide which one you like more.”

Perhaps to express his attitude, he added, “I’m fine with either, it doesn’t matter.”

Lin Xiang had already ruled out the first and third houses. The second and fourth houses both had their advantages, both facing the sea with good lighting, but the directions and layouts were slightly different.

“By the way, when Sister Guihua comes back, I’ll ask her for advice,” Lin Xiang remembered what Sister Guazi had said about asking more people when choosing a house.

He Hongyuan had no objections.

Qiu Hongxia was always the most proactive after work and had already made it to the family compound by 4 p.m.

When she saw Lin Xiang, she eagerly greeted her and asked, “Are you and Captain He planning to choose the house by the coconut grove at the east end?”

Her memory was good, and she loved to wander around. After a little thinking, she recalled the two houses’ locations and casually added, “That small house at the east end is actually quite good. It used to be where Brigade Gan’s family lived. Now that he’s retired, the house became available. I heard there’s still some furniture inside, so you might be able to take advantage of that, though…”

After entering the house, Lin Xiang handed Sister Guihua and her two children a handful of sorghum candy and curiously asked, “What’s wrong with it?”

“Neighbors on both sides are noisy,” Qiu Hongxia, who had lived in the family compound for many years and knew everyone, explained, “On the left, there’s Captain Feng’s family, who always argues with his mother-in-law. They argue every three days or so, and every five days, there’s a big argument. If you live there, it’ll never be peaceful!”

Lin Xiang asked, “… And the neighbors on the right don’t argue, do they?”

Qiu Hongxia shook her head. “No, but on the right, there’s Commissar He’s family. They have four children, and the kids are always running around and making a mess. It’s really annoying. Let me tell you secretly…”

She lowered her voice, as if sharing a gossip secret: “These four kids have been spoiled and are always trying to get food from other families. Even though Commissar He’s salary is good, the kids still go to other people’s houses hoping for food. They won’t leave until someone gives them something to eat.”

Lin Xiang was stunned. “…”

She had no idea and was shocked when she asked! She looked at Sister Guihua with admiration, saying, “Sister Guihua, I’m so glad I asked you first. Otherwise, if we had chosen the second house, it would have been a headache.”

Still feeling uneasy, Lin Xiang hesitated and asked about the fourth house, “The last one wouldn’t have this kind of situation, right?”

Lin Xiang thought that it was unrealistic to expect perfect neighbors, but if they were generally decent, it would be fine.

“The one on the other side is fine,” Qiu Hongxia introduced the neighbors of the fourth house. “On the left, there’s Instructor Sun’s family. They have three daughters, and the wife is pregnant with the fourth one, about five months along. The couple is nice, and the three daughters are well-behaved.”

Lin Xiang felt more at ease after hearing this, especially since there was no comparison to worry about.

“As for the neighbors on the right, it’s a young couple—Chief of Staff Lei and his wife. They’re about the same age as Captain He, married last year. They don’t have kids yet, just the two of them living there, so it’s peaceful.”

After hearing this, Lin Xiang made up her mind. She thanked Sister Guihua and left, then went back to the Zhou family to prepare dinner. While doing so, she shared the details of the two houses with He Hongyuan.

He Hongyuan was surprised as he listened to Lin Xiang talk about the surrounding neighbors. “You went out and asked about all this?”

He knew Captain Feng, Commissar He, Instructor Sun, and Chief of Staff Lei, but he had never known these details about their families. For the first time, He Hongyuan held Sister Guihua in high regard. If she went into intelligence work, she might be a great asset.

Lin Xiang smiled proudly. “Of course. Sister Guihua is like the encyclopedia of our family compound. She knows everything. It’s never wrong to ask her! It saves a lot of trouble.”

And so, the house was decided without any further suspense.

After dinner, Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan went to Director Yuan’s house to register and choose the fourth house, taking the key.

“The house has been vacant for a while, and there’s no furniture inside. You can clean it up and bring in some furniture. It will be nice,” Director Yuan said as she saw them off, adding some congratulations, “Let me know when you move in.”

“Of course, thank you, Director Yuan. When we move, we’ll come and give you some candy.”

The golden, small key lay in Lin Xiang’s palm, cold and metallic. She closed her hand, feeling as though she had just claimed this seaside house.

A house is the carrier of a home, and in an era where housing is scarce and crowded, owning such a spacious and beautiful two-story house was something many people could only dream of.

Recalling the days at the Lin family home, where she and Lin Chuchu shared a small room with two narrow wooden beds separated by an old blanket, she thought her life now seemed too good to be true!

Hearing that her nephew had been assigned housing, Zhou Shenghuai and Feng Li came to see it too. The house they chose was not far from the Zhou family’s house, about a ten-minute walk. Zhou Yuezhu was especially excited, “I can come over to eat at my cousin and cousin-in-law’s place!”

Feng Li smiled and scolded her daughter, “You’re so greedy!”

Lin Xiang naturally welcomed the idea, knowing how good the food was at the Zhou family’s place: “Yuezhu can come anytime, and Uncle Zhou and Aunt Feng are welcome to visit as well. It’s a bit quiet with just Hongyuan and me here, so it will be nice to have everyone come over.”

Lin Xiang spoke sincerely and warmly, and Feng Li liked her even more. Especially thinking that it would be good for her daughter to interact with Lin Xiang more, as it was better than mingling with the children of some officers in the compound who were not well-behaved.

Zhou Shenghuai took a look at the empty, dusty house and immediately said, “After cleaning it up, it will be fine. Since you’re getting married and moving into your new home, your Aunt Feng and I will buy you two pieces of furniture as a gift.”

Furniture is a big item, like coffee tables, sofas, and dressers, and they weren’t cheap. He Hongyuan and Lin Xiang accepted the kind gesture.

After looking around the empty room and the main bedroom upstairs, Lin Xiang was pleased with the house. The main bedroom was spacious and square, with a balcony that had a glass door. When opened, they could see the sea, with the waves rippling in the golden light of the sunset.

“We’ll come over to clean the house in the next few days when we have time, and slowly move in the things we bought last time,” Lin Xiang said, breathing in the fresh seaside air and feeling refreshed.

He Hongyuan followed Lin Xiang’s gaze outside and whispered, “Okay, I’ll check with Weijun about the furniture. Uncle Zhou and Aunt Feng are preparing the sofa and coffee table, but we still need to get two beds, a square table and stools, five drawers, a bookshelf, a cabinet, a long cupboard, and a wardrobe… what else do you think we might be missing?”

Lin Xiang mentally visualized what a complete home should look like. As the image became clearer, she added, “I also want a vanity, and a large desk in the master bedroom, so we can share it. We could get a few more dressers and long cabinets—maybe five dressers and three long ones. We can add more things later when we move in and notice what we need.”

He Hongyuan quietly took note of everything. When he returned to his bachelor dormitory that evening, he went straight to Jiang Weijun.

“That old craftsman is quite skilled. I heard his ancestors used to make cabinets in the royal palace, very talented. The skills have been passed down through generations, but during the big movements, some of their history got exposed. Someone reported it, calling them feudal remnants, and he was sent to a small fishing village,” Jiang Weijun shared with He Hongyuan. “But it wasn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things. They ended up letting him make furniture for the villagers, and he used his craftsmanship to earn his points and escape further suffering.”

Since the craftsmen were from a family with such a great legacy, their skills were so good that even after being sent to the countryside, they were well-received. Jiang Weijun had recently moved his furniture into his new home, and he was happy to share his satisfaction.

“My wife loves the furniture. She says she’s never seen anything so beautiful. The patterns are even nicer than what’s sold in the department stores.”

He Hongyuan understood and replied, “I’ll take the time to visit. My wife also wants some nice furniture.”

Zhang Huafeng, who was still unmarried, overheard their conversation about partners and furniture, and he was envious.

“I want some too!” he interjected.

Without missing a beat, both He Hongyuan and Jiang Weijun looked at him and said in unison, “You’re not even getting married, why are you in such a hurry?”

Zhang Huafeng was left speechless.

His partner, Yan Min, was a dancer in the art troupe, known for her graceful yet strong movements. She practiced for hours every day and was often too busy with rehearsals to spend time with him.

Stimulated by the fact that his friends were getting married, Zhang Huafeng went to find Yan Min at the art troupe.

“Minmin, when are we getting married? I’ve already written my marriage report, just waiting to submit it.”

Yan Min had just finished rehearsing and was sweating slightly, her face flushed. With a serious look, she turned him down, “If we get married, I can’t dance anymore. Can’t we just continue as we are?”

Zhang Huafeng was anxious. “Why can’t you dance if we get married?”

Yan Min was firm. “Once we marry, we’ll have children. You’ll be occupied with that, and I’ll have to rest. I want to keep dancing for a couple more years.”

She knew Zhang Huafeng’s urgency; all his friends of the same age had already married. Even his close friends, both in the military, were getting married one after another, so it was natural for him to be anxious.

“Really, I promise,” Yan Min added. “I’ll dance for two more years, and then you can file the marriage report. I won’t say a word of refusal.”

Zhang Huafeng felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. He would have to wait two more years, and by then, he might be too old for marriage.

Yan Min, at 24, was considered an older unmarried woman in that time. Many of her colleagues in the dance troupe married at 23 or 24, as marrying usually meant the end of their dance career. Yan Min knew that delaying further might mean she’d miss her chance to find a good partner.

She tiptoed and kissed Zhang Huafeng’s cheek, her bright, almond-shaped eyes sparkling as she smiled. Her smile was like a crescent moon, and it made Zhang Huafeng feel much better.

---

With the house settled and the furniture arrangements in progress, He Hongyuan had time to visit the nearby fishing village to meet the craftsman. Lin Xiang spent her Tuesday overseeing the workshop workers at Factory No.2, ensuring the machines were operating properly. Not long after, Secretary You called her out to meet with him and Factory Director Huang to discuss matters with Director Qin from the shrimp paste workshop.

Thinking that Director Huang had promised to give her some time off once the meeting with Director Qin was over, Lin Xiang brought her blue cloth bag and headed out, planning to tidy up the new house afterward.

“Lin, Director Qin’s temperament isn’t the best. He tends to be petty and stubborn, so you should say a few good words on our behalf,” Director Huang said, making his intentions clear. “Qin Yangbo is upset because he feels embarrassed by what you pointed out, and he can’t get over it. You’ll need to soften him up so that the issue can be resolved smoothly.”

As compensation, Director Huang gave Lin Xiang the day off. He also noted that she had helped resolve the issue, and this would be remembered for future benefits.

Lin Xiang understood the factory director’s meaning; it was nothing more than asking her to be humble and compliment Director Qin a few times. In this era, technical workers were highly regarded. Back in Xifeng City, a level-8 worker in the machinery factory could challenge the factory director and the party secretary. More recently, Master Feng from the repair team in Factory No.1 was highly respected, and even Director Huang would speak politely to him.

Director Qin was the same; he threw tantrums, and the factory director had to personally go and ask him back. If not, the quality control for various seafood canned products would be left unchecked, and there would be no leadership for product improvement or upgrades—this could not go on.

Lin Xiang had dealt with Qin Yangbo a couple of times and had heard other workers talk about his temperament. She immediately said, “Director, I have a better way to bring Director Qin back.”

“Oh?”

Both Director Huang and Secretary You were curious when they heard this, leaning forward and asking, “What method do you have?”

Lin Xiang made a point of withholding information: “You’ll know when you see Director Qin, just don’t spoil my plan.”

Director Huang felt amused at the little girl acting mysterious and thought to himself how bold she had become. She was no longer afraid of him and now wouldn’t even reveal anything in advance.

As they were thinking, the three of them reached the front of Qin’s house in the 119 military family compound.

Qin Yangbo’s son was a deputy battalion commander in the 3rd regiment of the 6th Brigade, and his father had worked in the 119 Food Factory before the liberation. Qin Yangbo had grown up in the factory, surrounded by the smell of seafood. Later, the private factory was nationalized and restructured under the 119 military unit, where Qin Yangbo succeeded his father, became the most capable workshop director, and made significant adjustments to the recipes for various seafood canned products, pushing the 119 cans to their peak.

He had been at home for the past half month and had expected Director Huang to come to visit. When he opened the door to greet the director, he was surprised to see Lin Xiang as well.

Thinking back to the Mid-Autumn Festival incident, his expression stiffened and his face showed visible displeasure.

Lin Xiang pretended not to notice and greeted him politely, “Director Qin.”

Director Huang smiled, “Old Qin, you’ve been resting at home for quite a while, how’s your health? At our age, we’re not as strong as we used to be, you should take care of yourself. But once you’re better, we’ll need you back at the factory. The 119 Food Factory can’t do without you.”

Lin Xiang and Secretary You sat down after Director Huang, and while listening to his speech, Lin Xiang couldn’t help but marvel at the leadership’s eloquence.

Without mentioning the incident where Director Qin had been humiliated, Director Huang only said that Qin Yangbo had been resting at home and that it was now time for him to return to the factory. He offered him a graceful exit.

However, if Qin Yangbo wasn’t so stubborn, it would feel like a different person. He poured tea for the three of them but remained unmoved and said, “Director, I’ve long been without any real talent. This is the time for the younger generation. I should step aside.”

Director Huang pursed his lips. Even though he had mentally prepared for this, he was still upset with Qin Yangbo’s small-mindedness. He didn’t show it on the surface and continued to persuade him, “Experience is valuable; you have decades of expertise, who can surpass you? You’re just venting; why take it so seriously?”

Secretary You also chimed in, “Director Qin, the shrimp paste workshop can’t function without you.”

Qin Yangbo sat up straight, unfazed. He had worked in this field for most of his life, and his childhood was spent in the food factory. He was used to it. Now, though, with things not handled well, relying on a young girl to smooth things over made him feel like he had lost face.

“There’s no one indispensable in the shrimp paste workshop. Director, you can promote younger people. We old-timers might just be a hindrance.”

He was truly stubborn.

Director Huang, while acknowledging Qin Yangbo’s abilities, was frustrated with his inflexibility. He frowned and angrily said, “Old Qin, you care too much about face! You think too much! Just go back to the factory, you’re not a young man anymore, why act like a child throwing a tantrum!”

Director Huang was really irritated and directly shot back.

Qin Yangbo turned his face away, stubbornly refusing to budge, and waved his hand in rejection, “No! There’s no point in going back! I won’t go back!”

Director Huang was infuriated by Qin Yangbo’s stubbornness, and had no choice but to rely on his final trump card: “The young ones have energy, but the veterans can keep things in control. Little Lin, what do you think?”

Lin Xiang smiled and took over the conversation, “Yes, Director, you’re right.”

Director Huang was pleased that Lin Xiang would say a few words of flattery, praising Qin Yangbo. It would help him out, and with her support, he thought everything would be resolved.

But to his surprise, Lin Xiang’s next words took a turn that shocked him.

Lin Xiang, still smiling, spoke directly to Qin Yangbo without any politeness: “But what Director Qin said makes more sense. It is indeed the time for the younger generation. It would be great for you to retire and rest at home. We’ll take over the shrimp paste workshop. We won’t disappoint the hard work you’ve put into it for half your life. We’ll make sure to focus on production and expanding the sales. You can just relax and not worry about the factory’s matters.”

Director Huang nearly popped his eyes out. What was this? Wasn’t she just adding fuel to the fire?

Secretary You was also on edge. Director Qin had a great ability, but an even bigger temper. Lin Xiang’s words were clearly meant to provoke him.

At this point, it was hard to say whether they could persuade Director Qin to return to the factory. In fact, he might just decide to retire entirely out of anger.

Qin Yangbo was indeed infuriated. Over the past month, several people from the shrimp paste workshop had come to ask him to return. He dismissed them. Even Director Huang had come personally, but his pride held him back. Now, being told by a young girl to retire while she took over the workshop… this was just too much!

Qin Yangbo slammed his hand on the armrest of the chair, his face turning red and his neck thickening as he angrily said, “Lin Xiang, you little girl really has a big appetite, thinking you can take over our workshop as director?”

Lin Xiang was unfazed by Director Qin’s outburst, sitting steadily and still smiling as she responded, “Director Qin, you’re not working anymore, so what’s wrong with giving young people a chance?”

“Dream on!” Qin Yangbo jumped up, immediately going to search for some work clothes that had been lying idle for a while. “I’m going back now, how can I let you mess with the work I’ve put in for half my life!”

Lin Xiang stood up too, watching as Qin Yangbo, furious, found his blue work clothes and began to put them on, buttoning up. Her voice was cheerful as she said, “Well, Director Qin, it’s settled then.”

She then turned to the dumbfounded Factory Director Huang and Secretary You and said, “Factory Director, Director Qin is going back to work now, so I’ll be on my way.”

Lin Xiang turned and left, glancing at her watch. It was 10 AM—perfect, she had earned herself half a day off, which meant she could go to her new house and tidy up, enjoying some paid personal time. That was the best!

Her figure slowly disappeared from the sight of the three people in the Qin family’s living room. Qin Yangbo, who had been fuming and buttoning his clothes, suddenly realized something wasn’t right. This little girl had done it on purpose!

Qin Yangbo exchanged glances with Factory Director Huang and Secretary You, both of them laughing. Without waiting for Qin Yangbo to speak, Factory Director Huang tried to stifle his laugh and stood up. “Alright, Old Qin, you’re best suited in these work clothes. Remember to come back to work on time tomorrow! We’re leaving now.”

With that, they quickly left, leaving Qin Yangbo in a daze, still in disbelief.

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After giving Director Qin a piece of her mind, Lin Xiang’s intention had been to provoke him into going back to work, but she had indeed used some subtle tactics. Looking back at how Qin Yangbo had been so flustered and immediately went to find his work clothes was actually quite amusing.

After leaving the Qin family’s house, Lin Xiang first cleaned up the second-floor rooms of her new house. The rooms, which had been unused for a long time, were covered in dust, but with a quick sweep and wiping of the windowsills and wooden doors, the rooms began to look new again. Before long, it was time for lunch.

She quickly had lunch at the factory canteen, then returned to continue tidying up the new house.

She wasn’t normally this enthusiastic about work, but when it came to organizing her own little home, she was full of energy.

The new house had four bedrooms: a guest room on the first floor near the stairs, and the master bedroom and two smaller bedrooms on the second floor. Lin Xiang cleaned the three rooms upstairs, and it felt like revealing a gem covered in dust—everything looked brand new.

In the afternoon, the blazing sun climbed high, the heat intense, and the clear blue sea stretched into the distance, complementing the landscape perfectly. A gentle breeze swept over the sea, and waves rolled in, creating a breathtaking scene.

Lin Xiang held a broom and took a brief break, gazing out the window at the beautiful sea view. Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching.

Sensing something, Lin Xiang turned and went downstairs, her footsteps echoing on the stairs. She looked down at the man who had just entered through the front door.

“You came here?” Lin Xiang’s almond eyes curved into a smile.

He Hongyuan hadn’t expected to find her still there. Looking up at Lin Xiang, he stepped forward. “I finished my task in the morning, so I went to find the furniture craftsmen. With no other plans, I thought I’d come over to help with cleaning.”

Lin Xiang smiled and narrowed her eyes. “It looks like we had the same idea.”

She went on to tell him about how she had provoked Director Qin into returning to work and how she had ended up with half a day off: “It’s so nice to get paid while doing personal work.”

He Hongyuan, seeing her playful expression, felt a soft spot in his heart. He reached up to wipe the thin sweat on her forehead. “You really know how to get things done. You rest, I’ll take care of the rest.”

Lin Xiang had indeed been busy for a while, so she sat down on the floor to take a break.

She had purposely worn black pants today, but after cleaning, the legs of her pants were dusted. She wasn’t bothered by it and sat down on the floor, watching as the man continued to tidy up the new house.

He Hongyuan, taking over the cleaning duties, started with the first floor. The living and dining rooms were connected, and he cleaned that area first, then moved to the kitchen and guest room on the left, and finally headed to the bathroom on the right to clean the broom.

He Hongyuan was a pro at this, trained for years. Even cleaning seemed like a battle to him—he was strong and quick, moving efficiently, and Lin Xiang had never seen anyone do housework so pleasing to the eye.

She couldn’t help but wonder if she was just seeing him through rose-colored glasses.

While cleaning, He Hongyuan took off his jacket, leaving only his olive-green military training shirt. His well-toned arm muscles were visible as he moved, and as he raised his hand to sweep the dust from the ceiling, the hem of his shirt lifted slightly, revealing his well-defined abs. These weren’t the type of abs built in a gym; they were the result of years of training and battle, showcasing true strength and wildness.

After working for a while, the heat began to dissipate, and He Hongyuan emitted a strong masculine energy, moving steadily and skillfully.

He embodied the calm, efficient style of someone who was silent but steady in action.

Lin Xiang, feeling lazy, watched him work for a long time. When she had rested enough, she stood up to help finish the last bits of cleaning.

He Hongyuan worked so efficiently that the first floor corners were spotless, and when Lin Xiang saw that even the two stools in the room had been perfectly aligned in the corner, she couldn’t help but admire his precision.

No wonder he’s the model for military housekeeping, able to fold blankets into perfect tofu blocks and arrange books at the same angle!

The two of them were busy until dinnertime, and the military families at home were already beginning to stir-fry dishes and prepare dinner.

He Hongyuan paused his work and looked at Lin Xiang. “If you’re hungry, go ahead and eat.”

Lin Xiang shook her head. She was a little hungry, but there was still some cleaning left to do. It was better to finish it up and then eat. Otherwise, the back-and-forth would waste time, and she didn’t like interrupting work with only a small bit left to do.

“Let’s clean the yard and then go. I’m not too hungry,” Lin Xiang replied.

He Hongyuan noticed Lin Xiang’s refusal, nodded toward the military jacket on the chair, and said, “There’s candy in the pocket. My hands are dirty, you can take it yourself. Have a piece to tide you over.”

Lin Xiang smiled and quickly washed her hands, rummaged through the pocket of He Hongyuan’s military jacket, pulling out three pieces of sesame candy. “Why do you have candy today?”

“Weijun gave it to me. He and Song Qingya are hosting a banquet next week, and they’ve been buying things lately. They brought us some candy too.”

The sesame candy was crispy, sticky on the teeth, and full of flavor. The aroma of sesame spread with each chew.

Lin Xiang ate a piece and then peeled another, offering it to He Hongyuan. They both snacked on the candy to calm their hunger.

Hearing about the banquet, Lin Xiang was interested. “We’ll go, right? We should bring a gift.”

He Hongyuan waved it off, “You decide what to send.”

“Alright.” Lin Xiang hadn’t attended a wedding banquet in this era yet, so she was looking forward to joining the fun.

After finishing two pieces of sesame candy, Lin Xiang felt her hunger subside a little. Just as she was about to get back to work, she heard voices at the door.

A clear woman’s voice called out, and soon a round-bellied figure approached.

“Are you Comrade Lin Xiang? The wife of Captain He?” The woman, whose features were delicate but a bit fuller due to pregnancy, smiled warmly. “I’m Jiang Wenfang, the wife of Instructor Sun from next door.”

“Sister Jiang, I’m Lin Xiang.” Lin Xiang was a little surprised by the visit but quickly stepped forward to greet her, “Our house just got allocated, and I’m cleaning it today.”

She glanced at Jiang Wenfang’s belly, remembering what Sister Guihua had said — she was about five months along. “The house is a bit dusty. Let me move a chair so you can sit and chat.”

“No need.” Jiang Wenfang quickly stopped her, offering a plate with six wild vegetable cakes. “I thought you must be hungry after working all afternoon, so I brought you some cakes to snack on.”

Lin Xiang was touched by the gesture and quickly accepted the plate. “Sister Jiang, you’re so thoughtful. These cakes smell delicious.”

He Hongyuan, hearing the noise, came out to the yard. Noticing a fellow soldier’s wife had come over, he nodded in acknowledgment. “Sister-in-law, hasn’t Brother Suncome back yet?”

“Still busy. It’ll be a while.” Jiang Wenfang said as she prepared to leave, “I’ll go back now, don’t let me interrupt your cleaning. You can return the bowl whenever you’re done.”

“Okay, thanks, Sister Jiang. Be careful on your way.” Lin Xiang, now smelling the wild vegetable cakes, was immediately hungry. After washing her hands, she pinched a piece and popped it in her mouth, the fragrance filling her mouth as she mumbled, “Our neighbor is really kind, bringing us food. We should return the favor once we’re done.”

He Hongyuan, who was eating the wild vegetable cake Lin Xiang had fed him, his hands still dirty, responded, “Yes, Brother Sunand his wife are good people, with great temperaments. It’s nice to spend time with them.”

After a busy day, Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan had managed to clean up the house, removing years of dust. The two-story house seemed to shine.

Lin Xiang had already informed Aunt Feng not to wait for them for dinner. By the time they got back to the Zhou family’s house, everyone had already eaten. There was food left for them on the stove.

The dining room was empty, as everyone had gone outside to chat after their meal. Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan, after a full day of work, were starving and quickly dug into the leftovers.

As they ate, Lin Xiang couldn’t help but ask, “Are all soldiers in such good shape?”

She was genuinely curious. Was He Hongyuan an exception, or was it the norm? She had seen fit men online in her past life, but their bodies, honed in gyms, weren’t like He Hongyuan’s, which had been built through years of military training — this was a completely different level.

He Hongyuan, ever so modest, didn’t quite catch her question. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, “What?”

“Your abs…” Lin Xiang’s gaze subtly shifted down, finally resting on He Hongyuan’s stomach. “You have eight-pack abs, don’t you?”

He Hongyuan followed her gaze and glanced down, a small smile on his lips, ready to speak, when Lin Xiang continued.

“I think all soldiers must be in great shape, but what level are you? Are you the best among them? Is there anyone with a better body than yours?”

He Hongyuan’s face darkened slightly. “You want to know about others?”

Lin Xiang, not noticing the shift, eagerly asked, “Really? Is there someone with even firmer abs than yours?”

He Hongyuan: “…”

His face darkened even more, gripping the chopsticks tightly, and he said sternly, “Eat your dinner.”

Lin Xiang’s curiosity about abs was abruptly interrupted by the man, and she inwardly grumbled that he was being too petty. After they finished dinner and cleaned up the stove, Lin Xiang was about to rest when she heard He Hongyuan say, “Let’s go to the new house again.”

“What’s wrong? Didn’t we finish cleaning it already?” Lin Xiang asked, confused.

He Hongyuan glanced around the room, his eyes settling on a long table. “This table isn’t needed by Uncle Zhou’s family, so they asked us to take it over. We can use it to put things on, so we might as well move it now.”

“Oh.” Lin Xiang thought for a moment, then decided that since she had nothing else to do, it could serve as a post-meal walk.

He Hongyuan carried the long table in front, and Lin Xiang walked beside him. She couldn’t help but marvel at how effortlessly he handled it, secretly impressed by his strength.

After greeting the neighbors in the yard, they arrived at the new house. Lin Xiang took out the keys and opened the door, pointing to a corner where two stools were placed. “Put it there. It fits perfectly.”

Lin Xiang couldn’t help but think to herself, This must satisfy his need for orderliness.

He Hongyuan obediently placed the long table in the corner, and Lin Xiang nodded in satisfaction, ready to turn and leave. But then, she saw the man’s expression change suddenly. The room, still without lights, was dark except for the soft moonlight that barely illuminated the space.

He Hongyuan strode toward her, his strong arms suddenly wrapping around her waist. In the blink of an eye, Lin Xiang found herself lifted and spun around, sitting on the long table, perfectly steady.

“What’s going on?” Lin Xiang looked up at him, confused.

The room was silent, a serene calm hanging in the air. Lin Xiang stared at the man, but before she could get an answer, he began to unbutton his military jacket — the jacket that was always tightly fastened, all the way up to the top. One by one, the buttons came undone, revealing a thin training shirt underneath.

“Didn’t you want to compare?” He Hongyuan said, without changing his expression, his voice serious. “Hmm?”

Lin Xiang’s gaze fell on his training shirt, which partially revealed the well-defined curves of his abs. She couldn’t help but swallow.

She swore to herself, I really am not that kind of person!