Chapter 3: Fragrant Orchid Courtyard

Clerk Liang’s gaze casually drifted to the work badge on Li Xiangbei’s chest. Her lips curled into a smile.
“Oh? So you’re from the supply and marketing co-op, young comrade?”

Li Xiangbei nodded:
“Yes, Sister Liang. I’m Su Yue’s fiancé, currently working at the county supply and marketing co-op.”

He then pulled a handful of milk candies from his satchel and placed them on the clerk’s counter.
“Here you go, Sister Liang—some candies for you. Su Yue’s a bit shy. From now on, I’m counting on you to look after her.”

Clerk Liang’s professional smile softened with genuine warmth as she looked at the candies. Her expression lit up with kindness.
“Oh my, thank you, young comrade. Su Yue’s lucky to have such a considerate partner. You two will surely have a good life together.”

Li Xiangbei’s face beamed with uncontainable joy:
“Being with someone as wonderful as Su Yue is my greatest fortune.”

After leaving the Personnel Department, the pair headed to the Logistics Department.

Su Yue’s mouth curved into a gentle smile.
“You’re acting like we really are going to get married now. Aren’t you worried about what people will say?”

Li Xiangbei brushed his nose thoughtfully and mumbled:
“I wish that the sooner the better—if possible, I’d marry right away.”

His words escaped before he could stop himself, and he broke into a goofy laugh.

Su Yue glanced at him and lightly tapped his arm.
“You’re such a chatterbox.”

In the Logistics Department, they received their employee welcome package—it was surprisingly generous. Inside were:

• Four sets of blue cotton work uniforms (two light, two thick)
• Two pairs of leather shoes and two pairs of cloth shoes
• Four pairs of cotton gloves
• Two enamel basins
• Two bars of soap
• Two towels
• Two aluminum lunch boxes
• Two factory-logo mugs
• Two padlocks
• One thermos flask

Li Xiangbei exclaimed earnestly:
“The steel plant’s welcome package is amazing!”

The logistics clerk, clearly proud, puffed up his chest and said:
“Absolutely! Our steel plant’s newcomer packages are top-notch in the county. The factory leaders really fought hard to get these for everyone.”

Li Xiangbei, always smooth, joined in the praise.

He handed the thermos to Su Yue and neatly arranged the rest into one of the basins—then, still cradling everything, he bid farewell to the clerk.

Walking side by side toward the dormitory building, they were bathed in warm sunlight.

Su Yue turned slightly to Li Xiangbei:
“Thank goodness you’re here to help. With all this stuff, I wouldn’t have handled it alone.”

Li Xiangbei looked at her with sincere affection:
“Yueyue, as long as you need me, I’ll always be by your side.”

Su Yue felt a warmth rise to her cheeks. She teasingly cast a small sidelong glance at Li Xiangbei and murmured,
“Where did you learn that flowery sweet talk?”

Even as she teased, the slight upward curve on her lips betrayed her heart.

Using the key, they headed up to Room 306 on the third floor. Su Yue knocked on the door and waited for a moment. Hearing nothing, she extracted the key and unlocked the door.

Li Xiangbei turned away as Su Yue entered with a soft smile. Inside, the room was empty.

The dorm lay set up as a standard double room. Two single beds (each one meter twenty in width) stood side by side, each with its own nightstand. One bed was neatly made with bedding arranged perfectly—and personal belongings were placed tidily and in order.

The room was impeccably clean, with sunlight streaming through the window, casting patches of light across the floor.

It was clear that her future roommate took pride in cleanliness—something that delighted Su Yue.

Back at the door, she turned to Li Xiangbei.
“Looks like someone’s already moved in. Don’t come in—you’d be making it awkward. Just hand me the stuff. I’ll go in and tidy up by myself.”

Li Xiangbei frowned lightly:
“How about we make two trips instead? I’d hate for you to struggle carrying everything at once.”

Su Yue pretended to be annoyed:
“What, do you think I’m some fragile girl who can’t manage on her own?”

Hearing that, Li Xiangbei thought back to the moment from a year ago when he confessed to Su Yue…

Li Xiangbei’s face flushed red with nervousness. His hands fidgeted, unsure where to place them.

“Su Yue, I… I like you. Would you be willing to date me?”

Su Yue’s eyes were clear and direct.
“Li Xiangbei, you don’t really know me. I’m not some delicate, helpless young lady who needs protecting all the time.”

Li Xiangbei took a step forward, eyes locked onto hers with unwavering determination.
“No matter what kind of person you are, I still like you. Su Yue, I’ve liked you for three whole years, and my feelings have never changed.”

A bright smile bloomed on Su Yue’s face.

At the time, the school was building a wall, and there were loose bricks scattered on the ground. She picked one up and, with a swift motion, chopped it cleanly in two with her hand—clean and crisp, without hesitation.

Li Xiangbei stood frozen in place, stunned. After two seconds, he suddenly snapped out of it and rushed forward, grabbing her hand in a panic.
“Yueyue! Did that hurt? Are you okay?”
He flipped her hand over and examined it carefully.

Realizing how out-of-line he was, his face turned even redder, the flush creeping up to his ears.
“Yueyue, I… I didn’t mean to offend you.”

Su Yue waited for him to calm down.

Seeing that, Li Xiangbei’s gaze grew firm again.
“Su Yue, it’s been three years. I’m very sure. I like you—the kind of like that’s deep to the bone, with you filling my heart and mind.”

Su Yue’s smile turned playful.
“Alright. But you’ll have to promise me one thing.”

“Really?” Li Xiangbei’s voice shot up with surprise and delight.
“Anything. Just say the word!”

Seeing her smile fade into seriousness, he straightened up too.

Su Yue stared into his eyes, speaking slowly and clearly:
“Never lie to me. Not even if you think it’s for my own good.”

From that day on, they were officially together.

…

“Yueyue, it’s mosquito season. I’ll head to the supply co-op to get you a mosquito net. And a quilt.”

Su Yue shook her head.
“I’ve already got both at school. Let’s go back and grab them later.”

“It’s hot out. You stay here and rest. I’ll go get them.”

He handed her the basin and walked away briskly.

Su Yue smiled and let him go.

After tucking the rest of her belongings into the bedside cabinet, Su Yue pulled out a used face towel from the Fragrant Orchid Courtyard, placing it in the basin.

Earlier, she had noticed a public water sink by the stairwell, so she went to fetch some water and gave the bed and cabinet a thorough wipe-down.

In less than ten minutes, she was finished. She shut the door from the inside, bolted it, and with a flash, stepped directly into the Fragrant Orchid Courtyard.

This courtyard held a lifetime of memories from her previous existence.

After her mother died, her stepmother had banished her to the most remote part of the general’s mansion—this very courtyard. The stepmother even had servants wall it off, leaving only a small gate, and drove away all the maids and old nannies, leaving only Su Yue and her wet nurse behind.

The stepmother starved her, giving her hardly anything to eat. The wet nurse, feeling sorry for her, turned the patch of land in front of the house into a vegetable garden. She even sold her jewelry to bribe a servant into building a chicken coop behind the house. When the stepmother found out, she purposely humiliated them by ordering a pigsty to be built right next to it.

And so, Su Yue endured ten long, bitter years in this Fragrant Orchid Courtyard.

Who would have thought that after being reincarnated, she would bring this magical courtyard with her?

Su Yue felt truly grateful. In her past life, after gaining power, she had torn down the west wall of the courtyard and expanded into the vacant neighboring lot, combining them into a two-mu estate. She even had four large storage rooms built.

Anything stored in those warehouses would never spoil or deteriorate. Even water kept its original temperature.

Over the years, she’d stored up quite a hoard—vegetables, fruits, chicken, eggs, you name it.

Su Yue changed into another pair of shoes and grabbed two bamboo baskets. She walked confidently to the garden and picked all the ripe vegetables. Then she pulled a basketful of cabbage leaves, chopped them up finely, and fed them to the chickens.

Judging that it was almost time, she fetched a bucket of well water, washed her face and hands, changed back into her cloth shoes, and stepped out of the Fragrant Orchid Courtyard once again.