A deafening cheer erupted from outside in an instant.

But despite the soldiers’ loud shouts, when it came time to line up for food, they immediately reverted to their disciplined military demeanor, each holding their mess tins and queuing up obediently.

Like elementary school kids, they blushed and chimed, “Thank you, sister-in-law!” one after another.

It was unbearably adorable.

Zhou Qiqi looked at these faces, only a few years younger than her, as if they were her neighbor’s little brothers. Her hand holding the ladle was steady as a mountain, scooping up braised pork piled so high it wobbled precariously, almost tipping over.

After that sumptuous lunch, everyone’s faces glowed with satisfaction, their lips still glistening with oil, and even their words carried a contented smile.

Zhou Qiqi didn’t rest for a moment, immediately setting up a large pot to stew lamb.

She and Zhu Yingying also kneaded a large batch of dough.

In the afternoon, she planned to serve everyone lamb soup with her own freshly baked tuotuo mo (a type of flatbread).

This Shaanxi specialty bread had a chewy, resilient texture. Soaked in the fragrant lamb broth, it absorbed the rich flavors while retaining its satisfying bite, making it the perfect companion for yangrou paomo (lamb and bread soup).

The soldiers worked with just as much enthusiasm.

By three in the afternoon, the toilets and shower rooms at Zhou Qiqi and Zhu Yingying’s homes were fully constructed, and all the plumbing was laid.

At Shen Huaichuan’s command, the group immediately moved on to help the other families.

They only built toilets, so the workload was lighter. By a little past seven, all the work was successfully completed.

Hu Chunxiao’s family handed each soldier two packs of Peony cigarettes.

These premium cigarettes cost fifty cents a pack on the market—twice as expensive as the Golden Leaf and Daqianmen brands they usually smoked.

The young men cradled the cigarettes, their faces breaking into wide grins.

The wives of Director Lin and the other two families, who hadn’t prepared anything in advance, felt a bit embarrassed.

After discussing it, they pooled together ten yuan and handed it over, asking Shen Huaichuan to distribute it as payment for the soldiers’ work.

Shen Huaichuan, who was eating yangrou paomo with the soldiers at the time, shook his head and refused outright, his voice icy.

“No need.”

His face was expressionless, cold as an iceberg. Just standing near him made the air feel several degrees chillier.

The wives grew a little flustered and didn’t dare press further. When they tried to give the money directly to the soldiers, they refused as well.

Left with no choice, the wives pinned their hopes on Zhou Qiqi. Director Lin’s wife spoke up first:

“You have to take this money—it’s not just for them, but to thank you too! If you hadn’t taken the lead, who knows how long we’d have waited for these toilets!”

“Really, it’s unnecessary! We’re neighbors who see each other all the time—bringing up money for such a small thing just feels distant!”

Zhou Qiqi quickly waved her hands, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled.

Seeing the wives still hesitant, her eyes sparkled mischievously, and she blinked playfully, her expression turning mysterious.

“Actually, instead of money, I’d prefer some valuable tokens of gratitude!”

The wives exchanged glances, their hearts skipping a beat. In unison, they asked, “What?”

Zhou Qiqi suppressed a sly grin and said earnestly:

“Sister Lin, the vegetables in your backyard are so fresh—could you spare some seeds for me? Sister Wang, your flowers are blooming so beautifully—how about cutting a couple of stems for me to grow? And Sister Deng, those dried loofahs you’ve hung up look perfect—could I have two for scrubbing dishes?”

“I’ve only been here with the army for a few days, and my yard is still so empty it doesn’t feel like home. I’m really in need of these things!”

When the wives heard her requests, they immediately relaxed and laughed. “Of course, that’s no problem at all!”

Sister Deng, whose yard was full of drying loofahs, chuckled heartily.

“Girl, I thought it was something serious! Aside from my husband, take whatever you like from my place!”

Director Lin’s wife teased, “Oh, Deng Cuixiang, what are you saying? She has Battalion Commander Shen—why would she be interested in your man?”

Deng Cuixiang quickly tapped her own lips.

“Listen to my mouth! Wrong choice of words! Not aside from my man—including my man! Take whatever you like, it’s all yours!”

“So you’ve been wanting to kick your man out all along?”

“Haha, you saw right through me?”

Amid the laughter, even the usually shy Zhu Yingying was doubled over with mirth, the courtyard filled with warmth and joy.

Zhou Qiqi watched the scene before her, her heart swelling with emotion.

So in the military family compound, people like Qiu Chunfang and Li Hongjuan were the minority—kind and warm-hearted folks still made up the majority.

After chatting for a while longer, as dusk deepened, everyone reluctantly said their goodbyes.

Since they all lived nearby, they could visit each other anytime.

By the time the neighbors had left, the soldiers had also lined up and returned to the barracks.

The shower room had been airing out for several hours and was now ready to use.

Just as Zhou Qiqi was about to heat water for a bath, she realized Shen Huaichuan had already quietly prepared hot water for her.

This man—though he rarely spoke—was unexpectedly considerate.

Without fuss, she thanked him sweetly, gathered her change of clothes, and skipped happily toward the shower room.

It had been several days since she arrived at the army base, and she hadn’t had a proper bath yet. Her whole body felt sticky and uncomfortable.

The moment the hot water hit her skin, it was as if all her fatigue washed away with the flow.

She let out a contented sigh, feeling like she had finally “come back to life.”

After her bath, while the shower room was still steamy, she quickly called Zhouzhou in.

The evening breeze in September already carried a slight chill, and it was easy to catch a cold if one wasn’t careful.

Once Zhouzhou went in, Zhou Qiqi fetched a basin to soak her laundry, planning to wash it.

But before she could start, Zhouzhou had already finished and was heading back to her room.

Had it even been five minutes?

Zhou Qiqi quickly stopped the child and asked, “You’re done already?”

Zhouzhou nodded blankly, her doll-like big eyes blinking, looking utterly innocent.

Zhou Qiqi pulled her closer for a look—her skin was dry and rough, her hair clumped in strands, and her whole body reeked of pungent soap.

“We’re girls—we can’t just rush through baths like that! You need shampoo for your hair and proper soap for your body. Don’t copy your uncle, using one bar of soap for everything!”

Being a child, Zhouzhou’s face instantly flushed red with embarrassment.

Zhou Qiqi’s heart twinged. Though she wasn’t fond of taking care of other people’s kids, she couldn’t bear to see this child suffer the same awkwardness she once had.

With a resigned sigh, she said, “Fine, I’ll help you wash this time.”

But she made sure to add, “Just this once, though. Pay attention and learn how to do it yourself next time.”

When she had braided Zhouzhou’s hair earlier, Zhou Qiqi noticed how dry and straw-like it was.

Now, she patiently worked shampoo into a rich lather, massaging the scalp gently before rinsing thoroughly.

After patting her hair dry with a towel, she carefully combed out the tangles.

By the time she finished, half an hour had passed.

After sending Zhouzhou back to her room, Zhou Qiqi returned to the shower room to wash her clothes—only to find the basin of dirty laundry she’d left by the door was gone.

She thought she might have absentmindedly carried it inside, so she pushed the door open and stepped in.

But instead, she was met with the sight of Shen Huaichuan, fresh out of the shower!

Shen Huaichuan was just draping a towel around his neck, the dim yellow light casting deep shadows across his taut chest and abdomen.

Water droplets rolled down the eight defined ridges of his abs, gathering into a glistening bead at his navel before clinging precariously to his waistline.

Then, following the trail of his Adonis belt, they disappeared into… an enormous shadow.

Zhou Qiqi heard a loud gulp escape her throat.

She hesitated—should she keep looking down?—