Chapter 13 – Bird Eggs

Just as their son was about to walk into the house, Chen Caiqi couldn’t stop nagging. “It’s normal for couples to quarrel. Just don’t let her stay angry too long.”

Lian Yuqing’s anger was written all over her face. During dinner, when Wei Ximin put down his chopsticks, clearly about to lecture Wei Dong, it was Chen Caiqi who stopped him with all her might.

Wei Dong didn’t even look back. “Got it,” he said and pushed the door open.

Almost the moment he turned around to close the door, the lights went out and the room plunged into darkness.

Under the moonlight filtering through the window, a lump on the bed faced away from him—her way of expressing her fury. Wei Dong curled his lips in a smirk and walked straight to the light switch. As the unbeatable king of soldiers in the army, he had no problem seeing in the dark.

Click. The light came back on.

The person on the bed angrily threw off the blanket and walked to him. The lights were turned off again.

Just as Lian Yuqing reached the bed, the lights were switched on again by Wei Dong. She rolled up her sleeves, ready for an all-out battle.

She charged at him, but suddenly halted—Wei Dong stood with legs slightly apart, arms lifted in front of his chest, fingers holding something with distinct knuckles.

Lian Yuqing leaned closer and saw—it was money.

“One, two… five.”

Five large-denomination bills, totally throwing her off.

Wei Dong hadn’t expected that the woman who’d been desperate for money that afternoon was now staring blankly at it. Not wanting to waste time, he stuffed the bills into her hand.

“What’s the meaning of this?” she asked.

“This money’s for you. Don’t worry—there’ll be more when we divorce.”

Lian Yuqing had no idea where he’d gone that afternoon. His attitude was a complete turnaround. Still, her goal was achieved, and her anger subsided. She calmly tossed the money into the drawer of the desk and locked it.

“Guess you’ve still got a bit of conscience.”

She was in a good mood now, sitting on the edge of the bed, swinging her legs. “You finished packing?”

“Nothing much to pack.”

True. A man who wore his military uniform even at home wasn’t likely to have much luggage.

Her rapid mood swings no longer surprised Wei Dong. He couldn’t help but say, “Don’t blow through the money.”

Lian Yuqing hated lectures, but didn’t snap back. “Well, it’s mine now. I’ll spend it however I want.”

She added silently to herself: I’ll blow it all tomorrow.

Wei Dong sniffed his shirt collar—a strong smell of alcohol. He hadn’t lied to Chen Caiqi; he had gone drinking with an old classmate. But thinking of the fussy woman nearby, he knew if he didn’t shower, she’d definitely blow up.

He grabbed a change of clothes from the wardrobe and headed to the yard to shower.

His parents and siblings were already asleep. Not wanting to wake them, he sped up and finished in under three minutes. The whole time, he noticed the lights in his room remained on.

When he returned, Lian Yuqing was already asleep.

She was simple. Her emotions—joy, anger, sorrow—were always written on her face. When happy, she’d leave the light on and let him sleep in the bed. When mad, she’d ignore him, and he couldn’t even get in the bed.

Wei Dong actually liked it this way. She was easy to read. He thought of when she first came to the house—just as delicate, but with a sharp, mean mouth. She’d mock everything about the countryside, like a porcupine stabbing everyone around her.

Maybe she’d come around now.

Wei Dong thought Lian Yuqing was just a spoiled city girl. Not malicious—just blunt.

He turned off the light and lay down beside her. Although there was still some distance between them, their skin not even touching, he could smell her scent—it was pleasant at first, but too much of it became irritating.

That afternoon, he’d gone to the town’s post office, where a high school classmate worked. After a few drinks and some catching up, he brought up his real reason for visiting.

He pulled an envelope from his pocket and asked his friend to forward all mail from that address directly to his unit.

His classmate joked that it was unnecessary—after all, his family was all here.

Wei Dong explained that the mail was for his wife, who was joining him on base, and it wouldn’t be convenient for her to receive it at home.

Only then did the classmate realize he was married. Wei Dong apologized and downed three cups as a penalty.

That was that.

As for why he went through all that trouble… even Wei Dong wasn’t sure.

The train was scheduled in the afternoon, but Lian Yuqing was still woken up early.

When she questioned it, Wei Dong explained flatly, “We take a bullock cart to town, then a bus to the neighboring city, then the train. You’ve got an hour and a half to eat and pack.”

She really wanted to say Why don’t you just go alone? But thought better of it.

Annoyed, she scratched her head, tossed off the blanket, and got out of bed. Wei Dong twisted the knife further: “Hurry up and wash. Breakfast’s still warm in the pot.”

She glared at him. “Shut up.”

The Wei family had already eaten. Because the couple was heading far away, Chen Caiqi had gotten up early to cook. She’d wanted to wake Lian Yuqing but was stopped by Wei Dong.

When Wei Dong walked off, Chen Caiqi muttered, Argue last night, all fine today.

Wei Miaomiao helped set the table. It was still early, and Lian Yuqing didn’t have much of an appetite. Having slept well, she looked grumpy. Miaomiao coaxed, “Sister-in-law, it’s a long train ride. Eat more so you won’t be hungry.”

She was about to say, Aren’t there meals on the train? Then remembered she was in the impoverished 1970s.

Resigned, she picked up her chopsticks and forced food into her mouth.

Wei Dong entered while she was still eating. Miaomiao sat chatting with her.

He placed a cloth bundle on the table. When opened, Miaomiao exclaimed, “Bird eggs!”

“They’re already roasted. Go ahead.”

Lian Yuqing had already smelled the aroma, but the charred shells put her off. She looked at him. “Why don’t you peel them for me? I’m eating.”

Wei Dong had seen her just poking at her food with chopsticks, not actually eating. Too lazy to call her out, he was going to sit down, but changed his mind and went out to wash his hands.

The usually silent man now stood quietly peeling eggs. Bird eggs were small and harder to peel than chicken eggs, but his fingers were nimble—one clean peel and the egg remained intact.

His long fingers held a smooth, pearl-white egg. Lian Yuqing blinked, watching him eagerly.

Then, to her surprise, Wei Dong handed the first egg to his sister.

Miaomiao quickly took it. “S-Sister-in-law, you eat it.”

“You eat it.”

Miaomiao nervously ate it, relieved that her sister-in-law didn’t blow up.

Lian Yuqing turned to Wei Dong with a wide smile. “Guess the next one’s mine, right?”

Though her tone dripped with threat, Wei Dong calmly peeled another egg.

This time, he planned to put it in her bowl. But Lian Yuqing opened her mouth wide. “Ah~”

With her chin tilted slightly and lips pink and unbothered by appearances, her long curled lashes and glassy eyes were visible from this angle.

Wei Dong froze for a second. Then, snapping out of it, he tossed the egg straight into her mouth.

Lian Yuqing choked and almost gagged.

Stupid straight man!