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They say “food is everything in Guangzhou,” and that wasn’t just talk.
Even the small state-run eateries by the street served dishes that made your mouth water.
Still, Ye Zhi wanted to save money to buy daily necessities. So when they reached the restaurant, she only ordered a bowl of tingzai congee (a boat-style seafood rice porridge). Lu Wei ordered a plate of cheong fun (steamed rice rolls), and Ye Xiaoding, after watching a crowd of kids gather around the steaming baskets outside, insisted on having char siu bao (barbecue pork buns).
He didn’t understand what the kids were saying—just something-something “bao.” But he heard the word bao (bun), and that was enough.
If so many kids liked it, it had to be good!
And it was.
As soon as he bit into the soft bun, the sweet, savory scent of barbecue pork exploded in his mouth. His eyes widened in delight. Even the sauce that dripped onto his wrist—he licked it clean.
“So good! This is so good!!” he exclaimed with a grin stretching ear to ear.
Ye Zhi’s congee came in a clay pot, still bubbling when it was served. The steam rolled up in thick, fragrant waves. She asked for two small bowls and shared some with Lu Wei and Ye Xiaoding.
Lu Wei returned the gesture, placing a portion of his cheong fun in her bowl. “This one’s really good, try it,” he said.
Ye Zhi looked at his plate. There wasn’t much left—just a small portion.
He was a grown man; that little plate clearly wouldn’t be enough.
“You eat it. I’m fine,” she told him.
“If it’s not enough, I’ll just order another,” Lu Wei said.
“No need! I can’t eat much,” she insisted.
Though she said no, when Lu Wei slid the rice rolls over to her side, she didn’t stop him.
She had to admit… the cheong fun was irresistible—smooth, bouncy, and silky-soft.
In the end, she even bought a youtiao (fried dough stick).
It was crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and the kind of snack that left a lingering craving behind.
As Lu Wei watched her eat, he noticed that while she enjoyed the congee, she picked out every piece of scallion and ginger with almost surgical precision.
He quietly filed that away.
Ye Zhi doesn’t eat scallions or ginger.
Because they had to catch an early ferry the next morning, Ye Zhi didn’t plan on going back to the guesthouse to rest. Instead, they headed straight to a state-run supply store to buy daily goods.
Even though Lu Wei’s mother couldn’t meet them in person, she had sent someone with a thick stack of cash and ration coupons—grain coupons, meat coupons, daily essentials, and even luxury food stamps. There were also some national coupons that could be used all over China.
She said they were a welcome gift for her new daughter-in-law.
Some things she couldn’t send in person had already been mailed to Lu Wei’s corps station.
Ye Zhi was overwhelmed with gratitude.
They hadn’t even met yet, and here she was accepting such generous gifts.
Before leaving the guesthouse, she had asked Lu Wei to help her place a phone call—she wanted to thank his mother personally. But he told her his mom was probably already on the road.
They would have to wait until next time.
Whenever that would be.
On the train ride, Ye Zhi had asked Lu Wei about life on Qiongzhou Island. She learned that nearly everything—from daily goods to food—was shipped in from the mainland.
That meant prices were higher on the island and many essentials were often out of stock.
On the way to the store, Lu Wei said, “Don’t try to save for my sake. Buy what you need. Once we’re on the island, it’ll be hard to find these things.”
“My salary book—I’ll give it to you once we’re back. Didn’t bring it this trip.”
Ye Zhi looked up at his serious expression and nodded. Then she smiled and teased, “So, how much have you saved all these years?”
Lu Wei grinned and gave her a number.
Ye Zhi’s eyes widened. “That much?!” she gasped, shocked.
Lu Wei chuckled and said, “Maybe my family’s just afraid I’ll starve to death on the island.”
He’d spent most of his years in military school or in the barracks. No drinking, no smoking—saving money came naturally.
Still, she hadn’t expected him to have so much!
In this era, Ye Zhi had learned that anything over one yuan felt like a fortune. And people who could pull out a full ten-yuan note were basically walking tycoons.
Looks like she’d landed herself a golden husband!
A proper “gold turtle son-in-law.”
With money and coupons in hand, Ye Zhi officially leveled up to “wealthy woman” status.
Back in the guesthouse, she had already listed out everything she needed. Now, at the store, she just had to follow the list and pick things off the shelves.
The department store they went to had three floors, and she could basically buy everything in one go.
The focus was on kitchen supplies and seasonings.
Though the army had a cafeteria, they were building a real home now. Lu Wei deserved a proper hot meal—they needed a little taste of daily life.
Then there were dishes, bowls, pots, and utensils. Lu Wei might have had his own on the base, but Ye Zhi and Xiaoding still needed their own set.