Chapter 43 Dad, do you want to take a shower with Aunt Jiang?

Jiang Wan’s embarrassment didn’t last long. When she saw Fu Jingchuan pick up the gourd dipper and pour cold water directly over his head, she suddenly remembered the slight odor on herself just now. Plus, Fu Jingchuan had been working all day in the fields! Just rinsing with water wouldn’t get him truly clean. As a modern independent woman, Jiang Wan felt her cleanliness obsession kicking in. She furrowed her delicate brows and quietly asked, “Fu Jingchuan, will rinsing like that really wash you clean?”

Fu Jingchuan paused in his movements, water droplets still dripping from his sharp, determined jawline. He turned his head to look at her. His narrow, dark phoenix-like eyes seemed to carry a hint of puzzlement—as if asking, “Then how else?”

Well, a rough man is a rough man. Jiang Wan felt a bit powerless but still asked, “Isn’t there anywhere in the village where you can take a proper bath?”

“I—I want to take a bath!” Though she felt a bit shy saying it, the thought of staying smelly was worse, so she forced the words out.

Fu Jingchuan stiffened. He suddenly realized how irresponsible he’d been—not thinking thoroughly at all. Jiang Wan was a city girl, raised in a wealthy family, and suddenly brought to a remote countryside village like Beicheng. No doubt there were many things she couldn’t get used to. As a man, he didn’t care so much. But recalling the few times she had leaned close to him, the soft, fragrant scent at her nose tip, he knew how much she loved cleanliness.

“There is,” he said, putting down the gourd dipper and thinking for a moment. “There’s a bathhouse in the village; it probably hasn’t closed yet. You get your things ready, I’ll take you there.”

Fu Jingchuan rarely went home before—he mostly bathed at the army base. He’d been to the bathhouse only once or twice. Although the facilities were a bit rustic, it was better than no bath at all.

Hearing this, Jiang Wan was overjoyed. Her rippling apricot eyes curved into a smile, dimples appearing on her cheeks. She eagerly turned and said, “Alright, alright! I’ll get ready right away!”

Then she rushed inside to grab the soap she bought at the supply store, some snow cream, and even a new dress—a blue and white checked cotton one. The original owner’s clothes were all quite comfortable.

Seeing her so happily satisfied and tender, Fu Jingchuan’s eyes flashed. He glanced at the nearby water bucket, recalling the slight disdain in her voice when she asked if rinsing was enough to get clean. A flush of heat suddenly rose on his sun-kissed face.

He lingered for half a minute, then strode over to the woodshed door and pushed it open.

Locked.

“Chenchen, are you asleep?” Fu Jingchuan frowned.

“No, why, Dad?” Fu Chen lay comfortably on the kang (heated brick bed), covered with a quilt, his dark eyes darting about.

“Open the door, I need to grab something.”

“What? Can’t it wait till tomorrow?” Fu Chen sat up.

“…Open the door.” Fu Jingchuan’s voice deepened, firm and authoritative.

Reluctantly, Fu Chen came over and opened the door.

Inside, Fu Jingchuan reached into the kang cabinet by the moonlight streaming through the door, took out a barely used bar of soap, and tucked it into his pocket. He grabbed a towel and draped it over his bare, muscular shoulder.

Turning, he said, “I’m taking… that Auntie Jiang to the village bathhouse. We’ll be back soon.”

“Oh.” Fu Chen blinked curiously. Auntie Jiang was fair and obviously loved cleanliness, but Dad mostly bathed at the base.

The young boy didn’t think much, then asked in a babyish voice, “Dad, are you and Auntie Jiang bathing together?”

Fu Jingchuan’s tall, imposing figure suddenly tensed. His voice grew hoarse and awkward, almost harsh.

“I’m taking you and Auntie Jiang… together to the bathhouse.”

“To take a bath.”

He seemed to grit his teeth, speaking slowly and deliberately.

Fu Chen frowned, rolled his eyes, and lay back down, muttering, “Isn’t that just bathing together?”

“What’s the difference?” Fu Jingchuan was helpless. He even felt a bit contemptuous of himself for having to argue with a kid. But a heat grew uncontrollably at the back of his neck, making his throat dry.

Jiang Wan was already ready, carefully wrapping the things she needed in a cloth tied with a bow and holding it in her hand. She stood prettily at the door and asked, “Fu Jingchuan, aren’t we going to take a bath now?”

Fu Jingchuan closed his eyes tightly, feeling his temples throb.

He said, “We’re going now.”

Then he stepped out.

“If you’re not sleepy, watch the door. We’ll be back soon.”

“Oh~~” Fu Chen replied lazily, crawling back under the covers with bright, sparkling eyes, wide awake.

When the courtyard gate opened, and a few minutes later the side room’s door was pushed open, Fu Xiaoyan pitter-pattered over to the kang and asked, “Brother, how come Dad went out with Auntie Jiang?”

“They went to bathe together,” Fu Chen thought for a moment, then said, “We listen for sounds, and when they’re coming back, you hurry back to the room and bolt the door!”

“Got it! I know!” Fu Xiaoyan nodded vigorously.

—At Tang Feng’s house—

Yuan Meilin tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep. In the end, she suddenly got up and cursed loudly. The noise startled Yang La, who had just lit a candle. Right then, Tang Feng kicked the door open.

Standing in the doorway, Tang Feng looked annoyed.

“Yuan Meilin, what the heck are you making a fuss about in the middle of the night?”

“Got lice on you or what?”

“If you don’t sleep, how am I supposed to sleep?”

Yuan Meilin was utterly aggrieved, filled with resentment, and said, “I’m trying to sleep, okay?!”

“Yeah right, like I believe that!”

“I’m just full of worries trying to make something of myself. Didn’t you tell me not to worry about every little thing like what to eat or drink?”

“Huh? What worries do you have?”

Tang Feng was surprised. Last time, Yuan Meilin had specially bought a new dress and put on makeup to look for Fu Jingchuan, but ended up completely crushed. Not only did she fail to seduce him, she was even scolded! Even the new soldiers at the army mocked her, saying she looked like a man!

After coming back, Yuan Meilin was pretty down. On top of that, they failed to get any support from Old Fu. Tang Feng herself had lost motivation as well. The Fu family had an old veteran and a battalion commander—truly a force to be reckoned with—and this situation brought no benefit to the Yuan family.

Gasping heavily, Yuan Meilin glared at Tang Feng.

“What else could I be worrying about?”

“About Jingchuan and that village committee’s program rehearsal!”

“Mom! Today out in the fields, I heard Director Zhao say that this report performance is actually for recruiting talents!”

“Damn it, just thinking about it makes me mad! That Director Zhao was all begging Jiang Wan to go, and when I said I wanted to go too, she looked down on me!”

“Isn’t she just some petty woman in charge? Acting all high and mighty! Bah!”