Chapter 008

After washing up, Zhenzhen lay quietly in bed.

There was still a smile on her face as she blinked up at the dark ceiling.

She said in her heart, Mother, I’m really happy today. One day, I’ll return with Third Brother to visit you together.

Although she had napped earlier in the day, it hadn’t been enough sleep.

Now feeling peaceful and content, Zhenzhen lay in bed for a bit longer—and soon drifted off again.

Shi Huaiming didn’t go to bed so early.

He stayed in his room reading for a while. After glancing at the clock, he put down the book and stepped outside.

He went next door and knocked on the neighbor’s door.

After a moment, the door opened and He Shuo appeared, looking puzzled. “What is it?”

This late at night, on the very day his wife had arrived—why wasn’t he at home spending time with her, and instead knocking on his door?

Shi Huaiming said, “There’s something I’d like your help with.”

He Shuo had been thinking of getting some fresh air anyway, so he stepped out with Shi Huaiming.

They found a quiet spot and lit cigarettes. He Shuo asked, “What’s the matter? Go ahead.”

Shi Huaiming loosely held the cigarette between his fingers. “Actually, I need your wife’s help.”

He Shuo exhaled a puff of smoke. “Tell me.”

Shi Huaiming explained, “I’ve prepared most of the daily essentials at home, but women have different needs than men. There are definitely things I overlooked. I’d like to ask your wife to take my wife out and help her buy what she needs.”

“No problem,” He Shuo agreed readily.

Shi Huaiming asked, “Should I talk to your wife myself?”

He Shuo laughed. “No need. It’s a small favor—of course she’ll help.”

Since that was settled, Shi Huaiming handed him some money and ration tickets.

He Shuo took them and slipped them into his pocket, smiling. “All right then. It’s your wife’s first day here—you two must have a lot to talk about. I won’t keep you from spending time with her.”

With that, he quickly finished his cigarette.

Shi Huaiming didn’t say much, quietly finishing his cigarette as well.

The two of them returned home and went their separate ways.

He Shuo brushed his teeth in the bathroom, then returned to his room and took out the money and tickets before climbing into bed.

His wife, Li Shuang, asked, “What did Shi Huaiming want?”

He Shuo gestured at the money and tickets. “He wants you to help his wife buy some things—stuff women typically need.”

Wife?

Li Shuang’s interest was immediately piqued. “So Shi Huaiming’s wife has arrived?”

He Shuo’s body relaxed along with his voice. “Yeah, she got here at noon today.”

Li Shuang gave him a little smack. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

He Shuo said, “So many things going on—I forgot.”

Li Shuang remained curious. “What’s she like?”

He Shuo leaned back against the bed frame and closed his eyes. “I haven’t seen her. But Old Zhou did—he said she’s quite pretty.”

Li Shuang gave a small laugh. “Even if she’s pretty, she must be totally rustic.”

She sighed. “Shi Huaiming’s a pretty decent guy. It’s such a shame. If he didn’t already have a wife back in the countryside, I would’ve introduced someone to him.”

He Shuo kept his eyes closed. “Stop talking nonsense.”

He looked like he was about to fall asleep.

Li Shuang didn’t continue, turning off the light and going to bed.

After sleeping half the afternoon and through the night, Zhenzhen finally felt rested.

She woke up refreshed and, after washing up, planned to make breakfast. But after looking around the kitchen, she couldn’t find any rice or flour. Not that it mattered—she didn’t really know how to cook them anyway.

There was no traditional stove either, and the unfamiliar kitchen only left her feeling confused.

Just as she stood there uncertain, she heard the door open and close.

Zhenzhen walked out and saw Shi Huaiming coming back, apparently just finished with his training.

As he headed toward the washroom, she asked, “Um… how do I make breakfast?”

Shi Huaiming replied casually, “Let’s just eat at the cafeteria.”

He hadn’t planned for her to cook, so he hadn’t stocked any ingredients like rice, oil, or salt.

Zhenzhen nodded silently, accepting it.

She sat at the table, waiting for him to finish freshening up, then followed him out to the cafeteria.

Though still a bit nervous outside, she wasn’t as overwhelmed as yesterday, and even made an effort to remember the way.

Once inside, Shi Huaiming went to the window to get their food, while Zhenzhen quietly observed and learned.

As they turned to find a seat, they unexpectedly ran into Li Shuang.

Li Shuang had just been talking about the couple the night before, and didn’t expect to run into them first thing in the morning.

She quickly looked Zhenzhen up and down, then smiled and greeted Shi Huaiming. “Good morning, Commander Shi.”

“Morning,” Shi Huaiming responded, then gestured toward Zhenzhen. “This is my wife, Lin Zhenzhen. Please look after her.”

He turned to Zhenzhen. “Zhenzhen, this is our neighbor. Just call her Sister-in-law.”

Before Zhenzhen could respond, Li Shuang smiled and said, “I’m Li Shuang.”

Zhenzhen replied politely, “Nice to meet you, Sister-in-law.”

Ever since Li Shuang had greeted Shi Huaiming, Zhenzhen had been quietly observing her.

She wore trendy clothes, black leather shoes, and had permed hair.

Li Shuang, true to her name, spoke quickly and directly. “I happen to have time this afternoon and need to buy some things. I’ll come get you later.”

Zhenzhen wasn’t sure what she meant and looked to Shi Huaiming.

He answered on her behalf, “Thanks for the help.”

Li Shuang didn’t linger. “Go eat. I need to get my food too.”

Shi Huaiming led Zhenzhen to a table. Meanwhile, Li Shuang went to get her meal.

Zhenzhen picked up a steamed bun and asked, “What’s she going to do with me this afternoon?”

Shi Huaiming replied, “I asked her to take you shopping.”

Zhenzhen took a bite of the bun. “I don’t need anything.”

Shi Huaiming said, “Go have a look anyway.”

Since he said so, Zhenzhen didn’t argue. She nodded and lowered her head to eat seriously.

Li Shuang returned with her tray and greeted them again before sitting elsewhere.

As Zhenzhen watched her leave, a string of words popped into her mind: tall, pretty, stylish, confident, straightforward.

She couldn’t help feeling a sense of admiration and envy.

Shi Huaiming explained, “She’s a local. Her husband is too—He Shuo.”

Zhenzhen nodded. “Oh.”

City people.

…

Li Shuang returned home with her meal. He Shuo and their son He Ziran had already washed up.

She opened the lunch containers and said to He Shuo, “I saw Shi Huaiming’s wife today.”

He Shuo picked up a steamed bun. “How was she?”

Li Shuang sat down and gave a little laugh. “Nothing special.”

He Shuo asked, “What do you mean ‘nothing special’?”

Li Shuang took a bite of her bun, thought for a moment, then said, “Like a little cotton puff.”

She held her hand up for comparison. “Shi Huaiming is so tall, and she only comes up to his shoulder. Standing next to him, she looks like a little chick—very shy. They don’t seem like a match at all.”

He Shuo said, “That’s because Huaiming is tall. His wife is a childhood betrothal, arranged by their parents.”

Li Shuang sipped her porridge. “There’s a story behind it?”

Mornings were rushed, and He Shuo didn’t have time to chat more.

He quickly finished his food and stood up. “I need to get going.”

Five-year-old He Ziran followed him out. “Me too, I need to go to kindergarten.”

Li Shuang ignored them and continued eating at her own pace.

After eating, she cleaned up and headed to work.

She was an accountant at the grocery store.

It was still early and there weren’t many customers.

A shop assistant named Awen came over to chat. Li Shuang lowered her voice and said, “Hey, Shi Huaiming’s wife arrived yesterday.”

“Really?” Awen’s expression instantly soured. “How is she?”

Li Shuang said, “What can I say—just average. She’s his childhood fiancée, an arranged marriage.”

Awen drawled, “Just average? What does that even mean?”

Li Shuang said, “You’ll know when you see her.”

Awen scoffed, “What’s there to see from some village girl? I’m not interested.”

Li Shuang could see it, hear it, maybe even smell it—a thick cloud of jealousy in the air.

She smiled at Awen but didn’t continue the topic.

Awen had a thing for Shi Huaiming. Before she knew he was married, she’d even asked Li Shuang to set them up.

But once she found out he already had a wife in the countryside, she’d been quietly bitter ever since.

Now that his wife had actually arrived, Awen was clearly even more upset.

After finishing their meal at the cafeteria, Shi Huaiming didn’t head to class right away.

He was worried that Zhenzhen wasn’t familiar with the area and might not find her way home, so he walked her back first.

Once Shi Huaiming left, Zhenzhen took out the keys and opened the door.

She had just arrived here and knew nothing about the place—it was like walking blindfolded. Naturally, she wouldn’t wander around aimlessly and risk causing trouble for Shi Huaiming.

With him gone to class, she had no choice but to stay home alone.

That was when she really started to feel the difference between the city and the countryside.

The countryside was lively. Everywhere you went, you’d run into people you knew—there was never a sense of coldness.

But now, sitting alone in this fairly spacious house, it felt empty and lifeless, utterly devoid of warmth.

No fields, no chickens, no pigs. She didn’t even need to cook. It all felt so unfamiliar and confusing.

Zhenzhen sat at the table in a daze for a while. Then she suddenly remembered the books Shi Huaiming had given her last night, so she went to the bedroom and brought the whole stack out.

She placed the books down and sat at the table.

She wanted to start reading, but after staring at them for a while, she found herself zoning out again.

Honestly, she didn’t even know where to begin.

Back in the old days, poor folks in the countryside barely had a chance to go to school.

Even if some did, it was usually the boys who got sent, and just being able to recognize a few characters was already impressive.

Shi Huaiming had a love for learning. After a teacher introduced him to reading, he’d gone on to teach himself by seeking out books everywhere.

Zhenzhen eventually gave up, putting the books back and slumping over the table.

She laid there limply for a while, then murmured with a soft voice and blinking eyes:
“I want to grow vegetables… I want to raise chickens… I want to cook… I want to feed pigs… I want to set up a stall and sell things…”

Then she reminded herself not to dwell on those thoughts.

Now that she was in the city, and since Shi Huaiming had no intention of divorcing her, her priority was to adapt to city life and build a good relationship with him.

If you don’t even know how to enjoy a better life, then you’re a big fool.

With that thought, Zhenzhen took a deep breath and sat up straight.

But just as she sat up, she suddenly saw a big, fluffy, snow-white head on the other side of the table—and nearly screamed in fright.

Staring wide-eyed to steady herself, she realized it was a large white dog.

The dog had its front paws up on the bench, its fluffy head resting on the table, and its round eyes wide and innocent as it tilted its head to look at her.

Zhenzhen held her breath and blinked, then blinked again.

She turned to look at the front door—sure enough, she had forgotten to close it, just like she used to back in the village.

Turning her eyes back to the dog, she held her breath and stared right into its eyes.

So there they were—one person and one dog—staring at each other, both equally clueless, both eyes equally clear and wide.

Just when Zhenzhen started to relax a little and was about to speak, the white dog suddenly panted, then let out a sudden “Woof!”

Zhenzhen jumped again in fright.

She quickly stood up from the bench and took a couple steps back.

Whose dog was this? Was it going to bite?