Chapter 54.2

The three of them walked along a shaded path. Military wives greeted Jiang Nian, who smiled and exchanged a few words with them. Those military wives and several aunts looked at Jiang Nian and felt that Deputy Commander Lu’s sister-in-law was different from last year. She smiled when she saw people and wasn’t afraid of them.

When they reached the county town around lunchtime, they went to the state-run restaurant and sat by the window. Ge Mei ordered a couple of small dishes and two bowls of rice. During the meal, Ge Mei asked Jiang Nian, “How have you been recently?”

Jiang Nian smiled, “I’ve been good.”

Zhang Xiao happily ate beside them and said, “Sister Jiang’s cheeks are so rosy.”

Jiang Nian: …

Her eyes flickered. After eating a few bites, Ge Mei raised an eyebrow and handed Jiang Nian a glass of water, saying something only they could understand, “Any progress?”

Jiang Nian nodded slightly, “Mm.”

Ge Mei smiled and said, “If things work out, remember to call me and let me celebrate too.”

“What things have worked out? What progress?”

Taking a sip of water, Zhang Xiao couldn’t understand Ge Mei and Jiang Nian’s cryptic conversation and curiously asked.

Ge Mei glanced at her and smiled, “I’m asking Jiang Nian if things are progressing well with you and Zhu Jun.”

Zhang Xiao’s face turned completely red in embarrassment. She hurriedly took another sip of water and whispered, “Why are you talking about me?”

Ge Mei added a piece of meat to Zhang Xiao’s plate. “Come on, tell us. How far have you and Zhu Jun progressed?”

Ge Mei was still worried about Zhang Xiao. She would be leaving next month, and she didn’t know if the next director would tolerate Zhang Xiao. She couldn’t bring Zhang Xiao to Yuan City with her. After all, she had just arrived in Yuan City, and her foundation was not stable. The people under her probably didn’t obey her. If she brought Zhang Xiao with her, it would cause dissatisfaction among many people.

If Zhang Xiao could marry Zhu Jun, she wouldn’t have to go back to the countryside.

Jiang Nian looked at Zhang Xiao, waiting for her to speak.

Zhang Xiao smiled shyly and said, “Zhu Jun called me the day before yesterday. He said his parents already know about us, and his mother will come over in a few days. Once everything here is settled, we’ll get things done.”

“Well, that sounds great.”

Ge Mei smiled and continued, “I’ll send you a telegram when I get back today. Telegraphs are fast, and Zhu Jun is a soldier. Your mother will definitely agree.”

Zhang Xiaoxiao said, “Thank you, Sister Ge.”

During the crowded lunch hour, the place filled up quickly. Outside the window, pedestrians passed back and forth. Jiang Nian suddenly felt that although this era was poor, the air was good, and there were no cars on the road, at most just a few bicycles.

After lunch, Ge Mei gave Zhang Xiao money to buy two bottles of soda. After sending Zhang Xiao away, Ge Mei asked, “Did you express your feelings to Deputy Commander Lu?”

Jiang Nian nodded, “Yes.”

Ge Mei asked further, “So when are you getting married? How is it over at the family quarters?”

What she really wanted to ask was whether there had been any talk about them at the family quarters. After all, Jiang Nian and Deputy Commander Lu were not blood relatives. In the eyes of outsiders, they were interacting as brother and sister-in-law. If these two were to marry, there might be gossip at the family quarters.

Jiang Nian walked with her head down. “Sister Ge, I think I want to wait a little longer.”

Ge Mei asked, “Wait for what?”

Jiang Nian hesitated and looked towards the long street. “Wait for the right time.”

“You let go—”

There was a quarrel ahead at the intersection. A woman shook off a man’s hand, her face icy and annoyed.

Jiang Nian stopped in her tracks. It was Sun Ying and Wu Youshan.

Seeing Jiang Nian stop, Ge Mei followed her gaze. Several passersby also stopped at the intersection, watching the couple argue and tug at each other. The man kept pulling the woman’s hand, but she impatiently shook it off. Ge Mei asked, “Do you know them?”

Jiang Nian shook her head. “Don’t know them, just watch the commotion.”

Ge Mei couldn’t help but smile.

“Yingying, why are you about to get married? We grew up together, we are childhood sweethearts…”

“Could you stop bothering me?!”

Sun Ying shook off Wu Youshan’s hand again, turned her head, and saw Jiang Nian on the opposite side. Her face suddenly turned cold, and with a cold snort, she ran off.

Jiang Nian: …

“Yingying.”

Wu Youshan called out and chased after her.

Sun Ying was getting married?

The first person Jiang Nian thought of was Tang Ze. Previously, Feng Mei said that during the Dragon Boat Festival, Sun Ying went home with Tang Ze. She didn’t expect things to progress so quickly between them. Just a few days ago, Sun Ying was at the hospital entangling with Lu Yu, and now she was about to get married.

“Sister Ge, Sister Jiang.”

Zhang Xiao handed them two bottles of soda. Jiang Nian took a sip. The taste was different from the sodas of the New Century, but it was very refreshing.

Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao chatted for a while. The two walked in the small square beside the state-run restaurant. Ge Mei said, “”The embroidery is due in the middle of next month. I asked the leader for advice. The director who came this time is about my age, but I don’t know her well. If you have any questions when the embroidery is due, you can call me and I will communicate with you.”

Jiang Nian nodded. “Okay.”

Zhang Xiao seemed a bit nervous at these words.

“Oh, before I leave, I’ll give you a gift.”

Ge Mei took out two brown paper packages from her bag and handed them to her. Jiang Nian took them, feeling their shape resembling clothes and shoes, and hesitated, turning to Ge Mei. “Sister Ge, what’s this?”

Ge Mei smiled. “I see you wearing the same few clothes every day, no skirts at all. So, I bought you a skirt and a pair of sandals. It’s getting hot now, and you can wear them. Women, you know, should still dress up occasionally. It’s not for others to see, but for ourselves. How many years can one stay young? If we don’t dress up when we’re young, we’ll regret it when we’re old.”

Jiang Nian remembered saying similar words to Ge Mei in the city before.

After saying goodbye to Ge Mei and the others, Jiang Nian returned to the army. Passing by the intersection of the family quarters and the regiment, she met Tang Ze and Chen Fang. Jiang Nian paused and greeted them, “Sister Chen, Captain Tang.”

Chen Fang glanced at what she was holding, which looked like clothes, and asked tentatively, “Did you go shopping for clothes?”

Jiang Nian replied, “They were a gift from a friend.”

Chen Fang looked thoughtful as she glanced at the brown paper package Jiang Nian was holding. A gift from a friend—could it be from Song Bai? Before, Feng Mei said by the river that Song Bai had a partner, and she thought it was Jiang Nian. Now it must be Jiang Nian. Otherwise, Deputy Commander Lu’s sister-in-law has no relatives here, so who would give her clothes?

She had been thinking about matching Tang Ze and Jiang Nian, but now Jiang Nian seemed to be with Song Bai. However, her brother-in-law Tang Ze also had a partner now—a nurse from the county hospital. It was said that the girl’s father was a director in the factory, and her conditions were better than Jiang Nian’s in every way.

Chen Fang smiled. “How’s Deputy Commander Lu’s marriage going? He’s not young anymore. Our Tang Ze is about to get married, but there’s no movement from his side? As a sister-in-law, we have to worry more. As the saying goes, a sister-in-law is like a mother. Deputy Commander Lu’s parents are no longer here, so you should take more care.”

Jiang Nian: …

I really don’t want to be Deputy Commander Lu’s mother.

Tang Ze frowned. “Sister-in-law, please stop.”

He glanced at Jiang Nian again, smiled, “Younger sister, we’ll go first.”

Jiang Nian nodded. “Okay.”

Jiang Nian returned home, opened the brown paper packages, and unfolded the clothes—a light yellow dress with a white belt around the waist. She opened the other package, revealing a pair of white sandals.

Having lived here for a year, she knew the cost of living. These clothes were expensive, and they were also relatively rare in the department store. Ge Mei must have put a lot of thought into this gift.

She neatly folded the clothes and put them away in the closet. Feng Mei’s voice came from outside, “Jiang Nian, the neighboring commune is catching fish. Let’s go too. The fish there are much cheaper than at the food station.”

“Catching fish?”

Jiang Nian turned to see Feng Mei coming in and asked, “Not in the big river, right?”

Feng Mei’s expression also changed, seeming to think of Song Xiangdong’s matter, then shook her head. “No, it’s just a pond, not even as deep as our water. This was what Captain Lu’s mother told me. There are quite a few people there now. Let’s hurry up and go. If we’re late, we won’t catch any fish.”

Jiang Nian was about to close the cabinet door when she remembered something. “We have to go down to the pond to catch them too?”

Feng Mei paused, surprised. “Of course! If we catch them ourselves and weigh them together later, it’ll be really cheap.”

She glanced at Jiang Nian’s clothes. “But you need to change. It would be such a shame to get these dirty.”

Jiang Nian was wearing clothes bought for her last year by Lu Yu—a slightly fitted shirt emphasizing her slender waist, and straight-leg pants. She looked at Feng Mei’s patched-up old clothes with hems curled from washing and nodded. “Sister Feng, wait for me. I’ll change my clothes.”

After Jiang Nian changed and slung a basket on her back, she encountered Xu Yan and Captain Lu’s mother as they arrived. They were all in worn-out clothes, unconcerned about getting muddy from the pond.

They headed to a neighboring commune. Passing a bridge, Jiang Nian glanced at the river, recalling that day’s events, still a bit uneasy. At the commune’s fish ponds in the distance, several were already crowded with people.

“That fish pond over there has fewer people.”

Feng Mei grabbed Jiang Nian’s hand and rushed over, with Xu Yan and the elderly woman following.

Watching Feng Mei, Xu Yan, and the old lady splash into the pond, Jiang Nian hesitated briefly before jumping in herself. Almost slipping on the muddy bottom, she steadied herself and mimicked Feng Mei, bending over to catch fish in the turbid water.

“Wow, this fish is big!”

Feng Mei grabbed a fish by its gills, the slippery creature flopping around, then tossed it into her basket. She looked up at Jiang Nian. “Did you catch any?”

Jiang Nian’s face was flushed, sweat at her temples. She shook her head. “I can’t catch them.”

Too slippery.

She finally caught one, but it slipped away.

“This, this…”

Xu Yan called out to Jiang Nian, “Over here, come quickly.”

The old lady had already caught four fish. Having lived in the countryside for years, she knew all the tricks. Seeing Jiang Nian struggle, she advised, “Pinch the gills when you catch it. Once you have a grip, it won’t slip away.”

Jiang Nian smiled at the old lady. “Thank you, auntie.”

“Here’s one for you.”

Feng Mei tossed a fish into Jiang Nian’s basket, and so did Xu Yan. Jiang Nian focused intently on the pond, quickly catching a small fish, pinching its gills and tossing it into her basket.

“That’s how you do it.”

Jiang Nian turned to them with a smile. “Thank you.”

They caught a good number of fish. The old lady planned to pickle them to preserve them. Feng Mei and Xu Yan had the same idea. They climbed out of the pond with their baskets, Jiang Nian struggling a bit, covered in mud waist-down and with mud spots on her clothes.

She felt her skin tighten on her face, but her muddy hands couldn’t touch it.

Beside her, Feng Mei chuckled. “Jiang Nian, it’s the first time I’ve seen you with mud on your face. You know, most people look bad with mud on, but you… it suits you.”

Xu Yan glanced over. Jiang Nian’s fair skin, now flushed from the sun and tiredness, with a few mud spots on her cheeks, looked not messy but rather endearing, the kind that made one want to care for her.

Jiang Nian: …

It was the first time she had heard such praise.

They went to the commune where there was a long line to weigh the fish. They had to wait. Most of those fishing were commune members and educated youth. The sun was setting, and there were only about ten people ahead of them.

Each family weighed their catch, noted by someone next to the commune leader.

Every year, everyone hoped to catch enough fish to satisfy their cravings for meat and fish, so everyone who could participate did. Those from the commune had to turn in their fish, and based on the weight each family caught, they would receive a corresponding number of fish from the river. If a family failed to catch any fish, they wouldn’t receive any.

However, some people were more cunning—they would secretly stash one or two fish in their clothes and sneak them home.

Soon it was Jiang Nian’s turn. The commune leader recognized her as a military spouse, so he didn’t take her fish. After recording their catch and collecting payment, he let them go.

Jiang Nian walked back with her basket, feeling like her legs weren’t her own anymore, so heavy she could barely lift them. Once at the riverbank, they found a wider spot to wash their hands and faces before heading back to the base.

On the way back to the base, they saw other military wives, all in similar states.

Feng Mei said, “We really need to take a good bath when we get back. Covered in mud and smelling fishy.”

Jiang Nian wrinkled her nose and sniffed herself, slightly disgusted.

Back in the courtyard, Jiang Nian’s first task was to pour the fish into a large basin, then carry water to fill a pot. After heating the water, she carried bucket after bucket into the house. She turned on the lights, dropped her dirty clothes on the floor, and washed them first.

But with so much mud on her legs and feet, each wash just dirtied the water. So she changed into shorts and a tank top, using a basin to scoop water out, dumping it out bit by bit. Without Lu Yu around, it was exhausting to haul water, especially as it got dark. Jiang Nian hurried to finish washing and make dinner.

She ran back to the kitchen to heat more water, then carried it back and forth until the second wash left her clean. The water was finally clear, and Jiang Nian finally felt a bit more comfortable. As she dried off, she suddenly heard footsteps outside, startling her.

“Who?!”

She had locked the gate from the inside. No one could have pushed it open.

Realizing it must be Lu Yu, she tossed aside the towel and almost jumped into bed. Since the courtyard gate was locked, she hadn’t blocked the door, afraid Lu Yu would come in. She hurried to reply, “I’m taking a shower!”

She finished speaking and immediately burrowed into the covers, pulling them tightly around herself. She swiftly reached for the clothes at the bedside, quickly dressing. Outside, she could hear Lu Yu’s low chuckle: “It’s alright.”

He stood outside the door, his palm resting on the door panel, almost pushing it open.

Listening to the rustling sounds inside, Lu Yu’s Adam’s apple bobbed a few times. He withdrew his hand and said, “I’ll go cook.”

After speaking, he turned and went to the kitchen.

As she heard his footsteps gradually fade away, Jiang Nian breathed a sigh of relief. After putting on her clothes, she lifted the covers. Her face felt hot, her hair damp. She put on her shoes, used a towel to dry her damp hair, then opened the door and headed to the kitchen.

The kitchen was lit, and Jiang Nian saw Lu Yu standing at the cutting board, chopping vegetables. The warm yellow light fell on his tall and straight figure. He had changed out of his military uniform into a white shirt, tucked into his pants with a black belt around the olive green waist. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, strong and lean.

Jiang Nian inexplicably remembered the last time in the kitchen when Lu Yu had held her waist with one hand, pinning her against the wall.

She quickly pushed away those images, walked to the kitchen door, and whispered, “This afternoon, I went with Sister Feng to the neighboring commune to catch fish. I got all muddy, so I came back and showered.”

She explained what she had been doing in the afternoon.

Lu Yu’s hand paused in chopping vegetables. Under his cool brows, his deep dark eyes narrowed slightly. His deep voice carried a strange huskiness, “Okay.”

After Jiang Nian finished speaking, she smiled again, “You clean those fish, I’ll cook dinner.”

“Okay.”

Lu Yu replied with just that one word.

He put down the knife, turned around and saw Jiang Nian walking towards the kitchen. She was wearing the clothes he had bought for her last year, her hair damp on her shoulders, with water droplets on her bangs. Her fair face was flushed, probably because of the shower, emitting a faint soap fragrance. Her curled eyelashes were wet, making her look pitiable.

“The fish are by the well.”

Jiang Nian pointed to them and walked to the cutting board to prepare vegetables. Suddenly, her wrist tightened. She blinked and looked at the bony fingers clasping her wrist. Her heart skipped a beat as she followed the hand slowly up to meet Lu Yu’s deep, unfathomable eyes.

“W-what’s wrong?”

Her words stumbled.

Lu Yu’s voice was husky, “Dry your hair properly, or you’ll get a headache.”

Jiang Nian avoided Lu Yu’s scorching gaze, “I’ve already dried it. There are just a few drops left. It’ll be almost dry after we finish dinner.”

“I’ll help you dry it.”

Lu Yu’s fingers tightened instead of loosening, pulling her to sit by the stove, “I’ll go get a towel.”

Jiang Nian couldn’t suppress the rapid beating of her heart, feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles.

She was about to stand up when she saw Lu Yu holding a clean towel and walking behind her. He pressed her shoulders, stopping her from getting up, “Don’t move.”

In the quiet kitchen, his voice inexplicably gained a magnetic huskiness.