Chapter 81.1

Jiang Nian had her back to the man and didn’t know who he was. She looked down at the arm wrapped around her waist and saw the military green sleeve. She immediately hugged his arm happily, believing from the bottom of her heart that only Lu Yu would protect her like this: “Lu Yu, you finally came back!”

The arm she held stiffened for a moment, and then the arm around her waist quickly released her. A low, familiar voice came from above her head: “Younger sister-in-law, it’s me, Gu Shizhou.”

Jiang Nian was stunned for a moment and quickly let go of the arm she was holding.

After her feet touched the ground, she quickly turned around. The man behind her was as tall as Lu Yu. They were standing very close, and her vision was filled with military green. She took two steps back and looked up to see Gu Shizhou’s stern face with an awkward smile.

Jiang Nian: …

Her face also showed some awkwardness. She smiled awkwardly and nervously curled her hands: “I’m sorry, I thought it was Lu Yu coming back.”

He Yue’s body tilted to one side, her toes pressed to the ground, and with Gu Shizhou’s support, she stabilized the bicycle. She turned her head and smiled at him, “Political Commissar Gu, thank you.”

Gu Shizhou said, “No problem.”

“Sister-in-law, are you riding bicycle?”

Chen Yao and Yu Liang, along with a few groups of soldiers, ran over. It seemed like they were heading out. He had been talking to Yu Liang when he saw Political Commissar Gu rush out and thought something major had happened. He chased after him only to find that the two sister-in-laws had almost fallen off their bicycles.

He Yue looked at Chen Yao and smiled, “I’m not very skilled at riding yet, I almost fell. If it weren’t for Political Commissar Gu, Jiang Nian and I would have fallen badly.”

Jiang Nian: …

So, in the future, she should only trust Lu Yu in this regard. At least with him around, she wouldn’t fall flat on her face.

Jiang Nian smiled, “Are you guys heading out?”

Chen Yao said, “Yes, we’re going out.”

Jiang Nian remembered the task of watering the private plot and said to Chen Yao, “Thank you for watering the vegetables.”

Chen Yao smiled, “It’s no big deal, but you should also thank Political Commissar Gu. When I wasn’t around, he was the one watering them.”

Jiang Nian was taken aback and turned to look at Gu Shizhou, surprised by his help in watering the field.

Gu Shizhou said, “Lu Yu mentioned it to us before he left.”

Chen Yao said, “Yes, when Commander Lu returns, you must make us something good to eat. We don’t crave anything but the mixed noodles made by you, sister-in-law.”

Back when he and Zhou Ji were recovering at the city hospital with Commander Lu, sister-in-law often brought them meals from the embroidery shop. They ate a lot of good things that couldn’t be found in state-run restaurants, and he had been longing for those mixed sauce noodles for a long time.

After saying that, Chen Yao felt a bit embarrassed.

Jiang Nian smiled, “No problem.”

“Political Commissar Gu, let’s go, they’re waiting over there.”

Chen Yao urged.

Gu Shizhou nodded, “Let’s go.”

He smoothed out his wrinkled sleeve, his fingers brushing over the residual warmth, and strode out of the camp.

Jiang Nian looked at He Yue, amused, “Why don’t you ride by yourself? I won’t sit on it.”

She was afraid that if she fell again, she wouldn’t be as lucky to be saved.

He Yue said apologetically, “I won’t ride either. I’ll put the bike back, you wait here for me.” Then she pushed the bike and ran off.

In the end, Jiang Nian and He Yue walked to the vegetable market. They bought a few items and met Guan Lu, who was returning from the supply and marketing cooperative. Guan Lu had bought a jar of snow cream and a bag of peach crisps. When she saw Jiang Nian and He Yue, she hesitated for a moment before nodding to greet them.

He Yue said loudly, “Are you eating peach crisps for lunch?”

Jiang Nian: …

Guan Lu: …

He Yue didn’t think there was anything wrong with her question. It was almost noon, and she had bought peach crisps, so why not eat them?

Guan Lu said, “Yes.”

Then she quickly walked away, clearly not wanting to walk with Jiang Nian and He Yue.

For the past half month, there hadn’t been much quarreling in Luo Chengyi’s house. Every time Jiang Nian went out, she rarely saw Guan Lu, but she saw Luo Xiaoyue more often. Several times she encountered Luo Xiaoyue coming home from school, who would sweetly call her Aunt Jiang.

Watching Guan Lu’s back, He Yue shook her head, “Newlyweds are different. Look how Deputy Commander Luo spoils her, better than treating his daughter. Snow cream, peach crisps—” She paused and looked at Jiang Nian, “Your Commander Lu spoils his wife even more.”

Jiang Nian: …

He Yue sighed, “My husband is just a rough man.”

Jiang Nian didn’t say anything. After returning home with He Yue, she washed up and went to embroider. As the weather was getting hotter, she opened the windows. The third-floor breeze brought a slight coolness. There was a knock on the door, and Jiang Nian got up to open it. It was a military guard, saying there was a call for her in the military guard office.

This time, she was sure the call was from Lu Yu, so she closed the door and followed the military guard.

She ran to the military guard office and picked up the phone, hearing Lu Yu’s deep, pleasant voice. His voice through the receiver had an added texture, “Have you had lunch?”

Jiang Nian caught her breath, “Not yet, I was just about to make it.”

She pressed her lips together, listening to Lu Yu’s low laughter through the phone, and tightened her grip on the receiver. She asked softly, “When will you—”

“I’ll be back next Wednesday.”

They spoke at the same time, but both heard each other’s words. The loneliness that had shrouded Jiang Nian’s heart like a cloud was blown away by the wind. She smiled, “I’ll wait for you.”

Today was Thursday, only a few days until Lu Yu would be home.

Jiang Nian had never felt time pass so slowly. Ever since Lu Yu said he would return on Wednesday, she had been counting the days. In the blink of an eye, it was Saturday, and only two days had passed.

Near lunchtime, Tian Mai brought her two children over, bringing Jiang Nian two steamed buns, one shaped like a little rabbit and the other like a tiger, made of cornmeal in a bowl covered with a clean cloth. 

Jiang Nian invited them in, and Tian Mai placed the buns on the kitchen cutting board, saying, “I didn’t properly thank you for last time. I’m really grateful for what you did for my Xiu’er.”

Jiang Nian smiled, “Sister Tian, you just brought me a plate of dumplings a few days ago, and now you’re bringing steamed buns. If you bring something again next time, I won’t open the door or greet you anymore.”

She didn’t think she had done much, but Sister Tian’s repeated thanks made her feel undeserving.

Tian Mai said, “Alright, I won’t bring anything next time.”

Jiang Nian smiled and picked up the steamed buns, amazed, “Sister Tian, you have such great skills. Look at this little rabbit, so lifelike. It’s really beautiful.”

She wasn’t exaggerating. With Sister Tian’s skills, making steamed buns in the new century could earn a lot of money. Plus, live-streaming it online could gain many fans. Such skills aren’t easy to learn.

Tian Mai said, “I didn’t make them. Xiu’er did.”

Jiang Nian was taken aback. She picked up the little tiger, looked at it, and then walked out of the kitchen to see Ning Xiu sitting on a bench with her head down, not speaking. Jiang Nian asked gently, “Xiu’er, did you make this?”

Ning Xiu took a while before lifting her head, her gaze moved from the flower bun in Jiang Nian’s hand to Jiang Nian’s smiling face, and she nodded gently.

Jiang Nian smiled, “Aunt Jiang wasn’t wrong. Xiu’er is amazing.”

Ning Xiu pursed her lips, trying to smile but seemingly unsure how to move her mouth. Her face stiffened before she lowered her head again. Jiang Nian glanced at the steamed bun and asked, “Xiu’er, tell Aunt Jiang, do you know how to draw?”

Tian Mai was taken aback, “Why are you asking that? What’s the use of drawing?”

Ning Xiu remained silent, but Ning Qian spoke up, “Aunt Jiang, my sister can draw really well. We often draw on the ground outside.”

Jiang Nian said to Tian Mai, “I think Xiu’er has quite a talent.”

Tian Mai looked at Ning Xiu in confusion, not understanding how drawing could be considered a talent, as it neither earned money nor provided food.

Jiang Nian took out a notebook and a pen from the cabinet and placed them in Ning Xiu’s hands. Startled, Ning Xiu immediately hid her hands behind her back, refusing to move or speak. Jiang Nian crouched down and coaxed patiently, “Aunt Jiang thinks the steamed buns you made are beautiful, but the mirror in Aunt Jiang’s house is broken and can’t reflect her face clearly. Can you draw me so I can see what I look like now?”

She avoided mentioning other small animals, thinking Ning Xiu might not have seen many of them and might have limited imagination. Additionally, she felt that portraits would better reveal whether Ning Xiu had a good foundation in drawing.

Ning Qian shook Ning Xiu’s arm, saying, “Sister, draw one for Aunt Jiang.”

Seeing that Jiang Nian was serious, Tian Mai also said, “Xiu’er, Aunt Jiang wants you to draw, so go ahead.”

Ning Xiu wavered, then looked up at Jiang Nian. She instinctively wanted to avoid eye contact but Jiang Nian said, “Aunt Jiang will stay right here and not move.”

Jiang Nian’s voice was gentle and soothing. Ning Xiu finally dared to look at her. Breathing faster, Ning Xiu observed Jiang Nian’s features but avoided direct eye contact. After a while, she lowered her head, picked up the pen, turned around, and started drawing.

Jiang Nian knew Ning Xiu didn’t like being exposed to everyone’s gaze and was afraid of their attention, preferring to hide in her perceived safe corner. Ning Qian and Tian Mai, being used to this, didn’t crowd around her while she was quietly drawing.

After a while, Ning Xiu occasionally turned to look at Jiang Nian. Jiang Nian’s face carried a smile and her eyes were gentle. Ning Xiu glanced back and forth several times and eventually dared to meet Jiang Nian’s eyes. She spent about half an hour drawing before turning and timidly handing the notebook to Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian took the notebook and looked at it, feeling a surge of astonishment.

Although Ning Xiu’s drawing wasn’t extremely lifelike, she had managed to capture Jiang Nian’s features and enhance them. Her drawing skills were quite impressive. Tian Mai glanced at the drawing and exclaimed, “Oh my, it looks just like you!”

Ning Qian proudly added, “My sister draws really well.”

Jiang Nian looked up to see Ning Xiu nervously lowering her head, as if waiting for her verdict. She smiled, “This is very good. Aunt Jiang likes it a lot.”

She noticed Ning Xiu’s tense shoulders relax slightly.

Jiang Nian said to Tian Mai, “Sister Tian, Xiu’er has a talent in this area. You should let her develop it fully and tap into her potential. When she gets older and masters her drawing skills, it could become a source of honor and livelihood for her.”

Tian Mai was stunned, “What? You mean drawing can earn a living?”

Jiang Nian replied, “If Xiu’er continues to develop her skills, this could be her greatest asset in life.”

She stood up, fetched an embroidery design from inside the cabinet, and spread it on the table, saying to Tian Mai, “The person who drew this design earns money through this skill. I believe with Xiu’er’s drawing abilities, she could get involved in this field as she gets older.”

Tian Mai looked at the design on the table. It was a vivid portrait of a father and son. She glanced at Ning Xiu, who was also quietly looking at the design with growing excitement. Tian Mai’s eyes felt warm and dry as she turned to Jiang Nian with a smile, “If Xiu’er can really make a living from this, I’ll have her acknowledge you as her godmother and take care of you in old age.”

Jiang Nian: …

The thanks were really unnecessary.