Chapter 24: Unfamiliar at first, but well accustomed soon enough

Su Luyun’s sleep quality could not have been better—she slept soundly until morning.

When she woke up, she realized she had once again treated Zhou Changdong like a teddy bear.

Half of her body was pressed against his.

Naturally, she also felt the usual morning reaction typical of a healthy man from Zhou Changdong.

Unlike yesterday, she wasn’t clueless anymore.

With yesterday’s experience as a buffer, Su Luyun was much calmer today.

She noticed the writing on his forehead again, so she quickly reached out to touch his stomach, and clearly felt the fullness in his bladder area. She promptly said: “Do you need to pee?”

As she spoke, she immediately brought over the container to collect for Zhou Changdong.

He was in a somewhat inconvenient state, still quite alert and aroused, but this didn’t trouble Su Luyun at all.

Because she had a special skill called—gun control!

It truly was a case of “the first time awkward, the second time smooth.” After what she experienced yesterday, she was much more proficient today in helping him pee. She believed that in the near future, she would become even more skilled!

After helping him relieve himself, she took the warm container of “returning dragon soup” ^[1]The term “returning dragon soup” is a humorous or euphemistic nickname for urine, especially male morning urine to pour it out, then rinsed it with water and placed it upside down to dry, ready for next use.

Su Luyun also dealt with her own morning business.

Then she started washing up. After finishing her own routine, she came in to wash Zhou Changdong.

Only after all that did she say to him: “You stay at home and wait for me. I’m going to buy groceries, see if there’s anything good.”

Zhou Changdong said gently: 【Wifey, take it slow.】

Su Luyun tidied up a bit, then carried a basket and headed out.

“Changdong’s wife, going grocery shopping?”

“Yes, Auntie, I’m going to see if there’s anything good to buy and cook something nourishing for Changdong.”

“That’s great. I heard from your mother-in-law that you made crucian carp and tofu soup for Changdong yesterday, is that right?”

“Yes, and he drank quite a bit.”

“……”

After chatting briefly with the neighbors, Su Luyun walked off into the distance.

But the neighbors weren’t done yet—they all started gossiping among themselves.

Their tone was noticeably warmer than yesterday. They couldn’t help it—the rumors were getting more and more exaggerated!

Some even said Su Luyun was fated to be like a wild goose, loyal to one mate for life. If anything were to happen to Zhou Changdong, she probably wouldn’t even want to go on living!

Others voiced disagreement, saying that’s a bit too dramatic—who can’t live without whom?

But truth didn’t matter. What mattered was whether the sorrowful, tragic emotions were being effectively spread!

Judging by the way the neighbors were looking, it was definitely having an effect!

People just couldn’t resist this kind of tragic drama!

Zhao Yuzhu, who had come out to pour water, heard them praising Su Luyun: “……”

She was fuming first thing in the morning!

Were these people all blind? Su Luyun’s acting was that bad—how could they still believe she truly wanted to stay and take care of Zhou Changdong, who was in a vegetative state?

Had everyone lost their memory? Forgotten the kind of person Su Luyun had been for the past three years?

Su Luyun, unaware that her cousin was once again fuming with anger, moved swiftly and arrived at the butcher stall at the market.

She couldn’t buy meat, but she wanted pork bones.

These didn’t require ration tickets, so she asked for marrow bones and fan bones, and even asked the butcher to split the marrow bones in half.

She planned to make bone porridge for Zhou Changdong to drink.

He couldn’t drink porridge, but rice water was acceptable.

She moved on to buy a bundle of leafy greens, along with fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. Since there were still eggs at home, she didn’t buy any more.

Crucian carp soup was indeed delicious, so Su Luyun bought some again today. She also got tofu.

Except for the extra bundle of greens, the rest of the ingredients weren’t much different from yesterday’s.

She was about to head home when an old man came over carrying two cages of chickens to sell—farm-raised chickens!

Not only did Su Luyun’s eyes light up, but so did those of the other market shoppers. They quickly crowded around.

Su Luyun certainly wasn’t going to be polite. She relied on her own ability and successfully snatched one chicken!

A single chicken cost a few yuan, but she didn’t even blink. Carrying the tied-up chicken, she headed straight home.

“Aiyo, Yun Yun, you bought a chicken? Where did you get it?” That sentimental Aunt Qian spotted her and quickly asked.

“An old man from the countryside came to sell them. Auntie, if you want one, you’d better hurry. They’ll be all gone if you’re late.” Su Luyun replied.

“Okay, okay, I’ll go now!” Aunt Qian said and rushed off.

Su Luyun didn’t bother with the others. Carrying her basket and the chicken, she opened the door and went home.

She set the tied-up hen aside. She didn’t know how to butcher it—not because she was squeamish, but simply because she didn’t know how. She planned to ask her mother-in-law for help when she arrived.

After putting down the basket of vegetables, she went into the room to check on Zhou Changdong and said with a smile: “I was lucky today. An old man came by selling chickens, so I bought one. I’ll stew some chicken soup for you tonight!”

Zhou Changdong’s heart warmed at her words: 【I’m fine with just something simple to eat. Wifey, don’t tire yourself out.】

Yes, although they hadn’t been around each other long, Su Luyun had a sharp eye—she could already tell this man was someone who truly cared.

Maybe when he woke up, they’d actually get along quite well?

She still had the leisure to think about this now. Later, when he’d coax her to “just hold on a bit longer, it’ll be over soon.” she’d definitely regret drawing that conclusion too early!

Normally, yes, he was extremely considerate—he’d pamper her to the heavens if he could.

But at certain times… he had zero restraint!

Not knowing how “dangerous” he could be yet, Su Luyun, in a cheerful mood, came out to rinse the rice and start cooking. Of course, she also washed the marrow bones and fan bones and put them in the pot.

Though there was no meat, boiling some soup with pork bones still had nourishing value.

Su Luyun thought she’d later head out to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to see if there was any dried kelp available.

She still wanted to gather as many nutritious ingredients as possible to cook for Zhou Changdong, just in case his long bedrest led to deficiencies.

Once the bone porridge was done simmering, Su Luyun scooped out the rice water. The salted bone soup had a faint savory aroma—it was actually quite nice!

While it cooled, she cooked herself a hearty mixed breakfast.

Using the leftover porridge from the rice water, she chopped and added a handful of washed leafy greens. When the vegetable porridge was almost done cooking, her green veggie bone porridge was ready.

The taste wasn’t particularly great, but it wasn’t bad either. Most importantly, it was quite balanced in nutrition.

For someone like Su Luyun, who had been through strict weight management before, this breakfast was already considered luxurious.

It was still hot, so she went in first to feed Zhou Changdong.

Halfway through feeding, Chen Aihong arrived, bringing two jin of eggs.

Su Luyun opened the door to welcome her in. “Mom, why did you buy so many eggs?”

“I brought them for you and Changdong to eat.” Chen Aihong replied, entering the room and spotting the hen. “You bought a chicken too? I didn’t even see any being sold when I went.”

Su Luyun took the basket and set it in the kitchen. “They were probably already sold out—people were grabbing them fast. But I don’t know how to butcher a chicken. Mom, do you?”

Mrs. Chen also didn’t know how to butcher a chicken. “I’ll take it over to Aunt Qian and ask her to help kill it. Once it’s stewed, we’ll send her a bowl of soup as thanks, how about that?”

“No problem!” Su Luyun nodded enthusiastically and brought her mother-in-law into the room. She picked up the bowl of bone broth and continued feeding Zhou Changdong, smiling as she said: “Mom, I had a dream yesterday—I dreamed that Changdong got better!”