Realizing he caught the fish for her, she felt a twinge of guilt from her earlier meal. “Did you eat lunch?” she asked to change the subject.

“Not yet. I need to divide the fish among the other centurion,” he replied.

“Let me help! How many do you want to give each household?”

“Just divide them evenly; make sure to include Han Zhen since he’s off today,” Qin Fang said.

“Got it! Granny Lian, prepare something for the master. Aunt Yu, go to the market and fetch everyone to help with the fish.”

As Aunt Yu complied, Qin Fang returned indoors.

Granny Lian suggested, “Shall I make you some chicken soup noodles, Master? It won’t take long.”

“Sure,” he agreed.

Watching Yang Haiyan clumsily move around, he couldn’t help but smile.

Even in winter, she was bundled up, showing how cold it truly was.

“Have you counted the fish?” he asked gently.

She took a step back, playfully wrinkling her nose. “You smell like fish; don’t get too close!”

Their playful banter reflected the sweetness of their relationship.

Yang Haiyan thought of Qin Fang as a loyal puppy, easily moved by her kindness, yet he also had his strong moments, like when he returned from riding.

Qin Fang suggested, “Should I take a bath?”

“What for? You’ll just have to go back soon anyway,” she replied.

“I’m not returning today. I’ll be back in my unit tomorrow, so I’m off duty this afternoon,” he explained.

“Then we can have fish soup for dinner!” she exclaimed.

“Sounds good,” he replied.

“Too bad we don’t have tofu; fish soup is best with it. But since there are more people now, I can’t access the tofu from my stash. I might have to sell my old appliances soon,” she added, before counting the fish. “We have a total of 126 fish, and with 11 households, it’s perfect for dividing!”

“No need for 11 households; just seven of us, since four households live in the barracks,” he corrected her.

“That means each household gets 18 fish!” she concluded.

Just as they were talking, Aunt Yu and Uncle Hong returned. “Madam, sir,” they called.

Yang Haiyan instructed, “Uncle Hong, divide the fish here into seven households, with eighteen fish for each, and deliver them to the families of those hundred-men.”

Each fish weighed two or three pounds, which the women couldn’t carry, so Uncle Hong would have to do it. He was strong from his hunting days.

Uncle Hong replied, “Alright, I’ll deliver them right away.”

Uncle Hong went from house to house delivering the fish while Aunt Fan and Aunt Yu began washing the fish.

Wet Nurse Lian announced, “Sir, the noodles are ready.”

Qin Fang returned to the kitchen and looked at the chicken noodle soup, thinking that his wife wasn’t having as hard a time as he imagined; she still had chicken soup to drink.

Yang Haiyan followed him into the kitchen and explained somewhat guiltily, “This morning, Uncle Hong just went to the countryside to collect eggs and chickens. I distributed some eggs to the families of the hundred-men. We got two chickens; we ate one today, and the other is being kept in the cellar of the bustling courtyard. It can only be kept there temporarily, not for long. I planned to wait for you to return before eating it, but since you’re back today, we’re having this chicken too.”

The implication was that she wasn’t hiding anything from him by secretly drinking the chicken soup.

Seeing her pitiful expression, Qin Fang generously said, “If you like it, go ahead and eat that one too. I’m not particular about food.”

As long as he was full, that was enough.

Yang Haiyan insisted, “No, that won’t do. How could I eat it alone behind your back?” If worse came to worst, she could always ask Uncle Hong to make another trip to the countryside.

After everyone had eaten chicken soup for lunch, they planned to have a fish feast for dinner.

Without tofu, Yang Haiyan thought of several ways to prepare the fish.

In addition to braised and scallion oil, the most aromatic option was… grilled fish.

They had a grill at home, so they grilled the fish directly.

Although the ingredients were lacking, those who had never eaten grilled fish before praised it endlessly after trying it.

The kitchen was set up with two tables: one for Qin Fang and Yang Haiyan, and the other for Wet Nurse Lian, Aunt Fan, Aunt Yu, Uncle Hong, and Aunt Hong.

Although it was a bit crowded, it was lively.

Yang Haiyan didn’t mind sitting with them, but they were careful to keep their distance and didn’t dare sit together.

Now that Qin Fang had become an officer and had a rank, they wouldn’t sit together even more.

After dinner, Yang Haiyan had Aunt Fan and the others prepare the fish meat into fish balls and fish slices for the next day’s breakfast.

Everyone looked forward to the arrival of breakfast.

That night, Yang Haiyan took a warm bath in the bathing room.

After washing up, she quickly wrapped herself in a cotton-padded sleeping bag and snuggled into bed; the warmth of the sleeping bag was comparable to that of down jackets.

Qin Fang wasn’t afraid of the cold and spent a while reading in the room.

With their finances now comfortable, they had lit oil lamps.

When the time was about right, he planned to take a bath too.

After he finished his bath and came out, he saw Yang Haiyan wrapped up like a silkworm cocoon and couldn’t help but tease her. “I’ll warm you up, take this thing off.”

In Qin Fang’s eyes, that sleeping bag was just a thing; what sleeping bag?

It was an annoying object that didn’t deserve a name.

With his strength, Yang Haiyan didn’t dare resist, fearing that she might tear the sleeping bag.

Besides, it had been several days since he returned, and the warmth of the sleeping bag felt better with her man around.

She cooperated and let him take off the sleeping bag, feigning compliance.

Qin Fang tossed her sleeping bag aside and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly.

With a mischievous grin, he asked, “Which is warmer, me or that thing?”

Yang Haiyan replied, “Of course, you are warmer. My husband is the warmest.”

Qin Fang was delighted to hear her praise him.

However, he was no longer satisfied with just hearing kind words.

Ever since he tasted her lips and touched her last time, he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Previously, he had promised her that he wouldn’t consummate the marriage until she turned eighteen, so he had been cautious in bed, behaving himself.

But now, the floodgates had opened.

As he held her, his hands became unrestrained. “Yanyan, I want to touch,” he said.

It was unclear whether all men liked to touch women’s chests, but Qin Fang certainly did.

Yang Haiyan struggled in protest, “No, no, you’ll make them bigger.”

She didn’t want to become a girl with a bigger chest.

But Qin Fang didn’t listen.

The Next Day

Yang Haiyan hadn’t gotten up yet when Qin Fang ate fish porridge early in the morning, preparing to go to the military camp.

Just then, Han Zhen arrived.

Han Zhen had come to catch a ride with Qin Fang to the camp, but before leaving, he asked Yang Haiyan to visit their home daily to ensure that Yang Dahua, who was pregnant, wouldn’t have any accidents.

If that happened, it would truly be a disaster, and Yang Haiyan wouldn’t refuse.

On the way, Han Zhen asked, “When do we have time to go up the mountain for some harvesting?”

Qin Fang had already planned this.

He wanted to buy a gift for his wife but didn’t have the money.

When Han Zhen brought it up, he replied, “Let’s go two days from now. Today, we’ll break the ice and let everyone rest for two days.”

Han Zhen suggested, “Don’t let too many people go. You, me, plus Brother Lu and Brother Yang will be about right?”

Qin Fang couldn’t help but agree.

Han Zhen explained, “My wife is pregnant. Although I’ve saved some money over the past two years, once the baby is born, there will be expenses everywhere. I’m afraid it won’t be enough. She’s even remembering to run a snack business for my sister-in-law and wants to sell it in the county town. How can I let her, a woman, worry about money?”

Qin Fang understood that he wanted to hunt to earn money.

However, when he heard that Yang Dahua was pregnant, he thought about how if his wife became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter as beautiful as her, soft and fragrant… just thinking about it made him happy. “Alright, let’s take Brother Lu and Brother Yang along.”

Things were settled, and Han Zhen relaxed.

Yang Haiyan and Yang Dahua had no idea what their men were planning.

Every morning, she would send goat milk over and remind them to drink it before having eggs at noon, as consuming them together wasn’t good for nutrient absorption.

Two days later, Qin Fang and his team arrived early at the military camp, and Qin Fang asked General Ao for leave to go hunting.

The hunting grounds were close to the camp, and they could see any signals if something happened.

In broad daylight, the enemy wouldn’t attack.

General Ao approved without hesitation; the camp was relatively relaxed without active battles.

A quarter of an hour later, Qin Fang, Yang Baifu, Lu Baifu, and Han Zhen set out, each equipped with weapons.

Qin Fang wielded a knife, tall and strong, while Han Zhen used a sword, Yang Baifu also used a knife, and Lu Baifu had a spear.

They reached the nearby mountain in no time.

After resting, Qin Fang instructed them to search for traces of game, emphasizing to alert each other immediately.

It was winter, and while some animals hibernated, others might venture out in search of food.

Years ago, the area was abundant with prey, but the animals had learned to avoid the soldiers over time.

Although the animals were clever, deeper forays into the mountains could yield results, but most soldiers were hesitant to venture far.

They divided into four groups but stayed close enough to assist one another.

Even if they encountered a tiger, they could defend themselves unless faced with a pack, and could still evade if necessary.

Back at the camp, around three o’clock, soldiers at the back gate saw Qin Fang and the others returning with three large game animals.

“Lord Qin, you’re back! What huge prey!” Two wild boars and a deer weighed over a thousand four hundred pounds combined.

The camp kitchen accepted meats, paying less than the outside market.

They wouldn’t let soldiers give their catch away for free.

Qin Fang and his team headed straight to the kitchen, attracting attention from other soldiers in the area.

“Lord Qin, you did well! You didn’t call us for the hunt,” Zhang Baifu exclaimed, salivating at the sight of so much meat.

Yang Baifu replied, “You could form a team too; we just had a sudden urge and went for it.”

Zhang Baifu quickly gathered others to plan a hunting trip.

The kitchen staff’s eyes lit up at the sight of the meat: “Lord Qin, are you selling this to the kitchen?”

Other teams had brought back game recently, but none as much as theirs.

“Yes, we’ll prepare a hundred pounds for our over a thousand soldiers in the 18th district, and the rest will be sold,” Qin Fang said.

Hearing this, the soldiers cheered, “Thank you, Lord Qin!”

“It’s the best news!”

“We can eat meat today!”

Listening to their cheers, Qin Fang felt a complex mix of emotions.

He had once been among them, and during his first year in the military, he was thrilled when free meat was available.

Now, seeing their joy filled him with a sense of responsibility.

Once a simple hundred-man Centurion, he now led a thousand.

Watching their excitement reignited his sense of duty.

The kitchen staff weighed the meat, calculating that after discounts, they had over a thousand pounds left, which would be sold at thirteen wen per pound.

“Sounds good,” Qin Fang agreed.

After receiving the money, he divided the forty pounds of deer meat among the four of them, then distributed the silver.

Each received around three taels. Afterward, he reminded them, “What you do with the money is your business, but don’t mention me.”