Almost done, the two of them headed back to the military family compound with their baskets on their backs.
The snow was getting heavier and heavier. Every step was a deep one, shallow one. By the time they reached the compound, Su Yiyi’s face felt completely numb from the cold.
Cui Zhenyang had been worried the whole time. Originally, he planned to come back after evening training, but he still wasn’t at ease at noon, so he took advantage of the break and returned home.
As soon as he arrived, he saw only Zhao Yunzhi at home, and his expression immediately darkened. “Where did she go?”
Zhao Yunzhi was displeased the moment she heard that. “Her? Her what her? She’s your wife. Watch how you talk.”
Cui Zhenyang deflated a little. His mother had always been protective of this unreliable daughter-in-law. He knew that. “Mom, I didn’t mean anything else. I just want to ask where she went.”
“Where else could she go? Our Yiyi is much more thoughtful than you. She saw that I didn’t rest or eat well on the way here, so she went out to buy food. Tell me, could you think of that?”
Cui Zhenyang was slightly stunned. He didn’t expect that at all.
He wasn’t sure when Su Yiyi would be back, but it was already close to lunchtime. So Zhao Yunzhi went into the kitchen. There were rice and flour at home, so she simply cooked some rice first, so that when Su Yiyi returned with the groceries, they could cook properly without rushing.
Cui Zhenyang still didn’t fully believe that Su Yiyi had gone out to buy groceries for his mother, but he didn’t say anything. He went into the kitchen to start the fire.
Just as they finished cooking the rice, the courtyard door opened again.
Su Yiyi walked in, a heavy basket on her back.
Zhao Yunzhi quickly signaled to Cui Zhenyang with her eyes. “Go help her quickly. Look how tired your wife is. No sense at all.”
Cui Zhenyang: “…”
Still, he obediently went over to take the basket. Just one glance, and he saw what was inside.
Su Yiyi ignored him and went straight into the kitchen. “Mom, why are you already busy? Didn’t I tell you to rest?”
“I’ve rested enough. I couldn’t sleep anymore, so I just started cooking rice first,” Zhao Yunzhi said with a smile.
Su Yiyi didn’t argue further. Instead, she smiled. “Today was lucky. I bought quite a lot of things. We’re going to eat well.”
Zhao Yunzhi’s eyes lit up. “What did you buy?”
Su Yiyi listed them one by one. Having someone seriously listen to her actually felt pretty good.
“So much?” Zhao Yunzhi was shocked.
Lowering her voice, Su Yiyi said, “A sister-in-law in the compound took me out. She has connections.”
Zhao Yunzhi immediately relaxed. “Then that’s really good luck.”
Cui Zhenyang stood at the doorway listening to their quiet conversation, frowning slightly. Which sister-in-law? Since when was Su Yiyi going out with other women in the compound?
But seeing her interacting so naturally with his mother, he unexpectedly felt… a bit warm inside.
Su Yiyi turned around and accidentally met his gaze, but only for a moment before she looked away and continued working, as if he were invisible.
Cui Zhenyang couldn’t quite explain the strange feeling in his chest.
She clearly didn’t care about him at all—shouldn’t that be what he wanted?
Yet somehow, it felt uncomfortable.
Especially when he thought about how she had given him so many dumplings last night, even saying she was worried he wouldn’t be full… could it be that she actually still cared about him?
He didn’t know when it started, but he was caught in this strange contradiction.
Clearly, divorce was what he should insist on.
But now…
Zhao Yunzhi wanted to help cook, but Su Yiyi refused no matter what. So she went to prepare the dishes instead.
She grabbed a handful of dried vegetables Zhao Yunzhi had brought and soaked them. Zhao Yunzhi immediately looked happy seeing that.
Nothing made an elder happier than seeing their family’s food not being disliked.
Soon, Su Yiyi started cooking.
She rendered lard from fatty pork, stir-fried it, then made a braised meat dish with the leftover bits. The aroma was rich and mouthwatering.
Then she made steamed eggs, a cold mixed dried-vegetable dish, and finally a sweet-and-sour cabbage dish.
Two meat dishes, two vegetables, and a soup—very rich by any standard in this era.
Zhao Yunzhi looked at the table full of dishes and became a little nervous.
Su Yiyi noticed and reassured her with a smile, “Mom, just relax and enjoy yourself. Eat well, drink well. We can afford this.”
Cui Zhenyang didn’t refute that.
The meal was very harmonious, though the couple barely spoke.
Zhao Yunzhi kept serving Su Yiyi fatty pork, while Su Yiyi forced herself to eat without embarrassing the elder.
When she really couldn’t take more, she glanced at Cui Zhenyang for help.
Cui Zhenyang understood and spoke up. “Mom, she’s already full. You should eat too.”
Only then did Zhao Yunzhi stop.
After the meal, Cui Zhenyang went back to the army. Su Yiyi stayed home with his mother.
In the afternoon, the two women were walking around the compound when a neighbor across the yard opened her door.
It was Liu Lijuan.
She looked at Zhao Yunzhi beside Su Yiyi, then smiled meaningfully.
“Little Su, your family’s been quite lively lately. First your parents came and caused a scene, and now you’ve brought another helper in. Where exactly did you find all these helpers?”
She smiled, but her tone was clearly not kind.
“Women should know their place. Commander Cui isn’t easy either. As military wives, we should be keeping the back stable for them.”