Her words were both domineering and reasonable, leaving Lu Tingzhou somewhat amused and exasperated. In the end, he opened his mouth and said, “Alright.” After spending the day with her, he had begun to understand her temperament—both delicate and bossy. If things didn’t go her way, she would resort to coquettishness and stubbornness. It was better to save his breath and time by simply going along with her as much as possible.
Lu Tingzhou already anticipated that his future days would not be peaceful. He wasn’t sure whether that was a good or a bad thing.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Meng Ying didn’t move, so Lu Tingzhou got up to answer it, and she followed him out.
As the door opened, a cheerful voice rang out.
“Lu Tuanzhang, you’re home! I’ve brought you some fresh greens.” Lin Qiuying walked in, holding a basket in her hand. Her eyes darted around the room as if she were inspecting something.
Meng Ying happened to be looking toward the doorway, and their eyes met instantly.
Lin Qiuying was stunned. She stood rooted to the spot, her mouth agape, her face filled with astonishment. Good heavens, where did this celestial beauty come from? She was so incredibly pretty, with delicate, fair skin that seemed to glow like honey, tinged with a faint pink, as if she had just sipped the sunset over the Gobi Desert. Her small mouth and large eyes combined to create such an exquisite appearance.
“Sister-in-law!” Lu Tingzhou called out to her, seeing her frozen in place.
Lin Qiuying snapped out of her daze. “Goodness gracious, she looks like she stepped right out of a painting! I thought a movie star from the city had arrived.”
Meng Ying blushed at the compliment but felt delighted nonetheless.
She took the initiative to greet her. “Tingzhou, who is this?”
Hearing his name, Lu Tingzhou stiffened. Her voice was soft and delicate, carrying a hint of intimacy.
“I’m Company Commander Liu’s wife from next door. You can call me Sister-in-law Liu. Are you Lu Tuanzhang’s wife?” Lin Qiuying took over the conversation, chatting away.
Meng Ying replied, “Yes, I’m Tingzhou’s wife.”
She admitted it openly and confidently. Lin Qiuying sized up the two of them, thinking they looked incredibly well-matched standing together. But with this delicate little girl’s slight frame, could she withstand Lu Tuanzhang’s… vigor?
She clicked her tongue inwardly twice before quickly handing the basket to them. “Perfect timing. We grew some cucumbers and tomatoes in our yard and thought we’d share them with you. They’re really fresh.”
Meng Ying’s eyes lit up at the sight of the fresh vegetables, especially the tomatoes. Her impression of this sister-in-law soared instantly, and she happily took the basket.
Having seen the newcomer and delivered the goods, Lin Qiuying prepared to leave. Meng Ying insisted on seeing her out, showering her with thanks and compliments until Lin Qiuying was utterly charmed, growing even fonder of this delicate young wife.
Back inside, Meng Ying looked at the crisp cucumbers and juicy tomatoes, already planning what to have for breakfast. If she hadn’t already brushed her teeth, she would have bitten into a tomato right then to satisfy her craving.
Humming a little tune, she headed into the kitchen. By the time she returned, Lu Tingzhou had already finished washing up.
Meng Ying stared at the man in his sleeveless shirt, his muscles on full display, and swallowed hard. She hadn’t thought much about sharing a bed tonight, but with only one room available, it was inevitable.
In her previous life, she had never experienced the touch of a man. As husband and wife, she wasn’t opposed to such matters. Instead, she was filled with curiosity.
But today she was truly too tired and didn't have the energy for anything else. Having been married for three years without ever sharing a bed, she felt a bit nervous too. So she hurried ahead of him, climbing into bed and settling on the inner side.
Lu Tingzhou watched her back, buried under the quilt.
Then he turned off the light and got into bed. Sensing movement beside her, Meng Ying's breath hitched—both nervous and expectant. But once the man was in bed, there was no further movement. She quietly lifted the quilt and glanced back at him, only to see Lu Tingzhou lying flat on his back, hands folded neatly over his abdomen, his proper posture almost admirable.
Before long, the breathing beside her grew even and steady. Meng Ying pouted, suddenly realizing her charm seemed nonexistent. Yet, thinking of Lu Tingzhou's lack of romantic sensibility, her emotions grew even more complicated. She turned over and studied his profile intently—it was exactly the type of looks she liked, no less handsome than some modern celebrities, with an added touch of military firmness.
Early the next morning, Meng Ying woke up. She had drifted off sleepily the night before and thought she had risen quite early, but the person beside her was already gone.
After washing up, she stretched in the yard and saw Lu Tingzhou returning with a lunchbox in hand. Spotting her, he placed the noodles he had fetched from the canteen on the living room table.
Meng Ying followed him inside and took a look, curling her lips in disdain. The bland, watery broth looked utterly unappetizing. Without a word, she headed into the kitchen and began chopping tomatoes. In less than five minutes, a steaming bowl of tomato and egg soup was ready, its enticing aroma filling the air.
She fetched bowls and chopsticks from the kitchen and handed them to Lu Tingzhou. "Here, pouring some soup over it will make it better."
Lu Tingzhou didn't refuse. He had assumed Meng Ying wouldn't be able to wake up so early and would be too lazy to get up, which was why he had gone to the canteen early to fetch food. He hadn't expected her to be so particular about meals—a delicate young woman willing to spend time in the kitchen.
"I have training in a bit, about two hours. When I return, we'll go to the supply and marketing cooperative. See what you need and we'll buy it." Meng Ying nodded as she picked at the pickled vegetables in her bowl. She also wanted to buy some things, including seeds to plant vegetables. It was summer, and she craved green beans and cowpeas, along with some scallions and leafy greens.
After breakfast, Lu Tingzhou left. Meng Ying exercised in the yard for a while, and feeling bored, she stepped outside, just in time to run into Sister-in-law Liu from next door.
Seeing Meng Ying, Sister-in-law Liu walked over with a smile. "Has Lu Tuanzhang gone for training?"
"Sister-in-law—he just left," Meng Ying replied, her eyes catching sight of the lush ivy covering the wall of Sister-in-law Liu's yard. It looked particularly lovely. "Sister-in-law, could you transplant some of that ivy for me? I'd like to grow some too."
Sister-in-law Liu glanced at the ivy on her wall and chuckled warmly. "Of course! This stuff grew on its own, and I kept it because it looked nice. If you want some, I'll dig up a few plants for you."
Meng Ying's eyes crinkled into a smile.
"Thank you, sister-in-law. You're such a kind person."
Her sincere praise, filled with gratitude, delighted Sister-in-law Liu. As a rural woman who had come here and found many educated people around, she often felt inferior, being just an ordinary woman who knew little. But now, helping someone with a small favor earned her such heartfelt appreciation—how could she not be thrilled?
“No need to be so polite. Lu Tuanzhang and my husband are good brothers, so you’re practically like a sister-in-law to me. Just call out if you need anything.”
Meng Ying nodded, quite pleased. As the saying goes, you don’t hit a smiling face—getting along well with Sister-in-law Liu might just help her a lot in the future.
Not long after, Lu Tingzhou returned. As soon as he arrived, he saw Meng Ying planting ivy in the yard, a shovel in hand, a smudge of mud on her fair cheek.
He pushed open the courtyard gate and entered, frowning slightly.
“I’m back.”
Meng Ying’s gaze fell on him. “You’re back just in time. That area needs watering. Fetch a bucket of water.”
Hearing this, Lu Tingzhou obediently drew water from the vat and carried it to the corner of the yard. Meng Ying worked quickly, using a ladle to water the plants, and that was that. Now, all they had to do was wait for them to grow slowly.
Lu Tingzhou went inside to change his clothes, then walked over to her. “We’ll go straight to the department store to buy whatever you need. Get everything you want.”
Meng Ying agreed, then went to wash her hands by the water basin. Once she was tidied up, she followed Lu Tingzhou out. Suddenly, the man stopped and turned to stare at her.
She felt bewildered. The next moment, his hand landed on her face, his thumb gently wiping away the mud. He said calmly, “There’s mud on your face.”
Meng Ying felt a bit embarrassed, her cheeks flushing slightly.