After locking the door and stepping out of the residential compound, she saw a jeep parked outside—the same one from when they arrived. She guessed it was probably the vehicle assigned to Lu Tingzhou by the military.
Upon arriving at the department store, Meng Ying looked around, considering what she needed to buy.
The area was crowded, and Meng Ying accidentally got bumped by someone walking recklessly. Her arm throbbed with pain, and she let out a sharp hiss. Hearing the sound, Lu Tingzhou turned to look at her and saw her eyes glistening with unshed tears, her lips pouting as she gazed at him with a pitiful expression.
Lu Tingzhou asked, "What's wrong?"
Meng Ying was truly exasperated by this clueless man. He had been walking ahead without a care, completely oblivious to her. "Can't you slow down? I couldn't keep up, and I just got bumped into."
Lu Tingzhou was momentarily speechless, unsure of how to respond. He took two steps back and moved closer to her. "Are you okay?"
Meng Ying shook her head.
"I'll slow down," he said, clearing his throat and adjusting his pace.
Meng Ying had no intention of indulging his thoughtless habits. She was determined to reform him sooner or later. So, she extended her hand, her eyes watery as she looked at him. "Here."
Lu Tingzhou glanced at her hand.
"What?"
"Hold my hand. Look at other couples—the boys are always so attentive. But you? You have no sense of romance at all," she muttered in complaint.
Lu Tingzhou felt a headache coming on. He had never witnessed such behavior before. In the residential compound, most people were single, and even married couples rarely showed affection in public. He had never held anyone's hand in a public place before.
After a moment of thought, he relented and took her hand. It was soft and delicate, like cotton in his grasp, and his throat suddenly felt dry.
Seeing Lu Tingzhou's action, Meng Ying was satisfied and didn't press him further.
Entering the household goods section of the store, Meng Ying was drawn to many kitchen utensils, toiletries, towels, and other items. She bought a lot, handing everything to Lu Tingzhou to carry. Soon, his hands were completely full.
Seeing that he was struggling, Meng Ying took some of the lighter items herself.
Shopping for these essentials took about an hour.
As they stepped out of the store, Meng Ying noticed several clothing shops nearby. Thinking of the outdated clothes in her wardrobe, she felt a twinge of disdain.
"I want to buy some clothes and shoes."
Lu Tingzhou nodded. "Sure. The clothing stores are usually on the second floor."
On the second floor, Meng Ying entered a clothing store filled with a dazzling array of bulaji dresses. She selected three outfits and headed to the fitting room.
After trying them on and checking herself in the mirror, she settled on a pale yellow dress and a matching set—a white blouse paired with bell-bottom pants. Meng Ying had a great figure, and when she stepped out to look in the mirror, even the shop owner was impressed. Lu Tingzhou watched her twirl like a flower, examining the styles from all angles, and thought she would look good in every piece in the store.
In the end, the total came to over three hundred yuan—equivalent to three months of Lu Tingzhou's salary. Meng Ying had intended to pay for the clothes herself, as she still had some money left, but Lu Tingzhou stopped her, saying his money was hers too.
Meng Ying had always known he was generous with money. Otherwise, he wouldn't have given her half of his salary every month.
Afterwards, they stopped by the nearby farmers' market, where Meng Ying bought some seeds. In this era, most seed sellers operated from makeshift stalls—an old plastic sheet, a worn burlap sack, or newspaper spread on the ground, with a small bamboo scoop used to measure out a portion before wrapping it in newspaper.
Meng Ying bought five varieties: kidney beans, string beans, bok choy, and two types of flowers—portulaca and scarlet sage—all hardy species that were easy to care for. In this vast desert, water was a scarce resource, so she tried to choose drought-tolerant plants.
By the time they reached the military compound, it was already late afternoon, the end of the workday. The residential area was bustling with people coming and going. A green jeep pulled up smoothly in front of the housing complex, drawing curious glances. Then, from the passenger seat, a delicate and beautiful woman in a soft yellow dress stepped out.
Everyone around gasped in unison, stunned by the sight of this woman who looked like a movie star.
Noticing the attention from the onlookers, Meng Ying didn’t act shy or awkward. Instead, she wore a confident, gracious smile. People began whispering, wondering whose family she belonged to.
Then, they saw Lu Tingzhou step out from the driver’s seat.
"Is that Lu Tuanzhang’s wife?"
"It must be! Didn’t they say his wife was coming a few days ago?"
"Lu Tuanzhang’s wife from the countryside is actually this beautiful?"
The surrounding whispers grew, filled mostly with curiosity and surprise, though there were also plenty of envious remarks. Seeing the large bundles in their hands, some spoke with jealousy.
"What’s the use of having a pretty wife? Look at all the things they bought—must’ve cost hundreds. She’s probably a spendthrift."
"Exactly, acting like some capitalist. I bet Lu Tuanzhang is in for a hard time."
The stares multiplied, almost all directed at Meng Ying. Without drawing attention, Lu Tingzhou shifted his position to shield her slightly, then cleared his throat and reminded her, "Let’s go inside."
Meng Ying didn’t have the key—it was in Lu Tingzhou’s pocket—but both his hands were full with their purchases.
"Where’s the key?"
Lu Tingzhou stood at the courtyard gate, turning slightly toward her, his voice low.
"It’s in my jacket pocket. You can get it."
Meng Ying glanced over and reached out. He was wearing an old, well-worn jacket that had softened with washing, the fabric clinging to his warm body.
Her soft hand fumbled around his waist and abdomen, her fingertips brushing lightly against him. His body stiffened, his breathing unconsciously grew heavier, and the tips of his ears grew warm.
Meng Ying paid no mind to his reaction. She was eager to get inside—it was summer in the northwest, and the heat was scorching, making her cheeks flush red. All she wanted was to go indoors, rest, and cool off before her skin got sunburned.
She wondered if she should find some ingredients to make skincare products in the coming days. In this era, skincare options were surprisingly limited and expensive. As an agricultural university graduate, she had a close friend majoring in chemical engineering and technology. Meng Ying had visited her lab a few times and learned a few simple skincare formulas—enough to get by.
Once inside, Meng Ying plopped down on the sofa and picked up an old newspaper to fan herself, muttering about how unbearably hot it was.
Lu Tingzhou followed her in, setting their things on the cabinet. Watching her, he couldn’t help but think she was rather delicate. He went to the kitchen, poured two glasses of water, and handed one to her.
Meng Ying took it and gulped it down, finally feeling a bit better. She then directed Lu Tingzhou to put everything away, especially storing all kinds of food in the room's cabinet. Packed to the brim, it looked incredibly reassuring. Squinting her eyes contentedly, she patted her hands with a sense of accomplishment.
"I'm tired today, so I won't cook. Go get some food from the canteen."
Lu Tingzhou nodded and went to the kitchen to fetch the lunchbox.
At this hour, the canteen was crowded. Lu Tingzhou took his place at the back of the line with his lunchbox.
The soldiers, seeing Lu Tingzhou arrive, cast looks of both reverence and curiosity. They had heard that Lu Tuanzhang's wife was as beautiful as a fairy, which had piqued their curiosity. They eagerly hoped to catch a glimpse of her, but seeing no one behind him, they felt somewhat disappointed.
Noticing their gazes, Lu Tingzhou narrowed his eyes, exuding an intimidating aura without showing anger. In an instant, he cowed these new recruits, who dared not act out of line.