They randomly picked one with a sign that simply read “Noodles” and went inside.
“Boss, two bowls of beef noodles,” the man called out familiarly as he sat down.
“Oh! It’s Chief Nie! Long time no see. Just a moment, coming right up!” The boss clearly recognized him as a regular customer.
So my convenient husband is actually a chief.
Shen Ruyi realized then that her temporary husband’s surname was Nie—and she didn’t even know his full name yet.
“By the way, what’s your name?” she asked. Not asking would go against her nature.
“Nie Wenyong, courtesy name Yian.”
Nie Wenyong glanced at her briefly and answered simply.
“That’s a nice name,” she said, studying his face. She thought his appearance didn’t quite match the elegance of his name.
The two then fell silent. After all, they were still strangers who had only met half a day ago.
As the awkward silence stretched, the boss arrived with two steaming bowls of noodles, breaking the tension.
“Here’s your noodles—Chief Nie. This is the beef, freshly sourced this morning from beyond the frontier. Just killed and braised today. Try it while it’s fresh!”
The boss set the bowls down skillfully. Seeing Shen Ruyi look surprised, he politely ignored her and continued introducing the beef.
Beyond the frontier? The edict said Yongzhou is on the frontier, but beef comes from beyond? Perhaps somewhere like the Shanxi-Mongolia border? But the climate doesn’t seem right… mountains but plenty of water.
Shen Ruyi decided to stop thinking about it for now and focused on eating.
The portion was generous—one bowl could equal two Southern bowls from her past life.
Even the remaining half bowl was eaten by Nie Wenyong without complaint, which surprised her.
From the start, he seemed indifferent toward her.
Maybe he’s just frugal with food, she thought, following him back.
Passing some shops, she saw a general store. Considering Nie Wenyong’s sturdy build, she grabbed his sleeve and led him inside.
The store had a good variety. She bought two thin quilts, washcloths, bath beans, basins, and even a small basket for shopping the next day.
She tried bargaining a little and got some extra discounts.
To her surprise, Nie Wenyong willingly paid, then carried the items himself.
Rough around the edges, indifferent toward me, yet generous and responsible. For a blind marriage, that’s pretty decent, she thought.
Returning to Left Ji Tun, the village suddenly felt lively despite only a few households with open gates.
“Tonight, the military camp will hold a collective wedding. Dinner will be served at the camp. After tomorrow, if I’m not back, don’t worry about my meals.”
Shen Ruyi realized he was giving her instructions. Some progress.
But not back? How long will he be gone? A year? More?
She asked once indoors.
“If I’m not back, I have a mission. Don’t ask.”
Ah, just praised for progress and now the old habits return. Men only have patience for women they like; she wasn’t that lucky.
Fine. She wasn’t really without money; if he’s gone, all the better.
Shen Ruyi spread the purchased quilts in the south-facing room on the west side. Nie Wenyong didn’t comment and even helped move the rest of the items into her room.
So living under the same roof, two strangers without affection…
She glanced at herself and felt a slight disappointment as a woman—she might not be bigger than him yet. But his action suited her just fine.
Even with Nie Wenyong’s rough looks, unless he were an emperor, it’d be hard for a woman to fall in love at first sight.
In the evening, the village became lively. Shen Ruyi followed Nie Wenyong as he locked the house and headed to the military camp.
“Shouldn’t I get a set of keys?” she asked. Without keys, how could she enter or leave if he wasn’t home?
“This set is yours. I’ll keep the other set in my room.”
Shen Ruyi slipped the keys into her sleeve pocket, placing them carefully in the little free space available.
The camp took the collective wedding seriously.
It was the same training ground where they were chosen in the morning. Now, huge bonfires illuminated the square.
Each fire had a soldier roasting meat—sometimes whole lambs, sometimes beef.
In the firelight, soldiers placed jars of wine on low tables around the flames.
Once everyone was seated, the general came out. The couples rose to salute; the general gestured for them to sit.
Shen Ruyi’s seat was far from the general, who, even in the firelight, appeared as a tall, broad man with a bit of stubble.
After a few words of encouragement to the new couples, hundreds of couples saluted and offered wine in return.
The formalities concluded, and it was time to eat and drink.
“Ruyi,” a voice called.
Looking up from her roasted meat beside Nie Wenyong, Shen Ruyi saw Xingyu and Ping’er smiling, holding wine cups.
“Oh! I looked around and couldn’t find you. How did you find me?” she asked, pleasantly surprised.
“Our husbands went to drink with comrades. We wandered around and actually found you.”
“How’s your husband?” Shen Ruyi whispered to the two.
“Not bad, he treats me respectfully. He’s a sergeant named Xu Zeng,” Xingyu blushed.
“My husband’s also a sergeant, called Zeng Liao, and he treats me well too,” Ping’er said, shyly.
Under the firelight, their smiling faces shone with anticipation for the future.