Shen Ruanruan sat on the bed and opened the bankbook. Her eyes flickered slightly—there was actually 5,000 yuan? Was this man really that good at saving money? And with the loose change, there was another four to five hundred. Adding it all up, it came to about five or six thousand.
When she came here, her parents had also given her their family bankbooks.
After so many years of work, plus research bonuses and salaries, and after deducting expenses, the couple had saved 30,000 yuan.
Carrying 30,000 yuan on the road—only someone like Shen Ruanruan, who had seen a lot since childhood, wouldn’t show any nervousness. No one suspected anything. Not only others, even Lu Mingye would never have guessed she had brought so much money to find him.
Right—there was also Lu Mingye. She should give him some pocket money too. She would think about it tomorrow.
Shen Ruanruan lay on the bed, her thoughts drifting.
She habitually tried to turn over, and the bed creaked loudly in the dark, a little frightening. She didn’t dare move again.
Compared to her previous bed, this one was too small and not sturdy at all—it needed to be replaced soon…
Thinking this, she didn’t know when she fell asleep. She thought she might not be used to the bed, but she slept very well, without dreams.
The opposite was true for Lu Mingye.
The man tossed and turned half the night, too excited to sleep. In the second half of the night he finally fell asleep, only to dream the entire time—his mind filled with the image of the girl smiling and saying, “I don’t regret it.”
So tormenting.
……
At 9:30 in the morning, Shen Ruanruan smelled a fragrance and slowly opened her eyes.
She stared at the mottled cement ceiling above her head for a while before finally realizing where she was. Her thoughts returned, and she remembered she had agreed with Lu Mingye to go out at ten to buy things.
She immediately checked her watch.
Phew—still time to get ready.
After changing clothes and coming out, she saw that Lu Mingye was already working in the field with great energy.
The man wore a grass-green tank top, soaked with sweat and clinging tightly to his back muscles. Every flex and extension of his powerful body as he swung the hoe was clean and efficient—full of the decisiveness unique to soldiers, very… attractive.
“There’s food in the kitchen,” he said.
As soon as she came out, he noticed her—but pretended not to, continuing to hoe the ground twice. As expected, she stared at him.
Yesterday after his shower, he realized it—she liked this type?
Shen Ruanruan snapped back to reality, her cheeks a little warm, and softly responded before heading to the kitchen.
She brought her toothbrush and toothpaste. She poured warm water from the thermos, mixed it with cold tap water, and got the right temperature. She looked around but couldn’t find a place to brush her teeth.
“Lu Mingye, where do I brush my teeth?”
She stood at the kitchen doorway, toothbrush and cup in hand, looking confused.
So cute.
Lu Mingye’s throat rolled. “Here.”
He pointed to the edge of the yard.
As expected, when the young lady showed a surprised expression, he thought she might complain—but instead she only frowned slightly and silently squatted down to brush her teeth.
Watching this, he felt both amused and a little heartbroken.
She must really be out of her element. He was already thinking of finding an empty space to build her a proper washing area, with a cement sink like in the city, and even a flush toilet.
The toilet here… she probably wouldn’t be able to use it.
Sure enough, after washing up, Shen Ruanruan walked toward the toilet—then immediately screamed and ran out.
“Lu Mingye! There are bugs! Big white bugs!”
Before his brain even processed it, his body had already rushed to her side.
Shen Ruanruan crashed straight into his chest.
Lu Mingye wanted to hold her, but seeing his sweaty body from working in the field, he hesitated and gently pushed her away, patting her shoulder to comfort her.
“Shen Ruanruan, you don’t…” study medicine?
He didn’t finish.
Instead, he heard her aggrieved accusation.
“You dislike me?”
“I never disliked you,” Lu Mingye said helplessly.
“I didn’t believe you disliked me—then why did you push me away?”
He sighed, defeated, and pulled her directly into his arms.
“Now do you understand why?”
It was summer, and they were both wearing thin clothes. The warmth of his body passed through the fabric, pressing against her skin, hot and overwhelming.
She was completely enveloped in his presence.
She blushed and stayed quietly in his arms.
“You think I smell bad?” he asked.
Smell bad?
Last night she had heard the sound of water outside—he had been showering. He was very clean. He didn’t smell bad at all.
She only felt his body was very warm, so warm it made her face burn.
Shen Ruanruan shook her head—then suddenly realized what she had done and pushed him away.
“I’m hungry. I’m going to eat first.”
She lowered her head and hurried to the kitchen.
Lu Mingye watched her reddened cheeks and ears closely, then smiled.
……
While Shen Ruanruan was eating, Lu Mingye washed himself clean in the storage room and changed into a short-sleeved shirt.
“This—I forgot to give you last night.”
She handed him 100 yuan.
“You gave me all your money, so I should give you pocket money too. I don’t know how much other wives give, so I’ll start with this. If it’s not enough, ask me for more. Buy whatever you need—don’t save it.”
Lu Mingye had imagined this scene countless times.
Not long after enlisting, he had already heard that Shen Ruanruan was engaged to someone else. At that time, he knew they were impossible.
Even so, every time he heard soldiers complain about wives controlling their money and giving too little pocket money, he still felt envy. He had even fantasized: even if she didn’t give him money, as long as it was her, anything was fine.
And now, that fantasy had come true.
“No need for so much,” he said in a muffled voice, taking out five yuan. “This is enough.”
He didn’t smoke, didn’t drink, had no social expenses. Food was subsidized, clothes were issued—there was nowhere to spend money. He kept five yuan only so he could buy her something nice later.
And also so he could go back and “complain” to his comrades like they did about their wives.
He was a deputy regiment commander—he couldn’t fall behind.
Shen Ruanruan didn’t know what he was thinking. She felt it might be too little, but since he said it was enough, she didn’t insist. She would just leave some change in the drawer later.
After finishing, they went out together.
It was still early, and there weren’t many people on the road. They met a few neighborhood wives and nodded in greeting.
Living here meant getting to know everyone gradually.
The wives were a bit surprised.
They had heard the deputy commander’s wife came from Beijing, even brought an expensive leather suitcase only found in foreign trade stores. They had assumed she would be proud and aloof.
After all, there had been a previous official’s daughter who looked down on the countryside and people here.
But this girl—though she looked like a rich young lady—was smiling and greeting them politely.
And one thing they couldn’t deny: she was really beautiful. When she smiled, she looked even better—bright and pleasant, the kind of beauty that made people happy just looking at her.