“Really understood? Say it again.”
Lu Zewei looked unconvinced. “Just wait for the meal.”
I’m afraid you’ll waste the ingredients.
Liang Xin wanted to say this, but knew that as someone waiting to be fed, one must have the awareness of someone waiting to be fed.
Those who sit waiting to eat should, besides eating, provide full emotional value to the cook – only then can they remain someone who sits waiting to be fed.
Lu Zewei carried the groceries into the kitchen, rolled up his sleeves and started preparing lunch.
Liang Xin also entered the kitchen, but only washed her hands with soap before leaving.
Lu Zewei, who had thought Liang Xin came to keep him company: “…Why not wash in the bathroom?”
“Oh… forgot.” Liang Xin picked up an enamel teacup and opened the tea canister. “Got used to rural life where there was only one water-drawing well platform, no bathroom.”
“Don’t drink tea.”
Lu Zewei opened a cabinet and took out a bottle of malt extract and a bottle of orange crystal. “Want this instead?”
Liang Xin handed over the enamel cup. “Orange crystal.”
“Liang Xin’s back?”
Hearing Hu Fenglian’s voice, Lu Zewei, who was pouring hot water from a thermos into Liang Xin’s cup, frowned. “Is there only Liang Xin in this family now?”
Hu Fenglian’s laughter arrived before she did.
Liang Xin carried the prepared orange crystal drink out of the kitchen. “I’m back.”
“Chairman Liu from the residential committee came looking for you this morning.”
Hu Fenglian took out a tin box from the drawer and handed it to Liang Xin.
The tin contained lemon sandwich cookies mixed with Evergreen sweet biscuits.
Liang Xin picked up a lemon sandwich cookie and took a bite – crispy and fragrant with sweet, sticky filling.
“Residential committee?”
Before Liang Xin could speak, Lu Zewei sensed similar trouble. “What did they want?”
“Didn’t say.” Hu Fenglian added a handful of pyramid-shaped candies to the coffee table. “I suspect it’s about some recent competition in the compound, wanting Liang Xin to participate. Or maybe collective labor – March 8th Red Banner Pacesetter, March 8th work team matters. Isn’t everyone nationwide busy learning from Dazhai, learning from Daqing, catching up with Linxi, learning from the Iron Man, catching up with Wu Xuzhi?”
Lu Zewei looked at Liang Xin, frowned again, and went back to preparing the fish.
Liang Xin took a sip of the orange crystal drink. “Mom, do I need to participate in the labor competitions in the Military Compound?”
“No need.”
Hu Fenglian glanced at her son busy scaling fish. “As long as you can take care of Chongfeng as well as you have these past few days – no episodes, no headaches or heartaches, not offending people everywhere, not arguing with his father, and most importantly, no more of those sick talk – you don’t need to do anything, let alone work outside.”
Liang Xin glanced toward the kitchen. “He’s been normal these days?”
“Normal, very normal.” Hu Fenglian warmly grasped Liang Xin’s hands. “You don’t know – before you married, we couldn’t control Chongfeng at all. Your father confined him every few days, actually afraid he’d go out and talk nonsense. Before, every time after an episode, he had no vitality in his face. Now it’s much better – not only does he know his mother works hard, but his mother can even eat food he cooks. We never dared imagine that before.”
Liang Xin stood up and brought her mother-in-law’s teacup to her.
“Mom, your thinking is different from ordinary people’s.”
“Don’t take to heart whatever people outside say.” Hu Fenglian understood Liang Xin’s concerns and instead comforted her: “I don’t believe their provocations. Whether my son is changing for the better or being taken advantage of, I see it clearly. Liang Xin, I’m grateful to you.”
In the kitchen, the collision of cleaver and cutting board, spatula and wok, accompanied by the gushing of tap water and the sizzling of oil in the pan, blended into the beautiful symphony of everyday life.
Liang Xin and her mother-in-law sat on the living room sofa, sharing intimate conversation.
Through their talk, Liang Xin learned much about the internal affairs of the compound.
“Sister Hu.”
“Chairman Liu is here again.”
Liang Xin set down her enamel teacup and saw a female cadre with shoulder-length hair, dressed in a dark gray outer garment, enter.
Hu Fenglian rose with a smile to greet her: “Chairman Liu, you’re here.”
The moment Chairman Liu stepped inside, her gaze fell on Liang Xin, lingering for a few seconds before subtly shifting to Lu Zewei, who was busily working alone in the kitchen.
“Sister Hu, this must be Chongfeng’s family member?”
“Yes, that’s right. This is my second daughter-in-law, Liang Xin.”
Liang Xin stood up. “Hello, Chairman Liu.”
“Hello, Comrade Liang Xin.”
Chairman Liu sat on the sofa, her eyes fixed on the kitchen. “The Chief’s cook isn’t here?”
“Xiao Shi is on home leave, back in his hometown.” Hu Fenglian personally poured a cup of tea for Chairman Liu. “Chairman Liu, is there some activity in the compound that requires Liang Xin’s participation? If so, please don’t ask her. She just got married, and Chongfeng is ill. She’s fully occupied taking care of him and can’t go out for other tasks.”
Liang Xin noticed Chairman Liu’s mouth twitch noticeably twice.
“Sister Hu, is it truly Comrade Liang Xin who takes care of Chongfeng every day? If that’s the case, how did Chongfeng’s quilt-mending make it into Liberation Daily?”
“The young couple just married. There are some things we old folks don’t understand about young people’s pleasures.”
“…Sister Hu, it’s not just the quilt-mending. Someone just reported to the residents’ committee that Chongfeng at home not only mends quilts but also handles all domestic chores, grocery shopping, and cooking.”
Chairman Liu glanced at the enamel teacups and tin biscuit box on the table. “Comrade Liang Xin, you also come from poor peasant origins, with proper roots. How did such serious hedonistic thinking develop in you?”
Liang Xin picked up the thermos to refill her mother-in-law’s tea. “Chairman Liu, what do you mean by that?”
“You still won’t admit it?” Chairman Liu straightened up. “As a military family member, diligently managing household affairs is our fundamental duty. Beyond that, we should actively participate in collective labor, engage in cultural and political studies, strive to increase family income, educate children well, respect the elderly, ensure thrift and economy, help soldiers eat well and rest properly, alleviate the burdens on military families, and contribute to soldiers’ wholehearted dedication to protecting the nation. But you?”
“What about me?”
“Didn’t you hear what I just said? Which part have you fulfilled?” Chairman Liu said bluntly. “Forget the quilt-mending for now. The moment I entered, I saw Chongfeng working alone in the kitchen while you sat here drinking tea and eating biscuits. As a military family member, Comrade Liang Xin, your passive attitude and hedonistic thinking are very dangerous!”
“Chairman Liu likely interacts with many active-duty military families, but you probably haven’t encountered many families like mine – caring for a soldier whose illness isn’t visibly apparent. That’s why you immediately criticized me instead of first asking what support I need as family member, providing guidance on how to help me overcome life’s difficulties. I don’t blame you.”
Liang Xin continued, “Also, I think what you said earlier was particularly right – as military families, we must strive to maintain stability on the home front, allowing soldiers to fully devote themselves to protecting our country. In this regard, Mom is my role model. With Mom here, I’m sure I can follow this example well.”
Chairman Liu’s temple twitched slightly. Not letting herself be sidetracked, she pinpointed the key issue and retorted, “Comrade Liang Xin, are you saying that as a military family member, you’ve pushed your responsibilities onto Chongfeng, and you’re having a hard time?”
“Am I a military family member?”
Liang Xin’s single question stopped Lu Zewei who was rushing out from the kitchen wanting to speak. “Hasn’t he been suspended from duty?”
Chairman Liu was instantly speechless.
Liang Xin continued, “Chairman Liu, you said household chores are my primary responsibility. Does that mean you’re going to have Chongfeng reinstated?”
Chairman Liu paused, then quickly waved her hands. “I didn’t mean that!”
“Well, since that’s not what you meant, according to our commune brigade’s principles, household chores aren’t women’s primary responsibility. Our brigade members’ main job is earning work points in the fields. Household chores should be shared by both men and women.”
Liang Xin said with a smile, “If you insist on criticizing me for not fulfilling my duties as a military family member properly, then wait until Lu Chongfeng is reinstated as a soldier before criticizing me. At that time, if there’s anything I haven’t done well, whether you want me to write self-criticism or receive criticism, I’ll accept it. Would that be acceptable?”
Chairman Liu had lost all the bravado she had when entering. Sitting on the sofa, she was nearly suffocated by these gentle but firm words.
After a long while, she finally looked at Hu Fenglian and said, “Sister Hu, you certainly have sharp judgment.”
Hu Fenglian couldn’t help laughing. “Xiao Liu, special circumstances require special handling. Although Liang Xin doesn’t do household chores, she has made crucial contributions to promoting family harmony and boosting family morale. Your family committee should stop targeting Liang Xin from now on.”
Such lofty contributions, Chairman Liu thought to herself. “Sister Hu, I came to promptly rectify the atmosphere in our compound. As for Comrade Liang Xin’s ideological awareness…”
“Liang Xin’s ideological awareness is excellent. I don’t see anything wrong with it at all.”
Hu Fenglian looked at Liang Xin with satisfaction. “If you’re saying Liang Xin has created unhealthy trends in the Military Compound, Xiao Liu, then I must criticize you. Recently, every family’s dinner table has more chili peppers. The chili peppers at the vegetable station sell out every day. Isn’t this all because of Liang Xin’s revolutionary influence? Eating chili peppers – what a positive trend! Can you find another family member in the Military Compound who has created such positive trends?”
Chairman Liu: “……..Liang Xin?”
Liang Xin also looked slightly surprised. “Everyone’s eating chili peppers?”
“Yes,” Hu Fenglian said with a smile. “Yesterday, Chairman Liu also bought red chili peppers to eat at home.”
Chairman Liu, who only knew that eating chili peppers showed strong revolutionary spirit but didn’t realize this trend in the Military Compound had originated from Liang Xin, flushed bright red, feeling she had utterly humiliated herself today.
Liang Xin rose and walked to the dining table, gazing at the large enamel basin Lu Zewei had brought out.
The cooked grilled fish was blanketed with fiery dried chilies, bird’s eye chilies, and Hangzhou peppers, sprinkled with white sesame seeds and fried peanuts, steaming with an aromatic heat.
“Since Chairman Liu also enjoys spicy food, why not stay for dinner today? Try Chongfeng’s new dish.”
“No, thank you.”
Chairman Liu stood up, glancing at the Three-Five brand wall clock on the five-drawer chest. “I need to hurry back to cook for Old Huang and the children.”
“Take care, Chairman Liu. Let me see you out.”
Liang Xin smiled as she escorted him to the sentry post outside the Lu family’s building. It was only after Chairman Liu repeatedly insisted she needn’t go further, urging her to return because it was cold outside, that she finally turned back.
Many of the high-ranking cadres’ families in the West Yard witnessed this scene.
They also saw Chairman Liu wipe his forehead with his sleeve just before exiting the West Yard.
The moment Liang Xin returned home, she found Lu Zewei sitting stiffly in a chair by the dining table, his face cold and silent.
“Did you cook the rice?”
Before Lu Zewei could respond, the sound of a car echoed from outside, and Chief Lu entered the house.
“You’re back so early today?”
“Dad.”
Chief Lu nodded at Liang Xin, handed his military uniform jacket to Hu Fenglian, rolled up his sleeves, and went to wash his hands in the bathroom.
Liang Xin walked into the kitchen and was about to lift the lid off the large pot on the stove when Lu Zewei stepped in and did it before she could.
“Sorry.”
The sudden apology made Liang Xin look up in surprise. “I didn’t lose out.”
Lu Zewei took a stack of bowls from the cupboard, placed them on the stove, and turned to look at Liang Xin. “Did you already know how people outside would react before you had me sewing quilts and doing housework?”
Liang Xin didn’t deny it and reached for the rice paddle to serve the food.
“I’ll do it.” After serving a bowl of rice, Lu Zewei looked back at Liang Xin, urging her to answer.
“Feudal ideologies that have persisted for centuries aren’t easily eradicated in a short time. It’s normal.”
Liang Xin watched him serve the rice. “Besides, what Chairman Liu said wasn’t entirely wrong. It’s a soldier’s duty to protect the country, and as family members, taking care of the home front to lighten their burden is perfectly fine.”
Lu Zewei said nothing more and carried the rice to the living room.
As soon as Chief Lu sat down and saw the enamel basin full of chilies, he immediately felt a wave of warmth. “What dish is this?”
“Grilled fish.” Liang Xin pulled out a chair and sat. “Chongfeng cooked it.”
Chief Lu glanced toward the kitchen in surprise, suddenly realizing his cook was absent.
“Xiao Shi has gone home. Chongfeng prepared the meal.” Hu Fenglian looked at the grilled fish on the table. “Well, I never thought I’d get to taste a dish made by my son.”
Chief Lu picked up his chopsticks, pushed aside the chilies, and examined the fragrant, tender fish. He paused, then noticed celery, lettuce, thick dried tofu, and regular tofu layered beneath the fish. “You used so many ingredients just for one meal? What a waste.”
Liang Xin picked up a piece of fish, dipped it in the sauce, blew on it a few times, and put it in her mouth. The spicy heat rolled through with a wave of fragrance—the fish was tender, juicy, and melted on the tongue. After swallowing, her appetite surged, and she immediately reached for another piece.
Everyone at the table watched Liang Xin’s reaction.
Chief Lu unconsciously pursed his lips without realizing it.
Lu Zewei: “Is it good?”
Liang Xin chewed on the fish, picked up a peanut with her chopsticks and popped it into her mouth. The nutty aroma blended with the fish juices, followed by a mouthful of rice. Unconsciously, she narrowed her eyes and exhaled a puff of warm air. “Delicious. You perfectly understood what I meant.”
Lu Zewei’s lips twitched. “I’m not an idiot.”
“You’re a culinary genius.”
Liang Xin’s appetite was fully awakened. She picked up the tenderest piece of meat from behind the fish head and placed it in Hu Fenglian’s bowl. “Mom, it’s especially delicious.”
Hu Fenglian had been swallowing saliva for a while. She picked up the tender meat and put it in her mouth. The chili eliminated the fishy taste while enhancing its freshness. The moment it touched her tongue, she let out a “hiss,” then couldn’t resist immediately savoring more fish. “Truly delicious! First time eating fish prepared like this. Never imagined grass carp could be made so tasty!”
Lu Zewei also reached with his chopsticks. Though he normally avoided spicy food, after the first bite of the fragrant spicy grilled fish, he opened the door to chilies, sending one chopstickful after another into his mouth.
No one noticed when Chief Lu started eating. It was only when Liang Xin, overwhelmed by the spiciness, went to fetch her enamel teacup that she noticed Chief Lu’s lips had turned bright red, sweat beading on his forehead as he ate.
“So satisfying.”
Lu Zewei took off his jacket and looked at his father. “Need some water?”
“Bring me some liquor.”
Chief Lu hadn’t touched alcohol for a long time – not since being sent down. Today he voluntarily broke his abstinence. “Bring me that bottle of Erguotou.”
“Erguotou?”
Hu Fenglian looked surprised. “That bottle hasn’t even been opened yet.”
“Bring it. I want to drink.”
Liang Xin watched with admiration as Chief Lu ate chilies while drinking Erguotou – the ultimate combination of heat upon heat. After quenching the fire with freshly prepared malt extract, she rejoined the grilled fish eating brigade.
Chief Lu, enjoying his meal, looked at Lu Zewei. “The military academy arranged a new instructor.”
Lu Zewei: “Who?”
“Battlefield veteran, former commander, decorated, highly educated, senior credentials – Old Zhu from the former Second Artillery Corps, Zhu Damu.” Chief Lu took a sip of liquor, his features scrunching up from the burn. “What do you think? Interested in returning to classes?”
“Who selected him?”
“What’s wrong with him? He’s a combat hero.”
“Wielding outdated tactics, seizing every opportunity to show off before juniors, chasing empty fame, loving flattery.” Lu Zewei picked at fish bones. “Whoever selected him probably shares the same temperament.”
“You!”
“What now, what are you doing now?”
Hu Fenglian interrupted Chief Lu. “Chongfeng has finally started acting like a normal person these past couple days. It’s only been a few days since his last episode, and you’re looking for trouble again. Why provoke the child!”
“Look how arrogant he is!” Chief Lu slammed his chopsticks down, his face flushed red whether from anger or the liquor. “I warn you…”
“Dad, I know what you expect of me.”
Lu Zewei interrupted Chief Lu again. “During wartime, you named me Chongfeng (Charge Forward), wanting me to lead charges in battle and retreat last. After eldest brother sacrificed himself, during peacetime, you gave me my formal name Lu Zewei, representing land, sea, and air. You wanted to show everyone that not only wouldn’t you let your remaining son become a coward, but you’d make me an outstanding talent across all three military branches.”
Chief Lu stared blankly, unexpectedly seeing his son responding calmly rather than confronting him head-on.
Liang Xin also set down her chopsticks.
So that’s what his two names meant.
“You always said I was immature before, and I never took it well whenever I heard it. Today I understand you were right.”
Chief Lu was even more stunned.
Hu Fenglian also looked at her son in surprise.
“The battlefield changes in the blink of an eye. It’s about swift decisive battles—can’t be slow. If you’re slow, if you fall behind, you’ll get shot. If we take bullets, the people back home will suffer too.”
Lu Zewei wasn’t having an episode this time; instead, he was unusually calm. “But off the battlefield, decisions often shouldn’t be rushed. The more urgent a decision seems, the more carefully it should be made. I deeply understand that now.”
The dining room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Several minutes passed.
Chief Lu picked up his wine cup, drained the baijiu in one go, and let out a relieved sigh as he set it down. He glanced at Liang Xin.
Then Chief Lu told a story.
About Wei Yuanyang’s father’s final battle—it was lost because the frontline commander misjudged the enemy’s firepower deployment and troop strength, leading to everyone holding the position being killed.
“This was the most painful lesson for the 12th Division. One command error costs irreparable lives. Even after more than twenty years, command has become even more critical because our comrades can’t afford any more mistakes.”
Liang Xin didn’t dare sleep deeply that night, keeping an eye on Lu Zewei’s condition.
Afraid he might have an episode.
“Still not asleep?”
“Why aren’t you sleeping?”
“I’m writing.”
Liang Xin looked at the kerosene lamp on top of the bookshelf. “Need more kerosene?”
“Is the lamp bothering your sleep?”
Lu Zewei looked up from the papers on his writing desk. “I’ll move to the study.”
Liang Xin yawned. “Weren’t you just saying tonight that we shouldn’t rush things?”
“I’m not rushing. These ideas have been in my head all along. Today I just found a better way to write them down.”
As he spoke, Lu Zewei picked up his pen and continued writing.
Liang Xin watched his back, then turned slightly. She could see his focused profile under the kerosene lamp—his tall nose bridge, perfectly shaped lips, the light sharpening his jawline. The collar button at his throat was neatly fastened, restrained and proper.
If only he wouldn’t speak, that restraint could almost be called desire.
Restrained desire.
Looking closer, there was still a trace of sickness between his brows—the remnants of mental torment.
The sickness carried a sense of confinement.
The winter air was dry. Liang Xin moistened her lips.
“Sleep?”
“Not yet.”
Liang Xin turned over, wrapped herself tighter in the quilt, and yawned boredly.
Waking in the morning, she found toothpaste squeezed onto the toothbrush resting on the enamel cup, a white towel folded neatly beside it.
This was the automatic upgrade of specific husband-reform measures.
Liang Xin picked up the cup to rinse, put the toothbrush in her mouth, and wondered—was he feeling guilty like yesterday, thinking he’d burdened her, hence this considerate morning gesture?
“You’re up…”
Lu Chongfeng appeared at the doorway, looking surprised at the toothpaste in Liang Xin’s hand.
Soon, a faint blush spread across his face.
He ran a hand through his hair, visibly uncomfortable.
“Doing this for a long time isn’t really hygienic.”
Liang Xin: “?”
She looked at her reflection in the mirror.
Pondered for a few seconds.
So you’re saying it’s unhygienic to leave toothpaste squeezed outside for too long?
“It’s fine.”
Lu Chongfeng ran his hand through his hair again.
He didn’t know where to put his hands and feet.
When they registered their marriage, he had thought she wasn’t entirely willing to marry him.
Although his perception had shifted slightly after she helped him later.
But…
Had he been too slow to notice, or had he misunderstood?
So now she was directly using his toothbrush to make it clear to him?
This was too straightforward!
The faint blush on Lu Chongfeng’s face spread all the way to the back of his ears.
Liang Xin finished brushing her teeth and picked up the enamel teacup to rinse her mouth.
Not only had she used his toothbrush, but she even used his cup to rinse her mouth!
Since Liang Xin, as a female comrade, was being so direct and proactive, he, as a man, should take the initiative too and not be so hesitant.
Lu Chongfeng took a few steps forward.
He took the white towel Liang Xin had just wrung damp.
Liang Xin watched him holding the white towel and reaching toward her face, so she stopped his hand, “…What are you doing?”
Before Lu Zewei could answer, Liang Xin suddenly touched his forehead, “No fever, so why is your face so red?”
“My health isn’t that bad.”
Lu Zewei wiped the towel as gently as possible over Liang Xin’s face. When the back of his fingers brushed against her warm, delicate skin, his hand trembled slightly.
Liang Xin felt uncomfortable and reached out to take the towel from his hand.
“You don’t need to suddenly become so attentive. Washing my face and brushing my teeth—I’ll handle it myself from now on.”
The brief close contact made Lu Chongfeng’s heartbeat quicken several times over.
He felt this made him seem rather inadequate.
He slowly leaned in, drawing close to Liang Xin’s long eyelashes.
Liang Xin suddenly dodged and pushed her palm against his face, “What are you trying to do?”
Lu Zewei: “…”
He rotated his neck, which had nearly been dislocated by the push, and looked at Liang Xin.
Liang Xin stepped back a few paces, holding the towel, “This is the bathroom.”
So she thought the location was inappropriate?
Lu Chongfeng: “I wasn’t going to do anything, just…”
Liang Xin studied Lu Chongfeng’s flushed face, narrowing her eyes slightly as she questioned him, “So your blushing is because you have ulterior motives?”
Lu Chongfeng froze, glanced at the tooth cup and toothbrush, and ran a hand through his hair, “No, you used my toothbrush to brush your teeth and my cup to rinse your mouth. I just wanted to kiss your cheek, to respond to you.”
Liang Xin: “?”
She looked at the white towel in her hand.
No wonder she had caught a faint scent of soap earlier.
She then glanced at the toothbrush and cup.
Picking up the white toothbrush with the small hand-painted flower, she held it up to Lu Chongfeng, “This is your toothbrush?”
Lu Zewei watched her reaction, lowered his head to examine it carefully, and nodded, “Yes.”
“You use this toothbrush?”
“Yes.”
“This little flower toothbrush, you use it?”
“Where is there a little flower… This is a little flower?”
Liang Xin recalled that five minutes ago, she had picked up his toothbrush to brush her teeth, used his cup to rinse her mouth, and even used his towel to wash her face…
A huge misunderstanding.
“…You, why did you squeeze toothpaste and pour water here if you weren’t going to use them?”
“Yueji is back, calling me to open the door downstairs.”
“…”
Liang Xin pushed past him, walked back to the room, grabbed a brand-new army-green toothbrush, a clean peony-patterned towel, and the enamel teacup from the writing desk used for drinking water, then returned to the bathroom: “You use…”
Lu Zewei had already squeezed fresh toothpaste onto the toothbrush she had just used and was putting it into his mouth.
Liang Xin stood at the doorway, her face slightly flushed, steadying her voice as she said, “Didn’t you say that’s unhygienic?”
Lu Chongfeng picked up the rinsing cup, “Since you don’t mind, I don’t mind either.”
By the time Liang Xin finally fled downstairs, she hadn’t even had the chance to apply snow cream.
“Second Sister-in-law, I was just about to call you. The guard post at the main gate just called, said someone is waiting for you at the entrance.”
Liang Xin paused slightly, “Looking for me?”
Lu Yueji put down the phone. “Yes, they said it was a woman who had been here before.”
Liang Xin instinctively assumed it was Second Sister-in-law.
But then she recalled there was another woman she knew who had also visited.
Before she even reached the main gate, someone called out to her from the cedar forest.
“Liang Xin, over here!”
Liang Xin walked into the cedar grove and looked at Wang Hongyan, whose head and face were wrapped in blue woolen yarn, but said nothing.
Wang Hongyan offered a smile first. “Liang Xin, Yuan Yang came too. He went to the service center to buy some things. I came ahead to discuss something with you.”