Liang Xin turned around after gathering the clothes, just in time to see Lu Chongfeng withdraw his hand from his chin.
The spot she had accidentally brushed against that morning.
Her lips instinctively pressed together.
The room fell into an awkward atmosphere.
Lu Chongfeng had been leaning against the doorframe. Noticing Liang Xin’s subtle lip movement and recalling the soft sensation on his face, he rubbed his face and averted his gaze. But his eyes landed on the bedside cabinet, and upon remembering what was inside, his casually leaning posture immediately stiffened, his ears turning red.
Seeing his reaction was even more uncomfortable than hers, Liang Xin said calmly, “I was thinking about when the salted chicken will be ready to eat.”
She now made sure to speak in complete sentences.
Afraid he might misinterpret her words into something unexpected again.
“If you like chicken so much, why not set up a chicken coop in the backyard and buy some chicks to raise?”
Lu Zewei walked up to Liang Xin, looking down while seemingly casually glancing at her lips.
They looked like cherry blossoms.
Appearing very fragrant just from looking.
Liang Xin: “You’re blocking the way.”
“…Oh.”Lu Zewei moved aside and sat down on the sofa at the corner by the window, facing the bed and cabinet with a full view of the entire room.”
Liang Xin felt her back growing warm under his gaze. Originally planning to fold the sun-dried clothes before putting them in the wardrobe, she instead opened the large wardrobe and stuffed all the clothes inside in one go.
“Chicks are only available around March or April when the weather gets warmer. Jiangjing’s winters are bitterly damp and cold, they can’t be raised here.”
“Then what would you like to raise?” Lu Chongfeng recalled his time at the garrison when he helped local families with work. “Pigs? Do you like raising pigs? Or dogs? Do you prefer dogs or pigs?”
Liang Xin: “……”
“Don’t like either?” Lu Zewei continued thinking, “Then how about cows? Cows are too big, probably can’t be raised here. What exactly do you want to raise? Cats? Sheep? Or…”
Liang Xin turned to look at him, “Pig.”
Lu Zewei felt there was something off about how she was looking at him, but couldn’t pinpoint what. “Pig… Besides the three pigs raised by the logistics canteen in the Military Compound, I haven’t heard of any family raising pigs. Do you know how to raise them? How many do you want to raise?”
Liang Xin continued looking at him: “One is already enough.”
“Even one would require building a pigsty first.”
Lu Zewei seriously considered, “Tomorrow I’ll go ask the logistics housing department if we can build a pigsty in our backyard.Exactly, they’re always thinking about how to decorate and arrange things. Now you’ve given them an idea, saving them from racking their brains.”
Liang Xin: “……”
She felt her own brains were about to be racked.
“The Military Compound Chief’s family shouldn’t raise any pigs. Don’t go.”
“If you like it, then raise them. What are you afraid of.”
Lu Zewei stretched his long legs, leaning back on the sofa. Seeing Liang Xin’s disapproving expression, “…Then forget it. You’re right, this is after all our parents’ home. Just wait – when I become the Military Compound Chief, the first thing I’ll do during housing allocation is have logistics build pigsties and chicken coops. You can raise as many as you want without worrying about anyone’s opinions.”
Liang Xin smiled helplessly.
“Dad is already the Deputy Commander of the Military Region. I’ve never seen any children of people at this level surpass their parents’ generation.”
Lu Zewei paused slightly for a long moment before saying, “You, the daughter of a brigade secretary, possess insight and vision far clearer than those children of military chiefs. What did you used to do in the brigade?”
Liang Xin replied, “Farming and raising livestock.”
“While both toil in the fields, how can people differ so greatly? The instructors at the military academy are nowhere near as sharp-minded as you.”
Lu Zewei lazily rested his hand on the sofa armrest. “You were right earlier—in this Military Compound, no son has surpassed his father’s rank. But I’m different. My health has fully recovered. Having you raise pigs in the Chief’s backyard is only a matter of time.”
He sat in the armchair with languid posture, face filled with arrogant confidence.
By the time Liang Xin realized it, she had been watching him for an unknown duration.
The atmosphere grew uncomfortable again.
Liang Xin opened the drawer, randomly picked up her change of clothes, and calmly left the room to bathe.
One significant comfort of the general’s residence compared to the countryside was having bathing facilities at home.
Turning the cross-shaped faucet, hot water cascaded over her body.
Lu Chongfeng’s expression as he sat on the sofa resurfaced in her mind.
Raising pigs in a military chief’s household.
Liang Xin chuckled softly, picking up the Sandalwood Soap to lather her body.
After washing away the day’s odors from handling Salted Chicken and Salted Fish, her body felt light from head to toe. She turned off the faucet.
Drying herself with a white bath towel, she walked to the stool beside the washbasin and picked up the freshly laundered padded jacket.
Suddenly, she froze completely.
A long time passed.
Liang Xin wiped the steam from the mirror with her towel. The reflection showed her wearing the white padded jacket dotted with small floral patterns.
The folded collar rested above her collarbones, while her soaked black hair dripped water down along her clavicle.
Droplets fell onto the little flowers, revealing two unripe cherries nestled within the blossoms.
As bathroom steam accumulated, a thin mist gradually reformed over the mirror.
The face in the mirror began fading in and out of view, yet its calm expression still betrayed signs of impending collapse.
Ten minutes passed.
Twenty minutes.
Counting from when she entered, including hair washing and bathing, approximately an hour had elapsed.
“Knock knock.”
Suddenly, the door rattled.
Liang Xin looked toward the entrance. “What is it?”
“Finished washing?”
“……”
A minute of silence ensued.
From beyond the door came a voice that seemed strained with composure: “Just open the door… a crack wide enough for your hand to reach through will suffice.”
Before Liang Xin could respond, he added: “My eyes are closed.”
Remembering the two doctors’ instructions from that morning, Liang Xin rose and approached the door. She hesitated briefly before slowly lifting her hand to slide open the bolt.
Fluorescent light seeped through the crack.
Lu Chongfeng watched a fair, rosy-tinged wrist—damp and warm—emerge through the doorway. It groped blindly in the air twice before stilling, palm upturned in waiting.
The combined scent of bathing soap and Jasmine Snow Cream washing over him revived the memory of a novel’s male protagonist peeping at a neighbor bathing, followed by the next page’s explicit illustration of their joined bodies… though more memorable than the act itself were their peculiarly strained expressions.
What he placed in Liang Xin’s hand was a wrapped towel.
The moment the transfer completed, he strode away abruptly.
As if more afraid of being seen than she was.
Liang Xin took the towel from the door crack and unfolded it, revealing a white side-clasp cotton bra and white floral-patterned shorts inside.
Lu Zewei burst into the room, grabbed the white porcelain teacup from the enamel tray on the writing desk, and gulped down several mouthfuls of chilled green tea.
Why did he keep thinking about that illustration!
He wasn’t the male protagonist!
He would never peep at the girl next door!
He had zero interest!
The one he was interested in was properly licensed and certified!
Even if they had something going on, it was completely different from that couple in the illustration!
They were legitimate!
After these thoughts, the fire in Lu Chongfeng’s heart not only failed to extinguish but seemed to be fanned into even fiercer flames.
“Chongfeng, time for your medicine.”
Hu Fenglian came upstairs carrying an enamel tray with two bowls of dark, bitter liquid. “Drink up quickly. The doctor said you have deficient heart blood and dual deficiency of qi and blood. You need to drink a daily dose of Guipi Tang and Bazhen Tang. After this, you’ll have some Ginger Duck Soup—both are good for nourishing blood and qi.”
More nourishment?
If he took any more supplements, he’d start getting nosebleeds.
The bathroom door suddenly opened.
Lu Zewei walked over, picked up the medicine bowl from his mother’s tray, and drank it all in one go.
After swallowing, his exquisitely carved features immediately scrunched up in distaste.
“There’s another bowl.” Hu Fenglian passed him the second bowl. “This one isn’t as bitter. Down it quickly.”
Just watching his expression made Liang Xin’s mouth feel bitter. Seeing his reluctance, she said, “There’s candy in the writing desk drawer. Have one after you finish.”
Lu Chongfeng picked up the bowl again and drank it all. Setting it down, he shook his head. “What’s a little bitterness? A real man doesn’t need candy after medicine. I won’t have any.”
Liang Xin: “…”
Said as if his face hadn’t just twisted from the bitterness moments ago.
“It’s wedding candy. You haven’t even tasted your own wedding candy yet.”
“Then I’ll have one.”
Lu Zewei turned to open the drawer, took out an orange candy, unwrapped it, and tossed it into his mouth.
The bitterness indeed subsided considerably.
“Liang Xin, the Ginger Duck Soup is ready. Come down and have a bowl too.”
“I just brushed my teeth. I’ll pass.”
Liang Xin dried her hair with the towel. “Mom, you should have some more too.”
“Alright then. Come down if you want any, otherwise get some rest early.” Hu Fenglian picked up the enamel tray to go downstairs but suddenly turned back. “Chongfeng, remember to rest quietly.”
Lu Chongfeng: “…”
Liang Xin: “…”
The atmosphere from before their baths once again enveloped the room.
Liang Xin wrapped her hair in a bath towel and unfolded the quilt laid at the head of the bed.
After smoothing it out, she slipped under the covers and picked up the Liberation Daily from the bedside to read.
The only uncomfortable one left was Lu Chongfeng himself.
Because when Liang Xin saw the medicine, she remembered she was perfectly safe.
The Invalid needed to take medicine and rest quietly during this period. The doctor’s orders were limited to walking—no other strenuous activities.
So there was nothing to worry about at night.
Lu Zewei chewed his candy and turned to look at Liang Xin. His gaze inevitably fell on the area above her quilt.
The innermost layer of clothing had just passed through his hands, wrapped in a towel, and was now pressed closely against her…
Lu Chongfeng felt his nostrils grow warm, his heartbeat drumming loudly in his ears.
Liang Xin turned a page of the newspaper. “Not sleeping?”
“Sleep.” Lu Chongfeng turned and walked out, but halfway there, he returned, opened his dresser drawer, counted the clothes in his hands three times, then went to the bathroom.
By the time Lu Zewei returned, Liang Xin was already asleep.
He hung up his military uniform, lifted the blanket, and lay down.
As soon as he lay down, he caught the familiar scent of jasmine.
Then he thought of cherry blossoms.
The incandescent light and kerosene lamp in the room were both extinguished.
Lu Zewei turned his head and, by the moonlight, could only see Liang Xin’s silhouette. He rolled over toward her, slightly closer, trying to see more clearly.
When he could actually see clearly, Lu Zewei realized he was almost pressed against Liang Xin’s face.
He quickly turned his head and moved back.
The movement was too loud, but it didn’t wake Liang Xin.
After lying flat for a few minutes, Lu Zewei suddenly felt something cold touch the back of his hand. Instinctively, he reached to grasp it and caught hold of a soft, boneless hand.
Liang Xin’s hand.
Lu Chongfeng’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
He secretly held Liang Xin’s hand loosely in his palm, afraid that using too much strength would wake her.
Since experiencing the reforms firsthand and receiving Commander Chen’s approval, Lu Zewei had been writing argumentative essays every two or three days and submitting them to Liberation Daily, Military Personnel Daily, and Soldier’s Daily.
Even though ten submissions had been rejected ten times, he didn’t lose heart.
His mornings consisted of drills, going to the cafeteria or making breakfast himself, cleaning, writing drafts, attending to Liang Xin, writing more drafts, making dinner, and still writing drafts at night.
He persistently submitted articles to several military newspapers and official publications.
On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, it was the day of the Kitchen God Festival.
Over the past decade, sacrificial activities had been classified as part of the “Four Olds” and were strictly prohibited.
While burning incense and worshiping were not allowed, the foods associated with the Kitchen God Festival had continued without interruption.
Liang Xin came out of the military service agency holding Zao Candy and Zao Fruit.
Zao Candy was made from maltose and millet, shaped like a pumpkin, and was sticky to both the mouth and teeth.
Liang Xin took a bite of the Tang Melon Candy. It was crispy, sweet, and fragrant. After a few chews, her teeth stuck together, but she couldn’t resist its deliciousness and couldn’t stop eating.
She had left home with Lu Chongfeng in the morning, planning to buy Tang Melon Candy outside.
Unexpectedly, Commander Chen had summoned him again.
She went to the military service agency alone and browsed around, just in time seeing Tang Melon Candy for sale, so she bought half a jin.
It had been years since she had tasted such an authentic, traditional flavor.
Liang Xin had eaten half of it, and her hands were sticky from the candy.
Instead of hurrying home, she continued to stroll slowly around the Military Compound, breathing in the fresh air.
The recruitment season had arrived, and new banners were hung on the bulletin boards, utility poles, and between trees in the Military Compound.
“With a soldier in the family, there is peace.”
“One person serves as a soldier, the whole family is honored.”
“Comrade Liang Xin!”
Suddenly, a familiar voice called from the residential committee.
Liang Xin stopped and turned around.
Chairman Liu looked at Liang Xin, who was holding items in her arms, carrying things in her hands, and chewing in her mouth. His lips twitched. “Comrade Liang Xin, you come from a pure poor and lower-middle peasant background. How can you exhibit bourgeois hedonistic and lazy behavior one moment, and petty bourgeois free-spirited and undisciplined behavior the next?”
Liang Xin was wearing that thin gray cotton-padded coat today. She straightened her sleeves, revealing the patched cuffs of the coat and the inside sweater that had been mended with cloth where the threads had frayed.
“New for three years, old for three years, mended and patched for another three years—that’s the spirit of Lei Feng, the symbol of revolution. Chairman Liu, why are you acting like a rebel, indiscriminately labeling people without understanding the facts? Is this a new trend of class struggle in the residential committee?”
Chairman Liu’s face instantly changed. “What nonsense are you talking!”
Liang Xin said leisurely, “If you’re talking nonsense, then I’m talking nonsense. If you’re not talking nonsense, then neither am I.”
Chairman Liu was so frightened her breathing became rapid.
This year, the Military Compound had undergone rectification, with the leadership team that had been overthrown by the rebels returning to their positions. If these words were to spread, she had no idea what consequences she might face.
She never expected that the daughter-in-law of Commander Lu’s family could, with just a few words, make a veteran cadre like her—who had worked in the Military Compound for decades—feel so cornered.
“……Comrade Liang Xin, my analogy was wrong just now. Consider it nonsense.”
Liang Xin bit into the remaining Tang Melon Candy and said nothing.
Chairman Liu breathed a sigh of relief. After two confrontations, she had finally gauged Liang Xin’s temper.
If you didn’t provoke her, nothing would happen. But once you did, it was like touching a scorpion—the scorpion might be fine, but the one who touched it would definitely get stung.
It seemed dangerous, but if you yielded in time, there was still a way out.
Chairman Liu forced a smile: “Comrade Liang Xin, actually, everything I said was out of good intentions. This is the Military Compound. As military family members, we must uphold a style of hard work and plain living, with the quality of enduring hardship. Even if we can’t meet the standards, we must never become a negative influence in the compound.”
“Chairman Liu, thank you.”
Liang Xin stuffed the last piece of Tang Melon Candy into her mouth. “Today is the 23rd, doesn’t your family eat Tang Melon Candy and Zao Fruit?”
Chairman Liu, who had bought and delivered them home early in the morning: “……”
She changed the subject: “Comrade Liang Xin, when you first entered the compound, I criticized you. You said you weren’t a military family member, so I couldn’t do anything about it. But now it’s different. You are one. Not only that, you’ve become the family member of a regiment-level cadre. Your words and actions must now be carefully considered…”
“Wait a moment.”
Liang Xin said in surprise, “Family member of a regiment-level cadre? Where did you hear that?”
“What, you didn’t know?”
Chairman Liu thought for a moment. “Well, the personnel department hasn’t announced the appointment yet. Your Chongfeng has been promoted. Commander Chen personally transferred him to the Operations Department as a staff officer, a deputy regiment-level position. He’ll probably start after the New Year.”
Liang Xin licked the maltose from her lips. “Your… family committee is so well-informed?”
“I also…”
She had heard it from her husband.
Chairman Liu swallowed the rest of her words, feeling this was a rare opportunity to attract Liang Xin to join the family committee. “Of course! You’ve never lived in a Military Compound before, so you wouldn’t know. What is the family committee? It’s the gathering place for all family members in the Military Compound. What news can escape the family members? If a bird flies across the sky, the family committee would know its species, color, and call in the next second. Comrade Liang Xin, you should join quickly!”
Liang Xin was still dealing with the sticky maltose.
“Although during this period you’ve been… resting at home, the family members don’t see you as an activist.”
Chairman Liu was so eager to straighten out this wayward sprout in the compound that she spoke rapidly: “But as long as you actively participate in the Red Flag competition activities from now on, maintain friendly mutual assistance with other family members, humbly accept the ideological education and guidance from family committee cadres, ensure that soldiers eat well, rest well, and stabilize the home front, then actively participate in volunteer service activities, strive to earn labor awards, compete to become a March 8th Model Worker, and as soon as possible develop the qualities of enduring hardship and maintaining plain living…”
Liang Xin could no longer process the words that followed.
This was more exhausting than working in the Production Team.
She couldn’t handle it at all.
“Hey! Comrade Liang Xin, why are you leaving!” Chairman Liu wanted to chase after her but reconsidered. She needed some time to adjust. “Comrade Liang Xin, I’ll give you three days to properly adapt. I’ll come find you to fill out the registration form in three days!”
“Liang Xin is back.”
Hu Fenglian walked out of the kitchen carrying an enamel basin, smiling when she saw Liang Xin enter. “Did Chongfeng not come back with you?”
“No…”
“I’m back.”
Lu Chongfeng strode in proudly behind Liang Xin, dressed in his green military uniform.
Liang Xin observed his expression.
It seemed there really was good news.
Lu Zewei stopped when he saw Liang Xin blocking the doorway, then stood there with her and looked at the sunlight outside. “Are you sunbathing here?”
Liang Xin: “……”
Liang Xin walked into the living room, and Lu Zewei followed her inside.
Liang Xin went to the dining table, and Lu Zewei followed her there.
“Mom, I bought the Tang Melon Candy and Zao Fruit.”
Liang Xin pulled out a chair and sat down.
“You just bought them back?” Lu Zewei walked into the kitchen, washed his hands with soap, then came out carrying glutinous rice flour. “I’ll knead the dough.”
On the 23rd day of the lunar month, besides eating Tang Melon Candy and Zao Fruit, they also needed to eat tangyuan.
Hu Fenglian brought out the prepared fillings: a bowl of black sesame, a bowl of seasoned pork filling, and a bowl of Five Kernel Filling mixed with Red and Green Shreds, Osmanthus, white sugar, melon seeds, pine nuts, sesame, and lard.
Liang Xin watched as Lu Zewei rolled up his military uniform sleeves and poured the glutinous rice flour into the enamel basin. Just as he was about to add water, she said, “Hot water.”
Lu Zewei quickly pulled back the water ladle. “Leader, couldn’t you have said that earlier? Last time we kneaded dough with cold water. Why are we using hot water this time?”
“Last time it was wheat flour.”
“Is this black flour then?”
“…Last time it was wheat flour. This time it’s glutinous rice flour. Glutinous rice needs hot water to activate its stickiness. Cold water can’t form a sticky and elastic dough with glutinous rice flour. Even if you barely manage to form a dough, it will be hard and not taste good.”
After hearing this long explanation, Lu Chongfeng tilted his head and chuckled lightly. “Don’t tire yourself out.”
Liang Xin watched him go to get hot water while unwrapping the Zao Fruit paper package. “Mom, come have some.”
“Coming.”
Hu Fenglian brought out the kneading board, sprinkled some flour on it to prevent the formed tangyuan from sticking later, and sat down. Looking at the 12-colored fruits in the hemp paper package – red balls, white balls, Sesame Balls, Oil Fruits, Cunjin Candy, Sesame Foot Bone Candy, Bai Jiao Qie, Hei Jiao Qie, and Dou Su Candy – she picked up an Oil Fruit and started eating.
“Liang Xin, you have some too. Don’t wait for Chongfeng – he doesn’t really like these sweet things.”
“I just had Tang Melon Candy and feel a bit sick of sweetness.”
Liang Xin looked at Lu Chongfeng.
Just as he was about to pour hot water, Lu Chongfeng caught her gaze. He picked up the thermos and went to get Liang Xin’s personal enamel teacup, dumped out the old tea leaves, replaced them with new ones, poured in hot water, and brought it to Liang Xin.
Hu Fenglian suddenly laughed out loud.
Hearing this, Lu Chongfeng immediately went to get his mother’s teacup too.
Hu Fenglian: “I don’t drink green tea. I drink Malt extract.”
After serving both his mother and his partner, Lu Chongfeng returned to kneading the glutinous rice dough. “Leader, if there are any other instructions, please say them in advance.”
Liang Xin handed him a Sesame Ball.
Feeding the dog again!
Lu Chongfeng lowered his head and took the Sesame Ball with his mouth.
Why couldn’t she just stand up and bring it to his mouth?
She had to remain seated, extending her hand just that little bit forward, making him lower his head to reach it!
“Fragrant, delicious.”
“Have another piece?”
Liang Xin picked up a piece of Dou Su Candy, slightly raising it as she offered it to him.
Lu Chongfeng lowered his head again to bite it away, the corners of his lips curling up as he chewed slowly.
But he offered no further comment.
Hu Fenglian laughed, “Liang Xin, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have known Chongfeng could be this well-behaved.”
Liang Xin bit into a fruit and said nothing.
“Now that Chongfeng has recovered, is there anything you’d like to do?” Hu Fenglian took a sip of malt extract, “It’d be best not to trouble the local authorities. We could arrange a job for you within the Military Compound. Of course, I’m just worried you might get bored with nothing to do. If you prefer staying at home, you can continue doing so – eat when you want, sleep when you want.”
Lu Chongfeng suddenly spoke up: “She likes raising pigs. Could we build a pigsty in the backyard?”
Liang Xin: “……Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Raising pigs?” Hu Fenglian’s expression showed momentary surprise. “Raising pigs won’t do. The buildings in West Yard all follow uniform standards – no additional structures allowed. Not just pigsties, even chicken coops aren’t permitted. Besides, there’s no pig feed to cut nearby anymore. While using commercial pig feed would be convenient, the pig waste would be too smelly. Other residents in the compound would definitely complain, and you’d have to work hard cleaning it.”
“Mom, I’m not raising pigs.”
“But this is the first time Liang Xin has shown interest in something.” Hu Fenglian took it seriously. “Let me think… our hometown Production Team did build two large pigsties with quite a few pigs. It’s less than an hour’s drive there, closer than your parents’ home. How about I accompany you to stay in our hometown every few days?”
“That won’t be necessary, Mom.”
Liang Xin shot a glare at Lu Zewei.
Lu Zewei had been observing her and immediately caught her expression. “Mom, she’s actually quite pleased with the idea!”
“Great!”
Hu Fenglian happily rose from the dining table. “I’ll call Old Seven to ask about the pig-raising situation at the Production Team.”
Liang Xin gritted her teeth: “……Let’s knead the dough.”
Lu Chongfeng kneaded the dough vigorously, a trace of worry between his brows.
He had just chosen to join the military unit and was worrying about how to break the news to Liang Xin.
If only he hadn’t mentioned the pig-raising matter.
Now that Mom suggested accompanying her to live in the countryside – with pigs to raise, land to farm, her beloved chickens, plus the option to live in both the Military Compound and the countryside – Liang Xin would definitely refuse to go with him.
Besides, when they were matched through introduction, Liang Xin must have been attracted by the family’s living conditions to marry him, a neglected patient.
If she had to follow him to Jiangkou as a military dependent, given his rank, the housing assigned to them could never compare to the General’s Residence in the Military Compound.
Lost in his troubles, Lu Chongfeng didn’t notice Liang Xin’s expression.
That casual remark she made last night – not only did this man fail to understand it, but today he’d added farm work and pig-feeding in the countryside to her plate.
Then she thought of all the activities organized by the Family Committee that required active participation.
Striving for Labor Medals, competing to become March 8th Pace-setters.
The sweet food she just ate suddenly tasted bitter to Liang Xin.
The thoughts of these three people were like the tangyuan they were making – seemingly identical on the surface, but each with their own unique filling.