The tide, which had been gently rising, suddenly grew more urgent. In the distance, the sea surface darkened and churned, carrying a sense of oppressive tension, as if a storm was about to break.
Fang Muyu smoothed her wind-tousled hair, her brows slightly furrowed.
Why had the sea wind become so strong?
Many others also noticed the change on the sea. Experienced people immediately shouted, “Not good, a typhoon is coming!”
What? A typhoon is coming.
Zhu Hongyu’s hand, which had been about to hit Jiang Zhuangzhuang, immediately stopped.
She was the warehouse manager of the island’s logistics department. If a typhoon was coming, she had to hurry back to make preparations.
Zhu Hongyu could no longer spare the time to beat Jiang Zhuangzhuang. She looked at Fang Muyu and said gratefully, “Comrade Fang, thank you so much for earlier. After the typhoon passes, I’ll invite you to our home for a meal.”
“It was just a small effort. We’re all on the same island, so helping each other is only natural,” Fang Muyu replied very modestly.
Zhu Hongyu’s impression of Fang Muyu improved even more. A trace of hesitation flashed in her eyes.
“Comrade Fang, the typhoon is coming, and both Zhuangzhuang’s father and I will be busy.”
Zhu Hongyu decided to take the plunge.
“This child Zhuangzhuang is like a little monkey—he doesn’t listen to anyone. But today, whatever you said, he did it, obedient as if he were a different person. Um, could you possibly help us look after Zhuangzhuang?”
Zhu Hongyu said, somewhat shamelessly.
When Jiang Zhuangzhuang heard his mother wanted him to go to Fang Muyu’s house, his eyes lit up. In his heart, Fang Muyu was now an omnipotent superhero.
“Mom, is it true? Can I really go to Sister Fang’s house? Oh yeah, that’s great! I’ll go home right now to pack my things and head to Sister Fang’s house!”
With those words, Jiang Zhuangzhuang dashed off.
“You little rascal, what do you mean ‘Sister Fang’? Call her Auntie,” Zhu Hongyu scolded, reaching out to grab Jiang Zhuangzhuang.
But Jiang Zhuangzhuang slipped away too quickly. Zhu Hongyu’s hand closed on empty air, leaving her feeling a bit awkward.
She hadn’t even gotten an answer yet!
“That brat, why did he run off so fast?”
Fang Muyu was momentarily stunned.
She hadn’t expected that while out gathering seafood, she’d end up taking a child home.
However, she didn’t hesitate for long before nodding in agreement. “It’s fine, leave him to me!”
This mischievous child Jiang Zhuangzhuang wasn’t so bad when he wasn’t causing trouble. Besides, Fang Muyu had been worrying about what to do with this bucket of seafood anyway!
Zhu Hongyu was very grateful. “Thank you.”
After Zhu Hongyu left, Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Fang Muyu with some concern. “How could you agree to Sister-in-law Zhu’s request? Don’t you know Jiang Zhuangzhuang is notoriously naughty?”
Then, Lin Xiaoxiao poured out all of Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s “glorious deeds” at school in one go.
“Tell me, isn’t this child a little troublemaker? Thankfully, he’s not my student, or I’d be tearing my hair out.”
Fang Muyu smiled somewhat slyly. “If he’s a troublemaker, then what do you think I am, Teacher Lin? The Buddha?”
Lin Xiaoxiao burst out laughing. “Yes, yes, you’re right. How could that little troublemaker possibly escape your grasp?”
…
Not far away.
On the turbulent sea, a white ship was speeding toward the island’s harbor.
This was the ship arriving on the island today. It was quite lucky to make it to the island just before the typhoon hit.
Lu Yancheng stood on the boat, his expression more solemn than ever before. The people on the island only saw the churning waves and the fierce sea wind. But out on the water, Lu Yancheng could clearly sense that this typhoon was different—it was likely going to be a big one.
Once the typhoon made landfall, the island’s supplies would be cut off. The provisions on this boat were crucial to the lives of everyone on the island.
At the dock, Wu Weiguo and Song Hao were already waiting with the soldiers from the first and second companies.
As soon as the boat docked, Lu Yancheng quickly directed the men to unload the supplies and move them onto the island.
The soldiers marched in orderly lines onto the boat and began carrying the provisions ashore.
Meanwhile, Fang Muyu had already picked up her bucket and headed home, completely unaware that her long-absent ex-husband had returned.
Just as Fang Muyu reached her doorstep, she saw Jiang Zhuangzhuang crouching there, clutching his schoolbag. The moment he spotted Fang Muyu, his eyes lit up, and he stood up.
“Sister Fang, you’re finally back! I’ve been waiting for you for ages.”
“Hungry, aren’t you?”
Fang Muyu opened the door and walked inside.
“Starving! I’ve been starving for a while now.”
Jiang Zhuangzhuang had been running wild outside all day. Not only had he skipped lunch, but he hadn’t even eaten breakfast. Now, he was so hungry he felt like his stomach was touching his back.
“I’m hungry too.”
Fang Muyu put on a deeply troubled expression.
“But… I don’t know how to cook.”
“What? You don’t know how to cook?” Jiang Zhuangzhuang was utterly stunned. “Then who cooks in your family?”
“Company Commander Lu does!” Fang Muyu replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Company Commander Lu…” A terrifying figure suddenly flashed through Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s mind. “Sister, you don’t mean that big demon Lu Yancheng, do you?”
Fang Muyu’s interest was instantly piqued. “Oh? Did he bully you?”
“Bully me? We have an irreconcilable feud!” Just thinking about it made Jiang Zhuangzhuang clench his little fists in anger.
Fang Muyu suddenly forgot her hunger. She pulled over a stool for herself and casually dragged another one over for Jiang Zhuangzhuang.
“Come on, come on. Tell me how he bullied you. Let me… enjoy the story.”
“Enjoy?” A flicker of confusion crossed Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s face.
Yes, enjoy. Seeing you upset makes me happy.
Fang Muyu thought to herself, but out loud she said, “You misheard me. I said enlighten me. Let me be enlightened.”
Jiang Zhuangzhuang didn’t question it and began recounting his grievances with Lu Yancheng.
“Last time, I was swimming in the sea and left my pants drying on the beach. He walked by, saw them, and without a word picked them up and threw them into a tree! I had to stay in the water for half an hour, waiting until everyone was gone before I dared to come out!”
Fang Muyu pictured the scene and twitched the corner of her mouth.
“And there’s more!” Jiang Zhuangzhuang grew more animated as he spoke. “Last month, I was fishing at the dock. He stood next to me for ten whole minutes, not moving, not saying a word, just staring at me. My hands were shaking so much from nerves that I didn’t catch a single fish!”
Fang Muyu finally couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing. “Is there more?”
“How could there not be? There’s plenty!”
Jiang Zhuangzhuang started counting on his fingers.
“He put up a sign next to the trap I dug, saying ‘Trap Here.’ The whole island saw it, and my trap was completely wasted!”
“He tattled to my dad, saying I climbed an electric pole. My dad gave me a beating!”
“He confiscated my slingshot and then used it to shoot me in the butt!”
…
“He—he—”
Jiang Zhuangzhuang counted until he ran out of fingers, then puffed out his cheeks in frustration and concluded, “He’s a big villain!”
It was too much.
Su Wan laughed until she couldn’t straighten up.
Who would have thought that Lu Yancheng, that block of ice, could have such a childish side to him.
How interesting!