And so, for several days after that, Wen Mingyao didn’t see Zhou Zhuo again.
At noon, she would finish her meal on time and start her afternoon rest.
In the evening, she would also wash up and return to her room before he came back.
The only thing that remained unchanged was that whenever Zhou Zhuo returned home, he would always find the food Wen Mingyao had kept warm for him in the pot.
As for those two cans of yellow peach preserves, Wen Mingyao had placed them on the cupboard and hadn’t touched them since.
Wen Mingyao thought to herself that these past few days, she and Zhou Zhuo were like two strangers living under the same roof—everywhere they looked, they could see traces of each other’s presence, yet they hadn’t spoken a single word to one another.
That afternoon, as usual, Wen Mingyao took out her pocket calendar and silently marked a check on the corresponding date. Just as she was thinking that another day had passed, she heard three very regular knocks on the door.
She hurriedly put away the calendar and stood up to open the door.
Seeing Zhou Zhuo standing at the doorway, Wen Mingyao’s expression faltered slightly. “Is something the matter?”
Zhou Zhuo looked at her with a calm expression. “The leader invited us to dinner tonight and specifically asked me to bring my family.”
Hearing this, Wen Mingyao nodded lightly. “Alright.”
When Zhou Zhuo handed over a small stack of money and ration coupons, Wen Mingyao didn’t hesitate. As she reached out to take them, her fingertips accidentally brushed against the slightly calloused pad of his thumb.
Wen Mingyao’s body trembled, her heartbeat instantly pounding like a drum, and her breath hitched for half a beat.
A tingling sensation seemed to rise from the soles of her feet, carrying a faint electric current that shot straight to her head.
Like a thief caught red-handed, she snatched the money and coupons, stuffing them into her pocket without even looking at them.
After several seconds, she barely managed to steady herself. Lowering her head to hide the panic in her eyes, her throat tightened slightly. “Is… is there anything else?”
Hearing this, Zhou Zhuo said nothing, only giving her a deep look before turning and walking away.
Watching him walk farther and farther away, Wen Mingyao hurriedly closed the door.
The moment she turned around, it felt as if all the strength had been drained from her body. Leaning against the door, she slowly slid down and slumped to the floor.
Her hands and feet felt weak and limp, unable to muster even a bit of strength.
“Zhou Zhuo, Zhou Zhuo…”
She whispered his name, resting her forehead weakly on the back of her hand, closing her eyes as she tried to suppress the fluttering in her chest.
Zhou Zhuo strode into the study, his throat tightening, his chest burning as if on fire.
His right thumb lightly brushed over the pad of his index finger—it felt scorching hot.
He tilted his head back and gulped down a large mug of cold water, barely managing to suppress the rising heat in his chest.
…
In the afternoon, as soon as Zhou Zhuo returned, he saw a package of peach shortbread and two cans of yellow peach preserves on the table.
Hearing the commotion, Wen Mingyao stood up and asked, “We’ll bring these things later. Do you think we need to add anything else?”
Zhou Zhuo’s eyes darkened slightly, his voice low. “Don’t bring the preserves. Replace them with something else.”
Wen Mingyao frowned slightly, feeling troubled. These two cans of preserves were what Zhou Zhuo had brought back earlier. Replacing them with something else… there wasn’t enough time to buy anything now, was there?
Just as she was about to say something, Zhou Zhuo went into the study.
When he came out again, he was carrying two cans of pear preserves.
Wen Mingyao looked at him with confusion in her eyes. “Didn’t you say not to bring preserves?”
Zhou Zhuo glanced at her expressionlessly. “I suddenly remembered that Commander Qin has been coughing these past couple of days. Pear preserves might help soothe it.”
Hearing this, Wen Mingyao thought it made sense.
…
At the Qin residence.
Jiang Yao slowly peeled potatoes, her voice tinged with excitement. “Auntie, is it true that Brother Zhuo is coming over for dinner later?”
She had been going to the cafeteria for several days in a row to eat, but she hadn’t run into Zhou Zhuo even once.
She even wondered if that capitalist’s daughter had started cooking at home after coming to the army, so Brother Zhuo no longer ate at the cafeteria…
But upon further thought, she found it impossible.
She had seen that delicate young lady in the cafeteria before.
Judging by that woman’s fragile and dainty appearance, she was clearly the type who had food served to her mouth and clothes handed to her.
Seeing her niece’s vacant, distracted look, Jiang Yue’e knew her mind had already wandered far away. “You silly girl, hurry up! The guests are almost here. If you keep dawdling like this, will we even have dinner ready tonight?”
She reached out and poked Jiang Yao’s forehead hard.
Jiang Yao stuck out her tongue, placed the last peeled potato into the basin, and quickly rinsed it. “Auntie, I want to change my clothes.”
She remembered the dress that woman was wearing…
Glancing down at her own outfit—plain, ordinary, looking loose and baggy.
No way!
She had to change her clothes.
She wanted to put on that dress she had bought not long ago.
Jiang Yue’e took the basin from her hands and looked her up and down.
Seeing the unconscious smile on her niece’s lips, Jiang Yue’e understood perfectly well what was going on.
“What’s there to change? You look perfectly fine as you are.”
“Auntie…” Jiang Yao tugged at her sleeve and gently shook it. “Didn’t you say that capitalist’s daughter would be coming too? If I wear this…”
Before she could finish, Jiang Yue’e cut her off. “What’s wrong with this outfit?”
Looking at Jiang Yao pretending to act cute, she felt a headache coming on.
Although her niece wasn’t considered exceptionally beautiful, back in their hometown, she was known far and wide as a pretty girl.
Even back then, she had high standards.
After staying here for a while, her ambitions had grown even wilder.
Jiang Yue’e took a deep breath, comforting herself inwardly: After all, she’s my own niece, my own flesh and blood.
“Stop fussing over useless things. Instead of wasting time changing clothes, you’d be better off preparing a couple of decent dishes.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yao instantly deflated. “Auntie, I… I don’t know how.”
Jiang Yue’e felt her anger rising uncontrollably.
In this day and age, a girl from a family that had farmed the land for generations actually didn’t know how to cook…
Her sister-in-law was to blame too, for not properly teaching her step by step.
Jiang Yao was almost twenty years old, yet she remained as lazy and gluttonous as she was in childhood. If she continued to be spoiled like this, who knew how she would manage after getting married.
The more Jiang Yue’e thought about it, the angrier she became. With Jiang Yao like this…
Had she really been blind before, thinking Jiang Yao was a good match for Zhou Zhuo?
However, recalling Jiang Yao’s earlier expression, Jiang Yue’e still patiently advised:
“When Zhou Zhuo wasn’t married, it was fine for you to try to get close to him. But now he’s married. Don’t go sticking to his side!”
Jiang Yao immediately protested, “Why not? Brother Zhuo doesn’t even like that capitalist’s daughter!”
Jiang Yue’e was so angry she almost laughed. She then slammed the basin heavily onto the stove, her tone sharpening. “Because he’s married! Because they have a marriage certificate!”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help but think: It’s all my fault for letting Jiang Yao’s ambitions grow so wild.
That girl Jiang Yao was as stubborn as a mule, her personality far too obstinate.
If we keep letting this go on, something will happen sooner or later.
No, I have to send this girl back to her hometown right away!