Bai Shanshan didn’t feel comforted in the slightest, but her brain was frozen stiff, leaving her with no energy to even imagine things.
Wen Yan was simply concerned, without overthinking it, and pulled Bai Shanshan along as they walked down the street.
Several Baroque-style buildings stood grand and beautiful, while further ahead were a few two- or three-story houses. Though their colors weren’t particularly vibrant, they showcased the city’s prosperity. Moreover, the people on the streets looked energetic and full of vitality.
In this era, the Northeast truly held the status of an elder brother, and life here seemed much better than in the city where the original owner had lived.
Wen Yan stopped someone on the road to ask for directions to the Chinese medicinal herb supply and marketing cooperative. After thanking them, she headed straight for her destination.
Since Li Tuan had provided an introductory letter, Wen Yan also presented a prescription.
The old man at the Chinese medicinal herb supply and marketing cooperative glanced at it—it was just an ordinary prescription for frostbite, nothing unusual, and the herbs were all available.
Soon, Wen Yan obtained the medicinal herbs she needed.
After getting the herbs, Wen Yan went to the post office to send a telegram home, letting her family know she was safe.
After paying, she bought some envelopes and stamps, planning to write letters home later.
Once everything was settled, Wen Yan went to the supply and marketing cooperative again.
Both her and Jiang Baizhou’s homes were lacking many things, so she prepared to do some shopping.
Ceramic jars, large bowls, chopsticks, spoons, spatulas, a small iron pot, a set of stoves, soy sauce, vinegar, salt, white sugar, and brown sugar.
Item after item, coupons and money flowed out like water, drawing the attention of many onlookers.
What a wasteful woman!
Bai Shanshan’s frozen brain finally thawed a little, and she couldn’t help but pick a fight as usual: “How can you spend money like this? No one lives like you.”
Wen Yan turned around, her dark, bright eyes gleaming with sincerity.
Bai Shanshan’s heart sank.
Wen Yan: “I’m spending Jiang Baizhou’s money. He insisted on giving it to me.”
Bai Shanshan wished she could bite her tongue off on the spot.
Even though she had no intention of pursuing Jiang Baizhou anymore, that didn’t mean she wanted to hear such words—it was like a stab to the heart!
What made it worse was that it seemed like every time, she was the one… practically inviting Wen Yan to stab her!
“Help me carry a few things…”
Bai Shanshan was feeling miserable and was about to say, “I won’t help,” but as soon as she opened her mouth, instead of words, a piece of milk candy was placed inside.
The sweet taste made Bai Shanshan quickly close her mouth, afraid the candy would fall to the ground.
As the eldest in her family with four younger siblings, her family’s circumstances were modest, and she rarely got to eat candy even once a year.
Wen Yan withdrew her hand after placing the candy: “Don’t worry, my hand didn’t touch the candy. It’s clean.”
Bai Shanshan’s flood of words was now stuck in her throat. With her mouth sweetened by the treat, she ended up carrying the heaviest items—the stove and ceramic jars.
Her neck held high and her body stiff with stubbornness, she walked ahead, making Wen Yan chuckle quietly.
Wen Yan confirmed it: Bai Shanshan had a contrary personality.
The two met up with Zhao, who stepped forward to help, “passing by” Bai Shanshan to take the items from Wen Yan’s hands.
Bai Shanshan was both angry and amused, her tone sharp: “Hey? Can’t you see me?”
Zhao turned back: “I see you.”
“Then why aren’t you helping me?”
Zhao placed the items on the sled and scoffed: “Who said I have to help you just because I see you?”
Just as the two were about to start bickering, Wen Yan stepped forward, her small face serious: “No fighting!”
A Zhao, who felt guilty for misjudging Wen Yan as a bad person, and a Bai Shanshan, who didn’t want to be laughed at by Wen Yan, both turned their heads at the same time, snorted, and fell silent.
Wen Yan glanced left and right, then pulled two pieces of fruit candy from her pocket and said, “Good.”
“One for each.”
Both Zhao and Bai Shanshan were handed a piece of candy. For once, their thought processes aligned as they stared at Wen Yan: Who are you calling “good”!
Out of the three of you, you’re the youngest!
Wen Yan had already settled onto the sled and pulled three large steamed buns from her canvas bag.
“Here, have a bun. After we eat, we’ll head back.”
Zhao immediately refused, “No, we can’t take even a needle or thread from the people.”
Wen Yan hummed in acknowledgment and said, “But didn’t you call me ‘sister-in-law’?”
She forced the bun into Zhao’s hand. As for Bai Shanshan, she took one herself and started eating, even sparing a glance at Zhao: Stop pretending!
The two, who had been ready to pick a fight earlier, automatically fell silent after eating the buns.
So delicious!
So fragrant!
The white flour is so soft!
Oh my, it’s actually filled with meat!
Lunchtime arrived again, and everyone sat in a row at the edge of the field.
Jiang Baizhou opened his lunchbox and took out the long-cold and hardened cornbread bun and a piece of dried salted fish—the standard lunch for land reclamation.
Commander Zhang came over with a lunchbox full of hot water. They had built a stove at noon to boil some water to warm themselves up.
“Hey, here!”
Commander Zhang nudged Jiang Baizhou with the tip of his shoe. Jiang Baizhou, with the cornbread bun clenched between his teeth and the dried salted fish in his other hand, picked up his aluminum lunchbox.
After pouring half the hot water into Jiang Baizhou’s box, Commander Zhang plopped down beside him.
“What? Your wife didn’t pack you any extra food today?”
Commander Zhang teased. He had woken up in the middle of the night yesterday, suddenly realizing that Jiang Baizhou had deliberately shown off to him during the day, which had kept him awake for over ten minutes in anger.
With his sieve-like cunning, Jiang Baizhou knew at once that Old Zhang had figured it out, but he wasn’t the least bit flustered.
“I shouldn’t keep provoking you. I mainly value our camaraderie as comrades-in-arms.”
Old Zhang was thoroughly disgusted and scooted half a meter away, cursing, “Get lost! If I believe you again, I’ll take your surname!”
Jiang Baizhou solemnly refused, “That won’t do. My son can’t grow up looking that ugly.”
In response, Old Zhang delivered a swift kick. Jiang Baizhou quickly waved his hands, “Alright, alright, I was wrong.”
Even as he admitted his mistake, Jiang Baizhou fumbled in his pocket and pulled out half a pack of cigarettes. Old Zhang’s eyes lit up, and he darted over.
“Damn! Where’d you get these!”
Old Zhang reached for them, but Jiang Baizhou dodged and raised an eyebrow. “Never mind where they came from! Just tell me, do you want them or not?”
Old Zhang was a heavy smoker, but resources were limited, and lately, he’d been craving them badly.
He grinned shamelessly, “Father Jiang!”
Jiang Baizhou tossed the cigarettes to him with a look of disdain. “Forget the ‘father’ part. When you get back, talk to your wife and ask her to look after my Wen Yan.”
Old Zhang was already sniffing the cigarettes to satisfy his craving. Hearing Jiang Baizhou’s words, he chuckled slyly.
“Oho, ‘my Wen Yan’…”
Jiang Baizhou immediately tried to snatch the cigarettes back. “If you don’t want them, give them back!”
“No, no, I didn’t say no! I’ll talk to her when I get back. Now hand over the cigarettes!”
At six in the evening, the Land Reclamation Regiment returned. Jiang Baizhou looked toward the family quarters—no smoke rising from the chimney?
Was Wen Yan not home?
Just as Jiang Baizhou was wondering where to find Wen Yan, he heard someone shouting his name loudly.
“Jiang Baizhou! Jiang Baizhou!”
Li Tuan approached, his fierce eyes and booming voice directed straight at Jiang Baizhou.
“You, come with me!”
Jiang Baizhou’s mind raced through eighteen possibilities—patrolling the border hadn’t come to his turn yet, could it be land reclamation and terrain reconnaissance?
He followed Li Tuan, whose mood was visibly tense, all the way to the office.
“Jiang Baizhou, can’t you keep your wife in check?”