“Then we can take Auntie to go beachcombing! She just got here, so she’s probably never done it before!” He Weidang thought for a moment and said.
As long as Auntie was willing to play with them, once they got to know each other better, she would definitely give them more tasty treats.
That’s right—in He Weidang’s mind, beachcombing was a fun game, the kind both adults and kids enjoyed. Fang Yuan would surely like it too.
“Well… that could work. Picking up some seafood would at least add a dish to the table,” Liu Lan nodded.
She agreed with teaching Fang Yuan how to beachcomb.
Having lived on the island for several years, she knew the situation here better than anyone.
Food and supplies mostly had to be shipped in from outside.
What the sea provided was nature’s bounty. The military wives and local islanders often went beachcombing.
It all depended on one’s luck, but it was a way for everyone to supplement their meat and vegetable dishes.
“So, should we take Auntie beachcombing tomorrow? I’ll go tell her,” He Weidang said, already about to dash out.
He figured that since Auntie had been so good to them, as the messenger, he was sure to score some tasty treats.
Liu Lan quickly grabbed him by the collar. “Get back here! Your Auntie Fang just arrived and hasn’t even unpacked yet. We’ll talk about it in a few days.”
This kid was always rushing into things without thinking.
“Oh, okay…” He Weidang pouted and sat back down.
His tasty treats were gone…
Not long after Fang Yuan returned home, another middle-aged woman appeared outside the yard.
“Sister, who are you?”
Fang Yuan looked at the middle-aged woman in front of her and asked curiously.
Of course, she knew who this woman was, but having just arrived, she shouldn’t know, hence the question.
“I’m Luo Meihong, the political commissar’s wife. My husband, Old Zhou, is your Xiao Zhuozi’s uncle. You can call me Aunt Luo. You’re Xiao Fang, right?”
“Aunt Luo, hello! I’m Fang Yuan. Please, come in!”
Hearing her name, Fang Yuan immediately matched it with her memory.
This couple were indeed Zhao Qingzhuo’s elders and also his “backing.”
Political Commissar Zhou had been a trusted subordinate of Zhao Qingzhuo’s father, and Zhao Qingzhuo had relied on his care here.
“No need to come in. I’m here to bring you something—take this!” Luo Meihong handed over the basket in her hand.
“Aunt Luo… I haven’t even visited you first, and here you are, an elder, bringing me gifts. I’m really embarrassed.”
As she spoke, Fang Yuan hesitated to accept it.
This person was just as overly enthusiastic as Liu Lan.
“Take it. It’s just a few dumplings. You’ve come here to join the army, and your husband is away on a mission. Shouldn’t I take care of you on his behalf?”
Without waiting for a response, Luo Meihong handed the basket to Fang Yuan.
“Ah? I just had some dumplings earlier and I’m still full. I really can’t eat any more. You should take them back for you and Uncle to enjoy!”
One after another, everyone was giving her dumplings.
Did people here live this well?
How could she possibly accept?
“You’ve already eaten? Was it that girl Liu Lan next door who gave them to you? That Zhao Qingzhuo really dotes on you—he must have told so many people to bring you food because he was afraid you’d go hungry!”
Luo Meihong laughed when she heard this.
That kid went back home once and married such a pretty wife. His doting made her a little envious.
But his taste was indeed good—the girl in front of her was truly beautiful.
Her round eyes looked at you, making it easy to feel fondness for her.
“Ah? I, uh…” Fang Yuan blushed in embarrassment.
Only now did she realize that all these people bringing gifts had been specifically instructed to do so by the original owner’s husband.
This made it known to everyone, which was really awkward.
“Take it. I’ve already brought it over—how could I possibly take it back? You can keep it for tomorrow if you want, and we’ll see whose cooking is better, mine or your Sister-in-Law Liu’s!”
Luo Meihong insisted, handing her the basket.
After several attempts to decline, Fang Yuan had no choice but to accept it.
“Thank you, Aunt Luo. I’ll accept it shamelessly then. When Zhao Qingzhuo returns, I’ll have him personally thank you.”
“That’s more like it. Rest early, and if you need anything, just come find me!” Luo Meihong continued to remind her.
“I know, thank you, Aunt Luo!”
After exchanging a few more words, Fang Yuan finally took the basket back to her room.
Once inside, she immediately stored the dumplings in the Small Wooden Cabin’s storage room, saving them for breakfast the next morning.
From the very beginning, she could feel the original owner’s husband’s various acts of care.
Fang Yuan had no idea how she should face this man when he returned.
Oh well, if they get along, they get along; if not, they can just be bedmates.
After all, according to her memories, the man was quite handsome, and sleeping with a handsome guy wouldn’t be a loss for her.
Fang Yuan slept peacefully through the night.
The next morning, she ate the dumplings from the previous day for breakfast.
She went to the small shop and bought vinegar and dried chili peppers, as well as two jin of brown sugar, two jin of fruit candies, and one jin of White Rabbit milk candies.
Noticing Moutai and Wuliangye placed on the top shelf of the counter, she quickly asked about the prices. Moutai was eight yuan, and Wuliangye was five yuan.
Only two bottles of each were left, so she unhesitatingly bought them all.
The small shop also sold meat and vegetables. Although the variety wasn’t extensive, she currently had nothing at home, so she bought some of everything.
After returning home, she stored the liquor in her Space and placed the meat and vegetables in the Space’s storage room to keep them fresh.
Since it was still early, she took the gifts she had set aside the day before and visited a few neighboring households to get acquainted.
After visiting all the small courtyards in the row, she realized that apart from her own home and the one next door, all the residents were regimental-level cadres.
The men and women in these households appeared to be in their late thirties or forties, and some even had grandchildren several years old.
No wonder the house had three bedrooms—it seemed Zhao Qingzhuo had put a lot of effort into securing this place.
Given this, she could only socialize with her neighbor, Liu Lan.
Fortunately, the family seemed decent, so they should get along well.
Looking at the empty vegetable patch in her yard, Fang Yuan went back inside, grabbed a handful of fruit candies, and headed to Liu Lan’s house.
Half an hour later, she returned to her yard with several small packets of vegetable seeds.
Chili peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, radishes, green beans, as well as eggplants and chives.
These vegetables would be more than enough for her needs. She also added a few garlic cloves and scallions to complete the set.
She had never planted anything before, but she had watched some related videos. These vegetable seeds were all small-grained.
She scattered the seeds one by one across the soil.
After sowing them, she dug some soil from her Space to cover them and watered them with well water from the Space.
The System had mentioned that the Space contained Spiritual Energy, so the soil and water must have it too.
With the leftover seeds, she picked a spot in her Space, scattered them all there, and watered them to finish the task.
Apart from the Small Wooden Cabin’s storage room, where time stood still, the flow of time in the rest of the Space was the same as outside.
But since the Space contained Spiritual Energy, the plants would undoubtedly grow better there.
After planting the vegetables, Fang Yuan gazed at the sea surface in the Space, contemplating what might happen.
She decided to dive in and test the Underwater Breathing ability.
Unexpectedly, once she entered the water, she couldn’t stop. The Underwater Breathing ability was simply amazing.
Not only could she breathe freely underwater, but she also didn’t feel the slightest bit cold. Her entire body moved through the water more smoothly than any fish.
Watching the various large seafood swimming by, Fang Yuan couldn’t resist extending her mischievous claws…