Under the shade of the trees, golden sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns over Jiang Zao.
Dark blue fabric usually didn’t suit women—it made them look dull. But on Jiang Zao, it only made her fair skin stand out even more.
She wore her hair in two braids hanging over her chest. Soft baby hairs framed her forehead, her brows were fine and gentle, her eyes bright without adornment, and her lips naturally rosy and pretty. Aside from being a bit undernourished and thin, she was flawless.
Xiao Shuisheng took the white liquor bottle.
Having been exposed to the sun along the way, the bottle was warm. The mung bean drink inside hadn’t cooled and was still lukewarm.
He tilted his head back and drank it in a few gulps, finishing it quickly.
“Tastes good. Zao’er is really virtuous.”
His gaze was hotter than the sun.
Jiang Zao didn’t know what love truly felt like. She couldn’t describe it, but she knew that when Xiao Shuisheng looked at her, it was different from how he looked at others. Whenever he looked at her, her heart would pound uncontrollably.
Xiao Shuisheng’s well-defined fingers took the bottle cap from her hand.
There were thin calluses on his fingers. When they brushed against hers, it sent a trembling sensation through her.
Jiang Zao turned her head away, the tips of her ears turning red.
Xiao Shuisheng glanced at her casually and noticed her flushed little ears, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
He couldn’t resist pinching her ear.
Soft—an excellent feeling.
Jiang Zao, however, reacted as if electrocuted, dodging away and covering her ear as she stared at him in shock.
“Y-you… don’t come closer…”
It wasn’t that she disliked it.
Her heartbeat was simply getting out of control.
She was afraid she might faint from it.
Xiao Shuisheng stared at her intently. After a moment of silence, he suddenly lowered his head and laughed.
His brows relaxed, his mood clearly delighted.
If just a touch made her this shy, how would she handle things after marriage?
“Zao’er, come home with me to meet my parents. Let’s talk about our marriage—we’ve been together for quite a while.”
Jiang Zao understood.
They had been together for a year, publicly for over half a year.
In this era, that was already rare.
She used to feel unworthy of Xiao Shuisheng, afraid of seeing disdain or rejection from his family, so she never dared to go.
Things were delayed again and again—until now.
Jiang Zao nodded lightly. “We can meet, but wait a little longer. I promise it won’t take long.”
She didn’t want to repeat the past. She had to settle everything with the Jiang family first before going to the Xiao family.
Of course, it wasn’t just to guard against her family taking advantage of her.
Xiao Shuisheng had an older brother and many cousins. With so many brothers, there would also be many sisters-in-law.
She had already met his sister-in-law from his elder brother’s family once in the military district—she worked at a newspaper office—and Jiang Zao could already sense she wouldn’t be easy to get along with.
She needed to handle her own affairs first before discussing marriage. Otherwise, if anything went wrong after marriage, it would reflect poorly on Xiao Shuisheng.
Having lived another life, Jiang Zao didn’t know if her intelligence had improved, but her experience and judgment certainly had.
She now thought about things more thoroughly.
Xiao Shuisheng understood her seriousness. He placed his clothes into her hands.
“I’ll take you to lunch. On Thursdays, the cafeteria has braised chicken legs with potatoes.”
Even at the institute, meat wasn’t available every day.
Breakfast was usually steamed buns and pickles, occasionally buns with filling. Lunch was mostly potatoes, cabbage, eggplant, or turnips with a bit of meat flavor. Only on Thursdays was there a fixed dish of braised chicken legs with potatoes.
At this hour, the cafeteria wasn’t crowded. Xiao Shuisheng got two trays of food.
He wasn’t much of a talker, but he was hardworking. In winter, when the cafeteria needed help transporting cabbage, he led strong young men from his unit to help carry it. When coal was delivered, he helped unload it. He was very well-liked.
The two trays he got both had chicken legs—barely any potatoes could be seen. Thick gravy covered the rice, making one’s stomach rumble at the sight.
Xiao Shuisheng placed the tray in front of Jiang Zao and handed her chopsticks before sitting down across from her.
At home, Jiang Zao did everything—washing clothes, cooking, tending the fire, gathering firewood—like a servant bound to a landlord.
But beside Xiao Shuisheng, she ate well and didn’t have to do anything.
Anyone could tell that marrying him would give her a good life.
For the sake of that better life, she needed to speed up cutting ties with the Jiang family.
She picked up her chopsticks, mixing the gravy with the rice, eating slowly.
After she finished the chicken leg, Xiao Shuisheng used a clean iron spoon—untouched by his chopsticks—to scoop another chicken leg and place it onto her plate.
Gently, he said, “My chopsticks didn’t touch it. Eat more—you’re too thin.”
Being too thin meant poor health.
From the day they confirmed their relationship, Xiao Shuisheng had been looking forward to marrying Jiang Zao and building a home together.
In spring, they would grow vegetables. In summer, they would cook. In autumn, they would harvest.
As long as he was with her, everything made him happy.
Jiang Zao finished the chicken leg with her rice and took the initiative to collect the trays and chopsticks, bringing them to the return area.
Unlike later times, jobs weren’t fluid—everyone had their fixed place. If she were to marry Xiao Shuisheng, she would need to get along with the people around him. Making a good impression early was better than scrambling after marriage.
“Uncle, Auntie, I’ve put the tray here. The chicken you made is really delicious.”
Though they seemed like minor figures, responsible for cooking and serving food, food was essential—who could say they never ate at the cafeteria?
If Xiao Shuisheng’s family came one day and they remembered her and praised her, it would be far more useful than trying to impress them directly.
The aunt smiled warmly. “Are you full? Want some more?”
The girl was so thin.
Jiang Zao smiled sweetly. “I’m full.”
After she left with Xiao Shuisheng, the aunt went into the kitchen and praised her repeatedly.
After lunch, Xiao Shuisheng walked with Jiang Zao under the trees for a while.
When her stomach didn’t feel so full anymore, Jiang Zao picked up the net bag holding the liquor bottle.
“There’s work at home, so I’ll head back first. Take care of your body. Don’t make the bathwater too hot—use warm water.”
Xiao Shuisheng frowned. “Leaving so soon?”
Jiang Zao nodded.
“Wait.”
Since they were near the dormitory building, he took a shortcut upstairs and came back down carrying a box of cured meat and sausages.
“Take these home to eat.”
The cured meat and sausages had been given to Xiao Shuisheng by another senior researcher who had received housing. His wife came from the countryside, raising six children, and still managed to pack plenty of cured meat and sausages into a large woven bag to give to Xiao Shuisheng in gratitude for giving up the housing allocation to them.
And now, after passing through hands, they ended up with Jiang Zao.
She knew she couldn’t refuse. “Thank you. I’ll go now.”
“I’ll walk you there.”
Xiao Shuisheng escorted her to the bus stop, watching her leave.
But Jiang Zao didn’t go home.
She got off halfway.