Jiang Ning murmured an acknowledgment as He Zheng used his foot to nudge the door open.
He carried a wooden bucket in his left hand and another filled with water in his right. As he stepped inside, he kept his gaze lowered, not daring to look at Jiang Ning.
He set the empty bucket down, poured the water into it, and quickly turned to leave.
“I’ll bring two more buckets,” he said before departing.
Jiang Ning didn’t notice his awkwardness.
She was preoccupied with the toilet situation. No household had a private bathroom; everyone used the communal pit latrines.
She had gone there at noon with the old lady, and the stench, combined with the sheer awkwardness of everyone sharing the space, had been unbearable. The sight of people chatting while relieving themselves made her so miserable that she’d desperately wanted to slam her head against a wall in hopes of being transported back to her own world.
When He Zheng returned with the two buckets of water, he found Jiang Ning sitting by the bed, staring intensely at the bucket.
From his angle, he couldn’t see her face, only her slightly furrowed brows. He paused, assuming she was worried about how to empty the bucket.
“Sister-in-law,” he called out, “just let me know when you’re finished washing. I’ll come back and empty the water for you.”
Jiang Ning’s thoughts were pulled back to the present. She looked up as He Zheng began pouring water into the wooden tub.
Standing in the room, his tall, long-legged frame made the space feel instantly cramped and low-ceilinged. The warm yellow light from the single, bare bulb overhead cast a soft glow, mellowing the sharp angles of his handsome face.
“Thank you,” she murmured over the splash of water.
Once He Zheng left, Jiang Ning locked the door and drew the curtains before undressing.
She didn’t get into the tub right away. Instead, she looked down at her swollen belly. It was round and taut—nothing like the slight bloat of a full stomach. As she gently stroked the stretched skin, the baby seemed to respond to her touch, shifting inside.
Jiang Ning watched in awe as a ripple moved across the left side of her stomach.
Her eyes widened. What an incredible feeling.
She touched her belly again, but the baby was still. Only then did she settle into the tub.
She had been traveling ever since she arrived in this world, and the sweat from the journey had left her feeling sticky and uncomfortable. Tonight, she could finally wash thoroughly. After a soothing bath, she carefully stepped out and dried herself before changing into clean clothes.
The courtyard was lit. As Jiang Ning stepped outside, she saw He Zheng squatting by the well, scrubbing his pants. His military jacket and a short-sleeved shirt hung from the clothesline.
He must have washed up while she was bathing. His short-cropped black hair was still damp, and water droplets clung to his sharp, angular face. He had changed into a clean military short-sleeved shirt and long trousers. Hearing the door open, he looked up.
She brushed the dripping ends of her hair and said softly, “I’m finished.”
He Zheng noticed her new outfit—a clean, patchless, light-yellow crewneck short-sleeved shirt and navy blue trousers. Her hair, usually braided, now hung loose and wet over her shoulders and back. A few damp strands clung to her chest, the wet fabric clinging to her curves.
He Zheng’s face flushed crimson.
He quickly lowered his head, his voice strained. “Sister-in-law, go back inside and dry your hair. I’ll come pour the water once I’ve finished with these pants.”
“Alright,” Jiang Ning replied.
Only after she had gone back inside did He Zheng finally exhale. He finished scrubbing his pants, wrung them out, and hung them on the line before heading toward her room.
The door stood open. Inside, Jiang Ning sat on the edge of the bed, wrapping a towel around the ends of her hair to dry them. From the moment he entered, He Zheng kept his gaze lowered, his eyes fixed only on her slender calves and the cloth slippers she wore. The faint scent of soap filled the air.
He Zheng held his breath, gripped the handles of the wooden bucket, and carried it out.
Jiang Ning looked up from drying her hair and stared, her eyes widening in shock—more so than when he had carried her up the mountain on that rainy night.
Is he really this strong? she wondered. Maybe he just has a lot of raw power, or maybe all soldiers are this strong.
Once her hair was mostly dry, she decided to use the restroom before bed.
She had just opened the courtyard gate when He Zheng’s voice came from behind her. “Sister-in-law, where are you going?”
Jiang Ning turned and pointed outside. “The restroom.”
She walked out, but after only a few steps, she heard footsteps following her. Before she could turn around, He Zheng’s steady, firm voice spoke again. “I’ll wait for you from a distance.”
Jiang Ning offered a soft “Oh,” and went to the public restroom, the moonlight guiding her way.
It was a bright night, the path clearly visible. She finished quickly and hurried out, nearly colliding with a woman who was just heading in.
The woman gasped, “Ah!” but when she saw who it was, her voice turned mocking. “Well, if it isn’t the widow eating and sleeping for free at the He family house.”
Jiang Ning went still.
She recognized her now—the military wife who had been with Huang Yuefang the other day. He Zheng had introduced her as Auntie Zhu.
The woman had shown her hostility from their very first meeting, but Jiang Ning hadn’t expected it to be so blatant.
If she wants a fight, Jiang Ning thought, I won’t back down.
But before she could speak, He Zheng’s cold voice cut through the air from a short distance away.
“Auntie Zhu, watch your words,” he snapped. “My sister-in-law is the widow of a martyr, not some ‘widow’ you can insult at will. Brother Zhou saved my life; he is my benefactor. He left behind his widow and the child in her womb, with no one else to depend on. It is only right that I care for them. I can support my sister-in-law and the baby here for the rest of their lives.”
Zhu Rong nearly jumped out of her skin at the sudden sound of He Zheng’s voice.
She spun around to see Deputy Commander He walking toward them, his sharp features hardening with an undisguised warning. “If I ever hear you speaking ill of my sister-in-law again, I will report this to the organization. As a military family member, deliberately targeting and isolating the widow of a martyr is something I’m sure the organization will not ignore.”
Zhu Rong’s face went pale. If this reached the authorities, her husband’s career would surely be affected.
Dammit! she seethed.
It was so dark she hadn’t seen him coming. If she’d known he was around, she never would have insulted that damned widow in front of him. Now not only had she run straight into him, but the widow was looking at her like she was a complete joke!
The fury boiled in her chest. That woman has to be cursed!
Ever since Zhu Rong moved into the family compound, nothing had gone right. The money she’d spent on bribes and gifts to get her daughter a job at the supply and marketing cooperative had gone down the drain—her daughter’s plans were ruined.
Her husband just wanted her to let it go, constantly reminding her that the other woman was a martyr’s widow. But why should she have to yield? The widow’s husband was the martyr, not her. If her man was dead, what right did she have to live in the family compound?
Zhu Rong seethed, but she couldn’t dare vent her fury in front of Commander He. She could only swallow her rage as she stormed into the restroom.
Jiang Ning and He Zheng walked along the dark, deserted paths of the family compound.
“Sister-in-law,” He Zheng said, “don’t take what that woman said to heart. Just focus on settling in. If you need anything, you can always come to me.”
In truth, Jiang Ning hadn’t given the woman’s words a second thought.
She had expected this from the moment she moved into the He family home. In these times of food shortages, every extra person was another mouth to feed—and she was carrying another one in her womb.
Even if people didn’t say it to her face, they’d be whispering behind her back about how she was eating and living off the He family for free. If she let every insult get to her, she’d only be draining her own energy. It wasn’t worth it.
Still, she decided to play the part. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you for stepping in to help me back there.”
Meeting her gaze, He Zheng saw the reflection of the starry night sky in her eyes, along with a profound sense of thankfulness. The sight twisted his heart. If Brother Zhou hadn’t died, she would never have been publicly insulted like that. At the end of the day, he was the reason for all of this.
He lowered his gaze, his voice heavy yet resolute. “I will protect you and the baby, Sister-in-law. I won’t let anyone bully you.”
It was getting late.
Jiang Ning returned to her room and lay on the bed, quickly drifting off to sleep.
It was a welcome change. In her past life, she had often suffered from insomnia, tossing and turning until the small hours of the morning. Now, in this new world, her sleep was deep and undisturbed. She slept straight through the night, only waking the next morning to the crowing of a rooster.
Hearing the old lady and He Zheng talking in the courtyard, she didn’t dare linger in bed. She got up, dressed, and went out to wash.
The old lady had already prepared breakfast. After the meal, she smiled at Jiang Ning. “Ningning, Grandma’s going to the private garden plot. Do you want to come along for a walk?”
Jiang Ning smiled. “I’ll go.”
It was a good chance to get familiar with the family compound.
He Zheng watched his grandmother and Jiang Ning leave together. After cleaning up the kitchen, he headed next door to the Fang family.
Commander Fang’s family had also just finished breakfast. Fang Xiaoli ran into him as she was heading out.
“Brother He!” she greeted him cheerfully.
“Going to work?” He Zheng asked.
“Yep, going to work,” Fang Xiaoli replied.
Huang Yuefang heard the voices and poked her head out of the kitchen, a dishcloth still clutched in her hand. “Looking for Old Fang?”
“Yes,” He Zheng said.
“Old Fang, Deputy Commander He is here to see you!” Huang Yuefang shouted into the house. She turned back to He Zheng. “I heard Xiaoli say you bought a lot of high-demand goods at the supply and marketing cooperative yesterday. What’s this? Did Zhou Du’s wife ask you to get them?”
He Zheng’s brow furrowed. “No, I bought them to help my sister-in-law recover her health. I took her to the hospital yesterday, and the doctor said she’s weak and anemic. She needs to nourish her blood and replenish her energy, or there could be complications during childbirth.”
Huang Yuefang understood instantly. No wonder Deputy Commander He had bought so many high-demand goods yesterday.
“He Zheng, what are you looking for me for?”
Commander Fang emerged from the house, holding an enamel mug. He squinted against the bright sun.
“Commander Fang, do you know where I can buy red bricks?” He Zheng asked.
Huang Yuefang poked her head out of the kitchen again. “Why are you asking about that? Building a house?”
Commander Fang snapped, “Go wash your pots and pans! Why do you have to stick your nose in everything?”
He turned back to He Zheng. “What do you need bricks for?”
“I’m planning to build a toilet in the courtyard,” He Zheng replied.
Commander Fang stared at him, speechless. He must have too much money and nowhere to spend it. Who would build a stinking outhouse in their own courtyard?
Huang Yuefang popped her head out once more. “Is this for Battalion Commander Zhou’s wife?”