Ji Yunshu followed Pei Yufeng as they walked toward the Pei family home. The sun was still very strong, baking the shadows on the ground short and dark. She walked beside Pei Yufeng, her steps slightly lighter than usual.
“Brother Pei,” Ji Yunshu took the initiative to strike up a conversation with him, “where did you go just now, dressed so formally? I thought you were on home leave.”
“There were a few matters, and I needed to send a telegram to the base.” Walking with his posture straight as a ramrod, Pei Yufeng didn’t quite dare to look directly into Ji Yunshu’s eyes.
“Oh! Military business—then I won’t ask.” Ji Yunshu knew that the military had confidentiality agreements, and Ji Haiguo never talked to He Qiuxia about his work either, so she understandingly changed the topic: “Brother Pei, I’ve already eaten half of the Soviet chocolate you gave me last time. It was exceptionally delicious, though it’s a pity that several pieces melted because the weather is too hot.”
“The Soviet Union is a bit colder than our country.” Pei Yufeng let out a sigh. “I’ll mail some to you in the winter next time.”
“It’s summer all year round on your island, did you forget!” Ji Yunshu bounced along beside him. “Thank you for keeping me in mind while you’re away, but there’s no need—it’s too much trouble.”
“It’s rare that you like it, I…”
While Pei Yufeng was still deliberating on how to phrase it to sound subtle, he heard Ji Yunshu suddenly ask again: “Brother Pei, was it really Grandma who wanted me to go see her?”
“No.” Pei Yufeng answered without a moment’s hesitation; he never lied.
Ji Yunshu understood in her heart.
She had wondered how it could be such a coincidence that Pei Yufeng happened to return from outside just as she was taking a walk in the compound, and even brought her news. In the past, if Grandma missed her, Pei Yufeng would definitely have come straight to her door to invite her before heading out, or asked Ji Yunting to pass on the message.
Ji Yunshu also realized that Pei Yufeng had said that in front of everyone to back her up.
Grandma was the most respected elder in the military compound, visited by many cadres with holiday greetings every year. Firstly, it was because Uncle Pei and Auntie Fang had sacrificed their lives early on. Secondly, back then Pei Yufeng could clearly have stayed in the compound to live a peaceful life, yet he decisively left home to join the army when his motherland needed him most, dedicating half his life to the construction of the South China Sea Fleet. Therefore, every household in the compound held immense respect for Grandma.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the first person every household in the compound paid New Year’s respects to was basically Grandma, which was enough to show her influence in the compound.
Previously, a big reason Ji Yunshu could walk around without care in the compound was that she was particularly doted on by Pei Yufeng’s grandma, who almost took Pei Yufeng’s place in looking after her on ordinary days. Now that Pei Yufeng was back, she didn’t visit the Pei family as frequently, and those people probably thought the Pei family didn’t favor her anymore either, which was why they dared to gossip right in front of her.
Now with the care of Grandma and Pei Yufeng, even if someone wanted to say half a bad word about Ji Yunshu, they would only dare to do so secretly. If Grandma heard it, she really would scold them back!
Thinking about it this way, could the first wave of rumors a few days ago have been suppressed by Pei Yufeng as well…?
Ji Yunshu looked at Pei Yufeng’s cold and sharp side profile, shaking her head, thinking it impossible.
In her eyes, Pei Yufeng was actually somewhat lacking in romantic sensibility; her deepest impression of him was sitting upright and solemn in silence. Every time Pei Yufeng came to the Ji family home to look for Ji Yunting, he sat in the living room waiting with his back held exceptionally straight, speaking to her word by word as if he were extremely nervous. Yet Ji Yunting was clearly his best friend, and she admired him very much as well.
Ji Yunshu couldn’t figure it out. Brother Pei had been so interesting when he was young—he would help Grandma gather balsam flowers to dye her fingernails, use well water to wash grapes until they were ice-cold before peeling them for her to eat, and was even willing to catch fireflies for her to watch!
Why was it that after growing up, Brother Pei instead wasn’t as close to her as before?
Was it because he had someone he held dear in his heart?
Ji Yunshu had heard Ji Yunting say that once a man has someone in his heart, he will automatically distance himself from other females who are close to him, which was the proper way. If a man maintained the same close distance with two or more women at the same time, that man would have a lifestyle conduct problem!
A lifestyle conduct problem was no small matter! Ji Yunshu still understood this.
So, was the reason Brother Pei had grown distant from her that he had someone he liked?
Ji Yunshu stared at the tips of her shoes, unable to help thinking.
Seeing Ji Yunshu fall silent, Pei Yufeng didn’t stop his pace, but paused for a moment and suddenly said: “Grandma heard those words outside and was worried about you; she actually wanted to go straight to the Ji family home to see you.”
So even without his invitation, both he and Grandma were keeping her in their thoughts.
Ji Yunshu only felt a wave of warmth surge into her heart. Regardless of what the future held, at least she knew the present Brother Pei and Grandma genuinely cared for her.
Arriving at the entrance of the Pei family home, Pei Yufeng pushed open the door and stepped aside to let her in first. Grandma was in the kitchen washing something, and upon hearing the movement, came out to look. Seeing Ji Yunshu, a smile instantly bloomed across her face.
“Xiao Shu is here? Come over quickly and sit.” Grandma pointed to the chair beside her. “Let me finish washing these wild peaches first; I originally wanted to bring them over to your house for you to eat. Don’t take those gossiping words outside to heart—those people are just idle, and it’ll disperse in a couple of days.”
“I’ll wash them; Grandma, sit with Yunshu for a bit.” Pei Yufeng helped Grandma over, rolled up his sleeves, and went into the kitchen.
With Pei Yufeng doing the work, Grandma felt at ease too, sitting down on the rattan chair with Ji Yunshu.
Grandma asked Ji Yunshu many questions, comforting and coaxing her incessantly, making Ji Yunshu’s nose turn sour as she listened.
She had heard plenty of gossip over these past few days. Though she claimed not to be afraid, it inevitably felt unpleasant in her heart. That Grandma was still keeping her in mind at a time like this filled her heart with gratitude.
“Grandma, I’m fine,” Ji Yunshu said. “I’m not afraid of what they say.”
“It’s good that you’re not afraid.” Grandma nodded, waving her cattail leaf fan to fan her. “You are a good child; Grandma knows.”
After a while, Pei Yufeng came out carrying two bowls of chilled mung bean soup. He handed one bowl to Grandma, one to Ji Yunshu, and then turned back to peel the wild peaches.
Ji Yunshu took a sip. It was cool, refreshing, and very sweet; Pei Yufeng must have put quite a lot of sugar in it.
She liked eating sweet things; she hadn’t expected Brother Pei to remember so clearly.
Grandma watched her finish drinking it before speaking up again: “Xiao Shu, breaking off an engagement is fine—we don’t observe arranged marriages nowadays, so you did right! But tell Grandma the truth: do you have someone you like right now?”
Ji Yunshu froze for a moment, set down her bowl, and shook her head: “Not yet.”
Grandma let out a sigh, reaching out to stroke her hair: “No rush, you’re still young. But let Grandma tell you, when looking for a partner, you must find someone whose background is thoroughly known and who treats you well—don’t just look at appearances.”
Ji Yunshu nodded, unable to resist cracking a smile.
She hadn’t expected Grandma to make subtle insinuations as well.
For so many years in the compound, many people said He Jianjun was the handsomest and most outstanding man in this compound, because at just twenty-seven years old, he was already a deputy regimental chief of staff, making his future truly boundless. Thus, in Ji Yunshu’s dream, many people felt Ji Yunshu had married above her station by being with He Jianjun.
Yet Ji Yunshu felt Pei Yufeng was clearly the most outstanding one, alright! By twenty-two, he had already won a first-class merit once and second-class merits twice, with third-class merits too numerous to count on one hand, and right now he was only twenty-four years old. He was also the youngest outstanding graduate of the Naval Academy and the youngest full-battalion level cadre in the South China Sea Fleet—which was evaluated and selected from among so many outstanding naval soldiers nationwide. How could that not carry far more weight than He Jianjun’s so-called “handsomest in the compound”?
As for appearances… Ji Yunshu also felt Brother Pei was much better looking than He Jianjun. On one point alone Pei Yufeng won out—he was younger than He Jianjun!
Amused by her own thoughts, Ji Yunshu secretly stole a glance at Pei Yufeng, who was earnestly peeling and slicing the peaches. His lowered eyelashes were very long, his thin lips slightly pursed, as his slender fingers solemnly removed the pit from each cut peach before arranging them onto a plate.
Seeing him doing things so seriously made Ji Yunshu feel her thoughts were somewhat offensive to him, so she hastily checked her train of thought.
At this moment, Grandma spoke again: “Your biological parents are still in Beijing right now, aren’t they? When they have time, invite them over to sit at home. Grandma wants to meet them and tell them to treat you better.”
Recalling Meng Guangze and Wang Wanru, Ji Yunshu’s heart softened: “They treat me very well, Grandma, don’t worry. They are staying at a guesthouse right now while my dad is helping gather documents to transfer the household registration. Once they finish this busy stretch, I will bring them over to visit you.”
Hearing this, Grandma seemed to finally set her mind somewhat at ease, nodding her head: “Good, good. Then you should still come sit here often in the future; Grandma is old and only hopes to see more of you youngsters.”
She paused, looked at Pei Yufeng, and her voice lowered with a touch of worry: “Grandma doesn’t have many wishes in this life; I just want to see you younger generation marry, have children, and live peaceful, stable lives. But look at your Brother Pei—such a grown man, yet he doesn’t even have a partner; it really worries me to death.”
Ji Yunshu once again followed Grandma’s gaze toward Pei Yufeng.
Sitting on a small stool, he was earnestly placing the sliced peach pieces onto the porcelain plate in front of Ji Yunshu. Hearing Grandma’s words, he subconsciously glanced at Ji Yunshu, his Adam’s apple moving slightly, appearing a bit nervous.
Ji Yunshu recalled the Pei Yufeng in her dream once more.
In her dream, when he sacrificed his life, he was still alone—unmarried and without children. At that time, Grandma was the only one left in the family. Having an elder outlive a younger family member once again, how could Grandma withstand such a blow? So in the dream, Grandma didn’t hold on for long before passing away as well.
Looking at Pei Yufeng, Ji Yunshu suddenly felt an indescribable feeling welling up in her heart. Out at sea exposed to the sun and wind, risking life and limb on missions, he didn’t even have someone beside him to offer warmth or care.
Ji Yunshu felt genuine heartache for him.
Such an outstanding person shouldn’t go so early…
Ji Yunshu opened her mouth, realizing what question she had asked only after the words left her lips: “Brother Pei, what kind of person do you like?”