As dawn broke with faint light, Lu Zhiyan had already filled his military canteen with cooled boiled water.
Lu Zhiyan held Ji Nanxi’s hand, his rough thumb rubbing over the thin callus at the base of her thumb. “Let’s go, we’ll have breakfast at the canteen first, then take the bus after eating.”
Ji Nanxi swung their clasped hands gently, her eyes shimmering with morning light like scattered gold. “Alright.”
When they arrived at the canteen, Lu Zhiyan was surprised to find that today’s menu included century egg and lean pork congee!
There were also leek pancakes and steamed flower rolls.
Lu Zhiyan raised an eyebrow slightly. “The canteen actually has lean pork congee today?”
It seemed Squad Leader Li had managed to get some meat for everyone through some channel again.
Ji Nanxi smiled. “That’s good—the soldiers get to eat meat too.”
Lu Zhiyan nodded. “You’re right.”
The two quickly finished breakfast and went straight to wait for the bus outside the canteen.
When the military truck from the canteen arrived, Squad Leader Li called out for the military dependents to board.
As the truck rumbled down the rubber tree-lined avenue, Nanxi’s braids fluttered in the sea breeze.
With one hand clutching the hem of Lu Zhiyan’s uniform and the other suddenly pointing toward the sparkling sea in the distance, Nanxi said, “Husband, summer will be here soon. When it comes, I want to go beachcombing.”
Lu Zhiyan smiled. “Alright.”
This request of Nanxi’s was something he could manage.
When they reached the urban area of Ya County, Lu Zhiyan led her familiarly into the department store.
A three-story building stood before them, adorned with a gilded plaque reading “Ya County First Department Store.” In the glass display windows were samples of sewing machines, bicycles, and other goods. A price tag on a Butterfly brand sewing machine read 138 yuan.
“Comrade, are you looking to buy a sewing machine?” A salesperson approached, eyeing Lu Zhiyan’s military uniform. “The sewing machines arrived just yesterday. With industrial coupons, it’s 138 yuan.”
Lu Zhiyan nodded, already pulling out a stack of industrial coupons. “One, please. Could you write up the receipt?”
The salesperson’s eyes lit up, thinking to herself that this customer seemed well-off, given how readily he paid.
As she took the money and coupons, the salesperson suddenly lowered her voice. “Comrade, on the second floor, the jewelry counter has just received some gold jewelry from Hong Kong and Macau. It’s perfect for newlyweds…”
Before she could finish, Lu Zhiyan was already leading Nanxi toward the second floor.
In a glass display case on the second floor, an intricately carved gold ring glowed softly against red velvet.
Lu Zhiyan pointed to a bracelet engraved with intertwining vines beside it. “Comrade, could you take these two out for us to see?”
“These are pure gold.”
The salesperson put on white gloves. “The ring is 12 grams, the bracelet 28 grams, totaling 406 yuan. If you buy both together, you can get a 6-yuan discount, so it’ll be just 400 yuan.”
Realizing what Lu Zhiyan intended to do, Nanxi tightened her grip on his arm. “Husband, this is too expensive!”
She had plenty to keep her busy every day, and such fine gold jewelry would be impractical to wear.
If they bought it, it would just sit unused.
But Lu Zhiyan paid no heed to Nanxi’s objections. He slid the chosen ring onto her ring finger and leaned close to whisper in her ear, “The 500 yuan Grandpa gave was meant as a betrothal gift for his granddaughter-in-law.”
“Our marriage happened so quickly. There are many things I should have given you gradually, and I intend to make up for all of them.”
“I can’t let you marry me empty-handed. That would be too unfair to you.”
Nanxi was left speechless, her ears instantly flushing red.
Right after, Lu Zhiyan said to the salesperson, “I’ll take both of these, please wrap them up for me.”
He counted out four stacks of ten-yuan bills from his bag and handed them to the salesperson.
The salesperson nodded with a smile, “Alright, comrade, please wait a moment, it’ll be ready right away.”
Lu Zhiyan asked the department store to pack up the sewing machine first, planning to have Squad Leader Li drive the truck here on their way back to pick it up and take it back to the Base.
Afterward, he took Ji Nanxi to the place that sold glass.
To ensure he could buy the right glass smoothly, he had measured all the windows in the old courtyard and recorded the dimensions in a notebook.
So, when they arrived at the glass factory, Lu Zhiyan gave the list of glass he needed to the staff. They informed him that it would take about a week for a technician to come and install it, and the cost would be a bit higher.
Lu Zhiyan agreed to this, took the receipt, and then left.
By afternoon, Lu Zhiyan took Ji Nanxi to the state-run restaurant again.
This time, Ji Nanxi didn’t order rice but decided to have noodle soup instead.
Lu Zhiyan also ordered noodle soup. He said to Ji Nanxi, “After we finish eating, I’ll take you to the photo studio to take our wedding photos.”
“Grandpa hasn’t met you yet, and he’s been thinking about us. Once the photos are developed, I’ll send them to him.”
Ji Nanxi’s face flushed with shyness, “Mm, I’ll listen to you.”
The noodle soup at the state-run restaurant was steaming hot. Ji Nanxi secretly glanced at Lu Zhiyan sitting across from her. He was lowering his head to eat, with strands of hair falling slightly over his forehead, casting a shadow on his brow bone and making his features appear even more defined.
“Husband.”
Ji Nanxi called him softly.
Lu Zhiyan looked up, “Hmm?”
“When we take photos later, will my hair be too messy?”
Ji Nanxi unconsciously twisted the corner of her clothes, her voice growing softer, “It got blown around during the whole car ride today…”
A flicker of amusement flashed in Lu Zhiyan’s eyes. He reached out and tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, “Don’t worry, you look beautiful.”
The warmth of his fingertips brushed past her earlobe, making Ji Nanxi’s ears flush with heat. She quickly lowered her head and started eating her noodles, “Oh, that’s good then.”
…
Photo Studio.
In the glass display window were several sample photos—a groom in military uniform and a bride with braided hair sitting side by side, their smiles reserved yet happy.
“What kind of photos would you like, comrades?”
The elderly photographer leaned out from behind the counter, greeting them with a smile.
Lu Zhiyan replied, “Wedding photos.”
The elderly photographer looked them over, “A military marriage is an honor! Would you like black-and-white photos or color photos?”
Lu Zhiyan answered, “Color photos.”
“Alright then! Come on in!”
The elderly photographer led them into the photography room.
Ji Nanxi was taken to the side, standing there somewhat awkwardly.
Lu Zhiyan took the wooden comb handed to him by the elderly photographer, “Nanxi, sit down, I’ll re-braid your hair for you.”
His movements were clumsy but earnest, his rough fingertips occasionally brushing against the back of her neck, sending a slight shiver through her.
Ji Nanxi watched his tense jawline in the mirror and couldn’t help but smile, “You actually know how to braid hair?”
“I learned it when I used to braid ropes before.”
Lu Zhiyan’s voice was muffled, but his hands didn’t stop, “The regiment leader who taught me back then said that before taking wedding photos with your wife, you must comb her hair.”
Ji Nanxi’s heart softened.
As the elderly photographer adjusted the camera, Lu Zhiyan’s voice grew low and husky, “Since you chose to stay by my side, I decided I would treat you well.”
“Nanxi.”
“Thank you… for giving me a home.”
“Today’s supplementary betrothal gifts were not a spur-of-the-moment decision.”
“It’s because I don’t want you to have any regrets in your heart about marrying me.”
The master photographer said to them, “Now that your makeup is all set, please take a seat. We’re ready to take the photo.”
Lu Zhiyan held Ji Nanxi’s hand as they sat on the chairs in front of the red backdrop for the photo.
Peering through the lens, the master photographer instructed, “You’re a married couple, move a little closer. Yes, yes, that’s it.”
“Perfect! Now, smile!”
“Ready! One, two, three!”
The camera shutter clicked.
The moment was captured—
Lu Zhiyan’s stern brows and eyes softened with tenderness, while Ji Nanxi beamed at the camera with a radiant smile.
Seeing this, the master photographer couldn’t help but praise, “What a perfect match! Truly wonderful!”