After leaving the carpenter’s house, Lu Zhiyan and Ji Nanxi went to the village general store.
This time, they had even more to buy.
In addition to pots, pans, bowls, and farming tools, Lu Zhiyan also added two kerosene lamps, ten boxes of matches, five candles, a new lock, and even a large jar of insect and snake repellent powder.
Ji Nanxi carefully selected a few coarse porcelain bowls and plates, and took a fancy to a lidded clay jar that could be used for pickling vegetables.
As the shopkeeper tapped his abacus, he smiled and said, “Regimental Commander Lu has finally gotten married! It’s only right to fully furnish a new home!”
New clay pots, soup ladles, frying spatulas, several large coarse porcelain bowls, ten pairs of bamboo chopsticks and porcelain plates, as well as farming tools essential for land reclamation like wooden buckets, carrying poles, hoes, and shovels.
Seeing how much they bought, the shopkeeper even threw in a coarse burlap sack as an extra gift.
After purchasing all these items, more than half of the money and coupons in Lu Zhiyan’s shoulder bag were gone.
As noon approached, Lu Zhiyan asked Ji Nanxi to wait for him under a tree at the village entrance.
After placing all the items from the general store at Ji Nanxi’s feet, Lu Zhiyan went to find Uncle Mei and Second Uncle Gu.
He asked them to drive the ox cart and help deliver the goods he needed to the military base gate.
So, Ji Nanxi stood at the village entrance, where lush green vegetables grew on both sides of the road, and she couldn’t help but take a few extra glances.
A plump auntie bending over to pick vegetables nearby noticed her, straightened up, and asked with a smile, “Young lady, you look unfamiliar. Are you a family member who just arrived with the army?”
Ji Nanxi nodded, “Yes, hello, Auntie.”
“Just call me Auntie Xie!”
The auntie was very cheerful. She wiped her hands on her apron and walked over with her vegetable basket. “Here to buy things in our village, right? Have you gotten everything you need?”
“Almost, thank you for your concern, Auntie Xie,” Ji Nanxi replied politely, her gaze drifting back to the vegetables. “Auntie, your vegetables are growing so well.”
“Hey! That’s the good thing about our village—the soil is fertile. Just scatter some seeds and they’ll grow!”
Auntie Xie was very talkative. She looked Ji Nanxi over with a kind smile in her eyes. “I see you have a lot of newly bought farming tools at your feet. Are you planning to clear land and farm?”
Ji Nanxi answered honestly, “Yes, there’s empty space in the yard. I want to tidy it up and plant something.”
Auntie Xie nodded, her eyes showing approval. “My family has seeds from last year—cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, beans, and some spinach and rapeseed. We have plenty! If you don’t mind, I’ll go back and pack some for you right now!”
“That’s too kind…”
Ji Nanxi hadn’t expected such warm and generous hospitality.
“What’s the big deal! Distant relatives aren’t as good as close neighbors. It’s not easy for you military families living on the island!”
Auntie Xie then leaned in mysteriously and whispered, “Just growing vegetables isn’t that interesting. My family hatches and sells chicks and ducklings. Do you want some?”
Ji Nanxi was overjoyed and immediately smiled at Auntie Xie. “Auntie Xie! I’d love some!”
“Then I’ll save some for you, and I guarantee they’ll be good ones! How many do you want?”
Ji Nanxi thought for a moment. “Hmm, how about ten chicks and five ducklings for now?”
“Sure! Of course!”
Auntie Xie beamed with delight. “Then it’s settled!”
“Great! Thank you so much, Auntie Xie!”
Ji Nanxi expressed her gratitude sincerely.
After chatting a bit more with Auntie Xie, she learned that Auntie Xie was Uncle Mei’s wife.
Auntie Xie beamed with joy, “So you’re Regimental Commander Lu’s wife, that makes us family!”
“For chicken and duck feeders and water troughs, broken clay basins or old wooden tubs will do. I’ll have my husband find you two ready-made ones and bring them along when we deliver everything!”
“Thank you so much, Auntie!”
Ji Nanxi felt a warm glow in her heart. The villagers on the island lived simple lives, yet they were sincere and warm-hearted.
The two agreed that in seven days, after Uncle Mei finished making the bed and cabinets, Auntie Xie would bring the chicks, ducklings, and vegetable seeds to the military district gate. Only then did they bid farewell and part ways.
Before long, two oxcarts emerged from the village.
Laden with goods, they swayed and creaked their way toward Ji Nanxi.
Lu Zhiyan had Ji Nanxi sit on one of the oxcarts while he walked alongside.
On the way back, Ji Nanxi gazed at the lush green mountains, and her mood lifted.
Tiles, lumber, pots and bowls, beds and cabinets, farming tools—these mundane yet tangible items were like pieces of a puzzle, slowly piecing together the outline of her future life.
Ji Nanxi looked toward Lu Zhiyan, and when their eyes met, she gave him a bright, cheerful smile.
The corners of Lu Zhiyan’s perpetually tight lips lifted almost imperceptibly into a faint yet genuine curve.
He didn’t say a word, just lowered his head to glance at his palm.
As if the warmth from holding her delicate little hand last night still lingered—that cool, soft touch.
So this was what it felt like to have someone by your side.
…
The oxcarts swayed and creaked their way to the military district gate.
Lu Zhiyan went to the guard post to notify them and complete the registration before the two oxcarts were allowed to enter the Base.
Carrying their heavy load of goods, they returned to their small courtyard.
Second Uncle Gu was responsible for tiling the roof and replacing the wooden beams, while Uncle Mei assembled the bed and installed the cabinets.
Three hours later, the leaky roof was completely repaired, and the wooden beams that needed reinforcement were firmly secured.
Inside the room, the assembled bed frame, cabinets, table, and chairs were all placed exactly where Lu Zhiyan had requested.
Lu Zhiyan went to see Second Uncle Gu and Uncle Mei off, while Ji Nanxi took a damp old cotton cloth and meticulously counted, wiped, and carefully stored the newly bought pots, bowls, and utensils in the cupboard, organizing them by category.
The newly purchased farming tools were also leaned against the wall and neatly arranged.
When Lu Zhiyan returned, he sorted through the luggage in the room, putting everything in its proper place.
Just as Ji Nanxi straightened up to stretch her slightly sore shoulders, clear footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate.
“Reporting!”
A young soldier stood at the courtyard entrance, posture ramrod straight.
Lu Zhiyan walked out of the house and saw it was Xiao Zhao, the communications officer from the regimental duty room.
“Regimental Commander Lu, there’s a call for you at home, it came through to the duty room. It’s Elder Lu, and he asked that you call back as soon as possible.”
Xiao Wang reported briskly.
Grandfather?
Lu Zhiyan’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly.
The old man rarely called the military duty room directly unless it was something urgent.
“Understood, I’ll head over right away.”
Lu Zhiyan replied in a low voice, then turned to Ji Nanxi, who was standing nearby. “Grandfather called for me. I’m going to the duty room to call him back.”
“Just finish putting these away. Leave the heavy work for when I return.”
Ji Nanxi looked up, a smile on her face, and nodded. “Alright, go ahead. Send my regards to Grandfather for me.”
“Mm.”
Lu Zhiyan acknowledged, wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his relatively clean hand, and strode off briskly after Xiao Zhao.
Ji Nanxi watched Lu Zhiyan’s broad back disappear beyond the courtyard gate, wondering what could have happened for Grandpa Lu to call at this hour.
Shaking her head, she decided to continue cleaning the clay pot and earthen jar. Who knows, they might come in handy in a couple of days.
She certainly hadn’t forgotten that tomorrow she would be riding in the canteen’s military truck with Lu Zhiyan to Ya County!