Inside the Base duty room.
Lu Zhiyan steadied himself, picked up the telephone receiver, and dialed the number he knew by heart.
[Hello?]
The call was quickly answered on the other end, and Elder Lu’s vigorous voice came through, carrying a trace of concern that was hard to miss. [Is that you, Zhiyan?]
“Grandfather, it’s me.”
Lu Zhiyan’s voice softened unconsciously. “Is everything at home alright?”
[Yes, yes, everything’s fine!]
Elder Lu chuckled on the other end, his tone relaxing. [I’m just worried about you and Nanxi. You got married in such a hurry, and there wasn’t even time for a proper wedding.]
[I had hoped that after you completed your mission, you’d bring Nanxi back to see this old man. But then I heard you were transferred to Qiongzhou Island.]
[Are you both settled in now? Is the house livable? Is Nanxi adjusting well?]
A series of questions followed, filled with the elder’s undisguised care and worry.
Lu Zhiyan patiently answered each one: “Don’t worry, Grandfather. We’re already settled.”
“I followed Nanxi’s suggestion and chose an old two-story courtyard house with its own entrance.”
“The house is a bit run-down, but the repairs were finished today. It won’t leak anymore.”
“We also bought a bed and cabinets, so we can rest properly now.”
“Nanxi is doing well. Today, she went with me to Gujia Village to buy farming tools. She also asked the village aunties for vegetable seeds and some chicks and ducklings. She plans to grow vegetables and raise chickens in the courtyard.”
When speaking of Ji Nanxi, Lu Zhiyan’s usually stern tone grew gentle.
[Oh? Nanxi wants to grow vegetables and raise chickens?]
Elder Lu seemed a little surprised, then laughed with relief, his tone turning earnest. [Zhiyan, Nanxi is a child I’ve watched grow up.]
[Her elders are no longer around, and her brother’s whereabouts are unknown. It hasn’t been easy for her on her own.]
[Nanxi was raised a bit delicately by your Grandfather Ji. Now that she’s with you, living on that remote island where everything is unfamiliar, you must take good care of her. Don’t let her suffer.]
“I will, Grandfather.”
Lu Zhiyan’s reply was brief yet firm.
It was his promise.
[Good, I trust you to handle things.]
Elder Lu paused, lowering his voice slightly with a hint of admonishment. [I’ve sent you five hundred yuan. It should arrive in the next couple of days. You’ve just set up a new home, and money is needed everywhere. Don’t be too frugal.]
[Buy what needs to be bought, get what needs to be gotten. Don’t shortchange Nanxi, and don’t make things hard for yourself either.]
[If you’re lacking anything or run into difficulties, just tell your grandfather. I’ll find a way to help.]
Five hundred yuan!
Lu Zhiyan’s throat tightened slightly. “Grandfather, Nanxi knew you called today and asked me to send her regards.”
“You don’t need to send so much. My allowance is enough…”
[What do you mean ‘enough’ or ‘not enough’!]
Elder Lu cut him off firmly. [If it’s given to you, just take it!]
[Nanxi married you and followed you to live on that island as a military spouse. You can’t let her endure hardship!]
[You’re both still young and don’t realize how much effort and money it takes to set up a proper home.]
[This money is for Nanxi, my granddaughter-in-law, to help her settle in. It’s also a bit of security for you two as a young couple starting your life together.]
[Listen to your grandfather and accept it properly!]
Knowing he couldn’t argue with the old man, Lu Zhiyan could only reply, “Thank you, Grandfather. Nanxi and I will live well.”
[Ah, that’s more like it!]
Elder Lu was satisfied and went on to nag about taking care of their health and maintaining marital harmony. Finally, he said, “Alright, tell Nanxi not to worry about the Ji family’s affairs. As a married daughter, she won’t be implicated. She should focus on living well with you on the island.”
“Regarding the Ji family’s matters, Grandpa will keep an eye on them for her!”
“When you have time, write letters home.”
“Yes, Grandpa. You and Grandma should also take good care of yourselves.”
After hanging up the phone, the dial tone buzzed in the receiver.
Lu Zhiyan held the still-warm receiver and stood in place for a moment.
The duty room was quiet, and his grandfather’s words echoed in his ears, reminding him not to mistreat Ji Nanxi.
Grandpa had also sent five hundred yuan. This money was a gesture of support and care from the old man for him and Ji Nanxi’s small family.
Lu Zhiyan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
He placed the receiver back on the landline, turned around, and strode toward their old courtyard.
…
In the courtyard.
Ji Nanxi had already tidied up most of the dishes and was now holding a broom, carefully sweeping away wood shavings and dust inside the house.
The slanted sunlight cast a fuzzy golden halo around her busy figure.
Hearing footsteps, she turned around and, seeing it was Lu Zhiyan, naturally broke into a smile. “You’re back? What did Grandpa say? Is everything alright at home?”
Lu Zhiyan walked up to her, naturally taking the broom from her hands and leaning it against the wall. “Everything’s fine at home.”
“Grandpa said he sent us five hundred yuan and told us not to be too frugal—to buy whatever we need.”
“He specifically reminded me not to mistreat you.”
Ji Nanxi was stunned, her eyes widening slightly. “Five hundred yuan? That much?”
She immediately shook her head. “How can we accept so much money from Grandpa? We can’t…”
“Grandpa gave it as a token of his care.”
Lu Zhiyan looked at Ji Nanxi, his eyes reflecting her figure. “Grandpa wants us to live well.”
“We’ll accept the money, use it wisely, and build a good life. That’s the best way to repay him.”
“When the money arrives, see what else the house needs and get it all taken care of.”
“Whether it’s a sturdy shed for the chickens and ducks, fertilizer for the vegetable garden, a fence, or some fabric for you to make new clothes—anything is fine.”
Ji Nanxi wasn’t one to put on airs. She understood that this was Elder Lu’s profound care.
She also grasped the meaning behind Lu Zhiyan’s words: accepting Grandpa’s money and building a thriving life together was the best way to repay Elder Lu.
Ji Nanxi broke into a bright smile. “Alright! When the money arrives, we’ll plan carefully.”
“The chicken and duck shed needs to be sturdy, and the vegetable garden should be properly set up.”
“The rooms on the second floor should also be gradually organized.”
“If Grandpa and Grandma can visit the island in the future, they can stay with us.”
Every word Ji Nanxi spoke was filled with concrete hopes for the future.
Lu Zhiyan looked at her smile. “I’ll follow your lead.”
…
The night passed uneventfully.
Early the next morning, just as dawn was breaking.
Lu Zhiyan and Ji Nanxi woke up early once again!
This was Lu Zhiyan’s last day of leave for settling into their new home. The couple planned to ride the Base canteen’s military supply truck to the supply and marketing cooperative in Ya County to purchase other necessities.
Besides the driver, there were two soldiers from the kitchen squad on the truck.
One was Squad Leader Li, and the other was a young soldier.
Everyone squeezed into the back of the truck, bumping along the dusty, uneven road.
Observing the street scenes along the way, which gradually shifted from desolate and quiet to bustling and lively.
Watching the locals wearing bamboo hats and carrying shoulder poles, everything felt fresh and full of vitality.
Upon arriving in Ya County, Squad Leader Li directed the driver to pull over by the roadside, then addressed the military dependents in the back of the vehicle, “We will gather right here at four o’clock in the afternoon. Don’t be late!”
With that, all the military dependents traveling with the vehicle disembarked at this spot.