Thankfully, Qian Xiao’an had helped unpack the package containing the bicycle and sewing machine—otherwise, Qiao Yuewei would have been on the verge of collapsing. That package was wrapped like a mummy.
Qiao Yuewei pushed the bicycle into the yard and left the sewing machine in the living room. The radio was temporarily placed on the table, to be moved to a new cabinet once it arrived.
Besides these large items, there were some daily necessities.
She took out two boxes of snow cream—one for herself, and one she planned to give to Sister He. Yesterday, Sister He had worked hard helping Fang Guihua.
“Qiao Qiao.”
“Hmm?”
Hearing the voice, Qiao Yuewei poked her head out.
Qin Xingye glanced at the bicycle in the yard and retrieved the groceries and lunch boxes. “Who’s here?”
“No one. That bike is ours.”
He nodded. He remembered that the money Qiao Yuewei had included industrial coupons, which could indeed be used to buy a bicycle.
“Hungry?”
He carried the lunch boxes into the living room and looked at the sewing machine and radio.
Qiao Yuewei explained, “Uncle Ren sent them. They’re my dowry. The bicycle in the yard too.”
Rolling up his sleeves, Qin Xingye took the package bags from her hands and neatly stored them with the other packages. His voice carried a deep, quiet pleasure: “Mm.”
Seeing him almost finished, Qiao Yuewei went to the yard to wash her hands.
After a busy morning, she was indeed a little hungry.
She invited Qin Xingye to sit and opened the lunch boxes. Inside were her favorites: braised pork and fish. The vegetables were tomato scrambled eggs and shredded potatoes.
“By the way, when you went shopping, a young soldier named Qian Xiao’an came to notify me about the package. I had him help carry it over. I didn’t let him help for free, though—I gave him two pounds of wedding candy.”
Speaking of wedding candy, Qiao Yuewei planned to buy more at the market tomorrow using the money vouchers Qin Xingye had given her.
“Mm, Qian Xiao’an is Commissar Zhao’s orderly.”
“Orderly?” Qiao Yuewei took a bite of braised pork. “What about your orderly?”
As a regiment commander, Qin Xingye should have had one, yet she hadn’t seen him in the past few days.
“Xiao Lu went back home to visit family.”
Qiao Yuewei nodded and said, “Oh,” but suddenly paused.
Xiao Lu? Visiting home?
At this time… could it be Lu Xiang, the one in the book who married He Chuchu?
Qiao Yuewei shook her head. Whatever—it didn’t matter. He Chuchu was busy digging soil in the eastern province anyway.
“What’s wrong?” Noticing her distraction, Qin Xingye offered her a piece of meat.
“Nothing.” She chewed, cheeks puffed. “The chef really suits my taste.”
This little expression caught Qin Xingye’s eye, and for the first time, the word cute appeared in his mind.
“Should we tell Grandfather Qin that we got the certificate?” Qiao Yuewei remembered Uncle Ren saying that Grandfather Qin had previously sent him to ask when she planned to register their marriage.
“I’ll call them tomorrow.”
Qin Xingye spoke little. Qiao Yuewei talked a lot, and he just listened, occasionally feeding her some food.
“By the way, I’ll drop by Sister He’s later to give her something.”
“All right.”
After the meal, Qin Xingye cleared the table and washed the lunch boxes.
Qiao Yuewei carried the snow cream to Sister He’s house.
“Sister He, are you home?”
He Qiurong came out holding a bowl, followed by two little ones. “Weiwei, I’m here, I’m here.”
Qiao Yuewei entered the yard with the snow cream. He Qiurong patted her eldest son’s head: “Tuan Tuan, go get him.”
Seven-year-old Tuan Tuan grimaced at He Qiurong. “Mom, I said don’t hit my head! I’ll fail again!”
He Qiurong glared at him.
The four-year-old Yuanyuan took small steps to Qiao Yuewei, tugging her hand. “Hello, Sister!”
“Look at your brother!”
Tuan Tuan made a face at He Qiurong, hurriedly shouted “Sister” to Qiao Yuewei, grabbed a few bites of food, ran into the living room, left his bowl, and dashed out without even tying his shoes.
While running, he muttered, “Mom, can you make breakfast earlier next time? I’ll be later than Teacher Mu again.”
He Qiurong shook her head helplessly at his back.
“This child, you’ve seen him now. That was their new Chinese teacher at school, surnamed Mu—a pretty young girl. Supposedly her family is prominent, but I don’t know why she came here to teach.”
She tilted her chin toward the outside. Qiao Yuewei turned and saw a tall, slim figure in a white cloth dress.
“By the way, Weiwei, did you come to see me for something?”
“Sister He, this is for you.” Qiao Yuewei handed over the snow cream.
“Oh, snow cream!” He Qiurong sounded excited, sniffing it. “Smells so good.”
“Snow cream, snow cream, smells good!” Yuanyuan didn’t know what it was but bounced around He Qiurong, mimicking her words.
“This child is impossible, always imitating me,” He Qiurong said, holding him back. “You just ate—don’t bounce, or your stomach will hurt.”
Yuanyuan immediately clutched his stomach.
Qiao Yuewei patted his head. Yuanyuan shyly hid behind He Qiurong. “He’s just very observant—Yuanyuan’s smart.”
He Qiurong nodded at her little son. “Weiwei, why are you giving me things again for no reason?” she said, though inside she was delighted.
Qiao Yuewei stepped forward and held He Qiurong’s hand. “Sister He, thank you for yesterday. This is a token from your sister-in-law. No refusing.”
He Qiurong laughed, her face lit up. “All right! I’ll accept it. Wait a moment.”
She went inside and returned with a piece of cloth.
“Weiwei, you and Xiao Qin just got married. I didn’t have anything to give you, so this cloth was given to me by my mother when I got married. It’s perfect for a skirt. It’s not worth money—don’t mind it.”
She had heard from Old Jiang that Weiwei lost her mother at a young age…
“Sister He…” Qiao Yuewei’s palms burned holding the cloth.
This wasn’t just cloth—it was motherly love.
“Thank you, Sister He. I’ll accept it. Come over tonight.”
“Of course!”
Leaving Sister He’s house, Qiao Yuewei returned home, smiling.
In the yard, Qin Xingye was wearing a white short-sleeve shirt, killing a fish.
Hearing her, he looked up and saw Qiao Yuewei’s bright eyes. “What do you have in your hands?”
Qiao Yuewei went beside him, voice cheerful: “It’s a wedding gift from Sister He.”
Qin Xingye glanced at it. “She was thoughtful. I also have a gift.”
“Huh? You do too?”
He nodded. “It’s in the room.”
Naturally, having gotten their certificate, they wouldn’t sleep separately.
“Oh.” Qiao Yuewei carried the cloth into the room.
On the desk sat a red box.
She didn’t know when Qin Xingye had prepared it.
Qiao Yuewei touched the box and opened it.