Xiang Wanwan carried a bucket full of seafood back home.
Along the way, quite a few people gathered to watch.
“Hey, Comrade Xiang, were you out tide-pooling? Wow, that’s a lot of catch!”
“These razor clams are so fat! A few days ago, I spent two hours on the beach and only found a few. Not enough for a stir-fry.”
“And look at all these clams! Amazing!”
Xiang Wanwan continued walking, smiling at them. “Just lucky, that’s all—just lucky!”
Behind her, several women followed, eyes fixed on her bucket.
On the island, most households rarely had meat.
Even a small plate of seafood like this could be a feast.
But unfortunately, they didn’t have the luck—every time they went tide-pooling, the results were meager.
That’s why, although the island was surrounded by the sea, few people went tide-pooling.
“Comrade Xiang, your clams look great! You already have razor clams—can you sell me some of these clams?”
A few other women chimed in: “Yes, yes! I want some too!”
Xiang Wanwan paused, stopping in her tracks. Looking at their expectant faces, she shook her head.
She was craving them herself—this small amount would be gone in one meal.
There was no way she could sell any!
Moreover, while following the army, her uncles from the Lu and Huo families had given her plenty of money. She wasn’t short on cash.
Besides, money wasn’t very useful on the island.
“Sorry, ladies! This little catch isn’t even enough for us. Next time, I’ll gather more and share!”
“I’ll head back first!”
Saying that, Xiang Wanwan almost ran into the yard.
Inside, she soaked the clams and razor clams in water to remove the sand, waiting for Lu Jingnian to cook them.
Meanwhile, she grabbed her hoe and turned over the soil she had worked on yesterday.
When Lu Jingnian returned, he saw Xiang Wanwan working in the yard, a little awkward but meticulous.
A faint smile tugged at his lips as he stepped forward.
Hearing the sound, Xiang Wanwan looked up, smiling sweetly.
“You’re back!”
She put down her hoe, took Lu Jingnian’s hand, and led him to the kitchen.
He looked down and saw her small, fair hands holding his, and his heart skipped a beat.
Feeling the warmth from her hands, a smile spread across his lips.
This felt nice!
In the kitchen, Xiang Wanwan let go and pointed at the bowl, presenting her “treasure.”
“These are from this morning. Today, you’ll get some meat.”
Lu Jingnian stared at his empty hands, briefly dazed. Then he looked at the bowl, full of clams and razor clams.
He was shocked.
She collected all these herself?
When he first came to the island, he had tried tide-pooling too—but these little treasures were well-hidden, and without experience, it was very hard to find them.
And yet, this woman, having just arrived a few days ago, had collected so many in one morning!
He smiled at the woman before him. Her small face flushed from work, her smile radiating warmth.
A gentle fondness he didn’t even realize crept into his voice:
“Wonderful! Go rest, I’ll cook.”
Hearing this praise from him, Xiang Wanwan’s heart soared, and she happily went out.
Her mind was full of the small seafood in the bowl!
After so many days without meat, she finally could eat some.
Bored, she returned to the yard to continue turning the soil.
She had seen the seeds Lu Jingnian brought—common ones like potatoes, tomatoes, and chives.
Once the soil dried, she could plant the seeds tomorrow.
As she worked energetically, Sister Wang came in holding a plate.
“Wanwan, still working? It’s time to eat. I stewed some pickled vegetables today—here, this will whet your appetite.”
Sister Wang approached enthusiastically, showing her the bright-colored stewed pickles.
Xiang Wanwan hadn’t been fond of sour foods, but after trying Sister Wang’s pickled cucumbers on the boat, she couldn’t resist.
Seeing the stewed pickles, she couldn’t help swallowing.
Noticing her hands were muddy, Sister Wang carried the plate inside.
“Your hands are too dirty—I’ll put this on the table for you.”
Entering, she noticed Lu Jingnian cooking in the kitchen and was surprised.
“Oh! Brother-in-law is cooking?”
“So even the chief cooks at home! I must tell Chen De—he’s just a minor official and only knows how to eat, does nothing himself.”
Lu Jingnian greeted Sister Wang, then continued cooking.
By then, Xiang Wanwan had washed her hands and entered the house.
She initially thought men cooking wasn’t a big deal, but on the island, women usually did all the cooking.
So she whispered to Sister Wang, “Don’t tell anyone! I just can’t make a fire, that’s why he’s cooking.”
Sister Wang, curious, glanced at Lu Jingnian in the kitchen and whispered:
“Wanwan, you’re so lucky! Your man is handsome, fit, and can cook! Truly the perfect man—I envy you!”
Xiang Wanwan smiled awkwardly.
She had her own hidden troubles!
Though Lu Jingnian seemed perfect in many ways, he couldn’t perform sexually—a fatal flaw for a man.
While they were talking, Lu Jingnian placed the stir-fried clams on the table. The aroma immediately drew Xiang Wanwan in.
Even Sister Wang sniffed, curious, and asked: “Wanwan, how do you eat these shells? Smells amazing.”
“These are clams. I picked them from the beach this morning. You pry the shells open and eat the meat—it’s incredibly fresh,” Xiang Wanwan explained, demonstrating by picking up a clam and eating it.
The taste brought tears to her eyes.
Finally, she could eat meat.
Fresh! So fresh!
Sister Wang watched, salivating.
Then Lu Jingnian placed a plate of razor clams on the table.
Sister Wang stared, astonished. “Little one, what’s this? Can we really eat it?”
Xiang Wanwan grabbed an empty bowl and began shelling some for her.
“Sister-in-law, I’ll give you some to try at home.”
“No, no! You didn’t have much yourselves—I’d feel bad taking it!”
At that moment, Lu Jingnian came out, smiling:
“Take it, Sister-in-law! Bring it home for the kids to try.”
Xiang Wanwan quickly packed the seafood and handed it to Sister Wang.
“All right then! I’m giving you some, and also taking some back.”
Slightly embarrassed, Sister Wang still accepted, thinking her kids had never tried these treats.
After she left, the two finally sat down to eat.
Xiang Wanwan eagerly picked up her chopsticks and dug into the two plates of seafood.
Fresh!
The clams and razor clams were picked by her that morning—super fresh. Combined with Lu Jingnian’s cooking, they were incredibly delicious.
She ate bite after bite, unstoppable.
Soon, both plates were empty.
Xiang Wanwan set down her chopsticks, rubbing her full belly. This was the most satisfying meal since arriving here.
Meat was definitely necessary.
Watching her content face, Lu Jingnian couldn’t help but smile.
Ever since this woman arrived, he seemed eager to come home every day—and had even started cooking three meals a day.
Sitting and eating with her made him feel like he could enjoy his meals even more.