Mu Youyou told Gu Beiting about what happened on the bus.
“Did I cause you trouble?” she looked at him carefully.
“It’s fine. Our family isn’t at the point where we need to worry about others’ opinions just to eat some meat,” Gu Beiting looked at her and added,
“You don’t need to be so cautious. I go on missions often, so my allowance and bonuses are higher than other battalion commanders of the same rank. That’s no secret in the military.”
Only then did Mu Youyou nod in relief. She knew that with Gu Beiting’s achievements, if not for his young age, he would already hold a higher position.
At lunch, all the dishes were wiped clean. Even the sauce from the braised pork was mixed into rice by Gu Beiting.
After eating, Gu Beiting took over the dishwashing. Mu Youyou boiled a pot of water, cleaned another piece of pork belly, cut it into three parts, and placed it into the pot with ginger and cooking wine.
“What are you making?” Gu Beiting asked curiously.
“Twice-cooked pork,” Mu Youyou smiled and reached for the fatty meat to cut it for rendering.
“I’ll do it.” Gu Beiting took the knife from her.
“You should rest. Don’t you have training this afternoon?” she tried to take the knife back, but he avoided her.
“No need. I’m used to it,” he didn’t give her the chance.
Mu Youyou said nothing more and started picking through mung beans.
“Are you making mung bean soup?” he asked.
“Mm, some for soup, some to sprout into bean sprouts,” she replied with a smile, noticing he was unusually talkative today.
“Bean sprouts?” Gu Beiting had never heard of it.
“Yes, a kind of vegetable. It’s very tasty—you’ll see.”
While sorting the beans, Mu Youyou kept an eye on the pot. After checking the pork with chopsticks, she took it out, placed it in a small bamboo basket, and lowered it into the well to keep it cool.
“What about the lean meat?” Gu Beiting had already finished cutting the fat neatly.
“You finished already?” Mu Youyou looked at the evenly cut pieces. “Chop it into minced meat.”
“Alright.” He cut the lean meat into chunks and then began chopping rapidly with two knives.
Mu Youyou watched his smooth, skillful movements—he even looked handsome while chopping meat. She stared for a moment until he looked up, making her snap back to her senses.
Her face turned red as she quickly turned away to boil water for blanching the fat.
After blanching and cleaning it, she added two bowls of water into the pot, put in the fat, along with ginger, garlic, and star anise.
“Why add those?” he asked.
“They make the lard more fragrant, and the cracklings taste better,” she explained.
He stood beside her, watching her stir without leaving.
When the cracklings turned golden, she scooped them out, discarding the spices.
She picked up a piece, blew on it, and instinctively held it out to him. Both froze for a moment. Just as she was about to pull back, he leaned forward and took a bite.
“Is… is it good?” she asked softly, her face slightly red.
“Good,” he nodded.
She poured the rendered lard into a container to cool and solidify.
Then, using the remaining oil, she stir-fried the minced meat, added soybean paste and a bit of water, and mixed in various spices she had prepared.
“What are these?” Gu Beiting picked up the jars and sniffed them.
“Homemade spice powders,” she explained, wondering why he was suddenly so curious—he had been so cold before.
Once the meat sauce was ready, she packed it into containers.
By then, it was time for Gu Beiting to return to training.
Mu Youyou took out a bottle of soda cooled in the well and handed it to him.
“It’s hot. I’ll make mung bean soup later—drink this for now.”
“I don’t need it. You keep it,” he refused.
“Take it.” She smiled and pressed it into his hand. She was quite satisfied with this “roommate”—he helped with everything, unlike some men who did nothing.
“Mm.” He didn’t refuse again.
“We’ll have dumplings with cracklings tonight, okay?” she asked.
“Sure. Anything is fine. I’m not picky,” Gu Beiting replied, his ears slightly red from their fingers brushing earlier.
“Mm.” She nodded.
“Then… I’ll go now.”
“Okay, be careful!” she smiled.
He paused slightly before turning and leaving.
“Gu Beiting, can I touch your abs?” The words from earlier that he had almost forgotten resurfaced in his mind.
He opened the soda and gulped it down, trying to suppress the restless feeling.
After he left, Mu Youyou filled a small bowl with cracklings and went out.
She remembered he mentioned their neighbor, Deputy Battalion Commander Cui, had two children—a ten-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl.
Knock knock.
“Who is it?” Li Yumei’s voice came from inside.
“It’s me, Youyou.”
“Oh, Youyou!” Li Yumei opened the door.
“Yumei-jie, I made some lard today. I brought some cracklings for the kids to try,” Mu Youyou handed her the bowl.
“Oh, this is such a good thing—I can’t take it,” Li Yumei hesitated. Meat was limited even for military families.
“It’s fine, there’s more at home. Take it.” Mu Youyou pressed it into her hands and turned back.
“Youyou—” Li Yumei called after her but didn’t dare raise her voice.
A few minutes later, Li Yumei came over.
“Youyou.”
“Yumei-jie.” Mu Youyou opened the door.
Li Yumei held a basket with cabbage, potatoes, cucumbers, and the washed bowl.
“These are from my garden. Take them.”
“No need, I—”
Li Yumei insisted, pushing the basket into her hands. “Listen to me—you must take it. It’s nothing special anyway.”