The furniture store was packed with shoppers.
In those days, buying furniture was a major event. You needed ration coupons, and you had to stand in line.
Fortunately, Qin Zhan was a regimental-level officer and had a special approval slip, which saved them a lot of trouble.
Lin Wan immediately fell in love with a floral fabric sofa set.
Although the colors were a little tacky—bright red and green peonies splashed across the upholstery—
in that dull, gray era, it was already considered incredibly fashionable.
More importantly…
It was soft.
Lin Wan flopped onto it and felt her whole body sink into the cushions.
Ah… so this is what civilization feels like.
These springs, this foam… they’re ten thousand times better than those rock-hard wooden chairs.
From now on, I’m permanently attached to this sofa. Nobody’s getting me off it.
Seeing the blissful look on her face, Qin Zhan didn’t hesitate. He pulled out the money and coupons.
“I’ll take this sofa.”
The saleswoman, a middle-aged lady, beamed when she saw how decisive he was.
“Excellent choice, Comrade! This is our newest model. The foam is imported—sturdy and durable!”
“You two are newlyweds, aren’t you? This sofa is perfect. Nice and festive!”
“Just imagine sitting here at night watching TV while cracking sunflower seeds. That’s the life!”
Lin Wan casually added,
“And maybe make a baby while we’re at it.”
Qin Zhan’s hand trembled as he paid, nearly tearing the large banknote in half.
The saleswoman froze for a second before bursting into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha! Your little wife is hilarious! She’s so straightforward!”
“That’s right! This sofa’s sturdy enough for whatever you two get up to!”
The tips of Qin Zhan’s ears turned red.
Whatever they get up to?
What on earth are they talking about?
He hired someone with a handcart to deliver the sofa home.
The moment the oversized piece entered the house, their once-empty living room instantly felt complete.
Like a koala, Lin Wan wrapped herself around the sofa and refused to let go.
“Qin Zhan, I think our house still needs a television.”
She was already pushing her luck.
“And a refrigerator.”
“And a washing machine.”
Qin Zhan was carrying the heavy solid-wood coffee table. He glanced at her.
“TV coupons won’t be available until the end of the year.”
“There are only a handful of refrigerators in the entire military district.”
“As for the washing machine… you have hands.”
Lin Wan pouted.
Cheapskate.
Fine, if we don’t have them now, then someday when I’m rich, I’ll fill this house with fully automatic appliances.
Then you’ll be begging me to let you use them.
Despite her complaints, Lin Wan still diligently headed into the kitchen to prepare dinner.
After all, they’d just spent a fortune on the sofa. She had to at least put on the act of a virtuous wife.
Besides…
She had a grand plan.
A plan to “treat his hidden condition.”
Dinner was lavish.
Besides the mandatory braised pork—which Lin Wan simply wanted to eat herself—
there was one particularly special dish.
Chinese chives scrambled with eggs.
Lin Wan had personally picked the chives at the market. Thick, dark green stalks that looked especially fresh.
She had cooked an enormous platter, with the eggs almost reduced to a garnish.
There was also a plate of chilled stir-fried pork kidneys.
And a pot of seaweed and pork rib soup, with a handful of goji berries secretly added.
When the dishes were placed on the table, Qin Zhan’s eyebrows twitched.
Wasn’t this menu… a little too targeted?
“Come on, Old Qin. You’ve worked hard all day. Eat more.”
Lin Wan enthusiastically piled a huge serving of chives onto his bowl until it overflowed.
“These chives are fresh—the first harvest. Great for… ahem… vitamins.”
“And the kidneys are wonderful too. You know, like nourishes like.”
Qin Zhan stared at the mountain of green in his bowl, his expression darkening.
Like nourishes like?
So she’d completely convinced herself that he wasn’t capable?
“I don’t eat organ meat.”
He pushed the kidneys aside and spoke calmly.
“Oh, don’t be picky!”
Lin Wan panicked.
I paid a premium for those pork kidneys! Do you know how hard I’m trying to cure you?
If you don’t eat them, won’t all my effort go to waste?
Has he already given up? Is he refusing treatment?
Listening to her thoughts, Qin Zhan felt anger rush straight to his head.
Cure him?
Refusing treatment?
Taking a deep breath, he suddenly picked up a piece of kidney and shoved it into his mouth.
He chewed with exaggerated force.
As though trying to crush her prejudice along with the food.
“Is it good?”
Lin Wan asked expectantly.
“It’s good.”
Qin Zhan answered through clenched teeth.
“Then have some more!”
She promptly added another helping to his bowl.
The entire meal was torture for Qin Zhan.
He felt like he wasn’t eating dinner at all—
he was swallowing medicine.
Every bite of chives reminded him that, in Lin Wan’s eyes, he was practically a eunuch.
Meanwhile, Lin Wan ate happily while peeling shrimp for Tangtang.
“Big Sister, why is Daddy’s face so red?”
Tangtang asked curiously while gnawing on a pork rib.
Qin Zhan’s face really was flushed.
Whether from frustration or from the mountain of chives finally taking effect…
he wasn’t sure.
His whole body felt hot, as if a restless fire were coursing through him.
“Daddy’s just feeling warm.”
Lin Wan explained with a smile.
Looks like the medicine’s working.
The old remedies really weren’t lying. Chives truly are nature’s miracle tonic.
Now let’s see if this little spark can reignite what’s gone cold.
Qin Zhan set down his chopsticks, his voice noticeably lower.
“I’m full.”
He stood and strode into the bathroom.
Soon, the sound of cold water splashing echoed from inside.
Listening to it, Lin Wan shook her head.
Tsk, even taking a cold shower? The fire must really be getting to him.
I’d better stay far away tonight. If he suddenly loses control and mistakes me for a fire extinguisher, I’m doomed.
…Though if he really is fine after all, maybe I should… ahem… try to act a little more reserved?
That night…
The new sofa had its first occupant.
After showering, Lin Wan walked out to find Qin Zhan already carrying his bedding to the living room.
The sofa was soft, but for a man over six feet tall, it was still far too short.
His feet had to rest on the armrest, making him look oddly cramped.
“Um… why don’t you sleep in the bed?”
Lin Wan offered, feeling a rare twinge of guilt.
“No.”
Qin Zhan replied without turning around.
“The sofa’s fine.”
He genuinely didn’t dare sleep beside her.
The heat raging through his body still hadn’t subsided.
If he spent the entire night listening to more of Lin Wan’s outrageous thoughts, he was afraid he might actually lose control.
Lin Wan shrugged.
Fine. No good deed goes unpunished.
Then I’ll enjoy the whole bed by myself!
The lights went out.
Darkness settled over the house once more.
Qin Zhan lay on the soft sofa, listening to the steady rhythm of Lin Wan’s breathing from the bedroom.
This time…
She didn’t start dreaming right away.
But he couldn’t fall asleep at all.
The aftereffects of that mountain of chives had kicked in.
It felt as though a blazing fire burned inside him, especially in his lower abdomen, leaving him unbearably tense.
Damn it.
Just how many chives did this woman put into that dish?
Qin Zhan rolled over, and the sofa let out a faint squeak.
He stared at the ceiling, silently counting the days.
Once they got their marriage certificate…
everything would finally be proper and legitimate.
When that time came…
His eyes grew dark in the night.
When that time came…
He would make her pay back every last bit of that enormous platter of chives—with interest.
He would make absolutely certain she learned what it really meant to be “capable.”