Fu Yucheng put some noodles into Yun Tangyin's bowl with his chopsticks: "Eat quickly, sweet potato noodles taste better when they're hot."

He suddenly remembered something, "The logistics department is going to repair the water pipes tomorrow, so we need to store some water in advance."

Yun Tangyin ladled a spoonful of soup into his bowl: "I know, I'll boil two pots when I get up tomorrow morning. By the way, your old cotton-padded jacket needs to be taken apart and washed, I'll find time to refurbish it."

Fu Yucheng shoveled noodles into his mouth and laughed, "No need to refurbish it, the new cotton-padded jacket you made will definitely be warmer."

He looked out the window and thought, "It's gotten cold so suddenly; the patrol team should all take out their overcoats."

Yun Tangyin wiped her mouth: "When I was collecting cotton this afternoon, I saw Director Wang sewing cotton gloves for the patrol team. He said the temperature would drop in a couple of days."

She added a piece of coal to the stove, saying, "Let's boil some more water so we can soak our feet tonight."

Just then, Old Zhang's cough came from outside the courtyard.

Fu Yucheng got up and opened the door: "Uncle Zhang, still not resting?"

Old Zhang held up an enamel mug: "I just brewed some goji berry tea, here's a cup for you."

He glanced at the table. "Eating noodles? I have some pickled peppers, want some?"

Yun Tangyin stuffed a sweet potato into his hand: "It's freshly boiled, please try it. No need for chili peppers, Acheng doesn't like spicy food."

“You young people really know how to manage your money.” Old Zhang took a bite of sweet potato. “The surveillance system is working properly. I just saw Zhou Desheng’s wife bring a bowl of dumplings to the guard room, saying it was for the brothers on duty.”

Fu Yucheng added some hot water to Old Zhang's cup: "Uncle Zhang, don't always stay at the gatehouse. Take a break when you need to."

"It's alright, I'm in good health." Old Zhang put down his cup. "You all should get some rest. I'm going back to my room."

After seeing Old Zhang off, Yun Tangyin poured hot water into the basin: "Come and soak your feet, the water has just cooled down."

She placed a bar of soap next to Fu Yucheng's feet. "Wash your socks while you're at it. I'll sew up a couple of stitches for you; your heels are chafed."

Fu Yucheng put his feet into the basin: "You're so thoughtful. By the way, we're checking the water pipes tomorrow, should we borrow a big bucket? Ours isn't big enough."

"No need, I borrowed two when I went to collect cotton this afternoon and put them in the woodshed."

Yun Tangyin poured some water on his feet. "Is this water temperature okay?"

"Perfect timing." Fu Yucheng slipped a walnut into her hand. "Crack a couple to cheer yourself up."

The next morning, just as Yun Tangyin filled the water vat, she heard the voices of the military wives outside the courtyard.

Aunt Li came in carrying her child: "Yinyin, have you stored the water? We only have half a bucket left."

"I've stored it. Go to the woodshed and get a bucket. Pour some out and use it first."

Yun Tangyin slipped a cookie into the child's hand, "It's freshly baked, have a taste."

Aunt Li came out carrying a bucket of water: "You're so thoughtful. By the way, my husband said the regimental headquarters is organizing a visit to the textile factory for military families. They're leaving early the day after tomorrow. Are you going?"

Yun Tangyin poured flour into the basin: "Go, I'll take a look at the new fabric. What about your child?"

“Let my mom watch over it,” Aunt Li said, scooping water into the bucket. “I heard that if you go there, you can get two feet of cloth, and they have a wide variety of colors.”

Fu Yucheng returned from outside carrying the ladder: "Did you return the ladder? Uncle Zhang said the surveillance footage at night was really clear. There was a stray dog ​​wandering around the gate last night, and it was all recorded."

"Does it really work?" Yun Tangyin shoved a steamed bun into his hand. "Eat it quickly, I steamed one with brown sugar."

“It works,” Fu Yucheng said, biting into a steamed bun. “Uncle Zhang said that from now on, anyone who wants to enter the compound must register at the gatehouse first, otherwise they won’t be allowed in.”

He stuffed a steamed bun into Aunt Li's hand, saying, "It's fresh out of the steamer."

Aunt Li took the steamed bun and put it in her pocket: "I'm going back now, the child must be hungry. Meet at the main gate at seven o'clock the day after tomorrow, don't forget."

After seeing Li Sao off, Yun Tangyin added water to the pot: "Cook some sweet potato porridge to eat with steamed buns."

She shoved a pair of scissors into Fu Yucheng's hand. "Help me cut out a pattern from that peony-red fabric. I want to make a little jacket."

Fu Yucheng held up the scissors and gestured: "How big should it be? I think two feet square will be fine."

He finished cutting and put it on the table. "Is this okay?"

"Almost," Yun Tangyin picked up the fabric sample and compared it to the fabric. "Let's go to the textile factory and see if they have any nice lace trim, then we can add some."

She looked out the window and said, "The plumbers are here. Let's turn off the tap."

Fu Yucheng had just turned off the tap when Director Wang came over holding a bulletin board: "Here's the list of people going to the textile factory the day after tomorrow. Take a look and see if there are any mistakes."

He slipped a piece of paper into Yun Tangyin's hand. "These are the precautions. Don't bring too much stuff."

Yun Tangyin took the paper and looked at it: "I understand, just bring a cloth bag. Director Wang, can I choose the fabric myself when I get there?"

"Yes, you can. Choose one, put it in the book, and it will be deducted from your allowance at the end of the month." Director Wang stuffed an apple into Fu Yucheng's hand. "It was just issued, here you go."

Fu Yucheng handed a sweet potato to Director Wang: "It's freshly boiled, please try it. I have a day off the day after tomorrow, so I'll go help look after things."

"That's great," Director Wang said, hammering nails into the bulletin board. "More people mean more help. By the way, there's a canteen at the textile factory, so we don't need to bring lunch."

In the afternoon, Yun Tangyin was sewing a cloth cover when Fu Yucheng came back with a paper package: "This is the soap issued by the regiment headquarters, here you go."

He poured it onto the table, "There are also two boxes of face cream, made in Shanghai."

Yun Tangyin picked up the face cream and smelled it: "It smells so good, better than Vaseline. Send a box to your second sister-in-law; she said she wanted to buy some last time but couldn't bring herself to do it."

Fu Yucheng stuffed the box into his pocket: "I'll go now. Oh, by the way, I just saw Xiao Li on patrol. He said there's a movie tonight, 'The Southern Expedition and the Northern War,' wanna go see it?"

“Go,” Yun Tangyin shoved a cloth mat into his hand, “bring a mat, the ground is cold.”

When Fu Yucheng went to the canteen for dinner in the evening, the head chef added an extra spoonful of braised pork to his bowl: "When you go to the textile factory the day after tomorrow, bring some meat buns for the military wives to eat on the way."

He shoved an enamel mug into Yun Tangyin's hand. "It's soy milk inside, it's warm."

"Thank you, Master Liu," Yun Tangyin said, slipping a shoe insole into his hand. "It's freshly made, please use it."

Zhou Desheng's wife came over with a lunchbox: "I heard you're going to the textile factory too? I want to see the loom; I've never seen one before."

She placed a piece of pork rib into Yun Tangyin's bowl, saying, "Eat more."

Fu Yucheng stuffed a steamed bun into Zhou Desheng's wife's hand: "I just bought it, it's still warm. I heard there's a nursery at the textile factory, so it's convenient to take the kids there."

"Really?" Zhou Desheng's wife's eyes lit up. "Then I'll bring my son along too, so he can broaden his horizons."

After dinner, we went to see a movie. As soon as we sat down, Xiao Li came over with a cloth bag: "Sister-in-law, I brought you some roasted peanuts."

He shoved a flashlight into Fu Yucheng's hand. "It'll be dark at night. Use it to light your way after the movie."

Yun Tangyin slipped a piece of candy into Xiao Li's hand: "I just bought it, have a taste. I've seen this movie, it's really good."

Xiao Li popped a peanut into his mouth: "I haven't seen it yet, but I've heard it's amazing."

He pointed into the distance and said, "Director Wang is here. I'll go say hello."