The two-story villa seemed to have suddenly become empty, devoid of the mother's gentle voice and the lively presence of younger siblings.

Zhou Jinshan walked to her side, saw the dejection on her face, sighed inwardly, and suggested, "Mingshu, let me take the day off to accompany you. Let's go to the park."

Feng Mingshu snapped out of her daze and glared at him: "When do you have time to go to the park? I have to go to the tailor shop, and you should hurry up and go to the military academy too."

After saying that, she took her schoolbag, slung it over her shoulder, and pushed Zhou Jinshan out.

“I’ll take you there on my bike,” Zhou Jinshan suggested again.

Feng Mingshu glared at him: "Aren't you afraid of being late? I'm more afraid that Political Commissar Lin will nag me for being an inconsiderate family member."

As they were talking, a bus pulled up, and Feng Mingshu immediately tossed him a bunch of keys: "I need to catch the bus, lock the door."

After saying that, she quickly caught up with the bus, not noticing what the man behind her said.

When they arrived at the tailor shop, Master Qin handed her an envelope.

Feng Mingshu took the money and saw six yuan inside. She asked in surprise, "Master, why are you giving me money?"

"This is your apprentice's salary from last month, eighteen yuan a month. You've been here for ten days, so it's six yuan," Master Qin replied.

Feng Mingshu only came to learn the skills, but she didn't expect her master to give her an apprenticeship. This surprised and embarrassed her: "Master, I practiced before and didn't do any work. How can I ask for a salary?"

Inside the tailor shop, the four senior apprentices looked over together, each with a different expression.

Master Qin raised his eyelids and said slowly, "Every apprentice starts by practicing, but from today onwards, you will be assisting your senior brothers."

This means she's officially started working for the store.

Feng Mingshu felt excited and a little nervous. He first thanked his master, and then said to his four senior brothers, "Please give me more guidance in the future."

Regardless of what the four senior brothers thought in their hearts, they all smiled and said that they would definitely take good care of their junior sister.

From then on, Feng Mingshu began working odd jobs at a tailor shop.

Sweeping the floor, wiping the table, arranging the fabric, and also greeting customers and helping with measurements and registration, the only sewing work I did all day was sewing a few buttons on the jacket I made for my senior brother.

In the evening, Zhou Jinshan rode his bicycle to the tailor shop and saw his wife being bossed around like a headless chicken.

He frowned slightly, propped up his bicycle, strode into the store, took the fabric from his wife's hand, and then pulled out a handkerchief to hand her: "Wipe your sweat off."

When the man got close, Feng Mingshu noticed him and quickly shook her head, saying, "I'll wipe it later. Let me put the cloth away first."

"Where to put it? Just tell me and I'll do it."

His unquestionable attitude and cold expression not only made Feng Mingshu forget to refute, but also shocked the other senior apprentices in the shop as he pointed to the location.

The eldest brother walked over and said with a smile, "Give me the fabric, I'll put it away. You've had a hard day, junior sister. It's time to go home now, junior sister, you and your boyfriend should go home."

"Senior Brother, didn't you say there was still work to be done..."

“Whatever work needs to be done tomorrow, there’s no need to cram it all into one day. Come on, come on, I need to get ready to close up shop too.” The eldest brother took the fabric from Zhou Jinshan’s hand and waved goodbye to the couple warmly.

The remaining three senior brothers had the same attitude, their faces full of smiles, as if Feng Mingshu was the most favored junior sister in the shop.

Feng Mingshu sat on the back of the bicycle, grabbed the blue military uniform fabric of the man in front of her, and gently poked his waist, saying, "Comrade Zhou, thank you for supporting me just now."

The bicycle screeched to a stop by the roadside. Zhou Jinshan propped the bicycle up on one leg, turned around, grabbed her fussy hand, and looked down at her, saying, "It's so hard. Don't go anymore. My salary can support you and our future children."

After the Lantern Festival, the weather gradually warmed up, but Feng Mingshu noticed that the evening breeze was still cool. She slowly withdrew her hand and asked, "Do you want me to stay at home and focus on having and raising your children?"

Noticing her displeasure, Zhou Jinshan explained, "That's not what I meant. I just don't want you to work so hard."

“I don’t find it hard. I think it feels good to earn money outside.” Feng Mingshu put her hand on her schoolbag and pressed down on the envelope inside.

Although there was only six yuan in it, it was her first salary in both her lives.

Seeing the seriousness on his wife's face, Zhou Jinshan recalled her focus when she was sewing and suddenly realized that his words had indeed been a bit hasty. So he lowered his head and apologized: "I'm sorry, I misspoke. I will come to the tailor shop to pick you up every evening from now on."

The tightness in Feng Mingshu's chest dissipated instantly, and she placed her right hand on his waist: "Let's go home."

"Okay, let's go home."

A smile appeared in Zhou Jinshan's eyes. He grabbed her left hand and placed it on his waist, then leaned down slightly and pedaled hard.

The sudden speed made Feng Mingshu gasp, instinctively pressing herself against the man's back and quickly clasping her hands together to hug his waist.

Perhaps because the clothes were too thin, Feng Mingshu immediately felt the undulating muscles on the man's waist and abdomen.

Her palms suddenly felt hot, and just as she was about to pull them back, the man's large hand grabbed hers.

"The road is uneven, don't let go."

Seeing him riding the bike with one hand, Feng Mingshu was terrified and said repeatedly, "Okay, I won't let go, you just need to hold onto the handlebars!"

A deep laugh came from ahead, but seeing that he had his hands on the handlebars, Feng Mingshu decided to let it go for the time being.

Upon arriving home, Feng Mingshu unlocked the door, put on her schoolbag, and immediately went into the kitchen.

"I'll cook. What would you like to eat tonight?"

Zhou Jinshan took off his coat, rolled up his shirt sleeves, revealing his strong, well-defined muscles and tanned skin.

Feng Mingshu looked away from the food she had brought back that morning and said, "I want to eat cornbread, is that okay?"

My mother and younger siblings went to the countryside. I heard that the corn there grows tall and strong, so I guess they'll be eating cornbread every day from now on.

It makes my heart ache just thinking about it.

"Mingshu, steaming cornbread takes a while. How about we make pancakes instead tonight?" Zhou Jinshan suggested.

Feng Mingshu thought for a moment and nodded: "Add more cornmeal to the pancakes."

Zhou Jinshan nodded and told her to wait outside.

Feng Mingshu took a step outside, but suddenly remembered her mother's instructions before she left, so she stopped and said, "Let me help you."

“No need.” Zhou Jinshan refused, then turned around and saw her still standing at the door, so he smiled and said, “Ming Shu, if you can, take a book out of my bag and read it to me by flipping through any page.”

"Okay, I'll go get the book."

Feng Mingshu happily agreed and went to the living room to rummage through his bag. She found that besides the dictionary she had given him, there were also Mao Zedong's Selected Works and the Little Red Book inside.

She paused for a moment, then picked up Mao Zedong's Selected Works, went to the kitchen doorway, and read to the man who was busy inside.

As Zhou Jinshan kneaded the dough, listening to his wife's sweet voice, like a mountain stream, he thought of the spring water in his hometown.