Chapter 230 Harmony

Nan Zhiyi and Aunt Feng picked up their luggage and headed to the guest room on the first floor.

As she walked, she said, "The bedding and sheets have all been changed, and the room has been cleaned. You can stay here without worry."

She weighed her luggage in her hand: "Why did you and Yueyue bring so much luggage?"

Aunt Feng said, "This isn't all! There are also two thick quilts and some odds and ends. I was worried they would be hard to carry on the way, so I packed them up and sent them directly from the post office. I estimate they'll arrive at the post office near Peking University in the next day or two, and I'll pick them up then."

Nan Zhiyi was taken aback: "Yueyue's bedding? Doesn't she...live at home? I was thinking of applying for her to live at home so she could live here with me."

Aunt Feng patted her hand: "Silly child, I know how you mean it. Even if she decides to stay at home in the end, I'll send these bedding over first. It's always good to have a bed in the dormitory. You need a place to rest at noon in college, right? If you have a lot of classes or if it's windy or rainy, you can make do in the dormitory for the night."

Nan Zhiyi thought it made sense and nodded: "Aunt Feng, you are so thoughtful."

Just as the two finished packing their luggage, Sister Zhang called from outside that dinner was ready.

Braised pork with potatoes, stir-fried eggs with chives, stir-fried bean sprouts with vinegar, cold shredded radish salad, and a bowl of milky white fish soup. The staple food was specially steamed rice.

Aunt Feng warmly greeted Sister Zhang: "Sister Zhang, stop what you're doing and come eat with us! Oh, we both have the surname Zhang, we were one family five hundred years ago!"

Sister Zhang is very down-to-earth. She rubbed her hands, feeling a little embarrassed, and said, "This...this is too much trouble. You guys eat, I'll eat later."

Nan Zhiyi smiled and pulled her along, saying, "Sister Zhang, sit down and eat with us, it'll be more lively." Usually, she and Sister Zhang would eat together at noon.

Only then did Sister Zhang sit down awkwardly.

Aunt Feng took a bite of the dish and praised it repeatedly: "Sister Zhang, your cooking skills are really good! The fish is fresh and tender, and the cooking time is just right!"

Sister Zhang blushed at the praise and quickly said, "These are all home-style dishes, nothing special. It's mainly because my sister-in-law... Madam Gu sometimes gives me pointers, telling me how to control the heat and seasoning better. Madam is very knowledgeable, and although she doesn't cook herself, what she says is always spot on, and my skills have improved a lot as a result."

What she said was true. Although Nan Zhiyi's cooking skills were not excellent, she had tasted all kinds of delicacies since childhood, and her occasional guidance often enlightened Sister Zhang.

Nan Zhiyi smiled and said, "Sister Zhang is too modest. It's because you are willing to learn and think that you have made such rapid progress."

Aunt Feng laughed too: "Yes, yes, they're all capable people!"

At the dinner table, Zhang Yueran's mind was entirely on Xiaoman. She excitedly fed him fish, barely eating any herself, and kept praising him: "Our Xiaoman eats so well! His little mouth moves so much, and his cheeks puff out like a little squirrel, so cute!"

Nan Zhiyi specially served Zhang Yueran food, reminding her to eat a few bites every now and then, otherwise she couldn't concentrate.

After the meal, Sister Zhang efficiently cleaned up the dining table and kitchen.

Nan Zhiyi told Aunt Feng and Yue Ran to go wash up and rest first: "There is hot water in the bathroom. The heating in the house will not be turned off until mid-March, so it will be warm inside and you won't get cold while washing up."

Zhang Yueran was young and energetic, and didn't want to sleep, so she took Xiaoman upstairs to the study to play with her toys.

Nan Zhiyi then accompanied Aunt Feng to the bedroom on the first floor.

Aunt Feng touched the warm radiator in the room and exclaimed, "It's so nice! The heating in the north is really great! I can wear just a light shirt inside and it's not cold. Unlike where we are, the temperature is the same inside and outside in winter, it's damp and chilly, and we just have to tough it out."

Nan Zhiyi nodded: "Yes, especially with children, it's less likely to get sick if it's warm."

Aunt Feng pulled Nan Zhiyi to sit down on the edge of the bed and reached out to brush her bangs behind her ear: "Zhiyi, seeing you like this, I'm truly relieved. With someone as capable as Sister Zhang taking care of everything at home, big and small, it's really a relief."

You wouldn't believe it, but more than half of the arguments and conflicts between couples stem from these trivial household chores! Having someone take over this whole mess can save couples ninety percent of their troubles.

I bet you and Minister Gu have never argued over such trivial matters, have you?

Nan Zhiyi shook her head directly, "Of course not."

In the more than three years of their marriage, she and Gu Xiao had never had a serious argument.

But a thought was running through her mind: even without Sister Zhang sharing the burden, it would be difficult for her and Gu Xiao to argue about daily necessities.

A man like him is extremely self-disciplined. He never skimps on housework and indulges her to the core. Sometimes, he can always detect her needs before she even realizes them and quietly make arrangements for them.

Living with him, all my sharp edges are wrapped in gentleness, and I can't even find a reason to argue.

Trivial matters may be tedious, but they don't affect them.

Seeing her shake her head, Aunt Feng slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "Good! That's it! If you ask me, when it comes to married life, besides all the trivial matters around the house that can be annoying, the remaining 10% of the troubles are about money. If you have enough money in your pocket and no worries in your heart, then 99% of the troubles will disappear. As the old saying goes, 'When poverty enters the door, love flies out the window,' and there's definitely some truth to that."

Nan Zhiyi smiled and nodded in agreement, "Aunt Feng, you're right, that's exactly the point."

She had to admit that their financial security did indeed prevent them from experiencing many potential frictions and anxieties, allowing them to focus more on each other's emotional and spiritual world.

The two exchanged a knowing smile, both understanding that Gu Xiao and Nan Zhiyi had no such worries.

Aunt Feng looked at her rosy, smooth cheeks and changed the subject: "You look so healthy. Minister Gu... how's it going in that area? Still harmonious, right?"

Nan Zhiyi didn't react for a moment: "In what aspect?"

As soon as she said it, she saw Aunt Feng's meaningful look and immediately understood. Her cheeks flushed red, and she stammered, "It's...it's alright...it's...it's pretty good..."

Aunt Feng playfully patted her: "What's there to be embarrassed about! Are you shy with me? He's a soldier, physically strong and energetic, so he has to be good in that area! I can't let you live a life of widowhood at such a young age! This is very important between husband and wife!"

Nan Zhiyi was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear into the ground, and repeatedly begged for forgiveness: "Aunt Feng! Nothing like that! It's really... fine..."

She couldn't wait to end the conversation, her eyes darting towards the door, wanting nothing more than to find an excuse to slip away.

Aunt Feng continued to ramble on, as if she wanted to ask all the worries she had been holding back for a long time: "I couldn't ask in the letter, and we haven't seen each other for the past few years. I've been worried ever since you gave birth to Xiaoman... I was afraid that you young people wouldn't understand, or that the child might have made you estranged, and that your married life might not be harmonious..."

Nan Zhiyi couldn't listen anymore, feeling extremely embarrassed. She hurriedly stood up and said, "Harmony, very harmonious... Um... Aunt Feng, you should rest for a while. You must be tired after sitting in the car for so long! I, I'll go see what Yueyue and Xiaoman are doing upstairs!"

After saying that, he fled in panic.

Aunt Feng watched her flustered figure, then shook her head with a smile.