The shockwaves from that barely audible "thank you" lingered in Howard's heart for a long time.
He watched as Mingzhao sat quietly on the edge of the bed, beginning to organize the few clothes in her canvas bag: one set was an old patient gown that Gongzhu had temporarily found and altered, and the other was the smallest size military uniform that Howard had gotten from the logistics department. Her movements were meticulous, yet she possessed a calmness that was incongruous with her age.
He opened his mouth, as if to ask, "You...can you speak now?" or "How are you feeling now?"
But seeing her focused profile and the glaring bandage on her forehead, he swallowed his words. What she needed now was rest and adjustment, not further questioning. He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, turned, and walked out.
"I'll go... fetch some water and tidy up outside." He made up an excuse, his voice slightly tense.
Mingzhao didn't look up, but just gave a soft "hmm," still that indistinct breathy sound, but a little clearer than before.
Howard paused, his heart skipped a beat, and then quickly walked out of the house, closing the door behind him.
He stood in the small courtyard, took a deep breath of the air filled with the scent of dust and weeds, and only then did he feel the inexplicable palpitation in his chest subside slightly.
He rolled up his sleeves and began sweeping the fallen leaves and dust in the yard.
Just then, a deliberately amplified, cheerful greeting came from the courtyard gate:
"Hey! Commander Huo! I heard you moved in? It's been so long since Xiangyang Courtyard No. 17 has been this lively!"
Howard looked up and saw a middle-aged woman with trendy permed hair, wearing a floral polyester shirt, and a slightly plump figure, leaning against the gate frame, holding a handful of sunflower seeds in her hand, cracking them open while smiling and peering inside.
It's Wang Xiufen from house number 16 next door. She's known in the residential compound as a "gossip" and "warm-hearted person."
"Sister-in-law Wang." Huo Hua put down the broom and greeted her politely, but subconsciously took a step forward, blocking Wang Xiufen's view into the house.
"Oh, don't be so polite!"
Wang Xiufen stepped across the threshold with enthusiasm, her eyes darting around before clearly targeting the closed door to the main room. "I heard you got married? That's wonderful news! Where's the bride? Let your sister-in-law see her! Our Commander Huo certainly has excellent taste!"
As she spoke, she made a move to walk into the house.
Huo Hua frowned almost imperceptibly, took a step back, and blocked Wang Xiufen's path again. His face still had a polite smile, but his voice was a few degrees deeper: "Sister-in-law Wang, my wife... she's not feeling well. She was just discharged from the hospital and needs to rest. It's really inconvenient today. We'll invite you over another day when the house is all sorted out."
"Not feeling well?"
Wang Xiufen's smile froze for a moment, then her expression hardened with curiosity and inquiry. "Oh dear, this needs to be taken good care of! What's wrong? Is it serious? Your sister-in-law knows a lot of good doctors..."
As she spoke, she stood on tiptoe, trying to peek over Howard's shoulder.
Howard stood tall and straight like a pine tree, completely blocking her view.
His smile faded slightly, and his tone carried a gentle refusal that left no room for argument: "It's just a small problem, thank you for your concern, sister-in-law. The doctor advised me to rest quietly and avoid noise. Sister-in-law, you should go back now, I will definitely visit you another day."
These words sound polite, but the implication of asking them to leave is quite clear.
Wang Xiufen met with a rebuff, and her smile began to fade.
She curled her lip, her gaze sweeping over Howard's muscular forearms and dusty hands revealed by his rolled-up sleeves, then glancing at the dilapidated courtyard and the closed doors. A fleeting, almost imperceptible look of disdain and schadenfreude crossed her eyes.
It seems the rumors are true. Commander Huo's wife is either really in poor health, or... not presentable enough? Otherwise, why wouldn't she dare to leave the house?
"Alright, alright, rest is the most important thing!" Wang Xiufen chuckled and spat out the sunflower seed shells in her mouth. "Then Commander Huo, you go ahead with your work. Your sister-in-law will come to see the bride another day!"
After saying that, she turned and walked away, swaying her waist, dragging out the words "bride" in a long and strange way.
Howard watched her departing figure, his eyes calm and undisturbed.
He had anticipated the gossip and scrutinizing glances from the family compound.
He didn't care what others thought, but he cared about the feelings of the person inside the room. She was like a frightened, wounded little animal, and any slight disturbance from the outside world could make her retreat into her shell.
He picked up the broom again and quickly swept the yard clean. He then fetched some water and wiped the doors and windows. After finishing, he looked at the sky; it was past noon.
He went back into the room. Mingzhao had already folded the clothes and placed them neatly on the bedside table.
She sat at her desk, her fingers tracing unconsciously across the surface. Her gaze, through the dusty glass window, fell on a few weeds in the corner of the yard, her eyes vacant, lost in thought. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a small patch of light on her pale face, the gauze on her forehead still conspicuous.
"Are you hungry?" Howard lowered his voice. "I'll go to the cafeteria to get some food. You sit down and rest for a while, don't move around."
Mingzhao turned her head at the sound and looked at him. Her eyes were expressionless, and she simply nodded slightly.
Howard turned and left, his steps much faster than when he arrived. He headed straight for the regimental staff canteen.
At this hour, there weren't many people left in the canteen. At the food window, the chubby head cook, Old Zhao, saw Huo Hua and gaped in surprise: "Commander Huo? What brings you here to get food yourself today? Haven't you eaten yet?"
Howard is known in the group for being so busy that he doesn't even have time to eat.
"Yes, two portions." Howard said succinctly, handing over two aluminum lunchboxes.
Old Zhao quickly served him his meal. The food in the officers' mess hall was slightly better than that in the soldiers' mess hall, but not by much.
Howard specifically asked for an extra serving of braised cabbage with vermicelli, which was a bit oilier, and pointed to the freshly cooked, soft, and snow-white steamed buns: "Take two more steamed buns."
He remembered Gongzhu saying that Mingzhao was severely malnourished and needed to eat more staple foods.
"Alright!" Old Zhao filled the lunchbox to the brim, then stuffed in four large steamed buns. "Commander Huo, who is this for? Why are you so thoughtful?"
He winked and made faces, clearly having heard some rumors as well.
Huo Hua didn't reply, but simply paid the bill, picked up the heavy lunchbox, and hurried away. Old Zhao watched his retreating figure, clicked his tongue, and muttered to himself: "Looks like Huo Tuan's new wife has really moved in?"
Howard returned to the courtyard and pushed open the door. Mingzhao was still sitting at her desk, her posture unchanged, like a quiet porcelain doll.
"Dinner's ready." Howard placed the lunchbox on the table and opened the lid. The aroma of the food instantly filled the small room.
He pushed the cabbage stew with vermicelli, which was obviously richer in meat slices and oil, and two steamed buns in front of Mingzhao, while he himself had a regular shredded potato dish and two steamed buns in front of him.
Mingzhao's gaze fell on the steaming food, then he looked at Howard's much bland shredded potatoes.
She didn't say anything, but simply picked up a steamed bun and took a small bite.
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