A deafening roar of cheers erupted outside.
Despite their loud shouts, these soldiers immediately revert to their military bearing when it comes to getting food, maintaining strict discipline and obediently lining up with their own food containers.
Like a primary school student, he blushed and kept saying "Thank you, sister-in-law."
They are absolutely adorable.
Looking at these faces that were only a few years younger than her, Zhou Qiqi felt as if she were seeing the younger brother next door. Her hands, which were scooping rice, were as steady as Mount Tai. The pile of braised pork she scooped was so high that the pieces of meat trembled and almost fell off.
After the sumptuous lunch, everyone was beaming with satisfaction, their mouths still glistening with oil, and their voices filled with contentment.
Zhou Qiqi didn't stop for a moment and immediately set up a large pot to start cooking the mutton.
I also made a lot of dough with Zhu Yingying.
In the afternoon, she planned to serve everyone mutton soup, along with the flatbread she made herself.
This Shaanxi specialty noodle dish has a chewy and satisfying texture. When soaked in fragrant mutton soup, it absorbs all the flavorful broth but still retains its springy chewiness, making it the perfect accompaniment to mutton stew.
The soldiers are working very hard.
By 3 p.m., the toilet and bathroom in Zhou Qiqi and Zhu Yingying's house were finished, and the pipes were laid.
At Shen Huaichuan's command, everyone rushed off to help the other families without stopping.
They only built toilets, so the project was a bit smaller. They worked until after 7 p.m. and all the work was successfully completed.
Hu Chunxiao's family gave each of the soldiers two packs of Peony cigarettes.
These high-end cigarettes cost 50 cents a pack on the market, which is twice as expensive as the Golden Leaf and Daqianmen cigarettes they usually smoke.
The young men held cigarettes, their faces beaming with smiles.
Director Lin's wife and the other two families hadn't prepared anything in advance, and they were a little embarrassed.
After discussing it, they took ten yuan and said they would have Shen Huaichuan distribute it among them as wages.
Shen Huaichuan was eating mutton soup with the soldiers when he shook his head to refuse, and said coldly.
"Need not."
He had a cold face, no expression, like an iceberg; getting close to him made the air feel several degrees colder.
The women felt a little uneasy looking at him and didn't dare to talk to him anymore. They tried to give money to the soldiers, but they refused.
Left with no other choice, the sisters-in-law had to pin their hopes on Zhou Qiqi, with Director Lin's wife speaking first.
"You absolutely must take this money. It's not just to thank them, but also to thank you! If it weren't for you taking the lead, who knows how long this toilet project would have been delayed!"
"Really, there's no need! We're neighbors who see each other all the time. Bringing up money over such a small matter would only create distance!"
Zhou Qiqi quickly waved her hand and smiled with her eyes crinkling.
Seeing that her sisters-in-law were a little embarrassed, she rolled her eyes, winked playfully, and said with a mysterious expression.
"I'd rather have a valuable gift than money!"
The women exchanged bewildered glances, their hearts skipping a beat, and asked in unison, "What?"
Zhou Qiqi suppressed a mischievous smile and said seriously.
"Sister Lin, the vegetables in your backyard are growing so beautifully, could you share some seeds with me? Sister Wang, your flowers are blooming so brightly, could you cut a couple of branches for me to grow? And Sister Deng, your dried loofahs look really nice, could you give me two to wash the dishes with?"
"I've only been here with the military for a few days, and my house and yard are so empty, it doesn't even feel like a home. I'm really in need of these things!"
When her sisters-in-law heard that these were the things she wanted, they immediately breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Why not!"
Aunt Deng, who had been drying a yard full of old loofahs, laughed heartily.
"Girl, I thought it was something serious! Take whatever you want from my place, except for my man!"
Director Lin's wife joked, "Oh, Deng Cuixiang, what are you saying! She has Regiment Commander Shen, how could she possibly be interested in your man!"
Sister-in-law Deng quickly slapped her mouth.
"Look at my mouth! I misspoke, I misspoke! It's not just 'except for my man,' it includes my man. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you!"
"So you've been wanting to kick your man out all along?"
"Haha, you guys figured it out?"
Amidst laughter and cheerful chatter, even the naturally shy Zhu Yingying laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight, filling the courtyard with a warm and cozy atmosphere.
Looking at the scene before her, Zhou Qiqi was filled with emotion.
It turns out that in the military dependents' home, people like Qiu Chunfang and Li Hongjuan are only a minority; the majority are kind and warm-hearted.
The group chatted for a while longer, and as dusk deepened, they reluctantly said goodbye.
Since we live not far apart, we can visit each other anytime in the future.
After seeing off their neighbors, the soldiers lined up and returned to their unit.
The bathroom has been airing out for several hours, so it's ready to use.
Zhou Qiqi was about to boil water for a bath when she discovered that Shen Huaichuan had already prepared the water without her noticing.
This man, though not very talkative, was surprisingly considerate.
She didn't mince words, thanked them sweetly, and, carrying her change of clothes, walked briskly towards the bathroom.
I've been at the military base for several days now, and I haven't had a proper shower yet. I feel sticky and uncomfortable all over.
The moment hot water poured over my body, all my fatigue seemed to be washed away with the water.
She sighed contentedly, feeling as if she had finally "come back to life."
After taking a shower, while the bathroom was still filled with steam, she quickly called Zhouzhou in.
The evening breeze in September already carries a hint of coolness, and it's easy to catch a cold if you're not careful.
Watching Zhouzhou go inside, Zhou Qiqi went to get a basin, soaked her clean clothes, and was about to wash them.
But Zhouzhou had already finished washing up and was getting ready to go back to her room.
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