As soon as the car entered the military dependents' compound, Yu Xia was seen standing on tiptoe at the entrance, looking around. When she saw them, she quickly came up to them and said, "You're finally back! Jiang Jianhua made chicken soup for you."
As soon as Yun Tangyin jumped out of the car, Yu Xia grabbed her and bombarded her with questions: "Was the Songhua River fun? Did you catch any big fish? Did Acheng bully you?"
Fu Yucheng followed behind carrying a fish basket. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "Don't worry, sister-in-law. I cherish her too much to dare to bully her."
"That's more like it." Yu Xia smiled and patted him, then her sharp eyes caught sight of the wildflowers in Yun Tangyin's hair. "Oh, these flowers are really pretty. Did Acheng pick them?"
Yun Tangyin blushed slightly, and Fu Yucheng answered first, "Yes, it was picked by the river, it suits her perfectly."
Upon entering the courtyard, Jiang Jianhua was placing chicken soup on the table. Seeing them, he quickly wiped his hands and said, "Yinyin, sit down and rest. I've been stewing it for three hours."
As soon as Yun Tangyin sat down, she saw Fu Yucheng put the largest carp into the basin. Jiang Jianhua exclaimed, "My God, such a big fish! Enough for us to eat for several days."
"Give some to your sister-in-law and mother," Yun Tangyin said with a smile. "Fu Yucheng said this fish makes the best soup."
Fu Yucheng suddenly pulled a small cloth bag out of the fish basket. Inside were several smooth river stones. He stuffed them into Yun Tangyin's hand: "I picked up the ones you said were pretty."
The river stones, smooth and translucent from being washed by the river, gleamed with a warm light under the lamp.
Yun Tangyin held the stone in her hand and played with it. Yu Xia came over to look and said, "This stone is really handsome. Are you planning to put it under the cement by the door?"
Everyone laughed, and Yun Tangyin said reproachfully, "Sister-in-law always wastes things. I want to string them into a bracelet."
“I’ll drill the hole for you,” Fu Yucheng immediately replied. “Tomorrow I’ll borrow tools from the blacksmith at the regimental headquarters, and I guarantee it will be done beautifully.”
The next morning, Fu Yucheng indeed took the river stone to the blacksmith's shop.
As the two were talking, Fu Yucheng returned, holding a string of Jiangshi stones in his hand. The red string threaded through the gray and white stones had an indescribable elegance.
He slipped it onto Yun Tangyin's wrist; it fit perfectly. "Doesn't it look good?"
"It looks good." Yun Tangyin shook her wrist, and the stones made a crisp sound as they clattered together.
In the afternoon, Fu Yucheng indeed took Yun Tangyin to the shooting range.
He demonstrated it a few times, and the sound of the gunshot made Yun Tangyin shrink back.
He came over, took her hand, and taught her how to aim: "Don't be afraid, follow me."
Yun Tangyin closed her eyes and pulled the trigger, but the bullet went way off course. She stomped her foot in frustration, "It all went astray."
"You did well the first time." Fu Yucheng ruffled her hair. "Try again, look at the crosshair, and think of Xu Runli as the target."
Yun Tangyin chuckled and raised her gun again, this time the bullet grazed the bullseye.
Fu Yucheng's eyes lit up: "Amazing! With more practice, you're sure to win the championship."
As they were practicing, Officer Zhang walked by with his camera in hand: "Company Commander Fu, can I take a picture of you? The regiment is making a bulletin board for military families."
Fu Yucheng pulled Yun Tangyin closer to him, and the two stood side by side at the edge of the shooting range. He was still holding a gun in his hand, and the Jiangshi bracelet on her wrist was gleaming.
The camera clicked, freezing this moment into eternity.
During dinner that evening, Song Yushuang looked at the photo and nodded repeatedly: "You look so energetic, even better than in your wedding photos."
"If Mom likes them, I'll go get a few more printed." Fu Yucheng put a piece of chicken on Yun Tangyin's plate. "Does Yinyin still want to take pictures?"
Yun Tangyin suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, we've almost finished the osmanthus cake."
"I know," Fu Yucheng said with a smile. "I've already written a letter, I'll send it to you later."
Yun Tangyin felt a warmth in her heart. This seemingly rough-around-the-edges man always thought of the details perfectly.
At night, the two lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), and Fu Yucheng played with her hair: "I'll take you to the supply and marketing cooperative tomorrow? I heard that a new batch of floral fabric has arrived, and I was thinking of making you a new cheongsam too."
"Why make a cheongsam? It's inconvenient to wear it out." Yun Tangyin yawned.
"What's inconvenient about it?" He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "My wife looks good in anything. She has to wear it out so the whole regiment can see that my wife, Fu Yucheng's wife, is the most beautiful in the world."
Yun Tangyin was amused by him and snuggled closer to him: "You have such a sweet tongue."
“I’m telling the truth.” He tightened his arms. “Back in the army, I always heard my comrades talk about how wonderful it was to have a wife, kids, and a warm bed. I didn’t understand then, but now I know that this is the most comfortable life in the world.”
Moonlight streamed through the window and fell on their clasped hands. One wore a military watch, the other a river stone bracelet, yet they looked perfectly harmonious.
As Yun Tangyin was drifting off to sleep, she heard Fu Yucheng whisper in her ear, "Yinyin, thank you for giving me a home."
She snuggled closer to him, a smile on her lips, and drifted off into a sweet dream.
In my dream, there are white birds on the Songhua River, the sound of gunfire at the shooting range, the sweet fragrance of osmanthus cake, and his warm embrace.
These days are wonderful.
With him by my side, every day feels like being immersed in honey, so sweet that I don't want to wake up.
The next morning, Fu Yucheng dragged Yun Tangyin to the supply and marketing cooperative.
As soon as you enter, the saleswoman, Xiao Li, greets you with a smile: "Do you want to buy new clothes?"
Fu Yucheng pushed Yun Tangyin toward the fabric counter: "Let her choose some, make sure it's good quality fabric."
Yun Tangyin's fingertips traced a piece of fine lake-blue cotton cloth, and her eyes lit up: "This cloth is so soft."
“This is it.” Fu Yucheng immediately made the decision. “Take two more pieces for the lining, and have the tailor put in more cotton so it will be warm in winter.”
"You don't need such good material to make a cotton-padded jacket." Yun Tangyin tugged at his sleeve. "It's such a waste."
“Making clothes for my wife is hardly a waste,” he said, turning to Xiao Li. “Take that apricot-colored one too; it’ll be perfect for a cheongsam.”
While Xiao Li was measuring the fabric, Yun Tangyin saw a bottle of face cream on the counter, the kind that Fu Yucheng had said he would buy for her last time.
She had barely glanced at it a couple more times when Fu Yucheng pulled out his money: "Wrap this up too."
"No need, no need," Yun Tangyin quickly waved her hand, "I haven't finished my bottle yet."
He shoved the face cream into her hand, saying, "Take it, my wife's face needs to be well taken care of."
Just then, Yu Xia came in carrying a basket: "Oh, you bought so much fabric? Are you planning to give me a nephew?"
Yun Tangyin's face flushed red, and Fu Yucheng smiled and said, "Don't worry, sister-in-law, it's only a matter of time."
On the way back, Fu Yucheng carried a cloth bag, while Yun Tangyin held a face cream, and the two walked slowly.
Passing by the farmers' market, he suddenly stopped: "Wait a minute."
He turned around, bought a skewer of candied hawthorns, and held it to Yun Tangyin's lips: "Try it, it's sweet and sour."
Yun Tangyin took a bite, and the sourness of the hawthorn mixed with the sweetness of the rock sugar exploded on her tongue. She squinted her eyes and said, "It's so delicious."
"Eat more if you like it." He stuffed the rest of the food into her hands. "I'll make you some hawthorn water tonight to help cut through the richness."
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