The next morning, just as Yun Tangyin finished combing her hair, Fu Yucheng came in carrying a small bamboo cart: "Let's push this around, it's better than you walking, and you can sit down for a while if you get tired."
He put a cotton pad in the stroller, "It's more comfortable than sitting directly, and it won't hurt when the road is bumpy."
Yun Tangyin put a small bamboo stool into the cart: "In case there's nowhere to sit, this is better than standing."
She slipped a cloth bag into Fu Yucheng's hand. "It contains two vegetable dumplings."
As soon as the two left the village, they saw Jiang Jianhua carrying a bamboo basket and walking towards the town: "What a coincidence, you're going to the market too? I heard that things haven't been peaceful in town lately, and there are more unfamiliar faces than usual. You'd better be careful."
Fu Yucheng quickly pulled Yun Tangyin closer to him: "I know, you're more alert than anyone else."
He slipped a bamboo whistle into Yun Tangyin's pocket. "Blow it if you need anything; it'll be faster than calling for help."
Upon arriving in town, the market was bustling with people. Fu Yucheng held Yun Tangyin's hand tightly: "Stay close to me."
He pointed to the fabric stalls in front of him, "Go buy some floral fabric first, or the good stuff will be gone."
The fabric stall owner greeted them with a smile as they approached: "Young lady, are you looking for new clothes? This peony red fabric complements your skin tone better than the others, and it's even more beautiful than last year's new patterns."
Yun Tangyin touched the fabric: "It's quite soft, more comfortable than the coarse cloth at home."
Just as she was about to ask the price, she heard two vendors next to her whispering.
"Have you heard? Last night, a thief broke into the Zhang family's house at the west end. He ransacked the place and it was quite frightening. A lot of things were stolen."
"That's right. I saw the government officials when I came here this morning. They were checking more strictly than usual. They said things haven't been peaceful lately, and everyone should be careful."
Fu Yucheng frowned and moved closer to Yun Tangyin: "Let's hurry up and finish shopping so we can go back."
He picked up the peony-red cloth. "This is it, boss, settle the bill."
Yun Tangyin glanced at the sugar painting stall next to the cloth stall: "Let's buy a sugar tiger, it's pretty and edible."
Just as she was about to walk over, Fu Yucheng stopped her.
"I'll go buy it." Fu Yucheng squeezed into the crowd and quickly returned holding a candy tiger. "Look at this tiger, it's quite majestic."
He slipped a small bamboo tweezer into Yun Tangyin's hand, saying, "This is perfect for picking up thread ends; it's much easier than pulling them off by hand."
Just then, the proprietress of the steamed bun shop next door came out with a bamboo steamer basket: "What would you two like to order? Freshly steamed meat buns are more fragrant than cold ones, and have more filling than other shops."
She lowered her voice, "I really need to go home earlier these days. It's not safe to walk on the road after dark. My husband came back last night and said he saw several men with knives loitering in the alley. They looked fierce and scary."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a meat bun into Fu Yucheng's hand: "Eat something, it's better than an empty stomach."
She looked around and said, "Let's go back after we've finished shopping."
Fu Yucheng took a bite of his steamed bun: "Whatever you say."
He pointed to the fruit stand in front of him, "Buy another bunch of grapes, don't you like them?"
The fruit stall owner put two more grapes into their bag: "Young lady, are you pregnant? Eating more grapes is better than eating sour ones; it's good for the baby."
He slipped a piece of oil paper into Fu Yucheng's hand, saying, "Wrap it up, it's better than getting it all over you."
On the way back, Fu Yucheng pushed a small cart with Yun Tangyin sitting on it. Suddenly, she pointed to the blacksmith shop by the roadside and said, "Let's buy a pair of small scissors. They're faster than the ones at home and easier to cut fabric."
Fu Yucheng stopped the car: "I'll go buy it."
He quickly returned with the scissors and shoved them into Yun Tangyin's hand, saying, "Try how sharp they are. They're much better than the previous pair, aren't they?"
Yun Tangyin held the scissors and cut a strip of fabric. The blade was very sharp. "It's really fast and saves a lot of effort." She put the scissors into her bag. "Keep it safe. Don't lose it."
She pointed to the grocery store in front of her, "Let's go buy a pack of matches; we're almost out."
The grocer was weighing salt for someone when he saw them come in. He straightened up and said, "What would you like? We just got some soap; it smells delicious."
"Give me a box of matches." Fu Yucheng took the matchbox and put it in his pocket, then picked up a bar of soap. "Take this too, it'll be more comfortable for you to wash your hands."
As they left the general store, Yun Tangyin suddenly grabbed him: "Listen, it sounds like there's a commotion over there."
The two looked toward the street corner and saw several men arguing around a street vendor.
The man's face turned red with anxiety: "I'm telling the truth, two cows went missing last night at the south end of the city, and the police are investigating!"
A man spat out, "Stop talking nonsense, just sell your stuff quietly."
Fu Yucheng frowned and said to Yun Tangyin in a low voice, "Let's leave quickly, don't stay here any longer."
Just as I turned the corner, I bumped into a man carrying a medicine box, dressed like a traveling doctor.
When the itinerant doctor saw Fu Yucheng pushing the pregnant woman, he stopped and stared at Yun Tangyin for a moment, then warned her, "Don't go out at night recently. There was a family who got up in the middle of the night and asked a stranger for directions. The next day, they lost a new cotton-padded coat and about ten yuan."
Yun Tangyin squeezed Fu Yucheng's hand tightly: "I understand, thank you."
Fu Yucheng quickened his pace, the cart wheels making a rapid sound on the stone road.
Yun Tangyin suddenly spoke up: "Do you think... there might be something going on with us?"
"Don't overthink it." Fu Yucheng patted the back of her hand with one of his free hands. "We live in a military compound, so we can help if anything happens."
He glanced at the roadside and said, "There's an old locust tree ahead. Let's take a break before continuing."
There were a few elderly people resting under the tree, and they moved over when they saw them coming.
An old man, puffing on his pipe, said, "Young man, take your wife and head home early. Things haven't been peaceful these past few days. Lock the door in the evening, you can't go wrong."
Fu Yucheng nodded his thanks and took out some vegetable dumplings from his cloth bag: "Have some, to fill your stomach."
Yun Tangyin took a bite of a vegetable dumpling, then suddenly pointed into the distance: "Isn't that my second sister-in-law? Why is she walking that way?"
Fu Yucheng looked in the direction she pointed and saw Jiang Jianhua standing in front of a tea stall, talking and gesturing with his hands. His heart tightened: "Let's go over and say hello, and ask about the situation."
When Jiang Jianhua saw them coming, he quickly waved and said, "You should go back too. The tea stall owner said that someone saw a few strangers loitering around the ferry this morning. They didn't seem like good people."
"Okay, I'm leaving now." Fu Yucheng turned around, pushing his bike. "You should go home early too, don't delay."
They walked in silence until they were almost home, when Yun Tangyin suddenly said softly, "When we get back, let's make sure the gate is locked tight, and we can put a thick piece of wood on top of it."
"Okay, I'll go get it right away." Fu Yucheng looked down at her. "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Yun Tangyin leaned closer to him: "I'm not afraid, I'm just thinking about the child."
She touched her belly and said, "It'll be fine after this period."
Fu Yucheng stopped pushing the cart and bent down to tidy up the stray hairs on her forehead: "It will be alright. I'll add another lock at the gate to make it safer."
Yun Tangyin looked up at him; sunlight filtered through the leaves and fell on his face, making his eyes shine brightly.
She suddenly laughed: "Yes, it'll definitely work."
Fu Yucheng smiled too. The wheels rolled over the dirt road, making a soft rustling sound. Accompanied by a few barks of dogs in the distance, it was more reassuring than the hustle and bustle of the town.
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