Upon entering the military family compound, Fu Yucheng first went to the gatehouse to greet Old Zhang.
Old Zhang was oiling his rifle when he saw them come in and straightened up: "You're back early today. I heard things haven't been peaceful lately?"
"Yes, I heard someone lost something." Fu Yucheng stepped behind Yun Tangyin. "Uncle Zhang, could we increase the frequency of night patrols recently?"
Old Zhang loaded a bullet into the gun: "It's been arranged. Starting tonight, we'll add two more men, rotating every hour. Go back to your rooms and lock the doors. If you hear any noise, knock on the wall. I live next door and can hear you."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a bunch of grapes into Old Zhang's hand: "I just bought them, please have a taste."
"Thanks, girl." Old Zhang smiled.
Once home, Fu Yucheng first checked the door and window latches, then dragged a wooden box out from under the bed: "These are some planks I've collected. Nail them up to the back window."
Yun Tangyin placed the floral fabric on the table: "Don't nail it shut, leave a gap for ventilation."
She suddenly remembered something, "Oh right, I should go to the family committee to collect the food coupons this afternoon, I'll go."
“I’ll go with you.” Fu Yucheng put a folding knife in his pocket. “And while we’re at it, ask the director if there are any new regulations in the compound lately.”
In the family committee office, Director Wang was distributing cabbages to several military spouses.
Seeing them come in, he straightened up and smiled, "Yucheng, your arm is all better now? I heard you went to the market?"
"That's about enough." Fu Yucheng moved closer to Yun Tangyin. "Director Wang, things aren't very peaceful in town. Should we be extra careful in the compound?"
Director Wang stuffed grain coupons into their hands: "We just had a meeting. Everyone was told to bring in their clothes that were hanging out to dry, so that outsiders wouldn't see anything amiss. Don't go out after 10 p.m., the patrol team will question any strangers they see."
Li, who was holding her child, chimed in, "My husband said this morning that the logistics department lost two barrels of diesel fuel, and they're investigating. You really need to take good care of your valuables."
Yun Tangyin slipped a piece of candy into Fu Yucheng's hand: "Let's go back after we've collected them. I want to lock up my valuables."
As I passed by the canteen, the head chef was adding coal to the stove under the steamer.
Seeing them come over, he lifted the lid of the steamer: "These are freshly steamed brown sugar buns, take two with you."
He shoved an enamel mug into Yun Tangyin's hand. "It's millet porridge inside, it's warm."
"Thank you, Chef Liu." Fu Yucheng took the steamed bun and put it in his pocket. "Is the cafeteria open tonight?"
"Open it up, I've added two more dishes so the brothers on duty can have something hot to eat." The head chef added a piece of coal to the stove. "If you don't want to cook, come and get your food, I'll save it for you."
I had just sat down inside when I heard the sound of a bicycle bell from outside the yard.
Fu Yucheng peeked through the crack in the door and saw it was Clerk Zhao: "What is it?"
Xiao Zhao jumped out of the car, holding up an envelope: "This was just received by the regimental headquarters, it's for you."
He peered into the yard and said, "Have you heard? The neighboring county caught a few arms thieves. We need to be careful here too."
Fu Yucheng took the letter and stuffed it into his pocket: "I know, ride your bike slowly."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a vegetable dumpling into Xiao Zhao's hand: "Just bought it, have some to tide you over."
As evening fell, Fu Yucheng was nailing wooden boards to the window when he heard knocking coming from next door.
He quickly put down the hammer: "Is it Old Zhang?"
A muffled thud came from the other side of the wall: "Yes, we just saw two strangers loitering in front of the bulletin board. They don't seem to be family members. Lock the door."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a tin box under the bed: "Put the savings book and food coupons here."
She suddenly shoved a pair of scissors into Fu Yucheng's hand, saying, "Put this under your pillow."
Fu Yucheng slipped a whistle into her pocket: "Take this with you, it'll make more noise than banging on the wall."
At dinner, Fu Yucheng put a piece of braised pork into Yun Tangyin's bowl: "Eat more."
Yun Tangyin ladled a spoonful of soup into his bowl: "I heard the patrol team doesn't eat at night, shall we steam some buns and send them over tomorrow?"
“Okay.” Fu Yucheng looked out the window. “I’ll go to the boiler room to get some hot water later, and while I’m at it, I’ll ask the night watchman if he’s seen anything suspicious.”
Just as I was about to leave, I heard arguing coming from outside the courtyard.
Fu Yucheng held Yun Tangyin's hand down and peeked through the crack in the door himself.
Two patrolmen were questioning a man in a blue shirt, who stammered and couldn't give the names of his family members.
"Does it look like they're here to visit relatives?" Yun Tangyin shrank behind Fu Yucheng.
“No way, people visiting relatives all bring letters of introduction.” Fu Yucheng gripped the door frame tightly. “Listen, if they really start arguing, it’s none of our business. You’re pregnant, don’t let anything happen to you.”
Not long after, the patrolmen escorted the man toward the gate.
Fu Yucheng breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and saw that Yun Tangyin's face was pale, so he quickly poured her a cup of hot water: "Don't be afraid, it's alright now."
Yun Tangyin held his hand tightly: "I'm not afraid, I'm just worried about your arm being healed..."
"Don't worry, I can handle anything if something happens." Fu Yucheng added a piece of coal to the stove. "Tomorrow morning I'll go to the logistics department to get two bundles of wire and wrap the fence around the yard a few more times."
I had just lain down in the middle of the night when I heard the footsteps of the patrol team.
Fu Yucheng leaned closer to Yun Tangyin's ear: "Can you hear the footsteps? It's Class Three, their steps are synchronized, there's no mistake."
Yun Tangyin leaned closer to him: "It's still more reassuring to be in the compound, with so many people looking after us."
“That’s right.” Fu Yucheng smiled, touching her belly. “After the baby is born, we’ll have him learn to march with the patrol team uncles.”
As dawn approached, Yun Tangyin was awakened by the cold and saw Fu Yucheng adding coal to the stove.
She put on her coat and sat up: "Can't sleep?"
"I heard the whistle, the changing of the guard." Fu Yucheng handed her a hot water bottle. "I'll go make some porridge and take some to Old Zhang later."
I had just ladled the porridge into the lunchbox when I heard someone shouting outside the yard.
Fu Yucheng opened the door and saw Director Wang leading two men in plainclothes standing at the door: "These are comrades from the Municipal Bureau, here to find out the situation. The person we arrested last night confessed, saying he wanted to steal things from the military dependents' compound."
The officer in plainclothes looked into the room and asked, "Could you two please cooperate and tell me if you've seen any strangers loitering around here recently?"
Yun Tangyin stood behind Fu Yucheng: "I went to the market this morning and saw a few unfamiliar faces wandering around the town."
Fu Yucheng added, "One of them, wearing a black cotton-padded jacket, kept staring at the entrance of the compound."
After taking the statement, the officer from the municipal bureau placed a note on the table: "This is the duty room phone number. If you really want to get any leads, just call this number."
After seeing them off, Director Wang handed Fu Yucheng a new lock: "This is from the logistics department. Lock the back door. Don't worry, things will be peaceful in a couple of days. Our military family compound isn't so easy to break into."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a hot steamed bun into Director Wang's hand: "It's freshly steamed, please eat it while it's hot."
Fu Yucheng looked at the rising sun outside the window and suddenly smiled: "Look, it's getting light now."
Yun Tangyin leaned on his shoulder: "Yeah, it'll be fine once it's lit up."
The sound of the reveille drifted from afar, clear and melodious, circling above the courtyard.
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