As soon as the reveille sounded, the courtyard became lively. Fu Yucheng suddenly remembered something, "I'll go see if Old Zhang is awake yet, the porridge must be getting cold."
As soon as I reached the door of the gatehouse, I saw Old Zhang distributing steamed buns to the patrolmen.
Seeing Fu Yucheng coming over, he held up an enamel mug and shouted, "Come quick, this is freshly brewed tea."
Patrolman Xiao Li stuffed a pickled vegetable into Fu Yucheng's hand: "The steamed buns your sister-in-law makes are really fragrant, and they're chewier than the ones in the canteen."
"Tell her to steam a lot more later." Fu Yucheng glanced into the guard post. "Nothing happened during the night, right?"
Xiao Li smeared some oil on his holster: "I saw a wild cat in the middle of the night, which gave me a fright. By the way, I saw Old Wang from the logistics department this morning when I was changing shifts. He said the diesel fuel had been found; the rats had chewed through the oil drum and leaked into the corner of the warehouse."
Fu Yucheng breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good that we found it, so as not to cause any panic."
When I returned to the house, Yun Tangyin was putting steamed buns into a bamboo basket.
Seeing him come in, she straightened up and smiled: "Aunt Li just knocked on the door and said her child wanted to eat brown sugar steamed buns."
She added two more to the basket, saying, "I'll also give a few to Director Wang."
“I’ll go.” Fu Yucheng picked up the basket. “You stay home and rest. Cut that peony-red cloth and test the new scissors.”
At the entrance of the family affairs committee, Director Wang was talking to several military spouses.
Seeing Fu Yucheng coming over, he waved and said, "Perfect timing! Your husband is good with his hands. Help him sew some cloth covers for the patrol team to use as flashlights."
Fu Yucheng shoved a steamed bun into Director Wang's hand: "She's cutting fabric right now. I'll talk to her when I get back. By the way, how's the interrogation going with the guy we arrested last night?"
"They confessed. They said they conspired with three others to steal the copper wire from the compound." Director Wang posted a notice on the bulletin board. "That's why we just posted a notice telling everyone to check their electrical wire connections and make sure they're not exposed."
Aunt Li, holding her child, came over and said, "My husband went to a meeting at the regimental headquarters this morning. They said they want to install security grilles, and they'll start next week."
She slipped a pair of cloth shoes into Fu Yucheng's hand. "These were made for you. Try them on and see if they fit."
"Thank you, Aunt Li." Fu Yucheng stuffed a candy tiger into the child's hand. "Just bought it, let the child have a sweet treat."
Back home, Yun Tangyin was placing flowerpots on the windowsill.
Seeing him come in, she straightened up and smiled, "I cut out a small piece to make a bib for the child first."
She shoved a ruler into Fu Yucheng's hand, saying, "Help me measure my dimensions."
Fu Yucheng had just finished taking half of the measurements when he heard a car horn outside the courtyard.
Peeking through the crack in the door, I saw it was a jeep from the regimental headquarters.
“It’s like a newspaper deliveryman,” Yun Tangyin said, stepping behind him. “The recent newspapers haven’t mentioned anything about the town.”
Fu Yucheng opened the door, and sure enough, it was the communications officer, Xiao Zhou.
Seeing them come out, he smiled and handed them the newspaper: "Brother Fu, sister-in-law, this is today's military newspaper. By the way, the regimental commander wants you to go to the regimental headquarters this afternoon, saying there's a new mission."
"Okay." Fu Yucheng stuffed a steamed bun into Xiao Zhou's hand. "It's freshly steamed, eat it while it's hot."
Xiao Zhou mumbled through a mouthful of steamed bun, "I heard they're going to install surveillance cameras in the compound, just like in the military area, black and white, so they can see the main gate."
Yun Tangyin felt relieved: "That's great, I can sleep peacefully tonight."
In the afternoon, Fu Yucheng went to the regimental headquarters, while Yun Tangyin carried the cloth cover to the patrol post.
When Xiao Li saw her come in, he quickly stood up and asked, "What brings you here, sister-in-law?"
"I'm bringing you cloth covers to put in your flashlights." Yun Tangyin glanced into the guard post. "This stove is burning really brightly, isn't it warm?"
"Sister-in-law, you're so thoughtful." Xiao Li stuffed a roasted sweet potato into her hand. "It was just roasted in the cafeteria, it's very sweet."
As they were talking, they saw Old Zhang walking towards the guard post: "I just received a notice that the curfew will be lifted starting tonight, but outsiders still have to register."
He slipped a ticket into Yun Tangyin's hand. "The cafeteria is making braised pork tonight. With this ticket, you can get an extra serving."
Yun Tangyin took the ticket and smiled, "Thank you, Uncle Zhang. By the way, I steamed some buns and left them at the gatehouse. Go get them if you're hungry."
When Fu Yucheng returned in the evening, he was carrying a paper bag.
Yun Tangyin opened it and saw two feet of blue cloth: "What is this?"
"They were issued by the regimental headquarters, said to be gifts for the families of soldiers." Fu Yucheng placed a newspaper on the table. "The meeting this afternoon said that the group of people we caught have been handed over, and the town has also increased the number of police officers. We can go to the market with peace of mind now."
Yun Tangyin shoved a bowl of hot soup into his hand: "Have some to warm yourself up. By the way, the cafeteria is making braised pork tonight, want to go get two servings?"
“Go,” Fu Yucheng stuffed a lunchbox into his pocket, “and bring one for Old Zhang too, he said this morning he wanted to eat meat.”
The canteen was bustling with activity as the military wives discussed installing security grilles.
When the head chef saw them come in, he smiled and called out, "Yucheng, I saved you a piece of pork belly, with a good mix of fat and lean meat, it smells delicious."
Fu Yucheng shoved a pair of chopsticks into Yun Tangyin's hand: "Try it, it tastes better than what I make."
Yun Tangyin picked up a piece of meat: "It smells delicious. I'll learn to make it for you later."
Director Wang, who was standing nearby, came over with a lunchbox and said, "Have you heard? The logistics department will give each family two pounds of eggs tomorrow as a way of appeasing them."
She placed a piece of pork rib into Yun Tangyin's bowl, saying, "Eat more, it'll help you recover."
After dinner, Fu Yucheng accompanied Yun Tangyin for a walk.
The moonlight shone on the newly posted security window notice, making it bright and clear.
“Look,” Yun Tangyin pointed to the bulletin board, “the children are playing jump rope over there again.”
Fu Yucheng looked down at Yun Tangyin; her eyes shone like stars in the sky.
“Actually,” Yun Tangyin leaned closer to him, “no matter if there are strangers or not, I feel at ease as long as I’m with you.”
Fu Yucheng slipped a candy into her pocket: "Me too."
The moonlight shone on the two of them, casting long shadows.
The lights of the guard post in the distance shone like a guiding star, making this ordinary night feel exceptionally safe.
When I returned from my walk and arrived at the gate of the courtyard, I saw Sister Li holding her child standing under the streetlight.
Seeing them approach, she smiled and waved, "I've finally found you! My husband brought back some walnuts to help our child's brain development."
Yun Tangyin slipped a piece of fruit candy into the child's hand: "This child has grown so tall. The last time I saw him, he was just a tiny baby in swaddling clothes."
She stuffed a cloth bag into Aunt Li's hand, "Freshly steamed yam cakes, for the children to snack on."
Aunt Li took the cloth bag and put it in her pocket: "Are we going to collect the eggs tomorrow morning? I heard from Director Wang that they start distributing them at seven o'clock, and if we go too late, we might only get the stale ones."
Fu Yucheng carried a bamboo chair into the yard: "I'll go, let her sleep a little longer. By the way, does your husband know where the security cameras are installed?"
"They say they'll install one at the main gate and one in the warehouse," Aunt Li said, patting her child's back to lull him to sleep. "I'll call you when they install them tomorrow so you can go and see what's new."
After seeing Aunt Li off, Yun Tangyin placed some walnuts on the table: "Shatter a few for you to have as a midnight snack?"
She had just picked up the hammer when Fu Yucheng grabbed her hand.
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