The office was quiet except for the scratching sound of pens scribbling across paper.
Jiang Linchuan was dressed in a neat training uniform, with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing his taut muscles, and was working on the documents on the table.
Suddenly, the pen in his hand paused, and a small dot of dark blue ink spread on the paper.
He lowered his eyes, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curving upwards, and continued writing.
Outside the door.
Xu Xinghe was tiptoeing against the door frame, biting her petal-shaped lips, and secretly peeking inside.
Only after confirming that Jiang Linchuan hadn't noticed her did she breathe a sigh of relief, placing her small hand on her chest and taking a deep breath.
After mentally preparing herself for a while, she finally raised her hand and knocked on the door, her voice clear and melodious, "Commander Jiang, I've come to deliver some documents."
"Hmm." Jiang Linchuan seemed to have just noticed her, and slowly raised his head. "Come in, just put the documents on the table."
As Xu Xinghe entered the room, her gaze couldn't help but drift to his thin lips first.
She quickly looked away, a faint blush creeping onto her pretty face. "Okay, I'll put it here. By the way... do you want lunch?"
"Of course." Jiang Linchuan put down his pen, casually flipped through the documents, and after confirming that everything was correct, signed his name. "I'll have someone get some food; we'll eat here."
An hour later.
Xu Xinghe skipped and hopped back to the logistics department.
As soon as he entered, he was met with winks and meaningful glances from Wang Chunmei and her group.
"Oh my, look at Xinghe, she must have had a great lunch!"
"How could it not be wonderful? Eating with Commander Jiang, even if it's just cornbread, just looking at that handsome face would make you want to eat two more!"
Xu Xinghe's cheeks flushed from their words, and she quickly picked up the ledger on the table and started flipping through it, burying herself in her work to prevent them from continuing to tease her.
With Li Xingzhou and Wang Zhizhi gone, the military gradually returned to normal, and every day was fulfilling.
As the year draws to a close, the atmosphere in the military headquarters is becoming increasingly lively.
Red lanterns hang on the trees, and every household is busy preparing for the New Year. Even the sub-zero temperatures of minus thirty degrees Celsius cannot dampen the vibrant and energetic spirit.
In Shanghai, the Little New Year is celebrated on the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, while in Northeast China it is celebrated on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, one day earlier.
Now that Xu Xinghe is here, he should naturally follow local customs.
Early in the morning, she started working with Wang Chunmei and her aunts.
Clean the house, sweep the yard, and prepare the firecrackers to be set off tonight.
By the time all this was done, it was already noon.
After a quick bite to eat, Wang Chunmei pulled her into her own home.
"Xinghe, you've just arrived here, so you probably haven't prepared any New Year's goods. You can use mine this year." After saying that, Wang Chunmei leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Don't feel embarrassed. Remember the canned food and pastries you gave me last time? The girl my son brought back really liked them. They've already set a date and are just waiting for spring to warm up so they can get married! Speaking of which, we have to thank you for this, so just accept them without worry, understand?"
Having said all that, Xu Xinghe naturally couldn't refuse any longer and followed Wang Chunmei into the small room next door.
Upon opening the door, one is greeted by a variety of odds and ends, with a large water vat standing out in the corner, clearly an old object that has been used for many years.
Wang Chunmei rolled up her sleeves and lifted the cylinder lid.
Instantly, a unique tangy aroma from the fermentation of sauerkraut wafted out.
She first removed the large stone weighing down the vegetables from the vat, then leaned in to scoop them out. After a short while, she pulled out a large cabbage covered in translucent vegetable juice.
“This is pickled cabbage. It’s indispensable for Chinese New Year here. I pickle a big vat every year. You can help me eat some, and you can take this one back with you.”
Xu Xinghe quickly found an enamel basin nearby and took it.
The pickled cabbage almost filled the entire container as soon as it was added.
Wang Chunmei wiped her hands, then turned around and picked up a string of blood sausages from a basin in the corner. "I don't know if you'll like this blood sausage, but take it home and stew it with sauerkraut, it's absolutely delicious!"
As he spoke, he shoved it into Xu Xinghe's hand.
Next came the golden-fried meatballs: pork meatballs and radish meatballs.
Wang Chunmei found two small basins, filled each about halfway, and placed them on the shelf next to her.
Xu Xinghe, holding the sauerkraut basin, looked at the ever-growing pile of things beside her and blinked helplessly. "Aunt Mei, I... I really can't carry all of this."
"Hey, what's the rush!" Wang Chunmei waved her hand with a smile. "I'll take it back with you later, you'll get your share."
She then lifted the curtain hanging by the window, revealing neatly stacked millet dumplings. "Take these back with you too. If you don't eat them, just leave them outside to freeze; they won't spoil. With your small appetite, one steamed dumpling will be enough to fill your stomach when you're hungry."
As they were talking, Wang Chunmei suddenly slapped her forehead, "Oh dear! I almost forgot about that!"
She immediately went around to the back of the side door, took down the hanging basket, which was filled with frozen pears and persimmons, frozen solid. "You definitely didn't prepare these. You must eat them for the New Year. I'll pack you a bowl of each!"
When Xu Xinghe finally left, she was covered in things from head to toe.
Wang Chunmei was also busy, carrying a large bag in each hand and helping her deliver it all the way home.
Looking at the food laid out on the ground, Xu Xinghe suddenly felt a surge of warmth in her heart.
This is what she has always longed for: the warmth that belongs only to humanity.
In her past life, she was locked in a dark and gloomy basement for decades, and she had never felt such warmth before.
Jiang Linchuan could give her passionate love, but what Wang Chunmei and the people in the military gave her was a friendship mixed with the warmth of everyday life, and a sense of kinship like that of family.
If she still had the pampered princess personality from her previous life, she definitely wouldn't look down on these vulgar things, and would just throw them in a corner without even glancing at them if they were broken.
But now... she wants to cherish and treat this relationship well.
Xu Xinghe carefully sorted and packed the items to ensure there wouldn't be any problems.
After finishing all that, she finally sat down at the table to catch her breath.
Perhaps she was tired, because she fell asleep on the table without realizing it, her cheek still pressed against the things she hadn't finished tidying up.
When I woke up again, I was covered with a thin blanket, but the room was empty.
She picked up the blanket and brought it close to her nose. The familiar scent of soap instantly put her at ease. It was Jiang Linchuan's scent; he must have come back.
...
In the following days, Xu Xinghe did not see Jiang Linchuan again.
According to Wang Chunmei, he received a last-minute assignment in the middle of the night and went out. As for where he went and what he did, only Political Commissar Wang probably knows.
Even Lian Xiao, whose facial injuries hadn't fully healed, went along.
Xu Xinghe could only calm down and continue helping the military with preparations for the New Year.
Days passed by.
The end of the year is approaching.
Red lanterns hung all over the tree trunks of the military headquarters.
Every household began to put up paper-cut window decorations.
The 28th day of the twelfth lunar month.
Xu Xinghe got up early, got ready, and ran to Wang Chunmei's house.
They had made plans a few days ago to cut paper-cuts for the windows and put them up before New Year's Eve.
The two sat around the kang table. Xu Xinghe learned a couple of tricks from Wang Chunmei. Although the "Fu" character she cut out wasn't very exquisite, it was still recognizable.
Wang Chunmei, on the other hand, was much more skilled and quickly cut out a pair of magpies.
After cutting out the last paper-cut window decoration, Xu Xinghe got up and went to the kitchen to help make the paste.
Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door.
She turned around, stunned, and saw Jiang Linchuan!
Jiang Linchuan was dressed in a neat black cotton coat, paired with matching trousers and military boots. His broad shoulders and narrow waist made him look tall and strong even in the clothes, and his brows were full of sharpness, looking travel-worn.
But when his gaze fell on Xu Xinghe, his sharpness instantly melted away like ice, leaving only gentleness.
Xu Xinghe snapped out of her daze, ran out the door quickly, her face beaming with joy, "You're back!"
Jiang Linchuan strode forward and gently touched her cheek. "Why are you so cold? Are you cold?"
"It's not cold!" Xu Xinghe quickly shook her head and held up the paper-cut window decoration in her hand to show him.
On the red paper is a simple, round little Nian beast with pointed ears and a short tail, exuding an endearing cuteness.
She grinned, "I was just learning how to cut paper snowflakes with Aunt Mei inside! I cut this myself, look, isn't it pretty good?"
Jiang Linchuan nodded, "Yes, it looks very good, just like you."
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