"Young Master?" The guard was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding.
Zhang Cishu gave him a look, and the other person immediately returned the melon seeds and milk candy in their hand.
He chose the same candy, unwrapped it, and put it in his mouth.
It was sweet, very sweet, almost cloyingly so that his throat tightened.
But he neither swallowed nor spat it out, letting the sweetness spread on his tongue and slowly permeate his taste buds.
The guard next to him raised an eyebrow in surprise. Oh my, his young master has changed too fast?
In the past, he rarely ate anything, let alone sunflower seeds and candy, or even regular meals. But today he actually asked for them on his own initiative?
It seems that the environment really can change a person. I only spent ten minutes with Comrade Xu, and he seemed more vibrant than before!
Xu Xinghe was unaware of the subtle changes in the room. Seeing Zhang Cishu with the candy in his mouth without spitting it out, her eyes lit up. "Isn't this candy delicious? It's my favorite flavor! But you have to eat less, or your teeth will hurt."
The guard standing nearby twitched at the corner of his eye.
toothache?
That sounds like something a child would say...
Zhang Cishu didn't find anything wrong with it; in fact, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curled up, revealing a very faint smile.
His grandfather only ever talked to him about rules and responsibilities, and the elders in the family only taught him to be calm and dignified. No one ever gave him such instructions as Xu Xinghe, as if he wasn't some young master of the Zhang family who needed to put on airs, but just an ordinary person who needed reminders.
This incident helped Xu Xinghe relax, and the previous embarrassment dissipated considerably.
After all, this was the first time she had formally hosted guests who came to deliver New Year's gifts, and she was always worried that she might not be able to take good care of them.
Remembering something, she stood up again. "Oh right, there are also frozen pears and frozen persimmons, which are specialties from Heilongjiang Province. You probably haven't tried them before. I'll go get them for you to try!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she ran quickly into the kitchen, took out the frozen pears and persimmons that had been soaking in cold water to thaw, and brought them over on a plate.
The frozen pears have become soft and mushy, with blackened skin that looks unappetizing. But once you bite into one, the sweet juice will instantly flood your mouth with a refreshing coolness that can instantly dispel the heat of the Northeastern house and make you feel comfortable all over.
Zhang Cishu took one, but didn't eat it.
Xu Xinghe smiled and handed one to the guard, saying, "Sit down, don't stand. Here, have this."
"Thank you, Comrade Xu." The guard glanced at Zhang Cishu and took a bite.
He had been thirsty for a long time.
Oh, it's so sweet and refreshing!
Outside the courtyard gate.
A tall figure had been standing there for a long time.
Zhou Chengmu was carrying a cloth bag containing New Year's gifts for Xu Xinghe.
Those were dried goods he had asked relatives to get for him. They were all common mountain mushrooms, pine nuts, and hazelnuts. They weren't expensive, but they were the best he could offer.
But after standing at the door for a long time, he still didn't dare to knock.
Whether it's Jiang Linchuan or Lian Xiao, the things they send will definitely be better than his.
Not to mention Zhang Cishu, who was personally brought in by Political Commissar Wang, so his status and position must be extraordinary.
Compared to them, what I brought was really insignificant.
Through the window, which he had specially cleaned for the New Year, he could clearly see the three people sitting inside.
Whether it's looks, physique, or demeanor, she's far superior to him.
He clenched the cloth bag in his hand, his heart feeling heavy and sour, as if something was blocking it.
In the end, he slowly turned around and chose to leave.
Let's not send the New Year's gift for now. We can give it to Xu Xinghe as a regular gift when there's a suitable opportunity later.
But... will he ever get another chance like that?
As Zhou Chengmu walked through the snow, looking at his lonely shadow, a sense of bewilderment welled up in his heart once again.
He seemed inferior to others in every way; even the girl he fell in love with at first sight belonged to someone else.
He tried his best, but all he did was go from an ordinary soldier to a guard.
When will he be able to climb up to a position where he can stand shoulder to shoulder with the three of them?
Zhou Chengmu would never have thought about these things before, but the girl he liked was too outstanding, and if he didn't work hard, he wouldn't even have a chance to speak...
Xu Xinghe glanced out the window and caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.
She didn't take it too seriously, just considering him a neighbor who was passing by on her way to visit relatives.
The first day of the Lunar New Year is a time when families visit each other, and it's normal for people to come and go.
"Oh, right, Comrade Zhang, I also prepared some New Year's gifts for you. Wait for me a moment!" Xu Xinghe suddenly remembered that she hadn't returned the gift yet, so she quickly got up and walked towards her room.
She had just glanced at the things Zhang Cishu brought, and they were all rare items.
Two cans of malted milk powder, a carton of milk, canned yellow peaches, and brown sugar and rock sugar—it's clear that a lot of thought went into it.
She rummaged through her own space for a long time, filling a bag to the brim. Feeling that she had shown enough courtesy, she carried it out and handed it to Zhang Cishu, saying, "It's just a small token of my appreciation, please don't find it offensive."
Zhang Cishu took the bag, said nothing politely, and stood up, saying, "I have something to do, so I'll take my leave now."
His gaze swept across the table, and he reached out to pick up the untouched frozen pear.
The skin still had some water droplets on it, and it felt cool.
"Let me see you off!"
"No need."
The guard next to him quickly stepped forward and stopped Xu Xinghe with a smile, "There's really no need to trouble Comrade Xu. It's windy and cold outside, please stay here."
The two walked quickly, and their black figures disappeared outside the courtyard gate in the blink of an eye.
Xu Xinghe leaned against the door frame for a while before closing the door. "I really didn't expect Comrade Zhang to come and deliver New Year's gifts. By the way, it's getting late. Shall we prepare lunch? We still have dumplings and main dishes brought back from the canteen. We can just heat them up and add a couple of new dishes."
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, we still need to eat something good.
"I'll help you!" Lian Xiao immediately rolled up his sleeves and rushed to the kitchen.
Finally, the small kitchen was crammed with two tall men.
Xu Xinghe, who was the first to suggest cooking, ended up being the most relaxed one.
She turned on the radio, and it was playing cheerful songs.
She hummed along to the lyrics while munching on sunflower seeds, looking incredibly relaxed.
Xu Xinghe sighed softly. If the two of them could be less confrontational, life would be much more pleasant.
...
The car sped through the snow, heading back to the hospital.
Zhang Cishu carried the return gift from Xu Xinghe into the ward and gently placed the bag on the bedside table. "Grandpa, this is a return gift from Comrade Xu."
"Hmm." General Zhang had just woken up and was leaning against the headboard. His voice was still a little hoarse, and his face showed signs of fatigue after his illness. He didn't seem very energetic.
He glanced at the bag. "Not bad. This young Comrade Xu is young but knows how to navigate social situations and reciprocate. You can keep the things safe. The hospital has everything you need, so you don't need to give me anything."
Zhang Cishu nodded, not lingering any longer, "Then I'll go back to the next room first."
"Go on." General Zhang waved his hand, and after he left, he called back the guard who was about to follow him, "You stay here and tell me what happened at Comrade Xu's place today?"
The guard dared not hide anything and told Xu Xinghe's story in detail. In particular, when he mentioned that Zhang Cishu had asked for a piece of milk candy and even ate it with his mouth, General Zhang's eyes lit up instantly, and his spirits even improved a bit.
"Oh? He even ate the candy on his own? Looks like I made the right decision! We don't need to wait until the fifteenth. Go and arrange for him to report to the military headquarters as soon as possible. The sooner he goes, the sooner he can meet people and change his ways sooner."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
