Two hours flew by.
Before we knew it, it was noon.
The fish and chicken have been prepared.
The fish was steamed, and the free-range chicken was stewed with dried mushrooms.
Xu Xinghe went over to help serve the dishes. Looking at the two main dishes on the table, she couldn't help but exclaim, "Lin Chuan, we owe you so much today! I was so focused on cooking for the housewarming that I forgot you're the only one among us who can cook. Otherwise, we might have ended up eating raw fish today."
Jiang Linchuan loved the way she looked at him with such eyes. "It's okay, I'll make it for you again if you want to eat it later."
"Bang!"
A sound suddenly came from the side.
Lian Xiao slammed the plate of side dishes onto the table. "Stop chatting, let's eat."
He didn't want to throw a tantrum in front of Xu Xinghe, but the thought that this courtyard should have been his but was now occupied by Zhang Cishu made him unable to suppress his anger and he couldn't help but vent his frustration.
Zhang Cishu acted as if he hadn't heard her, and took out a stack of brand-new bowls and chopsticks from the cupboard. "These bowls and chopsticks are newly purchased, so please use them without worry."
"Oh, it doesn't matter if it's new or not, as long as it's clean." Xu Xinghe smiled and took the bowl, then pushed Zhang Cishu towards the table. "Sit down, sit down. You're the star of the housewarming party today! According to our custom, you have to say a few auspicious words before the meal to bring good luck."
Zhang Cishu paused, holding his chopsticks, and remained silent for a long while before slowly speaking. His voice was soft, but every word was clear: "I wish you a prosperous and thriving future, with abundance year after year."
"Well said!" Xu Xinghe was the first to pick up her chopsticks, her eyes curving into crescents. "Dinner's ready!"
Zhang Cishu's gaze fell on the steamed fish on the plate. He picked out the tenderest piece of fish belly meat, placed it in Xu Xinghe's bowl, and specially explained, "I haven't used these chopsticks before. Today... thank you for coming all this way."
"Don't mention it!" Xu Xinghe picked up a piece of fish and put it in her mouth, the delicious taste spreading on her tongue. "From now on, we're all friends, so it's only right that we look out for each other."
"Eat this." Lian Xiao suddenly interjected, picking up the biggest chicken leg and putting it into Xu Xinghe's bowl. "That little bit of fish isn't enough to fill a tooth gap. Look, I'm giving you the biggest chicken leg."
Xu Xinghe glanced down at the chicken leg in the bowl and rolled her eyes at him.
How old are you? Still acting like a child, so immature!
While picking up some food, Jiang Linchuan nudged Xu Xinghe lightly with his elbow.
Caught off guard, the chicken leg in her bowl slid down the rice and landed on the table with a thud.
Xu Xinghe tried to pick it up, but Jiang Linchuan grabbed her wrist and said, "Don't eat it if it's on the table, it's unhygienic."
"What a waste... Besides, the table has already been wiped clean." Xu Xinghe felt a little regretful, as the chicken leg hadn't been touched yet.
"Just give it to me." Jiang Linchuan said naturally, reaching out to put the chicken leg on the table into his own bowl, and then picking another one from the plate and putting it into her bowl, "You eat this one, it's more tender."
After doing all this, he finally looked up at Zhang Cishu and asked, "You don't mind, do you?"
Zhang Cishu stared at him for two seconds, then said, "I don't mind."
The other party... seems to be doing it on purpose.
If you really cared, you should have asked earlier.
He had already done it before questioning himself, and even then, he did so in a superior capacity.
It's strange, it's only the first day, and both men already seem to dislike me.
But that doesn't matter; he's only here to complete his mission.
Lian Xiao, sitting opposite him, was so angry he almost snapped his chopsticks in his hand.
Jiang Linchuan is quite the schemer! How come I never noticed before that he was so cunning?
How could someone come up with such a method? It pleases Xinghe, gets his chicken leg back, and makes him seem considerate!
His calm and aloof demeanor is probably not an act!
Zhang Cishu glanced at Lian Xiao out of the corner of his eye, a faint hint of interest flashing in his eyes.
The relationship between these two is also quite interesting.
By the time we finished eating, it was already 1 p.m.
Xu Xinghe cradled her round little belly, leaning comfortably against the back of the chair, her tone languid, "I can't take it anymore, I'm so full, I don't even want to move."
Seeing her like this, Jiang Linchuan smiled and said, "I'll rub your stomach when we get back to help you digest."
Since everyone sitting inside was an opponent he needed to guard against, he might as well use this opportunity to assert his dominance once again.
Xu Xinghe is his fiancée, and their intimacy is only natural.
Lian Xiao's face darkened. "What's the use of rubbing your stomach? I have some digestive tablets I brought from Shanghai. They work really well. Come with me and get two tablets. They'll be more effective than rubbing it blindly."
"That kind of thing is medicine after all, so you should take as little as possible," Jiang Linchuan said calmly, shutting him down with a single sentence.
Why are you rubbing my stomach?
They're already this close before they're even married!
Lian Xiao was so angry he wanted to bite his teeth, but he couldn't find a way to refute him.
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Xu Xinghe quickly jumped up from her chair. "Alright, alright, we should go back now! Cishu, if you still have any questions, just go find me next door."
"Okay, take care."
Back in her courtyard, Xu Xinghe slammed the door shut, leaned against it, and sighed, "I'm really stuffed. I'm going back inside to lie down and digest for a bit. You two can go about your business."
Jiang Linchuan had other matters to attend to at the military headquarters, so he didn't linger and turned to leave.
After the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the various tasks of the military headquarters have been running smoothly, and there is indeed not much free time.
Lian Xiao stood at the courtyard gate, glanced back at Xu Xinghe's tightly closed door, and felt a pang of regret.
Why can't he control his temper? He always ends up arguing with Jiang Linchuan, making Xinghe angry with him. She probably already finds him annoying.
No, it needs to be changed!
You have to learn to keep your emotions in check, like Jiang Linchuan, and be able to remain calm and collected.
Otherwise, we'll be outdone by that cunning old man again next time!
The sixth day of the Lunar New Year.
The festive atmosphere at the military headquarters has faded.
The snow was still piled up, but the sound of firecrackers had stopped, and even the number of people visiting relatives had decreased.
Only the red paper-cut window decorations and red lanterns remain, still retaining a trace of the festive atmosphere of the New Year.
Many soldiers who were on leave have returned to their posts, and the sound of neat slogans can be heard on the training ground. The military headquarters has resumed its usual busy routine.
However, the fifteenth day is the Lantern Festival, so there will be another day of celebration. Only after eating this bowl of glutinous rice balls can the New Year be considered over.
"Commander Jiang! Something's happened!" Lieutenant Wang suddenly rushed into the office, his face pale and his voice full of urgency. "There's been a disturbance in Hongqi Village. Political Commissar Wang wants you to take men there immediately!"
"What happened?" Jiang Linchuan stood up. For the usually composed Deputy Wang to be so flustered, it must be something serious.
"I don't know the specifics, but I've heard it's a huge commotion, and it seems like someone might die! We need to hurry, or it might be too late!"
"Someone got killed?" Xu Xinghe poked her head in from outside the door. "Excuse me, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I came to see Lin Chuan and wanted to bring him some freshly roasted melon seeds..."
As soon as she finished speaking, Lian Xiao's head popped out from above her shoulder. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I just ran into Xinghe at the gate and came over with her. I happened to hear you talking about Hongqi Village."
Jiang Linchuan had no time to dwell on these matters. He quickly put on his military overcoat, looked at Lian Xiao, and said in an unquestionable tone, "The situation in Hongqi Village is urgent. Comrade Lian, you will come with me."
Leaving Lian Xiao alone at the military headquarters, who knows what excuse he'll find to pester Xu Xinghe again.
Therefore, we must bring him along!
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