Chapter 103 Attracted by her unguarded appearance (major revision)
Jiang Wanqiu realized that she was becoming increasingly lazy because of men's indulgence.
In my past life, I could get up in the middle of the night to chop dumpling filling, just to make breakfast for the whole family.
She doesn't want to move even when the sun is high in the sky.
Forget it, what's the point of eating leftovers?
She muttered something to herself.
It's fine to say it, but don't actually turn yourself into a lazy person.
As soon as the thought crossed Jiang Wanqiu's mind, it was as if she had been electrified, and her laziness vanished instantly.
She deftly threw off the heavy quilt, and as soon as her feet touched the ground, she shivered from the cold, dusty cement floor.
hiss--
It's so cold.
She quickly rummaged through the wooden box at the foot of the bed and pulled out her thick-soled cotton shoes to put on.
When Zhao Wenchang left, he made sure to turn the fire in the stove a little brighter, so the whole house is warm now.
Jiang Wanqiu went into the kitchen and scooped out half a ladle of white flour.
For lunch, let's have hand-pulled noodles.
Let's get right to it.
She first added a few shiny black coals to the stove, poked them with fire tongs, and watched the fire suddenly blaze up. Only then did Jiang Wanqiu pat the coal ash off her hands and go to knead the dough.
The water in the water tank was ice-cold; scooping it out with a ladle made my hands numb with cold.
The dough was quickly kneaded. She covered it and let it rest for a while, then moved a small stool to sit in front of the stove, warming herself by the fire while thinking about the toppings for the noodles.
There was still half a block of lard in the cupboard, which Zhao Wenchang had someone bring back from his hometown last time.
There were also a few dried-up scallions and two eggs.
That's enough!
Make the simplest scallion and lard noodles, top with a poached egg, and the aroma will be so enticing it will steal your soul.
Once the dough had risen, she wiped the work surface clean, sprinkled a thin layer of dry flour on it, and began kneading the dough.
The rolling pin flew up and down in her hands, and the thick dough became thinner and larger under her touch, eventually turning into a smooth and translucent sheet.
"Shuashuashua——"
With a slash of the cleaver, the noodles, of uniform thickness, were cut.
The water in the pot was also bubbling and boiling.
She grabbed a handful of noodles, flicked her wrist, and the noodles sizzled and tumbled in the boiling water as they hit the pot.
While the noodles were cooking, she took out a large porcelain bowl, scooped a small piece of snow-white lard into the bottom of the bowl, and sprinkled in some chopped green scallions.
Soy sauce, and a little vinegar.
When the noodles were almost cooked, she scooped up a spoonful of boiling broth and poured it into the bowl with a "whoosh".
The lard melted instantly, and a rich aroma mixed with the spiciness of scallions rushed into my nose.
Jiang Wanqiu's stomach growled even louder.
She deftly scooped the noodles into a bowl, cracked an egg into the pan, fried it into a golden-brown sunny-side-up egg, and carefully placed it on top of the noodles.
A steaming bowl of fragrant pork lard, scallion, and poached egg noodles is ready.
She held her bowl, too lazy to even go to the main room, and remained seated on the small stool in front of the stove.
She first picked up the golden fried egg, took a bite, and found the yolk still runny, warm and slightly grainy, with a hint of oiliness—it was simply divine.
Slurp up another mouthful of noodles. The noodles are chewy, the broth is delicious, and the simple carbohydrates bring the ultimate pleasure.
Jiang Wanqiu squinted as she ate.
After finishing a bowl of noodles, she felt warm all over, and even a fine layer of sweat appeared on her forehead.
She let out a satisfied burp, looking at the empty bowl.
The sky is hers, the land is hers, and even this bowl of noodles belongs to her alone.
And that man, he's mine too.
This kind of life is like that of a god.
Jiang Wanqiu cleaned up the dishes and chopsticks, then added a piece of coal to the stove to make sure the fire wouldn't go out.
I wonder when Zhao Wenchang will be back. I'd better keep the stove warm for him.
She stood up, stretched, and her bones creaked with a sense of comfort.
"Knock knock knock—"
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Jiang Wanqiu's eyes lit up, thinking that Zhao Wenchang had returned.
So she didn't even have time to put on her coat, and ran to open the door wearing only a close-fitting cotton undershirt.
However, the weather in Northeast China was truly bizarre. As she twisted the doorknob, she muttered to herself, "What's going on? The door lock is frozen shut..."
The door was opened after the lock was slammed twice.
The commotion startled the people standing at the door.
However, the person standing at the door was not the tall figure she had imagined.
Jiang Wanqiu was somewhat surprised.
At the door, Gu Feiyan stood dressed in a neat military uniform, carrying a net bag containing several apples and a can of malted milk powder. He clearly hadn't expected to see such a scene when the door opened.
The woman before me was wearing only a white dress that accentuated her shapely figure. Her long, black hair was loosely draped over her shoulders, and her small, palm-sized face was flushed from sleep, like a ripe peach on a branch.
Those clear, almond-shaped eyes, still slightly sleepy, met his gaze without any warning.
Gu Feiyan felt a tightness in her throat and subconsciously cleared it, her ears burning slightly.
"call--"
A gust of cold wind blew in through the door, making Jiang Wanqiu shiver. Only then did she realize how inappropriate her attire was.
"Quick, please come in!" She hurriedly ushered Gu Feiyan in, then slammed the door shut, shutting out the cold air from outside.
Gu Feiyan stood in the room and subconsciously looked around.
For some reason, he felt that Zhao Wenchang's simple military dependents' room was completely different from the one he had seen last time.
The room was spotless, and a withered branch that had been brought from outside was stuck on the table, wrapped with crocheted artificial flowers, giving it a touch of life.
The whole house became warm and cozy.
Moreover, there was a faint fragrance in the air.
It's not the deliberate fragrance of face cream, but a clean and soft natural scent unique to women.
"Officer Gu, please have a seat," Jiang Wanqiu said, then dashed into the bedroom.
When she came out again, she was dressed neatly, but the blush of embarrassment on her cheeks had not yet faded.
She stood before the elegant man, smiling somewhat awkwardly, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, I... I just got up and haven't had time to get ready yet. Um, Staff Officer Gu, have you eaten?"
Looking at her charming and innocent appearance, Gu Feiyan found her even more endearing than when she was usually dignified.
He smiled gently: "It's alright, I was the one who came abruptly."
"Are you here to see Zhao Wenchang? Unfortunately, Battalion Commander Zhao is out and hasn't returned yet." Jiang Wanqiu poured him a cup of hot water. "I don't know when he'll be back."
"I didn't come to see Wenchang." Gu Feiyan took the water glass, her warm fingertips inadvertently touching Wenchang's before quickly withdrawing them.
He raised his eyes and looked at her with gentle eyes: "I came to find you."
Jiang Wanqiu was taken aback: "Looking for me? Is there something you need?"
Gu Feiyan asked with some concern, "I heard about what happened in Zhoujia Village and know that you... were frightened. I've been worried about you, so I came to see you."
Mentioning this incident made Jiang Wanqiu even more embarrassed. She said softly, "I'm fine. Look at me, I'm such a grown-up, and I still got kidnapped. It's really embarrassing to tell anyone."
“How can you blame yourself?” Gu Feiyan’s tone carried a hint of reproach, but not at her. “It’s just that those human traffickers are too cunning. Speaking of which, Wenchang is really something, how come he can’t even keep an eye on his own wife?”
“Actually, you can’t really blame him for this,” Jiang Wanqiu said hurriedly. “He went to help at the time. I have legs, and if I insisted on leaving, he couldn’t stop me.”
The unspoken protection shown towards Zhao Wenchang in his words caused a fleeting, complex emotion to flash across Gu Feiyan's eyes, so quick it was almost imperceptible, before being quickly masked by his usual gentle smile.
He didn't continue the topic, but simply placed the net bag on the table. Two apples rolled out, bright red, which looked particularly festive in the drab room.
"Oh, right," he said, as he watched Jiang Wanqiu catch the rolling apple, as if he had suddenly remembered something, and naturally changed the subject, "I was just saying that I'll be going home for a while. We probably won't see each other again until after the New Year."
Just as Jiang Wanqiu was about to say how beautiful the apple was, she curiously raised her pretty little face and asked, "Speaking of which, I haven't asked you yet, where are you from?"
“From Shanghai.” Gu Feiyan’s gaze fell on her face, her voice tinged with laughter. “Speaking of which, we’re from the same hometown.”
"Shanghai Stock Exchange?" Jiang Wanqiu was genuinely surprised, but then she suddenly realized and couldn't help but smile, a small dimple appearing on her cheek.
She looked Gu Feiyan up and down, her tone slightly mischievous: "No wonder! I knew you, Staff Officer Gu, with your delicate skin, looked different from the rough men here. Turns out you're from the South too."
Looking at the woman's bright and beautiful smiling face, he had a sudden thought and tentatively asked, "Then...would you like to come back with me? It's almost the New Year, so it'll be convenient to travel together."
The word "home" felt like a tiny needle, suddenly pricking her for no apparent reason.
Jiang Wanqiu's smile faded, and her bright eyes dimmed slightly. Her long eyelashes drooped, casting a small shadow on her eyelids.
She gently shook her head: "My home... was seized a long time ago. My family members have all gone to places even further away." She raised her head and forced a smile, "I have no home in Shanghai anymore."
Gu Feiyan felt a pang of pain in her heart when she saw her feigned strength.
He softened his voice and comforted her, "It's okay, everything will be alright."
He paused, then added, "If there's anything I can help you with in the future, just let me know. Consider it... a way of thanking you for practicing the piano with me."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wanqiu smiled again: "I do have a younger sister in Shanghai, but she seems to be doing quite well, so I don't need to worry about her."
Gu Feiyan nodded and then asked, "Would you like to eat any snacks from Shanghai? I can bring you some when I come back after the New Year."
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