Lu Wanwan followed her elder brother and sister-in-law back home. As soon as she entered the house, a wave of warmth hit her.
"It's so warm."
Compared to their own, it's like heaven and earth.
Such differences are normal; it's windy on the island, especially in winter, when the dry, biting wind blows straight in.
The houses were not close together, so they were exposed to the wind from all sides.
If the coal and firewood don't burn hot enough each day, there's no difference between the whole house and standing outside in the cold wind.
Because Gu Mingyue was pregnant, the house was warm and cozy inside and out, and you could wear short sleeves as long as you went inside.
"You guys sit and rest for a while, I'll go cook." Lu Lin called He Xiao to come with him as he entered the kitchen.
Since I said I wanted to learn to cook, I should definitely take it seriously and not just talk about it.
He Xiao didn't say anything else and followed.
Gu Mingyue: "Let's eat first, and then call Mom back. She's probably worried about us at home."
Lu Wanwan: "Okay."
There was still a lot of food left over from lunch, so Lu Lin heated it up and made two more bowls of steamed egg custard, one for his wife and one for his sister.
After dinner, the group dressed neatly.
Lu Lin was worried that Gu Mingyue would get cold, so he found a thick cotton-padded coat, a cotton hat and a scarf early on and wrapped them around her.
First, she put on the newly made cotton-padded jacket, buttoning the collar tightly. Then, she wrapped the scarf around her neck twice, covering most of her chin, leaving only her eyes exposed.
Gu Mingyue was wrapped up so tightly that she stopped after taking two steps. She tugged at the scarf that was tightening around her, and said with a mix of laughter and tears, "Lu Lin, you've wrapped me up like a ball. I can hardly breathe. If I take another two steps, I'll have to roll all the way to the supply and marketing cooperative."
Lu Lin reached out and touched her hat, then loosened her scarf, but didn't intend to take it off for her.
“It’s windy at night. You’re pregnant, so you can’t get cold. Walk slowly, it’s okay. If you catch a cold, you and the baby will suffer.”
He slowed his pace by holding Gu Mingyue's arm. "Look, Wanwan and He Xiao are also dressed warmly. Let's just stroll around like we're taking a walk."
Looking at Gu Mingyue's appearance, Lu Wanwan couldn't help but laugh, "Sister-in-law, you look so cute. My brother protects you more than anything."
Gu Mingyue sighed helplessly, but still let Lu Lin help her walk forward. Although she was wearing heavy clothes, she did feel much warmer.
When they arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative, Lu Lin first helped Gu Mingyue take off her scarf and hat. Looking at her rosy cheeks, he said with relief, "You wait here, I'll go queue up to make a phone call."
There weren't many people in line ahead of them, and soon it was their turn. Lu Lin picked up the receiver, dialed his home number, and after only a couple of sentences, his mother-in-law's voice came through the phone.
With a hint of relief, he murmured to Lu Wanwan, "It's good that you've arrived. Stay at your sister-in-law's house and get close to her. She's pregnant, so don't let her get too tired. If you need anything, just tell your family, and I'll send it to you."
Lu Wanwan responded to each of them.
After they finished talking, they handed the phone back to Gu Mingyue. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted for a while before hanging up.
In the following days, Lu Wanwan stayed at home with Gu Mingyue every day, sometimes sewing children's clothes together, and sometimes sunbathing with her in the yard.
Gu Mingyue knew many of the neighbors in the family compound and greeted Lu Wanwan warmly when she saw her.
They had met before, and were very welcoming when they learned that Lu Wanwan was coming to join the army.
Lu Wanwan was initially shy, but seeing how enthusiastic everyone was, she gradually opened up and got to know many people through Gu Mingyue.
A week later, Lu Wanwan and He Xiao's new home was finally ready.
The walls were freshly plastered with lime, and after drying, they had a clean, off-white color.
The wooden beds and wardrobes provided by the military were neatly arranged, and on the shelves that Lu Lin had helped order, there were thermos bottles given by Gu Mingyue and seashells collected by Lu Wanwan.
The pots and pans in the kitchen were polished to a shine, the bowls and chopsticks in the cupboard were neatly arranged, and even the coal in the corner was piled up in an orderly manner.
On the day they returned home, Lu Lin and Gu Mingyue came over early in the morning to help, and they even managed to make up the last quilt.
Looking at the bright and spacious house, Lu Wanwan smiled and said, "It finally feels like a home. Brother, sister-in-law, I'll treat you to dinner tonight, let's have a good time."
He Xiao: "Okay, I'll cook tonight."
After a week of practice, his cooking skills, while not exceptional, are at least edible.
Lu Wanwan helped out.
Gu Mingyue couldn't sit still either and wanted to help, but Lu Wanwan pressed her down onto a stool, saying, "Sister-in-law, just sit there and wait to eat."
Gu Mingyue felt that they were making her fatter and fatter.
According to the custom of the residential compound, they also had to invite several families they were close to in the compound to dinner.
Having so many people was a challenge for He Xiao, so in the end Lu Lin suggested that they treat everyone in the cafeteria.
Anyway, the main thing about this kind of thing is the sentiment, and it's also about getting everyone together and having a good time. It doesn't matter how much or how little we eat.
After Lu Wanwan joined the army, her job and food rations were also transferred to the military. Because she had a previous job, the vacant position was immediately filled.
Time flies, and the twelfth lunar month arrives quietly.
The wind and snow on the island gradually increased, and the air was filled with a biting, damp cold.
Gu Mingyue felt lethargic and increasingly reluctant to go out, so she simply stayed at home, spending her days warming herself by the stove.
Before going to work, Lu Lin would always fill the coal stove and move the coal mine to store the day's supply.
Gu Mingyue moved a small stool and sat by the stove, either roasting two sweet potatoes or putting a handful of chestnuts on the stove.
Before long, a sweet fragrance filled my nostrils, and I felt warm and sleepy.
When Lu Lin got home from get off work, she would always be seen dozing in a chair, with the roasted sweet potato next to her already cracked open, its golden flesh steaming, and the chestnuts roasted until their shells burst open.
He laughed as he broke the sweet potato in half and held it to her mouth, saying, "You're being lazy again; this sweet potato is practically roasted to a crisp."
Gu Mingyue smelled the aroma, and in a daze, she took a bite. The sweet and glutinous taste melted in her mouth, and her eyes immediately lit up.
"It tastes so sweet. Let's roast some more yams tomorrow; I heard they're good for pregnant women."
They stored up a lot of supplies for the winter. They had enough coal and firewood at home, and the cellar was full of various winter vegetables that could be stored for a long time.
The mountain produce we hunted earlier is all stored in the warehouse, so we can have a good life without having to go out in the winter.
That morning, Gu Mingyue had eaten hot soup noodles cooked by Lu Lin, and her stomach felt warm and cozy as she slowly strolled around the room, supporting her back.
Suddenly, a crying sound came from outside the courtyard, and she stopped and listened carefully.
Yes, it was the sound of a child crying.
Filled with doubt and curiosity, she put on her cotton-padded coat and went outside.
I hadn't gone far when I saw Zhao Xiulan's little girl, Ningning, squatting by the wall, her head with two little braids buried in her knees, her shoulders shaking with sobs.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com