Chapter 44
Gu Xi woke up when the work chants sounded.
A hand reached out and patted her back, then a voice said, "It's still early, sleep a little longer, no need to rush to get up."
She was still quite sleepy, and upon hearing this, she turned over and fell asleep again.
When Gu Xi finally woke up after a good night's sleep, she found that it was already broad daylight.
The room didn't have curtains yet, and bright light streamed in through the window, stinging her eyes. She buried her face in the pillow, wishing she could pull the sheet over her head.
Suddenly, Gu Xi sat up, remembering that she and Shen Mingzheng were going to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy vegetables today. If they were late, there probably wouldn't be any vegetables left to sell.
Thinking this, she quickly got out of bed, went to the closet, and took out some clothes to change into.
Just as he finished changing his clothes, the door opened and Shen Mingzheng, still damp from being wet, came in.
Seeing that she was already up, he asked, "Xixi, aren't you going back to sleep?"
"I'm not going to sleep." Gu Xi yawned, and said with some concern, "Didn't we agree to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy vegetables this morning? Will they still have any this late?"
Shen Mingzheng reached out to tidy her disheveled hair, took a comb and brushed it for her, saying, "No rush, I've already bought the groceries."
Gu Xi paused, realizing that he had not only bought groceries but had also gone for a morning workout.
This makes her look like a lazybones, having slept until now.
"Are you hungry? Go wash up and have breakfast first," Shen Mingzheng said, pulling her out the door.
Gu Xi obediently went to wash up, brushing her teeth and washing her face on the platform built next to the hand pump well, and then hung the wrung-out towel on the hook under the eaves.
This is a special place to put towels; they can be dried in the sun, so bacteria are less likely to grow.
Shen Mingzheng bought breakfast from the army canteen; it included fried dumplings, fried dough sticks, and steamed buns. He also made her a cup of malted milk powder.
Seeing the amount of breakfast he had eaten, I knew he hadn't eaten either, so I asked, "You haven't eaten yet?"
"I'll wait for you to come with me," Shen Mingzheng said calmly.
Gu Xi took the chopsticks he handed her and said, "If I get up late in the future, you should eat first. Don't go hungry; it's not good to get a stomachache from hunger."
Only those who have stomach problems know how painful a stomachache can be; you must take good care of your stomach.
Moreover, she couldn't guarantee that she would wake up early in the future.
In her past life, whether in the countryside or at home, she was always the first one up in the family. She had to work before dawn and make breakfast for everyone. She never slept in. No matter how late she went to bed, she had to get up early.
But now, she wants to live well and take good care of her health, so she can't ruin her body anymore. She can sleep in as late as she can.
Shen Mingzheng responded with a nod, completely disregarding her assertive claim that he wanted to sleep in, and even hoping that she would sleep a little longer.
After breakfast, Shen Mingzheng went to wash the dishes, while Gu Xi checked the groceries he had bought.
There was a piece of pork belly, an old pumpkin, a bunch of green vegetables, and ten catties of rice and ten catties of flour, all of which he bought from the supply and marketing cooperative today.
Gu Xi looked at the things in the kitchen and quickly realized that they hadn't bought any oil.
Stir-frying vegetables requires oil to make them fragrant, and she doesn't plan to skimp on it. Given the opportunity, she naturally wants to eat something better.
Although pork belly can be fried to render some oil, the amount is not large, and you still need to buy some fatty meat to render the oil.
Gu Xi turned to ask, "Brother, can you buy fatty meat to render oil?"
The supply and marketing cooperative provides a limited amount of meat each day, and there is a limit to what each person can buy. Even if you have meat coupons, you can't buy a lot of meat at once.
Fatty meat was a good thing for people who lacked oil in this era, and it wasn't easy to buy.
Shen Mingzheng turned the washed dishes upside down in the basket and said, "I'll go see if there's any fatty meat tomorrow morning." Then, remembering something, he added, "I remember we have oil coupons; we can buy soybean oil."
"Okay, let's go to the supply and marketing cooperative later and buy some soybean oil to eat."
Although I'd like to buy fatty pork to render oil, soybean oil is also a good option.
Gu Xi went back to her room and found the bag containing money and tickets, then emptied the tickets out.
These coupons were prepared for them by Feng Min. There were all kinds of coupons, including seven or eight rare industrial coupons, as well as grain coupons, oil coupons, meat coupons, vegetable coupons, sugar coupons, cloth coupons, cotton coupons, etc. Moreover, these coupons were national coupons and could be used anywhere.
Seeing these tickets, one can feel Feng Min's deep love and concern, fearing that they might not have enough tickets for everyone here.
Thinking of Feng Min, she felt a pang of sadness. She turned to Shen Mingzheng, who had just entered, and said, "Brother, we've arrived here. Remember to send a telegram to Mom and Dad to let them know we're safe."
Shen Mingzheng responded and, seeing the expression on her face, knew that she was probably missing her parents again.
He reached out and pulled her into his arms, ruffled her hair, and said, "See if there's anything else you want to buy, then we'll go and buy it."
He had only bought some rice, flour, and ingredients beforehand, without looking at much else.
Gu Xi looked down and took out some tickets she needed. She would check with the local supply and marketing cooperative later to see if they had any, and if so, she would buy them.
Then she took a cloth bag, intending to use it to carry things.
These days, there are no shopping bags or carts, so you have to prepare your own cloth bags to carry things. However, carrying them by hand is quite heavy, and they are not as convenient as the double-strap baskets that people in the countryside use when going to the market. Generally, when people go shopping, they like to carry a basket or a vegetable basket.
Gu Xi is strong and not afraid of heavy things, so using a cloth bag is convenient and saves time.
After taking the money and tickets, the two went out.
The sun was already high in the sky, and the residential compound was quiet during the day. I didn't encounter many people along the way.
After leaving the family compound, the two headed towards the supply and marketing cooperative. Along the way, Shen Mingzheng specially introduced the surrounding environment to her, helping her familiarize herself with the area.
At Gu Xi's pace, it would take her about twenty minutes to walk from home to the supply and marketing cooperative, which is quite far, mainly because she is physically weak and can't walk fast.
Perhaps because she had been a ghost, her body was rather strange. Having strength didn't mean having stamina; her stamina was really quite poor, especially at night... she could rarely keep up with his pace.
The supply and marketing cooperative wasn't very big, but it had a pretty complete selection of goods, even selling fabric. However, the quantity was limited, the colors were few and far between, and the fabrics were all rather dull, not what young women would like.
There weren't many people buying things at the supply and marketing cooperative at that time, only two or three. The sales clerk sat there lazily, not paying any attention to them.
Those who could work at the supply and marketing cooperative all had powerful connections and were family members of some leaders in the military.
As Shen Mingzheng and Gu Xi entered, a young female sales clerk exclaimed in surprise, "Commander Shen!"
Gu Xi looked over and saw the saleswoman staring at Shen Mingzheng, and immediately understood.
It seems this woman has some feelings for her husband, Commander Shen.
Shen Mingzheng nodded indifferently, then looked down at Gu Xi, "Is there anything you want to buy?"
The saleswoman finally noticed Gu Xi beside him and remembered that Commander Shen was already married. Seeing him walking with a female comrade, she knew without asking that this must be his lover.
The saleswoman had also heard about what Shen Mingzheng had done when he applied for the house at the beginning of the month. Like many others, she was curious about what Shen's fiancée looked like that made him so concerned.
Now that I've seen the person, I finally understand.
With such a beautiful woman, what man wouldn't be interested? She finally gave up completely.
Back when Shen Mingzheng was first transferred here, it caused quite a stir. Countless people were eyeing him, this coveted position: the leaders above him, the wives in the family compound, the leading performers of the cultural troupe, the young nurses in the hospital...
If he didn't already have a fiancée, who knows how fiercely everyone would have competed to introduce him to potential partners? Such a young and promising officer would not be overlooked by anyone with eyes to see.
She had originally asked her uncle, who was a brigade commander, to help her get an introduction, thinking that she could make a move first, but it turned out to be a complete failure.
Gu Xi didn't notice the saleswoman's furtive glances. She knew that it was impossible for a young, promising, handsome, and tall military officer like Shen Mingzheng not to attract women. And since she was already married to him, as a married woman, even if those women had any ideas, they could only give up.
Breaking up a military marriage can land you in jail, so no one dares to do it casually.
First, they bought five kilograms of soybean oil, and they even bought a special jar to hold it. Then they bought some blackout fabric to make curtains, because the light was too bright during the day and it affected their sleep.
Seeing that they had noodles, I bought some.
I found a few cleaned bones on the butcher's cutting board, so I bought them too. I also bought some freshly harvested chestnuts to make chestnut and bone soup.
Actually, she quite likes drinking soup, including chicken soup, bone broth, old duck soup, and pig's trotter soup.
She also found some red dates and bought some.
In no time, the bag was full of things, and even Shen Mingzheng was carrying quite a few in his hands.
The sales clerks at the supply and marketing cooperative stared at them in disbelief. If they remembered correctly, it seemed that Commander Shen had already come to buy something once before.
An elderly woman who was also shopping nearby couldn't help but glance at Gu Xi, thinking that she spent money extravagantly and didn't know how to be frugal at all.
However, seeing her fair and delicate appearance, I knew she must be a pampered young lady from the city, so it wasn't surprising that she had no sense of budgeting. Looking at the man beside her, he paid the bills so readily. I secretly shook my head; young couples just didn't know how to manage money. At this rate, even the money brought in by the train wouldn't be enough for them.
Unaware of what the elderly woman next to them was thinking, the two carried their things back home once they felt it was about time.
Back home, they tidied up together, putting things away neatly and categorizing them.
Looking at the rice and flour placed in the cupboard, Gu Xi asked, "Brother, are there many rats around here? If there are many rats, it would be better to buy a rice container to store the rice and flour."
She had lived in the countryside and knew how to keep out insects and rats; you can't let rats steal your food.
Shen Mingzheng said, "There are rats in the mountains. I'm not sure about the situation in the family compound, but the military regularly uses pesticides to disinfect snakes, insects, and rodents, so there shouldn't be too many, right?"
Judging from what he said, it means he's pregnant.
Gu Xi took out a notebook and wrote down what she wanted to buy.
The supply and consumption cooperative doesn't sell rice containers; I guess I'll have to find someone to make one. But there's no rush; I'll go to town later to see if they sell them.
After returning from shopping, the two did not go out again, but prepared to continue tidying up the house.
Gu Xi looked at the empty space in the yard and said, "Big brother, let's turn over the soil in the yard first, and plant some vegetables while the weather is still warm, so we won't have to buy vegetables every day."
Although I don't lack the money for vegetables, it's more convenient to grow my own. Vegetables like scallions, garlic, and ginger are essential for removing fishy smells and enhancing flavor, and I definitely can't do without them.
Shen Mingzheng didn't know much about these things, so he decided to listen to her.
Since he was home today, he took a shovel that was kept in the yard and turned over the ground.
Gu Xi originally wanted to help, but Shen Mingzheng pushed her back, his expression very serious: "There's only one shovel, I can do the flipping, you don't need to do this kind of work."
Looking at her fair skin and delicate appearance, how could I bear to let her do these things?
Although he knew she must be quite strong, she appeared to be a pretty and quiet woman, and her appearance was too deceptive for him to actually let her do such rough work.
Gu Xi knew that his protective instincts were acting up again, so she didn't argue with him and decided to make lunch.
She washed the bones she had bought earlier, rinsed them, put them in a pot, added more than half a pot of water, and started stewing them. Then she peeled chestnuts, filled a small bowl with them, and set them aside to be added to the bone broth later.
Make a slit in the remaining chestnuts with a knife, and roast them with sugar when I have time this afternoon to make sugar-roasted chestnuts.
By noon, Shen Mingzheng had turned over most of the land.
Gu Xi had also prepared the meal and told him to wash his hands and eat.
The dining table was placed in the main room; it was an eight-immortal table.
For a family of only two, this eight-immortal table is quite large. On the table is a pot of chestnut and bone soup, a bowl of pan-fried pork belly, and a dish of stir-fried pumpkin.
Three dishes are enough for two people.
The pork belly was sliced thinly and evenly, and each side was fried until crispy and fragrant. It was then stir-fried with the sauce that Aunt Wang had asked them to bring over, and it was very fragrant. Even Gu Xi, who doesn't like fatty meat, found it acceptable to have a little bit of fat in the pork belly.
Stir-fried pumpkin retains its slight sweetness and is also a good accompaniment to rice.
The bone broth had been simmering for most of the morning, turning a milky white color. It contained chestnuts and red dates, making it incredibly delicious.
The rice is cooked over a wood-fired stove, each grain distinct, with crispy rice crust at the bottom, making it very fragrant. Paired with charred pork belly, it's even more delicious.
Gu Xi ate very politely, then looked at the man at the table with bright eyes and asked, "Big brother, is it delicious?"
"Delicious!" Shen Mingzheng nodded.
He was also surprised; he hadn't expected her cooking to be so delicious. Even though it was just home-style cooking, each dish tasted different and was exceptionally fragrant.
Gu Xi was quite happy. Anyone who cooks hopes that the food they make will be enjoyable.
Compared to cooking for the Gu family, she quite enjoys cooking for him instead.
For two people to make a living together, they need to understand and cooperate with each other. Just like the couple from Shencheng Mountain, they have been together for most of their lives and have a very deep relationship. They are role models for her in managing her marriage.
After the meal, Shen Mingzheng washed the dishes, cleaned them, and put them in a basket to drain.
Then he lifted the boiling water from the stove and poured it into a kettle to cool.
After lunch, Gu Xi sat for a while and then, as usual, took a nap.
"Big brother, do you want to sleep together?" she asked Shen Mingzheng.
Shen Mingzheng said, "I'll turn the soil over first, you go to sleep." Since he was home today, he wanted to turn over all the soil in the yard so that she wouldn't leave it untouched and do the work while he was away.
Gu Xi looked at him and pulled him back into the room.
She pulled him to bed to take a nap together, saying, "No need to rush, we haven't bought the seeds yet, we can take our time."
Shen Mingzheng felt a little helpless, his heart slightly burning. He hugged the girl who was leaning against him and closed his eyes for a while.
**
After waking up from a nap, Gu Xi heard voices outside. She got dressed and went out, only to find that a young soldier from the logistics department had delivered coal to them.
Shen Mingzheng helped move the coal into the kitchen and put it in a corner.
Gu Xi poured a glass of water for the young soldier who was helping deliver coal and gave him a handful of candy.
The candy is hard candy; I bought a lot of it in the city yesterday.
"Sister-in-law, no need, no need, please take it back!" The young soldier refused, his face flushed. Sugar was a rare commodity, requiring sugar coupons, and it was not easy to buy. They usually couldn't bear to eat it themselves, so how could they accept so much sugar from her?
"It's alright, thank you for your trouble," Gu Xi said. "These are wedding candies from my wedding with Commander Shen. Please have some."
Although it's not exactly wedding candy, they just got married, so the candy they're giving out now can be considered wedding candy. They even bought extra candy yesterday for the same reason.
Upon hearing this, the young soldier finally accepted it.
After seeing the people off, Gu Xi went to start a fire to prepare sugar-roasted chestnuts.
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