Chapter 143 The air smells sweet
Pei Zhi held her hand and taught her how to control the force of the rolling pin. Ye Wanning followed along, but the dough she rolled was either too thick or too thin, and some of it was crooked.
Pei Zhi didn't laugh at her. Instead, he collected all the dough pieces she had messed up: "It's okay. I'll make the dough, and you can fill the filling. We'll each do our part."
Pei Zhi quickly rolled out the dough, arranging the round wrappers neatly on the table. Ye Wanning picked up a wrapper, scooped a spoonful of osmanthus filling into the center, and carefully pinched pleats. But she was clumsy, and the pleats she made were crooked and uneven, some not even pinched tightly, causing the filling to leak out.
"Look at what you made." Pei Zhi picked up a sugar cake she had made and placed it in front of her with a smile. "It looks like a little gold ingot, and the filling is still showing, but it's quite cute."
"No way, it's not pretty at all." Ye Wanning sighed and wanted to throw away the broken bag.
Pei Zhi pressed her hand down to stop her from throwing them away: "Don't throw them away, I'll eat these. I just love the ones you make." He picked out all the sweet cakes she made and put them aside. "Once they're steamed, I'll eat the ones you made first."
Ye Wanning felt a warm glow in her heart as she watched his focused expression. The two busied themselves together; Pei Zhi rolled out the dough, she filled the dumplings, and occasionally he would help her pinch back any loose pleats. The aroma in the kitchen grew stronger, sunlight bathed them, and the air was filled with a sweet scent.
After the sugar cakes were steamed, Pei Zhi was the first to pick up the ones Ye Wanning had wrapped. He took a bite, and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus filling spread in his mouth. Although the shape wasn't pretty, it was sweeter than any other sugar cake. "Delicious," he smiled. "My wife's sugar cakes are the best."
The evening breeze was warm and fragrant with flowers, and the crabapple blossoms in the courtyard swayed gently. Ye Wanning stood by the stone bench in the corner of the courtyard, looking up at the sunset on the horizon, completely mesmerized—the setting sun had dyed the sky orange-red, with a touch of pinkish-purple at the edges, like an overturned palette of paint, so dazzling that it was impossible to look away.
The colors of the sunset continued to change, from orange-red to light pink, and then to pale purple. The clouds, illuminated by the setting sun, resembled pieces of dyed cotton floating in the sky, a truly beautiful sight. Ye Wanning was so engrossed in watching that she didn't even notice Pei Zhi approaching.
"What are you looking at so intently?" Pei Zhi's voice came from behind, gentle and tender. He had just returned from the military camp, changed out of his military uniform and put on plain clothes. He walked to her side and gently put his arm around her waist from behind.
His arms were strong and powerful, carrying a familiar warmth that instantly made Ye Wanning feel at ease. "Look at the sunset." She leaned against him, her voice so soft it seemed to float away. "Look, it's so beautiful, even more stunning than the starry sky we saw on the rooftop last time."
Pei Zhi followed her gaze upwards, the sunset making his face even more handsome: "It is very beautiful." He nodded, pointing to the reddest patch of sunset on the horizon, "Look, doesn't that cloud look like the begonia flower you embroidered on the handkerchief last time? The petals are even the same shape."
Ye Wanning looked closely at the spot he was pointing to, and her eyes lit up: "It really looks like it!" she said excitedly. "If only I could draw it, I could take it out and look at it whenever I want."
Pei Zhi lowered his head, resting his chin on her head and smiling: "No need to draw, I'll just remember it." He tightened his arms and hugged her even tighter, "With you here, even the most beautiful sunset is just a backdrop. Being able to see it with you is enough."
Ye Wanning's ears suddenly turned red, and she nestled sweetly in his arms. The sunset cast long shadows of the two of them, pressed closely together, like a painting. Occasionally, a breeze would blow by, carrying the fragrance of crabapple blossoms and the warmth of the sunset, making one reluctant to move.
"Why is the sunset so beautiful?" Ye Wanning asked softly, her fingers gently hooking his sleeve.
“Because it knows that someone is waiting for you to watch the sunset together.” Pei Zhi’s voice was not loud but very firm. “Just like me, I rush back every day after finishing my work, just to watch the sunset with you and tell you what’s on my mind.”
Ye Wanning fell silent, leaning against him as she watched the sunset. The sky gradually faded, the pale purple turning into light gray, and the setting sun slowly sank, leaving only a touch of crimson on the horizon. But she felt no regret, because tomorrow, she could watch the same sunset with Pei Zhi.
"It's getting dark, and it's cold." Pei Zhi took off his cloak and put it on her. "Let's go back; dinner should be ready soon."
The morning dew clung to the strawberry leaves, sparkling like crushed diamonds. Ye Wanning squatted in front of the strawberry bushes in the backyard, staring at the red strawberries, and couldn't help but smile—these were the strawberries she and Pei Zhi planted last year, and now they were finally ripe.
The ripe, red strawberries hung on the vine like little lanterns, looking incredibly delicious. She carefully parted the leaves and picked the ripest ones. Her fingertips slid across the strawberry skin, feeling its soft, cool texture, still carrying the scent of morning dew.
She had just picked a few when she couldn't resist wiping the dew off and putting them in her mouth—the sweet juice burst in her mouth, carrying the unique fragrance of strawberries, so delicious that she almost squinted her eyes.
"What are you sneaking food for, so happy?" Pei Zhi's voice came from behind, tinged with laughter. He had just finished his morning exercise and was still sweaty. Seeing Ye Wanning squatting in front of the strawberry bushes, her nose smeared with strawberry juice like a little kitten stealing food, he couldn't help but walk over.
"I didn't steal any, I was picking strawberries." Ye Wanning was a little embarrassed and quickly hid the strawberries in her hand behind her back, but she didn't notice that she hadn't wiped the juice off her nose.
Pei Zhi walked over and squatted down beside her, reaching out to wipe the strawberry juice off her nose: "Why did you get yourself all smeared like a little kitten while picking strawberries? Look, there's juice all over your nose."
His warm fingertips tickled her nose, making her want to laugh.
"I didn't mean to." Ye Wanning lowered her head and took out the strawberry she had hidden behind her back and handed it to him: "Here, have some, this strawberry is very sweet."
Pei Zhi took the strawberries but didn't eat them, putting them into the bamboo basket beside him. He picked up the basket and handed it to her: "You pick them, I'll help you hold them, so you don't strain your back."
Ye Wanning nodded and continued picking. Pei Zhi sat beside her, holding the basket, and often helped her push aside the leaves: "Look, there's a big, red one over there. It must be ripe and very sweet."
Ye Wanning looked in the direction he pointed and sure enough, there was a strawberry hiding under the leaves. She couldn't reach it, so Pei Zhi picked it for her and brought it to her lips with a smile: "Try this, it'll definitely be sweeter than the one you just ate."
Ye Wanning opened her mouth and took a bite; it was indeed sweeter! Juice got on the corner of her mouth, and just as she was about to wipe it, Pei Zhi wiped it off for her with his fingertip: "Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you." His eyes were full of tenderness.
The two squatted among the strawberries, picking and chatting. Pei Zhi said that they could spread strawberry jam on their steamed buns for breakfast, and Ye Wanning said they should pick more to make jam and give some to the children at Ci'an Hall.
The morning dew dampened their trouser legs, but they didn't care; they just felt that this morning was especially beautiful. The bamboo basket was soon filled with bright red strawberries, like a pile of tiny jewels.
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