Chapter 156: Still Feeling at Home in the Compound
After entering the military compound, Fu Yucheng first went to the message room to greet Old Zhang.
Old Zhang was oiling his rifle when he saw them come in and straightened up. "You're back early today. I heard things are not going well lately?"
"Yeah, I heard someone said something was lost." Fu Yucheng stood behind Yun Tangyin and said, "Uncle Zhang, can you increase the number of night patrols?"
Old Zhang loaded a bullet into the chamber of his gun. "It's already been arranged. Starting tonight, we'll assign two more people, with shifts every hour. Go back to your rooms and lock the doors. If you hear any noise, knock on the wall. I live next door and can hear you."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a bunch of grapes into Old Zhang's hand and said, "I just bought them. Try them."
"Thank you, girl." Old Zhang smiled.
After returning home, Fu Yucheng first checked the door and window latches, then dragged out a wooden box from under the bed: "Here are some wooden boards I collected. Nail the back window shut."
Yun Tangyin placed the floral fabric on the table: "Don't nail it shut, leave a gap for air to breathe."
She suddenly remembered something, "Oh, I should go to the Family Affairs Committee to get food coupons this afternoon. I'll go."
"I'll go with you." Fu Yucheng put a folding knife in his pocket, "And ask the director if there are any new regulations in the compound recently."
In the Family Committee Office, Director Wang was distributing cabbages to several military wives.
Seeing them come in, he straightened up and smiled: "Yucheng, is your arm better now? I heard you went to the market?"
"Almost." Fu Yucheng leaned closer to Yun Tangyin. "Director Wang, the town is not peaceful. Do we need to be extra careful in the compound?"
Director Wang stuffed food coupons into their hands and said, "We just had a meeting. We told everyone to bring in their clothes that were hung out to dry. Don't let outsiders see what's going on. Don't go out after 10 p.m. The patrol will question any strangers they see."
Mrs. Li, holding her child, continued, "My husband said this morning that two barrels of diesel were lost from the logistics department, and they're investigating. You really need to collect your valuables."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a piece of candy into Fu Yucheng's hand and said, "Let's go back after we get the things. I want to lock up the valuables."
When passing by the canteen, the chef was adding coal to the stove under the steamer.
Seeing them coming over, he lifted the lid of the steamer and said, "Take two of these freshly steamed brown sugar buns."
He stuffed an enamel pot into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "There's millet porridge in it, it's warm."
"Thank you, Master Liu." Fu Yucheng took the steamed bun and put it in his pocket. "Is the cafeteria open tonight?"
"Open, add two more dishes so that the brothers on duty can eat hot food." The chef added a piece of coal to the stove. "If you don't want to cook, come and get some food. I'll save it for you."
I just sat down in the house when I heard the sound of a bicycle bell outside the yard.
Fu Yucheng peeked through the crack in the door and saw it was the clerk Xiao Zhao: "What's going on?"
Xiao Zhao jumped out of the car and held up an envelope: "The regiment headquarters just received it. It's for you."
He poked his head into the yard and said, "Did you hear? A few people were caught stealing arms in the neighboring county. We have to be on guard here too."
Fu Yucheng took the letter and stuffed it into his pocket: "Got it, ride your bike slowly."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a vegetable dumpling into Xiao Zhao's hand: "I just bought it, it's for filling my stomach."
In the evening, Fu Yucheng was nailing wooden boards on the window when he heard knocking on the wall next door.
He quickly put down the hammer: "Is it Old Zhang?"
A muffled voice came from the other side of the wall: "Yes, I just saw two strangers wandering around the bulletin board. They don't look like family members. Lock the door."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a metal box under the bed: "Put the passbook and food coupons here."
She suddenly stuffed a pair of scissors into Fu Yucheng's hand and said, "Put this under your pillow."
Fu Yucheng put a whistle in her pocket: "If you wear this, it will make more noise than knocking on the wall."
At dinner, Fu Yucheng put a piece of braised pork into Yun Tangyin's bowl and said, "Eat more."
Yun Tangyin poured a spoonful of soup into his bowl and said, "I heard that the patrol team doesn't eat at night. Can we steam some buns and send them over tomorrow?"
"Okay." Fu Yucheng looked out the window. "I'll go to the boiler room to get some hot water. I'll also ask the night shift sentry if he's seen anything suspicious."
Just as I was about to go out, I heard an argument outside the yard.
Fu Yucheng held Yun Tangyin's hand and looked through the crack of the door.
I saw two patrolmen questioning a man in a blue shirt. The man stammered and couldn't tell the names of his family members.
"Looks like you're here to visit relatives?" Yun Tangyin shrank behind Fu Yucheng.
"Not likely. People visiting relatives all bring letters of introduction." Fu Yucheng gripped the door frame tightly. "Listen, if a quarrel really breaks out, it's none of our business. You're pregnant, don't let anything get in trouble."
Not long after, the patrolman escorted the man towards the gate.
Fu Yucheng breathed a sigh of relief. Turning around, he saw Yun Tangyin's face was pale, and quickly poured a cup of hot water: "Don't be afraid, it's okay."
Yun Tangyin held his hand: "I'm not afraid, I just think your arm is just..."
"Don't worry, I can handle it if something really happens." Fu Yucheng added a piece of coal to the stove. "Tomorrow morning I'll go to the logistics department to get two bundles of wire and wrap a few more layers of wire around the fence."
As soon as I lay down at night, I heard the footsteps of the patrol.
Fu Yucheng leaned closer to Yun Tangyin's ear and said, "Hear the footsteps? They're from Class 3, their steps are in unison, there's no mistaking them."
Yun Tangyin leaned into his arms and said, "It's more reassuring to be in the compound. There are so many people looking after me."
"That's right." Fu Yucheng touched her belly and smiled, "When the baby is born, let him learn to march with the uncles in the patrol team."
When it was almost dawn, Yun Tangyin was woken up by the cold and saw Fu Yucheng adding coal to the stove.
She put on her coat and sat up: "Can't sleep?"
"I heard the whistle. It's time to change shifts." Fu Yucheng stuffed a hot water bottle into her hand. "I'll go make some porridge and send some to Old Zhang later."
Just as I put the porridge into the lunch box, I heard someone shouting outside the yard.
Fu Yucheng opened the door and saw Director Wang leading two men in plain clothes standing at the door. "These are comrades from the Municipal Bureau. They're here to investigate. The man we arrested last night has confessed that he wanted to steal things from the military compound."
The plainclothes comrade looked inside the room and asked, "Could you please help me? Have you seen any strangers wandering around here recently?"
Yun Tangyin stood behind Fu Yucheng and said, "I went to the market this morning and saw a few unfamiliar faces wandering around town."
Fu Yucheng added: "One of them, wearing a black cotton-padded jacket, kept staring at the gate of the compound."
After taking the statement, the comrade from the Municipal Bureau placed a note on the table: "This is the duty room phone number. If you really have any clues, call this number."
After seeing them off, Director Wang stuffed a new lock into Fu Yucheng's hand and said, "I got it from the Logistics Department. Lock the back door. Don't worry, everything will be fine in a couple of days. It's not that easy to break into our military compound."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a hot steamed bun into Director Wang's hand: "It's freshly steamed, eat it while it's hot."
Fu Yucheng looked at the rising sun outside the window and suddenly smiled: "Look, it's getting light now."
Yun Tangyin leaned on his shoulder: "Well, it's good when it's bright."
The sound of the reveille came from afar, clear and loud, circling over the courtyard.
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