Chapter 157: Just install surveillance
As soon as the reveille sounded, the courtyard became bustling with activity. Fu Yucheng suddenly remembered something and said, "I'll go see if Old Zhang is awake. The porridge should be getting cold."
As soon as I walked to the door of the message room, I saw Old Zhang distributing steamed buns to the patrol soldiers.
Seeing Fu Yucheng coming over, he held up an enamel pot and shouted, "Come quickly, freshly brewed tea."
Patrolman Xiao Li stuffed a pickled cabbage into Fu Yucheng's hand and said, "Sister-in-law's steamed buns are really delicious, and they're chewier than the ones in the cafeteria."
"I'll ask her to steam more later." Fu Yucheng glanced into the sentry box. "Nothing happened last night, right?"
Xiao Li greased his holster. "I saw a wild cat late last night, and it gave me a fright. Oh, and this morning when I was changing shifts, I saw Old Wang from the logistics department. He said they found the diesel. A rat had gnawed through the barrel, and it was leaking into a corner of the warehouse."
Fu Yucheng breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good that they found it, so as to save people from panic."
When I returned to the house, Yun Tangyin was putting steamed buns into the bamboo basket.
Seeing him come in, she stood up and smiled: "Mrs. Li just knocked on the door and said her child wanted to eat brown sugar buns."
She added two more to the basket and said, "Send a few for Director Wang as well."
"I'll go." Fu Yucheng picked up the basket. "You rest at home and cut the peony-red cloth. It's a good opportunity to try out the new scissors."
At the door of the Family Affairs Committee, Director Wang was talking to several military wives.
Seeing Fu Yucheng coming over, he waved and shouted, "It's just right. Your wife has good craftsmanship. Help sew a few cloth covers for the patrol team to use for their flashlights."
Fu Yucheng stuffed a steamed bun into Director Wang's hand and said, "She's cutting cloth. I'll go back and tell her. By the way, how's the interrogation of the guy we arrested last night going?"
"He confessed. He said he teamed up with three other people to steal the copper wires in the compound." Director Wang posted a notice on the bulletin board. "Look, I just posted a notice asking everyone to check the wire connectors to make sure they're not exposed."
Mrs. Li came over, holding the child. "My husband went to a meeting at the regiment headquarters this morning. He said they want to install security nets and will start work next week."
She stuffed a pair of cloth shoes into Fu Yucheng's hands and said, "I made these for you. Try them and see if they fit."
"Thank you, Aunt Li." Fu Yucheng stuffed a candy tiger into the child's hand. "I just bought it. Let the child have a sweet mouth."
When I got home, Yun Tangyin was placing flower pots on the windowsill.
Seeing him come in, she stood up and smiled: "I cut a small piece and made a bellyband for the child first."
She stuffed a ruler into Fu Yucheng's hand and said, "Help me measure the size."
Fu Yucheng had just measured halfway when he heard the sound of a car horn outside the yard.
I peeked through the crack in the door and saw that it was the regiment's jeep.
"Looks like a newspaper deliveryman," Yun Tangyin stood behind him, "The recent newspapers haven't mentioned anything about what's happening in town."
Fu Yucheng opened the door and it turned out to be the correspondent Xiao Zhou.
Seeing them come out, he smiled and handed over the newspaper: "Brother Fu, sister-in-law, this is today's military newspaper. By the way, the regiment commander asked you to go to the regiment headquarters this afternoon, saying that there is a new mission."
"Got it." Fu Yucheng stuffed a steamed bun into Xiao Zhou's hand, "It's freshly steamed, eat it while it's hot."
Xiao Zhou bit his steamed bun and mumbled, "I heard they're going to install surveillance cameras in the compound, the same as in the military compound, black and white, that can watch the main gate."
Yun Tangyin felt relieved: "That's great, I can sleep peacefully at night."
In the afternoon, Fu Yucheng went to the regiment headquarters, and Yun Tangyin went to the patrol booth holding the cloth bag.
When Xiao Li saw her come in, he quickly stood up and asked, "Why are you here, sister-in-law?"
"I'll give you some cloth covers for your flashlights." Yun Tangyin peeked into the guardhouse. "The stove is burning brightly. Isn't it cold?"
"Sister-in-law, you're so thoughtful." Xiao Li stuffed a roasted sweet potato into her hand. "I just roasted it in the cafeteria. It's very sweet."
As he was speaking, he saw Old Zhang walking towards the guard post: "I just received a notice that the curfew will be lifted tonight, but outsiders still need to register."
He stuffed a ticket into Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "The cafeteria is making braised pork tonight. You can get an extra portion with this ticket."
Yun Tangyin took the ticket and smiled, "Thank you, Uncle Zhang. By the way, I made some steamed buns and left them in the mail room. If you're hungry, go get some."
When Fu Yucheng came back in the evening, he was holding a paper bag in his hand.
Yun Tangyin opened it and saw two feet of blue cloth: "What is this?"
"It was sent by the regiment headquarters. They said it was a souvenir for the families of soldiers." Fu Yucheng placed newspapers on the table. "At the meeting this afternoon, they said that the group of people they caught have been handed over, and the town has also sent more police. From now on, we can go to the market with peace of mind."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a bowl of hot soup into his hand: "Hurry up and drink it to warm you up. By the way, the cafeteria is making braised pork tonight, would you like to go get two servings?"
"Go," Fu Yucheng put a lunch box in his pocket, "and bring one for Old Zhang. He said he wanted to eat meat this morning."
The cafeteria was very lively, and the military wives were all talking about installing anti-theft nets.
When the chef saw them come in, he smiled and called out, "Yucheng, I've saved a piece of pork belly for you. It's fat and lean, and it smells delicious."
Fu Yucheng stuffed a pair of chopsticks into Yun Tangyin's hands and said, "Try it quickly. It tastes better than what I made."
Yun Tangyin picked up a piece of meat and said, "It's delicious. I'll learn how to cook it for you later."
Director Wang came over with a lunch box and said, "Did you hear? The Logistics Department will give out two pounds of eggs to each family tomorrow as a way of appeasing them."
She put a piece of pork ribs into Yun Tangyin's bowl and said, "Eat more to replenish your body."
After dinner, Fu Yucheng accompanied Yun Tangyin for a walk.
The moonlight illuminated the newly posted anti-theft net notice, making it appear bright.
"Look," Yun Tangyin pointed at the bulletin board, "the kids are jumping rubber rope over there again."
Fu Yucheng looked down at Yun Tangyin. Her eyes were as bright as the stars in the sky.
"Actually," Yun Tangyin leaned into his arms, "regardless of whether there are strangers around or not, as long as I'm with you, I'll feel at ease."
Fu Yucheng stuffed a candy into her pocket: "Me too."
The moonlight fell on the two of them, stretching their shadows very long.
The light of the sentry box in the distance is on, like a guiding star, making this ordinary night feel particularly safe.
When I came back from my walk and just arrived at the gate, I saw Mrs. Li standing under the street light holding her child.
Seeing them coming, he smiled and waved: "Finally I found you. My wife brought back some walnuts to nourish the children's brains."
Yun Tangyin stuffed a piece of fruit candy into the child's hand and said, "This child has grown so tall. The last time I saw him, he was still a tiny baby in swaddling clothes."
She stuffed a cloth bag into Mrs. Li's hand and said, "Freshly steamed yam cake, a snack for the child."
Sister Li took the cloth bag and put it in her pocket. "Are you going to pick up the eggs tomorrow morning? I heard from Director Wang that they'll start distributing them at 7 o'clock. If you go too late, there might only be stale eggs left."
Fu Yucheng moved a bamboo chair into the yard. "I'll go. Let her sleep a little longer. By the way, does your wife know where the surveillance camera is installed?"
"They say they're going to install one at the gate and one in the warehouse," Mrs. Li said, patting the child's back to soothe him to sleep. "I'll call you tomorrow when they're loading. Go check out the new stuff."
After seeing Mrs. Li off, Yun Tangyin placed walnuts on the table: "Shall I crack a few for you as a midnight snack?"
As soon as she picked up the hammer, Fu Yucheng held her hand.
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