Chapter 116 Sweet Soup
Her heart began to pound. Could she... write one too?
She wrote about the military wives she saw and felt.
The idea made her both excited and apprehensive.
She enjoys reading and has written some teaching notes and reading reflections, but writing novels?
Or should I submit my work to a publication like People's Literature?
This was something she had never imagined.
But she wanted to write, to write about the military wives she had personally witnessed and experienced...
She stood up, walked to her desk, and took out manuscript paper and a fountain pen.
What title should I write?
She remembered Gu Xiao's promise before he left, "I'll definitely come back for the Spring Festival," she remembered the military wives' day-to-day vigil, and she remembered the spring that would eventually come after the cold winter...
The pen tip glides across the paper, leaving the first solemn mark:
spring.
The writing process is not easy.
Sometimes, inspiration flows freely, and the pen scratches its tip.
Sometimes I get stuck on a word or a scene, sitting blankly at the manuscript for a long time, the pen unconsciously spinning between my fingers.
She carefully considered the characters' language and psychology, striving for authenticity and simplicity.
Time slips away quietly between the tip of the pen and the thoughts.
A few days later, one afternoon, Zhou Anping heard Wu Ma talking to someone downstairs, and then he knocked on the door.
She took off her military overcoat and rubbed her hands together. "It's still warmer inside. Aunt Wu said, 'Aren't you bored staying cooped up in your room all the time?'"
Nan Zhiyi pulled Zhou Anping to sit down on the sofa by the window. "I'm not bored. Sit down and warm up. How are you? I haven't seen you come over the past two days."
Mentioning this, Zhou Anping's smile faded slightly. "It's just like that..."
Nan Zhiyi picked up an orange from the table and slowly peeled it, first breaking off a segment and stuffing it into Zhou Anping's mouth.
Zhou Anping squinted his eyes, feeling a pang of envy.
"After the blind date last time... did Aunt Song inquire about Battalion Commander Chen?"
“I went. My mom asked around and found out everything.” She mumbled, with an orange in her mouth. “Chen Hong’s dad is a cadre in the prefectural committee, and his mom is a middle school teacher. He’s their only son. He’s a battalion commander in the XX regiment. I heard he’s strict with training and has a good reputation. There aren’t any messy rumors about him… Anyway, my mom… is very satisfied.”
Nan Zhiyi understood about 70-80% of it.
Anping's attitude wasn't exactly one of liking; it was more like accepting reality.
She sighed inwardly, "Anping, what are your own feelings? Don't just listen to Aunt Song."
"We... met again, and it seemed... alright, I guess." Zhou Anping downplayed the issue, not wanting his friend to worry too much. "Anyway... that's how it is."
Her tone brightened again: "Oh, let's not talk about that! It's so boring staying at home all the time! Come on, let's go out for some fresh air! The snow has stopped, and the sun is shining so brightly!"
Nan Zhiyi knew that she didn't want to talk about it in depth, so she got up and said, "Okay, okay, I'll listen to you. My back is a little sore from sitting for so long."
Zhou Anping pushed Nan Zhiyi to change into warmer clothes, saying, "Quickly put on your coat and scarf, it's cold outside!"
The two of them, bundled up tightly, went out.
The streets of Jian'an City were somewhat desolate in winter, but with the New Year just over, a festive atmosphere still lingered.
Zhou Anping linked arms with Nan Zhiyi, taking light, quick steps.
"It's a deal, it's my treat today!" She turned to Nan Zhiyi and said, "What do you want to eat? Don't be shy!"
Nan Zhiyi didn't want to refuse her kindness, so she thought for a moment and said, "Hmm... I'd like to eat something sweet and warm."
"Sweet? Warm? Got it!"
Zhou Anping pulled her into the New Year's goods street organized by the city. The street was lined with stalls on both sides.
The two held hands and walked through the crowd to a small stall selling sweet soup.
"Sweet soup?" Nan Zhiyi was pleasantly surprised. "You remember I like this?"
Zhou Anping said smugly, "Of course I remember! Master, a sesame paste, please. Zhiyi, what would you like? Rock sugar pear stew with white fungus?"
“You understand me best,” Nan Zhiyi said with a smile.
Zhou Anping paid the money, and the two sat down on small stools next to the dessert stall.
A short while later, the chef brought the two of them a rough porcelain bowl filled with sugar water.
Nan Zhiyi carefully held it to warm her hands, then took a bite. The taste was alright. "It's very sweet!"
"Mine is also good, rich and delicate."
After the two finished drinking, Zhou Anping took his friend's arm tightly and said, "Come on! I'll take you to see something exciting! There are folk artists performing monkey shows at Xinghua Park next door these days, it's sure to be lively."
The two had just turned into the relatively wider street near the park entrance, and hadn't yet seen any monkey performers.
Zhou Anping stopped in his tracks, and the smile on his face froze.
"What's wrong?" Nan Zhiyi followed her gaze.
What a small world!
A few steps away, Wang Lili walked out of the state-run department store. She was wearing a military-style woolen coat, her hair was carefully permed, and her curly bangs hung down in front of her forehead, making her look particularly "stylish".
She was turning slightly to the side, speaking to a young man next to her with an ingratiating expression.
The man was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, of medium build, and wearing a dark blue Zhongshan suit.
He stood very upright and didn't react much to Wang Lili's attentiveness, only nodding occasionally.
Wang Lili turned her head and saw Zhou Anping and the other person.
Her gaze swept down over the two of them.
But instead of coming over to pick a fight like she used to, she just rolled her eyes, turned her head, and put on a smile for the man.
Zhou Anping was furious at the glare, but she bit her lower lip hard and held back.
She didn't want to clash with Wang Lili in this place, in front of Nan Zhiyi. Especially... Zhiyi is pregnant now.
Nan Zhiyi patted Zhou Anping's arm reassuringly.
She could understand Anping's feelings at this moment. Wang Lili's hostility towards them had always been deep-rooted, originally out of jealousy towards Nan Zhiyi, and now towards Zhou Anping.
Last year, Song Lanxin tried her best to matchmake Wang Lili and Zhou Zhengping, but Zhou Zhengping refused to comply, which made the proud Wang Lili lose face.
Wang Lili blamed Zhou Anping for this humiliation, believing that Zhou Anping was the one who interfered.
Later, Zhou Zhengping suddenly married Lu Linlang, which made Wang Lili feel like she had been slapped in the face, and her resentment towards the Zhou family deepened.
However, Wang Lili seemed to have been distracted by something more important, and all her attention was focused on the man beside her.
"What bad luck." Zhou Anping pulled Nan Zhiyi away. "Let's go."
Nan Zhiyi also withdrew her gaze and followed her footsteps forward: "She seems to have 'important business' today. Have you seen that man? Why does Wang Lili act like a completely different person in front of him?"
Wang Lili's father is Director Wang of the Revolutionary Committee, who wields considerable power in the local area. The young man she fawns over so much must be someone of considerable importance.
Zhou Anping shook his head: "I don't know him, I've never seen him before. Judging from his demeanor... he doesn't seem to be a local."
She pouted, "Who cares who he is! Let's go, let's go, just seeing him makes me nauseous!"
She pulled Nan Zhiyi along and quickly left the department store entrance.
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