Chapter 125 Tangyuan (Sweet Rice Balls)
With nothing to do, Nan Zhiyi nestled on the sofa, holding a ball of yarn, her fingers deftly skewing the thread.
She plans to knit a small sweater for her child.
Gu Xiao sat beside her, his hands untangling the tangled yarn, which she then wound around herself.
His gaze fell on her lowered eyes and brows, noticing her long eyelashes drooping, her expression focused yet gentle.
As Gu Xiao watched, his heart clenched, and he hesitated to speak.
Nan Zhiyi stopped winding the thread: "What's wrong? What do you want to say?"
Gu Xiao gently put down the yarn and pulled her onto his strong lap.
Nan Zhiyi asked, "What's wrong?"
Gu Xiao lowered his head, his warm lips gently pecking at her cheeks and the tip of her nose, filled with endless tenderness.
"Wife... I have to go to the capital with Meng Qingshan this afternoon."
"This afternoon?" Nan Zhiyi's voice tightened. "How...so suddenly?"
Her nose stung with tears. He had only been back for a few days. The New Year wasn't even over yet.
Gu Xiaoxin hugged her tighter. "The holiday is over. There are urgent meetings and work arrangements in Beijing, so I have to go back immediately."
“If I tell you I’m leaving on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year as soon as I get back, you’ll have to keep it on your mind from that day on. How can you have a good New Year? You’ll be thinking about me leaving all the time and be depressed.”
He cupped her face in his hands, his fingertips gently wiping her slightly reddened eyes: "Now I'm telling you, although it made you sad, the sadness will last... for a short time."
I don't want you to start counting down the days until we're apart and feeling sad during a time of family reunion.
Nan Zhiyi understood, but she was still very sad and aggrieved.
She hummed softly and buried her face in the crook of his neck: "...You always have a point."
She knew the responsibilities on his shoulders, and that he had no choice in the matter, yet her eyes still welled up with tears.
Gu Xiao held her tighter, gently coaxing her again and again in her ear:
"Don't be sad. I'll finish things as soon as possible and try to come back soon."
...
After he patiently coaxed her for a while, Nan Zhiyi sniffed, wiped her tears on his chest, and then raised her slightly red eyes, stroking his chin with her fingers: "Then promise me... when you're done with work, when you have time... you must come home."
“Okay, I’ll definitely come home.” Gu Xiao agreed without hesitation.
The two embraced tightly, without saying another word.
Then came the sound of a door opening downstairs and Wu Ma's cheerful greeting: "Comrade Meng is back? Oh, you look so well!"
Then came Meng Qingshan's smiling voice: "Aunt Wu, thank you for your trouble."
Gu Xiao pulled Nan Zhiyi downstairs.
He nodded to Meng Qingshan on the sofa: "You're back? Perfect timing, time to eat."
"Okay!" Meng Qingshan's voice was loud and clear, and his smile deepened.
The lunch was also more elaborate than usual.
Meng Qingshan was clearly in a great mood, and he became more talkative. His joy was almost emanating from every pore of his body as he chatted and laughed.
Nan Zhiyi ate her meal quietly, but she didn't have much of an appetite.
She was incredibly curious, but ultimately didn't ask.
Gu Xiao sat beside her, participating in Meng Qingshan's conversation while quietly taking care of her.
When I noticed that there was less food in her bowl, I immediately added some of her favorite dishes.
Seeing her staring blankly at the rice, I gently touched the back of her hand and asked in a low voice, "Is it not to your liking?"
Her considerate manner even made Meng Qingshan on the other side take a second look.
Nan Zhiyi shook her head and smiled at him: "No need, it's fine."
After dinner, Meng Qingshan took the initiative to check the car, while Gu Xiao went upstairs to pack some simple luggage. Nan Zhiyi followed closely behind Gu Xiao, feeling empty inside.
In no time, Gu Xiao had packed a small bag of luggage.
He stroked Nan Zhiyi's cheek: "Stay home and wait for me."
She nodded vigorously, her throat tightening, unable to speak.
Without further hesitation, Gu Xiao turned and went downstairs.
Meng Qingshan was already waiting in the car.
Gu Xiao opened the car door, glanced back one last time at the figure by the second-floor window, and then bent down to sit in the passenger seat.
As dusk fell, Wu Ma had just placed the food on the table when Commander Gu returned from get off work.
During the meal, Commander Gu asked, "Fifth Brother, did he leave this afternoon?"
“Yes, he said he’s going to Beijing with Comrade Meng,” Nan Zhiyi replied, putting down her chopsticks.
"It's only natural to feel bad when you've just reunited and then separated again. The fifth brother has responsibilities on his shoulders and can't help it."
Commander Gu's gaze was kind as he gently comforted him, "You're a sensible child, don't take it too hard. He's working hard outside, and you stay home and take good care of yourself, giving birth to the child safely. That's the greatest support you can give him. The Gu family... is your family."
Nan Zhiyi's nose tingled slightly, and she nodded vigorously: "Dad, I know. Don't worry, I will take good care of myself."
Commander Gu gave a satisfied "hmm," then said seriously, "I'll be busy these next few days. There are plans from above, and I'll need to go down to the front lines frequently to understand the situation and stabilize the situation."
He was referring to the ongoing mourning activities across the country, as well as the various political tasks that followed.
"Dad, you go ahead with your work. It's important to get things done. Aunt Wu is here at home, so I'm fine."
Nan Zhiyi quickly assured him.
She knew that Commander Gu bore the responsibility for the entire military region, and that the pressure would only be greater during this special period.
Commander Gu gave a few more instructions on taking care of his health before getting up and returning to his study.
The days flowed slowly in the silence of winter. Before we knew it, it was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival.
Wu Ma prepared the glutinous rice dough early in the morning. Nan Zhiyi washed her hands and sat at the table with great interest, waiting to make glutinous rice balls together.
Aunt Wu was pouring roasted peanuts and black sesame seeds into a small stone mortar, holding the pestle and pounding them one by one.
The rich aroma of peanuts and sesame seeds spread with the rise and fall of the stone pestle.
"It smells so good!" Nan Zhiyi couldn't help but sniff.
"We'll wrap it with this filling in a little while, then boil it in a pot, and it'll be so delicious!"
Aunt Wu poured the finely crushed, fragrant peanut and sesame powder into a bowl, mixed in some lard and white sugar, and the filling was ready.
Next, she demonstrated how to wrap the first glutinous rice ball.
"Come on, wrap it like I'm doing."
"good!"
Nan Zhiyi imitated Wu Ma, pinching off a small piece of dough and carefully kneading it in her palm.
"Yes, rub it like this, but don't use too much force, keep it even," Aunt Wu instructed from the side, her hands also busy.
The glutinous rice flour stuck to her fingertips, cool and sticky, and Nan Zhiyi kneaded it with extra care.
Before long, the small bamboo tray was filled with plump, small white glutinous rice balls.
For dinner, two bowls of steaming hot glutinous rice balls were added to the table.
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