Chapter 199 Extravagance
Sister Zhang's fingers tightened slightly as she gripped the oil paper package.
Her husband injured his leg during a rescue mission and now works in the logistics department looking after warehouses, earning almost half less than his previous salary.
The three children are all in school, the oldest is twelve years old and the youngest has just started primary school. Although they have the help of their grandparents, they are always struggling to make ends meet.
This whole roasted duck is glistening with oil; it's probably worth several days' worth of groceries for her family.
"This...this is too much of a waste...I'll cut half of it for you and Deputy Division Commander Gu tonight..."
Nan Zhiyi smiled and patted her arm: "We ate too much at noon, so we wanted something light for dinner. Don't worry about it, we'll need you to take care of this family from now on."
Sister Zhang's eyes reddened even more, and she nodded haphazardly: "Then how about I cook some barley and mung bean porridge tonight, make some cucumber salad, and also bake two scallion pancakes?"
"Perfect."
Nan Zhiyi smiled and watched as Sister Zhang carried the oil paper package into the kitchen.
She turned and went upstairs. The study was bright and clean, and the ink bottles were arranged neatly by color.
The bedroom was filled with a faint scent of soap, the windows were sparkling clean, and even the curtain hooks had been re-threaded.
Gu Xiao sat on the sofa by the window reading "Introduction to Photography".
"Great photographer, any insights?" She squeezed onto the sofa and nestled into his arms.
"I've learned a lot." Gu Xiao turned the pages of the book while still hugging her, his chin rubbing against the top of her head: "They say you need to check the aperture value before taking a picture of you... but you don't need that when you're taking pictures of me, you look good no matter what."
Nan Zhiyi's ears burned, and she pulled away from him to sit up straight: "You still haven't told me about Gu Yan..."
"He said he wasn't cut out for studying and just wanted to do business." Gu Xiao closed the book. "Things are definitely more relaxed in the south now, and the Canton Fair is getting bigger and bigger. He made a lot of money last year trading electronic watches... but it's not a proper way to make money."
Nan Zhiyi pondered, "Just like Editor Lin said, are times really changing?"
Gu Xiao nodded: "I heard about the establishment of special economic zones when the military region held a meeting. The specific documents have not yet been issued, but the wind has indeed changed."
Nan Zhiyi found his embrace too hot and stood up to leave.
He reached out to pull her back, but Nan Zhiyi dodged him. She playfully complained, "It's hot...you're like a furnace..."
Gu Xiao sadly hooked his fingertips around hers: "How long was that hug..."
He suddenly remembered something, "When conditions improve, I'll install air conditioning for you. Last time I went to a meeting at the Central Military Commission, they had one in the reception hall. It would hum for a while, and then the room would cool down."
"Those big metal boxes? I heard they're really expensive..."
"The foreign exchange certificates are worth over two thousand." Gu Xiao pulled her back to his side and wiped the sweat from her nose. "When they become more widespread, I'll give you one first."
Nan Zhiyi chuckled, "How long will we have to wait?"
She knew that air conditioners were now exclusively supplied with foreign exchange, and even though Gu Xiao was a deputy division commander, he wasn't qualified to buy one.
Gu Xiao knew Nan Zhiyi hated the heat, and the weather in Beijing was so sweltering. "It'll be soon...my wife is suffering..."
She turned around and bit his chin: "What nonsense are you talking about? We have a fan, that's already great."
Suddenly, Xiaoman's whimpering came from the small bed; she must have woken up.
Nan Zhiyi wanted to go see Xiaoman, but Gu Xiao hugged her and kissed her before letting go.
Summer days are long and nights are short. The sun was still hanging in the west when Sister Zhang had already tidied up the kitchen.
Nan Zhiyi came downstairs specifically to urge her to leave work early: "Go home quickly while it's still light."
Sister Zhang responded and carefully placed the oil paper package into her shopping bag. She understood the thoughtfulness of her employer who had made a point of letting her leave work early.
She walked quickly across the courtyard, the setting sun baking the asphalt road until it was scorching hot.
The courtyard was bustling with activity when people got off work.
The main road was filled with the sound of bicycle bells as people in military uniforms walked in twos and threes toward the family quarters.
The army compound is divided into several areas, and Sister Zhang's family lives in the northernmost family compound, a tenement building.
It was a three-story red brick building, with eight households on each side of the corridor on each floor, mostly inhabited by logistics staff.
It was dinnertime, and the whole building was bustling with noise. The communal kitchen was filled with the crackling sounds of cooking, and the corridors were filled with the mixed smells of cooking oil and food from various households.
Children chased and played in the hallway, while housewives, wearing aprons, moved about in the kitchen.
"Sister Zhang, you're back?" Teacher Wang from next door was carrying a wok. "Your Hailiang got a perfect score again today!"
Sister Zhang smiled and agreed, "It's all thanks to your excellent teaching, thank you, Teacher Wang."
She walked to room 306 at the end of the corridor.
The door was open, and my youngest daughter was loudly reciting her textbook: "I love Beijing Tiananmen..."
She walked into the house, where her twelve-year-old son, Hailiang, was teaching his ten-year-old brother, Haibo, arithmetic. Her husband, Li Dayou, was sitting at the table drinking wine with a plate of peanuts, his face flushed.
"Why are you up so early today?" Li Dayou asked, his eyes half-closed with drunkenness.
Ever since he injured his leg and was reassigned to a sinecure, his drinking habit has gotten worse and worse.
Sister Zhang didn't respond. She wanted to scold her husband, but she held back in the end.
She said to her mother-in-law, who was picking vegetables, "Mom, I'll cook today, you can rest."
Despite her back problems, the elderly woman insisted on working hard for her family every day.
As soon as Sister Zhang put down her handbag, her three children gathered around her: "Mom, what are we having for dinner today?"
"Guess what?" she said, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense as she took out the oil paper package.
As soon as it was opened, the aroma of roast duck wafted out, and the children's eyes widened.
"Quanjude roast duck!" Hailiang exclaimed first, noticing the logo on the oil paper packaging. "I've heard my classmate mention this!"
Li Dayou leaned closer for a look, then, slurring with drunkenness, snorted, "Wow, a whole one? The owner's really generous. But of course, rich people are generous. If I had money... I'd give it to a poor person too..."
She abruptly stopped talking and glanced at the children.
The mother-in-law immediately chimed in, "That's right! Some people are stingier the richer they are. Guixiang is lucky to have such good customers, so stop talking nonsense!"
She glared at her son again, saying, "You're not even as sensible as the kids!"
Li Dayou, after being repeatedly criticized by his mother and wife, sullenly sat back down and drank.
Sister Zhang felt a little better. If it weren't for her mother-in-law's understanding nature, she would have been unable to continue living with Li Dayou because of his behavior.
After sending the children off to study, Sister Zhang carried the oil paper package into the communal kitchen.
As she sliced the duck, the neighbors all gathered around.
"Hey, is the Li family having a feast today?" Aunt Ding from next door craned her neck. "This roast duck must be expensive, right? They're really lavish, even though it's not a holiday!"
"The child is growing, so we need to give him some nourishing food." Not wanting to cause any trouble, Sister Zhang focused on slicing the meat.
The Huang family's daughter-in-law across the street said sourly, "Sister Guixiang works for the leader's family now, and she earns quite a bit every month. How could she be as poor as us?"
Sister Zhang didn't reply, she just kept chopping the duck carcass with a loud thud.
A shameless neighbor reached out to pinch the meat: "Can the kids have a couple of pieces?"
“Not enough to go around.” Sister Zhang slammed the knife down on the cutting board. “My own kids have been craving it for half a year.”
The crowd dispersed awkwardly.
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