Chapter 162 System
In the study, old books and magazines are placed on the empty bookshelves. Although they only take up a small part of the space, they are filled with the fragrance of books.
Gu Xiao was tidying up a stack of books when he turned around and saw her. "If you want to read something in the future, just buy it yourself. The bookshelf is big enough."
He pointed to the small bedroom downstairs: "The bedding and winter clothes that we don't need for the time being are all stored in that closet. We'll take them out when we need them."
Nan Zhiyi held Xiaoman in her arms and watched him bustling around efficiently. She couldn't help but praise, "Daddy is so amazing. He's so quick and efficient at everything."
Gu Xiao washed his hands, walked over, pinched her chin, and said with a deep gaze, "Just praising her with words isn't enough."
Nan Zhiyi's face flushed, and she spat at him: "You big hooligan."
I still got dinner from the cafeteria.
A simple meal consisting of rice, two dishes (one meat and one vegetable), and an egg drop soup.
The two sat at a small table in the restaurant and ate.
While eating, Nan Zhiyi asked curiously, "Is the canteen far from here? Is it easy to walk there? How big is this whole compound? How many people live there?"
"The government canteen isn't far from here. Just turn at the intersection ahead and walk for a few minutes."
Gu Xiao picked up a piece of food for her.
"As for the Army compound... there are dozens of family housing buildings in our area alone. They mainly house the families of officers at the division and brigade levels and above from the military region headquarters and various general headquarters."
Further west, there are several clusters of family housing for regimental and battalion-level officers, mostly apartment buildings. Further out, there are a dozen or so tenement buildings, where company and platoon-level officers live, several families sharing a kitchen and bathroom—it's cramped, but better than outside. All in all, there are several thousand people.
Covering an area of approximately 3.5 square kilometers, it includes a service center, a military club, an auditorium, a hospital, a kindergarten, and a school, with a sizable parade ground at the eastern end.
Upon hearing this, Nan Zhiyi was stunned. "So big? And so many people?"
Gu Xiao chuckled and reached out to help her close her wide-open mouth.
"The air force compound next door has nearly 20,000 people. The naval compound further away has about 10,000 people. It's even bigger."
At this moment, Nan Zhiyi even forgot to touch her chopsticks, and for the first time directly felt how vast and complex the system Gu Xiao was in was.
She frowned, her heart tightening.
“You’ve just been transferred from a local area, and you’re unfamiliar with the place and the people. The work is so important, and you have to be careful in everything you do... It must be very tough.”
Her worries were impossible to hide.
Gu Xiao held her hand and gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.
"Are you stupid? Is your man made of paper? He can't even handle this little thing? Didn't you say you trusted Fifth Brother the most?"
He was well aware of the challenges of the new environment: interpersonal relationships needed to be rebuilt, work standards were higher, and the pressure was naturally greater.
But he didn't want to show his difficulties in front of her. She deserved to be protected under his wings and live a peaceful life. He could bear those tedious and even gloomy things on his own.
Looking into his calm and resolute eyes, Nan Zhiyi's heart slowly settled back down.
She squeezed his hand back firmly, trying to cheer herself up: "Yes, I believe you. Don't worry about work, Xiaoman and I will be fine."
"Okay." A gentle light appeared in Gu Xiao's eyes. "Focus on your meal."
Night had fallen.
Gu Xiao coaxed Xiaoman to sleep, then turned around and saw Nan Zhiyi sitting at her desk, writing something in the light of the desk lamp.
He moved closer from behind, resting his chin on the crook of her neck.
What should my wife write?
He would occasionally turn his head and place a light kiss on her cheek or earlobe, as if unintentionally, or as if hinting at something.
Nan Zhiyi felt ticklish from his kisses, her mind wandering, and the tip of her pen left a small ink dot on the paper.
She turned her face to the side and kissed his lips.
A while later.
Gu Xiao chuckled and stepped back slightly, his fingertip brushing against the corner of her lips: "Don't rush... wait until you've recovered more and your body is fully healed."
Nan Zhiyi's cheeks flushed, and she pushed him away in embarrassment and annoyance: "Who, who's in a hurry!"
"I'm in a hurry," Gu Xiao immediately admitted, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into his embrace, his forehead pressed against hers, his warm breath on her lips, "I'm almost dying of worry..."
He grabbed her hand and coaxed her downwards, "Help Fifth Brother..."
Nan Zhiyi tried to pull back, but he held her firmly down.
"You...you don't have hands..."
"My hands," he whispered, biting her earlobe, his breath hot, "are nowhere near as good as yours..."
That night, Nan Zhiyi did put in the effort, and not just with her hands.
He tossed and turned her over and over until she was so tired she could barely lift her fingertips.
Xiaoman woke up in the middle of the night groaning and struggling to get up.
Gu Xiao kissed her cheek: "Sleep with you."
He got up, made some formula, and picked up Xiaoman to feed her.
The little guy was quite cooperative, gulping down the drink before quickly falling asleep again.
The next day, around 8 a.m., Nan Zhiyi carried Xiaoman downstairs.
Sister Zhang has arrived and is cleaning and tidying up in the kitchen.
On the dining table in the living room were a small bowl of porridge, eggs, and a small dish of pickles.
"Deputy Division Commander Gu bought it early this morning." Sister Zhang wiped the stove with practiced ease.
Nan Zhiyi nodded, placed Xiaoman in the crib, and hurriedly ate her breakfast.
After the meal, she said to Sister Zhang, "Sister Zhang, could you check if the kitchen is missing any seasonings or utensils? I'll give you some money later, so you can go to the convenience store and vegetable market and buy some vegetables and meat."
I'm not a picky eater, I just don't eat spicy food. Since I'm breastfeeding now, you can buy whatever vegetables you think are suitable; don't be too frugal, buy plenty of fresh, seasonal vegetables. Also, buy some fruits and snacks to keep on hand.
As she spoke, she got up, took out the money from her wallet in the living room cabinet, counted it, and handed it to Sister Zhang: "This is for this week's expenses. You can use it first."
When Sister Zhang took the stack of bills, she was surprised by its weight, but then felt a surge of gratitude and a sense of peace.
On the very first day, the host trusted them so much, paying generously and readily. They are truly a rare and open-minded person.
She nodded quickly and carefully put the money away: "Okay, sister-in-law, don't worry, I'll take care of everything for you and keep clear accounts."
"good."
After Sister Zhang left with her vegetable basket, Nan Zhiyi carried Xiaoman and strolled slowly in her own courtyard.
The sun was shining brightly, and the earthy smell was rising from the sun.
The yard was indeed empty; apart from the hard ground and a few half-dead rose bushes on the side, there wasn't even a place to sit.
She thought she needed to get a swing chair as soon as possible, with a sunshade on it, so that she could have a place to rest while holding her child, look at the sky, and feel the breeze.
Not long after, Sister Zhang returned, having bought some vegetables, meat, and eggs.
Nan Zhiyi glanced at the vegetables and saw that they were all fresh, so she didn't ask any more questions and just smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Sister Zhang."
When it was lunchtime, Sister Zhang busied herself in the kitchen for a while and brought out two dishes and a soup.
A bowl of braised pork with potatoes, glistening with oil and a deep reddish-brown color, the pork chunks tender and mushy;
A plate of stir-fried bok choy, bright green and refreshing;
There was also a pot of milky white crucian carp and tofu soup, steaming hot and fragrant.
Although the taste couldn't compare to Wu Ma's cooking, the saltiness was just right, and the cooking time was perfect.
Gu Xiao came back for dinner, tasted a few bites, and nodded: "It's alright."
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