Chapter 99

Lu Yu buttoned up Jiang Nian’s clothes and then opened the door. Song Bai handed the big bag to Lu Yu, feeling the coldness of the night: “I forgot to take something.”

“Thank you.”

Lu Yu took the bag and put it on the table. When he turned around, Song Bai couldn’t help but look at Jiang Nian standing in front of the fire wall. She was still as beautiful as ever, with white skin and long hair tied in two braids hanging in front of her. Her thin bangs rested on her eyebrows, revealing a pair of bright eyes. Song Bai noticed that Jiang Nian’s cheeks were abnormally red, which was different from the way she looked when he left before.

He looked away and looked at Lu Yu who turned around: "I bought a few clean basins and put them under the bed. There is well water outside the room and hot water on the stove. You can use them when you wash up."

Lu Yu nodded: "Okay."

Song Bai left without staying for long. Lu Yu closed the door, glanced at Jiang Nian with blushing cheeks, walked over and rubbed her head: "You sit down first, I'll heat up some bath water for you to take a bath."

Jiang Nian smiled and said: "Okay."

Song Bai bought three basins, one big and two small. The big one was for Jiang Nian to take a bath, and the small one was for washing face and feet. He even prepared towels and toothbrushes, but Jiang Nian couldn't use any of the ones she brought. She didn't expect Song Bai to be so thoughtful. So attentive that he could think so carefully about these details that he had never noticed.

Lu Yu went outside and pressed a bucket of water in, added hot water to the large basin and moved it to the inner room for Jiang Nian to take a bath. After she finished, Lu Yu used the water she had used to wash again. It was almost twelve o'clock when the two of them finished washing and lay on the bed. Jiang Nian had not slept well on the train for the past four days, and fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow. Lu Yu just turned over and hugged Jiang Nian when he heard the even breathing beside him.

He smiled unhappily, kissed Jiang Nian on the lips, tucked the quilt for her, and then went to sleep.

Jiang Nian slept until nine o'clock the next morning. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the dim room. She thought she had misread the watch, so she put on her shoes and walked to the window, opened the curtain and looked outside. It was still dark, a hazy light, a layer of snow fell on the ground, and the sound of the wind could be heard through the gaps in the window.

That's right, after the train entered Xinjiang, it was not until ten o'clock in the morning that it was bright, and it was not until after seven o'clock in the evening that it was dark.

The room was warm and there was no sign of Lu Yu. Jiang Nian put on a sweater and trousers. Just as he walked to the outer room, he heard the sound of a door opening. Lu Yu came in carrying a teapot with floral patterns. When he saw Jiang Nian coming out in her clothes, he said to the outside: "Come in."

Jiang Nian was stunned for a moment, and turned his head curiously to see Song Bai and Tang Ze coming in with lunch boxes.

Lu Yu picked up the teapot and poured a cup of salty milk tea for Jiang Nian: "I saw that you liked drinking this yesterday, so I asked Song Bai to bring you a teapot."

Tang Ze said: "Sister-in-law, we went to the cafeteria to get some rice, you eat first."

Jiang Nian smiled and said: "Thank you."

She washed up before sitting at the table to eat. While eating, she asked Song Bai: "Do you know where the supply and marketing cooperative is?"

Song Bai raised his head and his eyes fell on Jiang Nian's white face for a few seconds before retracting his gaze: "What do you want to buy?"

Jiang Nian said: "I want to buy some seasonings and vegetables and meat to cook here. We can't eat in the cafeteria during the New Year. I'll make some New Year's Eve dinner, and everyone can go. Let's have a happy New Year together."

Song Bai smiled and said, "Okay."

Tang Ze said, "If my sister-in-law said so, then I won't be polite. I'm still thinking about your cooking skills."

Jiang Nian smiled and said, "Then I'll cook more."

Lu Yu picked up two pieces of meat for Jiang Nian and said, "It's windy outside today. If you want to go out, wear something thicker. Let's go to the supply and marketing cooperative together. If you don't want to go out, just stay at home. Tell me what you want to buy and I'll bring it back."

Jiang Nian said, "Let's go together."

She also wanted to see the scenery of the base. She came back too late last night and it was dark all around and she couldn't see anything.

Lu Yu smiled and said, "Okay."

After dinner, Jiang Nian put on her cotton coat, and put on a thick cotton coat outside, and put on a cotton hat and went out with Lu Yu. It was windy outside, and the cold wind was blowing, like a knife on the face. Jiang Nian had no time to appreciate the scenery of the base. She didn't dare to raise her head the whole time. If she raised her head, the hat would fly up. Lu Yu raised his hand to let her hold it down, but she pulled his arm and pulled it down.

She was so cold even wearing such thick clothes, not to mention Lu Yu's hand on her head.

She glanced at Lu Yu, Song Bai, and Tang Ze. They were wearing military coats and no hats. They were chatting calmly in the cold wind, as if they didn't know it was cold. Jiang Nian's teeth shivered.

As expected of winter swimmers, their bodies were resistant to cold.

Jiang Nian was regretting it so much that she wanted to go back and get into the warm bed. Lu Yu seemed to be able to read her mind. Almost as soon as she finished her thought, Lu Yu said, "I'll take you home. Tell me what you want to buy and I'll bring it back. Don't catch a cold."

Jiang Nian nodded repeatedly, "Go back."

After that, she turned around and ran back with her hat pressed down. Lu Yu laughed and chased after her. Tang Ze was also amused. He turned his head and saw that Song Bai's eyes were fixed on her. Looking at Jiang Nian's back, he sighed silently, raised his hand and patted Song Bai's shoulder: "Don't look at her, so as not to cause yourself more trouble."

Song Bai was reluctant to retract his gaze, and finally when Lu Yu hugged Jiang Nian and returned to the house, he lowered his eyes, rubbed his face, and said to Tang Ze: "I'm afraid that if I don't see you a few more times, I will never have the chance to see you again in this life."

Tang Ze knew that Song Bai was a man who valued love and friendship, especially in terms of feelings. Once this guy fell in love, it would be difficult to pull himself out.

After receiving the telegram from Lu Yufa and knowing that Jiang Nian would come, Song Bai counted the days. The soldiers in the regiment felt that Song Bai was different from usual. Although he smiled normally, he was still very strict when he needed to be. But a few times, when someone in the regiment was not trained properly, he just scolded them a few times and let it go. Several battalion commanders even came to him to ask what happened to Captain Song during this period.

Tang Ze wanted to say that he was possessed.

This year, many people have tried to matchmake for Song Bai. Even the brigade commander above him wanted to matchmake for Song Bai, but he rejected them all. After the housing at the base was approved, Song Bai went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy cotton bedding to clean the room, and then bought a bathtub, towels and toothbrushes. He bought two sets of each, knowing that one set was for Lu Yu, but he still enjoyed it.

His attentive behavior was seen by everyone in the regiment, and many people thought his wife was coming.

Tang Ze grabbed Song Bai's shoulders and forcefully turned him over. Looking at Song Bai's dejected face, he said in a cold voice: "Have you ever thought about Lu Yu? Jiang Nian is already married to Lu Yu, they are husband and wife. You still have improper thoughts about Lu Yu's woman? Do you treat Lu Yu as a brother? How do you want us brothers to get along in the future?!"

Song Bai said: "I don't have any other thoughts about her."

He broke free from Tang Ze's restraints, looked at the white snow scene in front of him, and said in a firm voice: "I just treat her as my sister-in-law. I know my limits."

After that, he strode away.

There was something Tang Ze didn't say, but Song Bai knew it in his heart. Lu Yu knew that he hadn't given up on Jiang Nian. As a man, he could see the strong possessiveness of Jiang Nian in Lu Yu's eyes, and he couldn't do such a wicked thing as snatching his brother's woman.

Tang Ze saw Lu Yu coming out of the house, and after he came over, he chased Song Bai to the supply and marketing cooperative.

The cold wind was howling outside, and Jiang Nian was sitting by the fire, feeling so comfortable. She told Lu Yu all the seasonings and ingredients and cooking tools she needed. It was almost time for lunch when Lu Yu and Tang Ze came back. Tang Ze said that Song Bai had to go out for something and would not be back until the evening.

Tang Ze ate two big bowls of mixed noodles and side dishes that Jiang Nian made for lunch. After eating, he said to Jiang Nian, "I've been here for more than half a year, and this is the first time I've eaten such delicious food. Sister-in-law, I wish you could stay a few more days so that I can enjoy this delicious meal for a few more days."

Jiang Nian said, "We will leave on the third day of the New Year. You and Song Bai should come over for dinner in the next few days."

Before coming to Xinjiang, Jiang Nian asked Lu Yu when he would go to Uncle Du's house. He said to go on the third day of the New Year so that everyone could at least have a good new year.

Jiang Nian has been cooking at home these two days. She didn't go out because it was cold. Tang Ze and Song Bai would come over at dinner time. On New Year's Eve, Song Bai and Tang Ze were both on holiday. Lu Yu told them not to buy anything and just come over. Jiang Nian was preparing the New Year's Eve dinner at home. She made dumplings with two kinds of fillings, one with pork and the other with mutton. Lu Yu bought chicken and fish at noon, as well as some vegetables. Lu Yu helped Jiang Nian. Song Bai and Tang Ze came as soon as the chicken was out of the pot.

The two of them came over carrying four bottles of white wine and milk tea. Song Bai also brought dates and milk lumps that are only available in Xinjiang, as well as some specialties that Jiang Nian had never eaten. On the night of New Year's Eve, the lights in the house were on until midnight. The three of them drank a lot of wine. Seeing that they were drinking happily, Jiang Nian insisted that Lu Yu pour her half a glass.

Lu Yu frowned slightly and looked at the white wine shaking in her quilt: "Do you have to take a sip?"

Jiang Nian's cheeks puffed red: "Just a sip, I haven't tasted Xinjiang wine yet."

Song Bai thought of how she got drunk after just one sip that year, pursed his lips, and still advised: "Xinjiang wine is strong, you'd better not drink it."

Jiang Nian said: "It's okay, I'll just take a sip."

Tang Ze:...

He could see that his sister-in-law just wouldn't give up and had to taste the wine. He watched Jiang Nian drink half a glass of wine in one breath. After a moment of stunnedness, his face began to turn red. He tried hard to suppress the spicy taste with milk tea, and soon he fell on the table.

Tang Ze: ...

Song Bai: ...

Lu Yu: ...

Lu Yu carried Jiang Nian into the inner room, took off her coat and shoes to make her sleep more comfortably, and went outside to chat with Song Bai and the others for a while. After a while, Song Bai and the others left. Lu Yu cleaned the room, washed the dishes, and then lay down in the quilt after washing up. Jiang Nian slept soundly, and he held Jiang Nian in his arms and kissed her on the lips.

Jiang Nian seemed to be aware of something, and squinted her eyes and looked at Lu Yu unconsciously.

Her vision was blurry, and she could only vaguely see a handsome and blurry outline, but she knew it was Lu Yu. She rubbed against his arms and heard a mellow voice from above her head, as if talking to her. Jiang Nian squinted for a while and raised her head again, rubbing her lips on Lu Yu's lips, and asked incoherently: "What did you say?"

Lu Yu was stunned for a moment, looking at Jiang Nian who was close to his nose, squinting like a cat, and asked casually: "Where are you from?"

Jiang Nian smiled, as if drunk and sober, bit Lu Yu's lip, and said incoherently: "I came from outside the book."