Chapter 20
Qiao Wei slept very well; the massage was indeed effective in promoting sleep.
She woke up very early. She had never woken up this early when she was healthy and working, because there was entertainment at night; how could young people not stay up late?
But now, there was almost no entertainment at night. Going to bed early naturally led to waking up early.
Yan Lei hadn’t woken up yet.
Qiao Wei gently got off the kang, took off her undershirt, put on the undergarments she wore during the day, slipped on an outer shirt, and tiptoed out of the bedroom.
In the courtyard, the morning light spilled all over the ground.
In the future, only the wealthy could own a courtyard. Ordinary people lived in pigeon-hole high-rises, disconnected from the earth.
When Qiao Wei was in her hospital bed, she had jokingly told the older woman in the adjacent bed that she hoped to live in a house with a courtyard in her next life, sweeping the yard with a big broom in the morning light and watering flowers with a big kettle every day.
The older woman, knowing she had no family left and had sold her house to pay for medical treatment, smiled and nodded while listening, but turned away to wipe her tears, thinking she hadn’t seen.
Qiao Wei really wanted to tell that older woman not to be sad for her; look, the wish she made had come true.
Looking at the courtyard in front of her, Qiao Wei felt it was a pity not to use such a good courtyard to grow flowers.
Once this thought arose, memories were activated. Yan Lei had a strong Chinese heritage and had once grown vegetables in the courtyard. He even knew how to compost fertilizer himself.
But how could fertilizer not smell? This fact really irritated the original host, making her more clearly aware that she had married a “man from the countryside.” The two had argued about this many times.
Later, vegetables were no longer grown in the courtyard.
But the original host didn’t cultivate flowers or plants in the courtyard either—that required the sentiment of living a happy life with someone you loved. This marriage truly lacked passion, the broken house was a rural house, and the broken courtyard was a rural courtyard; she couldn’t muster the slightest interest in doing such stylish things.
Therefore, she left Qiao Wei with a cluttered, unkempt, and desolate courtyard that neither husband nor wife took care of.
This courtyard couldn’t even compare to Regimental Commander Zhao’s courtyard.
Qiao Wei had seen yesterday that Regimental Commander Zhao’s courtyard was kept very well, planted with lush little vegetables. Although she, who couldn’t tell one grain from another, had no idea what was planted, it didn’t stop her from liking that thriving scene.
After washing up, Qiao Wei stood in the courtyard with her hands on her hips, fantasizing about how she would tidy up this little courtyard in the future.
It was beautiful; this was a courtyard bestowed upon her by the god of transmigrating into books.
She turned around again to look at her own house. One could catch a glimpse that in the distant past, this had once been a very traditional, wealthy rural residence. But unfortunately, it was damaged later in the war or over the years, becoming dilapidated.
After the founding of the country, the Military District was built here, and this desolate village was chosen to house military families. But the economy was poor at the time, and resources and materials were limited, so while the repairs to the old houses were “sturdy,” they were not aesthetically pleasing.
If only it could be renovated…
In an instant, countless videos of rural courtyard renovations she had scrolled through while lying in her hospital bed flooded her mind.
Thinking too far ahead! She had only transmigrated here three days ago and was still in the adjustment period.
Qiao Wei used an iron hook to pry open the top cover of the coal stove, then pulled open the small furnace door below. Burning coal had a higher temperature and ignited faster.
When not in use, closing the top cover and the small door, which ventilated from top to bottom, deprived it of oxygen, and the coal in the stove would burn at an extremely slow rate. When needed, hooking open the top cover and pulling open the small door allowed air to flow, and the flames would shoot up.
Compared to the earthen stoves burning firewood, this was already a convenient new technological product in this era.
Qiao Wei tore up some book pages to ignite it.
She had soaked some rice last night, intending to cook porridge this morning.
She knew Yan Lei could go to the Battalion Headquarters Cafeteria for breakfast. But since she had decided to hold onto this thick thigh and not give it to the original female lead, Lin Xixi, she had to maintain the thigh well.
Any working professional understands that all relationships need maintenance. Especially since the original host left her with too many marital and emotional problems, she had to clean up this mess.
Besides, last night, Comrade Yan Lei had actually helped her relax her muscles. His daily professional training was physically demanding, and he seemed very proficient in how to relax muscles. Last night, it felt so good that she actually fell asleep.
To return the favor, she pondered what else she could make to enrich the breakfast.
Of course, the focus was still on brushing up Yan Lei’s favorability.
She put the soaked rice on the small coal stove and placed a pair of chopsticks across the pot to ensure it wouldn’t boil over.
Cooking porridge took time, and she didn’t intend to waste this period.
How gentle the morning light was, how refreshing the morning breeze was. How could such a beautiful time be wasted?
Unfortunately, she didn’t have running shoes.
The original host had leather shoes and cloth shoes, but no running shoes. Qiao Wei barely managed to find a pair of velvet flat shoes with a single strap.
In the future, even old ladies rarely wore this kind of shoe.
But they were actually quite comfortable to wear, barely serving as a substitute.
Qiao Wei changed her shoes, poured half a cup of boiled water, wiped her mouth, opened the courtyard gate, and went out for a run.
Sunlight, morning breeze, soil, big locust tree! As she ran, Qiao Wei really wanted to shout all of this out loud.
People would think she was a lunatic. But she was really so happy!
Running healthily, bathing in the sunlight, facing the wind—it was really so happy!
There is nothing better in the world than health.
Yan Lei’s biological clock was very accurate. Even though he went to bed late from staying up, he opened his eyes immediately when the time came.
A man’s early morning is a special time. Even staying up late reading last night didn’t affect his physiological state.
Yan Lei subconsciously turned his head to look beside him, only to find the kang empty. Qiao Wei had actually woken up earlier than him? How rare.
Leaving the bedroom and coming outside, he saw porridge simmering on the small coal stove, bubbling away.
Immediately after, Qiao Wei came out of the kitchen, holding a kitchen knife horizontally in her hand, while covering it with her other hand.
“You’re up?” She was high-spirited, her voice cheerful. “It’ll be ready to drink in a moment. Just a quick boil for the greens is enough.”
Chopped greens were piled on the kitchen knife. Qiao Wei scraped the chopped greens into the porridge pot and instructed Yan Lei: “Keep an eye on it. Once it boils, take the pot down and put it in that basin to cool it down.”
The large basin was half-filled with water. The water pumped from the hand-pumped well was groundwater, which was already cool, and the morning groundwater was even cooler. It could be used to cool down the porridge pot.
Yan Lei finished washing up with combat speed, and the porridge in the pot was just boiling. He took the pot and immersed it in the basin of cold water, which hissed and emitted white steam.
Then, stirring it with a long spoon, more white steam emerged, rapidly dissipating the heat, and one could smell the fresh fragrance of the greens.
Qiao Wei brought out two bowls and a plate.
The bowls were for porridge, and the plate held two fried sunny-side-up eggs, with crispy brown edges and a soft, pale center. There were also chopped pickled vegetables.
Material conditions were limited, but Qiao Wei had done her best to prepare breakfast like this.
“Here.” Qiao Wei handed Yan Lei an aluminum spoon.
The two of them, each with a bowl of porridge, sat by the table to eat breakfast.
“Did you put salt in the porridge?” Yan Lei tasted it. “And ginger too?”
“Is it good?” Qiao Wei asked.
Yan Lei didn’t answer immediately; he took another sip and savored it.
The greens were cooked just right, still fresh, and the whole mouth was filled with a refreshing fragrance.
The eggs were fried, the edges crispy, and the center was runny—exactly how he liked them.
He took a bite of pickled vegetables and then a sip of porridge.
When Qiao Wei asked “How is it?” again, Yan Lei only gave a non-committal “Mm.”
What does “Mm” mean? This person!
Clearly, the expression on his face when he tasted the porridge just now had “delicious” written all over it. And “the male lead likes runny eggs” was something that ran through the entire book. He couldn’t possibly think it was bad.
Is it because he has to maintain a cold and aloof image as the male lead?
Fine. Qiao Wei bit her lip to suppress a laugh.
If the thigh wants to maintain his high-and-mighty air, let him maintain it.
Yan Lei finished breakfast, put on his coat, and put on his hat. “I’m going.”
Walking to the courtyard gate, he suddenly stopped. “Otherwise, leave the bowls; I’ll wash them when I get back.”
After saying that, he pressed down the brim of his hat and turned to walk away hurriedly.
He seemed to be in a pretty good mood?
Was there some good news? Qiao Wei pondered for a moment; it couldn’t just be because of this breakfast, could it?
If that were really the case, Yan Lei’s satisfaction threshold felt really low.
Don’t say that; Yan Lei was in a good mood really because of this breakfast.
Things you can’t have will always trap you.
Qiao Wei thought it was a very ordinary breakfast, but it was exactly what Yan Lei had been unable to get due to their marital discord. Of course, breakfast was just an appearance, a carrier.
What Yan Lei felt from it was that Qiao Wei had really settled down and wanted to live a life with him.
Even when she asked him to relax her muscles last night and praised him for his good massage, her voice was even sticky and sweet.
In Yan Lei’s memory, he had never received such treatment.
Although they couldn’t “reconcile on the pillow” last night, but… it felt like reconciliation wasn’t far off.
Yan Lei pressed down the brim of his hat and walked out of the courtyard. He lowered his hand, lifted his face, and his eyes were shining brightly.
He had only walked a few steps when he heard someone calling him: “Regimental Commander Yan!”
Turning his head, he saw a young girl holding an aluminum lunch box at the foot of the wall. She was graceful, with fair skin, beautiful features, and eyes full of affection.
It was none other than the beautiful niece of Regimental Commander Zhao, who had come from the countryside but didn’t look like a country girl at all.
News about her had already spread to the Battalion Headquarters, and several young men had been inquiring about her.
The soldiers under Yan Lei had also come to ask Yan Lei about her.
But those two days when Qiao Wei ran away, Yan Lei was in a terrible mood and scolded his subordinates: “Can beauty be eaten as a meal? Can beauty make for a good life? Marriage is for a lifetime; what’s the use of just looking at a face!”
His wife Qiao Weiwei was also beautiful, didn’t they just fail to live together? A painful personal experience; he couldn’t let the young men repeat his mistakes.
“Little Lin?” Seeing Lin Xixi here, Yan Lei was a little surprised. “What are you doing here?”
Because Yan Lei’s house and Regimental Commander Zhao’s house were not right next to each other, with a few households in between. Why was the young girl blocking his door early in the morning?
Even in the middle of summer, Lin Xixi had specially applied face cream to make her face look smoother and fairer. She had been lying in ambush here early, and sure enough, she blocked Yan Lei.
“My uncle and aunt told me that Regimental Commander Yan had no breakfast at home.” Lin Xixi stepped forward and shoved the lunch box in her hand to Yan Lei. “I made this. For you!”
After saying that, she ran away.
“Hey—” Yan Lei wanted to call her back, but she had already turned the corner.
Yan Lei was bewildered. He opened the lunch box and looked; it was scallion pancakes.
Not to say, it was actually quite fragrant. But the vegetable porridge and runny egg he had this morning were even more fragrant. Both his stomach and his heart were fragrant and full. No matter how fragrant the scallion pancakes were, he couldn’t eat them now.
The car driven by Driver Zhang was responsible for picking up five people at this time, all living in the old district. Actually, it could drive to the front door, but the sound of the car tires was too loud, and some family members complained that it disturbed the children’s sleep. Later, it was agreed to stop at the intersection, and everyone walked over by themselves.
Yan Lei carried the lunch box and headed to the intersection.
Lin Xixi returned to the courtyard, and Sister Yang poked her head out from the inner room: “Called you for a long time with no answer, where did you go?”
Lin Xixi stammered: “I thought I heard a sound, went out to see, but there was no one.”
“Go call Gangzi, Yingzi, and Huazi to hurry up, eat breakfast and go to school.” Sister Yang shouted.
Lin Xixi then went into the room.
Regimental Commander Zhao swallowed the last bite of the pancake and praised: “Xixi’s pancakes are well made! Same as what my sister used to make! This is my mother’s true inheritance.”
He checked the time and hurriedly put on his hat: “I’m leaving.”
When Gangzi, Yingzi, and Huazi finished washing their faces and brushing their teeth and came over to eat, they all smelled the fragrance: “Wow, so fragrant.”
Lin Xixi gave them pancakes to eat: “Sister made them, delicious, right.”
“Delicious!” The children praised.
Lin Xixi was proud.
Besides being the village belle, she was also very good at cooking. After all, she had done housework for a lifetime and served men and parents-in-law for a lifetime. The pancakes she made, even her mean city mother-in-law, had to eat an extra one.
Isn’t it said that to capture a man’s heart, you must first capture his stomach?
In this era of shortages, most people hadn’t eaten anything good. Unlike her, she had eaten sweet and sour pork loin, di san xian, shredded pork with garlic sauce, and knew how to make them all.
She didn’t believe she couldn’t capture that man’s stomach.
Just watch as she, Lin Xixi, displays her skills one by one and plays through the sixties!
But first, his wife wasn’t dead. If she wanted to be his wife, she had to find a way to make him divorce first.
Cadre divorce is not a trivial matter; the organization will inquire about it. It must not let this matter delay his future as a high official.
It must be made to look like it was his original wife’s fault.
How could she find evidence of her cheating and eloping?!
