Yang PeiMin gave him a glance, inwardly nodding and saying, "Then we need to head back early later, or there won’t be any left."
Shen Yiguang smiled and nodded, "Every Monday there’s a mutton bone soup, and though it’s just a few bones, the addition of sugarcane and yam makes it especially fragrant. On Wednesdays, it’s corn cakes. While the other dishes are similar to what we make at home, there always seems to be one or two specialties that everyone flocks to, just place."
"Right, Minmin?" He reached out to ruffle her hair, with a coaxing tone in his voice. She had noticed that he seemed particularly fond of this gesture, a way to coddle someone like a child.
Clearly, this man was indirectly persuading her to stay here.
Yang PeiMin squinted at him, snorted, and walked past him with her head slightly raised.
Shen Yiguang shook his head with a chuckle, striding forward in two large steps to catch up to her.
They walked side by side.
The newly constructed military spouses’ residential area was quite expansive. It also took into consideration the single soldiers’ barracks, seven stories high, with eight buildings in total. It looked as though construction was nearly complete, as the workers started to dismantle the planks.
"We had no choice. The place we’re living now has so many cracks and damages—it’s worrisome. After reporting it, the leaders said they couldn’t neglect the soldiers who protect and defend our country, and thus, these buildings came to be."
Although it was just rough concrete and sand walls with wooden frames for windows, the buildings looked sturdy and imposing.
Shen Yiguang observed her expression, clearly in a good mood himself, and pointed to one area, "See that? There’s a balcony."
Of course, Yang PeiMin had seen it too. Her lips curled into a smile, and passing by a room on the first floor, she peered inside. It was like a block of tofu, perfectly squared and nothing special, making her laugh at herself. Shaking her head, she turned to Shen Yiguang, who was standing still, and said, "Let’s go. I’ve seen enough, and now I want some meatballs."
Shen Yiguang promptly gestured for her to go ahead.
"Having seen the houses, don’t you feel more at ease now?"
Yang Jie Min glanced at him sideways, "At ease about what?"
Shen Yiguang adored her like that. Reaching out to stroke her hair again, he earnestly brought up the topic, "Minmin, I hope you will apply to T University here. It’s only a three-hour drive from where I am, and that would put my mind at rest."
He then looked at her intensely, awaiting her answer.
But Yang PeiMin just smiled without saying a word.
After a while, she said, "Mm, I know. I’ll think about it."
Shen Yiguang felt helpless.
When they passed by the cafeteria, he glanced inside and saw that a long queue had already formed, but they still needed to go back to the dorm to get their food containers.
Yang PeiMin told him, "You go and line up, I’ll go back and get the food containers."
Shen Yiguang nodded, praising her, "That’s a good idea."
Yang PeiMin gave him a sidelong glance, thinking that his flattery was way too obvious.
Back at the dorm to grab the food containers, she came across a Red Army wife who was also about to get her meal. The wife spoke to herself, "Sister-in-law, a female comrade was looking for you just now. She left after seeing you weren’t here. She seemed rather disappointed, so I asked her what she wanted and if I should pass on a message. She said it wasn’t necessary and that she would come back tomorrow."
Yang PeiMin immediately thought of Wen Qing, "Thank you, sister-in-law. I know who it is."
"Alright, as long as you know. I’m off to get food now. Are you going too? Then let’s go together."
Seeing that the Red Army wife was in a hurry, Yang PeiMin replied, "You go ahead, sister-in-law. I need to grab a drink of water first."
The Red Army wife hurried off.
Yang PeiMin shook her head, returned to her dorm to wash her hands, poured herself a glass of water and took a couple of sips, then grabbed the two meal boxes and headed out.
She hadn’t expected Wen Qing to come looking for her in the afternoon, she had momentarily forgotten about it. Otherwise, she would have told her, saving her the trip and wondering whether she had needed to take time off for the visit.
Back in the dining hall, the queue was different from before. She moved forward, searching, and quickly located him.
Someone in front turned around to speak with him, but his expression was faint, showing no signs of an animated conversation. She wondered whether it was one of his soldiers.
Yang PeiMin hurriedly handed him the meal boxes, "I brought them down."
She glanced casually at the person in front of him, only to realize it was Wen Qing.
Wen Qing turned around and, seeing Yang PeiMin, she wore a look of surprise, "Pei Min, you’re here to get your meal too? I went looking for you this afternoon but didn’t find you."
Yang PeiMin felt apologetic, "Sorry, I stepped out for a bit this afternoon. Come over tomorrow morning instead."
Wen Qing nodded with a smile, "Okay, I’ll remember."
Yang PeiMin glanced at Shen Yiguang. Shen Yiguang arched his eyebrows at her. She didn’t understand what he meant. Weren’t they just talking? Now, it looked as though they didn’t know each other.
Wen Qing seemed to notice her confused expression and explained, "I came here for a performance a couple of years ago and had met Camp Commander Shen a few times then. We’re acquainted, and it just so happened that I ran into him in the line, so I greeted him."
Yang PeiMin nodded, smiling, "So that’s how it is."
Qiao Ying called her from behind, "Pei Min, come here."
Yang PeiMin followed the voice and found Qiao Ying, who stopped her, "Cover for me in line, I need to run to the restroom."
Before she could say anything else, she was pulled into the meal queue and handed a meal box.
About five minutes later, Qiao Ying returned, looked at her and said, "I feel a bit unwell in the stomach, it was lucky I ran into you. Have you gotten your meal yet?"
Yang PeiMin handed back the meal box, "My husband is getting it."
Qiao Ying laughed, "Your husband is quite caring towards you, huh?"
Yang PeiMin laughed along, "Alright, I won’t banter with you. I’m blocking the way standing here."
Qiao Ying waved her hand, "Okay then, I’ll catch up with you later. Oh, by the way, Wen Qing came looking for you this afternoon. She said she didn’t see you."
Yang PeiMin nodded, "I saw her just now. I didn’t expect she knew my husband too."
Qiao Ying didn’t know about that but understood, "She spent some time here two years ago, and with her cousin here, it’s not surprising they know each other."
Yang PeiMin nodded, bid her farewell, and walked out, waiting for Shen Yiguang behind the crowd. She had forgotten to mention where to meet him earlier, to avoid him having to search for her.
After a short while, Shen Yiguang came out with his meal.
Yang PeiMin had intended to eat back at the dorm, but Shen Yiguang was stopped by a group of comrades who insisted on his company. Not wanting to refuse such generosity, she joined them.
Usually, new military wives would prepare a meal at home to entertain close comrades. But since they were having trouble even burning coal efficiently at home, that plan was put on hold.
Now, gathered in the dining hall eating together, it felt like it was a special occasion.
Everyone greeted her, a chorus of "Military Wife" echoed in green uniforms.
Yang PeiMin felt like she was out dining with the big brother of the group.