Before, Bai Cuilin never bothered to change up the food, always serving either bland cornbread or flatcakes, along with a bowl of cornmeal mush. Though the taste was alright, anyone would get tired of eating the same thing all the time.
He Jinxuan handed a steamed flower roll to Uncle Zhang: "Try it."
Uncle Zhang wasn’t shy and accepted it with a smile: "Little He knows me well. It looks great."
After taking a bite, he immediately gave Xinyan a thumbs-up: "Delicious."
His grandson, who came over to deliver food, saw this scene and said helplessly, "Grandpa, why are you mooching off Director He’s food again? Can’t do anything about you."
Zhang Weirong quickly took out two mixed-flour steamed buns from his basket and placed them in front of He Jinxuan: "Director He, have these."
He Jinxuan didn’t hesitate, smiling as he said, "Looks like I’ve got a good deal here."
While he was eating, Yu Xinyan mentioned that she would be going to the market in the morning.
He Jinxuan quickly finished the sorghum porridge in his lunchbox, took a look around the hospital room, then handed a folder to Yu Xinyan and lowered his voice: "Help me take this home."
Yu Xinyan saw him place the folder into the basket she had brought and cover it with a cloth, thinking he didn’t want it to be seen, so she just nodded without asking anything.
Then, He Jinxuan pulled out ten yuan from his jacket pocket along with a meat voucher and handed them over: "Take this. If the house is missing anything, just get it. There are also some tickets in the drawer on my desk, bring those along too."
Yu Xinyan didn’t expect He Jinxuan to give her money directly. She had intended to tell him in the morning that she was going to the market to prevent others from suggesting in front of him that she was slacking off.
However, she didn’t refuse since the household really couldn’t spare much for food. She accepted the money and tickets: "By the way, that Mr. Lu said he’d be delivering grain today, so I guess I don’t need to prepare extra?"
He Jinxuan understood what she meant: "No need, he’ll definitely deliver it before noon. Just buy other necessities."
Reassured and with money in hand, Yu Xinyan left with a satisfied expression.
He Jinxuan only withdrew his gaze when Yu Xinyan’s figure disappeared at the ward’s door. Uncle Zhang chuckled nearby: "Little He, Miss Xinyan is pretty good, right?"
He Jinxuan absent-mindedly replied "Uh-huh," and when he realized something was off, he saw Uncle Zhang smiling at him, causing his face to flush: "Uncle Zhang, what did you just say?"
He stood up to leave, leaning on his cane and attempted to cover up his embarrassment by saying, "Going to the bathroom."
Uncle Zhang laughed even harder; it was a clear giveaway of his feelings.
When he returned, Uncle Zhang’s grandson, Zhang Weirong, had already gone to handle the discharge paperwork, and Aunt Zhang was packing up to get ready to go home.
Uncle Zhang leaned over slightly and whispered to He Jinxuan: "That girl is nice; you’re not getting any younger. We soldiers shouldn’t be shy — if you like her, find a way to win her over."
He Jinxuan didn’t expect Uncle Zhang to be so blunt, and coughed lightly: "We’re not suitable. Uncle Zhang, please don’t say such things. I can’t have her reputation harmed."
Uncle Zhang, being who he was, said, "Come on, we’re all men here. You don’t need to pretend with me. Finding someone you like isn’t easy in a lifetime, think it over."