Ugly Photos
Whether it’s planting vegetables or cultivating flowers, it requires careful planning. Having just moved in, the main task was tidying up the house. Some of the furniture, like tables, chairs, benches, and cabinets, were newly made at Gu Sheng’s request, while some were old pieces borrowed temporarily from others.
The room’s bed frame was bare, so Gu Sheng laid down a thick layer of bedding, looking very pleased with the only bed in the entire house.
Although he wasn’t sure he’d be able to sleep in it tonight.
Gu Sheng: “…”
He glanced at the floor beneath his feet, which was quite even, and pessimistically thought that he didn’t know how many days he’d have to “sleep on the ground.”
But for now, the house could only have one bed.
—The revolution has not yet succeeded; comrades still need to work hard.
The bed was an old wooden frame, a temporary solution until the new carved bed he ordered from a carpenter was ready. He planned to dismantle the old bed as soon as the new one arrived.
Zhan Aiping, meanwhile, was wiping down the wardrobe with a towel, preparing to put their neatly folded clothes inside. The wardrobe was divided into two sections, one for Gu Sheng’s clothes and the other for hers. Both had several old military uniforms that, when mixed together, were hard to distinguish from one another.
Why did Gu Sheng’s military overcoat, worn in Shanghai, look so new? It’s because he hardly ever had the chance to wear it in Yunnan Province.
She brought some thick winter clothes with her, guessing that there likely wouldn’t be much opportunity to wear them again, so she placed them on the top shelf of the wardrobe.
After arranging the clothes, Zhan Aiping turned around to see Gu Sheng by the bed, staring at the empty floor in deep thought. Zhan Aiping remarked, “Your house isn’t much bigger than mine.”
He had even complained about the small size of her place in Shanghai.
Gu Sheng thought to himself that at least he wouldn’t be hit by medical books here. Only those with the rank of deputy battalion commander and above were allotted better housing, so Zhan Aiping couldn’t expect much at the moment. Zhan Aiping patted his shoulder, “Comrade Gu, work hard so we can move into a bigger house.”
Gu Sheng high-fived her, “Don’t worry.”
Zhan Aiping winked and smiled, “If the hospital assigns me a house and it turns out to be bigger than yours, you can just be my dependent.”
Gu Sheng laughed, “I look forward to moving into a hospital dependent’s house.”
Zhan Aiping didn’t continue the conversation. She walked forward to a small bedside table beside their bed, where she placed her hair ties, comb, homemade hair oil, moisturizer, snow cream, and so on. Her silver bracelet, passbook, cards, and other valuables were locked in the drawer.
Gu Sheng curiously picked up the various bottles and jars, opened one to smell, and found it quite fragrant.
“Could you use these things when you were a female soldier?”
“No.” Seeing his curiosity, Zhan Aiping invited him, “If you want, you can try them on your face.” Take good care of that handsome face, so she could admire it more.
Honestly, Zhan Aiping was planning to make some sunscreen and moisturizer for him to use, as she needed it too, along with mosquito repellent, which was most important, and some insect-repellent sachets.
“I don’t want it.” Gu Sheng was quite disdainful, not wanting to make himself smell sweet and soft, concerned about maintaining his masculinity.
Zhan Aiping didn’t insist. She planned to make some unscented products for him later. She shook out the pillowcase and casually mentioned, “Before going to bed tonight, take a bath, and then come to bed.”
Come to bed?
Gu Sheng looked bewildered, as if his soul had left his body, though he was still standing there: “Okay.”
He could come to bed on the first day? This was faster than he had anticipated. He, Comrade Gu, had planned to proceed step by step.
He hadn’t really considered that on the very first day… he thought she might need some time to adjust.
But the reality was—she didn’t give him any time to adjust.
“Don’t be perfunctory.” Zhan Aiping knew some male soldiers boasted about taking showers in just a few dozen seconds, and some could wash their hair, take a shower, and wash their clothes all within a minute, a feat she couldn’t fathom.
“No perfunctory behaviour.”
“Take your time.”
“Okay.” Gu Sheng touched his nose.
Zhan Aiping gave his arm a push, “Then off you go.”
Gu Sheng floated towards the bathroom with a heavy head and light feet. Zhan Aiping wasn’t sure how long he took, but it seemed quite a while. After he was done, it was her turn. She took a shower and emerged in a cotton pyjama set. Her pyjamas were short-sleeved, revealing her arms, smooth as lotus roots, with a round neckline showing off the clear lines of her collarbones. The pyjama pants revealed her slender and fair ankles, and her slightly curved toenails resembled seashells.
Before she came back, Gu Sheng was under the lamp, flipping through a medical book, not really absorbing anything but cycling through the names of herbs in his mind.
Upon seeing her, all thoughts of herbs vanished from his mind.
“You sleep on the inside.” Zhan Aiping pointed to the side of the bed against the wall.
Under her gaze, Gu Sheng put aside the medical book and lay down. Zhan Aiping thought, somewhat amused, that he seemed more nervous than she was.
—Today, she had to completely wrap him up.
This darn competitive spirit was stirring!
This might be a common trait among children raised in military compounds, possessing an obsessive pursuit of victory and honour.
Under her gaze, Gu Sheng lay stiffly on his side on the bed, his large frame making him seem somewhat awkwardly pitiful, like a disciplined large dog, not daring to step over the line.
Like owner, like pet; he really resembled the black back (German Shepherd) he used to have.
Zhan Aiping sat down by the bed, sensing his tension as if he was about to bristle.
She lay down beside him.
Gu Sheng was wearing black pants and a black tank top, his chest and upper arm muscles prominently displayed, and his full pectorals somehow seemed gripping while he lay on his side.
His body fat percentage was extremely low, with well-developed muscles that weren’t the exaggerated bodybuilder type, built up deliberately. Military training focuses on endurance, making his muscle definition just right.
And when he exercised, his engorged muscles looked even more impressive.
Zhan Aiping couldn’t help but pinch the muscles on his arm, finding them quite resilient.
Gu Sheng took the initiative, grabbing her wrist and pulling her into his embrace, just like on the train, allowing her to lean against his chest. Unfortunately, unlike before when she was bundled up in heavy winter clothes, now her skin was exposed, fragrant and soft.
Lack of patience can disrupt great plans, but he wasn’t one to endure easily.
Gu Sheng held his breath, holding her in his arms, trying his best not to let her notice the changes in his body.
“Let’s sleep, I’ll turn off the light,” Gu Sheng was about to reach out to turn off the light.
Zhan Aiping thought, why turn off the light? She flipped over like a swallow, pinning Gu Sheng beneath her, looking down at him as if she were a queen, giving her a strange sense of conquest.
Gu Sheng still wanted to play the stoic, but she didn’t.
Zhan Aiping pinned his wrists down, leaned in close to his ear, and whispered, “Gu Sheng, Ping Ping likes you.”
Seeing Gu Sheng stunned, Zhan Aiping’s lips curled up, thinking she would take the initiative today.
After saying that, she leaned in to kiss him on the lips.
Then—
Unexpectedly, the tables turned, their positions switched, and what followed was a tumultuous sequence of events, marking the start of a chaotic battle.
*
The next day, the room was the same, yet it was no longer the neat and tidy space it once was. The bed had collapsed, the bedside table was overturned, a medical book was torn, and Zhan Aiping’s bottle of moisturizer had shattered, leaving a faint fragrance that wafted through the room now and then.
Zhan Aiping lay on a few still-intact “planks,” covered with a blanket, dried tear streaks at the corners of her eyes, and the red marks of struggle from being held tightly around her wrists had yet to fade.
It felt like she had gone through a long, exhausting march, wanting nothing more than to sleep until the world spun around her. In a daze, Zhan Aiping rubbed her head on the pillow, hugged the blanket tightly, turned over, and continued to sleep.
Someone pulled her over and held her in their arms again.
Feeling sticky, Zhan Aiping pushed him away, but failing to do so, she voluntarily snuggled closer, burying herself in his embrace.
Her body, not long retired from the military, still retained past habits, including the ability to sleep in any position, a common trait among soldiers.
It was unclear how much time had passed before the person beside her had left, and the scent of food wafted in from outside, a sweet aroma of milk, along with the light saltiness and crispiness, tantalizingly inviting.
She woke up feeling hungry.
Seeing her awake, Gu Sheng sat beside her, feeding her a couple of peach crisps and giving her a sip of malted milk.
After eating something, Zhan Aiping fully woke up. She looked around the room, observing the chaos and… were she and Gu Sheng sitting on the floor?
Last night, neither of them managed to sleep in the “bed,” ending up on the “floor” instead.
The aftermath of their intense encounter left the room looking like a battlefield.
Zhan Aiping wanted to dominate him from above, but he resisted her. Taking advantage of his strength, he pinned her wrists above her head. Zhan Aiping couldn’t let him be so arrogant. The flexibility of her legs and waist in her current body was exceptional, and she seized any opportunity to show him his place…
After taking a sip of malted milk, Zhan Aiping sighed, “Do we have to compensate for the bed?”
Gu Sheng shook his head, “No need. It was an old bed, left behind by the previous owner, ownerless.”
Zhan Aiping: “…And the new bed you’re having made?”
“It will take some more time.”
Zhan Aiping scratched the palm of his hand, “Make sure it’s sturdy.”
Gu Sheng felt a ticklish sensation, “I’ll reinforce it myself.”
“Maybe we should just get a bunk bed made of metal instead,” Zhan Aiping suggested.
Gu Sheng’s face darkened, firmly refusing the idea. He would never let his home turn into a dormitory.
“We’ll sleep on a wooden bed!”
Zhan Aiping: “…What about these next few days?”
Gu Sheng glanced at the remnants: “I’ll make some modifications.”
“Just piece it together with wooden boards for now, and lay a few more layers of bedding.”
“Okay.” Gu Sheng agreed without hesitation.
Zhan Aiping fell silent for a moment: “We should still have some dignity, right?”
The state of this room couldn’t be seen by others.
Gu Sheng strongly agreed, “Don’t let anyone into our room.”
“Lock it up.”
Zhan Aiping buried her head in his chest. After sharing the most intimate moments, they had taken on each other’s scent, and such skin-to-skin contact no longer had any barriers.
This guy was already dressed in a crisp, neat military uniform, looking every bit the part with his buttons all done up, while she, Zhan Aiping, didn’t even want to dwell on her own appearance. What a sin.
Fortunately, their house was tucked away in a corner, and the sound insulation was quite good—a fact they had personally witnessed the night before. Of course, the main characters in that experiment weren’t them but the couple living next door.
While Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng were busy “fighting,” the neighbours were busy “arguing” loudly. The man and woman next door were having a fierce argument, their voices faintly reaching them. By the time it got to their house, it was no longer very clear.
Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng, however, were quite good at controlling their volume, with mostly just the sounds of banging and clanging.
—To anyone listening, it might just seem like they were having a fight.
Zhan Aiping went to change her clothes. Although Gu Sheng had helped her clean up, she still felt a bit uncomfortable. After some light exercise and stretching, she took another shower and changed into clean, tidy clothes.
Now, she too looked presentable, her hair neatly combed, appearing gentle and graceful.
Gu Sheng quickly tidied up the room and managed to cobble together a makeshift new bed with some knocking and hammering. Listening to the noise, Zhan Aiping mused, “New for three years, old for three years, patched and mended for another three years.”
Once the mattress was laid on it, aside from being a bit low, the repaired bed looked quite “decent.”
Zhan Aiping sat on it to test it out and found it quite sturdy.
Gu Sheng sat down beside her, resting his head on her shoulder, much like a fluffy large dog. Whenever he had the chance, he’d stick close to her, impossible to shoo away.
Just like the military dog she used to have, serious and intimidating during work but affectionate and clingy around the handler, constantly nudging with its head.
That was her big black back (German Shepherd).
“Wife…”
“When did you start liking me? You said you liked me yesterday,” Gu Sheng was eager to know, itching for an answer.
“Who’s like you, always so stubborn?” Hearing his question and thinking back, Zhan Aiping pondered when exactly she had started liking him. It was a complicated question; they had known each other for so long, it was hard to pinpoint. Somewhere along the line, through the years, he had become indelible in her life.
Perhaps even before they realized it themselves.
But there were indeed moments of deep emotion.
“Maybe it was the time I carried you on my back. You were so heavy.” She had truly carried Gu Sheng for over ten kilometres. The exact distance was unclear to her; carrying him made the road seem endless.
Their sweat mingled together, surrounded by the scent of soil and grass, as if they were soaked in muddy water. When the wind blew through the forest, the two of them, clinging closely, could feel each other’s body heat…
The endurance of humans can be quite astonishing.
Looking at Gu Sheng’s large frame now, she wouldn’t even consider carrying him for a hundred meters, let alone ten kilometres.
Zhan Aiping sized him up, “What about you? When did you start liking me? Don’t be stubborn now.”
Gu Sheng chuckled, burying his head in her neck, “The time you carried me on your back.”
Zhan Aiping gave him a sidelong glance, “You’re not embarrassed about that? To think you’d even consider it.”
“While you were carrying me, I thought, if I were to marry in this lifetime and it wasn’t you, then I wouldn’t marry anyone else.”
Zhan Aiping retorted, “Aren’t you being too old-fashioned? Just because of one piggyback ride, if it were someone else, you’d want to marry them?”
Gu Sheng laughed, “That’s not possible. When I enlisted, I only brought your photo with me.”
Zhan Aiping was astonished, “!!! So you admit it, you’ve had feelings for me for a long time.”
“Not really,” Gu Sheng held her tight, “Actually, I don’t know when it started, but it could only be you. I’m not sure of the exact moment, but by the time I realized it…”
“I always wanted to see you.”
“This trip to Shanghai, I made it happen… because… because the girl I like was there, and I wanted to see her.”
Zhan Aiping grabbed his hand, “Your hand was injured because of this?”
Gu Sheng looked at her silently.
Zhan Aiping felt a lump in her throat, angry yet wanting to hit him. But as she raised her hand, tears started rolling down her cheeks. Gu Sheng became anxious, “Don’t cry, my hand is fine, and… this trip was really worth it. After all, I managed to bring you back with me.”
Zhan Aiping’s tears fell fiercely, beyond her control, sobbing and choking. She thought to herself how stubborn the man before her was, stubborn in his youth and still stubborn in his old age.
Old Gu had told her that all those were matters of their youth, questioning why she brought them up.
“I just wanted to see you, to know you were doing well, that’s all.” There were many sent-down youths from Shanghai around here, all trying their best to return, talking about how great it was there. He was happy to hear that because the girl he liked was there.
“You’re so naive, throwing a tantrum. Everyone wants to go back, but you chose to come with me, despite all the chances you had to regret it.” Gu Sheng felt torn; he coveted her presence yet felt she deserved better. The girl he liked was outstanding, with a respectable job in the big city. Shanghai was one of the few places with ample supply of food and meat, and even imported goods, often without needing coupons for meat… If one had the choice, who would want to live on a diet of radishes and potatoes every day?
A man shouldn’t let the woman he loves suffer with him.
Yet, in the end, he was greedy.
“You’re the biggest fool.” Zhan Aiping dried her tears. She wasn’t one to dwell on the past. What’s gone is gone. She embraced Gu Sheng’s neck:
“From now on, you’re not allowed to hide anything from me.”
“I won’t hide anything.”
“From now on, you’ll listen to me on household matters.”
“I’ll listen to you.”
Zhan Aiping’s mood stabilized, and the two of them set about arranging their new home together. Gu Sheng brought out the photos taken on their wedding day, having had many copies printed. Zhan Aiping laughed, “You promised no photos, and yet here we are with so many. You’re just like a dog, Comrade Gu Sheng.”
Gu Sheng embraced her from behind, “As long as our revolution is victorious, I don’t mind being a dog.”
“Let’s hang some in the room and a couple outside on the walls. Gu Sheng, why do you have so many photos, and all of them are of me?”
Gu Sheng chuckled, “Didn’t I tell you? In all my years in the army, aside from a family portrait, I’ve only kept your photos.”
Zhan Aiping stared blankly at the photos: “…”
How could she have so many unflattering photos?
Where did Gu Sheng even find these?
“It’s actually quite funny. The guys in the unit were all so curious. Some would bring photos of girls they liked and look at them under the covers at night. Once, during a big inspection, many were caught, but they never found mine.”
“Even though I also had a photo of a girl I liked.”
Zhan Aiping thought to herself, I suspect you’re insulting me, but I have no proof.
“When the guys got together, they’d inevitably talk about the women they liked and even show each other photos. There were those who got caught peeking at photos and ended up being teased.”
“I would look at your photo openly… no, I mean, I proudly looked at your photo, and they really had no reaction!”
Zhan Aiping glared at him, “You’re quite pleased with yourself, aren’t you?”
“Seriously, I was actually hoping someone would ask.” Otherwise, he wouldn’t have shown the photo in front of Wang Youli. That was a first in his life.
Zhan Aiping chuckled, “When you meet up with your old comrades in the future, just tell them they were all blind back then.”
In the dark, all cats are grey.
“I’ll say it, for sure.”
“If you dare, I’ll hammer you to death, Gu Sheng. No, we need to buy a camera in the future. I want to take lots of beautiful photos. Look at these, what are these even?”
Gu Sheng patted her shoulder, soothing her, “Women change eighteen times as they grow. Women change eighteen times.”
Zhan Aiping kicked him lightly, “Save it for your daughter.”
Gu Sheng embraced her, “First, we need to have a daughter.”
Zhan Aiping thought to herself, if Gu Sheng could look at these photos and think of her, it must be true love, “There are actually a few nice ones.”
“Yes, the nice ones I don’t want to show to anyone.”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
“I want to hide you away.”
Zhan Aiping: “Comrade Gu, your thinking is a bit off.”
“I know, I was wrong. I know girls love to look beautiful. From now on, only the most beautiful photos of Ping Ping will be in our house.”
Zhan Aiping couldn’t help but laugh, “That’s more like it.”
After selecting and hanging the photos, they went out together to buy kitchen supplies like pots, pans, coal stoves, and condiments, as well as seeds for vegetables and some chicks and ducklings. They bought quite a few items, all of which Gu Sheng carried, unwilling to let her exert herself.
On the way, they ran into Li Yuxia, the women’s director, who felt something was amiss upon seeing them.
Just yesterday, this man claimed they didn’t cook at home, yet today they bought more supplies than anyone else.
She joked, “Wow, buying three kinds of vinegar, huh?”
Balsamic vinegar, fragrant vinegar, white vinegar.
“Didn’t you say you don’t cook at home?” Li Yuxia’s gaze shifted to Gu Sheng.
Zhan Aiping stepped in to smooth things over, “Director Li, this is like the student who performs poorly having the most stationery.”
“Gu Sheng said Sister Zhou makes delicious bean paste sauce, so we plan to exchange some with her. We both love spicy food, and the chili peppers here are delicious. I heard Sister He’s hometown is…” Gu Sheng might not be good at other things, but his ability to remember locations and local products was excellent. It was like playing a video game for him; he remembered all the best things produced in each area on the map.
They brought quite a few items from Shanghai, such as pastries, chocolates, and fruit candies, either to give as gifts when visiting others or to exchange for something else.
After making the rounds, they became familiar with everyone they needed to.
Li Yuxia: “…”
She thought to herself that the two of them were quite capable.
They seemed inexperienced at household management, yet also appeared to be adept at it.
“You’ve bought quite a few vegetable seeds. Planning to grow vegetables? Got any green onions? Come to my place and grab a couple of bunches to plant. Just snip a few when you need them, they’ll make noodles and stir-fries smell great.”
“Thank you in advance, Director Li.”
Li Yuxia smiled, finding the newlywed couple quite amusing. Then, turning to Zhan Aiping, she teased, “Didn’t you say you’d handle all the household chores? Is he the type to delegate everything?”
Despite Gu Sheng’s tall and handsome military officer demeanour, he was carrying all sorts of groceries, including a basket of chirping chicks, exuding a real “domestic” vibe.
Before Zhan Aiping could respond, Gu Sheng spoke up, “How could I just delegate everything? I’m eager to do the housework, all because I adore my wife.”
“My wife is from the big city, she’s delicate.”
Li Yuxia: “…” Too saccharine.
With Gu Sheng’s rebellious and untamed look, claiming he “adores his wife” just didn’t seem convincing to her. She wondered, how long can this adoration for his wife last?
Furthermore… the reputation of your “capable” wife is quickly spreading.
The border area has been somewhat unstable in recent years, though it’s calmer now. Incidents involving the kidnapping and targeting of military family members have occurred, so after the incident the day before yesterday, tensions rose again, prompting another round of checks and alerts.
The story of this “delicate military spouse” taking down three strong men has been exaggerated and spread around. Li Yuxia heard it and was somewhat skeptical, but seeing Zhan Aiping today, she thought there might be some “bragging” involved.
She believed her husband could take on four men, but as for this delicate, fair-skinned military wife, managing one would be impressive enough.
“Make sure you two have a good life together!”
She hoped she wouldn’t have to intervene in their disputes; she didn’t even want to visit that place. The couple next door was troublesome enough; these two pairs should avoid causing more chaos together.
Yesterday they were undermining each other, and today they’re defending one another. Anyway, there’s something odd about both of them.
After saying goodbye to Li Yuxia, Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng returned home. There happened to be someone from the neighbouring house, a male military officer named Xie, dressed in uniform, with a stern appearance. He seemed somewhat embarrassed upon seeing them, “My spouse and I had an argument last night, I hope we didn’t disturb you.”
“It’s fine, it wasn’t too loud.” Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng exchanged glances, thinking to themselves it wasn’t noisy at all. They were busy “fighting” while their neighbours were arguing, so they didn’t hear a thing.
“We’ll head back home now. Feel free to visit us sometime.”
Said so, Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng entered the courtyard, both of them were quite enthusiastic. One was preparing to show off her skills in the future, and the other was thinking that he would eat whatever his wife made. If his wife couldn’t learn how to cook, then he would learn it himself. At worst, they would just eat steamed buns with sauce.
Anyway, they had bought so many cooking oils, salt, sauces, vinegar, and various seasonings and spices today. Even if his wife Ping Ping was a fool, would she not know how to add chili bean paste and chopped chili sauce to stew?
Both of them were full of anticipation for their future life.
Xie Shu, who stayed in place, looked at the carefree couple as they left. He couldn’t help but scratch the back of his head. Yesterday, he and his wife had a big argument,
Saying that, Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng entered the courtyard, both of them filled with a bit of excitement. One was preparing to showcase their skills in the future, while the other was thinking that he would eat whatever his wife cooked. If his wife couldn’t learn how to cook, he would learn it himself. At worst, they would just have steamed buns dipped in sauce.
After all, they had bought so many cooking oils, salt, sauces, vinegar, and various seasonings and spices today. Even if his wife Ping Ping was a bit simple, wouldn’t she know how to add chili bean paste and chopped chili sauce to stew?
Both of them were full of anticipation for their future life.
Xie Shu, who stayed in place, watched the carefree couple as they left and couldn’t help but scratch the back of his head. He and his wife had a big argument yesterday, but neither of them had any reaction or curiosity. When they used to hear him and his wife arguing, they would at least ask a few questions or offer some advice. But this new couple seemed to completely ignore it.
“In a few days, let’s renovate the kitchen, move it outside, and build a small wooden house as a kitchen. We can keep this stove inside for cooking,” Zhan Aiping rolled up her sleeves and looked at the pile of bottles and jars on the table. She felt especially satisfied and accomplished.
Originally, in the city, she wanted to gather all the seasonings, but considering their imminent departure, she had to restrain herself from buying. Now, they finally had everything they needed.
Although she didn’t bring any seasonings and ingredients from the city, she did bring a few porcelain cups and porcelain spoons. These porcelain cups and spoons may look like ordinary ones on the surface, but they were actually quite useful.
They could serve as measuring cups and measuring spoons. For example, one cup was equivalent to 100 millilitres, half a cup of rice was 50 grams, and a spoon of soy sauce was approximately 5 millilitres.
Zhan Aiping was particular about proportions when cooking. She liked to soak the rice for a while before cooking it. She would soak the rice for about half an hour and then use 50 grams of rice with 60-70 millilitres of water to make rice. She preferred this ratio.
Before cooking, she would also add a drop of sesame oil to the rice, which resulted in soft, fragrant, and sweet rice.
Some old doctors she knew claimed that soaking rice like this before cooking it would lead to the loss of nutrients in the rice. Zhan Aiping didn’t care much about that. As long as it tasted good, it was fine. If she had the time, she would soak it, and if not, she would cook it directly. After all, the “pig” she raised at home wasn’t picky about food, heh.
Today, she had some free time and planned to cook a pot of firewood rice properly.
Seeing her busy like a diligent little bee, the more she buzzes around, the more uncomfortable Gu Sheng feels. Because when his mom, Qin Ying, cooks, she also bustles around like this, making a big fuss.
The result was that the food she cooked was particularly unappetizing.
It was worse than what the bald chef in the cafeteria would casually stir-fry.
Either it was burnt or it was overcooked, the vegetables were either old or bitter. While others cooked sweet dishes, she managed to make them taste bitter.
Not to mention his mother, Qin Ying, there was also his younger sister, Gu Xiangyi. When they were kids, Zhan Aiping loved to cook over a fire, and Gu Xiangyi liked to cook and have outdoor picnics. Even at home, they would voluntarily offer to cook, and the food they made was especially unappetizing…
Anyway, these three women were a handful when it came to cooking.
All of them were terrible at it.
—At least Zhan Aiping had survived all these years despite her cooking.
He just hadn’t expected that as she cooked, the aroma would actually smell quite nice. While Zhan Aiping was cooking inside the house, Gu Sheng was tasked with a heavy duty job—clearing the yard, weeding, and also building a chicken coop and duck house outside to keep the baby chicks and ducklings.
Yesterday, Zhan Aiping had already cleaned up, and the baby chicks and ducklings they had bought were chirping away in their wooden boxes. Zhan Aiping mentioned wanting to plant two fruit trees in the yard, and they planned to exchange for two fruit tree saplings with others or even go to the mountains to dig up some wild fruit tree saplings to plant.
“Gu Sheng, come inside for dinner,” Zhan Aiping called out to him.
Gu Sheng immediately dropped what he was doing and turned back towards the house. Zhan Aiping reminded him to wash his hands, and he smiled as he kissed her on the cheek, earning a playful scolding from her. But he didn’t mind at all, after all, she was his wife now, and he could kiss her however he liked.
The two of them sat down to eat, and the food was quite good, but there was a generous amount of it. There was a plate of braised potatoes and a dish of preserved meat with dried bean curd, both simple home-cooked dishes. The braised potatoes had a beautiful soy sauce colour, with tender potatoes garnished with fresh green onions, making it incredibly appetising.
The preserved meat and dried bean curd dish beside it was equally appealing, with light yellow dried bean curd, marbled preserved meat, and green bell peppers… Leaving aside the taste for a moment, the combination of colours was a feast for the eyes.
Gu Sheng said, “You’ve improved a lot, at least it’s not burnt or overcooked.”
“Did you learn to cook after living on your own for a while?”
“Don’t praise me too much until you’ve tasted it,” Zhan Aiping thought to herself. She was confident in her cooking skills, which she had honed through years of watching countless gourmet cooking videos. She had even learned from a few Sichuanese chefs, so she could handle running a Sichuanese restaurant if she wanted to.
When Zhan Aiping treated patients, some of them had given her recipes for seasoning ratios, but she didn’t follow those recipes when cooking for herself.
“I’ll taste it,” Gu Sheng took a bite of the braised potatoes first and found that his wife had indeed cooked them quite deliciously. The sauce was rich and flavourful, and the potatoes were perfectly tender and flavourful.
He then tried some of the rice and realised that his wife’s cooking was also delicious.
“It seems that absence does make the heart grow fonder,” Gu Sheng complimented as he enjoyed his meal.
Zhan Aiping proudly responded, “Indeed.”
Gu Sheng teased, “I’m afraid you’ve brought out your secret skills today…”
Zhan Aiping playfully kicked him, saying, “Are you trying to start a fight?”
Gu Sheng laughed, “We can have a fight later tonight, and I’ll be there till the end.”
“You’re shameless,” Zhan Aiping glared at him, “If we make a scene, don’t you feel embarrassed?”
“Don’t worry, we have experience now. The bed won’t collapse a second time.”
Zhan Aiping: “… It always feels like we’re talking about something else.”
Although it wasn’t appropriate, having the neighbours next door arguing was quite beneficial. Even though their own noises weren’t too loud, if there were other sounds to cover them, it was generally better…
“We should still be a bit discreet.”
Gu Sheng thought to himself that he didn’t care about his reputation now, but his wife cared about hers, so there was no choice: “Our noises, when others hear them, they might just think we’re rummaging through things and having a fight.”
“Comrade Zhan, how about a match tonight?”
“Okay,” in the prime of youth, a little indulgence was necessary to get through life, “I’m the female, so you have to accommodate me. I’ll be on top, and you have to lie there without moving for eight minutes.”
Pressing him down was particularly enjoyable.
Gu Sheng choked a bit, “Can’t we both have our way?”
“No, we’ve agreed that I have the final say at home.”
Just then, there was a sudden shout from outside, “Xiao Gu, Xiao Zhan, are you two at home?”
It was the voice of Li Yuxia. They hadn’t closed the gate to the courtyard, so she walked right in. Director Li was a kind-hearted person and had brought them quite a few vegetable seedlings. “You guys are slow with planting seeds, so I brought you some vegetable seedlings. You’ll be able to eat them in a while. There are scallions and chili peppers…”
“Thank you, Director Li. We were just having a meal. You should try my cooking.” Since she had brought them so much, Zhan Aiping went ahead and prepared a dish for her.
She had cooked quite a lot today, and there was some left in the pot.
Li Yuxia initially didn’t want to accept, but Zhan Aiping insisted. Li Yuxia found the aroma enticing and, after leaving their courtyard, felt that it smelled quite good.
After Director Li left, Zhan Aiping looked at Gu Sheng.
Gu Sheng understood and said, “You don’t have to say it. I know. We should be more discreet in the future.”
Zhan Aiping playfully flicked her fingers, hooked her arm with his, and gave him a pat on the shoulder.
—Although they acted tough, in reality, they both had thick skin.
*
After Li Yuxia returned home, she was amazed. She had originally thought that this young couple, Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping, would have some emotional conflicts at the beginning, but to her surprise, they adapted well and started living together harmoniously with enthusiasm on the very next day.
After her husband, Zhang Zhenghui, returned, Li Yuxia told him, “I thought that young couple, Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping, would have some emotional conflicts, but to my surprise, they are living happily. I tried the dish Zhan Aiping made, and it tasted pretty good…”
“As long as they don’t join in the arguments next door, it’s fine.”
“Don’t be too happy too soon. I have a feeling they might start arguing soon.” Zhang Zhenghui felt that his wife was always meddling in other people’s affairs. She didn’t do anything else all day but enjoyed resolving conflicts.
If others were in conflict, she would worry; if there were no conflicts, she felt idle.
“What’s wrong? I think that young couple is doing just fine.” “People at the military hospital are saying that they don’t want Zhan Aiping.”
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