By the time Zhong Mei got off work today, she had already tidied up her rented house.
Her childhood dream had always been to have a room of her own.
In the past, she thought this dream would come true after she got married.
But later she realized that even after marriage, she would have to share a bed with her husband, serve him, and then serve her children. When her children grew up, she might even have to serve her grandchildren.
If she followed in her mother's footsteps, she might never have a space that truly belonged to her for her entire life.
Until now. Having rented this house, she looked at the clean and bright room after her tidying, touched the smooth surface of the kang bed, and a smile appeared on her face.
Both rooms had been cleaned up, the windows wiped spotless, and new newspapers pasted up.
The kang had also been sorted out, covered with kraft paper, and padded with a thin mattress.
The mattress and quilts were all prepared by Qiao Lanshu. Naturally, Qiao Lanshu had also helped her pay the rent.
She had already taken a notebook and recorded every single expense. Once she saved up some money in the future, she would slowly pay it back.
She hadn't bought tables and chairs yet, but those things weren't too important.
Having a kang, a stove, quilts, and a mattress was already enough.
She planned to go out tomorrow to buy some oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, rice, and flour.
She and Qiao Lanshu had already met the two families living next door. They knew each other now and got along quite well.
As it was getting dark, Zhong Mei lit an oil lamp, made the bed on the kang, and then took a steamed bun out of her bag to eat.
This was her dinner for today. She was frugal and didn't want to spend extra money on groceries, so she decided to just eat a steamed bun.
At this time, Qiao Lanshu and Qin Yuanzheng came over together.
Qin Yuanzheng drove the car, following Qiao Lanshu's directions, and arrived there.
He took a look at the gate of the courtyard and said to Qiao Lanshu, This shared courtyard isn't bad. The people living in this area are all workers from the food factory and the textile factory. It's safe and stable.
Qiao Lanshu got out of the car and replied, Of course. Zhong Mei and I looked for a long time. I rented this place precisely because it's safe and close to the food factory.
Zhong Mei only rented two small rooms, which would only cost one yuan in rent elsewhere.
But the rent here was one yuan and fifty cents, which actually wasn't cheap.
That was because the location was good, and the neighbors all had proper jobs, were stable, and didn't cause trouble.
Seeing this environment, Qin Yuanzheng also felt a bit relieved.
Qiao Lanshu had married far away from home to come here. With no relatives or friends, she must have been very lonely.
Now that she had Zhong Mei, Zhong Mei could be considered Qiao Lanshu's only family from her maiden home. Therefore, no matter what, Qin Yuanzheng had to help out and get Zhong Mei settled in.
Qin Yuanzheng walked around the area before going to the car to fetch things.
Qiao Lanshu had gone to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a small table and two small chairs. Since these things were relatively expensive, she bought them for Zhong Mei.
Zhong Mei had no money right now and was even stingy about buying a broom. Qiao Lanshu felt sorry for her.
Qiao Lanshu also brought over a pound of dried noodles, two pounds of millet, and a box of sweet potatoes. She was afraid Zhong Mei would be too reluctant to buy groceries and end up going hungry.
She was already malnourished. Now that she had moved out to live on her own, had a job, and was earning a salary, she couldn't afford to go hungry anymore.
Qiao Lanshu carried the noodles and millet, holding a stool as she went inside.
Qin Yuanzheng placed the sweet potatoes and the other chair on the table, carrying the table with both hands as he followed Qiao Lanshu inside.
It was dusk now, and the other two families were already cooking in their rooms.
When the old lady next door saw Qiao Lanshu, she greeted her, Xiao Qiao, are you here to see Xiao Mei?
Qiao Lanshu smiled and nodded. Yes, Auntie Wang. She moved in today, so I brought her some things.
The old lady looked at the noodles and millet in her hands and smiled, saying, Oh my, you are such a loyal friend. Many biological sisters wouldn't even do as much as you.
Qiao Lanshu wore a smile on her face, looking like a well-behaved young wife, which was exactly the type that aunties liked the most.
This old lady really liked Qiao Lanshu.
The old lady pulled Qiao Lanshu aside to chat for a bit. When she saw Qin Yuanzheng, she kept praising Qiao Lanshu for marrying so well.
Hearing Qiao Lanshu's voice, Zhong Mei hurriedly ran out.
She was still holding the half-eaten multigrain steamed bun in her hand.
She was pleasantly surprised that Qiao Lanshu had come. Lanshu! You guys are here?
Qiao Lanshu smiled and nodded. Didn't you move in today? I was worried you wouldn't have time to buy food, so I brought some over for you first.
Actually, she wasn't worried that Zhong Mei didn't have time; she was mainly worried that Zhong Mei would be too reluctant to spend money.
After all, Zhong Mei was very poor right now. After coming out of the labor camp, she was penniless.
Qiao Lanshu had lent her ten yuan before, but she guessed Zhong Mei was too stingy to spend it.
Qiao Lanshu glanced at her room and scolded her gently, Why didn't you turn on the light? It's pitch black, you can't see anything.
Zhong Mei took the things from Qiao Lanshu's hands. Seeing Qin Yuanzheng carrying the table and chairs, she kept thanking him profusely.
The three of them went inside, and Zhong Mei quickly pulled the switch for the dim little lightbulb. She smiled and said, I'm used to lighting an oil lamp at home. Since it's just me anyway, an oil lamp works just fine.
Qiao Lanshu disagreed, saying, You don't need to be that frugal with electricity. It's just you and a small lightbulb; how much could it possibly cost?
Zhong Mei said embarrassedly, I know. I'm not that frugal. Look, I even had a steamed bun today.
Qiao Lanshu looked at her helplessly. How is one steamed bun enough? You should go buy some eggs. You need to eat at least some eggs to get proper nutrition.
Besides, eggs weren't considered expensive; ordinary families could afford them.
Qin Yuanzheng carried the square table inside and placed it by the edge of the kang.
The two chairs with backrests were placed by the table.
Apart from the kang, the room had originally been completely empty, with nothing in it.
Now that there was a table and chairs, it finally looked like a proper room. At the very least, there was a place to put cups, bowls, and chopsticks.
Zhong Mei affectionately stroked the solid wood table and chairs, feeling deeply moved. She asked Qiao Lanshu in a low voice, This table and these chairs weren't cheap, were they?
Qiao Lanshu smiled and said, They weren't too expensive. I bought them fresh from the supply and marketing cooperative. Just consider it my future wedding gift to you. When you get married later on, I won't give you another gift, okay?
Zhong Mei was so moved she wanted to cry.
Tables and chairs were quite expensive in this day and age.
A small square table cost forty to fifty yuan, and a single chair cost ten yuan.
That was why people nowadays demanded three turning things and one sounding thing for marriage, and then demanded thirty-six legs, seventy-two legs...
Even the furniture that had to be custom-made after marriage was very expensive.
Zhong Mei pulled Qiao Lanshu into a corner, glanced at Qin Yuanzheng who was standing at the door and hadn't come inside, and asked her in a low voice, Xiao Qiao, you bought such expensive things without even discussing it with me... Brigade Commander Qin won't have an issue with you over this, will he?
Qiao Lanshu also turned her head and glanced at Qin Yuanzheng outside the door.
Outside the door, Qin Yuanzheng was chatting with the old lady next door. With his back to the house, he wore a crisp military uniform that accentuated his tall, straight figure. Even from the side, his facial features were strikingly sharp and handsome.
Although he was a bit older, a man of his age was at the peak of his maturity and steadiness. The more she looked at him, the more charismatic he seemed.
Qiao Lanshu felt herself falling more and more in love with him.
Zhong Mei, who was currently worrying about her friend, was left speechless.
Zhong Mei reached out to cover Qiao Lanshu's eyes and whispered, "Alright, stop staring. Look at you, acting like a lovestruck teenager. Are you really that obsessed with him?"
Qiao Lanshu blushed, lowered her head with a smile, and said, "I just really like him. He's a good person and treats me so well."
As she spoke, she reached out to hold Zhong Mei's hand and whispered, "Don't worry, I bought all these things with my own money. I've saved all of Brother Zheng's money and haven't touched it. Besides, Brother Zheng told me I could spend his money however I want and that I never need to explain myself to him."
Hearing this, Zhong Mei finally felt relieved.
At the same time, she felt a twinge of envy.
She said to Qiao Lanshu, "Seeing you live so well, I'm actually quite jealous. I feel like I'll probably never find a man who treats me this well in my entire life."
Qiao Lanshu comforted her, "Everyone has their own destiny. Even if you don't find someone as good as Brother Zheng, it doesn't matter. You have a stronger personality than I do. If your future husband disobeys you, you can just forcefully suppress him. You definitely have more ways to deal with men than I do."
Hearing this, Zhong Mei smiled and said, "You're right. If my future man dares to disobey me, I'll just beat him up. I bet he wouldn't dare say a word."
The two friends chatted in the room for a while longer before Qiao Lanshu got ready to leave.
After all, it was getting dark, and she and Qin Yuanzheng hadn't eaten yet. Auntie Shi was going to cook at home, so Qiao Lanshu needed to go back to watch over An'an.
Not to mention, they also had Niuwa at home, and he was a little troublemaker who could turn the house upside down.
After leaving Zhong Mei's house, Qin Yuanzheng drove and said, "I chatted with those two neighbors and found them to be pretty decent people. We can definitely get along with them."
Getting Qin Yuanzheng's approval made Qiao Lanshu even happier. "Really? That's exactly what I thought at the time. I felt they were easy to get along with, so I had Zhong Mei settle on this place."
Looking at Qiao Lanshu's smug little expression, Qin Yuanzheng couldn't help but smile and said, "My wife is so smart."
Saying that, he reached out and rubbed Qiao Lanshu's hair. "That's my wife for you."
By the time the couple returned home, it was already dark.
Auntie Shi had already steamed Chinese cabbage buns, cooked millet porridge, and stir-fried some sour and spicy shredded potatoes.
Seeing the couple return, Auntie Shi brought the food out.
There was a basin of buns, a full seventeen or eighteen of them, a large plate of stir-fried shredded potatoes, and she served four bowls of millet porridge.
Qiao Lanshu went to check on An'an first.
An'an had already finished his milk and was asleep on the kang bed.
An'an was already over five months old, almost half a year, and he still slept a lot.
Every day after drinking milk and basking in the sun, he would quickly fall asleep, sleeping for sixteen or seventeen hours a day.
Niuwa, on the other hand, didn't treat himself like an outsider at all. Seeing Qin Yuanzheng sit down, he also came over and reached out to grab a bun to eat.
Auntie Shi smiled and said, "Oh my, don't rush, eat slowly."
Niuwa happily munched on the bun and said to Auntie Shi, "Grandma Shi's buns are super delicious! I want to eat a hundred of them!"
Qin Yuanzheng shook his head helplessly but didn't scold him.
Auntie Shi said to Qiao Lanshu, "This child loves big buns the most. If we don't keep an eye on him, he can eat four big buns at once! Xiao Qiao, watch him in a bit. Let him eat at most two buns and one bowl of porridge. He can't eat any more, or his stomach will hurt in the middle of the night and he won't be able to sleep."
Auntie Shi had experience raising children, so what she said went.
Qiao Lanshu quickly agreed.
But after eating two buns, Niuwa still clamored for more.
Qiao Lanshu was soft-hearted. Just as she was debating whether to let him eat another half, Qin Yuanzheng took all the buns away. "Auntie Shi said two at most."
Niuwa didn't dare to make a fuss with Qin Yuanzheng. After all, Qin Yuanzheng looked fierce, and he was afraid of him.
In the end, he could only aggrievedly finish his porridge and eat some shredded potatoes before returning to the room with Auntie Shi, his little belly bulging.
After Qiao Lanshu and Qin Yuanzheng took their showers and returned to their room, Qiao Lanshu said, "Brother Zheng, why didn't you let Niuwa eat a little more just now? I'm worried he isn't full."
Qin Yuanzheng closed the bedroom door and even slid the bolt shut.
He whispered, "Didn't you hear what Auntie Shi said? If he eats too much, he won't be able to sleep well tonight, and I don't want him ruining my good time."
Saying that, he took off all his clothes, hanging them on an iron nail on the wall, leaving only his shorts on. He walked over, suddenly scooped Qiao Lanshu into his arms, took a deep breath against her chest, and said, "We've been sleeping in separate rooms for so long, I'm dying of frustration."
That evening, Qin Yuanzheng had accompanied Qiao Lanshu to see Zhong Mei, waited for Niuwa and Auntie Shi to go to sleep, and only then washed himself clean before finally holding his fragrant and soft little wife.
He stripped off Qiao Lanshu's clothes as well, breathing in the scent of her neck and chest.
His wife smelled so sweet. No matter how much he breathed her in, he couldn't get enough; instead, the fire within him burned even more vigorously.
He sat on the edge of the kang with Qiao Lanshu in his arms, letting her sit on his lap. He held her waist and pressed the back of her head to kiss her.
After kissing her for a while, his hands started wandering, and he whispered, "Wife, have you lost some weight recently?"
When she had just finished her postpartum confinement, his wife had noticeably gained some weight, and she felt different to the touch.
Now, a month later, how had she gotten thinner again?
Qiao Lanshu leaned against his chest, the corners of her eyes slightly red, and whispered, "Auntie Shi said that breastfeeding makes you lose weight. After giving birth and nursing the baby, the weight gradually comes off."
She wasn't actually that thin now, and because she was nursing, her cup size had gone up two sizes, which Qin Yuanzheng obviously loved.
He simply couldn't keep his hands off her.
As Qiao Lanshu whimpered softly, Qin Yuanzheng even reminded her, "Keep your voice down, don't wake An'an up. The baby shouldn't see this."
Qiao Lanshu: "..."
Blushing, Qiao Lanshu whispered to him, "You're clearly the one messing around..."
He was so strong and deliberately tormented her; if she didn't make a sound, he would only escalate things.
And then he had the nerve to tell her to keep her voice down so as not to wake the baby.
This man really had a hundred different tricks up his sleeve.
But Qiao Lanshu simply couldn't resist this side of Qin Yuanzheng.
Qiao Lanshu whispered, "Do you want me to take the lead..."
Qin Yuanzheng held her tightly without letting go, only saying, "You can take the lead the second time. For now, let me have my way with you just once..."
He was dying of frustration and needed to go hard.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be satisfied, and his whole body would ache with unfulfilled desire.
