"Cough, cough, cough—"
Xiao Zhengjun wasn’t killed by the durian’s smell, but he nearly choked to death on his son’s words.
"You little rascal, stop talking nonsense!"
Hu Meili knew all too well the destructive power of her son’s mouth.
If she didn’t clear things up today, the rumor mill in the residential compound would be in full swing by tomorrow morning.
"What do you mean ‘poop’? This is a fruit from the South Seas, called durian!"
"It’s delicious! Come here, both of you, try some."
"Aaaaah, Mom, don’t come any closer—"
The two brothers’ voices nearly cracked from fear.
They’d never seen or tasted durian before, but they had once blown up an outhouse—and this smell was exactly the same, identical!
Hu Meili was so angry she laughed. She turned and shoved the spoon toward her husband’s mouth instead.
"Lao Xiao! Eat it and show them."
"Huh?"
Xiao Zhengjun’s face twisted in agony, but under his wife’s ‘loving’ gaze, he had no choice but to take a tiny bite.
"So? Isn’t it fragrant and…"
Before she could even say "sweet," Xiao Zhengjun was already gagging.
The two kids bolted faster than rabbits at the sight.
What Hu Meili didn’t know was that the moment they stepped outside, they ran into a group of little kids.
One of them wrinkled their nose and asked the younger brother, "Did you blow up the outhouse again?"
"No, no!"
The younger brother waved his hands frantically, then immediately threw his dad under the bus.
"My dad messed up, so my mom’s feeding him durian as punishment."
"What’s durian?"
"It’s a fruit from the South Seas," the older brother answered truthfully.
"Fruit doesn’t smell this bad," the kids said, pinching their noses in disbelief.
"Exactly!" The younger brother agreed.
Then, patting his chest dramatically, he added, "It smells like poop, looks like poop, and even has the same color."
"My mom tried to feed it to me too—good thing I ran fast!"
Huh?
There was such a thing?
The kids were stunned, and soon this breaking news spread like wildfire through the residential compound.
Jiang Si had taken a nap after returning home, so by the time Huo Tingzhou told her about the incident, it was already past eight in the evening.
Though she knew it wasn’t very moral, she burst into laughter the moment she heard it, tears streaming down her face.
There was no denying it—having kids around made life so much livelier.
Huo Tingzhou didn’t say much. Having witnessed the brothers’ talent for getting their dad into trouble countless times, he wasn’t the least bit surprised.
Right now, all he hoped for was that the babies in Jiang Si’s belly would both be girls—soft and sweet, just like their mother.
After chatting for a while longer, Huo Tingzhou brought in a basin of warm water.
"Soak your feet for a bit, it’ll help you relax."
Without hesitation, Jiang Si dipped her feet in.
Since becoming pregnant, she’d been especially sensitive to heat.
She’d already taken a shower before dinner and another one just now, so after just a few minutes, she signaled for him to hand her the towel.
But instead, Huo Tingzhou gently grasped her ankle.
"Let me give you a massage. It’ll help you sleep better tonight."
As he spoke, he pulled out an acupuncture point chart from the nightstand.
Jiang Si flipped through it. "Where did this come from?"
Huo Tingzhou didn’t hide it. "I borrowed it from Old Li this afternoon. He said massaging these points on your legs regularly can prevent swelling and cramps later in the pregnancy."
Jiang Si didn’t stop him from playing the role of the perfect husband—after all, she was the one benefiting.
But she was barely two months along. Wasn’t it a bit too early to start?
One of the perks of being together for so long was that Huo Tingzhou could read her thoughts without her saying a word.
"Practice makes perfect," he said.
Then he asked, "Is this pressure okay?"
Jiang Si was so relaxed she didn’t even want to speak. And Huo Tingzhou was right—massaging her feet before bed did wonders for her sleep quality.
But because she had to pick up supplies from the logistics office the next day, Jiang Si woke up unusually early.
The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Huo Tingzhou standing with his back to her, slightly bent over as he rummaged through the wardrobe.
"Did I wake you?" Sensing her gaze, he turned his head, his voice still husky from sleep.
"No…" Jiang Si’s eyes trailed over his bare upper body, her almond-shaped eyes widening with each passing second.
Finally, she smiled. "I slept really well last night, so I was already awake."
She had woken up, but she hadn’t wanted to open her eyes just yet—she needed a moment to ease into the day.
And then, the moment she did, she was greeted with the sight of his shirtless torso.
Changing the subject, she asked, "What are you looking for so early in the morning?"
"That shirt you bought me last time."
The shirt had been a purchase from the Friendship Store, and it looked especially good on him.
But military regulations usually required him to wear his uniform, so he rarely had a chance to wear it.
Noticing her puzzled look, Huo Tingzhou explained,
"Today’s New Year’s Eve. There’s no training at the regiment—just a political study session, so civilian clothes are allowed."
Ah, that made sense.
Jiang Si pointed to one of the wardrobe doors. "All the shirts are hanging in there. Yours are on the left side."
Huo Tingzhou quickly found the new shirt and slipped it on effortlessly.
As the fabric settled over his broad shoulders and narrow waist, his well-built frame was now neatly concealed—except for a glimpse of firm skin at the collar.
Jiang Si couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed.
Maybe Huo Tingzhou noticed, because as he turned, he undid the top button.
Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his toned, muscular arms.
He let her look her fill, only leaning down to kiss her forehead after she finally looked away.
"It’s still early. Rest a little longer. You can go to the logistics office after you wake up."
"Oh, and I’ve already processed the paperwork for collecting my salary. When you go, pick up this month’s pay as well."
The military issued salaries on the fifth of every month, but since he’d been away for training, he hadn’t collected his yet.
There might be some extra money too, though Huo Tingzhou wasn’t sure how much.
"Got it."
After Huo Tingzhou left, Jiang Si lazed in bed a while longer before finally getting up to wash up around eight.
Third Uncle and Zhong Shu were already in the yard, busy slaughtering chickens and geese.
When they saw her, they immediately asked, "How are you feeling today? Any better than yesterday?"
Jiang Si smiled. "Much better, thanks."
Relieved, Third Uncle and Zhong Shu went back to their work.
After breakfast, they brought out the pre-cut red paper and laid it on the table.
In the south, New Year’s preparations started early—during their morning walk, they’d noticed many households had already put up their Spring Festival couplets.
Luckily, there were only two pairs to write, so it wouldn’t take long.
As for the content, it was simple enough—a few lines from the great leader’s poems or quotes would do.
After moistening the brush, Jiang Si began writing.
Once the couplets were done, Third Uncle and Zhong Shu hurried outside with the scrolls and a pot of homemade paste.
After sticking them up, they stood back for a long while, admiring their handiwork.
At that moment, a man's voice suddenly sounded from behind, "Excuse me, is Comrade Jiang at home?"
"Who are you?"
Third Uncle and Zhong Shu had only lived in the residential compound for a few days and knew no more than ten people combined.
Jiang Si had just finished packing and was about to head to the logistics office to collect some supplies when she heard the voice and stepped out.
She was quite surprised to see the visitor.
It was Shen Dacheng, the commissary officer of the division's canteen.
The last time there was a minor issue with the life-drawing model, Huo Tingzhou had sought his help.
Jiang Si looked at him curiously and asked, "Commissary Officer Shen, is there something you needed from me?"
