Ye Yu was jolted awake early in the morning by the urgent need to relieve herself. Seeing Zhang Rong still sound asleep across from her, she could only grumble and climb out of bed on her own.
At this hour, even the restroom required queuing. By the time she returned, an hour had passed, and she noticed a man and woman sitting together on one of the lower bunks, chatting.
So they were a married couple!
"Sweetheart, are you hungry? The pastries are too dry. Let me go to the dining car and buy some steamed buns and porridge for us."
If it were just Lin Han by himself, he’d consider eating pastries on the train a luxury. But with his family along, it was different—wasn’t his hard work all about giving them a better life?
Nan Sheng wasn’t one to deny herself comforts either. She immediately pulled out ten yuan from her pocket and handed it to Lin Han.
She couldn’t fathom why this man insisted that since they’d be living together from now on, all their money should be managed by her.
Now even buying a meal required him to ask for funds. Didn’t he find it bothersome?
What she didn’t know was that during his time in the military, Lin Han had envied his comrades who had to ask their wives for pocket money. He liked the idea of someone overseeing his life—it gave him a sense of security.
Lin Han trotted off cheerfully toward the dining car with the money, and Nan Sheng suddenly realized he was just like an overgrown version of Lin Sizhe, his true nature subdued by years of military discipline.
Ye Yu had been sitting on a small foldable chair by the aisle, but as more people woke up to freshen up, it became too crowded.
She quietly asked Nan Sheng if she could sit by her bunk for a while.
"Sure, go ahead!"
Nan Sheng pretended she hadn’t overheard the commotion from the night before. Since Ye Yu was being polite now, she had no reason to refuse.
"Thank you, sis. I’m Ye Yu. Are you four traveling to visit family?"
Nan Sheng wasn’t keen on small talk, wary that friendliness might lead to a request for a bunk swap.
"No, we’re going home. It’s still early—aren’t you going to queue for food at the dining car? The line’s only going to get longer."
Ye Yu, who seemed like a spoiled child, pouted and gestured toward her still-sleeping husband. "I’ll wait for him to wake up. I don’t want to queue for food myself."
She couldn’t help feeling envious. This family of four had managed to secure two lower bunks and one middle bunk, while she and her husband hadn’t even gotten a middle bunk.
It was all Zhang Rong’s fault!
Since Nan Sheng’s family didn’t have food containers, Lin Han used his military ID to borrow three bowls from the dining car for the porridge. He bought seven palm-sized buns—three vegetarian and four meat-filled.
The buns, freshly steamed, smelled delicious.
As more passengers stirred awake, the children also roused. While the porridge and buns were still warm, the family took turns freshening up.
By the time Nan Sheng returned with their daughter, their son was already digging into breakfast, alternating between sips of porridge and bites of bun.
Knowing his daughter wouldn’t eat much, Lin Han let her have his bowl of porridge first. The little girl drank less than a third and only nibbled at a bun before declaring herself full.
Nan Sheng couldn’t finish hers either, so she gave Lin Han most of her porridge before barely managing to polish off the rest along with a meat bun.
In those days, food sold outside was made with real ingredients. If you had the money, eating out every day was no issue—no worries about dubious additives.
Ye Yu tactfully excused herself while the family ate, wandering off elsewhere. She still had some manners, after all.
Truthfully, she was hungry too, but the money and ration coupons were with her husband, and she refused to wake him and play nice.
Zhang Rong slept until past nine. When he finally climbed down, his wife’s face was stormy, her expression practically murderous.
Without even stopping to wash up, he rushed to the dining car to buy her something to eat.
He had this quirk—trains made him drowsy. No doubt the young miss was starving by now.
Nan Sheng’s family was now gathered around, sharing fruit. From their spread, Ye Yu could tell they were well-off, so she didn’t dare bring up swapping bunks for money.
After two days of rattling along on the train, Lin Han’s family finally arrived in Rongcheng. Compared to home, the temperature wasn’t much different, but the air felt thick and humid.
They disembarked a little past five in the evening. Lin Han had arranged in advance for a military supply truck to wait for them, and soon the family was aboard.
The young soldier handling supplies was talkative and lively, keeping the kids in stitches the whole ride.
By the time they reached the military housing complex, night had fully fallen.
The unit assigned to Lin Han by Regimental Commander Ye was a modest three-bedroom apartment, about seventy square meters. The master bedroom was slightly larger, while the two smaller rooms barely fit a bed and wardrobe.
But for a family with both a son and daughter, this layout was highly sought-after.
Lin Han had stocked up on basic necessities—pillows, bedding, soap, washbasins, and towels. They’d buy another set of sheets and covers tomorrow; the ones from home could be mailed over later for rotation.
The kids were exhausted after the journey. After a quick tour of their new home, they collapsed onto the couch. Seeing this, Lin Han said,
"I’ll go heat some water in the kitchen. Let’s all wash up before bed. I’ve got one more day off tomorrow—we’ll explore the area and shop for what we need."
While Lin Han went to boil water, Nan Sheng laid out the children’s pajamas and set some ground rules.
"We’re living in an apartment now. No jumping or running around, especially at night—it’ll disturb the neighbors, understand?"
Sizhe, the older and more sensible one, didn’t need much reminding. But Siqi was naturally lively, so Nan Sheng would have to keep a closer eye on her for a while.
The water heated quickly. When Nan Sheng checked the kitchen, she was surprised to find a liquefied petroleum gas stove. Was the military base this advanced?
Noticing her curiosity, Lin Han demonstrated how to operate it.
"Light the match first, then turn on the gas. It looks a bit intimidating, but it cooks fast. Just remember to shut the main valve tightly after use to prevent leaks."
The stove had two burners, perfect for cooking rice and dishes simultaneously.
Nan Sheng had used something similar before, though hers had an electric starter. This one required matches, but after one try, she found it straightforward.
Lin Han swelled with pride at how quickly his wife picked it up. Many families in the housing complex still used coal briquettes out of fear of the gas stoves, opting for inconvenience over perceived risk.
Nan Sheng said to Lin Han, "Let’s measure for a kitchen door. We should keep the window open year-round. We’ll also need new sheets, quilts, and curtains. Our fabric ration coupons won’t cover it—see if you can trade with colleagues. We’ve got ready-made pastries at home."
Lin Han agreed to everything, then took their son for a bath.
Siqi had already dozed off, so Nan Sheng wiped her down with warm water. The little girl blinked sleepily but didn’t fully wake, drifting back into deep slumber.
Downstairs, Hua Fen grumbled once the noises above ceased, "Having people living upstairs is such a nuisance. Every little sound carries."
The couple had been asleep until footsteps, running water, and pipe clanging from above disturbed them.
Her husband, Zhang Yiheng, snapped, "Just go back to sleep. Listen, Battalion Commander Lin just brought his family here. Even if you won’t help, don’t go making trouble."
Hua Fen pouted. It wasn’t like she was complaining that much—tomorrow, when they met, she’d be all warmth and enthusiasm.
After spending a few years in the military compound, she wasn’t the blunt, straightforward Hua Fen anymore. People here were all hypocrites, especially those from well-connected families.
They’d smile to your face, but who knew what they’d say behind your back? If you actually trusted them as friends and shared a few heartfelt words, your husband might end up with a disciplinary mark the next day.
How she missed the days in the countryside, where you could argue or fight without a second thought—now that was real freedom…
