Tonight's dinner was not eaten in the cafeteria, as Pei Zhengnian did not take Shen Nanchu there.
The ingredients had been delivered early in the morning by a young soldier sent by Old Zhou from the kitchen squad.
The fresh vegetables still carried the fragrance of earth, lively fish splashed in a bucket, and a plump old hen, its feet bound, sat in a corner letting out occasional protesting clucks.
Tonight, Pei Zhengnian was preparing a feast at home, both to welcome Shen Nanchu and Pei Yunzhou, and to thank everyone for their recent help.
Over the past month or so, if it weren't for Xiong Lei and the others taking turns to help, the house couldn't have been tidied up so quickly.
Not long after Liu Bing left, Xiong Lei, Sun Xuelin, Zhao Qiang, and Chen Kai arrived.
The four of them entered the courtyard one after another, as if they had arranged it.
Xiong Lei carried two bottles of baijiu, their wrapping paper slightly yellowed, clearly fine liquor cherished for a long time.
Sun Xuelin carried a net bag of fruit, with red apples rolling around inside.
Zhao Qiang and Chen Kai shouldered a sack of rice and a bucket of oil, wearing honest smiles on their faces.
"Regiment Commander! We're here to mooch a meal!"
Xiong Lei's booming voice erupted in the courtyard, startling a sparrow from the grapevine trellis.
Pei Zhengnian smiled as he went to greet them,
"Perfect timing, we're just short of hands."
He took the liquor from Xiong Lei and patted his shoulder,
"Tonight, we don't stop until we're drunk."
"Hello, sister-in-law."
The men called out to Shen Nanchu in unison.
"Thank you for all your hard work."
Shen Nanchu smiled, her eyes curving like crescents.
Soon after, Old Zhou from the kitchen squad also arrived, carrying a burlap sack of vegetables.
His round figure moved like a rolling ball, his face forever wearing a kindly smile.
Old Zhou had rushed to finish arranging his work before coming over.
As the head cook, his skills were famous throughout the entire regiment. Having him take charge of today's meal was a great honor bestowed upon Pei Zhengnian.
"Old Zhou, thank you for the trouble."
Pei Zhengnian took the heavy burlap sack from Old Zhou, which was filled with various ingredients.
Old Zhou wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a beaming smile,
"Regiment Commander, you're too polite. It's my honor to show off my skills for your wife."
His gaze swept across the courtyard, and when it landed on Shen Nanchu behind Pei Zhengnian, his eyes lit up,
"My, so this is the wife? Pretty as a movie star."
He hadn't seen Shen Nanchu during her last visit.
"Thank you for your trouble, Head Cook Zhou."
Shen Nanchu greeted Old Zhou with a smile.
With everyone present, they all got busy.
The kitchen was the men's domain.
Pei Zhengnian deftly handled the ingredients. Old Zhou wielded his spatula as flames danced merrily beneath the wok. Pei Yunzhou assisted, passing seasonings, washing vegetables, and cutting meat, happily occupied.
The aroma of cooking oil mixed with the fragrance of food wafted from the kitchen, whetting everyone's appetite.
The courtyard was also the men's domain.
Xiong Lei squatted on the ground cleaning fish, his movements as skilled as a circus performance.
Sun Xuelin and Zhao Qiang picked through vegetables, chatting about amusing incidents from the army while they worked.
Chen Kai was in charge of chopping firewood.
As for Shen Nanchu, Pei Zhengnian had directly arranged a rattan chair and a bottle of soda for her, having her sit in the courtyard.
The rattan chair was padded with a soft cushion, and the angle of the backrest was just right, neither too straight nor too reclined.
The only electric fan was also directed at Shen Nanchu, its cool breeze dispelling the stifling summer heat.
Shen Nanchu was settled comfortably and thoroughly, curled up in the chair like a lazy cat, taking occasional sips of her soda.
Even the system watching expressed its envy.
"Host, the male lead is so good to you!"
Its voice carried unconcealed envy,
"He even lets only you have the fan."
"Not bad!"
Shen Nanchu didn't deny that such a considerate male lead was quite nice.
Some things, some considerations, he took care of without her having to mention them.
Even things she hadn't thought of, he had considered and proactively done.
Shen Nanchu liked this kind of decisive, efficient way of doing things.
Actually, Shen Nanchu could easily guess why Pei Zhengnian had applied for this family housing.
She lowered her head and gently stroked her rounded belly, a flicker of a smile in her eyes.
What else could it be but concern about her giving birth?
According to Shen Nanchu's own temperament, giving birth was just having a baby, right?
With the system in hand, giving birth in Wang Family Village was nothing to worry about.
Moreover, in the post-apocalyptic world, having a child was much simpler than fighting zombies.
But in Pei Zhengnian's eyes, giving birth was like taking a turn at death's door.
Pei Zhengnian hadn't said anything, but Shen Nanchu, just thinking casually, had already guessed eighty or ninety percent of his thoughts.
Such a considerate male lead, no wonder Jiang Shuyi couldn't forget him.
Too bad she got to him first.
Thinking of this, the corner of Shen Nanchu's mouth lifted in a smug curve.
Just as Shen Nanchu was lost in thought, Pei Zhengnian walked out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of soup.
Fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead.
"This is the old hen soup just finished stewing. I specifically skimmed off the surface fat."
He carefully handed the bowl to Shen Nanchu,
"Drink this first to settle your stomach. Dinner will be ready soon."
"Mm."
Shen Nanchu took the bowl and took a sip. Not bad.
The broth was clear and bright, the flavor savory and delicious, with a faint aroma of medicinal herbs.
It was just a bit hot.
She frowned slightly and placed the bowl on the small side table.
Seeing Shen Nanchu set the bowl aside, Pei Zhengnian's brow furrowed slightly.
"Doesn't taste good?"
His voice held a trace of nervousness, as if afraid it wouldn't suit Shen Nanchu's taste.
Shen Nanchu shook her head,
"A bit too hot."
Her voice was lazy, carrying a hint of a coquettish tone.
"Then let me blow on it for you."
Pei Zhengnian immediately picked up the bowl and brought it near the fan, gently blowing on it.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the grapevine trellis, outlining the perfect contours of his profile.
Sun Xuelin and Zhao Qiang suddenly missed their own sweethearts.
Watching their regiment commander's gentle and considerate manner, they couldn't help but think of their fiancées back in their hometowns, a pang of bittersweet feeling in their hearts.
Xiong Lei and Chen Kai, the two single men watching, felt quite sour inside.
The cloying sweetness of this loving couple made them feel awful.
Xiong Lei exaggeratedly clutched his chest, pretending to have been shot by an arrow.
Chen Kai looked up and sighed dramatically, muttering "So cruel to singles, so cruel."
No, they both needed to find partners quickly.
Next time there's a social mixer, they must really spruce themselves up before attending.
Xiong Lei touched his rough face, deciding to go buy a jar of moisturizing cream tomorrow.
Chen Kai wondered if he should take out that new shirt pressed at the bottom of his trunk and iron it.
The two exchanged a glance, seeing firm resolve in each other's eyes.
"The soup is ready to drink now."
Pei Zhengnian handed the bowl back to Shen Nanchu, his voice so gentle it could drip water.
His fingertips accidentally brushed the back of Shen Nanchu's hand, retracting quickly as if shocked, the tips of his ears quietly turning red.
Shen Nanchu took the bowl and took small sips.
The temperature of the chicken soup was just right, neither hot nor cool, fragrant and savory on the tongue.
"Tastes good."
She gave a brief evaluation, but her upturned lips betrayed her true feelings.
Pei Zhengnian's eyes instantly lit up, as if he had received the highest praise.
"You liking it is what matters."
"There's more in the pot. I'll get you another bowl after you finish this one."
The glow of the setting sun bathed the two of them, making the scene picture-perfect.
"Regiment Commander! The fish is steamed!"
Old Zhou's booming voice came from the kitchen, interrupting the tender moment.
Pei Zhengnian gave Shen Nanchu a reluctant look.
"I'll go help. You stay seated."
"Just leave the empty bowl on the side table when you're done. I'll collect it later."
Shen Nanchu nodded.
"Alright."
...
