Dinner was set up in the courtyard.
Two square tables were pushed together. The tables were laden with dishes that were a feast for the eyes and nose, gleaming temptingly in the twilight.
The sweet and sour fish was golden and crispy, drizzled with a crystal-clear sauce.
The braised pork belly, with its perfect layers of fat and lean meat, had a glossy skin sprinkled with white sesame seeds.
The soy-braised pork knuckle was sliced thin and arranged neatly on a blue-and-white porcelain plate, accompanied by a small dish of mashed garlic.
Garlicky greens were emerald green and vibrant, the cucumber salad was refreshingly crisp, the scrambled eggs with tomatoes were a bright mix of red and yellow. In the very center was a large, fragrant pot of old hen soup, its golden surface dotted with green scallions, with a few red dates barely visible at the bottom.
Pei Zhengnian helped Shen Nanchu to the table, carefully pulling out a chair for her.
His palm was warm and strong, steadily supporting her elbow as if she were a fragile treasure.
"Sit here. Let me get you a lumbar cushion."
Pei Zhengnian's voice was deep and gentle, like the resonance of a cello.
He turned and fetched a floral-patterned soft cushion from inside the house, placing it gently behind Shen Nanchu's back.
This cushion was specially requested by Pei Zhengnian from a skilled wife in the army unit, stuffed with sun-dried cotton, making it exceptionally soft.
The soft cushion indeed made sitting much more comfortable.
Shen Nanchu leaned back lightly against the chair, feeling the perfect support at her waist, and squinted her eyes contentedly.
Old Zhou took off his apron, wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face beaming with a smile.
"Sister-in-law, please try it and see if it suits your taste."
"It absolutely will. I haven't even eaten yet, but just smelling it is making my mouth water."
Shen Nanchu gave full emotional validation, her eyes curving into crescents.
She took a deep breath and made an exaggerated expression of delight, making Old Zhou roar with laughter.
Old Zhou laughed so hard his mouth nearly stretched to his ears, the wrinkles on his dark face smoothing out like a blooming chrysanthemum.
He rubbed his hands together, nodding repeatedly,
"As long as you like it, as long as you like it!"
His voice was full of unconcealed joy.
It must be said, Old Zhou, as the head of the mess squad, truly had real skill.
Shen Nanchu picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks. The fish was crispy on the outside and tender inside, the sweet and sour sauce perfectly balanced—sweet but not cloying, sour but not sharp.
The soy-braised pork knuckle was even more exceptional, not only soft and glutinous but also pleasantly chewy. The collagen between the skin and meat melted on the tongue, the rich savory flavor spreading in her mouth.
Shen Nanchu ate with great enjoyment, her eyes slightly narrowed with the satisfaction of good food.
She noticed that every dish had taken a pregnant woman's palate into consideration—no overly spicy or stimulating seasonings, and the greasiness was perfectly controlled.
This was clearly something Pei Zhengnian had specifically instructed.
Pei Zhengnian poured wine for everyone. The clear liquid swirled in the glass cups, refracting an amber glow in the setting sun.
When it was Shen Nanchu's turn, he directly switched to a cup of plain boiled water.
The cup was a brand new enamel one, printed with bright red double happiness characters, wisps of steam still rising from the rim.
"You already had your soda earlier."
Pei Zhengnian's voice was soft but carried an undeniable firmness,
"One bottle a day."
His slender fingers tapped lightly on the side of the cup, as if emphasizing that this decision was not up for debate.
Shen Nanchu raised an eyebrow but did not object.
If she wanted to drink, she had plenty in her space.
There was no need to argue with Pei Zhengnian over a soda.
Eating was more important.
The feast of delicious food before her was far more tempting than soda.
Pei Zhengnian had been fully prepared for Shen Nanchu to argue with him, ready to spend words persuading her.
He had even rehearsed several lines of reasoning in his head.
After all, he knew all too well that Shen Nanchu had a rebellious streak—the more something was forbidden, the more she wanted to try it.
Well, well.
Turns out, she agreed directly.
Pei Zhengnian's prepared speeches died before they were born.
He opened his mouth, then closed it, like a speaker that had suddenly lost its voice. Shen Nanchu's uncharacteristic compliance left him feeling somewhat unsettled.
...
The atmosphere at the dinner table was lively and boisterous.
Xiong Lei was vividly recounting the thrilling moments of the last military exercise, his burly arms gesturing in the air, almost knocking over Zhao Qiang's wine glass.
Sun Xuelin listened quietly, interjecting a few words from time to time.
Old Zhou, flushed and beaming, basked in everyone's praise for his culinary skills.
"Try this braised pork belly."
Pei Zhengnian picked up a piece with perfect fat-to-lean ratio and placed it in Shen Nanchu's bowl,
"Old Zhou's specialty. We don't get to eat this often."
Shen Nanchu picked up the glistening piece of pork belly and put it in her mouth.
The meat was tender and fell apart, the sweet and savory sauce blooming on her tongue.
Delicious.
She squinted her eyes contentedly, like a satisfied cat.
It would be even more perfect with a drink.
Shen Nanchu screamed inwardly.
This expression, seen by Pei Zhengnian, made the corner of his mouth lift unconsciously.
"Eat slowly."
Pei Zhengnian reminded her softly, then served her a bowl of chicken soup,
"Be careful, it's hot."
Shen Nanchu put down her chopsticks.
She was starting to feel a bit stifled.
"I need to use the restroom."
"Hmm."
Pei Zhengnian nodded.
Eating all these savory and delicious things without a drink just wasn't satisfying.
Shen Nanchu walked into the house.
She took an ice-cold soda from her space and took a secret sip.
The bubbles burst on her tongue, carrying the familiar sweetness.
Shen Nanchu smiled slyly, like a little cat that had stolen a fish.
Pei Zhengnian wouldn't let her drink it, so of course she wouldn't drink it in front of him.
She would drink it secretly.
After all, seeing him worry about her, Shen Nanchu couldn't make things difficult for him, right?
Shen Nanchu was a kind and well-behaved baby.
Just as she was feeling quite pleased with herself, Shen Nanchu froze.
Pei Zhengnian was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest, watching her with calm amusement.
"Is that soda good?"
...
