Gu Jia Ning finally placed some of her cosmetics and jewelry in the dresser drawer beside the kang.
Having just finished, she turned to see Sheng Ze Xi entering with a cup of steaming hot water.
"Drink some hot water first to warm yourself up."
Gu Jia Ning took it; it was warm to the touch. Thinking of Sheng Ze Xi working hard in the courtyard yet still remembering to bring her hot water to warm herself, her heart also felt warm.
"Did you drink any?" Gu Jia Ning asked.
"I did." Sheng Ze Xi's voice came from the kitchen. Gu Jia Ning followed him and saw him getting food boxes.
Gu Jia Ning looked at his tall back, inexplicably feeling at ease.
Lowering her head, she gently took a sip of the hot water. It was sweet and warm. Gu Jia Ning's eyes widened, "You added honey."
"Yes," Sheng Ze Xi replied as he rinsed two food boxes and chopsticks with hot water. "Second Brother gave it to you, right?"
"Mm."
This honey was from a beehive Gu Yun Nan found in the mountains. He got two jars of honey.
One jar was for his wife, Su Miao, and the other was for Gu Jia Ning.
In this era, wild honey is very precious.
And Gu Jia Ning happened to love this kind of sweet treat.
"Then I'll go to the dining hall to get food. You sit on the kang in the living room and drink. It should be warmer there."
"Okay."
Sheng Ze Xi went forward, hugged Gu Jia Ning, and then turned to leave with the food boxes.
Only after his figure disappeared from sight did Gu Jia Ning turn around, holding the water cup with both hands, sat cross-legged on the kang in the living room, drinking the sweet hot water. The warmth from below spread up, and Gu Jia Ning suddenly felt that this kind of life wasn't so bad after all.
The family compound wasn't far from the dining hall. On his way there, Sheng Ze Xi met many comrades and their family members, who greeted him.
Soon, he arrived at the dining hall. It was past noon, and there wasn't much food left, even fewer meat dishes.
"Battalion Commander Sheng, you're back!"
"I'm sorry, Battalion Commander Sheng, it's a bit late now, there aren't many good dishes left, and as you know, in winter, supplies are scarce, and there isn't much food. Even the most skilled cooks can't make bricks without straw."
"It's fine." Sheng Ze Xi knew the situation and understood them.
Sheng Ze Xi ended up taking only a few steamed buns and two dishes back. On his way back, he was thinking about what else to cook.
Lost in thought, Sheng Ze Xi didn't notice the strange looks and whispers from those around him.
A good comrade, Ji Hui, patted him on the shoulder and said earnestly, "You've worked hard."
Sheng Ze Xi: ? Worked hard?
"Although... but you still need to live a good life with your wife."
Sheng Ze Xi: "Of course." He would, of course, live a good life with Ningning.
"I won't say anymore, I'm leaving."
Ji Hui sighed as he watched Sheng Ze Xi leave, thinking that Sheng Ze Xi didn't want to talk about his unattractive wife. After all, who wouldn't want a beautiful, well-figured wife?
Sheng Ze Xi had been introduced to so many beautiful young women by his leaders and comrades, but he didn't want them. He went back on leave and was stuck with an ugly country girl.
This is really...
But this doesn't seem like Sheng Ze Xi's personality. The usually unruly Sheng Ze Xi, when facing a calculated situation, shouldn't he resist to the death? Why did he just go along with it?
Unfathomable, really unfathomable.
Sheng Ze Xi left the dining hall and quickly returned to his small courtyard.
He placed the food boxes on the kang table in the living room and explained to Gu Jia Ning, "I went late, so I only got these. I'll go to the kitchen and stir-fry some stir-fried rabbit meat, okay?"
Stir-fried rabbit meat?!
Gu Jia Ning, who had been a little listless seeing only steamed buns and two dishes, immediately perked up and replied, "Okay."
As soon as she finished speaking, she hesitated, "Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?"
Sheng Ze Xi glanced at her, ruffled her hair, "What nonsense are you talking about? I'm your man. If you don't trouble me, are you going to trouble someone else?"
Gu Jia Ning: Is that what I meant?
Sheng Ze Xi looked at her intently and said seriously, "I like being troubled by you, no, to be precise, your matters, to me, are not trouble at all."
"A man should take good care of his wife. From now on, if you want to eat anything, tell me, and I'll do my best to get it for you."
"I know." Gu Jia Ning felt warm inside.
"Should I go tend the fire for you?"
"Okay."
Actually, there wasn't much need to tend the fire.
The stove was connected to two kangs. Once the kangs were heated, the stove would also be hot. Later, when the large pot was put down and the ingredients were ready, it could be cooked.
Whether it was the stove, pot, firewood, or bowls and chopsticks, Sheng Ze Xi had asked his comrades to help purchase them in advance.
"...After we got engaged, I called a comrade," Sheng Ze Xi said.
"Xi Ge, you are so thoughtful, you've prepared for everything." Gu Jia Ning, with her sweet mouth, praised him without hesitation.
Thanks to Sheng Ze Xi asking people to purchase these necessities in advance, they could use them as soon as they needed them. Otherwise, waiting to buy them would have been inconvenient.
Sheng Ze Xi took out a marinated rabbit, picked up a knife, and quickly chopped the rabbit into pieces. He also took out onions, chilies, and other seasonings to chop.
The onions, chilies, and other seasonings were brought from Gu's home, because Gu Jia Ning liked spicy food and was picky about food; she didn't like bland food.
So she didn't bring many vegetables, but she did bring these seasonings.
There was no lard, but there was oil. After the oil was heated, Sheng Ze Xi poured in the rabbit meat…
"Stand back, don't get splashed," Sheng Ze Xi instructed.
"Okay." Gu Jia Ning obediently obeyed.
After a while, Sheng Ze Xi added the chilies, onions, and other ingredients. After another round of stir-frying, the aroma quickly wafted out.
"Xi Ge, you're amazing! I thought you were only good at military missions, but I didn't expect you to be so good at cooking. This stir-fried rabbit meat smells delicious; it must taste even better."
"How lucky I am to have married such a good man, he's simply the perfect man!"
Gu Jia Ning's mouth was like honey, her sweet words of praise continued, and when she praised him, her tone was slightly higher, her beautiful eyes bright, clearly expressing her sincere praise.
The upward curve of Sheng Ze Xi's mouth was almost uncontrollable, his eyes full of joy, feeling energized, even his movements of stir-frying became more forceful.
He said, "Of course, your man is good. You've found a treasure, you should cherish it."
Gu Jia Ning covered her face and giggled. This man, he's really thick-skinned, but kind of cute.
"Okay then, from now on, whether it's cooking or washing dishes, you'll take care of the kitchen?"
"Absolutely!"
"