Family Quarters Building.
Li Yanhong stood in the bright, sunlit room.
She took a deep breath; the air still carried the distinctive scent of fresh li and wood from the new house.
Although it was a bit small, the advantage was that everything was brand new.
It was certainly much better than their old hotown place, and Li Yanhong was quite satisfied.
After getting her daughter to sleep, she began tidying up the house.
She spread the floral-print cloth brought from their hotown on the table, arranged several enal mugs neatly on it, and hung a family portrait on the wall.
Gradually, this unfamiliar space began to feel like a ho.
Li Yanhong wiped the sweat from her forehead, looked at the gradually cozy little house, and a smile unconsciously lifted the corners of her mouth.
As soon as training ended, Liu Bing hurried ho as fast as he could.
His military uniform was soaked through with sweat and clung to his back, but he didn't have ti to change. Earlier, a young soldier had already brought him the ssage that his wife had arrived at the family quarters.
So soon today?
He hadn't even gone to the gate to et his wife and help carry her things yet!
Thinking of this, Liu Bing quickened his pace even more, taking the stairs two at a ti.
By the ti Liu Bing rushed breathlessly into the house, Li Yanhong had already cleaned it until the windows shone and everything was spotless.
Sunlight filtered through the thin gauze curtains, casting soft pools of light on the floor.
The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, making Liu Bing's stomach growl.
Looking at the ho now filled with a lived-in warmth, Liu Bing's mouth involuntarily stretched into a wide grin, revealing a set of white teeth.
"Wife, you've worked hard."
Liu Bing rubbed his hands together and sidled up to Li Yanhong ingratiatingly.
Seeing Liu Bing, Li Yanhong's anger flared up.
She put down the rag in her hand and placed her hands on her hips.
"Do you have any idea how much stuff I brought today, and how tiring it was with Nannan too!"
Her voice was tinged with threads of anger.
"You didn't even know to co et us and help."
As she spoke, her eyes grew slightly red.
"It seems we're not in your heart at all."
Alarm bells rang loudly in Liu Bing's mind, and he hurriedly tried to prove his sincerity.
He grabbed Li Yanhong's hand and pressed it against his own chest.
"Wife, that's so unfair!"
"My feelings for you, the sun and moon can bear witness."
His eyes were wide open, like a big wronged dog.
"It's not that I didn't want to pick you up, I was genuinely busy. There was ergency training this morning, and a eting in the afternoon..."
Li Yanhong gave him a resentful look and shook off his hand.
"You're busy? Are you busier than Captain Pei?"
"He's a regint commander now."
Liu Bing quietly added.
Li Yanhong, "..."
She snorted coldly.
"And you still have the nerve to call him a blockhead?"
Her voice rose an octave.
"Captain Pei went to pick up his wife at noon today."
Here, she pointed to the pile of local specialties in the corner.
"If it weren't for them, Nannan and I still wouldn't have made it to the base."
Liu Bing was speechless.
This Pei Zhengnian, with all his work, is he finished with it?
And he went to pick up his wife?
Getting him scolded by association.
Liu Bing patiently explained to Li Yanhong for a long ti, talking about military discipline, training tasks, personal prospects, and family responsibilities, until he was nearly worn out from talking. Only then did Li Yanhong's anger subside.
"Alright, I know you work hard too."
Li Yanhong looked at Liu Bing's increasingly tanned face, a flicker of heartache in her eyes.
"I've already cooked the rice, just need to stir-fry a few dishes, and we can eat."
Her voice softened.
"Oh, on the table, I put so dried mushrooms and wood ear fungus from our hotown. Take them to Regintal Commander Pei's house."
She paused.
"Today, not only did they give and Nannan a ride, they also helped carry the things and Nannan upstairs."
Liu Bing nodded, feeling as if granted a pardon.
"I'll go deliver them right now."
He grabbed the cloth bag on the table and dashed out of the house as if escaping, afraid his wife would rember sothing else to scold him about.
...
Liu Bing knew about Pei Zhengnian renovating the bungalow.
Back when housing was being assigned, he had even advised Pei Zhengnian to choose an apartnt in the building, but the man was adamant about wanting the bungalow.
However, what exactly Pei Zhengnian had done with the renovation, Liu Bing didn't know.
Anyway, Liu Bing thought, even with renovation, could you really turn a bungalow into sothing spectacular? No matter what, the apartnt building was better!
When Liu Bing arrived at Pei Zhengnian's place, even before entering, standing outside the courtyard wall, he was already sowhat surprised.
The wall and courtyard gate had been redone, painted snow white, with a few vibrant green rose vines climbing over them.
It was actually done up quite nicely.
"Regintal Commander Pei, are you ho?" Liu Bing cleared his throat and called out loudly.
"I am."
Pei Zhengnian's voice ca from inside the house, accompanied by footsteps.
The courtyard gate creaked open, revealing Pei Zhengnian's tall figure in the doorway.
Liu Bing handed the things he was holding to Pei Zhengnian. "These are so local specialties from our hotown. Please try them."
But his gaze couldn't help drifting into the courtyard.
This one glance was enough to shock him thoroughly.
Good gracious.
This courtyard was too beautiful!
Fixed up just like a city park.
Although the areas on either side of the bluestone path were still a bit bare, a small, delicate pavilion stood beside the courtyard, with a table and stools underneath.
Next to it was a grape arbor, with a swing hanging below.
Even though there was freshly turned black soil everywhere, not yet planted with anything, it was more than enough to amaze Liu Bing.
Was this still the shabby bungalow courtyard he rembered?
Inside the house, Shen Nanchu, hearing the commotion, ca out.
"This is?"
Her gaze fell on Liu Bing, carrying a hint of puzzlent.
"I'm Liu Bing, deputy company commander of the third company under Regintal Commander Pei."
Liu Bing quickly introduced himself, unconsciously straightening his posture.
"Thank you, Regintal Commander and Ma'am, for giving my wife a ride back."
"These are so local products from our ho. Please have a taste."
Liu Bing had a deep impression of Shen Nanchu. Last ti she ca to visit, her striking appearance had caused quite a stir in the unit.
Shen Nanchu had an impression of this Liu Bing; they had crossed paths in the cafeteria during her last visit.
"Deputy Company Commander Liu, co in for a cup of water!"
She invited politely.
Since he had brought gifts, Shen Nanchu called out courteously.
"Alright!"
Liu Bing agreed swiftly.
He didn't really want water; he just wanted to see what Pei Zhengnian had done with the bungalow renovation.
Curiosity drove him to step across the courtyard threshold, but once inside, Liu Bing regretted his decision.
The living room was spacious and bright, with a set of solid wood furniture arranged in a pleasing, well-spaced layout.
Liu Bing's heart soured with envy.
Compared to his own apartnt, although on paper Pei Zhengnian only had one extra room, the actual space was considerably larger. And it was so bright.
Pei Zhengnian saw through Liu Bing's thoughts with just one glance.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly as he deliberately said,
"Deputy Company Commander Liu, would you like to take a tour of my new place?"
His tone was light, but his eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint.
Shen Nanchu raised an eyebrow. Was Pei Zhengnian planning to rub salt in the wound?
Watching Liu Bing's instantly stiffened expression, she almost laughed out loud.
Liu Bing nodded with difficulty.
If he looked, he was afraid his envy would grow worse.
If he didn't look, he was afraid his heart would feel more clogged with resentnt.
Either way, he'd end up feeling worse, so he might as well look!
With a feeling of grim determination, he followed Pei Zhengnian into the house.
Pei Zhengnian led Liu Bing on a tour around the ho.
From the living room to the kitchen, and from the kitchen to the bedroom, every spot left Liu Bing in awe.
Forget everything else for a mont; the sheer size alone was already a complete victory. Not to ntion the spotlessly clean and tidy kitchen, the bedroom, and the ensuite bathroom attached to it.
When he saw the master bathroom with its marble-tiled shower area and the vanity counter in the bedroom, Liu Bing's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Did... did you do all this yourself?"
Liu Bing stamred, his fingers unconsciously tracing the smooth tile wall.
Pei Zhengnian nodded, his tone casual,
"Yeah, it took over a month."
He deliberately played it down, but the pride in his eyes was impossible to hide.
After the tour, Liu Bing's heart was riddled with holes.
He thought of the shared public toilet at his own place where you had to wait in line, and that tiny kitchen where it was hard to even turn around, and suddenly life felt profoundly unfair.
After bidding a dejected farewell, he dragged his heavy steps howard, his retreating figure looking utterly desolate.
Shen Nanchu watched Liu Bing's departing back and asked Pei Zhengnian curiously,
"Aren't you worried that by provoking him like this, he'll get a complex and start slacking off on the job for you?"
She still rembered that this Liu Bing worked under Pei Zhengnian.
Pei Zhengnian shook his head, looking completely confident.
"It's fine, his ntal fortitude is strong!"
"Besides, I'll just give him so extra 'attention' during training tomorrow."
Sure enough, once back ho, Liu Bing devoured three big bowls of white rice with the tasty dishes his wife had cooked.
The fragrant and spicy stir-fried cured at with garlic sprouts, the tangy and appetite-whetting pickled vegetables, and that steaming bowl of seaweed and egg drop soup instantly soothed his wounded soul.
Once he was full and satisfied, his spirits revived, and he even started scheming about how to convince his wife to agree to renovate their own house.
...
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