Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Despite it being deep into autumn with a chill in the air, Xie Junli found himself breaking a light sweat by the end of their meal.

A good meal indeed fills one's heart with satisfaction.

With a content smile, he stood up and quickly cleared the table, his eyes subtly urging Xu Yuqing to leave the dishes to him.

Truth be told, there weren't many dishes to wash, considering there were only two of them dining. But Xie Junli's proactive attitude genuinely surprised Xu Yuqing; she had expected to have to discuss the matter with him.

Xu Yuqing disliked washing dishes the most. She was willing to cook, but ask her to wash the dishes, and she would refuse outright. The thought of cold, greasy oil mixing with water and then touching her hands was unbearable for her, as was the lingering smell on her hands afterward.

With the dishwashing task easily resolved, Xu Yuqing stood up, feeling relieved. "I'll take a break now. Cooking a meal can be quite tiring."

She stretched languidly and walked into the living room, settling down on a wooden chair.

To be honest, entertainment was scarce these days. There was almost nothing to do, no television, and even the solid wood chairs failed to provide any sense of relaxation.

It was rather boring.

"Would you like an apple?"

The question came from behind, and Xu Yuqing turned curiously toward the source of the voice. An apple?

"What apple?" she asked, puzzled, walking over involuntarily. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the bright red apple in Xie Junli's hand.

An apple! It had been ages since she'd tasted such a thing. In this era devoid of fruit, this apple was truly precious. "Where did you get it?"

"It was given by the Political Commissar. It's a bit wilted, let me peel it for you. Wait outside for a moment."

Xie Junli said nonchalantly, knowing from Xu Yuqing's expression that she would enjoy eating it. He found a small knife, washed it carefully, and began peeling the apple. It had been stored for quite some time and was small, leaving not much flesh after peeling. Xie Junli cut it into pieces, removing the core, and placed the remaining slices in a bowl. This presentation made it look more appealing, and finally satisfied, he took it out.

"Eat it. I'll boil some water."

He left Xu Yuqing with those simple words and a retreating back.

Xu Yuqing stared in shock at the bowl in her hands. The apple slices had begun to oxidize slightly, but they still looked irresistibly tempting.

That apple was so small, and this entire small bowl was filled with its slices. Hadn't he eaten any of it?

"Xie Junli! Don't wash the dishes yet, let's eat the apple together!" Xu Yuqing called out toward the kitchen. Soon, Xie Junli's muffled voice echoed through the hallway.

"I've already eaten at the Political Commissar's place. You can have it."

With that, Xie Junli continued his task. The cold weather made washing dishes more challenging, especially the bowls with braised pork. However, Xie Junli was no stranger to hard work. He brought in a kettle of hot water, pouring it over the dishes, effectively cleaning off the oily residue.

Meanwhile, Xu Yuqing couldn't resist her craving anymore. Since Xie Junli had declined, she didn't insist. Reaching out, she carefully picked up a slice and popped it into her mouth.

How sour! Yet, the sweetness followed, and the crisp texture was truly delightful.

Before she knew it, the small bowl of apples was empty. Xu Yuqing let out a contented burp, ready to rest, when she heard Xie Junli's voice again.

"I'm going to the bathhouse for a shower. The water in the kitchen will be warm soon, no need to add firewood. You can bathe in five minutes, just be careful not to catch a cold." Xie Junli, holding his clothes, reminded her worriedly. He had already prepared cold water in the bathroom, but he feared she might move too slowly and let the hot water cool down.

However, if he delayed too long, the bathhouse would stop supplying water.

After some consideration, Xie Junli decided that next time, he would visit the bathhouse first before returning home.

As for why he didn't suggest Xu Yuqing go to the bathhouse, he knew well enough that she wouldn't adapt to it. After all, it had taken him quite some time to adjust himself.

Xu Yuqing shared the same thoughts as Xie Junli. At the mention of the bathhouse, she couldn't help but shudder. Bathing naked among strangers was simply inconceivable to her.

Rubbing her eyes, the drowsiness vanished instantly. Sitting upright on the long wooden chair, she nodded. "Alright."

Although Xie Junli wasn't entirely at ease, the bathhouse would stop supplying water in half an hour. He had been caught up in a game with a group of boys earlier, leaving him sticky and uncomfortable. He couldn't bear the thought of sleeping without a shower, so he left with a heavy heart.

The door closed softly, leaving Xu Yuqing alone.

She glanced at the clock in the living room; three minutes remained. She leisurely entered her room to fetch her clothes, humming a tune as she headed to the bathroom.

To be honest, the bathroom was quite small, with a squat toilet. But Xu Yuqing adored this squat toilet because at the Xie residence, she was forced to use the outhouse, which had an indescribable stench.

In comparison, the size of the bathroom didn't matter. Convenience was key, and bathing didn't require much space.

Aware of the cold, Xu Yuqing hummed a song while swiftly scooping hot water from the pot into a bucket, taking cautious steps as she moved inside.

Though she didn't feel particularly warm after bathing, at least she was clean.

Lying in bed, she savored the warmth of the kang, letting out a sigh of relief and relaxing her body.

Just as she was drifting off to sleep, faint sounds and voices could be heard outside. Xu Yuqing tensed up momentarily, then remembered she was in the military dependents' quarters, and relaxed once more, rolling over and closing her eyes, nearly asleep.

At that moment, footsteps approached, causing Xu Yuqing to instinctively turn over, burying her face in the pillow. These were Xie Junli's footsteps.

Xie Junli moved quietly, making almost no sound even while washing up. Xu Yuqing, initially somewhat nervous, was lulled into drowsiness by the peaceful atmosphere. Her eyes suddenly closed, and she fell asleep.

By the time Xie Junli returned to bed, Xu Yuqing was already fast asleep. The room was filled only with her shallow breathing.

The next morning, Xu Yuqing painfully opened her eyes, looking resentfully at Xie Junli, who was already dressing. She wasn't sure whether to blame him or pity him.

"Go back to sleep. I'll bring breakfast back for you. I'll return at noon. I've asked someone from the Logistics Department to help bring rice and flour; I'll carry it back at noon." Xie Junli spoke gently, his voice carrying a hint of tenderness as his eyes involuntarily lingered on the figure in bed, who had fallen back asleep after responding.

Her disheveled hair made her even more enchanting, along with her lips. Xie Junli's gaze deepened, forcing himself to look away.

"I'm leaving."

He whispered, knowing he wouldn't receive a response, and quietly stepped out of the room.

When Xu Yuqing woke up again to the sound of her rumbling stomach, she found breakfast that Xie Junli had fetched neatly arranged in the pot.

A boiled egg, porridge, and a small plate of pickles.

Xu Yuqing couldn't help but laugh as she savored the warm breakfast. Then, she took out paper and pen from her room and began writing a menu.

This menu was for the dinner she planned to host the following evening for Xie Junli's comrades and the neighbors from the surrounding households.

It was unclear how many people would come, but there had to be at least nine dishes.

How could she manage to have nine dishes in this place where supplies were scarce? Rubbing her chin, Xu Yuqing recalled the words of Wang Yunyun, the military wife she met yesterday.