Chapter 169

Chapter 169

Buying a house?

Xie Junli had imagined countless pieces of news, but he never expected this one.

His gaze deepened as he looked at her. Her eyes were bright and earnest, indicating that she truly wanted to buy a house.

"Why do you suddenly want to buy one?" he asked in confusion.

At a time when even basic necessities were hard to come by, buying a house was something most people wouldn't even consider.

Nor would anyone be selling houses.

Xie Junli frowned, finding it unreliable. "Did someone tell you something?"

He thought she might have been deceived.

Xu Yuqing glanced at him and immediately guessed his thoughts, unable to help but laugh. "Do I look that foolish to you?"

But Xie Junli still didn’t understand. "Then why...?"

Seeing his worried expression, Xu Yuqing decided not to keep him in suspense. "I’ve given this some thought. Yan Lan and I are going to school, after all, for four years. A short separation can feel like a honeymoon for couples, but not for children."

She lowered her eyes and slowly explained.

Perhaps because she hadn’t had a perfect childhood, she wanted to give Yu Song a better one.

And the two children about to be born.

They could only meet for a short time each visit, and then they’d be separated for half a year. She felt that Yan Lan would also find it hard to bear.

"After buying a house, Sister Yan Lan can ask Mother Yan to bring the child over. She can help take care of the child right after school, so Mother Yan won’t be too tired, and Sister Yan Lan can spend more time with the child."

She spoke word by word, slowly. Xie Junli sensed something else in her words. "What about you?"

He frowned. "Aren’t you coming back? And what about Old Yu? The two of us—"

His words were interrupted, and Xu Yuqing stumbled, forgetting what she had planned to say. "Let me finish first!"

"I’ve calculated it. Although Beicheng and Hacheng aren’t far apart, the stations are. Do you really want me to squeeze on a train for so long every time I miss you, exhausting myself?" She raised an eyebrow triumphantly.

Xie Junli looked at her, momentarily speechless.

Following her logic, it did seem like the best solution.

But, "Are you so sure there will be a house for sale?"

He asked.

Xu Yuqing shook her head. "Of course I’m not sure, but I’m asking you, aren’t I? We can only buy it if you agree." As she spoke, she moved closer, looking at him beseechingly, showing that she wasn’t keeping anything from him and was seeking his opinion first.

Although Xie Junli didn’t agree inside, seeing Xu Yuqing’s attitude softened him. "Let’s see about it later."

For now, they tacitly set aside the topic, exchanging glances without speaking.

"How about a nap?" Xu Yuqing asked. Xie Junli nodded, watching her lie down and instinctively move closer to him, holding onto his arm.

This feeling of being needed comforted Xie Junli. Looking at Xu Yuqing’s profile, he watched her close her eyes and fall asleep, but he couldn’t sleep himself.

He couldn’t close his eyes either.

Looking up at the ceiling, he remembered that these family quarters were always allocated. The previous occupants had children, and although Old Yu had repainted the place, it still showed signs of wear and tear.

Xu Yuqing might dislike these spots, even turn away in disgust, feeling uncomfortable, and later cover them up with something.

But this house was one Xie Junli had earned through his own efforts.

It held a special place in his heart.

He knew his wife was capable and had made a lot of money, but the thought of using that money to buy a house made him uneasy.

He felt like he was living off her.

But considering his modest salary, Xie Junli’s eyes flickered, and he made up his mind.

With this thought, he couldn’t sleep. Guessing that Yu Wenyao might be in a similar situation, he carefully withdrew his arm, covered her with a blanket, left a note, and walked out to find Yu Wenyao.

As comrades-in-arms for nearly a decade, he casually picked up a small pebble from the ground and threw it accurately at the window, making a crisp sound.

Soon, the door opened, and Yu Wenyao came out. "What do you want?"

"A cigarette," Xie Junli said, raising an eyebrow at the cigarette in Yu Wenyao’s hand.

Sighing, Yu Wenyao didn’t feel like joking around and directly handed him the cigarette. "Go sit over there." He gestured towards the tree.

Xie Junli nodded and walked over first. Yu Wenyao closed the door and followed, sitting down beside him.

"What brings you here?" Yu Wenyao asked, pretending to know nothing.

Xie Junli gave him a white eye, his gaze cool. "Scram."

"You’re so arrogant when you need something. I’ll go back in, and we’ll see if anyone cares about you," Yu Wenyao pouted.

"About buying a house, have you heard about it?" Xie Junli got straight to the point.

Yu Wenyao paused, nodding slightly, lighting a match and taking a deep drag from the cigarette.

Xie Junli: "What do you think?"

How could he think? Yu Wenyao gave a bitter smile. "What else can I think? My wife does as she pleases, and I can't even take care of the child properly when they're at home."

It would be better to let my mother-in-law come.

Still, he was unhappy. Why doesn't my wife think about me?

Xie Junli noticed his frustration and found it somewhat amusing. "Be grateful. At least I'm not eating soft rice."

This piqued Yu Wenyao's interest. "Really? The canning factory must be making a lot of money, right?" How shocking is it?

To make a military man say he's eating soft rice, especially a regimental commander.

Yu Wenyao was surprised. A regimental commander's salary could easily support a family of ten, and with some frugality, even siblings could be taken care of.

He never thought that this situation could still be called eating soft rice. How much must Yuqing earn?

Xie Junli sighed, somewhat helplessly. "You wouldn't believe the number, so don't guess." Over the years, the money she brought home had almost filled their box.

Men understand each other. Yu Wenyao didn't ask further, patting him on the shoulder. "Well, at least you don't have kids. Once you have them, you won't care about these things anymore."

Xie Junli was puzzled. Yu Wenyao stood up, speaking with a sense of weariness. "If I were to disappear now, my wife wouldn't even remember me."

This—

Xie Junli was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond. But comparing situations made him feel better instantly, and he stood up. "Alright, thanks."

He patted Yu Wenyao's shoulder and walked towards home.

Yu Wenyao was stunned, nearly exasperated. "At least try to comfort me!"

"No time."

The man had already walked far away, leaving Yu Wenyao fuming but also feeling helpless as he watched his back.

If his family situation was miserable, it couldn't compare to Old Xie's.

At least he still had his parents. Yu Wenyao knew a little about what happened two years ago, but not everything. Seeing that Xie never went home and ignored all telegrams and letters from there, he understood.

Sighing, after finishing a cigarette, Yu Wenyao took a deep breath, waiting for the smoke to dissipate before entering.

On the other side, when Xie Junli returned, Xu Yuqing was still sleeping. It had only been forty minutes, so he wasn't in a hurry to wake her.

Looking at Xu Yuqing's peaceful face, Xie Junli gently combed her hair to prevent it from getting tangled.

Sitting by the bed, he read the newspaper, watching the time pass. Soon, he finished reading both large sheets.

The policies of the era were changing.

Xie Junli keenly sensed this, especially since the restoration of college entrance exams had made the outside world increasingly lively.

Looking at the person on the bed, he thought, in the future, if he had free time, he would visit her. Getting her to return might take months or even a year.

She's just a little lazy.

But obtaining leave wasn't easy, and Xie Junli felt a headache coming on.

Before he could figure out a plan, Xu Yuqing woke up, stretching comfortably and yawning.

Reaching for her watch by the bed, she realized she had only slept for an hour, which was quite short.

Xu Yuqing sat up, meeting Xie Junli's gaze. "What are you thinking about?" she asked, puzzled.

His expression didn't look like someone who had just woken up.

Xie Junli's face, as Xu Yuqing said, wasn't good. He looked at her, hesitating. "I won't be able to visit often."

He spoke nervously, his voice low and hoarse from smoking earlier.

Just about this? Xu Yuqing looked at him amusedly. "Have you been thinking about this the whole time?"

That's why your face looks like that.

Xie Junli didn't nod or shake his head, but his meaning was clear.

He had indeed been preoccupied with this issue.

Xu Yuqing chuckled. "I told you that Yan Lan will bring the child over because it's not good for them to be apart for too long. Besides, Yu Song needs to go to school. If you can't come here, we can always return!"

As she spoke, she felt a pang of sympathy for the man in front of her. Why was he being so cautious?

She walked over and sat in his lap, hugging his neck seriously. "I've told you, if you have anything to say, just tell me. For you, I'm willing to come back no matter how tired I am."

She said earnestly, looking into his eyes and giving him a kiss, from his eyes to his lips. "Did you smoke?"

"Yes, Old Yu gave it to me." Xie Junli held her waist tightly, wanting a drink of water.

Xu Yuqing didn't stop him, watching him continue. "I bought the house because it's convenient. I don't need to live in the dormitory."

Her slow and serious explanation finally convinced Xie Junli completely. His arms tightened around her waist, holding her closer, as if trying to embed her into his bones.

"Okay."

He murmured, a hint of relief crossing his eyes.

With this settled, Xu Yuqing helped him tidy up the neglected vegetable garden, pulling weeds and preparing for winter.

They also needed to store some vegetables for the New Year.

"You shouldn’t buy so many cabbages this year. Where will we finish them all? I’m really sick of eating them." Xu Yuqing complained.

Every winter, it’s just cabbages. By the end of each year, to avoid waste, they end up eating cabbages every meal.

She’s going to turn into a cabbage person!

This year, she absolutely won’t allow stockpiling so many cabbages. The pickled cabbages from last year are still around, incredibly sour. Last time, Xu Yuqing used them to make a sour cabbage fish, which Yan Lan loved.

In the end, she packed up all those pickled cabbages and gave them to Yan Lan. Brother Yu said she would eat her meals with the smell of pickled cabbage.

It’s a good thing there’s Yan Lan; otherwise, these pickled cabbages would definitely have gone to waste. Xie Junli, listening to Xu Yuqing’s complaints, awkwardly rubbed his forehead, "Okay."

"Fifty jin?" He looked at Xu Yuqing inquiringly.

Xu Yuqing’s eyes widened, "Fifty jin is also a lot to eat!"

Fifty jin is quite a bit, and after the New Year, she has to go back to school. Xie Junli will surely be eating at the cafeteria every day.

How could they possibly eat these cabbages? They might just wilt away again.

Xie Junli helplessly nodded, "Then we won’t buy any this year. We’ll just pick ten or so."

Ten or so is still quite a few, but thinking about how they need some greens during the holidays to cut the richness, Xu Yuqing finally nodded in agreement.

The two chatted casually as the sky darkened. Xu Yuqing simply made a noodle soup, cracking two eggs into it.

"Time for dinner!!"