Chapter 278: Dumplings

Chapter 278 Jiaozi

The Ye family had sent a large amount of meat, but Ye Xiaoxiao kept only a small portion for herself and gave the rest to Lu Hanchuan to deliver to the army mess hall for distribution.

Li Zhen took the meat from Ye Xiaoxiao’s hands and said, "I’ll make cured meat rice for you."

It was an easy dish, and since Li Zhen had been helping her family cook since she was eight, unlike Ye Xiaoxiao, who’d been spoiled growing up, she was a decent cook.

Li Zhen had a jar of rice, which surprised Ye Xiaoxiao. "You’ve got rice here?"

Li Zhen didn’t mention that the rice had been stored for ages, but she had checked—it was definitely still edible.

After rinsing the rice quickly, Li Zhen added water and cured meat, then placed the enamel pot directly on the stove to steam.

Soon, the smell of rice wafted through the room.

At that moment, Ye Xiaoxiao noticed it was snowing outside.

"It’s snowing!"

She ran outside excitedly.

Against the white snow, she stood out even more than the flurries around her.

Li Zhen watched through the window as Ye Xiaoxiao, dressed in a bright red padded coat, stood in stark contrast to the snow, as if she were glowing.

Li Zhen shook her head, feeling as though Ye Xiaoxiao seemed out of place here.

Perhaps it was just because she was too beautiful.

Not minding the cold, Ye Xiaoxiao scooped up a handful of snow and brought it inside.

The warmth of the room quickly melted the snow in her hands.

"The cured meat rice is ready. I’ll go to the mess hall to get a few side dishes."

Before leaving, Li Zhen reminded Ye Xiaoxiao, "Cover the stove and keep the rice warm on top—keep it from burning."

Ye Xiaoxiao replied brightly, "Got it!"

Since it was snowing, Li Zhen returned with good news.

"Jiaozi for dinner tonight!"

Ye Xiaoxiao exclaimed, "Really?"

Other than flatbreads, they rarely made flour dishes here, let alone jiaozi.

Feeding so many people, making jiaozi in the mess hall was a huge undertaking.

"So we should go early, or we’ll miss our chance."

Although the mess hall tried to prepare enough jiaozi, there was no promise there’d be enough for everyone.

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded eagerly as she ate the fragrant cured meat rice from her lunchbox.

The news of jiaozi for dinner wasn’t just exciting for Ye Xiaoxiao’s group—the whole base was buzzing.

Zhou Shengyang grabbed Lu Hanchuan and said, "No sneaking off today. Let’s have a real meal together."

Lu Hanchuan: "Didn't run."

Although both he and Xiao Xiao were at the base, they rarely ate together.

Everyone had their own tasks, so their schedules rarely aligned.

Zhou Shengyang: "Alright, it’s a plan. We’ll head to the canteen later."

Lu Hanchuan nodded in agreement but reminded him, "No alcohol."

Zhou Shengyang: "Yeah, yeah, I know. Even if you wanted to drink, I wouldn’t spare any for you."

Nothing beats a winter drink—pure bliss.

Zhou Shengyang felt Lu Hanchuan had no taste for the good stuff.

But since the other was his superior, he had to toe the line.

...

During the afternoon meal, Ye Xiaoxiao finally realized the place was packed.

Usually, when she and Li Zhen came, it was never this crowded, but today the line stretched on forever.

Ye Xiaoxiao even saw Li Chengfeng there—a guy notorious for skipping meals and suffering from stomach problems.

Some people gave her a nod or wave when they saw her.

For an intern, the fact that she had stayed here for so long surprised everyone.

The canteen had everything ready: meat and vegetarian dumplings, with lamb and pork options for the meat fillings, since pork was off-limits for some.

Li Zhen and Ye Xiaoxiao weren’t picky and could eat anything.

Ye Xiaoxiao asked Li Zhen, "You’re okay with pork?"

Li Zhen explained, "My mom is Han Chinese, so I’m not restricted."

After finishing their meal, the two had some dumpling broth before heading back.

Meanwhile, chow time at the mess hall had begun.

Zhou Shengyang dragged Lu Hanchuan and a few company and platoon leaders to sit together.

Since women were rare in the military—only Jiang Leyin and two female comms officers—Zhou Shengyang specially invited them to join.

Jiang Leyin jumped at the chance.

She sat beside Lu Hanchuan and asked, "Mind if I sit here?"

Lu Hanchuan glanced at her. "Not at all."

But immediately afterward, he moved seats, leaving a young soldier next to Jiang Leyin instead.

Baffled but unfazed, the young soldier didn’t mind sitting beside Dr. Jiang.

Stoked for dumplings, everyone was in high spirits.

Only Jiang Leyin was distracted, glancing occasionally in Lu Hanchuan’s direction.

He had always been disciplined in the military, so he definitely wouldn't drink. Her schemes stood no chance.

While Jiang Leyin was lost in thought, she hadn’t noticed the seat beside her being taken.

"Not hungry?"

Jiang Leyin snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the person next to her—someone she knew from the regiment.

Now a deputy battalion commander, he had arrived a year later than Lu Hanchuan but held an important position.

"Who could resist such good food?"

Jiang Leyin didn’t dare reveal her true thoughts. Everyone knew Lu Hanchuan had a fiancée now. If she overstepped, she would only end up damaging her own reputation.

Wu Tao followed Jiang Leyin’s earlier gaze—it landed right on Lu Hanchuan.

He could understand. Regiment Commander Lu was young, handsome, and came from a good family.

Pretty much every woman’s dream catch.

But he already had a fiancée. Jiang Leyin could stare till doomsday, she couldn’t marry him.

Wu Tao liked Jiang Leyin, so he shot his shot.

"Dr. Jiang, I was wondering if you’re free tomorrow. I’d like to invite you out for a walk—there’s something I’d like to talk to you about."

Only then did Jiang Leyin turn to Wu Tao, offering him a faint smile.

"Afternoon should work."

*Where exactly did he think they’d go in freezing January?*

Wu Tao’s intentions were obvious enough, and Jiang Leyin agreed to go out with him.

At least she didn’t treat Wu Tao like Yang Juan.

The reason Jiang Leyin agreed so readily was that she felt there was no shot with Lu Hanchuan.

Rather than fixating on one lost cause, she might as well give others a chance.

When the meal broke up, everyone dispersed.

Jiang Leyin finally found a chance to speak to Lu Hanchuan alone.

Lu Hanchuan usually gave female comrades a ten-foot pole’s distance, and Xiao Xiao had already staked her claim.

His bride wasn’t even home yet—he had to be extra careful with his words and actions.

It had to be said, Ye Xiaoxiao had Lu Hanchuan whipped.

"No ulterior motives here. Found your happily-ever-after."

Lu Hanchuan blinked.

He’d found his true love years ago. Why was she congratulating him now?

Jiang Leyin’s words threw him completely.

"Don’t worry, Regiment Commander Lu. Forget I ever said anything. I won’t bother you anymore."

With that, Jiang Leyin made her exit.

Lu Hanchuan thought for a moment but barely registered her earlier ‘joke.’

And what gave her the idea she could get anywhere with him?