Chapter 422: Settling In

Chapter 422 Settling In

Lu Hanchuan helped move some of the heavier items. Many cabinets in the house were already usable.

"Rest early. I’ll take my time organizing tomorrow."

Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t have much to do at home, while Lu Hanchuan still had to report to the military unit the next day.

"Don’t worry about the heavy stuff at home. Leave the heavy lifting to me when I get back." Lu Hanchuan rearranged the furniture and kept reminding her.

"Got it."

In the bedroom, Xiao Xiao had already laid out the bedsheet—a soft yellow floral pattern that looked especially warm under the dim light.

The small space now felt like home.

Even though it was their first night, Lu Hanchuan held Xiao Xiao close, and they slept soundly.

……

As Ye Xiaoxiao had instructed, soldiers struggling with the new environment came to her for medicine.

She had prepared pills in advance to prevent discomfort on the island and freely gave them away.

Some who got medicine stayed behind. "The regiment commander told us to stay and help with some work."

Ye Xiaoxiao quickly said, "But you’re still unwell. It’s not necessary."

The young men insisted, "It’s no big deal. Regiment Commander Lu said there’s no toilet in the yard. We’ve already brought bricks—we might even finish it today."

Hearing this, Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t argue, as it was indeed an urgent matter.

"Thank you, then."

Seven or eight young men had come, bringing bricks and cement. Building a small toilet was quick work for them.

Ye Xiaoxiao drew up plans for an outhouse based on the Ye family's design, explaining how to construct the shed and dig the pit before returning inside.

Having nothing else to offer at home, she could only offer the snacks she had brought as refreshments.

To the east lived Deputy Regimental Commander Li’s family, while to the west was another naval officer’s home. They had been on the island for over four years and knew the island much better than Ye Xiaoxiao and Lu Hanchuan.

"What’re you building over there?"

A short-haired woman leaned over the fence, getting a clear view of the commotion in the neighboring yard.

Ye Xiaoxiao walked over. "Hello, we’re building a toilet."

"The public one is so close. Why bother with all this?"

"Well… night trips are awkward."

Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t elaborate further. Everyone had different habits, and she firmly believed a toilet was a very private space.

The short-haired woman laughed in understanding. "Scared of the dark, huh? You youngsters think of everything. I’ve been here for years and never thought of building one in my own yard—always seemed like too much work."

Ye Xiaoxiao just smiled in response and changed the subject. "I’m Ye Xiaoxiao. And you are…?"

"I’m Gao Yanfei. My husband is Sun Chao. Since we’re neighbors, just holler if you need help. I’m around most days."

Gao Yanfei was in her thirties, spoke cheerfully and openly, and was very friendly toward her new neighbor.

Ye Xiaoxiao thanked her for her kindness and nodded, saying, "Okay."

"I'll let you get back to work, I'll head back home."

After exchanging greetings, Gao Yanfei turned and left.

Ye Xiaoxiao stood by the wall, admiring the lush vegetables in the other yard with envy.

If she started planting now, they should grow quickly too.

By mid-morning, a small outdoor toilet had been built in the yard, complete with a door, a roof, and tightly sealed walls.

Ye Xiaoxiao handed out pastries to those who had helped.

"We haven’t prepared much at home, so please don’t mind the simplicity."

The pastries were from a famous old bakery in the capital—peach shortbread, red bean cakes, mung bean cakes, jujube paste cakes… Though they had got banged up on the trip and didn’t look their best.

"This…"

The young soldier shifted awkwardly, feeling a little embarrassed.

Coming to get medicine was already troubling the regiment commander’s wife, and now she was giving them snacks—it felt like they were imposing on Regiment Commander Lu.

"You’ve worked all morning and must be hungry. Don’t be polite."

Ye Xiaoxiao pushed the pastries into their hands. "Go ahead and eat. I’ll heat some water to make tea."

The water in the vat at home had been fetched by Lu Hanchuan that morning. Ye Xiaoxiao had also gone to check the communal water source. Others carried water with carrying poles, but their household didn’t have one yet.

Besides, Xiao Xiao had never used a carrying pole before and probably wasn’t up to the task of carrying water.

"I’ll help boil the water."

A soldier with a buzz cut in a green uniform stuffed a pastry into his mouth and jumped in eagerly.

Ye Xiaoxiao couldn’t talk them out of it. After drinking tea and finishing the pastries, they even tidied up the yard for her and topped off the water vat before leaving.

Once they were gone, Ye Xiaoxiao straightened up the other rooms in the house.

There were three rooms—one for her and Lu Hanchuan, a spare bedroom, and a smaller one turned into a study.

She dusted and wiped all the furniture, arranged the medical books she had brought, and noted that the room still needed a stool. There was a desk, but it wasn’t in this room yet—she’d have to move it over in the evening.

She wondered who had lived here before. The furniture was fairly complete.

The slightly peeling white walls and the wooden doors and windows bore traces of time, while the overhead incandescent bulb gave off a dim yellow light.

The curtains were pale blue, faded from many washings but very clean—they must have been laundered beforehand.

The environment here was nothing like their home in the capital, but it was still better than many other households.

After organizing the study, Ye Xiaoxiao went to the kitchen and unpacked and arranged the thermos and glass cups she had brought.

Though they didn't have everything needed for cooking yet, they still needed basics for drinking water and making tea.

Ye Xiaoxiao made a list of what was still missing, planning to get the things gradually over time.

We've got a toilet now, all we're missing now is a proper bathroom.

That's tricky because the island doesn’t have running water piped into homes, so a water heater's definitely not happening.

For baths, it's just a tub.

If they want a shower, they’d have to use one of those DIY showerheads where you mix the water yourself.

Still means boiling your own water and pouring it by hand.

Ye Xiaoxiao drooped over the table, feeling defeated. Getting started's the hardest part, but this was a bit too much.

Still, Ye Xiaoxiao wasn’t too disheartened. She had even been to the arid northwest—this place was nothing.

……

Today, she had to hit up the canteen to get food herself. Ye Xiaoxiao went next door to find Kong Xuelan so they could go together.

She pushed open the courtyard gate and called out a few times but heard nothing back from Kong Xuelan. Worried that Kong Xuelan might be sick, she walked straight in.

When she entered Kong Xuelan’s home, Ye Xiaoxiao got a shock.

Their luggage was piled messily on the floor, still in complete disarray.

"Kong Xuelan? Mrs. Li?"

Ye Xiaoxiao called out as she walked inside, then saw Kong Xuelan lying on the bed resting.

"Mrs. Li? Are you alright?"

Ye Xiaoxiao first took Kong Xuelan’s pulse and found that although it was weak, there were no major issues.

Kong Xuelan had always suffered from low blood and energy, and the move must've wiped her out.

"I’m fine, just worn out. The house is still a mess—sorry you have to see this mess."

Kong Xuelan was usually an organized person, but right now, she simply didn’t have the strength to tidy up.

"Have you eaten? Let me grab you some food from the canteen."

Kong Xuelan shook her head. "I’ll wait for Lao Li to come back. Don't trouble yourself."

Ye Xiaoxiao urged, "Are you sure? You should eat something, or you'll just feel worse. With your low blood sugar, it’s dangerous."

But Kong Xuelan insisted firmly, "Really, Lao Li said he’d come back early today."

Seeing she wouldn't budge, Ye Xiaoxiao had no choice but to relent. "Alright, then rest well."

Ye Xiaoxiao went to the canteen alone to get her meal. The place was packed, so she didn’t plan to eat there.