Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Ji Yunshu hadn't thought about it until Pei Yufeng brought it up—but the moment he did, her stomach gave two little growls.

It was indeed time for lunch.

"I'll go with you." Ji Yunshu folded the last few pieces of clothing and put them in the cabinet. "I'll walk around the compound a bit and get my bearings."

Pei Yufeng nodded. After she changed, the two of them headed out.

The sun was directly overhead, and the ground was so hot you could feel it through your shoes. Ji Yunshu regretted her decision within a few steps. There was a sea breeze, but even the midday wind carried heat, offering no relief as it brushed against her face. She raised a hand to shield her forehead from the glaring sun, squinting against the brightness. Pei Yufeng walked beside her, glancing up at the sun.

"It takes twenty minutes to walk to the mess hall." Pei Yufeng looked down and saw fine beads of sweat forming on the tip of Ji Yunshu's nose, her cheeks flushed from the heat. A small frown creased his brow. "Wait here for me."

Pei Yufeng turned and strode back, returning in less than two minutes with two square packets of wedding candy wrapped in red paper—the ones Grandma had packed, insisting it was proper to bring wedding candy along.

Ji Yunshu was curious. "What are you doing with those?"

"It's too hot, and you just got here—you're not used to it. Too much sun will wear you out." Pei Yufeng explained, "I'm going to borrow a bicycle from Commander Lu's place. On my day off the day after tomorrow, I'll go to Yuecheng Department Store and buy a bicycle and a sewing machine."

"There's no rush!" Ji Yunshu walked up beside Pei Yufeng, tugging at his sleeve, feeling a little bad for him. "We just got here. Walking around and getting familiar with the place is nice."

Everything was new to her on this island. The flamboyant trees along the road were bursting with fiery red blossoms, and the sea in the distance gleamed a brilliant blue under the sun. She actually wanted to take her time and enjoy the walk.

Pei Yufeng was insistent, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I'll take you out for a stroll once the sun goes down tonight. Your health isn't great, and the heat here can really be deadly. I've got all kinds of heatstroke medicine stocked up at home, and having a bicycle will make things more convenient."

"Alright, alright." Ji Yunshu wasn't about to suffer for no reason. Hearing that the heat here could actually kill you, she wisely decided to do what Pei Yufeng said.

After a couple of steps, something occurred to her. She held out her hand toward him, palm up, her fingers wiggling playfully. "Brother Pei, give me one packet of the wedding candy too. I'll give it to the Commander myself."

Pei Yufeng knew Ji Yunshu had a sweet tongue and knew exactly how to win over the elders. He nodded and handed her one packet. The two walked side by side toward the Commander's house.

The Commander's house was a few buildings above theirs, along the sloped path of the family quarters. The road was paved with crushed stones and lined with tall casuarina trees, their leaves curled up from the heat. Cicadas buzzed from the treetops in waves, rising and falling like the tide.

Pei Yufeng walked on the side closest to the road, shielding Ji Yunshu from the sun as it shifted west. His long shadow stretched across the ground, completely enveloping her.

As they walked, he pointed things out to her. Passing a small yard enclosed by a low bamboo fence, he gestured. "That's Regiment Commander Liu's place—he's from the neighboring regiment. He has three kids—the oldest is in fourth grade at the military elementary school. His wife is from the local Li ethnic group, so she dresses differently from most of the other family members. I've only seen her twice, so I don't remember her well, but she seems easy to get along with."

A few more steps up, and they came to several more spacious standalone houses with higher walls, each entrance planted with bougainvillea in full, vivid bloom. He gave a slight nod of his chin. "Further up are the houses for the division-level officers."

After less than ten minutes of walking, Pei Yufeng stopped in front of a courtyard.

This one was slightly larger than those below. The walls were whitewashed and covered in a thick layer of ivy. The green leaves fluttered gently in the breeze, showing the silvery-gray fuzz on their undersides.

The gate wasn't closed—it stood half-open. Through the gap, Ji Yunshu could see the cement courtyard swept spotlessly clean. Two bicycles leaned against the wall: one a sturdy men's bike with a crossbar, the other a smaller women's bike with a step-through frame, its chrome handlebars gleaming in the sun. In the corner of the yard grew a papaya tree with broad leaves like open umbrellas, and beneath it sat several pots of orchids.

The door to the small building was also ajar. Ji Yunshu could faintly hear the clink of dishes and chopsticks from inside—someone clearing the table—along with voices. A man's low, muffled voice, followed by a woman's laughter—crisp and quick.

Pei Yufeng stopped at the gate without pushing it open. He straightened his collar, rolled down his sleeves, and buttoned the cuffs. Then he glanced sideways at Ji Yunshu. She caught on right away, tucking a stray strand behind her ear, smoothing her hem, and standing up straight.

Only then did Pei Yufeng clear his throat, raise his hand, and knock three times—steady, deliberate, and sharp. His voice rang out: "Commander Lu, Comrade Pei Yufeng reporting!"

The tone—Ji Yunshu almost laughed—sounded less like borrowing a bicycle and more like reporting for battle!

"Oh! Xiao Pei is back!" A woman's voice flew out of the house before anyone appeared. It was slightly sharp, with an accent Ji Yunshu couldn't place. The tones rose at the ends, warm and familiar, like she was greeting a nephew.

Soon, the door was pulled open from inside. First out was a woman in her fifties, of medium build, wearing a floral short-sleeved shirt. Her hair was short, with stray bangs pinned back behind her ears with a clip. She had a round face that clearly loved to smile, with laugh lines at the corners of her eyes and mouth. She was still holding a dishrag—she must have been clearing the table when she heard Pei Yufeng's voice and rushed out without a second thought.

Right behind her came a man in his fifties, tall with broad shoulders, wearing a white undershirt tucked into military trousers. His hair was cropped very short, his temples already gray, but his eyebrows were thick and dark. His eyes were small but sharp, with a quiet intensity.

He walked out with his hands clasped behind his back, looking far more serious than his wife. But the moment he saw Pei Yufeng, a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes.

"Yu Feng's back?" Commander Lu's voice was deep and resonant. He turned to Ji Yunshu beside him. "This is your wife?"

"Yes, Commander!" Pei Yufeng stood ramrod straight, saluting Commander Lu with a crisp military salute before stepping slightly aside to introduce them. "Uncle Lu, Auntie Wang, this is my wife, Ji Yunshu. We grew up together in our hometown. Xiaoshu, this is our district's Commander and his wife—you can call them Uncle Lu and Auntie Wang."

"Hello, Uncle Lu. Hello, Auntie Wang." Ji Yunshu stood beside Pei Yufeng, offering a warm, open smile. She wore a simple, elegant dress, her hair neatly combed, her face free of makeup yet fair and radiant.

Auntie Wang—Wang Yulan's mouth fell open the moment her eyes landed on Ji Yunshu. She stared at her for a full three seconds, then whipped her head toward Pei Yufeng, her voice rising a full octave as praise burst out of her like rapid gunfire: "Xiao Pei! You rascal! This is your wife?! Good heavens—whose daughter is this? How is she prettier than the people in the movies?!"

Wang Yulan had little education, and her greatest pleasure was watching the public movies the military screened by the seaside every month. The female soldiers in the films were always beautiful, and every time she watched, she'd wonder when she'd ever see such lovely people in person. Now, looking at Ji Yunshu, she no longer wondered.

Ji Yunshu was too beautiful—even more beautiful than the actresses in those movies!

Ji Yunshu's cheeks flushed slightly at the enthusiastic compliment. She took a small step forward, gave a slight bow, and offered the packet of wedding candy with both hands, her voice sweet and soft: "Hello, Auntie Wang. I'm Ji Yunshu. I just arrived on the island today—sorry to bother you. This is a little something from Brother Pei and me. Please have some wedding candy."

She finished speaking, looked up, and smiled with her lips pressed together, showing a pair of shallow dimples.

That "Auntie Wang" came out even sweeter and softer, like it had been dipped in honey. Wang Yulan's face lit up with delight, all her laugh lines bunching together. She took the candy, said "good" three times, then reached out and took Ji Yunshu's hand, looking her up and down.

The more she looked, the more she liked her, the more she adored her. She turned to Commander Lu and started exclaiming: "Old man, come look! Look at this girl—I've never seen anyone so stunning in my whole life! That figure, that face, those eyes, those features, that poise—what incredible luck has fallen on Xiao Pei!"

With every sentence, she patted the back of Ji Yunshu's hand, until Ji Yunshu was too embarrassed to know what to do.

"Alright, alright." Commander Lu watched Wang Yulan completely lost in admiration, sighed, and turned to Pei Yufeng. "Xiao Pei, your taste really is something. Your wife is truly beautiful."

Ji Yunshu's face grew even redder at the praise.

Pei Yufeng took the opportunity to hand the other packet of wedding candy to Commander Lu. The Commander accepted it, cleared his throat, and spoke with a rare hint of teasing: "Well, well, Pei Yufeng. You're a good hand at war, and a good hand at picking a wife too. Of all the soldiers I've commanded, you're the first—first place in everything."

Pei Yufeng stood nearby, his lips pressing together at the words. His face remained impassive, but a faint flush crept up to the tips of his ears. He glanced sideways at Ji Yunshu, stood even straighter than before, and said in a calm tone: "Reporting, Commander, I'm the one who aimed high."

Wang Yulan still hadn't let go of Ji Yunshu's hand, liking her more with every look. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind Ji Yunshu's ear, patted her hand again, her smile so full it looked ready to spill over: "Come, dear, come inside and sit. I just made mung bean soup, chilled in the well water. Let me get you a bowl to cool off—this cursed island weather, you just got here and must be suffering. Look at those cheeks, all flushed from the sun. It breaks my heart!"

Ji Yunshu looked back at Pei Yufeng. He gave a slight nod, and only then did she turn back to Wang Yulan with a smile: "Thank you, Auntie Wang. I won't be shy then."

Commander Lu's wife let out an "oh!" and was again delighted by that "Auntie Wang," turning to fetch Ji Yunshu some mung bean soup. As she looked for a spoon, she muttered to herself: "That quiet old stick Xiao Pei—where did he get such good fortune..."

Commander Lu and Pei Yufeng walked behind. The Commander opened the candy box, took out a piece, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth. He chewed a couple of times and nodded: "Mm, good candy. Alright, out with it. You wouldn't come knocking without a reason. What's the matter today?"

Pei Yufeng didn't beat around the bush. Standing tall, he said directly: "Reporting, Commander, I'd like to borrow your bicycle for a couple of days. My wife just arrived on the island, and it's too hot—I'm worried she'll get heatstroke walking to the mess hall. On my day off the day after tomorrow, I'll go to Yuecheng to buy one, and I'll return it as soon as I do."

Commander Lu chewed and swallowed the candy, looked at him, then turned to look at Ji Yunshu, who was being seated in a chair in the main hall by his wife and given mung bean soup to drink. The girl sat on the wooden bench, holding the bowl and taking small, delicate sips. Her profile, lit by the light streaming through the window, was so pale it seemed almost translucent. His wife stood beside her, fanning her with a palm-leaf fan, her face beaming like she'd found a treasure.

Commander Lu withdrew his gaze and looked at Pei Yufeng, standing straight before him. This young man was someone he'd personally groomed—he'd been under his command since being assigned to the island. He didn't fear death on the battlefield, didn't fear difficulty in leading troops, and had never once asked him for anything. Today was the first time he'd opened his mouth, and it was only to borrow a bicycle. Not for any other reason—just because he was afraid his newlywed wife might get sunburned walking.

Commander Lu crumpled the candy wrapper and stuffed it into his trouser pocket, then pointed at the men's bike by the wall. "Take that one. Your wife just got here and doesn't know the roads—you can carry her on it. The crossbar makes it easy to carry a passenger. Your sister-in-law's bike is too small, and you wouldn't be comfortable on it anyway. Ride that one until you buy your own."

Commander Lu was lending him his own personal bicycle. Pei Yufeng was moved, his voice solemn: "Thank you, Commander."

Commander Lu waved a hand, then glanced once more at Ji Yunshu, who was laughing and chatting with his wife in the main hall. He lowered his voice, the teasing gone from his tone, replaced by the warmth of an elder: "Yu Feng, treat her well. She's young, and she was still willing to come here and endure hardship with you. Don't let her down."

Marriage was also a matter of conduct in life. Over the years in the military, Commander Lu had seen plenty of couples who'd come with the army end up at odds. He didn't want Pei Yufeng and Ji Yunshu to end up like them.

Pei Yufeng followed his gaze. Ji Yunshu was saying something over her bowl of mung bean soup, making Wang Yulan double over with laughter. She was laughing too, her eyes curved into crescents, her whole face glowing.

He looked away, his voice soft: "I know. I've been waiting for this day for a long time."

Now it was Commander Lu's turn to be surprised. When he'd received Pei Yufeng's marriage application, he'd jumped straight off his chair and read it twice before he could believe Pei Yufeng wasn't joking.

In the military, dating and marriage both required filing a report, but Pei Yufeng had skipped the dating process entirely and gone straight to marriage. Commander Lu grew more and more curious about what kind of woman Pei Yufeng intended to marry.

Later, when Ji Yunshu's political review materials arrived, he took one look and figured this girl had probably fallen from grace and couldn't accept it, so she figured marrying Pei Yufeng was her ticket to a better life.

Commander Lu didn't exactly hate this type of girl, but he sure as hell wouldn't like her either. Yet his wife was a total sucker for a pretty face—she couldn't walk past a good-looking person without stopping dead in her tracks, and she insisted on dragging Ji Yunshu into their home. Commander Lu initially thought this girl looked innocent but was actually pretty slick, managing to snag Pei Yufeng, who had the best luck with women in the whole unit but went out of his way to avoid them. What he hadn't expected was that Pei Yufeng had been the one pining after her all along.

No wonder all those pretty girls from the military district's art troupe had been throwing themselves at him, and he hadn't given a single one the time of day. No wonder Political Commissar Fang's youngest daughter had chased after him for so long, and he still kept her at arm's length.

Commander Lu sighed, figuring at least this girl was easy on the eyes. As for her personality, that would come out in the wash. For now, he'd just give them his blessing and let them figure it out.

Commander Lu then handed him the bike keys: "Take the bike. Go on, get her something to eat before she wastes away."

Pei Yufeng thanked him, and Ji Yunshu chimed in, "Thanks, Uncle Lu, thanks, Auntie Wang." "We'll come back for a proper visit another day," Pei Yufeng said, then walked Ji Yunshu out.

Pei Yufeng wheeled the bike out, swung his long leg over the frame, planted his feet on the ground, and looked back at Ji Yunshu. "Get on."

Ji Yunshu grabbed the back seat and climbed on, tucking her skirt under her, her hands not knowing where to go. Pei Yufeng waited a beat, and when she didn't move, he reached back, grabbed both her hands, and looped them around his waist.

"Hold on tight." Pei Yufeng's voice came from up front. "The road's steep here, and there might be loose gravel on the downhill. Don't want you falling off."

"Oh—okay, okay." Ji Yunshu's ears went red instantly. Her hands pressed against his waist, and through the thin shirt she could feel the heat of his abs. It was so warm she quickly clasped her hands around her own wrist and squeezed Pei Yufeng tight.

Pei Yufeng pushed down on the pedal, and the bike rolled forward smoothly. The wind hit their faces, carrying the salt of the sea and the fresh scent of coconut groves—cool and refreshing. Ji Yunshu sat on the back, her hair streaming behind her in the wind. She squinted, feeling the heat melt away.

Pei Yufeng rode smooth. When they took a corner, the bike leaned slightly, and Ji Yunshu instinctively tightened her grip around his waist, pressing her whole body against his back. Pei Yufeng's back was broad and solid, like a wall that could block the wind. She could hear his breathing up ahead—steady and deep, just like his heartbeat.

"You hot?" Pei Yufeng turned his head to ask.

"Not really," Ji Yunshu said. "The wind feels good."

Pei Yufeng didn't say anything else, but he slowed the bike a little, letting her take in the houses and trees along the road.

The family compound wasn't huge, but it wasn't small either. From Commander Lu's place, they rode for about five or six minutes. Pei Yufeng introduced as he rode: "The whole compound has over thirty of these small buildings. Regimental-level officers and above with their families on base live here. Company and platoon officers live in those single-story houses on the east side."

Ji Yunshu looked where he pointed and saw neat rows of single-story houses with gray walls and red tiles, trees out front, and clothes drying on some of the balconies.

Past the compound gate, the first building on the road was a brick house with a wooden sign out front that read "Supply and Marketing Cooperative." Next to it was a smaller building with a sign reading "Post Office." People were coming and going from the cooperative—mostly family members carrying baskets, plus a few uniformed officers standing by the door shooting the breeze.

"The cooperative gets shipments once a month. They don't stock much, but they've got the basics. Only fresh beef and rice sometimes take a while to get." Pei Yufeng slowed the bike. "The post office handles letters and packages. When you write home, you can mail it from here."

Ji Yunshu nodded, noting the post office's location.

A little further west, a two-story gray building appeared by the road, with a sign that read "Military Guesthouse." Pei Yufeng said: "Some family members can't relocate here, so when they come to visit each year, they stay here. It's cheaper than staying outside and safer too."

Ji Yunshu glanced at it, thinking if He Qiuxia and Wang Wanru ever came to the island to visit, this would be a good place for them to stay.

Past the guesthouse, another row of single-story buildings came into view, with several signs out front—Women's Federation, Logistics Office, Clinic, Propaganda Section... all military offices. Out front was an open area with a few bicycles and a jeep parked.

"The officers' cafeteria is just ahead." Pei Yufeng pointed forward.

The cafeteria was in its own little courtyard, with a row of the island's famous bougainvillea planted at the entrance, blooming bright red. Pei Yufeng parked the bike in the open area by the door, locked it, and led Ji Yunshu inside.

Inside, the cafeteria was way cooler than outside. Several big electric fans hung from the ceiling, whirring away and stirring up the air. Ji Yunshu looked around—the place was big, with over a dozen long tables, many of them packed with uniformed officers and family members in civilian clothes. There were seven or eight serving windows, each with a line in front of it, and blackboards above listing the day's dishes.

"Is there anything you want? I'll queue up."

Ji Yunshu scanned the board top to bottom. She recognized a lot of the dishes—for veggies there was stir-fried water spinach, braised winter melon, stir-fried eggplant... but she'd never tried the cold shredded papaya salad, and what the heck was spicy jellyfish? And the steamed egg with dried shrimp—was that shrimp and steamed egg together? Ji Yunshu stood on her tiptoes to peek through the window, but it was completely blocked—she couldn't see a thing.

"I'll take the steamed egg with dried shrimp—that one looks lighter," Ji Yunshu said. "And how come there's no duck?"

The blackboard's meat options were only braised sea fish with sour melon, braised pork belly with winter melon, pan-fried assorted fish, and pork stew with vermicelli. Ji Yunshu hesitated, unsure which to pick.

"Duck and pork come on different days on the island. One day it's pork, the next it might be beef or duck, and the day after that it switches again. But there's always a different kind of sea fish every day," Pei Yufeng explained.

"Then I'll go with the braised sea fish with sour melon—let's see what it's like." Ji Yunshu was curious.

Pei Yufeng noted it down: "Anything else?"

"Two dishes are plenty for me. You pick yours!" Ji Yunshu smiled at him. "I see there's free soup over there. I'll grab us two bowls while you get in line."

"Okay." Pei Yufeng joined the line, and Ji Yunshu went to get the daily soup. There were two kinds today—napa cabbage and tofu soup, and seaweed and pork bone soup. Ji Yunshu got one of each, one for her and one for Pei Yufeng.

Ji Yunshu found a seat away from the crowd and sat down, watching Pei Yufeng stand in line. He stood tall and straight, still standing out even among a group of uniformed men. He handed his mess tin through the window, then fished out meal tickets and ration coupons from his pocket. The cook behind the window took the tickets and ladled several dishes into his tin.

Pei Yufeng came back with two mess tins, set them on the table, then went back for bowls and chopsticks and grabbed two bowls of cassava sweet soup from another window. Ji Yunshu looked at the dishes on the table, and her eyes lit up.

The steamed egg with dried shrimp was golden yellow, topped with golden shrimp and vibrant green scallions. Scooping into it, it wobbled like tofu, glistening with an enticing sheen of oil. The braised sea fish with sour melon—the fish pieces were thoroughly soaked in the sour melon sauce, a glossy reddish-brown, the tangy aroma mixed with the fish's freshness wafting straight to her nose.

Pei Yufeng had also gotten sugar-glazed coconut strips and braised eggplant. The thinly sliced coconut pieces were stir-fried to a slight golden brown, coated in a layer of sugar glaze, looking crispy. The purple-skinned eggplant was braised soft in sauce, shiny with oil, topped with minced garlic, fragrant and inviting.

Everything Pei Yufeng had ordered was stuff Ji Yunshu liked or wanted to try. He hadn't thought about himself at all.

Ji Yunshu watched Pei Yufeng stir the sweet soup in his bowl and asked curiously: "Is this white thing milk?"

"It's freshly squeezed coconut milk. They only have this once a week." Pei Yufeng explained to Ji Yunshu. "Fresh coconut milk is hard to make. Most of the sweet soups use brown sugar water and regular coconut water. Coconut water you can drink right after cracking open a coconut—it's cool and refreshing. Drink this after the meal."

"Okay!" Ji Yunshu picked up her chopsticks and took a piece of fish first. The fish was tender and fresh, the sourness of the melon completely suppressing any fishiness, leaving only freshness and fragrance. Then she scooped up a spoonful of the steamed egg—silky smooth, the salty umami of the shrimp melting in her mouth, even more delicate than what He Qiuxia made.

"Delicious." Ji Yunshu gave her honest assessment, her eyes shining.

Pei Yufeng sat across from her, watching her eat with such relaxed contentment. He couldn't help but pick up two sugar-glazed coconut strips and put them in her bowl. "Try these."

Ji Yunshu bit into one—sweet, but not cloying at all. Instead, it had a unique chewy texture. Ji Yunshu couldn't describe it in words, but it was delicious.

They had only eaten a few bites when two people suddenly approached from the side. One was tall and thin, the other short and stocky, both in uniform, looking a few years younger than Pei Yufeng. The tall one craned his neck toward the table, his gaze sweeping quickly across Ji Yunshu's face, then patted Pei Yufeng, who had his back to them.

"Brother Pei, this is our sister-in-law, right?" The tall one walked around to face Pei Yufeng and greeted him. "Brother Pei, you're finally back."

Pei Yufeng put down his chopsticks, his tone casual: "Mm, this is my wife, Ji Yunshu. She just arrived for family relocation."

Then he continued introducing to Ji Yunshu—the tall one was Meng Haisheng, the stocky one was Hu Xiangyang. Both were platoon leaders in the same regiment as Pei Yufeng.

Ji Yunshu put down her chopsticks and smiled, nodding: "Hello."

Meng Haisheng quickly waved his hands: "Hello, sister-in-law, hello! Sorry to interrupt your meal!"

Hu Xiangyang, meanwhile, squeezed in next to Pei Yufeng and lowered his voice: "Brother Pei, you're finally back. Several of those little brats down there have been getting restless lately. We really need you to keep them in line. While you were away, I could barely manage them—"

Hu Xiangyang, upon seeing Pei Yufeng, poured out words like beans from a sack, unable to stop. Meng Haisheng sensed trouble immediately—this was Brother Pei's first time bringing his wife to the officers' cafeteria, and they'd deliberately chosen a spot away from the crowd to have some time alone. What were the two of them doing standing here?

"Old Hu!" Meng Haisheng lunged forward and clamped his hand over Hu Xiangyang's mouth, dragging him backward as he spoke. "I just heard Brother Pei brought his wife to the cafeteria and wanted to come see her face. You two eat, you eat—we won't disturb your meal."

Hu Xiangyang tried to say more, but Meng Haisheng dragged him out, apologizing to Ji Yunshu with a smile as he went: "Sister-in-law, don't listen to him. He just likes to make a fuss. Take your time eating!"

Hu Xiangyang was dragged out several steps with his mouth covered, then broke free and said: "Everything I said is true!"

Meng Haisheng had already dragged him out the cafeteria door, his voice drifting back from a distance: "Can't you see sister-in-law is here? Brother Pei wants to eat with his wife. Why are you talking about all this now—you'll ruin sister-in-law's appetite!"

Their voices grew fainter and fainter until they couldn't be heard anymore.

Ji Yunshu couldn't help but laugh. She glanced at Pei Yufeng and teased, "Your two buddies are pretty funny."

"They can be a little loose-lipped sometimes—don't take everything they say too seriously." Pei Yufeng picked up another piece of braised eggplant with his chopsticks and placed it in Ji Yunshu's bowl, nudging her to eat up and stop thinking about other guys or anything else.

Ji Yunshu saw through him but didn't call it out, deciding instead to compliment Pei Yufeng: "Pei, so you're the only one who can keep everyone in line every year? Do you guys ever hold open competitions for officers? I'd like to go watch."

In the capital military region where Ji Haiguo was stationed, there were small open martial arts competitions among officers every year, which family members could attend, usually featuring hand-to-hand combat. Although the prize for these competitions was just a book or a notebook, if a guy won, his wife could brag about it around the compound all year long, so the wives loved watching and urging their husbands to participate.

"You want to watch?" Pei Yufeng's chopsticks hovered over the coconut strips, pausing for just a split second before he casually picked one up and placed it in Ji Yunshu's bowl.

There were no similar competitions on Qiongzhou Island; officers only practiced and sparred privately, and family members weren't allowed to watch openly. But since Ji Yunshu wanted to see one, Pei Yufeng planned to request it from the commander.

Pei Yufeng's tone was perfectly calm, giving no hint that his plan had just taken shape: "There will be. If there's one in the second half of the year, I'll take you to see it."

Author's note:

Pei Yufeng: I can't miss any chance to flex in front of my wife ← Very confident in his fighting skills, after all, he's the best fighter in the entire military region. Thanks for reading.