Chapter 32

Chapter 32

By the time they got home, the moon had already risen, night had fallen, and the stars were twinkling in the sky.

Pei Yufeng dumped the seafood into a large enamel basin, producing a clattering sound as razor clams, clams, moon snails, and conch piled up together. He took a brush and carefully scrubbed them, washing away the sand and mud to reveal the seafood's natural colors. As he rinsed, he sorted through them, picking out the smaller ones and putting them in another basin to keep, while leaving the larger ones for cooking the next day.

"Tomorrow is a rest day. I'll take the early ferry to Yuecheng to buy a bicycle and a sewing machine," Pei Yufeng said to Ji Yunshu as he heated water for her bath. "The early ferry leaves at six-thirty. I'll buy everything as quickly as I can and try to catch the noon ferry back. Is it okay if you eat lunch alone at the cafeteria? I'll cook for you when I get back in the evening."

"That's fine. I'm not a child. The cafeteria is so close, I can just ride my bike there." Ji Yunshu laughed. "I'm also going to help Aunt Wang tomorrow, so don't worry about me. Just buy me the newest model bicycle and sewing machine!"

"Alright. If anything happens, tell me. I'll take care of it." Pei Yufeng paused, then reminded her again.

"With Aunt Wang around, who would dare mess with me?" Ji Yunshu huffed. "Sister Li and Sister Huang both took a liking to me today, which shows I get along well with people. You should rest easy!"

"Okay." After heating the water, Pei Yufeng let Ji Yunshu go bathe while he took out the two bicycle coupons and the sewing machine coupon, tucked enough money into the inner pocket of his clothes, and went to wash up as well.

Early the next morning, before the sky was fully light—still a deep gray tinged with pale blue outside the window—Pei Yufeng got up.

He quietly got out of bed without turning on the light, dressing by the faint morning light filtering through the window. Ji Yunshu was still asleep, her face buried in the pillow, breathing long and even, her lashes casting a small, peaceful shadow on her eyelids. He stood by the bed for a moment, pulled the blanket up to cover her exposed shoulders, then turned and went downstairs.

In the kitchen, he first cleaned the seafood they had gathered the day before. The clams and moon snails that had been soaking in salt water overnight had spat out quite a bit of sand. Pei Yufeng took out the scallions, ginger, garlic, and chili peppers he had bought and chopped them up. He blanched the moon snails and sliced them, setting most aside for stir-frying in the evening and marinating a small portion to make into breakfast.

Then he cooked millet and sweet potato porridge, keeping it warm on the stove. He mixed shredded jellyfish and cooked moon snail slices with minced garlic and a little chili oil as side dishes, so Ji Yunshu could eat breakfast as soon as she woke up.

After finishing all that, Pei Yufeng put on his military uniform and left.

By the time the sky was fully bright, Ji Yunshu slowly stirred awake. Pei Yufeng hadn't been too rough with her the night before—he'd only wanted it once before they rested—so her body was only slightly tired, much better than before.

But thinking about last night, Ji Yunshu blushed again.

She had discovered that Pei Yufeng really liked picking her up and having sex standing up, making her cling to him. Not wanting to fall, she had no choice but to hold tightly onto his shoulders, her whole body tense as she took all of him.

What a strange preference!

Ji Yunshu lingered in bed for a while, rubbing her lower back. Seeing that it was almost time for the cafeteria to stop serving breakfast, she hurriedly got up to wash up.

As soon as she went downstairs, Ji Yunshu smelled a fragrant aroma coming from the kitchen.

Walking into the kitchen, she saw two cold dishes arranged on plates by the stove—the snail slices and jellyfish she had enjoyed before. The shelf behind the kitchen was neatly stacked with the prepared ingredients Pei Yufeng had already chopped. The fire under the stove had gone out, but the aroma was coming from the covered iron pot. Ji Yunshu lifted the lid, revealing millet and sweet potato porridge cooked soft and thick.

Had Pei Yufeng gotten up early to make her breakfast? The temperature on Qiongzhou Island didn't vary much between day and night, and she couldn't tell when the porridge had been made, but it was still warm.

Ji Yunshu quickly went to the bathroom to wash up, and the first thing she did when she came out was head straight to the kitchen to ladle out half a bowl of porridge and bring the two cold dishes to the dining table.

Pei Yufeng's porridge was cooked until very soft, the sweet potatoes melting in her mouth and especially sweet. Although the millet porridge itself was bland, the sweet potatoes made it pleasantly sweet.

The cold jellyfish and snail slices had been blanched, so they weren't too fishy. Pei Yufeng must have used the chili sauce his grandmother made—Ji Yunshu tasted a hint of home in it.

After eating, Ji Yunshu quickly rinsed the dishes and changed into a simple outfit before heading out.

She rode her bicycle and arrived at the Family Members Committee office in ten minutes.

Two pots of pothos sat on the steps outside the office door, their leaves gleaming in the morning light. When Ji Yunshu arrived, Wang Yulan was already inside. The door was open, and the sound of voices and paper rustling drifted out.

Wang Yulan was talking to a round-faced family member, holding a form and marking something on it with a pencil. Seeing Ji Yunshu come in, she immediately put down her pen and waved her over: "Xiao Ji is here? Come in! Let me introduce you—this is the person in charge of this year's National Day cultural performance, and she's also the committee's cultural and sports publicity officer. She's the wife of Director Liu of the division's logistics department. Her surname is Yang—just call her Sister Yang. Xiao Yang, this is Comrade Ji Yunshu, the wife of Deputy Regiment Commander Pei Yufeng from the Second Regiment. She just arrived as a military dependent, and I'm bringing her around to meet people. She's helping me out."

Ji Yunshu went in and greeted Sister Yang. Sister Yang looked to be in her early forties, with a round face and slightly tanned skin from the sun. She spoke with a slight northern accent and seemed easy to get along with. They nodded at each other and exchanged pleasantries like "let's look out for each other."

There were a few other people in the room, sitting scattered on long benches with papers spread out in front of them, seemingly counting something. A sewing machine sat on a table against the wall, with a stack of red fabric piled beside it—probably for making performance costumes. A draft of the National Day performance program was taped to the wall, written on red paper, covered in red and blue pen marks, revised many times, with several blanks still unfilled.

"Old Bai went to coordinate the performance with the Political Department's publicity officer and won't be back for a while," Wang Yulan told Ji Yunshu, so she introduced the other committee members who were there.

The logistics liaison officer of the Family Committee was the wife of Staff Officer Wang, whose surname was Li, in charge of the performance's costumes and props this time. The finance and archives officer was the wife of Commander Zhao of the Third Regiment, whose surname was Yuan. She was young, only about three or four years older than Ji Yunshu, with a good memory. After becoming a military dependent, she volunteered for the committee and was now in charge of the performance's budget application and income-expense records.

Ji Yunshu greeted each of them in turn, getting acquainted.

There was also the confidentiality publicity officer, the wife of Instructor Li, whose surname was Zhou. As soon as Ji Yunshu arrived, she began explaining the importance of maintaining confidentiality—that family members must be tight-lipped around strangers, and even with acquaintances, they must not discuss anything military-related.

Ji Yunshu nodded. Having grown up in a military compound for so many years, she understood this well.

Finally, Wang Yulan introduced herself. She was the committee's mediation and support officer, mainly responsible for mediating disputes among family members, visiting families in need, and helping with family emergencies.

Wang Yulan said: "Our Family Committee mainly helps military dependents. When the officers are away for training, exercises, or missions, we help care for the elderly, pregnant women, the sick, and handle school pick-ups and drop-offs. The island often gets typhoons, and if all the men go out for disaster relief, our committee helps take care of the affected families. If you ever need anything, just come to the committee, and we'll help however we can."

Ji Yunshu nodded: "Okay."

Wang Yulan then asked: "Xiao Ji, are you planning to look for a job? If so, let us know. The committee will coordinate with government agencies to try to arrange work for every accompanying family member."

"I'm not planning to look for a job yet. I want to get familiar with the place first," Ji Yunshu said honestly.

At those words, the other family members in the room had their own thoughts about that. Not working and living off her husband? Some thought it was Ji Yunshu's choice and not their place to judge; others thought she was lazy, didn't care about her husband, and wouldn't help with expenses, only caring about her own comfort—no wonder people called her a spendthrift.

Ji Yunshu had no idea what they were thinking. She took the initiative to ask Wang Yulan: "Aunt Wang, is there anything you need help with?"

"Xiao Ji, how's your penmanship?" Wang Yulan asked. "My handwriting isn't great, so I wanted you to copy this draft program list for me. It needs to go up on the bulletin board in a few days."

"Just so-so, not particularly good," Ji Yunshu said. "I can write a sample for you to look at, and if it works, you can use it."

Wang Yulan pulled a blank sheet of red paper from a drawer and handed her a brush and ink. The ink bottle cap was on tight, and Ji Yunshu had to struggle a bit to open it. She poured a little into the inkstone, picked up the brush, and smoothed the bristles on the inkstone's edge—her movements unhurried, with a natural, practiced ease.

"Oh, that stance—you've clearly had training." Wang Yulan sat down beside her, propping her chin on her hand and watching.

Ji Yunshu smiled without saying anything. She lowered her head, pressed one corner of the red paper with her left hand, and dipped the brush in ink with her right. She scraped off the excess ink on the inkstone's edge, then began to write.

She copied the tentative program list from top to bottom as Wang Yulan had requested. Characters fell one by one onto the red paper, her strokes smooth and steady—firm starts, sharp finishes, the script neat and lively. While it couldn't compare to a master calligrapher's work, it was more than enough for a bulletin board, easy on the eyes.

By the time she finished the first line, Wang Yulan had dropped her hand from her chin. She leaned forward, eyes widening, mouth slightly open. She looked at the characters on the paper, then at Ji Yunshu's hand holding the brush, then back at the paper—as if she'd found something amazing.

"Comrade Xiao Ji, you're too modest." Wang Yulan's voice rose considerably. "Your handwriting is beautiful—just as pretty and elegant as you are."

Ji Yunshu tilted her head, a little embarrassed: "Actually, I haven't written in a long time. I was sick before I left the capital, so I'm out of practice."

"Out of practice and still writing like this?" Wang Yulan picked up the draft program list in front of her, held it by the corners, brought it up to her eyes, and examined it left and right, clicking her tongue in appreciation. "Everyone, look at this handwriting—it's better than the young soldier in the publicity office. If we put this on the bulletin board, more family members will sign up!"

A few family members, drawn by the commotion, came over to look. No matter what they thought of Ji Yunshu, they all had to admit her handwriting was excellent.

Sister Yang took the program list and studied it more closely. The spacing between Ji Yunshu's characters was as even as if measured with a ruler, every horizontal and vertical stroke starting on the same invisible line. The line spacing was roomy but not loose, and the characters on the red sheet were perfectly spaced—neat but not stiff.

She looked up at Ji Yunshu with a hint of surprise and appreciation: "This layout skill is impressive—you can't get that from just practicing writing. Did you do the blackboard newspapers at school?"

Ji Yunshu nodded: "I did the blackboard newspaper at our school with another classmate. We did it for years."

"No wonder." Sister Yang nodded, handing the program list back to Wang Yulan, her tone warmer. "Xiao Ji, don't hide this talent. From now on, whenever the committee needs a notice or announcement written, can we come to you?"

"Sure." Ji Yunshu agreed without hesitation.

The other family members joined in with praise. Sister Yuan patted Ji Yunshu on the shoulder—not gently, with real enthusiasm: "This is great. Now we won't have to go to Xiao Liu in the publicity office for notices. Xiao Liu's handwriting is fine, but every time I ask him to write something, he tells us to do literacy work for the family members, as if I'm begging him. Now with Xiao Ji here, our work will go much smoother!"

"I heard Xiao Ji is from the capital. Her family must be well-to-do, right?" Sister Yang asked again.

Ji Yunshu didn't particularly want to answer that question. If she had to answer, which one should she address? But whether it was the Ji family or the Meng family, both had fairly comfortable financial situations, so Ji Yunshu only humbly said, "Oh, not at all."

"So how far did you go in school?" Sister Yuan asked.

"I graduated from high school," Ji Yunshu said truthfully.

"No wonder." Sister Yuan's smile grew wider. She tugged at Wang Yulan. "Sister Wang, haven't we been wanting to set up a literacy class for the fishermen and family members during the fishing moratorium? We've always lacked teachers who are educated and willing to teach. With Xiao Ji's education, isn't she the perfect candidate?"

At that, several family members' gazes turned back to Ji Yunshu. Sister Li adjusted her glasses, thought seriously for a moment, and nodded. "Right, this was brought up last year, but we never found the right person. Many family members can't read—they get subsidies but can't understand the paperwork, and they can't help their kids with schoolwork either. If Xiao Ji is willing to go, that would be a huge help."

Wang Yulan's eyes lit up when she heard this. But she didn't immediately agree on Ji Yunshu's behalf. Instead, she turned to her and said in a serious but non-pressuring tone, "Xiao Ji, this is something for later, no rush. The literacy class is something the Family Committee will discuss properly. If you're interested, just tell me, and if you don't have time, that's completely fine too. You just arrived and haven't adjusted to the environment yet. I won't ask anything of you—everything the Family Committee does is voluntary."

"Right, right, it's all voluntary. I was just making a suggestion, seeing if Xiao Ji is interested," Sister Yuan immediately added.

Ji Yunshu nodded. "I know everyone means well, but my health really isn't great, so I might not be able to take on such an important task."

Sister Yuan was about to keep persuading Ji Yunshu when Bai Qiumei walked back in from outside, holding some documents.

Wang Yulan led Ji Yunshu over and introduced her to Bai Qiumei: "Old Bai, this is Deputy Regiment Commander Pei's wife. Have you two met before?"

Bai Qiumei looked up, her gaze sweeping across Ji Yunshu's face. The corner of her mouth twitched slightly, which counted as a smile. But the smile was faint. "We've met. Deputy Regiment Commander Pei took her to the cafeteria for a meal before, and we ran into each other."

What kind of person was Wang Yulan? She'd been the commander's wife in this compound for so many years that she'd seen more hidden tensions than there were steamed buns in the cafeteria. She could read the perfunctory quality in Bai Qiumei's smile at a glance. She sighed inwardly: this Old Bai, putting on airs again.

Wasn't it just that the son-in-law she'd wanted had slipped away? The problem was that the country advocated free love. Even if her daughter had feelings, Xiao Pei had never responded to them. Why hold a grudge against a young woman who just arrived to be with her husband? Doesn't that make their family look petty? Wang Yulan thought all this but didn't show it on her face. She remained cheerful as she said, "Old Bai, you know her husband Xiao Pei too. He's earned so many merits on the front lines over the years—you know that better than I do. The young couple just tied the knot, and Xiao Ji came all the way from the capital to be here with him. She doesn't know a soul here. As the veteran family members, we should look out for her."

Bai Qiumei picked up the enamel cup on the table and took a sip of tea, not immediately responding. After finishing her sip, she set the cup down and said unhurriedly, "The Family Committee exists to serve all family members. Everyone's treated the same here."

"That's good then," Wang Yulan said, patting Ji Yunshu's shoulder and gently nudging her half a step forward from behind. "I liked Xiao Ji the moment I saw her—she's polite and has a pleasant face. Look at the program list for the National Day show—she checked the names and fixed everything neatly, and her handwriting is beautiful. Who else in this compound writes this well? I finally found such a capable helper, and I won't let anyone bully her."

Ji Yunshu stood beside Wang Yulan, not saying much. She gave a slight bow and said politely to Bai Qiumei, "Director Bai, I just arrived and don't understand much yet. I'd appreciate your guidance in the future."

Ji Yunshu's words were well chosen, her demeanor proper—respectful but not flattering. It was exactly the right attitude for a newcomer toward a veteran member.

Bai Qiumei glanced at her and gave a slight nod. "If you have any questions, just ask Sister Wang." Her tone was still cool, but at least she wasn't sizing Ji Yunshu up with her eyes like before.

Seeing that she'd made her point, Wang Yulan didn't keep Ji Yunshu any longer. "Xiao Ji, I'm still busy here, so you go on back. You just arrived on Qiongzhou Island—if you need anything, be sure to come to the Family Committee. And if you're feeling unwell, don't try to tough it out alone. The climate here is very different from back on the mainland. If Xiao Pei's not home and you're feeling unwell, come find me and I'll take you to the military hospital."

Ji Yunshu smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Auntie Wang, I understand."

"Good. Get home safe and have a good lunch," Wang Yulan said with a wave.

Ji Yunshu thanked her, and seeing that it was about time for lunch, headed straight to the cafeteria.

It was Ji Yunshu's first time at the cafeteria by herself. She ordered two dishes like a pro, sat at a table against the wall, and ate slowly by herself.

Just then, she overheard people behind her talking about her: "Is that Pei Yufeng's new bride?"

"Is she the one who's supposed to be so wasteful, spending three yuan on canned goods?"

"That's her. She just got here and she's already throwing money around, doesn't know how to save..."

"She eats at the cafeteria every day and always picks the pricey dishes..."

Ji Yunshu hadn't expected her grape can purchase at the supply co-op to spread so far. She was spending her own money, Pei Yufeng was fine with it, and she could afford it—why were they gossiping about her?

She turned around and saw two women dressed very plainly, even shabbily, and shot them a cold glare. "Mind your own business!"

Ji Yunshu wasn't one to swallow her anger. Her face might look sweet and innocent, but when she narrowed her eyes and frowned, her gaze pinned the other person, and with her high-bridged nose, she looked downright intimidating.

The two were shocked that Ji Yunshu completely brushed them off. They shut up sheepishly and didn't dare say another word.

They didn't want to enjoy life, but they couldn't stand anyone else doing it? Ji Yunshu wasn't about to let people talk behind her back without a response.

It wasn't that she looked down on frugal people. Everyone had it hard in this era, especially families with lots of elderly and kids—their expenses were higher, so being frugal made sense. Ji Yunshu was just lucky: the Ji family were cadres, the Meng family had dividend income, and Pei Yufeng only had his grandma to support. She also had state subsidies, and Pei Yufeng didn't need to send money back—everything he earned was hers.

But being lucky was part of her happiness. If a family had money and ration tickets and could afford the occasional luxury like canned goods, but chose to suffer instead—she didn't get it. People who had meat tickets but wouldn't use them, who were pale and malnourished but wouldn't treat themselves better—Ji Yunshu didn't want to judge them, and she definitely didn't want to be their gossip fodder.

The two women finished their meal quickly and hurried off. Ji Yunshu took her time finishing the fish, then rode her bike home at a leisurely pace.

The past couple of days on Qiongzhou Island had been calm, with barely a whitecap in sight. It was so blue it looked like someone had spread a giant gemstone between the sky and the sea.

Ji Yunshu dozed off for a bit. The sea breeze gently rustled the curtains, and sunlight filtered through the cotton onto the sheets, casting a soft, warm glow. She drifted in and out of sleep, dreaming of seagull cries. When she woke, she realized it wasn't a dream—a seagull was actually perched on the window frame, tilting its head to peck at its wing.

She rubbed her eyes, still groggy from sleep, when she heard a familiar voice downstairs.

It was Pei Yufeng. His voice wasn't loud, but Ji Yunshu heard him clearly—"Move it left a little, yeah, lower it slowly, don't hit the doorframe."

Ji Yunshu scrambled out of bed, ran barefoot to the window, pushed the screen open, and leaned out to look down. The afternoon sun was bright in the courtyard. Pei Yufeng stood at the gate, sleeves rolled up, a sweat patch on the back of his shirt, directing two young soldiers unloading gear from the jeep.

A few cadres and family members had gathered around and were asking, "Regiment Commander Pei, did you buy a sewing machine?"

Pei Yufeng nodded. "Yeah, my wife wants to sew her own clothes, so I got it for her."

"You bought bicycles too? Two of them?! Regiment Commander Pei, where'd you get so many bike tickets? Last time I asked the commander, he said I'd have to wait two months!"

"Brought them back from the capital," Pei Yufeng explained.

"No wonder, no wonder... Must've been easier to buy them in Yuecheng."

...

The bikes and the sewing machine were here!

Ji Yunshu gasped and turned to run downstairs. Her slippers slapped on the stairs as she rushed down from the second floor to the courtyard, hair loose and messy, a few strands sticking up, cheeks still pink from her nap.

Pei Yufeng heard her footsteps and turned. Seeing her like that, the corner of his mouth lifted. "Just woke up?"

"How are you back so soon!" Ji Yunshu ran up to him, eyes shining like stars. "I thought you wouldn't be back till evening."

"Caught the noon boat," Pei Yufeng said, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "The morning boat to Yuecheng was smooth, so I grabbed everything and came straight back."

The onlookers saw Ji Yunshu come out—some left tactfully, others teased her: "Comrade Xiao Ji is so lucky! Deputy Commander Pei really knows how to treat his wife!"

Ji Yunshu smiled, thanked them, and pulled Pei Yufeng inside.

"Where should we put the sewing machine?" Pei Yufeng asked.

"Put it in the empty bedroom next door! That room has big windows facing the sea—best light in the house. I can sew while looking at the sea, and if my eyes get tired, I can just look up at the ocean—how great is that?" Ji Yunshu pointed upstairs.

Pei Yufeng glanced where she pointed, didn't say a word, and bent down to lift the wooden crate. The crate weighed at least thirty or forty pounds, but he carried it with his back straight and steady steps, barely winded as he took the stairs in a few strides.

Ji Yunshu followed, watching the muscles in his shoulders and back flex under his shirt, the sweat-soaked fabric clinging to his shoulder blades as he climbed.

He carried the crate into the spare bedroom and set it by the window. After peeling away layer after layer of packaging, the brand-new machine head was finally revealed. The black base was decorated with gilded butterflies—each one lifelike, with delicate, intricate wing patterns that caught the sunlight and gave off a soft golden glow. The cast-iron parts were brand new and clean—the wheel, needle bar, presser foot, bobbin case... every piece was solid and beautifully crafted.

"It's the newest model from the Wudi brand," Pei Yufeng said as he lifted the machine head out of the wooden crate. "The sales clerk said this model just came out this year. The machine head's been improved—it runs smoother than the old model and doesn't break the thread as easily. Give it a try."

Ji Yunshu sat down at the sewing machine and tried the pedals with both feet. The pedal turned the wheel, the wheel drove the machine head, and the needle bar moved up and down with a fine, smooth clicking sound. The rhythm was steady, and to Ji Yunshu's ears, it sounded lovely.

She pressed the pedals a few more times, adjusting her speed. The pedals felt so light she barely needed to exert any effort—it was even better than the sewing machine she had used at home before!

"It pedals so smoothly!" Ji Yunshu looked up in delight, her eyes sparkling. "It takes no effort at all. The newest sewing machines really are the best."

Pei Yufeng stood nearby, watching her sit at the sewing machine, grinning from ear to ear, and he couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from curling up. He took the accessories out of the wooden box one by one and placed them on the table beside him. "I'm glad you like it."

"I do. Was it expensive?" Ji Yunshu finally remembered the most important part.

"It wasn't bad—170 yuan plus an industrial coupon (a ration voucher)," Pei Yufeng said. "We lucked out; this was the last one. Otherwise, we'd have to wait another month."

Ji Yunshu had initially thought 170 was a bit pricey, but once she realized Pei Yufeng had gotten it in stock, she changed her mind and even felt it was a great deal. "It'll last at least ten years—what a bargain!"

"Come on, let's go check out the bicycles," Pei Yufeng added.

Ji Yunshu tore herself away reluctantly from the chair by the sewing machine and followed him downstairs. In the yard stood two brand-new Phoenix-brand bicycles, one large and one small. The larger one was a 28-inch men's roadster with a solid, deep black frame, thick, sturdy tubing, and a golden Phoenix badge on the crossbar that gleamed in the sunlight. The smaller one was a 26-inch women's step-through with a dark blue frame, its curved top tube flowing gracefully—perfect for stepping onto while wearing a skirt. Its seat was softer than the big one's, and the handlebars were fitted with a shiny silver bell.

Ji Yunshu walked over to the smaller bike, reached out, and rang the bell on the handlebars. A cheerful *ding-a-ling* rang out, sounding lovely. She circled the bike, thoroughly pleased. "This color is so pretty!"

"Try riding it," Pei Yufeng said, pushing the bike toward her. He adjusted the seat height, then patted the saddle twice with his palm to make sure it was secure.

Ji Yunshu took the handlebars, stepped onto the pedal with her left foot, pushed off twice with her right, and swung her leg over the step-through frame, settling in smoothly. That was the beauty of a step-through frame—no need to lift your leg over a high bar, so you could mount gracefully even in a skirt.

She pedaled around the open space in front of the yard gate, the bike feeling light and agile. When turning, a slight tilt of the handlebars was all it took, and the bell went ding-a-ling as she moved.

The sea breeze drifted up from the slope below, lifting her loose hair. She coasted down a short incline, then pedaled back up, finding the climb effortless as well.

"It rides so smoothly!" Ji Yunshu rode back to the yard gate, stopping with one foot on the ground, a light blush on her cheeks—whether from excitement or the ride, it was hard to tell. "It's so light! If I added a basket, it'd be even easier to carry stuff!"

"This one's mine," Pei Yufeng said, pointing to the larger 28-inch bike. "I can ride with you on it, or you can take the small one out on your own whenever you want—it's convenient."

"Thanks, Brother Pei!" Ji Yunshu got off the bike, parked it, and stood between the two bicycles, looking left and right, her smile impossible to contain.

Pei Yufeng was truly generous with her. These two bikes must not have been cheap, and with all the other things he'd bought, those who called her a big spender would probably be fuming behind her back.

Let them be angry. She had the newest sewing machine and a bicycle—she was so happy!

"Everything to your liking?" Pei Yufeng asked, standing at the yard gate, still holding the large bike.

Ji Yunshu nodded vigorously. "Yes, absolutely! The sewing machine's great, the bike's great—everything's great!"

Pei Yufeng watched her standing between the two bikes, her eyes curved into crescents with joy, and he couldn't help but soften his gaze. The afternoon sun fell perfectly on Ji Yunshu's face, turning her loose hair into a halo of soft gold. Her eyes shone as if they held all the light of a clear day, and Pei Yufeng couldn't look away.

He walked over, suddenly bent down, wrapped one arm around her waist, and with the other hand under her legs, lifted her up effortlessly.

Ji Yunshu let out a startled "Ah!" as her body rose into the air. Instinctively, she threw her arms around his neck, her legs parting to straddle his waist, looking down at his face.

"Then I want a little reward," Pei Yufeng said, gazing at her intently, his voice low.

Author's note:

Thank you for reading this long chapter.