Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Before Ji Yunshu could even answer, two more family members came crowding around, holding their performance outfits.

"Comrade Xiao Ji, can you take in the waist on mine too? I tried fixing it myself yesterday and ended up making it crooked—the more I messed with it, the worse it got."

"And what about my shirt? The collar keeps sticking up. It looks awful on stage!"

Ji Yunshu stood in place as three or four people suddenly surrounded her, each holding up a garment, eyes full of hope.

She instinctively took half a step back, her back nearly touching the wall. It wasn't that she didn't want to help out, but with so many clothes thrust at her at once—each one needing measurements, seam ripping, re-stitching, and ironing—there was no way she could finish them all even if she had eight hands. And with only a few hours left before the afternoon performance, there was no way she could make it even if she worked nonstop.

Just as she was trying to figure out how to politely say no, Wang Yulan strode over, planted herself in front of Ji Yunshu, arms spread wide, and announced in a voice that carried across the whole room: "Alright, alright, break it up! Comrade Xiao Ji is here to help, not here to be your personal tailor. If everyone hands her one garment to fix, she'll be at it till tomorrow and the afternoon show will never go on!"

The family members shuffled back half a step at her booming voice, but still clutched their clothes, reluctant hope all over their faces. Wang Yulan waved her hand in a shooing gesture: "It's almost time for chow at the cafeteria. Comrade Xiao Ji needs to go eat. Today's National Day—the cadres' cafeteria has steamed pork with rice flour and braised beef. If you're late, there won't be any left! You all should get back to rehearsal instead of standing around here. If your clothes don't fit, pin 'em or tie a sash around the waist. Dismissed!"

The family members' eyes lit up—the notice about the special National Day meal had been up for days, and everyone had been looking forward to it. Plus, even though Wang Yulan spoke loudly, her tone had a smile in it, so no one felt like they could push it any further.

Sister Chen was the first to head out. Before she left, she patted Ji Yunshu's shoulder and said, "Comrade Xiao Ji, thank you so much today," then turned and headed back to rehearsal. The others reluctantly scattered, though a few still asked if Ji Yunshu could help them out later.

The family members' performance outfits were brightly colored, but they were also everyday clothes, so some of them wanted a better fit.

Wang Yulan turned them down one by one on Ji Yunshu's behalf: "Another day, another day. Today's a holiday—let's all just enjoy it! If you need a sewing machine, come to the Family Committee and use it yourselves. It's there for everyone to use. No need to bother Comrade Xiao Ji."

Once the crowd had cleared out, she turned to Ji Yunshu, winked, and lowered her voice: "That's just how these folks are. Help one and they all come swarming. If I hadn't stopped them, you'd have missed lunch entirely."

Ji Yunshu let out a relieved breath and smiled, hooking her arm through Wang Yulan's: "Thank you, Auntie Wang. If you hadn't stepped in, I wouldn't have known what to do."

"Don't mention it. You came here with me—if I don't look out for you, who will?" Wang Yulan patted her hand and pulled her along. "Come on, let's hurry and get in line. I can already smell that steamed pork from here. If we're late, it'll be gone for real."

The cadres' cafeteria was way livelier than usual today. Even before it officially opened, small groups of family members were already gathered by the entrance, waiting.

Ji Yunshu waited for Pei Yufeng to get off work, and the two of them went into the cafeteria together. The day's menu was up on the blackboard—several special additions for the National Day celebration: steamed pork with rice flour, braised beef, steamed hairtail, braised pig ears and liver, plus a few side dishes not usually available. Every window had a line, with the braised beef window drawing the longest line, followed closely by the steamed pork. The air was thick with the smell of food, and Ji Yunshu was already hungry before she even got in line.

Ji Yunshu sent Pei Yufeng to get the braised beef while she lined up for the steamed pork. After that, she also ordered a steamed egg with dried shrimp, and the two of them found an empty table to sit at.

Pei Yufeng had gotten the braised beef, plus a plate of blanched bok choy and some braised pig ears. After they found their seats, he went to get Ji Yunshu some cassava sweet soup—but since her period might come around the end or beginning of the month, and cold stuff wasn't good for her, he got her brown sugar water instead.

Both their mess tins were stacked full. The steamed pork was made from pork belly coated in fragrant toasted rice flour, sliced evenly, each piece wrapped in golden, loose rice powder, steamed until tender but not mushy, rich but not greasy. When you picked it up with chopsticks, the rice coating crumbled off in soft flakes, and each bite was fragrant and melt-in-your-mouth. Ji Yunshu finished one slice and immediately went for another, eating with gusto.

On top of that, the day's soup was a pork bone broth with seaweed, topped with chopped scallions and a few bright red goji berries—healthy and delicious.

Ji Yunshu was too busy eating to talk, polishing off most of a bowl of rice with the steamed pork and grabbing a few pieces of Pei Yufeng's braised beef. The cafeteria was packed, full of laughter and chatter as everyone celebrated the most important holiday of the year.

The afternoon military-civilian gathering was held on the beach between the camp and the family housing. A stage covered in red carpet had been set up, with a big red banner overhead reading "National Day Military-Civilian Celebration" in gold letters. The seats below were full. Soldiers, cadres' family members, and local residents brought their own stools, while the front rows of benches were saved for county committee leaders and senior officers. Restless kids darted through the aisles between the families, waving little national flags and colorful pinwheels, their laughter echoing across the shore and drifting into everyone's hearts along with the waves.

The show began. First, the military band played "Ode to the Motherland," the brass ringing out bold and clear across the sky. Then a cadre representative took the stage to give a speech marking the occasion, followed by a song-and-dance performance by the Li and Miao ethnic groups.

Ji Yunshu sat in the front row of the family section, with Pei Yufeng beside her. Unusually, he wasn't seated in the cadres' section but had chosen to sit with the families. His uniform was immaculately pressed, his cap resting on his knee, his posture still perfect military form—but his gaze wasn't on the stage.

The program alternated between the cultural troupe and cadres' family members. It was currently the family members' choir segment, and Ji Yunshu listened to the familiar song, watching Sister Chen perform with her head held high in the red shirt, feeling deeply satisfied. But Pei Yufeng's attention wasn't on the show at all—he was watching Ji Yunshu watch the performance.

Ji Yunshu wore the dark blue long dress she had designed herself, her hair braided and tied with a matching ribbon, resting over her shoulder. Sunlight fell across her profile, and the shadows of her lashes fluttered with each blink. When she watched the Li girls dance, her eyes sparkled like twin stars; at exciting moments she'd let out an involuntary gasp, then clap along with the crowd.

"Your cultural troupe's performance is as good as anything in the capital!" Ji Yunshu remarked sincerely after watching the troupe's female dancers perform the group dance from *The White-Haired Girl*.

She turned her head and met Pei Yufeng's eyes, which had been fixed deeply on her.

Pei Yufeng sat barely half an arm's length to her right, back ramrod straight, cap resting on his knee, every button of his uniform fastened with precision. The music from the stage, the applause of the crowd, the giggles of children in the back rows—all these sounds were still there, but the moment Ji Yunshu turned her head, she felt them recede, drifting far behind the sound of the waves, dissolving into a blur of background noise.

The surging crowd, the fluttering flags, the performers taking their bows hand in hand—Ji Yunshu could see all of it in her peripheral vision, but her gaze was locked on Pei Yufeng, unable to move an inch.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Her first instinct was to look away—prolonged eye contact with Pei Yufeng always made her cheeks feel hot—but she decided she couldn't do that; it would seem too guilty. It was perfectly natural to look at him, wasn't it? He was her husband. What was wrong with looking at him!

So Ji Yunshu stared right back at Pei Yufeng, as if the two were competing to see who would look away first.

She noticed how, in the sunlight, a small shadow fell beneath his brow bone. His nose was straight and prominent, and his lips—usually pressed into a thin line—were now slightly relaxed.

A sea breeze swept in, scattering a few strands of hair at Ji Yunshu's temple, one of which drifted to the corner of her mouth. Pei Yufeng noticed, and his hand lifted slightly, instinctively reaching to brush it away. But Ji Yunshu was quicker—she lowered her head and tucked the strand behind her ear herself, her fingertips grazing her earlobe and discovering it was burning hot.

"You... aren't you watching the show? Why are you looking at me!" Ji Yunshu whispered, redirecting her gaze to the stage—where the announcer was introducing the next act, a solo dance by one of the family members. There was a sweetness in her voice she didn't even notice herself.

"You're prettier than the show." Pei Yufeng suddenly leaned in, murmuring close to her ear in a voice only the two of them could hear.

Ji Yunshu's face flushed instantly. She wanted to scold him—"Since when did you learn to be so smooth-tongued?"—or put on a stern face and say "Watch the show properly and stop looking at me." But she opened her mouth and nothing came out. Nothing felt right to say, so instead she shot him a glare, like a rabbit whose tail had been stepped on.

Pei Yufeng let out a low chuckle, and her glare only seemed to reward him, the corners of his mouth curving even wider.

By the time the performance ended, dusk was approaching. The sun over the sea had shifted from gold to orange-red, setting half the sky ablaze. Workers began setting up the evening movie screening equipment by the shore. Several soldiers carried over a huge white screen and mounted it on two wooden poles at either end of the stage, while the projector was set up on the long table that had been in front of the stage. The projectionist was adjusting the focus, a flickering white rectangle appearing on the screen.

Many family members hadn't even finished dinner before rushing over to claim good seats—quite a few carried mess tins or enamel bowls. The kids were the most excited about the movie, dragging stools to save spots for their parents, while friends clustered together guarding empty seats beside them, eagerly waiting for the film to begin.

Wang Yulan, clutching a bowl of fried peanuts, had claimed a prime spot in the third row early on. She scanned the crowd for Ji Yunshu and Pei Yufeng, and upon spotting Ji Yunshu, waved her over. She shooed Commander Lu away and had Ji Yunshu sit down beside her.

Commander Lu didn't dare complain, instead patting Pei Yufeng's shoulder and suggesting he come sit with the cadres in the back. Pei Yufeng didn't want to go and was trying to figure out how to politely decline Commander Lu's "kindness" when Wang Yulan spoke up first.

"What are you doing? It's a young couple's first time watching a movie together." Wang Yulan swatted Commander Lu, her tone exasperated. "You go sit in the back yourself. Xiao Pei, you're tall—you sit next to Xiaoshu, by the aisle so you don't block anyone's view."

Pei Yufeng smiled and nodded: "Thank you, Auntie Wang." He sat down beside Ji Yunshu without hesitation.

For the movie screening, family members sat in front while cadres and soldiers generally sat in the back. Once it was fully dark and the movie could begin, Ji Yunshu, still remembering the afternoon's events, leaned over to Pei Yufeng and teased: "All the other cadres are sitting in the back, and you're the only one up here!"

Pei Yufeng replied without changing expression: "Regiment Commander Liu is sitting right behind me."

"He has kids to look after—the children rarely get to see a movie." Ji Yunshu said this without a hint of reproach, her tone carrying instead a familiar, teasing warmth.

Pei Yufeng said, "I just wanted to watch it with you."

"Well, that's more like it." Ji Yunshu couldn't remember the last time she'd watched a movie with Pei Yufeng—this was their first time in all these years.

The evening film was *The Story of Liubao Village*. The projector's beam cut through the darkness onto the screen, the black-and-white images vivid and engaging, the whir of the film reels a soft, steady hum unfolding under the night sky. The beach gradually quieted; kids were held still in their parents' arms, and only the sound of the waves mingled with the actors' dialogue, carried near and far by the sea breeze.

Ji Yunshu sat beside Pei Yufeng. With even more family members present for the evening screening, she and Pei Yufeng were nearly shoulder to shoulder. When the heroine sang "Nine-Nine Sunny Days" on the ridge of a field, the melody lilting and sweet, the actress on screen singing "Eighteen-year-old brother, sitting by the river" into the wind, Ji Yunshu unconsciously leaned a little closer to Pei Yufeng.

Her elbow suddenly brushed against his arm. Through the thin fabric of his shirt, she could feel the warmth of his skin.

Pei Yufeng's body temperature was much higher than hers. Ji Yunshu felt a steady current of heat radiating from where they touched, but she didn't move away, and neither did he. The two of them sat there, arm against arm, neither speaking, but both acutely aware of the contact.

The movie continued, the scene shifting to the village entrance at night, fireflies flickering across the screen. At that moment, Pei Yufeng suddenly reached out and gently took Ji Yunshu's hand in his.

"—!" With others present, it wasn't appropriate for a cadre and his family member to be so intimate. Ji Yunshu turned her head awkwardly to check on Wang Yulan beside her, only to find her utterly absorbed in the film, oblivious to what they were doing. She relaxed slightly but still pulled her hand free from Pei Yufeng's.

"What's wrong?" Pei Yufeng watched her snatch her hand away as quickly as a fish slipping through his fingers, but he still wanted to catch her.

Just then, Ji Yunshu's fingers began to creep through the darkness toward the back of Pei Yufeng's hand. First her fingertips lightly grazed the knuckles on the back of his hand. He didn't pull away, so she slid her fingers forward another inch, the edge of her palm pressing against the back of his hand.

Pressing Pei Yufeng's hand beneath her own palm was a strange and wonderful feeling. Ji Yunshu threaded her fingers gently between his. Though their hands were very different in size, she was like a determined little octopus, insisting on enveloping the back of his hand within her grasp.

She had no idea why she was being so stubborn with him.

Pei Yufeng found Ji Yunshu amusing, so he obediently rested his hand on his own thigh and quietly watched her movements. Ji Yunshu seemed to have found a new toy, her fingertips rubbing against Pei Yufeng's knuckles, restlessly rubbing her palm against the back of his hand.

Pei Yufeng finally couldn't take it anymore. He deliberately turned his hand over, palm facing up, and clasped hers.

Pei Yufeng's hand was so large that when his fingers closed, they completely swallowed hers. His fingertips were rough with calluses from gripping guns, and when they brushed against the back of her hand, the sensation was light but sent a tingle through her, making her heart race even faster than when she had been toying with him.

Pei Yufeng's thumb slowly rubbed back and forth over the web of Ji Yunshu's thumb, stroke after stroke, as if tracing circles or writing invisible words, sending tremors through her. His palm was burning hot, and the warmth seeped from his palm into her body, traveling up her arm all the way to her chest, chasing away the chill of the night sea breeze.

Ji Yunshu felt her heartbeat suddenly quicken. Thump, thump, thump—so fast that she was sure he could feel her pulse through their joined hands. She wanted to pull her hand back, yet she couldn't bear to, so she just let her fingers go limp in his grip, pretending to be completely absorbed in the movie.

Ji Yunshu could no longer really tell what was playing on the screen; all her attention was focused on the hand he was holding. Pei Yufeng's fingertip traced the lines of her hand, his thumb pressing into the web of her thumb and gently massaging it. He pried her fingers apart one by one, then slid his between them, lacing their fingers together.

This made Ji Yunshu's breath catch. In the darkness, amid the crowd scattered across the beach, under the flickering light of the film and the sea breeze, he had clasped her hand without a single word, and the two of them were openly yet secretly tangled in this quiet intimacy.

Ji Yunshu turned her head to glance at Pei Yufeng. The screen's light flickered across his face, tracing the sharp lines of his profile. Pei Yufeng also happened to turn his head toward her, and their eyes met once again. But this time, Pei Yufeng was bolder. He lifted their clasped hands and, lowering his head, quickly kissed the back of Ji Yunshu's hand.

It was a fleeting brush, gone in an instant, but his burning gaze seemed to say that no matter what story played on the screen, his thoughts were entirely on her.

Ji Yunshu felt her heart pounding wildly. For the first time, she had an urge—she didn't want to keep watching this movie that had already gotten to who-knows-where. She wanted to go home, like before, turn off the lights, and kiss him in the dark.

It was then that Ji Yunshu realized how much she truly needed and loved Pei Yufeng's tight embrace. He always held her so close, pressing her whole body against his firm muscles. His body was hard, even a little bony, but the seamless embrace left Ji Yunshu craving more.

She loved being held by him, loved being kissed by him, and loved the way he filled her.

--

That night, Pei Yufeng was more vigorous than ever, and Ji Yunshu felt like she had cried and whimpered for a long time.

Not because it hurt, but because Pei Yufeng had picked up tricks from somewhere—when he looked up at her, his lips and the tip of his nose were both wet.

He had gotten his fill, but what about her? She was so weak she had no strength left.

The night stretched on so long that Ji Yunshu felt the sky was starting to lighten with dawn before it finally ended. When he carried her into the bathroom, she was already too exhausted to keep her eyes open, and she didn't even know when she fell asleep.

When Ji Yunshu woke again, it was already afternoon. The curtains hadn't been drawn fully, and a thin sliver of golden light squeezed through the gap, gradually illuminating Ji Yunshu's vision.

She turned over and buried her face in the pillow, a wave of soreness washing over her body. Her waist ached, her legs were weak, and even raising her arms made her muscles tremble, as if she'd been taken apart and put back together. But Ji Yunshu's body was dry and clean, and her nightgown had been changed to a fresh one—only a faint ache lingered in her lower abdomen.

Though she'd been exhausted the night before, honestly, it had been the most satisfying night since she'd gotten married over a month ago. The fragmented memories slowly floated back—Pei Yufeng's fingers, his voice, and the words he'd whispered in her ear that she'd been too weak to hear clearly—all of it overwhelmed her, leaving her with no choice but to cling to him.

Ji Yunshu's cheeks slowly flushed. She pulled the blanket up to cover half her face and secretly curved her lips into a smile beneath the covers.

Footsteps sounded from the stairs, and Ji Yunshu poked half her face out from under the blanket, seeing Pei Yufeng walk in carrying a bowl.

He set the bowl on the nightstand, and only then did Ji Yunshu realize it was a bowl of chicken noodle soup—clear broth, with a few green vegetable leaves and several strips of finely shredded chicken resting atop the noodles. Pei Yufeng bent down and pressed his hand to her forehead to check her temperature, and only after confirming she was fine did he speak softly: "You're awake? Go wash up first."

Ji Yunshu didn't want to get out of bed, so she reached out a hand to grab the hem of his shirt and mumbled, "No strength."

Pei Yufeng seemed to have anticipated this. He immediately turned and went downstairs, returning with a basin of warm water. He soaked the towel, wrung it until it was half-dry, and handed it to her to wipe her face. Then he helped her sit up against the headboard, squeezed toothpaste onto her toothbrush, and placed it in her hand.

After Ji Yunshu finished brushing her teeth and washing her face, Pei Yufeng picked up the bowl, scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew on it, and fed it to her: "Have some soup first. It's been simmering for hours."

"You got up so early." Ji Yunshu didn't want to move on her own, so she lowered her head and drank from Pei Yufeng's hand. The chicken soup was clear yet rich and savory, with slices of ginger and a few red dates simmered in. Ji Yunshu felt her entire stomach warm as she drank it.

Pei Yufeng fed Ji Yunshu a few spoonfuls of soup like this, and Ji Yunshu decided she should eat the noodles herself, so she took the bowl and slowly finished every last bite.

The soft, thoroughly cooked noodles dissolved at the slightest touch. After Ji Yunshu ate the final bite, she set her chopsticks on the rim of the bowl and waved her hand to signal Pei Yufeng to take it away.

But Pei Yufeng just set the bowl aside without going downstairs to wash it. He sat up straight on the edge of the bed, pulled her into his arms, and lowered his head to kiss her again.

Ji Yunshu was about to say "What, again?" but before the words left her mouth, they were sealed by Pei Yufeng's lips. His kiss wasn't as fervent and urgent as the night before—it was lingering, as if savoring a dessert that didn't need to be finished in a hurry.

Pei Yufeng's tongue patiently explored between Ji Yunshu's lips and teeth, one hand cradling the back of her neck, his thumb gently rubbing the soft skin behind her ear, while his other arm wrapped around her waist, holding her firmly against him.

Ji Yunshu had just eaten and was still soft and languid. After being kissed for a while, she began to run out of breath, her fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt, a faint whimper escaping her nose.

Just then, Ji Yunshu suddenly felt a warm surge inside her body. She shoved Pei Yufeng away abruptly, and ignoring her weak legs, she scrambled into the bathroom in a panic.

Sure enough, her period—over a month late—had finally arrived.

Author's note:

None.