Chapter 41

Chapter 41

"You're a gorgeous mermaid." Ji Yunshu had also read mermaid stories, and seeing how much Duoduo loved the dress, she felt really pleased.

Huang Paimei was extremely grateful to Ji Yunshu and insisted she stay for dinner. Ji Yunshu felt she deserved it and didn't decline, so she had lunch at Huang Paimei's place.

When Xiaogong and Xiaocheng came home from school and saw that Ji Yunshu was going to eat lunch with them, they excitedly fought over who'd wash her bowl and bring her chopsticks.

Duoduo sat on a small stool in her new dress, her little legs pressed together neatly, the skirt carefully smoothed out over her knees, scared of wrinkling it even a little.

Huang Paimei brought out the last dish from the kitchen, washed her hands, and called everyone over to eat. The table wasn't large, but it was packed. In the center was a large plate of steamed sea snails—Huang Paimei loved beachcombing, and she'd picked up most of those snails herself.

Once steamed, one poke with chopsticks and the meat popped right out. After you picked off the inedible bits and dipped it in garlic-vinegar sauce, it was tender and fresh.

In addition, there was a plate of stir-fried wild vegetables, a plate of scrambled eggs with dried shrimp, and a plate of Li-style pickles. Thunder bamboo shoots, shredded papaya, and shredded radish were fermented in rice water, then pickled in a clay jar with chili and salt. When served, they were tossed with a little fish sauce—sour, spicy, and mouthwatering.

Huang Paimei served Ji Yunshu a bowl of rice. Ji Yunshu noticed that the rice had finely diced lean meat mixed into it. The meat had been steamed until soft and tender, its fat seeping into the rice and making every grain glisten. A small sprinkle of chopped wild scallions was scattered on top, and the aroma of scallion, rice, and meat mingled together. Even without any sides, it already looked delicious.

Ji Yunshu was surprised: "Sister Huang, your rice smells a little like bamboo leaves."

"Yes, this is our Li family's mountain orchid rice. We usually steam it in bamboo tubes with some diced lean meat—that's how we do it around here." Huang Paimei picked up a piece of egg for Ji Yunshu with her chopsticks. "Try it—how does it taste?"

Ji Yunshu took a bite of the rice first. The mountain orchid rice had a chewy bite that got more fragrant with every chew, the grain's natural sweetness slowly releasing in her mouth, mingling with the rich aroma of the meat fat. The lean meat had been steamed until it was melt-in-your-mouth tender, falling apart at the slightest touch of the chopsticks, blending into the rice with both the grain's springy texture and the meat's rich flavor. The eggs were scrambled nice and soft, and though the shrimp were small, they were incredibly fresh, needing just a pinch of salt to be delicious.

"This rice is amazing!" Ji Yunshu finally swallowed the rice in her mouth, holding her bowl and looking at Huang Paimei curiously. "How did you steam the diced meat? Did you marinate it beforehand? Why isn't it dry?"

"The diced meat is just some hind leg meat Old Liu brought back. But I like to add a little brown sugar when I marinate it, so it comes out more tender. Then I mix it with the rice and steam it in a bamboo tube. Mountain orchid rice is fragrant on its own, and once it soaks up the meat juices, it's even better." Huang Paimei smiled softly, and seeing how much Ji Yunshu was enjoying the food, picked up a piece of shelled snail meat and gave it to her. "Eat more. They're out at sea and not home, so it's a pain to cook for yourself alone. From now on, just come eat at my place whenever—don't be shy."

"Yeah, yeah, Aunt Ji!" Xiaogong looked up from his bowl, a grain of rice still stuck to the corner of his mouth. "Come every day! When you come, Mom makes good food, and we get to enjoy it too." Xiaocheng nodded vigorously beside him, his head bobbing so hard it nearly ended up in his bowl.

Ji Yunshu couldn't help but laugh at this family. She picked up another bite of stir-fried wild vegetables—slightly bitter but with a sweet aftertaste, crunchy and refreshing. As for the Li-style pickles, she took a small pinch and popped it in her mouth, then shuddered—sour, truly sour, sourer than any pickle she'd eaten in the capital. She really couldn't get used to it, so she didn't touch it again.

Xiaocheng across from her saw her face scrunch up from the sourness and giggled, showing off his gap-toothed smile: "Aunt Ji, you can't handle sour things!"

"I'm not afraid of sour things," Ji Yunshu said, trying to keep her adult dignity. "I'm savoring it."

Xiaocheng clearly didn't believe her, but after Huang Paimei gave him a gentle pat on the back of the head, he obediently lowered his head and kept eating. Duoduo sat on her small stool, eating while occasionally glancing down at the hem of her new dress, like she couldn't bear to take it off. Wearing the dress, she felt like she'd become as beautiful as Aunt Ji. When she walked, the skirt swayed gently, and she couldn't help wanting to twirl.

After the meal, Xiaogong and Xiaocheng fought over who'd clear the dishes. Xiaogong took the bowls, Xiaocheng took the plates, and the two brothers ran back and forth between the kitchen and the sink a bunch of times. Once the table was cleaned, Xiaogong wiped his hands, walked over to stand in front of Ji Yunshu, his expression serious, with a hint of nervousness and hesitation in it.

"Aunt Ji," Xiaogong took a deep breath, his hands clasped behind his back, twisting the hem of his shirt, and finally worked up the nerve to speak, "the dress you made for Duoduo is really pretty—prettier than anything my mom ever bought at the supply store. Could you... could I ask you to make me one too?"

"You want a dress too?" Ji Yunshu teased him on purpose.

"No, no, I... I mean a shirt is fine." Xiaogong's face turned red instantly. "Is that... is that okay?"

Huang Paimei was wiping the table and quickly put down her cloth when she heard this. She patted Xiaogong's shoulder, her tone carrying a hint of embarrassment: "Xiaogong, don't ask nonsense. Aunt Ji is already busy enough, and she made a dress for Duoduo. Don't cause trouble."

But Ji Yunshu waved her hand and smiled: "Sister Huang, it's no trouble at all. Boys' clothes are much simpler than dresses—just cut the fabric and sew a few stitches, it doesn't take much time." She turned to look at Xiaogong and Xiaocheng. "What kind of shirts do you want? Short sleeves or long sleeves? What color do you like?"

Xiaogong and Xiaocheng exchanged a glance, communicating rapidly through eye contact in the air. Then Xiaogong spoke, his words coming quickly, clearly something he'd already thought through: "Short sleeves, since it's hot and they're cooler to wear. Any color is fine—boys aren't picky. But could you—"

He paused, glanced at Xiaocheng, who nodded vigorously as if cheering him on, "Could you embroider an anchor on it? When we grow up, we want to be sailors, like our dad and Uncle Pei."

Ji Yunshu looked at these two little boys standing straight and tall, their expressions serious, their eyes sparkling, their futures already planned out. She smiled and reached out, ruffling both Xiaogong's and Xiaocheng's heads: "The shirt is easy, and I'll try to embroider an anchor. But you have to promise me you'll study hard and exercise well, so you can become sailors in the future."

Xiaogong and Xiaocheng's eyes lit up simultaneously. Xiaocheng was quick—he nodded so hard it looked like his head might fly off his neck. Xiaogong, on the other hand, snapped to attention and, imitating what he'd seen from his father, gave Ji Yunshu a not-quite-standard military salute: "Mission guaranteed!"

Huang Paimei stood nearby, still holding the dishcloth, watching Ji Yunshu surrounded by her two children. Her lips moved a few times, but she didn't refuse again. Through their time together, she'd come to know Ji Yunshu's temperament—when she said she'd do something, refusing was useless. She'd just smile and get it done, then say "it was nothing."

Huang Paimei decided then to be even kinder to Ji Yunshu. Since the cadres went on missions frequently, she'd invite Ji Yunshu over for meals whenever she was home alone.

"By the way, Sister Huang, how did you steam this mountain orchid rice? It's so delicious. Teach me, and when Brother Pei comes back, I'll steam some for him to try." Ji Yunshu stood up and walked over to Huang Paimei.

"Mountain orchid rice is a dryland rice that the Li people grow on the hillsides. It's not a precious grain—usually the supply stores don't sell it, only locals have some stored at home. If you like it, next time I visit my family, I'll bring you a bag." Huang Paimei walked to the stove, pouring out a bit of uncooked mountain orchid rice from a bamboo tube to show her. "Before steaming, you need to wash the rice thoroughly and soak it in clean water for half an hour to let it absorb the water. Cut the lean meat into small cubes, mix it with a little brown sugar or fish sauce to marinate. Then mix the rice and meat together, put it in a bamboo tube, seal the opening with banana leaves, and steam it over high heat. The fragrance of the bamboo and banana leaves seeps into the rice, making it more aromatic and sticky than steaming in an iron pot."

"We don't have bamboo tubes at home. Would a steamer basket work?"

"That works too. The flavor will be slightly different, but not by much." Huang Paimei wrapped that small handful of mountain orchid rice in cloth and placed it in Ji Yunshu's hands. "Take this home and try it. Come get more when you run out."

"Thank you, Sister Huang. I'll bring the shirts for Xiaogong and Xiaocheng in a couple of days." Ji Yunshu exchanged the delicious food for a smile at Huang Paimei, ready to head home.

"No rush. Take your time—just do it when you have free time." Huang Paimei untied her apron and hung it behind the door, walking Ji Yunshu to the courtyard gate. Duoduo followed behind her mother, still wearing the water-blue dress, standing on the threshold and waving at Ji Yunshu on her tiptoes.

Ji Yunshu had just gotten home and put the mountain orchid rice into an empty jar in the kitchen when Xiao Zhang from the post office rode his bicycle to a stop at the courtyard gate. Hearing there was a phone call for her, Ji Yunshu grabbed her bicycle keys and hurried to the post office.

At the post office, Ji Yunshu filled out the form and waited a moment before the operator connected the long-distance call. On the other end of the line came Meng Yunzhen's voice, sounding calm: "Xiaoshu, I've confirmed it—he really is a soldier. The unit number and officer's ID are all genuine, and Comrade Qiu helped me verify them too. He also told me he only found out about this because Comrade Qiu mentioned it in passing. He thought it was unfair that a female student like me was being bullied like that, so he tracked down my address."

Meng Yunzhen paused, a hint of confusion creeping into her voice: "He apologized to me in person, and his attitude was very sincere. He said he shouldn't have pretended to be Comrade Pei's comrade-in-arms, but at the time, he was afraid that if he said he was a stranger, I wouldn't accept his help."

"But I still feel uneasy. He said he wanted to marry me because he'd seen me once at the hospital before, but I don't remember that at all. I asked him when, which hospital, and why we ran into each other. He was very specific—said it was the winter of my sophomore year, when I was following my advisor to deliver a batch of Chinese herbal medicine specimens to the military hospital. I ran into him in the hallway; he was injured and recuperating there, and I helped him pick up a prescription slip he'd dropped. He said he was deeply impressed by me."

"But I don't remember any of it." Meng Yunzhen's voice carried a helpless smile. "You know, in my sophomore year, I followed my advisor to who knows how many hospitals, delivering hundreds of specimens. I met countless people in hallways. Maybe I really did help him pick up a prescription slip, but I genuinely don't recall it. How can that count as love at first sight when I don't remember any of it?"

Meng Yunzhen was silent for a moment. "To be honest, he's been really good to me. The department treats me respectfully now, and no one brings up my family background anymore. My advisor also said the project acceptance should go smoothly and told me to focus on finishing my thesis. All of that is because of him. I asked about his family situation too—he does come from a military family, both parents are alive, and they're well-off."

Ji Yunshu asked softly: "So what do you think?"

"I don't know." Meng Yunzhen's voice was honest, carrying a rare vulnerability in its candor. "Marrying him would indeed bring me a better life—security in terms of my background, and no one would ever use my origins against me again. He's serious about me too, not just casual talk. But... he lied to me. Even though he apologized and explained, I still feel a knot in my heart. I don't know if that knot will ever go away, or if he'll lie to me again in the future."

"Sister, I can't make this decision for you when it comes to matters of the heart." Ji Yunshu thought for a moment. "Have you told Mom and Dad about this? I think you should ask for their opinion. You were suddenly ostracized because of your background—it could happen once, and then again... Mom and Dad are far away in Su City, and we don't even know if they've been ostracized or encountered any problems..."

Meng Yunzhen was silent for a moment. Ji Yunshu could hear her take a soft breath in, then slowly exhale. Finally she said: "You're right, I should tell Mom and Dad. I don't want to worry them about my problems, but marriage is a major life decision... Xiaoshu, you're right. If I'm being ostracized here because of my background, Mom and Dad and my brother and sister-in-law might be too..."

Meng Yunzhen's voice grew choked as she spoke: "Mom's health isn't good, but she's always been the type to only share good news. If they hadn't brought Lizi here for medical treatment, I wouldn't have known that Lizi had already known who her biological parents were for a long time... Mom doesn't show it on her face, but I know she's hurt... Thank you, Xiaoshu. I didn't expect that in the end, it would be you who helped me."

The sister she'd watched grow up was less concerned about her than the sister she'd only recently recognized and wasn't even close to yet. Meng Yunzhen felt a pang of discomfort at that thought, but it also made her even more grateful to Ji Yunshu.

Ji Yunshu hung up the phone and stood at the post office entrance, letting the sea breeze blow over her for a while. She didn't immediately ride home but sat on the stone steps by the roadside for a bit.

In Ji Yunshu's impression, Meng Yunzhen had always been a capable and principled person. Though they hadn't known each other long, Meng Yunzhen did everything herself—even when she and Ji Yunting had helped distribute wedding candies together, she'd handed out more than Ji Yunting, saying all the right things to every guest, afraid anyone might look down on her.

But Ji Yunshu had only been away for a short time, and the anxiety over her family background had already severely affected the proud Meng Yunzhen she remembered. That issue had been carved into her bones. No matter how unwilling she was to admit it, it was always there, like a dark shadow that could fall at any moment. Meng Yunzhen's hesitation wasn't weakness—it was the result of having to face an unavoidable reality.

Back home, she took out letter paper and a pen from the drawer and sat at her desk to write. She wrote to Wang Wanru first, carefully weighing every word. She wrote about what happened to Meng Yunzhen at school, about an officer named Yue Ling who had helped her and proposed marriage. His identity was legitimate, and he treated her well, but Meng Yunzhen didn't know him well enough yet. She hoped Wang Wanru could help Meng Yunzhen make a decision.

When she reached the second page, Ji Yunshu's pen paused. She thought of the images from her dreams, of the Meng family home crushed by the storm. She chose her words carefully, saying nothing that could be flagged in a review, but in the tone of a daughter discussing family matters with her mother, she tactfully suggested that the current situation was different from before—if there were any calligraphy, paintings, jewelry, or property left in the family, it would be best to donate them. Donate to the state, donate to any institution that could prove the Meng family's stance. She hoped Wang Wanru would think carefully about Meng Yunzhen's situation—worldly possessions were ultimately just worldly possessions; preserving oneself was the most important thing.

She folded the letter, placed it in an envelope, sealed it with glue, and affixed a stamp. Then she spread out a new sheet of paper and wrote to He Qiuxia and Ji Haiguo as well. She reported that she was safe and well, that she was living happily on the island, that her neighbor Sister Huang took great care of her, and that she'd adopted two kittens, Huajuan and Shenshen, who were adorable. Then she briefly mentioned Meng Yunzhen's situation, saying that if the Meng family needed anything, she hoped He Qiuxia could help look after them from the capital.

After writing these, Ji Yunshu still felt it wasn't enough. She desperately wanted Pei Yufeng to come back soon—she wanted to discuss the Meng family matters with him.

--

The days passed simply and quietly. On the twelfth day after Pei Yufeng left for his mission, Ji Yunshu had just finished washing up and was about to go to sleep when she suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside the courtyard.

Outside the window it was already deep night, the moon risen to mid-sky. The courtyard was silent, broken only by the distant sound of waves crashing against rocks. Huajuan was curled up on her lap dozing when the latch of the gate was pushed open with a soft sound. Ji Yunshu was instantly awake. She gently set Huajuan aside and ran barefoot to the door. In the moonlight, a familiar figure was pushing open the courtyard gate and walking in.

Pei Yufeng wore his military uniform, one collar button undone, his shoulders carrying the salty dampness of the sea breeze. His military cap was in his hand, and there was a faint crease mark on his brow bone—the mark of wearing a cap for so long that he'd only just been able to take it off. His face was etched with exhaustion, faint dark circles under his eyes, and new stubble on his chin catching a pale blue sheen in the moonlight. His lips were chapped, and on his shoulders and cuffs there seemed to be traces of salt crystals left behind by seawater that hadn't been fully wiped away.

He saw her standing at the door and paused mid-step. In those eyes that were usually as calm as a deep pool, all the exhaustion receded in an instant, replaced by an emotion that mingled relief and longing.

He didn't hesitate at all. He rushed forward and pulled Ji Yunshu into his arms. "Why did you come down without shoes? It's cold at night."

Only then did Ji Yunshu realize she had come downstairs barefoot. The island weather was as hot as ever, and she hadn't felt the cold at all.

Ji Yunshu leaned against Pei Yufeng's chest. She had meant to say "You're finally back" or "I missed you so much," but held so tight in his arms, what came out instead was: "How did the mission go?"

Ji Yunshu knew that for Pei Yufeng, the mission was always the most important thing. She wanted to let him know right away that she was ready to hear whatever had happened.

Pei Yufeng nodded. That single nod seemed to use up the last of his strength. His shoulders sagged slightly—a posture he only ever showed in front of Ji Yunshu. He didn't have to keep up the tough act in front of the young soldiers anymore.

Every mission was a near-death experience. He was their regiment commander; he couldn't show the slightest trace of fear. The country and its people needed them to stand like an iron wall on the front lines—that was their duty, and besides, Ji Yunshu needed him too.

Ji Yunshu let go of him and pulled Pei Yufeng toward the house. He didn't speak, just reached out and took her hand in return. He held on tight, like he was afraid she'd disappear, like he was checking that this wasn't one of the countless dreams he'd had at sea.

Pei Yufeng followed Ji Yunshu upstairs and into the bedroom. She pressed him down to sit on the edge of the bed and reached for the buttons of his uniform. When her fingers touched the first button, her fingertips trembled slightly. She hadn't done this in half a month, and her fingers wouldn't cooperate—it took her several tries to get just one undone.

Pei Yufeng sat still, his eyes fixed on her the whole time, watching her bow her head and focus on unbuttoning his uniform. Ji Yunshu's eyelashes fluttered gently in the dim yellow light of the bedroom, the tip of her nose was slightly red, and her eyes seemed to glisten with tears.

"Let me do it." Pei Yufeng reached out and undid the buttons of his uniform himself. "What's wrong?"

"I want to wipe your face for you." Ji Yunshu cupped Pei Yufeng's cheeks with both hands, carefully studying every inch of his face. He really hadn't shaved in half a month—this was the first time Ji Yunshu had ever seen him so scruffy. She didn't usually like men with facial hair, but Pei Yufeng like this wasn't unattractive. His nose was straight and well-defined, but there was a fresh scar across the bridge—not too deep, not scabbed over yet, still a deep pink.

"What happened here, on your nose?" Ji Yunshu gently touched the spot, her voice growing more worried. "Was this mission very difficult? Are you hurt anywhere else?"

"No, that was just a scratch. It's nothing." Pei Yufeng quickly took Ji Yunshu's hand and rubbed it gently, like he was trying to calm her down. "I'm tired. I want to take a shower. Can we talk about it in a bit?"

"Alright, I'll heat some water for you," Ji Yunshu said quickly.

"No need. A cold shower is quick." Before Ji Yunshu could even finish, Pei Yufeng was already heading to the bathroom.

In just about ten minutes, he came out. Pei Yufeng came out of the bathroom completely clean-shaven. His eyes still held some fatigue, but his slightly longer, damp black hair hung over his forehead, making him look unexpectedly boyish.

Ji Yunshu had still heated water while he was showering. She pressed him down to sit on the edge of the bed and wrung out a hot towel to wipe his face. She moved the towel from his forehead to his brow, from his brow to his nose, from his nose to his chin, letting him slowly relax.

Pei Yufeng closed his eyes, feeling the warm towel cover his eyelids. Ji Yunshu pressed gently on his eye sockets through the towel—she had seen He Qiuxia do this for Ji Haiguo after he stayed up late writing reports, saying it relieved fatigue. Pei Yufeng didn't know whether it relieved his fatigue or not; he only knew that when the towel moved away, he could see her face again, and that was enough.

"Alright, lie down now." Ji Yunshu set the towel aside, pulled back the blanket, and patted the pillow. Beside her pillow lay his pillow—every day for the past half month, she had fluffed it up again, keeping it ready for him to sleep on the moment he returned.

When Pei Yufeng lay down, the mattress let out a faint creak. He had just closed his eyes when Ji Yunshu lay down beside him too. She turned on her side, pulled the blanket up over him, then hesitated for a moment before taking his hand and placing it on her waist.

Pei Yufeng's arm tightened almost instinctively, pulling her whole body into his embrace. She could feel his chin resting against the top of her head, their heartbeats steady and familiar, exactly matching what she had replayed in her mind every night for the past half month.

Author's note:

Thanks for reading, sorry it's ten minutes late qwq