Chapter 44

Chapter 44

It was already past eight in the evening when Pei Yufeng arrived home. He pushed the door open, smelling of sea salt and brine, his military jacket draped over his forearm, shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, the exhaustion plain on his face.

With one mission after another lately, after days of nonstop work, his eyes looked more sunken than usual. The old wound on his face hadn't fully healed, and new injuries had already appeared on his arm.

Ji Yunshu noticed this and her heart ached for him. Every evening, she insisted on treating Pei Yufeng's wounds, even though he said they were nothing serious. She remained persistent.

When Pei Yufeng came back, Ji Yunshu was sitting cross-legged on a bamboo chair in the living room, combing Huajuan's fur. Huajuan lay sprawled on her lap, belly up, fluffy white stomach on display, purring softly. Over the past month, Huajuan had grown a whole size, no longer the tiny kitten she once was, and was eating much more.

Hearing the courtyard gate open, Ji Yunshu put down the comb, gently set Huajuan on the chair, and shuffled out in her slippers.

"You're back so late—did you eat? There's food kept warm for you on the stove." She took his military jacket from him, stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, then pulled him toward the house.

Pei Yufeng wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, then pressed a light kiss to the top of her head. "Not yet."

"Then let me warm something up for you." Ji Yunshu knew that when Pei Yufeng went out to sea briefly and couldn't make it back for meals, he'd bring back extra food from the mess hall and keep it warm in the kitchen.

She told him to go shower and change first, then went downstairs to bring out the food warming on the stove. After Pei Yufeng had showered and changed into a clean shirt, he sat down at the table. Ji Yunshu ladled him a bowl of hot soup, sat across from him with her hands folded on the table, and told him all about the phone call she'd gotten from Wang Wanru earlier that day.

"I want to apply to go home and see Mom and Dad in Su City." She rested her chin on her hands, looking at him. "Mom stopped the fixed-interest payments, and my oldest brother and his wife are making a fuss about splitting up the family. Mom says she's fine, but I know she's hurting. I want to go back and stay with her for a few days, and also explain things to my oldest brother and his wife face to face."

Pei Yufeng set down his chopsticks, took a sip of water from his enamel mug, and placed it back on the table. "Alright. Family visits need to be applied for in advance, and the Political Department's approval takes a while. I'll head to the Political Department first thing tomorrow to help you fill out the forms."

He thought for a moment, then continued, "It's been busy lately. I figure the approval will come through by the end of the month, and you can officially head back early next month. I don't like the idea of you going alone, but I've got drills next month and can't get away."

"That's fine, as long as I can go." Ji Yunshu said quickly. "December it is, then. I don't think I'll stay too long. I can go by myself—I'm not a kid, it's not like I'll get lost on a boat. You just focus on your work."

The next day, Ji Yunshu placed a long-distance call to Wang Wanru, telling her she'd applied for family visit leave and would likely arrive in Su City in early December. She told her not to worry and that they'd discuss everything when she got there. Wang Wanru sounded noticeably lighter on the other end than in their last call, and she asked what Ji Yunshu wanted to eat and if she had any dietary restrictions, saying she'd prepare ahead of time since it was Ji Yunshu's first time home and she might not be used to the food there.

After hanging up, Ji Yunshu felt the tension that had gripped her for days finally ease a little. No matter how much her oldest brother and his wife kicked up a fuss, at least Wang Wanru and Meng Guangze had taken the most critical step. Talking things through in person would be way more effective than phone calls from thousands of miles away.

A few days later, when Pei Yufeng came back from the barracks, Ji Yunshu was squatting in the courtyard refilling Shenshen's water bowl. Shenshen crouched beside her, drinking, water droplets clinging to its whiskers. Hearing the gate, she looked up. Pei Yufeng walked over and handed her an application form.

"The Political Department approved it," Pei Yufeng said, pulling her to her feet. "I bought you a boat ticket and a train ticket for December first. I'll take you to Yue City and come back after you board the train."

Ji Yunshu blinked. "You're really that worried about me? It's not like I've never been on a boat."

"I'm worried about you getting seasick again." Pei Yufeng pulled seasickness pills, Huoxiang Zhengqi oral liquid, and dried tangerine peel out of his bag. "Just to be safe."

"Alright, alright. I think I'm doing much better now—not sure if I'll still get seasick." Lately, on rest days, Ji Yunshu had gone out on small boats with Pei Yufeng along the coast. When waves hit while she was on the small boat, she felt fine—she just wasn't sure if the ferry would be different.

"Think about what you might want to buy for your parents," Pei Yufeng said, pulling her onto the sofa and then onto his lap. "Buy it and ship it ahead so you don't have to carry too much luggage. When you get to Yue City, buy a thick coat—winters in Su City are cold, and you'll definitely need something warm."

Ji Yunshu sat sideways on his lap, arms around his neck, leaning against his chest. He was still in his uniform, smelling of sun on his shoulders and a faint lingering trace of machine oil from somewhere. She buried her face in the crook of Pei Yufeng's neck and took a deep breath. "Okay. You've thought of everything."

Pei Yufeng pressed his palm against Ji Yunshu's back, patting it rhythmically as he continued, "Don't be too nervous when you get home. Mom and Dad have already taken the most critical step—the hardest part is behind you. As for your oldest brother and his wife, once you explain things to them face to face, they'll understand eventually. If it really doesn't work, I'll come talk to them when I get leave."

He paused, then cupped Ji Yunshu's face in both hands, lifting it from his shoulder. His thumbs traced gently beneath her eyes. "The Meng family will shed the capitalist label."

He looked into her eyes, his tone resolute. "You've done everything you could. Leave the rest to time."

"Mm." Ji Yunshu nodded, wrapping her arms around Pei Yufeng's neck. "I hope so too."

"Oh, one more thing." Pei Yufeng lowered his hands, letting her lean back against his chest. "On the twentieth of this month, the commander is hosting a compound cadre friendship competition on the beach between the family quarters and the barracks. Events are beach tug-of-war and sparring matches. I'll probably sign up for the sparring."

Ji Yunshu sat up straight, eyes lighting up. "Beach tug-of-war? How does that work—regiment against regiment, or company against company?"

She tilted her head, picturing the scene. "And the sparring? Is it like the capital compound's private cadre matches, or—"

"Beach tug-of-war is regiment against regiment. There are five garrison regiments and one artillery regiment in this camp area. Cadres from other camp areas probably won't participate in this smaller event. The sparring is a friendly match—touch-and-stop rules—open to everyone from platoon leader to division commander, though division-level cadres usually don't participate. The commander will referee." Pei Yufeng explained.

Ji Yunshu nodded. It sounded similar to the cadre competitions in the capital. She asked curiously, "Family members can watch, right?"

"Of course. And there are prizes for the winners." Pei Yufeng smiled slightly.

Ever since Ji Yunshu mentioned wanting to see a cadre competition, Pei Yufeng had gone to Commander Lu to suggest the idea. Commander Lu agreed without hesitation—more smoothly than he'd expected.

A few days later, it was time for the monthly pay and supply distribution. Ji Yunshu went to the administrative building as usual to pick up Pei Yufeng's pay slip and supplies: a month's salary, a dependent allowance, a basket of eggs, and a slaughtered duck. She deposited the money into the tin box, arranged the eggs in the bamboo basket in the kitchen, then cut the duck in half—one half for soup, and the other she carried over to Huang Paimei's house.

"Sister Huang! Duck's here!" Ji Yunshu called from the courtyard gate. "I'm bothering you again."

Huang Paimei came out to greet her, took the duck, weighed it in her hand, and nodded approvingly. "This one looks even plumper than last time. How do you want it? Same herbal sauce duck?"

"Sauced duck!" Ji Yunshu pressed her palms together, eyes sparkling. "That sauce from last time—I could eat three bowls of rice with it."

"Alright, come over for lunch tomorrow." Huang Paimei carried the bamboo basket to the corner of the courtyard, then turned back. "Is Deputy Regiment Commander Pei coming? If so, I'll steam extra mountain rice."

"Is Brother Liu coming back to eat?" Ji Yunshu asked. If Regiment Commander Liu wasn't coming, she felt it wouldn't be appropriate to bring Pei Yufeng along.

"He's been busy lately—doesn't come back for lunch." Huang Paimei said.

Ji Yunshu waved her hand and said immediately, "Then my husband won't come either. I'll save some for him to eat when he gets back tonight. That way it's just us and the kids at lunch—more comfortable."

Huang Paimei smiled and agreed.

That evening when Pei Yufeng returned, Ji Yunshu was sitting at the dining table writing a letter to He Qiuxia. Huajuan lay at the corner of the table, its tail draped over her wrist, while Shenshen crouched at her feet, its green eyes fixed unblinkingly on her writing hand, occasionally reaching out a paw to bat at the pen tip. Hearing the courtyard gate, she looked up and smiled at him. "You're back? The mess hall had beef today—did you eat?"

"Did." Pei Yufeng hung his cap by the door and came over to glance at the letter paper spread before her. "Writing to Mom?"

"Mm, letting her know I'm safe and telling her I'm heading back to Su City in December." Ji Yunshu's hand kept writing. "Oh, today we got the duck and eggs. I sent half the duck to Sister Huang's—she's making herbal sauce duck tomorrow. I'll have lunch with her at noon. Can you manage on your own at the mess hall?"

Her tone was casual, her hand still moving across the page, not looking up—clearly not thinking it was anything significant.

Pei Yufeng stood behind her, his enamel mug pausing mid-lift. Then he set it down on the table, his voice as calm as ever. "Alright."

Ji Yunshu remained oblivious. Finishing the last line of her letter, she folded the paper, slipped it into an envelope, and stood up to stretch. "I'm going to take a shower then. I've been sewing all afternoon and I'm a bit tired—a nice soak will help me relax."

She stood on her tiptoes to brush a kiss against his cheek, then hummed a tune as she went upstairs to get her change of clothes.

The next day at noon, Ji Yunshu arrived promptly at the Liu family courtyard. Huang Paimei had already finished the herbal sauce duck—the whole bird lay in a clay pot, its skin a deep glossy brown, the sauce thick enough to cling to chopsticks. Beside it sat stir-fried wild vegetables, shrimp-paste stir-fried water spinach, and a dish of Li-style pickled vegetables. The mountain rice had been steamed in bamboo tubes, the banana-leaf seals just pried open, releasing a fragrance of rice and bamboo leaves that drifted across the entire courtyard.

Xiaogong and Xiaocheng were already seated at the table, chopsticks in hand, eagerly waiting, having long since set out Ji Yunshu's bowl and chopsticks. The moment they saw her, they swarmed around her, chattering excitedly: "Thank you, Aunt Ji! The clothes you made us look great!"

"Everyone in class says my clothes look great!" Xiaogong said.

"Some people even asked where I bought them, and I said the aunt next door made them by hand—they were all jealous!" Xiaocheng quickly added.

Huang Paimei served Ji Yunshu rice and also thanked her with a smile: "Xiaocheng and Xiaogong have been wanting to thank you for a while. You haven't been around these past few days—they've really missed you."

Beside them, Duoduo chimed in, "I missed Aunt Ji too!"

Ji Yunshu warmly patted Duoduo's head. "I missed Duoduo too~"

With the food on the table, everyone sat down to eat.

Ji Yunshu picked up a piece of duck leg, dipped it generously in the sauce, and put it in her mouth. Her eyes immediately curved into crescent moons. "Sister Huang, with this skill of yours, you'd be the most popular cook at any state-run restaurant."

Huang Paimei smiled shyly at the compliment and added another piece of duck breast to her bowl. "Eat up—this duck is nice and fatty."

Ji Yunshu stayed at Huang Paimei's place until a little past two in the afternoon. She chatted with Huang Paimei for a bit before heading home with a bowl of the braised duck that had been saved for her earlier.

Pei Yufeng didn't come home for lunch.

When he came back in the evening, Ji Yunshu had just reheated the braised duck she'd brought back at noon and set it on the table. She'd also picked up a serving of greens and a bowl of steamed egg with shrimp from the mess hall, and set out two pairs of chopsticks and bowls.

"Come try it—Huang Jie's cooking is seriously amazing." Ji Yunshu waved Pei Yufeng over. "This braised duck is especially good!"

Pei Yufeng washed his hands, took a seat at the table, and picked up a piece of duck with his chopsticks. He chewed a couple of times, then nodded. "Mm, good."

Satisfied, Ji Yunshu gave him the biggest drumstick and went back to eating. She was focused on her meal and didn't notice that although Pei Yufeng said it was good, he only ate three pieces of duck the entire time, leaving the rest of the braised duck for her. He did, however, put away two bowls of rice.

After dinner, Pei Yufeng washed the dishes. Ji Yunshu took a shower and came out in a white nightgown, propped against the headboard reading a book.

She was reading when she heard footsteps on the stairs. After washing the dishes, Pei Yufeng had also showered. His hair was still a little damp, and he'd changed into a clean white undershirt. He walked over to the bed—but instead of lying down next to her like he usually did, he just stood there, looking down at her.

Ji Yunshu looked up and met Pei Yufeng's gaze. His eyes looked almost black in the dim lamplight. "What's wrong?"

Pei Yufeng didn't answer. He just bent down, took the book out of her hands, and set it on the nightstand. Then he planted one hand on the headboard beside her ear, cupped the back of her neck with the other, and leaned in to kiss her.

Ji Yunshu was caught completely off guard. Her now-empty hand instinctively grabbed the bedsheet, and her other hand gave a reflexive push against Pei Yufeng's chest.

Pei Yufeng didn't pull back. Instead, he kissed her deeper, with a rare, fervent intensity that had been building all day. His hand slid from the back of her neck down to her back, pulling her whole body against his chest.

"What's gotten into you?" Ji Yunshu managed to gasp between kisses, her voice already getting soft.

Pei Yufeng didn't answer right away. He lowered her onto the bed, and as he leaned over her, he pressed kisses against her ear, wearing down the last of Ji Yunshu's composure. She went soft quickly under his kisses, her body tensing as she tilted her head back to take it.

"You wouldn't let me eat lunch with you today—so you're making it up to me tonight." Just as she was about to lose herself completely, Ji Yunshu heard Pei Yufeng say this.

...

When Ji Yunshu woke up the next morning, a few streaks of sunlight were already slipping through the gaps in the curtains. She turned over, and the ache in her lower back made her suck in a soft breath. Then last night came back to her, frame by frame.

The look in Pei Yufeng's eyes as he stood by the bed gazing down at her, the words he'd whispered in her ear, the patience and force that had been more torturous than ever... Even though they'd been married for a while, Ji Yunshu still got embarrassed.

She buried her face in the pillow, her ears slowly turning red.

"Awake?" Pei Yufeng's voice came from the doorway. He was already cleaned up and changed into a fresh shirt, holding a tray with a steaming bowl of brown sugar egg soup on it.

Ji Yunshu lifted half her face out of the pillow and saw him looking fresh and put-together. Then she thought about her own state—barely able to turn over without effort—and got annoyed. She grabbed the pillow next to her and chucked it at him. It bounced off his chest with a soft thump. He caught it with one hand, and the smirk at the corner of his mouth was more obvious than ever.

"You're still laughing!" Ji Yunshu pulled the blanket up to her chin, leaving only her watery eyes and bright red ears visible. "Last night, you—"

"What about last night?" Pei Yufeng set the pillow back on the bed, placed the tray on the nightstand, and sat down on the edge of the bed. He reached out to smooth her tangled hair, as gentle as if he were petting a cat with its hackles up. Ji Yunshu's hair spilled across the pillow, making her face look even smaller, and the faint red marks on her neck were showing in the morning light.

"You... you know exactly what you did!" Ji Yunshu swatted his hand away and pulled the blanket up higher to cover her neck, her face now red to the ears.

Pei Yufeng didn't tease her further. He brought the brown sugar egg soup to her and set the spoon on the rim of the bowl. He helped her rinse her mouth, watched her drink most of the bowl in a huff, and then spoke: "I've got the day off today."

Ji Yunshu looked up from the rim of the bowl and blinked. "Really? Why didn't you say that earlier?"

"I didn't get a chance to say it last night." His tone was flat, but Ji Yunshu felt like there was something sneaky in that curve of his mouth. She shoved the empty bowl back at him, turned over to show him the back of her head, and decided she wasn't talking to him for the rest of the morning!

That resolution didn't hold up long, though. After breakfast, Ji Yunshu sat cross-legged on the sofa brushing Huājuǎn's fur, while Pei Yufeng changed into an old shirt and said he was stepping out. She assumed he was going to the supply co-op to buy something and didn't ask. He was back in less than half an hour, carrying a small bundle of fresh lemongrass, a few slices of galangal, a packet of brown sugar, and a little bottle of fish sauce in a mesh bag.

"What'd you buy all that for?" Ji Yunshu put down the brush and came over curiously.

"To make that braised duck you wanted." Pei Yufeng carried the ingredients into the kitchen as he spoke, then pulled out half a raw duck left over from yesterday from underneath the stove.

He set the duck on the cutting board, then pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and spread it flat on the counter. The handwriting was neat and the instructions were very detailed. Ji Yunshu leaned in to look—it was Pei Yufeng's handwriting: "Three stalks of lemongrass, flattened. Five slices of galangal. Two spoonfuls of brown sugar. One spoonful of fish sauce. Water to cover the duck. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low and simmer for two hours."

Below that were additional notes—when to add vegetables, when to add broth, what to do if the water boiled dry...

"You went to see Huang Jie?" Ji Yunshu's eyes went wide. She looked from the note to him, then at the neatly arranged seasonings on the counter, and suddenly understood what he was planning. "You're actually going to make braised duck yourself?"

"Mm." Pei Yufeng tied on an apron and rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, revealing the faint scar on his forearm that hadn't fully faded. He rinsed the duck, placed it on the cutting board, and began cutting it into appropriately sized pieces with the cleaver.

"Huang Jie said the most important step is flattening the lemongrass to release the juice inside—otherwise the fragrance won't come out. The galangal needs to be peeled before slicing; cooking it with the skin on makes it bitter. The duck needs to be blanched to remove the scum, then rinsed with cold water so the skin tightens and doesn't fall apart during simmering." Pei Yufeng took out the ingredients he'd bought today, his hands moving steadily as he spoke to Ji Yunshu.

Ji Yunshu leaned against the kitchen doorframe, arms crossed, head tilted as she watched him. His tone as he recited the steps was as calm as when he gave mission reports. The lemongrass on the counter had already been flattened, the white core exposed, and a crisp lemony aroma began to drift through the air. The galangal had been peeled and sliced into even pieces, arranged on a plate alongside the lemongrass. The brown sugar and fish sauce were measured out, each in its own small bowl.

"It's not like you get duck that often—why go out of your way to learn?" Ji Yunshu asked, knowing the answer perfectly well, the corners of her mouth already curling up.

Pei Yufeng didn't turn around. He fished the blanched duck out and ran it under cold water from the tap. His voice mixed with the sound of the running water, his tone very matter-of-fact: "Because you like it."

Just four words. But Ji Yunshu, leaning against the doorframe, watched his back as he stood at the stove carefully rinsing the duck, and felt like someone had poured an entire jar of warm honey into her chest—sweetness spreading all the way from her heart to her throat.

For the next three hours, Pei Yufeng barely left the kitchen. He put the duck in a clay pot, added water and seasonings, brought it to a boil over high heat, then reduced to low, covered it, and let it simmer slowly. Every so often he'd lift the lid to turn the duck and prevent the skin from sticking to the pot.

Ji Yunshu dragged a chair over and sat at the kitchen doorway, a book on garment cutting she'd brought back from the capital spread across her knees, reading in a desultory fashion. Huājuǎn, drawn by the smell of meat, paced back and forth at the kitchen entrance, tail held high, meowing and rubbing her head against Pei Yufeng's calf to beg for food.

Pei Yufeng also made fresh cat food for the two kittens, all while keeping his eyes fixed on the dancing flames.

After another hour or so, the sauce in the clay pot gradually deepened from light brown to dark brown. The aromas of lemongrass and galangal rose with the steam, mingling with the caramel sweetness of brown sugar and the savory saltiness of fish sauce, filling the entire kitchen.

Ji Yunshu put down her book, took a deep breath, and her stomach cooperatively growled. She leaned back in her chair and watched Pei Yufeng lift the lid, poke a drumstick with his chopsticks to test how tender it was, then cover it again and adjust the heat.

His movements were unhurried. Fine beads of sweat had formed on his forehead, and a small spot of sauce had stained his shirtsleeve, but he didn't seem to notice. He just focused on watching over that clay pot, waiting for the food to be ready.

Two hours later, Pei Yufeng turned off the heat. He lifted the duck out, arranged it on a plate, and ladled the thick sauce from the pot over it. The moment the sauce hit, the dark brown liquid ran down the grain of the meat, the skin glistening and soft from the long simmer—a gentle press with chopsticks left a small indentation. He arranged the side vegetables Ji Yunshu liked—potatoes, eggplant, and such—beside the duck and brought it straight to the table.

Ji Yunshu was already seated at the table, chopsticks in hand, waiting eagerly. She picked up a piece of drumstick meat, blew on it twice, and put it in her mouth. The skin was soft and clung to her lips, the meat tender and fully infused with flavor. The sauce was savory with a hint of sweetness, the sweetness carrying the crisp lemony fragrance of lemongrass and the warm spiciness of galangal—each layer of flavor unfolding distinctly.

Pei Yufeng's braised duck was slightly lighter in flavor than Huang Paimei's, and the meat was a touch less tender, but overall it was remarkably close. Ji Yunshu chewed the duck, eyes wide, staring at Pei Yufeng.

"How is it?" Pei Yufeng stood by the table, apron still on, holding a ladle, brows slightly furrowed, expression very serious.

"Delicious!" Ji Yunshu nodded emphatically and popped another piece of breast meat into her mouth, cheeks puffed out. "Really good—not far off from what Huang Jie made yesterday. Try it yourself."

He sat down across from her and picked up a slice of duck. He chewed twice, his brow relaxing a little, but then furrowed again. "Next time I'll simmer it a bit shorter. The meat's a little overdone."

"Pei Yufeng, how can you be like this—criticizing your own cooking." Ji Yunshu laughed, drawing out her words, and picked up another piece of duck. Then something occurred to her. She set down her chopsticks, tilted her head, and looked at him. "You went out of your way to ask Huang Jie for the recipe—is it because I didn't take you along yesterday?"

Pei Yufeng's chopsticks paused mid-air as he reached for another piece of duck. Just for a moment. Then he continued as if nothing had happened and brought it to his mouth. "No."

"Sure it's not." Ji Yunshu's eyes curved into crescents with laughter. She propped her chin on both hands, looking at him, her voice carrying an unmistakable teasing tone. "Brother Pei, you're even jealous of Huang Jie?"

Pei Yufeng looked up at her. Ji Yunshu's eyes were bright, the corners of her mouth turned up, wearing that smug expression of someone who'd seen right through him and was deliberately teasing. He set down his chopsticks, picked up his enamel mug, and took a sip of water. His tone was calm and unruffled, but the faint flush at the tips of his ears gave him away. "From now on, tell me all the dishes you like. I'll learn them."

Ji Yunshu froze. Her smile was still at the corners of her mouth, but the teasing in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by a quiet tenderness.

She looked down at the duck glistening with sauce on the plate, nudged the sauce on the skin with her chopsticks, then looked up at him across the table, through the steam rising from the food. Her voice was soft: "Then aren't you going to have to learn every dish on the mess hall menu?"

"If you like them." Pei Yufeng said it calmly, as if stating the most ordinary thing in the world. "I'll learn them all."

Author's note:

None