"No wonder it was settled so quickly without a peep. Is there some other reason?" a military wife asked meaningfully.
Wang Yufen smiled and didn't reply.
When Chen Lishu pushed the door open, she overheard their conversation. Her gaze fell on Wang Yufen. After a period of not seeing her, her complexion was much better than when the old Mrs. Wei was around.
"Comrade Chen is here. What do you want to buy?" The saleswoman stopped chatting with the group as soon as she saw her enter and asked with a smile.
"Is there still pork? I want to buy some more." It was already the twelfth lunar month, and it was minus ten to twenty degrees Celsius outside. Dumplings would freeze. Normally, when she wasn't home, Gu Xingdong could cook them conveniently.
"There's one piece left, about four catties, but it has skin. Do you want it?"
Chen Lishu's eyes fell on the piece of meat. Although it had skin, the fat in the middle was also quite thick, so she nodded, "Alright, weigh it all for me."
"Sister-in-law, you're so generous. It's good not to have children to raise. You buy meat by the catties, unlike us who can only eat meat during the New Year," Wang Yufen said with a smile, glancing at the other two military wives.
Chen Lishu handed over the money and ration coupons she had. She looked at Wang Yufen and smiled, "It's mainly because my mother-in-law is reasonable. She never asked us to split half our salary and ration coupons back."
Wang Yufen's fake smile froze. Everyone knew her mother-in-law had been driven away.
After buying the meat and returning home, Chen Lishu first removed the pork skin, cleaned it, and then cut off a thick layer of fat.
The cleaned pork skin was cut into strips to make pork skin jelly later. The white fat was cut into fingernail-sized cubes to render lard and make crispy pork cracklings.
After everything was prepared, she asked Chen Liyuan to chop the meat filling. Chen Lishu went to the window to cut garlic sprouts and then scooped out some pickled cabbage from the jar. There were two kinds of dumpling fillings: garlic sprouts and crispy pork cracklings, and pickled cabbage with streaky pork.
The sisters busied themselves for an afternoon and made over 300 dumplings. Chen Lishu's pork skin jelly was also almost set. She cut a piece and put it in a bowl for Chen Liyuan to take to Zhao Guiying next door.
The dumplings outside were also solidly frozen. Chen Lishu put them into a flour sack and hung them outside the window in a cool place.
The sky outside gradually darkened. Chen Lishu glanced at the time; it was almost six o'clock. She started boiling water to cook the dumplings.
The sisters didn't eat much, but considering Gu Xingdong's appetite, Chen Lishu cooked over a hundred dumplings, filling three large plates.
...
"Old Zhou, you look so cheerful because of the good news. Your wife is pregnant, look how happy you are, your mouth is splitting to your ears."
Wu Zheng couldn't help but tease Zhou Liang, seeing his smug look.
"Alas, after years of being a daughter-in-law, my wife is finally becoming a mother. After years, I'm finally becoming a father."
As Zhou Liang spoke, he nudged Gu Xingdong with his elbow. "Old Gu, thank you so much for your advice last time to let me take leave to see my wife. Who knew it was just that one time? I'll definitely treat you two to a good meal another day."
Gu Xingdong looked at the bruises on his forehead and chin but didn't expose him. Instead, he smiled and said, "Sure, Old Wu and I will be waiting."
As they walked towards the military residential area, seeing the dim, warm lights reflecting from their respective windows, the three men unconsciously quickened their pace.
When Gu Xingdong opened the door and walked in, he saw Chen Lishu coming out of the kitchen with dumplings. His eyes lit up.
"I find you're a mind reader. You know exactly what I want to eat," Gu Xingdong said as he walked to the table, wrapped his arms around her shoulders from behind, and bent down to kiss her.
Chen Lishu quickly raised her hand to push his face away and glanced towards Chen Liyuan's room, whispering, "Be careful."
Gu Xingdong raised an eyebrow. Ignoring her resistance, he finally brushed a quick kiss on her face before contentedly heading to the bathroom to wash his hands.
The rough stubble on his face felt uncomfortable. It was a pity the culprit ran away so fast. Chen Lishu could only grit her teeth at his retreating back.
"Liyuan, it's time to eat." She called into the room, and Chen Liyuan soon came out. The three of them sat down together for dinner.
At night, after the couple had finished a silent exchange, Chen Lishu turned on her side, propping her head with her elbow, and looked at Gu Xingdong.
Gu Xingdong turned his head to look at her. His eyes, as black as obsidian, sparkled under the light. "Want more?"
Chen Lishu gave him a playful glare and said seriously, "What are you thinking? I have something important to tell you."
Gu Xingdong's smile faded slightly. He said seriously, "What is it?"
"Do you remember the little boy we rescued before?"
"I remember."
"I ran into him a couple of days ago. He was dressed so thinly in the middle of winter, begging, and someone was bullying him..."
Chen Lishu recounted what happened that day and then sighed, "Thinking about it, that child is quite pitiful. Not only was he trafficked, but he also had residual health problems, and the welfare home didn't have money to treat him."
Chen Lishu looked up, her gaze falling on Gu Xingdong, and tentatively said, "What do you think about us adopting him?"
Gu Xingdong's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly at her words. He didn't object to adopting a child, as it would also alleviate the burden on the country. However...
"I'm busy with work and definitely won't be able to take care of him. You're also studying. Can you take good care of a child? Raising a child is not a whim or a moment of pity. If we decide to adopt, we must fulfill our responsibilities as parents. Otherwise, it's better to visit the welfare home more often."
Seeing that he didn't object, Chen Lishu's spirits immediately lifted, and she sat up in bed.
Gu Xingdong, afraid she would catch a cold, quickly wrapped her in the quilt. "How old are you to be so jumpy?"
Chen Lishu chuckled and then explained her plan. "I definitely can't do it this month. The school needs to review and prepare for final exams, and there's also a New Year's Day party. After New Year's Day, I'll be on vacation and will have time to take care of the child. After the new year, I'll rent a place opposite the school. After our school expanded enrollment, dormitory beds became very tight, and many students were commuting. At that time, I'll explain the situation and submit an application, and the department will surely agree. Moreover, little Ruirui will be due for kindergarten by then. It won't delay anything."
Gu Xingdong looked at her sparkling eyes and smiled dotingly, "I'm afraid you'll be too tired this way."
"Not tired. I'm a rich person now. If we have our own child later, I'll hire a nanny."
"Okay." Gu Xingdong said, reaching out to pull the lamp cord by the bed, and the room was plunged into darkness.
...
The next day, Chen Lishu and Chen Liyuan returned to the city together.
"Yuwei, for this New Year's Day party, the two of us will definitely shine. You've been studying piano for over ten years, you're not comparable to those clowns. When the time comes, you'll play the piano and I'll sing, and we'll definitely overshadow that person named Chen."
"I hope so." Jiang Yuwei lowered her eyes, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.
"With me here, you don't have to worry. I'll get back all the old and new grudges with interest."
...