Although Chen Lishu didn't say it directly, Lin Xiaoyue could sense a subtle difference. The thought of her own sister harboring such intentions sent a chill through her.
Chen Lishu paid no mind to Lin Xiaohui, and thus her mood remained unaffected. Upon returning home, she began kneading dough and preparing fillings for dumplings.
Despite working alone, Chen Lishu was always swift and efficient. Before long, she had made a whole tray of dumplings. Estimating Gu Xingdong's return, she timed it perfectly to put the dumplings into boiling water. Just as the plump, white dumplings floated to the surface, Gu Xingdong pushed the door open.
"Go wash your hands quickly. I've made dumplings with chives and meat. Dinner is ready."
Gu Xingdong obediently strode to the bathroom to wash his hands.
"I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?" Chen Lishu asked during dinner.
Gu Xingdong picked up a dumpling and popped it into his mouth, his mouth instantly filled with a delightful aroma. "Alright."
"Here." Chen Lishu rose, went into the inner room, and took out the admission notice, unfolding it for Gu Xingdong to see. She smiled, a hint of pride in her expression.
"Didn't you say it would come after the New Year? It arrived so quickly?"
Gu Xingdong put down his chopsticks and took the notice, examining it. At the top were the bold words "Provincial Teachers College Admission Notice," followed by the student's information and photograph.
"Enrollment at the end of the month?" Gu Xingdong's gaze fell on the reporting date on the notice. "Then there isn't much time left."
This year was Little Year; they would have to report after the fifteenth of the first lunar month.
Chen Lishu nodded. "It's close for me, so I don't have to rush too much."
Gu Xingdong withdrew his gaze from the notice and looked up, asking, "What's the bad news?"
Chen Lishu chuckled. "I heard from some of the other military wives that the logistics department is specially arranging a truck tomorrow to take us to the city to buy New Year's goods."
Having a special vehicle, and for New Year's goods as well as preparations for school, she was bound to buy a lot.
Gu Xingdong nodded upon hearing her words. "Will it be manpower or effort?"
Chen Lishu couldn't help but laugh. "Is money acceptable?"
"No," Gu Xingdong refused with mock seriousness. "Submitting finances is a family rule."
Chen Lishu burst into laughter.
At the Wu residence, after dinner that evening, as the couple lay in bed chatting, Lin Xiaoyue told him about her decision to have Lin Xiaohui return to their hometown. However, she felt too embarrassed to mention what had happened earlier that day.
"Xiaohui is already nineteen this year. The family is anxious and should start looking for a match for her."
Wu Zheng was surprised to hear her words. "Why is she leaving now? We always said she'd spend the New Year here. Besides, train tickets are sure to be hard to buy in the days leading up to the New Year."
Lin Xiaoyue pursed her lips. "My family is urging me."
"Alright," Wu Zheng agreed, then lowered his head and leaned close to her rounded belly. "Let Dad hear, did my son behave himself today?"
Lin Xiaoyue playfully swatted him. "Don't keep talking about 'son, son.' What if it's a daughter and she hears it? She'll be so sad."
Wu Zheng readily conceded. "It just slipped out. Whether it's a boy or a girl, I'll love them for sure."
He then leaned closer to her belly and whispered, "Dad doesn't mean anything else. I'll like a daughter too."
Whether the baby in her belly understood or was angered, it suddenly kicked Wu Zheng fiercely through her abdomen.
As dawn broke, when the reveille sounded, Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong got up together. After tidying themselves, they went out and encountered several military wives on the way. Since they weren't well acquainted, they merely nodded to each other as a greeting.
However, Chen Lishu felt that the gazes of some of them were a bit strange, yet she couldn't pinpoint what was wrong.
Although they lived in the same compound, they had never exchanged a single word. Chen Lishu felt she might be overthinking it. Seeing the truck waiting at the entrance, she decided to let it go and hurried over to climb into the back.
The more advantageous spots inside the truck bed had already been taken by several military wives, who were now chatting casually. Seeing Chen Lishu get on, one of them deliberately made space for her.
Chen Lishu smiled and thanked her. "Thank you, sister-in-law."
"Little Chen, I heard you have surplus grain coupons. Could you possibly spare some for me?" the sister-in-law who made space for her asked, leaning closer and lowering her voice.
Chen Lishu was taken aback by her question. "Sister-in-law, where did you hear that?"
The inquiring sister-in-law's eyes flickered. "Someone said so, so I asked."
"Sister-in-law, perhaps you misheard. Although there are only two of us at home, my husband's training is strenuous, and I feel for him. I always try to buy fine grains, and honestly, sometimes grain coupons are not even enough."
Let alone that she didn't have any leftover grain coupons each month, even if she did, she would never engage in small dealings within the family area. So many eyes were watching. Unless she wanted to cause trouble for Gu Xingdong's smooth career, she wouldn't do anything like that.
Seeing her earnest words, the other woman thought she might indeed have misheard, or there was some misunderstanding.
Subsequently, several more military wives got on, including Wang Yufen. The moment she saw Chen Lishu, her steps faltered. She didn't go further inside, and despite the cold wind, she sat on the outer fringe.
As time drew near, the truck began to move. After more than an hour, the vehicle slowly stopped at an intersection.
Everyone got off the truck.
"Ladies, you can go buy whatever you need. The truck will depart punctually at 4 PM. Please do not miss the time," the young soldier told them before driving away.
Chen Lishu didn't rush to buy food. Instead, she first went to the department store to purchase items for school.
The school was quite thoughtful. Along with the admission notice, they had also mailed a guide for enrollment, which not only specified the school's address and bus routes but also listed the items generally needed for the start of the semester.
Chen Lishu had made a list at home. She had already prepared bedsheets and quilts; she still needed a travel bag, an aluminum lunchbox, a washbasin, and a thermos.
Other items such as her household registration, grain and oil transfer certificates, and provincial general grain coupons had been prepared before she came.
She bought everything on her list one by one, and then carried the jingling items to the foodstuff store.
With the New Year approaching, the store was crowded with people. Chen Lishu had no choice but to queue at each counter. Looking at the sea of people in front of her, Chen Lishu finally understood why the young soldier had set such a late pick-up time. If she had to queue at every counter, it would probably take until dawn.
"Chen Lishu?"
Chen Lishu was queuing at the counter selling fruit candies when she suddenly heard someone call her name. She turned her head and saw Zhao Hong queuing in a different line for sunflower seeds and peanuts.
After not seeing her for more than half a year, she seemed even thinner, almost gaunt. She wore a red top and green pants that didn't fit well. Her hair was casually tied into a braid hanging down her back. The whole person looked not in her early twenties, but more like in her thirties.