Chen Lishu slapped her forehead as soon as she stepped out of the room, how could she have forgotten about the sewing machine and the delivery man.
Thinking that Gu Xingdong was also there when she left, she hurried back to ask about the situation. As soon as she turned, her forehead suddenly bumped into a thin, strong, military green chest.
Chen Lishu took a step back, and even without looking up, she knew who it was.
"I've put the sewing machine in Mom and Dad's room. I've also settled the payment for that person," as if knowing what she was thinking, Gu Xingdong's low voice came from above before she could ask, and he proactively cleared her doubts.
"Thank you," Chen Lishu nodded, "Then I'll go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy vegetables."
After Chen Lishu finished speaking, fearing he might say he would go with her, she quickly added, "I'm not buying much, I can go by myself."
After a long while, there was no sound from above. Chen Lishu looked up and her gaze met a pair of eyes as black as a deep pool with cold stars.
"Go ahead," her thin lips parted, and Chen Lishu felt as if she had received a great pardon.
Gu Xingdong originally wanted to say he would accompany her. But seeing that she seemed a little afraid of him, he thought there would be plenty of time and didn't push too hard.
Chen Lishu went to the supply and marketing cooperative and first bought a pound of meat and a pound of peanuts. Seeing that bean sprouts were available, she bought another pound.
There were no green vegetables in the countryside at this time, so on the way back, Chen Lishu thought about it and detoured to the Zhao family, who made tofu, to buy two pieces of tofu and a pound of dried tofu.
After returning, she didn't go back to her room but went straight to the kitchen. Zhang Qin saw her return and followed to help.
"Third sister-in-law, it's rare for third brother to come back, you should go into the room and talk to him, I'll handle things here," Zhang Qin said as soon as she entered.
Chen Lishu shook her head, "Eldest sister-in-law, Xingdong will be back for a few days, so there's no rush."
Zhang Qin thought about it and said, "Third sister-in-law, what are you going to make? Is there anything I can help with?"
Chen Lishu was peeling potatoes and said, pointing to the chives that Li Xiulan had grown under the kitchen windowsill, "Eldest sister-in-law, I need chives, please cut some for me to use."
Although it was already spring, the vegetables in the self-reserved plot had just started to sprout and were not edible at all.
Zhang Qin nodded and went to cut chives from under the window.
Since they were all relatively simple dishes, Chen Lishu quickly made four dishes.
A plate of peanuts. A plate of fried dried tofu shreds with chives and bean sprouts. A plate of potato stew with meat, and a plate of Mapo tofu.
"The food in the army must not be as good as at home. Xingdong, eat more. Mom thinks you've lost weight," Li Xiulan said, placing two chopsticks of meat into Gu Xingdong's bowl.
"Yes, third brother, these dishes were all made by third sister-in-law. She is the best cook in the family. Try them quickly," Zhang Qin spoke up to put in a good word for Chen Lishu.
"Yes, third uncle, my third aunt cooks very well. Especially the braised rabbit meat, I can eat four bowls of rice in one go!" Gu Zhao said, looking up from his bowl and adding to his mother's words.
"You brat, you still have the nerve to say that. If you hadn't eaten all the food, would I have only eaten two bowls of rice?" Gu Xingye raised his hand and flicked his nephew's forehead.
A growing boy eats his father poor. If the two of them ate their fill, it could be a day's ration for the family.
"Third brother, try it quickly, didn't I tell you? My third sister-in-law not only looks beautiful, but she also cooks well," Gu Xingping said, winking at her third brother.
Gu Xingdong picked up the meat in his bowl, swallowed it in a few bites, and looked at Chen Lishu opposite him, "It is indeed delicious."
Chen Lishu felt his gaze, which was almost palpable, and lowered her head even further. Her face was not large to begin with, barely reaching the rim of the bowl in front of her.
Everyone enjoyed the meal. After eating, Gu Xingdong brought over his backpack. Everyone curiously looked over.
Gu Xingdong began to take things out one by one. The top layer was food: biscuits, malted milk, canned candies, etc. Among them was even a bag of chocolate that was not available in the town. In the middle were the military uniforms he had saved over the years. There were three new sets in total, just enough for Gu Xingguo and his two brothers to each have one. At the bottom were his own two sets of spare clothes.
"Third brother, you are too good. Do you remember the Zhang family brothers in front of our village? They used to fight with us all the time. Zhang Lao Er got a military uniform from somewhere and showed it off to me for a long time. Let's see what he says this time," Gu Xingye took the military uniform and eagerly put it on to try it out.
Unfortunately, he was shorter than Gu Xingdong, so the clothes and pants needed to be taken in.
"Since third sister-in-law just bought a sewing machine, she can help you alter it, fourth brother," Liu Yuemin, who had not spoken much, suddenly said with a smile.
"Third brother, you don't know how capable your wife is. She's made a lot of money privately through speculation. She just bought a sewing machine."
Although Liu Yuemin was smiling, she was incredibly jealous. She had specifically inquired. Gu Xingdong was a soldier, and if his dependents broke the law, both of them would be in trouble if it was discovered.
Chen Lishu, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly looked up when she heard Liu Yuemin's words. Her calm eyes first looked at Liu Yuemin, then turned to look at Gu Xingdong.
She wondered what his reaction would be if he knew about this.
Gu Xingdong had always thought that the sewing machine was bought by the family. He didn't expect it to be bought by his own young wife. Hearing Liu Yuemin say she was speculating, his brow furrowed unconsciously.
Seeing him frown, Chen Lishu felt a hint of disappointment.
At this time, people's acceptance of doing business was not high. Especially since Gu Xingdong was an officer in the army, he would likely be even more repulsed by this matter.
However, Chen Lishu had already made up her mind. Even if Gu Xingdong objected, she would not compromise. At worst, they wouldn't get married, and it wouldn't affect him.
The lessons from her past life were too profound. It was better to rely on oneself than on anyone else. Only when a woman is economically independent can she achieve true happiness.
"Dad, Mom, I didn't know what Lishu liked before I came back, so I didn't buy her anything. Tomorrow, I want to take her to town so she can pick out whatever she likes."
Gu Xingdong did not respond to Liu Yuemin's words, but turned and said to Li Xiulan and Gu Shoufu.
Li Xiulan had been about to remind her son, but seeing him proactively suggest it, she couldn't agree fast enough and nodded repeatedly, "Okay. Since you're back, I'll go tell the team tomorrow that Lishu doesn't need to go to work these few days. You two young people can get to know each other better."
Chen Lishu opened her mouth, about to say something, when Gu Xingdong quickly interjected, "Thank you, Mom."
"It's getting late, and everyone has things to do tomorrow. Hurry back to your rooms and sleep," Li Xiulan looked at her third son and his wife, and urged everyone to go back to sleep before it was completely dark.
Everyone consciously got up and left. Liu Yuemin was still thinking about the food Gu Xingdong brought back and wanted to ask for some, but after being glared at by Li Xiulan, she reluctantly turned and left.
Chen Lishu watched Gu Xingdong get up, and her heart began to beat rapidly again.