The house had been allocated at the end of last month. Gu Xingdong had taken the time to give it a coat of white paint, but there wasn't time to do anything else before he was injured.
The three of them soon arrived downstairs in the military dependents' housing area. When the housing was being distributed, Gu Xingdong had specifically asked Chen Lishu which floor she wanted. If she chose the first floor, there would be an open space of over ten square meters in front of the window. Thinking it would be more convenient for growing vegetables later, Chen Lishu chose the first floor.
The room was a very ordinary two-bedroom apartment with a usable area of over forty square meters. Because it had already been whitewashed, it looked very clean and bright.
One of the bedrooms had two metal frame beds pushed together and a set of military blankets. In the kitchen, Wu Zheng had helped install the gas tank, and Lin Xiaoyue had also prepared cookware. They could move in and start cooking right away.
"We don't have much here at home. I figured it wouldn't be convenient for you to go out and buy things, so I brought you some radishes, cabbage, and potatoes, as well as half a bag of rice and flour," Wu Zheng said to Chen Lishu, pointing to the space under the stove.
Seeing that he had explained everything, Wu Zheng said to the two of them, "You've just returned, so get some good rest. If you need anything, just call me from across the way, sister-in-law. I have training this afternoon, so I'll head back now."
As he walked away, Wu Zheng deliberately bumped Gu Xingdong's shoulder and lowered his voice meaningfully, "You have an injury on your leg, take it easy."
Gu Xingdong shot him a glare and spat out one word: "Scram."
Wu Zheng, true to form, grinned and "scrammed."
"You have an injury on your leg, so go lie down on the bed first. I'll call you when I've made dinner," Chen Lishu said, helping him onto the bed before heading to the kitchen. Because the ingredients were incomplete and seasonings were limited, she simply made some noodle soup, adding a few shredded cabbage leaves and diced carrots.
After they had eaten, Chen Lishu took out the paper and pen she had brought and began writing a list of things to purchase the next day. There were too many things needed for the house, and without a list, she was afraid she would forget something.
"This room can be the bedroom, and that room can be the study and guest room. Mom and Dad can stay here when they visit," Chen Lishu said, looking up at Gu Xingdong as she wrote.
"Mm, that's fine."
"We need a big cabinet in the room. I don't like wooden chests, and clothes can't be hung up."
"Mm."
"What do you think..."
Chen Lishu spoke and wrote, and when she looked up, she found Gu Xingdong sitting on the bed, staring intently at her. She instinctively reached up and touched her face, "Is something dirty on my face?"
Gu Xingdong shook his head and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Are you tired?"
Chen Lishu's face flushed slightly, "You're still injured."
Gu Xingdong's eyes twinkled with amusement as he teased her, "Can't you sleep with an injury?"
"Of course not. What if the wound splits open? Besides, it's daytime."
"Heh." Gu Xingdong couldn't help but reach out and ruffle her hair. "I'm just seeing that you're tired from the day, asking if you want to lie down with me. If you really want to do *that*, your man isn't incapable, you know. This little injury won't affect normal performance."
Seeing that he was becoming more and more inappropriate, Chen Lishu put away her paper and pen and stood up. "I'm not bothering with you."
Gu Xingdong, seeing her about to leave, said urgently, "Where are you going?"
"We don't have a kettle at home, so I'm going to borrow one from the Wu family next door to boil some water to drink."
Chen Lishu said to him, turned, and walked out. Gu Xingdong heard the door close, then leaned back completely, his gaze fixed on the freshly whitewashed ceiling, and let out a contented sigh. This would be their home from now on.
Chen Lishu stepped out of the room and went upstairs to the Wu family's apartment next door. She stood at the door and knocked twice. Soon, Lin Xiaoyue responded from inside, and then the door was opened.
Chen Lishu smiled, "Sister-in-law, hello."
"Come in quickly. I was just thinking of coming over to your place to see you, and you've arrived already," Lin Xiaoyue said enthusiastically, inviting her in. She started to pour water for her, but Chen Lishu stopped her.
"We don't have a kettle at home, so we can't drink water, and it's too late to go to the city now. So, I wanted to borrow your kettle for a bit. I'll return it after I've boiled some water."
"It's fine, take it. I just boiled a pot and poured it into the thermos, so I don't need it urgently. You can return it whenever you buy one," Lin Xiaoyue said readily and went to the kitchen to get the kettle for Chen Lishu.
"Thank you, sister-in-law. I'll head back now. Once I've settled in, I'll invite you and Brother Wu over for dinner," Chen Lishu said gratefully, taking the kettle and heading home.
Back home, Chen Lishu first boiled a kettle of hot water. Then, she took out string and roughly measured the length and width of each room in the house, noting them down so she would have an idea of what size items to buy when she went to the city tomorrow.
"Don't buy any large items first. It's inconvenient to transport them back and forth. Once my leg is better, I'll find a vehicle and we can go pick them up together."
"We might not find anything we like, though. I'll look around first," Chen Lishu said with a smile.
As dusk gradually settled, she first helped Gu Xingdong with his washing up and then tidied herself up simply. As soon as she lay down on the bed, a pair of large hands reached for her. Seeing that Chen Lishu didn't say anything, Gu Xingdong's hands began to get restless, slowly moving across the "plains" to conquer the "high ground." Chen Lishu gave him a warning pat, and he finally retreated.
The next day, as the military bugle sounded, they both opened their eyes almost simultaneously.
"You're still recuperating, so sleep in a bit longer. I'll go make breakfast," Chen Lishu said, getting up.
Years of military routine were deeply ingrained in him. Gu Xingdong couldn't sleep anyway, so he got up with her. Although he couldn't put weight on his left leg, his right leg was fine.
He slowly hobbled to the bathroom to wash up.
For breakfast, Chen Lishu steamed rice and stir-fried some shredded cabbage. After they ate, she gave Gu Xingdong a few instructions and then, with her satchel slung over her shoulder, left the barracks and took a bus to the city.
There were many things needed for the house, and buying new items would certainly cost a lot of money. She had thought about it last night as she lay in bed; she wanted to go to the scrap metal recycling station first.
During her previous trip to the town to look for books, she had learned that the scrap metal recycling station also sold used furniture. If she was lucky, she might find some good wooden furniture.
With her mind made up, Chen Lishu arrived in the city and followed directions to the scrap metal recycling station.
Her luck was good. She found a decent lacquered wooden dressing table, but the mirror was broken and needed to be reinstalled. There was also a cabinet piece, likely part of a larger set, but this section was still relatively intact.
Additionally, there was a foldable round dining table, but one of its legs was damaged. Beside it were two round stools, likely part of the same set as the table. However, the stool legs had scratches, possibly from being smashed during turbulent times.
She couldn't find anything else useful among the miscellaneous items. In total, she spent nearly a hundred yuan.
The old man at the scrap metal recycling station was overjoyed to have sold so many items at once.
"Uncle, I saw a tricycle in your yard. I have so many things, could you help me deliver them to my home?" Chen Lishu then gave him the address.
When the scrap metal collector heard how far it was, he repeatedly shook his head and refused.