Under the cover of night, Zhi Xia had written a letter which she temporarily stored in her space. On the first night without Pei Jing at home, she lived very comfortably, just like the life she had imagined before.
The temperature in the space was just right. She could watch dramas, play games, read books, listen to music... However, considering that she was still pregnant, she didn't dare to stay up too late. When her eyes felt a little strained, she went to bed.
In the morning, she woke up on the soft big bed in her own space. After washing up, she had originally wanted to make some food first, but remembering what An Zhiqing had said last night, she decided to start a fire outside instead.
Coming out of the space wearing cotton-padded jacket and trousers, she was instantly assaulted by the cold all over her body, shivering directly.
This was the only downside - the huge temperature difference between the inside and outside. She was really afraid that going in and out of the space like this would make her more prone to catch a cold.
When she was inside the house it was still alright. But after walking out of the door, the weather outside was even colder, mixed with gusts of cold wind blowing by from time to time.
The coal stove at home hadn't been lit yet. Because in the past few days, they were busy tidying up the house, and the three meals were all brought back from the canteen by Pei Jing.
Before leaving, he had wanted to light the coal stove, but Zhi Xia said she could go get meals by herself, so Pei Jing didn't insist.
In addition, unlike other families, they didn't have cabbage, radish stored or vegetables dried that they could use. To buy would require food tickets, and it was inconvenient to run back and forth to town. Also, the cellar at home hadn't been dug yet, so there was no place to store things. These could only wait until he came back to slowly deal with.
But before leaving, he had bought this month's ration of grains, and told her that if she didn't want to go get meals because it was too cold, she could go to sister-in-law Feng Xia's house to borrow two cabbages, and pay her back after he returned.
After all, with An Zhiqing around, he was not worried that Zhi Xia would go hungry.
She took out the brand new coal stove from the kitchen, and put in three lumps of coal.
Lin Fengxia had many children at home. She had to take care of the older and younger ones early in the morning. Fortunately, the school-aged children could go to school by themselves now without the adults sending them, so the older ones took the younger ones and ran off in a streak, leaving only one preschooler at home to bother her.
Hearing her talking in the yard, Zhi Xia looked up and called out, "Sister-in-law Fengxia, can you help light up the coal for me?"
"Oh, I just put a new piece in and lit it up this morning. Come over and get it yourself." Lin Fengxia said enthusiastically.
Zhi Xia took one of her new coal lumps, and went next door to exchange it with the top one that sister-in-law Fengxia had just lit.
However, these words didn't sit well with Shen Hongxing when she overheard them.
Looking at Yang Jun who was still eating breakfast in the room, she chattered, "It's always Sister Fengxia this, Sister Fengxia that. This little daughter-in-law of Pei Jing is obviously a silly girl. Giving pastries the day before yesterday and exchanging coal today, who knows what else she has been tricked into giving in places we can't see. "
Hearing this, Yang Jun instantly lost his appetite. Throwing down his chopsticks, he asked her, "Enough. Don't be a sour grape. Take a look at your own virtue before talking about others. She just moved in and you're already badmouthing her behind her back, yet you still expect her to give you things. Do you think she's a fool you can bully however you want?"
Even if his daughter-in-law was silly, Pei Jing was not someone to be trifled with.
He was the youngest colonel in the entire military district, highly valued by the leaders above. He had accomplished countless achievements big and small, and received many merits.
If it wasn't for him being too young to be promoted further, his rank could have been raised even higher!
Since they lived so close, he knew very well that Pei Jing's wife had given pastries to Sister Fengxia one day, and the next day Sister Fengxia went to help tidy up things at their home for half a day. Yet his own mother-in-law didn't even show her face, and still dared to talk about others.
It was really shameless. He felt his mother-in-law had skin thicker than the soles of shoes.
"What's my virtue? What did I do wrong?" Being scolded like this, Shen Hongxing was naturally unhappy. Pointing at Yang Jun, she scolded, "Yang Jun, now that you've made it, you look down on me, your yellow-faced mother-in-law, don't you? Day after day, no matter what I do, it's never to your satisfaction. I can't even say a word without being wrong. I might as well pack up and go back home, so you can get promoted and get rich and dump your mother-in-law, and quickly find a perfect vixen to your liking..."
"You... you're simply unreasonable. If you really want me to retire from the army, let's take the family back to our hometown to farm. Go ahead and keep making trouble!" Yang Jun was too lazy to argue with her. He understood that his glib tongue was no match for his mother-in-law's. He simply threw this hat on her and left, to get some peace and quiet for himself.
The noisy voices faintly reached Zhi Xia, but coming to this place for the past few days, she had gotten used to hearing Shen Hongxing and Yang Jun bicker from time to time.
Zhi Xia calmly placed the coal lump she had exchanged from Sister Fengxia at the bottom of the stove, then added two more lumps on top, and opened the bottom vent. The fire grew up quickly.
She carried the stove into the kitchen, boiled two bottles of water, and took out the food she ate from the space. Lighting the coal stove was just for show to others.
When she had time in the space, she practiced cooking and stored the finished dishes in storage slots. Taking them out, they were still in their original state, quite convenient to eat.
Also, the cookware in the space was more advanced and easy to use. Washing them was also very convenient.
With Pei Jing away, although they had bought a big water vat earlier, and he had filled it with water before leaving, she still didn't know how many days it could last.
The people living around were quite crowded, so many could see whoever went in and out. Even just for show, she still had to make a trip or two to fetch water, otherwise it would seem suspicious again like last night when she didn't cook.
At noon, An Zhiqing came over again, carrying a large net bag with two cabbages and a bag of potatoes.
"Pei Jing said before leaving that you don't have any vegetables here, so he told me to come over more often to see if you need anything. Also, don't worry about saving the water in the vat. Use it as you need. I'll come refill it after it's used up." An Zhiqing was quite satisfied with this point about Pei Jing. Although not here in person, at least he still remembered to care for the home, indeed a responsible family man.
Of course, that was the only consolation. After all, compared to his own younger sister, Pei Jing was a whole eight years older. Whenever An Zhiqing thought of this, he felt heartache, as if his little bok choy had been dug up by pigs.
As he spoke, he lifted the lid of the water vat and asked Zhi Xia, "You didn't use water this morning?" The vat was still full, showing no signs of being used.
Zhi Xia was startled by his inspection. She quickly explained, "I used it. But I used the remaining hot water from the warmer for washing up in the morning. For cooking, I just made two steamed buns with the pickled vegetables we brought from home, so I didn't use much."
In fact, she did her washing in the space, and also used the water in the space for cooking.
Because she felt the water in the space was more mellow and tasted better.
She was cared for a bit too closely, leaving Zhi Xia crying inside but unable to cry out.
Would her elder brother come to inspect like this every day?
If so, how could she live freely as she wished during the time Pei Jing was not home?
Fortunately, An Zhiqing didn't doubt her. Nodding, he said, "Eat and use what you need. If you lack anything, just tell your elder brother. With elder brother looking after you while Pei Jing is away, don't feel reserved."
An Zhiqing didn't come so diligently for no reason. He could see that his younger sister was a gentle and quiet girl. He was just worried that she would have difficulties but didn't dare to speak up, which was why he cared more.
