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Chapter 113: Chapter 109 Visiting Relatives (Part 3)
Everyone who came to Wu Guoqiang’s house for dinner was a brother close to Li Hongjun. Li Hongjun had just been promoted to the company commander of First Company, and sitting with him were the company commander of Second Company, Xun Hui, the deputy company commander, Song Guoqing, and the political commissar of Third Company, Xiao Yunfeng.
Except for Wu Guoqiang, who was a bit older, the rest of them were all around twenty-something, just like Li Hongjun. After a few drinks, they all started babbling.
"Xiaoshen, our Hongjun is a good comrade. He came out of the same trench with us. I know him well, a real man. Once you’re with him, you’re set for a good life." Since Xiao Yunfeng was a few years older than Li Hongjun, he called Shen Yunfang ’Xiaoshen’ directly.
Shen Yunfang had just brought in a plate of sliced air-dried sausages when she heard these guys starting their nonsense.
Wu’s wife called from outside, "Yunfang, there’s nothing to worry about. Come and sit down to eat something, I’ll be ready in no time."
Shen Yunfang had just acknowledged with an "Okay," when Li Hongjun pulled her to sit by his side.
"Sister-in-law said it’s alright, now hurry up and eat." Li Hongjun handed over his chopsticks and bowl.
"Look, look, I told you so, our Hongjun really knows how to take care of people."
Shen Yunfang couldn’t say much else, so she just smiled, lowered her head, and pretended to be shy.
"Sister-in-law, don’t listen to their drivel. Li Hongjun, he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing, don’t be deceived by his facade, or you’ll regret it when it’s too late. We might not have much in our company, but there’s no shortage of good lads, hey, what are you doing?" Xun Hui, the company commander of Second Company, hadn’t finished speaking when he got elbowed by his deputy, Song Guoqing, sitting next to him.
"Stop guzzling that cat piss and forgetting your own name, will you? Hongjun just beat you once in the grand martial competition, why you gotta be so mean and try to ruin a couple’s relationship?" Wu Guoqiang said bluntly.
"Tch, that’s because he played dirty! If you’ve got the guts, let’s have a rematch." Xun Hui shouted defiantly.
"All’s fair in war," Li Hongjun retorted coolly, holding his cup.
Shen Yunfang watched as Li Hongjun tried to steal her chopsticks again to pick up a peanut, only for her to stuff it back into his mouth, gave an exasperated look at the chopsticks in her hand, then picked up a slice of air-dried sausage for him.
Li Hongjun was munching on the air-dried sausage, feeling sweeter than honey in his heart. Nothing beat having his wife dote on him.
To Shen Yunfang, it seemed that all the dishes on the table were no match for her air-dried sausage, which was pure meat after all.
Wu’s wife had prepared four dishes for everyone: fried peanuts, likely to accompany their drinks, stewed cabbage with frozen tofu, pickled cabbage stew, and shredded potatoes.
It wasn’t that Wu’s wife didn’t want to cook something better; it was just what they had at home.
After serving Li Hongjun several pieces of the air-dried sausage, Shen Yunfang ignored him and started to eat her meal, which was sorghum rice, the staple here.
"Hey, Old Wu, this sausage is pretty good, delicious. Where did you get it from? How come you never bring it out normally? You only take it out when Yunfang shows up?" Xiao Yunfeng also tried a piece of the air-dried sausage and immediately noticed it was something special.
"Haha, you’re wronging me there. This sausage was brought by Yunfang," Wu Guoqiang quickly grabbed two more pieces for himself.
Upon hearing this, the other two men quickly reached out with their chopsticks and started to praise the dish as well.
Shen Yunfang shyly smiled, "I made these myself. If you guys like it, I can send more over later."
"Yunfang, let’s not give them any. It’s enough if you just give it to me," Li Hongjun whispered.
"Hey, hey, what’s with the whispering? You guys must be plotting something sneaky," Xun Hui called out while reaching for his chopsticks.
A few calls later, everyone had devoured the plate of dried sausage in mere moments.
In the end, Old Wu smacked his lips and summed it up, "This is really good, it’s just the cost that’s a bit high."
They weren’t fools; they could taste the ample meat in the sausage. To make such a sausage required a good deal of meat. Although they all earned salaries, they were so meager that supporting a family was a struggle, and managing meat for three to five meals a month was already fortunate. Life in the countryside was even tougher to compare. It must have taken the young lady quite some time to save up and make this treat for Hongjun. They were lucky to have a taste.
Shen Yunfang didn’t say a word, but she had already decided that once she got home, she would make some more and send them to Li Hongjun. These guys were all Hongjun’s buddies, and she could tell they were good people, so she was happy to help Hongjun save face.
"Let’s not pay attention to their nonsense. Yunfang, tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. Every year, our unit makes dumplings and watches the show together to celebrate. As a military spouse, if you’re free, you should come help out at the mess hall early. You’re not busy tomorrow, right?" Mrs. Wu, after getting her child situated, sat down beside Old Wu to join in the meal and took the opportunity to chat with Shen Yunfang.
Shen Yunfang quickly shook her head, "No, I’m free, but sister-in-law, I’m not very good at making dumplings. Would it be all right if I went?
Li Hongjun glanced at Shen Yunfang and kept silent. Last year, he had eaten her dumplings, which were generously filled with thin, delicate dough, plump and white after boiling, and delicious beyond words. It wasn’t that she couldn’t make dumplings—she made them very well.
"No problem, no problem, even if you don’t know how to make them, it’s always good to join in on the fun. Just come over after your midday nap tomorrow, and we’ll go together."
Mrs. Wu felt that this Yunfang was a sincere person, and she enjoyed her company. As military wives, they not only needed to support their husbands’ careers, but they also needed to be united in private. Without unity, conflicts could make the men look bad.
"Hehe, tomorrow we’ll finally get to see Wu Hao’s fiancée. I heard she’s from the city and quite the beauty," Xun Hui giggled mischievously.
In their camp, one of the battalions’ deputy commanders, Sun Dahai, had gone home to get married. The political commissar of the second company, Zhao Jianguo, was much older and didn’t really fit in with them, so he usually didn’t attend these gatherings. The deputy commander of the third company, Li Mingyuan, had gone home for a family visit. Then there was the commander of the third company, Wu Hao. His fiancée had arrived the day before, unwilling to stay in the barracks, so Wu Hao had taken leave to stay with her in town, promising to return on the thirtieth.
Li Hongjun didn’t say anything, but he didn’t think much of it. From the city? So what? Could she be any better than his wife?
"You better behave yourself tomorrow. I heard it’s a bit unstable over there," Xiao Yunfeng warned.
Since Wu Hao and his girl started dating, they’d been constantly breaking up and making up. The guys didn’t really have a high opinion of that city girl, but for Wu Hao’s sake, they refrained from joking about it.
For a soldier, getting married was a difficult matter. It was common to see soldiers in their late twenties or early thirties still unmarried, so whenever they knew a soldier had found someone, they did their best to accommodate. One of the political officers’ important duties was to help these older soldiers find partners.
"Hehe, don’t worry, I know my limits," Xun Hui scratched his crew cut. n𝚘𝚟𝚙𝚞𝚋.𝚌o𝚖
The meal lasted until after nine o’clock. Shen Yunfang offered to help clean the table, but Mrs. Wu insisted she didn’t, urging Li Hongjun to take her to rest. She had just arrived today and had been busy until now; she must be tired.
Once they reached Li Hongjun’s bedroom, Shen Yunfang simply wouldn’t let him enter, blocking the doorway she said, "It’s late, I need to rest. You should go find a place to sleep too."
"All right, you’ve been tired all day. Have a good rest. I’ll bring you breakfast tomorrow morning," Li Hongjun wisely didn’t linger and, after watching her close the door, he left.
