Chapter 52: Gu Jianing, You Really Hit the Jackpot!

Gu Jianing finally put some of her makeup and jewelry into the drawer of the cabinet by the kang bed.

Just as she finished, she turned around to see Sheng Zexi coming in with a steaming cup of hot water.

“Have some hot water first, warm yourself up.”

Gu Jianing took the cup, feeling its comforting warmth in her hands. Thinking about how Sheng Zexi had been busy in the yard but still remembered to bring her hot water, her heart felt warm too.

“Did you have some?” Gu Jianing asked.

“I did,” Sheng Zexi’s voice came from the kitchen. Gu Jianing followed and saw him taking out the lunch boxes.

Looking at his tall back, Gu Jianing felt an inexplicable sense of security.

She took a small sip of the hot water. It tasted sweet and warm, and her eyes widened. “You added honey!”

“That’s right,” Sheng Zexi replied as he rinsed the lunch boxes and chopsticks with hot water. “Just took it from the cupboard. Your second brother gave it to you, right?”

“Mm.”

This honey was from when Gu Yunnan found a wild beehive in the mountains and managed to get two jars of honey.

One jar was kept for his own wife, Su Miao, and the other was given to Gu Jianing.

In these times, wild honey was very precious.

And as it happened, Gu Jianing loved sweet things like this.

“I’ll go to the canteen to get food. You go sit on the kang in the living room and drink your water—it should be warmer there.”

“Okay.”

Sheng Zexi gave Gu Jianing a hug before leaving with the lunch boxes.

Only after he disappeared from sight did Gu Jianing turn around, cup in hand, and sit cross-legged on the kang in the living room. Drinking the sweet, hot water, with warmth rising from beneath her, Gu Jianing suddenly felt that this kind of life wasn’t so bad after all.

The family compound wasn’t far from the canteen. On his way there, Sheng Zexi ran into several comrades and their families, all greeting him as he passed.

Soon, he arrived at the canteen. It was already past lunchtime, so there wasn’t much food left, and certainly no meat dishes.

“Captain Sheng, you’re back!”

“Sorry, Captain Sheng, it’s a bit late and there’s not much left. And you know, once winter hits, supplies get scarce, and there’s not much food to go around. Even the best cook can’t make something out of nothing.”

“It’s fine,” Sheng Zexi said, fully understanding the situation.

In the end, Sheng Zexi could only take a few big steamed buns and two vegetable dishes. On the way back, he was already thinking about what else he could make for their meal.

Lost in thought, Sheng Zexi didn’t notice the unusual glances and whispers from people around him.

It wasn’t until his good friend Ji Hui patted him on the shoulder and said, with a heavy tone, “You’ve got it tough.”

Sheng Zexi: Huh? Tough how?

“Well… just make sure you treat your wife well.”

“Of course,” Sheng Zexi replied. Of course he would treat Ningning well.

“Alright, I’ll get going.”

Ji Hui watched Sheng Zexi walk away, sighing to himself. He figured Sheng Zexi just didn’t want to talk about his supposedly ugly wife. After all, what man doesn’t want a beautiful wife with a good figure?

Sheng Zexi had been introduced to so many pretty girls by his superiors and comrades, but he refused them all. Then, on his leave, he somehow ended up with a plain, country girl.

Really…

But this didn’t seem like Sheng Zexi’s style. The Sheng Zexi he knew was always proud and unyielding—if someone tried to trick him, he’d fight back tooth and nail. How come he just accepted it this time?

He really couldn’t figure it out.

Sheng Zexi left the canteen and hurried back to their little courtyard.

He set the lunch boxes on the kang table in the living room and explained to Gu Jianing, “I was late, so this is all I could get. I’ll go to the kitchen and make some stir-fried rabbit—how does that sound?”

Stir-fried rabbit?!

Gu Jianing, who’d been a bit down at the sight of only steamed buns and two dishes, immediately perked up. “Sounds great!”

But then she hesitated. “Won’t that be too much trouble for you?”

Sheng Zexi glanced at her and ruffled her hair. “What are you talking about? I’m your man. If you don’t trouble me, who else would you trouble?”

Gu Jianing: Is that what I meant?

Sheng Zexi looked at her seriously. “I like it when you trouble me. No, to be precise, nothing about you is ever trouble to me.”

“A man should take good care of his wife. If you ever want to eat something, just tell me. I’ll do my best to get it for you.”

“Got it.” Gu Jianing’s heart felt warm at his words.

“Want to help me watch the fire?”

“Sure.”

Actually, there wasn’t much need to watch the fire.

The stove was connected to both kang beds, so once the fire was burning, the stove was hot too. Once the big pot was on and the ingredients ready, they could start cooking.

Everything—the stove, pot, firewood, bowls, and chopsticks—had been bought ahead of time by Sheng Zexi’s comrades at his request.

“…After we got engaged, I called my friends and asked them to help,” Sheng Zexi said.

“Brother Xi, you’re so thoughtful, always planning ahead,” Gu Jianing praised him sweetly, without hesitation.

Thanks to Sheng Zexi arranging for these necessities in advance, they could settle in right away. Otherwise, it would’ve been a hassle to go out and buy everything.

Sheng Zexi took out a marinated rabbit, picked up a knife, and quickly chopped it into pieces. Then he got out some scallions and chili peppers and started slicing them.

The scallions and peppers had also been brought from Gu’s house because Gu Jianing liked spicy food and was picky—she didn’t like bland dishes.

So, they didn’t bring vegetables, but they did bring these seasonings.

There was no pork fat, but there was oil. Once the oil was hot, Sheng Zexi tossed in the rabbit meat…

“Stand back, don’t get splattered,” Sheng Zexi reminded her.

“Okay,” Gu Jianing obediently stepped back.

A moment later, Sheng Zexi added the peppers and scallions, stir-frying everything together. The delicious aroma quickly filled the room.

“Brother Xi, you’re amazing! I knew you were great at your missions as a soldier, but I didn’t know you could cook so well too. This stir-fried rabbit smells incredible—I bet it tastes even better!”

“How did I get so lucky? I actually married such a wonderful man. You’re basically the perfect husband!”

Gu Jianing’s words were as sweet as honey, her praise coming nonstop. Her voice rose with excitement, her beautiful eyes shining with sincerity.

Sheng Zexi couldn’t help the smile tugging at his lips, his eyes full of joy. He felt energized, even his stir-frying movements became more vigorous.

He said, “Of course your man is great. You hit the jackpot, so you’d better treasure me.”

Gu Jianing covered her face and giggled. This man was really thick-skinned, but also kind of cute.

“Alright then, from now on, the kitchen is all yours—cooking, washing dishes, everything?”

“Absolutely!”"