Chapter 24: A Stunning Appearance

When Ye Changzheng uttered those words, everyone in the courtyard was stunned. How long had he and Xie Jinyu been married, and she was already pregnant?

Wei Aoshuang’s gaze could not help but linger on Xie Jinyu’s chest and hips. As the elders always said, a woman with wide hips is good for bearing children. It was true indeed.

Upon hearing the news of the pregnancy, Brigade Commander Cheng and Political Commissar Tan hurriedly said to Ye Changzheng, "Regimental Commander Ye, this is your fault. How could you let a pregnant woman work so hard?"

Raising her glass, Xie Jinyu explained to those present, "Brigade Commander, Commissar, Changzheng has been doing all the running around; I’ve just been helping out." Everyone present knew what kind of man Ye Changzheng was, and they understood that Xie Jinyu was simply trying to save face for him in public.

"Regimental Commander Ye, I didn't know you had such skills," Gu Siyuan teased.

Ye Changzheng glared at Gu Siyuan and replied good-naturedly, "I am the cook's assistant, the waiter, and the prep man. My little Yu is the master chef. Come, come, everyone, taste my little Yu's cooking."

In the 1970s, while it was not as famine-stricken as previous years, rations were still tight, and people were generally frugal. Whether Xie Jinyu’s cooking was good could be seen by the way the children at the side table were eating.

Clams were a specialty of Endless Island. Usually, people just boiled or steamed them, and no one had thought to make spicy stir-fried clams like Xie Jinyu. The otherwise bland clams were soaked in a rich, savory sauce, so flavorful that people wanted to lick their fingers. The crispy fried pork, sprinkled with salt and pepper, was fragrant and mouth-watering. The glutinous rice was soft and sweet, perfect for the elderly. What seemed like ordinary ingredients turned into a feast under Xie Jinyu’s skillful hands.

Knowing she was pregnant, no one insisted that Xie Jinyu drink; instead, they settled down to savor the food. Ye Changzheng had introduced these people to her before, but without a formal meeting, she had struggled to match names to faces. Tonight, she finally got everyone straight.

Brigade Commander Cheng Wanli and his wife, Teacher Jiang Wenjing, reminded her of the protagonists from the period drama *Parents' Love*. Cheng Wanli was born in the countryside and appeared rough but thoughtful. Teacher Jiang had been a young lady from a wealthy family; even on this small island, she dressed with great elegance. Their children were also well-behaved and kept clean.

Political Commissar Tan Xuefeng, wearing glasses and looking scholarly with a pen tucked into his pocket, was clearly a master of ideological work. His wife, Qiao Xuezhen, was the director of the island’s hospital—efficient and capable. Tan Xuefeng’s mother wore old-fashioned clothes and kept her hair neatly combed; upon closer inspection, she had bound feet.

Wei Yaozu was stout, looking much like a Maitreya Buddha. Gu Siyuan, with his square face, looked like the protagonist of a rugged man's novel. Xie Jinyu silently memorized the children’s names so she could greet them if she saw them on the island later.

When the children at their table finished the crispy pork, they ran over to the adults' table to get more. Anticipating this, Xie Jinyu had prepared extra, and she brought two more plates from the kitchen. Seeing how much the children loved it, Teacher Jiang wanted to ask for the recipe to make it for her own kids later.

"Little Yu, could you teach me how to make this crispy pork?"

As soon as Jiang said this, Xie Jinyu moved her bowl and chopsticks to the children’s table. With clear eyes and a calm voice, she gave a detailed explanation of the frying process. Qiao Xuezhen, hearing how much work was involved, thought to herself that she certainly wouldn't be making it for her own children. However, Tan Xuefeng’s mother, the elderly Mrs. Tan, asked, "Little Yu, the children also love these clams you made. Could you teach us that, too?"

At the men’s table, they were drinking. At the other, they were exchanging cooking tips. Good food easily bridges the distance between people. Even though Wei Aoshuang had initially held some hidden hostility toward Xie Jinyu, she was now listening intently.

Moths fluttered around the lights in the courtyard. Xie Jinyu had burned a pile of mugwort beforehand, so there were no mosquitoes, though everyone was still habitually waving their palm-leaf fans. After eating, the children played nearby, filling the air with laughter. Above, the night sky was filled with dazzling, twinkling stars.

The dinner party didn't end until the men were swaying on their feet. The spouses helped their husbands leave, but Mrs. Wei returned after dropping her husband off. Although Xie Jinyu had prepared a large portion, the food was so delicious that everyone had eaten their fill.

"Little Yu, let me help you." Mrs. Wei tied on an apron and headed straight into the kitchen.

Xie Jinyu tried to decline, "Auntie, don't get your hands dirty, I can do it myself."

Mrs. Wei was a straightforward woman who didn't beat around the bush. "Little Yu, how long would it take you to clean up alone? I'm here to help you, and secondly, to apologize. Don't be so formal with me."

Xie Jinyu was puzzled.

Mrs. Wei looked truly embarrassed. "Little Yu, it’s my fault for not raising my daughter right. I’m sorry for making things awkward for you today."

"Auntie, Shuang’er is still just a young girl..."

Mrs. Wei didn't stop washing the dishes. "A young girl? In our day, she’d already have children of her own. Little Yu, don't try to cover for me. I’ll be honest with you—at first, my old man and I did have the idea of setting Ye Changzheng up with our Shuang’er. I’m not afraid to tell you that back then, Shuang’er even complained that Ye Changzheng was too old."

"I told her, what does it matter if a man is a bit older? Older men know how to cherish a woman. But she wasn't interested, so the matter was dropped."

"When you arrived, that girl’s attitude changed. It’s not that she’s in love with Ye Changzheng, but she’s been secretly comparing herself to you..."

Xie Jinyu could understand Wei Aoshuang’s mindset. It was likely a case of feeling competitive because the man she had rejected was now married to someone else. "Auntie, I understand how Shuang’er feels."

Seeing Xie Jinyu’s reaction, Mrs. Wei quickly said, "Little Yu, it is Ye Changzheng's blessing to have married you." Ye Changzheng was a good man, and her daughter had missed her chance.

"Thank you for the compliment, Auntie."

After Mrs. Wei finished the dishes, Xie Jinyu packed some leftover peanuts into a box made of banana leaves and gave them to her for her husband to snack on with his drinks.

After seeing Mrs. Wei off, Xie Jinyu returned to the bedroom. Unlike others who might get rowdy when drunk, Ye Changzheng simply lay on the bed in his clothes. Xie Jinyu reached out and gently nudged him.

"Changzheng."

Ye Changzheng was muddled with drink. Hearing her voice, he instinctively pulled her into his arms. Burying his face in her neck, he murmured, "Little Yu, leave the bowls there. I’ll wash them tomorrow."

Xie Jinyu’s heart softened instantly. She reached out and gently stroked his hair. "Sleep soundly..."

Suddenly, a name slipped unclearly from Ye Changzheng’s lips. As that name spilled from his thin lips, Xie Jinyu’s entire body stiffened, as if a bolt of lightning had struck beside her ear...