Chapter 57: Placing the Furniture

The next day, Han Aiguo went back to the army early in the morning to resume his duties. Su Yue didn’t even know when he had left. By the time she woke up, it was already close to nine o’clock.

She walked into the kitchen and saw porridge in the pot with two steamed buns on top. It seemed that Han Aiguo had gotten up early to prepare it. She couldn’t help but smile. After drinking a bowl of porridge and eating one bun, she began to get busy.

She washed the mustard she had bought from a family in Xiaowang Village the day before, then placed it into the jar she had purchased, added salt to marinate it, and covered it with a lid. After it settled for a while, it could be taken out and eaten as a side dish.

After pickling the mustard, she salted the meat she had bought from the supply and marketing cooperative. In a few days, the salt would penetrate and add flavor, and then she could hang it out to dry in the sun to make bacon. When cooked with rice, it would give off a rich, fragrant taste. Han Aiguo especially liked eating it that way.

When those tasks were finished, Su Yue took out the flour and began making pastries. She made some cakes; red bean cakes as well as bean paste cakes.

Looking at the pastries, Su Yue sighed with a bit of regret. Before coming here, she had thought she might secretly sell pastries for extra money. But after arriving at the army, she realized the reality was far different from what she had imagined. The camp was far too remote; no one here would buy pastries. She couldn’t sell them to the other families in the compound either as it would be too obvious, practically telling everyone, Hey, I’m doing business.

If someone jealous noticed and reported her, she would be in serious trouble.

Selling outside wasn’t easy either. She could only sell at the Wenxiang Commune, but that meant taking the shuttle bus. If she carried out so many pastries every time, people would surely notice. If someone followed her, they could easily find out what she was doing. The risk was too high.

If she were reported, Han Aiguo’s future as a soldier would be ruined, and she knew how much the army meant to him. She would rather earn nothing than take such a risk.

So, selling pastries was no longer feasible. From now on, they could only rely on Han Aiguo’s subsidy. Fortunately, she had saved a good amount of money before, so if they were careful, they could still manage.

When Han Aiguo returned from training that evening, the pastries Su Yue had made had just cooled and were at their best. She said to him, “Let’s go next door and visit.”

Han Aiguo picked up the pastries and nodded. “Let’s go visit, and then come back for dinner.”

The two walked next door. Hearing sounds inside, they knocked. A moment later, someone opened the door. Seeing Han Aiguo, the man inside smiled happily. “Aiguo, come in quickly.”

He brought two chairs for them to sit, but Fang Xiaoli, sitting nearby, said nothing at all.

Han Aiguo handed the pastries to Feng Junwei. “These are pastries my wife made. We brought some for you to try.”

Su Yue smiled and greeted him.

Feng Junwei immediately replied, “Why are you so polite? Just coming over is enough. Don’t bother with gifts next time.” He quickly accepted the pastries, then called to Fang Xiaoli, “Go bring some water for Aiguo and his wife.”

But Fang Xiaoli didn’t move, nor did she say a word nor even to acknowledge the pastries.

Feng Junwei looked embarrassed and quickly changed the subject. “Aiguo, stay for dinner at my house tonight. We just cooked.”

But as soon as he said that, Fang Xiaoli pinched his back so hard he nearly cried out. With guests present, he had no choice but to endure the pain and pretend nothing happened as he continued talking.

Su Yue had noticed Fang Xiaoli’s little tricks. She found it amusing. Did they look like people who came to freeload? Times were hard for everyone. Even if someone invited them, they wouldn’t impose. Why was she being so defensive?

Perhaps Fang Xiaoli was stingy, or maybe she simply disliked them. But since they had just moved in, why would she dislike them already?

Su Yue couldn’t figure it out, but since they weren’t welcome, she didn’t want to force the issue. She stood up and said, “Battalion Commander Feng, we’ve already prepared our dinner. If we don’t eat it soon, it’ll get cold. We’ll head back. Thank you.”

Han Aiguo also stood, and the two left despite Feng Junwei’s attempts to persuade them to stay.

He had also seen Fang Xiaoli’s lack of enthusiasm. Helpless, Feng Junwei walked them to the door politely. Only after seeing them enter their home and close the door did his expression darken. He turned to Fang Xiaoli angrily.

“What do you mean? When guests come, you don’t even serve water. And when I invite my comrade to dinner, you pinch me like that?”

“If you invite them now, how much food will we have left?”

“Then cook a little more! Why are you so stingy?”

“Do you think food is free? Your allowance barely supports us. If it weren’t for my salary, do you think we’d live this well? Yet you want to act generous!”

Feng Junwei raked his short hair in frustration. “Fang Xiaoli, don’t try to fool me. You just look down on Han Aiguo and his wife, don’t you?”

He knew his wife too well. Coming from the city and working at a supply and marketing cooperative, she had always looked down on rural people, preferring to associate with the urban and powerful.

Fang Xiaoli turned away. “I’m too lazy to argue with you.”

Feng Junwei, worried she would continue treating Han Aiguo coldly, took a deep breath and reasoned, “Xiaoli, you can’t judge people by their birth. Being born poor doesn’t mean someone lacks ability, or that they’ll never succeed. If you keep looking down on others, you’ll be the one despised.”

Fang Xiaoli sneered. “How capable can Han Aiguo be? He’s been a soldier for over ten years. He’s almost thirty, yet he’s only a battalion commander. You’re already a company commander at twenty-six. Clearly, he has no ability. How can someone like him succeed?”

Feng Junwei pointed at her, lowering his voice so the neighbors wouldn’t hear. “I’ve worked with him for years. His ability is no less than mine. In fact, I might not be as good as him.”

Fang Xiaoli clearly didn’t believe him. “If he’s so capable, why is he still just a battalion commander?”

Feng Junwei sighed. His wife only ever looked at the surface, never the deeper reasons.

Quietly, he said, “His ability is fine, but his luck is poor. He’s earned many merits, but he just hasn’t had the chance to rise.”

Fang Xiaoli pursed her lips and muttered, “Then that shows he’s not good enough. If he can’t be promoted now, he won’t be promoted later. Why would that suddenly change?”

Feng Junwei fell silent. Judging by Han Aiguo’s career so far, it really might be difficult for him to climb higher.

But neither Su Yue nor Han Aiguo gave the matter much thought. They ate and drank as usual. A few days later, it was time to pick up the sofa from the old carpenter. Han Aiguo was busy with training, so he asked Zhuzhu to drive Su Yue instead.

Su Yue and Zhuzhu first went to the commune, where they bought several kilograms of meat from the slaughtering group, along with some bones and other ingredients. After finishing the shopping, they headed to Xiaowang Village.

At the carpenter’s house, the old man immediately recognized Su Yue and greeted her with a smile. “Here for the sofa? I’ve already finished it. Come take a look.”

He led Su Yue and Zhuzhu into the main room. At a glance, Su Yue spotted the solid wood lounge chair and sofa set placed in the most prominent position, and her eyes lit up.

On either side of the bench sat single lounge chairs in the same style, with a wooden coffee table in the middle. She had originally thought the printed design wouldn’t look nice, but to her surprise, the set looked beautiful. The long lounge chair had intricate carvings on the back. The yellow wood grain had a simple, sturdy luster; not dull or old-fashioned, but with a touch of antique charm, perfectly fitting classical aesthetics.

Su Yue smiled gratefully. “Carpenter Wang, your craftsmanship is wonderful. Thank you for all your hard work.”

The old carpenter beamed with pride. No wonder he had spent so much time on the sofa; the result spoke for itself.

Now Su Yue fully trusted his skills. No doubt he was a well-known master carpenter as his work was truly worth boasting about.

Feeling inspired, she pulled out a drawing she had prepared at home and handed it to him. “Carpenter Wang, can you make this for me as well?”

The old carpenter studied the drawing carefully. He had never seen such a design before, so he asked curiously, “What is this? A cabinet? No, it looks shorter… more like a bedside table.”

Su Yue shook her head. “No, Carpenter Wang, this is a shoe cabinet specially used to store shoes. I designed it myself. Look, these layers can all hold shoes, and the two drawers on the side can be used to store umbrellas, keys, and other small items needed when going out.”

Su Yue’s drawing wasn’t very pretty, but the outline and intended functions were clear. The cabinet she designed was in a modern style, meant to be placed by the door for convenience when changing shoes. She had always felt that leaving shoes scattered at the entrance looked messy and created unpleasant odors. A shoe cabinet could solve both problems.

It was the first time the old carpenter had seen such a piece of furniture. After listening to Su Yue’s explanation, his interest was immediately piqued. He examined the drawing carefully, and his eyes grew brighter the longer he looked. Finally, he nodded enthusiastically. “Alright, I’ll make one for you.”

“How long will it take?” Su Yue asked.

The old carpenter thought for a moment before answering. “Usually, other families invite carpenters like us to their homes to build furniture piece by piece, but your family just places an order and comes to pick it up. It’s not as convenient. Let’s do this, if you’re not in a hurry, you can wait here. It will only take me about half a day. Then you can transport it back together with the sofa. But when you get home, don’t rush to use it. Let it dry for a day first.”

Since it was not yet noon, Su Yue naturally agreed. This way, she wouldn’t have to go through the trouble of borrowing a truck and making another trip.

“Then I’ll trouble you, Carpenter Wang. We’ll wait here and help out in the meantime.”

The old carpenter waved his hand with a smile. “No need to be so polite. With your help, I get to try something new, and maybe I’ll be able to make more modern-style furniture in the future.” He was genuinely excited at the thought of creating a fresh design.

“Since you’re willing to wait,” he added, “then help me by lifting boards and passing materials. That way, the work will be finished faster.”

It just so happened that Zhuzhu knew a bit of carpentry himself, so he joined the old carpenter’s two apprentices in planing wood and sawing boards. Su Yue helped on the side, carrying tools and small pieces. With so many hands working together, progress was swift. By three-thirty in the afternoon, the brand-new shoe cabinet was completed.

The old carpenter’s apprentices helped load both the sofa set and the shoe cabinet onto the truck. Zhuzhu then drove Su Yue back to the family building.

Their return caused a huge stir. The new furniture immediately drew attention, and all the women in the building who had little to do at home gathered around to watch. They whispered among themselves, and some even came forward to question Su Yue directly.

An older sister in her thirties, holding a baby in her arms, pulled Su Yue aside. “Sister, why is your family moving furniture again? Didn’t you just bring some back last time?”

Su Yue smiled and explained, “We didn’t manage to bring everything back last time, so we moved the rest today.”

The woman poked her head toward the door, staring at the sofa set and shoe cabinet for a while before asking curiously, “This thing looks strange. What is it? I’ve never seen anything like it. Girl, tell me.”

She smiled, tugging at Su Yue’s arm as though they were close friends.

Su Yue had no choice but to explain to her again.

As soon as she finished listening, the woman immediately clicked her tongue. “Sister, this sofa and shoe cabinet must have been expensive, right? How can ordinary people like us afford things like that? Your family must be doing very well. But isn’t your man from the countryside? And he’s only a battalion commander. My husband is also a battalion commander, yet our family can barely afford enough to eat. Where did your family get the money to buy such expensive things? Sister, why don’t you tell me how you make money? Is there a way for me too?”

Su Yue’s smile faded. There was a sour edge in the woman’s words that clearly carried ill intentions. And how could she possibly reveal her family’s finances in front of so many people?

Not wanting to entertain her, Su Yue simply turned around and went back inside to continue working.

The woman immediately made a scene when she realized she was being ignored. Her face darkened as she complained loudly, “Hey, why are you ignoring people? Are you looking down on us just because you have a bit of money? As a military wife, you shouldn’t discriminate against others!”

The accusation was heavy-handed, like putting a big hat on Su Yue for no reason. Su Yue was about to respond when another voice cut in first.

“Wang Lianying, what business is it of yours whether she buys furniture or not? Whether she has money or not is none of your concern. If you can’t say anything nice, why should people bother with you? If it were me, I wouldn’t waste words on you either.”

Su Yue turned to see a woman in her thirties with neatly combed hair and plain clothing. She was holding a ball of yarn, her hands flying quickly as she knitted. Her skillful knitting didn’t slow down her sharp tongue one bit.

At first glance, Su Yue felt this woman was straightforward and cheerful, the kind of person with a good temperament.

Wang Lianying, however, immediately bristled. Planting her hands on her hips, she snapped, “Ma Cuiyun, I wasn’t talking to you. Why did you butt in? You call me nosy, but aren’t you interfering too? What I say is none of your business!”

Ma Cuiyun smirked. “I just can’t stand how you spend all day begrudging others for having nice things. It’s their business if they have money for furniture, why should they explain to you how they earn it? Don’t glare at people with jealousy all the time. If you’ve got free time, go home and clean up your place. That way your man won’t think the house looks like a pigsty and want to ‘clean you up’ every day.”

The women in the building burst into laughter. Everyone knew Wang Lianying’s husband often quarreled with her. She had a bad habit of stirring up gossip and picking fights, but more importantly, she was extremely lazy. She turned a perfectly fine home into a mess. Even her husband couldn’t stand it anymore, but no matter how many times they fought over it, nothing changed. Their noisy arguments had become a regular spectacle in the family compound.

“You—!” Wang Lianying’s face turned red, the words hitting a sore spot. Hugging her baby tightly, she stormed forward. “Ma Cuiyun, I’ll fight you today!”

The child, frightened, burst into tears, but she didn’t care.

Seeing her about to pounce, several other women hurriedly stepped in to hold her back. “Don’t be impulsive! If you’ve got something to say, talk it over. Fighting will only hurt your man’s future. Wang Lianying, think about what happened last time!”

At the reminder, Wang Lianying froze. She remembered all too well how her last fight in the compound had been reported to the higher-ups. Her husband had been called in and scolded harshly, then returned home to beat her in his anger.

Her movements faltered, but for the sake of face, she spat in Ma Cuiyun’s direction and cursed, “If it weren’t for my baby crying, I would’ve taught you a lesson today!”

After that, she stomped upstairs with her child.

Ma Cuiyun, spattered by her saliva, flushed with fury. She dropped her knitting and looked ready to charge after her.

Su Yue quickly grabbed her arm and said gently, “Sister Ma, let it go. Don’t blow things up. There are so many soldiers watching, it wouldn’t be good for our husbands’ reputations.”

Ma Cuiyun glanced around and noticed several young soldiers had indeed stopped to watch the commotion while helping move furniture. If she caused a bigger scene, it might reflect badly on her husband. She forced herself to swallow her anger, though her hands itched to grab Wang Lianying by the hair.

The other women, realizing the excitement was over, returned to their own homes. The soldiers finished moving the furniture, said their goodbyes, and left as well.

When the courtyard was finally quiet again, Su Yue smiled at Ma Cuiyun. “Sister Ma, why don’t you come in and sit for a while?”

Ma Cuiyun hesitated briefly, and then nodded. She followed Su Yue inside. Though Su Yue looked delicate and refined; very different from her own rougher temperament, Ma Cuiyun somehow felt they would get along very well.