On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Yue Wu remained silent, but her brushstrokes became even more composed. She added a lone goose to the painting, flapping its wings over the withered lotus leaves and soaring into the distant sky.

"Where does this goose want to fly?" Lin Zhen asked.

"Wherever the heart is, that is where you will return." Yue Wu said, with a barely perceptible hint of melancholy in her voice.

Lin Zhen said nothing more and just watched her paint quietly.

The study was silent except for the rustling sound of the pen tip scratching across rice paper and the occasional sound of falling leaves outside the window.

This quiet companionship is like a silent stream, flowing slowly in the heart.

As dusk fell, gauze lanterns were lit in the waterside pavilion of "Tingxue Tower".

The warm yellow light dispelled the chill of the autumn night and cast swaying shadows on the pool water.

On the low table, there were several light vegetarian dishes: stir-fried bamboo shoots, three fresh vegetarian stew, emerald tofu soup, and a plate of crystal clear osmanthus lotus root powder cake made by Yue Wu herself.

A pot of warm chrysanthemum tea exudes an elegant aroma.

"Weier's diet is so light?" Lin Zhen looked at the vegetarian food on the table.

"When the mind is calm, the taste is bland." Yue Wu poured tea for him with graceful movements, "If my husband finds it bland, I can let the kitchen..."

"No need." Lin Zhen picked up the teacup, "Purifying one's mind and reducing one's desires is also a form of cultivation."

The two of them had dinner quietly.

Yue Wu ate silently, chewing slowly and elegantly.

Lin Zhen didn't say much either. Inside the pavilion, the only sounds were the gentle clinking of bowls and chopsticks, and the gentle ripples of the pond outside the window.

"Husband," Yue Wu put down her silver chopsticks, her cold eyes gazing out the window at the dark night, "Isn't it snowing in Beiyan now?"

"Yes." Lin Zhen nodded. "Mao Mengji reported that the first snow fell half a month ago."

"Snow covers everything, and also buries everything." Yue Wu's voice was vague and ethereal. "The bloodstains of the battlefield, the bones of the soldiers, all return to white."

"Snow also breeds life," Lin Zhen said. "When spring comes, the snow will melt and all things will come back to life."

"Yes." Yue Wu retracted her gaze and looked at him, "It's like the sound of a zither. When one song ends and the lingering rhythm fades, a new song begins."

"Does Wuer have any new song in mind?" Lin Zhen asked.

Yue Wu was silent for a moment, then stood up, walked to the piano table, and picked up the pipa.

She did not play immediately, but just stroked the strings with her fingertips. Her eyes fell on Lin Zhen, and her cold eyes looked particularly deep under the light.

"I have composed a new piece called 'Returning Wild Geese.'" She said in a clear voice, "Would you like to listen to it, my husband?"

"I'm all ears." Lin Zhen sat upright.

Yue Wu concentrated and calmed her mind, her fingertips falling.

The sound of the zither is low and soothing, like a lone goose wandering and humming in the twilight.

Then, the sound of the piano gradually rose, like the cry of wild geese in the sky, carrying the meaning of struggle and flight, fighting in the biting cold wind.

The sound of the piano is sometimes rapid like sudden rain and strong wind, and sometimes low and echoing like wailing and sobbing, which perfectly interprets the wandering, struggle, longing and indomitable spirit of the lone goose.

At the climax, the sound of the piano suddenly rises, as if it is breaking through the sky with determination and the courage to move forward.

Finally, the sound of the piano gradually slowed down and weakened, like a wild goose landing on the flat sand, returning to silence, with only a faint vibrato left, like looking back on the way home, bringing relief and peace.

After the song ended, the pavilion remained silent for a long time. Only the flames of the gauze lanterns swayed in the breeze, illuminating Yue Wu's cool and slightly tired face.

"'Returning Wild Goose'..." Lin Zhen spoke slowly, his voice low, "Where does the lone wild goose finally return to?"

Yue Wu put down her pipa, her cold eyes appearing exceptionally bright under the lamplight: "Where the heart is at peace is where you will return to."

"Where can you feel at peace?" Lin Zhen asked.

Yue Wu stood up and walked in front of him. For the first time, a very faint but extremely clear smile bloomed on her cold face, like the ice and snow melting and the spring flowers blooming.

She reached out her hand and gently brushed her fingertips across his cool palm.

"Here." Her voice was clear and resolute, "where my husband is, my heart is at peace."

Lin Zhen's heart trembled, and he grasped her slightly cold fingers with his backhand. Her fingertips, calloused from years of playing the zither, now conveyed a scorching power.

He looked at the lights and himself reflected in her cold eyes. There was no loneliness anymore, only complete trust and belonging.

The gauze lanterns flickered, the water was silent. Inside the pavilion, two people held hands and looked at each other, no words needed.

The withered lotus leaves outside the window are silent in the night.

The returning wild geese have already landed, and my heart has found a place to return to.

The cool piano music from the "Listening Snow Tower" finally played the warmest song of home.

In the dim morning light, a thin mist covered Xinghuafang in the eastern part of the imperial city like a veil, casting a soft golden glow on this brand new land.

Lin Zhen was dressed in a plain indigo brocade uniform, walking steadily on the newly paved bluestone road in the alley, followed only by two restrained guards in casual clothes.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees, mixed with the smell of smoke wafting from a distant breakfast stall. There was no sign of the scorching and chaos left behind by the raging fire that engulfed half of the market three years ago.

The scene before him was a far cry from the tragic scene he remembered, which had been caused by a careless stove fire, burning down hundreds of homes and causing heavy casualties.

In the past, Xinghuafang was crowded with low and messy wooden shanties, narrow and muddy roads were full of sewage, and fire hazards were like a sword hanging over the head.

And now, what appears before his eyes is a new home with a well-planned and vigorous atmosphere.

Replacing those dilapidated shanties are dozens of neatly arranged, rising five-story brick-concrete buildings.

The blue-gray machine-made brick walls have smooth joints as if cut by a knife, and the mortar is full and has a solid luster, appearing particularly stable in the rising sun.

The building is square and simple, with large and bright glass windows on each floor. The dark green window frames are refreshing and neat, exuding a modern atmosphere.

The roof is not covered with traditional tiles, but with special waterproof tarpaulin, and a half-person-high parapet is built on the edge, which not only ensures safety but also adds a touch of neat beauty.

A square open space is reserved in front of each building. Newly transplanted ginkgo and sycamore trees stretch out their tender branches, and low holly shrubs surround them. Although they do not provide shade yet, they exude vitality and inject natural vitality into this jungle of steel and concrete.

Li Xian, the official in charge of the reconstruction of Xinghuafang, was bowing and following Lin Zhen half a step behind. With a hint of pride that was hard to conceal in his tone, he whispered:

"Your Highness, this is the first batch of 'Anju Buildings' built according to the specifications set by you and Lord Chu. It is a five-story brick-concrete structure built with lime mortar and an embedded steel frame. Its fire and earthquake resistance is a hundred times greater than that of the old wooden buildings."

Lin Zhen nodded slightly, his eyes calmly scanning the new buildings.

This brick-concrete structure was a plan he finally finalized after drawing on overseas architectural concepts, combining them with the national conditions of Daqian, and repeatedly deliberating and testing with Chu Xiling.

Lime mortar is used to replace the easily perishable yellow mud, and a steel frame is used to enhance the overall stability. Although the initial investment is higher than that of traditional wooden structures, the safety and durability it brings are of immeasurable value.

The homes rising from the ground before our eyes are the most direct manifestation of the application of the science of investigating things to people's livelihood and the benefits of the new policies to the people.

He then asked, “How are the residents allocated?”

Li Xian quickly replied, "Your Highness, the affected households at the original site will be given priority, and units will be allocated on a household basis. Smaller households will be allocated one bedroom and one living room, while larger households will receive two bedrooms and one living room. Each household will be equipped with independent kitchen and bathroom facilities. There will be a public water room with regular water supply within the building, and a dedicated drying area on the roof. In addition, commercial space will be reserved on the ground floor, which will be rented out by the government office. The rent will be used to subsidize public expenses within the district."

Lin Zhen's eyes flickered with satisfaction upon hearing this. The design of independent kitchens and bathrooms had fundamentally improved the sanitary conditions of the lower-income population; the improvement of public facilities had greatly enhanced the convenience of life. These were all tangible benefits for the people.

Lin Zhen continued along the wide main road.

Under your feet is a smooth and clean bluestone road without any mud or dirt. There are brick-built drainage ditches on both sides. The water in the ditch is clear and you can see the bottom, without any debris or blockage.

Every few dozen steps, you can see a green-painted wooden trash can with a lid. On the can, there is a slogan written in neat regular script: "Take care of the market, put your trash in the can."

Li Xian pointed to an old man not far away who was wearing a blue coarse cloth short coat and holding a long-handled bamboo broom and dustpan, meticulously sweeping up fallen leaves, and explained:

"Your Highness, every day at the hours of Mao and You, there are dedicated cleaners responsible for removing the garbage. These positions are given priority to the unemployed or semi-laborers in the neighborhood, and the wages are paid by the government office."

As he was speaking, a chubby child about five or six years old came skipping to a trash can with a finished fruit core in his hand, stood on tiptoe, and tried hard to throw the fruit core into the can.

Not far away, an old woman carrying a vegetable basket saw this and smiled approvingly. She praised loudly, "Abao, you're so good! You put the trash in the bin!"

The child was praised, clapped his hands proudly, and ran away happily.

Li Xian lowered his voice and added, "The neighborhood also has 'sanitation patrols.' These patrols are appointed by the village head and are respected elders or enthusiastic neighbors. They don't receive a salary, but they receive extra points in the 'civilized household' selection. Their duty is to discourage and record uncivilized behavior such as littering, spitting, and urinating. Those who refuse to change after repeated warnings will be reported to the neighborhood head and punished with cleaning for public service."

Lin Zhen's eyes swept across the street, which was clean and almost spotless, and he nodded slightly.

He knows very well that a good environment and hardware facilities are the foundation, but long-term maintenance depends more on soft management and the self-awareness of residents.

Only this model of resident self-governance, mutual supervision, and clear rewards and punishments can ensure lasting cleanliness.

After passing through several neat rows of Anju buildings, the view suddenly opens up.