Starting a new chapter in life

"Bottom line?" Jing Yan murmured, "But I don't know what my bottom line is."

"If one day your husband has another woman but doesn't want a divorce, do you think you can tolerate it?"

“If it’s for the sake of the child…” Jing Yan began.

The child interrupted her, saying, "I told you, don't wrong yourself for anyone or anything. I'm just asking for your opinion."

Looking into the child's eyes, Jing Yan shook her head and said, "I can't stand it."

"This is your bottom line."

Jing Yan suddenly realized, "I understand."

The instant she understood, Yueyue smiled brightly, her voice becoming somewhat ethereal: "That's it, Mom. I hope you can live happily, joyfully, and freely, without worrying about me anymore. You're not Mom anymore; you're just a little girl now. You can enjoy your life. Mom, I love you. Goodbye..."

The child's voice slowly faded away, and his figure gradually disappeared until everything before my eyes vanished into nothingness.

"Xiaoyue!" Jingyan shouted, took a step forward, missed a step, and woke up with a start.

Seeing the familiar scenery before her, Jingyan smoothed her sweat-dampened hair. The heavy weight that had been pressing on her heart seemed to suddenly disappear, and she felt much lighter. He Zhijun strode from the kitchen to the door and saw her sitting on the bed, covered in sweat and tears. He stepped forward with some concern and asked, "What's wrong with you? Did you have a nightmare?"

Jingyan looked at him, and her previously flustered mood suddenly seemed to settle down. She buried her head in He Zhijun's chest, letting the remaining tears and sweat on her face wipe onto He Zhijun's clothes, and said in a muffled voice, "Yes, I had a dream, but it wasn't a nightmare."

"What did you dream about? Why are you crying?" He Zhijun was somewhat helpless about her actions, but he was mostly happy. It seemed like the first time he had felt Jingyan's dependence on him so directly. He had always felt that there was a vague barrier between Jingyan and him. Although it was faint, it was still there. But at this moment, that barrier seemed to have disappeared.

"I dreamt of an old friend, someone I couldn't let go of and worried about. She told me she was doing well and was at peace, and she hoped I could be happy too. I guess that's a relief," Jingyan said, her voice becoming lighter as she spoke.

He Zhijun nodded: "Then you should live happily. I can't guarantee anything else, but I can make sure you don't suffer." He thought Jingyan was dreaming about her mother. Her mother had passed away a few years ago, so it was only natural that she couldn't let go of her.

He patted her on the shoulder: "I've filled a tub with water in the backyard. Go scoop some out and wash your face."

Jingyan turned her head away, nodded, and shuffled to the backyard with her washbasin in her slippers. After washing her face, she re-braided her hair and went into the kitchen to watch He Zhijun cook: "Zhijun, the mushrooms are all dried. Shall we send them to Mom and Dad tomorrow?"

He Zhijun nodded: "Okay, let's buy another barrel of that liquor we bought today tomorrow and send it back together. Let my dad and brother broaden their horizons. They probably haven't drunk such strong liquor before." He was curious to see what the two of them would be like if they got drunk, but unfortunately, they were a bit far away.

Jingyan had no objections. "Okay, we'll buy it on the way to the post office tomorrow. What time is it? How's the food?"

He Zhijun raised his hand to look at his watch: "It's only a little past three. They should arrive around four o'clock. There's plenty of time. The vegetables are all chopped. The pork ribs and mushroom stew has just been taken off the heat. We'll put it in a bowl and then we can start stir-frying the vegetables. The cucumber salad has already absorbed the flavors and can be served anytime. Don't worry, it won't be delayed."

Jingyan nodded, watching him serve the dishes. She picked up a rib and put it in her mouth, saying, "Mmm, delicious!" She even gave him a thumbs up.

He Zhijun was amused by her: "How come you're becoming more and more like a child, even stealing food." But he didn't say anything more, happily washed the pot, and started cooking.

Jingyan successfully sneaked a bite and satisfactorily placed the bowls and chopsticks on the living room table. She also brought out the cold dishes, which were all mixed in a bowl. After thinking for a moment, she was too embarrassed to serve the bowls directly on the table. Instead, she took a large plate and filled it to the brim, placing it on the side of the table. Hmm, if the pork ribs and mushroom stew were served on a plate, the guests might think that there was only this much food and that they couldn't eat as much as they wanted. Oh well, if it looks bad, so be it. With a determined heart, she placed the whole bowl of food directly in the center of the table.

The amount of stir-fried dishes that followed was normal; each dish could be served on a plate. Once everything was arranged, the table was almost full. He Zhijun pointed to the casserole of Dongpo pork and said, "When they arrive, we'll heat this up a bit. If we heat it up now, it won't taste good if it gets cold later."

She carried the steamer of rice to the living room and placed it on the dressing table. Dinner was ready. He Zhijun looked at her with some helplessness: "I haven't seen you use this dressing table much, but you use it as a spare dining table quite often."

Jing Yan smiled and said, "Then how about we make a small two- or three-tiered shelf cart? If guests come over, we can put extra dishes or spare tableware there and push it into the living room. If the guests see that there is enough food, they won't feel unsatisfied with their meal."

"So, the reason why families in Northeast China cook as much as possible each time isn't because they have big appetites, but because they're afraid their guests won't have enough to eat?" He Zhijun had always thought that people from Northeast China had big appetites, and he really didn't know it was because of this.

"Everyone in the country knows that Northeasterners are honest and straightforward. But what does that mean? Isn't it just about making sure our guests are well-fed and watered? Everyone's stomach is about the same size, so there's no difference between North and South. What are you thinking?" Jingyan was quite surprised by his idea.

He Zhijun nodded, indicating that he understood. "Didn't you say you wanted to buy soda today? You didn't manage to buy any?"

Jingyan nodded: "Soda is hard to buy. I didn't see any for sale at the supply and marketing cooperative today. I only bought fried dough sticks. It's okay. I made some sweet and sour water with the boiled water I made this morning before I went to bed. It's almost cooled down now. We'll drink it later."

"Did you make sweet and sour water? Where did you put it? I can't see it."

"You were busy in the kitchen, there was a lot of smoke over there. I made the dish and put it on the spare dining table you mentioned. You didn't even look over there and then said you didn't see it." Jingyan pouted and pointed to a covered enamel basin on the other side of the steamer.

He Zhijun stepped forward, opened the lid, and a sweet and sour aroma immediately wafted out. He picked up the spoon inside and scooped out a little: "Is this the sweet and sour water you were talking about? What's the recipe? Is it good?"

Jingyan casually took a bowl from the table and handed it to him: "It's just boiling water with sugar dissolved in it. After it's a little warm, add vinegar. It tastes great when it cools down and can also cool you down. When I was little, my mom often made this for us kids in the summer. We drank it like soda. Try it."

He Zhijun poured the water from the spoon into the bowl, took a sip, and said, "I must say, it's sweet and sour, not bad at all."

Having received affirmation, Jingyan proudly raised her head, "That's right, I loved drinking it when I was little. It's just that my fourth sister hasn't made it for me in recent years, and I've been lazy myself. If I didn't have a child today, I wouldn't have thought of making this."

As the two were talking, the copper bell on the door rang. He Zhijun and Jing Yan exchanged a glance and quickly went out to open the door. Outside, Battalion Commander Gao was waiting with a woman wearing a blue jacket and blue pants, holding a boy's hand in each hand. The woman and the children looked very nervous.

He Zhijun quickly opened the door: "Battalion Commander, you've finally arrived! The dishes are all ready. Jingyan even bought a barrel of baijiu today. You don't know, it's 60 proof. She thought I could hold my liquor. This liquor is too strong. You'll be the main drinker later, so don't count on me."

While joking, Battalion Commander Gao continued walking, laughing heartily: "Of course, a soldier from the South like you can't handle strong liquor from the North. But you can practice your drinking skills. When you go back, none of your people can outdrink you." He led the child inside.

The woman followed behind him, smiled at Jingyan, and went inside. Jingyan closed the door and followed the woman: "You must be my sister-in-law. My husband said before the New Year that you would come to join the army after the New Year, but I didn't expect it to be almost half a year before you came. Are you and your child getting used to it here?"

The woman smiled shyly: "It's a habit. We're originally from the north, so our food and drink are pretty much the same. It's just that we've never lived in an apartment building before, and we always used a large stove at home. It's quite inconvenient to cook here with just a small stove."

Jing Yan nodded: "Cooking in the apartment building isn't very convenient, but you can eat at the canteen in the family area. You can cook at home occasionally to improve your meals. The food in our military canteen is also very good, and the prices aren't expensive. If a family of three or four eats in the canteen, it won't be more expensive than cooking at home. It's cost-effective."

Seeing the woman looking at her curiously, Jing Yan smiled and said, "I used to work in the cafeteria, but I was a temporary worker. When I came here, the cafeteria didn't need that many people, so I came back."

The woman then revealed a knowing look, looked around the yard, and said with some envy, "I still prefer a bungalow, with a yard where I can grow vegetables, raise chickens and ducks, and the children have a place to run and play. But life is already very good now."

The group entered the room and saw the table laden with food. Battalion Commander Gao said to He Zhijun with some displeasure, "Xiao He, why is this so lavish? Didn't you say it was just a simple meal? This makes it difficult for me to bring my family to eat."

He Zhijun explained with a smile, "Today, besides meat and ribs, oh right, and some wine, everything else wasn't bought. You didn't see my yard? My wife is so capable; she picked a lot of vegetables right there in the yard. I cooked the vegetables. And these mushrooms, she picked them from the mountains near the company a while ago. But she picked a lot, and she was afraid they'd spoil, so she dried them. And here they are, used up for you. How about it, isn't it a feast?"

Battalion Commander Gao stood by the table and looked around, also feeling envious: "Your house is quite nice. I originally thought the house I applied for was no worse than yours, but once summer and autumn come, I can see how good yours is. If I had known, I wouldn't have applied and would have just rented one outside."

Jingyan helped everyone sit down and said, "Renting a house isn't easy. I was lucky; the landlord's son had just been allocated a house by his workplace, and I came here not long after they moved out. Otherwise, we might not have gotten a chance. You didn't mention it beforehand, and you didn't keep an eye out. If you're in a hurry to find a house, you won't be able to find one. But the vegetables in my yard are starting to ripen. If you like them, sister-in-law, I'll pick some for you when Zhijun comes back from his vacation, and he can bring them to you."

He Zhijun also said, "Okay, I'll make a trip then." After saying that, he leaned closer to Jing Yan and said, "I'll go and put the clay pot on the fire."

Jing Yan nodded, and he went straight to the kitchen.

Battalion Commander Gao shook his head: "No need for that. Xiao Zhang, you don't know how inconvenient it is to cook in an apartment building. Some families are afraid that the fumes inside will be hard to clean, so they carry the stove to the corridor when they cook and then carry it back after they're done. It's a huge hassle. Fortunately, the food in our canteen is pretty good, so it's convenient for my family to eat there."

"Then take some tomatoes and cucumbers back with you today. You can make a salad or eat them raw. You can eat them without cooking," Jing Yan said with a smile.

Battalion Commander Gao didn't stand on ceremony: "Then I'll trouble you, Xiao Zhang. After we finish eating, I'll have your sister-in-law go pick some with you."

"Okay, if you have time in the future, come to my house to play. Otherwise, I'm all alone at home, which is very boring," Jingyan added politely.

The woman waved her hands repeatedly: "No need, I'm not familiar with this place yet, and I'm too afraid to go out by myself."

He Zhijun returned from the kitchen and served the food. Jingyan looked at the two children and said, "Do you want to wash your hands? We'll eat when you've washed them."

The two children looked at their mother, who nodded. The children shyly nodded in return. Jingyan pulled the woman along, saying, "Then let's go together, sister-in-law. What's your name, sister-in-law? And what are the names of these two children?"

"My name is Ren Cuihua, you can call me Sister-in-law Cuihua. This is my eldest son, Gao Jingchen, Xiao Chen; this is my younger son, Gao Jingxu, Xiao Xu. Xiao Chen, Xiao Xu, say hello to Aunt Zhang," Sister-in-law Cuihua said to the two children.

The two children timidly called out, "Aunt Zhang."

After the two adults and two children washed their hands and sat back down, Battalion Commander Gao also got up to wash his hands. He Zhijun checked his watch, estimated that it was about time, and went to the kitchen to bring out the casserole: "This is how I make it back home, Dongpo pork. Everyone, try it and see if you can get used to it."

As He Zhijun spoke, he lifted the lid of the casserole, and the rich aroma of meat wafted out. Everyone at the table couldn't help but swallow their saliva. Battalion Commander Gao sighed, "These days, not many families are willing to stew meat like this. Little He, your wife takes good care of you. It's very juicy."

Jingyan was a little embarrassed and changed the subject: "Come on, everyone, have a taste. We're serving a lot of food today, so don't be shy."

Everyone's lost the mood for chatting and has started focusing on their food.