The two went to the vegetable market, where this season offered nothing but potatoes, cabbage, and radishes. For special occasions, there were also bean sprouts for sale.
After a round, they purchased potatoes and cabbage, and also bought two frozen fish. In the Northwest at this time, there were no fresh fish available. They bought a chicken, cut three pounds of pork belly, and weighed two pounds of glass noodles. While buying the cabbage, Gu Xiaobei sweetly called out "auntie" with each interaction, and the vendor even gifted them a bunch of green onions. Gu Xiaobei was so pleased she could hardly open her eyes.
Lu Zhanguo looked at Gu Xiaobei, who appeared as a little money-grubber, and he felt a bit better.
All these items together cost over ten dollars. Gu Xiaobei remarked that ten dollars in the 21st century was barely enough for a breakfast.
Lu Zhanguo carried a mound of goods while Gu Xiaobei, hands free, followed beside him with a grin. It was indeed nice to have a man of strength.
When they reached the bus stop, they found that Chi Xiaoyue had also already arrived. Lu Zhanguo just nodded and placed the goods in the car. Chi Xiaoyue, smiling, looked at Lu Zhanguo, "You bought so much groceries, I haven't had Brother Zhanguo's cooked noodles in a long time. Make us some when you're free."
Gu Xiaobei threw daggers with her eyes toward Lu Zhanguo, but Lu Zhanguo didn't even look her way, nor did he respond to Chi Xiaoyue's comment.
That brought some balance to Gu Xiaobei's feelings. Actually, Lu Zhanguo was fully aware of Gu Xiaobei's glaring intense gaze, yet he found this side of Gu Xiaobei incredibly adorable.
Once a person catches your eye, you find every little action, every bit of pretense, endearing.
Chi Xiaoyue, having gained no interest, stayed silent on the way back. And perhaps due to a full belly, she didn't feel uncomfortable either.
After arriving home, Lu Zhanguo stored the groceries and stoked the stove, while Gu Xiaobei washed her face, took off her coat, and lay down in bed. Perhaps due to the pregnancy, she felt tired just from the morning rounds. Thinking back, she had once backpacked across Tibet.
Lu Zhanguo entered the room and sat by the bed, looking at Gu Xiaobei worriedly, "Are you feeling uncomfortable?"
"No, just a bit tired. What are we having for dinner? I'll start preparing in a bit," Gu Xiaobei replied, happy for Lu Zhanguo's concern.
"Let's stew all the meat and simply prepare a few other dishes, we're all family here." Zhang Zhijun has two boys, one ten and the other seven, both not very big but eat a lot. As the saying goes: "Hungry boys will bankrupt their father." And the whole family of seven or eight depended on Zhang Zhijun's salary; decent meals were rare. The previous night, he noticed that Gu Xiaobei didn't enjoy greasy dumplings much, but was glad she didn't complain outright.
"Okay, but can you help me chop the chicken later? I can't manage it." Gu Xiaobei hadn't thought too deeply about it; she just knew that in tough times, the more meat dishes at a gathering, the better the feast appeared.
"Hmm, what do you want for lunch?"
"I'd like some of your sour noodle stew." Hearing this, Lu Zhanguo stiffened; the little lady was indeed waiting for it.
Gu Xiaobei watched Lu Zhanguo stiffen and suddenly lost interest in teasing him, speaking indifferently, "I'm not too hungry, maybe just a little something for lunch, and we can start dinner early. After eating, you still have to take me for a bath."
"Sure," Lu Zhanguo nodded, preparing to stand up when Gu Xiaobei suddenly sat up and threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck, burying her face in his neck. She whispered softly, "Lu Zhanguo, if one day I get lost, you must wait for me right here."
Suddenly feeling insecure, Gu Xiaobei was truly frightened. After all, she only considered herself a lost soul from another world merely residing in a body also named Gu Xiaobei. She didn't know what might happen one day if she were to drift away again. And with everything now, it felt somewhat stolen. She didn't expect that in just a few days, Lu Zhanguo could develop deep feelings for her.
Lu Zhanguo couldn't understand why Gu Xiaobei suddenly appeared so sad and helpless. He instinctively hugged Gu Xiaobei's petite body, gently stroking her back and said quietly, "Okay."
The two held each other quietly, feeling as though time had paused beautifully. Gu Xiaobei knew she was being melodramatic, but she quite liked expressing her deeper feelings to Lu Zhanguo in such a way.
"I just bought a few twists, do you want one to tide you over?" Lu Zhanguo asked softly.
"You bought twists? I didn't see you buy anything," Gu Xiaobei raised her head and looked at Lu Zhanguo; they had been together the whole time. How could she have missed the twist vendor?
Lu Zhanguo steadied Gu Xiaobei, got up, and brought from the other room some twists wrapped in wax paper—at the time, Gu Xiaobei had been busy chatting with the cabbage vendor. He had seen a vendor with twists passing by, noticing the golden, glistening twists, and felt like Gu Xiaobei would like them, so he unhesitatingly bought four. At ten cents each, they weren't cheap.
Seeing the golden twists made Gu Xiaobei's mouth water, and her mood lifted. She started eating one, her body leaning against Lu Zhanguo sitting by the bed, appearing carefree. Often, she mused, troubles stemmed from not seeing things from another angle and vexing oneself unnecessarily. Once resolved, there was no problem.
With her mouth greasy, she asked Lu Zhanguo, "Why aren't you eating?"
"I'm not hungry, you enjoy them. Next time, we can have them bring you some more." Lu Zhanguo watched Gu Xiaobei eat with gusto and felt content.
Suddenly, Gu Xiaobei turned her face, grease shining on her lips, and planted them firmly on Lu Zhanguo's lips. She nibbled randomly and then burst into giggles, "How's the twist flavor?"
Lu Zhanguo, his eyes deep, suddenly cupped the back of Gu Xiaobei's head and leaned in for a kiss. Gu Xiaobei was flustered; her teasing backfired. But she liked the faint taste of tobacco on his lips and closed her eyes. Lu Zhanguo kissed her greasy lips, finding a sweetness like mochi, and a fragrant delicacy like flower petals; he deepened the kiss.
After the kiss ended, Gu Xiaobei's face turned red, her eyes shining brighter. Lu Zhanguo felt slightly embarrassed about his uncontrollable emotions, whispering, "I'll get you a glass of water. You keep eating the twists; I'll go prep the chicken and fish."
Gu Xiaobei, delighted, kept nodding vigorously. Taking another bite of the twist, she found it even tastier than before. Her mood instantly brightened.