New Year's Eve in Xinjiang

Lu Yu helped Jiang Nian fasten her buttons before going to open the door. Song Bai carried a large bundle inside, bringing the late-night chill with him. "You forgot your things."

"Thank you."

Lu Yu took the bundle and placed it on the table. The moment he turned around, Song Bai could not help but raise his eyes to look at Jiang Nian, who was standing in front of the heated wall. She was as beautiful as ever, with snow-white skin and much longer hair, which was tied into two braids draping over her chest. Her thin bangs brushed against her eyebrows, revealing her clear eyes. Song Bai's sharp gaze noticed an unusual flush on Jiang Nian's cheeks, unlike how she had looked before he left.

He averted his gaze and looked at Lu Yu, who had just turned around. "I bought a few clean basins and put them under the bed. There is well water outside, and hot water is on the stove. You can use them to wash up."

Lu Yu nodded. "Understood."

Song Bai did not stay long and left. Lu Yu closed the door, looked at Jiang Nian's flushed cheeks, and walked over to pat her head. "Sit down first. I'll heat some water for your bath."

Jiang Nian smiled. "Okay."

Song Bai had bought three basins—one large and two small. The large one was for Jiang Nian to bathe, while the small ones were for washing her face and feet. Even towels and toothbrushes had been fully prepared, making the things Jiang Nian had brought with her completely redundant. She had not expected Song Bai to be so meticulous, paying attention to even these small details.

Lu Yu went outside to fetch a bucket of water, added hot water to the large basin, and carried it into the inner room for Jiang Nian to bathe. After she finished, Lu Yu used the water she had used to bathe himself. By the time they finished washing up and lay down on the bed, it was almost midnight. Jiang Nian had not slept well during the four days on the train, so the moment her head hit the pillow, she drifted off to sleep. Lu Yu turned over to pull her into his arms, only to hear her steady breathing beside him.

He let out a helpless laugh, kissed her lips, pulled the blanket over her, and then went to sleep.

Jiang Nian slept until nine o'clock the next morning. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the dark room, briefly thinking she had misread the clock. She put on her shoes, walked to the window, and pulled back the curtain to look outside. The sky was still slightly dark, carrying a hazy morning light. A layer of snow had fallen on the ground, and the howling of the wind could be heard through the window cracks.

That made sense. After the train entered Xinjiang, the sky did not fully brighten until ten in the morning, and it grew dark after seven in the evening.

The room was warm, but Lu Yu was nowhere to be seen. Jiang Nian put on her sweater and pants. Just as she walked into the outer room, she heard the door open. Lu Yu walked in carrying a patterned thermos. Seeing Jiang Nian dressed and out of bed, he spoke to someone outside: "Come in."

Jiang Nian was startled and tilted her head curiously, only to see Song Bai and Tang Ze walk in carrying food boxes.

Lu Yu poured a cup of hot milk tea from the thermos for Jiang Nian. "I saw you liked this yesterday, so I asked Song Bai to bring you a thermos."

Tang Ze said, "Sister-in-law, we brought some food from the cafeteria. Eat first."

Jiang Nian smiled. "Thank you."

She washed her face before sitting down at the table to eat. During the meal, she asked Song Bai, "Do you know where the Supply and Marketing Cooperative is?"

Song Bai raised his head, his gaze lingering on Jiang Nian's fair face for a few seconds before he looked away. "What do you want to buy?"

Jiang Nian said, "I want to buy some spices, meat, and vegetables to cook here. We can't keep eating from the cafeteria during the New Year. I want to make a New Year's Eve dinner so we can all celebrate together."

Song Bai smiled. "Sure."

Tang Ze said, "Since Sister-in-law said so, I won't be polite. I still remember your culinary skills."

Jiang Nian laughed. "Then I'll make a bit more."

Lu Yu placed two pieces of meat into Jiang Nian's bowl and said, "The wind is strong outside today. If you want to go out, dress warmly. We can go to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative together. If you don't want to go, just stay home. Tell me what you want to buy, and I'll bring it back."

Jiang Nian said, "Let's go together."

She wanted to see the scenery of the base. It had been too dark to see anything when they arrived last night.

Lu Yu smiled. "Okay."

After eating, Jiang Nian put on her cotton-padded jacket, threw a thick overcoat over it, put on a cotton hat, and went out with Lu Yu. The wind outside was fierce, and the cold air whipped against her face like tiny knives. Jiang Nian had no time to enjoy the scenery; she did not even dare to raise her head, fearing her hat would blow away. Lu Yu reached out to hold her hat down, but she grabbed his firm arm and pulled it down.

She was dressed so warmly yet still felt freezing, let alone Lu Yu, who had his bare hand on her head.

She looked at Lu Yu, Song Bai, and Tang Ze. The three of them wore only military overcoats with no hats, chatting calmly in the freezing wind as if they could not feel the cold at all. Jiang Nian's teeth were chattering.

As expected of people who swam in the winter; their bodies were incredibly resilient to the cold.

Jiang Nian regretted coming out; she wanted to go back and crawl into her warm blanket. Lu Yu seemed to read her mind. Almost immediately, he said, "I'll take you back. Just tell me what you want to buy, and I'll get it. Don't catch a cold."

Jiang Nian nodded repeatedly. "Let's go back."

With that, she turned around, held her hat, and ran back. Lu Yu burst into laughter and quickly caught up with her. Tang Ze was also amused. Seeing Song Bai's gaze fixed on Jiang Nian's retreating figure, he sighed silently and patted Song Bai's shoulder. "Stop looking. You're only bringing trouble upon yourself."

Song Bai reluctantly withdrew his gaze. Only when Lu Yu shielded Jiang Nian back into the house did he look down, rub his face, and say to Tang Ze, "I'm afraid if I don't look now, I won't have another chance in this lifetime."

Tang Ze knew Song Bai was a sentimental person, especially when it came to feelings. Once this guy fell, it was hard for him to pull himself out.

When they received Lu Yu's telegram saying Jiang Nian was coming, Song Bai had been counting down the days. Everyone in the regiment felt he was acting unusual. Although he usually smiled, he was very strict during training. But recently, when some soldiers failed to meet the standards, he only scolded them lightly. Several company commanders had even asked Tang Ze what was wrong with Regiment Commander Song.

Tang Ze wanted to say that he was lovesick.

This year, many people had tried to introduce matches to Song Bai, even the brigade commander. But he had rejected them all. After the base approved the housing, Song Bai had personally gone to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to buy cotton blankets, clean the room, and purchase the bath basin, towels, and toothbrushes. He bought everything in pairs, knowing full well that one set was for Lu Yu, yet he did it tirelessly.

His attentive behavior had been noticed by everyone in the regiment, and many thought his wife was coming.

Tang Ze grabbed Song Bai's shoulder, forcing him to turn around. Looking at Song Bai's dejected face, he said coldly, "Have you thought about Lu Yu while acting like this? Jiang Nian is married to Lu Yu; they are husband and wife. You harbor inappropriate thoughts about your brother's woman. Do you still view Lu Yu as a brother? How are we supposed to face each other in the future?!"

Song Bai said, "I don't harbor any inappropriate thoughts about her."

He broke free from Tang Ze's grip, looking at the snowy landscape ahead, his voice firm and steady: "I only see her as my sister-in-law. I know my boundaries."

With that, he walked away.

There was one thing Tang Ze did not say, but Song Bai knew it in his heart: Lu Yu knew he had not given up on Jiang Nian. As men, he could easily see the intense possessiveness in Lu Yu's eyes whenever he looked at Jiang Nian. He would never do something as despicable as stealing his brother's woman.

Seeing Lu Yu walk out of the house, Tang Ze waited for him before they caught up with Song Bai to head to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

The cold wind howled outside, but Jiang Nian sat comfortably by the stove. She had listed all the spices, ingredients, and cooking utensils she needed and given them to Lu Yu. Near lunchtime, Lu Yu and Tang Ze returned. Tang Ze mentioned that Song Bai had some matters to attend to and would only return in the evening.

For lunch, Jiang Nian made black bean noodles and a small vegetable dish. Tang Ze ate two large bowls. Afterward, he said to Jiang Nian, "I've been here for over half a year, and this is the first time I've eaten such delicious food. Sister-in-law, I wish you could stay a few more days so I can enjoy your cooking."

Jiang Nian said, "We are leaving on the third day of the New Year. You and Song Bai should come over for meals these next few days."

Before coming to Xinjiang, Jiang Nian had asked Lu Yu when they would visit Uncle Du's house. He said they would go on the third day of the New Year, wanting everyone to have a peaceful New Year first.

For the next two days, Jiang Nian stayed inside cooking, refusing to go out due to the cold. Tang Ze and Song Bai would show up at mealtimes. On New Year's Eve, both Song Bai and Tang Ze were off duty. Lu Yu told them not to buy anything and just come over. Jiang Nian prepared the New Year's Eve dinner, wrapping two types of dumplings—one with pork filling and one with mutton. Lu Yu had bought chicken, fish, and some vegetables at noon, and he helped Jiang Nian in the kitchen. Just as the chicken was ready, Song Bai and Tang Ze arrived.

The two carried four bottles of white alcohol and milk tea. Song Bai also brought Xinjiang specialties like Milk Dates and Milk Curd, along with other delicacies Jiang Nian had never tried. On New Year's Eve, the lights in the room remained lit until midnight, and the three men drank quite a bit. Seeing them drinking so happily, Jiang Nian pestered Lu Yu to pour her half a cup.

Lu Yu frowned slightly, looking at her holding the cup under the blanket. "Do you really have to take a sip?"

Jiang Nian's face was flushed. "Just one sip. I've never tried Xinjiang alcohol before."

Remembering how she had gotten drunk after just one sip years ago, Song Bai pursed his lips and advised, "Xinjiang alcohol is strong. You shouldn't drink it."

Jiang Nian said, "It's fine, I'll just take a small sip."

Tang Ze: "..."

He could see that she would not give up until she tasted it. He watched as Jiang Nian downed the half cup of alcohol. She froze for a moment, her face turning bright red. She quickly drank some milk tea to wash down the burning sensation, but within moments, she slumped onto the table.

Tang Ze: "..."

Song Bai: "..."

Lu Yu: "..."

Lu Yu carried Jiang Nian into the inner room, removing her coat and shoes so she could sleep comfortably. He went back out to chat with Song Bai and Tang Ze for a while before they left. Lu Yu cleaned up the house, washed the dishes, and washed up before crawling into bed. Jiang Nian was fast asleep. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her lips.

Jiang Nian seemed to feel something. She half-opened her eyes, her vision blurry.

She could only see a handsome, hazy face, but she knew it was Lu Yu. She nuzzled into his chest, hearing a deep, warm voice speaking to her from above. Jiang Nian dizzily raised her head, her lips brushing against Lu Yu's. In a slurred voice, she asked, "What did you say?"

Lu Yu froze for a moment. Looking at Jiang Nian, who was so close to his nose, squinting like a little kitten, he casually asked, "Where did you come from?"

Jiang Nian let out a laugh. Half-drunk and half-awake, she bit Lu Yu's lip lightly and mumbled, "I came from outside the book!" ||CHAPTER_SEPARATOR