Warmth in the Winter Night

Jiang Nian looked at the cold mantou in his hand, stepped forward, and took the bowl from him. "Don't eat cold food. I'll make you some hot dough drop soup."

Lu Yu held his hand to his lips and coughed a few times. "No need to go to such trouble."

"It's no trouble."

Jiang Nian pursed her lips and smiled in a very good mood. Then she raised her head to look at Lu Yu. "Go wait in my room first. My room is warmer."

The warm light illuminated Jiang Nian's smiling face. A gentle stream of warmth surged in Lu Yu's heart. He suppressed the itch in his throat, held back his cough, and asked in a hoarse voice, "You seem very happy, Sister-in-law?"

Jiang Nian lowered her head to stuff corn cobs into the stove. Hearing Lu Yu's words, she said casually, "Of course I'm happy now that you're back."

After saying that, she didn't feel anything was wrong. She stood up to get flour from the cabinet. Seeing Lu Yu still standing at the kitchen door, her beautiful brows furrowed, and she said in confusion, "Why are you still standing here? Go to my room to warm up for a bit. Once I finish cooking, I'll light a charcoal basin in your room to dispel the cold."

Lu Yu rarely saw Jiang Nian looking so relaxed and happy. For a moment, he was a bit dazed. Regaining his senses, he said, "I'm not cold."

After saying that, he went to his room to light the charcoal basin to dispel the cold.

Jiang Nian shivered. Seeing Lu Yu wearing even less than her, she felt that saying he wasn't cold was a lie.

While cooking, Jiang Nian heard frequent coughing from Lu Yu's room, feeling he must have caught a cold. Therefore, after finishing the food, she scooped it out for Lu Yu and called out, "Dinner is ready."

She took the last small piece of ginger from the cabinet. When Lu Yu entered the kitchen, he saw her slicing it on the cutting board. "What else are you making?"

Jiang Nian said, "Boiling some red sugar ginger water for you to drink to dispel the cold."

Lu Yu's heart warmed. He held the hot dough drop soup and sat on the stool to eat. This was the only hot meal he had eaten in over twenty days. The hot soup warmed his stomach, dispelling the cold accumulated inside.

He had been in the military for so many years. Every time he returned from a rescue mission, there was only a cold dormitory and comrades teasing each other. This was the second time he had returned in the middle of the night and eaten hot soup made by his sister-in-law herself.

Lu Yu ate three bowls of dough drop soup. After eating, he washed the pot and bowls. Jiang Nian went to her room to get some red sugar, boiled the red sugar ginger water, and scooped it into a bowl for Lu Yu to drink. Only now that she was free did she notice that Lu Yu had grown thin again.

He had been away for two months before, and when he returned, he had lost a lot of weight. This time he had been away for nearly twenty days, and the weight he had managed to gain back over the past few months had dropped again, making his sharp features look even more pronounced.

Jiang Nian thought to herself that she must make more delicious food to nourish Lu Yu.

The door was closed, but wind still leaked through the gaps. Jiang Nian shivered, putting the remaining ginger in the cabinet. "What do you want to eat tomorrow? I'll make it for you."

"Cough, cough—"

Lu Yu coughed for a while after drinking the ginger soup, his face looking a bit pale. Jiang Nian felt uneasy, so she walked over and touched his forehead. It was warm, but he didn't have a fever.

The light suddenly dimmed in front of him, and a faint scent of wild honey locust rushed into his nose, the same scent he smelled every night when he went to Jiang Nian's room to pour bath water. Her hand was warm, her slender fingers resting on his forehead for a few seconds before moving away.

Perhaps because he was sick, Lu Yu wanted his sister-in-law to accompany him at this moment, using that delicate and warm hand to keep caressing his forehead.

He suddenly began to crave this feeling of being remembered by someone.

During this snow rescue mission, spending twenty days and nights at the foot of the mountain, he thought most about his sister-in-law at home. He wondered if she would encounter trouble alone, and if she would be targeted and gossiped about by malicious people again.

"What's wrong with you?"

Seeing him lowering his eyes, remaining silent, and looking pale, Jiang Nian couldn't help but worry.

Lu Yu regained his senses, placing the empty bowl on the table. "Nothing. It's late, go to sleep quickly, Sister-in-law."

"Are you really fine?"

Jiang Nian was uneasy. His symptoms clearly looked like a cold, but there was no medicine at home. She would go to the clinic tomorrow to buy some.

Lu Yu said, "I'm fine."

Seeing that he was indeed fine, Jiang Nian felt temporarily relieved. She returned to her room and crawled back into the blanket, the warmth of the blanket finally letting her body relax.

This weather was too cold.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt the new century was better, with heating, where one could wear short sleeves and eat ice cream in winter. Thinking of that taste now made her very nostalgic.

Having been woken up by the cold earlier, Jiang Nian didn't feel sleepy now. She looked at the dark ceiling, thinking about the dream from that night.

If the female lead, Sun Ying, didn't marry the male lead, who would she marry?

Would it be Wu Youshan?

Outside, the cold wind howled. It wasn't until dawn that Jiang Nian finally felt sleepy, but she simply decided not to sleep. She crawled out of the blanket to put on her clothes, shivering as she dressed. After dressing, she used the warm water from the thermos mixed with cold water to wash her face and brush her teeth, then went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

She planned to make some pumpkin porridge, a few pastries, and stir-fry two vegetable dishes. Along with yesterday's sweet green rice balls, it would be enough. However, she still had to fry a few green onion pancakes. She had noticed that Lu Yu liked eating them, always finishing the fried corn cakes.

The kitchen was adjacent to Lu Yu's room, separated only by a wall. The sound of coughing from inside reached Jiang Nian's ears. She was afraid he would cough himself into pneumonia if this continued. She had used up the hot water, so she added some water to the pot and lit the fire to boil water.

Once the water was hot, she scooped a cup of water into an enamel mug and walked to Lu Yu's door. "Lu Yu, are you awake?"

"Yes."

Lu Yu's voice came from the room, sounding a bit hoarse.

Jiang Nian pursed her lips. "Can I come in?"

The person inside was silent for a moment before replying, "You can."

Jiang Nian gently pushed the door open. The door opened slowly. It was dawn, but the light in the room was still dim. Using the sunlight filtering in, she saw Lu Yu lying on the bed, covered with a blanket. The man inside wore a thin white shirt. Seeing her enter, he sat up, leaning against the headboard pasted with newspapers. His handsome face looked a bit pale from sickness, and his thin lips were dry.

This was the first time Jiang Nian had entered his room while Lu Yu was present.

Perhaps because no one had lived here for over twenty days, even though the charcoal basin had been lit, the room was still chilly.

Jiang Nian pulled the light cord. Seeing Lu Yu close his eyes slightly and frown, as if uncomfortable with the bright light, she brought the warm water to the bedside and handed the enamel mug to him. "Drink some warm water to quench your thirst. Once I finish breakfast, I'll go to the clinic to buy some medicine for you."

"Yes."

His voice was even hoarser than before.

Lu Yu reached out to accept the enamel mug, his fingers lightly brushing against the back of Jiang Nian's fair hand. Her hand was very cold, the coldness spreading from his fingertips all the way to his heart. Seeing him accept the mug, Jiang Nian let go of her hand, using the hand that had just held the mug to touch Lu Yu's forehead again. It was shockingly hot.

Jiang Nian was startled, trying again. Looking at Lu Yu's dejected expression, worry instantly appeared on her face. "You have a fever."

"I'm fine."

He still repeated these words.

After Lu Yu finished drinking the warm water, seeing Jiang Nian turn away, he didn't know what he was doing at that moment. He actually reached out and grabbed her wrist, his palm lightly caressing the woman's smooth skin, almost imperceptibly.

He said in a hoarse voice, "Sister-in-law."

Jiang Nian turned around. "What is it?"

Lu Yu's eyes were dark. The room was dim, and even the sunlight couldn't penetrate the man's dark eyes. He asked, "Where are you going, Sister-in-law?"

Jiang Nian was a bit dazed, not understanding what was wrong with Lu Yu at this moment, so she explained, "I'm going to the clinic to see if they are open. But there should be a night shift at the clinic, right?"

Lu Yu lowered his eyes, looking at the slender wrist held tightly in his palm. His thin lips pursed slightly, and he suddenly let go of her hand, saying, "I thought I wanted to drink some more warm water."

After saying that, he coughed violently a few times.

Jiang Nian said, "I'll pour some more for you."

She accepted the enamel mug, went to the kitchen to pour another cup of warm water, and brought it back to hand to Lu Yu. "Drink this first. I'll go buy fever medicine."

Jiang Nian was incredibly glad she hadn't felt sleepy, discovering Lu Yu's fever early. Otherwise, he wouldn't have known how long he would suffer.

The wind was very strong outside. Jiang Nian returned to her room to put on her self-knitted red scarf, shrinking her neck as she ran toward the clinic. After running a few steps, she unexpectedly met Feng Mai on the road. She was startled and called out, "Sister Feng, where are you going?"

Feng Mai turned her head and saw Jiang Nian. Her hair was tied back, and she wore a dusty-pink cotton coat and a bright red scarf. Her face was fair and beautiful. She didn't look like a young widow at all, looking more and more like a young girl waiting to be married. "Old Song has a fever. I'm going to the clinic to buy some fever medicine for him."

Jiang Nian was a bit surprised. "Regiment Commander Song also has a fever?"

Hearing this, Feng Mai smiled and said, "What, Deputy Commander Lu also has a fever?"

Jiang Nian nodded. "I'm also preparing to go to the clinic to buy fever medicine, and buy some cold and cough medicine along the way."

Seeing Feng Mai's accustomed look, Jiang Nian couldn't help but ask curiously, "Do they get sick every time they return from a snow rescue mission?"

The sky was gradually brightening, but today was a cloudy day, looking gloomy.

The two walked under the trees, and Feng Mai said, "Actually, it's not like this every year. A few years ago, the snow was even heavier than this year. When the soldiers returned from the rescue mission, basically everyone fell sick. The clinic couldn't even handle so many cases. Think about it, although they are strong, they stayed in the snow for over twenty days in winter, without enough food or warmth. They ate cold dry rations and drank melted snow. Their clothes and shoes were soaked with snow water and they couldn't change. Even a body made of iron couldn't take it. It would be strange if they didn't get sick. Old Song said a batch of sick soldiers had already returned a few days ago, and this group was the last to return."

Thinking of Lu Yu's hard work during these twenty days, Jiang Nian felt even more that the people's soldiers didn't have it easy.

She touched her face. "Then I must nourish Lu Yu well."

Feng Mai smiled. "You are indeed a dutiful sister-in-law."

Jiang Nian smiled and didn't speak, walking to the clinic with Feng Mai. Many people had fallen sick these past few days, so the clinic staff took turns on duty, their eyes dark from lack of sleep. However, seeing soldiers or military dependents arrive, they would carefully ask about the situation and prescribe medicine accordingly.

Jiang Nian described Lu Yu's symptoms. After the nurse got the medicine, Jiang Nian and Feng Mai walked back together. On the way back, they met Chen Fang and several military wives. After the last incident of introducing a partner to Jiang Nian, Chen Fang and Feng Mai didn't look kindly upon each other when they met, either glaring at each other or ignoring each other.

After Chen Fang walked far away, Feng Mai snorted. "It seems Regiment Commander Tang is also sick."

Just as they walked to the door of their houses, they saw Xu Yan walking out wearing a thick cotton coat. Seeing Jiang Nian and Feng Mai, she was also startled. "What are you doing?"

Feng Mai said, "Buying medicine."

Xu Yan smiled. "Coincidentally, so am I."

Feng Mai asked, "Are the second uncle and the others still making a fuss?"

Mentioning them, Xu Yan didn't look pleased. She snorted coldly. "Seeing Liu Qiang return, they lost the momentum they had when they first arrived. Once it's fully bright today, I'll chase them away. If they stay any longer, I won't be able to take it."

Jiang Nian sympathized with Xu Yan for having such troublesome relatives.

Just as Zheng Hong left, the second aunt arrived.

The three chatted briefly, then Xu Yan went to the clinic, while Jiang Nian and Feng Mai each returned home. As soon as she returned, Jiang Nian took a fever pill to Lu Yu's room, pouring another cup of warm water for him. "Take the fever medicine first. I'll go make breakfast. After eating, take the cold medicine."

This was the first time Lu Yu had been carefully taken care of since entering the military.

He nodded. "Yes."

His voice was still very hoarse.

Jiang Nian went to the kitchen to make pumpkin porridge, stir-fry two dishes, and heat up a few white flour mantou and sweet green rice balls. Once the food was ready, she intentionally brought it to Lu Yu's room, placing it on the small wooden table next to his bed. "It's cold outside, don't get out of bed. Just eat in bed. After you finish, I'll tidy up."

Watching Jiang Nian busy herself, Lu Yu's eyes grew a bit hot.

He wasn't so fragile that he needed such meticulous care. Even with a fever, he could go to the unit and train soldiers without issue. But seeing Jiang Nian take care of him like a fragile patient, Lu Yu, for the first time, harbored a wicked thought of wanting to lie in bed for two more days.

Jiang Nian went to the kitchen to bring firewood to Lu Yu's room to light a fire. She poked the charcoal basin, using the embers from the kitchen to light it, adding more firewood. After burning vigorously for a while, the room finally warmed up. She looked at Lu Yu. Seeing him eating, she asked, "Do you want some more porridge?"

Lu Yu said, "Yes."

So Jiang Nian ran to the kitchen to scoop another bowl of porridge for Lu Yu, while she ate in the kitchen. Afterward, she swept the fallen leaves in the yard. After a round of busywork, she felt warm all over, not cold at all.

After Lu Yu finished eating, Jiang Nian handed him the cold and cough medicine. Watching him take them, she took the bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen to wash them clean.

Jiang Nian sat by the stove to warm herself, thinking about when she was sick before, Lu Yu had also busied himself taking care of her, even more meticulously than she was doing now. She thought for a while and decided to go to the food station at noon to buy a catty of meat, planning to make black bean sauce noodles for Lu Yu at noon.

With that thought, she returned to her room, wrapped her red scarf around her neck, and called out toward Lu Yu's window: "I'm going to the food station. I'll be back soon."

Lu Yu's voice came from the room: "I'll go."

He was still sick, why go out in this cold weather?

"No need, lie down and rest. I'll be back soon."

As soon as Jiang Nian finished speaking, she heard footsteps in the room. Immediately after, the door opened. Lu Yu wore his winter military uniform, his hair a bit longer than before, with a bit of light green stubble on his face, lacking his previous stern coldness and adding a rare bit of wildness.

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