Chapter 23: Lifting the Clothes

The familiar scent of medicine stirred Lu Youyou’s memories. She suddenly looked up, her gaze beginning to scan Gu Qingye. Her intense, burning stare pinned him to the spot. Back in Qiaoshan Village, Lu Youyou had once looked at him with that same fervor. Back then, they were strangers; now, they were fiancés.

"You—"
"You—"

They spoke at the same time and were interrupted simultaneously. Gu Qingye coughed lightly. "You go first."

"Are you hurt?" Lu Youyou’s face was full of anxiety; she even regretted waiting so long to ask. Before he could answer, she sniffed the air, smelled nothing, and leaned in two steps closer to sniff again.

Gu Qingye’s ears turned hot, the heat spreading rapidly. He instinctively wanted to step back, but stopped himself a second later. It wasn’t out of resistance, but they hadn’t officially registered their marriage yet; they shouldn’t be too close. Suddenly, he placed his hands on her shoulders, steadying her like a weighted doll. The distance remained the same, but the crisp scent of soap gradually drifted away, and the smell of medicine remained absent.

Lu Youyou grew anxious. "What is it? Are you hurt and trying to hide it?" Did he notice her sharp nose and avoid applying medication? Or did he use a colorless, odorless specialized medicine? Or had the wound already scabbed over, making it impossible to smell? Concerned for her own peace of mind, she couldn't help but be worried. She took another step forward, ready to lift his shirt.

Gu Qingye’s pupils dilated in shock, and in his panic, he grabbed her arms. "I'm fine, I'm not hurt!"

Lu Youyou didn't believe him. Why would he be so secretive if he weren't hurt? She began to struggle, but her efforts were futile against his iron-like grip. Panting, she looked up, her eyes filled with confusion and reproach. No one had ever been this worried about him before, and this was already the second time Lu Youyou had done so.

"Really, it's nothing. Just a small surface scratch." Gu Qingye rolled up his sleeve, revealing a small, already-scabbed scar on his shoulder.

Lu Youyou looked straight at him. "Nothing else?" Gu Qingye nodded. The weight on her heart finally lifted, but she immediately looked back up. "From now on, if you get hurt, you must tell me immediately. No, actually, you better not get hurt at all!"

Gu Qingye’s lips curled into a faint smile. He couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t get hurt, and he didn’t even want to tell her when he was injured—the feeling of being cared for was wonderful, but precisely because it was so good, he didn't want to be a burden. Lu Youyou knew this was asking too much, so she didn't expect an answer. She would just have to be more observant; what else could she do?

"I found some dendrobium today, just right for making you soup. The food you've been eating is too simple; how can you survive without proper nutrition!" Lu Youyou emptied her bamboo basket. These alone could make seven or eight different medicinal meals. The mountains of the 1970s were truly filled with treasures.

Gu Qingye glanced at them; most were common mountain goods, none of the "dangerous" varieties found on deep forest cliffs. He pursed his lips and said, "The back mountain hasn't been cultivated, and some places are very dangerous. If you like these things, I’ll accompany you next time." He crouched down to help organize, his movements much more efficient than hers.

Lu Youyou wouldn't fight him for the work. Seeing he was doing a good job, she pulled up a stool and sat to the side. With the sense of strangeness fading, she spoke more freely. "You disappear every other day, how are you going to accompany me?" She thumped her leg as she spoke. "Sister-in-law Zhao across the way said she’d go up the mountain with me next time. If that doesn't work, I’ll just go find Sister-in-law Li."

Gu Qingye murmured, "Sister-in-law Li is a good person; if I'm not around, you can go to her for anything. As for Comrade Zhao across the way... it’s better to go with a few more people, and don't go too deep into the mountains."

Lu Youyou raised an eyebrow. He drew such a clear line in his address—the difference in closeness was obvious. "Doesn't the instructor of the Third Battalion live across the way? You two don't get along?" It wasn't that she was gossiping; anything involving Gu Qingye’s safety was a top priority. If he had friction with his colleagues, it could easily lead to trouble.

Gu Qingye was surprised; he hadn't expected her to think that way, but he couldn't discuss team matters. He pondered for a few seconds before saying, "I just meant their family... if someone is difficult to get along with, you don't have to force yourself."

Lu Youyou understood now. Zhao Wan was a kind person; the difficult one must be her mother-in-law. She looked at Gu Qingye with interest, surprised by his thoughtfulness in knowing the family dynamics of his colleagues so well.

His teasing gaze didn't affect his work. He quickly cleared the mushrooms and wild vegetables, washing and drying them according to her instructions. Lu Youyou was very natural at ordering people around; she had seen her parents do it all the time at home. Gu Qingye, having never interacted with other women, simply felt that since they were married, he should be good to his wife—and if they weren't married yet, his fiancée was the same.

Lu Youyou pulled out the dried oysters and kelp she had bought that morning. According to Li Sanhua, these had sat in the supply cooperative for months because people thought they were expensive or didn't know how to cook them. Lu Youyou didn't mind; she bought them all. She just regretted not knowing Gu Qingye would be back today, or she would have bought some lean meat to add sweetness to the soup.

She washed all the ingredients and put them into an earthenware pot to steam. Gu Qingye took the initiative to tend the fire. Watching the rising steam, his mind wandered. So this is what it feels like to have someone waiting for you at home. Before even tasting the soup, he had already experienced a strange, fulfilling warmth.

"By the way, is there a small stove here? One of those honeycomb coal stoves?" Lu Youyou gestured as she spoke. If there was no coal, firewood would do; she mainly wanted something portable and easy to light. She could use the large kitchen stove, but she was quite unskilled at it—having only had "training" at the educated youth station—and she always ended up covered in ash.

Gu Qingye replied, "I'll go ask. If there isn't one, it doesn't matter; I'll make you one."

Lu Youyou stared at him blankly. "Really?"

Gu Qingye smiled. "We built earth stoves during field training. I've seen the kind of stove you're talking about; it shouldn't be difficult."

What an all-around handyman! With his positive attitude and practical skills, Lu Youyou suddenly felt that life in the 1970s could actually be quite enjoyable. If Gu Qingye could keep this up, she might consider upgrading the quality of her services.

While the soup was simmering, Gu Qingye didn't stay idle. He finished all the chores Lu Youyou had left undone. He filled the water vat, hung the curtains, cleaned the house inside and out, and organized all the things she had bought that morning—only her bed remained untouched.

Gu Qingye looked at the reasonably neat bed, clenched his hands, and resisted the urge to shake everything out and fold it into perfect squares. They hadn't registered yet; he couldn't be disrespectful.