Chapter 22: A Soft Heart

The four of them sat down for dinner, and Shen Qingqing was arranged to sit next to Jiang Zhixun.

Shen Qingqing did not act coy. To her, this was merely a formality that would not influence her original decision. She wondered when Jiang Zhixun would apply for a transfer back to Beijing; she would have to urge him when the opportunity arose, if only to stop her mother-in-law from constantly nagging her not to hinder his career.

Sister Wang had prepared two kinds of dipping sauces. One was just vinegar, while the other was a standard savory dip mixed with chili and other seasonings.

"Choose whichever you like," Sister Wang said, placing the small dishes in front of Shen Qingqing and Jiang Zhixun so they could season them to their taste. She then pushed the ceramic basin filled with dumplings toward Shen Qingqing. "Little Jiang made the meat filling. You should have plenty. If it doesn't taste good, we can give him some feedback together."

Shen Qingqing remarked with a teasing tone, "I wouldn't dare offer feedback to Captain Jiang."

Sister Wang chuckled. "You're his wife; you're going to spend your whole life with him. You're the one most qualified to give feedback! Isn't that right, Little Jiang?"

Suddenly put on the spot, Jiang Zhixun let out a vague, muffled grunt. Although his attitude wasn't exactly warm, he didn't say anything inappropriate, which left Sister Wang satisfied. Little Shen was in no rush to return to Beijing; if they were given more time, they would surely reconcile. After all, they held no grudges; it was just a matter of clearing the air.

The leader spoke up, "Let's eat."

Afraid of staining her scarf, Shen Qingqing untied it and laid it across her lap. As she moved, her bulky winter clothes inevitably brushed against Jiang Zhixun. Such a slight touch hardly counted as intimate, but it made Jiang Zhixun uncomfortable. He shifted his body imperceptibly, widening the distance between them.

Shen Qingqing had not come to the Great Northwest to mend their marital relationship, and having already composed herself, she was indifferent to his distancing. To make him feel more at ease, she adjusted her position and scooted her stool away. Now, where their arms might have touched, there was a gap of two fist-widths.

To anyone else, it might have seemed normal, but Sister Wang and the leader, whose attention was fixed on them, did not miss this detail. The couple exchanged a look and simultaneously let out a silent sigh. How could there be a man in this world so dense?

Shen Qingqing remained calm, spooning a few dumplings into her bowl. She took a bite, and the savory flavors exploded in her mouth. The ingredients were fresh, the dumpling skins were supple and smooth, and the texture was excellent. The meat filling was rich and piping hot—it was genuinely delicious.

She nodded and praised him with sincerity, "It's delicious."

Sister Wang gave up on trying to manage Jiang Zhixun. For every step forward the young woman took, he retreated three. Not only did he retreat, he even used his posture to reject her proximity. If he didn't change his temper, it would be a miracle if the couple could reconcile. She glanced at her husband, her eyes conveying a clear message: *He’s your subordinate, you handle the counseling!*

She picked up a spoon and served more dumplings into Shen Qingqing’s bowl. "Eat up. Once these two basins are empty, I'll boil another batch. Dumplings are best served fresh."

The two ceramic basins were of moderate size, each half-full. The men had large appetites, but with only four people, it was plenty. Shen Qingqing did not refuse the kindness, lifting her bowl to receive the dumplings. "Sister, you eat too. Don't just look after me."

Sister Wang responded with a warm hum and picked up her chopsticks to eat. The leader wanted to take this opportunity to impart some wisdom on marital harmony to the young couple, but since his wife wasn't backing him up, he could only glare at Jiang Zhixun and curse him under his breath as a stubborn boy.

Jiang Zhixun remained calm, eating on his own and pretending not to notice the exasperated look from across the table. He didn't want to discuss his affairs with Shen Qingqing. He understood the leader's good intentions, but he simply couldn't bring himself to be affectionate with her. He felt he had already made enough concessions; otherwise, he would have sent her to the train station the moment her fever broke.

His peripheral vision fell on Shen Qingqing. She held her small bowl in one hand and chopsticks in the other, eating the dumplings in tiny bites. It took her three bites to finish a single dumpling. Because they were fresh out of the pot, she would first bite off a small corner, blow on it, and only then take the second bite. She ate with slow, elegant, and delicate movements.

Jiang Zhixun was tall and broad, sitting higher than her. From his angle, he could see her long, curled eyelashes and the gentle movement of her lips as she blew on the food. Her long, black, silky hair was draped over her shoulders, held back by a headband, revealing her smooth, fair profile. Her ears were unadorned, but they bore small piercings.

Jiang Zhixun fell into thought—when did she get her ears pierced? As he pondered, he recalled the day they registered their marriage; she had been wearing tiny pearl earrings. His gaze lingered on the piercings for a few seconds. He had never known his memory was so sharp; it had been three years, yet he could still recall such a small detail.

As he withdrew his gaze, it swept over the hand she used to hold her chopsticks. Her fingers, which had been bright red from the cold while washing vegetables, had recovered to a fair, pale state. Her skin was very fair, like a rice cake, and even the fingertips gripping the chopsticks looked soft and pink.

A girl as delicate as this had actually traveled alone by train to the Great Northwest to find him. Jiang Zhixun’s heart softened uncontrollably. He suddenly wanted to do something to soothe her. And so, under Sister Wang's surprised gaze, Jiang Zhixun added two more dumplings to Shen Qingqing’s bowl.

"Let them cool for a bit."

Shen Qingqing didn't refuse, nor did she look up. She whispered a quiet thank you. Jiang Zhixun felt inexplicably nervous; his heart rate was irregular, and his throat felt tight. If he hadn't been holding his breath, his breathing might have become heavy. Stiffly, he served a spoonful to Sister Wang and the leader each.

He said stiffly, "Sorry for the trouble today. Next time I have leave, I’ll treat you both at the canteen."

Seeing that Jiang Zhixun had finally caught on, Sister Wang smiled happily. "I'll order a few extra dishes then; don't you dare regret the cost."

Jiang Zhixun nodded. "I won't regret it."

He didn't have many expenses living alone, and he sent his allowance to Shen Qingqing, though he kept the ration tickets and small change. Treating Sister Wang and her husband to a meal wasn't difficult.

Jiang Zhixun had finally taken a step forward. Pleased, Sister Wang and her husband decided not to press the couple on their personal issues any further. After the meal, they told them to be on their way.

"You have to report back to the unit tomorrow. Take Little Shen out for a walk today. If you get cold, just go back to the guesthouse to rest."

Jiang Zhixun’s ears turned even redder. Was he being urged to hurry up and have a child?

Shen Qingqing also felt awkward. "Comrade Lin invited us for dinner, we still have to make it to that, and I'm not sure if they need any help."

Sister Wang nodded knowingly. "Little Lin and Little Jiang are close. Since you've come all this way, you really should go and visit."

After a few more polite exchanges, Shen Qingqing and Jiang Zhixun left Sister Wang’s house, one walking a few paces behind the other.