Chapter 148

“Zhi Xia, you are very beautiful, and it's a softer kind of beauty that makes men want to marry you when they first see you because you are the kind of woman suitable for being a wife. I'm not worried that you will get entangled with him, I'm worried that he will have improper designs on you.” Pei Jing said: “It's not the thieves that steal that you need to worry about, it’s the ones that covet what you have. Do you understand?”

Pei Jing thought, if the An family was still as glorious as it was before the founding of the country, Zhi Xia would be a typical young lady from a prominent family, gentle and refined.

Of course, she also has the playful cuteness that belongs to a young girl, which can easily make one's heart stir.

At first sight, he only felt that she looked seventy to eighty percent similar to Zhou Nan. Even now when the two stand together they still look very much alike, but their temperaments are completely different, and she's actually very similar to... her auntie.

Pei Jing knew Zhi Xia's auntie who passed away early. She was a few years older than Pei Jing. At that time, his father and two elder brothers were away, he and his mother were able to live without worry only under the care of Old Master An's family. Even the school he attended when he was young was funded by the An family.

"Then I'll take it as you complimenting me. But..." Zhi Xia looked at him puzzled, "Fu Yunqi shouldn't be so capable that he would dare to persecute women right? Also, since everyone knows he's entangled with so many women, how come he can still stay intact in the Cultural Work Troupe?"

"That's probably where he's capable. Let's take the woman he dated last time for example. They were caught red-handed, but the woman herself admitted to seducing Fu Yunqi, and that she had used unscrupulous means which led to his mistake..."

One can imagine what happened to the one who admitted her guilt. Of course Fu Yunqi benefited from being the victim and even gained some sympathy.

Zhi Xia understood now. This was a scheming manipulator.

"I want to go buy some meat. Our meat ration tickets haven't been used for months already, they're almost expired." Zhi Xia said as she put the baby back in the basket.

She didn't even come to town when she was pregnant. Pei Jing was often able to catch wild chickens and rabbits. Her elder brother also supplemented them frequently, which saved the family's own supplies.

"We might go to Old Yang's place for dinner tonight. Use the ones that are expiring first. Don't buy too much, it's hard to preserve in this weather." Pei Jing said.

"Even though they've invited us, with both of us going it would be inappropriate. I'll be bringing the child and won't be much help either. Just you going is good enough. Also, I'm thinking of making some meat sauces. We don't come to town often since it's far. Making them will allow us to store and eat them more conveniently."

"Alright, do as you like then." Pei Jing said and then picked up the small fan from the basket and thoughtfully fanned the baby.

Taking out the prepared bag from behind the curtain, Zhi Xia went on her way. The supply and marketing cooperative also sold vegetables. The meat station was right next door.

The ration tickets at home really were close to expiration. Pei Jing's military benefits were very good, with eight ounces per month. Zhi Xia had half a pound.

She used the two months that were about to expire, buying a total of two to three pounds of lean meat.

She walked out several steps before putting the meat into the bag she carried, taking the opportunity when no one noticed. She also put the four to five pounds of meat and two slabs of lard she had prepared early on in her space.

When she was picking the meat, she also deliberately chose parts on the beasts that looked most similar to beef. She couldn't very well claim it was pork when the difference was so obvious.

Carrying the bag, she returned under the tree with a very noticeable smile on her face. "I've bought it, let's go home?"

"Alright, let me tie up our things." Pei Jing stood up and said. When he picked up the bag, he was clearly very surprised. "That's a lot of meat!"

"Yes it is. You and brother often catch wild chickens and rabbits. Our meat ration tickets at home are barely used. Making more meat sauce, it wouldn't be right for us aunties and uncles to feast alone. I'll make two jars for Meng Meng later, two more for brother. There won't be much left after that." After all, her elder brother and Pei Meng had been very good to her too, considering she was pregnant and often bringing her nice things. She felt embarrassed about it herself.

"Okay then, I'll listen to you. I don't know how anyway, I can only help with menial tasks later." Pei Jing let Zhi Xia hold on to the bike while he tied the two baskets containing the children to the front horizontal bar, and had Zhi Xia sit alone in the back.

The vast sky had patches of white clouds, each piece like fish scales. There was greenery in all directions, and diligent farmers busily working in the fields. There were also groups of children with baskets digging wild vegetables on the roadside, bursting into joyful voices from time to time.

Zhi Xia released her hands originally gripping the rear seat and reached forward, her entire body pressed against his back, arms wrapped tightly around his waist.

"Are you tired?" Pei Jing looked back at her briefly then quickly turned back around. "Hang in there for now. Don't fall asleep on the bike like the kids. There's no basket to catch you if you fall."

He even laughed a little saying that.

"Pei Jing, has anyone told you that you really have no sense of romance? Can't I just want to hug you?" Zhi Xia said.

"I just heard it for the first time now." Feeling her breath on his back, Pei Jing swallowed with difficulty.

He said Zhi Xia was clingy and it was true. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but he was younger and could be willful, while he had to adhere to reason.

Otherwise if they both acted like children, wouldn't life turn chaotic?

The bike traveled faster than an ox cart, though it was tiring for the rider. His back was drenched in sweat, clothes sticking to his body.

All the way back to the dependents' compound, the two of them attracted attention.

The bikes in the whole dependents' compound were limited in number. Only a few of the urban military wives had the means to buy one or two. Others treasured the chance to borrow one occasionally.

Luckily everyone was considerate in this aspect. After all, a bike was worth half a year's wages for an average person. Anyone would treasure theirs. No one would ask to borrow unless there was an urgent need.

Yang Jun happened to return and called out when he saw them, "Pei Jing, come eat dinner at my place tonight..." Ever since Shen Hongxing's personality drastically changed, Yang Jun rarely had such a happy expression anymore, and never let anyone come over for dinner.

Since the situation was already known, Pei Jing readily accepted.

Returning home, they first carried the child indoors. Pei Jing was unloading the things on the bike while Zhi Xia hurriedly fetched a basin of water for him to wash his hands and face.

Pei Jing called to her, "You should rest first, don't rush about. I'll lug water to rinse off later myself. I'm drenched in sweat."

"Alright then."

Still, Zhi Xia used a towel to first wipe his face, and also wiped herself a little, then took a small towel to wipe the children too.

By the time she came out from the room, she saw Pei Jing had already taken all the meat out into a basin.

"There's beef too?" He was very surprised. After all oxen were the main labor force in the countryside. Only ones too old to work would be slaughtered.

"Yes, we got lucky. The meat station happened to have beef, very popular, any later we wouldn't have gotten any." Why didn't Zhi Xia say so from the start? Of course because it was more believable to say now. He couldn't very well run back to the meat station to verify!

"That is pretty lucky." Pei Jing murmured thoughtfully.

Zhi Xia picked up the meat, "Let me go organize the kitchen first. You said you were going to rinse off right, hurry then. These two kids slept the whole ride, they'll probably wake soon. Go freshen up and watch the kids."

"I can wash later, no rush." Pei Jing followed her to the kitchen. "You don't have much strength. Tell me what I should do to prepare and I'll handle it."

"No need, there are techniques to cutting meat that you don't know. Just obediently go watch the kids, let me relax a bit. Facing the two of them all day I feel awful too." Of course Zhi Xia wouldn't let him participate. Otherwise she'd have to do the steps she could cheat on in her space by hand, and be even more tired. "Let me make some lunch first. We still have steamed buns. I'll stir fry some peppers and meat, what do you think?"

Zhi Xia looked up at him, eyes glittering, as if able to draw people in.

"Good." Pei Jing suddenly kissed her, deepening gradually.

Zhi Xia noticed, she didn't know since when, but he seemed to like kissing her a lot, and intimately exploring kinds at that.

"Mm..." Zhi Xia's heart thumped rapidly. She pushed him away, "Go on, I'll be quick. Just in time to eat when you finish washing up."

Pei Jing said he was good looking too, and if his skin could be a little whiter, he would look like a typical noble young master. However, his wheat-colored skin made him look more masculine. His sturdy muscles and beautiful V line attracted her irresistibly.

Most importantly, he was considerate and calm, but his flaw was being too calm and too principled. Therefore he was not so good in certain aspects.

After the previous lesson, Zhi Xia realized she could not seduce him anymore so she did not dare to do so.

It was too disappointing and embarrassing, making her feel like she had exposed everything to him.