Chapter 139: A Qualitative Change in the Relationship with Da Yizi

After leaving the bedroom, Xu Yuexin sat on the sofa, opened the iron can of snacks on the coffee table, and took out two biscuits to chew.

……

Burp.

After a while, Xu Yuexin belched fully and lay down on the sofa.

He filled his belly just by eating the snacks.

Consequently, the iron can was completely empty, not even a single sunflower seed shell left.

At that moment, Chen Yixue, having dressed in the bedroom and finished washing up, walked over.

Having gotten up too late today and with no vegetables at home, Chen Yixue planned to eat some snacks to make do with a meal.

When she entered the living room and saw the coffee table piled high with packaging bags and sunflower seed shells, Chen Yixue felt an ominous premonition.

Getting closer, Chen Yixue felt a deep sense of despair.

Indeed, all the snacks in the biscuit jar had been completely devoured by Xu Yuexin.

Not even a single packet was left for her.

"You ate everything; what am I supposed to eat?"

Chen Yixue stood in front of Xu Yuexin, pointing at the packaging bags on the coffee table, her expression far from happy.

"Figure it out yourself."

Xu Yuexin replied leisurely, "I'm not your husband, I have no obligation to provide you with food."

Heh, now the revenge begins.

Chen Yixue gave a cold smile, turned and walked out the door, heading downstairs to buy groceries.

The streets in the afternoon were still very cold.

Chen Yixue bundled up and searched for a long time, yet still couldn't find a place to buy groceries, enduring a pointless chill that made her stomach even hungrier.

When Chen Yixue returned home, Xu Yuexin looked at her shivering from cold and hunger, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Where are the vegetables?"

"Didn't manage to buy any."

Da Yizi, knowing Xu Yuexin was gloating, answered without even glancing at him.

"That's right, you couldn't buy any."

These days, unlike in later eras, there are no supermarkets that supply meat and vegetables around the clock.

State‑owned butcher shops and vegetable stalls close after 11 o'clock and only reopen briefly when workers finish their afternoon shifts.

The farmers who come from the outskirts to sell vegetables usually pack up after noon, hurrying home before sunset.

"Aren't you hungry?"

Xu Yuexin asked as Da Yizi sat down on the sofa.

"Not hungry."

Da Yizi forced the words, but her eyes betrayed everything.

She kept scanning the house, searching for anything edible.

"Not hungry, huh? Then just hold on."

Xu Yuexin pinched Da Yizi's cheek, stood up, and said as he walked out the door.

Da Yizi assumed he was returning to Guogongfu and didn't ask further.

After going downstairs, Xu Yuexin mounted his motorcycle and headed straight for the Sijiqing Nongmao Market twenty kilometers away.

Da Yizi had been hungry for a while, and the revenge was declared over.

Considering she had been doing intense high‑intensity exercise from last night until dawn, he needed to buy some vegetables to fill her stomach.

He couldn't let her actually get sick from hunger.

Xu Yuexin thought to himself.

The Sijiqing he was heading to is currently the most important vegetable wholesale market in Jingcheng, surrounded by several state‑owned vegetable production bases and many independent vegetable farmers.

No matter the time, you can always buy vegetables there.

Amid the roar of the throttle, Xu Yuexin revved the motorcycle to top speed and arrived at the Sijiqing Nongmao Market in the time it takes to finish a meal.

The market was surrounded by vegetable stalls, with many vendor‑like vegetable farmers hawking their wares.

In addition to the winter staples of Jingcheng—cabbage, carrots, and potatoes—there were greenhouse‑grown cucumbers, tomatoes, and the like.

In fact, since the Ming Dynasty, Jingcheng's winters have always featured greenhouse vegetables reserved for high officials and nobles.

After the founding of the nation, greenhouse vegetable cultivation developed, but the supply remained limited and prices high; only families with especially good conditions could afford them.

Xu Yuexin spent 0.6 yuan on enough cabbage and potatoes for three days, and another 2 yuan on a jin of cucumbers, a jin of tomatoes, and off‑season vegetables like peppers.

After buying the vegetables, he rode into the villages around Sijiqing, purchased a jin of locally raised pork and two jin of eggs, then headed back home.

"Did you go to buy groceries?"

When Xu Yuexin returned to the house at Tuanjie Lake carrying meat and vegetables, Da Yizi asked in surprise.

"Otherwise, could it have been stolen?"

Xu Yuexin placed the meat and vegetables on the table and said.

"Where did you get them?"

"Sijiqing."

"Sijiqing? Riding that far must have frozen them, right?"

Da Yizi saw Xu Yuexin's face flushed red from the wind and softened.

"I can't not go."

Xu Yuexin glanced at her and said, "After all, you're my wife."

"Don't speak carelessly."

Da Yizi's face flushed, and she gently warned, picking up the meat and vegetables to start cooking.

"I'll do it."

Xu Yuexin stopped Da Yizi and took the pork and vegetables he had bought into his own hands.

Considering Da Yizi's disaster‑level cooking skill, it was better for him to handle it himself.

After all, out‑of‑season vegetables and pork aren't cheap; they shouldn't be wasted.

"First, have a cup of hot milk."

Da Yizi poured a cup of milk and handed it to Xu Yuexin.

Xu Yuexin took the milk, drank it in one gulp, and turned toward the kitchen.

Ding— clang— pots, pans, and dishes clattered; after a flurry of activity, tomato‑egg soup, stir‑fried pork with green peppers, smashed cucumber, and sautéed cabbage were placed on the table.

After finishing the meal, Xu Yuexin dunked the pot in the sink, and at that moment Da Yizi entered the kitchen to serve the rice.

Da Yizi was now wearing a white, long‑sleeved, high‑neck cashmere sweater; its fitted cut accentuated her towering shoulders, slender waist, and peach‑shaped hips.

While Da Yizi served the rice, Xu Yuexin watched her slightly trembling shoulders, felt a stir in his heart, and stepped forward to embrace her from behind.

"Don't mess around, I'm serving the rice," Da Yizi said, her cheeks heating up as she put down the rice spoon and held down Xu Yuexin's scheming big hand.

"I didn't even touch your hand."

Xu Yuexin broke free of her restraint, continued his advances, and indulged himself.

Seeing this, Da Yizi felt helpless, hurriedly finished serving both of them, and quickly wriggled out of his arms.

Xu Yuexin sat down at the table with her, lifted his bowl, and began eating.

Snacks weren't enough to satisfy him, and after running so far outside earlier, Xu Yuexin also felt a bit hungry.

After the meal, Da Yizi rested for a while, then sat at the piano.

"How's your piano practice going?"

Xu Yuexin asked.

"So‑so, I guess."

Da Yizi placed her hand on the keys, and soon the first note rang out in the living room.

Da Yizi was playing "Blue Danube"; the melody was gentle and delicate, like a quiet river flowing.

Xu Yuexin listened attentively, and halfway through he took a deep breath: this is called so‑so?

Clearly it's professional level!

It seems the heavens had truly decided to make music Da Yizi's staple.

Not only is her singing top‑notch, her piano playing is this good as well.

As Da Yizi's fingertips danced, the gentle strains of "Blue Danube" flowed slowly through the room.

When the piece ended, Da Yizi lifted her slender jade‑like fingers from the keys; Xu Yuexin rose, stepped behind her, and took her hand.

"You played well, but it's a pity there's no dance."

Xu Yuexin feigned regret.

Da Yizi, with her hand held by Xu Yuexin, felt a little embarrassed to meet his gaze.

"You still can't dance."

"Who says I can't dance?"

"Then give it a try."

"Let's both dance."

Xu Yuexin pulled Da Yizi away from the piano, saying, "Solo dancing lacks energy."

These days dancing is popular among college students, and Xu Yuexin had learned a bit back in school.

Not that he performed on stage, but casual dancing was fine.

"I've only ever done solo dances."

When Xu Yuexin's big hand slipped around her waist, Chen Yixue shyly declined.

Regarding that, Chen Yixue didn't lie to Xu Yuexin.

She had only performed a solo dance when she first joined the Cultural Troupe; after her singing talent was discovered, she stopped dancing.

"It's fine; you must know what a waltz is, right?"

"With your talent, you can just recall and know how to dance."

"You play the piano, I'll record it, and after it's released we can dance together."

Xu Yuexin wouldn't take no for an answer, and after speaking he fetched a recorder from the room to capture Chen Yixue's piano piece.

Seeing she couldn't refuse, Chen Yixue replayed "Blue Danube" once more.

Xu Yuexin finished recording, and then began his duet with Da Yizi.

Da Yizi had never actually seen a waltz; she had only read its theory and description in books.

Consequently, her first steps were stiff, with occasional hesitations.

However, under Xu Yuexin's guidance, Da Yizi gradually found her rhythm, her steps becoming lighter and brighter, eventually dancing better than him.

By the end, Da Yizi was leading him.

During the dance, their eye contact grew more frequent, shifting from Da Yizi's initial avoidance to a final mutual gaze, never parting.

Xu Yuexin and Da Yizi's bodies grew increasingly close, pressed together.

When the piece ended, Xu Yuexin held Da Yizi tightly, and she offered no resistance, only gently closing her eyes.

When Da Yizi opened her eyes, Xu Yuexin saw her eyes were wet.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, hold me tight…"

Da Yizi, for the first time, made a request of Xu Yuexin.

Xu Yuexin was first startled, then immediately embraced her again tightly.

To be honest, he couldn't quite understand why Da Yizi was acting out of character today.

She even voluntarily asked to be intimate with him.

But not figuring it out is fine.

A woman's heart, a needle at the bottom of the sea.

Perhaps it was some unnoticed point that struck Da Yizi's heartstrings.

Causing her to undergo the change she now shows.

"Are you feeling uncomfortable?"

Xu Yuexin said concernedly near Da Yizi's ear.

"No, I am…"

"When I hear this song, I feel a special sensation in my heart."

Da Yizi shook her head on his shoulder and said, and at that moment Xu Yuexin felt his shoulder damp.

Da Yizi cried.

And she cried from listening to "Blue Danube".

That's truly unheard of.

Xu Yuexin, puzzled, decided to ask clearly what that so‑called special feeling was for Da Yizi.

"Are you feeling comfortable now, or uncomfortable?"

"Comfortable, I feel that some things I lost before have been restored."

Upon saying that, Da Yizi hugged Xu Yuexin's broad shoulder, looked into his eyes and said, "Can you understand?"

"Actually, when I first heard 'Blue Danube', I already had this feeling."

Things lost in the past? Hearing Da Yizi say that, Xu Yuexin seemed to grasp something.

(End of chapter)