After speaking with He Jiang and before the latter could say anything more, He Yuan returned to the east room.
Ji Shuyu sat on the edge of the bed, holding a cup of what appeared to be brown sugar water. In reality, it was powdered milk for pregnant women that she had exchanged from her points space. Her body was still relatively weak, and if she didn’t build up her strength properly, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to withstand the challenges of childbirth.
Seeing his wife’s still-pale face, He Yuan felt a pang of heartache. “Shuyu, are you really okay? Should we go to a larger hospital for another check-up?” He held her hand, his palm warm and dry, radiating a comforting warmth.
There was, of course, a military hospital on the island, but it was quite a distance from here. Going to a larger hospital would delay them for several days. People here generally avoided larger hospitals unless seriously ill, preferring not to go unless absolutely necessary.
Hearing He Yuan’s concern, a warm feeling flowed through Ji Shuyu’s heart. She squeezed his hand in return. “I’m really fine, see? I’m perfectly okay.” She paused, then asked hesitantly, “He Yuan, because of my arrival, the family split up… Do you…?”
He Yuan instantly understood her meaning. He shook his head, pressing her hand against his chest. “I told you before, I’ve always wanted to split from the family. Now, I’ve finally gotten my wish.”
With many siblings in the family, conflicts were inevitable. Besides, everyone was married now, which sometimes made things inconvenient. He Yuan’s temperament wasn’t the most accommodating, and he wasn’t suited to living with others. Now that his wife was here, he wanted even less to stay. Living in a large family couldn’t compare to the two of them building their own life together. This was the home he had grown up in, but now it felt stifling. In the future, they would have vast skies and open lands, with the free sea breeze.
Thinking of this, He Yuan realized that Ji Shuyu hadn’t been out since arriving here. He suggested, “Then… would you like to go for a walk on the island? To the beach near our military family quarters?” Since it would be their future home anyway, there was no harm in taking her for an early look.
“I have a day off tomorrow, perfect for taking you. It’s quiet there, the sand is clean, and we can explore the tide pools, feel the sea breeze. It might help lift your mood.”
Ji Shuyu’s eyes lit up; this was exactly what she wanted. Just yesterday, her desire to go out had led to the conflict with Li Cuihua. Now that He Yuan was suggesting it, she was naturally delighted.
“Sure!” Ji Shuyu nodded immediately, a smile spreading across her face, dispelling much of her earlier gloom. “I haven’t had a proper look around our island yet. I’d love to walk along the beach and collect some shells and sea snails.”
As someone from the north, she had a special fondness for the ocean.
Seeing her happiness, He Yuan felt somewhat relieved. “Alright, we’ll go first thing tomorrow morning. We’ll bring water and some food, rest by the sea at noon.”
After their conversation, He Yuan had Ji Shuyu lie down to rest while he went to the army canteen to get food for her.
On his return, he happened to see Li Cuihua preparing to leave with her belongings. The west room was in disarray, with He Jiang sitting inside in silence. He Qiang stood nearby, not daring to say a word. It wasn’t hard to guess that the couple had had a fight. Thinking of the compensation tickets He Jiang had promised Ji Shuyu, He Yuan understood why.
He couldn’t be bothered with his elder brother’s affairs. If He Jiang didn’t divorce Li Cuihua after all this trouble, he would have even more to endure in the future. But He Yuan couldn’t just go to his brother and tell him to get a divorce. After all, they had over a decade of shared history. The courage to utter the word “divorce” in the heat of the moment might not remain after calming down.
He Yuan walked straight past Li Cuihua toward his own room.
Ji Shuyu looked at the food He Yuan had brought back—all her favorite dishes.
I never expected he’d remember after just one mention.
Ji Shuyu smiled and rewarded He Yuan with a kiss.
He Yuan was overjoyed. Though he wanted to kiss her back, he held back forcefully, worried she might not like it.
It’s fine, they had plenty of time ahead. He would slowly win her heart.
Early the next morning, He Yuan borrowed a military sidecar motorcycle and took Ji Shuyu to the beach.
The sea breeze grew stronger as they rode, and Ji Shuyu, holding onto He Yuan’s waist, felt her heart and mind expand.
After dropping their things at the family quarters, He Yuan led Ji Shuyu on foot to the secluded beach not far from the residential area.
This wasn’t a port; aside from the occasional training soldiers or locals gathering seafood, few people came here. The sand was fine and white, and the waves lapped gently against the shore.
Just as He Yuan was about to speak, he ran into his comrade Zhao Qiang.
“Old He, perfect timing. There’s something I need to discuss with you.”
Hearing Zhao Qiang’s words, He Yuan frowned with displeasure. He finally had some time to be alone with his wife, to talk and spend time together. But as a soldier, obeying orders was his duty.
“Just stay around this beach and the rocky area. Don’t go into deep water. I’ll go check the situation over there and be back soon,” He Yuan said, pointing to a spot not far away.
“Go ahead. I’ll just collect some shells, I promise not to wander off,” Ji Shuyu nodded. In fact, she found his presence a bit inconvenient here anyway. She wondered if there was anything on the island she could exchange for points. She needed to find a way to increase her points quickly.
Watching He Yuan’s tall, straight figure walk away, Ji Shuyu took a deep breath, feeling as if she had come alive.
[Detected exchangeable item: High-quality natural trumpet shell (decorative grade) x1. Exchangeable points: 12. Confirm exchange?]
Ji Shuyu’s eyes lit up, and she instinctively looked in the direction the system indicated.
Sure enough, nestled in a crevice of a wave-polished rock not far away was a palm-sized trumpet shell. Its spiral patterns were clear and full, gleaming softly in the sunlight.
She quickly walked over, pried the shell out, and thought, “Points delivered right to me? I’d be a fool not to take them.”
Ji Shuyu directly chose to exchange.
As soon as the system prompt faded, the shell vanished from her palm.
Ji Shuyu clenched her now empty hand and slowly strolled along the shoreline.
There weren’t actually many items on the island, and most exchangeable things didn’t offer high points. But her points system was like a garbage recycling bin—no matter what the item was, tossing it in would yield points.
Ji Shuyu didn’t mind; many little things add up to something big. She wasn’t picky.
“Girl, that’s not how you gather seafood.”
A hoarse voice came from behind. Ji Shuyu turned to see an elderly woman wearing a patched blue cloth jacket. She carried a half-basket of oysters, her back bent.
The old woman’s eyes fell on Ji Shuyu’s empty hands, and she smiled. “You need to go to the muddy flats when the tide is out. That’s where the treasures hide.”
Ji Shuyu was momentarily startled by the sudden address but then smiled politely. “I’m just walking around casually, picking up a few pretty shells.”
“Pretty doesn’t fill your stomach,” the old woman said, setting down her basket. “The other day, a young wife from the third battalion found a large blue crab over in those rock clusters. It was enough to feed her family for two meals.”
She raised a hand and pointed southeast, where layered rocks rose like black beasts crouching by the sea.
A natural human wariness of the untamed made Ji Shuyu instinctively avert her gaze.
While she was pondering, the old woman shouldered her bamboo basket and prepared to leave. Before going, she turned back and advised, “Don’t stay out too late. The tide comes in fast.”
Watching the old woman’s hobbling figure recede, Ji Shuyu decided to walk toward the rock clusters and have a look.
She had only taken a few steps when the system suddenly prompted her.
[Detected special item: Century-old coral fragment x1. Exchangeable points: 100. Confirm exchange?]
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