Zhou Mingzhu took Gu Yan’s enamel basin and led Lujun and Qitong to the hospital’s water room. She borrowed some violet-colored Shanghai medicated soap from a nurse and helped the two boys wash their small hands.
Watching them finish scrubbing and rinsing, Zhou Mingzhu guided them back toward the ward, still admonishing them, "You must form good habits from now on. If you don't wash your hands, you’ll carry germs into your stomachs along with your buns, and then worms will grow inside you. Do you understand?"
Lujun and Qitong widened their eyes in terror. Zhao Xiulan, who was making her rounds, overheard this and said to the children with a smile, "It's true! That’s why you must stay clean, little ones!"
The boys nodded hurriedly. "Yes, we understand. Thank you, Auntie."
Zhou Mingzhu smiled at Zhao Xiulan before ushering the children into the ward.
Gu Yan’s left arm was in a cast and completely immobile, so Zhou Mingzhu had to wash his hands for him. As her calloused hands rubbed his, Gu Yan’s entire face flushed a deep red.
Qitong, thinking he was whispering, asked Lujun, "Brother, why does Dad look like he’s been scalded? Look, his neck is all red."
Lujun started to answer, but noticed Gu Yan’s expression was one of profound embarrassment—the same look his own mother had worn when she went from door to door trying to borrow money while she was ill, only to be refused and mocked. Lujun fell silent.
Zhou Mingzhu looked up at Gu Yan. He turned his head toward the window, his lips pressed into a tight, thin line, appearing as if he were displeased. But as she saw his ears burning bright red, she guessed he might be... shy?
*No way, really? It’s just a hand wash, is it worth all that?* Zhou Mingzhu was baffled and utterly stunned.
She didn't dwell on it, instead opening the aluminum lunchbox. She used the lid to portion out the vegetables onto a stool, letting Lujun and Qitong sit on their small stools to eat. Then, she prepared another lid’s worth of food and buns, along with half a tin of rice porridge, and took it to the soldier on the bed near the door.
The soldier’s eyes welled with clear tears, and his voice was slightly nasal as he said, "Thank you, sister-in-law."
Zhou Mingzhu waved a hand. "Don't mention it. Eat up quickly before it gets cold. I didn't buy much for lunch, but I'll get more for dinner."
She returned to Gu Yan’s side, sat on his bed, and began to eat. Gu Yan ate quickly, yet not without refinement.
"I only gave you a few shreds of meat in the green pepper stir-fry," Zhou Mingzhu said as she ate, "because green peppers can aggravate wounds. I’ll get you some other meat for dinner."
Gu Yan gave a muffled, "Mm."
"I heard some army wives in the hallway talking about how there are family quarters near the military hospital," she continued. "Given your situation, I should be able to get a place too, right? Who should I talk to about that?"
Gu Yan opened his mouth to reply but started coughing violently. Zhou Mingzhu hurried to soothe his back, but as she touched him, she felt the many scabs of old wounds under his shirt. She pressed her lips together, her eyes reddening. She didn't know why, but a sudden, sharp ache rose in her throat.
The timeline in the novel was different from the one in Zhou Mingzhu’s original world, but she was well aware of the history of the war between Annan and her motherland. Regardless of the timeline, war was cruel. Whether or not she remained Gu Yan’s wife, she felt a genuine sense of pity for these wounded soldiers.
Watching her on the verge of tears, Gu Yan even forgot to cough. Flustered, he said, "You... don't cry. This afternoon, go to the emergency room on the first floor; there’s staff there specifically assigned to assist military families."
Zhou Mingzhu forced a smile. "I’m not crying. I just feel for you all—those bastards truly deserve to die!" She waved her hand and sniffled. "Let’s not talk about it. Eat your food; it’s getting cold. Drink plenty of rice porridge!"
She hadn't touched the porridge herself, having divided it all between Gu Yan, the soldier by the door, and the two boys.
After Gu Yan finished eating, he began to think about how to tell her that his condition wasn't suitable for marriage. Just then, while packing up the lunchboxes and chopsticks, Zhou Mingzhu asked, "What’s the situation with the soldier in the middle bed? He hasn't woken up since I arrived."
Gu Yan pressed his lips together for a moment. "He had his leg amputated after stepping on a landmine. He refuses to notify his elderly mother to come and care for him. He finished surgery early this morning and hasn't regained consciousness yet... perhaps the anesthesia hasn't worn off."
Zhou Mingzhu couldn't help it; tears as large as peas began to fall. In her previous life, she had never seen war with her own eyes. Since she could remember, her country had been powerful, and she had only ever learned of history through books or television. Experiencing the cruelty of war at such close range was more than she could handle.
Gu Yan realized then that his fiancée was a woman of immense compassion; her tears weren't born of grievance, but of a deeply kind heart.
Zhou Mingzhu wiped her eyes and said, her voice still thick, "Then I’ll bring a portion for him for dinner, too."
Gu Yan opened his mouth, paused, and finally said, "I’ll thank you on his behalf."
"We are one heart, army and people," she waved. "Why be so formal?"
As she finished packing the boxes, a middle-aged woman carrying a thermal container walked in. The woman looked startled, then beamed. "A military wife has come to your ward! Is this your partner, Xiao Gu?"
Gu Yan hurried to wave his hand. "No, no. She’s a relative of my grandmother’s. My grandmother couldn't get around easily, so she asked her to come and look after me."
Zhou Mingzhu looked at Gu Yan, pressed her lips together, and remained silent.
The woman noticed the lunchboxes on the soldier's bedside table near the door and smiled, saying to Gu Yan, "You!" She turned to Zhou Mingzhu, "Well then, I’ll go check other wards to see if anyone missed their meal. You all take care, and call me if you need anything!"
Zhou Mingzhu bowed slightly to see her out. When she turned back to collect the lunchbox by the door, she asked, "Who was that?"
"That’s the mother of Platoon Leader Liu from Ward 7," Gu Yan replied. "She has a warm heart and often brings us food. Actually, the military hospital provides meals. You, this afternoon..."
Zhou Mingzhu waved her hand. "I’ve already asked around. Your hospital food tries to ensure nutrition, but the taste and texture are mediocre. I’m not being picky, but since I’m here, there’s no reason for you to keep eating that. Let those go to the patients who really need them."
The truth was, Zhou Mingzhu wanted to use the spirit spring to help Gu Yan recover quickly. Besides, since she was already cooking for Lujun and Qitong, it was no trouble to make extra for Gu Yan and the soldier by the door.