The kitchen in their small courtyard was equipped not only with a coal stove, but also with a large traditional brick stove with a big wok.
The wok was quite large, and sometimes, for the sake of convenience, Feng Qingqing did not use the brick stove very often.
However, He Yongan intended to store up a generous supply of the firewood needed for the brick stove all at once.
Busy with these tasks until around four in the afternoon, he finally managed to transport the honeycomb briquettes and other supplies back home.
Once everything was neatly arranged, he simply washed up, changed into a cleaner set of clothes, locked the door, and went out to pick up the two children.
Hardly had he turned around when he noticed several middle-aged women sitting near the alley entrance. Seeing him walk over, they all cast curious glances in his direction.
He Yongan knew these were the nearby neighbors. His wife and their two children lived here, but for now, they didn't seem to have any particularly close friends.
Therefore, upon seeing these women, hoping to bridge the distance between them, he offered a slight smile by way of greeting and briskly walked out of the alley.
Yet, this single smile from He Yongan left those women completely dumbfounded.
"Say, was that young man we just saw the husband from number 43?"
"Of course he is. That young fellow is a soldier, you know. I've seen him wearing his military uniform a few times—so dashing and full of spirit."
Chapter 725