Chapter 84 Do You Think I Would Be Jealous of Him?

“So soon...” Xia Yan had thought they would only go down the mountain after Lin You had fully recovered; she hadn’t expected it to be this soon.

Hearing her words, Lin You instinctively took her hand. “You don’t have to worry. As long as I’m here, everything will be alright…”

Feeling the gentle warmth of his palm, Xia Yan flushed and nodded, then said, “Let me go pack up our things first.”

Lin You, carrying Lin Nuannuan, stepped into the living room, only to be met by a lingering smell of alcohol. A few empty bottles stacked in the corner made his brows rise in surprise. He called out, “Xia Yan, did you drink last night?”

Xia Yan poked her head out from one of the rooms. “What did you say?”

“Did you drink all this yesterday?” Lin You pointed at the bottles, astonishment in his voice.

“Zhu Yan came over yesterday,” Xia Yan explained, glancing at the bottles on the floor.

“So, you two drank all of this?” Lin You took another look—good grief, it was three bottles of baijiu.

Xia Yan stuck out her tongue sheepishly. “Sorry, we drank all your special liquor.”

“That’s not what surprises me. I remember Zhu Yan isn’t much of a drinker—at most, she can handle half a bottle. What about the rest?” Lin You shook his head. He’d seen Zhu Yan drink before, and she’d never had much. Could it be that this girl drank the other two and a half bottles herself?

“The beef yesterday was too delicious. I couldn’t help myself and had a few more drinks. Don’t be stingy—when I make some money, I’ll buy you more.”

Lin You, realizing his speculation was correct, could only smile helplessly. “A few drinks? That’s over two bottles! You can outdrink me… And when did you and Zhu Yan start drinking together?”

“Is that not allowed?”

“It’s not that. I’m just surprised you two would sit down and have drinks together.” Lin You clearly remembered their first meeting—it nearly turned into a fight.

“She came to chat with me.” As she spoke, Xia Yan recounted the matter with Yuan Xiangqin to Lin You.

Lin You frowned. He hadn’t expected Zhang Jun to be so bold, daring to seduce a military wife. And Yuan Xiangqin was no saint either—having an affair with Zhang Jun, yet spreading rumors about Xia Yan.

“Just pretend you don’t know anything about this,” Lin You advised after thinking it over. “It’s someone else’s family business, and meddling might get people hurt.”

“Yes, I think so too. Now that Zhang Jun has run off, the mountain will be much quieter,” Xia Yan said, then turned and went back inside.

After Lin You returned, Xia Yan went to the supply co-op and brought back an old hen to make soup. Lin You didn’t idle either; he helped chop the chicken, while Xia Yan brought out the cordyceps Wang Guilan had given her the day before—just the thing for making a nourishing soup.

She used scallions and ginger to remove the gamey smell, blanched the chicken, then placed it in a clay pot with water and cordyceps, covered it, and let it simmer gently.

“I just meant for us to have a little something to eat. You’re making so much—we’ll never finish it all, and we’re going down the mountain tonight,” Lin You said, watching the pot.

“It’s fine. We’ll keep what we need for lunch, and I’ll take the rest over to Aunt Wang next door,” Xia Yan replied as she stir-fried vegetables.

“I almost forgot. Let me take it over later,” Lin You said, feeling grateful to Xia Yan. Ever since he’d told her about Aunt Wang’s situation, she’d always made extra food to give next door or invited Erdan over to eat with them.

They were busy in the kitchen when the gate to the courtyard was knocked.

“Xia Yan, are you home?”

Lin You looked up and saw a bespectacled man peering inside from the gate. He called out, “Xia Yan, someone’s here for you.”

“For me?” Xia Yan paused, glanced out the window, and muttered, “Why is he here again?”

“Who is he?” Lin You asked, curious about the face peeking through the window.

“He’s a young educated youth from the ranch. He claims we went to high school together, but I have no memory of him. He was here yesterday too, and now he’s back again.”

Xia Yan wiped her hands on her apron and stepped outside.

“Huang Qiang, what brings you here?”

“I had some business at the base and thought I’d drop by to see you,” Huang Qiang replied, though in truth he’d been unable to sleep after seeing Xia Yan yesterday. All night, even in his dreams, it was her face. After finishing his chores at the ranch in the morning, he found an excuse to come by.

Xia Yan saw through the lie at once. Yesterday, when he claimed he was looking for Jiang Weiguo, she might have believed him, but two days in a row—she didn’t buy it. Still, as the saying goes, you don’t hit a smiling face. Although she didn’t particularly like him, she showed no displeasure, only replying awkwardly, “You seem busy.”

Huang Qiang smiled, “I’m an exemplary worker at the ranch—if there’s something to do, I’m always the first one called.”

As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on the chimney, white smoke curling from it. “Are you cooking?”

“Yes, preparing lunch,” Xia Yan replied, glancing at the chimney, then at Lin You standing by the window. A thought struck her. “My husband is back, so I started the soup early.”

Huang Qiang had been hoping for an invitation to lunch, but upon hearing that Lin You was home, all such thoughts vanished.

Seeing his smile falter, Xia Yan finally said, “Would you like to come in and eat with us?”

“No… no, I’m just passing by. Seeing you is enough. Since Captain Lin is home, I won’t intrude. I’ll be off.”

No way would he dare come in with Lin You at home.

Watching Huang Qiang leave, Xia Yan returned to the kitchen, smiling.

Lin You remarked lightly, “Why didn’t you invite him in for lunch?”

“Ha, why didn’t you go out and invite him?” Xia Yan complained as she picked up the spatula again, glancing at the now slightly burnt greens. “Why weren’t you watching the stove? The vegetables are ruined. You can have them all.”

“I don’t even know him.”

“You’d know him if you met him, wouldn’t you?”

Lin You glanced back at her, and Xia Yan finally burst out laughing. “I’m kidding. I did invite him, but when he heard you were home, he ran off.”

“Hm? He ran off when he heard I was home? That sounds odd—as if he’d come in if I weren’t here.”

Lin You’s tone was calm.

Xia Yan laughed behind her hand. “I don’t think it’s odd at all. But you—of all your qualities, your jealousy is the strongest.”

“Me, jealous?” Lin You suddenly turned and wrapped his arms around Xia Yan’s waist. “Do you really think I’d be jealous of him?”