Axolotl Translations

That afternoon, after lunch, the couple began making a list of household essentials they still needed, planning to buy everything while Qiao Haoyu was still on leave.

Basic kitchenware—pots, bowls, and plates—had already been taken care of before his leave started. He had arranged for someone to purchase them, and now they sat neatly in the kitchen cupboard.

Aside from that, each of the two main rooms had a wooden bed about one and a half meters wide, a wardrobe, and a desk. In the central hall, there was a square dining table with four stools. But even with these furnishings, the house still felt rather bare.

Their plan was to visit the military district’s convenience store to buy essentials like oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, grains, and vegetables so they could start cooking at home.

Since their mailed packages had yet to arrive, Qiao Haoyu knew exactly what Wei Jiajia had brought with her—meaning there was no way for her to secretly bring in extra supplies from her hidden space.

As for the larger furniture pieces Wei Jiajia wanted, they would have to wait until Qiao Haoyu had time to visit a nearby village and commission a carpenter to make them.

He had originally planned to take care of this before her arrival but had hesitated, worried that the designs he picked wouldn’t suit her taste. Instead, he chose to wait until she saw the house herself so she could communicate her preferences directly to the carpenter.

Qiao Haoyu had long noticed something about Wei Jiajia. She might seem gentle and easygoing, as if she didn’t have strong preferences and could simply go with the flow.

But in reality, she was quite particular about many things—she just had a way of keeping those preferences to herself.

Qiao Haoyu wanted her to be completely herself in front of him—whether she was happy or upset, whether she liked something or not. She didn’t need to hide her true feelings. No one would blame her for it. If anything, he would only feel more protective of her.

As they walked out carrying a basket, he introduced her to the general layout of the residential compound and the neighbors who lived nearby.

Since Qiao Haoyu had always lived inside the military camp, he wasn’t very familiar with the families in the compound. It wasn’t until his application to bring her along was approved that he hurriedly asked his colleagues for information.

Along the way, people greeted Qiao Haoyu warmly, their curious gazes quickly shifting to Wei Jiajia.

Each time, he would stop and introduce his wife in a formal manner, while she, maintaining a gentle smile, stood calmly as they observed her.

By now, she had already noticed that most of the military wives didn’t harbor any ill intentions. They were just naturally curious about a newcomer.

Their backgrounds and education levels varied greatly, so it was impossible to expect everyone to exhibit the same level of social decorum.

Thanks to the enthusiastic storytelling of the women who had brought food to their house that morning, word had already spread—Captain Qiao’s wife was beautiful and gracious, and she had gifted them exquisite pastries and White Rabbit milk candies in return.

Hearing this, many other wives were now kicking themselves in regret. Why hadn’t they stepped forward earlier? If they had only thought to bring over some food, they might have received the same treats in return!

Among them was the very woman who had spoken ill of Wei Jiajia that morning. Although she still blamed Wei Jiajia for ruining her younger sister’s engagement prospects, that didn’t stop her from wanting some of those pastries and milk candies for herself.

Seeing the couple now, many of the women started considering whether they should bring them some food at dinnertime—just to see what kind of gifts they might receive in return.

“Captain Qiao, where are you off to with that basket?” someone asked.

“We’re planning to cook dinner at home tonight, so we’re heading to the commissary to buy some supplies and help my wife get familiar with the area,” Qiao Haoyu replied. Just thinking about how they would now be settling into a normal life together put him in an excellent mood.

When the other women heard this, they couldn’t quite hide their disappointment.

Qiao Haoyu and Wei Jiajia exchanged a confused glance, unable to understand the reason behind their reactions.

Mrs. Cui, one of the women who had brought food to them earlier, immediately understood what was going on. She scoffed, thinking to herself that some people were just shameless.

Earlier that day, when she and a few others had taken food over to the Qiao residence, many had watched with indifference and even made snide remarks. Feeling annoyed, Mrs. Cui and the others had deliberately flaunted the return gifts they had received from Wei Jiajia when they went home.

At the time, they had only intended to counter those dismissive attitudes and extend goodwill to the new military wife.

But unexpectedly, their actions had led to this—now, the Qiao couple was being seen as an easy source of benefits.

“You two should hurry,” Mrs. Cui urged them, ignoring the others. “The commissary got fresh seafood today—it’s all lively and fresh. If you go too late, you might miss out!”

Hearing the word seafood, Wei Jiajia’s eyes lit up.

In her previous life, she had loved seafood. It didn’t even need to be prepared in a fancy way—just a simple boil, and the natural freshness was enough to make one’s mouth water. After her rebirth, although Shencheng was by the sea, the planned economy made buying seafood a hassle. She hadn’t expected to stumble upon such a delightful surprise here.

“If you don’t know how to cook it, buy some and I’ll teach you,” Mrs. Cui offered kindly. “It might smell a bit strong, but it’s packed with nutrients!”

Not everyone could handle that fishy smell. Many people in the compound had either never learned to cook seafood or had tried once and never attempted it again. If it weren’t for the current food shortages, a lot of folks wouldn’t even consider eating it.

“Thank you, Sister Cui, but my hometown is also by the sea—I know how to cook seafood,” Wei Jiajia said sincerely, appreciating the woman’s kindness. Then, she turned to Qiao Haoyu, her eyes filled with excitement.

Qiao Haoyu chuckled at her eager expression. After thanking Mrs. Cui, he took her hand and led her straight ahead.

Watching their plans fall through, some of the onlookers couldn’t help but feel a little bitter. They shot an annoyed glance at Mrs. Cui, unhappy that she had helped the Qiao couple instead of letting them figure things out on their own. Frustrated, they turned and walked away.

As the couple disappeared into the distance, the remaining onlookers couldn’t help but start gossiping.

“Captain Qiao sure spoils his wife,” someone muttered. “What kind of man accompanies his wife to the market?”

But the envy in their hearts was something they would never admit aloud.

Even Mrs. Cui couldn’t help but sigh inwardly at how fortunate Wei Jiajia was—not only was she young, beautiful, and highly educated, but she also had a husband who cherished her deeply. Unlike her own husband, who would collapse onto the bed the moment he got home, not even bothering to pick up a tipped-over oil bottle. Whenever she didn’t have time to go grocery shopping and asked him to do it instead, he would protest self-righteously, claiming, “What kind of real man carries a shopping basket? That’s women’s work.”

She wished he could see Captain Qiao—calm and confident, carrying a basket full of groceries while his wife walked beside him, empty-handed.

At the commissary, Wei Jiajia’s eyes lit up at the sight of the lively fish, shrimp, and oysters swimming in the water tanks. Her mind was already racing with a hundred different ways to prepare them.

In the end, they decided to buy a little of each and cook them all that evening to celebrate their move.

After stocking up on rice, flour, oil, and grains, they also bought plenty of cabbage and potatoes—vegetables that could be stored for a long time—so that when Qiao Haoyu wasn’t home, Wei Jiajia wouldn’t have to struggle carrying heavy groceries by herself.

Since they had bought so much, Qiao Haoyu couldn’t carry it all on his own, and he couldn’t bear to let Wei Jiajia struggle by helping him. So, he borrowed a handcart from the commissary and pushed everything home alongside her.

When they arrived, Qiao Haoyu watched his young wife bustling around like a diligent little bee. His heart was filled with both sweetness and a faint sorrow.

She should have been wearing beautiful clothes, working in an office, and spending her evenings shopping at the department store with friends. Occasionally, she should have been watching movies, singing, or dancing at the cultural center. And when she returned home, her family should have been there, waiting for her with a warm meal already prepared.

But because of him, she had come to this unfamiliar place, surrounded by strangers, forced to cook and tend to household chores. Her dreams, her knowledge—none of it could be put to use. Even dressing up a little too nicely might invite criticism.

All because of him…

Qiao Haoyu’s heart grew heavy at the realization, and for a moment, melancholy took hold of him.

When Wei Jiajia turned around, she saw him leaning against the wall, head lowered, lost in thought. It was obvious he was feeling down.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, setting down what she was holding and walking over to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, tilting her head up to look at him cautiously. He had been fine just a moment ago.

“It’s nothing,” he said, stroking her hair gently. “I was just thinking about something. But I’ve figured it out now.” With that, he lowered his head and brushed a light kiss over her lips.

Yes, Qiao Haoyu had figured it out. Even though she had given up so much, he would spend the rest of his life making it up to her. He would ensure that every day she spent with him was filled with happiness and sweetness, so that one day, when she looked back, she would have no regrets about choosing to be with him.

Seeing that he was back to his usual self, Wei Jiajia beamed. She nuzzled against his chest like a spoiled kitten, so soft and endearing that he couldn’t help but tease her.

She didn’t ask what had been troubling him. Everyone had their own private thoughts, things they didn’t want to share. As long as he was happy, that was enough for her. If he ever wanted to tell her, he would do so in his own time.

After unpacking the groceries and organizing everything, there was still plenty of time before dinner. Qiao Haoyu suggested that Wei Jiajia rest in their room—after all, she had been busy all day and must have been exhausted.

“I will return the cart first—someone else might need it.”

Wei Jiajia nodded in agreement before heading back to the bedroom.

By the time Qiao Haoyu returned home, he found his wife fast asleep in bed, breathing softly.

Watching her sleep so soundly, he felt a deep sense of contentment. Leaning down, he gently kissed her lips.

When she instinctively furrowed her brows in response to the disturbance, a wave of guilt swept over him.

Carefully, he slipped off his shoes, climbed into bed, and pulled her into his arms. His initial intention was just to hold her quietly for a moment, but before he knew it, he had dozed off as well.

Wei Jiajia woke up feeling unbearably hot. She was enveloped in a warmth so intense it felt like being trapped inside a furnace, her skin damp with a thin sheen of sweat.

Glancing down, she saw the culprit—a muscular arm draped across her chest.

Well, that explained everything…

Qiao Haoyu’s body always radiated heat, no matter the season.

In winter, his embrace was a welcome refuge against the cold, but in the heat of summer, it was anything but comfortable. Each time he held her through the night, she woke feeling as though she had just stepped out of a sauna.

And yet, despite being considerate in almost everything else, this was the one thing Qiao Haoyu refused to compromise on.

Even if she fell asleep on her own, she would always wake up in his arms.

Eventually, she just gave up resisting. Fine, let it be.

By now, the sky outside had darkened, and the dim light in the room made it difficult to see clearly.

Seeing how deeply her husband was sleeping, Wei Jiajia couldn’t bear to wake him. She thought of quietly getting up to prepare dinner on her own and calling him when it was ready. However, the moment she moved, Qiao Haoyu woke up as well.

Since he was already awake, she simply called him over to help, figuring that working together would make things go faster.

With Wei Jiajia as the head chef and Qiao Haoyu as her assistant, they put together a grand feast to celebrate the beginning of their new life in this place.

The table was soon filled with dishes: braised fish, stir-fried oysters, and boiled shrimp. Just looking at the spread made Wei Jiajia’s mouth water.

Watching his wife sit obediently at the table, eagerly waiting for dinner to start, Qiao Haoyu couldn’t help but chuckle in amusement and helplessness.

He quickly placed a pot of water on the stove to heat for her bath, then hurried over.

If he had been any slower, he was afraid she might actually start drooling.

To accompany their meal, they cooked two bowls of light broth noodles with the dried noodles they had brought. Together with the seafood dishes, they ate heartily.

Wei Jiajia usually didn’t have a big appetite. A small bowl of noodles with some side dishes was enough to make her full. After finishing, she leaned back in her chair, rubbing her stomach with a slight look of discomfort.

The rest of the food was swiftly finished off by Qiao Haoyu alone. Watching him eat, his stomach seemingly a bottomless pit, Wei Jiajia fell into deep thought.

Perhaps she needed to start stocking up on food instead of relying entirely on her space supermarket. With how much he ate—enough for several of her meals combined—plus the fact that she still had to take care of her younger siblings and future children, her private food stash might not be enough.

And there were still nearly twenty years to go before the planned economy ended…

Qiao Haoyu had no idea that his hearty appetite had sparked new concerns in his wife’s mind. He simply sat there, thoroughly enjoying his meal.

Once dinner was over, he carried the pot of hot water to the backyard bathhouse and urged Wei Jiajia to go take her bath. Then, he started cleaning up the dishes.

Watching him busy himself with the chores, Wei Jiajia couldn’t help but smile.

So what if he ate a lot? She was already far more fortunate than the average person of this era—she had her secret space, ensuring she would never go hungry. Complaining about something so trivial would be ungrateful.

If necessary, she would simply put in more effort—growing melons, vegetables, and grains in the backyard to supplement their food supply.

With that thought, she grabbed her clean clothes and headed to the bathhouse.

By the time she finished bathing and returned to the room, Qiao Haoyu had already showered as well. He was lying on the bed, reading a book.

Noticing her arrival, he set the book aside and patted the spot beside him. His meaning was clear.

Unsurprised, Wei Jiajia walked over, sat down with her back to him, and casually handed him the towel in her hand.

“Why did you finish your bath so quickly?” she asked.

“It’s too hot, so I just rinsed off with cold water in the front yard,” he replied while gently toweling her hair dry. Except in the winter, he had always preferred cold showers.

Well, if his body could handle it, that was his choice. Wei Jiajia just nodded in understanding.

Seeing that her hair was mostly dry, Qiao Haoyu set the towel aside, scooped her up, and placed her on the bed before rolling over to pin her beneath him.

The faint fragrance that lingered on her body had been teasing his senses ever since she walked into the room.

He had been holding back all this time, but now his restraint finally broke…

Back at their home in Beijing, with others around, they had always been careful. He was particularly mindful, afraid that she might feel embarrassed the next day.

But here, in their new home, where it was just the two of them, there was no need for restraint anymore.

Seeing the deep, unreadable expression in his eyes, Wei Jiajia suddenly felt a flicker of apprehension.

Yet before she could say anything, Qiao Haoyu had already lowered his head, capturing her lips in a kiss.

“…Mmm.”

Outside, the chirping of insects filled the night, blending with the rhythmic creaking of the wooden bed and the soft whispers that lasted until the late hours.

Wei Jiajia: This is just too much…

Not only did she have to keep him well-fed—she also had to “feed” him in another way…

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