Even though curiosity gnawed at her, Tang Qiyue didn't refuse.
It was just a letter to let someone know she was safe; there was no need to write more than necessary. Folding the two sheets of paper, she slid them into the envelopes Zhan Zeyi had brought back and handed them to him. She had no idea where they would be mailed from.
Zhan Zeyi slipped them into his pocket and gave her neck a sharp, almost amused look. Tang Qiyue instinctively touched the spot—and felt a faint sting. Her fingers came away with tiny smears of blood.
Now she understood why the other military wives had glanced at her curiously that morning. The marks on her neck were obvious.
Hastily, she took a small mirror from her handbag and examined her neck. Sure enough, spots of blood dotted the left side.
"Zhan Zeyi… you—"
She whirled around, ready to confront him, only to find the room empty. He had already slipped away, leaving before she could protest.
Tang Qiyue exhaled. She had no habit of holding grudges; she merely tugged up her collar to hide the marks, quietly pretending not to notice.
By noon, everyone was ready for the boat to the island. The military wives had finished breakfast and packed their things, waiting for departure.
Zhan Zeyi and Hu Peng didn't arrive until the boat reached the dock. Tang Qiyue's dowry chests were numerous, so Lao Guan, generous as always, had borrowed a local fisherman's boat to load them all.
Once on board, Zhan Zeyi reminded her not to wander around—the boat was small and rocked violently. Seasickness was easy to come by.
Tang Qiyue was fine. Her body was strong and accustomed to movement, but the other four military wives were pale-faced, gripping the railings, and gagging as the boat pitched.
The children, however, were thrilled. Not a single one felt seasick, and they excitedly watched the waves and seabirds from the sides of the boat.
Tang Qiyue retrieved a handful of ginger candy slices from her bag, distributing them to her sisters-in-law. A slice held under the tongue eased nausea, and for those struggling more, chewing the sugar-coated ginger worked even better.
It was a simple folk remedy, but it worked. Though their faces remained pale, the women stopped vomiting.
The island was more than an hour away, but the diesel engine on the boat made the journey swift.
As they neared the island, greetings came from the locals. Zhan Zeyi helped Tang Qiyue off the boat. The other military wives were assisted too, and the children were carried off by soldiers waiting on shore.
Standing on the island, Tang Qiyue's expression reflected equal parts curiosity and exasperation.
"The fishing boat will return in half an hour. I'll have someone move your dowry chests then. Let's check the house first."
Ignoring her look, Zhan Zeyi called to her and started walking toward the island.
Hu Peng and Chen Dazhuang, along with their families, followed. Soldiers along the way stopped to greet them, preventing Tang Qiyue from questioning Zhan Zeyi immediately.
Arriving in front of a modest house, she let out a resigned sigh.
"No wonder you made me bring all my dowry!" Her tone was teasing, but the helplessness was clear.
Zhan Zeyi felt a twinge of guilt but didn't show it. "The conditions here are harsh, but we're young. Everything can be built up slowly," he said, a faint blush coloring his cheeks.
The island was barren. The dock was makeshift, and without someone to secure the boats, they couldn't be moored properly.
The so-called house was nothing more than a stone structure, empty, without even a bed.
Tang Qiyue nearly laughed from frustration. She now truly understood the harshness of their situation. She was grateful her stepmother had packed pots and pans—otherwise, surviving here would have meant building everything herself.
"I'm in a hurry to manage the wedding, so the house isn't finished yet. I'll get wood to build a fence tomorrow," Zhan Zeyi said, pulling her inside.
The house, though recently repaired, was dry and usable. Without children for the moment, a single-room setup would suffice. Tang Qiyue, thinking of her numerous dowry chests, reminded him, "There's not enough space!"
Zhan Zeyi nodded. Though inexperienced in construction, he'd built the house following the style of local dockside homes. He hadn't anticipated Tang Qiyue's numerous belongings.
"It's fine. The surrounding area is allocated to us. There are plenty of rocks on the mountain, and we have manpower. We can build three more houses in three days, at most."
Tang Qiyue didn't dwell on the houses and asked about food instead.
"There's a canteen for now. Once the houses are done, if you want to cook yourself, I'll bring the supplies," he said.
Soon, the fishing boat returned, carrying more supplies. With more hands, work became easier. They used eight dowry chests to create a makeshift bed in their single room.
After tidying the house, Tang Qiyue's curiosity turned to the other families. Before leaving, Xu Qiuju approached her.
"Do you have insect repellent?" Xu Qiuju asked. Her three children had already been bitten, leaving large, painful welts.
Tang Qiyue rummaged through a box and produced a small metal-lidded container.
"This is my usual cooling balm. It's effective for swelling and pain. Apply it to the children."
Xu Qiuju thanked her repeatedly and hurried off to care for the children.
Tang Qiyue wanted to follow, but Zhan Zeyi stopped her.
"Don't go yet. I have something to tell you."
He pulled her back inside and closed the door. Tang Qiyue wasn't worried—he hadn't overstepped in daylight. With no tables or chairs, she sat on the makeshift bed, while Zhan Zeyi stood in front of her.
"I don't care how many secrets you have. Keep a low profile. Everyone here, except your family, is shrewd."
He leaned down, placing his hands on either side of her, subtly trapping her in place. Though it was a warning, it sounded like a lover's whisper, and Tang Qiyue felt her face flush involuntarily.