"Sister, stop hitting me!"
"How old am I?"
"Don't spank me!"
Zheng Hongjuan's face turned bright red. She hadn't expected her older sister to appear, much less be so direct about hitting her.
Zheng Hongxia snapped the branch she had been holding in half, threw it aside, and dragged Zheng Hongjuan by the ear to Tang Qiyue.
"Comrade Tang, it's my fault for not disciplining my sister properly. I've caused you trouble!"
Zheng Hongxia looked genuinely apologetic. Though she hadn't officially met Tang Qiyue, her husband had already told her that Zhan Zeyi valued his wife highly and that she should take that seriously.
She had only just arrived on the island in the past two days, busy tidying up and adjusting to life there, so she hadn't kept a close eye on Zheng Hongjuan. She had never imagined her sister could cause so much trouble.
If it weren't for a familiar military wife giving her a heads-up, she might have been humiliated at home by her mischievous sister.
Tang Qiyue waved her hand. "It's no trouble at all. Comrade Zheng Hongjuan is very lovely; I like her a lot!"
Tang Qiyue's words were sincere, and Zheng Hongxia, assuming it was just kindness, felt even more embarrassed.
She introduced herself, then patted Zheng Hongjuan on the back of the head. "Quickly apologize to Comrade Tang!"
Zheng Hongjuan stubbornly refused to admit any wrongdoing.
Tang Qiyue waved her hand again. "Sister-in-law, it's really not necessary. She only meant well by reminding me, and besides, she didn't say anything wrong. I'm quite bored here; she can keep me company and chat!"
Zheng Hongjuan thought Tang Qiyue was pretending, but she didn't dare cause trouble in front of her older sister, who clearly had authority.
Zheng Hongxia sighed, knowing her sister's personality all too well.
"I'm older than you, so I'll call you Little Tang. Little Tang, don't try to be nice to this brat. She's my sister. Don't I know her temper? She's brainless—she'll get herself sold out and still help the seller count the money!"
Zheng Hongjuan was about to retort but froze when she saw her older sister's angry eyes.
Tang Qiyue didn't need to explain; she simply indicated that she really wasn't angry.
"Alright, I see it's getting late. The bugle has already sounded. I guess Battalion Commander Zhan will be bringing you food soon. I'll take this brat back and deal with her!"
Zheng Hongxia was decisive. Without hesitation, she grabbed Zheng Hongjuan by the ear and left.
Tang Qiyue could only feel a twinge of pity for Zheng Hongjuan, but she had no intention of taking the blame. Her personality definitely needed some serious guidance.
Sure enough, not long after, Zhan Zeyi returned with a lunchbox.
He was still unaware of what had happened between Zheng Hongjuan and her sister. Seeing Tang Qiyue reading by the window, he entered, and she immediately closed her book.
"Uncle made dumplings especially for you. Try some!"
Zhan Zeyi handed her the lunchbox. Tang Qiyue noticed he was just sitting there, not intending to eat, so he must have already eaten at the cafeteria.
She ate one dumpling—it was indeed delicious. Soon, she had eaten fifteen.
Only then did she notice Zhan Zeyi still sitting there.
"Aren't you busy?"
It made sense why she was curious. People were already carrying bamboo and working in the yard, yet Zhan Zeyi stayed inside to eat with her.
He handed her a water bottle. "I'll go out and get busy. You don't need to worry about me—just keep reading!"
With that, he left, closing the door behind him. Since a white curtain covered the window, he wasn't worried about anyone seeing inside.
Tang Qiyue didn't dwell on his actions. She continued eating, assuming he would go out soon.
The kitchen had already been set up; the stove, although simple, was ready to use. Tang Qiyue didn't want to bother the one-eyed uncle at the cafeteria every time, so she preferred to cook at home.
Later, she planned to go to the beach to see if she could catch some small fish. She could stew them for dinner and add vermicelli—it would be delicious.
While thinking, her gaze lingered through the white curtain at the bustling yard.
She saw a group of people working diligently. The fenced yard was simple; bamboo stakes were driven in at an angle and secured with vines. It was quick to build but not very durable—it would probably need replacing each year.
Still, it was just the beginning. Longevity wasn't a concern yet.
It was hot today. Once the fence was built, Tang Qiyue planned to plant vines and scatter morning glory seeds. Soon, the fence would be covered in flowers, hiding the yard from prying eyes. She could also plant gourds to have loofah and pumpkins later.
Her plan was perfect. After finishing the dumplings and packing her lunchbox, she was about to ask Zhan Zeyi how to find the fisherwoman and Coral so she could learn beachcombing from them.
Then she saw someone carrying a lot of furniture: a finished wooden bed, wardrobe, table, chairs, and benches.
Zhan Zeyi entered the house, noticing Tang Qiyue had tidied up, and reminded her that someone was coming and she needed to tidy before they arrived.
After sleeping in the dowry chests for two days, Tang Qiyue could finally use them. She couldn't wait.
Zhan Zeyi didn't call for extra help; he assisted Tang Qiyue in stuffing everything into the chests, piling them against the wall to make space for the bed. After the wardrobe and other furniture were set up, they would organize slowly.
Tang Qiyue watched as Zhan Zeyi and others carried everything in. The house was instantly filled, finally looking like a proper living space.
Xu Qiuju and the others, hearing the commotion, ran over.
"That's fast! I heard from Hu Peng that Battalion Commander Zhan made two trips to ensure everything was ready quickly. He even helped the local people go to sea today!"
Xu Qiuju whispered to Tang Qiyue. "Why did the locals want him to go to sea? They should know it better than anyone."
Tang Qiyue shook her head.
"Don't you know? Commander Zhan can hold his breath underwater for over ten minutes. None of the locals can match him! Going into the sea is extremely dangerous. Without oxygen tanks, the time you can hold your breath determines your depth and the chance of finding valuable items."
Just as Tang Qiyue was thinking, Xu Qiuju blurted, "Sister-in-law, I've heard that people who are good at holding their breath are also great in bed. Is that true?"
Tang Qiyue almost choked on her saliva at the sudden question.