Lin Ruo ate the steamed buns in silence. After finishing them, she drank a bowl of porridge and still didn't speak a word.
She had originally thought that after the divorce, she would go to Jicheng, find a job, and settle down there. Returning to her hometown was never an option. But now that divorce was no longer possible, she had no choice but to continue living inside the military compound.
She needed to carefully consider how the two of them would coexist under the same roof from now on.
They would be living together for quite some time. Certain things needed to be made clear in advance — housework had to be shared fairly.
She wasn't a nanny. She could take care of herself, but she had no intention of serving another person.
A man couldn't think that having a woman at home made him entitled to sit around as a freeloader, so lazy that he wouldn't even bother to help if an oil bottle tipped over.
They might have to live together, but she refused to become his servant or ancestor to be worshipped.
Han Yao didn't press her. He simply sat there quietly, waiting with patience.
After about five minutes, Lin Ruo finally broke the silence. "Alright, for the sake of your promotion, I'll agree not to divorce you for now.
We can maintain this marriage on paper, but you can't have any extreme thoughts. From now on, you'll live in the west room, and I'll live in the east.
Even if we share the same house, you cannot enter my room without my permission. And don't even think about sitting back and doing nothing — the housework must be divided."
She raised her chin, her tone sharp. "From now on, chopping wood, cleaning, washing dishes — all of that is your responsibility. And if you dare to touch me, I'll knock you out with a needle."
To make sure he understood, Lin Ruo waved a silver needle right in front of his face.
Han Yao's heart leapt with delight, though he quickly suppressed his smile. He kept his face solemn, the same disciplined expression he wore when swearing into the army.
"I'll do exactly as you say. I'll never anger you. I'm not lazy — if there's anything you need from me, just tell me."
To express his sincerity, he suddenly pulled out a small passbook from his pocket. It held his years of saved allowances and mission bonuses.
The sun streamed warmly through the window, birds chirping outside. Han Yao's mood brightened instantly. For the first time in years, he felt the weather was particularly good.
In the future, he would be able to live with a wife by his side, but he knew it would take time for her to truly accept him. That was fine — he was willing to wait. One day, they would become a real couple others would envy.
Lin Ruo flipped open the passbook, and her eyes widened. Inside, there were more than five thousand yuan.
In the 1970s, when the average monthly salary was only thirty to fifty yuan, this was a fortune — money most families couldn't hope to save even in a lifetime of frugality.
Looking at the number, Lin Ruo felt an ache in her chest for the "original" Lin Ruo who had suffered so much. This man had clearly been rich, yet he hadn't given her a single penny for three years.
"Men are pigs," she thought grimly. "Not one of them is good."
Seeing her dark expression, Han Yao finally defended himself. "I didn't abandon you. For the past three years, I've been away on missions and only just returned to the army yesterday. During that time, I asked my comrades to send you thirty yuan every month. My parents must have intercepted it.
But don't worry. I'll get back every coin that belongs to you the next time I go home. I'll also investigate exactly what happened three years ago."
Lin Ruo's hand tightened unconsciously around the passbook, wrinkling the corner of the page.
For three years, the previous Lin Ruo had endured a life of misery, waiting for spring that never arrived.
Quickly calculating in her mind, Lin Ruo realized: thirty yuan a month for thirty-six months should have been 1,080 yuan. By today's standards, that was still a massive sum. She had to get it back.
"This passbook…"
"Take it," Han Yao said firmly. "If you leave it with me, I might lose it. Besides, there are still many things missing from this house. I just cleaned the room, but you'll need new bedding, pots, pans, and utensils."
"Now that we've reached an agreement," Han Yao said calmly, "let's go to the department store in the city to buy what we need. You can spend the money in the passbook however you like."
Lin Ruo tried to hand the passbook back to him, but Han Yao pushed it back into her hands firmly. With no choice, she stopped pretending to refuse and tucked it away.
"If you ever make me angry in the future," she warned coldly, "I'll squander every cent in this passbook."
Seeing that Lin Ruo had eaten her fill, Han Yao quickly cleared the table. Then, without hesitation, he drove the army jeep to take her into the city.
On the way, Han Yao talked about his years in the military, filling the silence of the car with stories. He needed her to see him in a different light — to slowly gain her favor.
This man was steady and serious, but he also had a sharp tongue when he wanted to explain himself. Lin Ruo's opinion of him shifted slightly.
More than an hour later, the jeep pulled up outside a three-story building. Its off-white walls and iron-framed roof bore four large red-painted characters: "Department Store." A second sign above the entrance read "Jicheng Department Store."
The first floor sold daily necessities and non-staple foods, the second floor was for clothing, and the third floor housed offices for leaders.
Han Yao had never shopped here before. His supplies were always provided by the army. Lin Ruo, despite being from the future, was also stepping into such a 1970s department store for the first time.
The building buzzed with people. Han Yao followed close behind Lin Ruo, his sharp eyes sweeping the crowd. If anyone brushed too near, he would raise an arm protectively, shielding her without ever actually touching her.
The "flower protector" role suited him well. Lin Ruo noticed it, and though she didn't say a word, her impression of him grew a little warmer.
Once they familiarized themselves with what each floor sold, they headed straight to the counter for pots, pans, and kitchen utensils.
"Both kitchen knives and pots require industrial tickets," the salesperson reminded them. "Do you have enough?"
Lin Ruo thought quickly — she needed two knives (one for vegetables, one for meat), two iron pans (one for stir-frying, one for steaming rice), a casserole for soups, a small aluminum pot, and a separate small stove.
"It's enough," Han Yao reassured her. "Before coming, I exchanged several industrial tickets with my comrades. I also have plenty of other ration tickets. You can choose whatever you need."
Hearing this, Lin Ruo decided not to hold back. Secretly pleased, she resolved to take full advantage and buy everything she needed — pots, pans, rice, noodles, and all sorts of seasonings.
The salesperson, accustomed to stingy and picky customers, was stunned by their decisiveness. His usual impatience vanished, replaced with a broad smile.
"You wait here," Han Yao told Lin Ruo. He picked up a stack of pots and pans with ease. "I'll take these to the car first, or it'll be hard to carry everything later."
As soon as he walked out, the salesperson shot Lin Ruo a thumbs-up. "Comrade, you're so lucky. Your husband treats you really well."
Lin Ruo gave a polite smile. "And you're lucky too. Not many people get the chance to work in a department store. That's something worth envying."
The salesperson beamed at the compliment. Working here gave her pride and influence, and Lin Ruo's words only boosted her confidence further.
When Han Yao returned, they went on to buy two more quilts, one thin and one thick. His own bedding was issued by the army, but family members had to prepare their own. After paying, he carried the quilts out to the car.
"You should buy a few more sets of clothes too," Han Yao reminded her. "Go up to the second floor first. I'll meet you there after I put these things away."
He hadn't forgotten that Lin Ruo had come with only a small bag. The few clothes she had were torn and threadbare, clearly worn for several years. She hadn't owned anything new in a long time.
"Alright," Lin Ruo agreed softly, and turned toward the stairs.