When the rooster crowed for the first time, the sky was just dim and a dark green light enveloped the earth. Sima Hong was used to getting up early, so he woke up at this moment. Looking at the tent above his head, he suddenly remembered that he was married. This was not his permanent barracks, but his and Mingyu's temporary home.
Mingyu's petite and slender body was still nestled in his arms, she was sleeping soundly, her long eyelashes still trembling slightly. Sima Hong's heart was filled with joy. He got up gently, but was afraid of disturbing his wife by opening the cabinet, so he picked up yesterday's clothes on the ground and put them on casually. The moment he was about to open the door to go out, he turned back, gently kissed Mingyu on the lips, and then tiptoed out.
Mingyu had a dream in a daze. Everything in the dream was blurry. In the hot air, only the strong chest in front of her was swaying. The beautiful wheat-colored chest, the strong and bulging muscles, the sweat slowly seeped out, slowly flowed down along the texture of the skin, and dripped onto her snow-white chest...
Mingyu blushed completely when she woke up, and her heart beat for a long time before she calmed down. If people knew that the new bride had a dream about her husband the morning before, she would be laughed at. However, when she woke up, she found that Sima Hong was not sleeping, his clothes were gone from the bed, and there was a noise in the yard.
Mingyu got up naked. It was still a little chilly in the early spring morning. When she just got out of the warm bed, Mingyu couldn't help shivering. She quickly ran to the closet to get clean clothes, changed everything inside and out, and opened the door.
Green smoke rose from the chimney of the kitchen, the yard was filled with the aroma of food, and from the kitchen came the sound of spatulas colliding.
Mingyu thought it was Baihao who was cooking in the kitchen, and felt a little sorry for coming to help so early. When he walked to the door of the kitchen, he was stunned. It was not Baihao who was cooking in the kitchen, but Sima Hong. He was stir-frying skillfully, and occasionally put a handful of firewood into the stove. He was busy but not chaotic, steady and orderly, as if he was used to doing these things.
Hearing the footsteps, Sima Hong looked up at the door. Seeing that it was his beloved daughter-in-law, he grinned and said, "Go wash up first, you will be ready soon."
Mingyu stood there in surprise, speechless for a long time. It seemed that meat was being stir-fried in the big pot, and hot steam was bubbling out of the small pot through the lid, and the aroma smelled like rice porridge.
She really couldn't imagine that the second son of the Marquis's family, who had been pampered since childhood and whose family wanted to support him like a baby, could actually make a fire and cook
"Can you cook?" Mingyu asked subconsciously.
Sima Hong smiled but did not stop the work in his hands, he said: "Yes, in the past two years, we formed a team of more than ten people to chase the Tartars. We had to take turns to make fire and cook. After a long time, I learned it after doing it a few times. It's not that difficult in fact." At that time, he only had the title of marquis and his position was only a captain. He did not get any special treatment. Whoever did not cook would not be entitled to eat.
Mingyu stood there in amazement, watching Sima Hong stir-fry skillfully, put the dishes on the plates, quickly wash the pot, pour water into it, and use the residual heat of the stove to heat the water. She didn't even have a chance to help. The sun had risen, slanting in through the kitchen window. In the golden sunlight, the dust in the air could be clearly seen, shining on Sima Hong's body and face, and his figure was strong and strong.
Mingyu thought of the dream she had before waking up. In the dream, she saw Sima Hong's strong and powerful chest, and her face couldn't help but blush again. How could he still be the ignorant dandy boy... Mingyu thought that Sima Hong had already gone through countless hardships and had returned to the world in a completely different way.
While Mingyu was in a daze, Sima Hong had already brought the porridge and vegetables to the stone table in the courtyard. Seeing that Mingyu was still in a daze, he walked over to her, hugged her and kissed her on the lips, and said with a smile: "What are you staring at? Go wash it quickly, or the food will get cold."
Mingyu finally came to her senses and quickly went to fetch a basin of water.
Breakfast was white porridge, steamed buns, and fried pork slices, all steaming hot and fragrant. Sima Hong was afraid that Mingyu would think too much, so he said, "The dishes are freshly cooked, not hot leftovers from yesterday's banquet. After the banquet was over yesterday, I asked them to wrap the leftovers in oil paper and take them back to the camp to eat."
He had been in the military camp for many years and had long since gotten rid of the nobleness and pampering of the second son of the Marquis's mansion. He was just like those rough soldiers, not particular about anything at all. But now that he had married, especially since his wife was pampered and hypocritical, he could no longer be the same as before. It just so happened that although the food in Xi'an Prefecture was not bad, it was still a state of war readiness. Even Commander Lu Sheng did not have wine and meat every day. A group of people were craving for meat, so he asked people to take the leftover wine and meat back, and everyone was so happy that they could not wait.
"Hmm." Mingyu picked up the steamed bun, took a small bite, chewed it slowly, and said softly, "It's up to my husband to decide."
Sima Hong smiled and approached Mingyu and asked, "What did you just call me? Say it again."
Mingyu blushed slightly and whispered, "Husband."
"What? You didn't hear clearly. Call it again." Sima Hong said with a smile.
Mingyu smiled and turned her head away, just focusing on her own meal and ignoring him. This was being a rogue again.
After all, it was a man who was cooking. Mingyu thought the meat slices tasted good and were well-seasoned, but the slices were cut too big. However, Mingyu then thought that Xu Changqian and Xu Mingye both loved their wives, but they had never cooked a meal for their wives. Sima Hong was already good enough. If she was picky, she would be ungrateful and ungrateful.
After dinner, Mingyu thought that she hadn't cooked, so she should wash the pots and bowls herself. However, just as she stood up to clean up the dishes, Sima Hong stopped her and said with a smile, "The bowls are all greasy. I'll wash them. Go dress up. Our brothers in the camp will come here with their families to visit you later."
Mingyu was surprised. She was not prepared at all, so she asked quickly, "Should I prepare some gifts for them?"
Sima Hong waved his hand and smiled, "No need, there are not so many rules here. They just came to see you and let you recognize your face."
Sima Hong's words were light, but Mingyu still didn't dare to take it lightly. She immediately ran back to the house and changed the blood-stained sheets. It would be so embarrassing if someone saw it. She then took a broom and swept the yard and the house inside and out.
At noon, Baihao knocked on the door and came in first, holding a pile of hemp paper bags in his hands and hanging around his neck, like a mobile shelf. After seeing Mingyu, Baihao smiled teasingly, making Mingyu blush and dare not look at him.
"Madam, I am Baihao, greeting you!" Baihao shouted loudly in a funny way, taking off the paper packages around his neck one by one.
Mingyu smiled seriously and said, "No need to be polite."
Sima Hong finished cleaning the kitchen, came out and saw Baihao, and asked, "Have you bought everything I asked you to buy?"
Baihao nodded hurriedly, "I bought them all. These five packs of dim sum were bought from the best dim sum shop in Lintong. My master specifically asked me to buy them for my wife. Keep them for me. Eat them whenever you want. I'll buy more after you're done. These ten packs of dim sum are for entertaining guests today."
Mingyu took the five paper packages, which felt heavy in her hands. She turned back to look at Sima Hong, and just in time she met Sima Hong's smiling eyes as he turned to look at her. Her face immediately blushed, and she took the paper packages into the house and put them in the cabinet.
Not long after, groups of people came to congratulate him. Baihao opened the paper packages of snacks. The visitors stood or sat around Mingyu, eating snacks and teasing Sima Hong and Mingyu.
There were many people coming, some men in military uniforms came in groups, and some came with their wives and children. Sima Hong would introduce Mingyu to each group of people. When the wedding took place yesterday, most people had seen Mingyu during the bridal chamber, but Mingyu was heavily made up and shyly lowered her head, so not many people saw what Mingyu looked like. Now, looking at the clean and fair young lady in the sun, everyone thought that she was really beautiful, with beautiful eyebrows and eyes. The men were all dazzled, and the women praised her non-stop. No wonder the general took her so seriously, she was indeed a rare beauty.
Someone who knew some information said that the young lady was from Jiangnan. Everyone sighed again. No wonder she looked different from northern girls. It turned out that she was a graceful beauty from Jiangnan.
In fact, Mingyu was not a very smart person, and she had no talent for recognizing faces. So many people passed by like a revolving lantern, and she could not remember who was who except Madam Li who helped at the wedding. Sima Hong asked her to call him "big brother", so she did. He asked her to call him "aunt", so she did. She was very sweet-mouthed, and when people praised her, she would shyly hide behind Sima Hong and smile.
After a while, another group of people came. Mingyu noticed that there was a girl among the group of men. She was heroic, with thick eyebrows and big eyes. As soon as she entered the door, she called Sima Hong "Big Brother" affectionately.
Sima Hong took Mingyu and said to everyone with a smile: "This is my wife, call her sister-in-law from now on."
The soldiers responded with laughter. Some of the more lively ones, seeing that Mingyu was petite and didn't look very old, deliberately called her "little sister-in-law" instead of "sister-in-law". Sima Hong laughed and scolded them back. Many young men blushed when they saw Mingyu and stood aside obediently.
The girl who called Sima Hong "Big Brother" also came over, took Mingyu's hand affectionately and called her "Sister-in-law".
Mingyu felt the clear and familiar voice and remembered that she seemed to have seen this girl at the wedding yesterday. However, there were too many people here today and she couldn't remember her.
After the group of people left, Mingyu asked Sima Hong, "Who is that girl?"
Sima Hong whispered, "She is Commander Lu's daughter, a daughter of a general. She has been practicing martial arts with Commander Lu since she was young. She is very skilled in martial arts. She has been with Commander Lu all these years, going in and out of the battlefield, and is deeply loved by Commander Lu." He added at the end, "She is different from ordinary rich girls."