With three superpowers at his fingertips, he could dominate the 1970s.

Jiang Zhiyu returned to her own courtyard.

Thinking about what happened at the bathhouse earlier.

Thinking about the way those aunties were staring at him.

Thinking about the marks on her neck and arms that hadn't faded yet, a wave of embarrassment rose to her head, and she threw the towel into the basin.

No, I have to leave before that bastard comes back.

Jiang Zhiyu went into the room and sat on the edge of the bed for a while before she could catch her breath.

She got up, grabbed a backpack from the corner, stuffed two coats into it haphazardly, slung the backpack over her shoulder, and walked toward the door. When she reached the courtyard, she paused.

I thought about it.

They went back inside.

He pulled half a sheet of paper from the drawer, rested the pen on the table, and held it there for a moment.

—I'll go back to the military compound when you've cleaned up the bathroom.

After finishing writing, she glanced at it and felt it wasn't enough. She paused, then added three more words at the end.

—Hmph. Hmph. Hmph.

She wrote three "humphs" with increasing force, and after she finished, she was so angry at herself that she laughed.

The note was placed under the enamel mug on the table, with the corner deliberately sticking up so that the person would see it as soon as they entered.

Jiang Zhiyu slung her bag over her shoulder, tossed her head, and left the courtyard.

-

At this time of day, the women in the military compound were chatting with their children at the gate. As soon as she came out of the gate, their eyes all turned to her.

"Oh, it's Commander Song's house."

"Where are you going?"

"Didn't you just arrive last night?"

Jiang Zhiyu picked up her backpack and smiled politely.

"My parents live not far away. I'm going back to get some luggage. I came in a hurry yesterday and forgot a lot of things, so I'm going back to get them now."

"Okay, okay."

"Then go and come back soon."

"Don't keep Commander Song waiting."

Jiang Zhiyu hummed in agreement, her steps unwavering. As soon as she turned the corner and left the courtyard, a murmur of discussion rose up behind her.

"I didn't notice."

"She's a local Shanghai girl."

"No wonder, their aura is just different."

"You have to admit, Commander Song's luck is incredible..."

Jiang Zhiyu had no interest in listening to anything further.

-

Today is Saturday, and my parents should be home. When I got to the door of our little house, I didn't knock, I just pushed it open.

Jiang Boxun and Su Wanqing happened to be home. They were both taken aback when they saw her return so early in the morning.

Jiang Boxun's rag froze in mid-air. He glanced at his mother, and Su Wanqing immediately understood. She wiped her hands on her apron and came out with a smile.

"Zhiyu, you just went there last night! You rushed back so early this morning, did you... have a fight with Yanzhou?"

Jiang Zhiyu tossed her backpack aside by the door and curled her lip.

"No, don't worry! It's just that the restroom over there isn't finished yet, so it's a bit inconvenient. I'll wait until Song Yanzhou finishes it before I go over."

The elderly couple finally felt relieved. Su Wanqing pulled her into the house while talking to her non-stop.

"Mom made your bed last night, thinking you might come back to stay sometime, and I was right! Have you had breakfast yet?"

"I ate it. Song Yanzhou got it from the army canteen."

"Okay! Then you stay home and rest. Mom will make you whatever you want for lunch."

Jiang Zhiyu hummed in agreement.

Sitting in the wicker chair, looking up at the dappled sunlight blocked by the vines, most of the anger in my heart dissipated during the stops and starts along the way.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the military region...

Song Yanzhou, carrying two dishes he'd gotten for his wife from the canteen, hurried to the courtyard and pushed open the door. The house was quiet and empty; the quilts on the kang (heated brick bed) were neatly folded. Jiang Zhiyu was gone.

Song Yanzhou's heart skipped a beat. He put the lunchbox on the table, took a few steps to the table, and saw a piece of paper under the enamel mug with one corner sticking up, the sunlight shining brightly into his eyes.

He pulled it out and continued reading.

"I'm not going back to the military compound until you've cleaned up the bathroom, hmph! hmph! hmph!"

Song Yanzhou stared at the three "humph" characters.

He stared for a full half minute, his lips first twitching upwards, then turning downwards. He wanted to laugh, but also felt a little like crying. His wife had only been here one night and was already gone.

He folded the note, stuffed it into his breast pocket, then turned and walked out to the playground.

"Squad Leader Li! Xiao Zhou! And you, Tie Dan! Come here for a second!"

As soon as Song Yanzhou raised his voice, the three young soldiers immediately straightened up.

"Commander, what's the matter?"

"Come with me, let's get to work!"

"What kind of work?"

"Make sure my wife has a proper bathroom; it's my personal business! Afterwards, I'll treat everyone to dinner."

The three young soldiers exchanged glances, their earlier nonchalance vanished, and Squad Leader Li patted his chest in relief.

"Commander, just tell me what kind you want!"

"What kind of...?"

Song Yanzhou stood at the gate of his own courtyard, his mind racing through the few words his wife had casually said last night.

"The squat toilets need to be changed; there needs to be a place where you can shower standing up, and ideally, a curtain should be hung at the door. The water pipes need to be connected inside..."

He recited these points one by one, and the young soldiers' eyes widened in disbelief.

"Commander, one afternoon? Can you finish that?"

"It must be possible."

Song Yanzhou's face hardened.

The three young soldiers understood immediately, and one by one they picked up their tools and rushed into the yard.

Song Yanzhou himself didn't rest either.

I hopped on my bicycle and headed straight for the supply and marketing cooperative.

an afternoon.

Curtains, water pipes, porcelain basins, and wooden frames—they managed to gather everything they needed.

In the afternoon, Jiang Zhiyu was nestled in a wicker chair at her parents' house, flipping through an old magazine.

The courtyard gate was pushed open from the outside.

Jiang Zhiyu looked up and saw Song Yanzhou standing at the door, his military jacket unbuttoned, his collar wet and his trouser legs dusty. His eyes searched her for a moment before landing on her.

The magazine in Jiang Zhiyu's hand fell onto her lap with a thud.

Su Wanqing peeked out from the kitchen, glanced at her son-in-law, who was covered in sweat at the door, and then at her daughter's frozen face. Her lips twitched, and she quickly shrank back. It was better not to watch her daughter and son-in-law's drama.

-

Song Yanzhou walked to the rattan chair, but didn't sit down. He just stood there, looked down at her, and his voice was slightly breathless.

"Honey! I've taken care of everything you asked for."

Jiang Zhiyu blinked, trying her best to keep a straight face.

"So fast?"

"Um."

Song Yanzhou nodded, staring at her intently.

"I've got everything you asked for, and everything is ready."

He slowly walked over and squatted down, taking Jiang Zhiyu's hand in his and whispering:

"We're just waiting for you to come back and inspect it."

Jiang Zhiyu couldn't help but twitch her lips upwards, but quickly suppressed it.

"What's the rush? I haven't had dinner yet."

Song Yanzhou's eyes lit up.

"Then I'll wait until you finish eating."

-

The family of four sat around the table, and Jiang Boxun, watching his son-in-law's expectant look, couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth.

As soon as the meal was finished.

Song Yanzhou slung Jiang Zhiyu's backpack over his shoulder, afraid that she might change her mind again.

Su Wanqing leaned against the doorway, watching two figures walk one after the other towards the alley entrance, then turned back and patted her husband's arm.

"Look at how sticky it is!"

Jiang Boxun shook his head and smiled.

"They're newly married! Let them be."

On the way to the military compound, Song Yanzhou carried a backpack in one hand and held his wife's hand with the other. When they arrived at the compound gate, several women carrying children spotted them from afar and their eyes lit up. One of the bolder women raised her voice.

"Oh, Commander Song's wife, you just got back! Commander Song didn't eat lunch all day, he was directing the young soldiers to clean your room! It was like a battle. You're the first sister-in-law in our compound to have a private bathroom! But we made you uncomfortable when you took a shower this morning."

Jiang Zhiyu's face immediately burned. She had already been stared at by those eyes in the bathhouse this morning, and being said this again made her too ashamed to face anyone.

She glared at the person next to her. Song Yanzhou lowered his head slightly, showing no guilt whatsoever. He smiled at the aunties who were making a fuss, neither arguing nor responding, and simply nodded to them.

Then, with one arm around his wife, he led her home, and the moment he closed the gate, all the noise outside was shut out.

Jiang Zhiyu leaned against the courtyard gate, crossed her arms, looked up at him, and the anger in her eyes rose again.

"Song Yanzhou, you're making such a big fuss about it in the courtyard."

Song Yanzhou stood in front of her, looking down at her, his eyes brimming with barely suppressed laughter.

He walked over step by step, reached out and pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, and remained silent for a long time.

Jiang Zhiyu was a little out of breath from his embrace and pushed him away.

What are you doing?

"I've missed you so much since we last met at noon." His deep voice reached her ear.

Jiang Zhiyu's lips twitched. She missed her terribly. She probably had ulterior motives!