Perhaps Zhan Zeye's kiss had been too intense, leaving Tang Qiyue slightly breathless. She didn't argue with him, only casting him a sidelong glance.
In broad daylight, this man didn't even bother to be discreet—the curtains weren't even drawn.
Fortunately, Zhan Zeye still had some sense. His attention shifted to the gas lamp on the table, and he simply held Tang Qiyue as he asked where it had come from.
When he learned it was part of her dowry, Zhan Zeye clicked his tongue. "Your father really gave you a lot of good things. I've seen this before, but it's quite troublesome to use."
Tang Qiyue hummed in agreement.
As long as it was bright enough, that was all that mattered.
"When will the island get electricity?" she asked.
She was used to modern conveniences; living without electricity was truly inconvenient. Although she could use it secretly, it wasn't the same as using it openly.
"It'll take a long time," Zhan Zeye replied. "We just arrived on the island, and even running water hasn't been installed yet. Laying power lines and setting up generators will take time. But your brother and his technicians have already started working on it over there. You can ask them for help."
Since the technicians were already on the island, they should contribute to its development.
Tang Qiyue naturally hoped things would move faster.
Before they could talk much more, someone came to call Zhan Zeye away. He had work to do and couldn't stay home with her all the time.
"Sister Zheng will handle their family matters. Don't interfere. If you're bored, go chat with the neighbors," he said before leaving with Political Commissar Wu.
Tang Qiyue watched them go, wondering why they always seemed so busy.
Since she hadn't managed to get any small fish or shrimp from the fishing village, she had nothing else to do. She went to check along the fence and saw that the seeds she had planted earlier had already sprouted.
She thought about collecting some withered leaves and wood ash to spread around the fence—wood ash could fertilize the soil and also had antibacterial properties.
After glancing at the sky, she decided not to go to the beach. Instead, she cleared the weeds around the fence and was about to grab her basket to collect fallen leaves.
"Sister Qiyue, where are you going?"
Xiao Yang suddenly appeared, carrying a basket on his back. The weight of it bent his small frame, and Tang Qiyue hurried over to help him take it off.
"Why are you here? Is your sister sick again?" she asked.
Thinking he might need medicine, she was about to go inside, but Xiao Yang waved his hands quickly.
"My sister is better now—she doesn't need medicine anymore. My mother collected a lot of green clams at the beach today and asked me to bring some to you!"
So that was it.
Tang Qiyue looked into the basket and saw it was full of green clams.
These clams were common along the shore. They reproduced quickly and were easy to cook—just steam them until they opened. They tasted delicious, except for a stringy part inside that needed to be removed before eating.
Since they weren't particularly valuable, Tang Qiyue didn't refuse.
She carried the basket into the kitchen, poured the clams into a basin, then took the two boiled eggs Zhan Zeye had made earlier and placed them in Xiao Yang's hands.
"Eat them while they're hot."
She ruffled his hair, grabbed some candy, wrapped it up, and tucked it into his basket.
Instead of letting him stay, she walked him back toward the fishing village before turning to collect fallen leaves.
When Xiao Yang got home, he discovered the candy. His mother exclaimed, "These are too valuable! Those clams are just picked from the beach. I heard she likes small fish and shrimp—next time your father comes back, send her some!"
Xiao Yang nodded.
They were kind people who understood gratitude; Tang Qiyue's kindness had not been wasted.
After gathering a basket full of dry leaves, Tang Qiyue headed back. Along the way, she heard a rustling sound and spotted a wild rabbit.
Perfect timing.
She grabbed a handful of pebbles and threw one as the rabbit tried to escape.
Her aim was excellent—the plump rabbit landed right in her basket.
When she returned home, Zhan Zeye wasn't there, but she saw Xu Qiuju chatting with someone at the door.
"Sister-in-law, come here quickly!" Xu Qiuju called.
Tang Qiyue pointed at her basket. "Let me put this down first!"
By the time she returned, Xu Qiuju and the others were already waiting in the yard.
"Here!" Xu Qiuju said, stuffing a handful of dried crab legs into her hand.
They were cooked and dried crab legs, cracked open like sunflower seeds—a rare snack on the island.
Everyone had a handful, and they sat together in the yard while the children played nearby.
"What's going on?" Tang Qiyue asked, casually eating one.
"We were worried Sister Zhao might do something drastic," Xu Qiuju said eagerly. "After you were taken away by Battalion Commander Zhan, we went to her house. You wouldn't believe it—Company Commander Wang actually knelt down to her!"
Li Erhong nodded. "We were shocked. At first, Sister Zhao said nothing. Then he even wrote a guarantee with Political Commissar Wu and Sister Zheng as witnesses—but suddenly she broke down!"
Tang Qiyue grew curious.
"Sister Zhao started slapping herself," Xu Qiuju continued. "Luckily, Sister Zheng stopped her. We all felt terrible seeing her like that."
"She finally explained why she wanted to die," Li Erhong added. "Apparently, Company Commander Wang complained that she only gave birth to daughters!"
Tang Qiyue frowned.
"If that were all, it wouldn't drive her to suicide," Xu Qiuju said. "It turns out she had almost divorced him before joining the army. If not for the children secretly following their father, her mother-in-law might have forced the divorce!"
Tang Qiyue was completely puzzled.
"Wait—did Company Commander Wang want the divorce, or was it his mother who wanted it?"
Xu Qiuju and Li Erhong exchanged confused looks.
"What's the difference?"
Tang Qiyue sighed.
"Sisters, the difference is huge."