As the two ate together, Su Tang asked Lu Xiao why he had returned so quickly.
Lu Xiao simply said in a calm voice that his mission had been canceled at the last minute.
But judging by the wound on his hand, she guessed it wasn't just a simple cancellation.
But since it involved confidential matters, Su Tang didn't press for details.
"I heard from Sister Zhang that the higher-ups assign jobs to family members. What can I do here?"
Su Tang held a steamed bun, nibbling on it in small bites as she asked softly.
'She couldn't really spend all day at home reading like Lu Xiao said, could she? She'd be bored to death.'
Hearing Su Tang's question, Lu Xiao paused mid-bite.
Su Tang often used expressive filler words when she spoke, and combined with her pleasant voice, it sounded almost like she was being coy.
'That Sister-in-law Zhang Cui, honestly... Why does she tell Su Tang everything?'
The job assignment thing was true, but... there wasn't one for Su Tang.
Before she arrived, Lu Xiao had already inquired. He was told that her family background was bad, and it would create an even worse impression if she made public appearances.
Most importantly, Lu Xiao's superior had spoken to him.
"Xiao Lu, you're at a critical point in your career right now. Don't do anything foolish."
"As for your wife's job, let's just leave it for now. We can talk about it again when a suitable opportunity comes up."
The implication was clear: Su Tang would not be assigned a job.
Lu Xiao wasn't afraid of such things. He wasn't even afraid of death, so why would he fear this?
But gossip was a terrifying thing, and he felt that Su Tang wouldn't be able to withstand the idle chatter from outsiders.
The wives and aunties in this family compound didn't hold back. When provoked, they'd say anything, no matter how nasty.
"Let's wait a bit longer. There are no openings right now."
"You just got here and you're not used to it yet. You can look around the area for a while."
After saying this, Lu Xiao finished the last bite of his steamed bun and stood up.
Hearing Lu Xiao's vague words, Su Tang understood.
'The job situation was probably a lost cause.'
Back in the modern world, she had wished she had endless money, enough for people to call her "Miss Capitalist."
But now? People disliked her everywhere she went.
Su Tang watched Lu Xiao's back as he walked to the kitchen, the stewed cabbage in her bowl growing cold.
She remembered the things she had overheard on the train to the Northwest yesterday.
A wave of misery washed over her.
After nightfall, Su Tang tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Outside her room, Lu Xiao, who was sleeping on the floor, was wide awake as well.
Before Su Tang arrived, he was used to living alone, coming and going as he pleased.
Now, with a woman suddenly in his home, he was finding it a little hard to adjust.
Although they were legally married, today was the first time they had truly met in any meaningful sense.
Their interactions were always tinged with an awkward, unnatural air.
Lu Xiao stared at the ceiling, his eyes wide open, unable to fall asleep no matter what.
Suddenly, the sound of rustling clothes came from the inner room. Lu Xiao instinctively reached for the flashlight beside him.
If she could have held it, Su Tang wouldn't have come out either.
She had forgotten to ask Lu Xiao to leave a flashlight for her.
Su Tang fumbled along the wall for a long time but couldn't find the light's pull cord.
"Strange, I thought it was here."
Just as she said that, she tripped over a table and fell straight to the floor.
Luckily, however, Lu Xiao was lying on the floor, and he broke her fall.
The moment the flashlight beam flared to life, Su Tang saw Lu Xiao's face clearly.
"S-sorry... I just wanted to use the toilet."
Su Tang was so embarrassed she didn't know where to look. Then she felt something... quietly growing...
"I'll take you."
Realizing what was happening, both of them blushed instantly.
Su Tang scrambled to the side, not daring to say another word.
Lu Xiao sat up and pulled on the clothes he had set aside.
Moonlight slipped through the cracks in the window, casting mottled shadows on the floor.
Lu Xiao put on a jacket that was faded from countless washes, one he had clearly worn for many years.
In his peripheral vision, he saw Su Tang looking down, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. In the dim light, the crimson blush nearly reached the tips of her ears.
Once he was dressed, he grabbed another jacket for Su Tang, and only then did the two of them head outside.
There was a chamber pot in the inner room she could have used, but Su Tang didn't.
'She's probably not used to it.'
'I heard city folks have their latrines inside the house, and they just flush them away with water.'
"This way."
Lu Xiao led the way, holding a flashlight wrapped in newspaper. His footsteps crunched softly on the gravel in the yard.
The night wind, carrying the unique grit of the Gobi, swept past, lifting a few strands of hair at Su Tang's temples.
She jogged a couple of steps to keep up, her heartbeat sounding exceptionally clear in the silence.
The public toilet was only a hundred meters from their small bungalow, but the short journey felt like it took a century.
Lu Xiao handed the flashlight to Su Tang, then turned his back to her and stood by a small earthen mound, his Adam's apple bobbing unnaturally.
A few low barks from stray dogs in the distance startled Su Tang, and she subconsciously clutched the hem of her clothes.
After quickly taking care of business, Su Tang hurried out.
In the dark of night, an ember glowed and faded. The man stood there, as tall and straight as a pine tree.
"Let's go back."
Seeing Su Tang return, he threw it to the ground.
On the way back to the house, neither of them spoke.
Lu Xiao walked ahead, his shadow stretched long by the moonlight. Su Tang stepped on his shadow, a sudden pang of sorrow hitting her.
The matter of the job assignment from earlier in the day weighed on her heart like a stone.
Now, in the dead of night, the nasty rumors she had overheard on the train began to echo in her ears again.
"Capitalist's daughter," "exploiting class"—these harsh words cast a shadow over her initial hopes for a new life.
As soon as they were back inside, Lu Xiao rummaged in a cabinet, pulled out an enamel mug, and poured some hot water into it. "Let this cool. You can drink it tomorrow morning."
His tone was as flat as ever, but it sent a flicker of warmth through Su Tang's heart.
Watching the man turn to arrange his bedding on the floor, Su Tang spoke on a strange impulse, "Why don't you... come sleep in here."
The inner room had a double bed, more than big enough for two people.
'The floor is hard as a rock; he probably can't rest well out here.'
'After all, I've taken his bed. It doesn't feel right to make him sleep on the floor.'
Lu Xiao's movements paused. He was about to refuse when he heard the sound of hurried footsteps outside.
His expression turned cold in an instant. He walked quickly to the window and peered out.
"Go to sleep."
When he turned back, his voice held a new note of vigilance.
"Tonight, no matter what you hear, don't make a sound."
Su Tang nodded and lay back on the bed, listening as the commotion outside gradually died down.
In the darkness, she stared at the ceiling, a thousand thoughts running through her mind.
A short while later, Lu Xiao lay down on the outer side of the bed, still fully clothed.
The wind of the Gobi continued to howl, making the paper on the windows RUSTLE.
"In a few days, I have to go out again. The ration tickets for the house are in the drawer. I'll ask Sister-in-law Zhang Cui to look after you."
Lu Xiao spoke up just as Su Tang was about to fall asleep.
Su Tang wasn't quite the spoiled, arrogant rich girl he had imagined.
'Since she's come all this way, taking care of her is my duty.'
On paper, at least, they were bound by a marriage certificate.
"Okay, I'll go find Sister Zhang myself."
Su Tang obediently agreed. 'Lu Xiao wouldn't harm me, so I have to listen to what he says. If I want to survive, I have to listen.'
"About the job... I'll help you."
After a moment of hesitation, Lu Xiao finally said it.
Seeing her disappointed expression, for some reason, made his own heart ache.