Rebirth in the 1970s: Military Commander's Sweet and Fierce Love

Chapter 3 Living Together

Le Beicheng entered the room holding a bowl of food and found Zhao Yunchu still sitting in the same position as before.

"I've made you some porridge. You should have this for now. Since you just woke up, you can't eat anything else," he said, placing the small bowl on the side of the bed.

As soon as Le Beicheng entered, Zhao Yunchu caught the aroma of the rice porridge. She didn't need to ask why her sense of smell was so acute—it was obvious. Anyone who had been lying in bed without food or drink for three days would have heightened senses.

Being a medical professional, she understood that extreme hunger brought an intense craving for food. Those who hadn't experienced severe hunger couldn't fully imagine the longing.

Looking at the small porcelain bowl of porridge, which seemed to contain only about three bowls' worth and looked freshly made, Zhao Yunchu couldn't help but swallow.

Le Beicheng noticed her hesitation despite her evident hunger and said, "The porridge should be at a good temperature now. You can eat."

At his prompt, Zhao Yunchu made a move toward the bowl, but as she reached for it, she quickly put it back. She had noticed how dirty her hands were—black and grimy, making it impossible to eat.

"What's wrong? Did you burn yourself?" Le Beicheng asked with concern.

Zhao Yunchu shook her head and looked at him. "Could you bring me some hot water? I need to wash my hands and face." She was unfamiliar with her surroundings and had to rely on Le Beicheng's help.

"Sure, I'll get it right away. Just wait here," Le Beicheng said, realizing that Zhao Yunchu wanted to clean herself before eating.

As he was about to leave, Zhao Yunchu suddenly felt the urge to use the bathroom. Seeing that he was heading out, she quickly called out, "Le Beicheng, could you accompany me to the restroom?"

Le Beicheng turned and said, "It's very cold outside. It would be better not to go outside. I'll get you a chamber pot so you can handle it in the room." With that, he opened the door and left.

Watching him leave in a hurry, Zhao Yunchu couldn't help but laugh. She thought to herself, people in the 1970s are really so simple-hearted.

A short while later, Le Beicheng returned, pushing open the door with a basin of water. He placed it on the bed.

"Here, you can wash up. Use my towel for now." He handed her a towel draped over his arm.

Zhao Yunchu took the white towel, which was clean, indicating that Le Beicheng was quite particular about cleanliness.

"Thank you. I don't know how to express my gratitude," she said, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Le Beicheng waved his hand dismissively. "No need for formalities. I'll go get you a bucket now."

Zhao Yunchu's face flushed slightly as she nodded, watching him leave again.

Testing the water's temperature, she found it to be just right and began to wash her face. However, the water quickly turned murky with the grime on her skin.

The room didn't have a mirror, so she couldn't see her reflection. Was her face really that dirty?

Zhao Yunchu felt uncomfortable thinking about how dirty she was. She vigorously scrubbed her face with the water in the basin, determined to wash away the grime.

When Le Beicheng entered the room again, carrying a bucket, he was taken aback by the scene before him. Zhao Yunchu was scrubbing her face so intensely that it seemed she was trying to remove the skin itself. The water in the basin had already turned muddy.

Realizing he might have made a mistake, Le Beicheng cleared his throat and said, "The water in the basin is quite dirty. I'll get you another bucket of clean water."

Startled by his cough, Zhao Yunchu was too embarrassed to respond. She merely lowered her head and continued her relentless scrubbing, determined to clean herself thoroughly.

Seeing that Zhao Yunchu acknowledged him, Le Beicheng hurried back to the kitchen. He emptied the hot water from the pot into the bucket and brought it back. This process continued, and eventually, he used three buckets of hot water.

Zhao Yunchu washed her hair with the clean water and soap, and gave her body a quick wipe. She was especially worried about lice, but fortunately, she didn't find any. That was a small blessing in a series of unfortunate events.

As Le Beicheng watched Zhao Yunchu gradually clean her face, the once dark, grimy exterior revealed smooth, fair skin. Her features became clearer—her arched eyebrows, the pair of bright, almond-shaped eyes, and her slightly pouting lips were strikingly attractive.

Zhao Yunchu noticed Le Beicheng's intense stare and wondered if she looked too unattractive.

"Le Beicheng, thank you. I've finished with the water. There's one more thing—could you help me with something else?"

Le Beicheng snapped out of his daze and realized he had been somewhat impolite. He had not expected Zhao Yunchu to look so different after washing. He had only seen her as a dirty, unrecognizable figure before.

"No need to be so polite. What else do you need?"

"I need a set of clean clothes. Could you bring some for me? If you can't find women's clothes, you can bring me one of your own sets," Zhao Yunchu requested.

"Okay, I'll be right back. You should eat the porridge while it's still warm. It won't taste good once it cools down," Le Beicheng said before heading out the door.

For some reason, despite previously conversing with Zhao Yunchu with a calm demeanor, he now felt his heart pounding.

After Le Beicheng left, Zhao Yunchu took the small porcelain bowl and began drinking the porridge, not caring about her manners. After the effort of cleaning herself, she needed sustenance to regain her strength. The large bowl of porridge was equivalent to three big bowls. In the past, Zhao Yunchu would never have believed she could eat so much.

Once full, she waited quietly for Le Beicheng to return with her clothes. Eventually, fatigue began to set in, and she found herself drowsy.

Just as she was about to fall asleep, the door swung open. Le Beicheng entered, holding a bundle with a happy expression.

"Guess what's inside?" he said cheerfully.

"Clothes, of course!" Zhao Yunchu responded directly. "I asked you to bring me clothes. Did you bring something else instead?"