Chapter 32

The first day of teaching went smoothly.

School ended at 5:30 PM, but by the time Lin Ting was ready to leave, it was already past 6 PM.

Tianjin is in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, where March is mostly rainy and cloudy.

The morning had been clear, but by 2 PM, a light drizzle began.

“Is Teacher Xiao Lin still here?” Principal Huang, who checked the school every day after dismissal, was surprised to hear someone in the next office.

Lin Ting smiled. “Just finishing up today’s summary. I’m leaving now.”

Hearing this, Principal Huang nodded in approval. “You’re very responsible. That’s good. By the way, it’s raining outside. I have an umbrella. You can use it.”

Lin Ting quickly waved her hands. “Thank you, Principal, but my husband, Huo Xiao, is here to pick me up.” She had seen him through the office window.

Principal Huang was momentarily stunned, then smiled. “Go ahead, don’t keep Captain Huo waiting.” He admired the young couple’s close relationship.

Feeling a little shy, Lin Ting said, “I’ll be going then.”

“Go on!”

Worried about her books getting wet, Lin Ting held her bag close to her chest and jogged through the corridor.

Just as she was about to run into the rain, she saw a tall figure approaching with an umbrella.

Seeing this, Lin Ting unconsciously stopped walking.

Even though she expected her husband to come, she couldn’t help feeling happy.

When Huo Xiao reached her and covered her under the umbrella, she looked up with a smile. “Did the guard let you in?”

Huo Xiao took her bag and slung it over his back, tilting the umbrella toward her. “No, but since it’s raining, I just greeted them and came in. Shall we go?”

Lin Ting noticed his small gesture and instinctively wanted to hold his arm so they could share the umbrella better.

But if she did, the whole unit would be filled with rumors by tomorrow.

She might even be called in for a talk by the Political Department.

How ironic! They were a legally married couple.

“What’s wrong? Did you forget something?” Huo Xiao asked, noticing her hesitation.

Lin Ting snapped out of her thoughts. “No, let’s go.”

The school was built close to the residential compound, about a ten-minute walk away, to make it convenient for students.

Tianjin’s tank division had better financial support than some remote units, but times were still tough. Not all roads were paved with cement or asphalt.

After rain, the dirt roads turned muddy and hard to walk on.

Luckily, Lin Ting wore Jiefang rubber shoes ^[1]refers to military-style waterproof shoes., which were much better than cloth shoes.

But then she saw a long, shallow ditch over a meter wide.

Going around it would take time, and they had dinner plans at the brigade commander’s house.

So, Lin Ting decided to jump over.

She took a few steps back to get a running start.

But just as she jumped, she felt a firm grip on her waist. Suddenly, she was lifted into the air and carried under Huo Xiao’s arm.

Before she knew it, she was on the other side.

Effortless. No need to run or jump. Just one long stride for him.

Huo Xiao was oblivious to her frustration. After setting her down, he said, “Next time, don’t jump. It’s too easy to slip.”

Lin Ting stared at his long legs for a moment before deciding to let it go.

When they got home.

They changed into clean shoes at the door.

Lin Ting rushed to the bedroom to change clothes.

She was fine, just needing to swap shoes. But Huo Xiao had gotten wet while shielding her.

She grabbed clean clothes from the closet and handed them to him. “Change quickly, or you’ll catch a cold.”

When Huo Xiao took the clothes, his fingers brushed against hers.

Feeling how cold her hands were, he frowned and pulled her hand to his stomach to warm it. “Why didn’t you tell me you were cold?”

Caught off guard, Lin Ting’s fingers curled slightly against his firm, warm abs. Embarrassed, she muttered, “It’s not that cold. Just put your clothes on.”

Huo Xiao wasn’t convinced, but he still put on his dry shirt. “Are your feet cold too?”

Lin Ting rolled her eyes at her husband and buttoned his shirt with a huff. “Do you really need to cover my feet?” she snapped.

Huo Xiao curled his lower lip. “It’s not like I haven’t covered it before.”

Hearing this, Lin Ting’s ears grew hot. Those were just unconscious movements while sleeping! She never intentionally put her feet on his abs!

Thinking of this, Lin Ting’s cheeks flushed. Embarrassed and annoyed, she stopped buttoning his shirt and slapped his chest. “Button it yourself!”

Huo Xiao…

When the family of five arrived at the brigade commander’s house carrying baskets, Mrs. Pang personally opened the door for them.

Lin Ting smiled, handed the basket over, and asked, “I’m sorry, are we late?”

Although called Mrs. Pang, she was only a few years older than Hu Xiu. She wasn’t particularly attractive, but her ever-present smile made her approachable.

Seeing a bag of snacks and a pickled rabbit in the basket, Mrs. Pang’s smile became even friendlier. She disliked those who brought expensive gifts. “Not at all, you’re right on time. Come in.”

She stepped aside and curiously looked at the twins in the young couple’s arms. “These two children are raised so well.”

Lin Ting placed the children on the ground and told Guoguo and Miaomiao to greet her.

Mrs. Pang smiled and teased, “You’re quite mischievous! At my age, why call me ‘Auntie’? Call me ‘Grandma’!” Then, turning to another guest, she asked, “Is this Xiao Huo’s mother?”

Hu Xiu, surprised to be addressed directly, quickly responded, “Yes, that’s me.”

Sensing her nervousness, Mrs. Pang led them inside and reassured her with a warm smile. “No need to be nervous, just treat this as your own home. By the way, how old are you this year?”

Hu Xiu chuckled. “I’m 47.”

Mrs. Pang nodded. “You’re three years younger than me! We should visit each other more often. I envy you for having two grandchildren, unlike me—none of my kids are settled yet!”

Mrs. Pang’s casual and humble demeanor put Hu Xiu at ease, and they quickly fell into friendly conversation.

Meanwhile, the brigade commander, seated in the living room, stood up and approached. “I’m here.”

“Brigade Commander,” Huo Xiao greeted, then noticed another guest on the sofa. “Political Commissar Liu.”

Political Commissar Liu hid his displeasure behind a smile and joked, “I came uninvited. Hope you don’t mind, Xiao Huo!”

Huo Xiao, unfazed by the subtle tension between the leaders, smirked. “Of course not.”

The brigade commander waved his hand. “Alright, enough with the formalities. Let’s eat.”

Mrs. Pang chimed in. “Yes, take a seat. I’ll bring out the last dish.”

Lin Ting handed the children to her mother-in-law and followed her into the kitchen. Even if she couldn’t help much, she wanted to show respect. Letting the hostess do all the work wouldn’t be polite.

The dinner was excellent, with fish, meat, and a variety of delicious dishes.

Lin Ting and her family weren’t just pleased with the food—they appreciated the warm hospitality. After all, everyone likes feeling valued.

During the meal, Lin Ting expected Political Commissar Liu’s presence to be about Battalion Commander Cao and Liu Wenyan. But surprisingly, he remained silent and friendly throughout.

This contradicted her impression of him as a rough, domineering figure, making her even more curious.

If he was so shrewd, why had he allowed Liu Wenyan’s reckless behavior? Even a cornered rabbit will fight back. If Cao Wenze were truly desperate, Political Commissar Liu wouldn’t be immune to consequences, especially in these turbulent times.

Later, as Lin Ting and Huo Xiao soaked their feet at home, she brought it up.

Huo Xiao explained, “Political Commissar Liu was too busy early in his career. His wife raised their children. At first, he probably didn’t know about Liu Wenyan’s involvement with Cao Wenze.”

Lin Ting immediately caught the inconsistency. “Then why ignore it once he found out?”

Huo Xiao chuckled. “Cao Wenze is talented. Political Commissar Liu wanted an accomplished son-in-law.”

It wasn’t hard to see his reasoning. If his daughter truly won over Cao Wenze, it would be ideal. He assumed they would eventually develop feelings for each other.

Of course, he had no idea how spoiled and reckless Liu Wenyan actually was. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have let things escalate to the point of public ridicule.

Lin Ting scoffed. “I still don’t believe he didn’t know this would put Cao Wenze in a tough spot. He’s just abusing his power.”

Huo Xiao patted her head, choosing not to argue.

The military was its own society, with leaders of all kinds. Situations like Cao Wenze’s weren’t uncommon. Compared to others, Political Commissar Liu was already somewhat restrained.

Before Huo Xiao could change the subject, Lin Ting asked another question. “When we arrived at the brigade commander’s house, he and Political Commissar Liu seemed tense. Was it about Cao Wenze?”

Huo Xiao shook his head. “No. The leaders are busy, and Cao Wenze’s issue is minor in their eyes. They wouldn’t come to our house just for that.”

Lin Ting suddenly understood. “Then I won’t ask anymore.”

Huo Xiao ruffled her hair affectionately. “There’s nothing you can’t ask. You know the current situation outside. The brigade commander wants to strengthen military training, while Political Commissar Liu prioritizes political awareness.”

Both had valid points.

While improving combat skills was crucial, the political landscape was unpredictable…