Chapter 8: Arriving in the Tibetan Region

It wasn’t until nearly noon that a mother and her child entered their sleeper compartment. They were carrying several large bags, and the child looked to be about five or six years old.

When they came in, Lin Momo was lying on the lower bunk, asleep. Cheng Jinghao was sitting at her feet, reading a newspaper.

“Wow, Mom, there’s a bed in here!” the child exclaimed with excitement. It was probably his first time taking a sleeper train, and he was curiously touching everything and looking all around.

“Shitou, lower your voice—there’s an auntie sleeping,” the woman reminded him softly, casting an apologetic glance at Cheng Jinghao.

Cheng Jinghao gave a slight nod and turned to look at Lin Momo, noticing that she was starting to wake up.

“Cheng Jinghao,” Lin Momo mumbled sleepily.

“I’m here. Do you want to get up or sleep a bit longer?” Cheng Jinghao set down his newspaper and stood up.

“I’ll get up.” Lin Momo rubbed her eyes and sat up, only then noticing the mother and child in the compartment.

“I’m really sorry—my child woke you up,” the woman apologized to Lin Momo.

“It’s okay,” Lin Momo said with a smile, shaking her head as she got up and slipped on her shoes.

“Auntie, I’m sorry,” the child said, giving Lin Momo a little bow.

“What a polite boy. Auntie will give you a candy,” Lin Momo said, reaching her hand toward Cheng Jinghao. He took a White Rabbit milk candy from his pocket and handed it to her.

She glanced at him but said nothing, then passed the candy to the child.

The child looked at his mother, who nodded. Then he thanked both Lin Momo and Cheng Jinghao before accepting the candy.

“Are you going to the army base too?” the woman asked after noticing the military uniform on Cheng Jinghao.

“Yes, I’m taking my wife to join me,” Cheng Jinghao replied with a nod.

“How nice. I’m also taking my child to join my husband. We’re going to the Central Military Region. How about you?” the military wife asked with a smile.

“We’re heading to the Southwest Military Region.”

The military wife glanced at Lin Momo. The Southwest Military Region was known to be one of the harshest. Could this delicate young lady really endure it?

As if sensing her thoughts, Lin Momo smiled and said, “Sister, I’m not afraid of hardship.”

The military wife nodded with a smile. “You’ve got the right mindset. Being a military wife is one of the toughest jobs in the world. They protect the nation, while we live in constant worry, unable to ask or talk about anything.”

“A couple of years ago, my husband got injured. If the military hadn’t informed me, I wouldn’t have known at all,” she sighed.

Hearing this, Lin Momo turned to look at Cheng Jinghao. Had he ever been injured too?

“I’m fine,” Cheng Jinghao whispered to her.

Watching the interaction between the young couple, the military wife chuckled softly and said no more—some things had to be experienced personally.

When lunchtime came, Cheng Jinghao handed Lin Momo a pancake.

In those days, people usually brought their own dry food on trains, especially in the summer. Pancakes were a common option. They hadn’t brought anything for the child.

“We’ll eat the dry food first. Once it’s gone, I’ll go to the dining car and buy you a boxed meal,” Cheng Jinghao said. Originally, he planned to eat the dry food himself and buy a meal for Lin Momo, but since others were around, it didn’t feel quite right.

“This is fine,” Lin Momo replied. In her previous life, she had often worked through meals, so she wasn’t picky and could eat anything.

“I’ll go get you some water. Wait a moment,” Cheng Jinghao said, picking up the enamel cup. He also asked the military wife if she wanted hot water.

Once Cheng Jinghao had left with the cups, the military wife spoke up.

“Your husband is a good one. Men these days usually aren’t so willing to help out.”

“Mm,” Lin Momo nodded, not saying much.

Their marriage was only a formality, but Cheng Jinghao had always taken care of her since they were young. Still, he seemed different now.

When they were kids, Cheng Jinghao used to bicker with her often. But now, he didn’t. Was it because they hadn’t seen each other in years and had grown unfamiliar?

On the fifth afternoon, the mother and son got off the train, leaving only Lin Momo and Cheng Jinghao in the compartment.

Until they got off at noon on the fourth day, no new passengers had entered their room. There weren’t many passengers on this train — it mainly transported supplies and materials to the Tibetan region.

When she boarded, Lin Momo was wearing a short-sleeved shirt. By the time she got off, she had already put on a light jacket.

“The temperature drops even more at night. You’ll need to layer up,” Cheng Jinghao said as he carried the suitcase for her.

“Got it,” Lin Momo nodded.

Cheng Jinghao led Lin Momo off the train. Outside the station, someone was already waiting for them.

“Captain.” A young man in military uniform walked over and took the suitcase from Cheng Jinghao’s hand.

“This is Xu Zhengqing, a company commander in my unit,” Cheng Jinghao introduced.

“My wife, Lin Momo.”

“Hello, sister-in-law,” Xu Zhengqing greeted her with a smile.

“Hi,” Lin Momo replied, her radiant smile catching Xu Zhengqing off guard for a moment.

“Ahem.” Cheng Jinghao cleared his throat lightly.

Xu Zhengqing immediately averted his gaze and scratched his head in embarrassment. It was his first time seeing such a beautiful woman like Lin Momo.

“Captain, the house has been cleaned and set up as you instructed. You can move in tonight,” Xu Zhengqing reported as he led them to the car.

“Thanks for your hard work,” Cheng Jinghao nodded. He opened the back door of the car for Lin Momo, and after she got in, he sat in the passenger seat.

“I’ve got two days left of leave. You guys continue your training. I’ll spend this time helping my wife get familiar with the surroundings,” Cheng Jinghao instructed.

“Understood,” Xu Zhengqing nodded, sneaking a glance at him. Since when was their captain so considerate? Guess that’s what happens after a man gets married — he changes.

Lin Momo looked out at the scenery. Compared to the capital, this place was worlds apart — the road became more remote the farther they went, and it wasn’t an easy ride either.

“Candy.” Cheng Jinghao handed her a piece of White Rabbit milk candy. The candies in his pocket had been squished a bit, but Lin Momo didn’t mind. She tore the wrapper open and popped it into her mouth.

Xu Zhengqing looked at Cheng Jinghao in surprise. Their captain carried candy in his pocket for his wife?

“Eyes on the road,” Cheng Jinghao shot him a glare.

“….” Clearly, the captain’s gentleness was reserved for his wife only.

An hour later, the three of them arrived at the military family housing compound.

“Captain, here’s the key. I’ll return the vehicle now,” Xu Zhengqing said, handing the key to Cheng Jinghao after escorting them to the gate.

“Alright.” Cheng Jinghao took the key and opened the courtyard gate once Xu Zhengqing had left.

As soon as Lin Momo entered the courtyard, she looked around. The outer courtyard was quite large, with a kitchen and a storage room — mainly used for storing firewood. There were also two big water jars in the yard. The main hall led to four rooms, and there was a backyard with the outhouse in it.

“There’s a water shortage in this region. I’ll fetch water every day,” Cheng Jinghao said.

Lin Momo nodded. She didn’t really mind, since she could use the tap water from her shopping-space dimension.

Inside the main hall, Cheng Jinghao opened the door to one of the rooms.

“We’ll sleep in this one.”

“We?” Lin Momo stared at him, pointing to herself, then to him.

“Do you want everyone to know that our marriage is fake?” Cheng Jinghao looked at her seriously.

“Who’s going to go around checking if a couple shares a bed or not?” Lin Momo rolled her eyes at him.

“Don’t underestimate soldiers’ instincts,” Cheng Jinghao gave her no chance to object and carried both suitcases directly into the room.

“A kang?” Lin Momo looked curiously at the heated brick bed in the room. “They have kang beds in the Tibetan region?”

“That was built in when the house was constructed. Winters here are harsh. Most locals sleep in stone houses. Over the next few days, I’ll stock up on more firewood — I won’t let you freeze in winter.”