Chapter 3

[What? I can’t hug my own husband now? Not only will I hug him—I’m gonna feel him up too!]

While complaining inwardly, her small hands wandered mischievously along the man’s waist.

[Tsk, solid stuff.]

Lu Yancheng’s expression turned terrifyingly dark. “Song Si!!”

“Hubby, you have to believe me—it was that pale pretty boy who shamelessly tricked me into coming out. He confessed to me and said he liked me. But don’t worry—I rejected him outright and warned him that interfering in a military marriage is illegal. If he dares harass me again, you can send him straight to a military tribunal!”

Song Si spoke with great conviction, hugging his waist even tighter.

Lu Yancheng, reaching the end of his patience, pried her hands off. Not wanting her to keep embarrassing them in public, he used a practiced grappling move and—with sheer force—hoisted her over his shoulder.

The motion was smooth and swift, without a hint of hesitation.

Song Si: “……”

She didn’t resist, hanging obediently over his shoulder, admiring her husband’s broad, double-door-like back. Now that was wide.

The two guards sent by the commander scratched their heads awkwardly.

This…

The commander had specifically instructed them: if Commander Lu’s wife did anything outrageous, they were to issue a warning and escort her back to the military district—where the commander himself would have a talk with her.

But now… it didn’t seem necessary anymore?

The two guards looked at Lu Yancheng. “Commander Lu, we’ll head back now. You can keep the jeep for now.”

Lu Yancheng paused, glancing at the distant villagers who were still sneaking peeks in their direction.

Although Secretary Wang had chased off most of the crowd, work hadn’t started yet, so some people still lingered nearby, just a few hundred meters away, watching from a distance.

To avoid being gawked at any further, having the jeep was definitely useful.

He looked at the guards and gave a crisp military salute. “Alright. Thank the commander for me.”

The guards returned the salute. “Yes, Commander Lu.”

Lu Yancheng carried Song Si to the military jeep parked nearby. He opened the door and nearly tossed her into the back seat.

Song Si: “……”

So this is how a rugged man from the ’70s treats women? Ever heard of being gentle with a lady?

Without looking at her, Lu Yancheng slammed the door shut and got in the driver’s seat. He started the engine and drove down the village road.

The curious onlookers on the roadside stared at the departing military jeep.

“Oh my, what’s going on?”

“You don’t know what I heard behind the Bayi Temple—it was wild. Comrade Song said Comrade Gu is kidney-deficient. She said she’s not into weak men.”

“Aunt Liu, are you serious? I heard that Comrade Song liked Comrade Gu and was always trying to get close to him.”

Liu Auntie, now surrounded by eager listeners, basked in the attention and became more excited the more she talked. “What do you know? Comrade Song said it was Gu who confessed to her. She even said if he bothers her again, she’ll have Commander Lu send him to a military tribunal.”

“Wait—you can do that? This is the first time I’ve heard of it.”

Aunt Liu puffed up with pride. “I’m not sure myself, but Comrade Song said interfering in a military marriage is a crime.”

“Aunt Liu, dear—what else did you hear? Come on, spill it.”

“Well…”

Thinking about what Comrade Song said about Commander Lu, Aunt Liu blushed.

Never would’ve guessed—Comrade Song always looked so pale and quiet. Who knew she could say such shameless things?

“Come on, Aunt Liu, tell us!”

“Yes, what ‘thing’ are you talking about?”

Before Liu Auntie could speak, Secretary Wang arrived.

He cleared his throat, and the crowd instantly scattered.

He stood there in place, silently watching the military jeep disappear down the road, his face still burning hot.

A second later, he looked away like he’d been shocked and turned to Liu Auntie, who hadn’t yet left. “Liu Dahua, hold on a moment.”

Liu Auntie immediately regretted running her mouth.

She hadn’t noticed Secretary Wang was still nearby and thought he had already left!

So she said too much…

She reluctantly shuffled over.

Secretary Wang said, “No matter what you heard—know what should and shouldn’t be repeated. Understand? Commander Lu has a special status. The commander values him greatly. If his reputation or the military’s name gets tarnished, you know what the consequences would be.”

Liu Auntie muttered, “I understand, Secretary Wang.”

“Good.”

But he couldn’t help being curious. With great awkwardness, he asked, “You women—what does that… ‘kink’ thing mean?”

Liu Auntie looked confused. “I don’t really know either. Maybe go ask the sent-down youths? I’ll come along and learn something too.”

Secretary Wang realized he’d overstepped. “Go get to work. If I hear you gossiping again, your work points will be docked.”

“I got it, Secretary Wang—I won’t dare again!”

She didn’t wait for further scolding and took off running.

Meanwhile, Gu Chen, who had just left the Bayi Temple, hadn’t gone far when he ran into several people.

They greeted him… very enthusiastically:

“Comrade Gu, I know a folk remedy for kidney deficiency—works wonders. Want to try it?”

“Comrade Gu, there’s a great traditional doctor in the next village. You should really go get checked.”

Gu Chen had no idea what had happened. Since he couldn’t hear Song Si’s inner thoughts, his face turned pale, then red, flustered as he tried to explain.

Just then, the loudspeaker signaled the start of the workday.

Everyone dispersed, chuckling as they went to assemble.

Soon, the loud chorus of the morning work anthem echoed across the fields—

“The East is Red, the Sun has Risen…”

The song was so loud that Song Si, sitting in the jeep, could hear it clearly.

So this is the 1970s, huh?

She looked out the window at the farmlands lining the road, trying to gather her thoughts and plan her survival strategy.

In the driver’s seat, Lu Yancheng glanced at her several times in the rearview mirror.

Back at the temple, this woman had been utterly shameless with her words. Now that she was in the car—she was completely quiet?

Not a single word since they left.

“Song Si, we need to talk.”

“Sure.”

Song Si snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the man driving.

No matter how she looked at him—he was exactly her type.

[In the era I came from, you barely saw any real men like this. The male celebrities in showbiz all wear foundation and lipstick—not my taste at all.]

[But Lu Yancheng… this kind of rugged man—with just a bit of roughness? Kinda thrilling.]

Lu Yancheng gripped the steering wheel tighter.

“Are you really sure… about getting a divorce?”

[Divorce?]

[You’ve got to be kidding! If I divorce Lu Yancheng in this unfamiliar world, I’d suffer a ton.]

[Given what the original host did, it’d count as a serious violation of moral conduct in this era. The only reason I haven’t been punished yet is probably because of Lu Yancheng’s military status.]

[Besides, there’s still that heroine I haven’t met yet—Song Nian—and Gu Chen, and a manipulative system trying to brainwash me. With wolves in front and tigers behind, I’m obviously going to cling to Lu Yancheng’s thick thigh!]

“Hubby…”

SCREECH!

An abrupt brake jolted the jeep to a stop in the middle of the road.

Lu Yancheng’s hands were gripping the steering wheel so hard that the veins and tendons bulged on the backs of his hands. His dark eyes locked onto the rearview mirror as if he’d seen a ghost. His lips pressed into a thin, tight line.