Chapter 18

Unbeknownst to her, not far away, Tian Li was secretly observing her.

After taking enough photos, Su Nian decided to head back. For now, taking pictures was just to keep some memories for the future—after all, film wasn’t cheap.

“Comrade Su, did you forget the way back? How about I walk you?”

Despite Tian Li’s well-masked demeanor, Su Nian immediately saw through the sleazy vibe hidden in his bones.

“No need to trouble yourself, Instructor. I remember the way—I was just wandering around a bit. It’s getting late though, and if I don’t head back soon, Fu Tingchuan will start to worry. You probably don’t know this yet, but he’s my fiancé.”

Tian Li was stunned. He hadn’t heard anything about Comrade Fu being engaged.

“Comrade Su, I know Comrade Fu is good-looking and holds a high position. You young girls are naturally drawn to men like him, but these things can’t be said carelessly.

You’re still young and might not realize the consequences of falsely claiming ties to a high-ranking officer.”

Su Nian emphasized earnestly, “Instructor, I’m really not lying. The new comrades and Xiao Jiang all heard him admit it with their own ears. The only reason I came here was to marry him.”

Seeing how convincingly she said it, Tian Li began to waver. What if it was true?

Though he was a scoundrel, he still knew there were certain people he couldn’t afford to cross. If he ended up kicking an iron wall, it wouldn’t end well. Pretty girls were one thing, but his future was more important.

“Heh, I see. Well, Comrade Su, you’re quite lucky then!

Go on ahead, I still have to check on the veteran comrades. This job never gives me a break. You’ll understand how hard it is once you start working too.”

Once he walked off into the distance, Su Nian spat in disgust.

Men who used their position to harass female comrades were the worst. How did someone like him even become an instructor?

Back in the dorm, she found Xiao Jiang waiting for her at the door.

“Comrade Su, you’re finally back! I’ve been waiting for ages. Here—our regiment leader asked me to bring you this thermos. He was worried you might want hot water at night.

He also filled your water vat himself. But he had to head to a meeting, so he couldn’t wait. He even stacked firewood for you. Don’t forget to heat the kang bed tonight. The temperature drops a lot at night even though it’s warm during the day.

Life in the mountains is tough—you’ll get used to it.”

Holding the thermos, Su Nian felt a warm sensation in her chest. She had thought she’d need to work hard after returning, but Fu Tingchuan had already taken care of everything. Not bad at all—he made a great fake fiancé. Not just a shield, but also handy.

Maybe bringing in a live-in son-in-law wasn’t such a bad idea after all!

After Xiao Jiang left, others looked at Su Nian’s thermos with envy.

Especially Su Yue, who hadn’t brought anything. She had just drunk raw water when she got thirsty, and one gulp had chilled her to the bone. Glancing over at Fu Mingjun, who could barely chop firewood, she got even angrier.

“Fu Mingjun, you’re a grown man. Can’t even do this bit of work properly?”

Still smarting from earlier embarrassment, she didn’t dare lash out at Su Nian and instead took it out on her feeble husband.

But Fu Mingjun had been spoiled all his life. Furious, he threw the firewood onto Su Yue.

“If you think it’s so easy, why don’t you do it yourself? I’ve never done this kind of thing before! This stupid firewood doesn’t even listen. I’m already frustrated, and you just stand there nagging me.

My dad said it himself—if it weren’t for looking after you, I wouldn’t have come to this godforsaken place!

You’re not even grateful. You nitpick and start fights all the time. Isn’t this women’s work anyway? Didn’t your mother teach you that?”

Hearing this, Su Nian burst out laughing.

“Well of course she didn’t teach her! My stepmother always said girls should suffer more so they’d marry better in the future. That’s why I started doing laundry and cooking two years ago.

She was too busy training me to remember her own daughter. Su Yue here never lifted a finger at home!

Fu Mingjun, you’re lucky—marrying such a delicate flower. But it’s fine! As long as you work hard, Su Yue can continue her pampered lifestyle.”

Hearing that, Xu Zhaodi glanced at Su Nian.

She hadn’t expected this girl, who looked so pampered, to actually be just like her. Nobody was truly clueless—who honestly believed stepmothers made their stepdaughters do housework out of love?

Maybe… they could become friends after all.

Thinking about her still-absent roommate Qiao Qiqi, Xu Zhaodi shook her head in frustration.

Su Nian, meanwhile, put the thermos inside and heard the argument outside growing louder. Feeling good, she took out two sets of thick clothes from her space—clothes that had once mistakenly belonged to Su Yue.

They looked decent and still quite new—no patches or anything.

Since Su Yue had just mocked Xu Zhaodi’s clothes, Su Nian decided to gift her Su Yue’s nice ones. Wonder how Su Yue would feel when she saw it?

“Xu Zhaodi!” Su Nian waved from the doorway.

Xu Zhaodi hesitated but still walked over. “Comrade Su, did you need something?”

Ignoring the noisy couple nearby, Su Nian shoved the two sets of clothes into Xu Zhaodi’s arms.

“These were packed by mistake by my dad. I won’t wear them anyway—leaving them lying around would be a waste.

We wear military uniforms on duty, but during rest, we still need our own clothes. If you don’t mind, please take them.”

Xu Zhaodi didn’t want to accept them at first. She was the type to get stubborn, always thinking others pitied her. But Su Nian looked at her so sincerely that she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

“Alright then. Thank you, Comrade Su—but don’t give me anything else after this.”

Though her tone was stiff, Su Nian understood. People like them had their own pride.

“Don’t worry, just this once. Even if you want more later, I won’t have it. Gotta thank Comrade Su Yue for these anyway—my dad bought them for her, after all.”

Hearing that, Xu Zhaodi felt more at ease.

At least Su Nian wasn’t pitying her or trying to give her handouts. Just like she said—her dad had packed them by mistake, and she wouldn’t wear them, so she passed them on.

“Alright. That water vat should last you two days. I’ll fetch water for you the day after tomorrow in return.”

Su Nian had judged correctly—Xu Zhaodi wasn’t the type to take advantage of others. She’d exchange what she could within her means.

“Comrade Xu, how about this—I’ll give you some money and ration coupons each month if you help me collect firewood?”

Xu Zhaodi’s eyes lit up at that.

She had been sent here because her mom wanted her to earn the 18 yuan monthly wage. They had pulled strings to get her in.

The condition was that she’d have to send 10 yuan home every month.

If she hadn’t agreed, her mother would’ve married her off for a 100 yuan bride price to the village director’s son. To avoid that fate, Xu Zhaodi chose to earn her own living.

But after buying necessities, she couldn’t save much from the remaining 8 yuan.

If she could earn a little extra, of course she would.

With more money, she could eventually control her own life. Just thinking about it made her smile.

“Alright, I’d love to! But Comrade Su, if you hire me, you can’t go find someone else later, okay?”