Chapter 4: Getting Ready for the Home

Jiang Qingzhou thanked her, then carried the tools back to his small courtyard. Looking at the rundown house, he planned to first clean everything thoroughly. After that, he would find a carpenter from the neighboring village to build a sturdy bed, then make a few cabinets, tables, and chairs—at least enough to make the house feel like a home. As for smaller items, he would gradually add them once his wife arrived, tailoring everything to her tastes. Thinking about all this, a smile naturally curved his lips as he busily set to work.

Across the way lived Deputy Regiment Commander Zhou of the 3rd Regiment and his wife. Zhou’s wife, Wu Liuzhi, noticed Jiang Qingzhou cleaning his courtyard and pursed her lips slightly, then whispered to the neighboring company commander’s wife. “Oh, look at that scene over there. Someone’s coming, I bet.”

Wu Liuzhi was from the city and hadn’t been living there long. When the small courtyards were assigned, she had immediately set her sights on Jiang Qingzhou’s house. It was at the far end and had a particularly spacious yard. Ecstatic, she had urged her husband to ask Jiang Qingzhou about swapping houses, thinking, “His wife never comes anyway, why not switch?” But to her surprise, Jiang Qingzhou refused without hesitation. This left Wu Liuzhi secretly resentful.

From then on, she gossiped endlessly, telling anyone who would listen, “That country bumpkin Jiang Qingzhou’s wife hasn’t shown up, probably because she’s ashamed to be seen, so she won’t join the army.” Through repeated retelling, the story became more and more exaggerated, eventually evolving into, “Jiang Qingzhou’s wife is uneducated and ugly. They were forced into marriage.”

After carefully cleaning every corner of his home and tidying the courtyard into a presentable state, Jiang Qingzhou locked the door and strode toward the playground.

Ji Beiwang saw him from a distance and immediately sprinted to catch up, shouting as he ran, “Old Jiang! When your wife arrives, she’ll surely drop their jaws! They’ve been spreading rumors that she’s too shy to be seen, but with Fang Yingyue’s looks and aura, who in the world could claim she’s not presentable?”

Ji Beiwang had known Jiang Qingzhou and Fang Yingyue since childhood. They lived in neighboring compounds—Jiang Qingzhou and Fang Yingyue in the East Compound, Ji Beiwang in the West. Being of similar age and having studied together, Ji Beiwang often visited the East Compound, where he naturally became acquainted with Fang Yingyue and knew her character well.

Jiang Qingzhou ignored him and quickened his pace. Panting, Ji Beiwang still stubbornly followed. “Hey, wait up! Can’t even say a word?”

Jiang Qingzhou glanced back at him. “With your stamina, if we were doing a fifty-kilometer cross-country drill, you’d probably collapse and need to be carried.”

Ji Beiwang immediately objected. “I’m in strategy! My job is to plan strategies, not charge ahead as a scout. Why do I need such endurance?”

“On the battlefield, things change in an instant. Without stamina, you can’t even outrun an enemy’s charge—how can you strategize? You really need extra training to strengthen your body.”

Ji Beiwang’s face fell, filled with grievance, but he had no choice but to quicken his pace, afraid of falling too far behind.

By evening, Jiang Qingzhou went to Daohua Village next door to find Lin, the carpenter, to make the furniture. Lin was very friendly upon seeing him. “Deputy Commander Jiang, what are we making today?”

Jiang Qingzhou carefully described the furniture styles for Fang Yingyue’s home. Lin listened attentively.

“That’s quite a lot—won’t come cheap,” Lin said.

Jiang Qingzhou’s refined face broke into a happy smile. “My wife is joining me with the army. I can’t let her be inconvenienced.”

Just then, Lin’s youngest daughter, Lin Haiyan, came out carrying firewood to prepare dinner. Seeing Jiang Qingzhou, she timidly called, “Hello, Deputy Commander Jiang!” Then she hurried back to the kitchen, glancing back unconsciously at his tall, upright figure and stern face. Jiang Qingzhou noticed her staring, looked up, and Lin Haiyan quickly lowered her head in embarrassment.

After settling matters with Lin, Jiang Qingzhou strode back home. Lin returned inside and solemnly said to his daughter, “Haiyan, Deputy Commander Jiang is married now. He’s making furniture for his new home because his wife will soon be joining him with the army…”

Lin Haiyan felt as if struck by a thunderbolt; the words “Jiang’s married” echoed in her mind repeatedly.

“Stop daydreaming. You’d better find a good husband for yourself,” her father scolded gently. Lin Haiyan lowered her head and mechanically stirred the food in the pot, muttering after a while, “Okay.”

Lin then went to the backyard to start sanding wood, leaving the courtyard filled only with the soft sound of scraping.

After dinner, Jiang Qingzhou returned to the dormitory and efficiently packed his travel bag for the journey home. Once everything was ready, he handed the keys to Ji Beiwang and gave serious instructions.

“I’ve ordered a batch of furniture from Lin, the carpenter in Daohua Village next door. Once it’s ready, please bring it here and set it up properly.”

After placing three large bundles carefully on the table, he collapsed onto his bed and slept soundly. That night, he dreamed sweetly of being reunited with Fang Yingyue.

The next morning, just as the first light of dawn appeared, Jiang Qingzhou set off for the dock. From the barracks to the dock, it was about an hour by vehicle. The dock had only three daily ferry departures: 7 a.m., 12 noon, and 6 p.m. Jiang Qingzhou needed to catch the 8:30 train from Longcheng Harbor to Yandu, so he had to take the earliest ferry.

As soon as the boat docked, he disembarked and ran toward Longcheng train station. Once on the train, he found his seat, stowed his luggage, and exhaled in relief. The next three days passed in the rhythmic clatter of the train, lying as it barreled north. On the morning of the third day, they finally arrived at the capital.

It was the dead of winter, with icy winds cutting to the bone. Fang Yingyue had gotten up at first light, carefully dressed, and headed straight to the train station to wait for him. The platform was empty, and the cold wind cut through her. She wrapped her coat tightly but still shivered.

Jiang Qingzhou emerged from the crowd at the station exit and immediately saw Fang Yingyue standing there with her father’s bodyguard, Xiao Qian. He strode over, swept her into his arms, and gently rubbed her head, saying with concern, “Why didn’t you stay on the train in this freezing weather? You could have gotten sick.”

Noticing her hands were bright red from the cold, he frowned, then without another word, pulled her toward the car. Once inside, he quickly opened his coat, pressed her hands into his chest, and shared his body heat to drive away the chill. Gradually, warmth spread through her frozen fingers, and a sense of comfort appeared on her face, accompanied by a relieved smile.