Chapter 15

When Li Yannian’s application for leave was just approved, Song Ci heard a message from him that Gu Yiran had also applied for annual leave. Fortunately, the two of them were still in the probation period and their appointments had not yet been made, otherwise if they applied for leave together, one of them might be delayed. Song Ci just listened and did not take it seriously. With so many people in the army, it was normal for them to apply for leave at the same time. It was not until they met the couple next door at the train station and bought tickets in the same sleeper car that she realized that although her fate as a cannon fodder had changed, the plot god seemed to still want to tie her to the protagonist. Thinking of this, she shook her head vigorously, comforting herself that it was all just a coincidence.

Song Zhen was also a little surprised to see Song Ci’s family. She knew that Song Ci and his family were also going back to their hometown, but she didn’t expect it to be such a coincidence. After the two families greeted each other, they didn’t speak again.

Li Yannian saw Song Ci sitting on the lower bunk in a state of anxiety, and couldn’t help but pat her shoulder: “What’s wrong with you? You’re not fine, are you?”

Song Ci calmed down and said, “It’s okay, I just feel a little dizzy, maybe I caught a cold.”

“Then you lie down for a while, I’ll take care of the little tree.” Li Yannian said as he carried the little tree to his side.

“Dad, look, the house outside is moving.” Xiaoshu pointed outside the window in surprise.

“Puchi…” The female comrade lying on top suddenly laughed.

“It’s not the house that’s moving, it’s the train that’s running,” Li Yannian explained.

“Is the train moving?”

“Well, listen. Bang, bang, bang, that’s the sound of a running train.”

Xiaoshu was amazed by this. He leaned against the train window, staring out without blinking, his ears perked up as he watched the scenery before him rapidly change. It wasn’t long before he rubbed his eyes, feeling a little tired. The family had gotten up early to catch the train, so they were certainly feeling sleepy. Seeing him rubbing his eyes, Li Yannian let him sleep on the middle bunk, while he himself remained seated below, watching over the mother and son.

Suddenly, the woman on the upper bunk poked her head out, revealing a small, snow-white face. She was holding a white porcelain jar in her hand, and smiled sweetly at Li Yannian. “Comrade PLA, I’m feeling a little unwell. Could you please get me a jar of hot water?”

Li Yannian looked up at her and replied, “No.”

Li Yanran was stunned when she heard this. With her stunning beauty, few people would refuse her request. Seeing that he didn’t even look up, she couldn’t help but ask, “Comrade PLA, are you afraid your wife will be angry?”

“You are in good health and don’t need my help.” Li Yannian still said in a low voice.

Li Yanran immediately became annoyed when she heard that. She came down angrily and said, “Forget it. If you don’t want to help, then don’t help. How dare you say you are serving the people? I’m just afraid that if I go down, I’ll wake up your wife and your children. It’s okay if you don’t appreciate it.” After that, she came down angrily on the railing.

As soon as she landed, she ran into Gu Yiran who had just gone out to fetch water. She had been lying with her head facing inwards, so she hadn’t seen Gu Yiran’s appearance. When she saw Gu Yiran, she was immediately shocked by his beauty.

“Comrade of the People’s Liberation Army, I feel a little uncomfortable. Can you pour me some of this hot water?” Li Yanran said as she placed her hand on her belly.

Upon hearing this, Song Zhen frowned slightly.

Gu Yiran didn’t think much about it and nodded, “I’ll give you all the water. I’ll just make another trip.”

“Ah? No, no, I only need half a cup. Comrade PLA, thank you.” Li Yanran’s face flushed with joy.

“No need to thank me, it’s just a small thing.” After saying that, Gu Yiran poured all the hot water in the tub to her and turned around to get more water.

Li Yanran wanted to say a few more words, but when she saw him leave without even looking back, she gave up. She didn’t go up either, but sat on a chair in the aisle.

Not long after, Gu Yiran returned with another tub of hot water. Before he could pass the hot water to Song Zhen, Li Yanran came over and said, “Thank you, comrade. I feel much better now. By the way, my name is Li Yanran. Can you tell me your name?”

“You’re welcome.” Gu Yiran said and glanced at Song Zhen, indicating that he was innocent.

Song Ci hadn’t fallen asleep at all, and hearing the name Li Yanran only made it harder. Li Yanran, the third female supporting character in the book, was an extremely narcissistic woman. A native of Haishi, she believed herself to be incredibly beautiful, and so she was determined to find a man who was both handsome and infuriating. Upon meeting Gu Yi, she immediately fell for him and began her shameless pursuit of him. The reason she remembered him so clearly was because his actions were so ridiculous.

After saying that, she sat up and quietly looked at Li Yanran. She was indeed a typical Jiangnan beauty. As for her temperament? Of course, she was a troublemaker.

Li Yannian saw her sitting up and asked if she was feeling better. Song Ci nodded and told him to fetch a tub of water to cool down.

Li Yannian went over to the place where Li Yanran was still chasing after Gu Yiran. Gu Yiran asked Song Zhen for help, but Song Zhen ignored him, obviously angry.

Seeing Song Zhen angry, Gu Yiran turned away from Li Yanran with a cold face. But even so, Li Yanran did not give up. She also controlled the situation very well, making it difficult for Gu Yiran to lose his temper.

It was not until the man living on the other upper bunk was woken up and asked Li Yanran to keep her voice down that she reluctantly returned to her own bunk.

Song Ci felt like laughing when he saw this, thinking that this was totally unbelievable. If anyone wanted to blame someone, they could just blame the author, who had written Gu Yiran as someone so unique that every woman in the book wanted to like him.

Speaking of which, Li Yanran is Song Ci’s distant cousin, but they don’t know it yet.

When Li Yannian came back, Song Ci said that he couldn’t sleep and asked Li Yannian to go up and rest first. Li Yannian did not refuse, but climbed up decisively and slept together with the tree.

Song Ci had nothing to do, so she took out a book from her bag and started reading. She waited until dark, then put away the book, woke Li Yannian up to watch over the tree, and went to sleep. She didn’t wake up until dawn the next day. The train was about to arrive, and she could get off after packing up her things. Li Yanran was still thinking about asking for Gu Yiran’s contact information, but unfortunately, Gu Yiran didn’t tell her. Song Zhen didn’t look at her in a good mood this time, so she got off the train dejectedly.

The two families had similar destinations, so naturally they got off the train together. As soon as they exited the train station, Li Yannian saw his eldest brother standing next to a tractor and hurriedly called everyone over to the tractor.

The eldest brother Li’s name is Li Yanchao. He is a tractor driver of the Red Star Brigade. When he heard his parents say that his younger brother was coming back, he drove his tractor and waited outside the train station early in the morning.

He didn’t know Gu Yiran, but he knew Song Zhen, and immediately asked them to get in the car.

Li Yannian sat in the front with his brother, while Song Ci and the others sat in the back. The tractor was so noisy that those at the front couldn’t hear what was said at the back, and those at the back couldn’t hear what was said at the front.

Li Yanchao chatted with his brother for a while and then glanced back. “Second brother, do you know Song Zhen’s husband too?”

“I know him. We are from the same army.” Li Yannian looked at his elder brother in surprise. He didn’t expect that his honest elder brother also loved gossip.

“Something big happened at the Song family. It turns out that the second daughter of the Song family was not dead at all. Instead, she was sent to the Song family in Beijing to replace Song Zhen’s identity. Her biological parents found out and said they would come looking for her soon. I think they came back this time just for this matter.” Li Yanchao said in a low voice.

“When did this happen? It’s not just some random rumor, is it?” Li Yannian didn’t believe it. Just think about the fact that he and Song Ci didn’t even know each other before he rescued her, yet rumors were swirling that they were having an affair. This was a clear sign of his guilt.

“It happened not long ago, and the rumors are so detailed. If it’s true, Song Zhen is really pitiful. She has suffered a lot in the Song family. But I think her husband is a capable man. His parents are from Beijing, so he will definitely have a good life in the future. By the way, second brother, who has a higher rank between you and Song Zhen’s husband?”

“He, he is the deputy head of the group.” Li Yannian said truthfully.

“Oh my, Captain, that’s incredible.” Li Yanchao smacked his lips.

After that, he praised his younger brother, “Second brother, you’re not bad either. Your family member has been admitted to university, and your future life will be good. By the way, your sister-in-law is going to college. Should we leave Xiaoshu in our hometown? Don’t worry, I will let your sister-in-law help mother take care of it.”

Li Yannian shook his head. “Aci wants to take Xiaoshu to Beijing. When the time comes, I’ll ask my mother-in-law to help look after the child so that the child doesn’t have to be separated from her.”

Li Yanchao nodded: “That’s good. Children are always attached to their mothers. Your mother-in-law’s family conditions are better than those in my hometown.”