Chapter 21

Jiang Suihan sighed in awe, shaking her head with a hint of melancholy. “Young love is always so tumultuous.”

Xu Zhao glanced at Jiang Suihan. Her mature tone seemed oddly out of sync with her youthful and lively face.

Time on the train passed slowly. The constant clattering noise and lack of distractions made the first day bearable only through reading. By the second day, she had lost interest in books and only wanted to sleep—sleeping both day and night.

Xu Zhao, observing Jiang Suihan’s lethargic and unenergetic demeanor, grew concerned she might be ill. He checked her forehead but found no fever.

Jiang Suihan yawned again. “I’m really fine. I just like sleeping on trains. Remember to wake me up when we arrive so I can sleep a bit more.”

Xu Zhao couldn’t help but smile wryly. It was the first time he’d seen someone so inclined to sleep on a train. Except for meal times and occasionally helping her brother with reading, Jiang Suihan had spent most of her time asleep. She wouldn’t wake up for meals unless reminded.

He wondered if she was somehow reincarnated as a goddess of sleep.

Xu Zhao worried that if she were to travel alone, her naive nature and striking appearance made her an easy target for deceit.

He decided he could never let her travel alone. He was too concerned.

After two days and nights, they finally arrived at their destination.

Xu Zhao, burdened with multiple bags, held Jiang Suihan’s wrist with one hand while she tightly held Jiang Leyun’s small hand with the other. In the crowded station, it was easy to get separated.

Jiang Suihan, feeling like a wilted flower, had little energy. Once her feet touched solid ground, the dizziness lessened, but the clattering sound of the train seemed to linger in her ears.

On the first day of the train ride, Jiang Leyun was fascinated by the novelty of it all. Having never traveled by train, everything was new to him. By the second day, he had settled into a routine of reading books and asking Xu Zhao about the army, which helped pass the time. By the third day, he too was growing tired, but he revived quickly once they disembarked.

A military green car was parked not far from the station. Xu Zhao approached and knocked on the car door.

“Why are you here? Don’t you have training today?”

Zhang Xiangqian grinned. “Dahe and the others had urgent matters, but I happened to be free. So, I came to pick you up myself. Isn’t that very loyal? I got up at five in the morning and rushed over. I didn’t want you waiting too long. I’m even better to you than to my own wife.”

He looked around and noticed Jiang Suihan standing quietly to the side. His eyes lit up, and he threw his arm around Xu Zhao’s shoulder with a sly grin. “I was wondering why you rushed off last week. I thought something serious had happened. Turns out, you were just picking up your young bride. Man, you’re really into younger women now. Is she even eighteen? Did you trick her into coming with you?”

In the unit, nine out of ten men were single. Xu Zhao came from a good family, with impressive looks and abilities. Despite this, he had remained single into his twenties, showing no eagerness to settle down. His family’s attempts to rush him had been met with his usual nonchalance, sticking to his own pace.

Many women in the family quarters were interested in Xu Zhao. Just two months ago, a woman had secretly visited his home, hoping to introduce her sister to him. Zhang Xiangqian had refused outright, knowing Xu Zhao’s nature. No one could force him into a relationship, such matters were beyond discussion.

Later, the woman felt that Zhang Xiangqian’s behavior was unreasonable. She hadn’t even met the person or discussed the matter properly, yet he knew that Xu Zhao would refuse. She sought another way to make the introduction, but it was reported that Xu Zhao had rejected the intermediary before they had even finished speaking.

Zhang Xiangqian could only chuckle. With many beautiful women in the art troupe, Xu Zhao had never shown interest. He wondered if the woman’s sister was truly stunning, as even the most discerning man would be captivated.

According to him, does this young lady look good?

In his life, there are few people he admires, and Xu Zhao is barely one of them. Xu Zhao’s judgment has always been sharp. Just look at his luck. It’s not easy to find someone, but once found, he brings back a beautiful young lady.

Xu Zhao, with a blank expression, gave Zhang Xiangqian a warning look: “Keep those dirty thoughts in your head to yourself and don’t speak carelessly.”

He thought to himself, Am I that old?

A man at thirty isn’t considered old, especially when he’s not yet twenty-five. This is called youthful vigor. A twenty-four-year-old company commander with such skills and abilities—who wouldn’t nod in praise upon hearing this?

Zhang Xiangqian made faces at Xu Zhao: “Tsk tsk, so protective already. No wonder you’re Captain Xu. No, wait, you should be called Deputy Battalion Commander Xu. Wow, you’re quite a surprise. In just a few days, you’ve brought back such a beautiful young wife. Impressive.”

“I was still trying to introduce you to someone before, worrying that you’d end up alone and without support. Now you have someone, but didn’t even mention it in advance. You wasted my efforts.”

Before Xu Zhao could speak, Zhang Xiangqian cheerfully leaned towards Jiang Suihan: “Hello, I’m Zhang Xiangqian, Xu Zhao’s good brother. We’ve fought enemies together, so I hope you don’t mind me asking, what’s your relationship with him? It wouldn’t be what I think, would it?”

Zhang Xiangqian stretched out his left and right index fingers and touched them lightly, staring straight at Jiang Huihan.

Jiang Suihan’s face turned red immediately, and she played dumb: “What relationship? I don’t quite understand.”

Seeing Xu Zhao’s indifferent demeanor, Zhang Xiangqian was surprised to find that his friend’s acquaintances were like this—lively and not like a soldier at all.

Zhang Xiangqian suspected Jiang Suihan was playing with him but had no proof: “Then I’ll be direct. Is he interested in you?”

That was straightforward. Jiang Suihan nearly choked on her saliva and coughed: “You guess.”

Zhang Xiangqian stroked his chin, looking at Xu Zhao and then at Jiang Suihan: “I guess your relationship must be quite special. It’s the first time I’ve seen him so close to a young lady. You two really are a match—one speaks sharply, the other indirectly.”

He couldn’t help but share with Jiang Suihan: “You don’t know how terrible his personality used to be. Of course, he’s still the same. Last year, a young girl from the arts troupe stopped him on the street, wanting to thank him for his help. He coldly replied that it wasn’t necessary, and the poor girl almost cried right there.”

“The girl didn’t give up, saying she had no other intentions, just wanted to show her gratitude, but he remained unmoved, saying it was just a casual favor and no need for special thanks. Then he left, and the girl’s eyes turned red. I felt sorry watching from the side. But Xu Zhao’s heart is as hard as a rock, unmovable.”

Zhang Xiangqian had known Xu Zhao for many years. It seemed Xu Zhao had kept things tightly under wraps, never letting out a whisper, no wonder he wasn’t anxious—he already had someone but just didn’t announce it.

The most popular single in the army was already taken. If this news got out, many young girls would be heartbroken.

Jiang Suihan turned to glance at Xu Zhao, her expression unchanged: “Oh.”

What does “oh” mean?

Isn’t this young lady too calm?

Hearing that other girls are interested in your partner, and you’re so composed—something doesn’t add up.

Zhang Xiangqian’s suspicious gaze shifted between Jiang Suihan and Xu Zhao, wondering if he was overthinking things. Were these two really just friends?

He leaned closer to Xu Zhao: “What’s going on with you two? Are you struggling with Jiang Suihan? If you don’t understand, ask us experienced brothers for advice. It’s not easy to find such a beautiful young lady. If you don’t act quickly, someone else might steal her. You’ll have no place to cry later.”

Two grown men standing so close, sticky with affection.

Xu Zhao pushed Zhang Xiangqian away in disgust: “Go find a cooler place to stay.”

This guy’s mouth is never idle, always saying things that lead to misunderstandings.

Zhang Xiangqian was driving, Xu Zhao sat in the front passenger seat, and Jiang Suihan and Jiang Leyun were in the back.

Xu Zhao glanced back, wanting to explain Zhang Xiangqian’s remarks to Jiang Suihan, but Zhang Xiangqian was still there, and it wasn’t appropriate to discuss it in front of the kids.

At this time, the state-run restaurant was open, and it was quite crowded.

Jiang Suihan wasn’t really hungry but was exhausted from the journey and just wanted to get back, take a shower, and sleep deeply without being disturbed.

Even if she wasn’t hungry, it didn’t mean the others weren’t. There was a child among them, and children need to eat as they’re still growing.

Yunshui County is a small, run-down county with uneven roads and low buildings.

Jiang Suihan felt a bit dizzy and looked unwell in the car, her face pale and lips colorless.

After two days and nights on the train, she was dirty, sore all over, and even if a bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was placed in front of her, she wouldn’t have an appetite.

She opened the car window slightly, letting the wind in, which made her feel a bit better.

Zhang Xiangqian said while driving: “Comrade Jiang, if you can’t handle this short stretch of road, wait until we get back to the base. The road there is so bumpy it’s unbearable. You’ll have to endure it.”

Judging by Jiang Suihan’s appearance, she seemed like a city girl—fair-skinned and delicate. She probably hadn’t endured much hardship growing up, and Zhang Xiangqian wondered where Xu Zhao found this girl. The conditions in the army are harsh compared to the city.

It’s not that he was overthinking. The young lady might not be able to endure the hardships of being a military wife and might cry and want to go back in a few days.

There have been similar cases in the family quarters before. A deputy battalion commander’s wife left the base less than two months after arriving, wanting to go back home. Despite the deputy battalion commander’s efforts to persuade her, he couldn’t keep her, and he had to send her back home, returning to a solitary life in the army.

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