Xu Suining did not realize it at first. The original owner’s underwear felt uncomfortable. Perhaps because of pregnancy her chest was swollen and sore. Surprisingly without it she felt much more at ease.

Seeing that Commander Huo did not respond she asked again, “Are you free tomorrow?”

Huo Qingshan turned his face away and swallowed with a dry throat. “What is it?”

Xu Suining smiled. “I want to go to town to buy a few things. Can you take me?”

She wanted to find a lard container. She had looked at the supply co‑op during the day but did not find a suitable one.

There were other items she needed. She would decide later.

Huo Qingshan did not refuse. “After breakfast I’ll have Li Zhiguo drive us.”

As she was about to go inside she remembered something. “Is the bookstore in town open?”

Huo Qingshan shook his head. “It closed a long time ago. What would you want from a bookstore?”

Xu Suining’s eyes curved. “Books that help improve one’s thinking.”

She returned inside happily. She did not expect Huo Qingshan to be so agreeable.

That night Huo Qingshan lay awake. The room felt warm. He threw the blanket aside but still could not sleep.

There was the lingering scent of food and Xu Suining’s faint fragrance.

In the dark it stood out more. For the first time it felt a little like home.

‘’…’’

The next morning Xu Suining rose to find Huo Qingshan had already brought breakfast from the mess hall. The meal included steamed buns, pickled vegetables and a boiled egg.

She washed up cheerfully then sat down beside him. When he pulled out malted milk she quickly said, “You need nutrition too. Let me make one for you.”

She retrieved two bowls.

Huo Qingshan complied and mixed two cups. He pushed the extra one toward her.

Xu Suining smiled and grabbed a bun. “Do you have this every morning?”

Huo Qingshan nodded. “More or less. On Fridays we get vegetarian buns. Other days they are mixed grain.”

Eggs are rationed one per person.

Xu Suining asked, “What about meat?”

“There is one big meal each week with large pieces of meat. Otherwise there is minced meat just to give it a taste.”

Given the heavy training regimen the regiment’s food was considered quite good.

Huo Qingshan answered her questions concisely. One question, one answer. The breakfast felt calm and harmonious.

After cleaning up, Li Zhiguo arrived to drive them to town.

Xu Suining felt excited. The town was three or four kilometers away. Most people walked but she could not manage that distance.

On the road she saw Feng Shunhua carrying a baby on her back and holding a four‑ or five‑year‑old’s hand walking with Li Qin toward the town.

They were likely going shopping too.

Hearing the jeep approach Feng Shunhua stopped and turned. From where they stood they saw Commander Huo in the passenger seat and Xu Suining in the back.

He was actually taking her out?

Li Qin noticed and whispered gossipingly, “Commander Huo and Xu Suining made up? They are out together. Xu Suining seems different these days—prettier.”

Feng Shunhua was inwardly furious. Bundling two children, she had been trying to present a diligent homemaker image in the compound in hopes it would reach Commander Huo.

He hadn’t even glanced her way.

She walked on with a sullen face.

Li Qin didn’t notice her mood and continued. “Commander Huo is a good man. Marrying Xu Suining is a waste. But his mother is no easy person.”

Feng Shunhua looked puzzled. “His mother visited before?”

Li Qin, known for gossiping, leaned in. “Two years ago she came wanting him to marry the party secretary’s daughter. He refused. She made a big scene and left.”

“That woman always seemed calculating. Smoked dried tobacco. Eyes that looked for a scheme. The leaders had to calm her down. Because of that Commander Huo’s promotions have been affected.”

Feng Shunhua frowned. “She didn’t attend his wedding?”

Li Qin shook her head. “Not sure why. Maybe she wasn’t informed. The wedding seemed rushed. Some say since the woman he liked married someone else he hastily married someone else. Why else choose someone as dramatic as Xu Suining?”

Feng Shunhua pondered. “Who did he like before?”

Li Qin glanced around. “A female doctor in the medical unit. That is why he stayed single until twenty‑eight. I do not know if it is true so don’t spread rumors.”

Feng Shunhua nodded, “I won’t.”

But inside she felt heavy and upset. She had heard rumors he once liked a woman in the medical unit.

Hongqi Town was smaller than Xu Suining expected.

Just two main streets. The supply co‑op grocery store commune office sat together, and there was a small state‑run canteen.

Walls were plastered with slogans and propaganda.

It was spring planting season so the streets were quiet.

Commander Huo accompanied her to the co‑op.

Xu Suining looked around and picked a medium‑sized lard jar resembling the tins used for cakes. It had a lid. She also bought peppercorns, star anise and a basin.

Their kitchen lacked utensils badly. One basin had to wash vegetables and knead dough.

She picked plates, bowls and chopsticks. While choosing, she said to Huo Qingshan, “You dined at Commissar Yan’s. We should invite them over too. Same compound. It is good to stay on friendly terms.”

She knew Yan Jianzhang worked in political affairs. Securing his goodwill would solidify their marriage.

Huo Qingshan watched her examine each dish carefully as if avoiding a chipped rim.

He suddenly felt this life might not be so bad.

Once they finished shopping he carried part of the haul while Xu Suining held the basin as they returned to the jeep.

Li Zhiguo started the engine. Suddenly he made a surprised sound and said to Commander Huo, “Commander is that Doctor Zhu Hong over there?”

Xu Suining sat in the back watching as Huo Qingshan straightened in his seat. His posture stiffened as he stared ahead.

Not far ahead a woman stood on the roadside wearing a white blouse and long black skirt. From a distance her features were unclear but her figure was slender and graceful.

Li Zhiguo asked again, “Commander. Should we ask Doctor Zhu if she needs a ride?”

Huo Qingshan’s voice turned colder. “No need.”

Xu Suining sensed tension immediately. There was something between Commander Huo and that woman.

The vehicle passed the woman and Commander Huo looked ahead expressionless.

Xu Suining could not resist glancing at her. To her shock the woman’s expression mirrored the original Xu Suining’s. Her brows gentle eyes tinged with sadness.

Her eyes opened wide.

Could it be that Commander Huo married the original Xu Suining because she resembled that woman?

Was she a substitute?

A substitute?!