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“Tell me quickly—what’s the plan?”
**“For the medical license, you’ll need to go to the city hospital and sit for an exam. The dean of the First Hospital himself will oversee it. As long as you pass, you’ll be issued your license. The Commander has already spoken with the higher-ups; your position is ready, just waiting for you.
As for translation, they’ve also sent word. You were already on their records, even though you never officially reported in. The senior leaders know about you. To prevent gossip later, they’ll mail you a set of exam papers. Once you pass, you can officially begin that work as well.”**
Both were excellent news. Even though Lin Xingchen’s face hardly ever showed emotion, he felt a rush of excitement inside.
His wife was born with brilliance; she should have had the chance to shine. Fate had interrupted her path, and he had always felt it was unfair to her. But he wasn’t the type of man to think women were weaker or less capable than men. Hadn’t great men said women hold up half the sky? If he could, he would support his wife with all his strength.
“That’s wonderful. My years of study weren’t in vain. Tomorrow I’ll go to the city first for the medical exam. The translation papers will take time to arrive anyway.”
“The Commander instructed me to take you there myself. I’ll drive us. Two days there and back, no problem.”
Trains weren’t safe. The Commander couldn’t risk an accident with someone so valuable. Driving was safer, and the city was only half a day away. Take the exam tomorrow, and they’ll return right after.
“Alright.”
Momo got up, ready to pack clothes for the trip.
But Xingchen swept her into his arms. “Wife, there’s no need to rush. You can pack in the morning. The night is long—let’s not waste it.”
He laid her on the bed and kissed her before she could argue.
The room grew warmer and warmer. Even the moon slipped shyly behind the clouds.
No wonder the next morning was so hard to wake up. Her last memory from the night before was the faint light of dawn already creeping in.
“Wife, let me give you a massage. I’ve already packed your clothes, toiletries, and skincare. Breakfast is ready too. The remaining meat is in the cellar—it’ll keep until we return.”
The leftover pork trotters and such had already been braised and salted, safe in the cool cellar.
Feeling guilty, Xingchen tried his best to please her when she opened her eyes. With his massages and careful preparations, her morning temper faded away. His hands worked skillfully on her waist until the soreness eased.
“Carry me to wash up.”
He scooped her up effortlessly, even giving her a playful toss. His strength was undeniable.
“Still too thin.”
“My figure is perfect. I don’t want to get fat.” At 1.7 meters and 100 pounds, she was flawless. She had never been fat—not in her past life at the orphanage, not in college when she often skipped meals, and certainly not now, in an era where most people ate coarse grains and burned off calories with constant labor.
Momo pouted at his comment.
“Alright, alright—you’re perfect as you are. Our Momo is the most beautiful.”
He carried her to wash, then, after breakfast, they set off. Xingchen’s preparations were more thorough than hers—he even packed bed sheets, quilt covers, and pillowcases.
“I should let Sister Hua know, so she doesn’t come looking for me.”
They stopped at Commissar Xu’s house. Sister Xu was already up, tending the vegetable plot.
“Sister Hua, I’ll be away for two days. I’ll be back the day after tomorrow. Don’t come looking for me in the meantime.”
“Alright. Are you going with Little Lin?”
“Yes.”
“Then take care on the road. When you’re back, let’s go up the mountain and pick wild greens together.”
“Okay. Bye, Sister Hua.”
Sister Xu didn’t pry. She already knew Xingchen had taken leave, which meant the couple must be handling something important.
On the drive, Momo dozed on and off until they reached the city.
“Wife, we’re here. Let’s eat first, then find a guesthouse.”
The nearest guesthouse to the hospital would be most convenient. Neither of them knew the city well, so a meal at the state-run restaurant was the perfect chance to ask directions.
“I want meat. And steamed buns as the staple.”
“Alright. You sit—I’ll order.”
Dressed in his uniform, Xingchen went to the counter. The staff member immediately stood up.
“Hello, Comrade Soldier. Serving the people! What would you like to order?”
“One plate of braised pork, one plate of stir-fried cabbage, and three steamed buns. Also, could you tell me where the nearest guesthouse to the First Hospital is?”
“Of course! You’re already very close. Go straight down this road, take the third left, then keep going until you see the First Hospital. About a few hundred meters to the right side of the hospital, there’s a guesthouse. Many families of patients stay there. I’ve been there once—it’s quite decent.”
“Thank you, Comrade.”
With directions in hand, they ate, then drove ten minutes to the guesthouse.
“This is much bigger than the place I stayed when I first came.” Momo looked around, impressed.
“The city has more people, and being near the hospital, demand is higher.”
They checked in with their marriage and officer certificates. After settling the room, Momo—well rested from her nap—felt energized and wanted to shop.
“A-Chen, let’s visit the supply and marketing cooperative. I don’t feel like resting.”
“Let’s go.”
The city cooperative was far better stocked.
“These spices—we don’t have them back home. Let’s buy plenty.”
Her eyes shone at the sight of star anise, Sichuan pepper, and fennel seeds. With these, she could make mala braised dishes, spicy boiled fish, pepper chicken… Just thinking of it made her mouth water.
“Comrade, please give me one jin of each.”
The clerk almost gawked. Usually, no one touched these dusty jars, and here was this young beauty buying them all in bulk.
To the clerk, Momo looked like a pretty fool with money to burn.
“Alright. We don’t have much left, actually. Want me to give you all we have? Each kind is just a little over a jin.”
The spices looked like a huge bundle, but weighed next to nothing.
Noticing Xingchen’s officer’s uniform and Momo’s neat dress and watch, the clerk figured they weren’t ordinary folks—and better to sell the whole stock now than wait who knows how long for another buyer.
“Yes, take it all. I’ll look around for anything else we might need.”