Chapter 24

Dripping water turns to ice; the cold wind pierces the bones. 

This is perhaps the most accurate portrayal of a northern morning.

But the harsh weather cannot stop the soldiers from moving forward.

“Forward, forward, forward, our troop moves towards the sun…” 

At a little past five in the morning, with the dark twilight still hanging in the sky, the 836th Unit was already ringing with songs.

Once outside, Tian Mi noticed that despite the chilling wind, the allure of the men and the enthusiasm of the women couldn’t be dampened. Many military families had come to watch the soldiers’ morning exercises.

Under the dim yellow streetlights, everyone hunched their necks and stuffed their hands into their pockets as they chatted while moving closer to the training ground.

“Ah, I’m late today! Usually, they warm up with some boxing on the field before going for a run. It won’t look good once they start running,” Tian Yu lamented as she educated her sister.

“Forget it; I won’t watch them run. Tian Da Meizi^[1]Da – big/older, Meizi – younger sister/girl, I’m heading to the cafeteria. My family’s Lao Tang said they have mantou today. Are you going?”

Tian Yu turned around and replied, “My family’s naught Xiaozi^[2]Youngster went to line up a long time ago.”

“Hey!” A woman smacked her thigh, “You’re so smart! I need to hurry; if I’m late, I won’t get any!” Saying this, she already pulled a few other military families along and walked several steps away, her voice slightly muffled by the thick fog.

Tian Mi realized these military families weren’t specifically out to watch the soldiers train; they were just passing by.

However, she returned her gaze to the soldiers marching in unison nearby and curiously asked, “What’s so special about mantou?”

Mentioning this perked Tian Yu up: “What’s not special about them? Don’t be fooled by our good food; that’s because your brother-in-law and I are willing to spend. We both have a sweet tooth and don’t mind splurging… We can get some good stuff from the locals.”

She leaned closer to Tian Mi and whispered the last part, giving her sister a wink. Seeing that Tian Mi understood and smiled back, Tian Yu continued cheerfully, “The soldiers in the unit still have enough to eat, but the civilians outside have it even harder. The cafeteria mostly serves cabbage stems, radishes, and potatoes—all boiled in salt water. The staple food is mostly coarse grains with little fine grain. It can be ten days or even half a month before the soldiers get a meal with fine grains… Speaking of those mantou, the chef in the kitchen who makes the dough is a master at his craft; the buns he steams are softer than what we make at home… But there aren’t many, as they have to prioritize the soldiers who need to replenish their strength. Us military families who want a taste often end up empty-handed if we go too late.”

Tian Mi’s curiosity was piqued even more by the mention of the mantou that she hadn’t tasted yet. “Can they really be that delicious?”

“Delicious! Those little rascals go early, so I’ll be able to get a few this time. Once you try them, you’ll know… I heard it’s an ancestral recipe. He used to work as a chef in a state-run restaurant, but I don’t know his name. He doesn’t interact with anyone, just keeps his head down working. All we know is his last name is Han, and everyone calls him Lao Han… I heard he offended someone, got labeled, and was sent down to this farm. Commander Wang discovered he was skilled and brought him back. But he’s not a soldier, and his status is questionable, so he does the same work without pay. He just gets enough to eat, but that’s still much better than starving and freezing on the farm; at least he can survive.” As she spoke, Tian Yu’s tone turned somewhat sentimental.

Tian Mi wasn’t sure if her sister felt sorry for Lao Han or was lamenting the hardships of the times. 

“Isn’t Commander Wang afraid of being reported?” she asked, trying to adapt to this era. From the current environment, it seemed likely that Commander Wang could be reported by petty people, as there are always those of questionable character in any setting.

“What’s there to be afraid of? This was reported. It’s not wrong to make sure the soldiers eat better.” Tian Yu had lived here long enough to develop a sense of belonging. 

“Commander Wang is a respectable soldier. Don’t be fooled by his high rank and salary; apart from ensuring his family has enough to eat, he gives the rest to help the soldiers in need or the families of those who have sacrificed. Today it’s two yuan for your family, three yuan for his family the next day; he never manages to save any money. It’s not just Commander Wang; your brother-in-law is the same. Every month, I have to give away a few yuan, and sometimes even ten or more. There’s no other way; everyone is struggling. Many can’t make it, so if I can help a little, I do, but I can’t give too much—who doesn’t have to get by?” 

The topic felt too heavy, and Tian Mi understood that her sister was subtly telling her that being with Lou Luhui would also lead to such situations in the future. 

In fact, given her circumstances, she didn’t oppose doing good deeds—it was a way of accumulating virtue for herself.

“Help others when you can, and take care of yourself when you can’t” is a timeless truth.

But there should be a limit!

“Hey! They’re coming! They’re running over! Let’s see if we can find Lao Chen!” Just as Tian Mi fell into deep thought, her arm was suddenly nudged, and then she heard her sister’s excited voice.

Instinctively, she looked up, and a crowd of people appeared a few meters away, their dark figures forming a thick mass.

Tian Mi didn’t see her brother-in-law at first glance, but she did spot Lou Luhui right away.

There was no other reason; his height gave him a significant advantage. Plus, he was positioned at the outer edge, and Tian Mi guessed that the soldiers in front of her were probably all from the First Regiment.

Lou Luhui noticed her as well. In fact, they couldn’t clearly see each other’s faces, but as they passed by each other, they both instinctively curved their brows and smiled.

In nearly -30 degree Celsius temperatures, with the faint white mist obscuring everything, frost and snow clung to their eyebrows, eyelashes, and even stubble. Their breaths rose in swirling white clouds.

Yet, the straight postures, synchronized steps, and booming voices created a stunning scene.

It was a symbol of strength!

When Chen Xun and Chen Zhao returned with breakfast, it was already 6:30 AM.

Along with the two brothers were Chen Gang and Lou Luhui.

“How could we buy so many mantou today?” Tian Yu took the bamboo sieve from her eldest son’s hands, discovering it held more than ten buns.

Hearing this, Chen Gang, who was heating the pot of porridge in the kitchen, peeked in with a hearty laugh: “These are all from Lao Lou’s good intentions. He went to the kitchen brigade to place the order early this morning.”

As for why he showed such good intentions so early in the morning, it was unnecessary to say; everyone was already in the know.

Sure enough, Tian Yu, the eldest sister, looked at Lou Luhui with even more delight, her gaze carrying a hint of a mother-in-law sizing up her son-in-law.

Tian Mi instinctively tilted her head back, and coincidentally, the man glanced over at the same time.

They locked eyes for a few seconds before both quickly looked away.

While the man felt a bit shy, Tian Mi experienced more guilt… just an hour ago, she had been commending a group of men who fearlessly braved the snow and wind, “defying the elements.”

What a sin… what a sin!

Soft, snowy, and delicious.

Lao Han’s buns lived up to their reputation; Tian Mi even had the illusion that the tasty buns must have been mixed with milk, given the rich milky aroma.

She thought that in a few years, once things became clearer, this master cook with the surname Han would surely have a good life, thanks to his skill in steaming buns.

After the meal, the men went to the military, and the children headed to school, while Tian Mi stayed to help her older sister wash clothes.

Of course, most of the time, everyone would wait until bath time to do laundry in the bathing house, as it was more convenient and warmer.

Tian Yu was currently washing the undergarments that were changed daily. The family was particular about cleanliness; even if they couldn’t bathe every day, they had to wipe down before bed, and once wiped, they had to change into fresh clothes.

However, in those days, cloth ration tickets were limited, and there were no extra clothes available. Therefore, any clothes taken off had to be washed immediately the next day, which often led to not having anything to wear.

This was considered good conditions; many families had it worse, with some not bathing all winter and sharing a single pair of pants among the whole family.

Tian Yu smashed the soap pods and put them in a bucket to mix with water before soaking the clothes. She dried her hands and then took her sister outside to dig through the snow piles for the meat they were going to have for lunch.

In the past, even when the family was relatively well-off, they rarely ate meat more than once a week. But a couple of days ago, her husband and Lou Luhui bought an entire sheep from a fellow villager, carrying it back in a burlap sack once it was dark, all pre-cut.

How should she put it? In the past, Lou Luhui would come to their home for meals, but it was rare.

Now he seemed to be practically living there, and he spent a lot of money on meat. Tian Yu knew well why—he was worried about ensuring that her younger sister ate well.

She felt a mix of amusement and frustration.

The amusing part was Lou Luhui’s behavior, reminiscent of a male bird hunting to feed a female. What frustrated her was that she was Tian Mi’s biological sister; their family wasn’t poor enough to be unable to provide for her sister.

But overall, she was happy for her sister. Tian Yu struggled to lift a piece of sheep meat weighing about three pounds and brought it back inside to thaw, saying, “Mi Yatou, what are your thoughts?”

Tian Mi was still looking at the snow piles, thinking that this natural freezer was quite convenient. Hearing her sister, she walked into the kitchen and asked, “What thoughts?”

“Marriage! You two are practically engaged now. In just over a month, it will be the New Year. Don’t you plan to get married before the holidays?”

“Isn’t it a bit too fast to get married now?” Tian Mi squatted on a small stool, resting her elbows on her knees and propping her chin up, as if she were asking her sister and herself at the same time.

She knew very well that marriage was only a matter of time. This era was nothing like the future; not getting married was practically impossible. Tian Mi was acutely aware of her own worth.

She didn’t have the strong heart to withstand the harsh words of others. Plus, she had traveled a long way just to get married, and Lou Luhui gave her a pretty good feeling. So, getting married didn’t seem like a big deal. However, getting married now could be considered a flash marriage in the eyes of the future.

“What’s the rush? There are plenty of soldiers in the army who haven’t even seen their wives. They get engaged over a phone call or a letter from their parents. Besides, if you agree, Lao Lou will still need to submit an application, and the hometown will require political scrutiny. After going through the whole process, you might not even make it to the wedding before the New Year. Calculating all that, you two will only have about two months to get to know each other closely before marriage. What’s the hurry?” Tian Yu was somewhat perplexed by her sister’s train of thought; was this really rushing it?

Tian Mi fell silent for a few seconds. Indeed, in this era, flash marriages were quite common. Suddenly, she felt curious and asked, “What about you, Jie?”

“What about me? You mean with your brother-in-law?” Tian Yu also pulled over a small stool to sit beside her sister, peeling some chestnuts to cook with the lamb.

Seeing this, Tian Mi picked up a chestnut and asked, “Yes, did you and brother-in-law date in high school?”

Tian Yu chuckled and shook her head. “Not at all! Back then, even though it wasn’t as strict as it is now, I didn’t date your brother-in-law while we were in school. I was focused on getting into college… There were quite a few classmates who dated, but the teachers couldn’t keep an eye on everyone. I even saw the class monitor and the deputy monitor in the park, hugging and chatting. It’s nothing like now, where everything is forbidden…”

Tian Mi tossed the peeled chestnuts into a clean bowl and continued peeling another one, secretly thinking that even with the current strictness, there were plenty of students who dated in high school back then. If they got caught, they would just drop out and get married, since they wouldn’t be able to attend college anyway; it was just the way things were for them.

Who could stop the stirrings of youth? Everyone was seventeen or eighteen.

“… As for me and your brother-in-law, we were among the few who wanted to go to college back then, but neither of us got in. Later, your brother-in-law joined the army. He had a higher education, so he got promoted quickly in the military. After becoming a squad leader, he wrote me letters. It was during that time that I found out he had liked me for two years. Back when we were studying, I was so focused on getting into college that he didn’t dare speak up, thinking he would wait until I got in. Who would have thought neither of us would make it, and our family couldn’t afford to support a repeat year? It’s really fate; I was in a hurry to get married, and he just happened to show up…” It felt like a lifeline.

As she spoke, Tian Yu looked at her exceptionally beautiful sister with gentle eyes. “Marriage is like this: those who are lucky, like your sister, meet someone good. I can stand on my own, so we get along harmoniously. But there are also those who are less fortunate. Take Ge Yun, for instance. I’m not speaking ill of her; that girl has a good heart, but she didn’t see clearly. The man she married is no good at all. What use is it to say sweet words if he can’t provide for her? Can romantic words fill an empty stomach? When looking for a man, character is the most important thing. I’d rather be a lifelong old maid than marry someone like Qian Sheng.”

At this point, Tian Yu suddenly remembered and muttered, “Why didn’t Xiao Yun come to play with me today?”

Tian Mi didn’t know Ge Yun, so she naturally wasn’t familiar with her. She smiled and said, “Jiejie and Jiefu seem to be quite good together; I can tell you’re living comfortably.”

You can tell whether someone is doing well just by looking at their complexion and eyes.

To put it bluntly, she felt that in this era, her 32-year-old sister still had a trace of innocence and spontaneity in her eyes, which was not easy for a woman who had been married for over ten years and had three children.

Feeling a bit embarrassed by her sister’s comment, Tian Yu shot her a glare. “I don’t know if your brother-in-law is the best, but I’m quite satisfied with him. You don’t know this, but although Chen Gang looks mild-mannered, he’s quite stubborn. He rose to company commander in just three years, and he fought hard to earn that position on the battlefield. Later, due to his outstanding performance, he was recommended by the old battalion commander to attend military school for two years. When he returned, he became a battalion commander, which is why I was able to come along with him to the army. In the last couple of years, he has been promoted to regimental level, and our lives have been getting better. But all of this came at the cost of his life. When we first arrived, your brother-in-law worked hard to ensure that we could come to the army quickly, and he suffered quite a bit as a result. That’s also why the food at home is so good…”

Tian Mi didn’t expect there were these things in between; she had never heard about them before. Seeing her sister suddenly become downcast, she felt a bit regretful for bringing up such a topic. Just as she was about to change the subject, she noticed her sister had already adjusted herself:

“Now that you’re married and have become a soldier’s wife, there are benefits too. The organization also has work opportunities for you, right?”

“Work?” Tian Mi’s attention was immediately drawn to the word “work.”

Tian Yu nodded. “Yes, the army will arrange jobs for military families when possible. Basically, every family can get one position, and the specific work is determined by the educational background of the military spouse. You graduated from high school, so the job assigned to you won’t be too hard. For instance, you could be a teacher or work in the family Women’s Federation, writing promotional materials. These jobs are quite relaxed, and although the monthly salary can’t be compared to what the men make, it can still be around twenty or thirty, which isn’t bad—almost like a proper worker’s salary. The key is that the work is really easy; you don’t have to sit at a desk every day!”

“Does the army even have a Women’s Federation?”

“Hey, it’s self-organized. The army allocated some funds, and right now there’s just one Women’s Federation director, who is Mei Saozi, the wife of Commander Wang.”

As she spoke, Tian Yu thought about how her sister would be living here in the future, so she went into more detail. “Those who come here with their families come from all over, especially in the last two years as the overall environment has improved, more people have started to arrive. When there are more people, there are more conflicts, and many of them are illiterate. They can fight over a single clove of garlic; the women are quite fierce, and they won’t let go even if they’re bleeding. The leaders in the army can’t come over to mediate every few days… Sister Mei is a graduate student; she looks serious, but she’s a really good person. She’s patient and resourceful. Plus, with Commander Wang’s position being the highest, after a few years of adjustments, we finally have a semblance of harmony. In the past, there were fights and arguments every few days. Back then, your brother-in-law was always worried that I’d get bullied…” As she said this, thinking of her husband who was always worried about her being bullied, Tian Yu chuckled again.

Tian Mi didn’t have much thought about becoming a teacher. Her personality was a bit wild, and she wasn’t sure she could manage children well. It would be better not to mislead the young ones.

However, she was quite fond of the idea of being a publicity officer, mainly because the working hours were relatively flexible.

But… writing reports or something like that? She had only ever written essays and her graduation thesis before. Could she really do it? And she asked, “Is there a lot of competition for the publicity officer position? It seems like an easy job; wouldn’t the other sisters have something to say about it?”

“What gossip? There are fewer than twenty military wives in the entire family area, and even fewer who graduated from high school. There’s no point in competing. Besides, they’d rather go to the cafeteria to help out; they can bring back some food to sweeten their mouths. That’s the kind of job everyone would fight over.”

“…”

At the same time, a similar topic was happening in the brigade commander’s office.

“… I heard that Comrade Tian Yu’s sister, Tian Mi, has been on our island for two days. What about your marriage application?”

Lou Luhui twitched his mouth and didn’t say anything. Wasn’t this just bringing up a sore spot?

“Speak up! You’re not thinking about abandoning her, are you?”

At this, Lou Luhui’s face darkened. What nonsense was this?

Seeing his reaction, Commander Wang wasn’t afraid of his sour expression. He had once been a soldier under Lou Luhui’s father, so in a sense, he had watched this kid grow up.

This kid had always been a little rebel. Now seeing him like this, Commander Wang found it amusing; it was clear that the girl’s side hadn’t given any response.

But for men, when pursuing a partner, they can’t be shy. Don’t think he doesn’t know that this kid has already started trading various vouchers for girls with his comrades.

If you care for her, then speak up!

A man who only talks and doesn’t act won’t do, but this kid talks less and less, which is also worrying: “With your personality, I don’t know who you took after. How about I propose to that girl for you?”

At this, Lou Luhui stopped pretending to be silent: “No need; I can handle it myself.”

Commander Wang looked at him suspiciously: “Can you handle it before the New Year next year?”

Lou Luhui shot him a glare! Who are you cursing?

“Don’t give me that face; I’m not afraid of you. Fine, I won’t care anymore, alright? Just know that in a little over a month, you’ll be thirty!” 

This old man was really getting under his skin today. Lou Luhui’s face darkened, and he turned to leave.

“Hey! Come back, where do you think you’re going? I still have things to say!” 

With no choice, Lou Luhui turned back again.

“Recently, the supply officer reported to me that the meat supply from the farms is becoming increasingly scarce, and it’s likely to get worse. We can’t let the soldiers keep running low on supplies; we’ll have to figure out a way ourselves.” Although this was a recurring problem every year, Commander Wang’s expression was still grave.

When it came to serious matters, Lou Luhui’s face regained its seriousness: “Don’t worry; I’ll arrange for people to take turns going into the mountains to hunt. Just in time, some locals reported traces of wild boars around the foot of the mountain.”

“It’s about time to make arrangements. Let’s also send some people to catch fish. This year is colder than usual; we need to prepare for the future.”

“Understood!”

After that, the two discussed the recent training performance of the soldiers and made adjustments to the upcoming training plans. With the outbreak of war in Country Y this year, they needed to maintain their best condition and stay alert at all times.

By the end, more than half an hour had passed.

“… That’s enough for now; you go arrange things. The Third Battalion doesn’t have any major tasks lately, so have Lao Tang join you and set up a rotation team.” Even though he knew his subordinates were capable, Commander Wang still reminded him, not entirely at ease.

If it weren’t absolutely necessary, he wouldn’t want the soldiers to take risks in the mountains.

“Got it!” Lou Luhui responded crisply before turning to leave.

Just as he reached the door, Commander Wang’s voice came from behind:

“Oh, almost forgot! You little brat, you need to ask about Tian Mi. Find out if she’s willing to get married. If she is, hurry up and submit your application. If you drag it out, there will definitely be rumors in the unit, and it won’t look good for her reputation. Also, I heard you’ve already started preparing the three major items. You might be able to hold your wife for the New Year this year! If she’s not willing, then find out why, and try to change her mind! Got it? Be a little thicker-skinned and more proactive! Understand?” The more he spoke, the more troubled Commander Wang felt. He considered whether he should call up the old leader to ask him to impart some experience to this kid. Back when the old leader, Lou Zhan, pursued his wife, he was… quite shameless.

This time, Lou Luhui didn’t darken his face. He listened carefully to the advice from someone who had been there and thanked him before leaving.

Walking along the road, the man stood tall with a straight back and strong strides, but his thoughts had already drifted far away, so much so that he didn’t even hear the greetings from the young soldiers he passed by.

Perhaps… he could try asking Tian Mi?

Even if she was unwilling, it wouldn’t matter. The revolution was still underway, and the soldiers needed to keep working hard. He believed in himself; sooner or later, he would bring her home and pamper her.

But… what if she… was willing?

Just thinking about forming a family with the soft, sweet girl and becoming the most important person in each other’s lives made him feel a rush of warmth.

Suddenly, the usually stern and somewhat fierce Regiment Commander Lou was so caught up in his thoughts that he lost control of his emotions, leaping slightly and reaching up to swat at a tree branch.

Then, before a large mass of snow could fall, he nimbly avoided it.

However, just as he steadied himself, he heard several cries of distress.

The man paused instinctively and turned back.

What he saw next was a large pile of snow that had fallen, covering several young soldiers from head to toe… 

Lou Luhui…