Chapter 22: “Wait for Me at Home”

The rain in Southern Tibet had been falling relentlessly for a week.

The soldiers of the Southwest Military District continued their training every day. Ginger, which was scarce in the region, made it difficult for the soldiers to make ginger water to ward off the cold.

The cafeteria made sure to brew a lot of Southern Tibetan dendrobium tea every day to help the soldiers stay warm.

Outside the cafeteria, various containers like barrels and basins were placed to collect rainwater.

Even in the military families’ quarters, everyone had brought out whatever they could to catch the rainwater.

At Cheng Jinghao’s house, there was a large pot on the stove, and Lin Momo was always preparing a pot of ginger syrup for him.

This afternoon, Cheng Jinghao returned, drenched once again.

“I boiled hot water in the space, go take a hot shower, and drink a bowl of ginger syrup.” Lin Momo busied herself in the kitchen.

“I have spiritual spring water, I won’t catch a cold.” This had become their routine dialogue these past few days.

However, despite Cheng Jinghao saying this, he still followed Lin Momo’s advice and did what she asked.

“Mo Mo,” Cheng Jinghao said as he came out of the bathroom, looking at Lin Momo who was setting the table.

“I have to leave after we finish eating.”

Lin Momo paused for a moment, her hand still holding a pair of chopsticks, but she didn’t look up at him.

“Do you need me to help you prepare anything?”

“No need.” Cheng Jinghao walked toward her.

“Let’s eat.”

“Okay.”

The meal was unusually quiet, until Cheng Jinghao got up to leave.

Standing at the door of the living room, Lin Momo watched him, now changed into casual clothes, with nothing in his hands.

“Wait for me at home, okay?” Cheng Jinghao reached out to gently touch her braid.

“Mm.” Lin Momo nodded.

“You’re not going to cry, are you?” Cheng Jinghao looked at her, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

This was the first time they were separating in this lifetime. There was reluctance, but it was also resolute. He was a soldier.

“What do you want to eat?” Lin Momo looked up at him, her eyes slightly red, betraying her emotions.

Cheng Jinghao pulled her into his embrace. “Mo Mo, wait for me to come back. In this lifetime, I won’t leave you alone.”

“Okay, I’ll wait for you to come back.” Lin Momo nodded in his arms.

Cheng Jinghao let go of her, and Zhao Zhigang was already waiting outside in the yard.

Lin Momo watched his figure disappear into the rain, her mind flashing back to the image of him charging toward her through the flames.

The feelings that had been buried deep inside her heart burst out all at once.

She realized, she had always liked Cheng Jinghao. She had liked him for as long as she could remember.

If not for this life, she wouldn’t have, after learning that he had become a special forces soldier, started watching shows about special forces and paying attention to military news.

Because she had him in her heart, even after entering university and not having him to stop her from pursuing suitors, she never once had a relationship.

After Cheng Jinghao left, Lin Momo spent her days at home sewing clothes. Occasionally, she would chat with Li He, her neighbor.

The rain stopped three days later. Many of the military families who hadn’t visited each other during the heavy rain started to go out again.

Now that everyone was out, Lin Momo, who had no vegetables in her backyard, had to go out and buy some.

As she reached the corner, she ran into a few military families who were out for a stroll.

“Cheng Yíngzhǎng’s wife, going out to buy groceries?” A voice called out, probably the mother of a certain officer. Lin Momo hadn’t paid attention to her before.

“Yes, auntie, the rain stopped, so I’m just going out to buy some vegetables.” Lin Momo smiled.

“Cheng Yíngzhǎng’s wife, you still haven’t planted any vegetables in your yard? A woman should never be lazy.” The older woman said, looking at Lin Momo, and other military families nearby began to look over as well.

Lin Momo glanced at the woman and thought to herself, “Great, another troublemaker.”

“It’s already planted, but vegetables can’t grow this fast. Plus, it’s been raining recently,” Lin Momo replied vaguely, not wanting to say too much before understanding this person’s identity.

“Hey, Cheng Battalion Commander’s wife, don’t you have a sewing machine? I was thinking of coming over to use it sometime,” the woman said.

Lin Momo didn’t want to engage, as she wasn’t interested in entertaining this woman.

“Aunt Huo, do you know how to use it? Don’t break the Cheng Battalion Commander’s sewing machine,” at that moment, a woman in her twenties approached Lin Momo and winked at her.

“Liu Qian, what do you mean by that? Have I said anything?” Aunt Huo pointed at Liu Qian.

“You still haven’t returned the scissors you borrowed from my family last year,” Liu Qian said, staring at her.

“I told you they were broken,” Aunt Huo replied.

“Even if you broke them, shouldn’t you pay for them? Let’s ask the others what they think,” Liu Qian turned to the surrounding military families.

“That’s right, Aunt Huo, you’re in the wrong here.”

“Aunt Huo, you borrowed half a jin of sugar tickets from me the other day. When this month’s ticket comes from your husband, Huo Battalion Commander, don’t forget to pay me back.”

“When you borrow things, you need to return them,” the surrounding military families chimed in.

Aunt Huo saw everyone talking at once about her borrowing things, mentioning taking care of her grandchildren, and left, grumbling.

“Hello, I’m Liu Qian. My husband and Cheng Battalion Commander are in the same regiment. He’s the Battalion Commander of the Second Regiment, Xu Gang,” Liu Qian introduced herself, extending her hand to Lin Momo.

“Hello, I’m Lin Momo,” Lin Momo smiled and shook Liu Qian’s hand.

“You’re going to exchange vegetables with Sixth Aunt, right? I’m going to exchange for eggs, would you like to come along?”

“Sure,” Lin Momo nodded with a smile, glad to have someone accompany her.

“That Aunt Huo just now is the mother of Huo Battalion Commander from another regiment. She likes borrowing things without returning them,” Liu Qian whispered to Lin Momo.

“I also lent her scissors last year when I just joined the army. I didn’t know her well at the time, so I lent them to her.”

“Thanks for what you did just now,” Lin Momo sincerely expressed her gratitude.

“Ah, no need to thank me. Your Cheng Battalion Commander once saved my husband Xu Gang’s life,” Liu Qian waved her hand.

Lin Momo hadn’t expected there to be this connection.

“I’m older than you, so from now on, you can call me Qian Jie (Sister Qian), and I’ll call you Momo,” Liu Qian was a warm and enthusiastic person.

“Alright, Qian Jie,” Lin Momo sweetly responded.

“I’m close to Sister Li He next door, and also to the wife of the Third Regiment’s Battalion Commander, Luo Yumei. The four of us get along well because our husbands have a good relationship, so we see each other often.”

As they spoke, the two arrived at the livestock exchange site. After swapping their items, they headed back to their homes.

“Momo, Xu Gang said that Cheng Battalion Commander went on a mission. If you need any help, come find me. My house is the second one in the third row on the left in the family quarters.” Before parting ways, Liu Qian pulled Lin Momo aside.

“Alright, thank you, Qian Jie,” Lin Momo replied.

Lin Momo liked Liu Qian’s straightforward personality—what was on her mind, she said. She was very candid.

“Alright, I’ll head back now. Be careful on the way.”

After saying goodbye, Lin Momo headed home. Along the way, there were many military families chatting outside.

“Momo,” as she opened the gate, Li He from next door called out.

“Sister Li He.”

“I knocked on your door just now, but no one answered. I figured you must have gone out to buy vegetables,” Li He, holding a bowl of pickled vegetables, greeted her.

“I made this pickled vegetable myself. You can try it now,” Li He said, smiling.

“Thank you, Sister Li He. I’ll return the bowl to you later,” Lin Momo accepted the bowl of pickled vegetables.

“No rush, just take your time,” Li He smiled and returned to her own yard.

After entering her house, Lin Momo stored the vegetables and brought the pickled vegetables to the living room.

“I wonder when Cheng Jinghao will come back,” she suddenly thought, realizing she missed him a little.