Wen Ci met Dr. Su, who was the delicate and scholarly type, exuding an air of someone well-read and educated.

The two nodded at each other in a friendly gesture.

Back in the car, Wen Ci fastened her seatbelt and leaned against the seat. Xue Li smiled and said, “Ladies, please get comfortable. We’re about to set off~”

Not long after leaving Haishi, Wen Ci gazed at the vast expanse of desert, with yellow sand swirling in the air. In her memory, the northwest had always been a poverty-stricken region, except for the provincial capital.

It was backward in every aspect.

Xue Li drove while humming a tune, glancing at the rearview mirror. Curious, he asked, “Dr. Su, may I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“Most people are heading abroad, so why did you come back?”

The country was in a state of rebuilding, yet many still chose to go overseas, believing that life abroad was better.

Only a handful of people returned.

Su Wanqing replied in a calm tone, “The medical equipment in foreign institutions is advanced, and the salaries are quite attractive. I wanted to stay there too, but…”

She paused, a hint of affection appearing in her eyes. “The man I love is in this country, so I came back to develop my career here.”

“I see.”

Hearing Su Wanqing’s words filled with affection, Wen Ci also smiled. The man Su Wanqing loved must be in the Northwest Military Compound.

Otherwise, with her qualifications, she could have easily chosen any top hospital in the capital.

…

After driving for over five hours, they passed through a village called Lijiazhuang. A checkpoint was set up at the village entrance, but upon seeing the military truck, they were let through without delay.

Wen Ci asked, “Are we almost there?”

“Not yet, about half an hour more.”

“Then why is there a checkpoint here?” Wen Ci asked curiously.

“Over a decade ago, when the Northwest Military Compound was still under construction, Lijiazhuang was our last line of defense. Even after we withdrew, this checkpoint has remained.”

Wen Ci nodded, then stretched her neck. She had been sitting in the car for six hours straight and was starting to feel impatient.

The last time she had sat in a car for this long was before the apocalypse, when she couldn’t get a train ticket home for the New Year and had to hitch a ride instead.

As they approached the Northwest Military Compound, the yellow sand gradually lessened. Wen Ci rolled down the window slightly to breathe in some fresh air. Dr. Su in the back seat was wearing perfume.

The perfume was pleasant at first.

But after sitting in the car for so long, it became a bit overwhelming.

Half an hour later, Wen Ci saw a high wall made of red bricks, with various slogans about family planning and preferential treatment written on it. Armed sentries stood at the entrance.

Xue Li explained, “This is our military compound. The military hospital, residential area, and school are all within a ten-minute walk from each other.”

Su Wanqing asked, “Where will I be staying?”

Xue Li replied, “Dr. Su, you’ll be staying at the hospital. There are dedicated dormitories for doctors, which makes it convenient for commuting.”

Wen Ci didn’t ask.

As a military spouse, she would naturally be staying in the residential area.

When the truck arrived at the entrance of the residential area, Xue Li stopped and said to Wen Ci, “Sister-in-law, I’ll take your things to the training ground later.”

“I have a box of instant noodles.”

Hearing this, Xue Li got out of the car and retrieved a whole box of instant noodles from the back.

Wen Ci took it from him and asked, “I don’t know where the assigned house is.”

“Currently, you’re the only one moving into a three-bedroom courtyard, so it’s easy to find. If you can’t find it, just ask any of the soldiers and mention Brother Huo’s name.”

Wen Ci thanked Xue Li, “Thanks for your help today.”