Chapter 8 He was angry and couldn’t sleep.

After Huo Changzheng left, Lin Suisui sat down to eat with Doubao, but midway through the meal, a troubling realization dawned on her: there was only one 1.2-meter single bed in the dorm—how could the three of them possibly fit? Was she supposed to sleep on the floor tonight?

It wasn’t that she couldn’t sleep on the floor, but Huo Changzheng would definitely object. Even if he didn’t particularly care for her, he wouldn’t go so far as to mistreat her. But making him sleep on the floor? That felt wrong too.

As she fretted, a knock sounded at the door. Lin Suisui went to open it and found Fang Weiguo standing outside.

“Sister-in-law, one of my fellow villagers from the team went home to visit family. My parents had him bring back some local specialties. They’re not worth much, but I thought you guys might enjoy a taste,” he said, handing her a package.

“Comrade Fang, you’re too kind. Local specialties ease homesickness—you should keep them for yourself,” Lin Suisui quickly declined, trying to push them back into his hands.

“I’ve got more. Just take them,” Fang Weiguo insisted, stuffing the package into her arms. “My parents dried some fish—your husband really likes them.”

Since it was something the regiment commander liked, Lin Suisui couldn’t refuse. She thought she’d find a way to return the favor later.

“Thank you,” she said sincerely.

“No problem. I’ll head back now,” Fang Weiguo replied and turned to leave.

But something occurred to Lin Suisui just then, and she quickly called after him. “Comrade Fang, do you know if there are any vacant dorm rooms left around here? The bed in our room is too small for all three of us.”

Fang Weiguo froze for a second. His first thought was that his poor commander had finally gotten his wife to join him—only to end up being kicked out of bed. Still, he knew how small the single beds were.

“As far as I know, there should be,” he said. “I’ll go check and get you a key if there is one.”

“Thank you so much. Sorry to trouble you again,” Lin Suisui said gratefully.

“No trouble at all. I’ll be right back.”

After he left, Lin Suisui returned to finish eating with Doubao. Just as they were cleaning up, Fang Weiguo came back with a key. The vacant dorm was also on the same floor, about seven or eight doors down.

It didn’t matter how far it was—as long as there was a spare room. She wasn’t picky. Since Huo Changzheng would be back soon, she figured he could pick which room he wanted.

Meanwhile, Huo Changzheng had just finished eating and was heading back to the dorm when Gu Cheng stopped him.

“I see you’re really planning to let Lin Suisui stay, huh? You do know what kind of person she is, don’t you?” Gu Cheng demanded, clearly displeased.

Huo Changzheng said nothing—his silence was as good as confirmation.

Gu Cheng let out a cold laugh. “So the iron-blooded warrior from the battlefield goes soft when it comes to women?”

Still, Huo Changzheng didn’t speak. He just gave Gu Cheng a sharp look—one that was clearly a warning.

Gu Cheng knew that look well. Normally, he’d back off. But this time he was too mad to care.

“Whatever. Just know this—I’m not calling her my sister-in-law,” Gu Cheng said furiously before storming off.

Huo Changzheng watched him go, sighed quietly, and turned to head back to the dorm.

Though he’d bathed at noon, the cleaning in the afternoon had left him a bit dirty again. But with limited conditions and Lin Suisui likely waiting, she hadn’t dared take a bath. Instead, she had just drawn a basin of water and given herself and Doubao a quick wipe-down before getting ready for bed.

“Mom, I want three bedtime stories tonight,” Doubao said as he climbed onto the bed.

“Sure,” Lin Suisui agreed easily. She didn’t have any storybooks, so she just retold the folk tales she had heard from the elders in her village.

“Once upon a time…” she began, but was cut off by the sound of the door opening.

Huo Changzheng stepped inside and saw the mother and son lying on the bed under the warm glow of the lamp. The scene struck something in him—it warmed his chest unexpectedly.

“You’re back!” Lin Suisui greeted softly.

“Mm.” He looked away and walked straight to the wardrobe. “I’m going to the bathhouse.”

Lin Suisui jumped up, grabbed the key to the spare room, and said, “There’s only one bed in here, and it’s too small. Room 309 down the hall is empty. You can decide whether you want to sleep there or have me and Doubao go.”

“What?” Huo Changzheng turned, clearly shocked.

Unsure how to read his expression, Lin Suisui explained truthfully, “There’s not enough room for the three of us to sleep here. I borrowed a spare room just in case. You pick where you want to sleep—Doubao and I are fine either way.”

“Who got you the key?” he asked instead of answering.

“Comrade Fang. He’s been really kind—he even brought some local fish for you from home.”

“He’s very kind, isn’t he,” Huo Changzheng muttered. “Fine, I’ll go to 309.”

For a moment, Lin Suisui thought he was gritting his teeth when he said that—but she didn’t dare look too closely. Since he’d made his choice, she quickly handed him the key and pointed to the neatly folded pillow and blanket at the end of the bed.

“You can take these with you before heading to the bath,” she said.

Huo Changzheng glanced at the army-green bedding—clearly prepared ahead of time. It was like she’d been waiting to kick him out.

Lin Suisui, you’re really something. After all these years, you still know how to drive him up the wall in one move.

He grabbed the bedding, snatched the key, and left without a word.

Bang!

The door slammed shut behind him—a sound full of suppressed emotion. Lin Suisui blinked, completely stunned.

She didn’t know what she had done to upset him again—just knew that he was angry once more.

“Doubao, do you know why your dad is angry?” Lin Suisui asked her son.

Doubao tilted his head and said, “He’s mad because he can’t sleep.”

Can’t sleep? But he hadn’t even gone to bed yet—how would he know he couldn’t sleep? Besides, even if he couldn’t sleep, was that something to get angry about?

Lin Suisui didn’t take her son’s childish words too seriously. Now that she had settled things with Huo Changzheng, her priority was finishing the bedtime story for Doubao and then getting a good night’s sleep herself.

Maybe it was because she no longer had to return to the countryside and could now stay in the military family compound—Lin Suisui felt at peace. Even though she was lying on an unfamiliar wooden bed, she still managed to sleep very well.

However, the next morning, as soon as she heard the bugle call, she got up. Today, she was going to the county town with Fang Qianqian and couldn’t afford to be late.

After getting herself ready, she woke up Doubao. Once the little guy—though slow—methodically finished getting himself dressed, she took him out.

They had a lot to buy today, so she brought all the ration coupons she had saved, along with the ones from Huo Changzheng’s drawer. As for money, she brought a hundred yuan. Since furniture only required a deposit upfront, that should be more than enough.

Before setting out, they stopped by the canteen for breakfast. On the way, they passed the training field, where morning exercises had just ended and the soldiers were heading toward the canteen as well.

“Mom, is that Uncle Fang?” Doubao suddenly pointed toward the field.

Following the direction of his finger, Lin Suisui saw Fang Weiguo running laps—while carrying weight.

“That is your Uncle Fang,” Lin Suisui replied, admiration in her voice. “Look at how hardworking he is, Doubao. Everyone else has gone for breakfast, but he’s still doing extra training.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than someone behind her asked, “What happened with Fang Weiguo today? Why is Vice Commander Huo punishing him with a ten-kilometer weighted run?”

Lin Suisui: “…”