Chapter 23.1

Five days had passed since the troops left for training. Wen Ning had been going to Sister Luo’s house next door for meals every day, and she also brought Lu Kanglei and Lu Kangyun along to study. When Sister Luo heard about this, she asked Wen Ning to include her daughter as well.

Sister Luo’s daughter, Huang Yuexia, was the same age as Lu Kangyun, and both were in their first year of junior high. After graduating from elementary school in fourth grade, they had spent another year in senior elementary before successfully entering junior high.

In this era, educational standards in the village were generally poor, though the military schools were slightly better.

Wen Ning, already well-versed in literature and poetry, had also inherited the original owner’s memories. With a bit of integration, she could easily handle the current curriculum, making it no problem to teach both junior and senior high school students.

Over the past few days, Lu Kanglei and Lu Kangyun had been attentively listening to Wen Ning’s lessons. As time passed, their attitudes softened considerably, and they even began to take their studies more seriously.

However, rumors spread quickly during breaks.

“Hey, Lu Kanglei, is it true your sister-in-law is abusing you?” Wang Hai, a year older than Lu Kanglei but a year behind in school, was now his classmate in the first year of senior high.

In those days, it wasn’t unusual for children in the same class to vary several years in age.

“Abuse? What abuse?” Lu Kanglei frowned.

“It’s true!” a burly classmate chimed in. “I heard my mom say it. She said Regimental Commander Lu’s wife doesn’t lift a finger all day. Now that he’s away on duty, she’s abusing you two! Making you work all the time.”

Lu Kanglei: ?

“That’s just her teaching us. We cook for her,” Lu Kanglei retorted, convinced they were exaggerating.

While he didn’t particularly like his sister-in-law, she hadn’t mistreated him or Xiao Yun. Besides, he was strong enough to handle himself. How could she possibly abuse him? He wasn’t that pathetic!

“Really?” Several classmates pressed, their pity growing as Lu Kanglei continued to deny it. They were convinced he was just too scared to tell the truth.

On the day field training ended, Lu Cheng led his unit back to base, weary and dusty. After regrouping, the soldiers were granted a rare two-day leave. Following Lu Cheng’s debriefing, the sea of green uniforms dispersed—some planning to rest on base, others heading into town to buy supplies, send money home, or write letters.

The regimental commanders finished their training reports and gathered outside the brigadier’s office, each clutching a stack of papers.

“The training is fine, but writing these reports always gives me a headache!” grumbled the First Battalion Commander, a rough-and-tumble man who hadn’t attended school before joining the army. He had risen through the ranks based on combat merit alone, later improving his literacy through military study.

Leading troops came naturally to him—but writing reports remained a source of frustration.

The Second Battalion Commander clapped him on the shoulder. “Lao Qian, you need to keep improving! I see you’ve written quite a bit here.”

The First Battalion Commander flicked the few pages in his hand. “Last time, the Brigadier said my report was full of useless fluff. This is the streamlined version.”

Just then, they saw Commander Lu Cheng approaching with only a single sheet of paper.

“Look at Lu Cheng—he knows how to write. The Brigadier said my report was full of drivel and told me to learn from him how to get to the point.”

Lu Cheng’s lips twitched. Lao Qian was blunt and honest, always saying exactly what was on his mind. “Lao Qian, the Brigadier will definitely praise you this time. You’ve saved a whole page!”

“Don’t count on it.”

The three men knocked and entered the Brigadier’s office, saluting before beginning their reports. This training exercise was the final major drill of the year. As the weather grew colder, they would transition to basic drills and enter a period of rest and recuperation.

Brigadier Zhou remained silent throughout the meeting, listening attentively while occasionally flipping through the reports on the table.

After Lao Qian finished, the Brigadier, predictably, began to critique: “Still too much fluff, but you’ve improved.”

After the War of Resistance, the military had begun streamlining its personnel. Many guerrilla fighters with limited education had joined the ranks, but after the founding of the People’s Republic, the focus shifted to strengthening scientific training and improving soldiers’ literacy and leadership.

Among the regimental commanders under his command, Lu Cheng was the most intellectually gifted.

“Lu Cheng,” Brigadier Zhou said, glancing at the paper in Lu Cheng’s hand and recalling his outstanding training performance, “you’ve been quite the showman lately.”

“Reporting, Brigadier,” Lu Cheng replied calmly, “training isn’t about putting on a show. I simply felt I had much to improve.”

These past few days had been turbulent for him. Only during training could he truly focus. As a result, he had unintentionally broken several military region records.

He felt helpless about it.

The Brigadier took a sip from his enamel mug, giving Lu Cheng a knowing look. “Go back now. Your performance in this training exercise was excellent. Our brigade might even be recognized as an advanced collective. The higher-ups specifically praised your efforts.”

“Yes, sir!”

The commanders left, and Brigadier Zhou went to the commander’s office to report. By the time he returned home, it was already afternoon.

…….

The house was lively. His wife, Yang Hongying, was chatting with a bright-eyed young comrade, apparently discussing year-end propaganda posters.

“Xiao Wen, your suggestion is good. Let me think it over. If it’s feasible, we’ll give it a try.”

“Director Yang, then I’ll head back now.”

Wen Ning rose to leave. As she turned, she saw a middle-aged man with a kind smile standing in the doorway.

Yang Hongying exclaimed, “Old Zhou, training’s over?”

“Yes,” he replied. With an outsider present, Brigadier Zhou restrained his affection, maintaining a composed demeanor. “You can finally rest properly.”

“Come, sit down quickly. Have you eaten?” Yang Hongying’s face lit up at her husband’s return.

Wen Ning immediately realized that this must be Director Yang’s husband—and also Lu Cheng’s superior.

“Brigadier Zhou,” she greeted respectfully.

Though she had never served in the military, she held deep respect for soldiers. Remembering how soldiers saluted in the Great Liang Dynasty—where her cousin had been a general—she raised her hand in a salute.

“Oh, you’re Lu Cheng’s wife?” Brigadier Zhou glanced at her, noting her spirited demeanor and clear gaze. “How’s it been, joining the military?”

“Reporting, Brigadier, everything’s going well,” Wen Ning answered, mimicking Soldier Liu’s way of speaking to Lu Cheng.

“Hahaha, you’re quick-witted,” Brigadier Zhou chuckled, amused.

He hadn’t expected Lu Cheng, that stubborn old mule, to marry such a lively girl. “He’s a different man now—training with extra vigor, breaking records left and right.”

“Really?” Wen Ning’s heart swelled with pride. The Great General truly is the most formidable. Her eyes curved into crescents as if she herself had earned the honor.

“Absolutely!” Brigadier Zhou turned to his wife, sighing. “That’s why I always say, once you settle down, you become more motivated in everything.”

…….

On the way home, Wen Ning’s mind was filled with thoughts of the propaganda poster. This was her first assignment, and she was determined to do well. Brigadier Zhou’s words echoed in her heart: The Great General truly is remarkable, breaking records left and right.

With those thoughts in mind, she quickened her pace home.

The winter chill had set in, and a snowstorm seemed imminent. As she reached her doorstep, snowflakes had begun to fall gently from the sky, blanketing the air in a quiet beauty.

She paused to look up, marveling at the view—when the creak of the iron gate caught her attention. It had just swung open from within.

An hour earlier, Lu Cheng had returned to find the house empty. Sister Luo told him Wen Ning had gone to Director Yang’s for work matters.

He busied himself with chores—heating water for a bath, scrubbing his fatigues with soap nuts. But once done, the empty house felt oddly hollow, the silence too deep.

Memories of that night surfaced again.

He had managed to suppress his thoughts during training, but being home now, everything came rushing back. Even passing by Wen Ning’s room and seeing the kang bed through the open door made his chest tighten.

I can’t stay here! He had to find a comrade’s place to crash.

But just as he opened the door, the very woman who had haunted his thoughts stood there before him.

“You’re back!” After seven days apart, Wen Ning lit up with joy.

She rushed over, eagerly wrapping her arms around his strong arm. Her voice bubbled with excitement. “Did you miss me? I missed you so much! Commander Zhou told me you were incredible—you broke so many records!”

Lu Cheng stood close, her familiar scent from that restless night wrapping around him, mingling with her warm, soft voice. It was impossible to remain calm.

His gaze drifted to her lips—rosy, full, and so soft… He remembered.

Suddenly pulling free, Lu Cheng took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “Yes. You should go inside. I need to step out for a bit.”

“You just got back! Where are you going?” Wen Ning asked, confused.

“I have some things to take care of.”