Chapter 59.1

In the photo studio, a piece of red cloth hung on the wall, and a long bench was placed in front of it. Lu Yu sat on the bench with Jiang Nian. The bearded man gestured to Jiang Nian, “Comrade, lean closer to your partner’s shoulder, and comrade, you get closer to your partner, yes, just like that.”

Jiang Nian’s heart was pounding, not knowing how she ended up taking a photo with Lu Yu. 

Moreover, this setup resembled a wedding photo.

She remained in a daze until the photo was taken. Lu Yu exchanged a few words with the bearded man, paid the money, and then led Jiang Nian out. Jiang Nian looked down at their interlocked fingers, then glanced at the white shirts they were wearing. The more she looked, the more it resembled a wedding photo.

Jiang Nian: …

She was a bit overwhelmed, her mind filled with thoughts of marriage.

In the summer heat, their clasped palms were slightly sweaty, but neither let go. Lu Yu bought her a soda and took her to the bus station. It wasn’t until she got on the bus that Jiang Nian regained her composure. One of her hands was chilled by the soda, while the other was tightly held by Lu Yu.

“Why did you think of taking a photo?”

Jiang Nian took a sip of the cold soda.

Lu Yu looked out the window, a smile in his eyes, “I just wanted to.”

During the four-hour bus ride, Lu Yu never let go of Jiang Nian’s hand.

He had witnessed and heard everything at the embroidery shop.

For the first time, Lu Yu felt a sense of panic in his usually calm heart. He wanted to hold onto Jiang Nian tightly, afraid that if he let go, she would disappear.

Jiang Nian asked, “When can we get the photo?”

Lu Yu took the empty bottle from her hand, “I’ll come out with the army’s procurement vehicle at the end of the month to collect the photo.”

By the time they returned to the army base, it was already seven in the evening. Lu Yu went back to the unit first, and Jiang Nian went to the military guard office to call Ge Mei and tell her about today’s events. Ge Mei’s laughter came through the phone, “Jiang Nian, I know you’re smart and won’t disappoint me.”

Jiang Nian smiled and asked, “How are you doing in Yuan City?”

Ge Mei replied, “It’s okay. Jiang Nian, if you have the chance, come to Yuan City with me.”

Jiang Nian didn’t give Ge Mei an answer before hanging up. When she passed the intersection between the regiment headquarters and the family quarters, she glanced in the direction of the regiment headquarters.

Back at the family quarters, Jiang Nian was stopped by Feng Mei as she passed her courtyard, “Jiang Nian, is Zhu Jun getting married?”

Jiang Nian was taken aback, surprised that Feng Mei found out so quickly, “Did Commander Song tell you?”

Feng Mei said, “Yes, Old Song came back for lunch today and said Zhu Jun’s marriage application report has been approved. He’s in the regiment every day, when did he find a fiancée?”

Jiang Nian smiled, “She’s from the embroidery shop, named Zhang Xiao. You’ll see her when Zhu Jun gets married, Sister Feng.”

When she returned home, Jiang Nian spread out the drawings on the table and carefully studied the patterns, memorizing them in her mind. She waited for Peng Yin to deliver the embroidery cloth and silk threads. After two days of waiting, the embroidery cloth finally arrived.

Zhang Xiao and Lu Xiaoqing came together. When Jiang Nian went to the military guard office to pick them up, she ran into Song Bai, who had just come out of the regiment headquarters, sweating. Seeing Jiang Nian, he paused and called out, “Sister-in-law.”

Jiang Nian smiled and asked, “Can you do me a favor? My friends from the embroidery shop are coming over, can you sign them in?”

Song Bai nodded, “Sure.”

After what happened at the Tang family, Song Bai rarely went to Lu Yu’s house for meals, fearing that rumors in the family quarters would damage Jiang Nian’s reputation. Sometimes, when he was about to fall asleep at night, he couldn’t help but think about Jiang Nian. Several times, he almost went to her house but turned back.

Song Bai watched Jiang Nian walking ahead, her small figure taking two steps to match his one.

He rubbed his face and looked away.

“Deputy Commander Song.”

The military guard called out.

Song Bai nodded, signed the papers at the police office, and Jiang Nian led Zhang Xiao and Lu Xiaoqing inside.

“Sister-in-law.”

“Hmm?”

Jiang Nian looked at Song Bai, waiting for him to continue. Song Bai smiled, “I’ll head back now.”

Jiang Nian smiled, “Alright, thank you.”

After Song Bai left, Lu Xiaoqing leaned closer to Jiang Nian, “You see each other all the time, haven’t you developed feelings for him?”

Jiang Nian: …

She replied helplessly, “We rarely see each other.”

Lu Xiaoqing clicked her tongue, “You don’t know how lucky you are.”

Jiang Nian: …

Whoever wants the kind of luck that leads to rumors can have it.

Zhang Xiao and Lu Xiaoqing arrived just before lunch. Jiang Nian made a few extra dishes. Lu Xiaoqing and Zhang Xiao helped in the kitchen, and it was their first time seeing Jiang Nian cook. They had no idea she was such a good cook!

Zhang Xiao was practically drooling at the delicious aroma.

Lu Xiaoqing sniffed, wishing she could inhale the scent, “Jiang Nian, I think you should quit embroidery and become a chef at a state-run restaurant. With your skills, the current chefs would have to pack up and leave.”

Jiang Nian: …

She laughed and scolded Lu Xiaoqing, then asked Zhang Xiao if Peng Yin had troubled her lately.

Zhang Xiao shook her head, “After you left, she sent Shi Li away and stopped bothering me. Sister Jiang, I don’t know how to thank you.”

Lu Xiaoqing said, “Not only has Director Peng stopped bothering Zhang Xiao, but she also treats us better. Honestly, it feels good.”

As long as Peng Yin had some sense, she wouldn’t use her position to act arrogantly anymore. After all, everyone was in a cooperative relationship, and mutual success was crucial.

Jiang Nian didn’t say more and asked Zhang Xiao, “How’s your injury?”

Zhang Xiao touched her head, “It healed long ago.”

She prepared lunch early since Zhang Xiao and Lu Xiaoqing were there. Jiang Nian planned to invite Zhu Jun to join them, along with Song Bai, to thank him for signing in her friends. She asked Lu Xiaoqing and Zhang Xiao to wait at home while she went to the regiment headquarters to wait for Lu Yu to come out.

The weather was hot, and Jiang Nian broke into a sweat while cooking. After washing her face, she ran to the regiment headquarters to wait for Lu Yu. As it was lunchtime, people were coming out one by one. The soldiers saw Jiang Nian and greeted her with smiles, “Sister-in-law.”

Jiang Nian nodded and smiled lightly.

“Are you waiting for Deputy Commander Lu?” 

Commander Song came out, along with Song Bai. Jiang Nian replied, “Yes.”

Commander Song said, “He’s talking with Chief of Staff Tao. He’ll be out in a while.”

After saying that, he left.

“Sister-in-law,” Song Bai greeted, about to leave when Jiang Nian called him, “Join us for lunch. We’re waiting for Lu Yu and Zhu Jun.”

Song Bai paused, looking into Jiang Nian’s bright, beautiful eyes. A smile appeared on his face, “Alright.”

He walked over to Jiang Nian, glanced at the thin sweat on her forehead, and let his gaze linger on her slightly flushed face before looking away. Half of the people from the regiment had already left when Jiang Nian finally saw Zhu Jun, “Zhu Jun, over here.”

“Sister-in-law?” Zhu Jun ran over, “Are you looking for Deputy Commander Lu? I’ll go call him.”

As he was speaking, Lu Yu came out. Seeing Jiang Nian outside with Song Bai and Zhu Jun, Lu Yu frowned slightly and walked over in large strides. He noticed the thin sweat on her forehead and resisted the urge to wipe it off, “Why did you come over?”

Jiang Nian smiled at Lu Yu, “Lu Xiaoqing is here.”

She glanced at Zhu Jun, who immediately lit up and asked eagerly, “Is Zhang Xiao here?”

Jiang Nian chuckled, “Yes, she is.”

On the way back, Lu Yu deliberately walked diagonally to Jiang Nian, using his height to shield her from the harsh sunlight. As they reached the entrance, they heard Zhang Xiao and Lu Xiaoqing’s laughter. Zhu Jun rushed inside first. Zhang Xiao, who was sitting in the yard, stood up shyly when she saw Zhu Jun.

The table was small, so everyone crowded together for the meal.

Jiang Nian sat next to Lu Yu, with Zhang Xiao beside her. The conversation mainly revolved around Zhu Jun and Zhang Xiao. Their marriage application had been approved, and they were set to get married next month. Jiang Nian suddenly felt that time was passing quickly. After the meal, Lu Yu and the others went back to the regiment. Jiang Nian saw Lu Xiaoqing and the others off, then returned to her house to check the embroidery cloth and silk threads. She took out the embroidery cloth and started working on it.

This embroidery project had a two-month deadline, but it was much more complex than the previous ones.

Jiang Nian spent the next few days immersed in her embroidery, wanting to utilize every moment, even meal times. At the same time, she was also waiting for the news about Commander Song’s transfer.

By the end of the month, Lu Yu made a trip to the city and retrieved the photo.

It was dusk when Feng Mei called out to her from over the wall, “Jiang Nian.”

Jiang Nian was cooking and put down the knife to come out, “What’s wrong?”

Feng Mei looked around as if afraid Commander Song would come back and scold her, “I saw something on my way to the private plot this afternoon. Guess what?”

Whenever Feng Mei said this, it meant there was some juicy gossip.

Curious, Jiang Nian asked, “What did you see?”

Feng Mei motioned for her to come closer. Jiang Nian glanced at the pan on the stove and ran to the wooden block to climb up and peer over the wall like Feng Mei. Feng Mei whispered, “I saw Tang Ze’s wife pulling and tugging with a man outside the base. That man is a doctor from the county hospital, the one who treated Xiangdong. I heard that man keep saying that we are a couple. Oh my, how disgraceful.”

Jiang Nian: …

It was Sun Ying again.

But since Sun Ying was already married to Tang Ze, it didn’t matter how much Wu Youshan pestered her.

“Meizi, why are you peering over the wall again! Haven’t you learned your lesson?”

Commander Song’s loud voice suddenly came from the doorway, startling Feng Mei, “Why are you shouting? You scared me.”

She then jumped down and ran back to the kitchen.

Commander Song then saw Jiang Nian’s head poking over the wall and paused, “Hey, why are you doing the same as Meizi?” He sniffed, “Whose pot is burning?”

Jiang Nian: !!!

My pot!

She jumped off the wooden block and saw Lu Yu entering. A smile appeared in his eyes, “Slow down.”

Jiang Nian blushed and ran back to the kitchen, where a burnt smell filled the air. She quickly took out the food, washed the pot, and started cooking again. Outside, she heard the sound of water splashing. She glanced over to see Lu Yu washing his face in the yard. His sleeves were rolled up, and the veins on his arms were clearly visible under the warm yellow light.

She quickly looked away, finished cooking, and brought the food to the yard.

From the neighboring courtyard came Commander Song’s scolding voice, reprimanding Feng Mei for her stubbornness and asking why she always peered over the wall. The more Jiang Nian listened, the lower her head became. Not only had Commander Song seen her peering over the wall, but Lu Yu had also caught her in the act.

Although Lu Yu didn’t say anything, she still felt embarrassed.

“Eat more.”

Lu Yu added a few pieces of meat to her bowl. Jiang Nian bit her chopsticks and softly said, “Okay.”

After dinner, Jiang Nian started cleaning up, but Lu Yu stopped her, his dark eyes lingering on her face for a while, “Go rest in the house. I have something to show you later.”

“Alright.”