A powerful, spirited chorus startled Xie Changning.
She truly hadn’t expected these young soldiers to salute her. Flustered, she returned the gesture. "Hello there, hello..."
As she did, she made sure to fix her gaze on Yue Yihan, her eyes carrying a clear warning.
Sensing the look from his partner, the satisfaction on Yue Yihan’s face vanished instantly. He barked, "What do you think you’re doing? Why aren’t you training? All of you, ten-kiloter run with full packs! Now!"
"Yes, sir..."
The young soldiers, full of vigor just a mont ago, instantly deflated like wilted greens. Heads hung low, they trudged off one by one to begin their run.
Yue Yihan ca over to Xie Changning and naturally took the bag from her hand.
"Did you get carsick? Are you feeling dizzy?" Yue Yihan noticed Xie Changning looked a bit pale. Worried she might have motion sickness, he imdiately checked on her.
Xie Changning shook her head. "I’m fine, just a little tired."
She’d gone to bed late last night and woken up early this morning, which was why she looked pale.
Hearing her say that, Yue Yihan let out a sigh of relief. He took her hand. "When the commanders question you in a bit, just tell the truth. It’s a fact that you’ve never had contact with them, and they already know that."
Having Xie Changning co in today was just a formality, a routine questioning.
But skipping it wasn’t an option.
Xie Changning knew.
"It’s fine. I know what to expect, so don’t worry." ’In a situation like this, it’s best to be cautious.’
’Even if I haven’t had any direct contact with them, what if?’
’What if I noticed sothing?’
’It would be a great help to their investigation. They can’t afford to overlook any possibility, no matter how slim.’
That was why Xie Changning felt no pressure at all.
"Good."
"Why do you seem more nervous than I am?" Xie Changning felt the palm of the hand holding hers begin to sweat. He wasn’t nearly as calm as he was letting on.
When she pointed it out, she clearly saw a muscle in his cheek twitch.
She stifled a laugh, teasing him without rcy.
Instead of getting angry at being laughed at, Yue Yihan actually seed to relax.
He’d thought she was just putting on a brave face to comfort him. He hadn’t expected her to genuinely be calm while he, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck.
"It’s for the best that you’re truly not nervous."
He sighed in relief.
The two of them arrived outside the commander’s office. Yue Yihan knocked. After a voice from inside said, "Enter," he pushed the door open and ushered Xie Changning in.
He, however, remained standing guard at the door and did not go in.
Before she went in, Xie Changning gave him a reassuring look, telling him not to be so tense.
The office door closed behind her. Xie Changning stepped inside and first greeted the commanders in the room. "Good morning, Commanders. I am Yue Yihan’s partner, Xie Changning."
Hearing her introduction, the commanders nodded and gestured for her to have a seat.
Xie Changning sat down in the proffered chair, sitting primly as she faced the commanders and waited for their questions.
The commanders exchanged a glance before one of them began to speak.
"Last year, when you first arrived in Chuncheng, you served as a technical consultant at the machine tool factory. At that ti, you t Vice Factory Director Lin on several occasions. What was your impression of him?"
Xie Changning thought back carefully, then answered honestly.
"He was extrely hostile toward . I didn’t understand the source of his animosity; I just found it very strange..." As Xie Changning spoke, a secretary beside the commander took notes.
Xie Changning relayed everything she could rember to the commanders.
After she moved to Anong County, she hadn’t really seen Vice Factory Director Lin again.
The commanders nodded as they listened, feeling that her testimony was indeed helpful to their investigation.
Xie Changning assud the questioning was over.
But she never expected them to ask about soone so completely unexpected.
"I heard that back at the screw factory, you spoke with several factory directors from Nanhe Province. There was a Mr. He among them. Do you rember him?"
Xie Changning frowned slightly, searching her mind for mories of him.
Then, an image that seed to fit the description surfaced in her mind.
"Vaguely. That Mr. He was... sothing of a troublemaker. I didn’t have a very good impression of him. Later on, because he tried to provoke us, Brother Wang decided not to work with him."
Xie Changning went on to explain how she had t him.
She had only t the man once, so the commanders didn’t glean any particularly useful information from her account.
After the questioning, one of the commanders said to her, "Comrade Xie Changning, thank you for your cooperation today."
"It was my duty."
Under the watchful eyes of the commanders, Xie Changning left the office.
Yue Yihan was waiting right outside. Looking at Xie Changning with worry in his eyes, he began, "Did they..."
"I’m fine."
Xie Changning proactively took his hand. A small smile appeared on her face. "I’m not heading back today. Why don’t we go on a date tonight?"
They’d decided to start a relationship but had never actually been on a proper date.
Xie Changning’s initiative left Yue Yihan a bit flustered. "I... I should have been the one to suggest it. I didn’t think..."
"As long as we’re together and care for each other, things like that don’t matter."
All that matters is that they’re happy together.
Xie Changning’s thoughtfulness and the way she looked out for him made Yue Yihan feel a little sheepish.
Thankfully, her next words put him at ease.
"I’ll head to the guesthouse first. When you finish your work, co and get . We can go for a walk and then have dinner."
’We could even see a movie,’ Xie Changning thought.
But—
"Or, how about I take you to Uncle He’s place first? The Art Troupe has a performance tonight. Do you want to co see it?"
Xie Changning had never seen an Art Troupe performance before. The mont Yue Yihan ntioned it, her interest was piqued.
So, she nodded without hesitation.
Hand in hand, they arrived at He Liuzhang’s ho. His wife, Liu Changyou, was busy preparing dinner. Her daughter was also ho for the day, and she was pleasantly surprised to see Xie Changning and Yue Yihan arrive.
Seeing them, she couldn’t help but laugh and tease, "Well, look at you two. Your timing is perfect—you’re just in ti for dinner."
"Then we’ll take you up on that!"
Xie Changning and Yue Yihan ca inside, washed their hands, and then offered to help.
As they were all busying themselves, He Liuzhang returned ho from work, and their daughter arrived at the sa ti.
Seeing Xie Changning and Yue Yihan in his ho, He Liuzhang chuckled. "I knew it. I just knew you two would show up here."
’With the Art Troupe performing tonight, Yihan was bound to invite Changning to watch.’
He Liuzhang’s daughter, however, was overjoyed. "Sister-in-law! I haven’t seen you in forever!"
She had grown taller and gotten much tanner.
But her eyes were bright and sparkling, and she looked full of energy.
Especially after joining the military, she carried herself with a much stronger presence than before. She was a completely different person.
User Comments
0 comments from readers