"Not really, he’s been on a mission these days, so it’s just ."
"Your Ning Jiang really trusts you."
"Well, what can I do? I miss him. Otherwise, why would I leave my nice ho and co all the way here to stay?"
"True that." Being a military spouse, it’s the hardest bitterness to express.
"This down jacket of yours looks really nice, where did you buy it?"
"Departnt store. Do you like it?"
"It looks good."
"There should be so sold here too, let’s have a look around."
The weather is pretty nice today, there’s no wind. The sun is gently shining.
...
"How is your brother’s blind date going? Where’s the girl from?" Yang Ting asked, holding a young girl’s arm while strolling down the street.
The young girl smirked disdainfully, "A bureau chief’s daughter, dreaming of climbing onto our family’s big tree. My brother is just having fun. He’s probably taking her shopping right now."
"I thought Xiangyang might be serious this ti. Have you t the girl?"
"Haven’t t her. She arrived yesterday, staying at the hostel next to our compound, from Z City, seems her surna is Mu, she’s a communication soldier. She should look decent, otherwise, my brother wouldn’t be interested."
"Xiangyang is really sothing. Isn’t he afraid Uncle and Aunt will find out?"
"He won’t let my parents know. They shalessly insisted on eting, brought their daughter over during the New Year. My mom just wanted to et and be done with it. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll just send them back. My brother is experienced; such opportunists, desperate to climb to power and wealth, are no good. He’ll find a way to not let the girl complain."
Yang Ting covered her mouth and chuckled, treating it all as a joke.
Lin Wan, who had spotted Yang Ting earlier, tried to avoid unnecessary trouble by staying behind them but ended up overhearing the conversation.
Z City, surna Mu, a communication soldier. How could they be talking about soone so much like Sister Mu Qing?
Lin Wan took note, decided to check it out. After shopping with Shi Lan, she parted ways and paused near the hostel adjacent to the compound on her way back.
Just to see if she could run into soone familiar.
Luckily, it wasn’t too cold today. Lin Wan stood by the entrance for about half an hour, but no one she knew ca in or out.
Just when Lin Wan was about to leave, a mother and daughter approached from outside, and the young woman could only be Mu Qing.
"Look, how considerate Xiangyang is. He spent over a hundred bucks on you just this morning. His father’s now a leader in our district, his mom is the head nurse at the Central Hospital. Xiangyang is promising, about to graduate from university and join the Ministry. Even as a technical soldier, how can you not be satisfied? I’m telling you, cut ties with that country bumpkin classmate of yours. Or don’t bla us for not recognizing you as our daughter."
"What’s wrong with my rural classmate? He’s a university student, now working in governnt, how co you can’t accept him?"
"What’s so special about a university student? Aren’t you one too? And stop talking about governnt jobs. You think the governnt’s easy to stay in? Without skills, without connections, you’ll never get ahead. I’m telling you, Xiangyang’s inviting you out tonight. Don’t give that long face, okay?"
"You barely t, now he’s asking your daughter out alone at night, aren’t you worried?"
"What’s there to worry about? If we can get closer to them, it’s a good thing. Stay upstairs properly and don’t cause any trouble, got it?"
"You..." Mu Qing was infuriated by her own mother. These past two years, she’s often been upset with them. But what choice does she have? No matter how dissatisfied, they are her parents.
This year, she initially planned to enjoy her annual leave, but unexpectedly, her mom tricked her into coming here.
As the mother and daughter passed by Lin Wan, Lin Wan turned her back so they wouldn’t see her face.
If Mu Qing’s mom found out she was the sister of that so-called rural bumpkin, no doubt there’d be no kind expression for her. She had heard their conversation crystal clear. In her two lives, she had never t anyone like Mu Qing’s mom. No wonder her brother and Sister Mu Qing hadn’t made progress. With such parents, her brother might find it hard to advance.
Lin Wan trailed them into the hostel, mainly to see which room Sister Mu Qing and her mom were in, so she could report back to her brother and maybe give him a surprise.
"Comrade, you need to register to stay here," a staff mber called out just as Lin Wan reached the lobby.
"Comrade, I’m not staying. I’m here to find the two people who just ca in; one is my sister, the other is my aunt," Lin Wan smiled politely, acting very open.
The lady at the front desk, seeing she didn’t look like soone up to no good, let her through.
Once up the stairs, Lin Wan exhaled deeply with relief. She managed to spot the room where the two won were staying.
It was unfortunate that Sister Mu Qing was sharing a room with her mom. She had no way to get a word with Sister Mu Qing.
Having noted the room number, Lin Wan didn’t linger and hurried back ho. It was already past one, her godparents should be returning soon. When Lin Wan reached her brother’s room on the second floor, Lin Yinghui was still asleep. "Brother, brother, are you feeling unwell?"
"Mm, just a bit of a cold, took so dicine at lunch." Lin Yinghui rubbed the bridge of his nose and sat up.
"Brother, did you have lunch?"
"I did. What ti is it?" Lin Yinghui was sowhat groggy from sleep.
"It’s after one. Brother, let tell you sothing," Lin Wan smiled mysteriously.
"What is it?" Lin Yinghui yawned lazily, "I saw Sister Mu Qing today."
"Where?"
Lin Wan knew that as soon as her brother heard Mu Qing’s na, he would surely perk up.
"At the hostel in front of the compound..."
Lin Wan recounted to her brother the day’s events, including Mu Qing and her mom’s conversation.
Listening to this, Lin Yinghui frowned, looking rather unhappy. He got out of bed and was about to head out, "I’m going to find her."
"Brother, if you go now, you’ll definitely run into Mu Qing’s mom, and she won’t let you see Sister Mu Qing."
"Then what should I do? I can’t just watch Qingqing walk into a fire pit."
"Didn’t I ntion it? That Xiangyang guy is coming to et Sister Mu Qing tonight. Wait at the hostel beforehand; find an opportunity then."
While the siblings were talking upstairs, their godparents, worried they might be bored, rushed back after lunch. i Lang Jun still hadn’t returned from his mom’s place.
All afternoon, Lin Yinghui was restless at ho, his thoughts already wandering over to Mu Qing. Fortunately, i Shuqing went out for so business in the afternoon. Checking the ti, Lin Yinghui found an excuse, borrowed his godmother’s bicycle, and left too.
Before leaving, Lin Wan snuck a supportive look at him to cheer him on.
Her brother wasn’t frail; he worked every day and built quite a bit of strength. But, given what the mother and daughter implied, this Xiangyang was a soldier. He likely knew so martial arts.
As Lin Wan worried about her brother, she received a call from Han Yi.
"Aren’t you on a mission? How co you’re calling back?"
"Today’s pretty relaxed, just finished work. There’s a phone at our place, and I missed you, wanted to hear your voice."
Lin Wan shyly glanced at her godmother, Liang Qian, who was watching TV nearby. Liang Qian naturally understood the couple had intimate things to talk about, so she lightly coughed, said she was sleepy, and retreated to her room, hurriedly giving the couple so privacy.
Seeing her godmother close the door, Lin Wan giggled into the phone, "No one around you?" Otherwise, Han Yi wouldn’t be saying such sweet things.
"Mm, they’re all out."
"When do you finish tomorrow?"
"Probably by evening. I ca across a shop today that sells overseas goods, you’d think the stuff there is nice. After the mission, I’ll take you there."
"Okay, I went to Dashilan with Shi Lan today. Bought quite a few things. Ai Yi, I’ve already spent several hundred on this trip to the Capital City."
"You self-proclaid millionaire little miser, heartbroken over just a few hundred bucks?"
"Sigh, I just think the phrase ’money spent like water’ by the ancients is so apt."
"Don’t worry. After this mission, your husband’s getting a bonus, enough for you to spend."
"Mm... I’ll wait for you to co back. Being outside is never as good as being at ho. Although our godparents treat us well, I miss Mom and Little Star."
"We’ll stay here for a couple of days, then go back to see them. If you don’t want to stay, we’ll just spend a day and head back."
"Mm, alright."
Lin Wan and Han Yi chatted about trivial everyday matters, and before they knew it, they talked for almost half an hour.
Sigh, though it wasn’t their own phone, conserving wasn’t their main concern.
....
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