Chapter 13: A Tactful Refusal

After sleeping all morning, Shen Qingqing regained her energy.

Staying cooped up in the guesthouse all the time would be very stifling.

However, she had no one to talk to, and wandering around the compound would easily attract unwanted attention.

Shen Qingqing decided to go out for a trip to see the local customs and culture of the Great Northwest, and to pick up some daily necessities while she was at it.

She hadn't expected to stay here for so long before coming, so she hadn't prepared many things.

Although she could make do, things like tissues were indispensable.

She needed them for daily use.

When her period arrived, her physical consumption would increase, so she had to prepare in advance.

Having traveled from Beijing to the Great Northwest by train herself, making two transfers along the way, Shen Qingqing knew how to get to the county town.

She planned to have lunch at the canteen before setting off.

If she couldn't make it back in the afternoon, she would stay overnight at a guesthouse in the town.

Just as she went downstairs, she was called out to by a female comrade.

The woman had ear-length short hair, just like the female comrade she had seen yesterday.

"Are you Comrade Shen Qingqing?"

Shen Qingqing nodded. "Hello."

Everyone in the compound was known to Zhou Xiaomei, but this female comrade was a stranger. She was very beautiful, the kind of person who makes you stop in your tracks just by looking at her.

Her style was also very fashionable; her hair was jet-black and smooth, clearly well-maintained.

She looked clean and bright, and there was a faint fragrance on her—she smelled lovely, though Shen Qingqing didn't know what brand of cold cream she used.

She carried a small bag in her hand and walked down the stairs unhurriedly, every movement graceful and beautiful.

As soon as Zhou Xiaomei saw her, she guessed her identity.

Upon asking, it was indeed Shen Qingqing.

Zhou Xiaomei thought to herself, *Jiang Zhixun is so lucky to have such a beautiful wife!*

Zhou Xiaomei smiled and explained her purpose.

"My name is Zhou Xiaomei, Lin Zhidong's wife. Tomorrow is our child's birthday, and we'd like to invite you and Captain Jiang to our home for dinner."

Fearing that Shen Qingqing might not know who Lin Zhidong was, Zhou Xiaomei added, "Lin Zhidong and Captain Jiang are comrades-in-arms; you saw them in the canteen yesterday."

She pursed her lips sheepishly. "Lin Fengmian is my sister-in-law."

With that explanation, Shen Qingqing sorted out the relationships.

She had an idea of Jiang Zhixun's attitude; he certainly wouldn't want her to visit the Lin family and socialize with his comrades.

Thus, she declined tactfully, "I have to go to the town today, and I'm not sure if I can make it back by tomorrow."

Zhou Xiaomei said, "Captain Jiang is on leave; let him accompany you, and you'll definitely make it back in time."

Shen Qingqing knew nothing about Jiang Zhixun's affairs, including the fact that he was on leave.

Since she had promised Mother Jiang not to hold Jiang Zhixun back and affect his transfer back to Beijing, it was inconvenient to reveal the true nature of her marriage with him.

After hesitating for a moment, Shen Qingqing said, "Then I'll try my best to return. If I don't arrive on time, please don't wait for me."

She didn't mention Jiang Zhixun at all, which made Zhou Xiaomei feel as if her heart were being scratched by a cat.

She was truly curious about what had happened between Shen Qingqing and Jiang Zhixun.

Why hadn't Jiang Zhixun come home for three years?

And why didn't he even mention Shen Qingqing?

Now that Shen Qingqing had come all the way to the Great Northwest, the state of the couple seemed very distant.

Just ask: what married man would let his delicate wife live alone in a guesthouse?

In any case, her husband Lin Zhidong was incredibly passionate every time he returned from a mission at night.

He practically wanted to stay awake all night just to do *that*.

Jiang Zhixun and Shen Qingqing had been separated for a full three years; a normal man would have lost control long ago.

This was just too strange!

Zhou Xiaomei stopped overthinking it. Regardless, since Shen Qingqing had come to the compound, there would be plenty of opportunities to figure out the situation between her and Jiang Zhixun.

"It's almost mealtime. Comrade Shen, you should go to the canteen to eat first. Go to the town after you've eaten; there's still a long way to go, and you can't go without eating."

Shen Qingqing smiled. "That was my plan as well."

Zhou Xiaomei was going home to eat, not to the canteen.

After arranging the time for dinner the next day with Shen Qingqing, she headed home.

Having been to the canteen before, Shen Qingqing followed the familiar path to get her food this time.

As she ate, she recalled which dishes were available the previous day and where they were placed.

She could recall every detail. For the old Shen Qingqing, this would have been the most mundane of things.

But now that she was ill, being able to clearly remember these small details was enough to make her happy for a long time.

Nothing went wrong this time, and Shen Qingqing successfully filled her stomach.

She washed her lunch box and, instead of putting it back in the guesthouse, placed it in her personal bag.

She might need it later when she went to the town.

...

If Lin Zhidong hadn't come to the dormitory and mentioned it, Jiang Zhixun wouldn't have even known that Shen Qingqing had left the compound.

"At this time of day, Comrade Shen should have already left by bus. Why didn't you accompany her?"

Jiang Zhixun's expression was tense as he said dryly, "The legs belong to her; where she goes is her own freedom."

Lin Zhidong snorted, wearing an expression that suggested he saw through everything.

"Don't tell me Comrade Shen didn't tell you she was going to the town?"

Shen Qingqing indeed hadn't told him.

Jiang Zhixun's expression grew even colder.

Lin Zhidong feigned rubbing his arms. "You keep a cold face all day long; if I were Comrade Shen, I wouldn't bother with you either."

Jiang Zhixun shifted his jaw. "I wouldn't mind that."

Lin Zhidong couldn't restrain his curiosity. "You and Comrade Shen don't happen to have a grudge, do you? Otherwise, who would treat their own wife with such an attitude?"

After receiving a chilling glance, Lin Zhidong knew he was overthinking again.

He rubbed the top of his head. "The affairs of you young people are truly inscrutable."

The two were the same age, so to Jiang Zhixun's ears, this sounded like Lin Zhidong was "mocking" him.

"Comrade Shen agreed to come to my house for dinner tomorrow. You two should come together then. If there are any conflicts, it's better to sit down and talk them out. Avoiding her will only make things more complicated."

Lin Zhidong felt that since they were married, the husband and wife should be more honest with each other.

Speak when there is something to say.

Hiding things wasn't good; it easily led to misunderstandings.

Jiang Zhixun said expressionlessly, "I am not avoiding her."

Lin Zhidong chuckled. "Then why aren't you accompanying your wife? What are you doing cooped up in the dormitory?"

"She doesn't need me to accompany her."

This was Jiang Zhixun's honest truth; after all, that was how they had lived for the past three years.

Shen Qingqing was very independent; she even dared to move out and live on her own.

Seeing Jiang Zhixun's oblivious manner, Lin Zhidong felt anxious on his behalf.

"A wife needs to be coaxed. If you act out and give her attitude, be careful that Comrade Shen doesn't stop serving you and asks for a divorce."

After saying that, feeling like he might be jinxing things, Lin Zhidong quickly changed the subject.

"Anyway, bring Comrade Shen to the house tomorrow; don't leave her behind. She has no relatives or friends here, and she doesn't even have anyone to talk to. It's quite difficult for her."

Having finished his business, Lin Zhidong left.

Since he was hosting a dinner, meat dishes were a must, and he had to go prepare in advance.

Jiang Zhixun didn't want to care about Shen Qingqing.

But as a woman, in an unfamiliar place, it was easy for things to go wrong.

Moreover, she was still ill; even if her fever had subsided, the strain on her shoulder hadn't healed.

She should just stay in the guesthouse properly instead of causing trouble!

With a wooden expression, Jiang Zhixun put on his military coat and left the dormitory.

(End of Chapter)