It was already late autumn. While the south was still basking in bright sunshine, the north had unexpectedly grown this cold.
Especially when Qiao Lanshu arrived, it was nearly dark. Once the sun went down, the stark temperature difference between day and night made the weather even more freezing.
Having grown up in Yangcheng, Qiao Lanshu simply couldn't withstand this kind of cold.
However, her biological mother had passed away early, and her stepmother was eager to marry her off as soon as possible. Therefore, faced with the choice between being sent down to the countryside or going to the military base to find her fiancé, she chose to head north to find him.
It was just that it was truly too cold here.
She was only wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt, black trousers, and black cloth shoes.
Her stepmother did know that the north was cold, so she had purposely prepared a thin cotton-padded jacket for her.
But wearing this jacket felt no different from wearing nothing at all!
Standing inside the train station, Qiao Lanshu's small face was turning pale blue from the cold, and her teeth were chattering.
At the entrance of the station, carrying a bag in one hand and holding her letter of introduction in the other, she gazed at the familiar yet strange station.
This time, she wouldn't foolishly wait around for four hours.
She was going to find Qin Yuanzheng!
She just didn't know where Brother Zheng was at this moment.
Shivering all over from the cold, she retreated back into the station. She found a ticket clerk and went over to ask, Hello, comrade. Could you please tell me how to get to this place?
It was getting late, and the ticket clerk was preparing to get off work. Seeing Qiao Lanshu's pale, freezing face and hearing her non-local accent, the clerk quickly asked, Comrade, where are you heading? It's so late, why are you still here?
As she spoke, she leaned closer to look at what Qiao Lanshu held in her palm.
Qiao Lanshu asked with a trembling voice, I'm going to the military base to find my fiancé. His unit is the Independent Second Battalion of the Longcheng Production and Construction Corps. The address is the South Suburb Forestry Farm in Longcheng. Do you know how to get there?
The ticket clerk replied, Oh my, you've arrived too late. The number three bus to the South Suburb Forestry Farm stops running at six in the evening. If you can't make it, take your letter of introduction and go to the Production and Construction Corps Headquarters building across the street. They will help accommodate military family members.
While speaking, the extremely helpful ticket clerk led Qiao Lanshu out of the station and pointed at a building diagonally across the street. See that? That's the General Headquarters of our Production and Construction Corps. Go over there and explain your situation to them.
The moment Qiao Lanshu stepped out of the train station, the biting northwest wind hit her face, making her feel as if her very soul was freezing to death.
She nodded gratefully, thanked the clerk, and then walked stiffly across the street.
She had only eaten a single rice cake since morning. Now, it was already past nine at night, and she hadn't had anything else to eat or drink.
She felt dizzy, and the cold seemed to pierce right into her bones.
Otherwise, in her past life, she wouldn't have fainted.
This time, she had to hold on.
Just then, she saw several tall men in military uniforms lift the windproof curtain at the entrance of the headquarters building, striding out while talking amongst themselves.
Qiao Lanshu cast a casual glance and immediately froze.
The man walking at the front looked somewhat familiar.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously chased after them. Comrade, PLA comrade...
Her voice was too soft, and the men were arguing so heatedly that they didn't hear her at all.
Seeing them walking further away, Qiao Lanshu grew anxious and quickly ran over. PLA comrades, please wait a moment.
In her panic, she sped up and rushed forward blindly.
Suddenly, she tripped over something, let out a cry of alarm, and fell to the ground.
The bag in her hand flew out and hit the leg of that exceptionally tall soldier.
The soldiers turned around abruptly and looked at the girl lying on the ground.
One of them exclaimed in shock, Is she alright? Why is she dressed so thinly? Don't tell me she fainted from the cold.
Another said, Quickly check on her, make sure she hasn't seriously injured herself from the fall.
The man at the front stared at Qiao Lanshu, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Those deep eyes were something Qiao Lanshu would never forget, even in death.
She felt flustered and at a loss for what to do.
Qin Yuanzheng. This was her Brother Zheng.
So, in her panic, she closed her eyes and pretended to faint.
The soldiers grew a bit nervous. Regiment Commander Qin, she really fainted!
Regiment Commander Qin frowned, his deep voice ringing out. You all head back to the base first. I'll drop her off at the military hospital on my way.
