Qiao Lanshu returned to the guesthouse, rubbing her hands together from the cold.
As soon as she got back to her room, she hurriedly poured half a basin of hot water to soak her feet. It took quite a while for her to warm up.
The guesthouse had heating connected to the mining area. Once winter arrived, boiler workers in the mining area were responsible for heating water, so the guesthouse was relatively warm, given its close proximity.
Qiao Lanshu was truly having a hard time adapting to the climate here; it was just too terribly cold.
She was now genuinely afraid of the cold.
So, skipping her meal, she climbed straight into bed after soaking her feet and burrowed under the covers.
The room was extremely dry. Her lips were cracked and bleeding, and a few red rashes had broken out on her fair, tender skin. They felt dry and itchy to the touch, and she had no idea what was causing them, which made her feel quite distressed.
Maybe she should just give up on getting revenge. She could take the thousand yuan and the food coupons, hand in the report letter, buy a train ticket, and just go back to Yangcheng.
To suffer here for a scumbag like Sun Mingyong felt somewhat unworthy to her.
Besides, the reason she had wanted to stay—Qin Yuanzheng—already had a wife and children. If she stayed any longer, it would be somewhat ridiculous.
However, she was also worried at the same time. If she did not want to marry, she would have to go down to the countryside to work after returning home.
She had heard that working in the countryside was very bitter and exhausting, requiring one to do farm work under the scorching sun and biting wind.
She didn't know if she would be able to handle it.
Deep in thought, Qiao Lanshu began to seriously consider her future.
Lying in bed, she wrapped herself tightly in the blankets, holding a cup of hot water and taking small sips.
Because the room was so dry, she really wanted to drink water, but she didn't dare to drink too much for fear of having to go to the bathroom frequently. It was so cold that she didn't even want to take her pants off.
Just as she was thinking this, a knock came from outside the door.
Qiao Lanshu asked warily, "Who is it?"
Qin Yuanzheng's voice rang out from outside the door, "Comrade Qiao Lanshu, it's me, Qin Yuanzheng."
Qiao Lanshu's eyes lit up. Throwing off the covers, she immediately jumped out of bed.
However, after taking just two steps, she suddenly paused, and the look of pleasant surprise instantly faded into disappointment.
She walked to the door, opened it, and looked at Qin Yuanzheng reservedly. "Commander Qin, it's so late. Why did you come over?"
Qin Yuanzheng glanced at his watch. Wasn't it only six o'clock in the evening? It wasn't that late, was it?
Seeing Qiao Lanshu standing at the door with no intention of inviting him in, his eyes flickered, but he didn't say much.
Instead, he took a step back and handed over the items he was carrying. Looking at Qiao Lanshu's somewhat cracked lips, he said, "Comrade Xiao Qiao, I saw that you are having a bit of trouble adapting to the climate here, so I bought this for you. See if you can use it."
Qiao Lanshu took it and took a look, finding that the paper bag contained two jars of vanishing cream and a small jar of sheep oil ointment.
She had seen vanishing cream before, but this sheep oil ointment was new to her. She picked it up curiously to examine it, and Qin Yuanzheng explained to her, "I heard from the female comrades at the supply and marketing cooperative that this sheep oil can be applied to the lips, and it's harmless even if accidentally ingested. It can also be used on the hands and feet."
Qiao Lanshu had a small, cherry-like mouth. Her lips were naturally moist and supple, but now they were dry, cracked, and peeling.
Looking at these items, Qiao Lanshu cast a strange look at Qin Yuanzheng.
Qin Yuanzheng was taking care of Qiao Lanshu as if she were a child, and he didn't think there was anything inappropriate about buying these things for her.
But for Qiao Lanshu, wasn't it a bit strange for a male comrade to buy such things for a female comrade?
Qin Yuanzheng asked her, "What's wrong? You don't like it?"
He had specially found someone to exchange for daily necessity coupons and then went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy them.
He said, "The cooperative only has this kind of vanishing cream. They don't carry the brands from Yangcheng. Otherwise, how about I write a letter to my comrade-in-arms and ask him to buy some from Shanghai and mail them over?"
How could Qiao Lanshu trouble Qin Yuanzheng like that?
She quickly said, "No need, this is already very good. I was just needing this. Thank you so much, Commander Qin. Let me give you the money for it."
As she spoke, she hurriedly reached into her pocket, pulled out a ten-yuan bill, and tried to press it into Qin Yuanzheng's hand.
As soon as Qin Yuanzheng saw her taking out money, his face immediately darkened. He said, "Comrade Xiao Qiao, you don't need to give me money. I am also following orders from my superiors to come and take care of you. These things didn't cost much, so don't take it to heart."
Qiao Lanshu: "..."
Qiao Lanshu's mood instantly worsened. She looked up at Qin Yuanzheng and murmured, "So it was because of orders from your superiors?"
She knew it. How could a cold and tough man like Qin Yuanzheng be so good to her?
Buying things for her and even introducing potential marriage partners to her.
Qin Yuanzheng watched as Qiao Lanshu's sparkling eyes instantly dimmed, her eyelids drooping.
He didn't know what he had said wrong, nor could he figure out why the young lady was suddenly unhappy again.
Looking at Qiao Lanshu's slightly reddened eyes, he guessed that she had been crying over her fiancé.
So, he comforted Qiao Lanshu, saying, "Don't be sad. You didn't like the one I introduced last time, right? I'll introduce you to another one tomorrow. I guarantee his character is impeccable."
Qiao Lanshu: "..."
Qiao Lanshu hastily said, "There's no need, Commander Qin, really no need. You don't have to introduce anyone to me anymore."
Qin Yuanzheng: "..."
Qin Yuanzheng looked at her face and asked, "Why? Are you going back to Yangcheng?"
Qiao Lanshu scratched her head. "If I can't stay, then I have no choice but to go back."
Qin Yuanzheng: "..."
Yangcheng was over two thousand kilometers away from here. Taking the train required two transfers, and the journey would take several days.
If she returned to Yangcheng from here, she would definitely never come back.
Qin Yuanzheng didn't know what he was thinking, but subconsciously, he didn't really want Qiao Lanshu to leave. He said:
"You're just a young girl; you don't know how harsh the countryside can be. Settling down here and finding a job is always better than going down to the countryside. Besides, even if you want to go back, you should find a man to accompany you. The journey is too far and unsafe."
He thought for a moment and added, "It just so happens that there are many unmarried military officers here. I can introduce one to you, which is better than going back and going on blind dates by yourself. What do you say?"
After all, she had already been deceived once. This young lady was a bit naive. If she was tricked again, she wouldn't have a man like him to help her.
Qin Yuanzheng continued, "You should meet a few more people. Don't make a decision so quickly."
Qiao Lanshu looked at him, feeling a sudden impulse. She asked, "Commander Qin, what about you? Are you married?"
Qin Yuanzheng: "???"
Taken aback by her question, Qin Yuanzheng was momentarily stunned. A strange feeling welled up inside him as he wondered why the young lady would ask such a thing.
He kept a straight face and said, "My situation is rather special, so it's not convenient to tell you."
He couldn't very well tell a teenage girl that he suffered from infertility. So, after saying that, Qin Yuanzheng left, as it was hard to explain anyway.
...
Qin Yuanzheng was a man of his word. The very next day, he arranged for a battalion commander to come over and deliver sweet potatoes to Qiao Lanshu.
The young battalion commander was tall and handsome. Dressed in a crisp military uniform, he walked over holding a bag of sweet potatoes. The moment he laid eyes on Qiao Lanshu, his entire face flushed red.
Stuttering slightly, the young battalion commander said, "Comrade Xiao... Xiao Qiao, hello. These are sweet potatoes grown by our unit. They are very sweet. Our commander asked me to bring some over for you to try."
With that, he shoved the sweet potatoes into Qiao Lanshu's arms.
Qiao Lanshu: "..."
Holding the sweet potatoes, Qiao Lanshu looked up at the soldier standing before her. Her voice was gentle, but her words were completely ruthless.
She said, "I am sorry, Comrade, but I do not think you are my type. We are not a good match. Could you go back and tell your commander that we should just forget about it this time, okay?"
The young soldier was taken aback. His face still completely red, he stuttered and nodded instinctively, saying, "O-okay."
Qiao Lanshu then asked, "So, can I still eat these sweet potatoes?"
Blushing, the young soldier nodded. "Y-yes, you can."
"Then please thank your commander for me," Qiao Lanshu replied.
With that, she took the sweet potatoes back inside and closed the door.
The young soldier stared at the closed door and let out a silent sigh.
It was such a pity that such a wonderful girl was not interested in him.
