Qiao Lanshu slept soundly until dawn. When she woke up the next day, she saw red marks on her wrists...
Although Commander Qin was very measured and knew how to use the cloth strips properly.
But her skin... her arms were indeed prone to leaving marks...
Qin Yuanzheng had already prepared breakfast. He was happy last night and was now full of energy. The look in his eyes as he gazed at Qiao Lanshu was filled with deep affection.
He was wearing military trousers and boots on his lower half, but his upper body was bare, having just wiped himself down with a towel.
He sat on the edge of the kang and pulled the newly awakened, still-groggy Qiao Lanshu into his arms. His broad hands grasped her wrists, rubbing them gently as he asked in a low voice, Do your wrists hurt? I massaged you last night, does it feel any better?
Qiao Lanshu was speechless.
No wonder she dreamed of a tiger cub jumping all over her while she was sleeping last night.
It jumped on her back, then on her stomach, occasionally taking a few bites at her arms.
She had been terribly annoyed at the time and reached out to toss the tiger cub away, but a moment later, the cub pounced on her again.
Qiao Lanshu yawned, feeling that her body was indeed not as sore anymore, so she said, My body doesn't feel sore now.
Qin Yuanzheng kissed the palm of her hand and said, Then when I come back tonight, I'll massage you again.
As he spoke, he skillfully and naturally picked up Qiao Lanshu's clothes and pulled them over her head.
He even considerately helped pull her hair out from under the collar.
He looked at Qiao Lanshu's shiny, smooth hair with absolute adoration. I wrote a letter earlier asking my comrade to send me some women's hair oil from Shanghai. I wonder if it has arrived yet. I'll go check today.
When Qiao Lanshu was in Yangcheng, she rarely ever used hair oil.
Because the air there was humid and her hair was naturally smooth, it was fine without hair oil.
However, the north was dry, causing her hair to become frizzy. After coming here, she braided her hair every day to prevent it from getting messy and full of static.
Hearing Qin Yuanzheng say this, she immediately leaned over happily, kissed him on the cheek, and smiled, Thank you, Brother Zheng. You really are my good husband.
Qin Yuanzheng paused.
Qin Yuanzheng almost stood at attention for her right then and there.
His Adam's apple bobbed as he said, We're about to go to work, don't tease me.
Qiao Lanshu was teasing him on purpose at this exact moment.
Who asked him to bully her so much last night?
Qiao Lanshu finished getting dressed, combed her hair, and braided it into two thick, black, and shiny braids before getting off the kang.
Then, she saw the black cloth strips lying on the table by the edge of the kang.
Her heart immediately skipped a beat.
Blushing, she asked, Brother Zheng, why haven't you thrown this away yet?
The cloth strip was soft, made of some kind of stretchy material.
She had no idea where Qin Yuanzheng got it from or what its original purpose was.
Anyway, all the suffering she endured yesterday... was all because of...
Qin Yuanzheng had clearly promised her he would throw this thing away, so why was he still keeping it?
Seeing her embarrassed and indignant expression, Qin Yuanzheng hurriedly said, I'll go dispose of it right now.
Saying that, he rolled the thing into a ball and stuffed it into his own bag.
Qiao Lanshu was speechless.
Qiao Lanshu didn't know what to say.
She only said, Anyway, you are not allowed to bring this kind of thing home ever again, or I'll get angry.
Qin Yuanzheng smiled and nodded, but didn't outright agree. Instead, he leaned in, hugged her, and asked, You didn't feel that uncomfortable, I thought you liked it?
Qiao Lanshu's face instantly turned red, and she said, I didn't like it anyway, you're not allowed to use it again.
Qin Yuanzheng fell silent.
Qin Yuanzheng said with some regret, Really no more? You almost...
Qiao Lanshu quickly covered his mouth. Alright, stop talking. Aren't we going to eat breakfast?
Qin Yuanzheng looked at her with a smile. Alright, I won't say it.
Qiao Lanshu was truly afraid of Qin Yuanzheng's mouth. Not only was what he said startling, but what he did with it was quite startling too.
Qin Yuanzheng brought the porridge over, sat opposite Qiao Lanshu, and said in all seriousness, I remember we still have some cloth ration coupons at home, right? I'll find some time to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to see if they have any waterproof cloth and buy a few feet of it...
Qiao Lanshu glared at him. Say one more word! Say one more word and I won't eat.
Qin Yuanzheng immediately made a zipping motion over his lips and buried his head to gulp down his porridge.
After breakfast, the couple went to work.
Qiao Lanshu sat in the small room next to the warehouse, occasionally pounding her lower back with her fist.
At this time, Deng Weijun and Wang Xue came over together to look for her.
As soon as Wang Xue arrived, she leaned against the window and said to Qiao Lanshu, Xiao Qiao, this younger brother of yours is not bad, he even comes over every day to fetch water for you?
Qiao Lanshu glanced at Deng Weijun. Deng Weijun skillfully picked up Qiao Lanshu's thermos and said to Wang Xue, What do you know? My sister-in-law is my lifesaver! My sister said I should work like a horse for my sister-in-law and let her order me around, this is what I ought to do.
Qiao Lanshu quickly said, Cousin-in-law is exaggerating. Actually, it's not necessary, I can fetch water myself. If you're busy with work, you don't need to come over. It makes me feel bad.
Deng Weijun's job was as a boiler worker. Although the work wasn't considered very busy, it was physically tying. He had to stay there to watch the boiler, add coal, check the temperature, and so on. He had to keep an eye on it at all times and couldn't leave easily.
Deng Weijun only had time to run over and fetch water for Qiao Lanshu when he first arrived in the morning. Normally, unless he was off work, he didn't dare run around.
He still cherished this job very much, terrified of making a mistake and being scolded by his brother-in-law, who was the factory director.
Deng Weijun said, Sister-in-law, don't be so polite with me. It's just fetching water, it doesn't take me much effort. Besides, I have to fetch water for myself anyway, so it's just doing it in passing.
Saying that, he pulled a lunchbox out of his pocket, placed it on Qiao Lanshu's desk, and said, Sister-in-law, this is the oil tea my sister roasted herself. She specifically told me to bring some for you to try. Please don't mind that it's just a little.
With that, he put the lunchbox down and trotted off with the thermos.
Wang Xue clicked her tongue and shook her head, lowering her voice to say, This Deng Weijun... if we didn't all know that you really saved his life, people would think he was trying to poach Regiment Commander Qin's wife.
Hearing this, Qiao Lanshu immediately laughed and said, An ordinary person wouldn't dare try to poach Regiment Commander Qin's wife, would they?
Although she had the rose-tinted glasses of a lover and thought everything about Qin Yuanzheng was great.
She was also well aware of the awe and fear outsiders had for Qin Yuanzheng.
She opened the door, pulled Wang Xue into the small room, and asked in a low voice, Sister, how is the matter between your younger sister and that Liu Jianguo being handled?
