Wang Xue felt that Deng Weijun was a pretty good guy.
Qiao Lanshu agreed with this assessment, so she started making plans. She intended to discuss it with Qin Yuanzheng after work and find time to visit her cousin's house together. While there, she could ask her cousin-in-law, Deng Xiaozhen, about the situation to see if they should set up a blind date for Deng Weijun and Wang Haitang.
It was the dead of winter; the days were short, and night fell exceptionally quickly.
As it neared the end of the workday, fine snowflakes began to drift down from the sky.
Seeing this, Qiao Lanshu opened the window and reached out. After catching a few beautiful snowflakes, she blew some hot air onto her hands and hurried to finish processing the warehouse inventory receipts she was working on.
She then stepped outside and carefully double-checked that the warehouse door was securely locked.
Once she confirmed everything was in order, she swiftly slipped into her thick military-green padded jacket, pulled on a black woolen beanie, and snugly wrapped the red scarf Qin Yuanzheng had specially bought for her around her neck. She was ready to head home.
Today, Qin Yuanzheng was also, quite rarely, able to finish work on time.
He couldn't wait to pick up his cute, charming little wife and head home together!
The women's hair oil he had asked a comrade in Shanghai to buy for him had finally arrived. His friend had sent him five bottles in total, all osmanthus-scented. He tucked the five bottles into his overcoat pocket.
He thought to himself about his little wife's thick, dark hair. If she applied this hair oil, it would definitely be shiny, smooth, and incredibly beautiful.
At night, when he was in bed with his little wife, he really loved playing with her hair.
Of course, his wife was so sweet and beautiful, with fair skin and a great figure.
Every part of her was his absolute favorite.
He didn't just like playing with her hair; he loved exploring other places, too.
...
At that thought, Qin Yuanzheng suddenly realized that besides the hair oil, he should also buy some body lotion for his little wife.
Winters in the north were too dry, and his wife hadn't yet adapted to the arid climate.
She often complained about her skin being dry.
Although she still felt as smooth as her hair, if she applied some lotion...
Thinking of this, Qin Yuanzheng's heart began to burn with passion again.
Ah, having a wife was truly a wonderful thing.
He was finally experiencing the perks of marriage.
With his mind full of thoughts about his wife in bed, he walked outside.
Just then, Company Commander Xiao Yang returned from the mining area. As soon as he saw Qin Yuanzheng, he asked, "Commander, it's snowing today. Do you need me to go pick up my sister-in-law?"
Qin Yuanzheng glanced at Xiao Yang.
Xiao Yang was young, tall, and looked quite handsome in his military uniform. Young girls probably really liked his type.
Age-wise, Xiao Yang and Qiao Lanshu were much closer. When they were together, they probably had more in common to talk about, right?
If he hadn't been genuinely swamped with work before, Qin Yuanzheng would never have let Xiao Yang pick up his wife.
He pondered to himself that next time, he should just assign a guard to pick up his wife. Xiao Yang needed to spend less time hovering around her.
What if one day his wife got tired of him and ran off with Xiao Yang?
Although Qin Yuanzheng had these thoughts, his face remained completely expressionless.
He said, "No need. I'll pick her up today."
Xiao Yang was a bit surprised. The Commander had been so busy lately; how could he actually finish work on time?
He nodded. "Understood, Commander."
As he spoke, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. After hesitating for a brief moment, he quickly caught up with Qin Yuanzheng, leaned in close, and whispered, "Oh, right, Commander, I almost forgot to tell you something important. A few days ago when I went to pick up my sister-in-law, I accidentally noticed a sneaky man who seemed to be tailing her.
Later, feeling that something wasn't right, I specifically went to investigate. I found out that the guy is actually a temporary worker at the supply and marketing cooperative! He just started working here in Longcheng over the last two months, and his permanent residency is still registered in a nearby village."
Hearing this, Qin Yuanzheng stopped dead in his tracks.
His previously relaxed expression instantly grew solemn.
Frowning deeply, he asked in a low, serious tone, "Are you certain that guy was following Xiao Qiao?"
Xiao Yang nodded in response. "I'm about eighty or ninety percent sure!"
Actually, after investigating for a while, Xiao Yang had already gathered a pretty good understanding of this man, Chu Liangjun. However, since he hadn't yet gone to the village for an on-site investigation, the information he currently had was limited to Chu Liangjun's workplace in the city, his residential address, and his working relationships with his colleagues.
Xiao Yang then continued his report to Qin Yuanzheng, "Also, Commander, this Chu Liangjun has a bit of a background. I heard he's a distant relative of the director of the supply and marketing cooperative. He only got the job there because of the director's recommendation and backing. Fortunately, in the few months he's been here in Longcheng, he's behaved himself and hasn't caused any major trouble so far."
That was exactly why Xiao Yang was so puzzled.
Chu Liangjun and Qiao Lanshu were clearly two people whose paths should never cross.
Why would Chu Liangjun suddenly start tailing Qiao Lanshu?
Could there be something else going on that they didn't know about?
Qin Yuanzheng's face darkened. When it came to his wife, it was hard for him to maintain a calm expression.
He said in a deep voice, "Arrange some men to keep a close eye on this Chu Liangjun. Let's see exactly what he's up to!"
Xiao Yang nodded immediately. "Understood, Commander. I'll make the arrangements right away."
Qin Yuanzheng walked to the door and looked out at the increasingly heavy snowfall. He thought to himself that it must be because his little wife was just too beautiful, making her a magnet for all sorts of unsavory characters.
It seemed he needed to keep a closer eye on things.
He was already getting older, and having married such a young, beautiful wife, he couldn't help but feel a bit anxious.
He was afraid he wouldn't be able to hold onto her.
With these thoughts in mind, Qin Yuanzheng dug into his pocket, pulled out a ten-yuan note, and drove to the supply and marketing cooperative. He browsed through both floors from top to bottom, buying a pound of raisins, half a pound of stone-baked biscuits, and a jar of honey.
He didn't really know the best way to dote on his little wife, but buying her food was definitely a safe bet.
Young girls all loved sweet things.
Oh, right. He had heard that Shanghai had a great variety of candies, like the White Rabbit creamy candies that were supposedly delicious. The cooperatives here didn't sell them, and he wasn't sure if they would have any in stock for the New Year. If not, he would just ask his comrades to mail some over.
Unfortunately, he didn't have any comrades stationed in Yangcheng; otherwise, buying things would be even more convenient.
Qin Yuanzheng placed his purchases on the back seat of his car. Just as he was about to leave, he paused in silence for a moment, got back out of the car, and walked inside the cooperative once more.
He approached the fabric counter. Seeing a military officer approach, the sales clerk's expression immediately grew more serious.
The clerk hurriedly asked, "Chief, what kind of fabric would you like to buy? Or are you looking for yarn and cotton?"
Qin Yuanzheng was dressed in his military overcoat and cap. His face was stern, and his gaze was unwavering.
Standing upright at the counter with an aura of righteousness, he asked in a deep voice, "Do you sell waterproof fabric here?"
The saleswoman looked at his serious and stern face, thinking that this military officer was going to use the waterproof fabric for some great patriotic deed.
She immediately turned serious as well, nodding and saying, "Chief, we don't have waterproof cloth, but there is a type of leather made of sheepskin with a flannel backing that is waterproof. Would you like to take a look and see if it works?"
Saying so, she brought out a thick fabric catalog, opened it to a certain page, and pointed to a piece of leather for Qin Yuanzheng to see.
Qin Yuanzheng reached out to touch it. The surface was sheepskin, smooth and shiny, just a bit cool to the touch. The back was lined with fine flannel, feeling soft and warm, and quite comfortable.
Qin Yuanzheng immediately felt this leather was a good choice.
In winter, they could use the fleece side, and in summer, they could use the smooth leather side.
It was clearly waterproof. When sleeping normally, it could be laid directly over the mattress.
It wouldn't require much organizing either.
In the future, when he and his little wife were on the kang together, with this cloth, he wouldn't have to worry so much.
To be honest, before this, he had been restraining himself.
He hadn't unleashed his full strength.
It was all to consider Qiao Lanshu's feelings.
Every time he saw she was about to lose control, he had to hold back a bit.
Otherwise, if the mattress and quilt got wet, his wife would definitely get mad at him.
At this thought, Qin Yuanzheng coughed. He was very satisfied with this leather, even feeling a faint sense of impatience.
He admitted his hobby was a bit eccentric; he just liked to bully his little wife and watch her gush.
Qin Yuanzheng coughed twice and said with a straight face, "This will do. Two point four meters long and two meters wide. Please cut it to this size for me."
The saleswoman looked a bit troubled. "I'm sorry, Chief, we don't have it that wide. How about I cut two pieces that are one point two meters wide and two point four meters long, and you can find someone to sew them together?"
Qin Yuanzheng fell silent for a moment. Although not entirely satisfied, there was nothing else he could do.
After all, his kang was indeed quite large. Finding the exact right size wasn't that easy.
In the end, carrying two rolls of waterproof sheepskin fabric, he got into his car and drove to the food factory to pick up his little wife.
...
Qiao Lanshu walked out of the factory with the other food factory workers.
She didn't see Qin Yuanzheng's car at the gate, nor did she see Xiao Yang or any other military comrades.
She knew the person coming to pick her up hadn't arrived yet.
She went to wait at the door of the guardhouse, occasionally looking out toward the main gate.
Just then, Wang Xue also came out of the factory. Seeing her, Wang Xue stopped to talk. "Xiao Qiao, why are you standing here? Are you waiting for your family to pick you up?"
Qiao Lanshu had her face wrapped up tightly, revealing only a pair of big, bright black eyes. She smiled and nodded. "Yes, he told me to wait for him in the guardhouse. He was probably delayed by something, but he should be here soon."
Because of the matter with Chu Liangjun, Qiao Lanshu didn't dare to be alone. As long as no one was accompanying her, she didn't dare to walk home by herself.
Wang Xue was going to pick up Wang Haitang from work today. After all, she was also afraid that Liu Jianguo would go and pester Wang Haitang.
So she wasn't going to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy groceries, which naturally meant she wasn't going the same way as Qiao Lanshu.
Wang Xue walked up to Qiao Lanshu and chatted with her for a bit. "Then you wait here for a while. I have to go pick up my sister. I don't know how her shift went today. After that incident with Liu Jianguo, people at the train station have been gossiping about her. It's such bad luck for things to turn out this way. She even said she wants to quit. How could I let her quit over this? If anyone is going to lose their job, it should be Liu Jianguo."
Qiao Lanshu quickly said, "Sister, a person like Liu Jianguo might not let it go so easily. Hurry and go pick up Haitang. The snow is getting heavier, so be careful on the road."
Wang Xue agreed as she briskly walked away.
The uncle in the guardhouse saw Qiao Lanshu standing there, stamping her feet from the cold, and opened the door. He said, "Little girl, come inside and warm up. It must be cold out there, right?"
The guardhouse at the gate was different from the inside of the food factory; there was no central heating here.
But because the gatekeeper uncle had to work night shifts here, the kang in the inner room was heated.
The charcoal fire in the stove made both the inner and outer rooms toasty warm.
Qiao Lanshu walked in and closed the door.
She stood near the doorway, and feeling that her feet were no longer as numb, she smiled and said, "Thank you, Uncle."
As she spoke, she took a frozen pear out of her pocket. Deng Weijun had given it to her earlier; she had two of them.
She took one out, placed it on the table, and said, "Uncle, try this frozen pear. They say it's very sweet."
The uncle knew Qiao Lanshu and knew she was a military officer's family member, which was why he took special care of her.
He didn't expect her to be so thoughtful and generous enough to give him a frozen pear.
When the uncle looked at Qiao Lanshu now, his smile was completely genuine.
He took the frozen pear, tapped it on the table, and smiled, "It's frozen nicely, all dark and shiny. You have to put this on the heater. Wait until it thaws, and then suck the juice out. It's wonderfully sweet, even better than soda."
With that, he unceremoniously took the frozen pear and placed it on the stove.
Qiao Lanshu smiled and said, "I thought you were supposed to just hold it and bite into it."
Uncle: "..."
Uncle: "Do you think you have teeth of steel? It's like a block of ice, you can't bite into it easily."
Saying so, he brought over a small stool for Qiao Lanshu. "Have a seat. It's tiring to stand. Sit here, so you don't block the door. People will be coming in to pick up their mail in a bit."
There was a blackboard hanging by the door of the guardhouse. Whenever someone's letters or packages arrived, the uncle would write their name on it.
When people got off work and saw their names, they would come in to get them.
Qiao Lanshu sat in the corner and waited.
The uncle stood by the window, looking out toward the main gate, and frowned. "Why is that guy here again? How does he have so much free time every day?"
Curious, Qiao Lanshu stood up, looked outside as well, and asked, "Uncle, who are you talking about?"
As she spoke, she saw Chu Liangjun standing by the wall outside the food factory's main gate.
The uncle pointed with his chin and said, "That one, the guy standing over there in the gray padded jacket. He's been here before, saying he was looking for someone. Now he's back today. I remember he's an employee at the supply and marketing cooperative. I think he came to pick up goods before."
Qiao Lanshu: "..."
Qiao Lanshu silently sat back down on the small stool.
Why was Chu Liangjun here again?
Even coming in the snow. Fortunately, Qiao Lanshu hadn't gone outside.
