"Comrade, are you Jiang Si's husband?"
Huo Tingzhou's gaze swept over coolly at the question, carrying a hint of inquiry and the scrutiny unique to a military man.
"I am. And you are?"
Xu Fangmin shrank slightly under his stare, hesitating for a moment.
"I'm Jiang Si's high school classmate. My name is Xu Fangmin."
Huo Tingzhou had never heard of her and had no impression of her whatsoever.
"Do you need something?"
Throughout their exchange, Jiang Si had been quietly eating her meal, not sparing them a single glance from start to finish.
Perhaps feeling ignored once again, Xu Fangmin couldn’t swallow her frustration.
In her eyes, Jiang Si must have dumped her former child groom.
Then, to protect herself, she latched onto an officer.
After all, given her family’s background, marrying a soldier seemed like her only way out.
Thinking this, Xu Fangmin feigned hesitation. "It’s nothing, really. I’m just surprised that Jiang Si is already married."
Without waiting for Huo Tingzhou to respond, she continued on her own.
"Jiang Si was quite the celebrity at our Third Girls' School back then. The line of admirers stretched from the school gate all the way to the next street. And she had high standards—ordinary people never stood a chance."
Huo Tingzhou remained expressionless at her words, not even giving her an extra glance.
Jiang Si, however, finally looked up.
After swallowing her food, she said earnestly, "She’s right. I don’t settle for just anyone."
At this, a faint smile finally appeared on Huo Tingzhou’s face. "Mm."
He wasn’t just anyone.
He was the man who shared her pillow.
Jiang Si paused, then added, "And it wasn’t just admirers—there were even more people jealous of me."
"Mm, I can see that."
Listening to the couple’s back-and-forth, Xu Fangmin’s face darkened with anger.
Now she didn’t even bother pretending, directly targeting Jiang Si.
"I remember you used to have a childhood sweetheart, a child groom, didn’t you?"
"Back then, we all thought you’d marry right after high school. Who would’ve guessed…"
She then put on a pitying expression. "Honestly, aside from his family background, he treated you impeccably."
Jiang Si nearly laughed in disbelief.
If not for fear of scaring her two little ones, she might’ve resorted to physical action.
"Xu Fangmin, don’t call me your classmate. Having someone like you as a classmate is the worst luck I’ve had in eight lifetimes!"
Xu Fangmin stiffened at the words, though she wasn’t entirely surprised.
Jiang Si had always been like this in school—throwing tantrums without sparing even the principal’s dignity, let alone anyone else’s.
"Jiang Si, don’t misunderstand. I didn’t mean anything by it—"
"Then what exactly did you mean?"
Jiang Si’s lips curled into a mocking smile.
"Back in school, you were always competing with me—grades, looks, family status, even height…"
"Who’d have thought that after all these years, you still haven’t kicked this habit of comparing yourself to others?"
"And yet, you can’t even win at that. You can’t even gossip properly. What’s the point of that brain of yours?"
"You—!" Xu Fangmin’s face twisted between green and white.
"Me what? Am I wrong?"
"Besides, who I’m with now and how I live—what does that have to do with you?"
"Instead of wasting time spreading rumors, why don’t you focus on your own family’s mess?"
Jiang Si’s tone wasn’t particularly sharp.
If anything, it carried a hint of exasperation.
But every word struck Xu Fangmin’s sore spots, laying bare all her petty schemes.
Nearby, Shen Chao’s expression had also turned grim.
Seeing her husband’s stormy face, Xu Fangmin paled.
Regaining her composure, she snapped at Jiang Si, "Stop changing the subject! I’m talking about you switching partners!"
"Sorry to disappoint, but I, Jiang Si, have only ever had one man in my life—him."
The moment she said it, Huo Tingzhou’s lips unconsciously curved into a smile.
Xu Fangmin, however, was momentarily stunned.
Then Huo Tingzhou spoke, his voice low and firm.
"I’m that childhood sweetheart, that child groom you mentioned."
"Back then, I was her little follower. Now, I’m her husband and the father of her two children. Any other questions?"
"Wha—what?!" Xu Fangmin’s eyes nearly bulged out of her head.
Jiang Si’s child groom was supposed to be a simple-minded, brawny bodyguard!
How could he possibly be an officer?
This couldn’t be real!
But Shen Chao’s reaction was even more pronounced.
Even after Jiang Si and Huo Tingzhou left the dining car with their two children, he still seemed dazed.
Noticing his distraction, Xu Fangmin asked, "What’s wrong with you?"
Shen Chao was visibly agitated, his tone sharp.
"Why did you have to provoke her for no reason?!"
Xu Fangmin knew she was in the wrong, but in arguments, the unreasonable often prevailed.
She was already furious that he hadn’t stood up for her earlier—now he was blaming her?
Her temper flared. "Shen Chao, what’s your problem?!"
Her outburst drew the attention of everyone in the dining car.
"Keep your voice down! Do you want to embarrass us further?!"
When Xu Fangmin refused to back down, Shen Chao dragged her to the space between train cars.
"Even if you didn’t get along in school, that was years ago. Was it necessary to make such a scene?"
"It’s not my fault!"
Xu Fangmin was just as resentful. "Who knew he’d end up joining the military?"
But then, seeing her husband’s troubled expression, she frowned.
"What’s there to be afraid of? It’s just a soldier. It’s not like he’ll eat you alive."
"You don’t understand."
Shen Chao pointed toward the soft sleeper compartments.
"Do you think just anyone can afford a private soft sleeper ticket to Capital City?"
Not only were these tickets exorbitantly expensive, but they were also restricted—only available to officials at or above the county or regiment level.
The fact that he and his family could ride here was entirely due to his father’s connections.
In other words, that man either outranked him or, like him, relied on family influence.
Neither possibility boded well.
And though that man had barely spoken earlier, the hostility in his eyes had been unmistakable.
The only reason things hadn’t escalated was because his wife had held her own.
Otherwise, this matter would’ve dragged on much longer.
Xu Fangmin, however, remained dismissive.
"So what if he’s a regiment commander? My father’s a deputy commander!"
Even if only a deputy, it was still a title that commanded respect.
"Stop overthinking things."
To reassure him, she added, "She’s a capitalist’s daughter—what respectable family would want a daughter-in-law like that?"
As if to spite her, two days later, when the train arrived in Capital City, the two families crossed paths again at the station exit.
However, at this moment, Xu Fangmin was in an exceptionally good mood.
Seeing her father-in-law personally driving over to pick them up, Xu Fangmin waved while turning her head to glance at Jiang Si.
Jiang Si was currently discussing the opening of Metro Line 1 with Third Uncle.
Beijing Metro Line 1 in 1969
Subway tickets in 1969
Suddenly, Xu Fangmin’s voice cut in, "Classmate Jiang, it’s such a cold day, and you’ve got the child with you too. Why don’t we give you a ride?"
Her tone was dripping with smugness.
Jiang Si didn’t indulge her. "Sure, that’d be a big help."
"……"
At those words, Xu Fangmin’s smile froze on her face.
She… she actually agreed?
She had only said it as a passing remark, never intending to actually offer a ride.
Just as Xu Fangmin stood there awkwardly, unsure how to respond, two more cars pulled over by the roadside.
Leading the way was a Hongqi limousine, followed by a Jeep 212.
Soon, the doors opened, and a sharply dressed, imposing man stepped out.
Recognizing the newcomer, Shen's Father tensed up—
