The whole thing started the day before yesterday, after He Ping bragged on the bus about how exceptional their regiment commander’s wife was.
The soldiers from other units went back and spread the news far and wide.
And every single one of them swore up and down: this time, He Ping wasn’t exaggerating—they’d seen it with their own eyes!
In less than a day, the entire Fourth Division had heard that Regiment Commander Huo’s wife was coming to join him in the military camp—and the rumors only grew wilder as they spread.
Now, rumors are usually just for entertainment, nothing serious.
But then, early this morning, the finance department of the military district suddenly received a money order from the National Security Bureau in the capital.
The amount remitted was a neat 1,000 yuan.
The recipient’s name was written as: Navy Aviation Fourth Division, 101st Regiment Finance Department (to be forwarded to Jiang Si).
This left the finance clerks utterly baffled.
The junior staff spent hours combing through records but couldn’t find anyone named Jiang Si in the 101st Regiment.
The same confusion arose in the mailroom, where a package from the National Security Bureau had arrived that morning.
The address and name were the same—Jiang Si of the 101st Regiment—and it was marked as urgent.
After searching high and low with no luck, they headed straight to the broadcasting room.
[Is Comrade Jiang Si of the 101st Regiment here?]
[Please come to the broadcasting room immediately upon hearing this announcement. There’s a package and money order for you.]
To avoid any mix-ups, they even specified in the broadcast: [Jiang as in ginger, Si as in the character for ‘woman’ and ‘to follow’.]
While others might not know who Jiang Si was, He Ping certainly did.
The moment he heard the announcement about a package for his regiment commander’s wife, he dropped what he was doing and sprinted to the broadcasting room.
“Guard He, is this Comrade Jiang Si really your regiment commander’s wife?”
Unaware of the gravity of the situation, He Ping signed for the package and money order, grinning from ear to ear.
“Of course! Our regiment commander’s wife said her package would arrive in the next couple of days.”
“But… this is from the National Security Bureau.”
The two clerks exchanged glances, silently wondering: Just what kind of background does Regiment Commander Huo’s wife have?
Why would the National Security Bureau send her so much stuff?
Did she catch a spy or something?
Their words made He Ping take a closer look—the sender’s address did indeed say “National Security Bureau.”
But Jiang Si hadn’t mentioned anything about what happened on the train.
If even Huo Tingzhou didn’t know, how could He Ping?
Even if he did, he wouldn’t say a word!
“Eh, so what if it’s from the National Security Bureau? The name’s correct, that’s all that matters.”
“I’ve got work to do—can’t stay and chat.”
With that, He Ping bolted, hauling the package back to the family quarters.
But between the mailroom and finance department, there were dozens of people. In no time, news that the National Security Bureau had sent money and a package to Regiment Commander Huo’s wife spread like wildfire across the entire military district.
Back then, privacy wasn’t much of a concern—especially when it came to catching spies. It was a matter of pride, something to shout from the rooftops!
If your tip led to an arrest, you’d want the whole world to know.
As it happened, it was the weekend, and the military had organized soldiers to dig drainage ditches near the family quarters. Add in the curious military families who came to gawk, and the area was soon packed.
Meanwhile, the propaganda department seized the opportunity.
They’d been struggling to find a theme for their next bulletin board—now, here was the perfect material!
They even came up with a slogan on the spot:
[A letter from home is as mighty as a gun,
A secure homefront keeps the frontline strong!
Families vigilant against enemy plots,
Our red nation stands eternal and long!]
They envisioned a propaganda poster to go with it: a military wife holding the Little Red Book high in her left hand, her right firmly pressing down on a cowering, trembling spy!
Behind them, rows of soldiers stand tall, gripping their rifles, eyes blazing with determination, surrounded by golden wheat stalks and gleaming red stars.
…
Realizing things were getting out of hand, He Ping borrowed a bicycle and slipped out through the back gate of the family quarters.
He intercepted Huo Tingzhou and Jiang Si about five miles from the base.
“Regiment Commander, we’ve got a problem…”
Gasping for breath, He Ping explained the situation. “Right now, the entrance to the family quarters is as crowded as a marketplace.”
Huo Tingzhou frowned, his focus entirely on those three words: National Security Bureau.
“Did you have any dealings with them on your way here?” he asked Jiang Si.
“Yes,” she nodded.
Seeing his worried expression, she recounted what had happened on the train.
“That man bumped into me, and I remembered his face. I just… helped them out a little.”
“But I wasn’t involved in the actual arrest.”
“The train police even upgraded me to a soft sleeper compartment afterward—meals and everything taken care of.”
There was a hint of pride in her voice as she said the last part.
In modern terms, this was like bagging a walking 500,000-yuan bounty!
Who wouldn’t be proud?
Still, she hadn’t expected the National Security Bureau to actually reward her.
And she definitely hadn’t expected her name to become the talk of the family quarters before she’d even arrived.
“So what do we do now?”
The thought of stepping out of the car under so many stares made Jiang Si uneasy.
Fortunately, Huo Tingzhou had a plan. He had her switch to a transport truck at the rear.
“He Ping, lead the way. Take a detour and enter through the back gate of the family quarters.”
With that, Huo Tingzhou hit the gas, reaching the main gate in minutes.
“Look, look—they’re back!”
After waiting half the day, the crowd finally saw the jeep pull up.
Everyone craned their necks, eager for a glimpse.
But when the door opened, a pair of military boots hit the ground—followed by Huo Tingzhou’s ice-cold expression.
The soldiers digging ditches, well acquainted with their regiment commander’s intensity during training, instantly ducked their heads.
Their shovels flew into overdrive!
Don’t notice me, don’t notice me…
The other military wives, sensing the mood, hesitated too.
They weren’t under Regiment Commander Huo’s command, but they’d all heard stories from their husbands.
They’d only come to satisfy their curiosity—but now it felt like they’d walked into a firing squad.
Well, we all live here. If we don’t see her today, we’ll see her tomorrow.
Just as everyone was about to disperse, Huo Tingzhou pulled out a bag of fruit candies from the car.
There weren’t many—just a few pieces each.
But his words stuck with every wife present:
He said his wife was a little shy.
And that these were their wedding candies.
When he's not around the family compound, he kindly asks everyone to look out for his wife.
Truth be told, Huo Tingzhou isn't so much concerned about the help—he just hopes that in their daily interactions, the others won't give his wife any trouble.
