After lunch in the cafeteria, Nan Sheng and Secretary Cai left without a care, and Ou Yaosheng immediately felt the air become fresher.
A staff member beside him kindly suggested, "Director Ou, maybe next time we have a meeting, don’t let her come?"
Ou Yaosheng wished he could, but he couldn’t do something so childish.
"Have someone keep an eye on her. If she’s found in close contact with the sent-down personnel, arrest her immediately. Get the people in Sanwei Town to cooperate."
After getting off the bus, Nan Sheng headed to the government office first, but before entering the compound, she saw her dear husband again. However, he had been given a ride and hadn’t come on his bicycle.
"Did you take leave again?"
Lin Han shook his head. "No, starting tomorrow, the army is giving me a three-day New Year break. I just left a little early today."
During the New Year period, many had gone home to visit family or were on assignments, so Lin Han hadn’t taken any time off. Now that everyone was back, it was the turn of those who had been on duty to take their leave.
Yesterday, with his wife not at home, not only had he slept restlessly, but the two children had also kept asking when their mother would return.
So, he had timed it and come over.
Lin Han went into the compound to push out his bicycle. He had already bought the food and even gotten Nan Sheng two extra meat buns.
"Sweetheart, don’t ride your bicycle these next few days. I’ll come pick you up and drop you off every day."
Nan Sheng sat on the backseat, eating the buns and chatting with Lin Han. Eventually, the conversation turned to the Li family’s affairs.
"It won’t be easy for him to get a divorce. Yuying won’t agree."
Yuying was just pitiful—she believed all the hardships in her life stemmed from the injury she suffered while giving birth to her third child, so she took out her resentment on Wangdi. At its core, it was because she had no means of supporting herself and would rely on her husband for the rest of her life.
As for Li Gongliang, besides being pitiful, he was also hypocritical. "I really want to see what kind of fairy he ends up marrying after all this trouble."
For the sake of his reputation, Li Gongliang would definitely keep the children. Any woman who married him would have to raise three kids right away and still be expected to bear him a son—not an easy find.
When they reached the residential building, the two children were waving from the windowsill, with Siqi jumping up and down, her figure bobbing in and out of view.
Nan Sheng scolded her from downstairs. "Qiqi, no running and jumping in the house, or I’ll deal with you when I get back."
At this time, Hua Fen had also returned from work and greeted the couple. "Don’t be too strict with the kids. They’re already well-behaved. I’ve never heard them make a fuss when I’m home."
This neighbor was easygoing, and her children were well-mannered, which Hua Fen greatly appreciated.
Nan Sheng smiled. "If we don’t discipline them, it’ll be a problem. These apartments aren’t soundproof at all. If they get used to making noise, the neighbors above and below will suffer."
Hua Fen and Nan Sheng got along well, so as they walked upstairs, Hua Fen asked if she wanted some pork belly—she could get it from the supply and marketing cooperative without needing ration coupons.
Nan Sheng, of course, wanted it, and the more, the better. Hua Fen couldn’t help but feel envious.
"Sister-in-law, your family really knows how to live well. I wonder when my salary will finally go up."
Still, she was content just having a job with perks. Her wages covered household expenses, while her husband’s could be saved.
Ever since she started working, she felt she could stand taller, no longer having to watch her husband’s expression every time she bought something.
Back home, Nan Sheng changed into fresh clothes—the ones she’d been wearing for two days had developed a strange smell. After she washed up, the family of four sat down to eat, with Siqi insisting on sitting right next to her mother.
"Mom, why did your meeting take so long?"
Nan Sheng sighed. "I didn’t want to either. Yesterday, I only had breakfast and didn’t eat again until after three in the afternoon."
Siqi’s heart ached at this, and Sizhe frowned, thinking, What kind of lousy job doesn’t even let people eat?
Lin Han didn’t say anything, but his hands were busy, continuously piling food and meat onto his wife’s plate. After just one night apart, she seemed to have lost weight—he had to make sure she got it all back.
That night, Siqi insisted on sleeping with her mother, so she nestled between her parents. After a day of wild play, she was out by eight.
Lin Han and Nan Sheng, still awake, chatted quietly.
"Sweetheart, after my leave ends, I’ll be going on assignment. If anything happens at home, just go straight to Commander Ye."
Nan Sheng looked at Lin Han’s worried face and felt warmth in her heart. "Don’t worry, what could possibly happen at home? I managed just fine back in the countryside. It’s you I’m concerned about—be careful out there."
"I will. Sweetheart, how’s work been lately?"
When they were apart, Nan Sheng used to write about her life in letters, but after moving in with him, she rarely mentioned it. Lin Han felt a little neglected and finally brought it up.
Nan Sheng didn’t notice his subtle unease, but recalling yesterday’s events, she felt like sharing.
"It’s going well, but also not. No one dares to bully me now, but my views clash with the rest of the revolutionary committee. The county director is just waiting for a chance to fire me."
"That’s impossible!"
Lin Han was firm. "As long as you’re not committing crimes, no one can fire you!"
Nan Sheng knew it too. The military district commander still counted on her to look after that elderly gentleman—he’d never trust another revolutionary committee director. Ou Yaosheng would have a hard time getting rid of her.
Still, she had to be careful not to give anyone leverage.
Lin Han asked, Nan Sheng answered, until she drifted off mid-conversation.
In the darkness, Lin Han couldn’t help but smile. If his wife wasn’t used to talking about work, he could just ask. From now on, he’d ask every day.
The next morning, Lin Han got up early to make porridge and stir-fried greens. After so many days of eating steamed buns and bread, he was craving something different.
After breakfast, the couple went downstairs and ran into Hua Fen again on her way to work.
"Battalion Commander Lin, aren’t you going to the military district today?"
"Sister-in-law, I’m on leave for the next few days."
Hua Fen thought the couple was quite clingy—was he really seeing his wife off to work?
But the next moment, she watched as Lin Han wheeled out his bicycle and took his wife away, Nan Sheng waving cheerfully.
Suddenly, the porridge in her stomach didn’t taste so good—in fact, it felt a little sour. Battalion Commander Lin seemed so aloof and quiet, yet he doted on his wife like this. It was downright enviable.
The couple continued the topic between themselves.
"Lin Han, if you keep picking me up and dropping me off these next few days, the whole residential area will gossip. Are you sure you can handle it with your thin skin?"
Lin Han was resolute. "Taking my wife to work is perfectly natural. I don’t care what anyone says."
Even though they slept together every night, they hardly had time to spend together. Now that he finally had a few days off, he wanted to make the most of it.
He planned to wash all the bedsheets, quilts, and curtains, and take care of anything else the household needed, so his wife wouldn’t have to worry about the little things.
When they arrived at the town government office, Nan Sheng hopped off the vehicle and walked away without hesitation. But halfway there, she suddenly turned around playfully and waved at Lin Han.
Lin Han remained standing in place, smiling softly, and only after her figure disappeared from sight did he quickly ride off on his bike.
Deng Jun and Chen Tian, witnessing the scene, couldn't help but think to themselves: Director Nan wasn't just assertive and decisive at work—she clearly had her husband well-trained at home too, with him dutifully playing chauffeur.
