Does this sister-in-law know Pei Zhengnian?
Shen Nanchu keenly noticed a trace of peculiarity in Li Yanhong's gaze as she looked at her.
That look was a mix of sympathy and pity, as if observing some pitiful little pet.
The thought flashed through Shen Nanchu's mind. She calmly sized up Li Yanhong, trying to decipher the meaning in this stranger's eyes.
"Little sister, you must have had it tough."
Li Yanhong suddenly leaned in, lowering her voice to say,
"Once you get to the army base, if you need anything, come find me, your sister-in-law. I'll help you."
Her tone carried a note of shared hardship.
Shen Nanchu found it a bit strange, but she still smiled and nodded, not saying much more.
Anyway, she was only going for a few days. She'd deal with the future later.
Sunlight from outside the window filtered through the glass, shining into the bus compartment.
The bus hadn't started yet, and the air in the enclosed space was stagnant, stiflingly hot and hard to breathe.
Pei Yunzhou very skillfully pulled a palm-leaf fan from his bag, its bamboo surface glowing with a warm sheen.
His wrist moved deftly as he fanned, creating a gentle breeze that brushed Shen Nanchu's cheeks, dispelling much of the heat.
"Sister-in-law, would you like some water?"
Pei Yunzhou then pulled an army-green canteen from his pocket, its body still printed with the red characters "Serve the People."
The canteen contained chilled herbal tea, meant to clear heat and relieve summer heat.
Early in the morning, Pei's Mother had brewed it, let it cool, and even chilled it in the well for a while before filling the canteen.
Shen Nanchu took the canteen, took a small sip. The fragrance of chrysanthemum and honeysuckle spread in her mouth; the taste was quite good.
Pei Yunzhou's thoughtful service left Li Yanhong and the surrounding passengers rather astonished.
Other passengers in the compartment kept casting envious glances.
A young girl muttered quietly, "If only I could have such a considerate brother-in-law too."
An auntie directly chimed in, "A considerate brother-in-law? If my husband could be half this considerate, I'd laugh my teeth out in my dreams."
One sister-in-law even shot her own man a glare, "Learn a thing or two from him."
All the passengers on the bus felt nothing but envy. Who could blame them? The brother-in-law was just so thoughtful!
If the brother-in-law was this attentive, wouldn't the husband be even more so?
Many passengers felt a pang of envy for Shen Nanchu's husband, Pei Zhengnian.
Li Yanhong, sitting in the back, was also quite envious.
She was alone, carrying large and small bags, holding Nannan, with no one from her family to see her off.
Sweat had already soaked through the back of her blouse, spreading a dark patch on the deep blue fabric.
Shen Nanchu was traveling alone, yet someone was seeing her off.
Without comparison, it was fine, but once compared, the blow was not insignificant, at least a little.
If this was considered a blow? Then getting off the bus was the real blow, multiplied a hundredfold.
As the long-distance bus slowly pulled into the station, Shen Nanchu spotted Pei Zhengnian leaning against an army-green jeep through the window at first glance.
He was leaning against the jeep, his white shirt lightly clinging to his back, the lines of his broad shoulders and narrow waist clean and distinct.
His military trousers were sharply creased, hugging his lean, long legs; his posture held the taut, powerful strength honed over years.
Sunlight fell on his sharply defined profile, tracing a perfect contour.
Very handsome!
Worthy of being the male lead in the book, and her man.
Shen Nanchu silently assessed in her heart. If the situation were different, she'd have whistled.
She noticed several young female passengers around her had blushed, stealing glances at the tall, straight figure outside the window.
Shen Nanchu saw Pei Zhengnian at first glance, and Pei Zhengnian also saw Shen Nanchu at first glance.
His gaze seemed equipped with radar, precisely locking onto Shen Nanchu who was getting off the bus. His originally stern expression instantly softened a few degrees, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
As soon as she got off, Pei Yunzhou saw his second brother had brought a car to pick them up. He waved his hand happily, "Second Brother, we're over here!"
His voice was loud, drawing sidelong glances from surrounding passengers.
Pei Zhengnian straightened up and strode over.
His posture was erect, each step carrying the unique rhythm of a soldier.
Pei Yunzhou was ready to hand over the things he was carrying, but unexpectedly, Pei Zhengnian walked right past Pei Yunzhou towards Shen Nanchu behind him.
"Tired?!"
Pei Zhengnian took the canteen from Shen Nanchu's hand, his face full of concern.
His gaze swept over Shen Nanchu's face, as if checking for any sign of discomfort.
This iron-willed soldier who commanded respect on the battlefield now had eyes full of tenderness.
Pei Yunzhou: "..."
He was the one who'd been tired the whole time, okay?
He looked down at the large and small bags in his own hands, then at his sister-in-law being coddled and fussed over by his second brother, and suddenly felt like a superfluous third wheel.
Li Yanhong, carrying her large and small bags and holding her child, waited to get off last.
Standing on the bus, looking through the window, she saw this pleasing picture of a handsome man and a beautiful woman and couldn't help but be stunned.
Didn't Liu Bing tell her this Company Commander Pei was quiet, reserved, and rather dull?
He remembered when his wife was arriving, came to pick her up personally—was that a block of wood?
Watching Pei Zhengnian considerately help Shen Nanchu into the car, Li Yanhong's eyes held nothing but envy.
Pei Zhengnian led Shen Nanchu to the jeep, thoughtfully opened the passenger door for her, and even fastened her seatbelt.
Shen Nanchu pointed at the bus,
"There's a sister-in-law on the bus also going to the military district. Her husband is Liu Bing from the Fifth Regiment. Let's give her a ride."
Her voice was soft, carrying a slight weariness from the long journey.
Liu Bing's wife?
Pei Zhengnian nodded, not a trace of impatience on his face.
He turned to Pei Yunzhou and said, "Fourth Brother, go help that sister-in-law with her luggage."
When Li Yanhong got off the bus, Pei Zhengnian, along with Pei Yunzhou, helped her carry her things to the jeep.
Li Yanhong's luggage was numerous and heavy; just the bulging woven bag alone must have weighed dozens of pounds.
Pei Zhengnian lifted it easily with one hand, while his other hand could still help hold the child, leaving Li Yanhong wide-eyed in amazement.
Once in the car, Li Yanhong expressed her thanks to Shen Nanchu.
"Little sister, thank you."
Her voice trembled slightly with emotion,
"It's all thanks to you and your husband. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know how to get to the base by myself!"
The Nannan in her arms imitated her mother, saying in a milky voice, "Thank you, Auntie~"
Shen Nanchu smiled, "You're too kind, sister-in-law. We're all from the same base, one family."
Her gaze swept over Li Yanhong's rough hands and simple clothing, feeling an increased fondness for this hardworking, plain-spoken military wife.
Pei Zhengnian drove extremely smoothly, with almost no sense of bumpiness.
