The relationship between Shen Man and Jiang Chengzhou had begun to grow somewhat subtle.
Jiang Chengzhou’s broken bone had not fully healed, so he couldn’t return to his unit to take part in combat. Instead, he was assigned to a rear camp to remain behind.
He couldn’t even conduct practical drills for the soldiers. All he could do was teach theory classes to newly arrived recruits and troops rotating through, while also overseeing training plans.
After finishing his classes during the day, he would go see Shen Man.
Shen Man was far busier than he was.
Every morning, she had to make her rounds at six. At noon, she had to attend to outpatients. Since the area was close to the rainforest, skin diseases, influenza, and dysentery could easily break out. She also had to work with the others to spread lime around the wards and barracks for regular disinfection.
Every day after finishing his own duties, Jiang Chengzhou would sling one arm in a support and follow behind Shen Man, helping wherever he could.
Shen Man often tossed him an imperious look, then simply let him hover around her.
That was enough to make Jiang Chengzhou perfectly content.
Shen Man had taken a big step toward him. He was the one who had retreated, never giving her a straight answer. Now that Shen Man didn’t beat him whenever she saw him, Jiang Chengzhou felt that she was actually rather softhearted.
When he had some free time, Jiang Chengzhou also called home.
Lin Zhilan had been worrying herself sick over him, so when she received the call, she was finally able to relax.
“Your aunt isn’t going to lecture you. You’re a grown man now, and you know what you’re doing. But could you please let us know before you go on a mission each time? That way, your uncle and I won’t have to worry so much.”
Jiang Chengzhou rubbed his nose. “I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you and Uncle would worry.”
“Idiot!” Lin Zhilan scolded. “Do you think we won’t worry just because you don’t tell us?”
“Auntie,” Jiang Chengzhou hurriedly pleaded for mercy, “I know I was wrong. I promise I won’t do it again.”
This was what it meant to be far beyond the reach of the emperor. If Jiang Chengzhou had been there, Lin Zhilan would have grabbed him by the ear and given him a thorough scolding. But then she remembered that he had a broken bone and immediately began to feel sorry for him instead.
“How are the conditions where you are?”
Before Jiang Chengzhou could answer, Lin Zhilan continued, “Though I can already guess they’re not very good. If you can find them, buy some dipsacus root and drynaria rhizome, and stew them with pork ribs. If that’s not possible, stew some wolfberries and eucommia bark with eggs. They’ll do your body good too.”
“Got it, Auntie.”
Jiang Chengzhou’s heart warmed. He smiled and said, “You and Uncle take good care of yourselves too. Don’t work too hard.”
Jiang Chengzhou was already twenty-five or twenty-six, but in Lin Zhilan’s eyes, he was still a child.
Hearing him speak in such an “adult” manner, Lin Zhilan found it amusing. “We’re both doing fine. Your uncle was recently promoted, and his monthly salary has gone up by fifty yuan. When the New Year comes, we’ll give you all a big red envelope.”
The corners of Jiang Chengzhou’s mouth lifted.
His aunt had always been like this—very “practical.” She didn’t pay much attention to his uncle’s title, only to whether his salary had increased.
“Auntie, back when Uncle was away at sea, you raised Linlin and me all by yourself. It must have been so hard. Did you ever resent him?”
Lin Zhilan gripped the telephone cord and thought carefully before answering. “Looking back now, it doesn’t feel like much anymore. Of course, there were times when I resented him. But resentment is resentment—I’ve never regretted marrying him.”
Never regretting it was no small thing.
People always romanticized the road they had never taken.
That was why regret was the norm in life.
Lin Zhilan’s words—that she had never regretted it—were undoubtedly the finest praise she could give Su Lang.
“Little Chengzhou, have you fallen for a girl?”
Jiang Chengzhou patted his forehead. Was his aunt clairvoyant?
“No.”
“Tch.” Lin Zhilan snorted. “Stingy brat. Fine, don’t tell me.”
The smile at the corners of Jiang Chengzhou’s eyes spread. This time, he told her the truth.
“Auntie, I don’t dare to fall in love.”
“Why?” Lin Zhilan asked, utterly puzzled.
Jiang Chengzhou said, “I’m afraid I’ll hold her back. I don’t have any confidence.”
Silence fell on the other end of the line.
Only after a moment did Lin Zhilan speak again. “Chengzhou, do you remember your second uncle? Back then, he came close to death several times and was dragged back from the gates of hell, yet he still had to return to work.
“Your second aunt had a very hard time. It wasn’t only the physical hardship; there was also the emotional strain.
“I wasn’t involved, so I have no right to judge whether that hardship was worth it.
“So, when it comes to the girl you like, I also have no way of deciding whether her choice is right or wrong.”
Lin Zhilan paused for a moment before continuing. “Little Chengzhou, you have no right to make that decision for her either.”
She smiled, gratified. “But I’m very glad that I raised a kindhearted boy.”
Jiang Chengzhou smiled too.
After hanging up, Jiang Chengzhou felt much more at ease.
It was already dark, but he couldn’t suppress the excitement in his heart. He went to Shen Man’s quarters to look for her.
Shen Man had just washed her face and was carrying a basin outside to throw out the water when she saw a dark figure standing in front of her room.
“Who is it?” Shen Man demanded sharply, tightening her grip on the enamel basin.
The shadow took a step forward and entered the dim yellow light.
“It’s me.”
Jiang Chengzhou still had a cast on his arm, supported against his chest with a sling. His clothes were not properly fastened either, leaving his injured arm exposed.
When Shen Man saw that it was him, her fingers loosened around the enamel basin.
“Come in and sit down.”
She stepped aside to clear the doorway, then carried the basin a few steps away and poured the water onto the muddy ground beside the room.
By the time she returned, Jiang Chengzhou had already gone inside.
Shen Man’s quarters were small—a mud-brick room temporarily vacated by a local villager.
A single bed stood against the wall, its blankets folded into a neat stack.
At the head of the bed sat her wicker luggage trunk, which she was using as a makeshift desk.
The entire room could be taken in at a glance. With two people inside, there was barely enough room to turn around.
Shen Man put the enamel basin back on its stand. When she saw Jiang Chengzhou still standing there, she reached out to close the door.
Jiang Chengzhou hurriedly raised his arm to stop it, pressing his palm against the door.
Shen Man tilted her head and looked at him, her eyes filled with questions.
His gaze drifted aside under her scrutiny. “It’s late, and it’s just the two of us. It’s probably better not to close the door, right?”
Shen Man stared at him for two seconds, then closed the door anyway.
“The wind outside is too strong. I’m cold. Find somewhere to sit.”
Jiang Chengzhou could only go along with her. He looked around the room once more.
“Where’s your chair?”
Shen Man pulled a small stool out from beneath the bed. “Here. This one.”
Jiang Chengzhou took it from her.
The stool was far too small.
Jiang Chengzhou was tall and broad-shouldered, and in his thick military cotton coat, he was practically wedged onto the stool’s palm-sized seat. He looked distinctly awkward.
His long legs couldn’t bend normally, so he had no choice but to spread them wide.
Shen Man held back a laugh and poured him a cup of hot water from her own cup.
“There isn’t another cup here. You’ll have to make do.”
Jiang Chengzhou accepted it and watched as she took a sip of tea.
Shen Man’s face grew slightly warm, but she pretended to remain composed.
“It’s so late. What made you come here?”
“Um…” Jiang Chengzhou scratched his head. “Nothing in particular. I just wanted to ask when this cast can come off.”
Shen Man exposed his excuse without mercy.
“Haven’t I told you many times already? Why are you asking again?”
