She pushed open the door to the main room, and a breath of air carrying a slight salty sea breeze rushed towards her.
The room was well-lit, with a main hall of moderate size directly opposite the door, and two rooms on each side, forming a square layout.
“This house is quite spacious.” Xu Xiangsi looked around the rooms one by one, her words indifferent, but she had already started making plans in her mind.
The first room on the left faces south, has a large window, and the best natural light; it should be the master bedroom.
Seeing that she finally showed some genuine satisfaction instead of the polite smile, Long Peiye felt a little relieved.
He followed behind her and pointed to the south-facing room: “This master bedroom has good natural light, you can stay here. I’ll move my things to the room next door in a bit.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Xiangsi subconsciously declined, saying, “Oh, no need, no need. I’ll just stay in the room next door. You’re a grown man, you must have more stuff than me.”
As she spoke, she had already moved to the door of the so-called “guest room” next door.
Peek out and take a look—
Good heavens!
The guest room was noticeably smaller than the master bedroom, with smaller windows, making it dimmer. It was also quite empty, with nothing but a bare bed.
Xu Xiangsi’s expression froze for a second.
She immediately turned back, forcing a bright, almost fake smile onto her face, and said to Long Peiye, “Oh, Battalion Commander Long, you’re so thoughtful! This master bedroom is really nice, with good lighting, which is good for the health of our female comrades!”
She patted Long Peiye’s arm, her tone incredibly sincere: “Then I’ll trouble you to move these things around!”
Long Peiye: “…”
He watched Xu Xiangsi’s expression change faster than flipping through a book, and his lips twitched involuntarily. He found it somewhat amusing.
This woman really won’t suffer even the slightest loss.
“Ahem,” he cleared his throat, suppressing a laugh, “I don’t have much stuff, just a few clothes, so it’s not like I’m having a hard time.”
He gestured with his chin toward the master bedroom: “Why don’t you unpack your things first and see what you brought?”
“Once we’ve finished organizing, let’s make a list and see what daily necessities, pots and pans, etc. we’ll take you to the supply and marketing cooperative on the island and buy everything we need in one go.”
Long Peiye’s gaze fell on the ordinary-looking, even somewhat small, brown leather suitcase at her feet.
“Your little suitcase,” he said with a hint of scrutiny, “probably doesn’t contain much, does it?”
Upon hearing this, Xu Xiangsi smiled mysteriously: “Don’t let the small size of this box fool you, it can hold quite a lot.”
Long Peiye raised an eyebrow, didn’t ask any more questions, turned around and went to the guest room first, moved his few pieces of luggage from the master bedroom to the guest room, and also made up the bare bed in the guest room.
He worked quickly and finished tidying up in no time.
When he came out of the guest room, he wanted to ask Xu Xiangsi if she had made a list yet, but when he looked up, he saw that a small mountain had already been piled up on the big wooden bed in the master bedroom.
Brightly colored polyester shirts, stylish dresses, crisp khaki trousers, and several pairs of different styles of leather and cloth shoes were neatly arranged.
Xu Xiangsi was tidying up her clothes. The small suitcase was already closed and placed to the side. She didn’t know if there was anything left inside.
Long Peiye stood at the door, rubbed his eyes, and took another careful look.
Yes, it’s that small leather suitcase.
Yes, it was those mountains of clothes and shoes.
He took a deep breath, feeling that his materialistic worldview of so many years had been strongly challenged at this moment.
Long Peiye’s brows furrowed, his eyes filled with disbelief: “Xu Xiangsi, is this suitcase of yours… Sun Wukong’s Qiankun bag?”
That’s some serious pretense!
Upon hearing this, Xu Xiangsi proudly raised her chin and slightly twitched her eyebrows.
“I already said,” she said casually, with a hint of pride, “this box can hold a lot.”
Long Peiye’s lips twitched as he looked at the mountain of clothes and then at the unassuming leather suitcase next to it.
“That’s a bit too much of a show-off, isn’t it?” he muttered, feeling that his understanding had been challenged.
He stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the brightly colored clothes.
“Do you need my help to tidy up?” Long Peiye asked, his tone carrying a hint of caution that he himself was unaware of.
Xu Xiangsi waved her hand and continued to gather her treasures without looking up.
“No need, I can do it myself.” She was joking; these were all her valuables, how could she let a man she’d only known for a short time touch them?
Long Peiye hummed in agreement, not pressuring him further.
He thought for a moment, then said, “Then…should we go to the supply and marketing cooperative now and buy back what we’re missing?”
Xu Xiangsi paused in folding clothes, then stretched out a big yawn and let out a comfortable sigh.
“Oh my, I’m so tired today!” she complained, rubbing her shoulders. “From Shanghai to here, by boat and car, my bones are about to fall apart.”
She glanced at Long Peiye and said lazily, “Let’s talk about the supply and marketing cooperative tomorrow. I just want to lie down right now.”
“Oh my, I’m so tired today!” she complained, rubbing her shoulders. “From Shanghai to here, by boat and car, my bones are about to fall apart.”
She glanced at Long Peiye and said lazily, “Let’s talk about the supply and marketing cooperative tomorrow. I just want to lie down right now.”
Long Peiye looked at her languid, cat-like appearance, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.
“Alright.” He nodded, readily agreeing. “Then you go ahead and pack up, and then get some rest.”
He paused for a moment, then continued, “I need to go back to the unit to report for duty, cancel my leave, and take care of some things.”
Xu Xiangsi’s eyes lit up. This was great! She would feel much more at ease if he left.
“I’ll bring dinner back from the cafeteria,” Long Peiye added. “Don’t worry about it, and don’t wander off.”
“Okay! Go ahead! Be careful on the road!” Xu Xiangsi waved her hand readily, eager for him to leave.
Long Peiye didn’t say anything more and turned to leave the military family compound.
He first returned to the headquarters of the Second Regiment, reported his leave to the officer on duty, and made his own report.
Immediately afterwards, he walked straight to the political commissar’s office, which was not far away.
In the office, Political Commissar Zhao Zhenbang was discussing something with the commanders of the First and Second Regiments, as well as a staff officer from the division headquarters, around a map.
“Report!” Long Peiye stood at attention and saluted at the door.
Political Commissar Zhao looked up, saw it was him, and smiled: “Oh, Peiye’s back? Come in, come in. Was the journey smooth?”
Long Peiye strode into the office and saluted again: “Reporting to the political commissar, esteemed leaders, I’m back. Everything went smoothly on the way.”
“Yes, it’s good that you’re back.” Political Commissar Zhao nodded in satisfaction.
Long Peiye took a deep breath, his voice steady yet firm: “Political Commissar, I’m here to report back from leave. Also… I’m getting married.”
The office fell silent instantly, as if the air itself had frozen.
Commissar Zhao’s smile froze.
The pencil in the regimental commander’s hand fell onto the map with a “thud”.
The commander of the Second Regiment suddenly raised his head, his eyes wide open like copper bells.
The division staff officer also opened his mouth in surprise.
“Wh…what?!” Political Commissar Zhao was the first to react, his voice trembling slightly, “Married?!”