The courtyard was small, with two brick-tiled houses on each side separated by a small open space that served as the yard. Above the yard, a grape trellis was erected, and beneath it stood a stone table, giving the place a simple, lived-in feel.
Of the two brick-tiled houses on the east side, one was occupied by Lu Chengjing, while the other was vacant—now serving as Lin Shuyao’s temporary lodgings.
On the west side, the innermost room was Bai Qiaolan’s, with the adjacent one used as a washroom and storage area. Further out, a simple adobe kitchen had been built.
Every corner was spotlessly clean, a testament to Bai Qiaolan’s diligence.
As for why Bai Qiaolan had followed her brother-in-law’s army, there was a story behind it.
Officially, she was here to take care of Lu Chengjing, but in reality, like Lin Shuyao, she had come seeking refuge.
The Lu family were genuine Hongmiaomiao, with three generations serving in the military—a family of loyal martyrs.
In Lu Chengjing’s generation, there were only him and his older brother, Lu Chenghuai. The two brothers grew up together, joined the army together, and shared a deep bond.
Two years ago, Lu Chenghuai tragically sacrificed his life during a mission, his remains never recovered, leaving behind only his grieving widow, Bai Qiaolan.
At the time, the elders of the Lu clan had urged Lu Chengjing to consider Jianliao—marrying Bai Qiaolan to preserve the family lineage and ensure her well-being in her later years.
But Lu Chengjing was stubborn and deeply principled. His brother’s sacrifice was already a painful blow, and he could never bring himself to commit such an act against human decency. He firmly refused.
It was around that time that he was introduced to Lin Shuyao. Impressed by her upright family background, education, and good looks, he promptly agreed and registered their marriage.
For Lu Chengjing, this was the most straightforward way to reject Jianliao and provide an explanation to his family and the organization.
Bai Qiaolan understood clearly that Lu Chengjing held only the respect due to an elder sister-in-law, with no romantic feelings whatsoever. Still, she was in no hurry…
But now that Lin Shuyao had arrived—this nominal sister-in-law, no matter how absurd her past might have been, was Chengjing’s lawfully wedded wife. As the widowed sister-in-law, Bai Qiaolan now felt like an outsider.
This left her deeply unsettled.
“Well… I’ll go boil some water for you. Comrade Lin has traveled a long way; freshening up will make her more comfortable.” Seeing that neither of them paid her any attention, Bai Qiaolan suppressed her complicated emotions and headed to the kitchen on her own.
The interior of the room was about what Lin Shuyao had expected—simple but tidy. Against the wall stood a wooden plank bed, and in the corner was a wardrobe. Beyond that, the room was bare.
“It’s quite nice. Thank you, Battalion Commander Lu.”
Lu Chengjing glanced at her, his thin lips parting slightly. “Don’t call me that.”
Lin Shuyao was taken aback. “Huh? Then what should I call you?”
Lu Chengjing’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he uttered two words: “…Comrade.”
Lin Shuyao: “…”
Just a moment ago, it was “darling,” and now it’s “comrade”?
Fine, comrade it is. Keeping him steady is what matters most.
“Thank you for taking me in, Comrade Lu. I truly appreciate it.”
Lin Shuyao’s gratitude was sincere. Though they had never met before, based on Lu Chengjing’s words and actions alone, she owed him thanks.
First, he hadn’t made things difficult for her. Second, he hadn’t pressed for explanations. Third, he bore no grudges.
He was definitely a good person!
Lu Chengjing gave her a deep look. “No need.”
With those two words, he turned and left.
Lin Shuyao didn’t mind. Cold on the outside but warm on the inside—no big deal.
Before she could even start tidying up, Lu Chengjing returned carrying a basin of water. His military uniform sleeves were rolled up, revealing sturdy wrists. He wrung out the cloth and got straight to work, his movements crisp and efficient. “You go on outside. This room hasn’t been lived in for years—there’s a lot of dust.”
“Comrade Lu, I can manage on my own. You’ve already accompanied me to the hospital and pushed me all the way back. You must be exhausted.”
Lu Chengjing paused while wiping the edge of the kang, not looking up. “You’re weak. Just rest.”
His firm tone left no room for argument.
Lin Shuyao pursed her lips and decided not to insist further. She obediently retreated to the doorway, watching his tall figure move busily around the small room.
Lu Chengjing worked meticulously and efficiently, wiping every surface carefully, even the corners and edges. Every move he made was precise and orderly.
Sunlight slanted in through the window, falling on his straight profile. His features were sharp, and his eyelashes cast faint shadows, giving him an unexpectedly gentle look.
Lin Shuyao found herself staring, slightly mesmerized.
This man might appear cold and stern, but his heart was truly considerate.
The original host really was blind—failing to cherish such a good man and instead throwing herself at that ungrateful Chen Zhiheng.
In no time, the room was cleaned spotlessly, and even the air felt fresher.
Lu Chengjing then brought in two brand-new cotton quilts. These were newly issued by the military, and as a battalion-level cadre, he had only been allocated two.
It was said that girls from Jingdu were delicate, and the wooden bed was hard. He planned to have one quilt serve as a mattress and the other as a blanket.
There were also brand-new enamel mugs, enamel basins, toothbrushes, peony-patterned towels, and more…
Lu Chengjing was thorough and attentive, but Lin Shuyao only felt he was being overly polite.
Since he was such a good person, the issue of getting her work approval signed should be a sure thing!
She had no idea just how scarce these items were.
Lin Shuyao came from the 21st century, accustomed to a life of convenience. Usually focused on scientific research, she paid little attention to worldly matters and never worried about daily trivialities.
Even though she knew the southwest in the 1970s was impoverished, her mind was solely on the land and crop seeds, not the scarcity of daily necessities.
Even after transmigrating into the book, she hadn’t suffered much at the Lin family. The Lin family was well-off—both her parents were cadres, her eldest and second brothers held good jobs, and they doted on her in every way.
“Alright, you tidy up your things. Once you’re done, go wash up and get ready for dinner.”
Lu Chengjing glanced at Lin Shuyao’s luggage, signaling for her to handle it herself, then turned and left.
“Comrade Lu, thank you!”
Lu Chengjing paused briefly but didn’t turn back, only uttering a faint “Mm” before his figure disappeared through the doorway.
Lin Shuyao looked at the refreshed furnishings in the room, then at her heavy luggage. She smiled and shook her head, starting to unpack.
As soon as she opened her luggage, she found everything inside—several sets of expensive, beautiful clothes, all packed by her mother, who believed her daughter should dress properly when reuniting with her husband.
Lin Shuyao didn’t pay much attention to these. After hanging them in the wardrobe, she carefully organized her agricultural notes. They were the culmination of her efforts from her previous life and the foundation of her confidence in conducting scientific research in the southwest.
As Lu Chengjing stepped out of the room, he bumped into Bai Qiaolan standing at the kitchen door. Her eyes held a hint of curiosity as she asked softly, “Chengjing, Comrade Lin just arrived and is still weak. We haven’t had time to prepare dishes at home. How about I cook some porridge and stir-fry some shredded potatoes? Will that do?”
“Sister-in-law, slice up the ham sent from the military farm and add another dish to the table.”
Bai Qiaolan was slightly taken aback, feeling a pang of discomfort in her heart.
That ham… was an award for Chengjing’s meritorious service, earned with his life. They couldn’t even bear to eat it during holidays. Why should Lin Shuyao get such treatment as soon as she arrives?