Wang Huiping lived in a dormitory belonging to the textile factory, in a small one-bedroom apartment the work unit had assigned to her.
Qin Yuanzheng drove her to the entrance of the dormitory. Wang Huiping opened the car door herself and got out with her child.
She looked at the car, then at the military uniform Qin Yuanzheng was wearing, and smiled gently. “Comrade Qin, I’ll go back in first, then.”
Qin Yuanzheng nodded. After hesitating for a moment, he still said, “See you another day.”
As soon as Wang Huiping heard this, she immediately felt that there was hope. She smiled and nodded. “All right. I live here and work at the textile factory. You can come find me at the factory.”
Qin Yuanzheng agreed. Then he glanced at Xiaoyuan without saying anything more and drove away.
Actually, Qin Yuanzheng still liked children very much.
In this era, there probably weren’t many people who disliked children.
At least, he had once thought about marrying a wife, having several children, and living a harmonious and happy life together.
But now…
He decided to listen to Older Cousin’s advice and spend some time getting to know Wang Huiping. If their personalities suited each other, then starting a family would not be a bad idea.
As he drove, he thought about this. Suddenly, he remembered that he did not know whether Staff Officer Lin had found out anything about that Sun Mingyong.
With that thought in mind, he turned the car around and drove back toward the dormitories of the mining-area troops.
Half an hour later, Staff Officer Lin was already standing inside Qin Yuanzheng’s dormitory.
Staff Officer Lin said, “Regimental Commander, I already went over there to ask around. The Independent Second Battalion doesn’t have anyone named Sun Mingyong at all. Battalion Commander Zhao even had the various companies bring out their rosters for him to check. It’s certain that there’s no one by that name.”
Staff Officer Lin was very thorough in his work. He continued:
“I had them check the people who had retired or been transferred in previous years as well, but there was no one there either. There are two people with the same name, but neither their age nor their place of origin matches. One is over forty and retired due to an injury several years ago. He’s a local. The other is a new recruit who enlisted just last year. He’s only eighteen and is also from this province, not from another place.”
The information Qiao Lanshu had provided indicated that Sun Mingyong was a native of Yangcheng, in the south, and twenty-six years old this year.
Neither of them matched at all.
Qin Yuanzheng had already reached his conclusion.
That Sun Mingyong had probably deliberately deceived the young woman.
This kind of situation was actually quite common.
After all, in this era, the sky was high and the land was far away. Someone could spout any amount of nonsense in a letter, and other people had no way to verify it.
Qin Yuanzheng said, “Then go ask First Battalion and Third Battalion. Ask around in our regiment too. I refuse to believe we can’t find this person.”
Staff Officer Lin said:
“Regimental Commander, actually, I already went to ask First Battalion and Third Battalion as well. Third Battalion said there was no southerner named Sun Mingyong in the troops. However, there is an employee named Sun Mingyong at the North City Food Factory, which cooperates with the military canteen. Sun Mingyong works in the Food Factory’s Business Department and is responsible for coordinating business matters. But I still have to go over tomorrow and verify whether he’s the same person.”
Regardless, Sun Mingyong was definitely not a member of the troops. The young woman had certainly been deceived.
Qin Yuanzheng pondered for a few seconds before asking, “Is this Sun Mingyong married?”
Staff Officer Lin said, “He is. His wife is the daughter of the Food Factory director, and they have a son and a daughter.”
Qin Yuanzheng: “…”
With a grim expression, Qin Yuanzheng said to Staff Officer Lin, “Investigate this Sun Mingyong carefully.”
If Sun Mingyong had truly deceived the young woman and then started a family here, he had committed marriage fraud. A person like that—forget joining the Party; he would have to lose his job as well.
…
Qin Yuanzheng went to the hospital that very night to visit Qiao Lanshu.
He looked inside from the doorway of the hospital room and saw the young woman sitting on the bed with her hair loose, writing a letter on a sheet of paper. She was probably planning to mail it to her family.
The girl looked very obedient and quiet. She really did look like the kind of person who would be easy to deceive.
A pretty, well-behaved young woman like this—if no one protected her, what would happen to her?
Qin Yuanzheng knocked and entered. When Qiao Lanshu saw him, her expression became extremely delighted. “Regimental Commander Qin, did you come to see me?”
She had assumed that Qin Yuanzheng would already have gone home at this hour.
She had not expected that, after coming at noon, he would come again now. She felt a little excited. “Come, sit down.”
As she spoke, she hurried to move a chair for him. Then she picked up the thermos and prepared to pour him some hot water. After that, she went to get the can of food from the table for him to eat.
The can was somewhat difficult to open. She twisted it twice but could not get the lid loose.
Then Qin Yuanzheng suddenly came over. The two of them were very close. When she looked up, she saw the hard, well-defined line of his jaw.
Qin Yuanzheng was still wearing his overcoat. Heat rose from his body, carrying a faint smell of alcohol mixed with the somewhat pungent odor of coal and the cold air of cedar. The combination was warm and heady.
This was the scent that belonged exclusively to Qin Yuanzheng.
Qiao Lanshu’s small face instantly flushed bright red.
Qin Yuanzheng took the can from her hands. His hands were broad, with rough palms and backs, thick knuckles, and long fingers.
With a casual twist, he opened the lid. Then he handed the can back to Qiao Lanshu and said, “There.”
Qiao Lanshu: “…”
Blushing, Qiao Lanshu took the can back. Somewhat embarrassed, she glanced at him and said, “Thank you. You’re so strong.”
Qin Yuanzheng nodded woodenly.
What did this have to do with being strong? He had barely used any force just now.
He sat down and looked at Qiao Lanshu’s slightly flushed face, sighing inwardly once again.
When Qiao Lanshu saw his expression of wanting to speak but stopping himself, she guessed that he had probably already found Sun Mingyong.
After all, it should have been very easy for the troops to find someone.
She already knew the result, so she was not surprised at this moment.
She sat down, placed the can in front of Qin Yuanzheng, and asked softly, “Regimental Commander Qin, you came over so late. Is there something you wanted to tell me?”
Qin Yuanzheng nodded. Hesitation was not in his nature, but at this moment, he still found himself hesitating.
He was worried that the young woman would not be able to take it.
Still, prolonged pain was worse than a quick wound. Rather than let her continue being deceived, it would be better to let her know as soon as possible.
So Qin Yuanzheng told her about Sun Mingyong’s situation.
As he spoke, he kept watching Qiao Lanshu’s expression.
Then, just as he had expected, Qiao Lanshu began to cry.
Her large, dark eyes blinked twice, and two streams of tears rolled down.
Qin Yuanzheng: “…”
Qiao Lanshu had fair skin, and whenever she cried, the tip of her nose turned red. Her eyes glistened with tears as she looked at him and asked, “Is it true? What should I do now?”
Qin Yuanzheng: “…”
Qin Yuanzheng was nearly thirty years old and had even been on the battlefield. He had always considered both his mind and body as hard as steel.
Yet at this moment, his heart still softened.
After remaining silent for a long while, he finally said, “Don’t cry. There are plenty of unmarried men in the troops. Don’t you like battalion commanders? I’ll introduce one to you.”
Qiao Lanshu: “…”
When had she ever said that she liked battalion commanders?
After saying it, Qin Yuanzheng immediately felt that it was a good idea.
There were two unmarried battalion commanders in his regiment.
They were his own soldiers, and he knew better than anyone what kind of people they were.
He could certainly screen them carefully for the young woman.
A girl this obedient definitely needed someone mature and steady who knew how to take care of others. Otherwise, he would not feel at ease either.