Li Zhan strode over and snatched the shoulder pole from her hands. “What are you doing?”
Wen Wan rubbed her aching wrist and replied softly, “I’m learning how to carry water. We have to make a living somehow.”
“I’m here,” Li Zhan said in a deep voice. “You don’t need to do this.”
He picked up the buckets, filled them effortlessly, and poured the water into the storage vat with practiced efficiency.
Watching him move so skillfully, Wen Wan pursed her lips and said quietly, “Things are different now. I can’t keep relying on other people. I have to learn how to adapt to life here.”
Li Zhan paused and turned to look at her, surprise and admiration flickering across his eyes.
He set down the buckets, walked over, and suddenly took hold of her wrist.
“Let’s talk inside.”
Instinctively, Wen Wan tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened.
“Captain Li!” Her ears flushed crimson as she lowered her voice. “L-Let go!”
Looking down at her, Li Zhan asked calmly, “Do you dislike me?”
“No!” she blurted out, then found herself at a loss for words.
“Even if this is a fake marriage, we have to act like a real couple,” he said firmly, leaving no room for argument. “Otherwise, people will notice something’s off. We could end up inviting trouble where there isn’t any.”
His reasoning was perfectly sound, leaving Wen Wan speechless. She could only let him lead her into the house.
Once inside, Li Zhan released her hand and pulled a letter bearing an official red seal from inside his jacket.
“The Commander wants to see you.”
“The Commander?!” Wen Wan’s eyes widened. “Why does he want to see me?”
Li Zhan poured her a cup of water, his tone softening.
“Don’t be nervous. The blueprints you handed over are a major contribution to the country. The leadership wants to commend you in person.”
After a brief pause, he added, “He’ll probably ask about your background. Your family situation is… complicated. Your ex-husband’s actions are his own, not yours. Just tell the truth. There’s no need to hide anything.”
Holding the cup, Wen Wan felt her fingertips tremble slightly.
She quickly organized her thoughts—which things she could say, which she couldn’t, and which needed to remain vague.
“When are we going?” she asked.
“This afternoon.”
Li Zhan glanced at the mud splattered on her pants and her slightly messy hair.
“Go clean up and change into something presentable.”
“It’s not that dirty,” Wen Wan replied. “I’ll just wear this.”
She wanted to maintain the image of someone hardworking, frugal, and unafraid of hardship. Surely that would leave a good impression on the Commander.
“You need to change,” Li Zhan insisted. “After we’re done, we’ll go register our marriage.”
Wen Wan froze for a few seconds.
Talking about getting married was one thing, but actually doing it still made her uneasy. Still, there was no turning back now.
In the end, she nodded and went into the inner room to unpack her luggage. She chose a simple light-blue blouse and black trousers, wiped her face with a damp towel, and neatly tied back her hair.
The woman in the mirror was thinner than she had been in Shanghai, but her eyes were steadier and more resolute than ever.
After changing clothes, Wen Wan followed Li Zhan toward the military headquarters. Though anxious inside, she kept a calm expression.
Walking ahead of her, Li Zhan glanced back from time to time to make sure she was keeping up.
Just before they reached headquarters, he suddenly stopped.
“When you meet the Commander, salute first.”
Wen Wan nodded and performed a crisp military salute—something Li Zhan had taught her only moments earlier.
A hint of satisfaction flashed through his eyes.
“Keep your answers brief. If you don’t know something, just say so. Don’t make anything up. And whatever you do, don’t speak on behalf of your ex-husband’s family.”
“Got it.”
Taking a deep breath, Wen Wan followed him through the gates.
As soon as they entered the compound, Political Commissar Zhao came over with a broad smile.
“Comrade Wen Wan! We’ve finally met!”
He looked her over from head to toe.
“No wonder Li Zhan chose you. You look full of spirit.”
Li Zhan introduced them.
“This is Commissar Zhao.”
Embarrassed by the compliment, Wen Wan lowered her head slightly.
“Hello, Commissar.”
Old Zhao laughed heartily before turning to Li Zhan.
“The Commander wants to see Comrade Wen Wan alone. You’ll wait here.”
“Alone?” Li Zhan frowned.
Patting him on the shoulder, Zhao chuckled.
“Relax. It’s not like the Commander is going to eat her.”
Military orders were absolute.
Li Zhan could only stand where he was and watch Wen Wan disappear through the door. His eyes remained fixed on it, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the seam of his trousers.
Looking back at him, Zhao shook his head.
“Look at you. I’ve never seen you this nervous—not even during an ambush.”
Li Zhan: “…”
Li Zhan paced back and forth outside the Commander’s office. Sweat trickled down from his brow, but he didn’t even notice.
An hour later, the office door finally creaked open.
He rushed forward immediately, his anxious gaze sweeping over Wen Wan from head to toe. Only after confirming she was unharmed did the tension leave his shoulders.
The Commander emerged with his hands clasped behind his back. Seeing Li Zhan’s expression, he couldn’t help teasing him.
“Li Zhan, you look like you’re afraid I might’ve eaten your wife.”
Li Zhan snapped to attention and saluted.
“Reporting, Commander! Absolutely not!”
The Commander waved dismissively with a smile.
“All right. Comrade Wen Wan already told me you two haven’t registered your marriage yet. Go get the paperwork done. Don’t keep putting it off.”
“Yes, Commander!”
After leaving the military compound, Li Zhan finally asked in a low voice,
“What did the Commander ask you?”
Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Wen Wan answered softly,
“He asked where the blueprints came from, about my family background, and whether I could work as a translator. The blueprints are all in foreign languages, and they can’t read them.”
She suddenly stopped walking and looked up at him.
“Oh, right. The Commander said there are several people in the Third Regiment named Li Zhan. He even mentioned that one of them is a battalion commander?”
Li Zhan swallowed hard before quickly changing the subject.
“Ah, right! My surname isn’t exactly common. That battalion commander’s name is actually Li Zhan with a different Chinese character, and there’s also a staff officer named Li Zhan with yet another character. There are a lot of people here, and plenty of names sound alike.”
After a pause, he added casually,
“The Commander speaks with a strong regional accent. It’s perfectly normal to mishear him. We misunderstand him all the time.”
Seeing that Wen Wan still looked skeptical, Li Zhan suddenly lowered his voice and mimicked the Commander’s distinctive dialect.
“Little Li, you need to handle your work properly!”
His imitation was so perfect that he even copied the Commander’s trademark frown.
Wen Wan burst into laughter, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
“You’re so bold! You even dare imitate the Commander!”
Watching her laugh, Li Zhan finally felt the weight lift from his heart.
The Civil Affairs Bureau wasn’t far from the military base.
By the time Wen Wan and Li Zhan arrived, several couples were already waiting in line.
Standing in the queue, Li Zhan unconsciously straightened his collar and tugged at his sleeves, making sure his military uniform was impeccably neat.
Wen Wan stole a glance at him and realized that this man, who was usually decisive and fearless, now seemed surprisingly awkward.
“Are you nervous?” she asked softly.
Li Zhan cleared his throat.
“No.”
But his fingers unconsciously rubbed the seam of his trousers, betraying the turmoil in his heart.