Yun Ruo’s intimidation had angered the female soldier.
She continued to taunt, “At this charity sale, you’re keeping half the money for yourself.”
“Yun Ruo is a miser. When she buys things, she practically splits them in two before spending.”
“Hahaha, no wonder she’s the stingiest person in the compound.”
“Exactly, too shrewd.”
Yun Ruo realized she couldn’t win an argument against a group, so she laughed too. “You’re laughing at me, huh? I’m just careful. I value what I use, so everything I sell is good quality.”
Her explanation made the buyers nod in agreement. “Indeed, the items are old, but they’re all good…”
On the west side of the charity sale area.
Su Yechuan stood under a camphor tree, watching Yun Ruo.
She was shouting confidently, handling all kinds of malice with ease.
But only Su Yechuan knew that her skillful handling wasn’t innate; she had learned it all after being bullied by others, which made her so clever.
As night fell, the charity sale ended.
Yun Ruo piled all the money on the ground, counting each note.
A full fifteen yuan.
One of the soldiers organizing the fundraising asked, “Comrade Yun, how much are you donating?”
Yun Ruo shoved all the money into the collection box. “All of it.”
After handing over the money, she headed to the cafeteria.
Su Yechuan followed her all the way, watching her take a bun and a portion of stir fried sauce…
He felt a pang in his chest. Carrying a few bags of food, he headed toward Yun Ruo’s dorm.
Evening.
When Yun Ruo returned to her dorm and saw the food at the door, she didn’t hesitate. She ran deep into the residential compound and knocked on Su Yemang’s door.
“小Mang, give these back to your brother…”
The next day.
5:30 p.m.
At the compound, the people making tofu rang the bell…
Su Yemao had caught a cold today and carried a basin out to make the tofu…
Xiao Ye happened to be picking vegetables at the door and saw Su Yemang coughing as she went out to make tofu.
At that moment, Su Yueyue rode by on her bicycle, but the snow was too slippery. She fell heavily with a “thump!” and cut her foot on a stone…
Su Yueyue lay on the ground, tears immediately streaming down.
She turned to Xiao Ye, “Captain Xiao, can you ride me to the infirmary?”
Xiao Ye hesitated for a moment, then went over…
At the intersection.
Su Yemang arrived too late; the tofu vendor had already left.
She had no choice but to carry the empty basin home.
As soon as she reached the doorstep, she saw Xiao Ye riding a bicycle, with Su Yueyue sitting behind him, looking shy.
Su Yemang froze.
When they had been in the countryside years ago, he had always carried her like this, riding through fields and villages.
She never expected that years later, the person on the back of his bike would no longer be her.
The bicycle quickly rode off…
Su Yemang dropped the aluminum basin she was holding.
7:00 p.m.
Xiao Ye returned from the clinic and ran into the tofu vendor on the road.
He knew Su Yemang loved tofu most when she had a cold, so he asked about her buying tofu. The vendor said she hadn’t bought any.
Xiao Ye was silent for a moment, then asked, “Do you still have tofu at home, Uncle?”
The man smiled, “Yes, but it’s not ground yet.”
Xiao Ye’s eyes lit up. “I’ll help you grind it…”
10:00 p.m.
Xiao Ye, dust covered and exhausted, returned carrying two blocks of tofu.
He knocked on Su Yemang’s door and handed over the tofu. “Here, I bought extra for you.”
Su Yemang was surprised, then immediately remembered how he had just ridden the bike with Su Yueyue on the back.
After a moment of silence…
She took out twenty cents and four taels of ration coupons and shoved them at Xiao Ye. “Thank you. You can go now.”
After saying that, she coldly closed the door.
Xiao Ye braced the door with one hand. “Trying to get rid of me so badly?”
Su Yemang stepped back. “It’s late. Not appropriate.”
Xiao Ye’s voice was low, serious. “Why?”
Su Yemang’s face was cold. “I’m a divorced woman. Of course it’s not appropriate.”
“It’s not appropriate,” Xiao Ye ground out through gritted teeth. “If I’m staying, I’d go stay with an unmarried woman.”
Su Yemang froze.
Then she let out a mocking laugh. “Fine, please go quickly.”
“Hmm.” Xiao Ye said and turned to leave.
Su Yemang stayed frozen at the doorway.
A few minutes later…
Xiao Ye actually returned, and without a word, reached out and touched Su Yemang’s forehead.
At that touch, Su Yemang’s ribs trembled slightly on both sides. She raised her hand and sharply pushed him away with a “smack!”
Xiao Ye’s eyes darkened suddenly. “Fine!”
After confirming she had no fever, he finally unclenched his fist with a forceful release.
Su Yemang turned her head. “Weren’t you going to see an unmarried girl? Please go. The organization didn’t tell you to take care of a neighbor like me you’re going overboard.”
Xiao Ye froze, staring at Su Yemang, saying nothing.
Su Yemang felt an oppressive darkness in front of her.
The atmosphere was awkward.
Xiao Ye turned around, veins on the back of his hand twitching twice.
He said nothing, went back, dumped a pile of firewood at Su Yemang’s door, then slammed it shut with a “bang!”
The night was pitch black.
Su Yemang finished her simple wash, hugged a copy of Radiation Studies, Volume III, and fell into a deep sleep.
At the Xiao residence…
Xiao Ye’s eyes were dark, his mind restless.
All he could think about was Su Yemang.
These years, this was his routine: before sleeping, he would think of her for a while, then sleep; upon waking, he would think of her again.
When he first enlisted, he would think of her while making the bed, during morning drills, and even during sub zero cross country runs.
Even in heavy rain, scooping water with a cup, or when hunger made his legs weak, he would think of her.
Only during urgent missions did he not have the chance, but once they ended, he would immediately start thinking of her again.
He lived like this for five years, rising from a rookie to squad leader, then platoon leader, company commander, and now battalion commander.
He constantly searched for Su Yemang while trying to forget her.
He would think maybe one day he would suddenly find her, or maybe… one day he would forget her.
The painful memory made him restless.
Xiao Ye slapped himself, then took a bucket and went to the outside well to fetch water…
Making two trips, he left four full buckets of water at Su Yemang’s door, knocked, and left.
Winter days seemed short, and in the blink of an eye, it was afternoon.
Su Yemang went to the service store to buy things and ran into Xiao Ye again on the way back.
He was talking to a female comrade. Seeing Su Yemang passing by busy… he paused for a moment, didn’t look at her, and then continued chatting politely with the woman.
Su Yemang walked on without noticing.
Then, the chatter behind her suddenly stopped.
She didn’t think much of it and kept walking.
When she reached the crossroads, she saw two people at the alley entrance.
There was the sound of an argument.
Su Yemang approached and realized it was her brother, Su Yechuan, and Yun Ruo. Yun Ruo had long braids, tied at the ends with red wool into bows.
She immediately hid behind a tree.
She saw her brother Su Yechuan rolling up his sleeves, blocking Yun Ruo.
Su Yechuan carried a technician’s canvas bag. “Yun Ruo, you want to set up a stall next to the service store? Will the military district approve?”
Yun Ruo replied sharply, “You’re so short on money! Why won’t you accept the money I offered you?”