Evening.
Lu Yan came home from work and, unlike usual, didn’t go to wash up. Instead, he suddenly walked straight up to Su Wanqing.
He removed his military cap, unbuttoned a few buttons at his collar, exposing half his neck. A sharply contoured scar ran from the side of his neck up to above his collarbone.
The stark scar clashed with his cold demeanor.
Su Wanqing turned her head, her attention immediately drawn to it.
Then, a notebook was gently handed over to her.
Su Wanqing blinked and looked up at him.
Lu Yan was also looking down at her, his dark eyes calm as they rested on her with a subtle solemnity.
Only then did Su Wanqing, puzzled, take the notebook. As she flipped it open, several ration coupons and fabric tickets slid out.
Inside was a brand-new allowance booklet.
Su Wanqing’s heart raced. She opened it and was stunned by the sheer amount recorded inside.
Lu Yan’s expression remained his usual composed self, as if he were simply handing over an ordinary item.
She looked at the small notebook, which contained only a few neatly written lines: “No spicy food, less salt, avoid raw and cold, everything else okay.”
Su Wanqing paused for a long moment before looking up at him, her voice slightly dazed: “Lu… Lu Yan, this is…”
Lu Yan lowered his gaze to her; there was no emotional ripple in his eyes, as if saying, it’s all for you.
His eye corners were slightly restrained, thick eyelashes casting a faint shadow below his eyes.
“Whoa!”
A shout came from the side. Lu Zhengming, lying on the sofa with a hawthorn candy in his mouth, sprayed out some candy bits.
“Bro! You gave her your entire allowance booklet?!”
He shot upright, eyes wide as saucers, his jaw almost hitting the floor.
He knew exactly how much the allowance booklet was worth. Although the Lu family had wealth, Lu Yan had always been independent.
This booklet contained all his earnings since enlistment; even the patriarch hadn’t touched it.
And now he just handed it over?
Su Wanqing snapped out of her shock.
This was an allowance booklet!
In this era, every family treated their allowance booklet like a lifeline, relying on it for daily necessities and social obligations.
Lu Yan, however, gave it so casually, without a blink.
And there were so many tickets—all genuine, valuable items—stuffed into the booklet for her.
Su Wanqing felt not just surprise, but a surge of warmth.
So moved…
So much little money…
Don’t worry, Lu Da, I’ll take good care of your stomach and cure your picky eating!
…
Monday’s flag-raising ceremony was especially lively. Everyone from the military district compound gathered on the parade ground.
Su Hua’s face was dark as iron. Clenching his fists, he walked up on stage, eyes sharp but forced, and said, “Comrade Su Wanqing, I misunderstood you earlier. I shouldn’t have hit you. I apologize for what happened.”
After speaking, he didn’t wait for any reaction and quickly stepped aside, as if staying one more second would cost him dearly.
Next, Su Weiwei, dressed in a light pink dacron shirt, walked onto the stage with red-rimmed eyes.
“Comrade Wanqing,” her gaze fell toward the audience, filled with guilt, “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have believed Xiao Wu’s words and accused you of poisoning, making you suffer unjustly. I apologize.”
She then lightly bowed, looking both sincere and pitiable.
Many people in the audience softened, whispering among themselves: “Comrade Su Weiwei seems quite pitiful too. She must have been deceived.”
“Yes, girls have thin skin. If she can apologize publicly, she deserves forgiveness.”
Su Wanqing stood below the stage, arms crossed, silently watching Su Weiwei’s performance.
The tears fell faster than an actor’s, and the apology carried not a shred of sincerity, only calculation.
She could tell without thinking that Su Weiwei would not give up so easily.
But it didn’t matter. Su Wanqing wasn’t afraid.
That morning, the thin mist had yet to clear, and warm yellow light streamed through the small kitchen window.
Su Wanqing ladled steamed yam millet porridge into a white porcelain bowl and placed neatly cut pickled radish on the side, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the bowl’s rim.
This was a combination she had observed for three days—Lu Yan’s least resistant pairing.
When the door creaked, she immediately called out, “Awake? Today’s porridge has some red dates, not sweet but good for your stomach.”
Lu Yan stood at the kitchen doorway, holding his military cap in his hand, his bangs damp with morning dew, softened from his usual sternness.
He wore a clean white shirt, collar buttoned, sleeves rolled to the forearms, revealing sharply defined wrists. His natural refined aura mixed with domestic warmth, looking particularly pleasing.
His gaze swept over the dining table, resting on the steaming bowl of porridge. His Adam’s apple barely moved.
Usually silent when seated, today, after picking up the spoon, he quickly jotted something in the small notebook: “Tastes good.”
Su Wanqing’s eyes instantly curved into a crescent, sparkling with joy: “I’m glad you like it! If the jujube flavor is too light, next time I’ll add two more.”
She propped her chin on her hand, watching him eat, fingers fiddling with a crumpled piece of paper in her pocket.
It was a basic hand-sign chart drawn by Lu Zhengming—gestures for “thank you,” “delicious,” and “goodbye” were drawn extra clearly.
These days she had secretly practiced during lunch breaks, finally able to understand Lu Yan’s simple signs.
She hadn’t mentioned learning sign language to Lu Yan yet.
She planned to surprise him once she had learned enough.
But under this peaceful scene, there were always some discordant notes.
Knock knock— the door opened on time.
Su Wanqing saw Lin Man in blue work clothes standing there.
She carried a medical kit, her eyes sweeping over Su Wanqing with habitual disdain.
“Lu Zhengming’s wound needs dressing. Is the commander home?”
Since three days ago, after Lu Zhengming stayed over, Lin Man, who lived next door, had almost daily visits under the pretense of “regular check-ups and dressing changes.”
Today, early in the morning, she had come again.
Officially, it was for dressing Lu Zhengming’s wound, but in reality…
Su Wanqing clearly understood and stepped aside to let her in, casually calling, “Zhengming, Teacher Lin is here to dress your wound.”
Lu Zhengming, sitting at the table, slurping seafood porridge, mumbled, wiping his mouth: “Teacher Lin, why are you here so early again…”
Lu Yan sat across, eyes slightly lowered, his expression unreadable but emanating a sense of seriousness.
He sipped millet porridge calmly, his movements unhurried, exuding an effortless noble aura.
Lin Man walked in straight, eyes scanning the room.
Seeing Commander Lu quietly seated at the table, her pupils shrank in surprise.
But the next second, that surprise was quickly suppressed by intense jealousy.
Su Wanqing crossed her arms, noting the subtle change.
Lin Man suddenly lowered her voice: “Comrade Su, I’m just saying, Commander Lu is thoughtful and reserved, spending years in the military. Not everyone can understand him. Your superficial efforts may not truly reach his heart.”
“Superficial efforts?”
Su Wanqing raised her eyes, asking plainly rather than lowering her voice, “Doctor Lin, what do you mean by that?”
Lu Yan and Lu Zhengming turned to look.
Lin Man’s face paled, instantly showing a hint of grievance.
“Comrade Su, I was just kindly reminding you…”
Lu Yan put down his utensils, wiped his lips with a napkin, and rose.
He picked up his cap from the chair, placing it neatly on his head, his gaze beneath the brim calm.
The whole movement was fluid and precise, showing his usual efficiency, clearly ready to head out.
Lin Man immediately switched to a submissive expression, forcing a smile and signaling in sign language:
“Here to change Zhengming’s dressing, sorry to bother you.”
Lu Yan nodded in response, his gaze lingering on Su Wanqing.
Su Wanqing knew he was waiting for her to say goodbye, so she smiled and waved, “Goodbye, take care on the way.”
His Adam’s apple rolled silently, his eyes stayed on her face for two extra seconds, then he slowly nodded.
He then strode out.
Lin Man, faced with Lu Yan’s cold response, twisted her expression slightly.
Su Wanqing glanced at her lightly: “Not sure who’s doing superficial work, but it’s completely in vain.”
Lin Man’s face flushed red, eyes filled with anger and embarrassment, as if she had been struck at a sore spot.
Lu Zhengming looked up curiously, observing Teacher Lin, who was too furious to speak, then glanced at Su Wanqing, whose expression was equally stern.
He clicked his tongue silently, staying quiet, pretending not to notice.
Though his sister-in-law was fierce and petty, there was nothing he could do.
After all… his brother liked her.
So, sorry, Teacher Lin.