“Shouzhang, I want to report Lin Dongguo, a Deputy Battalion Commander of a certain regiment, for the crime of bigamy!”
Qu Chuning strode forward and thrust a letter of introduction and a marriage certificate at the man who had just stepped out of the car.
The soldier on duty cursed inwardly. Why is she still here?
Three days ago, this woman had shown up wanting to report Deputy Battalion Commander Lin for bigamy. But everyone knew that Lin Dongguo had just completed a mission beautifully and was about to be promoted from Deputy Battalion Commander to a battalion-level officer. Moreover, Deputy Battalion Commander Lin already had a wife, who was the younger daughter of the Chief of Staff. He would have to be a fool to let this woman in!
So, the young soldier on duty had brushed her off with a random excuse. He had also informed the colleague who took over his shift, but he hadn’t expected to find her still here when he was back on duty today. And she had even audaciously blocked the regiment commander’s car. The terrified soldier scrambled out.
“What’s going on?”
Xi Muzhou’s voice was a little cold.
The soldier wanted to explain, but when he met the regiment commander’s dark, profound eyes, he was at a loss for words. He couldn’t very well say that he was afraid of offending Deputy Battalion Commander Lin, so he hadn’t let this female comrade onto the base, could he?
Xi Muzhou was a true favorite of the heavens, born into a military family whose ancestors had fought alongside the nation’s leader to establish the country. He himself had enlisted at eighteen and, in just six months, had led a small team to complete a mission with distinction, earning a promotion to squad leader.
Xi Muzhou’s gaze swept over the woman before him like a hawk. The woman was chronically malnourished, with a sallow and gaunt face. She wore old clothes that had been washed countless times. Only her eyes were bright, and she met his gaze without a trace of fear.
“Shouzhang, I really am Lin Dongguo’s wife. I have a letter of introduction from my village and our marriage certificate!”
Looking at the man before her, imposing in his crisp military uniform, and seeing the two bars and one star on his shoulder, Qu Chuning knew her gamble had paid off!
A few days ago, Qu Chuning had opened her eyes to find she had been reborn three years after her marriage to Lin Dongguo. The first thing she did was secretly go to the village, get a letter of introduction, take some money, buy a ticket, and head straight for Lin Dongguo’s unit!
Three years ago, Lin Dongguo had held a wedding banquet with her. Before nightfall, he received an urgent notice from his unit and had to return to his post immediately. Before leaving, he gave her a marriage certificate and told her to take care of the family!
But who could have known that on the battlefield, Lin Dongguo’s life would be saved by a comrade who sacrificed his own? That comrade had only been married for three months. Wracked with guilt, after his promotion, Lin Dongguo simply gave the family quarters and the job that should have been hers to the comrade’s widow!
She had originally thought Lin Dongguo was a man of great loyalty and honor, that a life saved was a debt that could never be repaid, so it was fine to give those things away. But every time she suggested joining him at the base, he would lecture her righteously, saying that as a Military Wife, she needed to raise her ideological awareness. He even deceived her, saying that his Military Medals were half his and half hers!
So, she learned to swallow all her hardships and take care of the family alone. Even during pregnancy and childbirth, she tried to handle it all by herself. She never expected that Lin Dongguo’s “care” for the widow would extend to the bedroom, and that the two of them had been living together as husband and wife outside!
“Let her in.”
With a wave of Xi Muzhou’s hand, the soldier on duty finally let her pass. Xi Muzhou’s orderly then led Qu Chuning straight to Lin Dongguo’s residence.
Xi Muzhou watched Qu Chuning leave, his long fingers stroking the marriage certificate. The three characters for “Qu Chuning” were clearly imprinted in his eyes. He hadn’t expected her name to be so pleasant to the ear. It was just that seeing it placed next to the three characters of “Lin Dongguo” was incredibly jarring!
Lin Dongguo was not worthy of her!
“Comrade, this is Lin Dongguo’s home!”
Qu Chuning stood outside the door and looked up to see women’s clothing hanging to dry in the yard, including a piece of women’s undergarment, women’s cloth shoes, rubber shoes, and a smaller-sized set of women’s work clothes. The yard was filled with the presence of that woman.
Lin Dongguo was stationed in a coastal city in the south. The houses, with their red bricks and black tiles, were built close together, and each household had its own plot of land in front. Lin Dongguo’s was enclosed by a fence. Around the yard, several types of flowers were planted, including Balsam flowers, Lily flowers, and Cockscomb flowers. Qu Chuning couldn’t help but curve her lips into a sneer. This place was certainly managed to feel very much like a home!
It was truly ironic to think about. She was at home, working herself to the bone serving his parents and managing the household, while he was here in his unit, living a happy and blissful life behind closed doors. Perhaps even the heavens couldn’t stand it anymore, which was why they gave her a chance to start over.
The weather here was very hot. Qu Chuning squatted under the eaves to escape the scorching sun.
As time ticked by, a middle-aged woman from the house next to Lin Dongguo’s noticed Qu Chuning. Seeing her sitting on the steps by the door, she immediately poked her head over and asked, “Comrade, you must be Deputy Battalion Commander Lin’s younger sister, right?”
Hearing this, Qu Chuning immediately stood up, pretending to lower her head shyly, and replied in a small voice, “I’m his wife!”
The woman opposite her, who had been all smiles, was suddenly choked up. She cleared her throat awkwardly. “Ah?” Then, she quickly pulled her head back, muttering under her breath, “Wife? How does Lin Dongguo have another wife? Oh my god, this is big trouble!”
Qu Chuning lowered her head, not wanting anyone to see the triumphant glint in her eyes. In her previous life, when she had sensed something was wrong, Lin Dongguo had sworn up and down that he and the widow were innocent. This time, she wanted to see just how “innocent” the two of them really were.
Before long, a few more people were peeking around the front of the yard. They only stole glances at Qu Chuning and then whispered amongst themselves outside the yard.
This continued until that woman pushed open the gate and came in. She was wearing a blue-and-white checkered shirt, her hair in two thick, dark braids. Her features were small and delicate, and her smile was sweet. Seeing Qu Chuning squatting by their door, she even asked gently, “Comrade, are you…”
Qu Chuning stared intently at this woman, the scene before her death flashing through her mind. Her mother-in-law had passed away, and many people came to offer condolences. This woman had returned with Lin Dongguo. But after the burial, just as she was about to discuss with Lin Dongguo and their son that it was time for their family to reunite, she overheard from the doorway this woman and Lin Dongguo discussing how to “deal with” her. And she heard her own son’s voice, sweetly calling that woman “Mama”!
Her body, already weakened by years of hard labor, couldn’t take it. A mouthful of blood clogged her throat, and she died on the spot!
“I’m Lin Dongguo’s wife. Comrade, this is Lin Dongguo’s home, right? And you are?”
Upon hearing this, Shi Zhenzhen’s face turned pale.
Everyone’s eyes darted between Shi Zhenzhen and Qu Chuning. Qu Chuning was dressed like a rural woman, sallow and gaunt from years of labor. Even though her features were pretty, her skin was not as fair as Shi Zhenzhen’s. Standing together, they were a study in black and white.
“What? She’s also Little Lin’s wife? Then who is Zhenzhen?”
“Could Little Lin have made a mistake? Another wife has shown up. Just how many wives does he have?”
“So, Lin Dongguo was already married back home? Then he’s gotten married twice?”
Their words were like sharp knives. With every sentence, Shi Zhenzhen’s face grew a shade paler!
Qu Chuning deliberately raised her voice, afraid that others wouldn’t hear, and asked loudly, “What are you all saying? Comrades, what did you mean just now? What do you mean he married another one?”
Seeing the situation, Shi Zhenzhen quickly tried to grab Qu Chuning’s hand. “Comrade, you must be tired from your long journey. Let’s go inside and talk, okay?”
“I’m not going inside!”
Qu Chuning slapped Shi Zhenzhen’s hand away. She pressed the people who had been gossiping earlier, “Comrades, I just came from my hometown. What did you mean by what you just said? What do you mean Lin Dongguo married another one? I may not be educated, but I know that in our country, men and women can only be married to one person at a time, right? Who is she?”
Shi Zhenzhen panicked. She tugged hard at Qu Chuning. “Whatever you want to know, he’ll be back soon. He can tell you, alright?”
Just as Shi Zhenzhen finished speaking, Lin Dongguo emerged from behind the crowd. He walked briskly to Shi Zhenzhen’s side and took her hand with concern. “Are you okay?”