After Xi Muzhou left for work, Qu Chuning felt completely disoriented. Back in their village, if any family managed to connect with someone from the city, it would draw envious glances from many, let alone securing an iron rice bowl job like this.
With this job, Qu Chuning could transfer her household registration to the garrison location. From then on, she would be a non-agricultural registered resident!
Everything she had failed to obtain while slaving for Lin Dongguo in her previous life—now, just a short time after marrying Xi Muzhou, she had it all!
Whether it was housing, work, or even his salary, everything had been handed over to her. Qu Chuning couldn't help but wonder repeatedly: What kind of life had she been living in her past existence? Had it been so unbearable that heaven granted her a chance to start over?
Qu Chuning had assumed she would quickly build good relationships with her neighbors and seamlessly adapt to her role as a Military Wife. Yet, every time she stepped out to use the public restroom or take a stroll, many people would turn away upon seeing her, and some would even dart off after just a glance!
To this day, Qu Chuning was utterly baffled, completely unaware of when she had offended them. How had she become someone everyone avoided?
In the evening, Qu Chuning prepared a simple meal of two dishes and a soup: stir-fried bean sprouts and scrambled eggs with chives. She had considered adding some meat, as there were plenty of Meat Ration Coupons at home, but she had no idea where to buy meat. Whenever she ventured out to ask someone, people shunned her as if she were poison, leaving her with no one to turn to.
So, during dinner, Qu Chuning asked where she could find a place to buy meat nearby.
"I'm off tomorrow—I'll take you around!"
It was this very statement that finally unraveled the mystery that had plagued Qu Chuning for days.
Why was she being avoided by everyone? It all boiled down to Xi Muzhou's position. It was true that he was a Regimental Commander, a bona fide senior colonel, but he was also the head of the Inspection Team.
This Inspection Team was an entity that everyone in the military steered clear of, regardless of rank or age!
Xi Muzhou was tall and imposing, with long limbs and a large stride. After a day of walking with him, Qu Chuning developed two blisters on her feet. Once inside, she slumped onto a stool, too exhausted to move.
Xi Muzhou glanced at Qu Chuning, assuming she was just worn out, and without a word, started preparing the meal.
"Qu Chuning!"
Just as Qu Chuning had taken off her shoes, a woman's shrill voice echoed from outside. Before she could slip her shoes back on and step out, a female comrade in her thirties burst in, pointing an accusatory finger at Qu Chuning. "Was it you? Did you steal my job?"
Qu Chuning's eyes widened. "Comrade, what are you talking about? What job? I don't understand."
"Don't play dumb with me! The job at the printing factory was supposed to be mine. Why did they give it to you?"
At the mention of the printing factory job, Qu Chuning instinctively looked toward Xi Muzhou, who was cooking.
Xi Muzhou's tall frame, adorned with a dark blue apron tied around his waist, startled the woman who had come to confront them.
"Regiment Commander Xi, you… you're here?"
Then, her face flushed with embarrassment—today was a day off. Her husband was off duty, so Xi Muzhou must be off duty too. Who had given her the nerve to storm in here and confront Qu Chuning? Regret washed over her as she cautiously edged her way out.
Xi Muzhou merely cast a brief, indifferent glance her way and said coldly, "If I recall correctly, you’re Deputy Battalion Commander Leng’s spouse, aren’t you?"
Zhan Qiuhong instinctively wanted to wave her hand dismissively but thought better of it. She replied sheepishly, "Regiment Commander Xi, I’ve been here with the army for almost half a year now. About the job matter…"
"Go ask Deputy Battalion Commander Leng for the details when you get back!"
Not daring to say another word, Zhan Qiuhong left the Xi residence and headed straight to Lin Dongguo’s home. She barged in without knocking and demanded, "Shi Zhenzhen, did you deliberately egg me on to confront Qu Chuning? Did she really steal that job?"
Shi Zhenzhen had just returned from her parents' home not long ago. She had run into Zhan Qiuhong on the way and heard from others that back when she had wanted a job at the printing factory, her father, worried about criticism, had refused to help. Desperate to escape her family, she had ended up with her current life. So why should Qu Chuning, a country bumpkin fresh from the countryside, get that job without lifting a finger?
That’s why she had told Zhan Qiuhong when they met on the road.
"Isn’t that the case?" Facing the furious Zhan Qiuhong, Shi Zhenzhen concealed the faint disdain in her eyes and said softly, "Qiuhong, don’t overthink it. What can we do? She’s just lucky to have married a regimental commander."
This comment only fueled Zhan Qiuhong’s anger, her face turning red with rage. "Isn’t there any order of priority? I’ve been here first, waiting for almost half a year. Why should she get it before me? Just because Xi Muzhou holds a higher rank?"
Seeing Zhan Qiuhong’s anger flare up again, Shi Zhenzhen lowered her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Oh, what can we do? Those are the organization’s rules. Alright, Qiuhong, don’t be upset. I bought two handkerchiefs, and one of them would suit you perfectly. Let me get it for you!"
After Zhan Qiuhong left, Shi Zhenzhen gritted her teeth and muttered, "He actually went and married a country woman. Who knows how she managed to snag him?"
At this, Shi Zhenzhen suddenly thought of something and hurried over to Lin Dongguo, whispering, "Tell me, why would Xi Muzhou marry that country woman? It’s only been a few days. Did you see how she came asking for money the other day? Xi Muzhou helped her then too. If he hadn’t brought her in, she wouldn’t have been able to enter this place at all. Could it be they were already involved long ago?"
Lin Dongguo jerked his head up, thought for a moment, then shook his head. "That’s impossible. Don’t forget, our hometown is over a thousand kilometers away from here!"
He had already looked into it. Qu Chuning had only arrived at the garrison three days before she came to find him. How could they have gotten involved so quickly? What did she take this place for?
Shi Zhenzhen pursed her lips. "If that’s the case, then she’s even more formidable. With just one meeting, she managed to make him willingly marry her!"
Xi Muzhou was the captain of the Inspection Team. If not for his exceptional skills, he would likely have been ambushed even while on leave. Over thirty and still unmarried, the Political Commissar had repeatedly tried to matchmake him—Shi Zhenzhen had heard of several such attempts. Most fell through because the women found him taciturn and unyielding, like a foul-smelling rock in an outhouse, leading to the proposals fizzling out.
On the rare occasion a woman didn’t mind his demeanor, Regiment Commander Xi showed no consideration for her feelings, turning away without a second glance.
Thus, in everyone’s view, Xi Muzhou’s difficulty in finding a wife stemmed from two reasons. As speculation went, if he remained unchanged, he was doomed to lifelong bachelorhood. Their military district certainly wouldn’t introduce anyone to him anymore, and given his rock-hard personality, no woman elsewhere would likely marry him either!
Yet, this very man married Qu Chuning within a matter of days!
Had it been anyone else, Shi Zhenzhen and Lin Dongguo wouldn’t have been so astounded. Days later, Lin Dongguo still hadn’t recovered from the shock.
“With her looks, and at first sight…”