Su Qiao weighed the parcel in her hand. It was surprisingly heavy.
This much weight didn’t look like a letter.
The postal worker helped her carry the huge army-green canvas bag upstairs. Wiping away his sweat, he exclaimed, “Girl, your husband is really generous! I’ve been delivering mail for so many years, and I’ve never seen anyone send such a huge parcel home!”
Su Qiao smiled, thanked him, and closed the door.
The entire world instantly fell silent.
She placed the parcel on the living room carpet and took out a Swiss Army knife from her space. With a swift motion, she cut through the thick hemp rope wrapped around the canvas bag.
The parcel opened.
There was no fancy packaging, only the most down-to-earth kind of shock.
Stacks of neatly bundled large-denomination bills, each secured with rubber bands, were arranged like bricks. Beside them were thick stacks of various ration coupons—national grain coupons, local grain coupons, cloth coupons, meat coupons, and even several industrial coupons and bicycle coupons that were extremely difficult to obtain in this era!
There were more than twice as many as last time.
And lying quietly on top of the money and coupons was a kraft-paper envelope.
For no apparent reason, Su Qiao’s heart skipped a beat.
She opened the envelope and pulled out the letter inside.
The handwriting was familiar, bold and forceful, but this time it was noticeably more hurried and messy than before. The pauses and strokes seemed to reveal the writer’s anxiety.
“Comrade Su Qiao:”
The salutation was still as formal and businesslike as ever.
But the contents were completely different.
“Letter received. There is no need to panic about matters at home. I have already contacted Minister Liu of the County Armed Forces Department. He is an old comrade-in-arms of mine. If anyone comes to harass you again, or if you encounter any problem you cannot resolve, go directly to the Armed Forces Department and find him. Just give him my name. Your safety comes first in everything. Do not get into arguments with anyone.”
The letter paused here.
The next paragraph had been written with even greater force, almost as if the pen had nearly torn through the paper.
“The money and ration coupons I sent last time may not have been enough. I have made up the difference this time. Buy whatever you are lacking. Do not try to save money. If the house is unsafe, Minister Liu will help arrange more suitable accommodation for you. Remember, do not let yourself suffer any grievances.”
Just a few short lines. There wasn’t a single word of comfort, yet every sentence was an arrangement.
There wasn’t a single sweet word, yet every line carried the unmistakable message: I’ve got you covered.
Holding the letter, Su Qiao could almost clearly picture what Gu Changfeng must have looked like after receiving her “green tea” letter.
He must have been sitting in his office, his handsome, sword-like brows furrowed, reading the letter over and over.
Then he would have become restless, pacing back and forth in the room, his fingers unconsciously tightening as his Adam’s apple bobbed.
Finally, this man who was accustomed to solving everything through action would have picked up the phone and used every connection at his disposal to pave every road and clear every obstacle for her, thousands of miles away.
Well, well.
Had this iceberg really been worked into a frenzy by just one letter from her?
There was no need to worry about me. Even a delicate woman like me can handle everything on my own.
I was only teasing you.
The corners of Su Qiao’s lips rose uncontrollably.
She had thought he would write back to question her or warn her in an even colder, sterner tone not to cause trouble.
She never expected him to use the simplest and most straightforward method to give her the strongest possible support.
A responsible man really wasn’t bad～
He thought she was a delicate little wife at home, frightened and trembling because of thieves and troublesome relatives.
Little did he know that the “delicate little wife” in his eyes had turned around and gone alone into the black market, earning several years’ worth of his military pay. She had quietly become a little rich woman carrying thousands of yuan in cash in her pocket.
That fascinating information gap created such a strong contrast that Su Qiao found it… especially amusing.
Being awkwardly yet unquestionably protected by someone was indeed enough to warm her heart, which had been cold for ten years.
Just a little.
She carefully put away the money and ration coupons, paying special attention to the brand-new bicycle coupon.
Now that was a good thing.
She decided that tomorrow she would put on the entire show.
Early the next morning.
Su Qiao changed into the floral Dacron blouse she hadn’t worn in ages and dressed herself up to look like a simple, slightly naive newlywed bride.
Carrying the thick stack of coupons and money, she headed straight for the largest supply and marketing cooperative in the county.
News sometimes traveled faster than the wind.
Somehow, the story that Battalion Commander Gu doted on his wife and had emptied his savings to send home had already spread throughout the military compound.
When Su Qiao appeared at the supply cooperative and, under the salesclerk’s indifferent stare and disdainful attitude, calmly slapped down a thick stack of brand-new ration coupons, the entire store fell silent.
“Comrade, I’ll take all of this pork belly.”
“These bolts of Dacron—the colors are nice. Wrap them all up for me.”
“And two cans of malted milk powder.”
“Oh, right. A bicycle coupon.”
When Su Qiao took out the brand-new Forever-brand bicycle coupon bearing a bright red official stamp, a collective gasp came from those around her.
The salesclerk’s originally icy face instantly blossomed into a chrysanthemum-like smile. She became so enthusiastic that it was as if she had just seen her own mother.
No, more like her grandmother!
“Oh my! Sister! Please wait! I’ll go get your bicycle right away! I guarantee it’s brand-new stock that just arrived. It’ll be gleaming!”
Under countless complicated gazes filled with envy, jealousy, and curiosity, Su Qiao wore a shy expression, as though she was completely at a loss over all the attention.
With one hand holding the handlebars of her brand-new, mirror-shiny Forever bicycle, with meat hanging from the handlebars and fabric and various food items tied to the back seat, she returned home in grand style, surrounded by a group of military wives.
Sister-in-law Wang looked at the gleaming bicycle, her envy practically spilling out of her eyes.
“Qiaoqiao, Changfeng really is capable, and he certainly knows how to spoil you! There aren’t even many bicycles like this in the entire county!”
“Yes, Changfeng treats me… very well.” Su Qiao lowered her head, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, while a perfectly timed blush spread across her cheeks.
That shy and blissful appearance completely cemented her image as a woman who was cherished and spoiled by her husband.
Just as she was enjoying the attention from everyone around her, a young man in a clean military uniform quickly walked toward her.
The man was very young, appearing to be only a little over twenty. His skin was a healthy bronze, his eyes bright and clear, and he stood ramrod straight.
He first looked at Su Qiao with some uncertainty, then his gaze fell on the brand-new bicycle beside her, as though he had confirmed something.
He took several quick steps forward and stopped in front of Su Qiao. His feet came together, and he raised his hand sharply, giving her an impeccably crisp military salute.
The sharp movement instantly silenced the surrounding chatter.
“Are you Sister-in-law Gu?”
The young soldier’s voice was loud and clear, carrying a hint of barely concealed nervousness.
“I’m Wang Xiaohu from the Battalion Headquarters Guard Company. Commander Gu… Commander Gu asked me to come and check on you.”