Su Su learned from Qin Xutao that the military held an ice-skating competition every year, and everyone in the unit could participate.
At the ice-skating competition, people often met potential matches, so it was considered a special event—a kind of social gathering in disguise.
Su Su had learned to ice skate for two years as a child, which was why she agreed to participate at Fang Yingqiu’s invitation.
Since she had decided to join the competition, the first thing was to prepare all her equipment.
In this era, ice-skating gear was relatively simple, with not much protective equipment—mainly just relying on the skates themselves.
Su Su concentrated for a moment, and when she opened her eyes again, she was inside her space.
She went to the second zone of her space, and following the categories she had marked when she stocked supplies, she quickly found some ice-skating gear.
However, all the equipment was brand new. She couldn’t take it out in front of everyone, or it might cause unnecessary trouble.
Su Su thought for a moment.
There was a pair of black skates that could be used—they weren’t too flashy. If anyone asked, she could just say she bought them in Shanghai.
But what about the protective gear?
She hadn’t skated in years, and she would need practice to regain her skills. She didn’t want to get injured before even stepping onto the rink.
The ready-made ones wouldn’t work.
Then, she could make the protective gear herself.
Su Su quickly sketched the design on paper, then tore some red fabric, leather, and cotton from her space.
With needles and thread in hand, she went to ask Sister Fang for help.
Sister Fang, upon hearing this, immediately patted her chest and said, “Little sister, you’re going to participate in that skating competition too!? Then I’ll definitely cheer for you!”
“Although I don’t know how to make this protective gear you’re talking about,” she added, “I know someone in our yard who can definitely make exactly what you want.”
Su Su followed Sister Fang to the other side of the military dormitory. Just as they were about to knock on the door, they heard arguing from inside.
“Ding Chenggang! Are you despising me?”
“I gave your Ding family four sons—don’t I deserve some credit at least!?”
“But you! I just want to go to the skating competition to have a look, and you won’t allow it!”
“What, afraid I’ll embarrass you?”
After the sound of objects being thrown, the door suddenly opened.
A man who looked honest and simple stepped out. His face was full of anger, and he froze when he saw Sister Fang and Su Su at the door.
Sister Fang looked embarrassed. “I came to see Xiu’e. I wanted to ask her for help!”
Ding Chenggang frowned, nodded, and walked downstairs without saying more.
Su Su followed Sister Fang into the room.
The floor was littered with broken bowls and spilled food, looking like a complete mess.
Sun Xiu’e was sitting on a stool, her hair messy, eyes swollen from crying. Seeing Sister Fang, she immediately burst into tears.
“Sister Fang, Ding Chenggang is hopeless! I married him at eighteen, worked tirelessly, and all I wanted was to go watch the skating competition—he wouldn’t even allow that!”
Sister Fang motioned for Su Su to sit down and comforted Sun Xiu’e for a while.
Once she regained her composure, she said, “Xiu’e, I came to ask you for a favor.”
Sun Xiu’e, still swollen-eyed, finally noticed Su Su.
“And who’s this little sister?”
Sister Fang said, “She’s Captain Qin’s fiancée, who just arrived a few days ago.”
Su Su smiled, took out the sketch she had prepared in advance, and said, “Xiu’e, I want you to make a set of protective gear for me.”
Sun Xiu’e had been upset, but when she saw the design, she became interested.
She immediately saw that the gear was practical, protecting key joints.
When she was a child, she had fallen countless times learning to skate. Some kids in her village even broke arms, legs, or cracked their heads while skating.
Wiping away her tears, Sun Xiu’e patted her chest and said, “Leave it to me!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll have this protective gear ready soon. Also, little sister, can I make another set like this for my daughter?”
Su Su nodded; of course, that was fine.
Meanwhile, Qin Xutao took the marriage application to the commander’s office.
Knock knock knock—he entered.
The commander saw it was Qin Xutao and immediately smiled. “Little Qin! Come, sit. Your A Company has been performing exceptionally well lately!”
“Thank you, Commander!”
Qin Xutao handed over the marriage application.
The commander picked it up, puzzled. “You’re getting married? To whom?”
Qin Xutao pressed his lips together. “To my fiancée, Su Su.”
“What!?”
“You mean that capital girl who caused a scene in the unit wanting to break off the engagement?”
The commander frowned, slammed the table, and exclaimed, “Nonsense! Do your parents know about this?”
Qin Xutao remained calm, standing straight. “Commander, I’ve already informed my parents.”
The commander became serious, putting down his pen.
“Little Qin, have you thought through the seriousness of this? Considering her background, marrying a capital girl will inevitably affect your promotions!”
Qin Xutao had already thought about this. But no matter what, since he had promised, he wouldn’t go back on it—that was his principle.
Besides, after these past few days, he noticed Su Su had changed greatly compared to before. He didn’t dislike her.
So he said, “Commander, I’m still young and inexperienced. I want to spend a few more years at the grassroots level, training more good soldiers for the unit.”
“You just know how to use that as an excuse!”
The commander waved his hand angrily. “Enough. I cannot approve this marriage application yet. We’ll observe for a while longer.”
Then he returned to his work.
Qin Xutao frowned, understanding the commander’s concern and care.
But how would Su Su feel?
When Qin Xutao returned home, standing outside the door, he didn’t know how to tell her.
Should he be honest?
Would she be upset? Would she think he was just making an excuse?
Qin Xutao pushed open the door and saw Su Su leisurely lying on the sofa.
She had a book in her hands, her fair feet swinging—quite eye-catching.
Su Su smiled. “You’re back!”
Qin Xutao frowned. Although the room was warm, he couldn’t let her walk barefoot—she might catch a cold.
Without overthinking, he picked up her socks and held her feet.
Su Su’s eyes went wide.
Watching him put the socks on, the calluses of his hands sliding over her soft soles, sending a tingling sensation, she instinctively tried to pull back, but he held her tighter.
“Don’t move!”
Once he finished, Su Su quickly sat up and asked, “Was the marriage application approved?”
Qin Xutao pressed his lips and decided to tell the truth.
“No.”
Su Su frowned, pouting in anger. “Why? Did you change your mind?”