Oh?
’So, Lu Zhengchuan not only has a childhood sweetheart, but also plenty of admirers in the army.’
Su Wan processed this information impassively. She reached out, rolled down the car window, and called out to Lu Zhengchuan, who wasn’t far away.
"Lu Zhengchuan."
Lu Zhengchuan immediately turned his head. When he saw it was her, his face was filled with astonishment.
Su Wan pursed her lips. ’Doesn’t Lu Zhengchuan want me here at the base? Why?’
Before she could figure it out, Lu Zhengchuan had already strode over to the car. He was full of surprise. "Su Wan? What are you doing here?"
Su Wan smiled deliberately. "I’m here to join you."
She wanted to see how Lu Zhengchuan would react to this news.
"Join me?" Lu Zhengchuan was visibly taken aback. He looked up and asked doubtfully, "Did someone in the village bully you?"
Su Wan touched her chin. "Mhm, Zheng Zhizhi bullied me."
"Zheng Zhizhi? That’s impossible, isn’t it?" Lu Zhengchuan recalled that the two of them never had any conflicts in the village. ’What sort of incident could make Su Wan go through the trouble of coming all the way here to join me? The conditions at the military base are far from ideal; she was much more comfortable living in the village.’
Hearing him instinctively choose to believe Zheng Zhizhi, Su Wan decided not to press the issue.
’There’s no use complaining if your own husband won’t take your side. The most important thing now is to get concrete proof of their private correspondence.’
"Mhm, I was just kidding," Su Wan said with a small laugh.
Lu Zhengchuan was momentarily dazzled by her stunning smile. "Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I could have picked you up."
’If I had told you, how would I have found out so much?’
Su Wan didn’t answer.
Sensing her deliberate silence, Lu Zhengchuan thought for a moment before asking, "Are you still mad at me?"
He had been cursed out in her letters several times, but he hadn’t said anything about it. In his replies, he’d avoided those contentious topics to keep from making her even angrier. ’Was that the wrong thing to do?’
"No. I came to the compound with Xiao Xu and Sister-in-law Zhao. Since you’re here, take me to my accommodations. I want to wash up and rest for a bit. Tonight, I’m treating Sister-in-law Zhao’s family to dinner," Su Wan said, directly changing the subject with a series of instructions.
Lu Zhengchuan nodded. "Okay. That’s the proper thing to do."
Su Wan got out of the passenger seat. Lu Zhengchuan took her luggage and saw it was just a single handbag, likely containing only her personal clothes. It didn’t look at all like she was planning a long stay.
In his heart, he didn’t believe his pampered wife could endure the hardships of life on the base.
"Battalion Commander Lu, who is this?"
The two had just walked over to the car to speak with Zhao Qing and her son when some eager soldiers and a group of female soldiers from the Arts Troupe curiously looked over at Su Wan, who was standing beside Lu Zhengchuan.
"This is my wife, Su Wan," Lu Zhengchuan introduced.
Su Wan smiled at the crowd and took the initiative to greet them. "Hello, everyone."
"Ah... Sister-in-law... hello."
The group was awkward and shocked, their eyes clearly filled with gossip and curiosity as they stared at Su Wan.
Apparently, her ’infamy’ had long since spread throughout the base. Anyone who knew Lu Zhengchuan had heard her ’name’.
Su Wan nudged Lu Zhengchuan with her elbow and asked with feigned confusion, "Lu Zhengchuan, why is everyone looking at me so strangely?"
Lu Zhengchuan’s expression flickered for a moment before he chose to tell her the truth. "It’s because of the letters you wrote me. They have to be inspected by the soldiers in the mailroom, so the news got out."
Compared to the concerned and comforting letters other soldiers received from their families and loved ones, ’Su Wan’s’ vitriolic letters really stood out. It was impossible to keep them secret; once one person knew, everyone knew.
"Letters?" Su Wan couldn’t find the slightest flaw in his expression. It was as if he were a complete innocent in this matter.
"Can I see those letters?" Su Wan took the opportunity to ask.
’If Lu Zhengchuan is intentionally colluding with Zheng Zhizhi, he definitely won’t give me the letters.’
’After all, they’re also part of the evidence.’
"Of course," Lu Zhengchuan agreed with a nod. Fearing she might get angry, he explained, "But the letters are in my personal quarters. I haven’t really tidied up the family apartment yet. I’ll go get them after I get you settled."
Su Wan blinked in surprise and took a second look at him, confirming that there wasn’t the slightest hint of reluctance in his manner.
"Okay."
Su Wan was very pleased with his attitude.
"Sister-in-law Zhao, I’m going to go get settled with Lu Zhengchuan now. Once I’m done, you must come over for dinner," Su Wan said to Zhao Qing with a smile.
Seeing that the two hadn’t started fighting upon meeting, Zhao Qing let out a sigh of relief. She smiled and waved. "Alright, no problem."
Lu Zhengchuan found Zhao Qing’s attitude a little strange but didn’t press the matter. After all, it seemed Su Wan really did have a good relationship with her and had been well taken care of.
"Xiao Li." Lu Zhengchuan led Su Wan over to the jeep and called down a young soldier from the vehicle.
The young soldier smiled and greeted Su Wan, "Hello, Sister-in-law."
Su Wan didn’t sense any disgust or malice from him, a complete contrast to how others had reacted. "Hello."
’Why is that?’
Su Wan gave Xiao Li a second glance.
But Lu Zhengchuan was a soldier forged in the crucible of real battle; his radar-like gaze instantly caught her action.
He couldn’t help but purse his lips, changing the words that were on the tip of his tongue. "Go get the clean mattress and sheets from my dorm. And the pots, bowls, and pans. Just for temporary use."
"Got it, Battalion Commander." Xiao Li grinned, hopped down, and trotted quickly into the camp area.
A flicker of regret flashed in Su Wan’s eyes. ’Looks like I’ll have to find a chance to get Xiao Li alone and pump him for information next time.’
At some point, Lu Zhengchuan had blocked her view.
Since she could no longer see Xiao Li, Su Wan simply withdrew her gaze and looked up to ask, "Are the family quarters far?"
After sitting for over five hours, even in the passenger seat which was more comfortable than the back of the truck, Su Wan’s back ached and a dull pain throbbed in her lower body.
"Not far. It’s a thirty-minute walk," Lu Zhengchuan answered instinctively.
Hearing this, Su Wan decisively held out her hands to Lu Zhengchuan.
"Hm?" Lu Zhengchuan didn’t understand what she meant and frowned in confusion.
Su Wan said calmly, "Carry me there."
Lu Zhengchuan: "..."
The tips of his ears turned red. He reprimanded her with a stern face, "Su Wan, this is the army. Watch your conduct."
Seeing his dark expression, Su Wan found it novel.
Lu Zhengchuan didn’t have a square jaw, but his features were the kind that exuded a sense of national peace and prosperity—full of dignity, but lacking in gentleness.
When he scolded people, he naturally gave off the air of a superior.
Su Wan wasn’t afraid. She was still his wife. As long as Lu Zhengchuan cared about his reputation, he wouldn’t dare truly bully her on his own base. The more trouble she caused, the more it would provoke him into wanting a divorce.
Only when he was desperate for a divorce would he make a move, and then she would naturally find the leverage she needed.
"I’m tired from the ride. If you won’t carry me, you can give me a ride on a bicycle instead," Su Wan demanded directly.
Lu Zhengchuan knitted his brows. "There are no bicycles here. They’re at the camp entrance. It would take me a while to go borrow one."
"Then go borrow one." Su Wan waved her hand, indicating she was willing to wait.
"Battalion Commander Lu, Sister-in-law, are you two fighting?" A female comrade from the Arts Troupe walked over. She sounded concerned, but she spoke so loudly that everyone nearby who hadn’t left yet instinctively turned to look.