Bai Shanshan’s stunned expression clearly spelled out four words: I’ve boarded a pirate ship.
Pointing at herself, she asked Wen Yan, “Me? Go find Li… to apply for a job… for you?”
Wen Yan nodded.
Bai Shanshan gritted her teeth and asked, “Aren’t you supposed to arrange a job for me?”
Wen Yan replied innocently and honestly, “I don’t have the final say!”
Bai Shanshan’s eyes reddened with anger.
Wen Yan patted her shoulder and said, “I believe you can do it.”
When Wen Yan looked at someone, she inexplicably gave off a sense of deep trust. Bai Shanshan was momentarily soothed as if bewitched, thinking strangely: At least you have good taste.
“…You have to believe I have the skills to secure the job. Given my solid craftsmanship, your position as a recorder will definitely be approved.”
Bai Shanshan’s half-formed smile vanished, and her lips pressed back into a line.
She ground out the words through clenched teeth, “So I should thank you, huh?”
Wen Yan said, “That works too.”
Bai Shanshan laughed in frustration and declared outright, “I quit!”
Wen Yan let out an “ah,” sounding slightly regretful but offering no persuasion. “Alright,” she said.
With that, Wen Yan called for Commander Zhu and prepared to leave.
Bai Shanshan, who had already turned away, automatically began overthinking: Why didn’t she stop me? Was Wen Yan deliberately provoking me just now?
After mentally running through a whole set of strategies, Bai Shanshan abruptly turned and caught up to Wen Yan.
She decided she’d do it after all.
Even if she couldn’t pursue Jiang Baizhou, she still felt indignant and wanted to see exactly what made Wen Yan better than her!
Wen Yan glanced sideways at Bai Shanshan, who followed silently.
Didn’t she say she quit? Wen Yan was very respectful of others’ decisions.
Bai Shanshan turned her head away, avoiding Wen Yan’s gaze, and said awkwardly, “Let me tell you, I’m the only one who can handle this! You should be secretly thrilled to have my help.”
Wen Yan blinked, understanding dawning. Her big orange cat wore this exact expression when it wanted a hug.
Proud and awkward.
She raised a hand and gently patted Bai Shanshan’s arm. “Mm, you’re super amazing.”
Bai Shanshan was taken aback for a moment, then turned her head and gave a light humph: Don’t think praising me will make me… Anyway, she was just here to keep an eye on Wen Yan!
Wen Yan had no idea how much Bai Shanshan was overthinking.
She introduced Bai Shanshan to Commander Zhu and handed over all the procedures for applying to the regiment leader to them.
She herself returned to the logistics shed to continue working on the plow.
Wen Yan had broken the plow down into several components.
Holding a notebook, she moved among the soldiers, explaining and demonstrating each part, occasionally sketching diagrams of the components in her notebook and marking the measurements.
The lines in her sketches were straight where they should be straight, curves were smooth, horizontal and vertical lines precise—as if printed.
Commander Zhu praised admiringly, “Comrade Wen, your hand is so steady. These drawings are even better than what I could do with a ruler. And this circle—it’s perfectly round.”
Bai Shanshan, standing nearby, also saw it. She wanted to say it was nothing special, but she feared Wen Yan might bluntly retort, “Then you draw it.”
She felt Wen Yan was perfectly capable of saying that.
In the end, she pursed her lips and said nothing.
As evening approached, the sunset, like a salted egg yolk, dyed the sky.
Wen Yan checked the time and said, “The plow is finished. You can take it to find Li. This notebook has the steps and measurements. I’m clocking out.”
Wen Yan worked efficiently and clocked out just as decisively.
She was determined to be a healthy, hardworking youth of the new era—someone who worked diligently but refused to overwork herself to death.
Commander Zhu and Bai Shanshan watched Wen Yan’s resolute retreating figure, exchanging bewildered glances as they both felt somewhat dazed.
Commander Zhu: Did he learn how to make a plow today?
Bai Shanshan: How did she end up assisting Wen Yan? Aren’t they supposed to be love rivals?
Everything happened too quickly, leaving no time for their minds to process it.
And there was no time to dwell on it now—they still had to find Li to submit the application report.
Wen Yan shouldered her bag and returned to the family quarters in the eastern district.
She had already inquired at the canteen earlier: although communal meals were the norm, cooking for oneself wasn’t against the rules.
Even though she had prepared herself for hardship, if she could live a little better, she would treat herself well.
Opening the door and stepping inside, Wen Yan set down her backpack and immediately started a fire.
Gradually, warmth filled the room.
Around six o’clock, the land reclamation teams began returning from the fields.
Nine out of ten had faces reddened and chapped from the cold, some even cracked.
And that was nothing compared to their feet.
In March, northeastern China was still not fully thawed. The areas where the Land Reclamation Regiment worked were scattered with broken ice, and some of them had to labor in muddy water mixed with icy fragments.
The biting cold left many suffering from arthritis and frostbite, which were everywhere.
Jiang Baizhou chatted and laughed with the soldiers beside him all the way back—he had always been well-liked.
“Battalion Commander Jiang, want to come play cards with us later?”
Normally, Jiang Baizhou might occasionally join them when he was alone, but now that Wen Yan was here, he naturally couldn’t go.
“Another day. My wife is waiting for me at home.”
Jiang Baizhou quickened his pace as he spotted smoke rising from the chimney of his small earthen house.
“Wow, having a wife around really makes a difference!”
“I heard Battalion Commander Jiang was getting a divorce?”
“Divorce? His wife treats him really well—she brought him candy and peach shortbread today.”
“Really? Tell us more, tell us more!”
…
Knock, knock, knock.
“Wen Yan, I’m back.”
Jiang Baizhou called out before entering, afraid that suddenly opening the door might startle Wen Yan.
But as soon as his left foot stepped inside, he retreated. Had he entered the wrong house?
A red thermos, a military canteen, two small enamel mugs, a large enamel mug, several washbasins, neatly folded clothes, a green floral-patterned tablecloth, pink slippers, and what seemed like several bags of grain.
His home didn’t have this many things.
“You’re back. Perfect timing—go fetch dinner from the canteen. I just washed my hair and it’s still wet.”
Wen Yan turned around, her hair loose, and handed two clean aluminum lunchboxes to Jiang Baizhou.
Jiang Baizhou took the lunchboxes, glancing at the newly added items in the room while the aroma of rice filled his nostrils.
A smile unconsciously spread across his face.
“I’ll go right away.”
Though he had felt exhausted on the walk back, Jiang Baizhou suddenly felt a surge of energy and dashed off like the wind.
Before long, Jiang Baizhou returned carrying the lunchboxes. He entered, closed the door, and hesitated to place the lunchboxes on the table covered with the tablecloth.
They seemed a bit too plain for it.
Seeing him standing there holding the lunchboxes, Wen Yan said, “Put them down. The tablecloth is meant to be used—if it gets dirty, we can wash it.”
Jiang Baizhou hummed in agreement and finally set them down.
He needed to adapt to Wen Yan’s way of living.
After placing the lunchboxes, he noticed Wen Yan about to pour the rice porridge from the lunchbox and quickly stepped in. “It’s hot, let me do it.”
Wen Yan took two steps back. “Alright, just give me about a third.”
Jiang Baizhou nodded, but poured more than half of the rice porridge into Wen Yan’s enamel mug.
“That’s too much.”
Wen Yan leaned in to look, suddenly bringing the two of them close, their breaths mingling.
A few strands of her hair brushed against Jiang Baizhou’s cheek, and the faint scent of soap made his heart skip a beat.
He had never been this close to someone of the opposite sex before.
But he didn’t want to pull away either.
Staying true to his instincts, Jiang Baizhou pretended not to notice and leaned in a little closer. His chin brushed against Wen Yan’s slightly damp hair, and his voice carried a barely noticeable tension.
“Not too much. If you suddenly eat too much of the cafeteria food, your stomach might feel uncomfortable. Have more of the plain congee—it’s soft and easy to digest.”
Wen Yan thought this made perfect sense.
In her past life, her sudden death had been linked to poor eating habits and staying up late. She needed to take better care of her health now.
She took a step back, looked up, and the flickering flame reflected in her pupils, making them sparkle as she said, “Okay!”
Jiang Baizhou smiled in response, his fingers itching to ruffle her hair. But he hadn’t washed his hands yet, so he reluctantly suppressed the urge.
A few minutes later, Jiang Baizhou changed out of his soaked cotton shoes and socks, along with his mud-stained jacket and pants.
After rinsing his feet and washing his face and hands, Wen Yan handed him a towel.
Jiang Baizhou bent over, unable to see clearly with water on his face, and reached out to take it.
The smooth, warm tips of her fingers brushed against his rough palm, and the spot felt as if it had been scorched, growing hot instantly.
Jiang Baizhou quickly grabbed the towel, his ears turning red as he tried to sound composed.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Wen Yan didn’t pay it any mind and continued waiting with a smile.
Once Jiang Baizhou had tidied up completely, Wen Yan’s lips curved upward slightly.
Good hygiene—not bad.
She turned around to set out the food, and the two sat facing each other. Suddenly, she spoke up, “Jiang Baizhou, I’ve finished writing the love letter for you.”