Bang!
Wen Yan’s words struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving Jiang Baizhou—who was usually so adept at putting on a show—feeling scorched inside and flushed outside.
In his twenty-five years of life, Jiang Baizhou had never felt so awkward and flustered. His brain told him Wen Yan didn’t mean it that way, but his heart couldn’t help stirring up trouble: what if she did?
His voice lowered to a husky tone as he asked, “What?”
Wen Yan also realized her words could be misinterpreted, but with her straightforward way of thinking, she believed it would be fine as long as she explained clearly.
So she replied very calmly, “Commander Zhu said you all have frostbite. I have frostbite ointment. Get on the kang, take off your shoes and pants, and I’ll apply some for you.”
Jiang Baizhou processed several pieces of information before summarizing them into one: “You’ll apply it for me?”
Wen Yan nodded. “Yes.”
Wen Yan’s thinking was simple: you treat me well, I treat you well—it’s just a matter of reciprocity.
Jiang Baizhou fell into a state of inner turmoil and hesitation.
He wanted to get closer to Wen Yan, not to do anything in particular, just to be closer.
But he was also ashamed of the frostbite on his feet and legs and didn’t want Wen Yan to see it. Yet, since they lived together, could he really avoid it forever?
While Jiang Baizhou was still hesitating, Wen Yan had already brought the frostbite ointment given by the System and sat on the kang. Patting the spot beside her, she said, “Come here.”
“Okay!”
After taking a step forward, Jiang Baizhou inwardly scolded himself—his mouth had agreed way too quickly!
His brain hadn’t even spoken yet.
“Um… I should wash my feet again. I only rinsed them earlier. And I’ll apply it myself, I’ll do it myself.”
At this critical moment, Jiang Baizhou, for once, backed down.
If it were ointment for his shoulders, he definitely wouldn’t refuse, but for his feet… better not.
Wen Yan didn’t think much of it, simply assuming Jiang Baizhou was just shy. She reminded him, “Use warm water, not cold.”
“Mm, okay.”
Jiang Baizhou mixed water to wash his feet, turning his back to Wen Yan and scrubbing vigorously again and again. He remembered there was a loofah sponge at home but didn’t know where it was.
Could a brick be used for scrubbing?
Jiang Baizhou poured all his attention into how to wash his feet cleaner.
Wen Yan lay on the kang, her mind focused on the Woodworking Encyclopedia given by the System, her hand holding a pencil as she scribbled and sketched in a notebook. Her loose hair spread across the kang, drying naturally from the warmth.
After more than ten minutes, Wen Yan suddenly spoke up, “Haven’t you finished washing yet?”
“Ah? Yes, yes, I’m done.”
Jiang Baizhou dried his feet, poured out the water, and climbed onto the kang, feeling inexplicably restrained. He’d never noticed before how small the kang seemed.
Wen Yan stopped reading and sat facing Jiang Baizhou. She gathered her mostly dry hair, twisted it a few times, and casually pinned it with the pencil, looking both casual and relaxed.
Even more beautiful.
Jiang Baizhou’s unsteady gaze couldn’t find a place to settle, completely losing the cleverness he usually displayed.
“It looks pretty serious. You should apply more. I have three boxes, enough for you to use.”
Wen Yan was examining Jiang Baizhou’s feet, where patches of yellowish sores marred what should have been fair skin.
Jiang Baizhou snapped back to his senses and instinctively pulled his feet back. He quickly picked up the frostbite ointment and said, “Don’t let it touch you. I’ll do it myself.”
Wen Yan looked up and explained, “This isn’t contagious. You don’t have to worry about it touching me. Does it itch a lot?”
Jiang Baizhou paused for a moment as he opened the ointment, a smile spreading across his face. He scooped out a bit with his finger and said, “I’m used to it.”
Since the start of winter, their frostbite had flared up. At first, it was unbearably itchy, and they couldn’t help but scratch—the more they scratched, the worse it got. Later, they simply endured it.
They had tried all sorts of remedies, but with the daily land reclamation work in the icy, snowy conditions, there was simply no way to prevent it.
Wen Yan didn’t avoid it, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on Jiang Baizhou as he applied the ointment.
This was just the tip of the iceberg. How many soldiers like Jiang Baizhou were suffering just as much?
If only there were a frostbite ointment that could be made with medicinal herbs found in the Northeast, and whose preparation wasn’t too difficult.
Unfortunately, she knew nothing about medicine.
[Ding, mission issued: Secure a position in the Land Reclamation Regiment. Reward: Frostbite ointment formula.]
Wen Yan was stunned for half a second before a smile spread in her eyes. This System was quite considerate.
As Jiang Baizhou applied the ointment, he inexplicably sensed that Wen Yan’s mood had brightened a little. Was it because of him?
Speeding up his movements, Jiang Baizhou pulled back his wandering thoughts and looked up.
“Did you buy this ointment?”
Jiang Baizhou asked. Wen Yan shook her head and said, “No, it was made by a… Dr. Tong. Why?”
Tong for “System”—it wasn’t exactly a lie.
Jiang Baizhou thought for a moment and said, “I think it should work well. The itching subsided right after I applied it, and it feels very soothing. If we could figure out how to make it, everyone could use it…”
At this point, Jiang Baizhou shook his head. “But that’s unlikely. This doesn’t seem like something made from ordinary medicinal herbs.”
The cost was too high; they couldn’t afford it.
Wen Yan understood what Jiang Baizhou meant, but she spoke up, “Let’s give it a try. If it works out, great. If not, it won’t be a waste of effort.”
Hearing this, Jiang Baizhou’s smile deepened, carrying a touch of sincere earnestness. “Thank you, Wen Yan.”
The awkwardness between the two suddenly lessened. Jiang Baizhou was naturally talkative, and Wen Yan was straightforward, answering Jiang Baizhou’s questions with genuine seriousness.
“You went to the logistics department today to help Zhao repair the sled?”
“You taught Commander Zhu how to make a plow?”
“You had Bai Shanshan clarify the rumors and then asked her to be your assistant?”
Jiang Baizhou went from calm at first to firing off these three questions in a row.
Wen Yan nodded repeatedly, explaining meticulously, “She’s not my assistant yet. We have to wait until Bai Shanshan’s job application is approved.”
Jiang Baizhou tentatively asked, “Didn’t you say Comrade Bai had ulterior motives toward me? Why did you still ask her to be your assistant?”
Wen Yan repeated the explanation she had given Bai Shanshan. Jiang Baizhou only remembered one line: not letting Bai Shanshan see him.
Not letting her see him meant personally supervising her, and personally supervising her meant she cared a little, didn’t it?
A ripple of delight stirred in his heart, and the corners of his lips lifted as he lowered his head.
Suddenly, a slight weight settled on his shoulders. Jiang Baizhou looked up.
It was Wen Yan’s hands resting on both sides of his shoulders, her eyes filled with trust.
“I’m not keeping an eye on her because I’m afraid you’ll see Comrade Bai. I trust you completely, so please don’t overthink it.”
After saying this, Wen Yan nodded to herself. They say a good couple must give each other plenty of trust—she was doing a great job.
Jiang Baizhou’s lips twitched, caught between bitterness and amusement. The ripple in his heart was smashed apart by a boulder named “trust” and vanished.
He wanted to say: A little jealousy now and then is actually good for your health.
And this brotherly pat-on-the-shoulder trust—he wasn’t too keen on it either.
But Jiang Baizhou didn’t dare say any of this. Instead, he forced a smile and changed the subject. “Can I see the love letter you wrote me?”
He needed to lighten the mood.
Wen Yan said without a hint of embarrassment, “Sure! I guarantee there won’t be a single typo!”
Jiang Baizhou: Heh.
At the same time, in the regimental commander’s office.
Li Hanshan looked at Commander Zhu and his niece Bai Shanshan with utter confusion.
“Old Zhu, who did you say taught you how to make a plow?”
“Comrade Wen Yan.”
After confirming he hadn’t misheard, Li Hanshan turned to Bai Shanshan, who had cried her heart out at his house the day before, saying all sorts of bad things about Wen Yan.
“Comrade Bai, who did you say you wanted to apply for a job for?”