“Can you keep your wife in check?”
Although Jiang Baizhou didn’t know what had happened, he agreed readily.
“Sure!”
Li Tuan was taken aback for a moment, eyeing Jiang Baizhou suspiciously. “Really?”
Jiang Baizhou naturally pulled over a stool and sat down opposite Li Tuan. “Really, it’s just…”
“Just what?”
Li Tuan narrowed his eyes, a hint of danger in his expression: Is this brat trying to fool me?
Jiang Baizhou frowned, looking troubled. “Battalion Commander Li, it’s just that I don’t know how to keep her in check!”
He counted on his fingers for Li Tuan.
“Look, even though I’ve been married for two years, I hadn’t met my wife in the first two years. It’s only the second day since we met, and you’ve already called me here. I really want to keep her in check, but I don’t know where to start.”
“I’m just afraid that if I go too far, what if my wife runs away? Can you compensate me with an exact copy?”
Li Tuan: I’ll compensate you with nothing!
“Battalion Commander Li, you and your wife have been married for so many years. How about sharing some experience with me?”
For a fleeting moment, Li Tuan’s dark face flushed with guilt, but the more guilty he felt, the more righteous his expression became.
He grumbled inwardly: What experience could he possibly share!
If his wife didn’t scold him, it was already a sunny day.
But he couldn’t let these youngsters know that. As a senior officer, he still had to maintain his dignity.
“Ahem, alright. I was just saying it—I didn’t actually expect you to do anything. Comrade Wen Yan is quite motivated. She just arrived two days ago…”
Li Tuan paused, replacing “caused trouble” with “got things done.”
“She just arrived two days ago and has already accomplished quite a bit.”
Jiang Baizhou leaned in closer, curious. “What did my wife do?”
Then, Jiang Baizhou learned from Li Tuan about what Wen Yan had done that day.
He ignored the part about blocking the toilet to demand funding and only remembered the frostbite medicine.
His heart warmed, like a hot spring in springtime, so comfortable that even the gaps between his bones felt lazy.
Wen Yan was earnestly doing everything she had promised.
Jiang Baizhou himself was a smooth and adaptable person, often speaking and acting with certain motives in mind.
But Wen Yan was different.
“Hey, hey, hey! What are you grinning about with those big teeth of yours!”
Li Tuan rapped on the table, and Jiang Baizhou snapped back to attention. “Was I grinning?”
Li Tuan pursed his lips. “Weren’t you? If your mouth were any wider, people in Beijing could see your front teeth.”
Jiang Baizhou licked his front teeth: They’re not that big. Nonsense. Wen Yan even said he was handsome this morning.
Jiang Baizhou’s mind had already made several turns, thinking that since Wen Yan had been so capable, he couldn’t hold her back.
“Battalion Commander Li, look.”
“Look at what—wait, what are you doing? Get your stinky feet off the table!”
When Jiang Baizhou wanted to do something, there was almost nothing he couldn’t accomplish.
In the end, Li Tuan still looked at Jiang Baizhou’s feet—specifically, the medicated feet.
The story of yesterday’s medication was polished and embellished by Jiang Baizhou, turning it into a touching tale of deep marital affection and selfless dedication of the prescription.
After hearing it, Li Tuan fell silent for a long while.
“If I had known earlier, I would have been nicer today!”
“Do you think Comrade Wen Yan might feel disheartened because of me?”
Jiang Baizhou put his shoes back on and said earnestly, “No, Comrade Wen Yan is very broad-minded. She won’t hold a grudge over such things.”
Li Tuan felt a little better. “That’s good. Regardless of whether the medicine works or not, I’ll deduct your salary to reimburse Comrade Wen Yan for the cost of the herbs.”
Jiang Baizhou: “…”
You’re still such a dog!
No wonder you’re the leader!
Li Tuan: “You little rascal, don’t think I don’t know you’re trying to pull the wool over my eyes!”
Jiang Baizhou, ever adaptable, flashed an ingratiating smile and gave Li Tuan a thumbs-up. “I knew you were wise and perceptive, Commander Li. My little schemes could never fool you.”
Li Tuan feigned annoyance: “Cut the flattery!”
With shameless persistence, Jiang Baizhou suggested:
“Commander Li, how about we assign a few people to test the medicine?”
“Alright!”
Once the matter of the medicinal solution was settled, Li Tuan moved on to official business.
“Get ready. The day after tomorrow, you’ll lead a team to scout and survey the land for reclamation. We need to finalize this year’s reclamation area.”
Hearing it was a mission, Jiang Baizhou immediately stood up, his expression turning serious.
“Yes, sir!”
[Reminder: Reduce swamp-related injuries for the land reclamation advance team.]
Wen Yan, who was on the sled, suddenly heard the System’s reminder and immediately realized the advance team was likely about to embark on a mission.
The sled soon arrived at the Land Reclamation Regiment and stopped.
Zhao eagerly helped Wen Yan carry the purchased items back. On the way, a soldier who saw them came over to lend a hand.
Bai Shanshan had already returned. It was too cold; she was frozen to the point of not wanting to say anything.
To sum it up in one sentence: Whatever! Let it all burn!
Jiang Baizhou, who had been tending the fire at home, heard Wen Yan’s voice and came out. He saw Zhao and another soldier carrying things.
“You’re back. Just put the things on the ground.”
Zhao and the other soldier set the items down and left immediately. Wen Yan wanted to give them some candies but didn’t get the chance.
Inside the house, Jiang Baizhou picked up the things and placed them to the side, saying, “It’s fine. I’ll thank them tomorrow.”
Wen Yan took off her frost-covered scarf, exhaled a breath, and said, “That’s good. It’s still freezing outside.”
The room was warm. Wen Yan, who had just come in, sat down by the stone stove. Her frozen ears and fingertips felt a tingling, numb itch.
“Warm water. Drink it slowly. Don’t get too close to the fire; the heat will make the itching worse.”
Wen Yan took the enamel mug, cradling it in her hands. With a slight nasal tone, she said, “It’s already itching.”
The gentle, nasal sound was almost like a coquettish whimper. Jiang Baizhou immediately pulled over a small stool and sat facing Wen Yan. “Give me your hand.”
Wen Yan placed the mug on her lap, her dark eyes fixed on Jiang Baizhou. Obedient and docile, she extended her hand, palm up, revealing pale, delicate skin.
Jiang Baizhou felt like he would give Wen Yan anything she wanted at that moment.
He cradled Wen Yan’s hand in his left palm and gently massaged her fingertips with his right hand.
Soon, the pale fingertips began to flush with blood. The itching and tingling sensation intensified instantly—pleasurable yet uncomfortable.
But after a few seconds, the tingling itch receded like a tide.
Wen Yan gritted her small white teeth, trying hard to suppress the instinct to pull away. “Alright, alright, it doesn’t itch anymore.”
Jiang Baizhou’s lowered eyelashes concealed a flicker of regret. Being too skilled at this had its downsides.
Nevertheless, he promptly released Wen Yan’s hand and stood up. “Wash your hands. I’ll set the table.”
Wen Yan agreed and turned to notice a new kang table, two small stools, and a cabinet in the house.
“You went to the logistics department to get the table? That’s great. I didn’t have time to do it today.”
Jiang Baizhou placed the kang table on the heated bed and began setting out the meal. “I stopped by on my way back.”
Wen Yan happily got up to wash her hands. As she did, she caught sight of the freshly washed socks and a pair of men’s holey underwear hanging discreetly in a corner to dry.
Jiang Baizhou’s face flushed with slight embarrassment, and he quickly tried to divert attention by calling out, “Let’s eat.”
“Coming.”
Wen Yan averted her gaze and turned around. “I brought a few pieces of white cotton cloth. I’ll make you some underwear.”
Jiang Baizhou’s hand gripping the chopsticks showed faint blue veins. He felt both amused and exasperated, wondering: How on earth did Wen Yan develop such a straightforward personality?
The thought flashed through his mind, but Jiang Baizhou had already calmly looked up, appearing somewhat bashful (or perhaps indignant) upon closer inspection.
“Are you going to make it for me? Just one pair will do.”
Wen Yan thought for a moment. Although she had never made one before, it shouldn’t be too difficult.
She looked up, her gaze landing on Jiang Baizhou’s underwear area.
“Alright, I’ll take your measurements tonight.”
“Measure… measurements?”
Jiang Baizhou’s throat went dry. Was it what he was thinking?
Wen Yan replied matter-of-factly, “Of course. How else would I know if it’ll fit you? Don’t worry, my hands are very accurate!”
Jiang Baizhou’s smile stiffened slightly: Hands? Accurate?