The young soldier turned around, stood at attention, and saluted: “Battalion Commander Jiang!”
Battalion Commander Jiang!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Jiang Baizhou felt the gazes of the newly arrived educated youth all turning toward him. Their left eyes seemed to say “looking for some excitement,” while their right eyes read, “So it’s him.”
“Comrade Bai, go say hello! It’s Battalion Commander Jiang!”
“He looks even more handsome in person than in the photo.”
“What a fateful coincidence!”
The female educated youth whispered among themselves. Bai Shanshan, holding the photo, also felt this was an incredible twist of fate.
After shyly glancing at Jiang Baizhou, she pretended to be pushed forward, lowered the scarf covering her face, took off her hat, and smoothed her disheveled hair.
Her face, flushed either from the cold or from shyness, approached Jiang Baizhou.
Wen Yan: Really tough against the cold.
Wen Yan pulled her scarf up higher, leaving only her eyes visible. She wanted to see what kind of relationship Jiang Baizhou had with this female comrade.
Jiang Baizhou was also pondering the same question: Isn’t she cold? And does he even know her?
That shy expression was entirely unsuitable for his status as a married man.
Jiang Baizhou offered a distant, polite smile and spoke in an official tone:
“Hello, comrade. Welcome to our Heilongjiang Reclamation Corps. Thank you for your selfless dedication.”
After speaking, Jiang Baizhou immediately shifted his gaze to the other educated youth and said, “I also extend my gratitude to all of you for coming. Our reclamation corps needs ambitious and educated young people like you.”
With just a few words, Jiang Baizhou elevated the conversation to a higher level.
Most people at the time were driven by faith and a willingness to contribute, so they eagerly joined the discussion following Jiang Baizhou’s lead.
“If the motherland needs us, we must come!”
“Exactly, I’m a brick—wherever I’m needed, I’ll go.”
“Building the nation’s granaries is my pride.”
…
Amid the icy, snowy landscape, a wave of passion ignited.
Jiang Baizhou maintained a polite smile throughout, his gaze occasionally drifting toward Wen Yan, who had remained silent. Those eyes felt somewhat familiar.
But it couldn’t be her.
How could Wen Yan possibly come here? If she could, she wouldn’t have sent twelve consecutive divorce telegrams.
It wasn’t that he particularly liked Wen Yan—they had only met once.
But Jiang Baizhou believed that since he had married her, he had a responsibility.
So, even though the divorce report had been filed, he still wrote a letter to Wen Yan. While mailing his salary, he also explained his helplessness in the situation.
He proposed that Wen Yan reconsider for three months. If she still wanted a divorce after that period, he would sign the divorce report.
He had already applied for leave and planned to return home. Some matters were better discussed in person.
Wen Yan looked up just as Jiang Baizhou averted his gaze. Staring at a female comrade would be impolite.
Bai Shanshan, who had been ignored all along, bit her lip, unwilling to accept that she hadn’t managed to speak with Battalion Commander Jiang. However, this wasn’t the right moment for a conversation.
She had actually lied earlier—Battalion Commander Jiang had never been set up with her on a blind date.
She had come here on her own.
But since Battalion Commander Jiang was already divorced, as a young, educated woman willing to endure hardships with him here and not minding that he was remarried—with her aunt acting as a matchmaker—he surely wouldn’t reject her.
Jiang Baizhou had already confirmed with the young soldier that the vehicle was repaired. He glanced at Wen Yan in surprise, stepped forward, and expressed his gratitude and admiration: “Thank you for your assistance, comrade.”
Wen Yan met Jiang Baizhou’s gaze. What a marriage—they didn’t even recognize each other face-to-face!
But she had come precisely to resolve matters with Jiang Baizhou. Since they had met, there was no need to part ways now.
“You’re welcome. I’m feeling a bit carsick—may I ride on your sleigh?”
Jiang Baizhou showed a hint of barely noticeable surprise, then nodded. “Of course, but the sleigh is windy and cold, not as warm as the truck, though it’s a bit faster.”
The implication: Better not ride it.
Wen Yan curled her fingers inside her gloves, then defiantly said, “It’s fine, I can handle it.”
The young soldier from earlier: “…”
Jiang Baizhou: With only your eyes showing like that, you don’t look like you can handle the cold.
Still, he couldn’t refuse again. Fortunately, there was another soldier on the sleigh.
Seeing Jiang Baizhou agree, Bai Shanshan, who had already put on her hat and scarf, frowned.
What was this woman up to? Hadn’t she heard that she was supposed to be set up with Battalion Commander Jiang? Why was she eagerly pushing her way in?
Bai Shanshan stepped forward, unwilling to be outdone. “I’m also carsick. I’ll ride the sleigh too—that way, I can keep you company.”
Pretending to be familiar, Bai Shanshan tried to link arms with Wen Yan.
Wen Yan not only didn’t pull away but leaned closer to Bai Shanshan, whispering, “I’m the wife who sent Jiang Baizhou twelve telegrams. We’re not divorced.”
Wen Yan withdrew her arm and walked toward the sleigh, completely ignoring the shock her blunt truth had dealt to Bai Shanshan.
Bai Shanshan stood frozen on the spot, unable to recall later how she even got into the truck.
Jiang Baizhou was equally stunned. While others couldn’t hear Wen Yan’s words, he was close enough to hear them clearly.
His wife was here?
“Crack!”
The whip snapped. The soldier driving the sleigh skillfully swung the whip and shouted, “Hold on tight!”
The horse snorted heavily, its hooves alternating as the sleigh glided smoothly over the snow. The withered grass, snowdrifts, mountains, and trees on either side flew backward, soon hidden in the wind and snow.
Jiang Baizhou and the soldier sat at the front, while Wen Yan sat facing backward behind him.
Jiang Baizhou had so many questions to ask, but in the end, he only took off his overcoat and handed it to Wen Yan. “Cover yourself with this. I have a fur-lined jacket underneath—I’m not cold.”
The soldier driving the sleigh glanced sideways, his eyes widening. Battalion Commander Jiang was finally showing concern for a female comrade!
How wonderful!
He must be divorced.
A good comrade and leader like Battalion Commander Jiang deserved a caring and considerate wife. The one who sent twelve telegrams wasn’t worthy—they all felt indignant on his behalf.
The soldier’s reins swayed rhythmically.
“No need. Just block the wind for me.”
Wen Yan bluntly refused, then shifted slightly and looked up at Jiang Baizhou, who hadn’t put his coat back on. “Don’t you want to block the wind for me?”
Jiang Baizhou instinctively shook his head. “Of course not.”
Wen Yan raised an eyebrow, her fox-like eyes questioning: Then what are you waiting for?
Jiang Baizhou inexplicably felt that Wen Yan seemed to be looking down on him… for being slow?
“Put this on, and I’ll still block the wind for you.”
Without another word, Jiang Baizhou draped the padded coat over Wen Yan, then shifted backward. “Lean against me.”
“Alright.”
Wen Yan didn’t refuse again. Passing a coat back and forth in a blizzard at over thirty degrees below zero was just foolish.
The soldier observing everything felt his heart soaring: So the battalion commander was this smooth! He’d never noticed before.
This divorce was good, wonderful, absolutely splendid.
But what did the female comrade in the back even look like? How did she get Battalion Commander Jiang to offer his coat and let her lean against him?
He was so curious!
Driven by curiosity, the sleigh ended up not much slower than the truck, arriving one after the other at the reclamation corps’ camp.
Wen Yan didn’t have time to observe her surroundings when she saw Jiang Baizhou extend a hand and say, “Your legs must be frozen numb. Let me help you up.”
Wen Yan generously reached out her hand and was pulled up by Jiang Baizhou, then stomped her feet a few times.
The young soldier beside them rolled his eyes, his gossipy heart soaring to the heavens: They’re holding hands already? They’re holding hands already??
Even though it was through gloves, Battalion Commander Jiang sure works fast!
Jiang Baizhou glanced at the young soldier and immediately knew what he was thinking.
“What are you looking at! This is my wife, Comrade Wen Yan.”