She looked at Lin Guangzhuo and saw the unmistakable fondness in his eyes, then noticed his mouth twitch downward in a quick, almost shy way and in that instant, she understood.
“Second Brother, if you like it, just buy it,” she said, tugging on his arm, a hint of playful reproach in her tone. “A white shirt with police trousers looks good, and it makes you look sharp when you’re off duty.”
Lin Guangzhuo scratched his head, a bit embarrassed, lowering his voice. “Forget it, forget it. This fabric’s expensive, and what I wear won’t make much difference anyway.”
He instinctively patted his empty pockets, the hollow feel making him even more uneasy. To gather a dowry for his sister, he had given all the wages he’d saved over the years, even the secret stash of money his mother had tucked away for him. He did it all to prevent the Lu family from thinking the Lin family was poor and to ensure Tianxin wouldn’t suffer any embarrassment.
Now he had no money left, but he had no regrets. Money could be earned again; a sister was irreplaceable.
Lin Tianxin’s heart warmed, and her nose tingled slightly.
Her second brother might seem rough around the edges, but he had always looked out for her. When she was bullied as a child, he was always the first to rush in. If there was a piece of candy at home, he would sneak it to her. Now that she was getting married, he gave everything he had, just to ensure she could hold her head high in her new home.
“It’s not expensive. I’ve got money,” Lin Tianxin said, pulling a few bills from her fabric bag the “change of address” gift from the Lu family that she hadn’t spent.
Without a word, she shoved the money into Lin Guangzhuo’s hand. “Take it. Consider it a wedding return gift from me to my second brother. If it looks good on you, it’ll make me proud too.”
“And since my brother’s been so good to me, I want to be good to him too.”
Her dowry, besides the sewing machine, wardrobe, thirty-six legs, TV, tape recorder, and fridge, also included ten thousand yuan. That amount came from her parents and her two brothers, with the largest share from her second brother.
Lin Guangzhuo froze for a moment, looking at the money in his hand, then at his sister’s bright, shining eyes. His throat moved as if he wanted to say something, but Lin Tianxin cut him off: “Go pay for it quickly if we wait too long, someone else might buy it.”
The nearby clerks chuckled at the scene. “Sisters really do care about their brothers. This white shirt with the trousers is perfect!”
At this moment, even though the clerks usually looked down on customers, Lin Tianxin and Lin Guangzhuo were regulars and came from a respectable family, so the clerks’ tone carried deference.
Lin Guangzhuo let out a small laugh. A faint blush appeared on his slightly tanned face. No longer embarrassed, he took the money and hurried to the cashier. He carefully folded the shirt and held it against his chest, as if cradling a treasure, walking with his back straightened.
Once outside the supply store, the evening sun stretched their shadows long across the ground. Lin Guangzhuo glanced at his sister and couldn’t help but warn her, “Tianxin, if the Lu family dares to treat you badly, don’t hold back tell me immediately. Second Brother will handle it for you.”
Lin Tianxin smiled and looped her arm through his. “I know, with you around, no one would dare bully me.”
She looked up at the sky, a flash of sharpness in her eyes. “Second Brother, keep an extra eye on Xu Su. We need to find evidence as soon as possible so we can be at ease.”
As long as Xu Su wasn’t dealt with, she couldn’t relax.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got this!” Lin Guangzhuo patted his chest. The sunlight glinted off the epaulets on his uniform. “I’ll go back to the station and have people watch her closely. She won’t get away.”
The two walked side by side, but not far away, a shadow slipped behind a tree it was Xu Su, who hadn’t gone far. Watching Lin Tianxin and Lin Guangzhuo’s closeness, a trace of malice flashed in her eyes. She gritted her teeth and disappeared into the alley.
Lin Guangzhuo didn’t return until he saw Lin Tianxin safely to the gate of the military compound. As she approached the house, she heard her father’s steady voice from the living room, tinged with seriousness.
“There’s been quite a bit of activity in the military district lately. The border isn’t entirely stable, and there are signs of scattered enemy spy activity, though no concrete evidence has been found yet.”
Her mother, sitting nearby mending clothes, sighed. “Be careful, it’s dangerous work always on edge.”
Lin Tianxin paused at the doorway, deliberately cheerful as she entered. “Dad, Mom, I’m home.”
Her father looked up, his stern expression softening. He gestured to the stool beside him. “Tianxin’s back. Did Guangzhuo see you to the gate?”
“Yes, Second Brother just left,” Lin Tianxin said, sitting down and looking at her father with a more serious tone. “Dad, you mentioned enemy spy activity in the military district?”
Her father nodded without much thought. “Yes, they’ve been investigating closely, but nothing concrete yet.”
Lin Tianxin lightly clutched the edge of her clothes, carefully choosing her words. “Dad, something just came to mind. Before I got married, I accidentally saw a man in a military uniform meeting someone secretly at the supply store. He wasn’t speaking Mandarin. His accent was from another region, and he looked shifty. At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but now it feels wrong.”
She paused, then added, “I remember his face I can draw it. If he really is connected to those enemy spies, it could help the military district.”
In her past life, she often drew and studied medicine. She remembered seeing spy portraits published in newspapers. If a soldier ran into spies, the police would make a detailed sketch.
Her father’s smile instantly vanished, replaced by a sharp, serious gaze. “Are you sure? You didn’t mistake him?”
“Absolutely not. I remember his eyebrows and eyes clearly,” Lin Tianxin said firmly, her eyes unwavering. “Dad, I’ll draw the portrait. You can take it to the military district and trace him. It might lead to a big catch.”
Her mother tensed. “This isn’t a small matter, Tianxin. Don’t speak carelessly.”
“Mom, I wouldn’t joke about something like this,” Lin Tianxin replied. “I won’t say it without solid reasons. The military needs to stay alert so no one takes advantage of them.”
Her father paused, then stood and paced a few steps. “You’re right. This can’t be taken lightly. I’ll get paper and pencils for you.”
He quickly brought the materials, spreading them on the table. Lin Tianxin took a deep breath, gripped the pencil, and let the tip touch the paper.
The memory of the spy’s face from newspapers was etched in her mind: the curve of the eyebrows, the slight lift at the eyes’ corners, even a faint scar by the nose all crystal clear, as if the man stood before her. Her wrist moved smoothly, sketching the outline first, then carefully detailing the features. Her strokes were precise, as if drawing from life.
The pencil scratched across the paper. In less than half an hour, a sly, cunning-looking man appeared on the page. His wary, calculating eyes were captured perfectly. Even the military uniform’s buttons and shoulder details were drawn accurately, so lifelike it felt as though he could step off the paper at any moment.
Her mother leaned closer, astonished. “Tianxin, your skill is incredible! You study medicine, yet your attention to detail is amazing this looks better than a photo! The eyebrows, the expression… there’s no mistaking it.”
Lin Tianxin put down the pencil, rubbed her fingers, and smiled. “Mom, I used to doodle for fun. Didn’t think it would come in handy now.” She didn’t mention her past life, using a safe excuse.
Her father examined the portrait under the light, growing even more serious, yet his surprise was evident. “Perfect! So realistic! The details are accurate the military security team will know exactly what to look for.”
He focused on the scar. “This one mark alone will save a lot of time in the investigation.”
“Tianxin, you’ve really helped a lot,” her mother said, holding her hand proudly. “Not only talented in medicine but also this skill our family is lucky to have you.”
Lin Tianxin blushed slightly. “I’m glad I could help. If it helps catch the culprit sooner, the military faces fewer risks.”
Her father carefully folded the portrait and placed it in his inner pocket. “I’ll go to the military district immediately and have them start the investigation. Tianxin, the city isn’t safe lately, so be careful when you go out.”
With their son away and both newly married, her parents felt they owed their daughter-in-law a bit of extra care.