Zhou Wanyi stormed in, her face full of dissatisfaction, pointing at the bracelet on Lin Yuqiu’s hand.
“Why should we pass on our Zhou family heirloom to her? Even if we don’t pass it on to Sister Shiyun, we can pass it on to me in the future.”
She didn’t even glance at Lin Yuqiu, as if she didn’t exist in the room at all.
Lin Yuqiu’s body stiffened slightly, a blush of embarrassment rose on her cheeks, and she stood there stunned, lowering her head somewhat helplessly.
Zhou’s mother glanced at her daughter, her eyes filled with sternness but also undisguised doting: “You silly girl! This bracelet was passed down from your grandmother’s generation to me, and now it’s being passed on to your sister-in-law. She’s the eldest daughter-in-law of our family, and in the future, she’ll be in charge of the household affairs for our Zhou family, and she’ll stay with your brother in the army to guard the home!”
“What kind of behavior is this, throwing a tantrum in front of the guests?”
“Apologize to your sister-in-law right now.”
Zhou Wanyi pouted, looking unconvinced.
Lin Yuqiu slowly raised her head, a gentle smile on her face, and walked up to Zhou Wanyi, handing her the bracelet: “Sister, don’t be angry.
This heirloom should have been yours. I’m just keeping it for you temporarily. When you get married in the future, I will definitely return it to you as your dowry.”
Zhou Wanyi’s tone was indifferent, tinged with a hint of disdain, as she muttered under her breath, “Who cares if you wore it?”
As soon as she finished speaking, her gaze swept over the neatly arranged bedding cotton sheets, silk satin, silk quilts, wool blankets, camel hair cloaks and her face filled with grievance. She huffed, “Mom, you gave all of these to her? And this silk satin, didn’t you say you were keeping it for me as part of my dowry? Why did you give it to her too?”
Looking at her daughter, Zhou’s mother shook her head helplessly, her voice carrying a hint of reproach yet also a touch of doting: “What’s the rush? You don’t even have a prospective husband yet.”
“Once your older brother and sister-in-law are settled, your dowry will be plentiful, and your mother will certainly not skimp on it.”
“Mom saved three of these silk satin sheets for you too.”
With a sigh, Zhou’s mother took out three silk satin quilts from the wardrobe, along with two camphor wood chests containing dowry items for her daughter.
Zhou Wanyi snorted, her dissatisfaction growing even stronger.
She didn’t care how much her mother left her; this was her home anyway.
She felt that all the good things in her family had been taken away by Lin Yuqiu.
She didn’t even glance at Lin Yuqiu, nor did she listen to Zhou’s mother anymore. Instead, she turned and stormed off.
After leaving the Zhou family’s house, Zhou Wanyi went straight to Li Shiyun’s house.
As soon as she entered the door, she sat down on the sofa in a fit of rage, tears welling up in her eyes, and said, “Sister Shiyun, I knew it! That woman is a vixen!”
“She not only stole my brother’s heart, but even my mother isn’t on my side anymore!”
“They gave that woman the best things in their house, including the dowry that was originally prepared for me!”
Zhou Wanyi cried with snot and tears streaming down her face, pouting angrily: “That woman lost everything at home, so she came to steal my things. My mother prepared everything for her, why should she?”
“I heard that her mother is lying in the hospital half-dead, and she’s still eagerly following my brother to live a good life while he’s in the military. She even came into my house to steal my parents. She’s really got a good plan!”
“If it weren’t for my brother, she probably would have starved to death long ago. She still wants to act tough in my house? Dream on!”
“Sister Shiyun, my mother clearly wants you as her daughter-in-law. I really don’t understand why she’s so nice to that woman.”
Li Shiwen handed her a glass of water and gently comforted her, saying, “Wanyi, don’t be angry. She’s your sister-in-law now, so it’s only right that your parents love her, which means they love your brother too.”
“You are their daughter, and that will never change in their hearts.”
“Please be more understanding.”
Zhou Wanyi slammed her hand on the table, her voice shrill: “Why should I be sympathetic to her?”
“She didn’t prepare anything, and she married my brother empty-handed!”
“Why should my family prepare so many expensive things for her?”
“By the way, do you know that my brother has to support his bedridden mother every month? The care and living expenses alone cost him tens of dollars, which is equivalent to an average person’s monthly salary. Otherwise, even with his monthly salary of over a hundred dollars, my brother, as a regimental commander, would still struggle to make ends meet, and he might even have to rely on my parents’ money!”
“Sister Shiyun, I wish you were my sister-in-law! You are well-educated, reasonable, and capable, a hundred times better than that woman.”
“Your Li family and our Zhou family are a perfect match. My brother marrying you is a match made in heaven. Unlike that woman, who is not a good match and will have to rely on my brother to support her in the future.”
Li Shiyun’s heart skipped a beat.
She looked at Zhou Wanyi, her lips moved, but she didn’t say anything.
Zhou Wanyi, oblivious to her unease, continued, “Sister Shiyun, don’t worry, I just found out that my brother married that woman to repay a debt of gratitude! He doesn’t actually like her at all!”
“Maybe the person my brother has in his heart is you.”
“My brother is the kind of person who values camaraderie above all else. The woman’s brother who sacrificed himself was apparently one of my brother’s subordinates. My brother was just showing compassion because he was looking after the family of his subordinate.”
These words, like a seed, instantly fell into Li Shiyun’s heart.
Her heart suddenly started racing.
The laughter and joy of growing up together in the old compound, the happiness and sweetness etched in my heart, now surge through my mind like a tide, lingering and unforgettable.
Watching him grow from the most outstanding boy in the compound into the most dazzling man, watching him overcome obstacles and achieve glory step by step for his ideals, her heart has never changed from beginning to end.
That was the person she had secretly kept in her heart since she was a teenager, the most outstanding person in the entire military region. How could she bear to forget him?
Once this thought took root, it grew like a wildly spreading vine, instantly entangling her internal organs, so densely that even breathing became a burning pain.
Reason crumbled under the weight of her mad obsession, and she watched helplessly as she succumbed to her depravity, utterly powerless to resist.
That day, Li Shiyun found her father.
“Dad,” her voice was firm, “I’ve made up my mind. After my internship ends, I want to go to an island. Fighting alongside the soldiers on the front lines is my dream.”
Looking at his daughter, Mr. Li felt both heartache and helplessness, but also a sense of security to protect her.
He hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.
“Okay. Since it’s your dream, Dad supports you.”
“I’ll arrange it for you right away and transfer you to the military hospital on the island.”
“No matter what, Dad will always be your strongest support.”
Zhou Wanyi quickly received the news, and suppressing her excitement, she hurried to the study to find the guard, Xiao Liu, to proceed with her next plan.
As soon as I reached the door, I heard my brother’s voice coming from inside. Unlike his usual calm demeanor, it carried an irrepressible joy.
“Old Wang, this is Zhou Runqing. Yes, I got my marriage certificate today.”
A congratulatory voice came from the other end of the phone: “Congratulations, Commander Zhou. This is a momentous occasion, you must invite your brother to a celebratory drink!”
Zhou Runqing’s eyes and brows lit up with joy, his voice deep and cheerful: “Thanks. You’ll be there for the wedding feast. It’s not convenient to have a big celebration in the compound, but I’ll hold one for the brothers once we get to the island! Then all the soldiers in the regiment can have a drink together and have a good time.”
He paused, then quickly regained his composure, though a hint of a smile remained: “Time was too tight; we didn’t have time to prepare in advance.”
“I’ll verbally explain the application for military dependents now. You can pre-approve and file it on your end. I’ll bring the official documents with me when I leave tomorrow. Once I arrive on the island, I can sign the official document, and it will then be officially effective.”
Political Commissar Wang immediately agreed: “Don’t worry, the preliminary approval has been recorded. We’ve reserved a spot for you to accompany the troops. I’ll have someone prepare the food and oil supplies. We’re just waiting for you and your wife to come to the island.”
After hanging up the phone, Zhou Runqing called over his bodyguard, Xiao Liu, and instructed him: “Prepare all the materials and go check the tickets back to the island for the next two days.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Hearing her brother’s beaming voice coming from the study, Zhou Wanyi gritted her teeth in anger. After waiting for the guard, Xiao Liu, to come out, she dragged him down to the courtyard.
With a spoiled yet sweet smile on her face, her tone carried an undeniable command: “Xiao Liu, when you buy the tickets, buy one for me too. I’m going to an island with my brother and sister-in-law for a few days, so don’t forget to get one.”
Xiao Liu was somewhat surprised, then suddenly said with a half-smile, “Wanyi, weren’t you afraid of being taken to an island for training by the commander, feeling sorry for your delicate little face? Why do you want to go to the island too?”
Zhou Wanyi bared her teeth in anger and said confidently, “I’m not afraid anymore! You can just buy it, I’ll talk to my brother.”
Suddenly, her eyes narrowed into fox-like smiles, and she added, half-threatening and half-warning, “Remember, you have to buy sleeper berths in the same carriage. Preferably next to my brother, otherwise I’ll be scared all by myself. If you don’t handle it well, I’ll tell my brother you’re incompetent!”
Xiao Liu nodded hurriedly: “Wanyi, the regimental commander will be overjoyed to know that you want to go to the army for training. Just wait and come to the island with us.”
Zhou Wanyi watched Xiao Liu’s departing figure, glanced up at the building behind her, and covered her mouth to chuckle.