Listening to their hushed gossip about her, Xu Xi slowly turned around, her gaze calmly settling on their faces.
The salesclerk who had just been making snide remarks immediately fell silent when Xu Xi looked over.
Xu Xi pursed her lips and spoke in a clear, bright voice, “Have you said enough? I’m not deaf. At least wait until I’m farther away before you gossip about me.”
“The supply and marketing cooperative is a place that serves the public. If I complain to the manager about you—that during work hours, instead of properly attending to customers, you’re making snide remarks and gossiping behind their backs—how do you think the manager would handle you?”
Hearing Xu Xi’s words, one of the older salesclerks turned pale.
The other, a younger female salesclerk, fearlessly met Xu Xi’s gaze.
“We’re not wrong. If it weren’t for you being vicious and scheming, drugging Battalion Commander Zhou, he and our Xiuman might already be married by now.”
Looking at this arrogant salesclerk, a name suddenly flashed through Xu Xi’s mind.
Qin Xiaomei, the good friend of the female lead, Lin Xiuman.
Lin Xiuman was the daughter of a brigade commander, and Qin Xiaomei constantly curried favor with her, seeking benefits from her—she was truly the female lead’s lackey.
This job as a salesclerk at the island’s supply and marketing cooperative was arranged for Qin Xiaomei through connections Lin Xiuman had.
Hearing that the man Lin Xiuman admired had been snatched away by a village girl, Qin Xiaomei naturally felt indignant on her behalf.
Even if Xu Xi complained to the manager about her, Qin Xiaomei wasn’t afraid.
Xu Xi chuckled lightly, “So what? Zhou Yue is my man now. If you keep linking him with Lin Xiuman, are you trying to make her the other woman?”
“Lin Xiuman is in the cultural troupe, right? If her superiors find out she has issues with her conduct, even a god couldn’t save her job.”
Qin Xiaomei’s heart skipped a beat at Xu Xi’s words, and she immediately shut her mouth.
Lin Xiuman had worked hard to get into the cultural troupe; she couldn’t let this village girl ruin it.
Qin Xiaomei anxiously said, “I won’t say anything more. Don’t go to the cultural troupe to report Xiuman to her superiors.”
Xu Xi pretended to hesitate, then tossed out a line, “We’ll see how I feel.”
Ignoring Qin Xiaomei’s face, which had turned as dark as charcoal, Xu Xi happily headed back to the family quarters.
On the way, she spotted soldiers patrolling along the coast. She glanced from a distance but didn’t see Zhou Yue among them.
…
After getting off work at the supply and marketing cooperative, Qin Xiaomei immediately went to the island’s cultural troupe to find Lin Xiuman.
Lin Xiuman was rehearsing a dance. Next month, their cultural troupe would perform for the troops in the camp area, and all the soldiers would come to watch.
That meant Zhou Yue would be there too.
She planned to stand at the very front so Zhou Yue would notice her.
He would surely be captivated by her dancing and regret marrying that village girl who couldn’t do anything.
Lost in her beautiful thoughts, Lin Xiuman only snapped back to reality when Qin Xiaomei called her name twice.
“Manman, stop practicing! I have something to tell you!”
Lin Xiuman stopped rehearsing and walked over, puzzled. “Xiaomei, what is it? The troupe leader told us to rehearse until noon. I’m still busy.”
Qin Xiaomei pulled her aside and whispered through gritted teeth, “Manman, that village girl said she’s going to report you to your superiors, saying you’re involved in inappropriate relationships!”
Lin Xiuman chuckled lightly, “Battalion Commander Zhou and I are just comrades. How can she report me for that?”
In her heart, she regarded Xu Xi as nothing more than a petty and malicious village girl.
Then, Qin Xiaomei added, “Manman, I also found out some things about Battalion Commander Zhou.”
Lin Xiuman pretended not to care, “Xiaomei, I don’t like Battalion Commander Zhou anymore. Don’t bring him up so much in the future.”
Qin Xiaomei knew Lin Xiuman well—how could she so easily let go of the man she fell in love with at first sight?
“Now the whole army is spreading rumors that the village girl drugged Battalion Commander Zhou, forcing him to marry her after they slept together! There’s no real affection between them at all!”
“Even though that village girl is pregnant, Battalion Commander Zhou doesn’t seem to care much about her. When she comes to our supply and marketing cooperative to buy things, she always comes alone.”
Listening to Qin Xiaomei’s words, Lin Xiuman froze completely.
The next second, a surge of secret delight welled up inside her like a tide, and she couldn’t suppress the corners of her mouth from curling upward.
So Zhou Yue was drugged and tricked, forced into marrying Xu Xi out of helplessness.
She knew there had to be some hidden reason; otherwise, Zhou Yue would never have chosen that village girl over her.
Lin Xiuman felt hope rekindle, but to be cautious, she asked one more question.
“Xiaomei, is this really true?”
“Absolutely true!” Qin Xiaomei patted her chest in assurance. “My colleague Xiao Lan’s sweetheart is in the army, and he said this rumor has spread throughout the entire unit.”
Before, Lin Xiuman had forced herself not to pay attention to any news about Zhou Yue, so naturally, she hadn’t heard these rumors.
Now she suddenly regretted it. She should have comforted him. That day when she ran to confront Zhou Yue, he must have been hurting inside too.
Lin Xiuman bit her lip anxiously.
She decided that after rehearsal, she would go find Zhou Yue and confess her feelings.
…
Meanwhile, at the island training ground, Zhou Yue stood at the front of the formation, overseeing everyone’s combat training.
The salty, fishy scent of the sea breeze mixed with the smell of sweat swirled in the air.
The weather was unusually muggy today; it would probably rain again soon.
Zhou Yue suddenly thought of Xu Xi—her eyes, when she was upset, looked moist and teary, as if they could rain at any moment, yet she could be easily comforted.
He frowned. Why had he suddenly thought of Xu Xi?
He clearly didn’t like her, yet he couldn’t bear to see her wronged.
Zhou Yue felt puzzled. Perhaps it was because they were now husband and wife in name, and she was carrying his two children.
Taking care of her was just fulfilling his duty.
Having reasoned it out, Zhou Yue decided that after training, he would go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some fresh bones to make soup for her to nourish her.
And there was the matter of his allowance—he needed to call home.
Zhou Yue instructed Deputy Battalion Commander Feng Wei, “Old Feng, keep an eye on things. I’m going to the communications room.”
Feng Wei replied, “Got it.”
Zhou Yue went to the communications room and dialed the phone number of their village brigade. The brigade leader answered and, upon hearing that Zhou Yue wanted to speak to Mother Zhou, immediately rode his bicycle to fetch her.
Mother Zhou clutched the phone and said, “Son, that wretched girl Xu Xi must have taken the train back by now. I calculated the time; she should arrive in our village around tomorrow.”
Zhou Yue frowned. “She stayed here to accompany me in the army. The family quarters have been approved.”
“What?!” Mother Zhou’s voice suddenly rose several pitches. “How could you let her do that? That wretched girl will interfere with your work…”
The brigade leader stood nearby, nervously watching her, afraid she would spray saliva onto the phone and damage the village’s only telephone.
Mother Zhou continued chattering nonstop until Zhou Yue cut her off.
“Mom, is the monthly allowance I send her all in your hands?”
Mother Zhou paused, stammering, “You’re my son, what’s wrong with me keeping your allowance? Did she complain to you? I knew that woman was nothing but trouble!”
Zhou Yue frowned. “She doesn’t even know about the allowance. Now that she’s pregnant with twins, money is needed everywhere. Send all the allowance back.”
He had already given the money meant for the family. This allowance was for Xu Xi, and he had to get it back.
Mother Zhou hated to part with the money, but for the sake of her son and her unborn grandchildren, she agreed to send the allowance back.