In those days, most people traveled on hard-seat tickets; few were willing to spend extra on sleepers. But the sleeper carriages had fewer passengers, so many took the opportunity to snag a seat for free. Since the southern border was also a major hub, the crowd getting off was large. Li Xia’s child hadn’t woken yet, so she held the baby in one arm and grabbed Wen Yining with the other, afraid the crowd might separate them.
Wen Yining had thought that with fewer people in the sleeper carriage, they wouldn’t have to push through another wave of passengers when getting off. Reality, however, was different: a tide of people surged toward the doors, heedless of those trying to disembark.
Wen Yining had intended to let Yao Yao walk on her own, but seeing the crowd, she quickly lifted Yao Yao into her arms, held hands with Li Xia, and pressed against the incoming surge to get off the train.
Finally on the platform, Li Xia pulled Wen Yining to a relatively quiet corner.
They looked back at the still-pushing crowd, and Li Xia exclaimed, “Oh my goodness, why are there so many people?”
Wen Yining, however, wasn’t surprised. She had seen even larger crowds during the Spring Festival travel season in the future.
“Sister-in-law, check your belongings,” Wen Yining suggested. She carried very little, and all important documents were safely stored in her space; even if a thief tried, there was nothing of value to steal.
Li Xia, on the other hand, had come to visit with her child. Besides a military-green shoulder bag, she also had a bundle. Wen Yining admired Li Xia—carrying a bundle and still managing to hold her child.
“Nothing’s missing,” Li Xia whispered, winking at Wen Yining. “I sewed all the important things onto my vest, right over my chest.”
Wen Yining glanced at the child in her arms—the baby still asleep, nestled securely against Li Xia’s chest.
Li Xia grinned mischievously. “If a thief dares to steal my stuff, I’ll make them eat a peanut of their own crime first.”
Wen Yining’s lips twitched slightly. “Sister-in-law, you really are one of a kind!”
In her previous life, she had read some non-mainstream historical novels and knew a bit about how people in this era hid their valuables. Most would sew pockets into their underwear to hide money or documents—effective against pickpockets, and they could check quickly when using the restroom. Though not very hygienic, it provided some security. Many, however, still lost money or ripped their clothes in the process.
Hiding things against the chest, as Li Xia did, showed remarkable female ingenuity. Who said women in this era were traditional, dull, or powerless? They were smart, confident, and capable of holding up half the sky.
The two women, each holding a child, pushed through the crowd toward the station exit.
From afar, they spotted a tall, straight-backed man in uniform scanning the crowd.
Li Xia spotted him first and waved excitedly. “Lao Zhang! Over here!”
Despite the crowd, her voice carried, and the man looked their way, then quickly walked toward them.
Li Xia pulled Wen Yining forward, and as they got closer, she suddenly burst into tears.
“Lao Zhang! You scared me half to death! I almost didn’t get to see you and our son!” She shoved the child into Zhang Yonghua’s arms, dropping her bundle.
Li Xia wiped her tears and recounted the near-abduction on the train to Zhang Yonghua.
“Thanks to Comrade Wen for saving our son, I really wouldn’t have survived otherwise!” she sobbed. “She said another young man helped capture the trafficker and handed him over to the local police at the previous station. You should find out his unit and name and write him a thank-you letter!”
Hearing that Wen Yining had saved his son from a trafficker, Zhang Yonghua held the still-sleeping child in one arm and saluted her with the other.
“Thank you, Comrade Wen. You are a great benefactor to our Zhang family,” he said solemnly.
Wen Yining thought the couple was a bit over the top, but it reflected the genuine, kind-hearted nature of people at the time.
Blushing at the public praise, she reminded him, “Comrade Zhang, we shouldn’t discuss this here. There might still be accomplices around. If they know I foiled their plan, they could retaliate.”
She adjusted Yao Yao in her arms. “I came to visit and handle some business, but I don’t want my goodwill to cost me my life.”
“Exactly, Comrade Wen is right,” Li Xia agreed, picking up her bundle and nudging Zhang Yonghua. “I was crying and laughing just now, quite embarrassing—let’s go quickly.”
Zhang Yonghua looked at his wife helplessly. “What’s embarrassing about it? It just shows how close we are.”
Li Xia scoffed. “And you say that in public without shame!”
He held their son with one hand and took the bundle from Li Xia with the other. Turning to Wen Yining, he asked, “You said you came to visit with a child?”
Wen Yining’s voice was calm, betraying no excitement at the thought of seeing Cheng Yifeng. “Yes, just visiting.”
“What a coincidence! Comrade Wen is here visiting too, and she helped me out. Do you think we’re fated?” Li Xia teased, quickly swinging back to humor. “I wonder who’s lucky enough to marry such a wonderful woman as Comrade Wen.”
Zhang Yonghua looked at her helplessly. “So, you’d introduce her if she were single?”
Li Xia lifted her chin. “Why not?”
“Too bad Comrade Wen is married. Interfering with another’s marriage is unethical, and interfering with a soldier’s marriage is not only immoral but illegal.”
Seeing that Wen Yining had no luggage, Zhang Yonghua let her and Yao Yao board the vehicle first.
Outside, he pulled Li Xia aside. “Are you sure about Comrade Wen’s identity?”
Li Xia frowned. “Why would I doubt it?”
He placed the luggage in the trunk, handed the child to Li Xia, and whispered, “My instincts as a soldier tell me Comrade Wen isn’t just visiting—she seems like she’s here on urgent business.”
Li Xia’s expression changed. “What nonsense! She’s young. How could she be widowed?”
Zhang Yonghua covered her mouth. “Keep your voice down! Have you ever seen someone visit a family member, but no one comes to meet them? This is clearly a surprise move.”
Li Xia glared at him. “Don’t treat Comrade Wen like you would an enemy—she’s a great benefactor to our family.”
“Alright, alright. I won’t ask anymore, okay?”
“That’s better,” she replied.
He opened the car door for her, waiting until she and Yao Yao were seated before driving off the train station.
An hour later, the military compound gate came into view.
Li Xia had reported ahead, so after checking her ID and documents, the sentry allowed her through.
Wen Yining arrived unannounced. After her ID and credentials were verified, the sentry needed to confirm with Cheng Yifeng that she was indeed family before letting her in.
After the long journey, Yao Yao was tired. Wen Yining asked Li Xia if she could take Yao Yao to rest at her home for a while.
“Sister-in-law, could you take Yao Yao to rest at your place for a bit?” Wen Yining asked, worried about being a bother. “She’s very obedient. Just give her a small stool, and she won’t cause any trouble.”
“You talk like we’re strangers!” Li Xia said, taking Yao Yao from Wen Yining. “What kind of relationship do we have that you’re so polite?”
She lifted Yao Yao. “Little one, come have a snack with Auntie. Your mom will come get you soon, okay?”
Yao Yao glanced at Wen Yining, and when she nodded, Yao Yao agreed. “I’ll go with Auntie.”
“Oh, such a good girl! Much better than my mischievous one,” Li Xia said, giving Wen Yining the address of her family residence, and took Yao Yao away.
After seeing Zhang Yonghua’s car leave, Wen Yining’s smile faded slightly. She politely asked the sentry who had just verified her identity, “Comrade, could you help me contact the political commissar? I need to report Cheng Yifeng’s misconduct and file for a divorce.”
The sentry, seeing her wasn’t joking, quickly dialed the internal line. After receiving approval, he immediately escorted her to the political commissar’s office.
Inside, Political Commissar Yang Jianming examined Wen Yining. “You are Cheng Yifeng’s wife?”
Wen Yining straightened her posture, neither humble nor arrogant, and handed over her ID, the introduction letter issued by the local authority, and the marriage certificate Cheng Yifeng had tricked her into obtaining.
She explained Cheng Yifeng’s situation honestly: “Cheng Yifeng’s parents arranged my marriage to him so that when he was away, I could take care of them. I know he has no feelings for me. That’s fine—I don’t cling to him. But he cannot make me care for his parents while secretly starting a family with his childhood sweetheart in the army. I am here to report his misconduct and infidelity. I want a divorce.”
Yang Jianming looked at her. “Cheng Yifeng was just promoted to battalion commander. Do you realize what your words could do to his career? He might never be promoted again.”
Wen Yining met the commissar’s gaze evenly and asked, “So you mean I should turn a blind eye and pretend I don’t know he’s having an extramarital affair with a capitalist’s daughter?”