Breathing sounded in her ear, faintly scented with alcohol.
“Qiao Qiao.”
Qin Xingye’s voice was a bit slurred.
Qiao Yuewei turned around. Hadn’t he said he wasn’t drunk? Why were his eyes so dazed?
She helped him into the room and grabbed a towel from the bathroom, humorously wiping his face. When she stood up, her wrist was grabbed—he pulled her into his embrace.
“Qiao Qiao, headache.”
Qiao Yuewei patted his waist, but her hand was caught.
“Qiao Qiao, sleep obediently.”
With that, Qin Xingye rolled over and held Qiao Yuewei in his arms, drifting off to sleep.
Seeing him asleep, Qiao Yuewei wanted to tidy herself up, but the more she moved, the tighter the man held her…
Listening to his even breathing, she angrily bit his arm—she hadn’t even washed up yet!
The next morning, Qiao Yuewei was woken by He Qiurong’s voice from next door.
He Qiurong stood by the kitchen window. “Xiao Qin, up so early?”
“Mm.” Qin Xingye cracked two eggs into the noodles.
He remembered going to sleep with Qiao Yuewei after cleaning up last night…
“Sister-in-law,” Qiao Yuewei yawned as she came out.
“Weiwei, why are you up too? Did I wake you?”
Qiao Yuewei shook her head. It was already past eight; it was time to go to the market.
“Wait a moment, sister-in-law. I’ll wash up and be ready soon.”
“Ah!” He Qiurong called after her. “Weiwei, no rush! We can go tomorrow too. Silly me, I didn’t tell you—the market bus leaves at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow. I’ll remind you then.”
He Qiurong turned and returned to her courtyard.
Seeing this, Qiao Yuewei felt no urgency to go to the market today.
When Qin Xingye looked over, she glared at him. Her arm was numb.
“Qiao…”
Before he could finish, Qiao Yuewei turned and went to wash up—last night she had gone straight to sleep without changing clothes.
“Qin Xingye.”
Hearing her call, the guilt-ridden Qin Xingye immediately relaxed.
“Qiao Qiao, what’s wrong?”
Qiao Yuewei threw the bedsheet at him. “Smells of alcohol.”
“I’ll wash it later.”
“Wash the duvet cover too,” she added, patting her hands.
Qin Xingye nodded. “Okay. I cooked noodles—eat first so you don’t get hungry.”
When the noodles were served, they were garnished with chopped scallions and a golden fried egg on top.
He had to admit, Qin Xingye’s cooking was really good. Qiao Yuewei finished a large bowl.
“Qin Xingye…”
“Is Captain Qin at home?”
After the inquiry, several people’s hushed voices could be heard.
Qin Xingye acknowledged, and Qiao Yuewei followed him outside.
Outside were several unfamiliar sisters-in-law and some familiar faces.
Next to Wang Hongmei were Qi Danfeng and Fang Yuanyuan.
Fang Yuanyuan was being pulled along by Qi Danfeng, looking somewhat unwilling.
“Sister-in-law, what’s going on?” Qin Xingye scanned the crowd and looked at Wang Hongmei.
“Xiao Qin, tidy up and take Qiao Yuewei to my office.”
“Director Wang, can’t we just talk here?” Qi Danfeng didn’t understand—why the secrecy? If Qiao Yuewei had done something improper, everyone should know and criticize her!
Wang Hongmei gave Qi Danfeng a subtle warning with her eyes. She had her own plan for handling this.
Early in the morning, Qi Danfeng had gone to Old Zhao to report that Qiao Yuewei had loose morals, seducing his service soldier, speaking with apparent authority.
Old Zhao nearly kicked Qi Danfeng out upon hearing this. They had just eaten at Qiao Yuewei and Qin Xingye’s home yesterday.
Qi Danfeng was loud and persistent in Old Zhao’s office, accusing him of favoritism and covering up. Old Zhao had no choice but to call Wang Hongmei to handle it.
Wang Hongmei said she would first investigate and let Qi Danfeng go back, but she refused, following and bringing others along.
Wang Hongmei realized just how difficult this girl was.
“Comrade Qi, please respect my duties as the military district’s Women’s Affairs director. I have my own procedures for handling this,” Wang Hongmei said sternly.
Qi Danfeng wouldn’t listen. She grabbed Fang Yuanyuan’s hand and said to Qin Xingye: “Captain Qin, keep your eyes open and don’t be fooled!”
Qiao Yuewei looked at the energetic Qi Danfeng. Still so eager to come at her? She hadn’t given up yet?
Qin Xingye didn’t spare Qi Danfeng a glance. “Sister-in-law, I’ll tidy up and take Qiao Qiao there shortly.” He took Qiao Yuewei’s hand and went back into the room.
Fang Yuanyuan bit her lip, seeing this.
Qi Danfeng tapped Fang Yuanyuan: “Yuanyuan, see? That woman behaves like this in public; who knows how shameless she is in private?”
Her voice was loud enough for Wang Hongmei to hear. Making false accusations in front of her—her so-called report was ridiculous.
What was wrong with a young couple holding hands?
“Comrade Qi, mind your words and actions!”
Qi Danfeng sneered. She thought she would get an apology once everyone knew what she saw. She was doing this for their unit!
Inside the room, Qin Xingye looked at Qiao Yuewei: “Don’t be afraid, it’s probably just a formality.”
Qiao Yuewei nodded. “It’s fine.”
Someone like Qi Danfeng couldn’t hide what was on her mind anyway. She just wanted a peaceful life here, but some people never let her.
After changing clothes, Qiao Yuewei and Qin Xingye came out.
“Xiao Qiao, we…”
Qi Danfeng interrupted Wang Hongmei: “Sisters-in-law, do you know why I called Director Wang here?”
Curious, the other sisters-in-law asked: “What’s going on, Comrade Qi?”
The girls from the arts troupe were all pretty, intellectual, mostly city girls, very different from the army wives—they were proud and high-minded. When would they gossip with them?
Qi Danfeng scanned the intrigued sisters-in-law: “It’s her, Qiao Yuewei. Her lifestyle is improper! Her private life is unchecked!”
Wang Hongmei snapped: “Qi Danfeng!”
Qiao Yuewei shook her head at Wang Hongmei.
“Improper private life? Did she steal a man? Back then, she’d be dunked in a pig cage,” one sister-in-law murmured.
Qi Danfeng smirked.
She couldn’t dunk Qiao Yuewei in a pig cage, but her flirtations wouldn’t be tolerated in the military district; Captain Qin would surely reject her.
Qiao Yuewei raised an eyebrow. Improper private life?
“Comrade Qi Danfeng, explain specifically.”
“You! I saw you yesterday, behind Captain Qin’s back, doing… that with that service soldier Qian Xiao’an in broad daylight!”
One sister-in-law frowned: “You saw it yesterday, why didn’t you catch them in the act and report then?”
“I didn’t want my eyes to be dirtied!”
“Qian Xiao’an? I did see him at Captain Qin’s yard yesterday, and he came out sweating all over.”
Qin Xingye shot a glance, and the sister-in-law held back the rest of her comment: “Don’t know what happened inside.”