Lin Zhijin had thought Lin Shishu was only being polite when she said she would come visit, but unexpectedly, she really did come over to spend time with her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know that deputy regimental commander would act like that. That day, I explained everything very clearly to him, and he didn’t refuse either. Who could have known he had other intentions?”
Lin Zhijin held Lin Shishu’s hand and apologized.
“You can know someone’s face but not their heart. What does that have to do with you? This is better anyway. At least he’s better than those sanctimonious hypocrites who look decent on the surface. By the way, look at the bracelet I just bought.”
Lin Shishu waved her hand, showing Lin Zhijin the jadeite bracelet on her wrist.
“It’s very pretty. Was it expensive?”
Lin Zhijin did not understand jadeite very well, but judging from its translucency and color alone, it probably had not been cheap.
“It was. Eighty silver dollars.”
Seeing Lin Zhijin frown, Lin Shishu knew what she was worried about and smiled.
“Don’t worry. I have money. On the day we were liberated, I took all my valuables with me. Later, I went back to our master and made a huge fuss. We were together for so long, after all, and he wasn’t completely heartless toward me. He gave me another sum of money—one thousand silver dollars. With what I’d already saved, buying one bracelet… isn’t that bad, right?”
A jadeite bracelet cost eighty silver dollars.
That was nearly one-tenth of a thousand silver dollars.
Hiss—
She really should not spend recklessly.
Seeing Lin Shishu’s miserable expression, Lin Zhijin thought about her previous evaluation of her and decided to redefine it.
She had a few tricks up her sleeve, but not many.
“Zhijin, what did Master Chen leave you?”
Lin Shishu’s moods came and went quickly. She soon became curious about what Lin Zhijin had received.
“Our First Madam was kindhearted and gave me a residence. She also let me take everything I used before. Master Chen left me a little inheritance too. It’s not enough to compare with those above, but more than those below. And now I have a job, so things are pretty good.”
Seeing Lin Shishu still swinging her bracelet around, Lin Zhijin could not help reminding her, “Things are different for you now. You don’t have anyone backing you, yet you’re holding a large amount of money. You’re basically a fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered. It would be better to put away all this gold and silver jewelry.”
Lin Shishu sighed.
It wasn’t as if she were stupid.
She had simply been wandering around when she ended up at Treasure Pavilion. Then the shop assistant there kept praising her, and before she knew it, she had somehow bought the bracelet.
Actually, she had regretted it as soon as she bought it, but she had been too embarrassed to return it.
“I know. Thank you, Zhijin. Ever since I left the Wu family, all the friends I used to be close with stopped associating with me. The occasional one or two who come looking for me only want to borrow money. I…”
Lin Shishu’s eyes reddened, and her voice became tearful.
“Zhijin, you’re the only connection I have now. At the next matchmaking gathering, help me find a better man. I’m scared being alone.”
“All right. I’ll definitely choose carefully for you.”
Lin Zhijin nodded.
“Come on. I’ll take you to eat something delicious.”
Lin Shishu smiled brightly and pulled Lin Zhijin along.
Lin Zhijin seriously suspected that she had a split personality.
How could her emotions change so quickly?
It was rare for Lin Zhijin to have a day off.
Since she had nothing else to do and the weather was good, she went out for a stroll, enjoyed the breeze, and relaxed.
They ate lunch at a small restaurant.
The food was very good, and Lin Shishu had chosen the place.
“Zhijin, can I come find you again next time?”
Lin Shishu reluctantly held onto her hand.
“Sure, but only after I get off work or on my days off.”
Lin Zhijin waved at her, then got into a rickshaw and went home.
After walking around for most of the day, she was covered in sweat.
Lin Zhijin boiled water and took a bath, then washed the dirty clothes she had accumulated.
By the time she finished tidying everything up, it was already seven in the evening.
Too lazy to go out for dinner, she ate a few biscuits and treated that as her evening meal.
She was just about to close the door and go to sleep when knocking suddenly came from outside.
After hesitating for a moment, she quietly walked toward the front gate.
Then she heard people talking outside.
“Brother Yang, it’s here. The chick inside is insanely pretty. That waist is so slim you could wrap one hand around it. Her chest is perky, her ass is nice and round, and her skin is tender as tofu. When she glances at you with those eyes—damn, your bones practically turn soft.”
“Single?”
“More than single. She lives in this entire residence by herself.”
“Tsk. Why hasn’t she opened the door yet? Knock again.”
“Brother Yang, why bother knocking? Why don’t we just climb over the wall?”
Slap!
The sound of a slap rang out.
“Are you trying to get me killed? There are troops outside, and you want to climb the wall? You don’t want to live anymore?”
“Brother Yang, she won’t open the door.”
“Someone’s coming. Let’s go. We’ll come back another time.”
Only after confirming that the footsteps had disappeared into the distance did Lin Zhijin cover her pounding heart and let out a long breath.
Lin Zhijin pursed her lips.
She could not continue living here.
Moving to the courtyard with the jujube tree would not be a long-term solution either.
Once people found out she lived alone, someone would still set their sights on her.
Should she move into a dormitory?
Actually, she really was not suited to living alone.
She was afraid of thieves and ghosts.
But she did not like communal dormitories either.
Tomorrow, she would ask Elder Sister Li Yue whether there was any chance of getting a single room.
“A single dormitory room? How could that be possible? Housing is so tight right now. Don’t you already have somewhere to live? Why do you suddenly want to move into a dormitory?”
Li Yue’s eyes suddenly lit up.
“Oh, right! There are double rooms. Xiao Lin, do you want to move into the dormitory? Let’s share a room!”
Lin Zhijin looked at Li Yue in surprise.
“Aren’t you married?”
“Him? He’s hardly home a few days out of the whole year. Xiao Lin, move in. Then we can even go to and from work together.”
Li Yue spoke happily.
“I’ll think about it.”
Lin Zhijin planned to ask Director Zhang whether she could get a single room.
It did not matter if it was small.
A smaller room would actually make her feel safer.
Unfortunately, Director Zhang was not there that day, so Lin Zhijin could only wait until tomorrow.
That evening, she heard knocking again.
This time, she did not go outside.
She locked all the doors and windows tightly and gripped the woodcutting knife in her hand.
After waiting for quite a while and confirming that those people had left, she finally let out a breath.
Tomorrow, she absolutely had to speak to Director Zhang about the dormitory.
If that didn’t work, she would stay at a hotel for a few days as a temporary measure, then rent a place near the Military Control Office.
Her life was precious.
“Xiao Lin, you didn’t sleep well again last night? Still not used to the bed? If you move into the dormitory, won’t you have to adjust all over again?”
Seeing the dark circles beneath Lin Zhijin’s eyes, Li Yue asked with concern.
“No.”
Lin Zhijin rubbed her temples.
“Some hooligans came knocking on my front gate. I was so frightened I couldn’t sleep.”
“What?”
Li Yue shot to her feet.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. They knocked for a while and then left.”
Lin Zhijin’s voice was filled with exhaustion.
“No wonder you said you wanted to move into the dormitory. Move. Hurry up and move. Come on, let’s go ask Director for leave. I’ll help you move.”
Li Yue grabbed Lin Zhijin and tried to take her to find Director Zhang.
“There’s no rush. I have something else to ask Director about.”
Lin Zhijin stopped Li Yue.
Taking advantage of a moment when Director Zhang was not too busy, Lin Zhijin hurried to her office.
“Director, the place I’m currently living in isn’t very safe. I want to move into the dormitory, but… I have quite a lot of belongings. Could I apply for a single room?”
Lin Zhijin asked cautiously.
“A single room? Your rank isn’t high enough. Not safe? What happened?”
Director Zhang asked.
Lin Zhijin told her about the hooligans knocking on her door, then looked at Director Zhang expectantly.
“According to regulations, it isn’t allowed.”
Director Zhang looked at Lin Zhijin’s somewhat exhausted expression and paused.
“Housing is tight right now. We’ll discuss it first. Xiao Lin, I suggest you move into the dormitory for the time being. It really is dangerous for you to live outside alone.”
Li Yue had been waiting for Lin Zhijin to come out.
Seeing her dejected expression, she assumed she had failed to get a dormitory room.
“You didn’t tell Director about the hooligans?”
“I did. Sorry, Elder Sister Li Yue. I want a single room.”
Lin Zhijin smiled bitterly.
“I have a poor person’s fate but somehow developed a rich person’s illness. If someone else sleeps in the same room as me at night, I won’t be able to sleep.”
“Then what will you do after you get married?” Li Yue asked curiously.
“I don’t know. I’m worried about that too!”
Lin Zhijin sighed softly.
Just then, Director Yang came in leading two newlywed couples, distributing wedding candies to everyone.
“Thank you, thank you. If you hadn’t held the matchmaking gathering, we wouldn’t have been able to get married.”
A delicate-looking young woman in her early twenties grabbed a handful of fruit candies and gave them to Lin Zhijin.
“Congratulations. Congratulations. I wish you a harmonious marriage for a hundred years and an early birth of a precious child.”
Lin Zhijin accepted the wedding candy and congratulated them with a bright smile.
“The last matchmaking gathering was very successful. Old Zhao asked when you’re holding the second one.”
Director Yang asked with a smile.
The army had plenty of one thing—bachelors.
Many of them were difficult cases who had remained unmarried for years.
If they could find suitable women, marry them, and have several children, then even if they sacrificed themselves later, at least they would leave descendants behind.
“Why choose another day when today will do? Let’s hold it tonight. Use the same assembly hall as last time. Li Yue, go notify the women. Director Yang, I’ll leave the army side to you.”
Director Zhang spoke decisively.
They were all people who had been on battlefields.
Orders were given and carried out without delay.
Once several instructions were issued, everyone immediately began moving, including Lin Zhijin.
When they got off work that morning, she had Li Yue help bring back lunch while she went to find Lin Shishu.
She had promised her that she would definitely tell her about the next matchmaking gathering.
At three in the afternoon, people who wanted to find partners began arriving one after another to sign in.
Unlike last time, this time they had added a questionnaire listing everyone’s requirements for a marriage partner.
And sure enough, there really was someone suitable for Lin Shishu.
Regimental Commander Liu.
He ranked even higher than Li Guangliang.
He was tall and broad, with sharp features, twenty-nine years old this year, and had never been married.
He had once had a fiancée, but her entire family had emigrated overseas. Before leaving, she had already published a notice in the newspaper canceling their engagement.
He himself did not mind what experiences the woman had gone through in the past.
As long as they liked each other, that was enough.
The moment the matchmaking gathering began, two couples were already formed.
There were also women interested in Regimental Commander Liu.
Lin Zhijin was growing anxious.
Why hadn’t Lin Shishu arrived yet?
“Zhijin.”
Lin Shishu came jogging over.
For tonight’s matchmaking gathering, she had deliberately dressed herself up.
“Look. The one standing by the window. Yes, that one. What do you think? If you like his appearance, I’ll go tell him, and then the two of you can talk and get to know each other yourselves.”
Lin Zhijin lowered her voice.
Lin Shishu looked him up and down.
A trace of satisfaction flashed through her eyes, and she shyly nodded.
“Help me ask him what he thinks of me.”
“All right. Wait here.”
Lin Zhijin went over to Regimental Commander Liu, pointed at Lin Shishu, and directly asked whether he liked her.
If he liked her appearance, then they could continue getting to know each other.
“Her name is Lin Shishu? I’ll go talk to her.”
Regimental Commander Liu nodded at Lin Zhijin and strode over.
From a distance, the two seemed to be chatting quite well.
Lin Zhijin relaxed slightly, then turned to help match other people.
By the time the gathering ended, it was already past eight in the evening.
Lin Zhijin had originally planned to go home after work that afternoon, pack a few clothes, and stay at a hotel.
But she had become so busy that she had worked until now.
“Xiao Lin, let Old Li take you home.”
Director Zhang came over with Old Li.
After working all day, her body felt sticky with sweat.
She could tolerate not changing her outer clothes, but she really could not stand leaving her undergarments unchanged.
So Lin Zhijin could only thicken her skin and trouble Old Li to accompany her home to collect her luggage.
“Brother Li, sorry to trouble you again.”
Lin Zhijin said apologetically.
“Comrade Lin, you’re far too polite. Last time I only escorted you home once, and you even gave me a package of pastries afterward. I felt embarrassed accepting them.”
Old Li awkwardly rubbed his hands together.
“Political Commissar Wang agreed that you could accept them, so that means it was fine. Besides, they weren’t for you. They were for Huzi. Is Huzi doing better now?”
When Lin Zhijin had gone to deliver the pastries last time, Old Li had refused to accept them no matter what.
It was only after Political Commissar Wang told him to take them that he finally did.
That was also when she learned that Old Li’s son had been seriously ill.
At the mention of his son, a smile appeared on Old Li’s face.
“Much better.”
The two had only just entered Fengye Alley when Old Li suddenly pulled Lin Zhijin into a corner.
Before she could cry out, he covered her mouth.
“Shh. Something’s wrong. Let’s watch first.”
Only after Lin Zhijin nodded did Old Li remove his hand.
“Sorry. I was in a hurry just now, so…”
“It’s fine. I understand.”
Lin Zhijin leaned against the wall.
Although she was curious, she did not poke her head out to look.
She had no ability to help, so she would not create trouble for him.
At least she had that much self-awareness.
After a while, Old Li asked Lin Zhijin who lived in the seventh residence in Fengye Alley.
Lin Zhijin lived in the sixth residence.
Wouldn’t the seventh be her neighbor?
“It’s my neighbor.”
Lin Zhijin’s heart instantly tightened.
“What happened?”
“Hide here. I’ll go take a look.”
Old Li pulled out his pistol.
Lin Zhijin grabbed him.
“How many people are on the other side? There are troops stationed not far ahead. Call them over and act together.”
“There’s no time. Stay hidden here.”
Old Li carefully moved toward Residence No. 7.
Lin Zhijin gritted her teeth and ran toward the troops stationed nearby.
She hoped it was only a false alarm.
“Who goes there?”
The soldier standing guard saw Lin Zhijin and looked at her sharply.
“Why are you running around here instead of sleeping at home this late?”
Panting, Lin Zhijin said, “I’m a Women’s Federation officer, Lin Zhijin. Quickly, send a squad with me. I’ll explain the details on the way.”
The guard examined Lin Zhijin’s work identification and immediately reported to his superior.
Very quickly, a group of soldiers was assembled to follow Lin Zhijin.
During that time, Lin Zhijin quickly explained what had happened.
The company commander’s expression became grave.
He immediately led the men to provide support, leaving one young soldier to accompany Lin Zhijin back.
“Nothing will happen, right?”
Lin Zhijin asked worriedly.
“Don’t worry. The officer you mentioned came down from the battlefield, and he has a gun. He’ll be fine.”
The young soldier comforted Lin Zhijin.
By the time they arrived, the fighting was already over.
It turned out to be a group of thieves.
They had been watching Residence No. 7 for quite some time and had planned to make a fortune while Nancheng was still somewhat chaotic.
They had not expected a soldier to be there tonight.
“Comrade Lin, luckily you brought reinforcements. Otherwise, I really might have died here tonight.”
Old Li covered his arm, which was still bleeding.
“You’re injured? I have a bicycle at home. Hurry and have someone take you to the clinic.”
Lin Zhijin said anxiously.
The family in Residence No. 6 stood in the courtyard, still badly shaken.
Among them was a girl about two years younger than Lin Zhijin who kept crying.
The mistress of the household suppressed her own fear while comforting the young girl.
The master of the household first thanked Old Li and the soldiers who arrived later.
After hearing what Old Li had said, he came over and bowed deeply to Lin Zhijin as well.
“Thank you. Thank you. Without all of you, our entire family might have met with disaster tonight. We have a bicycle too. Use ours. We’ll also pay all the medical expenses.”
“You’re too polite. Protecting ordinary people is our duty. This injury isn’t serious. It’s already late, so all of you should rest early. We can discuss anything else tomorrow.”
Old Li refused the man’s offer of compensation but agreed to borrow Lin Zhijin’s bicycle.
His wound was not serious, but he needed to report what had happened tonight to his superior as quickly as possible.
With such a large commotion, the neighboring households had all woken up as well.
However, no one came outside.
Compared with watching the excitement, preserving one’s life was obviously more important.
After everything that had happened, Lin Zhijin was even more afraid to stay there.
She quickly packed one change of clothes and her toiletries and asked the young soldier to escort her to a nearby hotel for the night.
When she arrived at work the next day, Wang Chunhua rushed over in one swift step.
“Xiao Lin, I heard thieves broke into your neighbor’s house? You live alone, don’t you? Oh my, that’s not safe at all. In my opinion, you’d better move into the dormitory.”
Lin Zhijin nodded.
Even a shared dormitory was fine.
At least it would be safe.
“Xiao Lin, are you all right? I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard the news this morning. Luckily Old Li escorted you home.”
“No, wait. Luckily we held the matchmaking gathering yesterday. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have worked overtime. If you hadn’t worked overtime, Old Li wouldn’t have needed to escort you. And without Old Li escorting you…”
The more Li Yue spoke, the more frightening it sounded.
“You were really lucky this time. Stop thinking about it and just move into the dormitory. This is enough to scare someone to death.”
“Mm. I’ll ask Director Zhang for leave later and move.”
Lin Zhijin spoke with lingering fear.
At that moment, Director Yang sent someone to call Lin Zhijin over.
When she entered, she saw Director Zhao, Director Zhang, and the others were all there.
“Xiao Lin is here. Sit.”
Director Yang pointed to the seat beside Director Zhang.
“Do you know why we called you here?”
“Xiao Lin, that group last night weren’t ordinary thieves. The two leaders used to be bandits and had blood on their hands. At first, they really were targeting your neighbors. But the person scouting the area discovered that you had moved in—you’re young, beautiful, living alone, and you dress and eat well. So last night, you were one of their targets too.”
Director Zhang tapped the confession document and spoke gravely.
Hearing this, Lin Zhijin broke out in a cold sweat.
The consequences of being targeted by a group like that did not bear thinking about.
“I also heard there were hooligans who went knocking on your front gate late at night instead of sleeping?”
Director Yang asked casually.
“That did happen. That’s why I was planning to apply for a dormitory.”
Lin Zhijin still looked shaken.
“How about this? Didn’t you donate a courtyard residence? The higher-ups are planning to use it as dormitory housing, with priority given to those who have rendered meritorious service. You donated so many things to the country, so you count as someone who has rendered merit. We’ll reserve one room for you.”
Director Zhao smiled as he spoke.
Lin Zhijin’s eyes instantly lit up.
Living together with a group of battle heroes?
Forget petty thieves—even ghosts would not dare come near.
That was far too reassuring.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Revised. Thank you for your support. Muah muah (づ￣3￣)づ╭??～