After more than an hour of driving, the car finally arrived at the dock.
The two officers only escorted her onto the ship and left, saying someone would meet her on the island.
Xiang Wanwan thanked them and boarded the vessel.
The ship primarily delivered supplies to the island and took along family members following the army.
She stood on the deck, staring out at the endless expanse of sea.
The sea breeze swept across the deck, lifting strands of her hair, while the hem of her white floral dress clung tightly to her body.
Against the backdrop of the blue sky and ocean, her features appeared radiant.
Not far away, a few female soldiers with military water bottles looked at her, their eyes betraying admiration as they whispered:
“She’s really beautiful… I wonder whose army spouse she is…”
After standing on the deck for a while, Wanwan went down into the cabin.
The large ship heaved as waves struck it, dipping and rising repeatedly. Wanwan held onto a wobbly table inside the cabin, feeling dizzy.
Unable to endure it, she stepped out again and leaned against the railing.
Her stomach churned, acid rising, and she soon bent over the railing, vomiting violently.
Indeed, she was seasick.
She had been on the ship less than an hour, and this was already happening.
How long would it take to reach the island? If she vomited the whole way, she might not survive the journey!
At that thought, her stomach churned again, and she leaned over the railing, vomiting wildly.
Suddenly, a wave hit. Because she was leaning against the railing, her balance shifted, and her entire body toppled toward the edge.
Wanwan froze in terror.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed her from behind and pulled her back from the railing.
She heard a rough, hoarse voice exclaim:
“Oh, this young lady! You scared me to death!”
Wanwan’s heart raced as she patted her chest, gasping for breath.
She looked at the person who had just saved her.
Dressed in an indigo cotton jacket, hair tied back with a few strands flying in the sea breeze, she looked like a typical rural woman.
Wanwan gratefully looked at her, repeatedly thanking her.
“Thank you, sister! If not for you, I’d be lost at sea today.”
“No need to thank me, it was nothing.”
The woman waved it off casually.
Wanwan observed this rural sister—plain in appearance but straightforward in personality.
Suddenly, the ship rocked again. She clutched the railing, feeling the acid rising in her stomach.
The woman noticed her discomfort and asked with concern, “Miss, are you pregnant?”
Wanwan shook her head immediately.
She hadn’t even met her husband yet—what pregnancy?
Suppressing her nausea, she managed to say, “Seasick!”
The woman looked at her and then led her straight into the cabin.
Inside, Wanwan sat on a bench, and the woman brought out a small jar from her bag. Opening it, a sour smell filled the air.
“Try this,” the woman said. “Pickled cucumbers I made myself. Eating something sour might help.”
Wanwan hesitated, staring at the dark cucumbers.
Can this really be eaten?
The woman urged her, “Try it! They’re delicious. I’m known in the village for my pickles.”
Wanwan hesitantly took a small piece and popped it in her mouth.
Immediately, the sour flavor filled her mouth—much better than she expected.
The cucumber was crisp, with a perfect balance of sour and sweet.
After one piece, her nausea eased considerably, and her eyes lit up.
It worked!
She smiled at the woman.
The woman stared at Wanwan’s smile, stunned.
“This girl is truly beautiful! I wonder which lucky soldier gets to marry her!”
“Good, huh? Eat more!”
Wanwan, feeling a bit shy, took a few more pieces, completely suppressing her earlier discomfort.
After a while, she noticed two boys lying on the bed behind the woman.
“Are these your children?” she asked.
The woman nodded. “Yes, twins, two boys, six years old. I was worried since I hadn’t heard from my hometown in a long time, so I brought them along to follow the army. It’s also easier to take care of my husband this way.”
Wanwan could tell from her relaxed tone that the journey must have been tough.
While they talked, the two boys woke up.
“Mom, what are you eating? I want some too!”
“Mom!”
The woman hugged both children, smiling indulgently. “Pickled cucumbers.”
“Quick, call her!”
“Hello, sister!”
The children’s voices were sweet and innocent, and Wanwan found them adorable.
She touched their little faces and smiled warmly.
“You’re really pretty, sister!”
Wanwan laughed even more. Who wouldn’t love such a compliment?
“Wait here, I’ll get some treats for you,” she said, heading back to her cabin.
Back in her cabin, she brought out maltose, sunflower seeds, peanuts, and pastries from her space.
The boys’ eyes lit up at the spread of snacks.
So much delicious food!
And these pastries—they had never seen anything like them before and looked tempting.
The boys licked their lips and looked at their mother, silently asking if they could eat.
The woman was surprised—this young girl wasn’t just beautiful but also wealthy, able to afford all these treats.
“You don’t need so much, just the maltose is enough. These others cost a lot. Put them away, or these two little rascals will eat it all at once.”
“It’s fine, sister! I’m also eating your pickles—consider it a gift in return.”
“Oh, my cucumbers aren’t worth much!”
“You’ve helped me a lot. If I want to reach the island safely, I’ll rely on them.”
The woman quickly pushed the jar of pickles toward her. “Take it, take it!”
They exchanged smiles, and the children happily ate.
…
As they chatted, Wanwan learned the woman was from a rural northern village.
Her husband, Chen De, was a regiment commander. She was Wang Hongying, who married him at twenty.
When he went to the army, she stayed behind to care for her elders. When he returned once, she became pregnant with twins.
Shortly after, he left and never returned, sending money and letters only every six months. She would send photos of her sons annually.
Initially, they corresponded yearly, but in the past two years, he sent only money.
After her elders passed away, she sold her land and came far away to follow the army.
Hearing this, Wanwan felt a pang of sadness.
Life as a military spouse was not easy.
With Wang Hongying and her children around, the journey felt far less miserable.
Thanks to her pickles, Wanwan never got seasick again.
Three days later, the ship finally docked, and they had arrived.