That scumbag Gu ruins a perfectly good night’s sleep.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A frantic, pounding on the door dragged Xia Yuge rudely from her sleep back to reality.
“Who is it?! Hammering away at the crack of dawn? Did your house catch fire? What’s the rush?”
She hugged the little fox tucked in her arms, eyes still shut, and shouted in exasperation.
“Xia Yuge, get up at once! I’ve already bought your train ticket! If you don’t hurry, you’ll miss it!” Gu Nianchen’s voice came through the door.
“Mistress… it’s that scumbag Gu outside. He says he’s already bought your return ticket.”
“Gu Nianchen, go to hell and take your hurry with you! You’re the one in a rush—your whole family can go rush off!”
Xia Yuge told the little fox to retreat into its spirit-beast space while she yelled back at the top of her lungs.
Dammit! What audacity! That so-called Lieutenant Gu—cursing her to die first thing in the morning? Did he honestly think she was some pushover?
“Mistress… please take care of yourself. Xiao Jiu will head back first. Rest assured—if that scumbag Gu dares mistreat you, I will absolutely not let him get away with it!”
The little fox waved its sharp claws and nuzzled gently against Xia Yuge’s hand.
“Mm, my Xiao Jiu is the best. Don’t worry—your mistress isn’t made of paper. Gu Nianchen can’t do a thing to me. Besides, my silver needles aren’t just for show—if I want to put him in his place, it’ll be over in seconds. And anyway, we’re inside the military base. He wouldn’t dare lay a finger on me.”
Xia Yuge stroked the fox’s snowy-white fur and spoke soothingly with a smile.
“Mistress is the most powerful of all.”
“Alright, go on back now. I’m going to open the door.”
“Mm, go get him, Mistress! Give him what for!”
With that, the little fox vanished.
Xia Yuge rose and smoothed the fine cotton tunic she wore—made back when she was in Qingtuo Town, and today was the very first time she’d put it on.
Truly, clothes make the person, just as a saddle makes a horse. This well-made garment felt wonderful against her skin and lifted her whole bearing. Added to three months of carefully regulated medicinal nourishment, all that care had not been in vain. Xia Yuge remained slender, yet her complexion was no longer the sallow, lifeless yellow of the wretched cabbage it had once been. It was not yet the flawless, creamy white people spoke of—like a shelled egg—but it was healthy and clear. Look closely enough, and she was fairer and more delicate-skinned than most officers’ wives stationed here.
After tidying up, she glanced in the mirror. She was not yet entirely satisfied with what she saw, but she no longer felt alienated from this body. She hadn’t noticed before—but looking now, beyond the slight thinness, her features were truly quite lovely. With just a little more flesh on her bones, she would be a breathtaking beauty.
Alas! Why did no one seem to appreciate it?
And come to think of it—what on earth did Lu Tingxiao mean? She’d told him there was no rush for an answer, surely that didn’t mean he’d needed this long to decide?!
Also… why had those promised rewards still not appeared? Could there be some lingering complication with that arms depot?
Whatever. First things first—open the door.
“Xia Yuge, don’t think refusing to open up means you can stay. Let me tell you—”
“Gu Nianchen—spit it out. Bursting in at dawn… what exactly are you dying to tell me? Shall I speak up louder so everyone can hear and help judge who’s truly in the wrong here?” Xia Yuge asked with a cold smile.
“Xia Yuge—what is this attitude? I came all this way to buy your ticket out of kindness. What fit are you throwing now?”
“Gu Nianchen—who do you think you’re fooling with your fake concern? What if I simply refuse to leave today? What will you do then?” Xia Yuge asked, smiling icily.
“You—Yuge… what are you doing? Don’t go too far. Even willful behavior has its limits. Before you came, we agreed—three months. That was the deal. You can’t just go back on your word.”
Gu Nianchen grew flustered. He stole a quick glance toward a distant figure in army green.
Ever since Xia Yuge had slapped him across the face, he had kept his distance. But staying away did not mean he had forgiven her.
In his eyes, Xia Yuge was nothing more than a child-bride raised by his family. Even if he no longer wanted her, she ought to remain obedient and devoted to him as before. How dare she strike him? If not for fear of damaging his reputation, he would have taught her a lesson long ago—the way village husbands discipline their wives—so she learns what happens when she defies him.
Today, finally, he would see her sent away. Straight after morning drill, he had hurried over to the guest quarters. He had expected to find her meek, tearful, begging to stay. Instead, this wretched girl remained as bold and insolent as ever. Where did she get such confidence? Hmph! Let her act smug for now. Once she is gone, he would telephone home and see how haughty she remains afterward.
With that thought, he bit his lip hard and spoke in a falsely gentle, persuasive tone.
“Yuge… how can you say such things? Even though you’re like a sister to me, this is a military base, not our home. The three-month limit is regulation. Since you haven’t found a suitable partner to marry… surely you can’t hold that against me? Come, listen to your elder brother. Why travel elsewhere? Return to our village instead. My parents will treat you as their very own daughter, I swear. And don’t worry if you truly wish to marry a serviceman, I shall keep my eyes open for a good match. I promise to find you a fine husband of your choosing. Then you may join him here as a military spouse just as you hoped. Now… doesn’t that sound fair?”
His tone dripped with feigned helplessness, the very picture of an elder brother indulging his difficult little sister. By contrast, Xia Yuge looked like nothing but unreasonable, willful, and utterly ungrateful.
“Comrade Xia… Lieutenant Gu speaks rightly. You ought not make things difficult for him here. Since he has kindly bought your ticket, gather your things and depart without further fuss.” One of the watching military wives chimed in quickly.
“Indeed! Regulations are regulations. Even if Lieutenant Gu wished to keep you, you cannot remain without meeting the marriage requirement for dependents. Better to let him see you off than wait for the base authorities themselves to show you the door.”
“Just so! She ought to know her place! It’s generous enough that someone is willing to take her back—and here she is, turning up her nose! Hmph! Serves her right to be sent packing!”
Someone murmured it within the crowd—and instantly, all eyes turned toward Xia Yuge with looks of judgment and scorn.
Gu Nianchen felt a surge of satisfaction. That slap he’d received days ago suddenly felt far less stinging.
“And who says I have no prospects? Gu Nianchen—do you truly imagine everyone is as heartless and faithless as you? You may not have abandoned wife and child, but you have cast aside the one who shared your hardest days—you take from her suffering, but refuse to share your prosperity. Hmph! Scum like you are a disgrace to the uniform! You bring shame upon this entire base!”
Xia Yuge had not meant to speak so sharply—but Gu Nianchen’s behavior had pushed her patience beyond its limit, time and again.
“Xia Yuge—what do you mean by that?! When have I ever cast anyone aside? Do not speak such slander!” Gu Nianchen glared at her furiously, eyes burning as though he meant to devour her alive.
“Comrade Xia—you may eat any meal you like, but you may not speak recklessly or falsely! Lieutenant Gu is young and promising! He has not yet married—so how can you speak of abandoning a wife? Do not make up lies simply because no one has chosen you! Are you unaware of how serious the consequences are for defaming a serviceman?” Before Gu Nianchen could reply, another wife spoke up indignantly on his behalf.
“Exactly. Xia Yuge—I offered you a way out. You chose to reject it. Who is there to blame but yourself? If you persist in this unreasonableness… do not hold it against me when I act.” Gu Nianchen spoke coldly, his tone turning sharp.
“Lieutenant Gu… who told you Comrade Xia had no one?”
Suddenly, a voice—colder and sharper than Gu Nianchen’s by a dozen times—rang out from the distance.