The expression on Bai Shanshan’s dumbfounded face screamed four words: “Boarded a pirate ship.”
She pointed at herself and asked Wen Yan, “Me?
Go to Li Group Leader…
to…
apply for a job for you?”
Wen Yan nodded.
Bai Shanshan asked through gritted teeth, “Aren’t you supposed to be arranging a job for me?”
Wen Yan replied, both innocent and matter-of-fact, “I don’t have the authority!”
The corners of Bai Shanshan’s eyes reddened with anger.
Wen Yan patted her on the shoulder.
“I believe you can do it.”
When Wen Yan looked at someone, she had a way of making them feel completely trusted.
For a moment, Bai Shanshan was inexplicably placated.
‘I guess you have good taste,’ she thought, strangely.
“…You have to believe I have the skills to land the job.
On account of my solid craftsmanship, your recorder position will definitely be approved.”
The corners of Bai Shanshan’s mouth, which had just begun to lift, pressed back down.
She ground out a few words through her teeth, “So I have you to thank for this, huh.”
Wen Yan said, “That works too.”
Bai Shanshan was so angry she laughed, then immediately threw in the towel.
“I quit!”
Wen Yan let out a small “ah,” her tone tinged with regret, but she made no attempt to persuade her.
“Alright, then.”
With that, Wen Yan gestured to Captain Zhu, and they turned to leave.
Having already turned away, Bai Shanshan’s mind started racing.
‘Why didn’t she stop me?
Was she deliberately provoking me just now?’
After her mind ran through a whole series of stratagems, Bai Shanshan spun around and chased after Wen Yan.
She was going to do it out of spite.
Even if she couldn’t pursue Jiang Baizhou, she still wasn’t ready to admit defeat.
She just wanted to see what exactly made Wen Yan so much better than her!
Wen Yan glanced sideways at Bai Shanshan, who was now following her without a word.
‘Didn’t she say she quit?
I’m very respectful of people’s decisions.’
Bai Shanshan turned her head away, avoiding Wen Yan’s gaze, and said awkwardly, “Let me tell you, I’m the only one who can get this done right!
With me helping you, you should be counting your lucky stars.”
Wen Yan blinked, understanding dawning on her.
This was the exact same expression her big orange cat made when it wanted to be held.
Proud and awkward.
She raised a hand and gently patted Bai Shanshan’s arm.
“Mm, you’re amazing.”
Bai Shanshan froze for a second, then turned her head and huffed softly.
‘Don’t think a compliment will make me…
Anyway, I’m just here to keep an eye on Wen Yan!’
Wen Yan had no idea just how much Bai Shanshan had imagined.
She introduced Bai Shanshan to Captain Zhu and handed over the task of going to the group leader to file the application.
She herself returned to the logistics department’s thatched shed to continue working on the plow.
Wen Yan had broken the plow down into several parts.
Holding a notebook, she walked among several soldiers, explaining and demonstrating with her own hands.
Every so often, she would sketch the design for each part in her notebook, marking down the specifications.
The diagrams in the notebook were flawless—straight lines were perfectly straight, curves were smooth, and everything was level and plumb, as if it had been printed.
Captain Zhu praised her with admiration, “Mr.
Wen, your hand is so steady!
It’s better than what I can do with a ruler.
And this circle…
it’s just so perfectly round.”
Bai Shanshan, watching from the side, also saw it.
She wanted to say it was just so-so, but she was afraid Wen Yan would bluntly reply, “Then you draw it.”
She figured that was something Wen Yan would totally do.
In the end, she just pursed her lips and said nothing.
As evening approached, a sunset the color of a salted egg yolk stained the sky.
Wen Yan checked the time and said, “The plow is finished.
You can take it to Li Group Leader.
This notebook has the steps and specifications.
I’m off for the day.”
Wen Yan was efficient when she worked, and even more decisive when it was time to clock out.
She was determined to be a healthy youth of the new era who worked hard but would absolutely not die from exhaustion.
Captain Zhu and Bai Shanshan stared at Wen Yan’s retreating back, then looked at each other, both in a daze.
‘Did I just learn how to make a plow today?’ Captain Zhu thought.
‘How did I end up as Wen Yan’s assistant?’ Bai Shanshan wondered.
‘Aren’t we supposed to be rivals?’
Everything had happened so fast, their brains didn’t have time to process it.
But there was no time to think now; they still had to go find Li Group Leader to file the application.
Wen Yan slung her bag over her shoulder and returned to the family quarters in the east district.
She had asked at the mess hall earlier.
Although they served communal meals from a big pot, it wasn’t against the rules to cook for oneself.
She was prepared for hardship, but if she had the chance to live a little better, she should be a little kinder to herself.
She opened the door, went inside, and after putting down her backpack, started a fire.
The room gradually began to warm up.
A little after six, the teams working out in the fields began to return.
Nine out of ten of them had faces that were chapped and red from the cold, some even cracked.
To say nothing of their feet.
In March, the northeast hadn’t fully thawed yet.
The area where the Reclamation Team worked was filled with slush, and some of them had to work while standing in a mixture of ice and muddy water.
The bone-chilling cold meant that arthritis and frostbite were rampant.
Jiang Baizhou walked along, chatting and laughing with the soldiers around him.
He had always been popular.
“Jiang Yingzhang, want to come to our place for cards later?”
Usually, Jiang Baizhou would occasionally go when he was alone, but now that Wen Yan was here, he naturally couldn’t.
“Some other time.
Your sister-in-law is waiting for me at home.”
Jiang Baizhou quickened his pace.
He saw smoke rising from the chimney of his small earthen house.
“Whoa, having a wife around really makes a difference!”
“Didn’t someone say Jiang Yingzhang was getting a divorce?”
“What divorce?
His wife is great to him.
Today she brought him candy and peach pastries.”
“For real?
Tell us, tell us!”
…
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.
“Wen Yan, I’m home.”
Jiang Baizhou was afraid of startling Wen Yan by opening the door too abruptly, so he called out before entering.
His left foot had barely touched the ground before he pulled it back out.
Had he gone to the wrong house?
A red thermos, a military-issue canteen, two small enamel mugs, a large enamel mug, several washbasins, folded clothes, a green floral tablecloth, pink slippers, and what looked like a few bags of grain.
His house didn’t have this much stuff.
“You’re back.
Perfect timing, go get dinner from the mess hall.
I just washed my hair and it’s not dry yet.”
Wen Yan turned around, her hair down, and handed two clean aluminum lunch boxes to Jiang Baizhou.
Jiang Baizhou took the lunch boxes, his gaze sweeping over the new things in the room.
The scent of rice filled the air.
A smile unconsciously spread across his face.
“I’ll go right now.”
Jiang Baizhou, who had been exhausted from the walk back, was suddenly filled with a burst of energy and ran off like the wind.
Before long, Jiang Baizhou returned, clutching the lunch boxes.
He came in, closed the door, and hesitated to put the lunch boxes on the table with the new cloth.
The lunch boxes seemed unworthy.
Seeing him just standing there holding the boxes, Wen Yan said, “Put them down.
The cloth is meant to be used.
If it gets dirty, we can wash it.”
Jiang Baizhou grunted in agreement and finally set them down.
‘I have to get used to Wen Yan’s way of life.’
After setting the lunch boxes down, he saw Wen Yan about to pour out the white rice porridge and quickly stepped in.
“It’s hot.
Let me.”
Wen Yan took two steps back.
“Okay.
Just give me a third of it.”
Jiang Baizhou nodded, but poured more than half of the porridge into Wen Yan’s enamel mug.
“That’s too much.”
Wen Yan leaned in to look, and the distance between them suddenly closed, their breaths mingling.
A few strands of her hair brushed against Jiang Baizhou’s cheek, and the faint scent of soap made his heart skip a beat.
He had never been this close to a woman before.
But he didn’t want to pull away.
Ever respectful of his own heart’s desires, Jiang Baizhou pretended not to notice.
He leaned in a little closer, his chin brushing the top of Wen Yan’s damp hair, his voice gaining an imperceptible tension.
“It’s not too much.
If you suddenly eat too much of the mess hall’s food, your stomach might get upset.
You should have more of the porridge; it’s soft and easy to digest.”
Wen Yan thought that made a lot of sense.
Her sudden death in her past life was related to not eating properly and staying up late.
She had to take good care of her body this time.
She took a step back, looked up at him, the firelight dancing brightly in her pupils, and said, “Okay!”
Jiang Baizhou smiled along with her.
He had an itching urge to pat her head, but his hands weren’t clean yet, so he could only regretfully suppress the impulse.
A few minutes later, Jiang Baizhou had changed out of his damp cotton shoes, socks, and his mud-caked jacket and pants.
He rinsed his feet, then washed his face and hands.
Wen Yan stood by and handed him a towel.
Jiang Baizhou was bent over, his face wet and his vision blurry, as he reached out to take it.
Her warm, delicate fingertips brushed against his rough palm, and the spot felt like it had been seared by heat.
Jiang Baizhou quickly grabbed the towel, the tips of his ears turning red as he tried to act composed.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Wen Yan didn’t notice at all, simply smiling as she waited.
Once Jiang Baizhou was all cleaned up, the corners of Wen Yan’s lips turned up slightly.
‘Good hygiene.
Not bad.’
She turned, set out the food, and they sat down facing each other.
Suddenly, she spoke, “Jiang Baizhou, I’ve finished writing that love letter for you.”