BOOM!
Wen Yan’s words struck like a bolt from the blue, zapping the usually composed and theatrical Jiang Baizhou until he was scorched on the inside and blushing on the outside.
In his twenty-five years of life, Jiang Baizhou had never felt so awkward and helpless.
His brain told him that wasn’t what Wen Yan meant, but his racing heart couldn’t help but stir up trouble.
‘What if it is?’
Jiang Baizhou’s voice was low and raspy as he asked, “What?”
Wen Yan realized her words were a bit ambiguous, but her one-track mind figured that as long as she explained it clearly, everything would be fine.
So she said with perfect composure, “Captain Zhu said you all have frostbite.
I have some frostbite ointment.
Get on the kang, take off your shoes and pants, and I’ll put some on for you.”
Jiang Baizhou processed several pieces of information, which all boiled down to one point.
“You’ll put it on for me?”
Wen Yan nodded.
“That’s right.”
Wen Yan’s logic was very simple.
You’re good to me, so I’ll be good to you.
It’s just common courtesy.
Jiang Baizhou was caught in an intense internal struggle.
He wanted to be a little closer to Wen Yan.
Not to do anything, just…
to be closer.
But he was also self-conscious about the frostbite on his feet and legs and didn’t really want Wen Yan to see it.
But since they lived together, could he really hide it forever?
While Jiang Baizhou was still torn, Wen Yan had already retrieved the frostbite ointment from her system, sat down on the kang, and patted the spot next to her.
“Come on.”
“Okay!”
After taking a step, Jiang Baizhou cursed himself inwardly.
‘Damn mouth, why’d you have to agree so fast!’
‘My brain didn’t even get a word in.’
“Um, I…
I should wash my feet again.
I only gave them a quick rinse just now.
And I’ll apply it myself.
I’ll do it myself.”
At the critical moment, Jiang Baizhou, for once, chickened out.
If she were putting ointment on his shoulder, he definitely wouldn’t have refused.
But on his feet?
Better not.
Wen Yan didn’t think anything of it, assuming the innocent Jiang Baizhou was just being shy.
She reminded him,
“Use hot water, not cold.”
“Mm, okay, okay.”
Jiang Baizhou mixed the water and washed his feet with his back to Wen Yan, scrubbing them with great force.
He remembered there was a loofah somewhere at home, but he didn’t know where it went.
‘Could a brick work for scrubbing?’
Jiang Baizhou focused all his attention on how to get his feet cleaner.
Wen Yan lay on the kang, her mind browsing the system-provided *Complete Guide to Woodworking*.
She held a pencil, sketching and doodling in a notebook, her loose hair spread out on the kang to physics-dry.
About ten minutes later, Wen Yan suddenly spoke up.
“Still not done washing?”
“Ah?
I’m done, I’m done.”
Jiang Baizhou dried his feet, threw out the water, and got on the kang.
He felt inexplicably awkward, and the kang suddenly seemed much smaller than before.
Wen Yan put her book away and sat facing Jiang Baizhou.
She gathered her mostly dry hair, twisted it a few times, and secured it with her pencil in a casual, lazy motion.
‘She looked even more beautiful.’
Jiang Baizhou’s traitorous gaze couldn’t find a place to land, and he completely lost his usual cleverness.
“It’s pretty severe.
You should apply a thick layer.
I have three jars, it’s enough for you.”
Wen Yan was looking at Jiang Baizhou’s feet.
On his otherwise fair skin were patches of yellowish, broken sores.
Jiang Baizhou’s wandering mind snapped back.
He instinctively pulled his feet back a little and quickly picked up the ointment.
“Don’t let it touch you.
I’ll do it myself.”
Wen Yan looked up and explained, “It’s not contagious.
You don’t have to worry about me touching it.
It must be very itchy, right?”
Jiang Baizhou’s hand paused for a moment as he opened the ointment, a smile spreading across his face.
He dug out a little with his finger and said, “I’m used to it.”
Their frostbite had started as soon as winter began.
At first, the itching was unbearable and they’d scratch it, which only made it worse.
Later, they just learned to endure it.
They had tried all sorts of remedies, but they had to reclaim wasteland every day in the freezing snow, so it was impossible to prevent.
Wen Yan didn’t look away, her eyes fixed on Jiang Baizhou as he applied the medicine.
‘This is just the tip of the iceberg.
How many other soldiers like Jiang Baizhou must be suffering like this.’
‘If only there was a recipe for frostbite ointment using herbs that can be found in the Northeast and isn’t hard to make.’
‘Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about medicine.’
[BEEP.
MISSION ISSUED: PLEASE SECURE A JOB WITH THE RECLAMATION TEAM.
REWARD: ONE FROSTBITE OINTMENT RECIPE.]
Wen Yan was stunned for half a second, then a smile bloomed in her eyes.
‘This system is actually pretty nice.’
As Jiang Baizhou applied the ointment, he got the strange feeling that Wen Yan’s mood had improved.
‘Is it because of me?’
His movements quickened.
Jiang Baizhou reined in his wandering thoughts and looked up.
“Did you buy this ointment?”
Jiang Baizhou asked.
Wen Yan shook her head.
“No, a…
a Doctor Tong Zhongyi made it.
Why?”
‘Tong Tongtong.
That’s not really a lie.’
Jiang Baizhou thought for a moment and said, “I think it must be really effective.
The itching stopped almost as soon as I put it on, and it feels very soothing.
If we knew how to make it, everyone could use it…”
At this, Jiang Baizhou shook his head.
“It’s probably impossible.
This doesn’t look like something that can be made with ordinary medicinal herbs.”
‘The cost would be too high.
We couldn’t afford it.’
Wen Yan understood what Jiang Baizhou meant, but she said, “We can still try.
It would be great if it works out, and if not, it’s not like we’d waste much effort.”
Hearing this, Jiang Baizhou’s smile deepened.
He spoke with sincere earnestness, “Thank you, Wen Yan.”
The awkwardness between them suddenly lessened.
Jiang Baizhou was naturally a good talker, and Wen Yan was a straightforward person who answered all of his questions earnestly.
“You went to logistics today and helped Xiao Zhao fix a sled?”
“Taught Captain Zhu how to make a plow?”
“You had Bai Shanshan clear up the rumors, and then you made her your assistant?”
Jiang Baizhou went from his initial composure to this string of three questions.
Wen Yan nodded emphatically and explained precisely, “She’s not my assistant yet.
That won’t happen until the job Bai Shanshan is applying for is approved.”
Jiang Baizhou asked tentatively, “Didn’t you say Comrade Bai had improper intentions toward me?
Why would you ask her to be your assistant?”
Wen Yan repeated the explanation she had given to Bai Shanshan.
Jiang Baizhou only registered one phrase: not letting Bai Shanshan see him.
‘Doesn’t not letting her see me mean she’s personally supervising the situation?
And doesn’t personally supervising mean she cares a little?’
A ripple of pleasure spread through his heart, and the corners of his lips curved up as he lowered his head.
Suddenly, a bit of weight settled on his shoulders.
Jiang Baizhou looked up.
Wen Yan’s hands were resting on either side of his shoulders, her eyes filled with trust.
“I’m not watching her because I’m afraid of you seeing Comrade Bai.
I trust you completely.
Please don’t let your imagination run wild.”
After speaking, Wen Yan even nodded to herself.
‘They say a good husband and wife must have complete trust in each other.
I’m doing a great job.’
A bittersweet feeling tugged at Jiang Baizhou’s lips, making him want to laugh.
The ripple in his heart was shattered and dissipated by a huge boulder named “Trust.”
He wanted to say, ‘A little bit of jealousy can be good for you, you know.
It’s healthy.’
‘And this brotherly, pat-on-the-shoulder kind of trust…
I don’t really want that either.’
Jiang Baizhou didn’t dare to say any of the thousand words on his mind.
He just put on a smile and changed the subject.
“Can I see the love letter you wrote me?”
He wanted to ease the tension.
Wen Yan replied without a hint of shyness, “Sure!
I guarantee there isn’t a single typo!”
Jiang Baizhou: …Heh.
*
「At the same time, in the commander’s office.」
Li Hanshan looked at Captain Zhu and his niece, Bai Shanshan, completely bewildered.
“Old Zhu, who did you say taught you to make a plow?”
“Comrade Wen Yan.”
After confirming he hadn’t misheard, Li Hanshan turned to Bai Shanshan, who had been at his house just yesterday, crying her eyes out and saying all sorts of bad things about Wen Yan.
“Comrade Bai, who did you say you were applying for a job for?”