Chapter 18 His measurements

Chapter 18 His Measurements

The noodles with soybean paste were rich in flavor and served in an old-fashioned white porcelain bowl with blue glaze. Li Yue praised, "It smells delicious."

Grandpa said, "We have to taste it to know if it suits your taste."

Li Yue picked up a noodle with the dark brown sauce, tasted it, and immediately gave it a thumbs up: "It's absolutely delicious, my family's version is nowhere near as good."

"I'm glad you like it," the grandfather said with a smile. "I just had Jianwei learn how to make it for you, so you can have him cook it for you in the future."

Ling Jianwei murmured from the side, "You've only learned the process, you haven't even tried making it yet. What if it doesn't taste good and ruins your reputation?"

His maternal grandfather retorted, "What if you practice at home these next few days?"

He said casually, "Okay, I'll make it for you to try after I've mastered the craft."

At my great-uncle's place, it always feels like a paradise, bringing a sense of peace and tranquility.

Shao Jiashu had to rush to work, so the three of them didn't stay long.

Ling Jianwei dropped him off at his workplace and then drove away. While driving, she asked Li Yue, "What were you talking about with your childhood friend just now?"

“He said that you didn’t interact with girls much when you were young, and later you went to military school and joined the army, where you were surrounded by men, so you’re not good at communicating with girls.”

Ling Jianwei clicked her tongue: "As expected, nothing good comes of it. Making up stories behind people's backs, you think so too?"

Li Yue quickly shook her head: "Of course I don't think so. I think you're quite good at communicating with people."

"How so?"

Li Yue: "For example, when I took you to the wedding, you were very good at communicating with people. Later, when you talked to my classmates, you also acted generously and gracefully."

He forced a smile: "Since you've been taken to the wedding, you have to make a good impression and win everyone's favor so they can help you vent your anger, right?"

Li Yue glanced at him. Shao Jiashu had said that he hid his feelings well, and that if he didn't speak up, others wouldn't be able to sense his affection.

Silently pondering, does that mean that if he doesn't explicitly express his feelings for her, his kindness towards her is simply a matter of his inherent upbringing and habits? He can be just as kind to other girls. For example, it was evident during that blind date that he listened attentively to her and responded appropriately.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" he asked.

Li Yue said, "Anyway, you actually know how to talk to girls, right?"

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "It depends. With some people, I really have nothing to say. But with others, I'm happy to communicate, like..." Ling Jianwei paused, glanced at her, and lowered her voice, "...to you."

Li Yue's heart skipped a beat, and she stared back at him in a daze.

He curled his lip slightly: "What? Flattered?"

"No." Li Yue's voice was slightly lower as she turned her head and glanced out the window.

He probably got used to spending time with her; after all, he didn't really have many female friends, and his great-uncle always asked him to take her out to eat... Being friends with him to pass the time was, of course, a very good thing...

The leaves outside the car window had mostly fallen, and the machine tool factory's residential compound was right in front of them. Ling Jianwei said, "Didn't you still think about the steamed buns in our compound when we were eating?"

"My uncle said it was delicious."

"Anyway, if I'm free tomorrow, I'll come over to see you and bring you a bag of steamed buns."

Li Yue: "Okay."

Seeing that his car was about to drive in again, Li Yue quickly said, "Just park on the side of the road."

Ling Jianwei asked, puzzled: "Afraid of what others will say?"

"No, I just want to take a walk."

“Okay.” He parked the car on the side of the road and watched her walk into the gate of the residential compound.

The man leaned back in his chair and sat quietly for a long time before leaving.

It's true that I'm prepared for a long-term relationship, and it's also true that I want a long-lasting and steady one with her.

In his work, quick and decisive action is his style, but unfortunately, she is neither an enemy nor can she be described as a cold and ruthless "target".

If he acts rashly when faced with a girl who has the courage to run away from her arranged marriage, he will only scare her away and push her even further.

There's plenty of time; he's really not in a hurry.

-

The next day, Li Yue mentioned knitting a black scarf while having breakfast. To her surprise, her aunt gave her ten yuan, saying she would give her the rest later.

In an era when the average wage for a regular worker was only around thirty yuan, Li Yue, carrying a hefty ten yuan, went to a yarn shop. She looked at several types of black yarn and listened to the shop assistant explain which types were suitable for knitting hats and scarves, and which were suitable for knitting sweaters.

Li Yue held up a type of yarn and asked the shop assistant, "Is this suitable for knitting sweaters?"

"Yes, this kind of yarn is tight and suitable for knitting sweaters, while this kind is looser and more suitable for knitting scarves." The salesperson explained in great detail, holding up a sample of yarn.

Li Yue suddenly remembered that Ling Jianwei had said before that she should give her something handmade as an apology.

Would it be inappropriate for her to knit a sweater for Ling Jianwei?

It doesn't seem quite appropriate. In this day and age, knitting sweaters for boys is a way for girls to express their affection and love.

After hesitating for a moment, she finally bought only enough yarn to knit a scarf, put it in a cloth bag, used two round plastic rings as handles, and carried it home.

However, as soon as she got home, her cousin said, "Sister, Deputy Battalion Commander Ling is here."

Li Yue: "Did he bring over some steamed buns?"

"What steamed bun?" My cousin shook her head. "No, he came to say goodbye. He waited for you for a while, but you didn't show up."

Li Yue was stunned: "Saying goodbye? He's going back to camp?"

"Yes, he said he received an urgent notice to return to the team ahead of schedule."

Li Yue felt a void in her heart and asked, somewhat bewildered, "Did he leave? What kind of car did he take?"

"He came in a jeep, and a driver took him to the train station. He just left not long ago."

What time is your train?

"I don't know, I didn't ask."

Li Yue practically dropped the yarn and ran outside.

My cousin shouted from the doorway, "Are you going to the train station?"

"Um."

Luckily, as soon as she arrived at the station, a bus that passed by the train station stopped, and Li Yue boarded the bus, panting.

She kept praying in her heart that Ling Jianwei would take a later train so she could say goodbye to him in person.

The bus stopped on the road outside the train station square. Li Yue got off the bus with everyone and then crossed the pedestrian crossing.

She was rescued by Ling Jianwei on this very sidewalk. It had only been about twenty days since then, and they hadn't spent much time together. Yet, she discovered that she had unknowingly come to cherish this person immensely.

Li Yue went straight into the waiting hall. On the information board, she estimated the trains that might pass through Ping City based on the final destination. Unfortunately, there were several trains that passed through that place, and they were in different waiting rooms.

Never mind, we're already here, we'll just look for them one by one.

He was tall and upright, with a handsome face, and wearing a military uniform, so he should be easy to recognize.

But when Li Yue entered one of the waiting rooms, she was dumbfounded. Everyone was basically wearing black, gray, and green coats, and there were so many people that it was difficult to tell who was who for a moment.

Amidst the throngs of people and the myriad faces of humanity, she could only check them one by one.

It's not in this waiting hall, let's look in another waiting hall.

My eyes are getting tired, but I still can't see him.

Looking at the surging crowd, Li Yue couldn't help but regret that she should have given him her unit's contact address.

In this era, travel was slow and the situation was turbulent. No one knew how long it would be before they could meet again after parting, or even if they would have any chance to meet at all.

Her nose felt sore and dry, but Li Yue endured it and decided to search this waiting room before going to the other one.

A train was ready to board. Staff members held up signs and used loudspeakers to announce the news, and passengers sitting in their seats got up and rushed to the ticket gate.

As Li Yue walked, she kept looking at the crowded throng, worried that he might be among them.

She accidentally bumped into someone.

The man was tall and sturdy. He steadied her by supporting her arm with one hand, helping her to stand properly.

Li Yue subconsciously said, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

The man lowered his head and smiled softly.

Li Yue raised her head and looked at the other person with wide eyes.

Ling Jianwei looked at her with a smile, seemingly quite pleased, and asked, "Were you looking for me?"

Seeing him smile, Li Yue became even more anxious. She wanted to speak, but as soon as she opened her mouth, two large tears uncontrollably streamed down her face. She could only raise her hand and wipe away the tears with her sleeve. But the tears seemed unstoppable, flowing even more freely.

Ling Jianwei's heart sank, the smile on his face vanished, and his gaze deepened. He raised the hand supporting her arm and wiped away the tears from her eyes with his fingertips. Li Yue's long eyelashes were still damp and clinging together; she blinked, watching him silently.

The man's prominent Adam's apple bobbed up and down: "Why are you crying?"

"Didn't they find me?"

"I was buying tickets in the ticket hall just now, and I vaguely saw you as soon as I came in."

Li Yue sniffed and stubbornly said, "I didn't cry."

In the winter light, her skin appeared even thinner and more translucent. Tears still clung to her fair face, her eyes were red-rimmed, and her nose was also flushed. Ling Jianwei looked at her, a deep breath sinking into her throat, and rubbed the dampness on her fingertips: "Then what is this?"

Li Yue fell silent.

People kept passing by them, making a lot of noise, but the two of them remained silent, only their eyes shining as they gazed at each other.

Ling Jianwei lowered his eyes, carrying his military-style briefcase in one hand and grabbing her arm with the other, leading her to sit down at the waiting bench where tickets were being checked.

"Would you like some water?" he asked.

Li Yue nodded.

He brought a thermos, filled it with hot water, poured it onto the lid, handed it to her, and reminded her, "It might be a little hot."

Li Yue blew on the hot water, took small sips, and asked him, "Why do you suddenly want to return to the team early?"

"It's not sudden. I've already taken about twenty days of leave. In the past, I've returned to the team after only a week's leave," he said.

What time was your train?

"Two o'clock in the afternoon." He then raised his wrist. "It's only 12:30 now."

Have you eaten yet?

"I'm not hungry, I just saw you as soon as I came in," he smiled. "Are you hungry?"

Li Yue shook her head: "I'm not hungry. I'll eat after you get in the car."

He took a paper bag out of his bag and handed it to her: "There's some food inside, my mom prepared it for me."

Li Yue opened the bag and found several small packages inside, some tied with string. She opened one of the still-warm packages, and a fragrant aroma wafted out; it contained small pieces of savory pancakes.

“I’ll eat a savory pancake,” she said.

Ling Jianwei hummed in agreement: "It's quite delicious. It's sold in the compound."

Then he asked, "Why did you come all this way? Aren't you afraid you won't be able to find me?"

Li Yue took a bite of the crispy and delicious savory pancake: "I didn't think too much about it. I just came over to see if I could touch it."

"What if you don't run into him? Go back crying?" he chuckled.

"I won't cry, I'll just go back."

"Oh, you're crying now that you've found me?" He glanced at her, then pursed his lips in a helpless gesture. "I didn't expect you to come."

Li Yue said, "You didn't leave me your contact address."

Ling Jianwei frowned slightly: "So you came here just to get an address?"

"Not entirely. My sister said you just left not long ago, so I think we could run into you."

He sighed: "Once I get back to my unit, I'll write to you, and then I'll have your address."

It turned out he had planned to write her a letter. Li Yue stared at him blankly.

"What, do you think I won't contact you? Or are you afraid I won't contact you?"

"I didn't," Li Yue said softly.

"there is nothing?"

"I didn't think that much about it."

Ling Jianwei: "You just want to find me first?"

Li Yue nodded.

The man laughed with relief: "At least you have some conscience. I haven't wasted my time feeding you all this time."

"You make it sound like you're raising pigs."

"Can pigs eat savory pancakes?"

Li Yue snorted and took a bite of the biscuit: "Do you want some?"

"I'll just grab something to eat in the car later." Ling Jianwei handed her a glass of cooled water. "Drink some water, don't choke."

Li Yue left him half a cake, folded the bag closed, and said, "I'm full."

The waiting room was bustling with people and filled with noise. Ling Jianwei said, "Let's go, I'll take you back to your train station first."

Li Yue was surprised: "You're seeing me off? Wasn't I supposed to see you off to the platform? You can go to the platform now to see me off."

He smiled, raised his hand, patted her head, and said casually, "You escorted me to the platform, and I had to worry about whether you would get knocked out by an old lady while crossing the street."

Li Yue was extremely frustrated: "It's not like I'll encounter an old lady who hits people every time. Besides, I don't need to cross the road to go back."

However, he still picked up his luggage and stood up: "Let's go, I'll take you back first, that way I'll feel more at ease."

Helpless, Li Yue had no choice but to get up and follow.

...

It all feels like a dream. We were eating noodles together yesterday, and now we have to face separation.

At the bus stop near the train station square, the two stood for a while, unable to utter words of farewell.

Li Yue gave a dry laugh, and Ling Jianwei breathed a sigh of relief: "Take good care of yourself, and write to me when you have time."

She nodded: "Okay, you too."

The bus arrived, and a bunch of people rushed to get on. Ling Jianwei told them not to push, so she was the last one to board. However, the moment she stepped onto the bus, Ling Jianwei took something out of her pocket and stuffed it directly into Li Yue's coat pocket.

Li Yue noticed something was wrong, glanced down at her pocket, and then looked back at the man under the car.

His smile was gentle and warm: "I'll buy you what you want, and don't lose it."

Just as Li Yue was about to speak, the ticket seller quickly pulled the train door shut, separating the two. Li Yue touched her coat pocket and found a stack of papers; she knew what they were without even looking.

Outside the train, Ling Jianwei remained standing on the platform, watching the train depart. Li Yue found a seat and looked at his retreating figure, her heart aching even more. She blinked several times before she managed to hold back her tears.

When he returns to Beijing to visit his family next time, she will be somewhere clearing land and farming.

I think I'll survive.

When she got home, her cousin saw her and said, "You look like someone who just saw her boyfriend off to the army."

Li Yue didn't respond to her. Instead, she went straight into the bedroom, closed and bolted the door, then sat on the edge of the bed, took out the wad of money from her pocket, and counted it.

A stack of banknotes, the largest denomination being ten yuan and the smallest one fen, totaled fifty-three yuan and seventy-eight fen.

Li Yue couldn't help but fall onto the bed, placing the banknotes on the sheets beside her waist.

From the time they met until their separation, only about twenty days had passed, and nothing much had happened, especially recently. They were basically either eating or on their way to eat. But now, when she closes her eyes, all she sees is his image.

She felt that she should consider him an important friend. It's normal to feel sad when an important friend goes to a faraway place and they may never see each other again.

She had never been in a relationship or liked a boy in real life. She spent her youth painting and had no childhood friends or particularly close male friends. Ling Jianwei was the only male friend she had relatively frequent contact with.

Li Yue picked up the stack of money.

Giving her money for self-defense is the most direct and effective way.

There was a knock on the door. My cousin asked, "Sis, are you alright?"

Li Yue sat up, put the money away, opened the door, and said expressionlessly, "What could possibly be wrong with me?"

My cousin said, "I thought you had broken up with your boyfriend."

"Bullshit."

"Have you found Deputy Battalion Commander Ling?"

"Um."

"Have you eaten?" my cousin asked.

"I'm not hungry after eating the savory pancake."

Li Yue simply took off her shoes, pulled the blanket over herself, and planned to lie down for a while.

My cousin didn't leave either. Holding the yarn she bought that morning, she asked, "Are you really going to knit a black scarf?"

"Weave".

"At your speed, you can knit a scarf very quickly. Or you could knit a sweater too. The neighbor bought a kind of purple yarn that looks really nice; you could try it."

Li Yue suddenly clicked her tongue.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing much."

She suddenly thought: Why don't I knit a sweater for Ling Jianwei too, just a black sweater.

That night, Li Yue couldn't fall asleep and asked her cousin, "Have you ever liked any boys?"

My cousin, a very straightforward woman, replied, "No, I often fight with boys."

Have any boys ever pursued you?

"How could that be? I'm scared when guys see this. Do you think everyone is like you, attracting guys' attention?"

Li Yue was speechless, and changed the subject: "So if you're keeping in touch with a boy, what should you write in your letters?"

She added, "I mean, male friends, not romantic partners."

My cousin asked astutely, "Are you going to write a letter to Deputy Battalion Commander Ling?"

Li Yue: "Yes, I told you at the train station."

My cousin said, "Just write down what you've been doing lately, what happened."

"Isn't this too rambling and monotonous?"

"A little."

"..."

The next day, Li Yue began writing her first letter to Ling Jianwei. It was brief, simply stating, "Didn't you ask me for something handmade before? I'll knit you a sweater, but I don't have your shoulder width, arm length, chest circumference, or waist measurement. If you want the sweater, write down your measurements for me..."

Anyway, he gave her money, so it was reasonable for her to buy him some knitted sweaters, and she felt at ease spending the money.

It took half a month from sending the letter to receiving his reply.

It was now December.

Life remained the same as before; nothing changed because of anyone's departure.

My uncle, aunt, and cousin all have jobs, my younger cousin is in school, leaving Li Yue and my younger cousin as the only two people with nothing to do.

Besides the two of them, there are many unemployed young people who are also idle. When everyone is idle, especially the boys who have nothing to do, they are more likely to get together and do bad things, and fights on the streets have become more frequent.

They were all hot-blooded young men of seventeen or eighteen; once they got heated, bricks flew everywhere. I heard once that two gangs from different neighborhoods got into a fight, and apparently someone died. As a result, many more police officers were patrolling the streets.

Li Yue didn't inquire further, but simply remarked that it was no wonder they were encouraging everyone to go to the countryside.

Winters in Beijing are very cold, with temperatures dropping day by day. A brazier of charcoal fire is lit inside the house, the doors and windows are closed, but a crack is left open for ventilation, making the room warm and cozy. Gu Yanmei also liked to come to their house to warm herself by the fire, and to learn to knit sweaters with yarn in hand.

Gu Yanmei once asked, "Has Song Zhicheng contacted you?"

Li Yue shook her head: "No."

Gu Yanmei said, "I don't have any either."

My cousin, still being the same outspoken person, said, "Sister Yanmei, if you want to pursue her, just be more proactive."

"It's no use me taking the initiative; he's clearly not interested in me."

How will you know if you don't try?

Gu Yanmei still had second thoughts: "Forget it, they don't seem interested. It's pointless for me to keep trying."

"That's hard to say. Sister Rongrong was also eager to get close to her..."

"I'm not as good at handling things as she is."

After sitting for a while, my cousin said, "I want to eat some sunflower seeds, do you have any money, sis?"

Li Yue gave her fifty cents and then instructed, "Go to the mailroom and see if there's any mail for me."

"knew."

A moment later, my cousin ran in: "It's freezing! It's so dark outside, it looks like it's going to snow. Your letter hasn't arrived yet. If Deputy Battalion Commander Ling replies in time, it might be within the next day or two."

The three of them continued to sit by the fire, eating sunflower seeds, chatting, and knitting.

...

The letter arrived on the third day.

Li Yue took the letter from the mailroom and put it in her pocket, then read it alone in her room.

Ling Jianwei's reply was similar to hers. He said he was happy to receive her letter, and that the weather was cold, so he told her to dress warmly and not to catch a cold. He was looking forward to the sweater she was knitting, and at the end he attached the sweater's size, accurate to the millimeter. It was unclear who had taken the measurements.

Li Yue, holding the letter, collapsed onto the bed, almost screaming. This man's physique was simply perfect.

Height: 185cm

Bust: 104cm

Waist circumference: 75.5cm

Shoulder width: 46.5cm

...

She was an art student who had studied human proportions, so she knew what these numbers meant for men and what they meant for women.

To put it in the most intuitive way, the male protagonists of several famous otome games are roughly this size.

A man with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs, and such a well-developed chest...

He looks slim in clothes, but has a muscular physique when undressed.

Which woman wouldn't scream when she saw that?

But when he stood right in front of her, she didn't think much of it. Now, with all this data, she's starting to have all sorts of fantasies.

Is this what they mean by "distance makes the heart grow fonder"?

My cousin came in, grinning, and said, "Sis, did you receive a love letter from Deputy Battalion Commander Ling?"

"Don't talk nonsense." Li Yue put away the letter and prepared to leave.

What are you going out for?

"Buy yarn and knit a sweater."

...

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Author's Note: I can't wait any longer, here's the VIP chapter! [Sprinkling flowers]