Chapter 33 "What, questioning my skills?..."

Chapter Thirty-Three: "What, questioning my skills?"

On a table near the entrance of the cafeteria were placed sunflower seeds, oranges, and tea. Everyone sat down first.

Li Yue got to know several officers in the battalion, including Battalion Commander Cheng Xinyuan.

Battalion Commander Cheng said, "We've been waiting for you like the stars and the moon, and now that you're here, Deputy Battalion Commander Ling can finally rest easy."

Ling Jianwei glanced at Battalion Commander Cheng and gave him a meaningful look. Battalion Commander Cheng smiled and said nothing more.

Li Yue sensed that something was being kept from her, but it wasn't appropriate to ask under the circumstances. Xie Chunlan took the kettle, poured tea for everyone, and said, "With you here, our team is even stronger."

Soon after, the soldiers of the Third Company gathered outside and sang the military song before meals. Their voices were loud and clear, and their momentum was like a rainbow. Then they lined up to enter the mess hall and sat down as ordered.

In the kitchen, dumplings were bubbling in boiling water in several large pots. The cooks put the cooked dumplings into bowls and then served them to each table.

Seeing this, Battalion Commander Cheng said, "Let's start eating, or the dumplings will get cold."

Ling Jianwei first used an enamel bowl from the military unit to pick up a few dumplings for Li Yue, and then ladled some soup on them.

Li Yue said she could do it herself, but he insisted on preparing it for her, adding a few drops of vinegar before placing it in front of her and saying, "Eat."

Conditions are tough now, and we can only eat dumplings a few times a year, so everyone cherishes them, and smiles fill the soldiers' faces.

Although it was Li Yue's first time in the military, everything here was pretty much as she had imagined. In the harmonious atmosphere, she finished her dumplings and even sat in Ling Jianwei's office for a while.

His office was divided into two rooms: the entrance was the work area, and the partitioned room was where he slept.

Looking at the simple military-style iron bed and green quilt inside, Li Yue glanced out the window and asked with a smile, "Was that the dream you had while sleeping here that day?"

"Otherwise what?"

Li Yue thought for a moment: "Did he smoke a cigarette after waking up?"

Ling Jianwei: "More than one."

Li Yue suddenly asked, "Many roots?"

"I didn't count. I smoked one inside, then went outside for a walk. I was just killing time, so I smoked for fun."

Imagine the lonely, desolate, and bone-chilling dawn, this down-on-his-luck man walking through the campsite, a cigarette dangling from his lips, gazing at the moon in the sky…

As night fell, Li Yue gazed at the desolate sky outside the window. Although the moon was nowhere to be seen, she could understand his state of mind. She couldn't help but purse her lips and say, "He's quite pitiful."

He looked down at her and said, "Oh, poor me."

Li Yue smiled and hugged him: "Let me give you a hug."

Ling Jianwei hugged her back, her arms encircling her waist, her face pressed against her head, and she rubbed her hair against hers. Suddenly, she lifted her up slightly and placed her on the desk in the room.

Li Yue sat on the table, about the same height as him. She wasn't surprised or bothered by his action. A smile still played on her lips as she hooked her arm around his neck and looked into his bright eyes.

If you count them up, they've only kissed three times in total. Once was at his uncle's house, where their first kiss was awkward and restrained. Once was on his bed. And once was yesterday when they were about to leave for the train station. Li Yue was washing her hands in the bathroom when he held her and kissed her for a long time behind the door... But there's no doubt that they've already developed a certain tacit understanding when it comes to kissing.

At that moment, Li Yue saw the longing in his eyes, slowly closed her eyes, and tilted her head back.

Ling Jianwei kissed her soft lips, then held her soft tongue in his mouth, as if he wanted to suck all the sweetness from her mouth.

Even if he doesn't initiate the kiss, Li Yue still wants to kiss him.

She might have a physical attraction to this man, and she didn't want to deny it.

After a long while, a knock was heard on the door, and Battalion Commander Cheng called out from outside, "Deputy Battalion Commander Ling, may we leave now?"

The two then stopped.

Ling Jianwei wiped the wetness off her lips as usual and said softly, "When we get back to the family compound, I'll have plenty of time to kiss you, but I also want to kiss you here once."

He carried her away from the desk, steadied her on the floor, and then walked out.

They traveled home to the family compound with Battalion Commander Cheng and his wife, a half-hour drive.

Ling Jianwei drove, with Battalion Commander Cheng in the passenger seat. The two chatted casually. Through their conversation, Li Yue learned that Battalion Commander Cheng was about to be transferred to the regimental headquarters as deputy chief of staff, and Ling Jianwei would remain in the army as acting battalion commander. No wonder Battalion Commander Cheng had reassured her when he mentioned she was coming.

Although the deputy chief of staff and the battalion commander are at the same level, one is in the regimental headquarters and the other is in a grassroots unit, so their functions are different.

But Li Yue always felt that his transfer to the regimental headquarters was to make room for Ling Jianwei.

However, this was just her guess. She couldn't just interrupt about work-related matters, so she obediently sat in the car and rode the bumpy ride to the regiment's family compound.

The family compound was located on the outskirts of the county, right next to the regimental headquarters. They could hear the regimental headquarters' loudspeakers clearly. After entering through a simple gate, there were rows of single-story houses built of red bricks. The dim streetlights illuminated the bumpy dirt road. The locust and poplar trees in the yard had all lost their leaves.

The jeep stopped in front of a row of houses. Li Yue got out of the car with them, and the four of them carried some luggage to their residence.

Winters here are also very cold, with strong north winds. At night, every household keeps their doors and windows tightly closed and has even put up a windproof curtain outside the door. Passing by a house, I could faintly hear a transistor radio inside playing "The Red Lantern".

Everything was just as Li Yue had imagined.

She calmed her mind and felt increasingly at ease about spending her military service here with Ling Jianwei.

Xie Chunlan took the key and opened the door to the outermost room. After going inside, she turned on the light and said, "This is your new home. The other sisters-in-law and I cleaned and arranged it simply according to Deputy Battalion Commander Ling's requirements. You can rearrange it according to your own preferences and habits."

Li Yue surveyed the interior. Like Ling Jianwei's office, it was a typical open-plan space, with a wall dividing it into a living room and a bedroom. The living room was already furnished with tables, chairs, and cabinets, and in the corner was a common local heater with ventilation pipes leading directly outside.

Thanks to this stove, the indoor temperature is in the teens, so it's not too cold.

There was a large aluminum pot on the stove, warming water. My sister-in-law lifted the pot and looked at it: "I started this stove at noon. The coal is still burning. It burns really well. Remember to add coal later."

Li Yue put down her luggage and said, "Okay, thank you, sister-in-law. Please have a seat for a while."

"We can't sit here anymore. You've just arrived and still need to pack your luggage. We also have to go back. We still have three troublesome children at home."

Li Yue took out a bag of shortbread from her luggage and handed it to her sister-in-law: "This is a local specialty brought back from Beijing. Take it for the children to eat."

My sister-in-law is a straightforward person. She took the candy and said, "Then I won't be polite."

After seeing off Battalion Commander Cheng and his wife, Li Yue lowered the thick cotton curtain, closed the door, and continued to look around the room.

Ling Jianwei walked over and stroked her hair: "The conditions here can't compare to those in the compound, so I'm sorry to trouble you."

Li Yue said, "I think it's pretty good, I don't feel wronged at all."

She carried her luggage filled with clothes into the bedroom, and Ling Jianwei also came in carrying a bag.

The bedroom contained only a wooden bed, a desk, and a wardrobe—very simple. Two quilts were piled on the bed. Ling Jianwei said to make the bed first, then wash up and go to sleep.

The bed sheets and duvet covers were all prepared by Ling Jianwei's mother. They were brought from Beijing and were made of very comfortable pure cotton with elegant and beautiful patterns. After making the bed, Ling Jianwei said, "I plan to build a private bathroom next to this room starting tomorrow. We'll knock down this wall so you won't have to go outside in the dead of winter, and it will be more convenient for you to wash up."

Li Yue shook the blanket, her eyes lighting up: "That's a great idea."

Ling Jianwei cupped her face and played with it, saying, "You're so happy."

Li Yue was very frank: "Of course I'm happy, you really care about me."

Seeing that he was about to kiss her again, Li Yue turned away: "I need to pack other luggage."

Once they start kissing, it never ends.

He stood there laughing: "Can I kiss you while we're sleeping?"

"It depends on your performance."

"How should we perform?"

"For example, go and fetch a bucket of water."

"It's no big deal. There's a laundry sink right next to these houses."

He was about to leave with the bucket when Li Yue said, "Wait for me, I need to use the restroom. Can you give me directions?"

"..."

Having just traveled from the capital, Li Yue knew that taking a shower could easily cause her to catch a cold. So she brushed her teeth outside, poured hot water to wash her face, closed the bedroom door to clean herself up, and changed into a set of cotton pajamas.

While soaking her feet, Li Yue said, "It feels so refreshing and comfortable."

Ling Jianwei looked down at her clean, white feet in the basin and suddenly asked, "Would you like me to rub your feet?"

Li Yue: "Huh?"

He had already squatted down and reached into the water to help her wash her feet.

It was less of a wash and more of a game.

Li Yue couldn't stand it anymore: "Can you please stop tickling me?"

He said, "How come even their feet are so beautiful?"

Li Yue understood; this man was a foot fetishist.

"Your feet still feel cold after soaking them?" he asked.

Li Yue nodded: "Yes, but it will feel much better after soaking, and your body will warm up more easily."

He squeezed her toes and said, "Then soak them a little longer."

"The water's cooled down, so you don't need to soak it anymore."

Ling Jianwei dried her feet with a towel and then poured out the foot bath water. After returning to the room, seeing that she was still sitting in the chair, he simply picked her up and carried her into the bedroom, placing her on the bed.

"Hurry up and get into bed to warm up. I need to take a quick shower, otherwise I won't be able to sleep."

Li Yue asked in surprise, "Do you need to shower every day?"

"Pretty much, I'm used to it."

I never expected him to have such good hygiene habits.

“But there’s not much hot water left,” she said. “Why don’t we boil it a little longer?”

"It's okay, a quick rinse will do, cold water is fine too."

"You'll catch a cold."

"I'm not afraid."

Li Yue: "..."

How strong must this man be? He takes cold showers in the dead of winter.

She was nestled in bed, listening to the sounds from outside. She could roughly make out that he was pouring water, taking off his clothes, and unbuckling his belt... Hearing the sound of water, she also vaguely guessed that he was probably taking a shower standing on that large bathtub...

As she thought about it, the scene suddenly changed. Li Yue's mind was filled with the man's beautiful muscles and body, with smooth muscle texture and well-defined abs... Li Yue gripped the edge of the blanket tightly and covered half of her face.

The sight of a handsome man emerging from a bath is the most nosebleed-inducing.

When he came in after washing up, Li Yue's face was flushed. The man frowned: "Why do you always cover yourself with the covers? Aren't you afraid of getting stuffy?"

Li Yue looked at him, shook her head, and mumbled that she wouldn't.

"You're all short of breath." He sat on the edge of the bed, reached out and touched her flushed face, and handed her a small notebook. "Here, take this."

Li Yue: "What?"

Upon taking it and looking at it, he exclaimed with delight, "A passbook!"

He nodded: "I just got it from the office, it's been in my pocket and I forgot to give it to you."

Li Yue curiously opened the passbook and glanced at it, her eyes widening in surprise: "You've saved so much money!"

There are over six thousand!

Ling Jianwei shrugged: "I've basically never used my salary over the years. Every time I go back to Beijing to visit my family, my mom gives me money." The man smiled: "This is my dowry for my wife. Now that I've married her, of course I have to hand it over."

"You're so rich!" Li Yue didn't hear a word he said, rolling around on the bed with her bankbook in hand. Over six thousand yuan! That's a fortune! You could buy so much in this day and age...

Ling Jianwei clicked her tongue: "How pathetic. A lousy savings book keeps you up at night."

Li Yue said, "I'm useless. I've never seen so much money before."

So Ling Jianwei watched as she placed the bankbook under the blanket under her pillow, and she smiled and said to him, "Ling Jianwei, sleeping with money under your pillow makes you feel at ease."

Looking at her cute yet pathetic appearance, the man's eyes darkened, and he leaned in and bit her lips.

Li Yue: "Waaah—"

He held her, kissing her as he slipped into the covers. Then, as if he couldn't resist, he pressed her down beneath him, then rolled around with her, until she was on top of him.

He sealed Li Yue's lips tightly, their powerful tongues entwining, leaving her barely able to breathe.

Finally, the man released his lips, his breathing became heavy, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he said in a low, husky voice, "Touch me?"

Li Yue's long black hair was disheveled, and she looked at the lustful look in his eyes: "Huh?"

He smiled, his fingers tracing her lips, then he took her hand and guided it to his body.

Li Yue: "..."

The moment they touched, she tried to pull her hand back, but he held it down.

Her cheeks flushed, and she looked at him, puzzled.

Since they've already registered their marriage and are legally married, wouldn't it be better for him to just go for it? But he didn't seem to have any intention of doing so. He just closed his eyes slightly, held her tightly, and seemed to be enjoying her comfort.

Could it be because they just arrived today and everything isn't ready yet? Li Yue swallowed. Well, they have plenty of time; there's no rush.

She gently stroked him, following his directions.

The man lay there, looking completely relaxed.

Then he opened his eyes, which were filled with deep affection, and looked at her: "Are you afraid?"

Li Yue understood what he meant and shook her head.

He said calmly, "The first time will probably hurt a lot."

Li Yue remained even calmer: "I know."

She could tell from the feel of it.

His voice was casual: "It seems he's not completely ignorant."

Please, she received relevant education before she transmigrated here, okay? What about erotic comics and porn? Who isn't a erotic internet addict at some point? As for him, Li Yue glanced at him. In this day and age, there's no information or education on this topic. How many tricks could he possibly know? She had serious doubts.

Receiving her gaze, the man seemed to read her mind: "What, questioning my skills?"

Li Yue raised her eyebrows, pursed her lips, and remained silent.

He pressed the back of her head and continued to suck on her red lips, his voice hoarse between sips: "I've been studying this ever since I met you."

Li Yue couldn't help but sit up and slap him: "You dog, you dog of a man! We've only just met, and you're already thinking about these things!"

He took her hand, played with her fingers, and continued casually, "I can't control my physiological reactions either."

He then added, "It's strange, but I don't have any feelings for other people at all."

Li Yue: "..."

She was stunned, not expecting that this man also had a physical attraction to her.

"What's wrong?" he asked, noticing her stunned expression.

Li Yue lay on top of him and quietly said, "My period is coming soon."

"No rush." ​​He started playing with her hair instead. Although it was bound to happen sooner or later, he still wanted to wait a little longer.

She was unusually calm, unlike most girls, and he always felt that he hadn't truly entered her heart.

He held her in his arms and stroked her head with his large hand, only then realizing that she had fallen asleep on him.

Tsk, this girl is really something, she can fall asleep in any situation.

...