Chapter 204 Nurse Zhou's Intervention

After a half-day bus ride, the siblings finally arrived at the county where the army was located.

After a long journey, they finally hitched a ride on a military truck and arrived at the gate of the military base.

It takes only half a day by car from Xiangyang Brigade to Xie Yunce's unit, and then another short drive to get there.

"Sister, this place is so grand!" An'an looked up at the imposing military camp gate, her eyes shining.

Xu Zhili straightened her clothes, took her younger brother's hand and walked towards the sentry: "Hello comrade, I'm here to visit relatives and look for Xie Yunce from the reconnaissance company."

The sentry checked her letter of introduction and nodded: "Please wait a moment, I'll make a call."

Just then, a female soldier in military uniform walked out of the military camp. Upon hearing the name "Xie Yunce," she immediately stopped and looked Xu Zhili up and down.

Xu Zhili wore a simple white shirt and black trousers today. Although it was plain, it couldn't hide her delicate and pretty temperament.

The fatigue from the long journey only added to her delicate beauty.

The female soldier frowned slightly and walked up to the sentry: "Xiao Zhang, what's the matter?"

"Nurse Zhou, this woman is looking for Company Commander Xie," the sentry replied.

The female soldier, referred to as Nurse Zhou, turned to Xu Zhili and asked in a cold tone, "Who are you to Company Commander Xie?"

"I am his..."

Xu Zhili was speechless for a moment. She and Xie Yunze had not officially established a relationship yet. "I am his friend, from his hometown."

Nurse Zhou sneered, "Friend? I've never heard Company Commander Xie mention having a friend like you. Could you be some village girl who heard Company Commander Xie did something good and is trying to curry favor with him?"

Xu Zhili frowned slightly, but still remained polite: "Comrade, I have a formal letter of introduction here. I am indeed here to see Xie Yunce."

Nurse Zhou glanced at the letter of introduction but didn't take it. Instead, she raised her voice and said, "This is really something now. Anyone dares to come to the army looking for people. Let me tell you, you can't just see Company Commander Xie whenever you want. Go back now."

An'an couldn't help but interject, "How can you talk like that, older sister? My sister came all this way, didn't you even inform her?"

"Who are you calling the eldest sister?"

Nurse Zhou was immediately furious. "I think you're just here to cause trouble. Sentry, get them out of here!"

Xu Zhili pulled her younger brother back from arguing and calmly looked at Nurse Zhou: "Comrade, I don't understand why you are so hostile towards me. But I am indeed from Xie Yunce's hometown, and I have important matters to discuss with him."

"Important matter?"

Nurse Zhou scoffed.

“Every woman who comes to him says the same thing. Let me tell you, Company Commander Xie is on an important mission and doesn’t have time to see a ‘fellow villager’ like you!”

Xu Zhili's heart skipped a beat. From this sentence, she was certain that Xie Yunce was indeed in this unit, and that he had only gone on a mission, not that something had happened to him.

"Since he's on a mission, I can wait for him to return nearby."

Xu Zhili said calmly.

Nurse Zhou was speechless for a moment, not expecting Xu Zhili to be so persistent.

At that moment, a jeep pulled up in front of the gate, and a middle-aged military officer got out and walked over.

"What's going on? Why are they making such a racket at the entrance of the military camp?"

The officer asked seriously.

The sentry immediately saluted: "Reporting to the political commissar, this female comrade wants to see Company Commander Xie. Nurse Zhou is verifying the information."

The political commissar looked at Xu Zhili: "Comrade, what is your relationship with Xie Yunce?"

Xu Zhili handed over a letter of introduction: "I am Xu Zhili, a technician at the military region's arsenal. I am from the same hometown as Xie Yunze. I came here specifically to visit him during my vacation."

The political commissar took the letter of introduction and saw the official seal of the military region's arsenal.

His expression softened considerably: "So you're a comrade from the arsenal. Unfortunately, Xie Yunze has indeed gone on a mission and has been gone for half a month, with no return date set."

Xu Zhili felt both disappointed and relieved—disappointed that she couldn't see him, but relieved that he was safe and sound.

"In that case, I won't bother you any longer."

Xu Zhili politely asked, "Could you please ask the political commissar to tell him that I came by?"

The political commissar nodded: "Of course. You've come all this way, would you like to come in and rest for a bit, and have some water?"

Nurse Zhou quickly interjected, "Political Commissar, isn't this against regulations? They're not related..."

The political commissar waved his hand: "The comrades from the arsenal have come from afar, we should treat them well. Comrade Xu, please come in."

Xu Zhili nodded gratefully, then pulled her younger brother along as they followed the political commissar into the military camp.

Nurse Zhou stood at the back, her face extremely pale.

In the reception room, the political commissar warmly welcomed Xu Zhili and her brother.

When the political commissar learned that Xu Zhili was the technician who designed the night vision goggles and drones, he was filled with respect.

"So you are Comrade Xu Zhili. The night vision goggles that Xie Yunze brought back were of great use, and the improved version you sent him also helped us gain the upper hand in many night operations."

The political commissar said excitedly.

Xu Zhili smiled modestly: "I just did my part."

"That kid Xie Yunce really has a good eye."

The political commissar said meaningfully, clearly having already realized that the relationship between the two was unusual.

An'an interjected, "Political Commissar Uncle, when will my brother Yun Ce be back?"

The political commissar shook his head: "I can't say, it's a military secret. But I can tell you that his mission is progressing well and he should be back soon."

Just then, Nurse Zhou brought in tea, and upon hearing these words, her expression turned even more unpleasant.

She put down her teacup and said curtly, "Comrade Xu, please go back after you finish your tea. The army is not a guesthouse."

The political commissar frowned: "Nurse Zhou, how can you talk like that?"

Xu Zhili stood up: "Thank you for your hospitality, Political Commissar. We really should go now. I'll stay at a nearby guesthouse. If Xie Yunze returns, please let him know."

The political commissar nodded: "Sure, I'll send a car to take you there."

As Xu Zhili left the military base, she could feel Nurse Zhou's cold gaze following her.

A woman's intuition told her that this Nurse Zhou had special feelings for Xie Yunze, which was why she was so hostile to her, her "love rival."

After settling into a guesthouse near the military base, An'an asked, puzzled, "Sister, why don't we just go home and wait?"

Xu Zhili gazed out the window: "I want to be closer to him, and..."

What she didn't finish saying was that she had a premonition that Xie Yunze would be back soon.

For the next three days, Xu Zhili took her younger brother to stroll around the county town and learn about the local customs and culture.

She discovered that although the place was not large, it was of great strategic importance, and soldiers and military vehicles could be seen everywhere.

On the morning of the fourth day, Xu Zhili was teaching her younger brother to identify plants in the courtyard of the guesthouse when she suddenly heard a familiar voice: "Ali!"

She turned around abruptly and saw Xie Yunze standing at the entrance of the guesthouse, looking tired but with surprise in his eyes.

"Big brother!" An'an rushed over first.