Is she... in love with Shen Huaichuan?
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she slapped her face hard, shook her head, and muttered to herself.
"Impossible, it's just an accident, just an accident..."
There's no such thing as love in this world; she doesn't believe in love at all.
She will never fall in love with any man.
She was just Shen Huaichuan's wife; all of this was to be expected.
We'll be having children in the future, this kiss is just the first step, there's really no need to overthink it.
This is normal between husband and wife.
"Yes, it's normal, very normal, everything is in line with plan, yes, that's right, everything is under control."
She did a lot of mental preparation, finally convinced herself, took a deep breath, and quickly left the restroom.
Qin Lei had already returned, and the two went to the kitchen together.
Qin Lei is a young man from the countryside. Although he hasn't cooked much at home, he's quite efficient at his work.
Making clear stewed old hen soup doesn't require any special skills; just cut the chicken into pieces, blanch it, and then stew it.
What really gave Zhou Qiqi a headache was deciding what dishes to cook.
Just as she was worrying, the young military wife next door, who was also cooking for her husband, came over with a smile on her face.
"Hey girl, could I borrow a bowl of chicken soup when it's ready? My husband wants to eat noodles with minced meat sauce today, but I was in such a hurry that I forgot my meat ration coupons and couldn't buy any meat. So the sauce is only vegetarian and it's very bland. I saw you guys stewing chicken and was thinking of borrowing some broth to add some flavor."
The woman was a little flustered. She wiped her flour-covered hands on her clothes and took out five cents from her pocket.
"I won't lend it to you for nothing. Here's fifty cents, okay?"
Zhou Qiqi shook her head with a straight face and pushed the money back.
"I don't think this will work out."
The woman's face flushed red instantly, her hand holding the money hovered in mid-air, and she stammered.
"Then... never mind."
Seeing her like this, Zhou Qiqi couldn't help but laugh and quickly tugged at her sleeve.
"Hey, don't go! I mean, I can't give you money, but we can trade! Would you trade with me?"
She was already worried about what to eat for lunch, but now she finally had an idea.
Using chicken broth and a chicken leg, exchange some hand-pulled noodles for a bowl of chicken noodle soup, and blanch some greens. It's easy, nutritious, and doesn't require any special cooking skills. Qin Lei could definitely make it.
The woman was initially wondering what she wanted to exchange it for, but as soon as she heard it was noodles, she immediately nodded: "Exchange! Exchange! Exchange!"
But then he added another sentence.
"But I don't want chicken legs, just some chicken soup will do!"
Zhou Qiqi shook her head hurriedly.
"That won't do! There are three of us eating, you need to roll out more dough, and you have to take this chicken leg!"
The woman smiled and waved her hand.
"Hey, a little bit of flour isn't worth a chicken leg! Besides, this looks like an old hen, right? The meat looks good! A chicken leg like this is worth at least 50 cents!"
Zhou Qiqi gave her a thumbs up.
"You know your stuff! A genuine free-range hen! Just slaughtered this morning!"
As the two women chatted back and forth, Zhou Qiqi learned that the woman's surname was Qin, her name was Qin Su'e, and she and her husband both worked in the military region's cultural troupe.
Qin Su'e has a cheerful personality, and she quickly started talking about her husband.
"Recently, the troupe was recruiting a batch of performing arts soldiers. When he was setting up the stage and checking the lighting, he accidentally fell and injured his leg."
"Artistic soldiers? Are they the kind who sing and dance? How are they recruited? Su'e, can you tell me about it?"
Zhou Qiqi's heart skipped a beat, and she pressed for an answer.
Qin Su'e nodded, "Sure, what's wrong with saying this?"
She explained that military cultural troupes usually recruit from local song and dance troupes or art schools, and rarely from the general public.
However, the troupe has recently choreographed a new song and dance routine and is short of a few girls around 15 or 16 years old with suitable looks. Therefore, they have specially opened recruitment to the public. Anyone with a dance background can apply.
The flyers have been mostly distributed; the selection process will begin tomorrow.
After saying that, Qin Su'e asked curiously.
"What's up, Qiqi? Do you have relatives who study dance? Give me your child's information, and I'll help you register!"
Zhou Qiqi shook her head, "No need, no need, Su'e, just get me a few flyers."
Qin Su'e naturally wouldn't refuse such a small thing, and brought the flyers to Zhou Qiqi early the next morning.
Zhou Qiqi looked at it carefully and saw that it said "Passing the selection is equivalent to enlisting in the army". She felt more at ease, but still asked one more question.
"Su'e, what if you get selected but your parents don't like it?"
Qin Su'e clicked her tongue.
"Who wouldn't want that? Our performing arts troupe is a secure job, with food and lodging provided, a good future, and a respectable marriage!"
In this day and age, marrying well is already a huge advantage for a woman.
Hearing this, Zhou Qiqi felt relieved.
Zhou Qiqi had specifically asked Nurse Xiaoyuan this morning, and Wang Chunyan is still staying in the inpatient department on the third floor.
Although military hospitals only accept medical treatment from military personnel and their families, they will still take full responsibility for patients brought in during emergencies.
Wang Chunyan has recovered almost completely after her stomach was cleansed, but she needs to stay in the hospital for observation for two or three days.
She carefully wrapped the flyer around her clothes as if it were dustproof paper, put it in a plastic bag, and handed it to Qin Lei, asking him to deliver it to Wang Chunyan.
He even gave specific instructions.
"Give it to her when her mother isn't around, and don't mention the flyers."
She merely provides an information gap; whether she can see it or not, whether she is willing to go or not, is entirely up to Wang Chunyan herself.
After all, she was just an ordinary person, with no intention of being anyone's saint, nor did she have the right to decide other people's lives.
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