Chapter 21 The whole regiment watched, and Commander Qin lost all sense of shame!
Qin Lie carried Jiang Wu, his steps never faltering.
The woman in his arms shifted restlessly, her gaze falling on the limping soldier behind him.
"Honey, that young soldier's leg looks badly injured."
Jiang Wu's voice was very soft.
"The team doctor said it's just a common ligament strain, and it will get better with rest."
Qin Lie didn't turn his head; he just wanted to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible.
"That's not right."
Jiang Wu shook her head. A light, which Qin Lie couldn't understand, flickered in her clear eyes.
“I noticed that when he walks, his shinbone moves abnormally when his knees are bent.”
"The team doctor's bandaging method was also incorrect. The fixation position was too high, which was ineffective and would only increase the burden on the ligaments."
"If this continues, not to mention a few months, even a few years, this leg will not recover properly, and it will definitely leave a disability in the future."
She spoke softly and quickly.
Qin Lie paused upon hearing this.
He wasn't a doctor and couldn't understand those complicated terms.
But he understood the last sentence—"to be left disabled."
For a soldier, these four words are more painful than death.
He glanced back at the soldier named Xiao Wang, who was painfully leaning against the wall, moving step by step, his back looking desolate and desperate.
Qin Lie felt as if something was blocking his chest.
How do you know all this?
He looked down at the woman in his arms, his gaze scrutinizing her.
She's a pampered city girl who's never lifted a finger; how could she possibly know the ins and outs of treating injuries?
"I...I saw it in a book."
Jiang Wu blinked and immediately came up with her go-to excuse.
"It's the 'Barefoot Doctor's Manual' you gave me, the one with illustrations."
Qin Lie was skeptical.
He had flipped through that manual before; it was all about basic treatments for common diseases. When did it become so detailed?
"Alright, stop meddling in other people's business."
He suppressed the strange feeling in his heart and continued walking forward with her in his arms.
He didn't want to meddle in other people's business, and it wasn't her place to meddle either.
All he wanted to do now was finish shopping and take this troublesome little devil home to hide away.
To prevent her from going out and causing trouble for him again.
The supply and marketing cooperative is not far away.
A unique smell of soap, kerosene, and dried goods mixed together wafted over.
This is a unique flavor of this era.
There weren't many people in the supply and marketing cooperative, but there were also quite a few.
Cadres wearing Dacron shirts, military wives wearing headscarves, and children running around naked.
When Qin Lie carried Jiang Wu in like a gust of wind, the entire supply and marketing cooperative fell silent instantly.
All eyes turned to them.
Those eyes held shock, curiosity, disdain, and undisguised jealousy.
Even with Qin Lie's thick skin, he couldn't withstand such public scrutiny.
His back was as taut as an iron plate.
He tightened his grip on Jiang Wu's arms.
He wished he could meld her whole being into his body.
"Put me down, I can walk by myself."
Jiang Wu also sensed the strange atmosphere and whispered in his ear.
She was afraid that if he kept staring at her like that, he would explode on the spot.
Qin Lie acted as if he hadn't heard.
He carried her straight to the counter.
The saleswoman, wearing a blue uniform and sporting two long braids, was scrutinizing them from head to toe with a critical look.
Especially when he saw Jiang Wu's excessively beautiful face, the contempt in his eyes was impossible to hide.
What to buy?
The saleswoman spoke dismissively, her hands never stopping knitting.
In those days, being a sales clerk at a supply and marketing cooperative was a very respectable job, carrying a natural sense of superiority.
"Buy soy sauce."
Qin Lie's words were concise and to the point.
"Soy sauce coupons".
The salesperson didn't even look up.
Qin Lie took out the tickets and money from his pocket and placed them on the counter.
The sales clerk reluctantly stood up, took a funnel, and filled a bottle of soy sauce for them from a large vat.
"anything else?"
"I want candy."
This time, it was Jiang Wu who spoke.
Her voice was sweet and soft.
The sales clerk glanced at her, pursed his lips, and casually grabbed a handful of fruit candies from a glass jar next to him and threw them onto the scale.
Is this enough?
The tone was as if it were a handout.
"not enough."
Jiang Wu shook her head, extended a slender white finger, and pointed to a larger jar behind the glass jar, which contained White Rabbit milk candy.
"I want that one."
The sales clerk's face darkened.
"That's White Rabbit candy! It's very expensive! Can you afford it?"
At that time, White Rabbit milk candy was a luxury among luxuries.
Not only were they expensive, but they also required special sugar coupons, which were generally unavailable to the average person.
Whether you can afford it or not is none of your concern.
Qin Lie spoke coldly.
He slammed a stack of colorful tickets and several ten-yuan bills heavily onto the counter.
"This one, and that one too."
His finger pointed not only to White Rabbit milk candy, but also to a long strip of fatty and lean pork belly hanging next to it.
"I'll take them all."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.
The entire supply and marketing cooperative fell into a deathly silence once again.
Everyone gasped in shock.
Oh my god!
That's White Rabbit milk candy!
There's such a big piece of pork!
Commander Qin is such a doting husband!
Did he spend most of his monthly salary on this vixen?
The sales clerk was completely dumbfounded.
Looking at the stack of money and tickets on the counter, her face flushed red and then turned pale, and she dared not be negligent in the slightest.
She quickly filled a large bag with White Rabbit milk candy, then cut off a large piece of pork belly weighing at least three or four pounds, wrapped it in oil paper, and handed it to Qin Lie.
His attitude was incredibly respectful and humble.
"Comrade, please take this."
Qin Lie took the things without even glancing at her again.
He picked up Jiang Wu, turned around, and strode away from the supply and marketing cooperative amidst envious and jealous gazes.
On the way home.
Qin Lie remained silent, but his steps were much more steady than when he arrived.
Jiang Wu nestled in his arms, peeled a White Rabbit milk candy, and popped it into her mouth.
The rich, milky aroma instantly filled my mouth.
"Honey, you should eat too."
She peeled another one and held it to Qin Lie's lips.
Qin Lie kept his eyes straight ahead, his thin lips pressed tightly together, and he did not open his mouth.
"ah--"
Jiang Wu imitated how she coaxed a child, uttering a single syllable.
Qin Lie felt his ears start burning again.
He quickly glanced to his left and right to make sure no one was around.
Then, like a thief, he lowered his head and quickly put the candy in his mouth.
The sweet, milky taste mingled with the faint smell of tobacco in his mouth.
It creates a unique and comforting flavor.
Jiang Wu couldn't help but laugh when she saw his expression of wanting to eat but trying to act cool.
She nuzzled her little head against his chest.
"Honey, you're so good to me."
Her voice was soft and sticky.
It melted into Qin Lie's heart like a piece of candy.
It softened his heart, which had been hardened for over twenty years, making it soft and sweet.
He thought, it wouldn't be so bad to just hold her like this and walk with her until the end of time.
However, this warm atmosphere did not last long.
As we approached the family compound, a chorus of sarcastic and cutting remarks drifted over on the wind.
"Did you see that? Commander Qin just came back from the supply and marketing cooperative carrying that vixen!"
"It's not just being carried! She's also holding meat and candy! I bet that meat weighs at least three pounds! Is she trying to kill herself?"
"Absolutely! He's been bewitched by that vixen! A grown man, a regimental commander at that, has no shame at all!"
"Just you wait and see, her good days won't last long! Once Commander Qin gets tired of her, she'll have her day to cry!"
The voices belonged to Aunt Zhang and several other military wives.
They gathered under a large banyan tree not far away, sewing shoe soles while gossiping without restraint.
P.S.: Regarding...
The Tomato Robot's accuracy is outrageous; it's the best, bar none!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com