Chapter 194 You guard the nation's borders, I will protect you.
When Lu Zheng led Xia Qianqian out, he had a smile on his face. Xia Qianqian's eyes and brows were shining. The two of them stood on the steps, like a young couple going to a temple fair.
Seeing the two smiling faces, everyone knew that Lu Zheng had passed Xia Qianqian's test.
Peng Fei was the first to jump over, giving Xia Qianqian a thumbs up: "Brother Lu, I knew your wife was a woman of great virtue!"
“Sister-in-law, after Brother Lu and the others leave, I’ll have to trouble you to keep an eye on Xueying.” He scratched the back of his head, his voice lowering a few decibels. “I don’t know when I can come back, and I’m afraid she’ll be worried about being alone in Willow Tree Village.”
At this point, Peng Fei's Adam's apple bobbed, and he suddenly fell silent.
After a long while, he seemed to have made up his mind. He looked up at Xia Qianqian, his eyes a little red: "Sister-in-law, if... if I haven't come back by the time the war is over, please help me persuade her... to find a good man to marry, so that she doesn't waste her own time."
Xia Qianqian interrupted her with a smile: "You can tell Xueying that yourself—" She changed the subject, her voice clear, "Because I'm going with you."
"What did you say, sister-in-law?!" Peng Fei's voice suddenly changed.
The courtyard fell silent instantly; everyone froze in place, and even the wind stopped.
"Brother Lu! Are you crazy?!" Peng Fei suddenly turned around and grabbed Lu Zheng's arm. "Where is that? A hail of bullets! Your wife just gave birth and hasn't recovered yet. How can you take her to risk her life?!"
"That's right, sister-in-law, it's too dangerous!"
"We men are tough as nails, how could we let our wives take care of us!"
The brothers offered their advice all at once, even the most silent one frowned and looked disapproving.
Xia Qianqian smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm not going to cause trouble. Your food and medicine are all depending on me."
Peng Fei stamped his feet anxiously: "What kind of time is this to be joking! Sister-in-law, you..."
“I’m not joking.” Xia Qianqian’s smile faded, her eyes clear. “When the country is in crisis, no one is an outsider. You guard the borders, and I’ll guard you—it’s settled.”
Lu Zheng smiled proudly, put his arm around Xia Qianqian's shoulder, and glanced at Peng Fei and the others who were shocked: "I have my reasons for sending your sister-in-law."
He gave Xia Qianqian a wink, "There are some things that the brothers really should know."
Xia Qianqian smiled and waved her hand, her voice clear and crisp like a bell: "Don't be nervous, I'll take you to a nice place."
Before she finished speaking, she lightly twirled her fingertips, and the air seemed to echo with the soft sound of tiny pebbles falling to the ground.
The next second, everyone in the courtyard vanished on the spot, leaving only a table full of leftover food swaying in the cold wind.
"Brother Lu?! Where...where is this?"
Peng Fei's exclamation echoed through the woods as he stepped on soft grass and smelled the sweet scent of peach blossoms and earth.
He looked up abruptly and saw a peach orchard overhead that blocked out the sky. Pink and white petals fell like snowflakes. In the distance, a stream babbled and several golden pheasants strolled leisurely. Although it was a world of ice and snow outside the mountains, it was as warm as spring here!
"Sister-in-law, is this where the immortals live?!"
"My God, this is amazing!!!"
Instead of panicking, everyone was overjoyed, their eyes fixed intently on Lu Zheng and Xia Qianqian.
At this moment, Lao Hei and Zhang San, along with the people from Peach Blossom Spring, came out to greet them.
Xia Qianqian had already told them about going to the battlefield. These men, who had once been called "hooligans" behind their backs, now stood tall, proud to follow Sister-in-law Qianqian to the battlefield and shed blood for their country—an honor they never dared to dream of!
They said in private that they would show those who looked down on us that we are real men too!
Old Hei strode forward, slapping Peng Fei's back with his fan-like hand, and laughed loudly, "Welcome, brothers, to Peach Blossom Spring! From now on, we're all one family!"
After talking for a while, everyone finally understood what was going on. Peng Fei and the others jumped up excitedly as they looked at the watermelon vines by the stream bearing green melons the size of bowls and the heavy ears of rice in the paddy field.
"Brother Lu! This place is simply paradise!" Peng Fei rubbed his hands excitedly. "With this granary, how can we not win the battle!"
"That's right! Let's set off now!" Everyone was eager to get started, wishing they could sprout wings and fly to the front lines immediately.
"Um..." A timid voice suddenly rang out. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Dr. Zhang adjusting his glasses. His white coat stood out against the backdrop of peach blossoms. His assistant was holding a medical kit and looking at everyone nervously.
Xia Qianqian: !!!
She slapped her forehead and stamped her foot in annoyance: "Dr. Zhang! What are you doing here?"
In the heat of the moment, I was so focused on taking Peng Fei and the others in that I accidentally brought in Doctor Zhang and his apprentice who were there for a follow-up inspection!
She quickly stepped forward to explain, her tone full of apology: "I'm so sorry, it was my oversight! Once you enter this Peach Blossom Spring, you can't get out for the time being... Don't worry, once the war is over, I will personally escort you to a safe place!"
"What are you saying?" Doctor Zhang's face darkened, his tone tinged with anger.
"If you can serve your country, why can't we doctors?" He patted the medicine box he carried with him, his voice suddenly rising, "I'm a former battlefield medic! This box is full of life-saving equipment. When we get to the front lines, I'll save as many lives as I can!"
The little assistant, clutching the medicine box bag, nodded vigorously, his face flushed red: "Wherever the teacher goes, I'll go!"
Xia Qianqian was taken aback at first, then her eyes lit up, and she suddenly giggled and clapped her hands: "Well said! How could I have forgotten about that!"
She turned to look at Lao Hei, her eyes gleaming with excitement, "Lao Hei, you guys work hard and set up a few more tents in that open space by the stream, and then partition off a few small rooms with wooden planks—"
She pointed to an open area not far away and said firmly, "From today onwards, this will be our temporary field hospital! Dr. Zhang will perform surgeries here. Wounded soldiers can be brought in for surgery immediately. Peach Blossom Spring is very safe, and there will be plenty of medicine and food!"
Old Hei's eyes lit up, and he immediately patted his chest and assured her, "Alright! Miss Xia, don't worry, I guarantee it'll be even sturdier than the place we live in!"
Xia Qianqian looked around at everyone and said, "The rest of you should lend a hand. Clear out that wasteland by the stream, expand the vegetable gardens and grain fields into the valley, and build a few more rows of new pens for the chicken farm and pig farm."
She suddenly raised her hand and pointed to the misty valley in the distance, her eyes sparkling like stars. "When we get to the front line, I want every soldier to have hot white rice and meat at every meal!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire audience erupted in a deafening response.
Peng Fei was the first to roll up his sleeves, revealing his strong arms: "Don't worry, sister-in-law! I guarantee I'll make the vegetable garden even neater than the ones back home!"
Old Hei carried his hoe and walked towards the ravine, shouting in a loud voice, "Leave the pig farm to me! In less than three months, I guarantee they'll be fat and strong!"
Even Dr. Zhang's assistant held up his medicine box and shouted, "I...I can help feed the chickens too!"
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