Chapter 314 Qin Ye's New Mission Su Tang placed the package and letter in her arms on the bed board. Under the burning gazes of everyone, she first opened the neatly bound kraft paper package with thin hemp rope.
The package was opened, and the contents were quite simple.
Several square compressed biscuits, carefully wrapped in oil paper, were golden in color, looked quite substantial, and emitted a malty aroma.
A small green tin bottle, specially supplied to the military, releases a cool, herbal aroma when the cap is unscrewed. It's the most common insect repellent for mosquito bites in those days, and it's much more effective than those on the market.
There was also a small package carefully wrapped in a clean white handkerchief. When I opened it, I found seven or eight shiny black White Rabbit milk candies. The wrappers were still intact, without a single wrinkle.
The items were few and far between, even somewhat meager.
But Wang Xiaoya and Chen Xiaocao, girls who had come from hard times, stared wide-eyed, their Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily.
Compressed biscuits are a rare commodity only found in the military, a treasure for marching and fighting; one biscuit can keep you full for half a day!
Mosquito repellent is essential for training in the mountains! It's common to be unable to sleep at night due to mosquito bites.
And then there's White Rabbit milk candy! These days, it's as precious as meat! One piece of milk candy is worth seven cents, half a day's wages for an average worker! People only dare to buy a few for their children to try during holidays!
"Wow! Su An, who gave you this? You're so kind to you!" Wang Xiaoya couldn't help but say enviously, her eyes practically glued to the few milk candies.
Yes, that's great.
It's so good it makes my heart ache.
Gao Kai's braised pork is passionate, it's the kind of food that says, "If I have meat, I'll give it to my beloved girl," he wants the whole world to know how good he is to her.
Jiang Yan's boiled eggs are understated, conveying the message, "I know you've worked hard, so I'm giving you some nourishment," carrying a hint of a scholar's subtlety and probing.
Qin Ye's things, however, are meticulous, practical, and full of the most personal care.
He knew she trained hard and was worried she would go hungry, so he prepared the most filling compressed biscuits.
He knew there were many mosquitoes in the mountains and was worried that her delicate skin would be bitten, so he prepared some medicine.
He knew that deep down she was still a girl who loved sweets, so he saved up his own share and collected a few candies for her, one by one.
He never used sweet words, but everything he did told her in the most clumsy and simple way: I cherish you in my heart.
Su Tang's heart felt as if it had been gently rubbed by a warm, large hand, leaving it both sore and tender.
She took out the milk candies and gave one to each of the girls watching. Amid their surprised cheers and "Thank you, Su An" thanks, she carefully put away the rest of the items and the most important letter.
"I'm tired and want to rest early." With this simple excuse, she sent away the crowd who still wanted to gossip.
Although the girls were bursting with curiosity, they all wisely dispersed when they saw the deep exhaustion on Su Tang's face, returning to their beds and quietly savoring the exciting "battle" they had just experienced.
The dormitory gradually quieted down, with only the occasional chirping of insects outside the window and the intermittent sobbing coming from the direction of Qiao Lin's bed.
Su Tang pulled up the faded blue curtain over the bed, blocking out all light and sound from the outside world, creating a small and private space for herself.
She didn't turn on the light, but instead used the cool moonlight filtering through the cracks in the window to unfold the letter that carried all her longing.
The letter paper was the most common type used in the military; it was somewhat rough and had a faint yellow tint.
Qin Ye's calligraphy, like the man himself, is vigorous and powerful, with sharp strokes. Each stroke is as if it were carved into the paper with a chisel, exuding an undeniable military iron will.
The content, though seemingly credible, is so tender it's almost dripping with affection.
"Tangtang, it's like seeing you in person after reading this letter."
With just four words, Su Tang could almost see, thousands of miles away, under the dim, flickering oil lamp, that tall, upright man carefully writing down her name with the hand that held the gun.
His brows might be slightly furrowed, as he pondered what to say next, but his eyes, usually sharp as an eagle's, must now be filled with the familiar, unyielding tenderness she knew so well.
She gently stroked the two words with her fingertips and continued reading.
"The northwest wind is strong, but the sky is very blue. I'm doing well here, don't worry about me."
Even though it was just a simple "I'm safe" message, Su Tang could imagine the way he pretended to be relaxed, not wanting her to worry, when he wrote it.
“A few days ago, I went on a training exercise with the team. After crossing a sand dune, I saw a large area of red rocks, which looked like a sunset. It was very beautiful. I thought to myself, if you were here, you would definitely like it.”
Su Tang couldn't help but smile. This silly girl, when she sees beautiful scenery, the first person she thinks of is her.
"The new battalion commander is from Shanxi. He makes excellent knife-cut noodles, but he puts in too much vinegar, making them so sour they make your teeth ache. I still miss your tomato and egg noodles."
There wasn't a single grand statement or a single tender word in the letter.
He was simply sharing the little things in his life with her in the simplest language.
He didn't ask her if the training in the camp was tough, nor did he ask if she had been bullied.
He knew that with her abilities, these were not problems.
He knew even better that discipline forbade him from finding out these things.
He was simply telling her in his own way that no matter where he was, he was thinking of her and everything related to her.
Su Tang gently stroked the strong handwriting on the letter with his fingertips, and the cold paper seemed to carry the warmth of his palm.
Her heart, which had been tense because of the exercise, the mission, and the uncertainties of the future, found unprecedented peace at this moment.
At the end of the letter, his handwriting seemed to become somewhat messy, and the pressure was much heavier, as if he was somewhat unsettled when he wrote this.
"Tangtang, there's something I need to tell you."
Su Tang's heart jumped.
"We're about to embark on a new, long-term mission. The location is confidential, so we might not be able to write to you or receive your letters for a while."
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