In the next room.
Zhang Cishu sat in a chair by the window and took the frozen pear out of his pocket.
It had been in a bag the whole time and had been bumping around in the car, so it was no longer as cold as before. Its skin was soft and looked like it might break at any moment.
He stared at the frozen pear for a few seconds, then, remembering the satisfied look on Xu Xinghe's face when she ate it, he imitated the guard and took a small bite.
The juice instantly flooded my mouth. It wasn't as cloying as milk candy; instead, it had a refreshing sweetness that slid down my throat, even easing the restlessness in my heart.
Zhang Cishu slowly sipped the juice, his gaze gradually softening.
He seemed to prefer the taste of the frozen pear to the cloyingly sweet milk candy.
With a touch of natural freshness, it's just like the unintentional warmth in Xu Xinghe's courtyard.
...
Before we knew it, it was the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.
The festive atmosphere at the military headquarters seemed a bit weak.
Perhaps because there were fewer firecrackers than a few days ago, even the number of people visiting relatives was sparse. Only the aroma of food wafting from the canteen still carried a lingering warmth of the New Year.
Xu Xinghe was washing up inside the house, and had just finished braiding her hair when a soft knock came from outside the courtyard.
She opened the door and paused, stunned.
It wasn't Jiang Linchuan, nor Lian Xiao, but Zhou Chengmu.
His complexion was not good, and a faint gloom hung over his eyes. "Comrade Xu, Happy New Year."
As he spoke, he picked up the bag and handed it to her. "Thank you for the frostbite cream you gave me before. This is a New Year's gift for you, just a small token of my appreciation."
"Thank you, you're too kind." Xu Xinghe took the bag. "Would you like to come in and sit for a while? It's cold outside, I'll pour you a cup of hot tea to warm you up."
"No, thank you." Zhou Chengmu shook his head, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment before quickly shifting away. "I came to tell you that Political Commissar Wang wants you to go to the office building."
"Political Commissar Wang wants to see me?" Xu Xinghe was taken aback, then turned to grab her coat as she spoke. "What does he want?"
Zhou Chengmu's Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally said in a low voice, "Someone has been transferred to our military headquarters."
"They're bringing people over on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year?" Xu Xinghe was even more surprised.
At this time, everyone is still on holiday for the New Year. Even in the military, only the staff on duty are on duty, while everyone else can rest. It is really illogical to transfer people at this time.
"Well, you'll see when you get there."
Xu Xinghe couldn't figure out what this had to do with her, but since it was Political Commissar Wang's order, she had to go and see.
The two walked side by side on the snowy road and soon arrived at the office building.
Zhou Chengmu stopped and took one last greedy look at her. "I won't go in. You go by yourself."
"Okay, I'll go in first then." Xu Xinghe knocked on the door of Political Commissar Wang's office. "Political Commissar Wang."
"Enter."
The moment she pushed open the door, Xu Xinghe's pupils contracted slightly.
Standing beside the desk was a familiar, handsome face.
Zhang Cishu? What's he doing here?
Political Commissar Wang quickly and warmly welcomed her in, "Xinghe is here? You know this Comrade Zhang better than I do. Starting today, he has been officially transferred to our military headquarters! Considering that you two are old acquaintances, I'll trouble you to show him around the military headquarters. By the way, he will be staying in the empty courtyard next to yours. You two should visit each other often and look out for each other."
The Zhang family is a significant family, and maintaining a good relationship with Zhang Cishu would be more beneficial than harmful to Xu Xinghe and the military.
Moreover, the matter of the frostbite ointment was reported earlier, and it was thanks to the Zhang family that the matter was pushed forward. If it hadn't been for the Chinese New Year, the results would have been out long ago.
The Zhang family specially sent Zhang Cishu this time, perhaps to observe and test Xu Xinghe. Naturally, he should create more opportunities for the two to interact and let Xu Xinghe perform well.
"Comrade Zhang, why were you suddenly transferred to the military headquarters?" Xu Xinghe couldn't help but ask.
General Zhang's grandson, if he wanted to gain experience, should have chosen a city with better conditions. Why would he come to Heilongjiang Province? This is really illogical.
Even if he gets sick and needs to be hospitalized, he will pass away in a few months at most, not for several years.
"This was my family's decision. They said this place would be better for tempering my character," Zhang Cishu explained simply, then said nothing more. His tone was emotionless, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.
Seeing that he was unwilling to talk about it further, Xu Xinghe wisely refrained from pressing him for details.
Political Commissar Wang smiled and waved his hand, "Alright, Xinghe, you take Comrade Zhang over first, help him tidy up his place and get familiar with the environment."
As he said this, he winked at Xu Xinghe.
Xu Xinghe received this veiled signal. Although he didn't fully understand Political Commissar Wang's thoughts, he knew it was definitely well-intentioned. "Comrade Zhang, let's go."
As soon as the two stepped out of the office building, two figures quickly approached them from a short distance away. They were Zhang Cishu's bodyguards, carrying large and small bags of luggage. One of them was the same person they had met before.
"Comrade Xu, we meet again!" the guard greeted him with a smile, his tone full of politeness. "Our young master will be transferred to the military headquarters from now on, so we'll have to trouble you to take good care of him."
"You're too kind!" Xu Xinghe quickly waved her hand. "It's not about taking care of you. We're friends, so it's only right that we help each other out."
As she spoke, she took the initiative to lead the way, saying, "The military compound is regularly maintained. It can be lived in after a little tidying up. Let's go there now."
The neighbor's yard was deserted; it was clear that no one had lived there for a long time.
As Xu Xinghe was pondering where to begin to help, the two guards had already put down their luggage and started working.
They were clearly experienced people; one went to warm the house, while the other picked up a basin to clean the dust in the house. "Comrade Xu, could I get some water from your house? We haven't had a fire here for a long time, and the water pipes are frozen, so we can't use it for the time being."
"Of course! I'll take you there!"
Zhang Cishu reached out and took the empty basin from the guard's hand. "I'll go."
Before his death, his grandfather specifically instructed him to spend more time with Xu Xinghe and learn to absorb some of her charm.
Since this is a task, it should be completed properly.
“Okay, my home is nearby, just a few steps away.”
The two walked back to the courtyard side by side.
When I pushed open the door, a wave of warmth washed over me, a stark contrast to the chill I had felt earlier.
Xu Xinghe turned on the tap and filled a container for him, adding a little hot water. "This way your hands won't be cold. Comrade Zhang, may I ask how long you plan to stay here?"
"have no idea."
He can go back when he becomes popular again.
This time can be extended or shortened indefinitely.
"All right."
Zhang Cishu, carrying a basin of water, stopped abruptly at the door and turned to look at her. "Please take care of me in the future, Xu Xinghe. You can just call me by my name, Cishu."
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