Chapter 174 Battalion Commander Zhao, who was about to completely lose control
Zhou Jianguo shook his head: "I know you mean well, but I know my own body."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wanqiu said in a serious tone, "The doctor may not have explained it clearly to you. In fact, your illness is not a serious problem. It's just that your body is severely depleted and needs to be properly nourished."
"Listen to me, there's a secret recipe left by my elders that's specifically for improving a man's health," Jiang Wanqiu said without batting an eye, making up a story. "Just focus on getting better first, and once you're discharged, I'll prepare the medicine for you and send it over. Take it on time, and it'll definitely work."
She spoke with such conviction that it seemed plausible. In those days, every household had a few secret folk remedies hidden away.
Zhou Jianguo gave a weak laugh: "It's not just this. I've let the organization down... The fertilizer for the experimental field failed again. The animal team failed too. The organization allocated so much funding, and I haven't produced any results. I've even ruined my health... I'm ashamed to face anyone. I'm ashamed to face the organization..."
What broke him was not just being cuckolded, but also the complete failure of his career.
A man, both at home and outside, is completely broken down.
Hearing this, Chief Le felt both angry and pained. He sighed repeatedly as he spoke, "If you fail, just try again! You're an educated man, how can you expect to succeed on your first try? Even Edison, when he made the light bulb, didn't he try once or a thousand times? It's no big deal!"
He spoke roughly, but his heart was sincere.
"The organization trusts you, that's why they entrusted you with this task. A few failures are nothing! Get well soon and continue working on it after you're discharged! If you run out of funding, I'll approve it again!" Chief Le glared at him, his words more of an order than a consolation.
After this barrage of scolding and coaxing, Zhou Jianguo seemed to have found his pillar of support. His eyes reddened, and he nodded, choking back tears.
Seeing that Zhao Wenchang had calmed down, Chief Le breathed a sigh of relief. He stood up, gave Zhao Wenchang a few more instructions, and then walked out of the ward with a stern face.
That afternoon, the loudspeakers in the military compound blared, notifying all military family members to immediately go to the parade ground for a mobilization meeting.
Chief Le, seething with anger, personally presided over the meeting. Standing on the stage, he spoke passionately, emphasizing the importance of ideological issues and denouncing the evil trends of individualism and liberalism. His words were a veiled warning to those family members who were gossiping and causing trouble behind his back.
...
At the main gate of the military region, the military vehicle carrying the high-ranking officer came to a smooth stop.
Le Yunyun, carrying a stylish canvas bag, wearing a wool coat, and sporting the most fashionable perm, skipped and hopped off the bus.
She had finally made it back from Beijing, and when she saw a large group of people moving around in the military compound from afar, she thought it was a welcome ceremony her father had specially arranged because he knew she was coming back.
Le Yunyun was feeling very happy and was about to go inside when she was stopped by her father's bodyguard.
"Comrade Yunyun, you're finally back! Quickly, the commander wants everyone to go to the playground for an ideological education meeting, you should go too!"
Le Yunyun's smile froze instantly. She rolled her eyes dramatically and grumbled irritably, "Another meeting? Do I have to listen to my dad's endless nagging as soon as I get off the train? I've had enough of that at home! I'm not going, it's so annoying! I have important things to do!"
After the conference ended, Le Yunyun was already waiting at Jiang Wanqiu's house.
As soon as she entered the house, she saw the brand-new red peony quilt cover in the bedroom, so festive it was dazzling. She asked in surprise, "Wanqiu, is someone in your family celebrating a happy occasion?"
When Jiang Wanqiu saw Le Yunyun suddenly return, she was pleasantly surprised but also helplessly asked, "What do you think?"
As Le Yunyun untied her scarf, she asked, "Is it between you and Zhao Wenchang?"
"Yes, I'll take care of it in a few days," Jiang Wanqiu said with a smile, pouring her a glass of water.
"Better late than never!" Le Yunyun chuckled, then frowned. "Wait a minute, I remember... you two were together a long time ago? Why are you only getting married now?"
Jiang Wanqiu smiled helplessly: "The things inside are quite complicated."
Le Yunyun's eyes darted around, her gaze fixed on Jiang Wanqiu's lower abdomen: "Are you... pregnant?"
Jiang Wanqiu was taken aback, somewhat surprised: "How did you know?"
"Of course I know!" Le Yunyun said with an air of "I knew it," and started chattering away. "I've heard that some scumbags are like that. They look respectable, but they won't give a woman a proper title until she's pregnant! Oh dear, Sister Wanqiu, Zhao Wenchang looks so upright, but I didn't expect him to be this kind of person! You really need to think this through. You can't rush into marriage like this!"
She looked very serious and spoke with great conviction.
Jiang Wanqiu was both amused and exasperated by her theory. Just as she was about to explain, the kitchen curtain was lifted, and Zhao Wenchang came out carrying a plate of washed apples.
He had heard everything clearly inside, and now his face darkened. He said in a deep voice, "Comrade Le Yunyun, stop trying to fool my wife."
"Huh?!" Le Yunyun was startled, not expecting that the person she was talking about was right at home. She shrank her neck, secretly stuck out her tongue, and quickly put on a smiling face to change the subject.
"Sister Wanqiu, guess what I've been doing in Beijing all this time while I haven't been back?"
"I can't believe it." Jiang Wanqiu was genuinely curious.
Le Yunyun proudly puffed out her chest: "I've taken over a shop in Beijing!"
She said with a smile, "Right here on Qianmen Street! Once the renovations are done, we'll specialize in selling your good stuff! We'll sell it all over the country!"
Jiang Wanwanqiu was both surprised and delighted, but then she thought it was unlikely: "I'm in the Northeast and can't go to Beijing, how can I sell this?"
"That's not necessarily true!" Le Yunyun winked playfully at her, her tone full of anticipation and certainty. "Everyone has to have dreams! What if one day you go to Beijing?"
Jiang Wanqiu was touched by her enthusiasm and felt warm inside as well. Just as she was about to tease her, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
"Comrade Yunyun! Comrade Yunyun!"
A young guard poked his head in, a slightly embarrassed smile on his face, and said breathlessly, "The commander sent me to invite you back, saying... saying he has something to ask you."
Le Yunyun immediately pulled a long face and raised an eyebrow: "What is it now? I just got back, I haven't even had a chance to sit down yet!"
The guard shrank back, intimidated by her aggressive demeanor, and said in an even softer voice, "The commander said... said that you just got home and are already running off to other people's houses, showing no regard for your father at all."
Of course, he would never dare to relay Chief Le's original words, "You've grown wings and gone wild."
Le Yunyun sighed deeply, looking at the ceiling. She turned to Jiang Wanqiu, took her hand, and reluctantly said, "Wanqiu, I'm going back now. I'll come back to you after I've appeased that old man. Oh, and don't forget to call me on your wedding day with Battalion Commander Zhao! I've prepared a big gift for you!"
After saying that, she left with the guard like a gust of wind.
The night grew deeper.
Zhao Wenchang brought Jiang Wanqiu some water to wash her feet and then took out a rose-scented soap, saying with a smile that his soldiers had scavenged it from somewhere to curry favor with Jiang Wanqiu.
Jiang Wanqiu smiled and took the things, then curiously sniffed them.
A pungent smell of cheap perfume assaulted her nostrils, and a wave of nausea surged from her stomach, making her throat tighten.
She covered her mouth and rushed to the water basin in the yard, where she vomited with a "whoosh." She hadn't left a single thing she ate that evening.
The cool night wind blew against her face, making her shiver.
A large, warm hand gently patted her back, while the other hand held a glass of warm water to her lips.
"Rinse your mouth, are you feeling better?" Zhao Wenchang was startled, and then said somewhat angrily, "Looks like that soap wasn't any good either, I'll take it and throw it away right now!"
Jiang Wanqiu took the cup, rinsed her mouth, and finally managed to suppress the churning in her stomach. She leaned against the man's strong chest: "Don't throw it away. Someone kindly brought it over. I've been having this morning sickness all along, there's nothing I can do about it, it has nothing to do with the soap."
“Then I’ll take you to the clinic to see a doctor tomorrow. This can’t go on like this.” Zhao Wenchang said, picking her up and carrying her back into the house, where he carefully placed her on the bed.
"Mm," Jiang Wanqiu responded.
As Jiang Wanqiu lay in bed that night, she felt a chill run through her body. She instinctively snuggled closer to Zhao Wenchang, like a kitten seeking shelter. The man's body was like a furnace, solid and burning hot, the heat penetrating even through the thin fabric, dispelling much of the weakness and coldness she felt after her bout of nausea.
She found a comfortable position and pressed herself against him, the faint scent of soap and tobacco emanating from him filling her nostrils, a unique masculine aroma that made her feel safer than ever before.
But for Zhao Wenchang, this sense of security was nothing short of a sweet torment.
He was a vigorous young man, holding a warm, fragrant treasure in his arms. Her soft breath brushed against his neck, sending shivers of pleasure through him. Her soft body pressed against him defenselessly, every movement like a spark igniting in his heart.
Zhao Wenchang's body tensed instantly, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his breathing became heavy.
This is practically killing him!
You can only look at it, not eat it.
He closed his eyes and silently recited the military regulations several times in his mind before he could barely suppress the burning desire within him. That night, Zhao Wenchang barely slept, and when dawn broke, there was a faint bluish tinge under his eyes.
Without disturbing Ping An, he quietly led Jiang Wanqiu to the military region's health center.
The doctor this time was a woman in her fifties who seemed very kind. She took Jiang Wanqiu's pulse, asked about her condition, and then smiled and said, "It's nothing serious, this is a normal reaction. The first three months are a bit tough. I'll prescribe some medicine to help with the pregnancy, so take it on time when you get home. Be careful to keep warm, don't catch a cold, and don't overexert yourself."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Wenchang breathed a sigh of relief and thanked him repeatedly.
He helped Jiang Wanqiu up and was about to take the prescription to get the medicine when he suddenly stopped, as if his feet had taken root.
He glanced at the doctor again, a hint of hesitation appearing on his face. He moved his lips, then swallowed his words back.
The experienced doctor immediately noticed his hesitation and asked, "Commander Zhao, is there anything else you'd like to ask?"
Zhao Wenchang scratched his head, still finding it difficult to say: "It's nothing."
"Ask me now if you have any questions!" The doctor slammed his pen on the table, his eyebrows furrowing, his expression turning serious. "You young people are so shy, too embarrassed to ask questions, and you just go back and figure it out yourselves. Last time, there was a young soldier's wife who was pregnant, and she heard some nonsense that pregnant women shouldn't eat eggs, so she didn't eat a single one. As a result, her baby was born small and weak! Ask me your questions now, don't delay!"
Having brought it all up, Zhao Wenchang coughed and asked quickly in a low voice, "Doctor, if that woman is pregnant, does that mean... does that mean she can't have sex anymore?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Wanqiu, who was standing next to him, was stunned.
The next second, she was both embarrassed and angry. Her pretty face instantly turned bright red. She reached out and pinched Zhao Wenchang's strong arm hard, growling in a low voice, "Zhao Wenchang! How... how could you ask such a shameless question!"
What is this man thinking all day long! How could he say such a thing in a place like this, in front of a doctor!
Zhao Wenchang hissed as she pinched him, but he didn't dodge.
The doctor laughed, waved his hand, and said nonchalantly, "Oh, what's there to be ashamed of? I understand, you're all young and full of energy, it's normal."
Seeing Jiang Wanqiu so embarrassed she felt like she wanted to disappear into the ground, she explained to Zhao Wenchang, "It's not that you can't always do it. Remember, the first three months are too early because the pregnancy isn't stable. The last three months are also too because your belly is bigger and there's a higher risk of complications. The middle months are okay because your body is more stable. But you have to be careful and avoid any strenuous activity, okay?"
Dr. Wang spoke frankly and openly, professionally and directly.
But to Jiang Wanqiu, these words were like a series of thunderclaps. She felt her cheeks, ears, and even her entire neck burning. She wished the ground would immediately split open so she could disappear into it.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Wenchang's eyes lit up, as if he had received some kind of pardon. He chuckled, revealing a set of white teeth.
Seeing his wife's face practically bleeding, he was overjoyed. He quickly grabbed the prescription and changed the subject, saying, "Thank you, Dr. Wang! Thank you, Dr. Wang! I'll go get the medicine right away!"
Zhao Wenchang pulled the woman, whose face was flushed, onto a bench in the first-floor corridor: "Wanqiu, sit here for a moment, I'll be right back."
After saying that, he turned around and walked quickly towards the window where he could pick up his medicine.
Jiang Wanqiu sat alone on a bench in the corridor, her face still feeling hot.
She lowered her head, pressed the back of her hand against her cheek to cool down, and cursed Zhao Wenchang a thousand times in her heart.
Just as she was lost in thought, a suppressed, sharp argument came from not far away.
The voice sounded familiar.
Jiang Wanqiu suddenly raised her head.
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