Chapter 59 An Uncontrollable Possessiveness
Lin Mengyao was so angry that she almost ground her teeth to powder when she saw the meat bone she had gone to great lengths to get given to another woman by Zhao Wenchang, that blockhead.
She glared at Jiang Wanqiu, picked up her lunchbox, and snorted.
"I'd better go eat somewhere else, so as not to disturb Battalion Commander Zhao's enjoyment!"
After saying that, she turned and left. Zhao Wenchang watched her back and frowned, feeling a little puzzled.
She gave me the meat willingly; I didn't snatch it from her.
He turned back, ignoring him, and pointed with his chin at the meat in Jiang Wanqiu's bowl, giving a succinct order: "Eat."
Seeing that Jiang Wanqiu obediently started eating, he added, "Go back after you finish eating. The military region is big, and you don't know the area well. Don't wander around. What if you get lost?"
The tone was as if he were instructing a three-year-old child.
Jiang Wanqiu stuffed a piece of potato into her mouth, her cheeks bulging, and couldn't help but smile with her eyes crinkling at the sound of her voice.
"Okay, okay, I'm not a three-year-old anymore."
Looking at her chubby little face, Zhao Wenchang's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. He quickly and awkwardly looked away, but the tips of his ears turned red.
He cleared his throat, his voice regaining its usual stern tone: "Don't think I'm joking with you. This military region may seem safe, but there are actually quite a few bad guys who specifically target delicate young girls like you. You're so naive, you wouldn't even know you'd be tricked into being sold off with just a few words."
The more he talked, the more likely it seemed, and his expression darkened further.
Jiang Wanqiu was so amused by his serious expression that she almost spat out the food in her mouth.
Zhao Wenchang glared at her: "What are you laughing at! Be serious!"
Finally, he looked at her and added awkwardly in a voice only the two of them could hear, "I don't have anything to do this afternoon, so I'll go home early."
On the other side, in the office of the military region's administrative section.
"Knock knock knock—"
"Please come in."
Bai Weiwei pushed open the door, a sweet and harmless smile on her face, and a few frozen pears in her hand.
"Xiao Wang, busy?" She asked softly, walking lightly to a young-looking clerk wearing glasses. "I just froze these, want to try some?"
When the clerk named Xiao Wang saw that the person was Bai Weiwei, the star performer of the art troupe, he immediately blushed and stood up in a flustered manner: "Clerk Bai, what brings you here? This, this is too much trouble..."
"Look at what you're saying. We're all from the same compound, so helping each other is only natural." Bai Weiwei put the frozen pear on his table and casually mentioned, "By the way, didn't I hear that Battalion Commander Zhao's family member from the First Battalion is here? Our leader asked me to come and check on her, to ask if her file is complete and if the procedures are in accordance with regulations. We don't want her to think that our unit is not doing things properly as soon as she arrives."
The young staff member was no match for the gentle advances of the performing arts troupe's goddess. He was easily charmed by her words, and all his guard was completely gone.
He pushed up his glasses and hurriedly said, "Don't worry, Mr. Bai, your wife's file is fine. She has all the necessary documents, including the letter of introduction from her village and her political background check materials."
"However..." he changed the subject.
Bai Weiwei immediately pressed, "But what?"
The junior officer hesitated, "Battalion Commander Zhao's application to accompany him to the army was specially approved by the division commander. But... Battalion Commander Zhao's marriage application hasn't been submitted yet. Strictly speaking, Battalion Commander Zhao's current situation is called 'cohabitation before marriage'."
Bai Weiwei was overjoyed, as if she had discovered a huge secret, but on the surface she pretended to be shocked, exaggeratedly covering her mouth and widening her eyes: "My God! Xiao Wang, don't talk nonsense! This is a serious matter of conduct in the army! If someone with ulterior motives reports this to higher-ups, Battalion Commander Zhao will be severely punished!"
Her worried expression made it seem as if she was genuinely concerned for Zhao Wenchang.
Since they're living together before they're even married, it seems that woman named Jiang Wanqiu isn't a good person either.
Now she has plenty of ways to deal with her.
As night falls, lights begin to twinkle in the residential compound.
When Zhao Wenchang opened the door, he was somewhat surprised to smell the aroma of food.
I thought this pampered young lady never lifted a finger.
He pushed open the door, tiptoed in, and quietly entered the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Jiang Wanqiu was wearing an apron, her back to him, tiptoeing to reach the bowls in the cupboard.
Perhaps because the house was heated, she was only wearing a light blue sweater while cooking. She was slender with a waist that could be encircled by one hand, and under the dim light, she looked exceptionally gentle.
The man's heart stirred, and he felt a urge to tease her.
He crept up behind her, his tall figure completely enveloping her, then suddenly lowered his head, his warm breath brushing against her ear.
"What delicious food are you making?"
The deep voice that suddenly rang in her ears startled Jiang Wanqiu. She screamed "Ah!" and almost dropped the bowl she had just picked up.
Turning around, she met the man's dark eyes, which held a mischievous smile.
"Zhao Wenchang! You scared me to death!" She raised her hand angrily and punched his solid chest with her fist.
The man neither dodged nor flinched, letting her hit him. Instead, he seized her wrist and chuckled, "So timid?"
Seeing that Jiang Wanqiu ignored him, he began to help the woman cook, trying to please her.
While the two were busy, Jiang Wanqiu told Zhao Wenchang what Li Yanhong had told her earlier that day.
"...Sister-in-law Yanhong said that most of the women in the family compound have jobs, either in the clothing factory or in the logistics department. She also said that the cultural troupe seems to be recruiting recently, and suggested that I give it a try."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Wenchang frowned immediately, instinctively resisting: "No."
“The performing arts troupe is full of young girls, there’s a lot of gossip there, you wouldn’t be able to handle it.” He looked at her. “Isn’t it better to stay at home? I can support you.”
“But I don’t want to be supported by you.” Jiang Wanqiu stopped what she was doing, turned around, and looked at him very seriously.
Zhao Wenchang was speechless for a moment.
Of course he knew she wasn't that kind of person.
But the thought of her going out into the public eye and being stared at by other men made him feel uneasy for some reason.
The two stared at each other for a long time before Zhao Wenchang finally gave in and sighed.
“The performing arts troupe won’t do. They’re all dressed up and performing on stage all day. What kind of image is that?” He thought for a moment and listed a few places he could accept: “A clerk in the logistics department, an announcer at the military region’s broadcasting station, or… a primary school for children of military personnel would also be fine. Those places are quiet, and the people you meet are simple.”
He finally made the decision: "How about this, I'll go to the affiliated primary school and ask around, I know someone there."
Jiang Wanqiu hesitated for a moment: "But I've never taught before, I'm afraid I won't do a good job."
"Who told you to go teach?" Zhao Wenchang glanced at her and said matter-of-factly, "I'll find you a job that doesn't require teaching, like managing the library or working as a logistics officer. Isn't that better than being in the cultural troupe?"
As night deepened, Zhao Wenchang went to the bedroom to fiddle with the dark iron stove in the corner: "It's cold at night, we'll freeze if we don't light the stove."
Jiang Wanqiu followed curiously, squatted down next to him, and watched him skillfully set up the firewood and strike the match.
This was the first time she had ever seen such a stove. Back in her hometown in the south, even in the coldest winters, they never needed one.
The flames suddenly shot up, illuminating the man's sharply defined profile, and she stared at them, somewhat mesmerized.
The lid covering the stove was about to slip off because of the man's movements, and she instinctively reached out to catch it.
"hiss--"
The moment her fingertips touched it, a burning pain shot through her, causing her to gasp and abruptly pull her hand back.
"What's wrong?"
Hearing the noise, Zhao Wenchang turned around abruptly and saw the woman clutching her fingers with tears in her eyes, looking pitiful and on the verge of tears.
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