After walking a while longer, Xu Changfeng followed behind Xu Ningyan. After hesitating for a long time, he finally spoke again: "After I return to the army this time, I will apply for a transfer back to civilian life. I will also tell your mother that you are still alive. As for Shen Yue'e's family, I will deal with them to avenge you. Do you have any requests or ideas? Just tell me, and I will do everything I can to make it happen for you—"
Xu Ningyan rolled her eyes impatiently: "You don't need to tell me about your family's affairs, and my affairs have nothing to do with your family! Also, if you want to deal with Shen Yue'e, that's your business, your idea, don't try to pin it on me! What do you mean I have any ideas or demands? I have no ideas or demands! Even if I wanted to deal with Shen Yue'e's family, I would do it myself, it's none of your business!"
"So, please, could you just stay away from me? Haven't I made it obvious enough? I don't want anything to do with you or your family! Can't you understand human language?"
Xu Changfeng's brow twitched. He was now the head of a regiment, and even his own mother, Aunt Xie, spoke to him with great care. She hadn't been treated like this or heard such words in years.
He wanted to get angry, but when he met Xu Ningyan's familiar yet unfamiliar eyes, he lowered his eyelids dejectedly and took a deep breath: He had wronged this girl, and no matter how she treated him, it was his responsibility!
However, Xu Ningyan's undisguised disgust and rejection ultimately made him hesitate.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and he silently took a few steps back, falling behind Xu Ningyan.
They followed at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, and arrived at the commune together.
Although Xu Ningyan felt annoyed by having someone following her, she couldn't just stop others from using this one main road, could she?
Just pretend you didn't see it.
When boarding the bus, after buying a ticket, Xu Ningyan went to sit at the front and closed her eyes to rest.
Xu Changfeng was wearing a military uniform with four pockets, which clearly indicated that he was a military officer.
Although he had a seat when he got on the bus, he was right behind Xu Ningyan.
As more and more people boarded the bus, many people couldn't find seats, so some people set their sights on Xu Changfeng.
An elderly woman squeezed next to Xu Changfeng, nudged him, and grinned at him, revealing a set of yellow teeth: "Comrade PLA soldier, look at my old arms and legs, it would be the death of me to have to travel all the way to the county town!"
Xu Changfeng immediately stood up and offered his seat to the elderly woman: "Auntie, please sit down!"
The old woman beamed and, without any hesitation, plopped down on the floor: "Oh, the People's Liberation Army comrades are the best!"
He then pulled Xu Changfeng aside, saying, "Comrade PLA soldier, judging by your uniform, you must be an officer in the army, right? Are you married yet? Yes? Are there any young, unmarried PLA soldiers in your unit? I have a daughter, only eighteen this year, and she's one of the most beautiful girls in the whole brigade—"
This means Xu Changfeng is to act as a matchmaker and find a People's Liberation Army husband for her daughter.
Xu Changfeng wanted to leave, but the old woman was very strong, and he didn't dare to use too much force. He could only stand there awkwardly, listening to the old woman's incessant rambling about how outstanding her daughter was, his brows furrowed so deeply they could have knotted together.
The bus stopped midway, and another group of people squeezed on. Xu Changfeng was pushed to the back, finally escaping the old lady's attack range, and breathed a sigh of relief without leaving a trace.
Unfortunately, he had barely breathed a sigh of relief when an older woman next to him grabbed him again: "Comrade PLA soldier, it's so good to see you! Come on, help me carry it for a bit, don't let it run away—"
As he spoke, a warm, freshly cooked hen was thrust into his hand.
Xu Changfeng's hand clenched involuntarily, and the old hen, feeling the pain, turned her head and slapped his hand.
The aunt standing nearby exclaimed, "Comrade PLA soldier, please don't let go! I'm taking this to the county for my daughter-in-law to recover after childbirth—"
Xu Changfeng frowned as he looked at the old hen in his hand. He held back for a while, but couldn't help but ask, "Auntie, you can tie the chicken's feet with a rope and put it under the seat. Why are you carrying it by hand?"
The auntie gave me a look that said, "Oh dear, what do you men know! With so many people around, what if it gets trampled to death if I put it under the seats? Of course, it's safer to hold it in my hand! Comrade PLA soldier, be gentle, don't crush my chicken!"
Xu Changfeng's face was so dark it could drip water, but he couldn't say anything and could only endure it.
Perhaps the hen was uncomfortable being pinched, because it pooped on Xu Changfeng's shoe.
Xu Changfeng's forehead veins bulged from his suppressed anger.
The auntie looked nonchalant: "It's nothing, I'll just wipe myself with some grass after I get off the bus."
However, some people nearby couldn't stand it anymore: "Those PLA comrades are here to protect the country, not to carry old hens for you!"
"That's right, we can't just take advantage of the fact that the People's Liberation Army comrades are honest and keep bothering them!"
...
The ticket seller couldn't stand it anymore, so she squeezed through the crowd, snatched the old hen from the bus, and shoved it into the arms of the woman next to her: "Behave yourselves! If you bother the People's Liberation Army comrades again, you're getting off the bus!"
At that time, the ticket seller still had a lot of power, so the aunt shrank back and didn't dare to say anything.
When they finally arrived in the county town, Xu Ningyan glanced at Xu Changfeng as she got out of the car.
Xu Changfeng frowned, sandwiched between a group of aunties and grandmas, looking utterly hopeless.
Serves you right! Xu Ningyan spat, picked up her basket, got off the bus, jumped onto the bus that had just arrived at the station, and left.
After Xu Changfeng finally managed to squeeze out from the back, he was called upon to help carry his backpack and luggage for a while.
When I walked out of the bus station, Xu Ningyan was no longer in sight.
Xu Ningyan returned to the small courtyard. After being away from home for more than ten days, she opened the doors and windows to let in some fresh air and did a thorough cleaning.
Everything on the bed was taken down, washed, and aired.
In no time, the yard was filled with sunshine.
Before she left, she gave Lin Hong a key to the vegetables in the yard, asking her to come and water them when she had time.
Seeing that the ground was damp, I guessed that Lin Hong had just watered it last night, so I didn't need to worry about it.
Seeing that it was almost time, and too lazy to cook, I took my lunchbox to the state-run restaurant, got a bowl of white rice and a plate of stir-fried pork with pickled radish, and went home.
After finishing her meal, Xu Ningyan, who was exhausted, decided to rest for half a day.
The next morning, Xu Ningyan felt a little out of sorts when she got up to go to work.
During this period, in the Tuanjie Brigade, Xu Ningyan was able to sleep until she naturally woke up every day. After waking up, she didn't want to move and would stay in bed for half a day, and no one cared.
Xu Ningyan looked pained, realizing she would have to get up early for work again.
I drew a bucket of ice-cold well water and washed my face to refresh myself.
They gave the lackey a big bone and half a bowl of cold boiled rice.
I took a steamed bun, broke it open, put in a piece of braised beef, spread some beef sauce on it, added a few shredded pickled vegetables, made a cup of malted milk powder, and after eating, I pushed my bicycle out the door.
The sun hadn't risen yet, and the air still carried the unique coolness of the early morning.
I rode my bike along the road, and everywhere I looked, people were rushing to work, some on bicycles, some on foot, and some on buses.
There were also school children, wearing red scarves, chasing each other in groups on the road, laughing and joking. Occasionally they would bump into pedestrians, and everyone would just laugh and scold them, telling them to be careful.
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