Chapter 39 Ling Jianwei, do you want me tonight...?
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Ling Jianwei, do you want me tonight?
He loved seeing the faint blush that appeared on her cheeks when she was happy, the misty look in her eyes, and even her breathing becoming rapid.
Ling Jianwei leaned forward and kissed her lips. The girl responded with soft lips and tongue, humming softly. Then she nestled against him, burying her face in his neck and rubbing against him affectionately.
He knew what she wanted most, and it wasn't impossible, but in these matters, he always wanted to take it slow. After all, the first time only happens once in a lifetime. He thought that before that, he should cultivate their relationship, create more memories, or perhaps he simply wanted to let her desire build up a little more...
As night deepened, the girl, who had been pampered by him, finally curled up in his arms and fell asleep.
Ling Jianwei kissed her forehead and pulled the blanket tighter around her.
In her dream, Li Yue felt someone kissing her. She had to admit that the sensation was so vivid that it seemed to be recreated in her dream. Subconsciously, she twisted her waist and nestled into his arms.
He was woken up and hugged her again.
Tragically, the next day Li Yue felt unwell; her nose was itchy, her throat was uncomfortable, and around 8 p.m., her tonsils became inflamed, and her body temperature suddenly rose.
She pitifully said to him, "Do you have any fever reducer? I think I have a fever."
Ling Jianwei raised her hand to feel her forehead temperature, anxiously wanting to take her to see a doctor. Li Yue sat there, unwilling to move, saying that taking medicine would be enough, but in the end, she was taken to the hospital and obediently received a fever-reducing injection.
I went home and rested for the night.
When Ling Jianwei woke up the next day, he checked her forehead. Thankfully, the fever had subsided, and he hadn't noticed any increase in temperature while holding her the night before. He breathed a sigh of relief, got up, and went to the cafeteria to get some millet porridge and steamed buns.
Sitting at the table eating breakfast, he asked, "Would you like me to help you take a bath again?"
He actually felt quite guilty; he couldn't control himself yesterday.
Li Yue whispered, "The doctor said it's viral flu, and you can get it even if you don't shower."
"How come I'm alright?"
"Your constitution is different; you are immune to all poisons."
"Still being stubborn. Go to bed after you finish eating."
Li Yue looked at him and asked, "Are you going back to the camp?"
"How am I supposed to get back to camp like this?" the man said helplessly.
Li Yue smiled and said, "That's good."
She lay obediently on the bed, watching him sit at his desk writing some materials, without saying a word, just quietly watching his back.
Suddenly he turned around and caught her gaze.
"Why aren't you sleeping? No wonder there was a gaze watching me from behind."
Li Yue rolled up in the blanket, turned to face the wall, and said, "I wasn't staring at you."
He chuckled softly, left his desk, walked to the bedside, and bent down to lay her on her back.
"What?" Li Yue asked, lying down and looking at him.
"I'll hold you while you sleep."
Li Yue: "..."
He took off his coat, wearing the black sweater she had knitted, and laid her on his lap, half-lying down.
In the quiet room, he said, "Once the bathroom is renovated and ventilated for a few days, it will be ready to use. It's a small space, so if I help you shower there, you won't easily catch a cold."
"Mmm," she replied softly.
"How about we buy a bathtub? It'll be nice to soak in it in winter."
"That would require a lot of hot water."
"Burn more."
Li Yue said ominously, "By the time that pot boils, this pot will be cold again."
"It won't cool down that quickly. Can't you put it in the kettle? Can't I go to the cafeteria to get you hot water? I think they prefer to get hot water from the cafeteria."
"..."
Recovery from illness is a slow and gradual process; Li Yue coughed for several days before finally getting better.
But Ling Jianwei noticed that as soon as there was a slight improvement, she would become demanding. He worried about disturbing her rest and just wanted to hold her and go to sleep early that night. But that wasn't her intention; holding her wasn't enough, she wanted kisses, and even a kiss on the lips seemed insufficient…
Ling Jianwei pulled her close, covered her with the blanket, stared at her lips that were red from being kissed, pressed the tip of her nose, and said to her, "Unsatisfied."
Li Yue looked straight back at him and asked, "Are you full?"
Ling Jianwei's eyes darkened, and his voice lowered: "Of course not."
"But I'm afraid you'll catch a cold again." He touched her face. "Look, you're sweating after just a short kiss."
This man was so gentle, Li Yue said, "It's because the blanket is so warm and your body temperature is so high. I don't even feel this hot when I have a fever."
He put his arm around her waist, pressed her head down, and hugged her tighter, replying in a low, husky voice, "I missed you."
Even though she was right beside him, in his arms, so close that there was no distance between them, he still missed her just as much.
It's quite strange. He doesn't consider himself a romantic person. In the past few years, he even felt that finding a wife and having children would be meaningless. Otherwise, he wouldn't have had no interest in other girls... He never expected to fall head over heels for her.
Li Yue could sense the longing he was expressing, so she raised her head and stared intently at the man.
The man's eyes darkened, and he wrapped his hand around her, palm down.
In the sticky sensation, fingers gently caress, then explore precisely.
Li Yue's breathing became heavy. She buried her face in his neck, gripping his arm tightly with her hands. She cried dryly, but no tears came out.
Afterwards, Ling Jianwei wiped her fingers with a tissue, then stroked her sweaty forehead and chuckled, "Look, just like this, you're sweating so much. When the day comes, you'll look like you've been pulled out of the water... But, you sounded really good just now."
Li Yue's cheeks continued to burn as she snuggled into his arms.
He soothed her back: "Stay here and don't move. I'll go and wipe you down with a hot towel, otherwise you'll feel uncomfortable."
Li Yue pursed her lips and nodded.
Watching him leave, Li Yue took a deep breath.
In fact, she had heard some gossip about Ling Jianwei during this time. It was said that when he was in the military camp, he had a serious style, and coupled with his powerful father, everyone thought he was difficult to deal with, and they usually spoke to him very politely.
However, in Li Yue's eyes, Ling Jianwei was always gentle and considerate, often making her laugh.
When she turned off the lights to go to sleep, she asked, "Ling Jianwei, I have a question for you."
"What?"
"Will you get angry with me, like when you're upset with me?"
Why am I angry with you?
Li Yue said, "People will always make mistakes, and there will always be times when our views differ. We don't have children now, and we haven't encountered any problems or conflicts, but if we did, I might lose my temper with you, and we might argue."
He thought for a moment and answered very seriously, "As long as it doesn't involve matters of principle, you can do whatever you want."
"For example, what are some matters of principle?"
“For example,” he touched her face in the night and pinched her cheek, “for example, you have another man in your heart, not me.”
Li Yue was speechless: "I don't have any other man in my heart."
"Really not?"
"No."
"Where's your childhood friend?"
“I don’t like him, he’s so different from you.”
"Where's the senior?"
"That's even more impossible. I already said I woke up from a coma and was so frightened that I hugged you."
He was slightly relieved, but then seemed thoughtful: "You mean, if someone better than me comes along, you might transfer your affections to them?"
"No way, how could there be someone better?" Li Yue realized that this man seemed to have no belief that she only had eyes for him.
Yes, she clearly rejected him back then; this man had been hurt before.
A man who is easily hurt.
Li Yue smiled gently and hugged him.
"Ling Jianwei, if you treat me badly, I'll fall in love with someone else."
"You dare."
"Then just be good to me."
He stroked her head, his voice heavy, "I don't even know how to treat you well enough."
How could he not know?
Li Yue didn't respond anymore, nuzzled against his neck, and fell asleep with her eyes half-closed.
...
Time rewarded those who cared for her diligently; Li Yue finally recovered from her illness. Not only did she recover, but she also seemed to have become healthier, with a rosy and radiant complexion. She also finally received a letter from her cousin, which was tucked into an envelope along with one written by Gu Yanmei.
As Ling Jianwei watched her read the letter, her brows furrowed more and more tightly. She couldn't help but ask, "How is it?"
"It's terrible."
My cousin and Gu Yanmei were assigned to the same farm, located downstream of the Songhua River. The first meal they had was dumplings made with cabbage and a little bit of pork. After that, they basically ate cabbage, radish, and potatoes stewed together with a little bit of oil. The rice was also temporary grain transferred from the local grain depot, and some of it was already moldy, so it always had a strange taste.
Now, the Great Northern Wilderness is covered with a vast expanse of white snow. Although they don't have to work in the fields, they have to dig and carry soil to reinforce the Songhua River dike. The students on duty are also responsible for lighting the fire in the morning and evening to heat up the earthen beds. Because there are many educated youths, there are not enough places to live, so everyone has to squeeze onto one earthen bed to sleep, and it is difficult to even turn over...
Li Yue sighed, "My sister is naturally optimistic and has a strong constitution, while Gu Yanmei is a bit weaker and homesick. In her letters, she keeps saying how much she misses the old days and the food and drinks she used to have."
Ling Jianwei nodded: "It's the off-season for farming now, so they don't have much work to do yet. When the busy season comes, they'll have to go to the fields to transplant rice seedlings, plant corn and soybeans, and then harvest rice and turn over the soil. It'll be quite tiring."
“Yes, it’s tough and tiring, and they’re not even getting enough to eat. They don’t have any oil or fat in their stomachs.” Li Yue was genuinely worried. “I want to send them some dried goods.”
He said nonchalantly, "Just send it. The rural brigades here also dry apples, dates, peanuts, etc. You can buy them at the commune market, which is much cheaper than the things at the county farmers' market."
Li Yue did the math: "Today is only the 20th, there are still three days until the market."
Market days are on the 3rd, 6th, and 9th of each month. Before going to the market, she bought a sewing machine, and her neighbor Li Jinqiu taught her how to operate it. She practiced with scraps of cloth.
Meanwhile, the interior decoration of the house was finally completed, and the floor was tiled with mosaic tiles. When the neighbors came to visit, they looked at the sink and chopping board built in the corner of the living room and commented that it was high-end.
One of the women asked curiously, "How much did it cost to build this?"
Li Yue replied, "I don't know either. He's the one who buys the materials and pays the wages."
Some people say, "It will definitely cost several hundred."
Someone else chimed in: "It's precisely because it costs several hundred yuan that my wife has been reluctant to spend the money. There are many people in our family, unlike Battalion Commander Ling, who only has to support himself and you."
"Yes, our family is even more so; we still have to send money back to our hometown."
After seeing everyone off, Li Yue looked at the brand-new bathroom and then at the newly decorated living room, and suddenly felt that it really did feel more like home.
...
The next day was market day, and after Ling Jianwei finished breakfast, he took her to the market in the nearby commune.
This was Li Yue's first time attending a rural market. Although material goods weren't plentiful, people still enjoyed browsing the market. At this time, private buying and selling of grains was prohibited, but surplus produce from individual households or the collective agricultural products and handicrafts of the production team could be sold, such as eggs, fruit, and livestock like chickens, ducks, geese, and pigs…
After getting off the bus, Li Yue looked at the bustling crowd and said, "It's so lively."
Ling Jianwei said, "The market will be even more lively when the New Year is approaching."
Li Yue said, "Then I also want to go to the New Year's market."
"Come over then, and go buy the dried fruit you want first."
Dried apples and sweet potatoes were displayed in bamboo baskets by the roadside; their quality was easily discernible. Li Yue picked out some that looked good—dried apples, sweet potatoes, red dates, peanuts, and walnuts—intending to send some to her younger sister and Gu Yanmei, and keep some for herself. Ling Jianwei, carrying a cardboard box, was responsible for paying and moving the items.
Passing by a stall selling sweet glutinous rice wine brewed by the entire production team, Li Yue couldn't resist buying a small bowl to try, drawn by the incredibly fragrant aroma.
She scooped a spoonful and held it under his nose: "It smells so sweet and fragrant, take a sniff."
She brought it to his lips again, then quickly moved it away after half a second: "It's a pity you have to drive and can't try it, so I'll try it for you."
The man nearly rolled his eyes.
Because it was so delicious, Li Yue bought two cans to take home and planned to eat them slowly.
The jars were transparent glass jars used for canned fruit. Li Yue put them in a cardboard box and had Ling Jianwei hold them.
She also bought some pickled fermented bean curd, saying she could eat it with white porridge in the morning...
Seeing her joyful expression, Ling Jianwei said to her, "I'm even happier than when I went shopping in the county mall."
Li Yue said, "It's different. The things sold here are very genuine, and there's a more personal touch. I definitely want to come and visit more often during the annual market."
A large box full of things was placed in the back seat. After returning home, Li Yue allocated the portion to be sent to her sister, and then had Ling Jianwei pack it up and take it away that afternoon.
She slept for an hour and a half after eating a bowl of sweet wine.
When Ling Jianwei went to mail something, she said there was something going on at the camp and she would be back late, and told her to take care of her own dinner.
Around 7 p.m., Li Yue, who had almost digested her dinner, looked at the two jars of sweet wine on the table and couldn't resist unscrewing the caps. Smelling its sweet and mellow aroma, she couldn't resist the temptation and took a spoonful.
Then came the second spoonful, the third spoonful...
The last can was empty.
When Ling Jianwei returned, the slightly tipsy man had flushed cheeks and looked at him with a grin: "Why did you take so long to come back?"
He smelled the sweet wine in the room and frowned: "How much sweet wine did you drink?"
"Not much, just one can."
"Go brush your teeth, you're turning into an alcoholic."
"Sweet wine won't do any harm."
He said it was nothing serious, but seeing her dazed smile and intermittent speech, she was already slightly drunk. Ling Jianwei shook his head, poured her a large bucket of hot water, and carried it into the bathroom.
"Do you want me to wash you?" he asked.
"No need, I'm not drunk, and I'm just washing up and changing my pants."
He scoffed: "Drunk people all say they're not drunk."
"Mmm, the sweet wine is delicious."
Very well, they all gave random answers...
He was worried and decided to watch her from the side, but Li Yue pushed him away in disgust: "Don't look at me."
"What haven't I seen?"
"Anyway, don't just stand there watching, it'll look weird."
"Tsk."
He's quite strong after drinking.
After he quickly finished showering and returned to the room, the person on the bed threw off the covers, exposing their legs, and exclaimed, "It's so hot."
Ling Jianwei tucked her into the blanket: "Stay under the blanket and behave yourself. Do you still want to get a shot?"
"But it's so hot."
How could she not feel hot? Sweet wine is still wine, and it contains alcohol. Her whole body would get hot after drinking it, and her face would turn bright red.
He tucked her into the bed, but she tried to lift the covers. In the end, he had no choice but to hold her and restrain her so that she couldn't move.
Instead, she started causing trouble for him, biting his lip and playfully bringing up the telegram they had exchanged years ago: "Ling Jianwei, do you want a wife?"
He looked at the young drunkard with amusement: "Isn't it already taken?"
"We haven't even started yet." She smiled innocently and pinched his cheek. "I mean, Ling Jianwei, do you want me tonight?"
Ling Jianwei: "..."
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