As Lu Jiang asked, he was unwrapping the parcel with his uninjured hand. As soon as his hand touched the parcel, he noticed many comrades gathered around who came to treat their wounds, both of their eyes shining brightly. Lu Jiang immediately stopped, drawing the package towards his feet.
He wouldn’t open it now; he’d look at it when he returned to his quarters.
Don’t think he didn’t know. Those rascals were always eyeing the food that Feng Qingxue sent every time.
Due to the intense training and severe famine outside, the food supplied by the army was hardly enough. Most of them were often half-satiated. The food sent by Feng Qingxue had often satisfied their cravings.
The group of comrades reluctantly returned to their original positions, eyeing Ouyang Zijin expectantly, listening to him explain in detail the task that Feng Qingxue had entrusted to him.
Ouyang Zijin gave a sly smile, glad that he had tucked the dagger and the envelope into his luggage upon returning to the army. He said vaguely, "The things and the letter your sister-in-law gave you are in the package. Don’t forget to open it when you return."
"Brother Ouyang, is our commander’s wife particularly gentle and beautiful?" A company commander under Lu Jiang named Zhao Dazhuang asked.
"Gentle and beautiful?" Ouyang Zijin thought about the Feng Qingxue he had met. Gentle, she was, as well as kind-hearted and very strong. But was she really beautiful? Just as he was about to answer, he suddenly remembered that Chen Ming and Xiaohong had once praised Feng Qingxue. They said that her plain appearance concealed how truly beautiful she was, as if she purposefully hid her beauty beneath frumpiness.
He nodded, "Of course! She’s a wonderful girl!"
At this, he repeated the vows that Feng Qingxue had made to them. He continued, "You see, how fortunate is Lu Jiang to have such a wonderful fiancée!"
Lu Jiang’s eyes immediately moistened; his heart filling with affection and sweetness.
The other wounded soldiers were incredibly envious.
Among them were married men, as well as many young lads who were still unmarried.
The married ones hoped that their wives would stand by their family, yet they were filled with guilt, while the unmarried ones couldn’t help but fantasize about finding a woman who was devoted to them.
Nurse Liu, who was bandaging the wounds of the soldiers, suddenly said, "True love runs deep. Only we women can understand a woman’s heart. Commander Lu, your wife’s promise to you clearly shows her deep love for you. You must cherish it! The best way to repay her is to stay alive in this war, and return home safely!"
"Yes, you’re right!" Lu Jiang nodded heavily.
Returning to his dwelling and taking out the photo he kept close to him, Lu Jiang lovingly caressed the image of Feng Qingxue.
"Qingxue, wait for me. I promise to return to you!"
Feng Qingxue’s vows gave him enormous courage.
After carefully wrapping the photo back in the old grey checkered handkerchief and putting it back into his pocket, Lu Jiang opened the luggage and first took out a letter placed on top.
The letter felt both light and heavy at the same time.
The lightness came from the weight, as light as a feather, while the heaviness was derived from the love and affection, as heavy as a thousand pounds.
There were no sweet nothings in the letter, only instructions on what the items she had sent were and how to use them. She asked him to take care and not worry about home. The last part of the letter had a poem written: "Gossamer clouds toy with the moon, Shooting stars carry my yearning, Across the vast Milky Way in stealth. In a moment, when the golden wind meets the jade dew, We are more entwined than anyone in the world. Love as gently flowing water, A beautiful dream. On the Magpie Bridge, I look back at the path home. If love can stand the test of time, What does it matter if we meet only at dawn or dusk."