"Comrade Tan Yutong lives in another place, this is the home for Comrade Feng Qingxue and colleague Du Xiaotao, belonging to the female medical staff in the military area. The conditions are composed of simple necessities, and not prepared comprehensively, please take that into consideration!"
Upon hearing Guo Cheng’s words, Feng Qingxue, with a smile, said, "Comrade Guo, you are too polite, this is already very good."
Compared to the Southwest Military Region, the living conditions in this dormitory were much better. There were two beds, one desk, and life necessities were all very well prepared. Guo Cheng picked up the kettle to pour them some water, "You both should rest for a bit. When it’s time for dinner, I’ll call you to the cafeteria. There are food subsidies prepared by the troops in the drawer of the desk, you can use those to get meals."
"Thank you, Comrade Guo, we appreciate this concern from the army," said Feng Qingxue.
After putting down the kettle, Guo Cheng waved his hand, "This is what we ought to do, no need to be so polite. You both rest well, I’m going to arrange accommodation for Comrade Tan."
Only the two sisters and the sleeping Xibao were left in the dormitory. Feng Qingxue and Du Xiaotao looked at each other, and breathed a sigh of relief as they sat down on their respective beds.
Truth be told, they were both quite nervous.
"Xiaotao, these past days must have been hard for you," Feng Qingxue touched her belly, receiving a strong kick from the baby in response.
With a cheerful smile, Du Xiaotao said, "What’s there to feel hard about? I couldn’t be happier to return to the Capital Military Region! It gives me the chance to see my parents and my brother and my sister-in-law. They all stay in the family compound in the Capital Military Region. We came here rather unexpectedly and didn’t inform them in advance. When they see me, they’re definitely going to be shocked!"
As they were discussing, a voice came from outside the door, "Oh, you little scamp, who’ll be shocked?"
Upon hearing this, Du Xiaotao immediately leaped up from her bed.
"Big Brother?" After getting Feng Qingxue’s approval, she rushed to open the door. Seeing her big brother Du Haitao at the door, a smile spread across her face. She was shining so brightly it could put the sun to shame, "How did you know I was here?"
"Guo Cheng recognized you from the picture he saw at our home. How could he not know you? He told me as soon as he got back that the female medical soldier who accompanied comrade Feng Qingxue was you," said the man with his square face and thick eyebrows. Du Haitao, as he spoke, stepped inside and formally thanked Feng Qingxue. "We’ve learned about this little rascal’s situation through her letters, but we hadn’t had a chance to thank you, Comrade Feng."
Feng Qingxue had already risen from her seat, she avoided Du Haitao’s formal bow and gave him a military salute instead, as he possessed a higher rank than her.
"Comrade Du, you’re overstating it. In fact, I didn’t do much." Unlike assisting Jiang Xiaoyue and Fang Ning as she did with Du Xiaotao, who only informed her about a personal matter at the end. Out of respect for a comrade, no one in the troop ever discussed old matters again.
With a stern expression, Du Haitao said, "No, Comrade Feng has helped Xiaotao a lot. In such situations, not everyone has the courage to lend her a hand! Everybody in our family is extremely grateful."
Questions of gender conduct are not trivial, and in some instances, they’ve had life-altering consequences.
Feng Qingxue gave a shy smile, "Comrade Du, please don’t speak of it that way. During the time that Xiaotao has stayed with the troops, half of the food that your family sent Xiaotao ended up in my child’s stomach, and Xiaotao also made two sets of clothes for my child." This was why Xibao was so doted upon and evoked jealousy among other household members.