Cheng Su had calmed down and stopped dwelling on it. At the entrance of the restaurant, she posted a recruitment notice for the factory, planning to set up a stall in the village near the factory to attract workers the next day.
In the evening, when she got home, Hualing was washing a basin of clothes. Seeing her, she asked, "Why did you come back so early today?"
"Well, there wasn’t much to do, so I came back early." Cheng Su wasn’t that close with her and had no intention of engaging in conversation.
"Hey, hey, I heard Commander Qi was seriously injured on a mission?" Hualing asked with a gossip-hungry face, though it seemed more like taking pleasure in someone else’s misfortune.
Cheng Su was annoyed and replied with a cold laugh, "What, Old Qi got hurt and you seem quite happy about it?"
Hualing stuttered, her face turning red, "What are you talking about, Cheng Su? I’m just concerned. Why do you have to make it sound so terrible? You really don’t recognize goodwill."
"Whether you’re concerned or just pretending, you know best," Cheng Su said, with a mock smile. "Before you show concern, you might want to rub your eyes to make them look a bit redder, and don’t keep your mouth corners turned up. Let them droop. That’s how a concerned and anxious person looks, got it?"
Hualing’s face turned red with anger, her hands gripping the basin tightly enough to show veins.
"Also, Old Qi isn’t seriously injured. He has his own lucky stars. It was just a spider bite, and he’ll be back tomorrow, alive and well. Who knows, this might turn into another grand military accomplishment. Sorry to disappoint you!" After that, Cheng Su couldn’t be bothered with her anymore. She was already in a bad mood that day and Hualing just happened to cross paths with her fury.
Hualing watched her slam the door, so angry she almost went to argue but remembered past incidents and bitterly resigned herself.
As she scrubbed the clothes in the bathroom, the thought of Taiguo possibly earning another great military honor made her grind her teeth in resentment.
She can do it, she’s so bossy!
Hualing angrily slammed the clothes she was washing, splattering soap suds everywhere.
Carrying the clean laundry back to the room, she saw Chen Shouwang sitting on a stool, engrossed in a magazine. This inflamed her irritation even more.
She picked up a piece of clothing, shook out the water harshly, grabbed a hanger, and said, "What’s the use of reading those rotten stories? You should try to earn some military honors like others. I don’t expect you to become a full-fledged company commander, but at least fight for a deputy position."
Upon hearing this, Chen Shouwang furrowed his brows and said, "Who’s upset you again?"
"Who else but you?" Hualing threw down the clothes in her hand and walked over to say, "Tell me, when I married you, you were a platoon leader. It’s been almost two years now, and you’re still a platoon leader. How can you be so useless?"
Useless!
Chen Shouwang’s face changed as he said, "Is it that I don’t want to advance? It’s you who fear the danger, and every time there’s danger, you have me turn down opportunities."
Hualing was at a loss for words, and argued, "When my dad invited you to have dinner with those high-ranking officers, how did you act? Like a scared quail, you couldn’t even speak out. My dad is trying to help you, but if you don’t strive for yourself, who can help you?"
"I know you despise me!" Chen Shouwang stood up, agitated, and said, "Then next time I have a mission, don’t you hold me back."
"Go on then, go! If I stop you again, I’d be a fool!" Hualing blurted out angrily.
Chen Shouwang gave her a disappointed look and walked out.
"Where are you going?" Hualing asked as she followed him.
"I’m going downstairs for a smoke," Chen Shouwang slammed the door as he left.
Hualing, clenching her teeth so hard they nearly cracked, wondered if she had made the wrong choice all those years ago!