"This person..." Luo Xiaoqiong shook her head speechlessly, "I’m truly at my wit’s end. I thought she was capable of letting go but it turns out she hadn’t thought things through at all."
"Hey..." Chuxia nudged her with her shoulder, "What did my brother tell you last night? Did you guys...?" She made a kissing gesture, "Did you?"
"You’re really married." Luo Xiaoqiong looked at her wordlessly, "Do you think that’s possible? What would the elders think if they saw us?
Even to save face for you, we can’t do such a thing. Chuxia, what were you thinking? Oh, I get it. You and the regiment commander last night... Haha..."
"We are husband and wife. Anything goes." Chuxia rolled her eyes, "You thought that would embarrass me? As if!"
Luo Xiaoqiong put on a miserable face: "Chuxia, that won’t do. Oh, the commander... bring back my pure and innocent Chuxia who was as blank as a sheet of paper..."
Chuxia quickly covered her mouth: "Stop howling, would you? What if people outside hear?"
Luo Xiaoqiong nodded frantically, signaling Chuxia to let go, "Your brother and I agreed that when he returns, we’ll get married."
Chuxia nodded with a smile: "Great. I’ll give you a big red envelope then."
"Of course. You married so well, you definitely should give me a big red envelope. Plus, you’ll be my backup from now on. You think you can get rid of me that easily? Impossible!"
"How do you know what I’m thinking?" Chuxia widened her eyes playfully, "I actually was thinking about getting rid of you, little burden."
"See? See?" Luo Xiaoqiong patted her chest in feigned relief, "Thank goodness I mentioned the unpleasant truth beforehand. Now you wouldn’t have the heart to do so. Otherwise, I’d have nowhere to regret later."
"Did my parents ask you anything last night?" Chuxia asked in a lowered voice.
"They did. They asked your brother what exactly the mission was, and whether it was dangerous. We had already rehearsed our lines, hadn’t we? Your brother said it was just a long-distance march, like the 25,000-mile Long March in the past, except there were no enemies in pursuit, so they should rest assured that other than being tiring, there was nothing else."
"Then they didn’t ask anything else?" Chuxia pressed on.
"Of course, they did." Luo Xiaoqiong’s face broke into a smile, "They asked your brother if that meant crossing snow-capped mountains and grasslands, and whether he might end up stuck in a marsh, unable to get out, among other things. Your brother said he wasn’t sure about the route yet, but they definitely wouldn’t go anywhere too dangerous, since it’s just training, not war. They allow one or two losses, but absolutely not too many. Then Uncle Baohe and Aunt Yulan visibly relaxed, although I think they still didn’t completely trust it."
Chuxia sighed: "That’s to be expected. The whole act was too solemn, and everyone’s expressions this morning must have worried them. Let’s just keep it a secret as long as we can. Anyway, they are bound to find out sooner or later."
"Talking about me behind my back while I’m not here?" Yun Doudou came out toweling her hair, eyeing both, "Don’t speak ill of me, or I’ll jinx you."
"We were just talking bad about you." Luo Xiaoqiong glared at her, "Hurry up, you don’t want to be late on your first day, do you?"
"No..." Yun Doudou stared blankly at them, "Don’t you really plan to see them off again? This farewell could last a year or two."
"Knowing it could be a year or two, why were you playing dead here earlier?" Chuxia glared at her, "Hurry up; we’re going downstairs first."
Downstairs, Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe were chatting with Old Madam Zhou about some funny rural stories. It was clear that everyone was striving to keep the spirits up, including Old Madam Zhou, whose laughter betrayed a deep languor.
This feeling, Chuxia thought, might last for a while. She sighed inwardly and approached the elders to say goodbye: "Grandpa and grandma, dad and mom, mom and dad, we have to go to work now."
"Will you come back tonight?" Zhao Yulan asked anxiously.
Chuxia nodded: "Yes, I’ll come back. I’ve informed Teacher Song that I will stay at the hospital’s dormitory starting a month from now. For now, I’ll stay with you."
Zhao Yulan nodded in relief: "Good, good, then hurry along. Don’t be late."
On the way, Zhou Mikang and his companions remained silent. None were single, each carrying emotional burdens. Yet men, unlike women, aren’t prone to talk, so they bottled up their thoughts, left to stew internally.