For a moment, He Zhilan really wanted to leave him out of stubbornness, even to loudly tell He Teng, she would ignore him for the rest of her life.
However, this thought lasted only a moment. She was so angry that she had numerous fantasies about He Teng apologizing to her. Finally, when she had soothed herself a bit with those thoughts, she didn’t go to buy a return train ticket. Instead, she followed her memory and headed directly towards the military camp!
He Zhilan simply couldn’t believe that if she went to the military camp, he would stop her from entering.
There was quite a distance from the train station to the gate of He Teng’s camp. Normally, even if one drove, it would take more than thirty minutes. Fortunately, He Zhilan had some luck. Halfway there, she hitched a ride on a local’s tractor. After thanking and bidding farewell to the local, she finally arrived at the entrance of the military camp after walking for another twenty minutes.
A military base is not a market where anyone can walk in as they please, even if they were family members like He Zhilan. Without permission, she couldn’t just swagger in even when at the entrance.
At the gate, the duty solider indeed stopped He Zhilan. Even though he recognized Zhilan, her coming alone and being brought by He Teng were two different matters. Therefore, the soldier asked He Zhilan to wait while he dialed He Teng’s office.
With her chest held high, He Zhilan stood outside happily watching the soldier call He Teng, completely certain that He Teng would come get her in. However, to her surprise, the soldier looked at her awkwardly while holding the phone.
"I’m sorry comrade, Lieutenant He asked you to return the way you came. He says he won’t come to get you, and he won’t let you in."
He Zhilan froze in her tracks. "Did you tell him clearly that I am right at the gate of the camp?"
"I did! But, Lieutenant He asked you to go back and said he will not come to get you.". The duty soldier seemed embarrassed. "How about you personally talk to Lieutenant He?". Then, he handed the telephone receiver to He Zhilan through the window.
He Zhilan took the phone and spoke with some urgency. "Brother! I made it all the way to the camp! You’re telling me to go back! How should I go back! I hitched a ride on a local’s tractor and then walked for over twenty minutes to get here! If you’re telling me to go back, where do I find a tractor to hitch a ride! Or do you want me to walk back with my own two feet?"
"I told you at the train station to have lunch and go straight back to the capital. You disobeyed me and gallantly went to the camp. Well, you should bear the consequences for your disobedience and find your own way home."
He Teng’s voice on the phone was rather cold and emotionless.
These unfeeling words made He Zhilan’s expression shift slightly, "I’m already here! I will not leave! I’ll wait at the gate for you to take me in! If you don’t come out, I’ll keep waiting! If you have the heart, you can let me sleep at the camp gate tonight!"
With that, He Zhilan angrily handed the phone back to the duty soldier. She then stubbornly stood at the gate, her eyes glued to the military camp.
Luckily, the weather was fine. It was early spring and there was no rain. The warm sun hung high. Apart from feeling melancholic and bored, she was not too distressed as she stood there.