"What if I do? Are we close?" Chen Lishu sneered, her gaze towards him turning cold. "Move aside, or don't blame me for being impolite."
"Chen Lishu, what's with your attitude? He just said hello, who are you putting on a sour face for?"
Lin Xiaohui, seeing how she treated her 'benefactor', immediately got upset.
Lu Chengming looked at the young girl beside him, who was speaking up for him. Around eighteen or nineteen years old, her round face had two patches of rosy cheeks from the plateau. While not as pretty as Chen Lishu, she was still charming and lovely. Thinking of their recent conversation, the corner of his eye twitched.
"This doesn't concern you. Lin Xiaohui, you'd best mind your own business."
Meeting Chen Lishu's sharp gaze, Lin Xiaohui flinched, but thinking that others were watching, she puffed out her chest. "What's there to be so arrogant about? Just because you got into a lousy university, you think you're superior..."
"Slap!" Before Lin Xiaohui could finish, she felt a sting on her face.
"You, you actually hit me?" Lin Xiaohui covered her burning cheek, looking at Chen Lishu with disbelief.
"What's wrong with hitting you? I'm telling you, I'm holding back. Half a dozen of one, six dozen of the other, you've got nothing but that mouth. Do you really think dressing in nice clothes and looking presentable makes you someone? So superficial!"
Seeing Lin Xiaohui about to retort, Chen Lishu didn't give her a chance. "People need face, trees need bark. I've given you some face before, don't push your luck. Your ambitions are sky-high but your fate is thinner than paper, I feel sorry for you."
As Chen Lishu spoke, her gaze shifted back to Lu Chengming. "And you, big-headed hero, no one's stopping you from playing the brave one. I treat you like air, but you insist on being a toad blocking my path, disgusting me. Good dogs don't block the way, get out of the way."
"You!" The muscles in Lu Chengming's jaw twitched. He was burning with anger and raised his hand to slap the "bitch" in front of him.
"What? Embarrassed and angry, want to hit someone? Haven't you noticed where we are? This is a public place. Do you want me to report your workplace and workshop to everyone? It's not a rest day today, is it? If you're sneaking out of work to show off, you should learn to be low-key. Otherwise, with your behavior, if you lose your job, you probably won't even have northwestern wind to eat."
Lu Chengming looked at Chen Lishu, his nostrils flaring as he breathed heavily. He wanted to retort, but she was right about everything. Besides, in front of so many people, if a fight broke out, things would certainly get messy.
After speaking, Chen Lishu ignored them both and led Chen Liyuan straight downstairs.
Seeing them leave, Lin Xiaohui turned to Lu Chengming, who had a sullen look on his face, and said cautiously, "That Chen person is always like this, arrogant and looking down on everyone. Everyone in our military family compound has a bad impression of her."
Hearing her voice, Lu Chengming instantly came back to himself and gave her a helpless smile. "I went down to the countryside in her village before. She is indeed a bit..."
Lu Chengming paused deliberately. "...difficult to get along with."
"You were a sent-down youth?"
"Yes, I came back last year after my family arranged a job for me."
"Are you from the provincial capital?"
Lu Chengming nodded, his smile gentle. "Yes."
Lin Xiaohui's eyes were dazzled by his smile, and her heart felt like a rabbit was thumping uncontrollably.
"Thank you for helping me out just now. I'll return the seventeen yuan to you as soon as possible."
Lu Chengming waved his hand with a smile. "It's just over ten yuan, it's nothing to me. Are you also a student?"
Lin Xiaohui shook her head a little shyly. "I'm already working, I'm a teacher."
When Lu Chengming heard she was a teacher, his eyes lit up. He noticed her stealing glances at him and understood, but knew not to overdo it. Glancing at his colleagues waiting not far away, he bid farewell to Lin Xiaohui. "My colleagues are waiting for me, I'll be going now."
Seeing him about to leave, Lin Xiaohui anxiously said, "Comrade, how do I find you to return the money?"
"My name is Lu Chengming, I work at the lumber mill. If you come, just ask for me by name, and I'll treat you to a meal then."
Lin Xiaohui watched his tall figure disappear, and couldn't help but touch her flushing cheek, murmuring, "Lu Chengming, he's good-looking and his name sounds nice."
...
Exiting the department store, Chen Lishu took Chen Liyuan to another shop. This time, instead of ready-made clothes, she bought two pieces of fabric, costing less than fifteen yuan in total. Then, she spent twenty-one yuan on a pair of sandals for her. As it was nearing noon, the sisters went to the market and bought some meat and green onions. Chen Lishu planned to make scallion oil noodles at home.
...
The weather was hot, and after a day of training, Gu Xingdong didn't go straight home. Instead, he went to the dormitory for a quick shower before heading home.
"Old Gu, why aren't you rushing home today?" Zhou Liang, just coming out of the mess hall, saw him approaching from the other side and teased him with a smile.
Seeing it was him, Gu Xingdong slowed his pace. "Have you eaten?"
Zhou Liang sighed, showing a wry smile. "I can't compare to you. My wife has a performance next month and is preparing for it. It's just me at home, so I came to the mess hall for a quick bite."
Gu Xingdong scanned the surroundings, and seeing no one else, patted Zhou Liang's shoulder. "You can't stay cooped up in the camp like this every day. As the saying goes, if the mountain doesn't come to you, you go to the mountain. If it doesn't work, ask for a few days off. A grown man who's been on the battlefield, can he be stumped by such a small matter?"
Zhou Liang was stunned by his words. He realized it had been almost a year since he'd last found time to accompany Zhao Jing properly. Perhaps he had indeed neglected her. Maybe he should ask for leave and go to the cultural troupe to see her?
"Take your time to think. Your wife is waiting. I'm leaving now." Gu Xingdong left with a word and walked quickly towards the family quarters.
...
Over the next two days, Chen Lishu made a set of clothes for Chen Liyuan from the fabric she had bought. Just then, Lin Qi's letter also arrived.
The letter's main content was that the remaining fabric had all been made into short-sleeved tops. Coincidentally, the supply and marketing cooperative had a vehicle coming to the provincial capital this week, and the clothes would be brought along directly.
Chen Lishu glanced at the date and realized it was exactly two days later.
After putting the letter away, thinking she hadn't visited the textile factory in a while, Chen Lishu decided to go to the city and call Wang Aixiang to check the situation together.
"I'm going to the city in a bit, I'll probably be back in the afternoon. If it's late, you can cook dinner at home. I taught you how to use the gas canister before, can you do it?"
Chen Lishu said to Chen Liyuan as she grabbed her satchel and slung it over her shoulder.
"Sister, don't worry, I can do it."
Chen Liyuan nodded. "Okay, then I'll be going."
After going out, Chen Lishu took a bus directly to Wang Aixiang's house.