Chapter 77
Only after Yan Lei turned around did Qiao Wei see Secretary Gao.
“Ah, Secretary,” Qiao Wei greeted, “You’re here.”
The first time she saw Secretary Gao was on the first Sunday of work, and she had guessed then that he must be a leader. Later, as expected, when she saw him in the Cafeteria, her colleagues told her he was the head of the unit.
Qiao Wei remembered Yan Lei telling her that local influences below the town mayor were deeply intertwined, and that the top leader was an outsider parachuted in.
Secretary Gao’s first impression of Qiao Wei had been very good, and the subsequent feedback from Section Chief Xie proved his judgment was correct. Qiao Wei was an outstanding comrade at work and was already capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities in her own position.
He said very kindly, “Regimental Commander Yan is in charge of this support mission for our town. We held a meeting this morning, and everything has been discussed. I was just accompanying him to tour our Town Committee.”
Qiao Wei paused and glanced at Yan Lei.
Yan Lei was holding the child, looking extremely calm.
It felt a bit unfamiliar; he lacked the relaxed, boyish air he usually had at home. Here, while he wasn’t exactly uptight, that composed demeanor still made Qiao Wei feel like he was a stranger.
She and Station Chief Lu stood to the side, listening to Yan Lei and Secretary Gao talk.
“Please go ahead with your work. I won’t hold you up. You must have a lot to do these days.”
“Stay and eat here; I’ll make arrangements.”
“No need, we’ll head home together shortly.”
“Alright then, thank you for this matter; please take good care of it.”
“Rest assured. You also came from the Military Unit; when a matter like this is handed over to the Military Unit, you can be at ease.”
“I envy you, still able to carry a gun and achieve great things. Right here, in this position—yes, yes, right here—there’s a bullet fragment that has never been able to be removed. It hurts whenever it’s windy or rainy.”
“That is your medal of honor.”
“The year you gave your report on your deeds, I was sick in the hospital and missed it. It was such a pity not to hear the combat hero tell it himself. I later read your account; I admire you, truly admire you.”
“You are too kind. If it were you in that position, you would have only done better than me.”
“Hahahaha, alright, then you two carry on.”
“Take care, Secretary.”
Once the head of the unit left, the people at the Broadcasting Station finally relaxed.
Station Chief Lu said, “Weiwei, is this your husband?”
Yan Lei had been holding Yan Xiang, watching Secretary Gao leave, but upon hearing Station Chief Lu speak, he turned around.
He found Qiao Wei looking him over with a scrutinizing gaze. Yan Lei thought he had been seen through, but it didn’t seem so.
Qiao Wei introduced Station Chief Lu and Yan Lei to each other.
Both men exchanged polite, bureaucratic pleasantries, engaging in a bit of professional flattery.
Qiao Wei gestured, “Sister Hu, you know her.”
Yan Lei called out, “Sister-in-law,” and Hu Sui smiled, “Aye.”
Qiao Wei gestured again, “This is Tianming.”
Yan Lei said warmly, “Hello, Tianming. Xiangxiang has been causing you trouble lately.”
Lu Tianming really liked taking care of Yan Xiang and often found books for him to read. After all, the shelves in the Library were too high; if Yan Xiang were alone, he couldn’t reach them even by standing on a chair.
Lu Tianming replied, “Not at all, not at all. I’ve never seen a child as easy to look after as Xiangxiang.”
“And this is Manman,” Qiao Wei said, “The two of us are the dynamic duo of the Broadcasting Station.”
Lu Manman had finished her broadcast and could have gone home. Today, Hu Sui had brought some roasted melon seeds she made herself, which were incredibly fragrant. Lu Manman had stayed in the office to crack melon seeds with her.
Who would have thought the head of the unit would suddenly arrive.
Lu Manman wasn’t afraid of the town mayor, deputy mayors, directors, or section chiefs; if you listed them all out and traced the connections, they were all related anyway. But Lu Manman was terrified of Secretary Gao.
It was just her luck that staying ten minutes late to crack melon seeds nearly got her caught by the Secretary. Fortunately, Station Chief Lu reacted quickly and stood up abruptly to block the door for the Secretary, while she and Hu Sui swiftly grabbed books and newspapers to cover the melon seeds.
Then, a tall, handsome male soldier stood at the door. It was actually Qiao Wei’s husband! My god!
Hu Sui, Lu Manman, and Lu Tianming were inside the office, while Qiao Wei, Yan Lei, and Section Chief Lu stood outside under the corridor.
Yan Lei greeted the three people inside through the window.
For a young woman like Lu Manman, he simply said, “Hello.”
Lu Manman had been standing behind Hu Sui, clinging to her shoulders to look out, but at that moment, she hastily raised a hand, “Aye, okay, aye, hello, hello.” She was so nervous her face turned red.
Station Chief Lu also asked Yan Lei to stay, “Let’s eat together.”
“No need, we’re heading home now.”
“Alright then, take care.”
“Please don’t bother seeing us out.”
The couple headed home with Yan Xiang in their arms.
Station Chief Lu finally relaxed.
Lu Tianming sat back down in his seat.
Lu Manman didn’t let go of Hu Sui’s shoulders; she clung to her like a koala, shaking her, “Sister Hu, are there any more men in your Military Unit who look like him? Like Xiangxiang’s dad! Are there any more?”
That height, those shoulders, that strong waist, those long legs—his clothes were practically bursting at the seams, and his face was drop-dead gorgeous. No wonder Yan Xiang was so cute.
“Stop shaking me, stop it, I’m dropping my melon seeds!” Hu Sui shouted. Lu Manman finally stopped.
Hu Sui pulled another handful from her pocket and shared half with her, “Didn’t your mother forbid you from finding someone in the Military Unit?”
The country was always fighting wars, and the shadow of nuclear bombs from imperialist countries hung overhead.
Soldiers really did go to the battlefield, and they really could sacrifice their lives. Many families were just after the high benefits of being a soldier.
But Lu Manman was the daughter of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative director; her family lacked for nothing. It was always others begging her father for help, never her family begging others. Her mother wouldn’t allow her to find a soldier.
“Don’t mind my mother!” Lu Manman said, “The ones my mother introduces to me are all losers.”
Lu Manman was nineteen, at the perfect age. Many people introduced her to suitors, and she was sick of matchmaking; she hadn’t liked any of them so far. She had become famous among matchmakers for having her “eyes growing on top of her head.”
“Is there really anyone or not?” she asked persistently. Hu Sui chuckled.
“Of course there are good-looking ones,” she said, “But to be like Weiwei’s husband—young, handsome, and with rank—that doesn’t exist. Among regimental-level cadres, he’s the only one. Even among battalion-level cadres, most are older than him.”
“Many of those the same age as him are still struggling at the company level.”
“Besides, I couldn’t possibly introduce you to someone too old; I’m afraid your mother would come after me with a broom.”
Lu Manman thought about it and said quite firmly, “I don’t want rank; I just want good looks!”
After so many blind dates, she was almost face-blind. Seeing Qiao Wei’s family of three today, she finally understood what she wanted. She had wanted someone good-looking all along. Only by being with a good-looking man could one have good-looking children!
“Fine, I will definitely find you a good-looking one,” Hu Sui promised, full of fighting spirit. Middle-aged big sisters loved playing matchmaker most of all.
Yan Lei and Qiao Wei walked out holding Yan Xiang’s hands, encountering many people from the County Party Committee along the way. Everyone saw it: they were a married couple, each holding one of Yan Xiang’s hands. Any rumors about her being a wicked stepmother forced by life to marry a divorced older man with five children vanished into thin air.
Walking out of the Town Committee Residential Compound, Yan Lei even greeted Old Xu in the guardroom. Old Xu hurriedly waved from behind the small window, watching the family of three walk away. “They really are a couple.”
Yan Lei looked at the sky and said to Qiao Wei, “Let’s not go back to cook; let’s eat out today.” He was in a good mood and felt they should have a nice meal. Qiao Wei had no objections, so the family went to the restaurant. After eating, they went home.
When they got home, Yan Xiang went to take his nap. Qiao Wei brushed her teeth and rinsed her mouth, then returned to the bedroom for a nap. Yan Lei was home in the afternoon, so there was no need to take Yan Xiang to the unit. She went to the unit by herself.
Just as she arrived at the gate of the unit, Old Xu from the guardroom greeted her. All the way to the Broadcasting Station, people greeted her. “You’re here, Qiao Wei.” “I saw your husband today.” “Your husband is really tall.” “Yan Xiang looks just like his father.” And so on.
The way everyone looked at her was different now. Some male colleagues seemed a bit unnatural. Some female colleagues were much more enthusiastic toward her than before.
Qiao Wei stopped in the corridor, suddenly realizing something. This man of hers… She couldn’t help but chuckle.
After finishing work in the afternoon, she went straight home. Yan Lei was picking vegetables. When Qiao Wei reached to take over, Yan Lei said, “Don’t bother, I’ll cook today.” Qiao Wei didn’t argue; she dragged a small bamboo chair over and sat beside him to watch.
Yan Lei was cutting vegetables, looked up, and asked with a smile, “What are you looking at?” Qiao Wei smiled but didn’t answer.
It was time to sleep at night, but Yan Lei wouldn’t let her sleep.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“What do you mean, what’s wrong?” Qiao Wei was confused.
“You haven’t said a word,” Yan Lei said, “Are you unhappy?” Yan Lei had noticed that, in fact, ever since they were at the Broadcasting Station and Secretary Gao left, Qiao Wei hadn’t really spoken.
But he was in such a good mood at the time that he had overlooked it. He only noticed it a bit during dinner. By the time she came home from work in the afternoon, she had been quiet all evening. This was very unlike her. She usually talked a lot, was often chirping away, and her laughter was especially pleasant to hear. It made people feel good.
At lunch today, she hadn’t smiled during the whole meal; she seemed to be lost in thought. Even after returning home, she hadn’t said much. It was very wrong.
Yan Lei felt a bit anxious; she couldn’t possibly be angry, could she? Perhaps he should have given her a heads-up before going…
Yan Lei propped himself up on the kang with his arms, looking down at Qiao Wei. Qiao Wei was lying flat, looking at Yan Lei’s face. She suddenly reached out and touched his face.
Ah, did she want to make up in bed? That worked too; it was an effective method. Yan Lei was about to make up, but Qiao Wei pressed down on his shoulders, her arm angled to hold him off.
“Tell me about your past,” she said. Yan Lei was baffled, “What past?”
“The war,” Qiao Wei said, “About fighting, earning merits, being a combat hero, that sort of thing.”
Yan Lei was very surprised, “You want to hear about that?” Qiao Wei pillowed her head on her arm, “Yes, I want to hear it.”
Yan Lei gave her a strange look, “Didn’t you think it was boring?” Qiao Wei sighed softly, rolled over to lie on her side facing him, pillowing her head on her arm, “Just tell me, I want to hear it.”
Yan Lei lay down, “It’s nothing much. Later, they all praised me and asked me to talk about how I judged and thought during the time when I gave my reports.”
“In reality, at that time, I couldn’t use my brain anymore. When the shells exploded, a comrade’s severed hand was blown right onto my face, as if someone had slapped me. My whole head was buzzing.”
“The leader had already sacrificed his life. Hiding in the trench, I shouted around and discovered that my rank was the highest. I had to take command…”
“Oh, right, back then we had military ranks. Now that they’ve been abolished, I often wonder what will happen if we go to the battlefield like this; when command needs to be transferred, we won’t be able to judge rank at a glance—who listens to whom? Won’t that waste time…”
Qiao Wei rested her head on her arm, watching his profile as she listened to him talk about the past. It was her fault. After transmigrating, she had only thought about “taking over” and having a new life in this world. Taking over the son, taking over the husband.
She had never felt that the rank of “Regimental Commander” was anything special. After all, her neighbors were either Regimental Commanders or Battalion Commanders. It seemed to have become something very common. It was also because “Regimental Commander” was almost the standard configuration for military male leads in chrono-novels.
Because the Battalion Commander rank was slightly too low, it didn’t provide enough of a “swoon-worthy” effect when written. Division Commander was too high, too outrageous, and easily made readers lose immersion. Therefore, chrono-novel authors all chose “Regimental Commander” as the identity for their male leads. Having read so many, she was used to it and didn’t find it rare or precious. She had turned a blind eye to that title of “youngest Regimental Commander.”
It wasn’t until today at the unit when she saw Secretary Gao accompanying him the whole time. Official receptions have their protocols. If Yan Lei’s rank hadn’t been high enough, Secretary Gao would have found someone else to accompany him, like the town mayor or a deputy mayor; there were even directors beneath those two. The status of the person receiving and the person being received had to be appropriate.
But Secretary Gao personally accompanied him, reportedly touring all the offices. What did that mean? It meant that Yan Lei’s status was at least not lower than Secretary Gao’s, or perhaps even higher. After all, Secretary Gao was only a Town Committee Secretary. The administrative level of a town is equivalent to a township.
But even so, it made Qiao Wei realize the true weight of being a “Regimental Commander.” At that moment, she was quite surprised. She realized what she had been ignoring all along.
Other Regimental Commanders were thirty-five, thirty-six, or even forty years old. High income, high allowances. Why had she thought this was so normal and ordinary? Workers only had wages of 30 yuan. Why had she thought a Grade 15 salary was so normal?
Yan Lei was only twenty-six; what right did he have to stand among a group of middle-aged men? She had never thought about it because, having transmigrated, he was already accomplished, with rank, salary, and a bright future. Qiao Wei had gladly taken over and started a brand-new life.
She kept telling herself that she lived here, and this was the real world. Yet she hadn’t thought that since there was a real life, there should also be a real past and real people. She had never thought of exploring Yan Lei’s past.
She had just happily accepted his existing present: a high-ranking position, a generous salary, and endless ration coupons. A handsome face, an alluring body, and endless stamina. As for why he became who he was now, what he had paid, or what he had suffered for it, she had never thought to explore.
Until today, Qiao Wei finally realized. Deep down, she had never truly treated Yan Lei as a real person. He was the male lead. He was a two-dimensional character.
Qiao Wei propped herself up and pressed down on Yan Lei. Yan Lei had just complied with her request and told her about a past he hadn’t spoken of for a long time. Thrilling, life-and-death, breaking out of desperate situations, counter-killing to break the deadlock. He let out a long breath, and some emotions dissipated.
Qiao Wei pressed against his neck, as if she had said something.
“Hm?” he asked, “What?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you saying sorry?” he was confused.
Qiao Wei didn’t explain.
She propped herself up and lowered her head to kiss his lips. Yan Lei wrapped his arms around her back. She watched him for a long time. Her behavior confused him: “Qiao Wei?”
Qiao Wei smiled and lowered her head to kiss him again. It’s nice to meet you, Yan Lei. I am Qiao Wei.
