Xue Li waved his hand. "Ma'am, there's no need for that!" After a pause, he added, "Well, I'll take Doctor Su back to the hospital now."
"Okay."
As the pickup truck drove off into the distance, Wen Ci, carrying a case of instant noodles, walked toward the gate of the family housing compound. A guardhouse stood at the main entrance, providing security.
Anyone who could enter the military district didn't need their identity checked.
Wen Ci stood at the door of the guardhouse and asked, "Where is Huo Jingyuan's house?"
Two young soldiers stood inside the guardhouse. Judging by their youthful faces, Wen Ci guessed they must have enlisted recently.
"And you are?"
"I'm Huo Jingyuan's wife."
Upon hearing this, the two men inside stared wide-eyed, their expressions filled with disbelief. They muttered under their breaths, "Yama Huo… actually got married?!"
Wen Ci didn't quite catch what they said and asked again, "Could one of you show me the way?"
"Yes, of course."
One of the soldiers came out, voluntarily taking the case of instant noodles from Wen Ci. He said with a broad grin, "Ma'am, my name is Zhang Yuan. I'll show you the way."
"Thank you."
As they walked into the family housing compound, she noticed that most of the yards were empty, with no signs of habitation. She couldn't help but ask, "Hasn't anyone moved in yet?"
Zhang Yuan replied, "The houses in the family compound have already been assigned. It's just that most of the officers' families haven't arrived yet, so it looks a bit empty."
"It doesn't seem like anyone usually lives here, though?"
Zhang Yuan continued to explain, "If their families haven't arrived, they all have to live in the dormitories."
Huo Jingyuan was assigned a three-bedroom bungalow in a central location within the compound, complete with a small, private yard. Wen Ci's eyes swept over the yard.
'I could plant some vegetables here.'
Wen Ci asked, "Is there a place on the compound that sells seeds?"
"No." Zhang Yuan shook his head. "If you want to buy vegetable seeds, Ma'am, you'll have to go to Sea City to buy them. Or you could have someone bring them back for you."
The door to the house wasn't locked. Wen Ci pushed it open.
Zhang Yuan helped her place the case of instant noodles on the living room table. "Well, Ma'am, I'll be going now. I have to get back to my post."
"Thank you, Zhang Yuan."
"You're welcome, you're welcome."
-
Wen Ci opened the case and took out a pack of instant noodles. It was already three in the afternoon. Fortunately, she'd bought a bun from a street vendor while shopping that morning.
The house had running water, so Wen Ci boiled a kettle. In a kitchen cupboard, she found several patterned ceramic bowls.
In the cupboard, there was also coffee powder and a set of delicate coffee cups.
Wen Ci raised an eyebrow.
'Looks like Huo Jingyuan has a pretty cushy life here in the Northwest.'
While the water was boiling, Wen Ci checked out the three rooms. Only the master bedroom bed was made, and her clothes were already hanging in the wardrobe.
Wen Ci bit her lip.
'Does that mean I really have to sleep in the same bed as Huo Jingyuan tonight?!'
The night before at the guesthouse, Huo Jingyuan had taken a blanket from a suitcase and made a pallet on the floor for himself, while Wen Ci slept on the bed.
Wen Ci shook her head, pushing the thought from her mind.
'We're a married couple, after all. What's the big deal? We'll just do it!'
-
After eating and drinking her fill, drowsiness began to wash over Wen Ci. She stretched lazily, washed her bowl, and returned to the master bedroom. Outside the window, the sun was perfect.
She drew the curtains, and the room was instantly plunged into darkness.
Wen Ci was pleasantly surprised. 'I can't believe the blackout curtains from this era are so effective.'
'Now I can legitimately sleep in on the weekends.'