First Night with the Army: The Stoic Big Shot Is Done Pretending

Hearing this, Yu Qing gasped. She didn’t know what to say, but after a moment’s thought, she replied, "I grew up around it, so I thought the exam was easy."

Wen Ci understood Doctor Yu’s unspoken message and immediately shut her mouth.

Yu Qing seemed to think of something and asked, "I heard that the wives in the Northwest Military Region’s family compound prefer to be teachers. Wen Ci, why didn’t you become one?"

She and Wen Ci were around the same age. Although they had only known each other for half a day, she already saw Wen Ci as a friend, and her question was sincere.

Being a teacher was different from being a nurse.

Teachers had regular winter and summer vacations. When the students were off, they were off too, though their pay would be a bit lower during those breaks.

Wen Ci said calmly, "Kids are too noisy."

Huo Jingyuan had asked for her opinion on whether she wanted to be a teacher.

Wen Ci did like children, but only the well-behaved ones who didn’t cry or make a fuss. As a teacher, she would inevitably have to deal with disobedient kids.

That’s why Wen Ci had simply chosen to be a nurse.

"You’re right about that."

Yu Qing smiled in agreement.

-

Wen Ci had a busy and fulfilling day. The main thing she did was take patients’ temperatures. The temperature in the Northwest Military Region fluctuated drastically between day and night, so soldiers frequently came down with colds and fevers.

"Let’s go get dinner?" Yu Qing, who had changed into her street clothes, walked over to Wen Ci and asked, "I heard they’re serving meat in the cafeteria tonight."

The hospital cafeteria provided free meals for all doctors and nurses.

"I can’t."

Wen Ci shook her head, declining Doctor Yu’s invitation. She and Huo Jingyuan had made plans; she wanted to eat the noodles he was making for her tonight. A happy smile spread across her face.

"Today is my first day of work, and my husband is waiting for me at home."

Yu Qing remembered Wen Ci was married. "See you tomorrow."

Wen Ci replied, "See you tomorrow."

After saying goodbye, Wen Ci started walking home to the family compound. Just as she stepped into the guardhouse at the entrance, she was pulled into a tight hug. She was about to struggle free...

"Wen Ci, thank you so much!"

...when she heard Sister Jing’s voice. The thought of flipping the person over her shoulder vanished. Hearing the sob in Sister Jing’s voice, she asked with concern, "Sister Jing, did you pass the test for the head cook position?"

Zhu Jing let go of Wen Ci. "I passed! I can start work tomorrow. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be earning a salary! Thank you, Wen Ci."

"Sister Jing, it had nothing to do with me."

"It did." Zhu Jing’s expression was very serious. "If you and your husband hadn’t mentioned it, how would the head of logistics have ever known my name?"

Her own husband was just a common soldier in the Northwest Military Region; he had no way to get a word in with the head of logistics.

"It was nothing."

Zhu Jing said, "Wen Ci, I’d like to invite you and your husband over for dinner on Friday."

Wen Ci smiled and declined. "There’s no need for a thank-you dinner. Otherwise, it’ll look like you got the job by pulling strings."

It suddenly dawned on Zhu Jing.

The military compound wasn’t like other places; soldiers had to be disciplined. If word got out that she had invited them over for dinner right after getting the job in the cafeteria kitchen, people would start all sorts of rumors, even if she hadn’t actually pulled any strings.

"I wasn’t thinking straight."

Wen Ci smiled. Just then, her stomach growled with hunger. She swallowed and said, "Sister Jing, I have to go. My husband is waiting for me at home."

"Of course, of course."

Zhu Jing was all smiles. She knew Wen Ci was a newlywed. For a young couple, even half a day apart could feel like an eternity. As someone with more experience, she understood completely.

"Hehe."

Wen Ci picked up her pace. Just as she reached the gate to their house, she saw Huo Jingyuan opening it. His gaze was as deep and dark as ink. "If you hadn’t come back soon, I was going to come get you from the hospital."

Wen Ci smoothly linked her arm with Huo Jingyuan’s. "I was chatting with Sister Jing for a bit at the compound entrance. She passed the cooking test."

Huo Jingyuan nodded.

That afternoon, as an officer from the regiment command of the Northwest Military Region, he had participated in the selection for the cafeteria’s head cook. Her home-style cooking was indeed very good.

In the end, she received unanimous approval.

"I should be thanking you, too," Wen Ci said.

If Huo Jingyuan hadn’t mentioned Sister Jing to his superiors, she wouldn’t have even had the chance to try out for the head cook position.

"Is there any need for ’thank you’ between us?"

The man’s voice was deep and magnetic. His gaze was fixed on Wen Ci, who was clinging to his arm. He seemed to think of something, and a smile played on his lips. "If you really insist on thanking me, then tonight..."

Before he could finish, Wen Ci understood his implication from his tone. She let go of his arm and broke into a little jog. "I’m not listening, not listening! I’m going to eat my noodles!"

After dinner, the landline at home suddenly rang. Huo Jingyuan was in the kitchen washing dishes. "Ah Ci, can you get the phone?" he called out.

"Should I?"

Wen Ci blinked.

’What if it’s one of his superiors? If I answer it without thinking, what if it causes problems for Huo Jingyuan?’

"It’s fine."

"Alright."

Wen Ci picked up the phone. The voice on the other end said it was the Northwest Military Region’s switchboard. A female operator asked, "Is this Mr. Huo?"

"Yes," Wen Ci answered for him.

"And you are?"

"I’m Mr. Huo’s wife."

For calls originating from outside the Northwest Military Region, the switchboard had to verify identities before connecting the two parties.

"Here’s the situation. A Captain Jiang from Beijing is calling. He claims to be a relative from Mr. Huo’s wife’s side of the family. Should I connect the line?"

Hearing this, Wen Ci frowned.

’Why on earth would Jiang Chen call all the way from there out of the blue?’ After a moment’s thought, she replied, "Go ahead and connect it."

Huo Jingyuan finished the dishes and walked from the kitchen to the living room. Seeing Wen Ci’s deeply frowning, pensive expression, he walked to her side and opened his mouth to ask, "Who’s on the phone?"

"Jiang Chen."

With Wen Ci’s permission, the operator connected the call from Beijing. Both sides were silent on the line. After about half a minute, Jiang Chen’s voice came through.

"Is that you, Jingyuan?"

Wen Ci’s tone was flat. "No."

From that first sentence alone, Wen Ci could tell Jiang Chen definitely wanted a favor from Huo Jingyuan. Otherwise, his tone would never have been so cordial.

"Is there something you need, Captain Jiang?"

Wen Ci’s tone was unhurried, with an undercurrent of sarcasm.

"Where’s Huo Jingyuan? Put him on." Hearing Wen Ci’s voice, Jiang Chen’s tone changed abruptly. "I need to talk to him."

Wen Ci pursed her lips and openly mocked him by repeating his words in a slow, drawn-out, sarcastic tone, "I... need... to... talk... to... him... put... him... on..."

Jiang Chen: "..."

After a moment of silence, seeing that he wasn’t going to speak again, Wen Ci said slowly, "If you have something to say, Captain Jiang, say it. If not, I’m hanging up."

’The operator at the switchboard can hear our conversation. If it were really something important and urgent, Jiang Chen wouldn’t be beating around the bush like this.’

"Three."

"Two."

Wen Ci began the final countdown.

"Don’t hang up," Jiang Chen said. He took a deep breath and finally admitted, "I want Jingyuan to go to Sea City Railway Station and pick up Ye Zi."