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

’It seems that no matter how stoic a man is, he’s bound to become a bit slyly passionate after getting married. All self-control on the surface, but on the inside...’

When Wen Ci got home, only a few little kids were left in the courtyard, doing their homework beside the gazebo. The bright sun shone down on them. She walked up behind them and asked, "Why aren’t you doing your homework in the gazebo?"

"It’s warmer in the sun."

"And where are your parents?"

"They went home."

"They went home?" Wen Ci frowned.

There were plenty of leftovers from lunch, and the table was still set up in the courtyard.

’Why would Sister Jing and the others just go home?’

Little Rascal, who was holding a book, slowly looked up and explained, "Our dads got drunk, so our moms helped them home to rest."

Wen Ci: "..."

’It was inevitable for the men to get drunk at the table.’

Suddenly, Wen Ci wondered if Huo Jingyuan drank. Though supplies were scarce in the Northwest Region, there were still plenty of smokers who used hand-rolled dry tobacco.

The smell was incredibly strong.

In all the time she had known Huo Jingyuan, she had never seen him smoke.

She didn’t mind men drinking, as long as it didn’t cross the line into alcoholism.

Smoking, however, was something she couldn’t really accept. Not only did it smell terrible, but it was also bad for one’s health.

Wen Ci asked with a gentle smile, "How is it? Can you understand it, Little Rascal?"

"Not really, but I like it," Little Rascal replied.

A work of literature was probably a bit difficult for a boy his age. His reading level wasn’t high enough to grasp such profound concepts.

Xiao Shitou walked over to Wen Ci, tilted his head back, and said in a sweet, childish voice, "Pretty sister, I want to sit on the bikey."

"Alright."

Wen Ci reached down and lifted Xiao Shitou off the ground. The 28-inch bicycle was propped up on its sturdy kickstand, so it wouldn’t fall over easily. She then helped Xiao Shitou onto the rear seat.

An excited expression spread across Xiao Shitou’s face. "Yay! The bikey is so high up!"

Worried he might fall, Wen Ci kept both hands on him for support, gently reminding him, "Xiao Shitou, don’t wiggle from side to side, okay~?"

"Sister, can you take me for a ride around?"

At his words, the other children swarmed around Wen Ci. All their bright eyes were fixed on her, shimmering with hope. She found their collective gaze a little overwhelming.

Wen Ci said, "I’m not very good at riding this bike."

’If it were a normal bicycle with a lower seat, she could have taken them for a spin. She still wasn’t quite used to this 1980s model.’

-

That same day, someone leaked the news that the first-place winner of Devil’s Week would be rewarded with a 28-inch bicycle, and the entire Northwest Military Region was in an uproar.

Even the Commissar heard the news and went to Huo Jingyuan’s office to ask him about it. "Isn’t that bicycle of yours a betrothal gift for your wife? How can you bear to give it away as a prize?"

"She thinks it’s too flashy."

Hearing this, the Commissar nodded in agreement. It wasn’t that he didn’t have friends who could send him industrial coupons; he could afford one if he saved up. It was just that something like that was completely unnecessary in the Northwest.

"So you really discussed giving it away with your wife?"

"Mhm." Huo Jingyuan nodded. "This time, it’ll be to motivate them."

The Commissar grinned from ear to ear. "Alright. I’ll have the regiment commanders spread the word in their units. Let’s aim to break another record this Devil’s Week."

Everyone had been dreading the arrival of Devil’s Week, but with a prize on the line, they were all suddenly pumped up, verbally vowing to fight for first place.

During dinner that evening,

Zhu Jing walked over to Wen Ci. She looked awkward, opening her mouth as if to speak, then hesitating. Finally, she said embarrassedly, "Wen Ci, I need to apologize to you."

"Apologize for what?" Wen Ci blinked.