TTT80sTBAS Chapter 10

“Never Bet on Mom.”

Lu Zetian avoided Qin Shi’s gaze, looking down at the two bundles he held. “This morning, my mom mentioned you were on your period and told me to take better care of you.”

He paused for a moment, then continued, “While we were in town, I went to visit a demobilized comrade. His wife works at the supply and marketing cooperative and got me the tickets.”

Qin Shi was genuinely surprised. “Did your mom suggest this too?”

Lu Zetian’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, and his lips parted slightly before he answered, “No… my younger sister always asked me for these tickets. She said it’s much better for women during their period.”

Qin Shi studied Lu Zetian, her curiosity piqued. Their eyes met briefly before he averted his gaze almost immediately.

“Let’s head inside,” he urged. “Buy what you need quickly so we can get to the train station on time.”

With that, he carried the bundles and entered the supply and marketing cooperative ahead of her.

Watching his slightly hurried steps, Qin Shi couldn’t help but chuckle. How adorably shy! Even a stoic squad leader like him gets embarrassed when talking about periods.

Her laughter echoed softly as she followed him inside. “Thank you, Captain Lu. This is truly invaluable—really, thank you.”

Lu Zetian placed the bundles in a corner and looked at her. “Didn’t you say we shouldn’t say thank you to each other? You’re being too polite.”

As Qin Shi nodded with a smile, Lu Zetian pulled out a wad of money and tickets from his pocket, handing them to her. 

“This is all I have on me. Buy what you need.”

She took the bundle and quickly counted over 250 yuan and a collection of various tickets. 

“You go ahead and shop,” he said. “I’ll stay here and watch the luggage.”

Qin Shi looked up at him, half-joking and half-serious. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll spend it all at once?”

“I trust you,” he replied without hesitation.

Surprised but pleased, she decided not to press further. “Do you need anything?” 

Lu Zetian shook his head. “The army provides everything I need.”

Leaving him to guard their belongings, Qin Shi ventured into the cooperative.

—

The supply and marketing cooperative wasn’t particularly busy, and the sales assistants had noticed Lu Zetian the moment he walked in. His sharp military uniform and commanding presence caught their attention, while Qin Shi, despite her natural beauty, looked unremarkable in her faded and worn clothes. 

When Lu Zetian handed her a wad of cash, their gazes turned even more complex, filled with a mix of envy and disdain. 

Approaching the counter, Qin Shi listed the items she needed, but the sales assistant didn’t even glance at her. Instead, she stole a glance at Lu Zetian and thought, What a waste, pairing a village girl with a man like him. 

Seeing the assistant’s blatant disregard, Qin Shi sighed inwardly. Classic sales assistants of this era—arrogant and unbothered. 

“Excuse me, can you get these items for me?” she repeated.

The assistant finally turned her attention back, her face practically screaming, Why the rush?

“We don’t have what you’re looking for,” she said curtly. “Try the foreign goods section on the third floor.”

Qin Shi inhaled sharply. “You could’ve said that earlier.”

The assistant narrowed her eyes and raised her voice. “What’s with your attitude?”

Qin Shi’s lips curled into a cold smile. “What’s with your attitude? Chairman Mao said to serve the people. Are you saying you don’t want to serve the people?”

The assistant panicked. “I didn’t say that! Don’t twist my words!”

Without sparing her another glance, Qin Shi turned on her heel and headed upstairs, leaving the flustered assistant scrambling to explain herself to her co-workers.

—

The service on the third floor was much better. 

“Two sanitary pad tickets will get you ten pads,” the assistant explained. “Each pad costs two yuan. How many do you want?”

Qin Shi’s jaw nearly dropped. Two yuan per pad?! That’s a whole family’s monthly expenses for food! 

After a moment of hesitation, she gritted her teeth and asked for five pads, deciding to make do for now. She’d figure out a longer-term solution once they arrived at their destination.

The assistant kindly added, “We also have some items that don’t require tickets if you’d like to take a look.” 

Declining for the moment, Qin Shi browsed the clothing and daily goods section on the second floor. The pre-made garments were unflattering and absurdly priced at over ten yuan each. She decided to buy fabric instead, relying on her sewing skills to create her own outfits.

After purchasing a mix of essentials and fabric, Qin Shi returned to the first floor and decided to buy five pounds of sugar, thinking it would be a practical addition for their journey and future use. 

Qin Shi couldn’t afford candies, but she could make her own sweet treats. The sugar she bought would last much longer and cost far less than pre-made candies. White sugar was only 0.8 yuan per jin, making it a bargain compared to other sweets.

This time, the shop assistant didn’t dare give Qin Shi any attitude and quickly weighed and handed over the sugar without a word.

Carrying her purchases, Qin Shi returned to Lu Zetian, who looked at her haul with some surprise. “You didn’t buy clothes?”

Qin Shi began packing the items into their bundles. “The ready-made ones were ugly and overpriced. I bought fabric instead. I’ll make my own.”

Lu Zetian nodded, thinking that was a sensible choice.

Once everything was packed, they headed to the train station to wait for their train.

—

The train station was rudimentary and lacked even a waiting room. Most passengers sat directly on the ground as they waited.

Qin Shi excused herself to use the restroom and took the opportunity to change into a sanitary pad. The relief was immediate—she finally felt lighter and more at ease. While the makeshift menstrual cloths worked, they made her uneasy, constantly fearing leakage. Now, she could walk confidently.

Returning to Lu Zetian’s side, Qin Shi pulled a new notebook and pen from her bag to jot down the day’s expenses. 

Lu Zetian glanced at the meticulous records over her shoulder, feeling a mix of amusement and approval. She’s really keeping track of everything, he thought.

While he found it a bit over-the-top, it reassured him to see her handling things so openly. A proper accounting of expenses was far better than any underhanded behaviour.

When she finished, Qin Shi packed the notebook away and turned to him with a small smile. “I’ll show you the records every weekend—don’t worry.”

Lu Zetian chuckled. “Alright.”

—

After over an hour of waiting, the train arrived. Lu Zetian led Qin Shi aboard, helping her navigate the bustling crowd to their hard sleeper compartment. 

The hard sleepers had six bunks per compartment. Qin Shi found her upper bunk a bit cramped, while Lu Zetian had to curl his legs up on the lower bunk, his large frame barely fitting. 

Lu Zetian took the bottom bunk to keep watch over their luggage, allowing Qin Shi to sleep peacefully above him.

That night passed uneventfully. Early the next morning, Qin Shi stirred when she heard footsteps. Peeking down, she saw Lu Zetian returning with a thermos in hand. 

“What time is it?” she asked, rubbing her tired eyes.

Lu Zetian glanced at his watch. “Five twenty in the morning.”

He handed her the thermos. “Have some hot water.”

Qin Shi took a few sips, savouring the warmth before handing it back. She leaned against the wall, lost in thought.

Though more comfortable than the bus, the train ride was still rough, and after a full day of travel, her exhaustion was palpable.

Seeing her pale and weary face, Lu Zetian suggested, “We won’t arrive until noon. Why don’t you try to rest a bit more?”

Qin Shi nodded, sliding back onto the bunk and closing her eyes.

—

By sunrise, Qin Shi was too restless to sleep. She got up, used the restroom, freshened up, and ate a little something to settle her stomach before sitting on the lower bunk to watch the scenery. Barren hills rolled past the window as the train made its way to their destination.

—

At eleven o’clock, the train finally arrived in X City. Exhausted, Qin Shi felt unsteady as she stepped off the train, her legs weak and the ground seeming to sway beneath her.

“Captain!”

“Captain, over here!” 

A cheerful young soldier in uniform waved excitedly at Lu Zetian and hurried over to take the bundles from his hands.

Lu Zetian nodded in acknowledgment. Turning to Qin Shi, he introduced the soldier. “This is my orderly, Heihu.”

Heihu straightened up and saluted, grinning broadly. “Hello, Sister-in-law! You can call me Little Hu or Little Hei!”

Qin Shi chuckled. “Alright, Little Hu it is. Your name is so bold and powerful—it’s impressive!”

Heihu’s grin widened. “That’s what everyone says.”

Feeling a bit relieved, he thought to himself, This new sister-in-law seems gentle and approachable, much better than the last one. She might actually be easy to get along with… I hope.

—

After leaving the train station, Qin Shi climbed into the jeep Heihu had driven to pick them up. She opened the window, letting the cool air rush in as she leaned against the side. The fresh breeze helped alleviate her motion sickness and clear her head.

—

Meanwhile, in the family quarters of the military base, three children were tidying up after lunch at a neighbour’s house. The eldest, Gu Qinghai, carefully put away the dishes while his younger siblings helped sweep the floor. 

“Thank you for the meal, Aunt Zhao. I’ll take Pingping and An’an home now,” Gu Qinghai said politely.

Aunt Zhao peeked her head out of the kitchen, smiling warmly at the well-behaved children. “Alright, go on home now. Oh, and remember, your father is coming back today—along with your new mom.”

She added in a low voice, “If she’s mean to you like before, don’t keep it to yourselves. Come and tell me, alright?”

Gu Qinghai nodded solemnly. “I will. Thank you, Aunt Zhao.”

Aunt Zhao ruffled his hair affectionately. “Good boy. Now, off you go.”

Holding the hands of his younger siblings, Gu Qinghai led them home, his expression serious.

“Big Brother,” the second child, Lu Qingluo, asked, “have you figured out how to scare the new mom?”

“We can’t let her bully us!” chimed in Lu Qinghe, the youngest, his round eyes brimming with worry. “I don’t want to be hungry, cold, or hit again.”

Lu Qingluo puffed out her chest, one hand on her hip as she declared, “If she bullies us, we’ll tell Dad! Pingping, don’t worry—I’ll protect you!”

She clenched her fists and threw a few mock punches into the air.

Gu Qinghai placed a reassuring hand on their heads, his face stern. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you both.”

He added, “But remember—when you meet her, don’t call her Mom. Understand?”

“Understood!” The two little ones nodded vigorously.

—

**Author’s Note:** 

Lu Family Kids (determined): We must give her a tough time! No calling her “Mom”! Let her feel awkward and uncomfortable so she knows her place! 

Qin Shi: …Is this what you call a “tough time”? Adorable!

**Nomad: I have re-edited and changed some chapters. Chapters will now be released once every 2 weeks until I have fully translated the novel. I will then drop all the chapters at once**