The Plot Can’t Change
The driver slowed down considerably after the initial leg of the journey, especially on rough roads. He carefully maintained a steady pace, much to the confusion of the soldier in the back.
“Lieutenant, why are you driving so slowly? Don’t we have another task to handle once we reach the county?”
“You don’t get it. These roads are rough, and we have two female comrades in the car. We need to be cautious,” the lieutenant replied, keeping the vehicle steady and safe. By the time they reached the county in the afternoon, the ride had been smooth and uneventful.
In the original story, this was where the male and female leads were supposed to stay overnight, and the soldiers would leave to complete another task. Su Su recalled this pivotal moment where romance blossomed between the leads. If she were here, wouldn’t that disrupt their story arc? Maybe she should just buy a separate ticket and leave.
However, the lieutenant seemed to have other plans. For reasons Su Su couldn’t comprehend, he decided to delay their next task by half an hour and personally bought her a train ticket. Handing it to Lin Donghe, he said, “Comrade Lin, I’m afraid we could only secure one ticket for tonight. There’s another ticket for tomorrow if you’d like to wait until then.”
Lin Donghe readily agreed, leaving Su Su somewhat bewildered. She barely had a chance to say anything to him before the lieutenant ushered her onto the train. It was only after boarding that she realized the lieutenant had secured her a sleeper ticket, a luxury in those days, while Lin Donghe’s ticket was for a hard seat.
She sat down and reflected on the lieutenant’s thoughtful gesture. While he wasn’t entirely straightforward, his actions ensured she was well cared for without offending anyone.
“Not all soldiers are so by-the-book,” she mused, recalling the effort he’d taken to make her journey more comfortable.
The sleeper ticket offered some respite from the overcrowded train. Though the berth wasn’t particularly comfortable compared to modern trains, at least she could lie down and avoid the jostling that came with a hard seat.
Her ticket indicated an arrival time of 3:50 a.m., giving her several hours to rest. After securing her backpack, she filled her cup with hot water, settled into her berth, and fell into a light sleep.
The noise on the train made it hard to sleep soundly, and her anxiety about Lin Chuan didn’t help. In her dreams, she saw him injured, missing an arm or a leg, struggling to reach her. She woke with a start, drenched in cold sweat, and checked her watch—2:00 a.m. She had slept longer than expected.
She freshened up in the washroom and organized her belongings, noticing that the red scarf she had given Widow Qiao was missing. Testing a theory, she retrieved the packaging for the motion sickness pills she had taken earlier and found it perfectly intact, as if unopened. She realized that items left outside her backpack didn’t reset. It was a peculiar quirk of her situation, but at least it made her cautious about what she gave away in the future.
After a small snack of cake, she prepared to disembark. Carrying her backpack and looking neat and tidy, she stood out in the crowd. Her refined appearance drew attention, and even in the line to exit the train, people made way for her.
Once off the train, she followed the flow of the crowd to the designated meeting area. The dim glow of the streetlights barely illuminated the station, and she glanced around uncertainly.
“Excuse me, are you Comrade Su?” a deep voice called from behind, startling her. She turned to see a tall man holding a small photo, scrutinizing it. As she faced him, he confirmed her identity, tucked the photo away, and introduced himself.
“Yes, I’m Su Su. My husband is Lin Chuan,” she replied, her voice steady despite the unsettling scar that ran down the man’s face.
“Hello, I’m Chang Yuejin, Lin Chuan’s deputy battalion commander. I’ve come to escort you to the military hospital,” he said, extending his hand.
Su Su shook his hand firmly, saying, “Thank you for your trouble.”
Chang Yuejin was momentarily taken aback. Most women reacted to his scar with fear or discomfort, but Su Su’s calm composure was a pleasant surprise. He thought to himself that Lin Chuan had truly married a remarkable woman.
Su Su, meanwhile, felt that while Chang Yuejin’s appearance might be intimidating, it wasn’t as terrifying as the exaggerated masks of modern Halloween costumes. His military uniform and authoritative demeanour gave her a sense of safety.
Together, they got into the vehicle. Chang Yuejin drove at an excruciatingly slow pace, despite the empty roads.
“Deputy Battalion Commander Chang, there’s no one on the road. Can’t we speed up a little?” Su Su asked, anxious to see Lin Chuan.
“There’s no rush. Lin Chuan is probably asleep,” he replied evenly, maintaining a steady speed.
Unbeknownst to Su Su, Chang Yuejin had been instructed by the lieutenant to drive cautiously because Lin Chuan’s wife might be pregnant. The mention of morning sickness and her symptoms during the earlier drive had raised suspicions, so he was taking no chances.
Su Su sighed in frustration, watching as bicycles overtook their vehicle one by one. She glanced at Chang Yuejin, whose expression remained stoic and unaffected by her impatience. Another cyclist passed, and she felt her forehead tighten in exasperation.
Just as she was about to speak up again, the vehicle finally stopped in front of a modest two-story building. Chang Yuejin led her inside at his usual unhurried pace, much to her chagrin.
The hospital was quiet, with few people around. He guided her to a room on the first floor. As they entered, a voice called out from within, “Old Chang, did you pick her up?”
“Yes, I brought her,” Chang Yuejin replied. He stepped aside, allowing Su Su to enter. “I’ll go fetch some water for you two,” he added, spotting the kettle in the corner before heading out. Su Su, left standing in the doorway, braced herself for what awaited her inside.
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