RTAMEIN70s Chapter 46

To Move House

Zhu Hui swept everything off the dressing table onto the floor. At this moment, she felt utterly despondent. She didn’t want to continue living like this for another day.

Captain Luo took a drag from his cigarette. “You really don’t want to continue?”

“Let’s get a divorce,” Zhu Hui said. Uttering these words made her feel incredibly relieved. She no longer wanted to be the wife of a captain, nor did she fear others mocking her failed attempts at happiness, rushing into the role of a stepmother, only to end up like this.

In this moment, Zhu Hui felt a profound sense of tranquillity upon making this decision. She had nothing left to fear.

“You!” Captain Luo shook the ashes off his cigarette, his body tensing up. He subconsciously sensed that Zhu Hui had changed in this moment, she was different from before.

—She genuinely wanted a divorce.

“Calm down, calm down. Don’t say things out of anger. Divorce isn’t a trivial matter, and don’t let this small thing lead to a divorce,” Captain Luo married Zhu Hui because she was beautiful, and he genuinely liked her, wanting to spend his life with her.

He didn’t want a divorce.

“You know what my mother is like… No matter what, she’s still my biological mother.” Captain Luo took a deep breath, feeling helpless. With his mother causing chaos with her two sons on either side, he felt caught in the middle.

“Hui Hui, please think about me.”

Captain Luo had originally thought that with his success and a beautiful wife, he would live a good life, but unexpectedly, things had turned out like this.

“Think about you? Haven’t I been thinking about you enough these past few years? Your mother is driving me to a dead end—” Zhu Hui felt something absurd in her words as she spoke.

“She’s just a rural old lady, what does she know? She hasn’t even been to school. Why do you have to argue with her?”

Zhu Hui remained silent. She had heard these words from Captain Luo countless times before. Every time, it was the same, asking her to understand his difficulties and think more for him.

Seeing her silence, Captain Luo thought she had understood. He took a deep breath and continued, “I’m the eldest in the family, and now, I’m the only one with any achievements. Helping out the family is only right…”

Captain Luo’s family was poor, and he joined the army because they couldn’t afford food. However, he managed to make something of himself and felt proud of it. Even though he was the eldest in the family, his mother always favoured the second son. Now, with the second son being unsuccessful and still living in the countryside, Mrs. Luo often asked Captain Luo for money to support him.

Captain Luo gave the money, but secretly, he felt satisfied. He wanted to prove to his parents, who had favoured his younger brother, that he, as the eldest, was the smartest and most reliable, the pillar of their family.

The entire family relied on him to survive, greatly satisfying his masculine pride.

With two children and a beautiful wife, he became a captain and was no longer the young man who couldn’t afford food in the remote mountains. He stood tall in the village.

Captain Luo would often talk endlessly to Zhu Hui about his struggles over the years, how he couldn’t afford food and joined the army, how he fought his way up and became a captain, and how difficult it had been.

“Hui Hui, in the future, please try to understand me more. I will definitely make your life better. You won’t just be the wife of a captain; I’ll make you the wife of a general.”

Zhu Hui sneered inwardly. She didn’t want to be anyone’s wife anymore.

“And in the future, stay away from Mrs. Jiang,” Captain Luo continued. He had some issues with Captain Jiang, and he didn’t want Zhu Hui to have any thoughts about that bald-headed old man, Jiang Rui.

Zhu Hui had an idea in her mind: “Don’t meddle in my affairs.”

The absurd thoughts she had earlier were like seeds planted in her mind, taking root and growing. The more she recalled, the more she realised they might be true.

The next day, Zhu Hui gathered some herbal remnants and went to find Qin Lanfang.

When they met, there was still some awkwardness between them. Zhu Hui apologised, “I’m sorry about yesterday.”

“It’s okay,” Qin Lanfang grabbed her hand. “We’re still friends.”

Qin Lanfang sensed that Zhu Hui might not be having a good time in the Luo family and wanted to advise her, but she didn’t know how to bring it up.

Zhu Hui patted her hand. “Lanfang, don’t worry, my hard days are coming to an end.”

Qin Lanfang was taken aback. “Are you serious?”

Zhu Hui nodded. “I want to divorce him.”

With such a mother-in-law, divorce might be a good idea, Qin Lanfang nodded in agreement.

Zhu Hui smiled. “Aren’t you going to advise me? Divorce is such a shameful thing.”

Zhu Hui’s hometown was poor, and in that rural area, hardly any women dared to divorce. Even if they were beaten by their husbands, they wouldn’t dare divorce because it was too shameful. Divorced women couldn’t survive in the village; they would be looked down upon and ostracized.

Qin Lanfang said, “You have a job, you can support yourself. What is there to be afraid of in getting a divorce?”

Hearing this, Zhu Hui was stunned. “What about you? If Captain Jiang divorced you?”

“Divorce is divorce. I can survive on my own now, and my sister is still in the hospital.”

Zhu Hui asked, “Aren’t you afraid of what people will say?”

“What else can they say? My mother is a widow, I’m disabled, and I almost had to marry a fool before. What else is there to fear now?” Compared to Zhu Hui, Qin Lanfang’s past was even more bitter. She had been the subject of gossip her entire life.

Zhu Hui said, “I’m not afraid of what people will say. I can’t live with him anymore.”

“Lanfang, do you know Dr. Zhan? Can you take me to see her? I have some questions I want to ask her. Does she really understand traditional Chinese medicine? I heard she’s very skilled.”

Qin Lanfang nodded. “Dr. Zhan is indeed very skilled. She treated my leg when I used to walk with crutches. The senior traditional Chinese medicine doctor in our hospital also praised her skills.”

“I believe you, and I trust her. I want her to check my health.”

“Sure, Dr. Zhan specializes in gynaecology. She helped me when I was unwell before. I was even told I couldn’t have children…”

“Is that so?” Zhu Hui’s lips twitched. “Let’s go see Dr. Zhan then.”

Qin Lanfang took Zhu Hui to the hospital. They didn’t wait for Dr. Zhan to return to the hospital’s quarters because it was crowded and suspicious, especially after what happened yesterday.

At Yanxin Health Centre, Zhu Hui breathed a sigh of relief. Dr. Zhan learned that someone from Captain Luo’s family wanted to see her, so she met Zhu Hui alone.

Sitting in the consultation room with the door closed, Zhu Hui’s heart raced. “Dr. Zhan, can you help me with my condition? Is it true that I can’t have children? And about these medicinal herbs, my mother-in-law boils them for me to eat…”

Dr. Zhan sniffed the herbs. “You shouldn’t eat these herbs anymore.”

Zhu Hui’s face turned pale. “Are they ineffective?”

Dr. Zhan’s mood was complicated. She honestly replied, “These herbs have a cooling nature. If you continue to consume them excessively, they will harm your body.”

“I knew it! My menstrual cycle was normal before, but then—”

Dr. Zhan interrupted, “There’s nothing wrong with your body.”

Zhu Hui’s face became extremely ugly. She felt insulted as if she had been greatly disrespected. She forcibly controlled her trembling hands, suppressing the questions she was about to ask.

What else was there to ask?

She had already guessed most of it.

“Dr. Zhan, please don’t mention that I came to see you today. I’m afraid I’ll cause you trouble.” Zhu Hui felt extremely embarrassed. Her face turned blue and white again. The grotesque and absurd truth had already unfolded before her eyes.

Such shameful matters shouldn’t be known by outsiders.

She was going to divorce Captain Luo. She had caught his family’s weakness. This whole family had no shame! Disgusting, despicable—simply beasts!

Dr. Zhan nodded. “I won’t tell anyone.”

“Thank you,” Zhu Hui said with a bitter smile.

As she was leaving, Dr. Zhan couldn’t help but say, “You… actually have a constitution prone to conception. Be careful with contraception in the future.”

Zhu Hui nodded silently, not saying anything more.

Dr. Zhan watched her walk away, feeling eerie and absurd. The quarrel in the Luo family yesterday was known to everyone, and today she treated Zhu Hui and those herbs…

This was a big scandal.

Considering Zhu Hui’s behaviour today, it was possible… that Captain Luo was wearing a pair of big green hats.

No, perhaps he intentionally put them on himself.

Dr. Zhan: “…”

So disgusting.

It was precisely because she thought of this that Dr. Zhan reminded Zhu Hui. Captain Luo couldn’t conceive, and his family had kept it a secret from Zhu Hui. They had deceived her into marriage.

No wonder Captain Luo tolerated his mother and his two stepsons. Perhaps it was because he couldn’t conceive, and the children were adopted. For the sake of his reputation as a man, he didn’t dare to say it out loud. So, he deceived Zhu Hui into marriage.

He brought along his ex-wife’s two sons, so they hadn’t had any children in the past few years. That would definitely be blamed on Zhu Hui. Later, Captain Luo would express that he didn’t mind her inability to conceive, keeping Zhu Hui deceived by his side.

And the Luo family still gave Zhu Hui those kinds of herbs.

Zhu Hui returned to the family quarters with a mind full of thoughts. She locked herself in her room, her mind racing with countless thoughts. The more she thought, the more she hated, wishing she could draw blood from the Luo family and feast on their flesh.

When Captain Luo returned in the evening, Zhu Hui gave him a dark look.

Seeing Zhu Hui’s expression, Captain Luo’s face also turned grim. He called Zhu Hui into the room. “You’re still not over yesterday’s matter? How long will you hold onto it?”

“Luo Pingwei, if you have any humanity left, divorce me immediately. Otherwise, I’ll report you.”

Captain Luo was stunned. “Zhu Hui, what are you trying to do?”

Zhu Hui retorted, “What am I trying to do? I want to know what disgusting deeds your family has done. The thought of sharing a bed with you for years makes me sick to my stomach.”

Captain Luo was enraged. “Zhu Hui, what have I done wrong?”

“Your mother drugged me, you can’t even father children, and those two brats, Da Bao and Er Bao, aren’t even yours? You want to keep this from me? You want me to raise your nephew? Your family is disgusting!”

“Incest! Disgusting! You’re a beast! Your whole family is a bunch of beasts! You can’t have children, so you let your brother have his way with your wife. Do you have any shame?” Zhu Hui felt she had figured everything out. Da Bao and Er Bao were born to Captain Luo’s ex-wife, which was proven by photos and witnessed by villagers.

Da Bao and Er Bao were chubby, not resembling Captain Luo but his younger brother from the countryside. No wonder he rarely paid attention to the two children; he probably knew they weren’t his biological sons.

“Is it because I joined the military? If I didn’t would you want your brother to have his way with me, to bear children for your family? Now that your brother is not here, your mother drugged me to prevent me from having children. You’re all beasts! Collaborating with your mother, you’re all subhuman!”

Zhu Hui’s anger reached a boiling point as she confronted Luo Pingwei.

“Are you crazy?” Captain Luo looked at her as if he was looking at a lunatic: “Dabao and Erbao are my children with my first wife.”

“You think you can fool me? Are you brave enough to go to the hospital for a check-up? You can’t have children, and you’re trying to deceive me? Da Bao and Er Bao don’t even resemble you. Who are you trying to fool? Yourself?”

“Pah! Luo Pingwei, you’re such a coward!”

“I’m telling you, you must divorce me now. I’m still giving you face. If not, I’ll make this public, expose your family’s dirty laundry for everyone to see. Your family is shameless, a bunch of filthy scum!”

Saying these words, Zhu Hui felt disgusted, her hatred directed squarely at Luo Pingwei.

Luo Pingwei’s head was buzzing from her insults. At that moment, he grasped an elusive truth; everything became clear to him in an instant. No wonder… Captain Luo smiled sadly. Though he was reluctant to believe it, Zhu Hui’s accusations were already convincing him. The realization that Da Bao and Er Bao were not his children hit him hard. He had been unwilling to face it, unable to believe that his wife had betrayed him in such a manner.

It made sense now why his mother had always treated Zhu Hui poorly; it wasn’t about Zhu Hui’s well-being, but rather, Grandma Luo’s desire to ensure that Luo Pingwei had no prospects, no future, and to push him towards resignation. Grandma Luo wanted to make Luo Pingwei’s life as difficult as possible, to strip him of his future and vitality.

She hated it in her heart, and didn’t want this stupid “big brother” to have a better future than the “second brother” she favoured. She deliberately made his family restless. She wanted to pull out his tendons, peel off his skin, and suck his blood alive.

Zhu Hui noticed the strange smile on Luo Pingwei’s face and couldn’t help but ask, “You really didn’t know?”

Luo Pingwei’s face turned pale and blue.

Zhu Hui sneered, “I don’t believe you didn’t know. I refuse to believe there’s someone so stupid. It’s beyond foolish, it’s idiocy. Your brother slept with your wife, drained your resources, and lived off you. If you didn’t know, why did you keep supporting your brother’s family? Why did you continue to let your mother get subsidies?”

Luo Pingwei’s face darkened like a ghost’s, his voice barely audible: “I really didn’t know.”

He was indeed foolish. He had been duped and manipulated by his own family, believing they depended on him for their survival. Meanwhile, they likely mocked him behind his back.

Luo Pingwei was now consumed with rage, his eyes burning with fury, but he had no outlet for his anger. Just then, Grandma Luo returned with Da Bao and Er Bao.

Grandma Luo, looking triumphant, announced, “Da Bao and Er Bao, we’re having meat today! Your father’s salary is about to come in, so you’ll get to eat something good.”

“Good, grandma is the best!”

“Yes, grandma is the best. If it weren’t for grandma, you’d be suffering under that vicious stepmother, barely having enough to eat. My poor grandsons.”

Seeing Luo Pingwei, Grandma Luo remained unabashedly smug: “Eldest son, we’re running out of money at home. When will you send the next month’s allowance? The family back home also needs money. Your second brother says his teeth are bad and needs to see a dentist—”

“See a dentist? If I see him again, I’ll knock out all his teeth.”

Grandma Luo stared at him, shocked: “Are you out of your mind?”

“I’m not crazy. I want him in prison.” Luo Pingwei pointed at Da Bao and Er Bao. “Make these bastards take off their clothes and return my things!”

Luo Pingwei cursed fiercely.

“What bastards? Da Bao and Er Bao are your sons, born of Xiao Cao. You were away at the army all year; Xiao Cao had a hard life. Now she’s gone, and you’re treating her children like this, calling them bastards. Do you have any conscience at all?”

Luo Pingwei was enraged: “I have no conscience? How about Xiao Cao crawling into bed with my brother?”

His agitation reached a peak as he grabbed Da Bao and Er Bao’s faces, nearly tearing their skin off. “Does one of these two children look like me?”

Da Bao and Er Bao cried out in pain.

Luo Pingwei threw them to the ground, causing Er Bao to bleed from a cut on his mouth.

“Grandma, if there’s a stepmother, there will be a stepfather too. I want to find my second dad!”

Grandma Luo’s face darkened, and she looked alarmed. “Oldest, what on earth are you doing? Bah! It’s that wicked stepmother stirring up trouble.”

Luo’s expression turned ghostly pale. “I want to have the second brother imprisoned. He committed adultery with a military family member. I want him in jail.”

Grandma Luo jumped up. “What nonsense are you talking about? Have you gone mad?”

“These two kids are the evidence,” Luo said with a firm resolve. “I want him imprisoned, I must have him imprisoned.”

Grandma Luo’s eyes turned red with urgency. “He’s your biological brother!”

“He didn’t consider me a brother when he was with his sister-in-law.” Luo’s anger flared, fuelled by the humiliation of being cuckolded. “Tomorrow, I’ll call the battalion secretary and report this incest. It’s disgusting and monstrous!”

Grandma Luo, frantic, tried to stop him: “You can’t say that! You can’t say that! If you do, our Luo family will never be able to hold our head up in the village.”

“Oldest, you’re also part of the Luo family. You can’t say it, you can’t say it! If you do, you’ll be ridiculed for it!”

They argued fiercely, with Da Bao and Er Bao trembling in fear, never having seen such fury from Luo before.

“If you don’t want to talk, fine.” Luo gritted his teeth, forcing himself to calm down. “Tell the family to return all the money I’ve sent over the years. Take these two bastards and get out of my sight forever.”

Grandma Luo tried to reason with him: “Don’t call them bastards. They’re still your nephews.”

“You dare take this to my leaders or the police? It’s a crime, it’s incest!”

“Shush, shush, shush. Don’t shout. Someone will hear you. Have you no shame?”

Luo’s face darkened with anger. “Tomorrow, have the second brother send the money. These two bastards are not to eat anything of mine. Let them leave naked.”

“They are your own nephews!”

A storm swept through the Luo family. Despite their efforts to hide the scandal, whispers spread quickly, leaving little to the imagination.

Grandma Luo left with the two children, and Zhu Hui divorced Luo. The complications of their situation proved too much for the women’s committee to resolve, and the divorce was finalized.

After the divorce, Zhu Hui sighed with relief. Luo offered her three thousand yuan.

Zhu Hui refused the money, feeling that these past years had been a terrible dream she wanted to wake from. She didn’t want anything from her past to remain.

The lofty dream she once had was shattered.

Zhu Hui said to Luo, “I married you because I genuinely liked you and wanted to build a life together.”

“You don’t need to always compare yourself to Comrade Jiang.”

Zhu Hui sighed and gave Luo a calm smile.

Luo’s feelings were complex, but Zhu Hui turned and walked away.

Zhu Hui left the military hospital, not wanting to remain in the environment of gossip. She chose to move to Yanxin Health Centre, taking up the role of an ordinary rural nurse.

Everything from the past, including being the wife of a military officer, felt like a distant dream.

She was originally from the countryside and didn’t mind the conditions of the township hospital at all. In fact, she found it quite comfortable here. The patients she saw every day were ordinary people, which made her feel very at home, and her smile became more frequent.

Director Hao called a meeting for all the medical staff, announcing that the new inpatient building was complete. Everyone was excited, waiting to set up the offices and wards, and to choose their new apartments.

Since the new apartments are single rooms, those with families and children, like Dr. Zhou, did not apply for one. Qin Yanfang, however, was eager to move into the new building. “I want to live in the new building. I want to move.”

Dr. Zhao Jing said, “But those are originally hospital rooms!”

Qin Yanfang replied, “I don’t care what kind of rooms they are. I just want to live in the new building.”

“Alright, then let’s draw lots.” There are twelve rooms on the third floor, which are more than enough for the single staff. Each person could only get one. Zhang Aiping didn’t apply for a room, but Qin Yanfang, Zhao Jing, Midwife Lanlan, and Zhu Hui all applied for single rooms.

Zhu Hui was thrilled, “Finally, I have my own room.”

Previously, she lived in a dormitory while with the art troupe, and later, after marrying Captain Luo, she lived in a military family residence. Now, having joined the hospital, she finally got her own place.

When Zhu Hui first arrived at the hospital, she chose to share a room with Qin Yanfang. The two of them lived together, and Qin Yanfang suggested, “The new building will be ready soon. Let’s move there together. It will save us trouble; don’t bother with the flat-roofed houses.”

Qin Yanfang and Zhao Jing ended up being neighbours. Zhao Jing said, “Didn’t you say these are hospital rooms?”

Dr. Zhao replied, “So what if they are hospital rooms? You can still live in them.”

Qin Yanfang complained, “You’ll have to move out when you get married anyway. How will you manage if you stay here?”

Dr. Zhao said, “And you’ll have to move out when you get married too.”

Zhang Aiping added, “If you two end up together, you can just combine your two single rooms and not have to change rooms.”

Director Hao agreed, “Dr. Zhang is right.”

Dr. Zhou commented, “If those two end up together, that will be surprising. Unless they are both crazy.”

Dr. Zhao and Qin Yanfang were left speechless.

With the room assignments done, everyone began preparing for their move. The atmosphere in the hospital was festive. Qin Yanfang’s original room was kept for Qin Lanfang to use for naps. With the new housing available, there was no shortage of space.

Director Hao told Zhang Aiping, “Dr. Zhang, your due date is approaching. You should stop coming to work for a few days. Twins are prone to premature birth, and the back-and-forth could be risky.”

Zhang Aiping nodded.

Qin Yanfang complained, “It will be so boring if Dr. Zhang is not at work. I want to see the twins.”

Midwife Lanlan remarked, “When Dr. Zhang comes back from maternity leave, you’ll get to see the twins. You can cry and make a fuss then.”

Director Hao sighed, “Since Dr. Zhang came, the number of women in our hospital has increased.”

Dr. Zhou said, “Yes, it’s gotten noisier. Three women, and it’s like a drama.”

Director Hao lamented, “Our township hospital may not be the best, but it certainly has the prettiest medical staff in the county.”

“Even city hospitals can’t find many as beautiful as ours!”

The Qin sisters are quite good-looking, and Zhang Aiping is an exceptionally stunning beauty. Even Midwife Lanlan, though a bit of a scatterbrain, is strikingly fresh and pretty. As for Zhu Hui, being from the art troupe, her appearance is naturally excellent.

Dr. Zhou added, “Our township hospital also has the most handsome male doctors.”

Director Hao said, “You look very energetic, and Dr. Zhao is quite handsome.”

Dr. Zhou: “…”

Qin Yanfang and Midwife Lanlan, along with a few others, were pointing towards the trees and chatting animatedly:

“Our hospital’s fruit is ripe again. Let’s go pick some.”

“When we build more houses in the future, we’ll have to cut down these fruit trees.”

“There’s a big examination room on the first floor. Let’s put some fruits and vegetables there every day. If there are no patients, we can just sit and chat.”

“And bring some peanuts and melon seeds too.”

“It’s a pity we’re not in the North. If it were winter, we could gather around a stove and roast sweet potatoes.”

…

On a small road in the township, a military jeep was moving steadily. The driver sat upright, sweat beading on his forehead. In the back seat were three people: Captain Jiang, Captain Luo, and Chief of Staff Gu.

Feeling the pressure of being watched by these three, the driver was very tense. Having all three of them in the vehicle at once was quite overwhelming.

Just having one person was stressful enough; now there were three. The atmosphere was quite heavy.

Captain Luo had a stern expression and said nothing. Chief of Staff Gu looked out the window, lost in thought. Captain Jiang was the most excited, “Chief of Staff Gu, my wife made me a piece of clothing. In a few days, I’ll wear it and show it to you. Come to my house, and I’ll wear it for you.”

Captain Luo turned his head away, thinking that this person was even more childish than a kindergarten kid.

He had previously considered Captain Jiang as a rival.

What a fool.

Why boast about a piece of clothing made by your wife? And to invite someone over to see it, and to wear it for another man?

“I’ll also wear the clothes my wife made and show them to you. Come to my house,” Chief of Staff Gu said, moving his arm a bit. “My wife is heavily pregnant, so I need to stay at home with her.”

“Alright then,” Captain Jiang said with a cheerful smile. “I’ll come to your house to catch some good fortune and see your twins.”

Chief of Staff Gu replied, “Next month, you’ll get to see my child’s diapers.”

Captain Jiang said, “Good buddy, I want to see you change diapers with my own eyes.”

Chief of Staff Gu replied, “Good buddy, I also want to see you change diapers.”

Captain Luo, with a “井” character symbolizing stress on his forehead, thought, “Do you two have any serious business? One is a captain, the other is a chief of staff. Do you two just chat about trivial matters all day in the regiment?”

Captain Jiang replied coldly, “With an outsider like you around, we obviously can’t discuss the secrets of our regiment. The heart of someone not from our regiment must be different, right, Chief of Staff Gu?”

Chief of Staff Gu turned his wrist and said, “We’re going to the hospital to see our wives. Captain Luo, why are you hitching a ride with us?”

Captain Luo, lacking confidence, said, “I’m going to see my ex-wife.”

Captain Jiang said, “Oh, your ex-wife.”

Captain Luo: “…” If he weren’t outnumbered, he would have already started a fight.

Captain Jiang added, “I know you want to hit me, but I have Little Gu with me.”

Captain Luo: “If you’re so capable, try coming to our regiment next time.”

…

Chief of Staff Gu shook his head, his mind solely focused on seeing his wife.

As they got out of the car, Captain Jiang and Captain Luo were still arguing. Chief of Staff Gu took the opportunity to slip away and find his wife. When he arrived, Zhang Aiping was delighted to see him and pulled him along to pick fruit as a form of manual labour.

They picked a tree full of small mangoes, as well as some passion fruit that Zhang Aiping had planted earlier. The passion fruit vines had grown unchecked and had spread towards the pigsty.

Qin Yanfang said, “I picked a lot of bamboo shoots today. Dr. Zhang, take some home to taste. Oh, and Chief of Staff Gu is here, so I’ll leave them to you.”

On the mountainside and around the village, people liked to grow bamboo, so there were plenty of fresh wild bamboo shoots throughout the year.

Zhang Aiping asked Chief of Staff Gu to pick passion fruit near the pigsty and mentioned, “Yesterday, the pig at the hospital was attacked and bitten by bamboo rats. Look at its wounds.”

In the bamboo forest, wild bamboo rats often appeared and caused trouble.

“Is that so?”

Zhang Aiping smiled, “Yes, that’s why the director said the pig is too timid and plans to slaughter it in a couple of days.”

Chief of Staff Gu asked, “Is this an unfortunate disaster for the pig?”

“Perhaps,” Zhang Aiping speculated that Director Hao might be planning to slaughter the pig to celebrate and also to congratulate her on expecting twins.

Zhang Aiping gently touched her belly and said, “Our baby will also be a little piggy.”

Since this year’s zodiac animal is the pig, the baby is likely to be born in November.

Chief of Staff Gu smiled, “Let’s take our little piggy back home.”

Zhang Aiping replied, “And bring some pork back too.”

Chief of Staff Gu helped her walk around. Meanwhile, Captain Jiang was sticking close to his wife, Qin Lanfang, who was quite annoyed. She didn’t like excessive displays of affection in front of others.

Captain Luo took a look at Zhu Hui. When Zhu Hui saw him, she didn’t say much as she was busy preparing to move.

Captain Luo struggled for a while before saying, “The conditions here aren’t as good as at the military hospital.”

Zhu Hui replied calmly, “I quite like it here. Don’t come by in the future. I’m doing just fine.”

Captain Luo grumbled, “If you’re here, how can I believe you’re doing well?”

At that moment, the young Dr. Zhao Jing walked in, “Nurse Zhu, do you need any help?”

Zhu Hui smiled at Zhao Jing, “Thank you, Dr. Zhao.”

“It’s no trouble. I’m making soup at home tonight. You should come and have some too.”

“Alright.” Mention of the soup made Zhu Hui’s smile stiffen a bit. Although the clinic was nice, she had two neighbours who loved making soup—one made mushroom soup, and the other made pumpkin soup—and they always insisted on sharing it with her.

That evening, Zhu Hui, Qin Yanfang, and Zhao Jing gathered to have soup together. They were all of similar age, with Zhao Jing being the youngest, and Zhu Hui and Qin Yanfang referred to him as their “little brother.”

Last time, Shen Liqing came over and said that Chief of Staff Gu and Captain Jiang were like big, fierce dogs. Zhang Aiping quietly commented that Dr. Zhao Jing was more like a little puppy.

Zhu Hui found the comparison quite fitting. Dr. Zhao Jing was a good guy who enjoyed drinking soup and hated pesticides. He knew exactly how many cases of pesticide poisoning he dealt with each month.

Forget that he was a gastroenterologist; Zhu Hui thought his soup-making was pretty good. “I’ll come by and see you tonight.”

Dr. Zhao Jing turned and left. Captain Luo looked very displeased. “You’re going to visit him tonight? A male doctor?”

Zhu Hui replied, “Who I visit at night is none of your business.”

Captain Luo said, “I know you’re not the type of woman to be improper.”

Zhu Hui was too lazy to argue further. “You should leave.”

Captain Luo continued, “There are plenty of women wanting to be regiment commander’s wives. I have a dozen or so women wanting to matchmake with me. Now that I’m divorced, I’m quite popular.”

“Oh,” Zhu Hui nodded, “I’m going to close the door and visit Dr. Zhou.”

Zhu Hui went to find Dr. Zhou to talk. Captain Luo, unable to follow her, stood in the corridor with an increasingly grim expression.

Dr. Zhao Jing looked like a pretty boy to him.

What future could a doctor in this poor township clinic have?

Director Hao yawned and came out. Seeing Captain Luo, he assumed he was with Captain Jiang’s team. Director Hao, thinking he was one of Captain Jiang’s men, greeted him, “Our township hospital isn’t too bad, right?”

Captain Luo responded dismissively, “It doesn’t compare to the military hospital.”

“Of course, it’s not as good as the military hospital.” Director Hao pointed to the newly built inpatient building and the surgical rooms under construction. “Once these buildings are completed, our hospital will be quite impressive.”

“Our orthopaedic department is very strong. If you have any issues, you can have Dr. Zhou take a look.”

Captain Luo asked, “Why did Nurse Zhu come to your hospital?”

“Oh, I heard it’s a case of misplaced trust. It’s probably for the best after the divorce.” Director Hao didn’t want to delve into personal matters.

Captain Luo’s eyes widened. “Who said that?”

“Everyone knows.” Director Hao said, “Do you like Nurse Zhu? I think she’s quite nice. But she has said she doesn’t want to marry a soldier or be a soldier’s wife again. She wants to marry a surgeon.”

“Actually, I don’t think it has to be a surgeon in the operating room. An internist could work too, like Dr. Zhao Jing. I think Dr. Zhao would be a good match for Nurse Zhu. They both look nice. If their children inherit their looks…”

Captain Luo glared at him. “Stop talking nonsense.”

“I’m not talking nonsense,” Director Hao laughed. “Comrade, you must be from Captain Jiang’s regiment. Your Captain Jiang is a good person, and Chief of Staff Gu is also very nice.”

Captain Luo’s face darkened further. “I’m the commander of the neighbouring regiment, Zhu Hui’s ex-husband.”

Director Hao awkwardly smiled. “Then why are you here at our clinic?”

Captain Luo replied, “The conditions here are not good for her. I hope she can return to the military hospital.”

This time, Director Hao’s expression soured. “Comrade, I advise you not to force things. A fruit that’s forcibly picked isn’t sweet.”

In the evening, as they got on the car back to the camp, Chief of Staff Gu held his wife’s hand, and Captain Jiang held his wife’s hand. The two couples, with their large and small bags, boarded the car, leaving Captain Luo to return alone.

Captain Jiang said, “Don’t take the family quarters’ car. You’re not going back to the family quarters.”

Captain Luo said, “I insist on taking it.”

Chief of Staff Gu, holding Zhang Aiping, did not argue with them. Zhang Aiping leaned against him. Her pregnancy made her uncomfortable, and she felt drowsy during the car ride. Chief of Staff Gu protected her.

When they arrived, he gently woke her up. Zhang Aiping got out of the car, eager to give birth to the twins and be rid of her bulky figure. She longed to be as light as a swallow: “Once the babies are born, I want to climb trees and go on the roof.”

“Okay, after the babies are born, I’ll take you up the mountain to play.”

Zhang Aiping smiled, “Who will take care of the babies?”

“We’ll leave them with their little aunt.”

Zhang Aiping laughed and patted his arm, “Better you carry them yourself, Chief of Staff Gu.”

The couple laughed and chatted as they went home. Once they were back, Chief of Staff Gu said, “Wife, we need to prepare to move. This place is too small. Deputy Political Commissar Zhang’s family has moved out, so there’s a vacant apartment…”

Zhang Aiping replied, “You’ve had your eye on that apartment for a while, haven’t you?”

“So what if I have? Our current place is too small.”

Zhang Aiping nodded. Initially, the apartment Gu was assigned was quite small. Now that he was promoted to deputy regiment commander, he could move to a larger place. Gu thought it would be best to move before the babies were born, as a bigger place would be better with all the noise and activity.

The new apartment wasn’t very large either, with a total of five rooms. Besides the living room and kitchen, there were three bedrooms. One of the bedrooms was very small, just enough for a bed.

The new place was only slightly bigger than the old one, but the yard was significantly larger.

Chief of Staff Gu said, “The family quarters are also constructing new apartment buildings. When the new buildings are finished, we’ll be able to move into one of them.”

Zhang Aiping replied, “I’m not too keen on living in a high-rise either…”

“Plus, we’d have to climb stairs. Once you bring me to a place with a yard and two stories, that’d be great.”

“You like that kind of place?” Chief of Staff Gu smiled. “Alright.”

“A place with a yard is perfect for raising a dog.”

Chief of Staff Gu pinched her cheek. “You really want a dog?”

“Of course, our yard is pretty big now.”

Zhang Aiping kicked him playfully. “When we move, remember to bring my vegetable garden too.”

Chief of Staff Gu grinned. “Luckily, it’s just a vegetable garden, not Old Wang’s lawn.”

Zhang Aiping said, “The lawn would be easier; we could just lift the turf and move it.”

Two days later, Chief of Staff Gu arranged for the move. Fortunately, he picked the right day; the weather was good, and they finished moving everything smoothly. However, Zhang Aiping had to sacrifice a large portion of her garden. She thought about replanting and starting seeds again later. For now, they’d wait until after the babies were born to sort it out.

Zhang Aiping’s due date was approaching, and many people were keeping an eye on her. Zhang Bo had called several times to check in, as did Qin Ying and Gu Ze’an. With twins, early delivery was possible at any moment.

Zhu Jiaorong and her daughter were also preparing. Zhu Jiaorong told Zhang Bo, “Since Pingping’s in-laws are far away and I have nothing to do, I’ll go over with Jia Jia to help her during her confinement and lend a hand.”

Zhang Bo said, “It’s fine for you to go, but why take Jia Jia with you?”

Zhu Jiaorong replied, “Let Jia Jia go too. It’s a chance for her to learn and maybe even… find a match.”

“Well… that might work. Let her go and see if she can handle the work.”

“She didn’t say she needed us to help with her confinement.”

“She might be too shy to ask. We should go directly. Her mother-in-law isn’t around, so I’ll go as her mother. When she has the baby, we should definitely visit.”

“True,” Zhang Bo nodded. “Go ahead and visit.”