Daily Life in the 70s-Chapter 164: Harmony

Everyone sitting at this table eating was from Yiguang’s battalion.

Those who were unmarried or whose wives weren’t by their side, usually resolved their three meals a day in the cafeteria. Normally, they liked to sit together and shoot the breeze during their rare relaxing times. Today was no exception, although they were a bit more reserved.

They had only met once before, some remembered Yang PeiMin. Now, everyone reintroduced themselves.

Though the topics were generally more reserved, there were still those bold enough, in the face of Yiguang’s pleasant demeanor, to start cracking jokes, "Originally, as our battalion has an elder leading us who hasn’t married at his age, those of us whose blind dates failed, or who haven’t found the right girl, felt justified. But now that our battalion commander, who is also unmarried and around the same age, heads us, we have managed to save face. Even if our parents nag, it’s just a little. Who would have thought that while the old man silently went home for a family visit, he settled his personal matters, exposing a whole group of us older soldiers without any prior hint? That’s really not fair."

Everyone laughed without fear of making a scene, and one daring soul spoke up, "The boss can’t just eat his fill and not care about us common folks, can he? Hurry up and introduce us to some unmarried sisters or relatives from your hometown."

Shen Yiguang shot back with a laugh, "Scram! You’re even trying to set your sights on me, aren’t you the smooth talker?"

"Don’t, boss, we’re all just joking. Look, sister-in-law is here too, no coercion on these matters... sister-in-law, right?"

Yang PeiMin pretended not to understand, blinking her eyes, "What are you talking about? I didn’t catch a single word."

"Right, sister-in-law, you’re truly following your husband’s lead!"

Everyone burst out laughing again.

Yiguang grinned.

Their table was lively with frequent laughter, drawing glances from nearby tables. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

"Does it look like they’re recognizing relatives over there? It’s very lively."

"It seems so. There’s a Military Wife there, she looks like she’s new to accompanying the army. Her spouse is probably introducing his comrades to her now."

"Deputy Qiao, isn’t that Military Wife your friend? Not only does she look good, but she also seems straightforward and generous. Look how happy those soldiers are after she said something?" A team member leaned in to speak with Qiao Ying.

Qiao Ying pushed him away, laughing and scolding, "How do you know she’s straightforward and generous? Eyes glued to her, right? Hurry up and eat. We have training after this. First, repeat that unstable move from earlier a hundred times tomorrow, and then get up on that station to get a feel for it. Don’t be late."

The team member’s face fell instantly. Known for her lively and generous nature, she generally got along well with everyone in the team and would joke with Qiao Ying privately. Now her face looked utterly dejected. She grabbed Wen Qing sitting beside her for help, "Wen Qing, you’ve got to defend me. Did I say something wrong? I’ll correct it right away. Don’t make me do it a hundred times, my legs will break."

Wen Qing glanced over at Yiguang’s table, her gaze downcast, her emotions unreadable, then looked up and smiled, "Who asked you to overdo the flattery? Our commander needs someone with a clever mind, not someone who can be easily flattered."

The girl clicked her tongue, confused, "When did I ever flatter?"

Wen Qing gave her a playful look, "Didn’t you know that the new Military Wife is the commander’s friend? Weren’t you trying to get attention by praising his friend?" She looked at Qiao Ying again, "Isn’t that right, commander?"

Qiao Ying just smiled, not saying a word.

But the nearby comrades heard those one or two key phrases and looked over.

The girl wrongfully pleaded, "By heaven and earth, I truly meant it when I said she was forthright and generous. She just looks the part. The battalion commander was nearby, so I just made an extra comment, Wen Qing, you shouldn’t think I’m trying to drag you into a pit." Her voice was somewhat loud, perhaps because people were looking their way, and in her urgency, she subconsciously wanted to prove herself to others.

Wen Qing’s expression paused momentarily, and she shook her head helplessly, speaking gently, "Ah Rong, I was just joking. Please don’t be upset."

Qiao Ying then spoke up, "What Ah Rong said is true, my friend is indeed forthright and generous; I agree with that. She wasn’t lying just to flatter me. Alright, everyone is finished eating. Let’s head to the training room quickly. Do you really think we’re just full and idle? It’s just right to go and digest."

The girl called Ah Rong hurriedly stood up, her face beaming with a bright smile.

But Wen Qing’s expression looked a bit unsightly.

At this end, Yang PeiMin had also finished eating, greeted everyone, and returned to her dorm room.

Shen Yiguang also unusually had nothing to do that night, so he immediately started heating coal when he got back to the dorm.

Yang PeiMin then took out her review materials to read.

The two of them were busy with their own things, relatively silent.

When she put down her books, Mr. Shen had already boiled the water and brought it back, had voluntarily washed the lunch box, fixed a chair with a broken leg that hadn’t been taken care of in the afternoon, and even swept the barely dusty floor.

Then, seeing him come out with a handful of tea leaves ready to make tea, Yang PeiMin said, "Are you making tea? Drinking tea at night can make it hard to sleep."

Shen Yiguang hummed a sound, "No worries, just craving some."

He sat down beside Yang PeiMin’s table and started to brew tea in his own porcelain jar, which Yang PeiMin didn’t mind, as long as he wasn’t drinking alcohol.

"Do you know someone from the Cultural Troupe?" Shen Yiguang asked.

"Didn’t I meet a woman from the Cultural Troupe in our city last time? She was very interested in my makeup skills. I mentioned her in the letter to you. It just so happened that I ran into her on the train when she was coming here for a performance in our military region. Yes, we ran into each other again. She wanted me to help her team with their makeup for the performance."

Shen Yiguang raised an eyebrow and glanced at her, "Why didn’t you mention this before?"

Yang PeiMin glared at him slightly, "Haven’t you always been leaving early and returning late? Even if you had time, you’d already be busy with that task. There was never a chance for me to speak."

Shen Yiguang’s expression tightened briefly, then he brought the conversation back, continuing to ask, "So the person asking for your help is the woman who spoke to me earlier?"

That woman?

This designation?

Yang PeiMin nodded, looking at his face with some confusion, "Yes, her name is Wen Qing, don’t you know her?"

Shen Yiguang shook his head, his eyes calm and his face without a trace of disturbance, he said faintly, "Maybe I’ve seen her before, but I don’t have much of an impression."

She nodded, understanding that he really didn’t have much of an impression; otherwise, when Wen Qing had greeted him, he wouldn’t have had that rejecting demeanor. But she didn’t mind; she often acted the same way. Sometimes, people greeted her, and she would forget their names too, especially those she had only seen once or twice without having spoken a single word.