Daily Life in the 70s-Chapter 171: Candidness

Minmin sat cross-legged, took the syrup he passed her, sipped twice, and a warm current flowed into her stomach, also refreshing her.

She turned her head to look at Yiguang.

He was frowning with a serious look, truly portraying a posture of someone who would stand up for her if bullied.

She slowly said, "It’s you."

Yiguang smiled, reached out to pinch her cheek, and said, "Acting up again, tonight I’ll cook, you get up and wash your face, get ready for dinner. I brought home some pork belly. The rain has lessened, I’ll cover the stove with a wooden board and get the fire started."

Minmin’s expression turned serious, "I’m being serious."

Yiguang looked at her, noticed the seriousness in her expression, and sat back down, "Didn’t like the food today? Or didn’t have enough strength to carry water? Or cleaning the house was too tiring?"

"No," Minmin interrupted him, "Yiguang, I want to ask you, were you ever in a relationship with Wen Qing before?"

Yiguang’s expression became severe, now knowing why she was being moody.

He felt both happy and hurt.

Happy that this girl was feeling jealous over him, and hurt that it made her unhappy.

"Minmin," Yiguang held her hand, looked at her seriously, "I’ve never been in a relationship with her."

Then something came to his mind, and he added sarcastically with a twisted lip, "I’ve barely spoken more than a few words to her. If it weren’t for that time in the canteen when she greeted me, I would have completely forgotten about her existence."

Minmin and Yiguang had a whirlwind marriage, having truly lived together for less than two months. She generally knew only the outlines of his habits and personal tastes, but she deeply understood his nature. He was definitive in his words, domineering, and often mindful, but also someone who despised lying to her.

"A fly won’t land on a seamless egg," she said, her thoughts reassured but still wanting clarity from him, "How then do you explain the rumors outside?"

"What rumors? Are there still rumors?... That time at Shao Hui’s place for a meal, she was there too. After a few drinks, personal matters came up, and since only Wen Qing and I were single at the table, it led to some old squad leader impulsively suggesting we consider each other."

"He regretted his words after blurting them out and even apologized to us. Despite that, everyone seemed to have flipped a switch, their minds buzzing nonstop, subtly trying to pair us up."

"It was just some implied words; nobody stated it outright. It was after that meal that those rumors started."

Minmin looked at him again and asked, "What were you thinking at the time? Did you consider it?"

Yiguang shook his head, "I know what kind of wife I want. Two people from different worlds... Honestly, I didn’t spare it a second thought."

Minmin still seemed a bit unconvinced, "Then, knowing those rumors about you two were spreading, why did you let them be, without clarifying?"

"I believe the best way to quell rumors is to give them no reason to continue. Male soldiers and female soldiers don’t train in the same field, it’s hard to run into each other normally. Even if we happened to meet during meals, I’d avoid her to keep clear. I figured once she completed her tasks and left, it’d be proof enough."

Minmin’s doubts continued to surface one after another, "Did you know her before that dinner? Had you seen each other? Spoken? Why would the old squad leader say that? Who started those rumors? Do you know?"

She didn’t believe that he, a former scout, would be unaware.

Yiguang replied with admiration, "Indeed my wife from the Shen family, such a sharp mind to ask all these questions in one breath."

"Come on, don’t try to fool me," Minmin tapped the bed frame, signaling him to answer seriously.

Yiguang complied and said with gravity, "I think it was Wen Qing’s side that stirred this up, I’m not sure if it was her or her family, trying to pair us up. Once during a practice in the small woods to the north, I was withdrawn from the rest because I was playing a role. It had ended, and it was very dark. When I was walking back through the marshland, I heard someone shouting for help. Anyone would’ve responded in that situation, so I went over and pulled the person stuck there out."

"It was too dark to see who she was then, only vaguely seeing she wore our Army’s uniform. I led her to our assembly point, confirmed her identity, and had someone take her back. This incident quickly slipped from my mind."

"Another time, upon returning from the training field, I encountered her. She formally thanked me, but it was only a small effort, and I just told her to go back. Later, she even sent a thank you gift, which I had the Lu family’s sister-in-law return. If there was another time I met her, I can’t remember; honestly, there’s no impression."

"After that dinner, Shao Hui also probed me about it, and I clearly refused. Out of respect for Shao Hui, I didn’t pursue it further."

Minmin pondered, "Is that why you told me to be wary of Wen Qing? Do you think she has ulterior motives in approaching me?"

Yiguang answered, "It’s just my guess, to avoid unnecessary trouble, better to have no contact. If she knows who you are, for caution’s sake, she should be mindful."

"Did Wen Qing come to see you today? Is that what started this conversation?"

Minmin nodded, looking at him with dissatisfaction, "If others hadn’t mentioned it, would you have never told me?"

Yiguang squeezed her palm, speaking softly, "Wife, there’s no need for us to bother over these trivial matters."

"Oh, what if I believed the exaggerated rumors outside and argued, even left home because of them?"

"Wife, I’m sorry, that was thoughtless of me."

Yiguang grasped Minmin’s shoulders, his eyes earnest, seriously telling her, "Wife, no matter what, don’t ever hurt yourself or keep things buried. We already spend too little time together; misunderstandings could only estrange us further. We have a whole lifetime to go, let’s not let other people’s words affect our relationship."

"What you did just now was right, I praise you. You didn’t believe, didn’t make a scene, and didn’t run away from home! Instead, you patiently waited for me to come back and clarify everything."