Volume One, Chapter 15: Old Su is Injured
A week later, news arrived from the military camp.
Elder Su had returned with honors; it was said he had earned a third-class merit. But in an era when third-class merits were commonplace, it meant little—at best, a bit more money.
On the day of his return, Su Tingxue walked into the camp wearing a beautiful dress and braided pigtails, her face adorned with makeup. The men in the camp, unaccustomed to seeing such a pretty young woman, were visibly stirred, unable to resist stealing several glances.
Su Tingxue relished their attention, until someone in the crowd remarked, “I remember this girl—she once sneaked into the men’s bathhouse to spy on us. She’s a pervert!”
Her expression froze, then shifted to anger as she glared at the man.
And then she stood motionless.
She saw Su Ningxia standing nearby, composed and elegant. Her black hair flowed freely, her clothes crisp and clean—a simple white shirt and long trousers. She looked bright and fresh, her face exceptionally fair and flawless. She gave the impression of a well-behaved, obedient girl at first glance.
Su Tingxue still bore freckles on her face. Under the sun, even with powder, they were glaringly obvious.
She bit her lip, especially as she saw Su Ningxia standing next to Fu Zhilin.
Fu Zhilin scratched his head, his face glowing—after all, everyone praised his fiancée for her beauty and grace. Yet when he saw the aggrieved, pouting Su Tingxue, he hurried over, anxiously asking, “Xue, why are you about to cry?”
Su Tingxue wiped her tears and continued, “I just envy my sister, being able to be Brother Lin’s fiancée, and you two look so perfect together.”
“I keep thinking, if I had been raised in the Su family, maybe I could have been engaged to Brother Lin too. But what’s missed is missed, so I just hope Brother Lin will be happy!”
Hearing this, a hint of disgust flashed in Fu Zhilin’s eyes.
“Our Xue is so pretty and lovable—if she could be my fiancée, I’d be willing.”
The two spoke intimately as if no one else was present.
Especially as everyone was preparing to welcome the soldiers returning from the front lines, they flirted openly in front of the crowd.
It was nothing short of an insult to the sacred profession of soldiers.
Commander Ma’s face grew stiff. The woman standing beside him was his youngest daughter, also serving in the army.
She glared at Su Tingxue and said, “Shameless! Everyone knows the sister is Fu Zhilin’s fiancée, yet you come to the camp to steal a man!”
“Fu Zhilin is usually well-behaved, but now, in front of his fiancée, he speaks to her sister like this—his character is questionable!”
“Commander, I advise you to reconsider whether Comrade Fu Zhilin deserves a promotion. In my opinion, he should continue to shine in his current post!”
At these words, Fu Zhilin shot to his feet.
“That’s not what I meant.”
Ma Yuemei laughed, “Your fiancée is watching you—a beautiful young girl, truly pitiable.”
Suddenly, many people looked at Su Ningxia with sympathetic eyes.
Su Ningxia slowly stood, glanced at Su Tingxue, and took a deep breath.
“It’s alright, as long as my sister is happy.”
Her face was full of stubborn resolve.
Everyone felt even more sorry for her.
What a strong young woman.
The more they pitied Su Ningxia, the more they despised Su Tingxue.
Commander Ma spoke up, “From now on, don’t bring questionable people into the camp. Understood?”
Su Tingxue clutched Fu Zhilin’s uniform.
“Brother Lin, do they all hate me? They all like my sister, because she’s educated and pretty, while I’m just a little country girl without any redeeming qualities.”
“Brother Lin, I’m sorry for causing you trouble. I’ll leave now.”
Fu Zhilin grabbed her arm, “It shouldn’t be you who leaves.”
If it wasn’t her, then who? Su Ningxia, of course.
She saw tears glistening on Su Tingxue’s face, as she leaned weakly into Fu Zhilin’s arms.
As expected, Su Tingxue’s only talent was this feigned delicacy, seducing men.
Soon, the soldiers returning from the front lines began to disembark from the vehicles. Several cars opened in unison; many were carried out on stretchers.
Among them was Elder Su.
His leg was wrapped in gauze, blood seeping through, a harrowing sight.
Su Ningxia stepped forward, glanced at Elder Su’s pain-stricken face, and suddenly curled her lips.
Then, with a look of deep sorrow, she said, “Brother, what happened? How did your leg get hurt?”
She shook him desperately. Elder Su struggled to open his eyes and, upon seeing Su Ningxia, murmured, “Xiaxia, save my leg!”
If his leg couldn’t be saved, Elder Su’s military career would be over.
Meanwhile, Su Tingxue, seeing Su Ningxia already fussing over Elder Su, abandoned Fu Zhilin and rushed over, pushing Su Ningxia aside and hugging Elder Su as she cried, “Big brother, my heart aches for you!”
“If it weren’t for sister offending Commander Ma, you wouldn’t have been sent to the front lines!”
“Sister, you pretend to care about our brother, but doesn’t your conscience hurt?”
Hers did not.
But Ma Baoguo’s face darkened almost to the shade of ink.
He had felt some guilt seeing Elder Su in such a state, but now, any remorse had vanished.
Moreover, her voice was so loud that everyone stared at him; anyone who didn’t know better would think the commander was abusing his power!
How could he maintain authority after this!
“Quick, take him to the infirmary!” Ma Baoguo ordered sternly. “If he doesn’t recover, he won’t need to stay in the unit!”
Hearing this, Elder Su nearly fainted from anger, wishing Su Tingxue would just shut up.
Su Ningxia smiled.
She and a few soldiers carried Elder Su to the infirmary.
In the past, she had good relations with the infirmary staff and could arrange a bed for her family.
Now, beds were scarce, and the staff had little fondness for the Su family—especially upon seeing Su Tingxue, it was a wonder they didn’t throw her out.
Were it not for Elder Su’s status as a soldier, they would not have bothered to lay out a mat for him in a corner.
Su’s mother and the second brother arrived.
The third brother and Su’s father still worked at the steel factory; it was hard to get leave, so only those with free time came.
Upon seeing Elder Su’s condition, Su’s mother burst into tears.
She looked at her son’s leg with grief and said, “My son, how you’ve suffered!”
“It’s your mother’s fault, I didn’t protect you!”
Her self-reproach was overwhelming.
At this moment, Su Tingxue stepped forward, pointing at Su Ningxia and accusing her, “Sister, even mother, an outsider, is heartbroken for our brother. And you—our brother was sent to the front lines because of you! Aren’t you at all saddened?”