Chapter 133: Compared to Him, You Are Nothing

Whether it was Zhuang Lili’s words that provoked Huang Qiang, or a sudden eruption of his inner ego, Huang Qiang stood up abruptly. "Who says I don't dare to admit it!"

"He’s just a battalion commander, isn't he? I’ve heard he’s thirty years old and didn't even finish elementary school! He’s just an illiterate!"

"Who are you calling illiterate? And so what if he's a battalion commander? Compared to him, you're nothing!"

Hearing Lin You being insulted by Huang Qiang, Zhuang Lili could not sit still. She stood up, pointed at his nose, and began to scold him.

Huang Qiang froze. He had not expected such a strong reaction from Zhuang Lili. After a moment of stunned silence, he realized something: Zhuang Lili was actually in love with Lin You! Could he not use Zhuang Lili to ruin Lin You’s reputation? If that happened, Xia Yan would surely leave Lin You. Then, when he found an opportunity to appear and comfort her... wouldn't the beauty fall right into his arms?

Huang Qiang’s mind raced. "Lili, I suddenly have something to attend to. I’m leaving."

Zhuang Lili, wishing he would leave immediately, did not even look up. After cursing silently under his breath, Huang Qiang turned and walked out the door. Back in his room, he bowed his head and wrote a letter, but on the envelope, he wrote: [To Battalion Commander Lin You].

Having finished this, Huang Qiang hurried toward the military post without delay. Lin You had met Huang Qiang before, so he certainly could not hand it to him personally. Just as he was struggling with this dilemma, a woman wearing a green headscarf, muttering complaints to herself, walked by.

One look at this woman told him she was the type who loved spreading gossip. If he gave the letter to her, the whole post would know about it within half a day.

"Comrade, hello."

A plan formed in Huang Qiang’s mind, and he quickly stepped forward to block the woman’s path. Qian Yuxiang was already in a bad mood because of the beef soup incident that morning, and having her way blocked so suddenly made her temper flare up immediately. "Who do you think you are!"

Huang Qiang felt a bit awkward being snapped at like that. "Comrade, hello, I’m an educated youth from the ranch."

Hearing he was an educated youth—meaning he was an educated person—Qian Yuxiang looked him over again. His scholarly appearance was quite pleasing to her. As the saying goes, a woman of thirty is like a wolf, and forty like a tiger. At her age, caught in between, she was right in her prime. Even after having five children, she still had her desires, but her own husband had no interest in her at all.

"So, you're an educated youth." As Qian Yuxiang spoke, she leaned closer to Huang Qiang.

Watching the woman change her expression faster than turning the pages of a book, Huang Qiang sneered inwardly. As she leaned in, a pungent odor wafted from her; he didn't need to guess to know she hadn't bathed in at least half a month. He subconsciously took a step back. "Cough, cough. Comrade, this is my first time at the post, and I don't know where the regimental headquarters is. I have a letter here for Battalion Commander Lin, but I’m in a hurry to get back. Could you help me deliver it?"

"Battalion Commander Lin? Lin You?"

"Yes, yes, that’s him. You see, we have a female educated youth, and this is a letter she wrote to Battalion Commander Lin." Huang Qiang intentionally emphasized the words "female educated youth."

Qian Yuxiang, who had been annoyed by Huang Qiang stepping back a moment ago, perked up instantly upon hearing that a female educated youth had written to Lin You.

"I happen to be going to the regimental headquarters anyway. Give it to me, I’ll help you."

"Thank you so much, Comrade."

Huang Qiang smiled. The plan was more than half complete; now, he just had to wait for the scandal to blow up. Just as Huang Qiang had anticipated, within half a day, the entire family compound was buzzing with rumors about the improper relationship between Lin You and a female educated youth, and that the girl had even written him a letter.

At the regimental headquarters.

"Old Jiang, do you think this letter... could Lin You really be involved with some female educated youth?" Lu Haiyang looked at the letter in front of him, then at Jiang Weiguo, who was sitting there.

Jiang Weiguo spat out a tea stalk he had been chewing. "How is that possible? We know what kind of person Lin You is. Even when Dr. Zhu was pursuing him so hard, he didn't budge. How could he possibly be involved with some female educated youth we’ve never even heard of?"

Lu Haiyang nodded, though he was still uneasy. "It’s just that this whole thing is suspicious. There’s no smoke without fire. I think it’s better to call Lin You back and clarify things. We don't want young Xia to misunderstand and have trouble start right after they’ve just gotten married."

"You’re right. Call up to the mountain now and tell Lin You to come back immediately!"

Up on the mountain, Lin You and Wang Baoguo were sitting in the guard post, having finally had their first cup of hot water after a long, busy morning.

"I’m telling you, big brother, you should go back. I was originally the one leading this mission anyway." Wang Baoguo tore off a piece of dry ration and tossed it into his mouth.

Lin You grunted. "Do you think I’d stay until your mission is over? I’m taking Li Guoxiang and the others back shortly. We didn't bring anything with us when we came up the mountain, and the rations you brought aren't enough to share with us."

Wang Baoguo clearly hadn't expected Lin You to say that. He looked at him with surprise. "Big brother, I’ve noticed you’ve really changed since you got married. You wouldn't have been like this before. 'Not enough rations to share'—that’s just an excuse. I think you’re missing your wife, aren't you?"

"What? Am I not allowed to miss my wife?"

"Fine, fine, I didn't ask anything. I’m just courting trouble. I’m envious, alright?"

Lin You laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "You’ll understand once you start a family, kid. I didn't care about anything before, but now it’s different. Once you have a home, you have someone to worry about. I’m more careful and meticulous during missions now, and I value my life more. After all, I’m not just living for myself anymore."

"Big brother, you’ve grown up." Wang Baoguo mimicked Lin You and patted his shoulder, speaking with deep meaning.

"Get out of here. You need to put in some effort yourself!"

"Mission will be accomplished..."

"Hahaha." The two brothers looked at each other and laughed.

An hour later, Lin You finished packing. "I’ll leave the guard post expansion to you. Finish the task early and head back. I’ll have your sister-in-law cook you a table full of good food."

"That’s a promise. Don't go getting all stingy about your wife when the time comes."

After saying goodbye to Wang Baoguo, Lin You led Li Guoxiang down the mountain. It would probably be the middle of the night by the time they reached home. Images of Xia Yan and the three children flickered through Lin You’s mind, and a happy smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Beside him, Li Guoxiang watched. "Battalion Commander, I’ve noticed you smile a lot lately. It seems getting married really is different."

Lin You touched his own face. "How come you’ve started talking like Baoguo lately?"

Li Guoxiang waved his hands hastily. "I’m not imitating the instructor. I’m saying this from the bottom of my heart."