Chapter 370: Chapter 370 Conversation

Shen Yixiang also came to her senses and nodded.

Lu Haijun’s face also turned slightly red, embarrassed, he nodded to Yang Peimin, “It was my oversight, I will reconsider later…”

Yang Peimin didn’t have time to listen to what he was saying; she grabbed Shen Yixiang and left, signaling Yang Peiying to follow.

Yang Peiying had been startled when Yang Peimin raised her voice, and reflexively turned on the flashlight Yang Peimin handed her. Now, in her hurry, she shook the flashlight in her hand, causing the beam to shine directly on Lu Haijun, who was about to speak, stopping him abruptly.

When they returned to the military dependents’ courtyard, some people saw them coming from the direction of the soldiers’ dormitories and curiously asked, “Hey, what happened?”

Yang Peimin replied, “My sister-in-law was anxious to find out about her brother’s whereabouts; I happened to run into Political Commissar Zhou, and learned that her brother was out on a mission. Since I was worried she might get lost in the dark, I rushed out to bring her back.”

“Oh, that’s what happened. You really can’t be faulted as a sister-in-law.”

Yang Peimin smiled and shook her head, “Don’t say that; it’s what I should do. I can’t talk more, I’ve left water boiling upstairs.”

“Okay, you should head back early.”

Afterward, Yang Peimin gave the same explanation to a few other people she encountered. She thought that even if any rumors originated from the soldiers’ dormitories, the public opinion here had already been preemptively swayed by her explanation — everyone would likely believe her version first.

Back in the dormitory, Yang Peimin found a place to sit down and gestured for the two of them to sit as well.

Shen Yixiang immediately said before her sister-in-law could speak, “Sister-in-law, I know I was wrong, I, I…”

“What ‘I’? What did you promise your brother before? To find out more before making any plans, what’s all this? Even if you were going to go, you should have told me, and you lied about going to Mr. Zhang’s house. I found it strange; what’s so urgent that it can’t wait until tomorrow?” Honestly, she was quite angry. For the sake of a man, lying and deceiving her, considering the time they had spent together, it was supposed to be heart for heart. She didn’t expect to be excluded by someone she trusted.

“I’m sorry, sister-in-law.” Luckily, Shen Yixiang was not being stubborn and hung her head, her face truly showing remorse.

“What exactly did you say to Lu Haijun? It had to be said tonight?”

“It wasn’t much, just… just went to see if he was also out on a mission, and about the letter he promised earlier…” Her voice grew softer as she spoke, eventually becoming inaudible.

Yang Peimin could see what she was trying to say, her face showing some disappointment, “Yixiang, you are a grown woman, and you should have the freedom and right to socialize and handle matters. However, you had promised certain things and there’s integrity in being an adult. Also, acting without considering consequences, without considering the family’s feelings, disappoints me greatly. If you still think you can listen to what I say, then calm down with Lu Haijun for now, see if tonight’s events spread before deciding on anything else.”

Shen Yixiang quickly nodded, “I understand, sister-in-law.”

Yang Peiying looked visibly uncomfortable on the side.

Yang Peimin also told her, “Yingzi, listen as well, sister’s telling you, if in the future you like a boy, or want to date someone, always discuss it with the family first, understand? The family will observe with you. Sometimes, we can easily get caught in emotional dilemmas, having someone else to give us a heads up might help us snap out of it before falling into a hole.”

Yang Peiying swiftly nodded.

No more was said afterward; things were already at this state, and speaking more would serve no purpose, nor did she want to waste her breath.

Yang Peimin prepared the hot water, took a hot bath, and finally felt significantly more relieved both physically and emotionally.

When it was time to sleep, since there were only two rooms, Yang Peimin slept in one by herself while Yingzi and Shen Yixiang shared the other; her bed was a bit roomier. They didn’t sleep with her because they were both cautious of touching Yang Peimin’s belly.

Just as Yang Peimin lay down, someone knocked on the door, which was unlocked, allowing her to invite them in.

Shen Yixiang walked in, looked up at Yang Peimin with a sheepish smile, tugging at the hem of her clothes, and eventually said, “Sister-in-law, I came to talk to you.”

Yang Peimin nodded, inviting her to sit on the edge of the bed.

“Sister-in-law, what was it like when you and my brother started dating? Did you start dating because you liked each other?”

Surprisingly, she began asking about her own affairs.

Yang Peimin snorted coldly, “Why? Now you’re asking about me?”

Shen Yixiang scratched her head, “I’m just looking for a reference. I… I have quite a fondness for Lu Haijun, you know? I don’t know…”

“What do you like about him?”

“Didn’t our family have him over for a meal last time? At that time, after my brother refused him, Lu Dadan still brazenly looked at me… And after everyone left, he deliberately slowed down to stay behind, talking to me… he said looking at me was refreshing and spirited, clearly the style of a military man, like brother like sister he said. He even said after a few days he hasn’t trained much, he could show me around… At that moment, I found him quite interesting, obviously having an agenda, obviously blushing, yet he still mustered the courage to come over… His speech was also stuttered, nothing like the boldness at the dinner table, and he hardly dared to look at me… I wanted to ask if my brother also gets nervous like this when he likes someone?”

Yang Peimin remained silent, “Your brother is not that shy.”

Shen Yixiang chuckled softly, but seeing Yang Peimin looking over, she quickly stifled it.

“Sister-in-law, you oppose it because our families are far apart, right? Afraid that mom and dad won’t agree?”

“What else? That Lu Haijun, your brother said, is capable but not outstanding. It’s hard to predict if he can advance further in his career, but if he doesn’t, he might face a transfer, and then you’ll have to follow him to another place, far from here. Being a woman married far from home, without someone to stand up for her in case of difficulties, and not knowing if you can even come home once a year to see your parents.”

Shen Yixiang shook her head, “Sister-in-law, I know what you’re saying, but none of that is happening yet, even if it does, solutions are made by people, surely there’s a way to satisfy both sides.”

“Do you think Lu Haijun would choose you over his parents? If he’s transferred, I think he’d try to apply to be closer to his parents. Can you ask him to move to our place?”

Shen Yixiang looked at Yang Peimin, “Sister-in-law, these are all things we can find solutions for, we could even bring his parents over when the time comes.”

Yang Peimin looked at her determined face and finally asked, “What are you planning now? To start dating him first?”