"Zheng Hongjuan, what are you doing?"
Tang Qiyue was pulled so hard that she stumbled. If she hadn't quickly regained her balance, she might have fallen flat on her face.
She grabbed Zheng Hongjuan's arm, shook her off, and finally asked.
Unlike Tang Qiyue, who remained calm despite the sudden attack, Zheng Hongjuan looked much more agitated.
"I kindly came to take you to see something, and you don't even appreciate it!"
Zheng Hongjuan's excitement disappeared instantly because of Tang Qiyue's indifferent reaction.
Tang Qiyue rubbed her arm. She was surprised that this was already the third time she had seen Zheng Hongjuan today. She couldn't understand why this girl seemed so fixated on her.
After thinking about it, only one possibility came to mind.
"You like Zhan Zeyi?"
Perhaps she hadn't expected Tang Qiyue to be so direct, or perhaps she was shocked by her insight.
"You're talking nonsense! I don't like him! I just wanted you to go and see for yourself. Battalion Commander Zhan and Dr. Qin are clearly a pair. If it weren't for you interfering, they would probably already be married!"
Zheng Hongjuan blushed as she spoke, stomping her foot in embarrassment.
Tang Qiyue didn't care much about what Zheng Hongjuan said. Instead, she focused on Zheng Hongjuan's face.
It was red.
Very red.
That meant there was definitely something going on.
Tang Qiyue wasn't stupid. Not everyone was as foolish as Tang Chunlan.
Even if Zhan Zeyi really was injured and unable to have children, as long as he remained in the army, a capable man like him would still live well.
Besides, as the daughter of a capitalist, Tang Qiyue's background made her a target in this era. Even if Zhan Zeyi had two close female friends, she would have to help hide it rather than compete for his affection.
"You're blushing."
Tang Qiyue tapped Zheng Hongjuan lightly on the cheek, completely ignoring her accusations and teasing the young girl instead.
Zheng Hongjuan covered her face.
"How can you not be worried at all? Aren't you afraid Battalion Commander Zhan will get together with Dr. Qin and divorce you?"
Tang Qiyue didn't want to continue the topic, but seeing Zheng Hongjuan's eager expression, she reluctantly replied:
"How could I not worry? But relationships are a matter between two people."
She pulled Zheng Hongjuan back to the washbasin and handed her a stone to sit on.
The girl's thoughts were written all over her face, and Tang Qiyue found it hard to truly dislike her.
"What do you mean?"
Zheng Hongjuan was genuinely curious.
She had seen women fight over men—pulling hair, cursing in the streets, even injuring each other.
How could Tang Qiyue remain so calm?
Tang Qiyue pressed the clothes into the water so they soaked completely. Leaving them there for a while would make washing easier.
"What I mean is that if two people truly love each other and refuse to marry anyone else, then nothing I do will change that."
Zheng Hongjuan's eyes widened. Her face was no longer red as she stood up and walked around Tang Qiyue in disbelief.
"Are you stupid?"
Although she had originally hoped to see Tang Qiyue embarrassed, hearing her speak so calmly made Zheng Hongjuan feel a little sympathetic.
Tang Qiyue simply smiled and didn't respond.
"I'm not joking! Battalion Commander Zhan really was talking and laughing with Dr. Qin earlier. He looked much warmer toward her than he ever does toward you!"
For some reason, Zheng Hongjuan actually felt angry on Tang Qiyue's behalf.
Tang Qiyue pulled a small bag of milk candies from her pocket and handed it to her.
"I was only a substitute bride. Isn't it normal that he isn't enthusiastic toward me? But you clearly like Zhan Zeyi, so why are you trying to match him with Dr. Qin?"
Zheng Hongjuan rolled her eyes and grabbed the candies without hesitation.
The candy looked high-end. She had seen similar ones in overseas Chinese stores, usually packed in tin gift boxes and costing more than ten yuan per box.
Her family wasn't poor, but her parents were very strict and never allowed luxuries. Even though she had always wanted to try them, she never had the chance.
Now that the candy was right in front of her—and given by someone she disliked—she might as well eat it.
She tore open the package and put one candy into her mouth.
She wanted to continue mocking Tang Qiyue, but the sweetness made her hesitate.
"Nonsense! I admire Battalion Commander Zhan! Admire him, do you understand? You clearly have no idea about his heroic deeds!"
The sparkle in Zheng Hongjuan's eyes showed her genuine admiration.
"You don't know anything. Battalion Commander Zhan once stormed the enemy camp alone three times. He wiped out those enemies and held off an entire battalion by himself—and survived! If it were you, wouldn't you admire someone like that?"
Zheng Hongjuan gestured excitedly as she spoke.
Tang Qiyue thought about it carefully.
Zhan Zeyi really was someone worthy of admiration.
In this era, young women admired soldiers deeply—especially someone as young, capable, and decorated as Zhan Zeyi. He was practically a legend.
"Of course I admire him," Tang Qiyue said.
Zheng Hongjuan seemed satisfied with the answer. As the milk candy melted on her tongue, she suddenly felt a bit sympathetic toward Tang Qiyue.
"But your admiration doesn't matter. You were only a substitute bride, and your Tang family has a capitalist background. Even if you're beautiful, you're still a burden."
What Zheng Hongjuan didn't expect was that Tang Qiyue would say thank you.
"Are you crazy? I said you're a burden!"
Zheng Hongjuan thought she had misheard.
Tang Qiyue nodded calmly.
"I know I'm a burden. But you also said I'm beautiful, so I'm thanking you for the compliment."
Zheng Hongjuan: …
She felt like she could no longer communicate with Tang Qiyue.
This capitalist's daughter clearly had something wrong with her brain—she ignored the important parts and only paid attention to the compliment.
"You're hopeless—completely hopeless! I was hoping to see you embarrass yourself, but now I realize you're not a joke… you're just an idiot!"
Zheng Hongjuan suddenly grabbed Tang Qiyue's arm again.
"Come on! Let's go find my sister!"
Tang Qiyue didn't understand why someone who had just tried to drag her into trouble was now taking her to see Political Commissar Wu's wife.
"What do we need her for?"
Tang Qiyue didn't resist this time. She could tell Zheng Hongjuan meant no harm.
But just as they reached the doorway, they ran into Zhan Zeyi returning with a basin of water.
The moment he saw Zheng Hongjuan dragging Tang Qiyue along, his face darkened.
Although Zheng Hongjuan felt a little intimidated by his expression, she remembered how he had just been chatting and laughing with Dr. Qin.
She pulled Tang Qiyue behind her and raised her chin at him.
"Commander Zhan, I'm taking Comrade Tang to my house as a guest. You're not going to stop me, are you?"
Zhan Zeyi pushed Zheng Hongjuan aside, pulled Tang Qiyue behind him, and said in a deep voice:
"I think you've forgotten what your brother-in-law told you."