Zhan Zeyi simply pinched Tang Qiyue's cheek and offered no explanation.
Tang Qiyue rubbed her cheek, wanting to retaliate angrily, but before she could do anything, she saw Zhan's mother shove a package into Zhan Zeyi's arms.
"Take this and eat it on the way!"
"Write to me when you arrive!"
"Don't worry about things at home. Just focus on protecting the country!"
…
Every word Zhan's mother spoke was filled with emotion.
Zhan Zeyi held the package and responded one by one, while Tang Qiyue stood quietly beside him.
"Take good care of your wife. She won't be familiar with the place!"
Zhan's mother held Tang Qiyue's hand.
"Child, when you get there, don't keep everything bottled up. If you have problems, ask questions. If this boy doesn't listen to you, send me a telegram and I'll scold him!"
Tang Qiyue agreed to everything obediently, realizing that her mother-in-law was sincerely standing up for her.
At that moment, Chen Dazhuang and the others honked the horn.
"Brother Zhan, it's getting late! If we don't leave soon, we won't reach our destination tonight!"
Only then did Zhan's mother stop talking and urge Zhan Zeyi and Tang Qiyue to get into the vehicle.
There wasn't enough space in the driver's seat.
Only the driver and Chen Dazhuang—who took turns driving—sat in front.
Everyone else rode in the back compartment.
Zhan Zeyi climbed in first and then reached down to pull Tang Qiyue up.
Although there were stools provided, Zhan Zeyi was tall and felt cramped inside the compartment. So he sat near the edge with his legs hanging outside, which made it slightly more comfortable.
The vehicle started and gradually disappeared from Zhan's mother's sight.
The onlookers in the alley slowly dispersed as well.
However, the events that had happened earlier quickly spread through the neighborhood.
Of course, none of that affected Tang Qiyue and the others anymore.
They had already left.
Meanwhile, Zhan Chunying walked beside Zhan's mother with her arm linked through hers and finally asked the question she had been holding back for a long time.
"Mother, isn't my brother in the army?"
"Why was he wearing a navy uniform this time?"
Zhan's mother suddenly slapped her thigh.
She hadn't noticed earlier and had assumed it was simply a new military uniform.
But her daughter's question made her realize something was unusual.
Zhan's eldest brother, who had been walking behind them with his hands behind his back, immediately scolded her.
"Chunying, stop asking questions!"
Zhan's mother quickly nudged Zhan Chunying's arm.
"Don't ask about your brother's work!"
Zhan Chunying scratched her head in confusion.
However, she quickly forgot about it and ran inside to look at the clothes Tang Qiyue had left for her.
Each piece fascinated her.
Zhan's mother then pulled her eldest son aside.
"Do you know what's going on?" she asked.
He shook his head.
"Xiao Ye didn't say anything, so let's pretend we don't know."
"It's better to know less about his affairs."
While the mother and son were talking, Zhan's mother noticed a pillow placed in the middle of the bed.
She instinctively moved it aside and discovered a brown envelope hidden underneath.
Curious, she opened it.
Inside was money.
There was also a note that read:
"For Mother."
Zhan's eldest brother rubbed his face.
He realized that Xiao Ye had not taken the money he had given him earlier.
Knowing that the family was struggling financially—and that they might refuse to accept help—he had secretly left the money behind.
"Don't tell your wife about this," Zhan's mother said quietly.
"I'm afraid she'll misunderstand. Her brothers have been coming frequently lately to borrow money."
Zhan's eldest brother nodded.
He knew his wife's personality very well.
"This money is a gift from Xiao Ye to you," he said.
"Keep it."
"Even if my brother-in-law wants to borrow money, he'll have to ask me first."
Tang Qiyue knew nothing about what had happened in the Zhan household.
She didn't even know that Zhan Zeyi had secretly left money for his mother.
At that moment, she was being carefully observed by four military wives.
Among them were the wives of Chen Dazhuang and Hu Peng, along with their children.
The other two were the wives of company commanders.
They were older than Tang Qiyue and each had three or four children with them.
Tang Qiyue didn't particularly enjoy dealing with strangers.
However, she knew these women would soon become her neighbors, so she tried to remain polite and friendly.
After eating the candy Tang Qiyue had given them earlier, the children became very fond of her.
If their mothers hadn't restrained them, they would have been chatting with her nonstop.
Meanwhile, Zhan Zeyi sat near the edge of the vehicle with the two company commanders and Hu Peng.
They appeared to be discussing military matters and watching the road.
However, their attention occasionally drifted back toward the compartment.
Tang Qiyue felt extremely uncomfortable being stared at while no one spoke.
Seeing that the children had finished their candy, she was about to give them more when she suddenly noticed something.
One of the military wives looked extremely pale.
Her fists were clenched tightly.
Realizing something was wrong, Tang Qiyue tapped Zhan Zeyi.
"Make some space," she said.
"Someone is carsick."
Zhan Zeyi glanced over and immediately noticed the woman's pale face.
Understanding that Tang Qiyue didn't know how to address her, he kicked Company Commander Wang, who was still talking.
"Old Wang," he said.
"Your wife is carsick. Bring her over to get some fresh air."
Company Commander Wang was a rough and straightforward man.
He had been so busy chatting that he hadn't even noticed his wife's condition.
After being kicked, he wasn't offended.
He simply moved over and realized that she really was carsick.
This woman had grown up in the countryside.
She had only ever ridden in donkey carts before and had never been in a car.
Naturally, the motion made her sick.
"Just endure it," Company Commander Wang said.
"Everyone else is fine. Why are you making a fuss?"
His words were harsh.
His wife already felt miserable, and now she felt even more embarrassed.
She didn't dare move.
Tang Qiyue couldn't stand it.
Getting carsick wasn't something someone chose.
And instead of comforting his wife, he was complaining.
Since she wasn't familiar with them, Tang Qiyue didn't want to directly criticize him.
Instead, she took a piece of candied orange peel from her bag and handed it to the woman.
"Sister-in-law," she said gently,
"This is candied orange peel. Put it in your mouth—it should help."
"If you're still uncomfortable, stand near the edge and get some fresh air."
Tang Qiyue placed the candy in the woman's hand and nudged Zhan Zeyi.
Zhan Zeyi wasn't annoyed.
He simply pulled his foot back and nudged Hu Peng and Company Commander Huang aside to make space.
"My surname is Zhao," the woman said softly.
"I'm older than you, so don't call me sister-in-law. Just call me Sister Zhao."
After standing near the edge of the vehicle and letting the wind blow across her face for a while, her motion sickness improved.
With the candied peel in her mouth, she could speak again.
She looked at Tang Qiyue with gratitude.
She didn't dare let Tang Qiyue call her "sister-in-law."
After all, her husband was only a company commander, while Tang Qiyue's husband was a battalion commander.
Tang Qiyue didn't quite understand why she shouldn't use the term, but she still nodded and agreed.
Seeing Tang Qiyue chatting with Sister Zhao, the other two military wives introduced themselves as well.
The short-haired, neat-looking woman was Hu Peng's wife, Xu Qiuju.
Company Commander Huang's wife was Sun Maisui.
Chen Dazhuang's wife was Li Erhong.
All of them were older than Tang Qiyue.
Just as they were talking, the vehicle suddenly jolted.
Everyone inside was thrown forward.
But Tang Qiyue, who had been tightly held in Zhan Zeyi's arms, remained steady.
At first, nothing seemed wrong.
Then a child suddenly shouted loudly:
"Shame! Shame!"
"Uncle and Aunt kissed!"