Gu Tingchuan arrived at the training ground, where the soldiers had already assembled. Pei Mingze, serving as the deputy commander, was meticulously inspecting the ranks. Upon seeing Gu Tingchuan, Pei Mingze merely stood silently by his side.
"I hear a very young woman has joined our ranks in a civilian post. Is that true?"
Pei Mingze stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed straight ahead. He spoke in a low voice, but Gu Tingchuan beside him remained silent.
"Don't hide it, word has already spread. The most cold-hearted devil in Qingyang District is being remarkably thoughtful and considerate toward a newcomer. I was wondering why you moved out of the shared barracks—so you had ulterior motives after all."
Pei Mingze’s eyes flickered toward Gu Tingchuan. Suddenly, Gu Tingchuan raised his leg and kicked Pei Mingze in the backside.
"I see you have far too much free time."
Pei Mingze did not retort, instead falling into deep thought while eyeing Gu Tingchuan up and down, occasionally flashing a lewd grin. The rumors currently circulating through the Military Region were becoming increasingly absurd—some claimed the new woman was a celestial being, while others insisted that whoever married her would be the happiest man alive.
Pei Mingze found it amusing; they were just a bunch of fresh recruits who clearly lacked sufficient training if they had the spare energy to gossip. For the past two days, he had been regularly increasing the difficulty of their training sessions.
Gu Tingchuan was inspecting the training progress of the various companies. A competition was coming up in a few days, lasting three days in total. It would cover everything from basic physical fitness tests to weighted cross-country runs and high-intensity close-quarters combat; the two lowest-ranked companies would face disciplinary action.
The entire training ground was filled with soldiers training in an orderly fashion, a truly impressive sight.
***
After Shen Niantang left Gu Tingchuan’s office, He Qian appeared before her not far from the doorway.
As soon as she stepped out, she bumped right into him. He Qian was leaning against the corridor wall, hands in his pockets. Seeing her emerge, he immediately flashed a brilliant smile, his eyes curving into crescents.
"Niantang, I've finally caught you!"
He Qian stepped forward, his voice brimming with irrepressible excitement. "The division commander wants us both in his office."
Shen Niantang froze for a moment, a trace of confusion flashing through her mind, but she did not ask any questions. "Alright, let's go."
As they walked, He Qian turned his head to study her, his eyes full of curiosity. "What were you so busy with in Commander Gu's office? I saw you go in quite a while ago."
His tone was casual, yet carried a hint of probing. Shen Niantang’s expression remained unchanged as she said softly, "We were just going over some matters regarding teaching materials and lesson plans."
Seeing she did not want to say more, He Qian did not press the issue and instead shifted the topic with a grin. "The division commander calling for us suddenly—maybe there’s some good news!"
The two walked down the corridor, their footsteps echoing clearly in the empty hallway. Shen Niantang’s thoughts drifted; she recalled the depth of Gu Tingchuan’s eyes and the way he had feigned composure while being unable to hide his inner agitation. A strange sensation stirred within her. She shook her head, silently warning herself not to overthink it.
Soon, they reached the door of the division commander’s office. He Qian gave a light knock, and a deep voice from inside commanded, "Come in."
Pushing the door open, they found Jiang Wenzhou sitting at his desk, flipping through a document. Seeing them enter, he looked up, his gaze lingering on Shen Niantang for a moment with a flash of appreciation.
"Good day, Division Commander!"
He Qian stood at attention and saluted, his voice booming. Shen Niantang followed suit with a sharp, clean salute. Jiang Wenzhou nodded, signaling them to sit. He took two forms from his drawer and handed one to each of them. "The troops are holding a physical fitness competition in a few days. By tradition, civilian staff are required to serve as judges and support personnel. Here are the forms; fill them out."
Shen Niantang took the form and began to read it carefully. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, casting delicate shadows on her cheeks. He Qian, while filling out his own, snuck a glance at her. Seeing her focused expression, he couldn't help but whisper, "Niantang, have you ever served as a judge before?"
Shen Niantang shook her head gently. "No."
Jiang Wenzhou watched them fill out the forms, his gaze eventually settling on Shen Niantang. The young woman possessed a composure that was rare for her age, which naturally earned his favor. After a moment of silence, he spoke up, "Niantang, stay behind. I have a few more things to discuss with you."
He Qian paused for a second, then tactfully stood up. "I’ll go back and organize the forms, then." He winked at Shen Niantang and turned to leave.
Only Jiang Wenzhou and Shen Niantang remained in the room. Jiang Wenzhou took a file from his drawer and handed it to her. "This is your official appointment report. It has been approved, and your political vetting is clear."
His tone was gentle, filled with the concern of an elder. Shen Niantang took the document with both hands, her fingertips tightening slightly. As she opened the file and saw the official approval and stamps, a wave of warmth surged through her.
"Thank you, Division Commander." She looked up, her dimples showing faintly, her eyes filled with gratitude.
Jiang Wenzhou smiled and took a small cloth bundle from his drawer, pushing it toward her. "Military resources are limited, but take these vouchers—food, sugar, and meat coupons. Don't deprive yourself."
Shen Niantang was surprised and quickly waved her hands. "This... this is too valuable. I can't accept it."
Jiang Wenzhou gestured for her to stop, his tone brooking no argument. "This is the organization's way of looking after you, as well as my own expectations for you." He paused, then added, "I greatly admire your English translation skills. I will arrange more important tasks for you in the future."
Shen Niantang bit her lip, feeling both moved and pressured. She took a deep breath and nodded solemnly. "I will not let you down."
Jiang Wenzhou smiled with satisfaction. He then reached into a cupboard and pulled out three cans, thrusting them into her arms. "Take these, too. You young girls like these things, just take them."
Holding the cans, Shen Niantang was momentarily at a loss for words. She lowered her head and whispered, "Division Commander, you are too kind to me."
Jiang Wenzhou laughed heartily and patted her shoulder. "Work hard. I believe in you."
After leaving the office, Shen Niantang carried the cans and the documents, feeling quite happy—after all, in the seventies, canned goods were considered a luxury. As soon as she returned to the third-floor office, He Qian leaned over, his eyes wide. "Wow, Niantang, what is this...?"
Shen Niantang was amused by his exaggerated expression and handed him a can of fruit. "Here’s one for you. Let's share the wealth."
He Qian took the can, his grin stretching from ear to ear. "Niantang, you're the best!"
Shen Niantang offered a faint smile and said nothing more. At noon, He Qian enthusiastically dragged Shen Niantang to the cafeteria for lunch. Along the way, he chatted incessantly about interesting things happening in the unit, and Shen Niantang listened intently.
The cafeteria was packed, yet it remained strangely quiet. The soldiers were highly disciplined, maintaining perfect order even while eating. However, the moment Shen Niantang stepped into the cafeteria, countless gazes turned toward her. The young soldiers’ eyes were filled with heat and curiosity, yet they dared not stare too long, forced to pretend they were focused on their meals while their peripheral vision caught every movement of hers.