CHAPTER 176: CHAPTER 176: DEAD SET ON HOLDING US BACK

She blinked, looking confused.

"Why are you laughing?"

"It’s nothing."

She couldn’t say he was cute; Yi Chichi was worried he might get embarrassed and angry, then jump into the sea to cool off.

Reaching for a piece of candy, she smiled and said, "One for each of us."

"You can have them all, I don’t like candy."

"My aunt told me you’re addicted to sweets!"

Wen Shi thought, ...My dear mother is determined to hold me back, always sharing everything with Chichi.

Doesn’t he care about his reputation?

"I-I’m not as extreme as my mother says."

Feeling aggrieved, Yi Chichi smiled and took the leftover piece of candy too.

"Alright, I’ll eat them myself."

Wen Shi was satisfied, showing a big toothy grin, "There’ll be a high tide in the morning, want to go catch the sea?"

"Do you have time?"

"No, but I can find someone to go with you."

He had taken time off today to welcome Yi Chichi’s arrival. He swapped shifts with his partner, who went to sea while he stayed back at the base.

But there have been a lot of tasks recently, "At most three days, and I can accompany you during normal working hours."

"Work comes first."

The two chatted casually, and the ferry arrived at the port.

Fenglin Port is the most important port on the island, but it’s not a military port; it’s a civilian port.

Ferries come and go non-stop, and it’s not very close to Wen Shi’s base.

"Wife, we need to head to the marketplace to catch a bus, are you okay?"

Huang Qingshan supported Yang Qing, who had been throwing up, looking worried.

"I’m fine!"

With her feet on solid ground, Yang Qing revived, full of energy again, "I’m all good, walk on with confidence... And Old Huang, a serious reminder, don’t say women can’t handle things, we women are very capable, not worse than you men..."

"Got it, got it, it was my mistake, I’ll be more careful next time."

He didn’t mean to nag, he just wanted to show concern for his wife. How did it become him looking down on women?

The key was he didn’t dare argue, just had to admit his mistake.

Looking at his aggrieved face, Wen Shi tightened his grip on the luggage, unable to resist glancing at Yi Chichi’s face, seeing her gentle, relaxed brows, eyes full of laughter.

His Chichi had such a good temper.

"Sister-in-law, if you’re feeling unwell, just say so. You don’t have to push yourself; Chichi and I can carry the luggage, let Old Huang carry you instead."

Yi Chichi’s eyes suddenly widened, then quickly returned to normal. She had a lot to complain about regarding the carrying suggestion.

"No need, I can really handle it."

To prove her point, Yang Qing grabbed a piece of luggage and marched towards the marketplace with great vigor.

As she passed by Yi Chichi, she took her along.

"Come on, sister, I know where the marketplace is."

Yi Chichi smiled at Wen Shi and left, following the direction of Yang Qing’s pull.

Wen Shi and Huang Qingshan exchanged a glance and resignedly carried the luggage, following the two women to the marketplace.

They got on a vehicle that had come out for logistics to pick up supplies and headed back to the base.

The temperature on the island in late August was very high. Yi Chichi got off the vehicle, covered in a light sheen of sweat.

Yang Qing wasn’t much better. She wiped the sweat from her face and asked, "Sister, are you staying at the guesthouse or somewhere else?"

"I applied for temporary housing."

Wen Shi answered for her. Yang Qing was amused, "Then sister, you go back with your sweetheart first, see you tomorrow."

She also wanted to take a good look at her new home.

"Okay."

Yi Chichi nodded, watching the couple leave, chatting and laughing, then turned to Wen Shi, "Tired, want to rest."

Wen Shi felt like he was seeing Uncle Yaozi’s cat Da Li, looking aloof but actually being affectionate, incredibly cute.

It made his heart race.

He coughed awkwardly, "Let’s go, I’ll take you to rest."

Yi Chichi’s arrival caused a significant impact.

The soldiers and their families they met along the way were visibly shocked, as if seeing a ghost, upon seeing her and Wen Shi walking and chatting together.

They even whispered among themselves.

Her sharp ears caught a sister-in-law whispering softly as they passed by, "No wonder Vice Commander Wen scolded Xiao Li to tears before..."

Yi Chichi looked puzzled, "Did you make someone cry again?"

"I didn’t scold them, just gave a few words of instruction."

Understood, he probably mentioned something like telling them not to speak poorly or questioning if there was something wrong with their mouths, or if their cerebellum was underdeveloped, suggesting they see a doctor, and so on.

"Did you get physical?"

"I’m not that kind of person."

Wen Shi was anxious, "You have to believe me, I don’t get physical with ordinary women, but with spies and bad people, I would."

"I believe you!"

The firm words successfully appeased the anxious man.

Then, under the gaze of people who looked like they’d seen ghosts, they made their way back to the temporary housing he applied for.

This area consisted of uniformly arranged detached houses, with white walls and green tiles, and yards in the front and back.

Some yards had vegetable gardens, others didn’t.

The yard Wen Shi applied for didn’t have a vegetable garden, but the neighbors did, indicating they were inhabited, though no one was seen.

He unlocked the door with a key, "You’ll stay here until you go back."

Yi Chichi blurted out, "What about you?"

"I’ll stay in the dormitory."

They hadn’t registered for marriage, so they couldn’t live under the same roof.

"The furnishings inside were all applied for through logistics, you’ll have to make do for now. After marriage, you can continue to use them, or buy your own with your own money."

He was planning for the long term.

Yi Chichi got the hint; this house was likely reserved for Wen Shi.

The neighbors were probably his colleagues.

Even if they weren’t, their ranks were similar to his.

"I’m a bit thirsty."

She sat on the chair, the last bit of energy she was holding onto dissipated, feeling her bones almost falling apart.

From the northernmost part of the country to the southernmost part of the country, a journey of nearly four thousand kilometers, switching between trains, buses, and ferries. Even after a night in a guesthouse to relieve fatigue, she still felt exhausted.

"How about a soda?"

He handed her a bottle of Beibingyang, Yi Chichi’s mouth twitched. It was a nice gesture, but soda wasn’t effective in quenching thirst.

"I want water."

Wen Shi let out a sigh of regret, filled a cup with water from a kettle, and handed it to her. It turns out, the special soda he prepared for his future wife wasn’t appreciated. Instead, she preferred water.

Indeed, he shouldn’t have listened to the unreliable Old He.

"It’s new, drink with ease."

He handed her the cup. Yi Chichi took it gratefully and started drinking, gulping it down.

Wen Shi got nervous watching, hurriedly advising, "Take it easy, be careful not to choke."

Yi Chichi thought, ...She’s not a three-year-old kid, she knows how to drink water without choking.

But this was Wen Shi’s concern, so she couldn’t snap at him.

So she smiled, put down the cup, and came over to the largest two pieces of luggage, motioning for him to join her in unpacking.

"Come on, these are all your things."

Wen Shi didn’t move, instead, he looked at her and asked, "Is there anything in there that you prepared for me?"