usenovelgroup Chapter 97 So Soft
Chapter 97 So Soft
The two talked for a while longer before going back to their rooms to rest.
The next morning, Bai Rongbei and Bai Si'an went to work, Su Wanwan went to the art troupe for rehearsal, and Lin Weiwei, as usual, carried her paint bucket to Shazao Village.
Today she painted a scene of "the military and civilians jointly building an irrigation canal".
In the scene, soldiers and villagers are digging soil together with shovels and carrying stones on shoulder poles. Everyone's face is covered in sweat, but their smiles are genuine.
The background features the Gobi Desert and a faint oasis, with red flags fluttering in the distance.
As I was drawing, a military green jeep pulled up at the village entrance.
The car stopped, and three people got out.
The leader was a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a faded military uniform, without a hat, and with somewhat thinning hair.
Two young staff members followed behind him, each holding a notebook.
"Section Chief, this is Shazao Village," an officer said.
The man addressed as section chief nodded, his gaze sweeping across the village before suddenly stopping.
He saw the earthen wall painted with the words "Abundant Harvest of Five Grains".
The golden, plump ears of wheat, the heavy ears of corn, and the bright red sorghum create a festive yet simple scene that stands out in the earthen-yellow village.
The section chief's eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over and stood in front of the wall to examine it carefully.
"Who painted this picture?" he asked.
Several elderly people sunbathing nearby looked up, and one of them recognized Lin Weiwei, pointing to the other end of the village: "She's a daughter from a military family compound. She's been coming every day these past few days and has painted several walls in our village!"
"From the family compound?" The section chief became even more interested. "What's their name?"
"It seems her surname is Lin... and her name is Lin Weiwei? Yes, that's her name!" the old man said with certainty.
"Lin Weiwei..." the section chief repeated, then turned to the staff behind him and said, "Write it down."
He took another walk around the village and saw the Gobi landscape painting and the animal murals that the children liked. The more he looked, the more excited he became.
"Well done!" the section chief couldn't help but exclaim. "The lines are vivid, the content is down-to-earth, it's both politically sound and artistically appealing, and the public loves it! Our propaganda section desperately needs talent like this!"
One of the officers whispered, "Section Chief, I heard that Comrade Gu Lin, the battalion commander's daughter, also wants to apply for the propaganda officer recruitment..."
The section chief waved his hand: "Recruitment must be fair and impartial. Whoever is capable should be selected. I think Lin Weiwei is suitable! Go and find out if she's willing to apply."
"Yes."
Although the junior officer agreed, knowing that the section chief was fair and just, the battalion commander had already warned that the recruitment process here probably wouldn't be based solely on the section chief's opinion.
The section chief lingered in front of several paintings for a while before getting into his car and leaving.
Lin Weiwei knew nothing about any of this.
After finishing her morning's work, she packed up her things, said goodbye to the village aunties and children, and headed back with her half-empty paint bucket.
On the way, she was still thinking about what story to draw for the next issue of the booklet.
Perhaps we could draw a scene of soldiers studying academic subjects?
Or perhaps you could paint a picture of life in a residential compound?
Before dinner in the afternoon, a new face arrived at the family compound.
A jeep stopped at the gate of the courtyard, and a girl in her early twenties got out.
She was wearing a brand-new military green Lenin suit, her hair was combed into two shiny braids, and she had a smile on her face, but her eyes were held a little high.
Several women from the family compound who had been waiting there immediately surrounded them.
"Comrade Gu Lin is here!"
"You must have had a long journey?"
"Your room is all ready, come in and have a look!"
Gu Lin nodded reservedly, her gaze sweeping around the family compound before finally settling on Su Wanwan and Lin Weiwei, who were hanging clothes to dry in the yard.
Her gaze lingered on their faces for a moment, and she smiled faintly.
Lin Weiwei was unfolding a shirt when she noticed someone staring at her. She looked up and met Gu Lin's gaze.
Gu Lin quickly looked away and was surrounded by the crowd as she walked towards the room that had been arranged for her.
Wang Xiuying appeared out of nowhere, approaching Gu Lin with a beaming smile: "Comrade Gu Lin, you've finally arrived! You must be tired from the journey, right? I've prepared some hot water for you; wash your face first!"
Gu Lin glanced at her, her smile becoming more genuine: "Sister Xiuying, thank you for your trouble."
"No trouble at all!" Wang Xiuying quickly replied, "From now on, we're neighbors, let's look after each other!"
The two entered the house while talking.
Lin Weiwei finished hanging up the clothes, walked over to Su Wanwan, and lowered her voice: "See that? That's Gu Lin, the battalion commander's daughter."
Su Wanwan nodded: "I saw it."
"Wang Xiuying is really quick," Lin Weiwei said, pouting. "She's already climbed up."
"Those two..." Su Wanwan recalled the plot of the original book, "Wang Xiuying knows how to please Gu Lin, and Gu Lin also needs someone like Wang Xiuying to pave the way for her."
As the two were talking, the plump aunt passed by and whispered, "I heard that Comrade Gu Lin came to accompany the army. Her husband is a staff officer in the regimental headquarters, and her father is a battalion commander. She's here on the frontier to gain experience and needs to make some achievements so that she can be transferred later. But she's also capable. I think she has connections in the propaganda department. Maybe she's here to compete for a propaganda officer position."
Lin Weiwei's heart skipped a beat.
The recruitment of publicity officers is about to begin.
Gu Lin's arrival made the family compound lively for quite a while.
She was generous, distributing the candies and snacks she brought to the children of each family, and she spoke politely. Soon, many people praised her, saying, "No wonder she is the daughter of the battalion commander; she is well-mannered."
Wang Xiuying practically became Gu Lin's follower; the two were inseparable, and their close relationship was obvious to the naked eye.
Su Wanwan and Lin Weiwei watched coldly, knowing that Wang Xiuying had found a powerful backer.
Gu Lin did need Wang Xiuying, as Wang Xiuying was in the cultural troupe and could provide her with inside information.
Wang Xiuying is also good at networking and can help her meet more people.
After waiting outside for a while, Su Wanwan and Lin Weiwei went inside to pack their luggage.
Lin Weiwei came over to help, stuffing towels and soap into the cloth bag while instructing, "Wanwan, be careful over there. Commander Bai is right, stay with the main group and don't get separated."
"I know." Su Wanwan folded two changes of clothes and put them inside. "Be careful at home too. When Gu Lin comes, Wang Xiuying will definitely be even more smug. Don't confront them directly."
"I'm not afraid of them at all," Lin Weiwei snorted.
Su Wanwan pinched Lin Weiwei's cheek and whispered in her ear, "I'm not home, so you can sleep with Bai Si'an tonight. You like to hug someone when you sleep, and since I'm not here, it'll be perfect for you to hug him."
Lin Weiwei nodded with a mischievous smile, "My period just ended, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to sleep tonight."
Su Wanwan blushed upon hearing this. She pinched Lin Weiwei's waist and gently reminded her, "Then you'd better be careful, or you won't be able to get out of bed when I get back!"
"Haha, no way, I have great stamina!"
……
The next morning, before dawn, Su Wanwan got up.
Bai Rongbei had already cooked millet porridge, steamed buns, and even boiled two eggs.
"Eat it on the way." He wrapped the eggs in oil paper and stuffed them into Su Wanwan's cloth bag.
"Thank you." Su Wanwan took a small sip of her porridge.
Bai Rongbei sat opposite her, looking at her, and suddenly said, "If you run into trouble, find Captain Zhou. She's experienced and can handle it."
"Um."
"Did you bring everything?"
"All done."
"Keep your money and food coupons close to your body."
"it is good."
The simple conversation made Su Wanwan feel at ease.
After finishing their meal, Bai Rongbei picked up her luggage: "I'll take you to the camp entrance."
Lin Weiwei also got up and insisted on going along.
When the three arrived at the camp entrance, the division headquarters' trucks were already waiting there.
Zhou Min and Wang Xiuying had arrived and were talking to one of the cadres leading the team.
Su Wanwan walked over: "Captain Zhou, Wang Xiuying."
Zhou Min nodded: "It's good that you're here. Get ready to get in the car."
Wang Xiuying greeted her with a smile, but her eyes glanced behind her and saw Bai Rongbei. Her smile deepened: "Commander Bai came to see us off too? How thoughtful."
Bai Rongbei didn't reply, but handed the luggage to Su Wanwan: "Be careful."
"Okay, you can go back now." Su Wanwan took the luggage.
Just then, another jeep drove up.
The car door opened, and Gu Lin got out of the car.
She changed into casual clothes today, new ones, and was carrying a small leather suitcase with a smile on her face.
"Captain Zhou! Wang Xiuying! Su Wanwan!" She walked over, her voice clear and crisp. "I've applied to my superiors to go to the countryside this time for research and to write a report. I'll be traveling with you all, so please take care of me on the road!"
Zhou Min, who clearly knew in advance, nodded and said, "Comrade Gu Lin, welcome. Get in the car, we're about to depart."
Wang Xiuying immediately moved closer and affectionately took Gu Lin's arm: "Comrade Gu Lin, let's sit together! It'll be easier to talk on the way!"
Su Wanwan stood there, watching Gu Lin and Wang Xiuying chat and laugh as they got on the truck, and her unease grew stronger.
In the original story, Gu Lin and Wang Xiuying "rescued" a lost child during this trip to the countryside, which earned them merit and led to her being successfully recruited into the propaganda department upon returning home.
And now, she's going too.
Su Wanwan gripped the luggage strap tightly.
She absolutely could not let Gu Lin and Wang Xiuying take all the credit for this trip to the countryside.
It wasn't for himself, it was for Lin Weiwei.
If Gu Lin makes a contribution and gets into the propaganda department, then Lin Weiwei will have no chance at all.
"Wanwan, get in the car!" Zhou Min called from inside the car.
Su Wanwan took a deep breath, turned to Bai Rongbei and Lin Weiwei, and said, "I'm leaving."
"Take care!" Lin Weiwei waved to her.
Bai Rongbei nodded without saying anything, just looking at her with worry practically overflowing in his eyes.
Just as Su Wanwan was about to climb onto the truck, Bai Rongbei grabbed her by the buttocks and pushed her up.
"Thank you." Su Wanwan was a little embarrassed that Bai Rongbei had touched her butt in front of so many people. After getting into the car, she blushed and whispered a thank you to Bai Rongbei.
Bai Rongbei nodded slightly, then instructed Su Wanwan, "Sit tight after you get in the car. If you feel nauseous, have someone stop the car."
"it is good."
Bai Rongbei went on and on about his worries, and Su Wanwan nodded in agreement before finding a seat on the side.
Wang Xiuying watched from the sidelines, feeling very unhappy. Her husband was like a dead man, completely ignoring her going to the countryside. He didn't care about her at all, let alone her. Li Jianguo was even urging her to come back soon, just because the family needed an old woman to cook.
The carriage was already quite full of people. In addition to the three members of the cultural troupe, there were several staff members from the division's propaganda department, plus Gu Lin, making a total of seven or eight people.
The car started and slowly drove out of the camp.
Su Wanwan turned around and saw Bai Rongbei and Lin Weiwei still standing in the same spot, their figures getting smaller and smaller until they finally disappeared into the dust.
Bai Rongbei watched as Su Wanwan's figure disappeared before gently rubbing his fingers together.
He put his hand to his nose and smelled it. His hand still carried the unique scent of Su Wanwan, a fragrant and refreshing aroma.
The most crucial element is the tactile feel.
Su Wanwan's...it's so soft, so soft, I just want to grab it and squeeze it a few times...
[The update frequency is a bit low, which will affect the later promotion. Please check in from time to time! Thanks♪(･ω･)ﾉ]