Daily Life in the 70s-Chapter 161

Yang Peimin agreed with the suggestion, as she also had a habit of napping in the afternoon.

She changed into a tank top and shorts, let down her hair, and sat on the bed.

Shen Yiguang, without her noticing when, had tossed aside the broken chair and came up behind her.

Yang Peimin tugged at him, "Stop it, it’s never just once with you. Will I even be presentable for later?"

Shen Yiguang’s breathing became heavier, but he stopped what he was doing and gently embraced her, sighing into her ear, "Minmin, you have to believe in my self-control. This is to make up for last night, just one time."

Yang Peimin snorted in disbelief, "I’d sooner believe pigs can climb trees!"

His credibility had already been exhausted by his previous actions.

She had been sleeping soundly last night and didn’t know when he had come back, only feeling in a daze as if she was being lifted onto a boat, rocking and drifting all night as if walking on clouds. She hadn’t been aware if it was a dream or reality until the next morning, when she felt something was off below and knew that guy hadn’t buried his manly ’true colors’, it was just that he had been incredibly gentle.

Now he was playing dumb, talking about making up for last night, as if she had slept through it all.

Hearing her response, Shen Yiguang sighed again, "You’ll be leaving in a few days..."

Yang Peimin felt a surge of annoyance but didn’t refuse him any longer.

By the time they actually got out of bed, it was already past two in the afternoon.

She felt a little drowsy, while Shen Yiguang, quite satisfied, displayed an especially strong sense of service. He held her, helped her dress, and watched her eyelids flutter closed, her cheeks faintly blushing, her breaths growing longer and softer, then gently called her name, "Minmin?"

Yang Peimin opened her eyes to look at him, still a bit groggy, and asked, "Did you leave?"

Shen Yiguang smiled tenderly, his eyes filled with regret, "Let’s sleep a bit longer, I won’t disturb you, don’t worry."

Yang Peimin shook her head; she just wanted to sleep in, not because she hadn’t slept enough.

"Don’t make the Political Commissar wait anxiously," she said, trying to get out of Shen Yiguang’s embrace, but he held her back.

"Just lean back for a bit, I’m going to get you a hair tie. What kind of hairstyle would Mr. Yang like today? I’m happy to serve."

Yang Pei looked at him with a hint of curiosity, skeptical, "You know how to do this?"

Shen Yiguang rubbed her head, positioned her against the bedpost, and then went to fetch a comb and a couple of hair ties from the box where his wife kept her makeup, "What’s so difficult about that? When you have many sisters at home, you naturally learn from watching."

With that, he set to work on her hair.

Seeing his confidence, Yang Peimin rolled her eyes and said, "Alright, then make me a big French braid, all gathered at the back of the head."

"Just don’t pull my scalp."

Yang Peimin had shiny, black hair, of course, thanks to her own careful maintenance—using medicinal shampoos and homemade hair treatments, persisting for over three months, her hair had become even smoother and more luxurious than before.

Shen Yiguang found it irresistible most of the time.

He rather enjoyed the act of braiding her hair.

While doing so, he chatted with her about the wife of Political Commissar Zhou, "Sister-in-law Zhou is the director of publicity at the Education Bureau, a family of cultured people. She is straightforward, clear about love and hate. Sometimes she might be a bit harsh or too blunt, but don’t feel like she dislikes you. If she didn’t like you, she wouldn’t even bother to speak to you."

"When I was just a young scout, Political Commissar Zhou mentored me, it was fated. He followed me all the way to this military region, through the years we were reckless and naive, but he was there beside us, shaping and scolding us into shape."

"For a soldier from the countryside without much resources, it’s difficult to stay in the army or get promoted. Mrs. Zhou thought that since I had military achievements and enough experience, even if I stayed and got promoted, without an education, it wouldn’t get me far. The troop had arrangements for outstanding soldiers to enter military academies, but spots were limited, and those with resources in hand even cut in line."

"Mrs. Zhou reminded me to take initiative, to apply and fight for a chance... and I eventually went to the military academy... She’s a very visionary person, many men can’t come close to her. If she wasn’t usually so busy, we would have visited her sooner."

Yang Pei listened quietly, growing curious about Mrs. Zhou.

But Shen Yiguang’s clumsy hands tugged at her hair again.

Ouch!

"Be gentle!"

Shen Yiguang hurried through the final steps, "There, done."

Minmin quickly grabbed a mirror to look, but the braid couldn’t be seen from the back, plus she only had one mirror.

Shen Yiguang looked at her face, tone appreciative, "Pretty sharp!"

Minmin was a bit skeptical, as a couple of strands of her hair were still smarting.

She imagined the look of secret delight in his mind.

Minmin also smiled and shook her head, letting it go as it was his heartfelt effort.

"Not bad, thank you."

Shen Yiguang caressed her face, his voice tender, "No need to thank me."

His eyes were deep with indulgence.

Minmin’s heart skipped a beat.

Then she got out of bed, took her toothbrush to the bathroom, and while Shen Yiguang wasn’t looking her way, she faced the mirror, loosened the braid at the roots a little, and adjusted it into a Korean-style braid, though it only slightly resembled one.

When she came out, Shen Yiguang, now dressed in his uniform, looked briefly at her face and nodded with an approving smile, "Wife, let’s go."

Taking some local dried fruits they had brought from home, they left.

Shen Yiguang told her, "The Political Commissar has a taste for this stuff, you’ve hit the nail on the head."

Yang Pei smiled with pursed lips.

Political Commissar Zhou’s place was in the first Military Family Building constructed, just a building away from theirs; it was a short walk.

Sister-in-law Zhou came out to open the door.

"I just got back too, what a coincidence, come in."

"Is this your wife? She’s really pretty."

Minmin followed Shen Yiguang in, calling out "Sister," to the woman standing before them, who was in her forties, tall and slim, smiling, and exuding firmness in her eyebrows, dressed in a plain grey coverall, looking no different from an ordinary Military Wife at a glance.

Political Commissar Zhou’s home was a one-room apartment, but as the children had grown, it wasn’t convenient for them to share a room with their parents anymore, so they’d partitioned a small room with wooden boards. Those were the children’s dwellings in the past years, but now they were either studying or working, having their own places, so the small room was currently occupied by the Political Commissar’s middle school-aged daughter.

"Sit down, Shen, you’ve been here a few times, don’t stand on ceremony with me, bringing your wife and all."

As she spoke, she brought out some peanuts, "We have these at home, help yourselves. You know Old Zhou’s habits, he loves a little drink with these."

"Where is he?"

"You’re in the same barracks, why are you asking me?" Mrs. Zhou gave him a pointed look.

Afterward, she called Minmin over.