The 60s Island: The Daily Life of a Capitalist Young Lady with the Army - Chapter 10: Have I Not Been Obedient Enough to You?

Chapter 10: Have I Not Been Obedient Enough to You?

Xu Xiangsi turned around and saw the woman who loved eating candy from the ship.

The woman swayed her hips as she quickly approached, her eyes darting between the military jeep and Long Peiye.

Are you two heading to the military base? she asked with a smile, though her eyes revealed shrewdness. I happen to be visiting family at the base too. I’m unfamiliar with this place and don’t know how to get there. Could you… give me a ride?

Before Xu Xiangsi could respond, Long Peiye’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, clearly not fond of such familiarity from strangers.

Xu Xiangsi was straightforward.

She looked the woman up and down, a faint, ambiguous smile playing on her lips.

Sorry, we’re not going to the base. You’d better find another ride.

With that, she opened the car door and got in without another glance.

Long Peiye gave the woman a slight nod and got into the passenger seat.

The young soldier promptly started the engine.

The jeep rumbled to life, emitting a puff of bluish smoke as its tires rolled over the concrete of the dock before speeding away.

Left behind, the fashionable woman watched the departing vehicle, her smile instantly collapsing.

Pah! she spat in the direction the car had gone.

What nonsense! Riding in a military vehicle and claiming they’re not going to the base? Who do they think they’re fooling? Selfish and petty! No sense of camaraderie at all!

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, stomping her foot in frustration.

Just wait until I get to the base. I’ll make sure everyone knows what kind of people they are!

Fuming, she looked around, trying to figure out how to get to the military base.

The jeep jolted along the bumpy dirt road.

Xu Xiangsi braced herself against the window with one hand while protecting her small leather suitcase with the other, her eyes curiously scanning the scenery outside.

The island was a world apart from Shanghai.

Lush subtropical plants were everywhere, and the air carried a salty, fresh scent.

Hey, Long Peiye, she turned to him. Are there many factories on this island?

Long Peiye thought for a moment. Quite a few, actually.

Since you’ve just been transferred here and don’t know your way around, make sure no one takes advantage of you, Xu Xiangsi said in a tone reminiscent of an older sister.

She reached over and patted Long Peiye’s shoulder lightly through the seat.

If anyone gives you trouble, just let me know! I’ll stand up for you!

She lifted her chin, a hint of the same smugness she’d shown when intimidating others on the ship.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Long Peiye’s mouth, his voice tinged with amusement. Then I’ll thank you in advance?

Was this girl really seeing herself as his protector?

Xu Xiangsi missed the teasing in his tone, thinking he was genuinely grateful, and nodded in satisfaction.

As the journey continued, Xu Xiangsi began to feel something was off.

The scenery along the road didn’t look like it led to any factory or farm.

Soon, the jeep passed by an area enclosed by high barbed wire, with armed sentries standing guard at the entrance.

A military camp? Xu Xiangsi wondered to herself.

Before she could ponder further, the jeep turned and drove straight into a neatly arranged courtyard next to the military camp.

The entrance to the compound was marked with four large characters: Military Family Compound.

The car wound through the compound, turning left and right, before finally coming to a smooth stop in front of a small courtyard.

The house, though modest, didn’t look like something an ordinary factory worker would be assigned.

Xu Xiangsi got out of the car and frowned as she looked at the standalone courtyard before her.

Just as she was about to ask Long Peiye what was going on and what he was really up to, the young soldier who had been silently driving jumped out of the driver’s seat.

He strode quickly over to Long Peiye, snapped his feet together, and gave a crisp, standard military salute, his voice loud and full of vigor: Battalion Commander! I’ll head back to the camp now!

Long Peiye waved a hand casually. Mm, go ahead.

The young soldier saluted again, turned, and jogged away.

As Long Peiye turned around, he met Xu Xiangsi’s eyes—filled not with question marks, but with exclamation points.

Battalion Commander? Camp? Long Peiye, you… you… what kind of person are you?!

Xu Xiangsi felt her brain was struggling to keep up.

Long Peiye couldn’t help but chuckle softly at her utterly shocked expression.

He walked over to Xu Xiangsi, stopped in front of her, and wore an expression she hadn’t seen before—somewhere between seriousness and teasing.

I forgot to give a proper introduction, Comrade Xu Xiangsi, he said with a slight nod, his voice clear and steady. I am Long Peiye, Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 3rd Army stationed on Cloud Sky Island.

Xu Xiangsi blinked once, then again, and it took her a long moment to find her voice.

Battalion Commander? Her brows furrowed deeply. But the matchmaker said you were a team leader at the machinery factory!

A faint smile played on Long Peiye’s lips as he reached out and pushed open the wooden gate of the small courtyard, which emitted a soft creak.

Is it possible, he said, turning slightly to gesture for her to enter, a hint of barely detectable teasing in his voice, that from the very beginning, you approached the wrong person?

Xu Xiangsi’s mind buzzed as if she had been struck hard by something!

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Long Peiye. So… so that day at the state-run restaurant, you weren’t there to meet me for a blind date at all?!

Long Peiye nodded calmly, his tone even. That’s right. I was there to have a meal with my comrades.

Xu Xiangsi nearly choked on her breath, her cheeks flushing bright red—not from embarrassment, but from anger!

Long Peiye! she practically spat out his name through gritted teeth. So I’ve… I’ve just lost a fake husband I could easily bribe with money and ration tickets at any time?!

She had suffered a huge loss!

At this, Long Peiye raised an eyebrow slightly, a glint of amusement flashing in his eyes. Oh? And have I not been obedient enough to you?