The 60s Island: The Daily Life of a Capitalist Young Lady with the Army - Chapter 12: What!? Married!?

Chapter 12: What!? Married!?

She pushed open the main door, and a gust of air carrying a slight salty sea breeze greeted her face.

The interior was well-lit, with a modest-sized central hall facing the entrance. Two rooms flanked each side, forming a neat, symmetrical layout.

“The house is quite spacious and bright,” Xu Xiangsi remarked casually as she inspected each room, though her mind was already calculating.

The first room on the left, facing south with large windows, had the best lighting—clearly the master bedroom.

Seeing genuine satisfaction finally replace her polite smile, Long Peiye felt somewhat relieved.

Following behind her, he pointed to the south-facing room. “This master bedroom gets good sunlight. You should take this one. I’ll move my things to the room next door.”

Hearing this, Xu Xiangsi instinctively demurred out of politeness. “Oh, no need, no need! I can take the side room. You’re a grown man—you must have more belongings than I do.”

Even as she spoke, her feet had already carried her to the doorway of the so-called “guest room” next door.

She peeked inside—

Good heavens!

The guest room was noticeably smaller than the master bedroom, with a smaller window that made the room dimmer. It was utterly bare except for a plain, uncovered bed.

Xu Xiangsi’s expression froze for a second.

She immediately pulled her head back, plastering an overly bright, somewhat artificial smile on her face as she turned to Long Peiye. “Ah, Battalion Commander Long, you’re so thoughtful after all! This master bedroom really is nice—great lighting, good for a female comrade’s health!”

She patted Long Peiye’s arm, her tone dripping with sincerity. “Then I’ll trouble you to move your things!”

Long Peiye: “…”

Watching Xu Xiangsi change her expression faster than flipping a page, the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably. He found it somewhat amusing.

This woman truly refused to suffer the slightest disadvantage.

“Ahem,” he cleared his throat, suppressing a laugh. “I don’t have much—just a few pieces of clothing. It’s no trouble at all.”

He tilted his chin toward the master bedroom. “Why don’t you start unpacking your things first? Let’s see what you’ve brought.”

“Once you’re done organizing, make a list of any daily necessities, pots, pans, or dishes we’re missing. I’ll take you to the island’s supply and marketing cooperative to buy everything in one trip.”

His gaze fell on the ordinary, even somewhat small, brown leather suitcase at her feet.

“With just this small suitcase,” he remarked with a hint of scrutiny, “you probably didn’t pack much, right?”

Xu Xiangsi responded with a mysterious smile. “Don’t let its size fool you—it holds quite a bit.”

Long Peiye raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. He turned and went to the guest room first, moving his meager belongings from the master bedroom and neatly making the bare bed there.

He worked efficiently and soon had everything in order.

When he emerged from the guest room to ask if Xu Xiangsi had finished her list, he looked up and saw a small mountain of items piled on the large wooden bed in the master bedroom.

Brightly colored dacron shirts, fashionable bulaji dresses, crisp khaki pants, and several pairs of leather and cloth shoes in different styles were all neatly arranged.

Xu Xiangsi was busy organizing the clothes. The small suitcase had been closed and set aside, though it was unclear if anything remained inside.

Long Peiye stood in the doorway, rubbed his eyes, and took a closer look.

Yes, it was that same small suitcase.

Yes, it was that mountain of clothes and shoes.

He took a deep breath, feeling his years of materialist worldview being severely challenged at this moment.

Long Peiye’s brows furrowed into a knot, his eyes filled with disbelief: “Comrade Xu Xiangsi, is this suitcase… Sun Wukong’s Qiankun Bag?”

Damn, it’s way too spacious!

Hearing this, Xu Xiangsi raised her chin proudly, a slight lift at the corners of her eyebrows.

“I told you,” she said lightly, with a hint of smugness, “this suitcase is just really roomy.”

Long Peiye’s mouth twitched as he glanced at the small mountain of clothes and then at the unremarkable suitcase beside it.

“But this is just too roomy, isn’t it?” he muttered under his breath, feeling his understanding of reality challenged.

He took a step forward, his eyes sweeping over the brightly colored garments.

“Do you need help organizing them?” Long Peiye asked, his tone carrying a cautiousness he hadn’t even noticed himself.

Xu Xiangsi waved a hand dismissively, not looking up as she continued arranging her treasures.

“No need, I can handle it myself.” No way was she letting a man she’d just met lay a hand on her belongings—these were her life’s essentials!

Long Peiye gave an “Mm” and didn’t press further.

After a moment’s thought, he spoke again: “Then… how about we go to the supply and marketing cooperative now? To buy whatever’s missing?”

Xu Xiangsi paused her folding, then stretched with a big, satisfied sigh.

“Ah, I’m completely exhausted today!” She rubbed her shoulders, complaining, “From Shanghai all the way here, by boat and bus—my bones are about to fall apart.”

She shot Long Peiye a lazy glance. “Let’s leave the cooperative for tomorrow. Right now, all I want is to lie down.”

Seeing her languid, cat-like demeanor, a flicker of amusement crossed Long Peiye’s eyes.

“Alright then,” he nodded, going along with it. “You finish tidying up and get some proper rest.”

He paused before adding, “I need to report back to the army, check in from leave, and take care of a few things.”

Xu Xiangsi’s eyes lit up—this was even better. With him gone, she’d have more freedom.

“I’ll bring dinner back from the canteen,” Long Peiye added. “Don’t worry about it, and don’t go wandering off.”

“Sure! Go ahead! Be careful on the way!” Xu Xiangsi waved cheerfully, eager for him to leave quickly.

Without another word, Long Peiye turned and left the military family compound.

He first returned to the Second Regiment headquarters, checking in from leave and reporting his return to the duty officer.

Then, he headed straight for the political commissar’s office nearby.

Inside the office, Political Commissar Zhao Zhenbang was gathered around a map with the regimental commanders of the First and Second Regiments, as well as a staff officer from the division headquarters, discussing something.

“Reporting!” Long Peiye stood at attention and saluted at the doorway.

Political Commissar Zhao looked up, smiled when he saw him, and said, “Oh, Peiye’s back? Come in, come in! Was the journey smooth?”

Long Peiye stepped into the office and saluted again. “Reporting, Political Commissar, and all senior officers. I’ve returned, and the journey went smoothly.”

“Good, good to have you back.” Political Commissar Zhao nodded with satisfaction.

Long Peiye took a deep breath, his voice steady yet resolute: “Commissar, I’m here to check in from leave. And also… I’ve gotten married.”

The office instantly fell silent, as if the air itself had frozen.

Political Commissar Zhao’s smile stiffened on his face.

The pencil in the first regiment commander’s hand clattered onto the map.

The second regiment commander abruptly looked up, his eyes wide as copper bells.

The division staff officer also opened his mouth in surprise.

“Wh-what?!” Political Commissar Zhao was the first to react, his voice cracking slightly. “Married?!”