Lin Xiaoxiao found it strange—who would come visiting at this hour?

Setting down the bowls and chopsticks, she hurried to the door. There stood a man she'd never seen before, about Zhou Huai'an's age, though slightly shorter, with strong brows, large eyes, and well-defined features.

The man seemed taken aback at the sight of Lin Xiaoxiao, but when he noticed Zhou Huai'an behind her, his face lit up. "So you really do live here! I had to ask around to find the place. You must be the wife? Hello, I'm Mao Dazhuang."

Lin Xiaoxiao quickly greeted him with a smile, guessing he must be one of Zhou Huai'an's army comrades, and invited him inside.

Mao Dazhuang was visibly excited to see Zhou Huai'an. "I heard you were injured and had to come check on you. How are you feeling? Better? How'd you get hurt at the Second Institute anyway?"

Clearly, the two were close. Questions spilled out one after another without the slightest formality.

Zhou Huai'an shook his head. "It's nothing serious. Are you not busy over there?"

They had enlisted in the same year. Mao Dazhuang, honest and somewhat rustic, had returned to his village after discharge and was now doing well as the local Party secretary.

Lin Xiaoxiao urged Mao Dazhuang to sit and quickly went out to buy some baked flatbread.

She'd only made enough food for two, which definitely wouldn't be sufficient.

Judging by Mao Dazhuang's build—clearly shaped by hard farm labor—she bought ten flatbreads and half a roast chicken before heading back.

When she returned, he was still excitedly reminiscing with Zhou Huai'an, slapping his thigh enthusiastically as he spoke. "Seeing you doing well puts my mind at ease. If you hadn't carried me out of that pile of bodies back then, I wouldn't be alive today."

Zhou Huai'an took it in stride. "That's all in the past. Besides, it was my duty."

Mao Dazhuang sighed. "There's no 'duty' about it. If I'd been more careful, it wouldn't have happened. We were following the markers—how did we end up in a minefield?"

He slapped his thigh again. "We should've listened to you and headed east. But, Captain, after you said that, why did you disappear?"

Zhou Huai'an frowned. "When did you see me? I hadn't even arrived by then."

Mao Dazhuang looked doubtful. "How could it not be you? You looked exactly the same. I even told Xiao Liu and the others, 'The captain moves so fast we can't even keep up!'"

Lin Xiaoxiao, who had been listening to the story with great interest, immediately thought: Zhou Xiaocheng. That's who Mao Dazhuang must have encountered.

Zhou Huai'an's expression tightened. He, too, seemed to realize it was likely Zhou Xiaocheng.

But that location was some distance from where Zhou Xiaocheng was supposed to have died.

According to Mao Dazhuang's timeline, Zhou Xiaocheng should already have been killed the day before.

So Zhou Xiaocheng hadn't been wounded and left—the severe injury must have come later.

Not wanting to get into complicated explanations, Zhou Huai'an changed the subject and urged Mao Dazhuang to eat.

Mao Dazhuang didn't stand on ceremony. As he ate, he lamented to Zhou Huai'an, "It's spring planting season now—I'm swamped. Every day I have to record work points and supervise the fieldwork. So many people slack off and do the bare minimum—it's tough to manage."

He sighed, adding that life had been much simpler back in the army.

After lunch, Mao Dazhuang didn't stay long. He had mainly come to check on Zhou Huai'an, and seeing that he was fine, he hurried off to the agricultural machinery station before catching the bus back to his village.

Once Zhou Huai'an returned from seeing Mao Dazhuang off, Lin Xiaoxiao asked curiously, "If Zhou Xiaocheng wasn't hurt at that point, why didn't he show himself?"

If Zhou Xiaoming's scheme had failed, why didn't Zhou Xiaocheng confront him or expose him?

And who later injured Zhou Xiaocheng?

It was all so convoluted.

Zhou Huai'an wasn't sure either. The events of that year were like a puzzle with no clues. Unless there was major new information, or unless Zhou Xiaocheng turned up alive, it might never be clear.

What surprised Lin Xiaoxiao was that the very next day, Dai Xueming submitted a request to withdraw. He claimed that with no one at home to do the farmwork, he had to return to earn work points.

Since participation was voluntary, the hospital approved his withdrawal, though not without regret. They informed him that such training classes might not be held again, and even if they were, having wasted this opportunity, he wouldn't be invited back.

Dai Xueming, however, insisted on leaving.

Lin Xiaoxiao was stunned. Was he running away out of guilt?

His classmates were equally surprised. Dai Xueming had been one of the top students. After completing the course, he could have worked at the commune clinic, obtained urban food ration status, and never had to worry about meals again.

Li Guiling also felt it was a pity. "There's only a month left until graduation. Why couldn't he hold on just a little longer?"

An Xiuyu glanced at Lin Xiaoxiao but didn't dare stir up trouble—though she privately believed Dai Xueming left because Lin Xiaoxiao had embarrassed him.

With Dai Xueming gone and no further leads, the days that followed passed uneventfully.

Lin Xiaoxiao was frustrated, but with those hiding in the shadows staying quiet, there was little she could do.

Before they knew it, late June had arrived—the three-month training course had come to an end.

Zhou Huai'an's leg had also mostly healed. Lin Xiaoxiao accompanied him to have the cast removed, giggling the whole way and looking at him as if he were a lamb led to slaughter.

Lu Yuanda himself removed the cast. After examining the leg, he praised repeatedly, "It's healed really well—thanks to Xiaoxiao's care. Come over for dinner tonight. My wife will stew some meat for you."

Lin Xiaoxiao felt embarrassed. "We couldn't impose. We should be thanking you and treating you instead. We've troubled you and your wife so much these past three months."

Lu Yuanda waved it off. "We're all family—no need to stand on ceremony. Come over in a bit. I already mentioned it to my wife yesterday."

Zhou Huai'an wasn't one for polite refusals. "Alright, we'll trouble your wife then."

Lu Yuanda chuckled. "No trouble at all. Now that your leg's better, we can have a drink."

When Lin Xiaoxiao and Zhou Huai'an arrived at the Lu household, Ruan Shuqin already had pork ribs stewing and had handmade noodles.

She welcomed them warmly. "You've finally finished your course, and Huai'an's leg is better—both happy occasions. We should celebrate properly."

Lu Yuanda pulled Zhou Huai'an into the inner room to talk, while Lin Xiaoxiao stayed to help Ruan Shuqin with dinner.

Ruan Shuqin looked at Lin Xiaoxiao, who was wearing a white floral-print dress, her short hair resting just above her ears, and couldn't help praising her: "You city girls really know how to dress. Everything looks good on you."

Lin Xiaoxiao blushed slightly. "You're beautiful too, sister-in-law."

Ruan Shuqin laughed. "Beautiful? I'm just a tired old housewife. Now that you and Huai'an are settled, you should aim for a chubby little boy next year. Oh, and if you want a son, just put a pillow under your waist when you do it."