Chapter 419: Chapter 419 Bringing Along
Wen Qing and Dong Lixing walked over.
The expression on Wen Qing’s face was somewhat dim and complex, not filled with smiles like the man beside her.
Shen Yiguang nodded slightly at him, bent over to pick up his son from his wife’s arms, and Yang Peimin stood up and walked a few steps. The choice was quite fitting.
And also good-looking; even Shen Yiguang found it hard to take his eyes off her.
The attendant snapped back to reality and joined in the fun, saying, "It really suits you, your feet are so white. This is the first time I’ve seen someone wear sandals as beautifully as you do."
Yang Peimin nodded inwardly and asked the attendant for the price.
"These are imported, they’re 80 yuan."
"Could you give me a bag? I’ll put the old ones in, and I’ll wear this pair out."
Shen Yiguang smiled and went over to pay.
Yang Peimin, vain as ever, went to check herself in the mirror again, feeling completely satisfied.
Wen Qing looked at the attendant nearby, "Give me a pair of size 6 shoes as well."
"I’m sorry, comrade. The pair she bought was the last one," replied the attendant.
The smile on Wen Qing’s face faded a bit.
Dong Lixing pointed to a pair of peep-toe sandals next to them and said, "Those aren’t bad either, why don’t you buy those?"
Wen Qing smiled and shook her head, "I don’t really like them."
"Then we’ll come back another time to look."
"That’s all we can do now, but you could ask someone to bring me a pair from Shanghai."
"That works, you tell me the style."
"Sure," Wen Qing finally smiled sincerely.
After Shen Yiguang had paid, he went over and walked with Yang Peimin.
"Shen Ying and Pei Min, are you guys still looking to buy anything else?" Wen Qing multitasked, talking to Dong Lixing while looking at Yang Peimin. Seeing them ready to leave, she also asked.
"We are just going to buy some daily necessities and then head back," said Yang Peimin.
"That’s perfect, we need to go that way as well."
Yang Peimin really didn’t understand; Wen Qing wasn’t the type of person to seek out embarrassment, so why was she now clinging like an annoying plaster?
She looked at Wen Qing and said, "No need, the things we’re buying are different from yours. Don’t bother."
After saying that, she walked with Shen Yiguang towards the second floor.
Dong Lixing watched their retreating figures and said, "Mrs. Shen doesn’t seem to like us being together, does she?"
Wen Qing smiled helplessly, "Didn’t I tell you before? I performed here a few years ago. Once, when I was reading in the small woods, I accidentally fell into a swamp and was saved by Camp Commander Shen. Later, when we had dinner together, an old squad leader tried to matchmake me with Camp Commander Shen. At that time, neither of us took it seriously and just laughed it off, but then some rumors started spreading. I was focused on the performances at the troupe and didn’t pay much attention. When I heard about it later, I really didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I was so young back then; who would think about getting married so early? I haven’t even danced enough of my harvest dances."
"Mr. Yang’s coldness towards me might also be because of those jokes from back then."
Dong Lixing nodded, "So that’s how it is, but now that we’re both married, our families should visit each other more often. With time, we can clear the air."
"Exactly, we really didn’t have anything going on, it was just one meal."
Dong Lixing pondered to himself, following Wen Qing down to the daily necessities section on the second floor.
It had been a while since they’d been out, and thinking about it, they really did need to replace some things at home, it was just that Chen Guizhi felt they could still be used and never brought it up.
Things like towels and toothbrushes, which should be replaced every three to four months, they would use until they fell apart completely, something he couldn’t stand.
There are no trolleys available now, we can only ask the sales clerk to gather things as if they were dispensing medicine, item by item.
Shen Yiguang watched as this extravagant daughter-in-law bought another huge pile of goods and couldn’t help feeling helpless. If he only had this little salary, he really couldn’t afford to support her.
Yang PeiMin turned around and asked him, "Help me think, what else are we missing?"
Shen Yiguang had no idea. He, just like Chen Guizhi, felt that there was nothing lacking at home.
Realizing it was pointless to ask him, Yang PeiMin decided, "Just get a couple more towels for Lele, and buy two extra feeding bottles. We only have one for water at home. We can use the extras for juice later on."
Shen Yiguang stood by, holding the child, and let her organize everything.
Finally, when Yang PeiMin couldn’t think of anything else that was missing, she gave up.
She asked the sales clerk for a large sack to put everything in, took over holding her son, and had Shen Yiguang twist the heavy bag.
Shen Yiguang then said, "I can carry things as well, even while holding the child."
Yang PeiMin disagreed, "No, you need both hands to hold our son securely. Don’t let him get hurt."
Shen Yiguang handed the child to her with a word of caution, "Be careful."
A three-month-old baby isn’t too heavy, and Yang PeiMin found it quite easy to carry him, chatting cheerfully with Shen Yiguang as she played with the baby.
"Wow, daddy’s so strong. It’s a good thing we brought daddy along. We’ll have to give daddy more opportunities like this in the future."
Shen Yiguang glanced back at her and smiled.
They left the Department Store, planning to take the bus home.
For some reason, they kept bumping into Wen Qing and Dong Lixing wherever they went today.
This time, they saw them sitting in a jeep, instructing the driver to pull up beside them. "Brother Shen, let us give you a ride home. I reckon our comrades should have arrived at the base by now; we could all go together."
"No, thank you, I’ll return to the base tomorrow."
Wen Qing seemed very surprised, "Aren’t you living at the base now?"
Shen Yiguang nodded slightly, an acknowledgment of her question, and exchanged a few polite words with Dong Lixing, "You can still make it back in time for dinner. My wife is studying here and we’re staying in this area, planning to go back tomorrow."
Dong Lixing nodded in understanding. Wen Qing then offered, "Tell us where you live and we’ll give you a ride. You’re carrying so much stuff and you even have to hold a baby."
Shen Yiguang still declined.
Wen Qing opened her mouth to say something more but was interrupted as someone else shouted Shen Yiguang and Yang PeiMin’s names.
"Brother, sister-in-law, what are you doing here?"
Yang PeiMin turned her head and saw it was Shen Yixiang and Lu Haijun, a trio.
Wen Qing also turned around and upon seeing them, her eyes evaluated the scene, especially noticing Lu Haijun in his military uniform, before asking, "Is this comrade also from our base?"
Shen Yixiang followed the sound of her voice, glanced at Wen Qing, then at Dong Lixing, and nodded, "Yes, he’s in the same battalion as my brother."
"Are you heading back to the base this evening? We’re heading that way too, and we could give you a lift."
Shen Yixiang quickly nodded in agreement.
And so, that group of people also left promptly.
While Shen Yixiang herself went back to the dormitory, Shen Yiguang and Yang PeiMin planned to walk home. It was only about a half-hour brisk walk to where they lived, and Shen Yiguang didn’t mind. He had once done a 100-kilometer forced march, so this little distance was nothing to him. He was just worried that Yang PeiMin might get tired holding the baby.
When Yang PeiMin heard him say this, she also thought it was a good idea, a perfect opportunity for a walk to get some exercise.
"Great! It’s been a long time since we, as an old married couple, have gone for a walk."
Shen Yiguang gave her an exasperated look.