Chapter 134: Even Up Here on the Mountain, Someone Still Has Me on Their Mind

Just as Lin You had left, a call came from the mountains looking for him. Down in the village, Lu Haiyang, upon hearing that Lin You had already come down, didn’t say anything further.

Elsewhere, Xia Yan had just returned to the residential compound after work, carrying two children, when she noticed a group of women gathered around, whispering and casting glances her way.

Wang Guilan had been waiting at the gate early with Erdan and Nuannuan. Seeing Xia Yan come back, she hurriedly called her over. “Xiao Xia, do you know about Lin You?”

But she suspected Xia Yan probably had no idea; otherwise, who could remain so calm after such a thing?

Xia Yan asked, puzzled, “Aunt Wang, what are you talking about?”

Wang Guilan pulled her aside and whispered, “It's about your Lin You.”

“Lin You? Isn’t he up on the mountain? What could possibly have happened?”

Xia Yan looked unconcerned. She bent down and kissed little Nuannuan several times before setting her down. Turning to the two boys, she said, “Xiao Zhe, take your brother and sister home first. Mom will be back soon. Think about what you want for dinner, and I’ll cook for you.”

“Okay.”

Lin Hongzhe took Lin Nuannuan in his arms, glancing back at Xia Yan every few steps. Not far away, the women who had been gathered at the gate were now approaching their house.

Wang Guilan patted Xia Yan and said, “How can you still be smiling? The whole yard knows about Lin You and that female educated youth!”

Xia Yan froze briefly, then raised her eyebrows. “Aunt Wang, who are you talking about with the female educated youth?”

Wang Guilan repeated, “Lin You.”

If it were someone else linked to a female educated youth, Xia Yan might have believed it, but with Lin You—no way. “Lin You? Aunt Wang, where did you hear this from?”

“Don’t laugh. The letter has already been sent to the regiment headquarters!”

“Letter? You mean that female educated youth wrote a letter to Lin You?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe they just know each other. Aunt Wang, you know what kind of man Lin You is.” Xia Yan was still unconcerned. There was no way someone as straightforward as Lin You would cheat.

Wang Guilan had no more to say after that. Indeed, having been neighbors for years, she knew exactly what kind of person Lin You was.

Still, she warned, “We trust Lin You, but others might not. Those educated youths, thinking they’re clever just because they’ve had some schooling, write all kinds of flirtatious things. Xiao Xia, it’s not that I’m gossiping, but you should still be careful.”

Xia Yan nodded, though her mind was already turning over who could have written that letter. She had seen a few female educated youths at the ranch last time she went. Who was it exactly?

When Lin You arrived at the base close to midnight, instead of going home, he went straight to the regiment headquarters. In the office, he found a letter placed on his desk.

“A letter?”

He looked at the envelope with his name on it and opened it. His expression darkened immediately.

The letter was filled with admiration and affection toward him, some words even quite explicit. If it hadn’t been so late, he would have gone to the ranch to ask that woman named Zhuang Lili what the letter meant.

The name Zhuang Lili sounded familiar, Xia Yan had mentioned it before. Lin You folded the letter and decided to ask Xia Yan about it later. Because it was so late, he didn’t go home but stayed overnight in the regiment dormitory.

The next morning, as the dormitory door opened, Jiang Weiguo saw Lin You still asleep. “I knew you’d be here sleeping last night. Get up now.”

Lin You, still groggy, rubbed his eyes. “I just got back at midnight yesterday. You’re waking me up this early?”

“Heh, you have the nerve to sleep in. Tell me, what are you going to do about that letter?”

Hearing “letter,” Lin You got dressed and stood up, teasing, “Did you all read it?”

“Read what? We could never go through your mail.”

Jiang Weiguo stared at Lin You. This guy actually had the cheek to joke now.

“It’s fine if you read it. It’s just a letter—no need to worry about it.”

After sleeping on it, Lin You had come to terms with it. Why bother with an inconsequential letter?

Jiang Weiguo laughed angrily, “No need to worry? The whole base knows there’s a female educated youth who wrote you a letter. If you don’t handle this, your reputation won’t hold up.”

Lin You was shocked. “The whole base knows? How did that happen?”

“Hmph, now you’re worried? The letter was delivered yesterday by the wife of a company commander under Old Lu, and that woman is notorious for her big mouth…”

Hearing this, Lin You understood. He was an upright man; he didn’t even know what Zhuang Lili looked like. If only a few knew, he wouldn’t care. But since the whole base knew, Xia Yan would definitely know too. Would she start to overthink?

Thinking this, Lin You couldn’t sit still. He got up and ran home.

Jiang Weiguo opened his mouth to say something but couldn’t keep up with Lin You’s speed as he quickly disappeared.

Back at the residential compound, Lin You felt strange under the gazes cast his way.

Opening the door, he found Xia Yan sitting with the three children, drinking porridge and nibbling on buns. They all froze when they saw him.

“Why are you back so soon?”

Xia Yan put down her chopsticks. “You haven’t had breakfast yet, right? Go wash up, I’ll get you some porridge.”

Watching her walk into the kitchen, Lin You went to Lin Hongzhe’s side. “Xiao Zhe, has your mom been acting differently since yesterday?”

“Different?”

Lin Hongzhe looked confused. “Dad, what do you mean by different?”

“Like her temper? Has she been angry or anything?”

“You can just ask me directly. There’s no need to ask the kids,” Xia Yan’s cold voice came from behind Lin You.

He looked embarrassed and cleared his throat. “I’m going to brush my teeth.”

Xia Yan followed him to the sink, leaning against the doorframe. “Lin Battalion Commander, don’t you have something you want to explain to me?”

“You already know?”

Lin You froze, holding the toothbrush cup.

Seeing him like this for the first time, Xia Yan wasn’t about to let him off easily. “Hmph, it would be hard not to know. You, Lin Battalion Commander, have quite the charm. Even up on the mountain, someone down here is still thinking about you and writing letters.”

“Wife, listen to me. I really don’t know what’s going on. I don’t even know what Zhuang Lili looks like.”

“You said who? Zhuang Lili?”

Hearing that name made Xia Yan pause. She hadn’t expected the letter writer to be Zhuang Lili. Just last night she had been wondering, but she never suspected her. How could it be?