Chapter 1: The Decision to Divorce

Winter, 1975.

Shen Qingqing traveled alone for three days on a green-skinned train to reach the Great Northwest. Covered in wind and snow, she was escorted to a guesthouse.

"Captain Jiang hasn't applied for a unit in the family quarters yet, Comrade Shen. Please settle in here for now. Once Captain Jiang finishes his mission, I'll have him come see you."

Shen Qingqing knew very well in her heart that Jiang Zhixun had never intended for her to join him at the base. Otherwise, he wouldn't have left for the Great Northwest without a word, nor would he have stayed away from home for three whole years.

The Great Northwest was more than two thousand kilometers away from Beijing. If she hadn't come, many people might never have known that Jiang Zhixun was married.

The hand holding her leather suitcase had gone numb with cold, and even her once-burning, beating heart had settled into a quiet stillness.

Shen Qingqing smiled and thanked him. Then she said, "When Jiang Zhixun returns, please let me know, Comrade."

If he knew it was her who had come, Jiang Zhixun might not even show his face. She didn't have that much time to waste on him. Three years was already long enough.

The guard, unaware of the history between Shen Qingqing and Jiang Zhixun, assumed she was simply eager to see her husband. His weather-beaten face broke into a broad, honest grin, revealing a row of bright white teeth.

"Don't worry, Comrade Shen. The moment Captain Jiang returns, I'll call the guesthouse reception immediately. I'll make sure you're the very first to know."

Seeing his expression, Shen Qingqing knew he had misunderstood. But she didn't correct him. She simply smiled and said, "Thank you."

She was beautiful. Though she carried a somewhat aloof air, a faint dimple would appear on her cheek whenever she smiled. The coldness would melt away, replaced by a gentle, intellectual grace.

*Captain Jiang's wife is truly beautiful,* the guard thought to himself. *But why did the Captain keep her hidden?* If this young woman hadn't come to the military compound, none of them would have known that Captain Jiang was married.

Dismissing his stray thoughts, the guard saluted Shen Qingqing, turned, and left.

Shen Qingqing carried her suitcase into the room. The moment the door closed behind her, the heavy suitcase slipped from her grasp, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

The train had been a chaotic mix of people. Traveling alone from Beijing, she had encountered a harasser halfway through the journey. Under the cover of night, while the passengers in the carriage were fast asleep, he had followed her into the restroom.

Although the train conductor had arrived in time, she had injured her shoulder during the struggle. Having just walked through the freezing wind and snow, the strained muscle throbbed with even greater pain. She no longer had the strength to lift the suitcase.

Giving up, she simply squatted on the spot to retrieve a change of clothes, shoes, and socks from the suitcase. The room had no private bathroom, nor was there any hot water. Just as she was about to go downstairs to fetch a thermos of hot water, a knock sounded at the door.

"Comrade Shen, are you in there? I'm Xiao Li from the front desk."

Shen Qingqing replied, "Yes, I'm here." Wondering what the visitor wanted, she quickly stood up and walked to the door.

Opening the door, she was greeted by a smiling, round face. "I brought you a thermos of hot water." The young woman gestured with the thermos in her hand.

Shen Qingqing smiled. "I was just about to go downstairs for some hot water, and here you are. I'll gladly accept it this time, but I'll fetch it myself next time."

"It's no trouble at all, Comrade Shen. No need to be polite." Xiao Li studied Shen Qingqing with curious eyes.

Jiang Zhixun was a prominent figure in the military district, an exceptionally skilled fighter pilot. Tall, handsome, and striking, he was the object of affection for many young women. No one had expected him to be married; there hadn't been a whisper of it before.

This Comrade Shen had delicate features, fair skin, and a face so small it could fit in the palm of a hand. Her eyes were beautiful, tilting upward slightly at the outer corners, accented by a tiny tear mole. Her long, straight black hair was held back by a headband, falling smoothly over her shoulders. No matter how one looked at her, she was strikingly beautiful.

No wonder Captain Jiang never associated closely with any female comrades and rejected all their confessions. It turned out he had such a beautiful wife back home.

Aware of the scrutiny, Shen Qingqing simply let her look, remaining poised and composed. Her expression remained unchanged, her lips curved into a perfectly measured smile. She seemed easygoing, yet somehow gave off a subtle impression of aloofness.

Snapping out of her daze, the young woman blushed slightly. She explained the location of the cafeteria, telling Shen Qingqing that she could take a lunchbox there to get food when it was mealtime. Finally, she said, "Comrade Shen, if you need any help, just come down and find me. We'll take good care of you until Captain Jiang returns."

Shen Qingqing nodded. "Thank you for your trouble."

"It's nothing at all."

Shen Qingqing didn't go to the cafeteria. After soaking her feet and changing into clean clothes, she went straight to bed. Having not slept for three days, she was thoroughly exhausted. The moment her head hit the pillow, she fell fast asleep.

***

"Comrade Shen, looking at the test results, your condition seems to be amnesia caused by psychological distress."

Shen Qingqing sat in the doctor's office. With no family, friends, or husband by her side, she felt a chill seep into her bones. She barely heard whatever the doctor said next. Her mind was entirely consumed by a single thought: *I'm sick. What will I do now?*

It wasn't until the doctor in the white coat spoke again that Shen Qingqing was pulled back to reality. "Where is your family? I have some instructions I need to give them."

It felt as if a lump of cotton was wedged in her throat, making it difficult to breathe. In a strained voice, she said, "I don't have any family."

Shen Qingqing's parents had both been university professors, but they had tragically passed away in a car accident when she was only fifteen. Jiang's father and Professor Shen had been close friends, so after the tragedy, Shen Qingqing was taken in by the Jiang family.

During Jiang Zhixun's first year in the Great Northwest, the Jiang family elders felt deeply guilty toward Shen Qingqing. In the second year, Jiang's mother urged Shen Qingqing to quit her job and go to the Northwest to build a relationship with him. By the third year, Jiang's mother compromised, asking her to take a long leave of absence, travel to the Northwest, and only return to Beijing once she was pregnant.

Shen Qingqing had refused all of it. From then on, Jiang's mother grew increasingly cold toward her. Even though they lived under the same roof, they could go for days without exchanging a single word.

Shen Qingqing worked as a translator for a publishing house. Her hours were flexible, requiring her only to submit her drafts on time. Because of the awkward relationship with her mother-in-law, she used her work as an excuse to rent a place of her own and live independently. She only returned to the family compound occasionally to drink tea, play chess with Grandfather Jiang, and stay for a couple of days.

She had first noticed something was wrong when she forgot two crucial matters in a row. First, she had failed to call the Northwest on Jiang Zhixun's birthday. Second, she had missed a scheduled meeting with her editor-in-chief.

Since she began working, she had never made a single mistake. Compared to forgetting to send Jiang Zhixun birthday wishes, the latter error was far more serious. Shen Qingqing had thought that resting for a while might improve her condition, but the truth was her memory was only getting worse. If she didn't make a conscious effort to remember, she would forget things the moment she turned around.

It was all too abnormal, which was why she had come to the hospital. She had never expected such a diagnosis.

"Doctor, can it be cured?"

Looking at the test results, the doctor replied, "Your current condition isn't severe yet. We can manage it with conservative treatment. However, if it worsens, you will need psychological intervention."

Shen Qingqing did not know what would happen if her condition worsened. She sat in the hospital corridor for half an hour.

In the end, she made only one decision.

She was going to divorce Jiang Zhixun!