Chapter 108: The Leaders of Boat Province

After Zhong Xiao finished buying clothes, trousers, and skirts, she was already feeling a little tired, and she could not help feeling dissatisfied with her current physical condition.

She had only just started, and already she was out of breath.

It seemed that once she went back, she would have to strengthen her training.

Or perhaps, once back, she could find a way to nourish herself properly within her spatial realm.

Seeing that Zhong Xiao had almost finished shopping, Song Tingshen stepped forward and asked, "Anything else you need?"

Zhong Xiao waved a hand. "That should be enough. Let’s go check out first. If we end up short on fabric coupons, we can take out a few more."

Song Tingshen glanced over and mentally tallied the total. It should be enough.

Sure enough, when they settled the bill at the end, they had used thirty-one fabric coupons altogether, with a few still left over.

The total came to 217 yuan. The main expense was the two pairs of bell-bottom trousers; everything else together only came to just over a hundred yuan.

After paying, Song Tingshen said again, "Let’s go upstairs and buy some bedding and sheets."

Zhong Xiao did not know much about bedding and sheets. The ones she had used before had all been about the same—mostly imported, high-quality goods. Back then, Yang Yuehe had wanted to present herself as treating her very well in front of outsiders, so she had bought only the best of everything.

Zhong Xiao let Song Tingshen choose for himself. After considering several options, he finally picked out a few bright red embroidered quilts and comforters made of silk. The sales clerk said they were imported from Germany and had only arrived the previous week. They were very comfortable to sleep on.

After all that was bought, it was time to take care of the standard household necessities and the ninety-two legs.

"The civilian supply store in the garrison has the standard set, but they’re only the most basic Yongan brand models. They’re only gray and black, no light colors. If you don’t like them, we can check the department store to see whether they have Phoenix brand ones. Those look better."

Zhong Xiao shook her head.

"No need, no need. I don’t ride a bicycle that often anyway, and besides, the garrison isn’t big. I can just walk around more. It’s fine whether we buy a bicycle or not."

Song Tingshen was very serious. "We should still buy it. It’s standard. We can’t have others with it and not you."

Zhong Xiao was amused by his expression and said, "All right, then let’s buy one. But since the civilian supply store has them, we might as well buy it there directly and save ourselves a special trip."

Song Tingshen nodded and took Zhong Xiao to the furniture store.

Looking at the dazzling array of double beds, wardrobes, drawer chests, dining tables, and chairs, Zhong Xiao felt a little dizzy.

However, the styles in the department store were rather repetitive, and the colors were all the same jujube red, giving off a somewhat dim impression.

Zhong Xiao preferred lighter colors. The furniture in the Zhong family courtyard back then had all been imported, in a milky ivory palette, looking fresh, bright, and clean.

But...

Zhong Xiao looked around at the moment.

The furniture in the store now all seemed to be dark-toned. Red better matched the spirit of the times, and red solid wood also looked especially dignified, which was why everyone liked to buy it.

Zhong Xiao looked all around, but nothing particularly satisfied her.

Song Tingshen naturally noticed that too, and said, "Why don’t we take a look across the street? There’s an imported furniture shop over there. I heard it only opened recently."

After thinking it over, Zhong Xiao decided against it.

It would be too conspicuous, and that would not be good for Song Tingshen.

Besides, she had already used every kind of fine thing before. No matter how imported something was, it could not compare with the life she had once lived.

If that was the case, why bother being so fixed on appearances?

This lifetime, living steadily and safely was what mattered most.

Nothing else was important.

A few pieces of furniture were not a big deal.

So Zhong Xiao decisively chose a light gray double bed, matched it with a bedside cabinet in the same tone, and selected a wardrobe in the most traditional dark red, with carved patterns that made it look a little more elegant.

The chest of drawers and writing desk were also chosen in matching tones. Put together, they looked quite nice.

There was a milky ivory sofa as well, but after thinking it over, Zhong Xiao wondered whether a cream leather sofa would seem somewhat out of place amid a room full of dark furniture.

Yet when she turned and looked at the red solid-wood sofa, she pursed her lips, and in the end still chose the milky ivory leather one.

If it did not match, so be it. It was not easy to find a piece of furniture that suited her taste, so she should buy it and take it home. Even just sitting on it and fooling around would make her mood a little better.

She then picked out a few other odds and ends—shoe cabinets, bookcases, dish cupboards, and the like. After counting them up, Zhong Xiao turned to Song Tingshen and asked, "That should be enough, right?"

Song Tingshen had been counting the whole time as well.

He needed to make sure there were at least ninety-two legs. More was fine, but not less.

Song Tingshen said, "There are 104 legs already. But if you still see anything else you want, you can buy it too. There’s no limit."

Zhong Xiao clicked her tongue. "No need to buy more. I thought it still wouldn’t be enough. Since it is, there’s no need for anything else."

Before they realized it, their shopping trip had gone from daytime into evening.

The sun had slowly begun to sink in the west, casting a warm golden light over the whole street, and the atmosphere became almost poetic.

Though Taizhou Island was remote, its scenery was truly beautiful, Zhong Xiao thought as she stood at the entrance of the department store.

A few uniformed security guards came forward and handed Song Tingshen and Zhong Xiao two lists.

"Comrades, this is the list of goods you purchased today. We will deliver everything to the garrison within seven days. When that happens, please bring this list as proof and sign for receipt."

"All right, thank you." Song Tingshen took the lists and put them into his bag.

Then he looked at Zhong Xiao. "Are you hungry? Want to eat something before we head back?"

The two of them had only eaten a bowl of noodles after arriving in the city that morning, and now they had gone the entire afternoon without eating. Even Song Tingshen was getting hungry.

Zhong Xiao looked at the shops along the street.

The avenue in front of the department store was the busiest district on Taizhou Island. There were restaurants and eateries on both sides of the intersection, and Zhong Xiao stared for a while at the sign of one place that read "Cantonese Flavors."

It had been a while since she had eaten Cantonese food.

Song Tingshen followed her gaze and knew what she was thinking. Just as he was about to speak, Wang Meng, the guard who had been with them today and had been waiting at the entrance of the department store all this time, ran over from another exit, panting as he said, "Commander Song, an urgent telegram has come in. You need to return to the garrison right away. A senior leader wants to see you!"

Song Tingshen froze.

The highest-ranking leaders in the garrison were his father, Song Qingfeng, and the political commissar, Liu Guangmin. It definitely would not be either of them.

Anyone above them had to have come from the mainland.

The Taizhou Island garrison, together with the other two garrisons, was under the direct jurisdiction of the Zhou Province Military District.

A leader from Zhou Province wanted to see him?

Song Tingshen’s brows drew together as he looked at Zhong Xiao.

Zhong Xiao had already understood and hurried forward.

"Let’s go. Get in the car and head back."

As he passed by Song Tingshen, he suddenly reached out and caught Zhong Xiao’s wrist.

Zhong Xiao stopped and turned to look at him.

Song Tingshen said, "Don’t worry. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you."