Time-Travel: The Tragic Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Makes a Comeback
CHAPTER 84: The First Wife of a 1980s Big Shot Who Died Young (17)
After the New Year, Qin Huaijing took advantage of the few days he still had off to show Huo Meilan all around the capital, visiting just about every place worth seeing.
A few days later, he received notice that it was time to report back to the military.
Huo Meilan said her goodbyes to her in-laws and followed him on the return trip.
After a full day and night on the train, the two of them finally made it back to the family compound.
They had gotten used to living in a spacious villa, so returning to a small courtyard house with only two rooms suddenly made the place feel cramped and almost pitifully small.
The house was bare too, with only two beds standing out the most.
Qin Huaijing wrapped an arm around his wife’s waist and sighed with a grin. “I should have known better than to fight. It’s basically an obstacle to our relationship.”
Otherwise, he could have started sleeping with his wife in his arms much sooner.
Huo Meilan pinched his waist. “Cut the nonsense. Next time you make me mad, we’re sleeping separately.”
Qin Huaijing chuckled softly and leaned down to peck her cheek. “Wouldn’t dare. You’re the boss.”
“Meilan! You’re finally back!”
A loud, familiar voice rang out from outside the courtyard. It was Sister Liu.
Huo Meilan instinctively pushed Qin Huaijing away.
Qin Huaijing straightened up helplessly. When Sister Liu walked in, he could not help but say, “Sister Liu, your ears are seriously sharp. We just got in.”
“Of course! I live right next door. The moment I heard something, I came right over.”
Sister Liu pulled out a handful of melon seeds and candy from her pocket and stuffed them into Huo Meilan’s hands, then grabbed her and started chatting away.
Qin Huaijing watched his wife get completely “claimed” and could only sigh, heading out to sort the luggage instead.
After tidying everything up, he bent down and crawled under the bed, rather ungracefully dragging out the box of condoms tucked all the way inside.
It was covered in a layer of dust. He dusted it off with a feather duster, then wiped it clean with a towel. Grinning to himself, he took out a handful and placed them neatly into the bedside drawer.
His mom really had some serious foresight.
Meanwhile, Huo Meilan chatted about this and that with Sister Liu, gave her some specialties they brought back from the capital, and even set aside a portion for Meizi.
After seeing her off, she finally felt a bit tired.
A full day and night on the train really wore her out, so she planned to head back to bed and lie down for a bit.
But the moment she walked in, the bed was gone.
She stepped further in and took a look, then paused. Wow.
Qin Huaijing had pushed the two beds together, turning them into one massive double bed.
“You're really something,” Huo Meilan said with a laugh as she walked in.
Qin Huaijing was kneeling on the bed, spreading out the sheets and blankets, smiling as he said, “Now there’s no such thing as sleeping separately. And with a bigger bed, it’s easier to roll around.”
Huo Meilan almost choked on her own saliva. “Can you shut up? These walls and windows have zero soundproofing.”
“So what if people hear? I didn’t even say anything. It’s my own bed at home, I can roll around however I want.”
Then he added with a teasing grin, “That’s the kind of ‘rolling’ I meant. Or were you thinking of something else, wife?”
Huo Meilan rolled her eyes and ignored him, heading straight to her side of the bed and lying down.
Qin Huaijing immediately followed over like a tail, flopping down beside her.
“Wifey, tired, huh? Let me massage your shoulders.”
Huo Meilan never turned down being pampered. She gave her foot a little shake and said casually, “Shoulders are fine. My feet and calves are sore.”
“Got it! Your humble servant is on it.”
Qin Huaijing sprang up, lifted her foot into his hands, and started massaging, working his way down to her calves, patiently kneading again and again.
Before long, Huo Meilan had already fallen asleep.
Qin Huaijing finished one foot, then moved to the other. By the time he was done, even his arms felt sore.
He looked at her sleeping face with a soft smile, leaned in, and planted a light kiss on her.
“Tsk, you heartless little thing. Only you can boss me around like this.”
——
After the winter break, Huo Meilan went back to school.
She still lived in the dorms, but she started coming back to the family compound more often.
Whenever Qin Huaijing wasn’t on a mission, he would drive over to pick her up and take her home. The young couple’s relationship stayed steady and warm.
……
In the blink of an eye, summer arrived, and with it came the college entrance exams.
Qin Huaijing took two days off on purpose. During the day, he cooked all her favorite meals. At night, he even washed her feet to help her relax. When it came to getting to the exam hall, he personally drove her there and picked her up.
Huo Meilan had always been an outstanding student, and after spending another year retaking and studying, the exams didn’t put much pressure on her at all.
The day the results were released, Qin Huaijing received a call from the school first while he was in his office.
“Hello, is this Huo Meilan’s family?”
“Yes, I’m her husband.”
The person on the other end sounded visibly excited. “Please pass on the message to student Huo Meilan. She ranked first in the entire school and second in the whole province. Reporters have already come to the school for interviews…”
Qin Huaijing barely heard the rest of the principal’s words. After confirming the results again and again, he hung up, too excited to stay still, and rushed straight home.
……
Family compound.
Huo Meilan was lying on a rocking chair, fanning herself with a palm fan in one hand and sipping soda in the other. A plate of fruit sat on the table beside her.
Hearing a commotion outside, along with what sounded like Qin Huaijing’s voice, she put down her drink and went out to check what was going on.
Just as she stepped into the courtyard, Qin Huaijing came in first, followed by a group of people from the family compound.
“Meilan, you’re amazing! I heard from Captain Qin that you got into university.”
“And it’s Capital University too, second place in the whole province. Good heavens, that’s incredible…”
“Wifey, the exam results are out! You scored 612, first in the school and second in the province. No problem getting into Capital University!”
Qin Huaijing rushed over and scooped her up in one go, spinning her around happily, clearly proud of her.
Huo Meilan got a little dizzy from the spinning. With so many people watching at the gate, she quickly pinched him and said softly, “Alright, put me down already.”
Qin Huaijing set her down, then turned to the crowd still watching from the gate and said, “We didn’t prepare anything today. I’ll bring everyone some celebration candy tomorrow.”
“That’s great! I’ll take a couple back for my kid so he can get some of Meilan’s good study luck.”
“I want some too! I’ve got three kids at home. Meilan, you’ve got amazing luck. Just going to school and you end up second in the whole province.”
Qin Huaijing immediately frowned a little and said lazily, “Getting into university is all about real ability. My wife studies every day, sometimes even late into the night. Hard work brings results. Studying isn’t about luck, it takes effort.”
The woman let out an awkward laugh. “True, true. I just meant Meilan made it look so easy, so there’s a bit of luck in it too.”
Qin Huaijing snorted lightly. “Luck? Then might as well stop studying and go burn incense and pray every day to see if you can get into university. If university students were all just luck, the country would be a mess.”
The others nearby laughed when they heard that.
Most of those talking about “luck” were less educated women. Being fellow military wives, seeing Huo Meilan live so freely yet still get into such a good university, some of them could not help but feel a bit jealous and unwilling to admit her achievement.
The woman’s face turned red with embarrassment. She let out a huff and walked off.
The courtyard was already small, and with so many people crowded in, it quickly became noisy. Huo Meilan came forward, exchanged a few polite words with everyone, and only then did the crowd gradually leave.
Qin Huaijing then repeated what the principal had said.
“…They said there might be an interview at school tomorrow, and you’ll have to go on stage to speak.”
Huo Meilan nodded. “Alright, got it.”
Compared to the interview, what made her happiest was getting into the Capital University she had always dreamed of.
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