Hu Jianjun, Hu Lili's brother, flushed beet-red and reached for the pen and paper in Su Tang's hands.
"Stop making a mountain out of a molehill. Are you trying to steal food from the soldiers?"
"Cut the princess act. This isn't Shanghai!"
The moment he finished speaking, the other family members in the cafeteria turned to look, and a tide of whispers spread through the room.
No one had known who Su Tang was, but after Hu Jianjun's outburst, now everyone did.
Su Tang felt eyes on her from all sides and tightened her grip on the pen.
'Does a bad background mean I deserve to be bullied?'
'That I don't even deserve a proper meal?'
With that thought, Su Tang deftly sidestepped him, the tip of her pen scratching across the paper.
"Mr. Hu, you're abusing your authority by withholding food despite taking ration coupons. According to regulations, that's no small offense."
Her voice was level, but every word was crystal clear.
Though it carried the characteristically soft lilt of a girl from Shanghai, it was now as sharp and cold as ice.
A fire burned in Su Tang's amber eyes.
"Lu Xiao defends our country, yet I, his wife, can't even get a hot meal. If word of this got out, who would it demoralize?"
"The fact that I was approved to marry Lu Xiao proves there's nothing wrong with my standing. I submit my monthly thought reports on time, and the leadership has never said a word against me. What gives you the right to bully me?"
Her words struck the crowd like a heavy hammer, silencing everyone.
A few of the older soldiers' wives exchanged glances, their faces showing a hint of shame.
Struck a nerve, Hu Jianjun slapped the serving window in a fit of rage and shame. "Don't you dare use Lu Xiao's name to intimidate me! He's just..."
"Just a what?"
A deep male voice suddenly cut in from the cafeteria entrance.
Lu Xiao had returned at some point. His clothes were covered in dust and sweat beaded on his temples, but he stood ramrod straight, his presence so cold it could frost the air.
Hu Jianjun's voice immediately lost its bluster. "Cap-Captain Lu, I was just following procedure..."
"Procedure?"
Lu Xiao strode forward, his eyes glancing from the steamed bun in Su Tang's bowl to the tightly shut lid of the pot.
"Su Tang paid with her ration coupons, yet you withheld her food. What kind of procedure is that?"
"Aren't you afraid the leadership will find out about this?"
Hu Jianjun froze, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
Su Tang then noticed Lu Xiao's right hand was clenched into a fist, his knuckles white. He was struggling to contain his rage.
The other family members began to whisper amongst themselves. A few of the wives who were often bullied by the Hu siblings secretly gave Su Tang a thumbs-up.
She might look like a delicate, pale-skinned young lady, but when she stood up to someone, she didn't mince words.
More importantly, her reasoning was clear, and her arguments were sound.
"Captain Lu, I was in the wrong. I... I'll apologize to Comrade Su..."
Hu Jianjun didn't want to lose his job over this.
His parents had practically given their lives to get him this job. If he lost it, he'd have nothing left.
Trembling, Hu Jianjun lifted the pot lid and ladled a bowl of stewed cabbage for Su Tang.
But Su Tang didn't take it. She turned to Lu Xiao. "Maybe we should report this to the leadership after all?"
She deliberately stressed the words "report this to the leadership," catching a glimpse of Hu Jianjun's face turning deathly pale out of the corner of her eye.
Lu Xiao considered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Hu Jianjun's panicked expression. Finally, he shook his head. "Don't let it happen again."
He stuffed the ration coupons back into his pocket and took the bowl from Su Tang. "Let's eat first."
It was only then that Su Tang noticed a bloodstain on his cuff. It was dry, but the sight still made her heart clench.
After saying goodbye to Zhang Cui, Su Tang followed Lu Xiao back to their quarters.
On the way, Su Tang wanted to ask about the injury on Lu Xiao's hand several times but held back, afraid of prying.
"It's just a scratch. Nothing serious."
He must have sensed her furtive glances, because he turned his head toward her as he spoke.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that at the cafeteria."
Su Tang looked down and said softly, "I should be the one apologizing. I caused you trouble."
Earlier at the gate, Hu Lili had said that if she moved into the family compound, she would only be a burden to Lu Xiao.
Because no one liked her.
But Lu Xiao hadn't treated her like a burden. Instead, he had given her a safe harbor from the storm.
"Let me take care of that wound for you."
Su Tang turned to get the first-aid kit. Seeing Lu Xiao just sitting there, she quickly added, "I studied clinical medicine in the UK. Don't worry."
"It's best if you don't mention things like that in the future."
Su Tang was unwrapping a cotton ball and iodine, about to treat the wound, when she heard his words.
After a moment, she realized what he meant and nodded gently.
"I understand."
Lu Xiao was talking about her having studied abroad.
She reached for Lu Xiao's hand and looked at the gash.
"You call this 'just a scratch'?"
'He has an incredible pain tolerance. If this isn't treated soon, it's definitely going to get infected.'
"It's a minor wound."
Lu Xiao replied nonchalantly, turning his head away. He seemed a little uncomfortable.
Especially with Su Tang sitting on the chair and leaning over to examine the wound.
He didn't know what she wore, but there was always a subtle, almost imperceptible fragrance about her.
It was a distracting scent that muddled his thoughts.
"There. Try not to get it wet for the next few days."
After bandaging Lu Xiao's hand, Su Tang packed everything away.
She recalled reading somewhere that Lu Xiao had been involved in the '50s conflict, when he was only eleven years old.
In the modern era, Su Tang had read books, watched movies, and seen television series about it.
So she knew just how harsh the conditions had been for them.
Lu Xiao's hands and arms were covered in scars.
And... signs of old frostbite.
As Su Tang put the first-aid kit back in the cabinet, she caught a glimpse of Lu Xiao out of the corner of her eye. He was looking down, rubbing a faded red string on his wrist. The knot was crooked, looking like it had been tied by a child.
She suddenly recalled how the original owner of her body had once sarcastically called Lu Xiao "uncultured," and her heart ached.
"That red string on your wrist..."
The words were out before she realized how intrusive they sounded. Su Tang quickly looked down and busied herself with the remaining cotton swabs.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have pried."
Lu Xiao's Adam's apple bobbed. The rough pad of his thumb brushed over the knot. "I found it in Han City when I was a kid. The day I picked it up was the first time I ever touched one of those... iron beasts."
"Back then, I figured that as long as this red string was protecting me, not even King Yama would dare to claim my soul."
He rarely spoke of this past. He'd been young, but he'd had a growth spurt, so he lied about his age and enlisted.
He'd thought he could be a great hero, but once he was actually there, he was scared to death.
And it was his cowardice that got his squad leader—the man who had been kindest to him—killed.
Ever since then, Lu Xiao had etched his squad leader's words into his mind.
'Think before you act.'
Hearing this rugged, stone-faced man speak of such things with such softness in his eyes unexpectedly eased Su Tang's tension.
"Lu Xiao, you are a hero."
"You should eat before your food gets cold."
Lu Xiao looked at the smile in Su Tang's eyes and listened to her praise, and a flicker of joy sparked within him.
Even the tips of his ears secretly turned red.
'It was just an ordinary compliment. What was there to be so happy about?'