Chapter 18: We Have a Certificate

"No need."

Shen Qingqing said coldly, turning her head to continue tidying her suitcase. In truth, there wasn't much to organize; she simply didn't want to engage with Jiang Zhixun. With her back turned to him, her intention to dismiss him was unmistakable.

Jiang Zhixun stared at her back, longing to ask what exactly she was so angry about. Clearly, he was the one who should be furious. She had come all the way to the Great Northwest without a word, encountered trouble on the road without telling him, and even dared to stay out overnight in a place where she was a complete stranger. With all these things piling up, shouldn't he be the one angry? Instead, he found himself walking on eggshells around her.

Jiang Zhixun’s face remained cold as he retrieved some ointment from the drawer. As he leaned over, his left hand reached around her waist, effortlessly lifting her up. The sudden movement startled Shen Qingqing, and she nearly screamed, but she swallowed the sound at the last second for fear of disturbing others. The narrow double bed creaked under the motion.

"Don't move."

Lying on the bed, Shen Qingqing struggled to turn her head to glare at him. "You're acting like a thug!"

The man’s expression didn't change. "I am your husband."

With that, he tossed her coat onto the chair, letting it rest against his own military greatcoat. Beneath her coat, Shen Qingqing wore a form-fitting cashmere sweater that clung to her curves. Her waist was slender and her hips were shapely—a silhouette that carried the subtle charm of a mature woman, quite different from the naive young girl in Jiang Zhixun’s memory.

The tips of her ears turned bright red, as if they might bleed, though her expression grew even more rigid. She said coldly, "We have a marriage certificate."

The words echoed in Shen Qingqing's mind, taking on a strange connotation. Her heart leaped to her throat. Was Jiang Zhixun actually going to follow his elders' arrangements and have a child with her? The thought made her feel awful. For the past three years, she hadn't considered using a child to mend their relationship, and now that they were on the verge of divorce, it was even more impossible. Had she been healthy, she could have raised a child on her own, but as it stood, she could barely look after herself. How could she be so irresponsible? While the Jiang family could certainly support a child, she wasn't about to endure the hardships and risks of pregnancy just to carry on their family line. Once they were divorced, Jiang Zhixun could choose to remarry. By then, how many children he had would be none of her concern.

Shen Qingqing glared at him. "Don't you dare!"

Jiang Zhixun stopped her from struggling. "What kind of nonsense are you thinking about?"

Shen Qingqing’s face flushed deep red; she didn't want to discuss the topic of children. While they were a legal couple, they hadn't reached that level of intimacy. "Leave."

Jiang Zhixun felt somewhat awkward himself. The courage he had finally mustered had dissipated entirely. The matter of having children would have to wait. In any case, he would accompany Shen Qingqing back to the capital this year, and if the elders had any opinions, he would handle them. He sat on the edge of the bed, holding the ointment. "You can't apply it properly to that spot yourself."

The most painful area was behind her shoulder. Shen Qingqing could reach it, but it was awkward, and she would only end up applying the patch crookedly. Since they were going to divorce, she didn't want to have too many entanglements with him. Regardless of how well or poorly she managed, she didn't want his help.

Before he noticed, she snatched the ointment from his hand. "Leave at once."

Given how things stood, Jiang Zhixun didn't have the thick skin to remain. He rose decisively and picked up his coat. "I'll come to pick you up tomorrow afternoon." He gestured with his chin toward the canned goods and candies on the table. "Keep those for yourself."

Shen Qingqing said listlessly, "As you wish."

Although he knew she was in a bad mood, Jiang Zhixun didn't know how to comfort her. He said stiffly, "Get some sleep early," and walked out of the room with his coat.

The couple had only been in the room for about ten minutes. Seeing Jiang Zhixun walk downstairs in just a thin shirt with a stern face, others assumed he had been kicked out by Shen Qingqing. Xiao Li and his colleagues exchanged knowing glances. They thought to themselves that the couple was far too stubborn—no wonder Captain Jiang hadn't returned home in three years. They were both as mule-headed as could be.

"I wonder if they'll be able to make up by the New Year."

"If Captain Jiang goes home, they probably will."

Many were anxious on their behalf, fearing that the more they quarreled, the more their marriage would fall apart. It was no secret that Jiang Zhixun hadn't been home in three years. It was also no secret that he had rushed to the county town in a panic and brought Shen Qingqing back overnight.

Therefore, the next morning, Shen Qingqing met the wife of Jiang Zhixun’s superior.

"My surname is Wang, everyone calls me Sister-in-law Wang," the woman said.

Shen Qingqing invited her in. She had her sit on a chair, but since there weren't any extra cups for hot water, she grabbed a handful of candies to offer her guest. Sister-in-law Wang was slightly plump with a round face; her eyes crinkled with obvious fine lines when she smiled, but she had a kind look that made her seem very approachable.

Watching Shen Qingqing’s movements, Sister-in-law Wang thought to herself that the young girl was quite capable and poised. She had heard that Shen worked in the capital as a translator and was highly accomplished. Though little Jiang was cold by nature, he was ambitious and helpful to others—a young man with a cold exterior but a warm heart. They were both excellent people; how had they managed to let their marriage reach this point?

"Sister-in-law Wang, is there something you need?"

The woman wore an expression of regret and seemed hesitant to speak. Shen Qingqing guessed she was there to mediate their marriage.

Sister-in-law Wang smiled. "It's nothing major. I heard you arrived at the compound, so I wanted to invite you and little Jiang to have a meal at my place."

Shen Qingqing didn't know whether to agree, as she truly didn't know Jiang Zhixun’s schedule, nor was she sure if he would be upset if she went to his superior's house unannounced.

Sensing her hesitation, Sister-in-law Wang said, "Someone has already gone to call little Jiang. He should arrive by the time we get there. It’s rare for him to have time off, so let’s all chat and have a meal together to build some rapport."

The intention to mediate was clear. Shen Qingqing thought for a moment and nodded. "Then I’ll be troubling you, Sister-in-law Wang."

"What trouble? The more people, the merrier."

Shen Qingqing felt it was impolite to visit empty-handed, so she intended to bring the canned goods along. Sister-in-law Wang wouldn't let her. "If you bring those, you're being a stranger, and I won't dare invite you over again." As she spoke, she took the cans from Shen Qingqing’s hands and placed them back on the table. "It’s very cold outside, put on an extra layer. I heard you were sick two days ago—was it a bad reaction to the climate? You mustn't catch a cold again."

Shen Qingqing had put on her coat and a scarf, but she still wanted to bring the gifts; she felt truly uncomfortable going empty-handed.

Sister-in-law Wang laughed. "These things are too sweet. My husband and I don't care for them; it would be a waste if you gave them to us. Keep them for yourself." Fearing Shen Qingqing would continue to fret, she warmly took her hand and led her outside. "The people in the compound are very easy to get along with. Once little Jiang gets a house assigned, you'll see for yourself after living here for a while."