strictlysupreme Chapter 386 The Beloved Little Sister 21
Chapter 386 The Beloved Little Sister 21
You Yong stood by the window of the military office, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the wooden window frame.
Outside the window were neat rows of people and loud slogans, but his thoughts had already flown to that small county town a thousand miles away.
The telephone on the table was shiny black. He stared at it for a full ten minutes before finally deciding to pick up the receiver.
"Switchboard operator, connect me to Pingyang County Health Center." His voice was a little strained, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down.
The beeping sound of the call waiting to be connected struck his heart like a hammer.
In the past six months, he has risen from a junior deputy platoon leader to a platoon leader, managing over a hundred people. But in the quiet of the night, the wedding photo under his pillow is his greatest comfort.
"Hello, Pingyang County Health Center." A strange female voice came from the other end of the phone.
You Yong immediately straightened his back: "Hello, I'm looking for Comrade Ji Xiaosong."
"Xiao Song, she's giving a patient an injection. Who are you?"
“I am her lover, You Yong.” As he said the word “lover,” the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.
"Oh! Company Commander You!" The other person's voice immediately became enthusiastic. "Xiao Song often mentions you. You wait here, I'll go and call her right now."
You Yong heard the sound of the phone being placed on the table, followed by the sound of footsteps fading into the distance.
He imagined what the clinic would look like: white walls, the smell of disinfectant, and Ji Xiaosong hurrying around in a white coat.
The last time we met was in the dead of winter, but now it's the height of summer with cicadas chirping outside the window.
"You Yong?" A familiar voice suddenly came from the receiver, slightly panting, as if he had run over.
"Song'er!" You Yong's voice softened instantly, all the sternness he had displayed in front of the soldiers vanished. "I missed you."
There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Ji Xiaosong's suppressed laughter: "What are you saying in broad daylight? There are other people in the office."
“I don’t care.” You Yong acted like a spoiled child. “I haven’t seen you for more than half a year. Every night when I lie in bed, my right side is empty and cold.”
Ji Xiaosong's voice softened as well: "I miss you too. But the courses at nursing school are demanding, and I can't neglect my work at the clinic..."
“I know.” You Yong sighed. “I just… just want to hear your voice.”
He paused, then continued, "Oh, right, I've been promoted to company commander. I live alone in my house now, it's really lonely. If you sleep next to me, from now on, whether it's autumn or the dead of winter, I'll..."
"You Yong!" Ji Xiaosong interrupted him in embarrassment and annoyance, but You Yong could imagine her face turning red at that moment.
"I'm serious!" You Yong said, looking aggrieved. "When can you come and see us? I've kept our wedding photo under my pillow and look at it every night..."
The sound of snickers from Ji Xiaosong's colleagues came from the other end of the phone; clearly, her colleagues had heard it too.
The phone was quite loud; it was hard for them not to hear it.
You Yong heard Ji Xiaosong frantically cover the receiver, followed by the sound of clothes rustling; she must have hidden in some corner.
"Aren't you ashamed!" Ji Xiaosong scolded softly. "The whole clinic knows you look at wedding photos every night!"
You Yong laughed heartily: "I wish the whole world knew I missed my wife!"
"You smooth talker..." Ji Xiaosong's voice was filled with barely concealed amusement. "How's it going on your end? Is training tiring?"
"It's alright, it's just..." You Yong suddenly lowered his voice, "...it's just that you're not here to massage my shoulders anymore. I twisted my back during the last training session, and it hurt so much I couldn't sleep at night..."
"You're injured again?" Ji Xiaosong's voice immediately became tense. "How serious is it? Did you go to the infirmary?"
"I'm here, I'm here, it's nothing." You Yong quickly reassured her, "I just wanted you to care about me."
Ji Xiaosong was both annoyed and amused: "You're such a grown-up, still acting like a child. I'm very busy here too. My eldest brother went to university, and it's just me, my two older brothers, and our parents at home..."
“I know you’ve had a hard time.” You Yong’s voice suddenly became serious. “I just… miss you so much. I dreamt about you the night before last, and when I woke up I found my pillow was wet.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by the soft sniffling sound of Ji Xiaosong.
"Don't cry, Song'er." You Yong panicked. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have said those things to make you sad..."
"No..." Ji Xiaosong sniffed, "I miss you too. Every night when I lie in bed, I always feel like something's missing..."
You Yong felt as if something had clenched his heart tightly.
He looked up at the calendar on the wall and suddenly had an idea: "Song'er, isn't your nursing school about to have a holiday? Could you... spare a few days to come see me? Just three days, no, two days will do!"
“I…” Ji Xiaosong hesitated for a moment, “I’m a temporary worker, it’s not easy for me to take time off. And my family…”
"Xiao Song!" A middle-aged woman's voice suddenly came from the other end of the phone, "Director Chen is looking for you!"
"I'm coming right away!" Ji Xiaosong replied, then hurriedly said to You Yong, "I have to go, Director Chen is looking for me..."
"Go ahead, go ahead." Although You Yong was reluctant, he knew work was more important. "I'll call you back tonight?"
"Hmm." Ji Xiaosong's voice became lighter. "I'll see if I can ask for leave... Wait for my news."
After hanging up the phone, You Yong sat in his chair and chuckled to himself for a while.
The communications officer, Xiao Zhang, poked his head in: "Company Commander, it's time for training."
"Oh! Right!" You Yong suddenly stood up, straightened his uniform, and resumed his dignified company commander persona.
But when he left the office, his steps were noticeably lighter.
At the same time, Ji Xiaosong stood nervously in front of Director Chen's office door and gently knocked on the door.
"Come in," came Director Chen's stern voice from inside.
Ji Xiaosong pushed open the door and saw Director Chen organizing medical records.
This female doctor, who is in her fifties, is a veteran of the clinic. She is usually serious and rarely smiles, but she is extremely responsible for her work.
"Director, are you looking for me?"
Director Chen looked up and adjusted his reading glasses: "Was that your spouse just now?"
Ji Xiaosong's face flushed red instantly: "Yes...yes. He's in the army..."
"Haven't seen you for more than half a year?" Director Chen suddenly asked.
Ji Xiaosong looked up in surprise, not understanding how Director Chen knew.
Director Chen pointed outside the door: "That's what Nurse Liu said. The whole clinic knows your husband misses you."
The corners of her mouth turned up slightly; this was the first time Ji Xiaosong had ever seen Director Chen smile.
“I…I…” Ji Xiaosong stood there helplessly.
“You’re a temporary worker, so it shouldn’t be easy for you to take leave,” Director Chen suddenly said. “But you’re a diligent worker, never late or leaving early. And your spouse is a soldier…”
She hesitated for a moment, then said, "How about this, the nursing school will be on holiday at the beginning of next month, I'll arrange for you to work ten days, and you can go see him."
Ji Xiaosong's eyes widened, unable to believe her ears: "Really... really possible?"
“Soldiers protect the country, and their families have it tough too.” Director Chen’s voice softened. “Go on, don’t keep Company Commander You waiting too long.”
Ji Xiaosong's eyes immediately welled up with tears: "Thank you, Director! Thank you!"
"Alright, alright," Director Chen waved his hand, "Go back to work. Just remember to make up for the work you did these past few days."
Ji Xiaosong practically floated out of the office.
She couldn't wait to tell You Yong the good news, but it was working hours, so she had to suppress her excitement and return to her office to continue working.
There were many patients in the afternoon, and Ji Xiaosong was so busy that she barely had time to breathe.
But whenever she had a spare moment, her thoughts would drift to You Yong.
She imagined his expression when he saw her suddenly appear, imagined his little house, imagined...
"Xiao Song, what are you grinning about?" Her colleague Xiao Liu nudged her. "This patient is waiting for you to take their blood pressure."
Ji Xiaosong then came to her senses and quickly picked up the blood pressure monitor.
But her heart had already flown to the military camp thousands of miles away.
At 7 p.m., the clinic finally quieted down.
Ji Xiaosong had just changed out of her white coat when the phone in the duty room rang.
She practically ran to pick it up.
"Hello?" Her voice was slightly out of breath from running.
"Song'er?" You Yong's voice came through the receiver, filled with obvious worry. "Why are you breathing so heavily? What happened?"
"It's nothing, it's nothing," Ji Xiaosong said, calming her breathing. "I just got off work... Brother You Yong, I have good news for you!"
"What good news?" You Yong's voice immediately brightened.
"Director Chen agreed to give me ten days off! I can visit you at the beginning of next month!"
Ji Xiaosong said excitedly, her fingers unconsciously twirling the telephone cord.
There was a sudden silence on the other end of the phone.
"Brother You Yong? Are you still there?"
"Yes...yes..." You Yong's voice choked with emotion, "I'm just...so happy. You really can come?"
"Really!" Ji Xiaosong said with a smile, "The nursing school is on holiday, and Director Chen specially arranged for me to work a different shift. But I have to make up for the missed shifts..."
"Don't even mention making up for missed work hours, I'd even go to work in your place!"
You Yong said excitedly, "I'll go prepare it right away! By the way, what do you want to eat? I'll have the cooks prepare it! Our braised pork here is delicious..."
Ji Xiaosong felt a warm glow in her heart as she listened to her husband's excited chatter.
She suddenly remembered something: "Wait, why are you making a phone call at this hour? Isn't there a rule?"
“Hehe,” You Yong chuckled smugly, “I told the political commissar my wife might be coming, and he gave me special permission to use the office phone tonight. He even said… cough… that absence makes the heart grow fonder…”
"Brother You Yong!" Ji Xiaosong stamped her foot in embarrassment, "Why do you say everything?!"
"I'm happy!" You Yong said matter-of-factly. "The whole company knows I'm going to see my wife!"
The two chatted for a long time until the nurse on duty reminded Ji Xiaosong that it was time to go home.
Before hanging up the phone, You Yong suddenly said earnestly, "Song'er, thank you."
"What are you thanking me for?" Ji Xiaosong asked, puzzled.
"Thank you for being willing to marry me, a soldier."
You Yong's voice was deep and gentle, "Thank you for going through so much trouble to come see me. I... I promise I will be good to you for the rest of my life."
Ji Xiaosong's eyes welled up with tears: "Silly boy, you are my husband."
After hanging up the phone, Ji Xiaosong sat in the duty room for a while before calming down.
On her way home, she was already planning what to bring for You Yong: pickled vegetables from home, a newly knitted sweater, and candy sent by her older brother from the capital...
As she passed by the supply and marketing cooperative, she suddenly stopped, blushed, and went inside. Under the salesperson's questioning gaze, she bought a bright red new bed sheet.
Three days later, when Ji Xiaosong boarded the train to the army, she was tightly clutching the bundle containing the red bed sheet in her arms.
Outside the car window, the early autumn sun shone brightly, just like her mood at that moment—warm and bright.