Can't Take My Eyes Off You

C 288-289

As soon as Deng Meihua, Major Zhu's wife, asked Jiang Yao the questions, Mrs. Lin could tell what her real intention was. At the moment, she felt that Deng Meihua was being rather narrow-minded, assuming that everyone coveted her job as the kindergarten teacher just like how she craved to hold on to the job.

The military would arrange jobs for the military dependents according to their qualifications. Mrs. Lin graduated from an educational university in Jin City. She was able to get a job right after her graduation so the military did not have to make any arrangements. Captain Yang's wife worked as a sales personnel off-base. Among them, Deng Meihua was the only one whose job was arranged by the military.

There was a kindergarten in the base for the children living on base. There were only less than twenty children in total under the care of three teachers. However, the job as a teacher was selling like hotcakes among the army wives because the job was in the base with a decent salary package.

Honestly speaking, Mrs. Lin looked down on the kindergarten because their teachers were poorly educated whereby the best out of them had only finished elementary school. What could they teach the children anyway? It was just a daycare center in disguise.

Mrs. Lin found it amusing and she was bewildered when she heard Mrs. Zhu asking Jiang Yao about her future work.

Yet, Jiang Yao did not see all the twists and turns in the questions. She figured that there was nothing to hide, so she said, "I'm studying medicine, and I will definitely work in the hospital after graduation. When I come to the base, I think I will work at a nearby hospital. As for the kindergarten, I'm still new here, I don't really know the drill, but I bet the kindergarten is very excellent under the military's establishment."

Jiang Yao was really good with her words, she did not say anything bad about the military.

Mrs. Lin took a second glance at Jiang Yao after hearing her answers. One could tell that she was impressed by Jiang Yao, thinking that she was very smart and sharp for her age.

"Wow, a hospital! That's great! Being a doctor means a stable and lifelong income!" Mrs. Zhu exclaimed in astonishment and delight with a tinge of envy when she heard Jiang Yao's answer. "Wow, saving lives, it is so admirable and impressive. It's great for girls like you to have a good educational background, you'll be spoiled with job opportunities after graduation. Unlike me, I went through the five-year elementary school system, and that's it. I can't find a satisfactory job in the society. Thankfully, the military set up the kindergarten in the base, so I followed their arrangement and became a teacher to watch the children. In the future, when you and Sergeant Lu have a baby, send them to us, I'll take care of them with all my heart."

"I'm still studying, it's not the time to have babies yet. We plan to have children after I graduate, so, it's still a long way to go, it's a little too early to say anything now," Jiang Yao blurted half-heartedly.

She finally fathomed the feeling of oddity upon Mrs. Zhu's earlier questions. Was Mrs. Zhu afraid that Jiang Yao would become her rival after her arrival at the base?

"Yes, you're right!" Mrs. Zhu nodded vigorously. "Besides, Sergeant Lu is rich, I bet he can support you even if you don't work." Then, she turned to Lu Xingzhi and said loudly, "Sergeant Lu, am I right?"

Lu Xingzhi did not pay any attention to the women as he was drinking with Colonel Lin and the guys. When Mrs. Zhu suddenly shouted his name, his hand froze midair with the glass in his hand. He looked at Mrs. Zhu, and then Jiang Yao, in confusion as if trying to ask Jiang Yao with his eyes, 'What are you talking about?'

Mrs. Lin giggled when she saw the tiny signals between Jiang Yao and Lu Xingzhi. She said, "Mrs. Zhu was asking you, after your wife graduates from college, will you spoil her by making her stay at home and be a carefree and wealthy wife?"

Mrs. Lin had a way with her words. Even though her words carried similar meanings with that of Mrs. Zhu's, she presented it in a way that was more polite and considerate.

Hearing that, Lu Xingzhi's expression lightened. He nodded. "Well, if she is fine with it, I do not mind her being a stay-at-home wife."

However, Lu Xingzhi knew Jiang Yao all too well. She would not be able to deal with the boredom that came with it.

"Haha! Such a loving husband!" Mrs. Lin laughed. "You guys continue on with your drinking. We ladies will have our own little discussion here."

Beckoning Lu Xingzhi to continue the conversation with the men, Mrs. Lin started an exchange herself, shifting the limelight away from Jiang Yao.

The crowd drank until it was almost eight o'clock. Jiang Yao did not know how much Lu Xingzhi had drunk. She caught the strong whiff of alcohol as he walked past her. However, he did not seem to be drunk, as he strolled along in a steady pace.

Mrs. Zhu and Mrs. Yang did not leave with Jiang Yao and Mrs. Lin, as they both lived in the Old Quarters which was situated at the far end of the compound.

Walking out, Jiang Yao could feel the chills in the wind even though she had a coat on herself. When she arrived two hours ago, it was much warmer, needing only a single coat to keep herself warm.

"Are you going to Jindo City tomorrow? I think you need more layers on you, Jiang Yao. Go and buy a couple of thick jackets when you are there. It does not seem that way during daytime, but it gets especially cold at night over here. Compared to your city in the south, winter here arrives much earlier," Mrs. Lin mentioned, after seeing Jiang Yao shiver.

Lu Xingzhi was walking in the front with Colonel Lin. Hearing Mrs. Lin's remark, he turned and looked at Jiang Yao.

"Look at that, Sergeant Lu is worried." Mrs. Lin teased.

"I'm fine, it will get warmer once I start walking." Jiang Yao smiled back at Lu Xingzhi.

Knowing that Jiang Yao was still not used to the weather here, the gang picked up their pace and walked faster. Along the way, Mrs. Lin started talking to Jiang Yao concerning Mrs. Zhu and Mrs. Yang.

"Both Mrs. Zhu and Mrs. Yang have good intentions, but they also have their own flaws. Who does not have flaws, am I right? Our men are very close to each other, so try to be more understanding in the future, yeah? Mrs. Zhu and Mrs. Yang are usually very friendly. Whenever anybody needs help, they are always the first ones to arrive."

"I understand, nobody is perfect. Look at me, I have plenty of flaws too." Jiang Yao nodded, knowing that Mrs. Lin was referring to what Mrs. Zhu said before.

Mrs. Lin met Jiang Yao for the first time tonight and she was already discussing such profound matters with her. It seemed that both Colonel Lin and Lu Xingzhi had an extremely strong rapport.

Arriving at the Family building, the two couples parted. Colonel Lin lived on the third floor of a building behind theirs, so they had to walk further in. Even when Jiang Yao and Lu Xingzhi had arrived at their place, they could see both Colonel Lin and Mrs. Lin from their windows.

The first thing Lu Xingzhi did after closing the door was to take his jacket off and put it on Jiang Yao. He turned and looked at the clothes hanging on the balcony, feeling all warm and fuzzy knowing that they were all washed by her. Nonetheless, he said, "Do not wash my clothes in the future. The clothes are quite filthy since I wear them for training, let me do it myself."

He went off to heat up some water for Jiang Yao's bath.

Back then, instead of having an electric heater, water was heated using a heating rod. Not as efficient, but it still got the job done.