During lunch, Wen Ci got her food and took a seat next to Yu Qing. As she ate, she asked curiously, "Doctor Yu, do you know how to dance?"

’Since I’ve agreed to do this dance, I have to do it well,’ she thought. It wasn’t just all the soldiers in the Northwest Military Region who would be watching the Military Art performance; a touring arts troupe would be there too.

They couldn’t embarrass the hospital.

Yu Qing nodded. "A little. When I was little, there was an ’educated youth’ in my village who was a dancer. After she was sent down, she lived next door to my family, and I secretly learned from her for a few years."

The 1970s were the height of the "Down to the Countryside Movement." City dwellers were only allowed to keep urban residency for one child, so families with multiple children had to choose one of them to send to the countryside.

The educated youth who lived next door to Yu Qing’s family was a dancer from the city.

"A dancer who was an educated youth?" Wen Ci’s eyes widened. A faint smile touched her lips as she asked, "In that case, want to come to my place after work today and practice?"

"Sure."

-

Ever since Huo Jingyuan’s family arrived in the Northwest, the commanders of each regiment had been encouraging their soldiers to have their families join them on base, even offering travel subsidies.

For a time, new military wives were moving into the family residences every day.

As Xue Li passed the gate to the family residences, he saw a familiar figure. When he took a closer look and got a clear view, his face scrunched up, and he muttered:

"How did she get into the Northwest Military Region?"

Suddenly, the woman carrying the luggage turned and glanced at Xue Li. The moment their eyes met, Xue Li fled in a panic, heading straight for the regimental commissar’s office.

The commissar was in the middle of approving the list of incoming dependents. Xue Li walked up to the desk and saw the application files laid out; the approval process wasn’t strict.

All that was required was a marriage certificate and a local residence certificate.

"Commissar, she’s here!"

Xue Li looked terrified.

"Who?" The commissar frowned slightly. Seeing Xue Li’s exaggerated expression, he said unhurriedly, "Don’t speak in riddles. Just say it."

"Qin Yun’s wife."

Hearing this, the commissar’s eyes widened as he stared at Xue Li. He took a deep breath and asked with a grave expression, "Xue Li, are you sure you weren’t mistaken?"

"Absolutely. She even looked right at me."

The commissar muttered, ’Could she be back to get revenge on Old Huo? Did she marry someone else and use her status as a military wife to re-enter the Northwest?’

More than ten years ago, families were also allowed to join the soldiers in the Northwest, but the conditions back then were much harsher than they are now. The dependents had to build their own crude shelters.

Huo Jingyuan walked into the office and overheard the commissar. His gaze fell on Xue Li as he slowly walked up behind him and asked, "Who’s here?"

"No one." Xue Li clapped a hand over his mouth.

"Hm?"

After a moment’s thought, the commissar’s gaze turned grim as he looked at Huo Jingyuan. He decided to come clean. Huo Jingyuan’s wife was now in the Northwest.

If they kept it from him, there was no telling what Qin Yun’s wife might do.

"Qin Yun’s wife is here. She must have married someone else to be able to join them here in the Northwest. I still need to check who she married."

Huo Jingyuan’s expression was calm, as if he already knew. His deep, ink-black eyes lowered slightly as he said, "She married Qin Jin."

"Qin Jin? That name sounds a little familiar."

Xue Li slapped his thigh. "Don’t tell me it’s that team captain from the neighboring regiment?"

"It’s him."

Qin Yun had once been another ace in the Northwest Military Region. He was a few years older than Huo Jingyuan, but they had been promoted at a similar pace.

Unfortunately, on a mission five years ago...

Qin Yun single-handedly held off the enemy to cover everyone’s retreat.

He died a hero’s death on the battlefield.

Huo Jingyuan had been among those whose retreat he covered.