Ji Shuyu took the pair of brand-new cloth shoes. The stitches were fine and solid, clearly made with great care.
Xiao Xin was indeed very observant—after meeting Zhao Qiang just once, she had noticed his worn-out shoes.
And now she was giving him something, which showed she had strong feelings for him.
Ji Shuyu teased her with a smile, “Oh? Nothing’s even happened yet, and you’re already thinking about him?”
Xiao Xin’s face turned even redder. She stamped her foot and said, “Sister Shuyu! D-don’t make fun of me! I just… I just noticed his shoes were worn out…”
He Yuan, who was munching on a steamed bun nearby, chimed in unclearly as he watched Xiao Xin’s shy demeanor.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he gets them. If that kid Zhao Qiang finds out, he’ll be so thrilled he won’t sleep for three days.”
Reassured by the couple’s words, Xiao Xin didn’t dare stay any longer.
She was thin-skinned, and if they teased her any more, she would die of embarrassment.
The shoes were delivered, and Zhao Qiang was indeed over the moon.
He held the pair of handmade cloth shoes as if they were some rare treasure, trying them on again and again. They fit perfectly, and he couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear.
After this incident, the connection between the two grew stronger.
When Zhao Qiang had time off, he would “coincidentally” run into Xiao Xin at the supply and marketing cooperative after her shift, and the two would walk together along the seaside.
Sometimes, when Xiao Xin made some tasty treats, she would ask Ji Shuyu and her husband to pass them to Zhao Qiang. Of course, she always made sure to include something for the couple too, using the excuse that it shouldn’t be too obvious.
Zhao Qiang trained with even more energy, glowing with vitality.
Even the political instructor noticed something was off and jokingly asked if he had secretly resolved his “personal matters.”
Zhao Qiang chuckled sheepishly, “Working on it, working on it!”
He felt that if things continued this way, winning the beauty’s heart was only a matter of time.
However, the good times didn’t last long.
Xiao Xin’s family gradually began to notice the signs.
Xiao Xin’s mother first questioned her about the soldier who often came to see her.
When she learned he was just an ordinary non-commissioned officer from a remote rural area, she was naturally unwilling to let her daughter marry someone like that.
She couldn’t let her daughter spend her whole life in such a remote place. Xiao Xin was still young and needed to see the world.
Xiao Xin stammered and admitted that she was seeing Zhao Qiang.
She genuinely liked Zhao Qiang and hadn’t planned on hiding it.
After all, sooner or later, the “ugly daughter-in-law” would have to meet the parents.
When Xiao Xin’s parents heard their daughter’s confession, their hearts sank.
Zhao Qiang was a decent guy—honest and hardworking, and he served under Regiment Commander He.
But his family conditions were just too ordinary, and he had younger siblings to support.
He was just a soldier himself, and it was uncertain whether he could stay in the military long-term.
Even if he did, how far could he really go?
Were they supposed to let their daughter suffer on this island with him for the rest of her life?
They began advising Xiao Xin, “Sweetie, you’re still young and don’t understand. Finding a partner is like a second rebirth for a woman. What’s the use of him just being a good person?”
“Daily life requires money for basic necessities—where will that come from? With his conditions, you’ll be the one suffering in the future!”
“Our family may not be wealthy, but you’re our only daughter. Your dad and I want to find someone better for you. The section chief from the textile factory in the neighboring county that Aunt Zhang introduced—he’s so steady, and his family conditions are much better…”
Xiao Xin, being soft-hearted, felt confused and troubled by her parents’ persuasion.
She did have feelings for Zhao Qiang. He was passionate, sincere, and lit up her world like a little sun.
But her parents’ words weren’t entirely unreasonable—the pressures of reality were indeed significant.
Besides, she was a traditional girl who never contradicted her parents’ words.
She began avoiding Zhao Qiang intentionally or unintentionally.
Whenever Zhao Qiang came to see her, she would make excuses about having things to do at home or simply have Xiao Zhang say she wasn’t around.
After sending over treats a few times with no response, Zhao Qiang finally sensed that something was wrong.
One day, he couldn’t hold back any longer. He waited at a corner Xiao Xin had to pass on her way home from work and finally managed to stop her.
“Xiao Xin, have you been… avoiding me lately?”
Zhao Qiang looked at the girl standing in front of him with her head lowered, not saying a word, feeling both anxious and panicked.
Xiao Xin twisted the hem of her clothes, her voice almost inaudible. “N-no…”
“Then why won’t you see me? Did I do something wrong?”
Zhao Qiang pressed on, his tone tinged with grievance.
“No… you’re great…”
Xiao Xin suddenly looked up, her eyes slightly red. “It’s just… my parents think… we’re not suitable…”
She finally said it, then quickly lowered her head again, a tear falling to the ground with a soft pat.
Zhao Qiang’s heart sank to the bottom.
“Not suitable? Why? Is it because my family is poor?”
He couldn’t think of any other reason.
But he was still young, with opportunities for promotion ahead—it wasn’t as if he would stay this way forever.
Xiao Xin didn’t answer, only cried. Her silence hurt Zhao Qiang more than any words could.
He stood there, watching Xiao Xin wipe her tears and run away, his heart growing cold.
For the first time, he clearly realized that mutual attraction alone was far from enough.
Zhao Qiang returned to the dormitory in low spirits. For two days, he was listless and even distracted during training, earning a scolding from his squad leader.
He Yuan noticed something was wrong and dragged him to his home that evening, asking Ji Shuyu to cook a couple of dishes.
“Alright, out with it. What’s going on? You look like a wilted eggplant.”
He Yuan poured him a glass of water.
Zhao Qiang hesitated for a long time before finally spilling everything. At the end, he wiped his face roughly.
“Regiment Commander, Sister-in-law, I really like Xiao Xin. She’s so good, so quiet and thoughtful. But my family’s situation is what it is, and I’m just a soldier. Apart from my strength, I have nothing to offer her…”
“Her parents look down on me, and there’s nothing I can do about it…”
As he spoke, his eyes reddened.
Men don’t shed tears easily, but only when they are truly heartbroken.
He Yuan and Ji Shuyu exchanged a glance.
Ji Shuyu sighed. “I know a bit about Xiao Xin’s family situation. Her parents are just afraid their daughter will suffer—their intentions aren’t bad, just a bit too pragmatic.”
He Yuan patted Zhao Qiang on the shoulder. “What’s wrong with being a soldier? The soldiers under my command are all outstanding! Being poor isn’t a lifelong sentence. What matters is whether you have the drive to change it.”
“What good is drive if they won’t give me a chance?” Zhao Qiang muttered gloomily.
Ji Shuyu thought for a moment and said, “What about Xiao Xin herself? How does she feel? If she truly likes you, she’ll fight for your relationship.”
“What I’m afraid of is that she’s hesitant herself and wavers when her family says something.”
Zhao Qiang remembered the way Xiao Xin’s eyes had reddened, and a glimmer of hope ignited in his heart. “She… she must like me a little, right? She even made me shoes…”
Besides, when he asked her, she didn’t say she didn’t like him—only that her family didn’t allow it.
“Then there’s still a chance.”
He Yuan concluded decisively, looking at Zhao Qiang.
“Don’t mope around here. Show the same determination you have on the training ground. Her parents just think you’re poor and worry their daughter won’t have a secure future, right?”
“Boss, what do you mean…?”
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