Chapter 175: Independence

"Battalion Commander Chen, Comrade An, are you two going to the city for a stroll?" Sun Xiuzhen asked.

Chen Xun merely nodded and did not speak.

An Yinan looked at Sun Xiuzhen with a smile; she had seen this person twice before, but both times were in passing, and the two had only exchanged nods in greeting.

This was their first formal meeting and greeting.

"Yes, going to the city for a stroll. And you?" An Yinan sat down next to Sun Xiuzhen, and Chen Xun sat down beside An Yinan.

After An Yinan sat down, Chen Xun covered her legs with the overcoat he had specifically brought, and then tucked her hands into his own pockets.

Everyone on the vehicle was watching, and only now did they realize that the cold and icy Battalion Commander Chen held this woman in the very center of his heart.

Any rumors about Zhang Qingqing or Xi Mingyue were self-defeating.

"I work in the city and commute back and forth every day," Sun Xiuzhen said with a smile, taking in Chen Xun's recent actions.

An Yinan's eyes lit up, "You are truly amazing; the environment is so harsh, yet you can still persist in commuting back and forth."

Seeing that An Yinan's eyes were full of genuine admiration without any other ulterior meaning, Sun Xiuzhen finally smiled broadly, "It's just being forced by circumstances, there's no other way. But having one's own job does, after all, provide more confidence and more independence."

Sun Xiuzhen liked working very much; regardless of the salary, at the very least, earning her own money gave her a sense of security and stronger autonomy, and no one could say anything to her.

An Yinan expressed her support for Sun Xiuzhen's perspective.

"Economic independence, while not everything, is at least relatively independent in spirit."

Sun Xiuzhen nodded; in this Military District Compound, few people shared her view, as they all believed that spending their own husband's money was a matter of course.

Why run out in such cold weather? It makes the man of the house seem incompetent, unable to even support his wife.

Actually, that isn't wrong, but in the end, one loses the right to free choice in certain matters.

The two became more and more congenial as they talked, and by the time they reached the city, they looked at each other and smiled, feeling as though they had met too late.

Chen Xun had An Yinan stand on the vehicle while he jumped down first, then reached out his hands and said to An Yinan, "Jump, I'll catch you."

An Yinan looked at the man, then at the people who were peeking over; her face flushed quietly, but she still jumped into Chen Xun's arms.

Men, sometimes you just have to let them have a sense of accomplishment and make them feel needed.

Some say, how long is the shelf life of love? In fact, it is different for every couple; it just needs constant cultivation.

"Where are we going?" An Yinan asked.

Chen Xun pulled her along and said, "First to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, to see if there is anything you like."

An Yinan nodded, and the two headed toward the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, walking and stopping, looking at things that were more or less the same as what she already had plenty of in her own space; in the end, she only bought some milk bars and powdered milk.

"We can buy a bit more of these to send to Yuanyuan and the others," An Yinan said with a smile as she looked at the milk bars.

Yuanyuan loved eating candy, and she had a sweet mouth too.

Moreover, the milk bars here were purer, with a milk flavor even richer than White Rabbit Creamy Candy.

"Okay," Chen Xun nodded.

An Yinan also bought a few pieces of high-quality fur; that's right, fur.

The weather here was freezing cold, and there were all kinds of wild game, but An Yinan was in the Military Camp and hadn't gone out on her own, so she hadn't encountered any hunting grounds.

However, these furs could be mailed to everyone; they could be used to make fur coats, fur hats, and fur gloves, which would surely be warm as can be.

An Yinan bought things in front while Chen Xun followed behind with a good temper; in the end, the two had bought quite a lot, and it wasn't until Chen Xun couldn't carry any more that An Yinan suddenly came to her senses, "Ahem, is it too much?"

Chen Xun rubbed her face, "Not much. I'll send them to Nike Dashu in a while; tomorrow Nike Dashu will deliver supplies into the Camp, and he can help us send them over then."

"Chen Xun, you're going to spoil me rotten," An Yinan pouted and said righteously.

Chen Xun blinked, "My own wife, if I don't spoil her, who will?"

I am speechless!

An Yinan and Chen Xun first sent the things they bought to Nike Dashu's small tavern.

"Oh my, lass, we meet again," Nike Dashu said, his eyes lighting up when he saw An Yinan; this lass was quite interesting.

Chen Xun's face darkened slightly, and he felt a bit of regret for bringing his little wife over.

"Snow Ghost, you too have a day where you're eaten alive, eh?" Nike Dashu laughed heartily, looking as carefree and free-spirited as ever.

"Nike Dashu, let's leave these things with you for now; when you deliver supplies tomorrow, could you please help me bring them over?" Chen Xun smiled helplessly.

"Easy, easy. How about eating here at my place for lunch today?" Nike Dashu looked at An Yinan.

This little lass was extremely interesting; chatting with her always allowed one to see through to the heart.

An Yinan shook her head with a smile, "Uncle, it's date time for two, no lightbulbs allowed."

It took a long time for Nike Dashu to react and understand what this meant, and he immediately burst into loud laughter.

"You clever little thing. Alright, I'll have these delivered tomorrow; you two go on your date."

After An Yinan and Chen Xun left Nike Dashu's place, An Yinan asked, "It seems you and Nike Dashu have a very good relationship?"

Chen Xun nodded, "Nike Dashu is responsible for the Military District's supplies. His family and clansmen all died at the hands of foreign invaders; he hates those people to the bone."

For a moment, the atmosphere grew heavy.

An Yinan found it hard to imagine that such a free and optimistic Nike Dashu actually had such a past.

"Nike Dashu joined the army; his cooking is excellent, and he has stayed in the Camp for ten years," Chen Xun continued.

"Our Northeast Military Region is short on supplies, and we cannot grow crops or vegetables year-round; all resources cannot be self-sufficient. Later, Nike Dashu led people to reclaim wasteland in other places and then transported supplies into the Camp; that is how his small tavern was established."

"It is a small tavern, and also a transit station for supplies."

"Nike Dashu is so great," An Yinan said.

Chen Xun nodded affirmatively, "In the Camp, Nike Dashu can remember every soldier; he is the Nike Dashu of all our soldiers, and also the father of all our soldiers."

An Yinan nodded in admiration.

"Alright, let's go to the State-run Restaurant to eat; what would you like to eat?" Chen Xun asked.

"Let's go over and take a look first." As soon as food was mentioned, An Yinan perked up.

The two arrived at the State-run Restaurant; there weren't many people, and the door curtain sewn from thick animal fur kept the wind and snow outside.

On the small blackboard were written Deer Meat Bun and lamb meatballs.

"Plants have a hard time surviving here, so there are correspondingly many animals," Chen Xun explained.