Chapter 17

It was their first time boarding such a large ship, and both Qin Yao and the girl beside her, Zhang Yufei, felt fresh and curious, eager to explore. However, the area they could move around in was limited, just a small medical center.

The so-called medical center was a tiny cabin, small but equipped with all the necessary instruments. Besides the two of them, there were two military doctors and ten medical orderlies, five of whom were girls. They were assigned to a defensive area on an island.

The girls were in small groups, and Qin Yao and Zhang Yufei stayed together, keeping to themselves and not interfering with the others.

The military doctors on the ship were skilled in treating injuries and respiratory diseases, and they gave the girls a brief lecture on some basic knowledge.

Compared to training, there was more free time on the ship, but it was relatively confined. They were stuck inside the cabin and could only look outside through a small window. They weren't allowed to casually walk on the deck.

The meals consisted of sea fish, green vegetables, soy sauce, and steamed buns or rice.

At night, they slept in narrow, fixed berths that could only fit one person, making it difficult to turn over. Life on the ship was more suitable for shorter people. Taller individuals would inevitably bump into things.

No wonder the doctors on the ship were most skilled at treating injuries.

Apart from feeling stuffy, Qin Yao felt bored. Zhang Yufei felt the same way. During the three months of training, their days were packed with activities. Now, on the ship, aside from learning and observing, they had to find things to pass the time.

Qin Yao was so bored that she took out a candy box of "love poems" that Gu Cheng had given her. She read through them without laughing out loud. When she glanced at the training manual on the table, she was stunned.

Gu Cheng, the editor.

Besides many medical professional books, the military doctors had some equipment operation manuals that young soldiers studied. In the military, job restrictions weren't as severe, and self-directed learning was encouraged. If there was an opportunity, one could transfer to a different position.

She held the book in her hand and opened it to find that the author was someone she knew.

Qin Yao carefully examined the pile of books and discovered that the person who could only write three-line love poems had edited quite a few books.

Some people's poems were straightforward, and when she opened a procedural manual, after reading two or three pages, she felt seasick. Frankly speaking, it was like deciphering a heavenly book, and she basically couldn't understand it.

The only things Qin Yao could understand were the articles in military journals and literary magazines. She noticed that Gu Cheng had written quite a few articles.

His articles were as concise and efficient as the man himself, with precise wording that hit the mark. Most of them were practical summaries of his work and were not dull to read, more interesting than the love poems he wrote.

After finishing a few articles, Qin Yao suddenly remembered that night on the deck when Gu Cheng told her the "Adventure Story of Fishing in the South China Sea." He hadn't been lying.

Gu Cheng had been to many places and experienced many things.

At that moment, Qin Yao could connect the "Captain Gu" she knew now with the Gu Cheng she had known before.

Even so, thinking about that stoic man in military uniform handing over love poems... she still didn't know what kind of man he really was.

A man's heart is as unpredictable as the depths of the sea.

"Reading Captain Gu's articles?" The military doctor, He Chunyuan, teased as he looked at her. Shaking his head, he thought, young girls were all the same.

Qin Yao put down the journal and said seriously, "Just browsing."

"Tsk, tsk, no need to hide it. Haven't you seen how these pages have been nearly worn out? I know what you young girls are thinking. Not just young girls, many male soldiers admire Captain Gu as well."

Qin Yao smiled. "Is that so?"

……

The female medical orderly, Sun Jing, glanced at Qin Yao and jokingly said, "Could it be that you're fantasizing about Captain Gu? Although Captain Gu isn't married, he has high standards. You're beautiful, but Captain Gu doesn't like your type. Don't dream about it."

Qin Yao asked curiously, "What type does he like?"

"You're too glamorous. He likes women who are like white lotuses, with elegance. The woman who went on a blind date with Captain Gu last time was a noble white lotus music teacher."

Qin Yao burst out laughing.

A noble white lotus music teacher—Chen Baozhen.

"What are you laughing at?" Seeing that beautiful face smiling so brightly, Sun Jing couldn't help but feel annoyed.

Among all the medical orderlies, Sun Jing prided herself on her good family background and had a somewhat superior attitude. She knew she wouldn't be stationed on the small island for long and would soon be transferred to the base hospital.

Because she knew more, the other female orderlies often followed her, treating her as the center of their group, eager to hear more information from her mouth. Sun Jing was quite pleased with herself.

At this moment, Qin Yao's laughter felt like a challenge to her authority, and in Sun Jing's ears, it became mockery.

At night, during dinner, Sun Jing somehow managed to get a hold of a can of meat, which was a real treasure. Meat cans of this era were made with solid ingredients, using good meat.

Military doctors had a ration of meat cans, but they usually saved them to bring home to their wives and children.

Sun Jing generously opened the can and shared it with the military doctors and other medical orderlies, deliberately leaving out Qin Yao and Zhang Yufei. Those nearby ate without saying a word, and Sun Jing remained silent, a smile on her lips as she deliberately showed off to Qin Yao.

The strong smell of the canned meat filled the cabin, making people's mouths water. For ordinary people, canned meat was a top-notch delicacy, especially for Qin Yao and Zhang Yufei, who had been eating simple vegetarian dishes and sea fish on the ship.

The more you eat seafood, the more you crave pork.

Tender and fatty pork was the ultimate delicacy.

Smelling that aroma, both Qin Yao and Zhang Yufei felt their mouths watering. Craving meat was an instinct of the body. Zhang Yufei, a rather quiet and honest girl, lowered her head and silently ate her meal without speaking.

At that moment, Qin Yao began to miss the female teacher from Chen Baozhen's office.

So Qin Yao spoke up, "Take the meat away and keep it far from me. Definitely don't give me any. I can't eat much pork."

Sun Jing was surprised. "What?"

Qin Yao pretended to be melancholic, resting her cheek. Even when putting on an act, her beautiful appearance gave off an innocent, pitiful aura like Xi Shi holding her heart.

"Do you know how much I weighed three months ago?"

Qin Yao: "I weigh 140 pounds."

"I have a special physique and gain weight very easily. I can even gain weight by drinking cold water. It’s been so hard for me to lose weight, and I need to maintain it now." Qin Yao sighed and continued, "It’s only after losing weight that I look good. At least, before I find someone to marry, I should stay like this."

Sun Jing: "..."

She looked at Qin Yao’s face. That face was so beautiful, with big, bright eyes and a small chin. Even in the damp and gloomy cabin, it shone like a bright pearl.

What would it look like if this face gained thirty or forty pounds?

Sun Jing’s expression turned strange. She proactively handed over the can in her hand and generously advised, "You don’t have to be so hard on yourself, Qin Yao. Eat something. The fish on the ship has no flavor. The fish meat has no fat at all."

"Eating it all the time, who can stand it?"

Qin Yao took the can, her peach-blossom eyes curved into a bright smile. "Then I’ll eat a little."

Qin Yao put some into her bowl and gave some to Zhang Yufei. Seeing this, Sun Jing continued to encourage her to eat more.

As Qin Yao lowered her head to eat, she thought to herself that she could write a book—"My Life of Scamming Food and Drinks in the 70s."

*

Zhao Mingjin, from the maintenance department, went to the medical room to get some medicated oil and also gave a can to his friend’s younger sister. Thinking of the girl he saw when he boarded the ship, his heart itched. Unfortunately, he hadn’t managed to talk to her just now.

But he wasn’t in a hurry.

Zhao Mingjin tossed a bottle of medicated oil to Gu Cheng and said, "Representative Gu, you’re welcome. I got it for you."

Gu Cheng frowned. "Who asked you to get it for me?"

"It was just a convenient thing to do." Zhao Mingjin smiled. As a technical staff member of the maintenance department, he had a good relationship with Gu Cheng. The two often discussed technical issues and didn’t have such a clear superior-subordinate relationship.

After reporting on work matters, Zhao Mingjin pursed his lips and mustered the courage to say, "Representative Gu, is your relationship with Head Nurse Ge pretty good?"

Gu Cheng: "..."

The corner of his eye twitched almost imperceptibly, and he coldly laughed three times in his mind.

Pretty good, is it? The kind of relationship where someone gives you wedding candies?

"Do you remember the nurse Xiao Qin you saw when you boarded the ship, Qin Yao? You definitely don’t have an impression. In your eyes, Representative Gu, you don’t see beauty."

Gu Cheng remained expressionless. "I have eyes. I can see."

Zhao Mingjin continued with a smile, "She’s a very pretty girl. I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful, and she’s not married yet. She’s about to become a nurse at the Military Hospital. Tsk, I think she definitely doesn’t have a boyfriend yet. If she goes there, it’ll be like a sheep entering a pack of wolves. Being near the water gives you the first chance to the moon. If only I had settled things earlier."

"This is an opportunity, a chance given by heaven. I was the first to encounter it." Zhao Mingjin considered his own conditions. He was young, with outstanding work abilities, and had a decent appearance. He was a perfect match for Nurse Xiao Qin.

If he made the first move, he might win the beauty’s heart.

To add more weight to his side, he needed to enlist some help. Head Nurse Ge was a huge support and could put in a good word for him in front of Nurse Xiao Qin. Then everything would fall into place naturally.

Thinking of this, Zhao Mingjin felt delighted and thought good things were just around the corner. "Representative Gu, do me a favor. Put in a good word for me in front of Head Nurse Ge. If I marry Xiao Qin in the future, I’ll give you a big wedding candy."

Gu Cheng: "..."

Haha, wedding candy.