AYLS – Chapter 8 The Hardships Are Always Still Ahead

The next morning, Lin Qiao was still looking listless.

Just when she finally felt a bit better mentally, she suddenly realized something was wrong with her body—she hadn’t bathed in two days. Before, she had been relying on the little hot water she could get from the kettle to take care of her personal needs.

She had been too busy going on a hunger strike before to care about any of this. But now that she was well-fed and her mind had cleared up, she began to care about her hygiene, and that was when she noticed how uncomfortable she felt all over.

Maybe it was psychological, but either way, she hardly slept a wink that night.

In the morning, before Gu Huayuan could even show up, she went next door and knocked on Sister-in-law Wang’s door.

Lin Qiao wasn’t shy around strangers—her personality had never allowed her to be afraid of anyone. She was the type to warm up to people quickly, never treating anyone as an outsider.

Since Gu Huayuan told her to ask others for help, she did so without the slightest hesitation.

It was the first time Sister-in-law Wang had been approached like this, and since she had promised last night that she’d help take care of Lin Qiao, she immediately said, “That’s nothing at all! Come on, I’ll take you to fetch some water.”

Not once did she think about waiting for Gu Huayuan to come.

In these days when women were expected to hold up half the sky, female comrades were perfectly capable of managing household work themselves. If everything had to wait on men, the great mission of reclaiming land would never get done.

Lin Qiao had never done this before, so she followed Sister-in-law Wang in a daze.

The corps actually had water pipes, but they didn’t extend into the family quarters. To be precise, they didn’t reach each household—there was only one shared tap, and everyone had to come there for water.

And to save water, the tap wasn’t open all day long. There was a set schedule—only in the morning and in the evening.

By the time Lin Qiao and Sister-in-law Wang arrived, people were already lining up.

Seeing this unfamiliar face, everyone couldn’t help but look curiously at her.

Sister-in-law Wang greeted them warmly, “What are you staring at? This is Comrade Lin Qiao, Comrade Gu’s fiancée. The families have already settled the matter.”

Many of them had only heard of Lin Qiao by name but hadn’t met her before. Now that they finally saw her, they were curious, and some greeted her with a smile.

Lin Qiao enjoyed this kind of lively atmosphere. Back in her old life, wherever she went, plenty of people would greet her. She waved back at everyone with a cheerful smile.

“Finally willing to come out, huh? These past few days it’s always been Captain Gu bringing you food.”

The voice carried a sharp, mocking tone.

Sister-in-law Wang immediately turned her head—it was Li Ermei, the wife of Instructor Chen from the Second Company. Chen was a capable man, but unfortunately, his family had arranged a wife for him back home. She was decent-looking, but her personality wasn’t very easy to get along with.

She had a sharp tongue and couldn’t stand seeing others living happily. The gossip about Little Xu’s wife last time? It was spread by her.

Sister-in-law Wang wasn’t pleased. Normally, she would just let things slide, but this was Comrade Lin Qiao’s first time coming out, and this woman was already making snide remarks? What was that supposed to mean? What if it upset her?

But Lin Qiao wasn’t upset—in fact, she was surprised.

Because as soon as Li Ermei opened her mouth, Fat Cat popped up with a new dungeon mission.

“Ding! Side Villain Mini-Boss: Li Ermei unlocked. Player must interact with Li Ermei and become her friend. Achieve the ‘Birds of a Feather’ accomplishment. Success will randomly unlock a new game feature. Failure carries no penalty.”

Lin Qiao was dumbfounded. They wanted her to be friends with this woman?

Don’t joke with her.

Why should she befriend a side villain mini-boss? Especially one who greeted her with sarcasm right off the bat.

It reminded her of the little brats she used to argue with all the time. Even for the sake of her pride, she would never go licking up to someone like that.

Meanwhile, Sister-in-law Wang was already scolding Li Ermei. “Comrade Li Ermei, just mind your own business and fetch your water. If you don’t want to, then make way for others.”

Li Ermei still had some fear of Sister-in-law Wang—after all, she was in charge of the family women’s work in this area.

But her mouth refused to back down. “I’m just giving a reminder, so someone doesn’t get used to a life where clothes appear when you stretch out your hand and food arrives when you open your mouth. That’s an ideological problem. Captain Gu works hard, sending meals every day—it’s not easy for him.”

Lin Qiao wasn’t someone who couldn’t argue back. Back in the day, she and her girl group friends had argued with plenty of rivals.

Listening carefully, she realized Li Ermei was actually trying to stick up for Gu Huayuan.

But Lin Qiao felt wronged—had she ever asked him to deliver food? She didn’t even care for those meals.

She shot back, “I told him not to bring food, but he insisted, and not just once—every single meal!”

“Yesterday he even brought me steamed egg custard. I told him I didn’t want it, but he forced me to eat it.”

“I really didn’t want it at all, but I can’t stop him. Since you’re so interested in managing him, why don’t you tell him for me?”

“……”

The people around didn’t know what “dog food” was back then, but to them it just looked like she was showing off.

Showing off that her man cared about her.

Li Ermei’s face flushed red. She thought Lin Qiao was bragging, and she snapped that she was being nosy.

“You shameless thing!” Li Ermei cursed. To talk about private matters between husband and wife out in public—utterly indecent.

Lin Qiao glared. “How is it shameless to tell the truth? You’re the one poking your nose into other people’s business—now that’s shameless.”

Sister-in-law Wang burst out laughing. She thought Comrade Lin Qiao was really like a flower with thorns. She loved that kind of personality.

Before, she had been worried Lin Qiao was too soft, afraid she wouldn’t be able to handle herself.

Right now, being this feisty was just fine.

She spoke up, “Li Ermei, if you say one more word, I’ll talk to you privately later. Comrade Lin Qiao just got here. Don’t say so much and make people think that military wives are unkind and intolerant.”

Seeing someone stand up for her, Lin Qiao tilted her chin and gave a triumphant little hum.

Li Ermei: “……”

She glanced around, saw everyone trying to hold back their laughter, and stomped off in a huff with her empty bucket.

With the troublemaker gone, the atmosphere instantly turned cheerful.

Sister-in-law Wang started introducing Lin Qiao to the others. After all, they would be together long-term—it wouldn’t do to not know each other.

But there were too many people, and Lin Qiao couldn’t remember them all—if she remembered this one, she forgot that one.

After all, they all looked similar here: malnourished, with dark complexions, thin bodies, and dull yellow hair.

As she greeted them, Lin Qiao muttered to Fat Cat, “If only it were like in the game, with everyone’s name floating over their heads.”

Fat Cat immediately said, “If you just accepted a quest, maybe that function would unlock.”

“I don’t even care!”

Everyone was very warm toward her, especially pleased that Lin Qiao had managed to drive Li Ermei away. Although each household had its share of conflicts, constant gossiping behind people’s backs was annoying. Still, no one wanted to offend someone like Li Ermei, so they kept quiet. Only this newcomer dared to speak out. They liked her straightforwardness and, since she was new, let her fetch water first.

“How could I possibly cut in line?” Lin Qiao waved her hand. She never cut in line—unless she paid for it. But right now, she had no money, so how could she cut in line?

“It’s fine, go ahead. In a bit, Little Gu will come deliver food to you.” Sister-in-law Wang teased.

The other military wives all smiled kindly.

Lin Qiao had no idea what they were smiling about and just curiously watched them fetch water.

Everyone filled a whole bucket before leaving, so Lin Qiao followed suit to avoid making extra trips.

She grabbed the handle of the wooden bucket once it was full.

But when she pulled—nothing. She tried harder—moved it just a little.

“Comrade Lin Qiao, can’t lift it? Why don’t you leave it, I’ll help you carry it back later.”

Sister-in-law Wang asked.

Lin Qiao felt embarrassed. Sister-in-law Wang didn’t even look as healthy as she was.

Besides, she hadn’t paid her. How could she ask others to do the work?

“I can lift it.” Lin Qiao strained and finally hoisted the bucket up.

She wobbled a few steps forward. “It’s fine, I’ll just walk slowly. I can do it.”

“Alright then.” Sister-in-law Wang smiled and went back to fetch water.

But before she finished, Lin Qiao had barely moved a few steps.

“Lin Qiao, why haven’t you left yet? Don’t wait for me, you should head back first.”

Lin Qiao: “……”

“Go quickly, you still need to cook breakfast.”

Sister-in-law Wang finished speaking and strode away briskly.

The other military wives were the same—some even balanced two buckets at once, steady without a single wobble.

Everyone was rushing home to cook, so after exchanging quick goodbyes with Lin Qiao, they all left.

In the end, only Lin Qiao was left on the road.

She looked at the little wooden bucket on the ground, clenched her teeth, and used all her strength to lift it again.

But after only two steps, the weight dragged her down, and she fell hard onto the ground.

Now covered in mud and splashed with water, Lin Qiao: “……”

…

Early that morning, Gu Huayuan had rushed over with food.

Even though they had come to an agreement last night, he still worried that Lin Qiao might suddenly change her mind and stir up trouble. So he had been thinking about her since dawn.

But when he came inside, she was nowhere to be seen.

His heart sank, and he hurried back out.

Just outside, he saw Sister-in-law Wang busy in the yard.

Gu Huayuan asked, “Sister-in-law, have you seen Lin Qiao?”

“Comrade Lin Qiao? She hasn’t come back? She went to fetch water with me just now. She should have been right behind me. Don’t tell me she still hasn’t returned?”

Gu Huayuan shook his head. “Maybe she got lost. I’ll go look for her.”

Sister-in-law Wang grew anxious. “Oh no, I didn’t expect this.”

It was such a short path—how could someone get lost?

She wanted to help search, but Gu Huayuan stopped her, telling her to focus on housework. In such a small area, he could handle it alone.

“Well… alright. But if you need help, come call me.” Sister-in-law Wang still felt guilty, but her husband and children needed her at home. She couldn’t leave.

Following the water path, Gu Huayuan walked halfway and then saw Lin Qiao sitting on a stone by the roadside, wiping away tears.

Beside her sat a little wooden bucket.

As he came closer, he noticed how disheveled she looked.

“What happened to you…”

Lin Qiao looked up at him, her face still streaked with mud. The moment she saw Gu Huayuan, she was like a daughter seeing her father, overwhelmed with misery. “I fell down. The bucket was too heavy—”

She had been sitting there blaming herself, utterly dejected. For the first time, she realized how useless she was—she couldn’t even carry a bucket of water.

Everyone else could do it, but she couldn’t. And she’d made such a mess of herself.

Gu Huayuan was silent for a moment, then sighed, walked over, patted her head, and carried the bucket off to fetch water himself.

After filling it, he lifted it with ease. “Come on, let’s go back and wash up.”

“What if someone sees me—it’s too embarrassing.”

“If you stay here, people will see you too. Soon they’ll all be done cooking and come over to wash dishes. There’ll be lots of people then.”

“……” Lin Qiao weighed it and finally stood up, following behind Gu Huayuan, her head hanging low like a quail.

Seeing that Gu Huayuan still hadn’t said anything, Lin Qiao grew uneasy.

In truth, since yesterday, she had realized something: whether her days here would be bearable or not depended on this game boss. He could provide her with a clean toilet, and he could find delicious egg custard.

So Lin Qiao still wanted to get along with him peacefully.

“I just wanted to fetch some water to take a bath. This isn’t my fault—I really was trying to do something useful. You promised me, you can’t go back on your word.”

Those words, coming from such a spoiled girl’s mouth, actually sounded rather pitiful.

Gu Huayuan hadn’t been angry in the first place. He just hadn’t said anything because he was afraid she’d feel embarrassed. Hearing her now, his heart softened. He comforted her: “I won’t go back on it. I know it’s not your fault, it’s mine—I didn’t think things through.” The truth was, water was scarce here. People rarely had the chance to bathe—being able to wipe down with a wet cloth was already considered good.

Lin Qiao didn’t do any physical work, so even wiping down wasn’t necessary. And since Gu Huayuan had never had to take care of anyone—especially not a woman—he hadn’t thought that far ahead.

What was meant as comfort, however, instantly made Lin Qiao realize something.

Right! He was her fiancé. He let her live here but didn’t even arrange bath water for her.

If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t be suffering like this at all.

Lin Qiao immediately stomped up the steps. “As long as you understand. I had a miserable day today. Not only did I fall, but my hands got red marks. Later, you’re not only fixing the toilet—you’re also building me a bathhouse.”

She held out her palms. There really were faint red marks, though they were already fading.

Looking at the marks on her hands, one phrase came to Gu Huayuan’s mind: “Give an inch and she’ll take a mile.”

As they neared the house, Sister-in-law Wang was still peeking into the courtyard. Seeing them return, she finally relaxed. But noticing Lin Qiao’s bedraggled appearance, she quickly asked, “What happened? Weren’t you walking just fine behind me earlier?”

Lin Qiao blushed. Everyone had let her fetch the water, and she’d spilled it all…

Gu Huayuan said, “She stepped on some stones and fell. She was too scared of me scolding her, so she didn’t dare come home.”

“Oh, what’s there to be scared of? Little Gu wouldn’t scold you.”

Sister-in-law Wang figured it probably had to do with Lin Qiao’s past work. Being oppressed in a capitalist’s household for so long, she must have grown used to fearing criticism whenever she made a mistake.

Gu Huayuan said, “We’re back now, so don’t worry. I’ll take her inside to clean up.”

“Go on, hurry. Change those wet clothes. Even in hot weather you can’t wear damp ones.”

Once inside, Lin Qiao pouted. “I’m not scared of you!”

She just felt embarrassed and miserable.

Gu Huayuan said, “Go wash up a bit and change your clothes. I’ll fetch another bucket of water. After we eat, we can heat it up and you can take a bath.”

“Oh.”

Lin Qiao quickly got up to find clean clothes.

Gu Huayuan went to fetch water. They divided the work but cooperated smoothly. By the time he returned, Lin Qiao was already freshened up.

He poured the water into a large iron pot that hadn’t been used yet and stuffed some firewood from the corner underneath.

While the water was heating, the two of them sat at the table to eat.

Lin Qiao looked miserable as she chewed on the coarse steamed bun, forcing herself to swallow.

Gu Huayuan: “…” Suddenly he lost his appetite.

To change the mood, he casually asked how she was getting along with the others.

The moment he mentioned it, Lin Qiao perked up.

She began tattling with great enthusiasm.

She said everyone was fine except one woman called Li Ermei—she was really awful. They had only just met, but the woman was already picking on her, speaking with sharp sarcasm and a snide tone.

Of course, Lin Qiao hadn’t let herself suffer. She fired back with just as much force.

Gu Huayuan quietly listened to it all without commenting.

After they finished eating, the water was ready. Gu Huayuan left, and Lin Qiao finally took a long, comfortable bath. The only pity was there was no shower.

She wondered if Gu Huayuan really would build her a bathhouse.

He certainly remembered. When he went to work, he ran into Captain Xu from the engineering company and asked him where he could get some discarded building materials.

That company usually handled infrastructure in the regiment—they were the professionals in such matters.

“Why are you suddenly thinking of building something?” Captain Xu asked, cigarette in hand.

“My fiancée just came. I figure since we’ll be settling here, I need to fix the place up a bit.”

Hearing that, Captain Xu paused, then chuckled. “Didn’t they already assign you housing? What’s wrong with living there as is?”

“Everyone has their own needs,” Gu Huayuan replied simply. For him alone it was fine, but Lin Qiao was spoiled and picky.

Captain Xu seemed thoughtful, then nodded. “Alright, I’ll keep an eye out. There are some factories being built in the county—there should be materials like those used in toilets.”

“Please make it quick, it’s urgent,” Gu Huayuan urged.

“Alright, alright. Since you’re asking, I’ll look into it.” Captain Xu laughed.

He just thought Gu Huayuan was surprisingly particular about household matters. Usually wives fussed over these things, not men. Still, it was between the couple, and he wouldn’t interfere.

…

Meanwhile, the other protagonist of this story, Comrade Lin Qiao, was miserably toiling away alongside Sister-in-law Wang and the others.

She was heartbroken just thinking about it.

She had only just bathed that morning—feeling fresh, clean, and comfortable.

But the pleasant feeling didn’t last long. Soon Sister-in-law Wang called out, saying it was time to go to work.

Lin Qiao remembered she had promised last night to start working and earning money. She couldn’t refuse, so she followed along.

She had thought the work would be something like clerical tasks—writing, or at most helping out in an office.

Who would have guessed it was farm work?

Her assigned task was on the lighter side—watering the crops.

There hadn’t been much rain lately, so the fields needed manual irrigation.

The military wives each had their own plots to tend. The water was carried in by others, while they were responsible for pouring it on the crops.

Lin Qiao held a ladle, repeating the same motions—scoop water, pour water. At first it felt a little novel, then it became boring. Soon after, it was nothing but exhausting.

Especially now, with the weather still so hot, just standing under the sun for a while made Lin Qiao feel like half her life was slipping away again.

“Why does every single day here feel so wrong?”

Lin Qiao cried out in her heart, completely breaking down.

The fat cat shrank back, not daring to say a word.

Of course it felt wrong—those damn game developers never intended for people like her to have it easy.