The Stunningly Beautiful and Delicate Darling in the 1980s Military Compound - Chapter 102

The addition of a family member to the unit was quite the novelty, injecting a bit of vitality into an otherwise dull and monotonous environment. Lately, the most common topic of conversation among the men was going to Battalion Commander Chen’s home after work to see his wife. Those who had seen her claimed she was as beautiful as a fairy, unlike any woman they had ever met before. They couldn’t quite put their finger on why, but they were all eager to see for themselves.

For a few days, Song Mingyue’s home was bustling with visitors. Since she was bored on her own, she welcomed the guests warmly. However, after a week, Chen Che stepped in and announced that no one was to visit his home unless it was for official business. He felt that Mingyue, his beloved wife, was being bothered by them—though, admittedly, Chen Che was also feeling a bit jealous. Since Mingyue’s arrival, he had never brought up the topic of Cheng Er again, keeping those feelings buried deep inside. He was quite the quiet strategist, playing the “pig to eat the tiger.”

As her pregnancy progressed, Song Mingyue couldn’t do much and was forced to stay home and rest. She stopped worrying about the business in Mo City; once she arrived here, she realized that sending a letter out was nearly impossible.

Let it be, she thought. She forced herself to maintain a calm mindset. One couldn’t be too greedy; to have this and that, one always had to sacrifice something.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a month and a half had passed. Song Mingyue gradually grew accustomed to life there. In her spare time, she patiently read books to broaden her knowledge. While the living conditions were poor, the natural scenery was breathtaking. Just a few steps from their home, one could see rolling mountain ranges—a spectacular sight. Song Mingyue liked to find solace in the grandeur of the landscape.

By early summer, the mountains remained cool, a stark contrast to the oppressive, stifling heat she remembered from decades later. But with the arrival of early summer, the rainy season also began to intensify.

As her due date approached, Wang Yufen visited several villages until she finally found a midwife who agreed to stay at their home once Song Mingyue showed signs of labor. In this era, many rural people gave birth at home; it wasn’t considered a major issue for them. Song Mingyue, however, was terrified of the prospect. Even as Wang Yufen arranged for the midwife, Song Mingyue insisted on going to a hospital. But the hospital was too far away—if she waited until labor started, they would never make it in time. Chen Che wanted her to move to the city for a while until the baby was born, but Song Mingyue insisted on staying, leaving them no choice but to accept the midwife’s help.

Because the rainy season had arrived, Song Mingyue knew—or rather, feared—that this was exactly the time when Chen Che would encounter his tragedy while attempting a rescue.

The first few days were fine, but in less than a week, sudden thunderstorms became frequent. In this era, there was no proper drainage system; whenever it rained, disasters were inevitable. Houses in the surrounding area began to collapse. While the local troops weren’t immediately needed, the higher-ups eventually sent reinforcements.

Every day when Chen Che returned, Song Mingyue emphasized that he must not go out for rescues, that he should simply focus on his own work. For the first few days, he promised her faithfully that he would. But as the number of victims grew and the people’s suffering deepened, Chen Che became hesitant whenever she brought it up again.

“Yueyue, I am a soldier of the people. No matter what I am doing, when the motherland needs me, I cannot sit idly by.”

Song Mingyue was driven to the brink of rage. “What kind of duty is that? You are about to become a father! Does the motherland need you more than your own child?”

“Don’t worry about that; I will ensure my own safety.”

“You cannot guarantee that, Chen Che. Please, I beg you, do not go. If you do, you will die.” She looked at him, her eyes turning red, and she seemed on the verge of a breakdown.

Chen Che didn’t want her to worry, so he placated her, saying that unless it was an absolute emergency, he wouldn’t go out. To Song Mingyue, that was as good as saying he would go.

The rain on the mountains grew heavier. That afternoon, Wang Yufen was fretting over the diapers that had been out for days, unable to dry. “What are we going to do? It takes a month to dry anything. I need to get more diapers so we have some to rotate.”

Song Mingyue had just woken up from a nap. It was time for Chen Che to be home, yet he hadn’t returned. After waiting another hour, with neither Chen Che nor his comrades in sight, Song Mingyue felt an ominous chill. Outside, the rain was coming down in torrents—sometimes heavy, sometimes light, and at that moment, it was roaring.

She grabbed her umbrella and headed for the door. Wang Yufen was folding clothes; seeing her leave, she rushed to stop her. “Yueyue, it’s pouring out there! Where are you going?”

“I’m going to find Chen Che.”

“Xiao Che is still at work. Why go find him now? You are in a critical stage; you shouldn’t be stepping out of the house!”

Song Mingyue couldn’t be deterred. “Mom, I have to go. He might die during the rescue. Don’t stop me!”

Wang Yufen offered to go find him, promising to bring him back, but Song Mingyue refused. She had to go herself. She had done so much to reach this point; she couldn’t give up now. Wang Yufen eventually compromised, realizing Song Mingyue wasn’t joking and fearing that if Chen Che did perish, she would regret stopping her daughter for the rest of her life.

She helped Song Mingyue put on anti-slip rain boots and a raincoat, then opened the umbrella. Supporting each other, mother and daughter reached the gate just as Chen Che’s close comrade was leading a second group toward the front lines. The soldier recognized them through the downpour and immediately stopped the truck, running over to Song Mingyue.

“Comrade Mingyue, what are you doing here?” he asked loudly.

“Have you seen Chen Che?”

“Chen Che has gone to the front lines. There’s been a landslide, and we are providing emergency support. The rain is too heavy—go back immediately!”

Seeing the truck, Song Mingyue asked, “Are you all going there, too?”

“Yes, we just received orders.”

Song Mingyue didn’t hesitate. “Can you take me with you? I want to find Chen Che.”

“No, it’s too dangerous! In your condition, you can’t go. When I see Battalion Commander Chen, I’ll tell him. Don’t risk your life!”

“I’m not joking. Take me with you. I promise not to cause trouble. I can’t be at peace if I don’t see Chen Che.” Wang Yufen chimed in, “Comrade, my daughter is worried sick. She’s been nearly hysterical. Just let her go and see him.”

The soldier looked at her. Through the raincoat, he saw the unwavering determination in her clear eyes. He had meant to refuse, but for some reason, he found himself agreeing.

It was incredibly dangerous. Once the pregnant woman boarded, the young men on the truck didn’t dare to get close to her, urging her to stay inside the vehicle and not come out under any circumstances. The situation ahead was dire; the mountain had slid, damaging the village and blocking the road. Worse, there was a risk of a secondary landslide.

Rescue workers were gathered on the mountain, but without proper equipment, they were relying on human labor. Song Mingyue slowly stepped off the truck and pleaded with the young man to find Chen Che. It was too dangerous to stay there, so two soldiers found a rock for them to sit on. “Battalion Commander Chen went further inside. Please wait here.”

Perhaps it was the sheer tension, but as soon as Song Mingyue sat down, she felt a sharp discomfort in her abdomen. At first, she said nothing, but soon the pain intensified. She gripped Wang Yufen’s hand, her voice cracking with the first hint of tears. “Mom, I think… I’m going into labor.”

She looked ahead, her heart breaking. She wanted to stand up and run toward Chen Che, but her legs had no strength.

What was she to do?

Wang Yufen panicked and helped her up. “Are you alright? Let me take you back.”

The only blessing was that the rain in the mountains had eased slightly. Wang Yufen nervously shouted to the others nearby, “Comrade! Please, help me! My daughter is going into labor! She is Battalion Commander Chen’s wife. Can you please take her to the village?” That was where the midwife was staying.

Although the situation was critical, the soldiers were helpful. Since there happened to be a doctor from the upper levels in another village, they could handle the delivery. Wang Yufen finally felt a glimmer of hope, clasping her hands together and whispering, “God bless us, God bless us.”

But Song Mingyue didn’t want to leave. She looked at the desolate, barren landscape before her; Chen Che hadn’t been found yet. She feared that if she left now, she and Chen Che would be separated by life and death. Wang Yufen didn’t care about anything else; together with the soldiers, they forced her onto the truck and headed for the other village.

There was still time between the breaking of her water and the birth. Wang Yufen held Song Mingyue’s hand, watching her lie on the mat, tears streaming down her face. She implored the others to make sure they found Chen Che. They nodded, telling Song Mingyue to rest easy, but she couldn’t.

Though her body was in agony, her heart was in even greater pain. None of them knew what she knew—that she was the only one enduring the nightmare of Chen Che’s potential fate. Song Mingyue was drenched in sweat, completely exhausted. She could speak for a while on the road, but soon, she couldn’t even open her mouth. Yet, her mind remained as sharp as a mirror.

By the time they arrived, over half an hour had passed. Military dependents were given priority, and a female doctor was waiting to deliver the baby. In this moment of shattered earth and broken mountains, the arrival of a new life felt like the only sliver of light. By the end, the pain was so severe that her consciousness began to fade.

When she woke up again, the room was quiet. The doctors were gone, and even Wang Yufen was nowhere to be seen. As she thought of Chen Che, her recovering consciousness instantly plunged back into the dark cellar of despair.