The long journey by car was awkward for both of them, but it was Cheng Su who first opened up the conversation by asking about the arrangements for military spouses like Qi Taiguo.
Military spouses have varied roles, from raising children to finding work. Whatever they do, the goal is to reunite with their husbands and put an end to the pain of separation. If certain requirements are met, they can also receive a monthly allowance.
The army has a special residential compound for families, typical of the old houses from the seventies and eighties, with a large courtyard shaped like the character for "return."
Normally, soldiers stay at the barracks, and during rest periods, they return to live in the family compound. Qi Taiguo was no different, except he lived the life of a bachelor, without the warmth of a wife and children waiting at home.
However, this way of life was soon to come to an end with Cheng Su joining the military.
