Long Peiye strode out of the regimental headquarters building. He had just stepped into the camp and hadn’t even reached his office when the greenhorns, who were quick to get information and had ears sharper than dogs, swarmed around him like a pack of cats smelling fish.
“Battalion Commander! The battalion commander is back!”
“Battalion Commander! You’re finally back from Shanghai!”
Shouts filled with barely suppressed joy and enthusiasm rose and fell, making everyone’s ears ring.
Especially his unruly reconnaissance company, those guys under his command were so excited their eyes were shining, like a pack of wolf cubs who hadn’t eaten for three days and had finally found a bone.
“Battalion Commander, Battalion Commander! I heard that… you did something really exciting in Shanghai this time?” A particularly bold young soldier winked and leaned close to Long Peiye, lowering his voice and asking mysteriously.
Long Peiye was both amused and exasperated by these mischievous kids. He could only put on a stern face and pretend to be stern as he shouted, “What are you all yelling about! What are you all doing making such a racket! Are you all free? Have you finished your training? Have you all met the standards for drills?”
The soldiers laughed and joked as they dealt with the situation, saying “It’s done, it’s done,” but they didn’t move an inch. They all craned their necks and stared at their battalion commander with their gossipy eyes.
Long Peiye felt helpless, but he didn’t show it on his face. He could only wave his hand impatiently: “Alright, alright, get out of here! Go do what you’re supposed to do! There’s something important to announce later!”
He ignored the soldiers’ overflowing curiosity and walked straight to his battalion headquarters office. Without turning his head, he ordered the communications officer behind him, “Go, immediately call the company commanders and political instructors of several companies in our battalion, as well as the platoon leaders of the reconnaissance platoon and the guard platoon, to my office for a short meeting.”
“Yes, sir!” the communications officer replied crisply and loudly, saluted, and then ran out like a gust of wind to inform the others.
Before long, several key officers from the battalion headquarters arrived at Long Peiye’s office one after another.
Once the office door closed and everyone had arrived, Long Peiye cleared his slightly dry throat and slowly swept his sharp gaze across the group of people standing ramrod straight in front of him.
“Comrades,” he began, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of solemnity, “I have urgently summoned you all here today because of a personal matter of mine, which is also a great joy to announce to you all.”
As he spoke, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and his face unusually wore a gentle smile.
Upon hearing this, the company commanders, political instructors, and platoon leaders sitting below immediately perked up their ears, looking at each other with burning curiosity in their eyes.
Good heavens! Their battalion commander’s expression… his tone… it’s like the sun has risen in the west! A once-in-a-century sight!
“I, Long Peiye,” he paused slightly, seemingly still a little unaccustomed to announcing such a thing in public, but his tone was unusually firm, “I’m married.”
“boom–!”
These three simple words, like a bombshell, exploded without warning in the small battalion headquarters office.
“Wh…what?!”
“Battalion Commander?! You…you said you’re married?!”
“My God! Is this for real, Battalion Commander?! You’re not kidding us, are you?!”
Everyone in the office was so shocked that their mouths were agape, their eyes wide open, and their faces were filled with disbelief and incredulity, as if they had seen a ghost in broad daylight.
You should know that their Battalion Commander Long is a well-known “iron-blooded tough guy,” “straight man of steel,” and “a typical advanced representative who is not interested in women” throughout the entire coastal defense regiment and even the entire military region!
After a brief moment of deathly silence and utter shock, the office erupted in a deafening chorus of congratulations and exclamations.
“Congratulations, Battalion Commander! Congratulations on your marriage! Wishing you a happy marriage and a baby soon!”
“Battalion Commander, you…you’re really keeping things under wraps! The secrecy you’ve maintained is just too good!”
“My God! This is so sudden! Battalion Commander, you’re really not being fair! Such a joyous occasion, and you didn’t even give us a heads-up! We weren’t prepared at all!”
Long Peiye was driven crazy by their noisy chatter, so he raised his hand to press down and raised his voice: “Quiet! Everyone, be quiet!”
Once the noise in the office had finally subsided a bit, Company Commander Li Dayong, an impatient man, couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer and leaned forward to ask, “Battalion Commander, what about… what about your wife? Where is our battalion commander’s wife from?”
“Yeah, yeah, Battalion Commander, tell us quickly, isn’t your wife pretty? Do you have any photos for us brothers to see first?” The third platoon leader also chimed in loudly, his face full of anticipation.
The office suddenly became lively again, with everyone chattering and eagerly asking questions about the “newly appointed battalion commander’s wife,” their enthusiasm even surpassing their discussions of military exercise plans.
Looking at his overly excited subordinates, Long Peiye’s face showed a hint of helplessness, but in his deep eyes, there was a faint, warm smile.
“My wife’s name is Xu Xiangsi, and she is from Shanghai.”
He spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice carrying a gentleness he himself was unaware of.
“She came with me this time, by boat from Shanghai, and we’ve already arrived on the island.”
“The waves have been rough on the ship these past few days, and she’s been feeling seasick and quite tired, so I told her to rest at home for a couple of days to get some rest.”
Looking at the expectant and curious eyes of everyone, he couldn’t help but smile and continued, “How about this, in three days, when my house is almost ready, everyone can come to my house, get acquainted with the place, and meet your sister-in-law.”
“At that time, I will personally cook a home-style meal for the brothers and treat everyone well.”
“Then, won’t you be able to see your beloved sister-in-law?”
Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in thunderous cheers.
“Great! That’s wonderful! The battalion commander is cooking himself! We’re in for a real treat!”
“We’ll definitely be there! Battalion Commander, we promise to be there on time! Not a single one will be missing!”
Long Peiye gave a brief explanation of the camp’s daily work and training matters before waving his hand to signal that everyone could disperse.
“Alright, if there’s nothing else, everyone go about your business. Just don’t forget to come to my place in three days.”
“Yes, sir! Mission accomplished! Thank you, Battalion Commander!”