Meanwhile,
Xu SuYue was concentrating on a researcher’s report, praising repeatedly: “…Hmm, not bad. These experimental seedlings are growing well, and your group’s methods are very scientific. Keep monitoring them.”
Once she finished dealing with that, she remembered that her son had asked her something earlier and was about to ask again, when she heard a series of beeps.
Had the call been disconnected?
Xu SuYue furrowed her brows in puzzlement.
“Professor Xu, sample number three has been contaminated. Please come take a look…” a student called urgently.
Xu SuYue put down the phone, temporarily pushing the matter to the back of her mind.
Military District.
Commander Chen was still waiting anxiously.
Qi Huaiye looked somewhat helpless and said, “I’ve confirmed with Comrade Xu SuYue. This childhood engagement really exists.”
Hearing him refer to his mother so coldly, the senior commander sighed.
As a mother, Xu SuYue was inadequate.
But as a scientific talent, she was contributing to the country.
Seeing Qi Huaiye lower his head with a calm indifference, Commander Chen felt a pang of sympathy, but still said what needed to be said: “It’s good that the engagement is real! Think about it: Huai County is in the south, the Qi family is in the capital, and the troops are stationed in the northeast. If it weren’t real, how could a young lady like Jiang Lai, who’s never left her county, provide information that matches yours exactly?”
Rarely, the usually strict Qi Huaiye didn’t argue.
This meant he accepted the engagement.
Commander Chen nearly laughed at the relief in his heart but kept his tone serious: “Now hurry and write the marriage report. Once finished, you can leave.”
“So fast?” Qi Huaiye frowned.
He hadn’t even informed his family in the capital yet.
Commander Chen scolded, “You’re thick-skinned, but the young lady has to leave eventually. You don’t want her waiting too long, letting rumors spread in the base, and being gossiped about or ostracized by other military wives, do you?”
Qi Huaiye clenched his fists, his expression fierce: “Let anyone try!”
As he filled out the printed marriage report form, he wrote with unusual diligence.
His attitude didn’t seem like that of someone enamored with the young lady; it was more like a soldier’s sense of duty taking over.
Still, willingness to take responsibility was a good start. Love could be cultivated.
After receiving the completed marriage application, Commander Chen felt a weight lift from his chest. He waved Qi Huaiye off and called the capital, cheerful: “Wenxi, finally someone wants your Huaiye…”
Grandpa Qi had retired a couple of years ago. With nothing to occupy him, he’d started obsessing over having a great-grandchild.
The Qi family line had always struggled to continue. By the time it reached Qi Huaiye, forget having children—he seemed to have embraced the DINK lifestyle from overseas.
The old man had tried scolding and lecturing, but it had no effect.
Every time, his grandson apologized quickly and sincerely: “Sorry, Grandpa, I disappointed you again.”
Eventually, the family even began questioning Qi Huaiye’s sexual orientation.
Did he… like men?
At first, Grandpa Qi couldn’t accept it. As the years passed and his grandson grew older, heading straight for the “old bachelor” path, he realized it might be inevitable.
Sometimes he thought: as long as Huaiye marries, maybe it’s acceptable.
Then, suddenly, he got a call from an old comrade.
He jumped out of bed: “What did you say?”
Commander Chen’s voice on the line was so loud it hurt his ears, so he held the phone a little further away: “Your daughter-in-law already arranged a childhood engagement for Huaiye. The girl came looking for him herself. And I’m telling you, not only is she beautiful and elegant, her character is impeccable…”
Grandpa Qi was so excited his arms trembled, yet he still held onto a shred of reason.
“Such a remarkable young lady… could she really take a liking to my Huaiye?”
These days, there’s always someone answering the phone.
The operator on the other end was speechless, probably thinking Commander Qi was some kind of fool. Yet even the news from the call was shocking enough.
What?
The commander had arranged a childhood engagement.
And the marriage report had already been submitted. The two senior commanders agreed: have them get the marriage certificate tomorrow—no room for delay.
Otherwise, if the girl got scared and ran off, she wouldn’t even have a place to cry.
The speed of it… was faster than the launch of Dongfanghong-1.
Wide-eyed, Grandpa Qi hung up, satisfied. His headache vanished, his chest felt light, and his legs could carry him downstairs as quickly as when he was young.
Grandma Qi, knitting, heard the commotion and thought it was the housekeeper. Who would have guessed her husband would dash over and snatch the yarn from her hands?
“From now on, don’t say Xu SuYue doesn’t care for Huaiye. She arranged a childhood engagement, the most important thing is Huaiye agreed—and he just submitted the marriage report.”
Grandma Qi watched him talk with his mouth opening and closing rapidly, wondering if she was imagining it.
He repeated it to her.
The elderly lady, incredulous, pinched his thigh: “Does it hurt?”
Grandpa Qi laughed: “Yes.”
“God bless! Finally, a young lady is willing to take Huaiye,” Grandma Qi said, laughing aloud.
The two elders celebrated for a while.
Grandpa Qi still worried: “Marriage is just the start. With Huaiye’s temper, no girl could tolerate him. What if, after a few days, Miss Jiang regrets it?”
Grandma Qi was equally concerned: “Maybe I should go to the military district. If the couple has conflicts, I could mediate.”
“I’m going too,” Grandpa Qi insisted, wanting to see what his future granddaughter-in-law looked like, especially since Chen said she was exceptionally beautiful.
Grandma Qi’s next words cooled him down completely: “You may have retired, but countless eyes are watching the Qi family. If you go there, someone will report you for nepotism. For the sake of Huaiye and his wife, stay put in the capital.”
Grandpa Qi: “…”
Seeing him dejected, Grandma Qi couldn’t bear it and added: “Since Lai Lai is willing to marry into the Qi family, our ancestral graves must be glowing with incense. We can’t let her suffer materially.”
Grandpa Qi nodded.
Grandma Qi continued: “Over the years, the bride price shouldn’t be too high, but privately we can provide extra support. Anything she needs, just arrange it.”
These things couldn’t simply be bought with money—they required connections. But for the Qi family, it was no problem. Grandpa Qi now had something to do, and his smile returned.
The couple prepared two full lists of items for the newlyweds.
By the time Qi’s father came home from work, the lists were complete.
“Dad, Mom, don’t we already have all this?” he asked, confused.
Grandpa Qi got angry just looking at his son’s face. If not for this useless son starting the trouble, how could the grandson learn to manage a marriage?
“Even your own son’s wedding things have to be arranged by us old folks! What kind of commander are you? Better retire early!”
Qi’s father, used to his father’s scolding, immediately caught the point and frowned.
“What? That unfilial grandson is already forcing a woman into marriage to satisfy the elders?”
Grandpa Qi: “…”
Grandma Qi: “…”