“We can just hold it back in our hometown when we go back.” Zhou Yishen really did not want to make a huge fuss.
Ruan Qiu also hurriedly chimed in, “That is what I think too. Both of our families are in the countryside. If we hold it here, we would have to invite both families over, which is just too troublesome.”
Commander Lian’s wife rolled her eyes. “You silly girl, do not listen to his nonsense. Holding it back home is for back home, but holding it here is simply inviting the people in the camp over for a meal so everyone knows Battalion Commander Zhou is married, sharing some festive joy and wedding candy.”
“Your sister-in-law is right, Yishen. You cannot just skip it because you are afraid of trouble. If you are tight on cash, I will spot you the money, and you can have your sister-in-law go buy the wedding candy.” Political Commissar Lu completely treated Zhou Yishen like his own child. Not holding a grand and glorious wedding for such a huge, joyous occasion like marriage was simply unreasonable.
Ruan Qiu understood Zhou Yishen’s intentions. Their agreement was for three years, and if they were to throw a grand banquet now, she would surely be beaten to death by the political commissar if they divorced later on.
“Political Commissar, Sister-in-law, it was actually my idea not to have one.” Ruan Qiu stepped forward and took the blame upon herself.
Whatever Zhou Yishen wanted to say was swallowed back down hard.
If Zhou Yinian was right, this woman’s heart was definitely not set on him, so holding a wedding banquet would not be very good for her in the future either.
If they were not going to have one, then they would not have one. It saved them trouble down the road.
Political Commissar Lu and Sister-in-law exchanged glances. They had no idea what these two young people were up to, but since the young couple both said they did not want a wedding, there was no point in them being overly enthusiastic.
Once the marriage application was approved, the two of them could go get their marriage certificate.
Early the next morning, Zhou Yishen put on a freshly washed military uniform and, looking neat and proper, took Ruan Qiu to the station’s civil affairs bureau to obtain their marriage certificate.
Originally, Ruan Qiu’s age should not have allowed her to process it yet, but Political Commissar Lu had spoken to people in advance, giving Zhou Yishen special consideration.
Ruan Qiu looked at the heavily retro-styled marriage certificate, feeling somewhat dazed.
Just like that, with this thin piece of paper, their lives were bound together.
Although there would be no wedding banquet, wedding candy still had to be bought. Ruan Qiu bought a large quantity of candies and distributed them to her colleagues at the hospital nursing station.
“Congratulations, congratulations!”
“Thank you.”
“Ruan Qiu, you are so lucky! Battalion Commander Zhou is so handsome. You really hit the jackpot!”
“Exactly! You have no idea how many junior nurses snuck over to check on him during the few days Battalion Commander Zhou was hospitalized. He is simply ungodly handsome.”
Ruan Qiu offered a dry smile.
Who would have thought that women in this era were also face-conscious, each and every one of them liking good-looking men as well?
“Little Qiu, I heard people say soldiers have great physiques. How many times does your man toss you around at night?” A married nurse could not help but pry into the gossip.
Ruan Qiu massaged her brow.
“Sister-in-law, I am too embarrassed to say that.”
Let alone the fact that she and Zhou Yishen were not sharing a bed, even if they truly were, could such things be spoken of so carelessly?
“Hmph!”
Tan Bo leaned against the doorway, glaring at the pillar with a resentful expression.
“Tan Bo, you still have not been discharged from the hospital?” Ruan Qiu grabbed a handful of candies and shoved them into his pocket. “Have some wedding candy.”
Tan Bo looked at the wedding candy in his hand, feeling gloomy. “Ruan Qiu, how old are you even, and you are already married?”
“Never mind how old I am; being married is a fact. Tan Bo, you should give up on that thought.”
Tan Bo shoved the candies into his pocket, his tone dropping. “It is fine that you are married, but can you please take me on as an apprentice?”
Still this again!
“Taking you on as an apprentice is no problem, but I must make one thing clear first: do you actually like being a doctor?”
Tan Bo thought for a moment and did not answer.
He hated being a doctor, which was why he always went head-to-head with his father. Now he wanted to apprentice under someone, but Ruan Qiu asking whether he liked being a doctor or not completely stumped him.
To say he liked it would be too hypocritical.
To say he did not like it, and Ruan Qiu definitely would not take him on.
Yet he genuinely wanted to possess that kind of ability like Ruan Qiu had, the kind of ability that could see right through to the essence of things at a single glance. Looking across the entire hospital, only Old Qian had this capability, but Old Qian still had to rely on looking, listening, questioning, and feeling the pulse, whereas Ruan Qiu was far more formidable because she only needed one glance to make an accurate judgment.
This was why Tan Bo was infatuated with that ability.
“You hesitated, which means you do not really like the profession of a doctor. Since you do not like it, I can absolutely not take you on as an apprentice. The saying goes to love whatever trade you are in. If you do not even love it, how can you wholeheartedly serve patients?”
Tan Bo scratched his head. “I really used to hate the medical profession, but after seeing you, I realized that being a doctor could actually be this awesome.”
Ruan Qiu was speechless. Her skills came from two lifetimes of experience, coupled with years of dissection work.
You cannot accomplish anything relying solely on blind enthusiasm.
“Think about it carefully. Once you have made up your mind, we will talk again.”
Ruan Qiu patted Tan Bo’s shoulder, left the nursing station, went to find Tian Ruanruan to share the news of her marriage, and handed her a handful of candies.
“Sister-in-law, congratulations!” Tian Ruanruan was very happy.
From now on, she and Ruan Qiu would be sisters-in-law.
“Thank you for the well wishes. I accept them.”
“Accept what?”
Xiang Zhuzhu appeared out of nowhere. Upon finding out that Ruan Qiu had come to the hospital to distribute wedding candy, she was furious, interrogating people everywhere until she stormed straight over to the inpatient department.
“Zhuzhu, what is wrong with you?” Tian Ruanruan asked, confused.
Xiang Zhuzhu pointed at Ruan Qiu. “Cousin, you actually know her?”
“Of course I know her. She is my sister-in-law, and we will be family in the future,” Tian Ruanruan said with a heart full of pleasant anticipation.
“What family? You and I are family! She is just a country bumpkin who stole someone else’s fiance!” Xiang Zhuzhu said in a fit of rage, spewing whatever came to mind.
“Zhuzhu, what are you talking about?” Tian Ruanruan was utterly baffled.
“Cousin, did I not tell you before that when I fell into the water, a soldier saved me? That person was Zhou Yishen, and he even kissed me back then. A proper young lady like me was kissed by him, so shouldn’t he take responsibility?”
Xiang Zhuzhu kept harping on the matter of Zhou Yishen saving her.
Tian Ruanruan was speechless. “Zhuzhu, that was artificial respiration he gave you to save your life. You cannot treat that as a kiss. That is being disrespectful to the person who saved you.”
“I do not care! Anyway, I just like Zhou Yishen, and this country bumpkin is simply not worthy of him,” Xiang Zhuzhu proclaimed arrogantly.
Ruan Qiu signaled Tian Ruanruan to say no more, and handed the remaining few candies in her hand to Xiang Zhuzhu.
“Little sister, the application papers for Zhou Yishen and me have come down, and we have already registered our marriage. Making a scene here is useless.”
“What?” Xiang Zhuzhu was stunned. “How is that possible? My mother said your application did not pass, and you and Zhou Yishen could not possibly get married. You must be lying to me!”
Ruan Qiu shrugged. “Believe it if you want to. In short, Zhou Yishen and I are now proper husband and wife, and it is a military marriage. If you keep making a scene like this, you are sabotaging a military marriage, which will have a certain impact on your mother’s position.”
Xiang Zhuzhu could tell Ruan Qiu was trying to scare her, which only made her more furious. She pointed at Ruan Qiu’s nose and said, “Fine! You are just acting so arrogant because you have a military marriage, right? Let me tell you, your marriage will not last long!”