“You’re upright, steady, have no demands about having children, won’t stop me from pursuing my work. What others see as a promising future might not mean a good life for me. I’ve set my mind on you.”
Lian Qiao said all this in one breath, her mouth feeling a bit dry from speaking so much, her face flushed with warmth.
Her gaze didn’t waver as she looked at him. Gritting her teeth, she continued.
“Stop always thinking for me. I just want to marry you.”
Chen Lang fell silent.
The sun was so strong; even in the shade of the trees, it was sweltering.
The stray hairs on her forehead clung to her temples, and there was a faint sheen of sweat on the tip of her nose. She must have stood there waiting for him for a long time.
The hesitation in his heart was shattered by her directness.
“Are you really sure? You won’t regret it?” His Adam’s apple moved slightly, his tone very solemn.
Suppressing the unease in her heart, Lian Qiao nodded.
“I’m sure. I absolutely won’t regret it. Unless you want to divorce me. Even if we divorce, I won’t hate you.”
Divorce?
They weren’t even married yet, so why was she thinking about divorce?
Chen Lang didn’t understand how she could think of such a thing. Once married, it was for a lifetime.
If he were to sacrifice honorably, without the burden of children, perhaps it would be easier for her to remarry.
He convinced himself of this in his heart.
“Do you want to come back with me now? To meet my mother.”
Only then did Lian Qiao’s pounding little heart settle back into her stomach. It was settled.
“Is this outfit appropriate?”
Her inquiring look made Chen Lang’s breath catch for a moment.
“It’s appropriate.”
“Then let’s go. If possible, I hope the procedures can be done as quickly as possible. My leave for visiting family doesn’t have many days left…”
Her voice grew softer as she spoke, as if she couldn’t wait to marry him.
Even though that was indeed the case.
Chen Lang nodded. “I’ll expedite it. You can stay here without worry for now.”
Lian Qiao smiled. “Alright, I’ll wait for you.”
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled light that danced across her face. Chen Lang suddenly stopped overthinking. Perhaps this was their fate.
Her sudden appearance, and then suddenly giving the most perfect answer. The predetermined trajectory of his life had encountered an unexpected turn.
He wasn’t exactly resisting this unexpected turn.
The martyr dependents’ area was right next to the cadres’ area. Chen Lang led her into a household. The courtyard was very clean, with several small vegetable plots. The beanpole frames were already covered in vines.
There were three red-brick rooms. One side had a half-open door, from which came the sound of a spatula and the aroma of food—likely the kitchen.
The door to the main room was pushed open, revealing a small living room furnished with a tea table and wooden sofa. It was empty, tidy, and dust-free.
Going further inside was a bedroom. The curtains weren’t drawn completely, allowing a beam of light to fall on the wooden floor. Dust floated in the light, and the air was thick with the strong smell of medicine.
Chen Lang walked ahead, lightening his steps, and stopped before the sickbed.
Lying on the bed was a woman with a gaunt face. Her eyes were closed, and she was curled into a thin shape beneath the blanket.
“Mom.”
Chen Lang called softly, carefully reaching out to feel her forehead, then gently brushing aside the stray hairs on her face.
Lian Qiao stood beside him, feeling somewhat nervous.
Qin Mulan was lost in a hazy dream when she heard her son’s call and slowly opened her eyes.
Her first glance fell on the girl standing before the bed.
Her eyes were very bright, clearly reflecting the image of herself on the sickbed.
“You’ve come?”
Those two words drained the strength she had gathered over a long time.
Chen Lang bent down and whispered into her ear.
“She’s called Lian Qiao. We’re getting married.”
Lian Qiao swallowed hard and stepped forward. “Mom.”
Chen Lang paused, something tightening in his throat before he swallowed it down. “The wedding will be held in a couple of days.”
Zhao Mulan blinked her eyes, forcing a smile with effort.
“Alright.”
Then her gaze drifted toward the doorway as she murmured.
“Qiaosheng… look… your daughter-in-law is here…”
Chen Lang stiffened, a complex expression flashing across his face before he took a deep breath and turned to Lian Qiao.
“Nothing else to do here. I’ll take you back first. I’ll submit the application this afternoon.”
Lian Qiao nodded, obediently following behind Chen Lang.
Just as they reached the living room, they saw a spry little old lady carrying food into the room.
She was shorter than Lian Qiao, her hair neatly combed into a bun, dressed in a gray top and black pants—her attire crisp and tidy.
“Back?” The old lady glanced at Lian Qiao behind him before shifting her gaze back to her grandson.
“This is Lian Qiao, your granddaughter-in-law.”
Shi Sue’s heart skipped a beat, her displeasure immediately showing on her face.
“What nonsense are you talking? Eat!”
Lian Qiao quickly spoke up, “No need to see me off. I can go back by myself.”
“I’ll take you.” Chen Lang’s tone brooked no refusal.
Lian Qiao knew the old lady didn’t much like her on their first meeting, though she didn’t know why.
Once they stepped outside, Lian Qiao tried to persuade him.
“Go back and eat. You only have such a short break at noon. I know the way.”
“It’s not far.”
He seemed to speak very little.
Lian Qiao found this even more satisfactory—no need to make small talk. If he were a chatterbox, it would surely be exhausting.
She walked silently beside him, but her eyes secretly glanced at his steps, quietly adjusting her own pace step by step.
He seemed to sense it and slowed down.
At this time, many people were taking their afternoon nap, leaving only the two of them on the road.
When they reached her doorstep, Chen Lang waited until she entered before turning to leave.
Yang Chunmei was fanning her child with a cattail leaf fan, while her brother-in-law held a fly swatter, focused on swatting flies.
“How did it go?” Yang Chunmei’s eyes lit up, eagerly awaiting her answer.
Lian Qiao wiped the sweat from her forehead. “He’s submitting the marriage application right away.”
Li Guozheng’s fly swatter fell to the ground with a clatter.
Yang Chunmei covered her mouth, afraid her laughter would wake Baozhu. She quickly stood up, not even bothering to put on her shoes, and hugged Lian Qiao, jumping up and down.
It was as if she were the one marrying the battalion commander.
“Really! Qiao’er! My Qiao’er!”
Li Guozheng hurried to fetch her slippers, bending down to put them on her feet.
He’d heard from someone that the postpartum recovery period wasn’t one month but two, and she absolutely mustn’t catch a chill.
After putting the slippers on his wife, he was still in shock.
He never imagined that in just two short days, the battalion commander would actually become his brother-in-law. Thankfully, he’d listened to his wife and mustered the courage to speak up. If he had lied and said nothing, he would have regretted it to death.
More than anything, he was astonished. Could it be that the battalion commander really took a liking to his sister-in-law’s face?
When the cultural troupe came to perform, the battalion commander never even glanced at them. He had even begun to suspect that the battalion commander had some hidden ailment.
Now it was proven: the battalion commander was a normal man. Although he was rushing into marriage out of unavoidable circumstances, once married, their feelings would surely grow stronger and stronger.
When he was still a greenhorn, he didn’t understand the benefits of marriage either. Only after marrying did he realize what it meant to start a family and build a career.
He wondered if the battalion commander needed any advice from him, his brother-in-law.
Li Guozheng chuckled. In the military camp, he had to salute him, but at home, the man had to call him brother-in-law. It still felt a bit strange.
Yang Chunmei eagerly began asking, “Have you met his family yet? What’s his mother like? I heard he also has a grandmother and a younger sister. Have you seen them all?”
Lian Qiao then remembered the grandmother who had been unpleasant during their first meeting.
“I haven’t met his younger sister yet.”
“Do they like you? Do they approve of your marriage?”
Lian Qiao didn’t know how to answer.
…
“I don’t agree!” Shi Sue angrily slammed her chopsticks on the table.