That military salute silenced whatever else Meng Songshan had been about to say.
As a father, he wanted to subtly hint at Meng Qing’s feelings for him.
But as a soldier, as Chen Lang’s superior, he shouldn’t.
Chen Lang left, and the office was quiet once more, with only Meng Songshan remaining.
He picked up the marriage application form on his desk and sighed.
Fated to meet, but not destined to be together.
Thinking of his beloved daughter, Meng Songshan rubbed his temples.
He needed to go home early tonight and have a good talk with her.
…
The setting sun brushed its final rays across the clouds, staining them crimson.
Lian Qiao was sitting at the doorway holding Baozhu, while Yang Chunmei was picking vegetables.
After eating at the canteen for so long, cooking at home was still more economical. Yang Chunmei had only asked Li Guozheng to bring back a few steamed buns on his way home from work.
Niu Aixiang walked out the door, gave the wet clothes in her hands a couple of hard shakes, and then unhurriedly hung them on the clothesline.
Water droplets scattered everywhere. Lian Qiao shielded Baozhu’s little face and shot her a glance.
Niu Aixiang looked smug, but Yang Chunmei said nothing.
As luck would have it, Jiang Wanli, the guard who had just delivered a letter to the second regiment commander, happened to pass by their house.
Lian Qiao stood up, still holding Baozhu, a smile on her face. “Comrade! Still on patrol at this hour?”
Jiang Wanli had deliberately taken a detour to pass by her house.
He stood by the roadside, hands pressed neatly against his trouser seams, replying properly.
“Just delivered a letter.”
Niu Aixiang’s face instantly paled. She stopped hanging the clothes and hurried over to Yang Chunmei’s side, her face breaking into an ingratiating smile.
“Chunmei, look, I wasn’t paying attention. Let me help you pick the vegetables!”
Yang Chunmei quickly tried to stop her. “No need, no need. I’m almost done anyway.”
Seeing how flustered Niu Aixiang was, Yang Chunmei couldn’t help but feel a secret thrill.
Indeed, with people like this, if you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile. If Lian Qiao hadn’t come, she would have had to keep letting Niu Aixiang take advantage.
Hearing the commotion behind her, Lian Qiao allowed a faint smile to touch the corner of her lips and casually made small talk with Jiang Wanli.
“You all really work hard, patrolling during the day and delivering letters even after your shift.”
“Not hard at all. It’s our duty.”
Jiang Wanli’s ears turned slightly red. After speaking, he quickly strode away, the thunderous beating of his heart making his fingertips tingle.
Only after watching the guard walk far away did Niu Aixiang finally let out a sigh of relief, a thin layer of sweat already on her back.
She hastily finished hanging the rest of her clothes, gathered her basin, and scurried back inside.
Yang Chunmei gestured with her chin toward the clothesline. Lian Qiao looked over and saw that exactly half the line was now occupied, the other half still empty.
Pfft—
The two sisters could no longer hold back, laughing until they were doubled over.
Lian Qiao wasn’t foolish enough to call a guard over something as trivial as hanging clothes, but Niu Aixiang had clearly thought just that.
Last time, after moving all that junk had worn her out, she had complained to Zhao Hewang, only to receive two words in reply: “Serves you right.”
Usually venting her frustrations in subtle ways, today she had been outmaneuvered again. Sitting inside her house, she was furious.
Outside, the laughter of the two sisters drifted in through the window cracks, grating on her ears, yet there was nothing she could do.
The punctual sound of the military bugle drifted across the military compound, the paths filled with olive green uniforms.
Li Guozheng walked unhurriedly, carrying a few steamed buns.
“Why haven’t you been going to the canteen these past few days?” Yuan Ye had deliberately caught up to him.
“What? Starting to care about me? Seems like the guards’ duties are too light these days.”
Yuan Ye made a pained face. “I’d rather go train with you all…”
Li Guozheng patted his shoulder, offering silent comfort.
“Company Commander Li, I saw a young woman at your place the other day. Heard she’s your sister-in-law?”
“You’re quite well-informed!”
Yuan Ye slung an arm over his shoulder. “We’re fellow townsmen, after all. I have a comrade—capable, honest young man, just lacking a reliable partner…”
Li Guozheng was taken aback for a moment before laughing and scolding, “You rascal! Even playing matchmaker now? Forget it, she’s already spoken for!”
It wasn’t yet time to make it public, though Li Guozheng was itching to let them know that the battalion commander was about to become his brother-in-law—they’d be green with envy.
But Yang Chunmei forbade him from saying anything, even quoting an old saying: “Success comes through secrecy.”
Basically, good news should be kept quiet for now. Just like when she first became pregnant, she told no one until several months later.
Li Guozheng’s greatest virtue was listening to his wife.
Yuan Ye smiled wryly. “That fast? Who moved so quickly?”
Li Guozheng kicked him playfully in the rear. “That’s because my sister-in-law is in high demand! You latecomers can just eat dust!”
Humming cheerfully, Li Guozheng headed home, rounding the corner to spot a familiar figure.
He trailed stealthily behind the person, who indeed stopped at his own doorstep.
“Battalion Commander?”
Chen Lang turned around. “I’m here to see Lian Qiao.”
“Come on in. Haven’t eaten yet, have you? Join us.” Li Guozheng stifled a laugh.
Chen Lang shook his head. “I need to hurry back home.”
Li Guozheng quickly went inside to call for her.
“Why didn’t you come in?” Lian Qiao’s face was slightly flushed—not from shyness, but because Baozhu had just wet the bed. She had fetched water to bathe Baozhu and hadn’t dared open the windows, leaving the steamy heat to redden her cheeks.
“I’ve submitted the marriage application first. We’ll need your ID for the political review. The inquiry will be sent to your hometown. Once it’s approved, we’ll go back to get your household register for registration. The grain and oil relations and household registration can only be transferred after we get the marriage certificate.”
Chen Lang explained everything clearly, and Lian Qiao listened attentively.
“Wait for me.”
She turned and went inside, handing her ID card to him.
Chen Lang took it and casually slipped it into his chest pocket.
“Lately… I’ve been quite busy. Take good care of yourself.”
Lian Qiao knew what he was busy with.
According to her brother-in-law, this month’s live-fire military exercise was crucial, and his mother-in-law on the sickbed seemed to be in poor condition. It was understandable that he was stretched thin.
Lian Qiao looked up at him with a smile. “I will. You too, take care of yourself.”
Then, a kraft paper envelope was pressed into her palm.
“Buy some clothes. Once this busy period is over, I’ll accompany you to furnish our new home. I usually live at home, so the place is empty—there’s nothing there.”
Lian Qiao looked down at the roll of money, surprised.
They hadn’t even registered their marriage yet, and this thick envelope felt somewhat overwhelming. She hadn’t intended to take charge of his salary and life.
“It’s too much. I still have money.” Just as Lian Qiao tried to return it, Chen Lang smiled at her.
“From now on, my salary will be handed over to you. I have to go now. Once I’m less busy, I’ll properly treat your sister and brother-in-law to a meal.”
Lian Qiao felt warmth in her chest. She had thought he was too busy to even consider such things.
“You should hurry back…”
Her face grew even redder; the heat was making her dizzy.
Chen Lang left, and he left in a hurry.
Lian Qiao opened the envelope and pulled out the money, counting it several times—a full thirty ten-yuan bills.
“He’s already gone. Aren’t you coming in to eat?” Yang Chunmei called out.
Lian Qiao pushed the money back and tucked it into her pants pocket.
After the meal, Li Guozheng had to return to the military camp. Before Lian Qiao moved out, he still had to stay in the dormitory.
Once her brother-in-law had left, Lian Qiao took out the money to show her cousin.
“So much? Your brother-in-law only earns 94 yuan a month including subsidies.”
How much a battalion commander earned, Lian Qiao didn’t know.
Yang Chunmei patted her shoulder enviously.
“Qiao’er, you really married the right man.”