Ji Yanshu fell asleep early.
She didn't dream of handsome male comrades. Instead, that voice appeared again.
Unlike the condescending tone from her previous life, this time it sounded rather frantic.
"Who told you to break off the engagement? You should cling desperately to the male lead, using any means necessary to marry him. Make the male and female leads go through hardships so they can choose each other more resolutely."
Ji Yanshu: "You're the one who's sick, not me."
The voice became gritted with frustration, "This is a raising cubs stepmother novel! If the female supporting character doesn't have children, how can the female lead raise cubs? How can her greatness be demonstrated?"
"Without the female supporting character as foil, would the male lead still consider the female lead his true love?"
"Why did the male lead flee the wedding? The plot in the book wasn't supposed to go like this…"
"The male lead has changed, the female supporting character has changed too. Where exactly did things go wrong?"
"It's all messed up, completely chaotic! If the plot can't develop properly, my mission will fail! I'll disappear soon…"
"Female supporting character, I order you to go pester the male lead!"
Ji Yanshu ignored the voice.
Let it rant and rave.
She was a living person, the protagonist of her own life, not someone else's stepping stone.
To hell with the plot—let them play their own games!
In the first half of the night, Ji Yanshu slept restlessly.
It wasn't until the rooster crowed and the voice in her head quieted down that she finally fell into a deep sleep.
…
Regarding the major incident at home, Ji Xiangbei sent a telegram to his eldest brother.
An urgent one.
That very day, Ji Xiangdong, who was far away on Hai Dao, received it.
He was so angry he couldn't even eat.
His sister was as beautiful as a celestial being, clever, quick-witted, and educated—she ought to be cherished and protected in the palm of someone's hand.
How could such a thing happen to her?
Ji Xiangdong didn't touch a single bite of the meal his orderly brought back. Holding the telegram, he cursed Zhou Heng vehemently.
"How dare he bully my sister? Calling off the engagement just like that, and getting involved with another woman—does he have no shame?"
The orderly Xiao Li, worried that the division commander would make himself sick with anger, chimed in, "Your sister is a female compeer as exquisite as a fairy. Why worry about not finding a match? Our military district has so many outstanding soldiers. Why not bring Comrade Ji here for matchmaking? Pick the very best, then take her back to your hometown to show up those people!"
Truth be told, he had never seen the division commander's sister.
But he often heard the division commander praise her.
He described her in such glowing terms—as if she were a rarity from heaven, unmatched on earth, the most beautiful female comrade one could never find elsewhere.
Xiao Li thought the division commander was like Wang Po selling melons—praising his own goods.
He said his sister was tall and slender.
He also said her eyes were very large, like sparkling gemstones, shining brightly.
Her hair was long, but not the least bit frizzy—jet-black and glossy, so beautiful it was beyond description.
He claimed his sister was naturally fair-skinned, like a glutinous rice ball.
Finally, he added that although his sister seemed delicate, she was actually exceptionally hardworking. She reported for work on time every day, running around the fields without ever complaining of tiredness.
Beautiful, hardworking, educated—wasn't this the very best kind of female comrade?
Based on the leader's descriptions, in Xiao Li's imagination, Comrade Ji must be a simple, honest girl.
She probably looked like the division commander—with thick eyebrows and big eyes.
Running around the fields every day without even panting, she must be quite sturdy.
When he said his sister was very fair, she might actually be tanned as dark as charcoal.
Judging by the division commander's height, his sister probably wasn't short—most likely tall and strong.
With two braids to complete the picture.
This was Xiao Li's fantasy. He didn't dare share it with the division commander, afraid of being scolded.
Though no one had met Comrade Ji, everyone knew the division commander had a youngest sister who had just turned twenty this year.
She was said to be a fresh and lovely young girl—the most beautiful female comrade you could find within ten miles.
The last part was the division commander's own claim.
Since no one had actually seen Comrade Ji, they didn't know whether it was true, but they'd still chime in with compliments.
Ji Xiangdong pondered for a moment. "That's not a bad idea. With me keeping an eye out, let's see who'd dare bully Xiao Wu!"
Xiao Li: "With you vetting them, I'm sure there won't be any problems."
Ji Xiangdong said urgently, "Help me find out who's interested in matchmaking. Have them sign up, then give me the list. I'll have your sister-in-law investigate each one thoroughly and screen them strictly."
Ji Xiangdong wanted to arrange the best possible match for his sister, but these matters required mutual consent.
If the other party wasn't willing to meet her and he forced them, they might hold a grudge. What if they didn't treat Xiao Wu well later?
Their family's girl wasn't desperate to marry, nor was she in a hurry. He wouldn't force anyone who wasn't willing to meet Xiao Wu.
Xiao Li pushed the lunchbox forward. "You should eat first. I'll go take care of this right away."
Ji Xiangdong nodded. "After I finish eating, I'll go send a telegram to Xiao Wu to ask if she's willing to come to Hai Dao."
Xiao Li: "I can handle that."
Ji Xiangdong: "No, I need to do it myself."
Xiao Li understood deeply just how precious this youngest sister was to him.
He missed her so much even when she was far away in the northwest—if he brought her to Hai Dao, who knew how spoiled she'd become.
The division commander might not even be willing to let just anyone marry his sister.
Xiao Li: "I'll go ask Jiang Yunshen who flies fighter jets first. He's earned many honors and doesn't have any questionable female companions around him. If he agrees to meet her, that would be perfect."
The higher-ups had all heard of Jiang Yunshen's reputation.
He was a rare talent who couldn't help but be valued.
In Ji Xiangdong's view, his sister was worthy of anyone.
If someone said she wasn't good enough, that would only prove that he, as her brother, hadn't worked hard enough to become her support and backing.
The fault would lie with him.
Not with Xiao Wu.
He instructed Xiao Li, "Talk to him properly. Tell him my sister is really lovely and well-educated. There's a phrase for it…"
Xiao Li: "Cultivated in both inner qualities and outer appearance."
"Right, that's it—cultivated in both inner qualities and outer appearance. Whoever marries our Xiao Wu would be truly blessed."
Xiao Li nodded repeatedly. "I'll promote her properly to them. We'll take our time selecting, we'll definitely find a good match for Comrade Ji."
Ji Xiangdong nodded. "No need to exaggerate though. Just tell the truth, repeat what I said. Don't embellish, or it'll seem fake."
Xiao Li thought to himself: You've already praised her like that, how could anyone possibly embellish further?
Even if he wanted to add something, there was nowhere left to add.
Any more exaggeration would make it sound completely unbelievable.
Ji Xiangdong: "Focus on Jiang Yunshen first."
He was excellent material—flew fighter jets well, had carried out many important missions.
Had strong psychological resilience, wasn't arrogant or impatient, had handsome features with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and was said to be highly educated too.
The more Ji Xiangdong thought about it, the more Jiang Yunshen seemed like a good choice.
He and Xiao Wu would make a good-looking couple.
Both were educated and cultured, so they wouldn't be talking past each other like chicken and duck.
If it really worked out, the young couple would surely have a wonderful life together.
Xiao Li wasn't so confident.
But he still promised: "I'll do my best."
Ji Xiangdong had also heard about Jiang Yunshen's temperament. "If he really isn't willing, then forget it. There are so many outstanding male comrades in the military district—surely one will suit our Little Five."
After further consideration, Ji Xiangdong felt Jiang Yunshen wasn't perfect in every way either.
His personality was quite aloof.
He always wore a stiff expression—handsome, yes, but too cold.
When it comes to married life, two people should live together warmly and affectionately.
Jiang Yunshen's career was impeccable, but his personality seemed rigid and unlikely to be considerate.
Little Five had a gentle temperament, lively and adorable, and probably couldn't stand someone as wooden as a block.
Just before Xiao Li stepped out, Ji Xiangdong called out to stop him: "Jiang Yunshen—backup candidate!"
Xiao Li: "…"
Thinking to himself: If even Jiang Yunshen is only a backup candidate, who could possibly meet this man's standards?
Picking a brother-in-law is stricter than selecting talent…
Ji Xiangdong: "Do you have an opinion?"
Xiao Li shook his head repeatedly. "No."
Ji Xiangdong snorted. "You haven't met my sister—so fresh and lovely! Even your sister-in-law couldn't put her down when she returned to our hometown. Once you've seen her, you'll understand that my high standards aren't excessive at all."