In the commander’s office, a duty orderly brought in two enamel mugs filled with tea. Song Hongmei accepted it with both hands, looking somewhat restrained.
Her husband had once been a university professor, so she had seen her share of the world, but this was still the first time she had ever drunk tea personally served by a military commander.
Song Xuezhi had felt something similar a few days ago when eating with Li Chengyuan.
A “commander”—to people like them from ordinary society—was already the highest official they could ever hope to come into contact with in their lifetime.
Li Chengyuan sat down behind his desk. It was clear he was very busy; the desk was piled with thick stacks of unsigned documents. Even so, he made time to look at the mother and daughter.
“So, what exactly is the current situation between Comrade Song and Zhou Weidong? I need to understand it,” he said.
Song Hongmei looked surprised, as if she hadn’t expected a high-ranking commander like Li Chengyuan to personally care about what seemed like a trivial emotional dispute.
“Zhou Weidong is under Commander Li’s command,” Song Xuezhi leaned over and whispered to her mother.
Only then did Song Hongmei understand.
Song Xuezhi then straightened her posture and began explaining everything that had happened.
“He said you two already registered the marriage?” Li Chengyuan said expressionlessly. “Impossible. The military does not have such a mechanism. A marriage certificate cannot be approved without your consent.”
Hearing this, Song Xuezhi felt a wave of relief and let out a deep breath.
“I knew it… he was lying to me.”
“That little bastard! How dare he trick you like this!” Song Hongmei slammed her enamel mug onto the table, furious.
If Zhou Weidong had been there, she would have wanted nothing more than to beat him up herself.
Li Chengyuan continued calmly: “However, he is not entirely wrong. You cannot simply withdraw the engagement like this. Commander Lu’s previous special handling of your case was already appealed by him. Marriage is a matter between two people—it cannot be decided unilaterally. If you want to withdraw, Zhou Weidong also has the right to appeal.”
Song Xuezhi bit her pale lip.
Deep down, she had already suspected she wouldn’t be able to escape Zhou Weidong so easily.
“What does that mean?” Song Hongmei asked, confused. “Since my daughter hasn’t even registered the marriage yet, how can she not cancel it? Is there really such a thing as forcing a woman into marriage in the military?”
Li Chengyuan glanced at her. She immediately fell silent.
The duty orderly said sternly, “Comrade, mind your words!”
“I’m sorry, my mother is just worried about me…” Song Xuezhi quickly stood up to apologize.
“It’s fine,” Li Chengyuan said, raising a hand. “After discussion yesterday between Commander Lu, several leaders, and the mediation office, it was decided that you will have a one-month observation period. During this time, the organization will require Zhou Weidong to perform well and attempt to salvage the marriage. If after one month you still do not wish to marry him, then the marriage will be officially annulled.”
One month?
Song Xuezhi was stunned.
“One month is too long,” Song Hongmei said immediately. “My daughter came from far away; she can’t afford to waste that much time.”
Li Chengyuan looked at them and unconsciously tapped his pen.
“Originally there was a faster method, but your daughter refused it,” he said calmly.
“What?!” Song Hongmei turned sharply to look at her daughter.
She was worried that her foolish daughter still had feelings for that man.
“I… what was the method?” Song Hongmei pressed urgently.
At the same time, Song Xuezhi also froze.
She quickly remembered what Li Chengyuan had said before—was he referring to marrying him?
Was he serious at the time?
Just thinking about it made her feel like she had missed out on something priceless.
“That… that method can’t be used anyway!” she blurted out, her face flushing red.
Song Hongmei eyed her suspiciously.
“Commander Li is busy; let’s not disturb him any further,” Song Xuezhi quickly said, pulling her mother toward the door.
Before leaving, she unintentionally met Li Chengyuan’s deep gaze, and her heart began to race uncontrollably, confirming her suspicion even more.
The “solution” he had mentioned… really was marriage with him.
After they left the base, Song Hongmei immediately became anxious.
“What’s wrong with you? The commander kindly gave you a solution, and you actually refused it?”
“Tell me the truth—are you still thinking about Zhou Weidong?”
“No…” Song Xuezhi took a deep breath. “The method he mentioned… was probably asking me to marry him.”
“What?!” Song Hongmei was stunned, then instantly delighted. She grabbed her daughter’s hand.
“That young commander just now? He isn’t married yet?”
Song Xuezhi nodded. After looking around, she lowered her voice.
“Mom, don’t tell anyone. He said it because he once saved me when I fell into the river and felt responsible… He’s a good person. I can’t take advantage of him like that.”
“You’re stupid!” her mother scolded. “If it were me, I’d agree immediately! This kind of opportunity doesn’t come twice in a lifetime!”
A handsome, upright young commander—tall, capable, dignified. She had never seen such an outstanding man before.
If he became her son-in-law… she would wake up smiling in her sleep.
“Should we… still consider what he said?” her mother asked excitedly.
“Mom!” Song Xuezhi sighed helplessly. “Can you calm down? Do you really think something this good exists in the world?”
“Look at me properly—do you really think I deserve someone like him?”
But after actually sizing her up, Song Hongmei still nodded confidently.
“You were always beautiful back in Su City. So many young men chased after you they almost lined up to the river… and you ended up falling for that soldier’s nonsense instead!”
Song Xuezhi: “……”
“Mom, there are plenty of prettier girls than me. The cultural troupe alone is full of beauties. Do you think someone like him has never seen beautiful women?” she said quietly.
Even if he did want to take responsibility, if she married him out of gratitude, she would never be happy.
“I don’t think marriage should just be about emotions, though,” her mother argued. “Look at me and your stepfather—we didn’t have much love either, but we still lived fine…”
Song Xuezhi understood that most people of this era thought this way—marriage was not necessarily about love, but about compatibility and survival.
Marrying Li Chengyuan would undoubtedly be the best option for her life.
But perhaps because of that prophetic dream, she suddenly felt something open up in her heart.
Why must she rely on a man at all?
Zhou Weidong had already proven that men could not be trusted.
Her life should be in her own hands.
This time, unless she met someone she truly loved—someone who could understand her and walk through life with her—she would never casually enter marriage again.