In March 1973, spring had arrived in the Northwestern Military District, but the temperature difference between morning and night was still quite significant.
“Wife, you heard what Xiaoyun said. She and Wanning simply can’t get along. She made it clear that if Wanning stays in this house, she won’t. Sulian, Xiaoyun is my daughter.”
“I know,” the woman replied softly. “Wanning grew up in the countryside and picked up quite a few bad habits. She also shouldn’t have taken Xiaoyun’s nursery teacher position.”
“Sulian, what do you think about finding someone for Wanning to marry?”
“Marry?” The woman’s voice carried a trace of hesitation.
The man continued, “Yes. You know my younger sister. Her son is a fine young man, works at the steel factory, and I think he’d be a perfect match for Wanning.”
Ji Wanning heard her mother fall silent for a moment before finally saying, “Alright, I’ll talk to Wanning. If she’s willing, we’ll have the two children settle the engagement as soon as possible.”
Listening to those words, Ji Wanning felt an icy chill surge from the soles of her feet up her spine and into the top of her head, leaving both her body and heart cold.
She had overheard the conversation the moment she reached the doorway that evening.
She knew her mother had already learned from Lin Yun that the so-called nephew of Uncle Lin already had three children. Not only that, but his former wife had fled after enduring domestic abuse and constant mistreatment from her mother in law.
Her mother knew exactly what kind of life awaited her if she married into that family.
Yet she still agreed.
In this household, her mother had chosen Uncle Lin and Lin Yun.
She had abandoned her.
Ji Wanning knew this was no longer her home. She couldn’t stay here any longer.
Rather than passively accepting marriage to such a worthless man, she would rather find a suitable husband herself while she still had the chance.
She remembered her best friend Xixi mentioning last week that the military district would be holding a matchmaking event in the main auditorium.
If she remembered correctly, it was tomorrow.
The next day, the grand auditorium of the Eighth Northwestern Military District was exceptionally lively. Uniformed officers could be seen everywhere, along with graceful young women from the military arts troupe.
Today was the day military leaders had organized for the district’s unmarried officers and the unmarried women of the military arts troupe to meet through blind dates.
Of course, unmarried family members living in the residential compound were also welcome to participate.
Near the back entrance of the auditorium stood a slender, graceful figure.
Ji Wanning hesitated for a moment before stepping into the bustling hall.
After hearing from her best friend Chen Xi that there would be a matchmaking event today, she had come carrying her household registration booklet.
Ji Wanning’s mother had been the daughter of a wealthy capitalist family. Later, she married Ji Hongxing, an army officer from the countryside. She was beautiful and delicate, the kind of woman who naturally inspired a man’s protective instincts.
She had never done any housework.
Before joining her husband at the military district, Ji Wanning’s grandparents had taken care of everything for her. After moving there, her father had shouldered all the responsibilities.
Five years ago, Ji Hongxing died during a mission and was honored as a martyr.
Half a year after his death, her mother remarried Lin Wenbin, a specialist physician specially appointed by the military district hospital.
Ji Wanning was sent back to her hometown to live with her grandmother. By then, her grandfather had already passed away. Half a year ago, her grandmother also died. Only after arranging her grandmother’s funeral was she finally allowed to come to the military district and live with the Lin family.
Uncle Lin’s biological daughter, Lin Yun, had always disliked her.
Especially after the man Lin Yun liked openly declared that he wasn’t interested in her and wanted to pursue Ji Wanning instead, Lin Yun had gone out of her way to make life difficult for her.
Because she was living under someone else’s roof and didn’t want to make things harder for her mother, Ji Wanning had chosen to endure it.
But in the end, tolerance solved nothing.
Today’s blind date had been arranged by her best friend Chen Xi. She said it was her relative’s son, a decent man who was also quite handsome. He was supposed to be sitting in the last seat of the first row.
Inside the auditorium, Lu Changzheng had just helped one of the soldiers under his command move the last table to the fourth row, where one had been missing.
As he returned, before he had even sat down, a graceful shadow fell across the table.
Then a soft, sweet voice, gentle as flowing spring water amidst the noisy crowd, reached his ears.
“Hello, I’m your blind date, Ji Wanning.”
Lu Changzheng sighed inwardly.
He had only intended to make a token appearance today, yet his former commander had still arranged a blind date for him.
He raised his head, ready to explain that he had no plans to marry.
But the moment he saw the young woman before him, he froze.
She had a palm sized oval face, gently arched willow brows, and slightly upturned eyes whose clear, warm gaze carried quiet tenderness. Her long, thick eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath her eyes.
Her nose was delicate, her cheeks full and soft, giving her an appearance that was dignified without losing its sweetness.
Her fair skin carried a healthy rosy glow. Her long, jet black hair fell straight behind her back, held in place by a light blue headband, while the breeze gently lifted the ends of her hair.
She wore a white sweater beneath a soft blue padded jacket that made her snowy skin appear even fairer, like untouched winter snow. Her dark blue trousers outlined her slender legs, while her graceful neck, slim waist, and curvy figure completed the picture.
She possessed the striking beauty of an Eastern woman, radiant yet gentle.
The instant their eyes met, Lu Changzheng saw nothing else.
The noise around him disappeared.
All he could hear was the steady, powerful pounding of his own heartbeat.
Again and again. As though it were trying to tell him something.
Could something be wrong with my heart?
He decided he should visit the hospital when he had time.
“Hello?” Ji Wanning hadn’t expected the man to simply stare at her. The undisguised warmth in his eyes made her cheeks flush for no apparent reason.
The man wore a military uniform. He was tall and straight, around one meter eighty six, with a tightly fastened belt emphasizing his firm, powerful waist.
He looked about twenty five years old, with a well defined square face, a sharp jawline, thick sword like eyebrows, and deep set eyes that appeared cold and intimidating whenever he wasn’t smiling.
His nose was high and straight, his features sharply sculpted, and his wheat colored skin spoke of years of rigorous training. Altogether, he gave off an impression of restrained strength and quiet authority.
Ji Wanning thought to herself that Xixi really had introduced her to a handsome blind date.
Only Chen Xi knew that Ji Wanning was hopelessly obsessed with good looks.
Ji Wanning’s soft voice finally brought Lu Changzheng back to his senses.
His deep, mellow voice sounded slightly tense as he hurried to his feet and gestured toward the chair.
“Hello! Please, have a seat.”
Perhaps because he was nervous, his left foot caught on his right as he sat down, causing him to stumble forward.
Ji Wanning quickly reached out to steady him.
In that instant, she caught the clean yet overwhelmingly masculine scent that surrounded him, making the tips of her ears grow warm.
At that moment, their posture looked as though Lu Changzheng had wrapped her in an embrace and was about to kiss her.
His gaze lingered on her naturally rosy, plump lips that glistened softly without a trace of makeup.
If I kissed them… they would probably taste wonderfully sweet.
Only when Ji Wanning gently pushed against his arm did he suddenly come back to reality.
What was I thinking?
That’s way too beastly.
If she knew what was going through my mind, she’d definitely be frightened.
He quickly returned to his seat, his expression turning serious.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t do that on purpose.”
He apologized?
Ji Wanning quietly relaxed.
He was a polite and well mannered man.
Her first impression of him was very good.
She sat down, smiling faintly as she shook her head.
“It’s alright.”
After a brief silence, Ji Wanning spoke first.
“Hello, Comrade. My name is Ji Wanning.”
After a slight pause, she asked, “May I ask… are you planning to get married?”
Although they had only just met, she already had a favorable impression of him.
Lu Changzheng instinctively straightened his back, his answer firm and decisive.
“Yes.”
If the former commander who had been urging him to marry for years had heard that answer, he probably would have exploded in anger.
Didn’t you say you were never getting married for the rest of your life?!
“Hello, my name is Lu Changzheng. I’m twenty five years old. I currently serve with Unit 752 of the Eighth Northwestern Military District. My monthly salary is one hundred and twenty yuan, along with various ration coupons. I also receive holiday benefits. I’m unmarried, I’ve never dated anyone before. As for my family…”
What followed was a thorough introduction of his family background and every military merit he had earned since joining the army, as though he were a proud peacock displaying all of his finest feathers in courtship.
Ji Wanning’s eyes widened slightly, and her ears grew warm.
That… wasn’t quite so much detail she had expected.
When Lu Changzheng finished introducing himself and saw that Ji Wanning remained silent, his heart immediately tightened.
“Comrade Ji… do you still have any questions?”