“Commander, I have to marry her!”
Seeing how firm Commander Huo’s attitude was, Song Yunli explained, “Back during that undercover mission in Nancheng, I was set up by enemy agents.
“She helped me, and because of that I was able to complete the mission so successfully. Now she’s pregnant. As a man, I have to take responsibility!”
Back then, the enemy agents had wanted to test his loyalty and took him to find a woman. Under the influence of the drugs they had given him, he had met Tang Jin. The entire incident had been his fault. She should not have to bear the consequences alone.
“What?!” Commander Huo was stunned.
He knew about that mission. No wonder Song Yunli had shown no joy after returning despite its success—there had been more to the story all along.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this at the time?”
Commander Huo was a little angry.
Looking ashamed, Song Yunli replied, “It concerned a female comrade’s reputation. I couldn’t be that selfish.
“Now she’s carrying a child. If I don’t marry her, people will say she engaged in improper relations between men and women. Commander, tell me—should I marry her or not?”
“You should.”
Commander Huo patted him on the shoulder.
“Go back and wait. I’ll take the marriage report to the higher-ups myself.”
“You did the right thing. You’re acting like a real man. As for your mother, try your best to smooth things over with her.”
At this point, he could only let down his old friend. He couldn’t allow Yunli to become a man who shirked responsibility.
“Yes, sir. Thank you, Commander!”
Song Yunli promptly pulled out another application form.
“After Comrade Tang Jin and I get married, we still won’t have a place to live. Commander, could you approve this housing application while you’re at it?”
Commander Huo: “…”
Tang Jin woke up feeling refreshed.
She casually picked up the money and ration coupons Song Yunli had left for her.
He was quite generous.
There was a total of 123 yuan, along with sugar coupons, meat coupons, grain coupons, biscuit coupons, and cloth coupons. Some were even military-issued coupons.
After carefully putting them away, she heard a knock at the door.
Opening it, she saw Song Yunli holding several aluminum lunch boxes.
“You must be hungry. Eat something.”
Tang Jin really was starving.
She had been sleeping the whole time and hadn’t gotten around to eating the buns and flatbread he had bought earlier.
“Want to eat together?”
“I already ate.”
Song Yunli smiled helplessly.
“When I came in just now, the comrade at the front desk specifically reminded me not to stay too long.”
Tang Jin: “…”
“Fine, then.”
“Get some rest. Once the report is approved, we’ll get married. By then, you should be able to move into the family quarters.”
His tone was sincere.
Tang Jin paused with her chopsticks.
“There are still some things I haven’t explained. Since we’re getting married, I think you have the right to know.”
“Go ahead.”
Song Yunli listened attentively.
Tang Jin briefly explained her parents’ schemes and everything they had done to her.
“The news that I came here won’t stay hidden forever. Sooner or later they’ll find out. When that happens, will you try to persuade me to forgive them?”
“No.”
His eyes filled with sympathy.
So her parents had never treated her well at all.
No wonder that day, after drinking, she had ended up entangled with him by sheer coincidence.
“Ah Jin, the one they wronged was you. I won’t tell you to let it go, nor do I have the right to interfere with your decision.”
“Thank you.”
That was exactly the answer Tang Jin wanted.
After all, they had essentially been strangers before. If disagreements arose in the future, things could become very unpleasant.
“Now let me tell you about my family.”
Song Yunli was equally straightforward.
“My grandfather and father were both martyrs. At home there’s my grandmother and my mother, as well as a younger sister. You met her earlier.
“She’s a bit spoiled. If she ever treats you poorly, you don’t need to spare my feelings.”
“Good. I’m not the type to let myself be bullied.”
Tang Jin lowered her head and started eating.
So far, Song Yunli’s attitude had left her very satisfied.
Perhaps marrying him really wouldn’t be such a bad choice.
Watching her eat slowly, Song Yunli didn’t dare stay long and soon left.
Unfortunately, Tang Jin’s morning sickness was still bothering her.
Halfway through the meal, she couldn’t hold it back and ran to vomit.
She simply entered her spatial pocket dimension. The air inside seemed much more comfortable.
Until now, she had never had the time to properly examine the space.
Only now did she discover a well in the courtyard.
The water was sweet and refreshing. After drinking some, the nauseous feeling eased considerably.
Could this be the legendary spirit spring water from novels?
Tang Jin carefully made a mental note of it and explored the courtyard more thoroughly.
In the center stood the main hall, with rooms on either side.
The room on the right was packed with medical books and medicinal herbs.
The room on the left served as living quarters.
Behind the main hall was an enormous warehouse.
Even after moving all of the Tang family’s wealth into the space, she still hadn’t filled half of it.
Squinting contentedly, Tang Jin felt much more secure.
With these resources, she had plenty of confidence about her future life.
Her mood improved immediately.
She picked up the buns and flatbread that were still warm and began eating.
It seemed the space even had a heat-preserving function.
After eating and drinking her fill, Tang Jin left the space and took the aluminum lunch boxes to the public wash area to clean them.
While she was at it, she located the restroom.
On her way back, fate played a cruel trick.
She ran into Song Yunting and Wenfang.
“Stop right there!”
Song Yunting called out.
Tang Jin shook the water off the lunch boxes and replied indifferently,
“What is it?”
“What exactly is your relationship with my brother?”
Song Yunting glared fiercely.
Wenfang stared at Tang Jin as well, looking extremely wary.
“Didn’t your brother already tell you?”
Tang Jin remained expressionless.
“It’s exactly what he said. If you don’t believe it, go ask him yourself.”
“No way!”
Song Yunting naturally refused to believe it.
She shoved Wenfang in front of Tang Jin.
“This is Sister Wenfang. My mother has already chosen her as her future daughter-in-law!”
Tang Jin snorted.
“Tell me, little sister—is it your mother who’s getting married, or your brother?”
“We’re women of the new era. Arranged marriages aren’t exactly fashionable anymore.”
“You—!”
Song Yunting nearly exploded.
“Don’t get so smug. Sure, you’re pretty, but aside from your looks, what do you have that compares to Sister Wenfang?”
“Thank you for complimenting my appearance.”
Tang Jin smiled.
“But Song Yunting, is talking back to your future sister-in-law really the kind of upbringing you received?”
Her gaze shifted to Wenfang.
“And you. If you have something to ask, ask it yourself. Hiding behind someone else—what kind of behavior is that?”
“What a sharp tongue.”
Wenfang finally suppressed the bitterness in her heart and lifted her chin proudly.
“Brother Yunli and I grew up together in the same military compound. Both our families have always approved of us.
“Comrade, a relationship without parental support won’t last. I think you should have enough self-awareness to step out of the relationship between Brother Yunli and me.”
“Oh? You have objections?”
Tang Jin smiled mockingly.
“Then go talk to Song Yunli.
“If you can persuade him to marry you, I’ll leave immediately.
“If you can’t, stop bouncing around in front of me like…”
She paused.
“A clown performing on a stage.”
With that, Tang Jin turned and walked away.
Wenfang wasn’t some destined heroine. Tang Jin felt no sense of threat from her.
Her dismissive attitude made Wenfang so angry she nearly stomped her feet.
“Yunting, look at her! She’s already this arrogant before even marrying your brother.
“If she actually marries into the Song family, who knows how unbearable she’ll become!”
The thought of losing to someone like Tang Jin filled Wenfang with rage.
Song Yunting gritted her teeth.
“I’m calling my mother right now.
“We absolutely cannot let my brother lose his mind like this!”