Seeing how cautious she was, Cheng Yuanche instinctively felt she was still hiding something. Knowing his boundaries, he did not press further and instead instructed his parents:
“Dad, Mom, don’t mention anything Yinong just said to anyone else. Only the three of us should know for now. When the time is right and Yinong feels it can be made public, then we’ll tell the rest of the family.”
“We know, we know. We won’t say a word,” Father and Mother Cheng both nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Mother Cheng’s emotions today had risen and fallen like a roller coaster. She had been furious in the morning, then later delighted and overjoyed. Now her feelings were mixed with both happiness and worry. But whenever she thought about gaining a beautiful, educated, sensible university graduate daughter-in-law who didn’t even ask for a bride price, the small worries in her heart were immediately overwhelmed by joy.
“Dad, Mom, Yuanche, Sister-in-law—you can talk later. Important guests have arrived at the house.”
Cheng Yuanfeng came running over, loudly knocking on the door.
“What important guests?” Mother Cheng immediately got up to open it.
Standing outside without entering, Cheng Yuanfeng informed his younger brother:
“Yuanche, a jeep just arrived outside. Three comrades came and said they’re your superiors and comrades-in-arms from the military. The leader’s surname is Tan.”
“Commander Tan?” Cheng Yuanche immediately stood up with the help of his cane.
Hearing that the regiment commander might have arrived, Father Cheng hurriedly got up too.
“Yuanche, quick, quick! Go receive the distinguished guests.”
But Cheng Yuanche did not rush away immediately, unwilling to neglect his new wife.
“Yinong, I’m going outside to receive the guests. Stay here and get dressed and ready. If you need anything, call me.”
“Alright. Go ahead and get busy. When it’s almost the auspicious hour, have Yuanshu come notify me.”
“Okay.”
Wankou Village was located in a remote seaside area, and a jeep was considered a rare sight there. Not only were the curious women flocking over to look, but even the men, elders, and children all came running to see the novelty.
When Cheng Yuanche came outside leaning on his cane, the army-green jeep was parked beneath the linden tree outside the Cheng family courtyard. Three men in military uniforms stood beside it waiting.
The man leading them looked about forty years old. He was tall and powerfully built, with dark skin and a resolute face. He was currently handing out cigarettes to the villagers.
This man was Commander Tan, Cheng Yuanche’s superior. Beside him stood two younger officers: Battalion Commander Lu and Deputy Company Commander Peng. They were Cheng Yuanche’s closest comrades.
“Commander, Brother Lu, Pengzi, why are you here?”
Both surprised and delighted, Cheng Yuanche hurried forward and saluted them.
Commander Tan returned the salute and glanced concernedly at Cheng Yuanche’s injured leg, his voice booming loudly.
“A wedding this important naturally deserves representatives from the unit to attend, drink wedding wine, and deliver gifts. I even brought out a bottle of Maotai just to get leave approved from the political commissar.”
“Thank you so much.” Cheng Yuanche smiled broadly.
“How’s the leg recovering?” Battalion Commander Lu asked, patting his shoulder.
“I went to the county for a follow-up examination last week. Recovery is going pretty well. I still need to rest and recuperate.”
“Then recuperate properly at home. Use this time to accompany your new bride and spend time with your parents and family. Once your leg fully heals, come back and rejoin training.”
Cheng Yuanche had been injured during a mission this time. In truth, he had been saving Commander Tan’s nephew. At a dangerous moment, he threw himself forward and dragged the young man rolling down a hillside to avoid gunfire. As a result, Cheng Yuanche broke a leg, while the nephew escaped unharmed.
Commander Tan had specially come to visit for the wedding and had also brought generous gifts prepared by his elder brother and sister-in-law.
“Yuanche, my brother and sister-in-law prepared wedding gifts for you. Hongzhi originally wanted to come too, but after nearly getting himself killed last time—and even causing your injury—I sent him off to special training camp. He’ll deliver his own gift personally another day.”
Deputy Company Commander Peng laughed from the side, hooking an arm around Cheng Yuanche’s shoulders.
“Hongzhi’s been miserable lately. He’s lost over ten jin in half a month, practically shed several layers of skin. Now he even takes detours back to the dormitory so he doesn’t have to pass by the commander’s house. Behind your back, he keeps calling the commander a demon king.”
Being together with his comrades put Cheng Yuanche in an exceptionally good mood.
“Bring him a bag of wedding candy for me.”
“He specifically told us he absolutely must get some wedding candy.”
Seeing them chatting outside, Father Cheng quickly came over to greet them.
“Yuanche, the honored guests are here. Don’t stand outside talking. Quickly invite the leaders inside for tea.”
“You must be Brother Cheng and Sister-in-law Cheng,” Commander Tan said immediately, stepping forward to shake hands with the couple.
“Commander Tan, and you two officers, welcome. We apologize for not receiving you properly today. You must be tired from driving here. Please come inside and have some tea and rest.”
The Cheng couple led Commander Tan into the house first. Battalion Commander Lu and the others followed more slowly, unloading a huge pile of gifts from the trunk—three or four large net bags filled with canned fruit, malted milk powder, and even an entire pork leg.
“Yuanche, these were bought jointly by me, Old Peng, Hongzhi, Old Wang, Xiao Meng, and the others.”
“This pork leg was bought by the commander himself. The cigarettes, alcohol, candies, and tea were prepared by the commander’s brother and sister-in-law. They also prepared medicine for your injuries—imported medicine prescribed by military doctors.”
Seeing them bring so many things, Cheng Yuanche felt deeply grateful and didn’t stand on ceremony.
“When my injury heals and I return to the unit, I’ll treat everyone to a meal and properly thank you all.”
“We’re brothers. No need for words like ‘thank you.’ Just buy a few bottles of liquor and cook a few good dishes for us,” Battalion Commander Lu said with a laugh.
Deputy Company Commander Peng helped carry the gifts, his small eyes narrowing into slits from grinning.
“Brother, I don’t want good food or liquor. I just want to see the bride a few more times.”
“Scram!”
Cheng Yuanche swung his cane toward him.
Battalion Commander Lu burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! Come on, let’s go see the bride.”
The arrival of Commander Tan and the two military officers undoubtedly injected new confidence into the Cheng family, which had been trapped beneath a cloud of gloom. It also made the surrounding villagers regard the Cheng family in a completely different light.
No matter how lacking in insight the villagers might be, they could all tell that Cheng Yuanche was doing very well in the military and was highly valued by his superiors. From their conversation just now, it was also obvious that his injury was merely an ordinary fracture. Once healed, he could return to the army. He was nothing like the crippled invalid the Yao family had described.
“Those idiots Yao Daqiang and Li Guihua—if they knew even a regiment commander came to congratulate the Cheng family’s wedding, they’d probably regret it until their intestines turned green.”
“This is the first time in my life I’ve ever seen a regiment commander. His presence is really something else. Just standing near him felt intimidating.”
“You haven’t done anything guilty, so what are you afraid of?”
“He has killing intent on him! That commander isn’t that old, but his aura is powerful. He must have been on the battlefield and killed enemies before.”
“The other two officers also carry that same murderous aura. They look about Cheng Yuanche’s age too. Their futures are definitely limitless.”
“…”