Inside the military district courtyard, after Zhou Runqing saw Lin Yuqiu off, much of the cafeteria’s noise had dissipated.
The cooks had prepared another pot of soup. Zhou Wanyi ate with relish, but the two at the table had little appetite. They wolfed down a few bites of rice, tasteless as chewing wax, and soon set down their chopsticks in silence, rising to leave together.
Seeing this, Zhou Wanyi finished the last bite of meat and followed them.
She linked arms with Li Shiyun and glanced at Zhou Runqing’s mother walking ahead, puzzled at her sudden change of mind, then looked back at Li Shiyun’s expression.
Her eyes darted, the braid tip flicked high, and she leaned close to Shiyun, fuming: “Shiyun, in my heart, you will always be my sister-in-law.”
Li Shiyun smiled lightly, though a trace of melancholy lingered at her lips.
Zhou Wanyi continued earnestly: “We grew up together. My brother was so good to you I saw it all. How could it suddenly change? I just can’t understand.”
“But I feel that my brother used to like you,” she added.
“When he came back from the army, he’d bring me a gift and one for you too. Isn’t that liking someone? With so many girls in the courtyard, he never gave gifts to anyone else.”
Li Shiyun lowered her head, unwilling to show her vulnerability, her fingertips gripping her palm tightly. Her voice was barely audible, trembling at the end: “Perhaps I misunderstood all along. Runqing has always been a good person.”
She looked at Zhou Wanyi again, forcing a warm, gentle smile despite her reddening eyes: “Wanyi, don’t say that anymore.”
“I just met your brother before her, but feelings aren’t about who comes first,” Zhou Wanyi insisted.
She hugged Li Shiyun’s arm tightly, pressing her shoulder against hers and pouting: “I don’t care. I don’t like that woman. As soon as she comes, my brother acts like I’ll bully her, is mean to me, and wants to send me off to the army to suffer.”
When they reached the residential courtyard, Zhou Runqing’s mother turned to Zhou Wanyi. Obediently, she ran forward, clinging to her mother and throwing a tantrum, insisting she would never go to the island.
Her mother then looked at Li Shiyun, smiling as warmly as ever.
“Wanyi, go back and rest early.”
Li Shiyun, eyes red, maintained her pride, refusing to show weakness, and softly said: “Aunt.”
Zhou Runqing’s mother sighed lightly, her tone tinged with the helplessness of an elder and a hint of guilt: “I’ve always treated you as half a daughter. But Runqing has made up his mind you should come to terms with it sooner.”
When Li Shiyun returned home, she found her father, Li Changchun, director of the military district political department, reading the newspaper in the living room. The moment he saw his beloved daughter, he tossed the paper aside, face lighting up with indulgent affection, the doting almost comical.
“Oh, Daddy’s precious daughter is back! Staying late at the Zhou house again? Have you eaten? Daddy will cook for you right away. Sweet and sour pork ribs or braised fish you choose!”
Following his daughter upstairs, he saw her rush into her room, then heard the door slam shut. Realizing something was wrong, he caught faint sobbing inside and panicked.
“My dear girl, don’t scare Daddy. Why are you crying? Who hurt you? Tell Daddy, Daddy will make them pay!”
“That kid from the Zhou family, just back on leave from the army did he dare to bully you?”
“Daddy will go settle this right now!”
Inside, Li Shiyun first remained silent, but hearing her father’s indulgent coaxing, her bottled-up grievances poured out like a flood. Overcome, she choked and admitted: “Daddy… he’s getting married.”
Outside, Li Changchun heard his daughter crying hysterically. Never had he seen her so heartbroken. As a father, he wanted to punish the man who caused her pain.
Li Changchun’s face turned ashen as he strode downstairs and immediately called Zhou Runqing’s island regiment to verify the news.
He hadn’t received prior notice were the subordinates pretending to comply while secretly ignoring orders?
When the call connected, the island regiment confirmed they had received Zhou Runqing’s marriage report.
Even more troubling, the report had been deliberately sent directly to the deputy director, bypassing him, the political director.
Li Changchun was furious Zhou Runqing had truly submitted a marriage report, trying to keep him in the dark. He was outraged that his daughter had been hurt.
Although Zhou Runqing had a commander father, if Li Changchun hadn’t repeatedly supported him in the military district party committee, this young man, so young, could never have risen to the regiment commander position.
Now, not only had he publicly defied authority, committed a political mistake, and intended to marry the daughter of a capitalist, he had also hurt his precious daughter.
Li Changchun picked up the receiver again, quickly dialing, listening for the mechanical clicks as he awaited connection.
A voice said, “Old Chen…” and the hum of the phone quietly filled the silent house. Through the slit in the door letting in morning light, Li Shiyun froze, her expression turning serious.
Early morning mist drifted over the military district’s administrative building. A jeep had stayed parked overnight below.
Deputy Director Chen hurried into the office building, walking toward his office, and unexpectedly saw a figure standing at the end of the corridor.
The uniform bore a thin layer of frost the person had clearly been waiting all night.
He took out his key to enter, then glanced at the approaching figure, a trace of helplessness on his face.
“The director called last night, scolding you for ignoring organizational order and showing no respect for superiors!”
“Even if the regiment approved, your fiancée comes from a capitalist family. The military district’s political review your father couldn’t get her through it!”
“And your age…”
“The director’s exact words: a 25-year-old regiment commander bears the responsibility of the nation, not romance. Delaying marriage a couple of years is the organization’s guidance for you!”
Deputy Director Chen’s words were sharp, a verbal critique that struck hard. The young man across from him, standing straight, radiated unbreakable determination, not a hint of fear.
Chen appreciated this young man, having watched him grow up, and felt reluctant to push too hard. “Don’t you understand the director’s thinking? He has only one treasured daughter. If you insist on marrying this girl, you’ll drag it out but don’t expect him to approve!”
He advised earnestly: “If you’re set on this, he’ll hold firm too. You can handle the delay, but the girl will suffer for it.”
Zhou Runqing frowned, meeting Deputy Director Chen’s gaze, speaking carefully: “Uncle Chen, I know it’s difficult, but I am determined to marry. The regiment’s marriage report has already been called in to inform you. The official paperwork will follow; just review it.”
“I’ll personally speak with Uncle Li.”
With that, he turned and left.
Exiting the administrative building, he drove toward the residential courtyard.
Passing by his home, he didn’t stop, heading straight for another duplex residence instead.
Outside the study, his secretary knocked lightly.
“Director, Regiment Commander Zhou is here.”
Li Changchun was buried in paperwork behind his desk, his reading glasses slid down his nose.
Raising his eyes, his gaze behind the lenses was seasoned and sharp. He gave a short, cold laugh and said plainly: “Let him in.”