The next morning, the atmosphere in the Liu household was tighter than the early morning bugle call at the military compound.
On the dining table, the housekeeper had laid out white porridge, steamed buns, and pickled vegetables, but nobody was in the mood to eat.
Liu Fan poked listlessly at the porridge in her bowl, her small face completely crumpled in misery.
Liu Yuning, on the other hand, sat ramrod straight, methodically chewing on a steamed bun. His face was entirely devoid of expression, making it impossible to read his mood.
Holding a large tea mug, Liu Guoxing ambled out of the study and stood by the dining table.
“What are you two dilly-dallying for? One has to be at the restaurant at nine, and the other at the park at nine. It’s already seven-thirty. Do you want to leave the house or not?”
Hearing this, Liu Fan slapped her chopsticks onto the table. “Grandpa, my stomach hurts today… Can we do it another day?”
“I think your skin is just itching for a beating!” Liu Guoxing glared at her. “Liu Yuning, you are responsible for escorting her to the venue! If she dares to run, I’m holding you accountable!”
Liu Yuning swallowed his last bite of the steamed bun, picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth, and stood up. “Understood, Grandpa.”
He grabbed his military-green jacket draped over the back of the chair and shot another glance at his sister, who was still playing dead.
“Let’s go.”
Just two words, entirely detached from emotion.
With a miserable face, Liu Fan dragged her feet and shuffled along behind him, looking exactly like a criminal heading to the execution ground.
The two siblings left the house one after the other.
The jeep roared to life, its engine’s rumble breaking the quiet of the early morning.
Once inside the vehicle, Liu Fan’s expression transformed instantly. She looked a bit gleeful at his misfortune.
“Bro, no wonder Grandpa is setting you up; you really aren’t getting any younger. This time, just be a good boy and find me a sister-in-law.”
“Next year, give him a fat little nephew to cradle. That way, Grandpa’s attention won’t be glued to me all day long.”
Liu Yuning glanced at her. “Hmph, you think Grandpa is the only one watching you?”
“If you keep messing around for another two years, you’re going to become the designated ‘old maid’ of our veteran community!”
Hearing this, Liu Fan refused to back down. “An old maid? That’s only because you guys are dragging your feet. It’s not like I don’t have anyone to marry; it’s you guys who refuse to nod your approval…”
The more Liu Fan spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. “My heart belongs to someone. Even if you pick a whole battalion for me, the result will be exactly the same.”
“Bro, how about you help me talk to Grandpa? Tell him that Zhang Rong… is actually quite nice. Even though he’s just a low-level worker at the textile factory, it’s still a proper, honest job!”
“Shut up.” Liu Yuning turned the steering wheel, and the jeep veered onto the main road.
“Is that rascal still pestering you?”
“Your brother is an excellent judge of character, and he is not a responsible, good man. All he knows how to do is sweet-talk and play lip service.”
“I’m already being polite by not breaking his legs. If you bring him up again, believe it or not, I’ll throw you straight into the military base to train with the female soldiers for three months!”
Liu Fan silenced herself immediately.
Her brother didn’t talk much usually, but when he spoke, he always followed through.
The atmosphere in the car instantly turned suffocatingly dull.
……
The jeep arrived at the entrance of the state-owned restaurant in no time.
“Get out.” Liu Yuning parked the car. “Remember, don’t pull any stunts. Speak to the person politely. Even if you don’t like him, show some courtesy. Don’t go throwing away the military’s dignity.”
“I know, I know. You’re so naggy.” Liu Fan unbuckled her seatbelt and pushed the door open to get out. Before leaving, she didn’t forget to turn around and make a face at him. “Wishing you a successful matchmaking date! May you become a groom soon!”
Watching his sister slip into the restaurant like a streak of smoke, Liu Yuning shook his head helplessly, restarted the engine, and drove toward People’s Park.
……
At nine in the morning, People’s Park was at its most bustling.
There were elderly people practicing Tai Chi, children chasing each other and playing, and young couples strolling hand-in-hand in small groups.
Following the information his grandfather had given him, Liu Yuning came to a halt by the stone lions at the South Gate.
He had intentionally chosen not to wear his military uniform today, opting instead for a plain white shirt paired with dark trousers. Yet, his tall, straight posture and sharp demeanor still made him stand out conspicuously among the citizens doing their morning exercises.
Very soon, a girl wearing a floral dress and clutching a book walked toward him rather hesitantly.
“Excuse me… are you Comrade Liu Yuning?” The girl’s voice was thin, carrying a hint of nervousness.
“I am. Comrade Wang Jing?” Liu Yuning gave a brief nod.
The girl before him was indeed the Chinese teacher from the profile photo.
In person, she was even more delicate than in her photo. Two jet-black braids hung across her chest, and her cheeks flushed crimson. One glance was enough to tell she possessed a quiet, introverted nature.
“Yes, it’s me.” Being stared at by him made Wang Jing feel even more self-conscious. She lowered her head deeply, her gaze fixed securely on her cloth shoes.
“Let’s find a place to sit and chat,” Liu Yuning suggested.
The two walked along the park path and sat down on a row of long benches.
The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.
Wang Jing clutched her book tightly, her fingers nervously picking at the corner of the cover.
Meanwhile, Liu Yuning was organizing his words in his mind. He needed to settle this swiftly to avoid leading the girl on.
“Teacher Wang.” He decided to cut straight to the chase.
“Ah?” Wang Jing seemed startled. She snapped her head up, her face turning even redder.
“It’s like this—inviting you out today is honestly a bit presumptuous on our part.” Liu Yuning looked at her, keeping his tone as gentle and level as possible.
“This matchmaking session was arranged by my grandfather. He’s getting old and is rather anxious about my personal life, so…”
He paused, observing her reaction.
Wang Jing merely listened quietly, her eyes wide open, waiting for him to continue.
“As for me, I am stationed in the military year-round, and the nature of my work is quite specific. Recently, I just applied for a transfer to go to the southwestern border. The conditions there are very harsh, and the missions are heavy.”
“Therefore, I personally have no plans to marry anytime soon. At least within the next two to three years, I won’t be considering it.”
He spat out the words in a single breath, feeling a wave of relief wash over him.
He had said everything that needed to be said. Having laid it out so clearly, she should understand his meaning. He was doing this for her own good; he couldn’t let her head out to the frontier to suffer with him, nor could he leave her essentially a widow right after marriage. She had a stable teaching job now; finding a suitable match locally to live a happy, fulfilling life would be much better.
A heavy silence settled over the bench.
Liu Yuning assumed she would be angry, or at the very least, somewhat disappointed.
But after waiting a while, all he heard was a voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.
“It’s… it’s alright…”
“Huh?” Liu Yuning doubted his own ears.
Wang Jing finally plucked up her courage and raised her head. Though her cheeks were as red as sunset clouds, her eyes were incredibly earnest.
“Comrade… Comrade Liu, I—I can understand. Defending the country is a monumental task.”
She paused, seemingly pumping herself up, and her voice grew slightly louder.
“To be honest with you, my grandfather is also a proudly discharged veteran…”
“Before I came here, he told me all about your situation. He said you are a hero, a leader among men. Being able to marry a soldier like you is a blessing.”
Liu Yuning’s brows knitted tightly together.
What on earth was she talking about?
“So…” Wang Jing took a deep breath, looking as though she had made a definitive resolution. “Two or three years… it doesn’t matter. I—I can wait.”