The location for the countryside assignment had been confirmed.
At this point, no matter how furious Chang Fangze had been, it was like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her head, extinguishing it all.
The matchmaker Zhao Hongying had been right about one thing.
Right now, it was the Ning family who needed to be in a hurry.
“Actually, that Lin boy isn’t bad—he seems like an honest sort.”
“With such short notice, finding someone through a matchmaker might not be reliable anyway. Better to find someone whose background we truly know.”
“Yu Cuiman is hard to get along with, but when are in-law relations ever easy?”
Ning Qiao interjected: “Mom and sister-in-law get along great.”
“You and your sister-in-law just click—that’s different.” Chang Fangze continued talking to Ning Zhiping. “Even if this particular match isn’t ideal, if our daughter marries into that family, at least it’ll be right under our noses. Do you think we’d just stand by and watch her be mistreated? The Lins have their pride too. With so many eyes in the compound watching, they wouldn’t dare do anything too unscrupulous.”
“Qiaoqiao, what do you think?” Ning Zhiping looked up and asked.
When it came to matters of the heart, Ning Qiao had always felt she was too young and had never given it serious thought. The only concept she had was what her sister-in-law had told her.
“Are you willing to be with him?” Ning Zhiping asked.
Ning Qiao shook her head: “No.”
Chang Fangze hesitated for a moment, then said, “I know they advocate free love nowadays, but not many couples actually end up that way. Most people meet through matchmakers, hit it off, and get married straight away. If there’s no feelings, they can be cultivated over time…”
Ning Zhiping said, “I don’t care much for that Lin kid either. I can’t put my finger on it, but I always feel like his eyes dart around—like he’s got something sneaky going on in his head.”
Chang Fangze didn’t know Lin Guangmin well and clung to him like a lifeline: “What’s wrong with him? You’re just biased. Besides, don’t we have no other choice right now? Time is tight, and we don’t have a suitable prospect…”
Ning Zhiping shot her a sideways glance.
Chang Fangze couldn’t be bothered with him and turned to her daughter instead: “Qiaoqiao, why don’t you want him?”
“He’s so ugly,” Ning Qiao said.
The couple: …
“His eyes are tiny, and he’s scrawny,” Ning Qiao said earnestly, using both hands to make a shape. “And his face is square.”
The square she made with her hands was surprisingly neat.
Chang Fangze was almost amused, affectionately poking her daughter’s forehead: “Oh, you…”
Ning Zhiping stayed quiet, scheming in his mind.
At that same time, in a military district on Qingping Island in the western city, a comrade at the mailroom was delivering letters.
A female comrade with twin ponytails walked up: “Is there any mail for me?”
“None for you—why would there be?” The mailroom comrade casually tidied a basket of letters and said.
The woman’s eyes were sharp. She spotted one of the envelopes and reached out directly.
“Hey—wait, that’s for Battalion Commander Jiang.”
“I’ll just take it to Battalion Commander Jiang for you.” The female comrade smiled sweetly and, without waiting for a refusal, dashed off in another direction.
But she’d barely taken a few steps before she was stopped.
The mailroom comrade said, “Comrade Luo, don’t make things hard for me. This is Battalion Commander Jiang’s letter—I have to hand it to him personally.”
Her lips tightened. She couldn’t press further, and the letter was snatched back.
“It says right on the envelope—it’s from his grandfather,” she said. “It’s not like it’s a letter from his sweetheart. Why are you so worked up?”
The other person didn’t argue with her. He stuffed the envelope into his basket, mounted his bicycle, and pedaled off with a whoosh.
“Don’t go!” Comrade Luo called out. “Does Battalion Commander Jiang have a sweetheart or not? Not on the island—but what about back home?”
The orderly didn’t respond and pedaled far away.
Everyone on the island knew that Luo Qin from the island’s broadcast station had her sights set on Battalion Commander Jiang. Lately, the troops had been putting on events, and the broadcast station comrades had permission to come in and out of the military district. Whenever Luo Qin entered the compound, she’d go looking for Battalion Commander Jiang.
But this had become a nuisance for him. He gave her no quarter and reported it directly, so the orderly had to follow his orders.
Still, at that moment, the orderly pedaled his bike and quietly glanced back.
The broadcaster was such a lively, enthusiastic girl, with such good looks and a great job—why was Battalion Commander Jiang so unwilling? She looked all wronged and dejected. He was far too unfeeling.
The orderly mused to himself, but didn’t dare show it on his face. Catching sight of Battalion Commander Jiang in the distance, he quickly pulled his wandering thoughts back in line.
Jiang Heng had broad shoulders, long legs, and wore a crisp military uniform with combat boots.
The morning sun fell on his resolute face, sharpening his features—his brow and eyes were stern, his profile more defined than ever.
The orderly immediately braked his bicycle, dismounted, stood at attention, and saluted: “Battalion Commander Jiang, a letter for you.”
Jiang Heng received the letter. Without even glancing at the postmark, he already knew it was from his grandfather.
After the orderly turned to leave, he opened the envelope directly.
The contents of Old Master Jiang’s letter were undoubtedly about the daughter of the Ning family in Ancheng.
Jiang Heng skimmed through the letter at a glance. Most of it was the same old topics his grandfather always brought up—he could recite them from memory.
But this time, there was something new.
The old man said that the granddaughter of his old comrade-in-arms in Ancheng had turned eighteen this year.
It was time for the Jiang family to go propose marriage.
Jiang Heng folded the letter and put it back into the envelope.
He had never met that girl, but from his grandfather’s face-to-face talks, phone calls, telegrams, and letters, it seemed he had witnessed her growing up all along.
In the blink of an eye, she was already eighteen.
Jiang Heng walked toward the military compound, letter in hand.
Director Bai from the logistics office spotted him from a distance. His gaze fell on the letter, and he smiled: “Another letter from the old man? Who’s he worried about this time—the second, the third, or the fourth?”
Most people who lived in the family quarters were married couples. But Battalion Commander Jiang was different—he lived in the family quarters because he had a whole string of younger brothers and sisters under his care.
Director Bai’s question was perfectly clear. None of the three children in Battalion Commander Jiang’s household were easy to handle. The compound was quiet now because they were at school, but once they came back, there’d be a ruckus.
Jiang Heng was often away on missions, gone for ten days or half a month at a time. During those periods, he relied entirely on Director Bai to keep an eye on the little rascals, so the two families were close.
He let out a chuckle: “This time it’s about me.”
Director Bai was amused. What could the old man possibly still worry about when it came to Jiang Heng?
Young as he was, Jiang Heng had repeatedly distinguished himself in battle with outstanding achievements. His temperament was steady; even when he first joined the army, he never showed a trace of youthful arrogance. The military leadership all thought highly of him.
“That old man sure never stops worrying.”
Jiang Heng curled the corner of his mouth and was about to stride off when he suddenly heard Director Bai exclaim, “Oh!”
“Your old man wrote something on the back of the envelope too.”
He turned the envelope over. There, written in bold, were the words—Must Reply!
And an exclamation mark.
Jiang Heng: …
An old child.
Back in his study at home, Jiang Heng sat down at the desk and picked up his pen.
First came updates on his younger siblings, and finally, the part of the reply that would interest his grandfather the most.
When the betrothal had been arranged, he and that girl hadn’t even been born yet.
To go propose marriage the moment she turned eighteen would only cause trouble for the Ning family—it was terribly presumptuous.
Besides, he had no interest in managing a marriage.
Jiang Heng lowered his head. His long, well-defined fingers holding the pen, he wrote at the end of the letter—
Grandfather, that betrothal was arranged over twenty years ago—it’s ancient history.
But just then, the pen paused briefly.
This all felt as though it had happened before—the same refusal, the same words.
Jiang Heng was momentarily startled.
The nib lingered on the paper, blurring into a dark stain.
The next afternoon, Ning Zhiping was called into Director Lin’s office.
As the director of the metallurgical plant, Lin Dechao put on a more courteous front than Yu Cuiman, but in reality, he shared the same attitude—that the Ning family was the one getting the better deal.
“Zhiping, I’m sure you’ve heard about the two children’s situation, right?”
Ning Zhiping pulled up a chair and sat down: “What situation?”
Lin Dechao frowned and briefly explained the matter.
Hearing about it from his wife was one thing—now, Ning Zhiping could truly feel the Lin family’s arrogance.
Lin Dechao stood up, looking down at him from a height, and smiled: “If the two children take a liking to each other, we elders shouldn’t stand in the way. I heard your daughter is about to be sent to the countryside. Time waits for no one—we should get their wedding done as soon as possible.”
“As for the dowry, I’ll ask around and see if I can get some industrial ration coupons for you. If you can get all the ‘Three Turns and One Ring’ ready, your Ning family will have plenty of face—whether in the compound or in front of relatives and friends.”
“As for the wedding feast, let’s not be too extravagant. Our families know each other well—everything can be negotiated. What do you think?”
After all, this was his superior. Ning Zhiping listened attentively, his expression serious, putting on an air of respectful deference.
Lin Dechao remained composed. He and his wife had already discussed it—they had more than enough leverage to handle the Nings.
When a family married off their daughter, they’d always put on a show of modesty.
Lin Dechao waited with confidence.
But in the silence, Ning Zhiping gave a slight shake of his head.
Lin Dechao had already calculated everything—of course, he’d pretend to be reluctant.
But no matter what, the Lins wouldn’t back down.
Lin Dechao said calmly, “As for the betrothal gifts, we can settle that after they get the marriage certificate. After all, you’re in a hurry—”
“This match probably won’t work out,” Ning Zhiping cut him off.
Lin Dechao’s expression, so full of calculated control, faltered slightly.
He tapped his fingers lightly on the desk and gave a fake smile: “Oh?”
“Ah!” Ning Zhiping put on a show of regret. “Our Qiaoqiao already has a childhood betrothal arranged—it was set by her grandfather’s generation.”
The smile at the corners of Lin Dechao’s mouth froze. He completely dropped that condescending expression.
He’d thought of everything—except that they had no intention of marrying their daughter off to his family at all?!
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