Yu Cuiman’s eyelid twitched.
But quickly, she laughed at herself for making a fuss.
If a battalion commander was getting married and couldn’t come himself, it was perfectly normal to send a young orderly to run the errand.
Chang Fangze was furious at Yu Cuiman’s needling. No matter what she said, the woman just wouldn’t believe her and kept trying to tear her down.
Just then, the gatekeeper’s voice came from outside. Emotionally, Chang Fangze naturally hoped her future son-in-law could show up in person to silence the gossip in the compound. But rationally, she knew he was a soldier—nothing was more important than the organization’s orders. It was their family who was rushing to send their daughter off because of the countryside situation. Either way, none of it could be blamed on Jiang Heng.
She remembered her husband mentioning that Jiang Heng couldn’t make it; he’d send a subordinate to accompany Ning Qiao to the island tomorrow morning.
With the sun in her eyes, she couldn’t see clearly, and asked, “You’re the comrade from the Qing’an Military Region, right?”
“Yes, hello.”
Chang Fangze was almost certain he was the subordinate sent by Jiang Heng. She smiled and stepped forward: “Thank you for making the trip. Please, come in and sit.”
After all, a military comrade had arrived. The aunties present unconsciously straightened up and stopped their gossiping.
As for Yu Cuiman, the knot in her throat loosened, and she laughed at herself for being so jumpy. An older officer sending a young soldier to pick up Ning Qiao—what was there to make a fuss about?
Jiang Heng took a step forward.
“You must be tired from the journey—” Chang Fangze stopped mid-sentence as she got a good look at him and froze.
The man before her was tall, with a sharply defined, handsome face and piercing, intense eyes.
She had seen photos of Old Master Jiang’s eldest grandson as a child.
Back then, he was still a boy, not quite grown into his features. But those days, looking at those old photos with her daughter had burned his image into her memory. Now, with one good look, she knew it was Jiang Heng.
“Auntie,” Jiang Heng said.
It was like the saying—a mother-in-law seeing her son-in-law for the first time, the more she looked, the more she liked him. Chang Fangze immediately broke into a beaming smile: “Yes!”
“You must be tired from the trip. Please, come in.” Chang Fangze waved him in.
Jiang Heng looked at her, a slight pause in his expression.
It was their first meeting, yet there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
“I’m fine,” Jiang Heng said with a smile, sitting down on the sofa.
It was Chang Fangze’s first time meeting her future son-in-law, and she was dying to call her husband home right away. But she looked up and saw Yu Cuiman and the gaggle of aunties still standing there, gaping.
“Is he—?” one auntie asked.
Yu Cuiman laughed: “Fangze, this is the battalion commander’s subordinate, right? Why didn’t their battalion commander come himself?”
Everyone felt something was off.
If he were just a subordinate, why would Chang Fangze look so radiant?
This wasn’t a last-minute mission—Jiang Heng’s destination was a neighboring city to Ancheng. He’d asked for permission to leave a day early and made a special trip to Ancheng. Partly because he thought it wasn’t right to let a young girl travel to the island alone—he ought to observe proper etiquette. And partly because, deep down, he had a nagging urge to see Ning Qiao. Perhaps, once he met her, all his doubts would be cleared up.
The woman’s words carried a mocking edge.
Jiang Heng looked up, his tone cold: “And you are?”
One glance was enough to make Yu Cuiman swallow the sarcastic words on the tip of her tongue and avert her eyes.
This young soldier didn’t look easy to mess with.
At that moment, Chang Fangze finally felt confident enough to fight back.
She laughed aloud: “What subordinate? He’s—”
“Battalion Commander Jiang! Battalion Commander Jiang, are you there?”
A young man came running over, peering through the doorway of the Ning family’s entrance.
He’d just come from the supply cooperative, carrying four boxes of gifts. Four symbolized the four seasons—completeness and good fortune—and was the highest standard of gift for visiting friends and family in those days.
All the aunties stared in shock. Even Yu Cuiman was dumbstruck.
So this man was actually the battalion commander himself. The one who’d just come running was his subordinate.
The young man said, “There are also other gifts you brought from the western city in the military vehicle—I’ll go get them right away.”
“You even came by car?” Chang Fangze asked in surprise.
“The leadership at the Ancheng Military Region are old acquaintances of Battalion Commander Jiang’s. When they heard he’d arrived, they insisted on sending comrades to pick him up,” the young man said with a smile.
Yu Cuiman’s back grew even stiffer.
What kind of big shot was this? Just here to visit his future in-laws, and he’d already gotten the local military region leadership to send a car specially for him…
The quick-witted young man continued, “Hello, Auntie. I’m the orderly for our regiment—just call me Xiao Liang.”
Jiang Heng took the four boxes of gifts and set them on the table, saying to Chang Fangze, “I apologize, Auntie. This visit was rather rushed.”
“You didn’t have to bring anything!” Chang Fangze was beaming from ear to ear. Her family lacked for nothing, but the fact that her future son-in-law had gone out of his way and observed all the proper formalities—that carried a different meaning altogether.
The aunties stared unblinkingly at this dignified Battalion Commander Jiang.
So what Old Zhou’s wife had said a couple of days ago was actually true? He’d brought four boxes of gifts, and they’d heard there was more in the car—he was quite generous.
“This is Qiaoqiao’s match, isn’t it?” someone said. “What a promising young man! Battalion Commander Jiang, how old are you?”
This one was much more polite.
Out of courtesy, Jiang Heng said, “Twenty-four.”
Not at all the old, unmarried bachelor Yu Cuiman had made him out to be!
And just looking at Battalion Commander Jiang’s fine appearance—though Ning Qiao wasn’t standing beside him yet, just imagining it was enough to see they’d make a perfect pair.
No wonder the Ning family hadn’t been interested in the factory director’s son. Was there even any comparison?
Xiao Liang was the cleverest soldier in the regiment. Once he started talking, he couldn’t stop—he said this time he’d come along with Battalion Commander Jiang on a mission, and that Jiang had gotten off the train early in Ancheng specifically to visit his elders.
Chang Fangze couldn’t have been more pleased. Watching Yu Cuiman’s face turn white then red, she felt deeply satisfied.
Looking again at her future son-in-law—he was exceptionally steady, not much of a talker, but whenever his elders spoke to him, he was humble and polite.
Chang Fangze was utterly delighted. She brought out tea and snacks, urging Jiang Heng to eat and drink.
By now, the aunties had come to their senses and knew the family had private matters to discuss, so they didn’t linger.
But as they walked out, the chatter didn’t stop.
“He’s so busy, yet he still made time to come—Battalion Commander Jiang really cares about this marriage.”
“The Nings really do love their daughter. Where on earth did they find such a good match?”
They also wanted to say that the factory director’s wife had bragged about her son being someone the Ning girl couldn’t find even with a lantern—what nerve. But they didn’t dare say it aloud—what if the petty-minded Yu Cuiman held a grudge? So they could only laugh to themselves.
Yu Cuiman followed behind, her face ashen.
Her chest felt tight, a stifled resentment with no outlet.
“Wait.” Chang Fangze called out lightly. “You haven’t apologized to me yet, have you?”
Yu Cuiman’s face flushed bright red in an instant.
Chang Fangze walked to the door, gave her a shove from behind, and slammed the door shut in her face.
Yu Cuiman had never been so humiliated. Her pride was dragging on the ground. Flushing with anger and shame, she quickened her pace.
The other aunties didn’t dare truly offend the factory director’s wife. They snickered behind her back but felt a bit awkward too—after all, they’d also been part of the gossip earlier.
With the crowd gone, the house was much quieter.
Chang Fangze stared at Jiang Heng with a warm, affectionate smile.
Jiang Heng drank cup after cup of tea. Each time he finished, his future mother-in-law immediately refilled it with swift efficiency.
He had no choice but to say directly, “Auntie, is Ning Qiao here?”
Chang Fangze slapped her thigh.
What was she thinking! Her daughter and Jiang Heng hadn’t even met yet, and she’d been keeping him here drinking tea all this time!
“Qiaoqiao is at the tea house with her sister-in-law. Go find her.” Chang Fangze stood up. “I’ll take you there, and I’ll pick up some groceries on the way to make you a nice dinner.”
Chang Fangze grabbed her coin purse and escorted Jiang Heng out.
Xiao Liang followed closely, eager to see what Battalion Commander Jiang’s wife looked like.
But just as they reached the door, Jiang Heng said, “Xiao Liang, go get the supplements from the car and take them to the Ning house. Then tell the military region comrades they can head back—no need to wait.”
Xiao Liang: ?
“Thanks for your hard work,” Jiang Heng said.
“N-no trouble at all…”
Xiao Liang clenched his fists.
Now he wouldn’t get to see Battalion Commander Jiang’s new bride!
Chang Fangze led Jiang Heng out through the compound.
There weren’t many people around at this hour—the children not yet old enough for school had been called inside for their afternoon naps. Occasionally, someone out for a stroll would spot Jiang Heng and couldn’t help but take a few extra looks, asking what was going on.
Chang Fangze announced openly: “This is my daughter’s fiancé.”
Standing beside Chang Fangze, Jiang Heng gave a slight nod in response to the curious gazes.
The neighbors offered kind smiles and lavish praise. Chang Fangze accepted it all with a beaming face.
After leaving the compound and turning left, then passing through one more alley, they reached the tea house where Ning Qiao was.
Seeing that Chang Fangze was in a hurry to buy groceries, Jiang Heng said he’d find his own way.
Chang Fangze had a lot to do next—besides shopping and cooking, she also wanted to stop by her husband’s workplace to share the good news.
“Alright, go on your own then,” Chang Fangze said. “If you can’t find it, just ask someone.”
After giving her instructions, Chang Fangze turned toward the market, her steps light and her energy high.
Jiang Heng wasn’t familiar with Ancheng—he’d only visited a few times as a child.
The streets had all changed since then. Following the route Chang Fangze had described, he made his way through the alleys.
His engagement to Ning Qiao had been arranged since childhood. This time, Jiang Heng had wanted to decline, but his grandfather said she was too frail to be sent to the countryside.
As for whether to marry, and whom to marry—Jiang Heng’s mind hadn’t really been on it. This betrothal was his grandfather’s obsession, and his late father’s wish. So he accepted it.
Everything had happened so fast. It was only now, having arrived in Ancheng and about to meet his fiancée, that Jiang Heng realized—it had been barely three days.
Finally, he began to consider what was between them.
Would they get along?
And also—would he even be able to recognize Ning Qiao?
At the same time, Ning Qiao’s mouth was stuffed full of the tea house’s specialty sour jujube cakes. But her eyes were red-rimmed.
Her sister-in-law’s words echoed in her ears.
“Qiaoqiao, even after you’re married, this will always be your home.”
“Don’t just write to us with good news and hide the bad. Mom and Dad are marrying you off so far away because they don’t want you to suffer. If things aren’t good over there, write and tell us. Your brother and sister-in-law will come with Mom and Dad to bring you home.”
“Don’t be foolish either. If someone bullies you, stand your ground. Mom and Dad and your brother and sister-in-law are far away…”
Ning Qiao listened silently.
From now on, there would be no more family to shield her from the storms.
In front of her parents, she hadn’t cried. But now, she could no longer hold back the sting in her nose.
The corners of her mouth curved downward. When she looked up, her eyes were misty. With a single blink, tears were about to fall.
“Don’t cry—if you cry, I’ll start crying too.”
“Where’s my handkerchief? Oh goodness…”
Jiao Chunyu fumbled through her pockets in a panic.
Suddenly, steady footsteps approached.
Following her sister-in-law’s gaze, Ning Qiao sniffled and turned her tearful face toward the newcomer.
Ning Qiao wore a blue plaid skirt with a soft knitted sweater over it. Her jet-black hair was braided into two pigtails resting on her slender shoulders. Her oval face was framed by a pair of watery almond eyes, still glistening with tears, and her long lashes, like little fans, were wet with moisture.
She was a delicate, pretty young thing—but her tears were falling softly.
The crystal drops rolled down her cheeks.
A loud buzz went off in Jiang Heng’s head.
Fragments of memories flashed through his mind—scattered and disjointed.
It seemed he had seen Ning Qiao crying before. A quiet voice in his heart whispered that he couldn’t bear to see her cry.
Fate. Past lives.
These two words surfaced in his mind. Jiang Heng, who had always rejected feudal superstition, for the first time began to doubt himself.
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