Chang Fangze and Ning Zhiping personally escorted Jiang Heng to the entrance of the compound.
Ning Qiao followed along.
Under the bright moonlight, she looked petite and delicate, her clear eyes gazing up at him.
Xiao Liang whispered quietly, “Battalion Commander Jiang, don’t just stand there staring—say something!”
Jiang Heng awkwardly pulled his gaze away from Ning Qiao. “You talk too much.”
Xiao Liang noticed that Battalion Commander Jiang wasn’t as aloof as he had been on the island, so he grew bolder, grinning as he looked between the two of them.
The compound was at its liveliest after dinner.
Quite a few people were strolling in the yard, and as they passed by the young couple, they couldn’t help but beam with approving, auntie-like smiles.
What a well-matched pair.
Ning Qiao waited for a long time, but Chang Fangze was still chattering away to Jiang Heng, telling him to stay safe during his missions and such.
Ning Zhiping laughed. “Not every mission means going into battle. This time, Jiang Heng is heading off for pre-combat training.”
A gentle breeze blew, lifting her hair. Ning Qiao tucked a strand behind her ear and, without meaning to, met his gaze again.
Her hand was still raised by her ear—putting it down felt awkward, but leaving it there was even more so.
So she simply gave a little wave and said goodbye to him.
Her parents: …
Their daughter’s gesture seemed like she was shooing him away.
With the mood broken, Jiang Heng cleared his throat. “Then I’ll be going now.”
The people in the compound watched the silhouette of Ning Qiao’s fiancé from afar.
Even the children stopped playing, their attention completely captured by the military vehicle parked outside the compound gates. They watched enviously as he swung his long legs up into the passenger seat.
So impressive—they wanted to touch the wheels again!
Chang Fangze and Ning Zhiping watched the military vehicle drive off.
Jiang Heng looked out the window, toward where Ning Qiao stood.
Her figure grew smaller and smaller, but her gaze never wavered, always following him.
This scene was achingly familiar—as if, once upon a time, every time he left for a mission, she had seen him off just like this from the military compound in Qing’an.
Goodbye after goodbye.
Reunion after reunion.
The memories became vivid, and Jiang Heng’s heart pounded fiercely.
He suddenly leaned out the window, his hand gripping the frame, veins standing out on the back of his hand.
“Battalion Commander Jiang—”
“Battalion Commander Jiang!”
Since they had never met Jiang Heng in person before—only knowing him from an early meeting years ago and from news passed along by Old Master Jiang—Ning Zhiping and Chang Fangze had been quietly uneasy, though they hadn’t shown it in front of their daughter.
But now, having seen him in person and spoken with him face to face, the lingering anxiety finally settled.
Chang Fangze tucked her arm into her husband’s and turned to walk back.
In this compound, there weren’t many couples their age who were still so openly affectionate. But they had always been devoted to each other, unbothered by what others might think. After decades of marital bliss, even the old gatekeeper at the compound entrance had long since stopped being surprised.
With the heavy burden lifted, the couple chatted about Jiang Heng.
“That boy doesn’t say much, but he’s sincere. I hadn’t even mustered the courage to ask how much his allowance was, but he told me everything outright.” Chang Fangze smiled. “He must have been worried I’d have concerns—he laid out his stipend, subsidies, and the situation in the military compound clearly. He even said he’d hand over his bankbook to our Qiaoqiao and not keep it himself.”
“Really?” Ning Zhiping asked.
“I don’t know if it’s true, but so far, he seems quite earnest,” Chang Fangze said. “He wouldn’t be lying to me, would he?”
“No,” Ning Qiao said.
As soon as she spoke, both her parents turned to look at her.
They were beaming, and the meaning in their eyes was clear—they were amused that she was already speaking up for him after just one meeting.
But that was exactly how Ning Qiao felt.
She couldn’t quite explain why, but she had taken a liking to Jiang Heng at their first meeting. Her intuition told her he was an upright man who wouldn’t play games.
Ning Qiao’s cheeks flushed under her parents’ stares, and she muttered, “What are you laughing at?”
Their daughter was thin-skinned, so the couple stopped teasing her and continued their own conversation.
“The island is far, but the climate is good—never too cold year-round.”
“The military compound has a nice environment and good facilities. Qiaoqiao will have everything she needs close by, and when she’s resting at home, she can look out at the sea and enjoy the view.”
“Plus, the army has a mess hall, so Qiaoqiao won’t even have to learn to cook—she can have ready-made meals every day.”
“That’s much better than being sent to the countryside, exposed to sun and rain.”
There was another important reason the couple was so satisfied with Jiang Heng. A couple of days earlier, Old Master Jiang had repeatedly expressed his apologies—after all, with the wedding just around the corner, his grandson couldn’t make it to Ancheng, which was truly inexcusable.
Tasks assigned by the organization couldn’t be refused, nor should they be, and Ning Zhiping and Chang Fangze understood that. It was only a matter of days anyway; once Ning Qiao arrived in Xicheng and waited patiently, the two would eventually meet.
But perhaps because they hadn’t expected anything, Jiang Heng’s sudden appearance today—making time despite everything—felt like an even greater surprise, a sign that they were valued.
For a mere few hours of presence, he had upended all his prior arrangements—that sincerity was precious.
Even though the marriage was all but settled, the Jiang family had shown not a trace of negligence—a stark contrast to the arrogance of Factory Director Lin’s family.
Ning Zhiping grew even more certain that he had judged correctly.
Ning Qiao lagged behind, listening to her parents talk, and began picturing her own future, piece by piece.
Most of the odds and ends of her luggage were already packed. Following her mother’s advice, she went to check everything one more time.
Besides daily necessities, clothes, and books, Chang Fangze had also packed some medicine for her.
“You have a weak constitution—these are the medications you usually take. And here are the herbal prescriptions the doctor gave you last time. Once you get settled over there, learn to brew them yourself.” Chang Fangze explained the brewing method to Ning Qiao, and afraid she might forget, she specifically found paper and a pen to write it down.
Ning Qiao stopped her. “Mom, you’ve told me several times already. And I’ve watched you brew them so often that I’ve already learned.”
Her daughter’s voice was soft and sweet, a hint of coaxing in it.
Chang Fangze’s nose tingled with emotion, but she continued, “Alright, then I won’t write it down. You catch a cold easily whenever you get chilled, so make sure to keep warm over there. And if you really feel unwell, don’t tough it out—the military district has a hospital, so remember to go.”
Chang Fangze’s reminders covered every detail, as she racked her brain thinking if she had missed anything.
Ning Qiao reached out and hugged her mother tightly.
Her parents always said she would forever be their child, and no amount of doting was too much. But once she arrived at the island, she would no longer be a child.
She would have to learn to take care of herself and live well, so her family could rest assured.
Ning Qiao’s eyes reddened, her nose stinging as she childishly rubbed her cheek against her mother’s shoulder.
Chang Fangze couldn’t bear to imagine what it would be like when her daughter left. When she spoke again, her voice was choked with tears.
In the end, Chang Fangze decided not to accompany her daughter to the island. Her husband and son had already taken leave from their units, so she could rest easy. If she went along too and ended up crying her eyes out at the military district, how embarrassing would that be? And if others on the island saw her, would they make fun of her daughter?
That meant this was the last night she and her daughter would spend together.
“Mom,” Ning Qiao said softly. “Will you sleep with me tonight?”
Chang Fangze gently stroked her hair. “Alright.”
That night, mother and daughter had endless things to talk about.
The autumn night carried a slight chill, and the treetops outside the window creaked in the breeze.
Early tomorrow morning, Ning Qiao would be leaving for an unfamiliar place.
In the days before, her imagination of marriage had been vague and intangible—she couldn’t picture it at all.
But now that she had actually met Jiang Heng, her future little home seemed to be taking shape.
“Qiaoqiao, you’ve always been the younger sister. When the time comes and you become someone else’s sister-in-law, it might feel a bit strange at first.”
Old Master Jiang had said that Jiang Heng was perfect in every way except that he had a few younger siblings, and he worried the Ning family might mind. Chang Fangze, however, didn’t think it was an issue. The two younger brothers were already thirteen or fourteen, and the youngest sister was a bit younger but nearly ten.
They weren’t toddlers—they were school-aged and could manage their own basic needs. No big problem.
Ning Qiao knew about this and asked softly, “Are they well-behaved?”
“They should be sensible,” Chang Fangze said.
Meanwhile, at the military compound in Qing’an, the three little rascals had played themselves tired but still refused to sleep.
Usually, their eldest brother was the strictest—he’d make them sit at their desks to do homework, and once they finished, he’d shoo them straight to bed.
Now that their big brother wasn’t home, the monkeys were running the show. No matter how sleepy they were, they absolutely would not sleep!
Second brother Jiang Yuan and third brother Jiang Qi were play-fighting in the living room.
They mimicked their big brother’s moves—one moment locking each other’s necks, the next grappling each other’s arms, going at it fiercely with neither willing to back down.
The youngest, Jiang Guoguo, sat on the side clapping and cheering, a blade of grass she’d been chewing on all day still dangling from her mouth.
The trio’s laughter and shouts echoed through the entire house.
Until a knock came at the door.
The three of them paused for a moment, then pretended not to hear and carried on with their ruckus.
Director Bai’s voice came from outside.
“Xiao Yuan, you’re still up, aren’t you?”
“I have a letter for your family—the mailroom made a mistake and delivered it to my place by accident. I didn’t notice and opened it already, so you should come get it.”
The three siblings were completely uninterested.
“We’ll get it when Big Brother comes back!” Jiang Yuan shouted.
“Xiao Yuan, come open the door—there’s a photo of your sister-in-law inside. Don’t lose it.”
The three little terrors: ?
With a whoosh, Jiang Yuan ran to open the door.
His younger brother and sister scampered after him.
As soon as the door opened, Jiang Yuan took the letter.
“Don’t make so much noise either—everyone in the compound is asleep. You’re disturbing others with all that racket,” Director Bai said. Seeing that they clearly had no intention of listening, she added, “Otherwise, I’ll have to tell your big brother.”
The three siblings finally shut their mouths, dead silent.
After the door closed again, they kept their mouths tightly sealed.
Director Bai was a notorious tattletale—if their big brother found out, they’d be in for it!
“Second brother, what photo of our sister-in-law?” Jiang Qi asked.
The envelope had already been opened. Jiang Yuan pulled out a photograph.
In it was a girl.
An oval face, round eyes, and a faint upward curve at the corners of her mouth—even her smile was soft and gentle.
Jiang Guoguo stood on tiptoe. “Is Big Brother really getting married?”
“No way! He never told us!” the third brother said cluelessly.
“If Big Brother were getting married, would he tell us?” Jiang Guoguo tilted her head.
“No… he wouldn’t…”
The three stinky little brats fell into thought, feeling that something was off.
When was their big brother’s wife coming?
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