For the Ning family, this period had been agonizing. Every morning when they opened their eyes, their first thought was worrying about Ning Qiao’s future. But in reality, only a few short days had passed.
In fact, it hadn’t even been ten days.
Now that Ning Qiao was truly about to leave, her parents and older brother and sister-in-law all had a sleepless night. At the crack of dawn, they got up to prepare.
To get to Qingping in Xicheng, she would first take a train and then a boat. Ning Yang had bought the tickets in advance. With the luggage packed, he went to the Ning residence to pick up his father and younger sister.
The letter of introduction had already been obtained from the subdistrict office. He checked everything one last time and had just arrived at the compound when a heaviness settled in his chest.
At the front door, he took a deep breath, telling himself to stay composed.
His sister’s marriage was a happy occasion—he couldn’t wear a gloomy face.
The residents of the compound also knew that today was a big day for the Ning family.
Yu Cuiman and Lin Guangmin had gotten up early to go to work, both doing their best to look neat and presentable. After losing face yesterday, they at least had to put on an air of nonchalance now, or else they’d invite more ridicule.
She’d been upset all night, and even now, Yu Cuiman still blamed herself for losing her composure and offering up her dignity for Chang Fangze to slap. Before, people hadn’t really thought much of the match the Nings had found for Ning Qiao, but her aggressive tone had only made everyone praise him endlessly.
Feng Jingyun, Old Zhou’s wife, had no particular issue with the factory director’s wife, but she certainly had things to say about the matchmaking that Sister Zhao had done.
Seeing the Nings’ door wide open and luggage being carried out box by box, she sighed, “Now that’s a proper wedding—all the dowry is ready.”
Yu Cuiman hadn’t planned to linger, but she couldn’t help stopping. “The dowry is ready, but what about the betrothal gifts?”
Feng Jingyun was taken aback. As Yu Cuiman walked past, she said with a smile, “I wouldn’t know about that. But the Nings’ son-in-law made a special trip here before his mission—it’s clear he takes this marriage very seriously.”
“He’s busy. Aren’t his parents and elders helping with the wedding arrangements?” Yu Cuiman curled her lip. “If that Ning girl goes to the military compound by herself, won’t others look down on her?”
The others, reminded by her words, also started to think about that.
But just as they were whispering among themselves, Ning Zhiping and Chang Fangze came out of the house.
Their gazes followed their figures toward the compound entrance.
“Uncle Jiang!” The couple hurried to the gate to welcome an old comrade.
The old man was impeccably dressed, his hair completely white, but he was full of vigor.
He laughed heartily and gave Ning Zhiping a firm pat on the shoulder.
Behind him followed a young man in military uniform.
Ning Zhiping hadn’t seen Old Master Jiang for years and was overjoyed, which helped ease the sadness of his daughter’s marriage to a distant place.
After so many years apart, exchanging pleasantries was inevitable. As Old Master Jiang set foot on this land again, his eyes grew slightly red.
More than a decade ago, he had come here with his son, daughter-in-law, and eldest grandson.
But now, he was the only one left.
Ning Zhiping and Chang Fangze supported Old Master Jiang by the arms and helped him into the house.
The young soldier in uniform followed closely behind, carrying things and lending a hand.
Everyone stared intently at the boxes of gifts he had brought, their expressions full of curiosity.
“Could this be the elder from Ning Qiao’s fiancé’s family?”
“He’s here to formally propose, isn’t he?”
Yu Cuiman couldn’t be bothered to watch any longer. She tugged at her son, urging him to hurry off to work. “Stop hanging around here. Work is more important.”
She paused, then added in a sharp tone, “Your father has high hopes for this job. Don’t let him down.”
She deliberately emphasized their family background.
As the son of the factory director, Lin Guangmin had been born with an advantage over many. And that military officer—his personal qualifications were decent enough, but his family background fell short. All that showed up to propose was just an old man.
In the end, it was Ning Qiao who had missed out.
But before she could get any agreement from the other compound residents, the young soldier’s voice came from behind.
“Old Chief, please slow down.”
“You’re walking so fast I can barely keep up—how am I supposed to explain this to the leadership…”
Old Master Jiang stopped and frowned in displeasure. “I’m not some decrepit old man. I’m just visiting my hometown—do I need special treatment?”
Ning Zhiping burst out laughing and, together with Chang Fangze, gently coaxed the old man along.
The old general had spent his life on the battlefield, carried himself with dignity for most of his years, and raised four grandchildren single-handedly, never once admitting to his age. After he retired, his eldest grandson had invited him to live on the island, but he was reluctant to leave the place he was accustomed to. So Jiang Heng, using the excuse that the younger siblings needed discipline, applied to his superiors to have them moved there, planning to gradually coax his grandfather along. Eventually, though, the first retired cadres’ sanatorium in the capital was established—fully equipped with everything and staffed with dedicated caretakers—which finally put an end to Jiang Heng’s plans.
The kids at home were mischievous and loved to cause trouble, and they feared only their eldest brother. Old Master Jiang was also worried that he might hold them back, so he had no choice but to let them follow their eldest brother to the island. That said, it was truly a special consideration from the organization that even the siblings of military personnel could accompany them.
Throughout his life, the old man had always maintained an imposing presence to the outside world, keeping his hardships to himself. His only concern now was whether he’d live to see his grandson’s wife serve him tea.
He had made this trip specifically to pick up his grandson’s wife and escort her to the island in Xicheng.
If his grandfather personally delivered her to the island, who would dare to bully his grandson’s wife? He’d be the first to object!
“Where’s my grandson’s wife?” Old Master Jiang asked.
As soon as he spoke, his pace quickened.
The young soldier behind him hurried to catch up again. “Old Chief! Old Chief!”
“Stop calling me that,” Old Master Jiang said. “I’ve been retired for years.”
His tone was stern and brooked no argument.
Then he turned his head and saw a petite figure peek out from inside the house.
The old man had mentioned in a telegram that he would make a trip to Ancheng. Ning Zhiping had been worried about him traveling such a distance, but couldn’t talk him out of it, and had muttered about it at home several times.
So Ning Qiao had known all along that Jiang Heng’s grandfather would come.
But seeing the old man in person still made her a little nervous.
After decades as a soldier, the old general had an imposing face.
Ning Qiao met his gaze, cautious.
Almost instantly, Old Master Jiang’s expression softened into a warm, kindly smile.
The granddaughter-in-law he had chosen—he liked her from the bottom of his heart!
Ning Qiao was startled for a moment, then the corners of her mouth curved into a beautiful smile as she sweetly addressed him, “Hello, Grandpa.”
“Good, good!” Old Master Jiang’s voice boomed, full of vigor.
The workers and families in the compound watched with keen curiosity.
Lin Guangmin stared wistfully in Ning Qiao’s direction, unable to move his feet.
“Hurry up and go!” Yu Cuiman’s expression was stiff as she yanked hard on her son’s arm.
Mother and son almost fled the compound.
Lin Guangmin’s emotions were in turmoil; only now did he realize that he couldn’t compare to Ning Qiao’s fiancé.
It was also at this moment that everyone else understood—the young man accompanying the old man wasn’t necessarily Jiang Heng’s subordinate.
Perhaps he had been assigned by the organization.
Ning Qiao’s betrothed was someone who kept his depth hidden; the elder in his family turned out to be a retired military cadre of distinguished status, who traveled with dedicated escorts—far beyond what a mere factory director could match.
And the fact that he had made a special trip at such an advanced age to formally propose thoroughly overturned all of Yu Cuiman’s sour remarks.
This time, as glorious as the Ning family was, the Lins were just as humiliated.
Yu Cuiman and Lin Guangmin’s faces burned.
For a long time to come, they would be unable to hold their heads high in the compound.
The Nings’ door closed again.
Outside, everyone in the compound speculated that the betrothal gifts from Ning Qiao’s fiancé’s elder must have been generous.
But the Ning family kept a low profile and had no interest in showing off.
So even as they saw Ning Qiao off from the compound and on the way to the train station, the workers and their families could glean nothing.
They could only guess higher and higher, the speculation growing more and more outrageous.
On the way to the train station, Chang Fangze’s nose began to sting with tears.
Old Master Jiang understood the feelings of his future granddaughter-in-law’s family. Watching Ning Qiao embrace her mother and sister-in-law tightly, he too was filled with emotion.
The train on the tracks let out a rumbling roar. Ning Qiao boarded and sat by the window.
The young girl’s eyes were brimming with tears as she leaned out and waved goodbye to her mother and sister-in-law.
This farewell—who knew when they would see each other again?
Meanwhile, in the northern city—
Memories resurfaced.
Jiang Heng remembered everything from his previous life.
In that life, her face pale, she had stopped breathing, cradled tightly in his arms.
He had lost her—that suffocating, deathly feeling of near-drowning was still vivid before his eyes.
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