Chapter 15: Military Marriage 4
Upon hearing this, the Political Commissar could only say, "Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! Our 23rd Regiment will never allow a single spy to exist. If we find one, we'll investigate them!"
"Leader, you are wise. You will have to interact more with Captain Bai. We still don't know the full situation with Bai Moli. If Bai Moli was swapped, how could her biological father not discover it?"
The Political Commissar said, "Alright, don't worry about Captain Bai. I will apply to the higher-ups for more people to be transferred here."
...
Early the next morning, Xiao Nian took the breakfast he got from the cafeteria and jogged to the guesthouse. Ning Yan had just finished tidying up and was about to go out to call her family and tell them about the situation here.
"Why are you so early?"
Xiao Nian said with a serious face, "I just had some time, so I came to bring you food. Are you going out?"
He hadn't slept much all night, thinking of her, wanting to see her as soon as possible, and wanting to marry her quickly, so he came.
"Yes, I want to find a place to make a call. I need to tell my family about breaking off the engagement."
Xiao Nian said, "Then let's go to the office to make the call after breakfast."
Ning Yan smiled, "Then I'll trouble Company Commander Xiao."
Xiao Nian was a little dazed. His girlfriend was already beautiful when she didn't smile, and even more beautiful when she smiled.
"Are you stunned?"
Xiao Nian quickly averted his gaze, opened the lunchbox, and placed it in front of Ning Yan. "Just make do with this. I've already written the marriage application and gave it to the Political Commissar last night.
I also called my grandfather this morning. Once the army sends people to investigate your hometown, the application can be approved. Then I'll apply for housing so you can join the army. At that time, I'll cook for you. I'm quite good at cooking."
Ning Yan: ...No, I thought you were just talking, I didn't expect you to act so quickly!
It's really fast, but it's also good to be able to settle her lifelong matter while she's here in the army!
"That's perfect, I'm not very good at cooking."
Xiao Nian was so excited. Didn't this mean she agreed to marry him and join the army after marriage?
Don't think that joining the army is something everyone wants. Several wives in their compound stayed in Beijing, preferring to see their husbands only once or twice a year rather than come to the army to endure hardships.
"Hmm, from now on, I'll take care of the cooking at home."
Breakfast consisted of gruel, fried dough sticks, four steamed buns, a bowl of sweet potato porridge, and a side of pickles. Modern people might find it humble, but at the time, such a meal was truly excellent.
After breakfast, the two went to the army together. Xiao Nian ran to the Political Commissar's office to make a call and even chased the Political Commissar away.
The Political Commissar, locked outside the door, thought, 'That brat, he really doesn't care about anyone else's well-being just to get his girlfriend!'
Ning Yan made the call right on time. Every day at this time, her father, after assigning tasks, would be in the Captain's office handling matters. The phone rang only twice before it was answered.
"This is Ning Yan."
"This is your father."
Xiao Nian, listening nearby: ...He almost couldn't hold back his laughter.
"Dad, Zhou Hongjun got together with the daughter of a military leader. I caught them hugging and embracing, so I broke off the engagement with him."
Captain Ning immediately cursed, "Damn that Zhou Hongjun!
Isn't he just toying with my daughter?
He's ruined your reputation!
You two have been engaged for over a year, and our family has taken care of his family quite a bit. I'll have your mother go to their house to settle accounts later!"
"Dad, don't be angry. Anyway, I didn't like him that much. It's fine that we broke up.
I've found you another son-in-law here. He's from Beijing, six years older than me, handsome, has a higher position than Zhou Hongjun, and he's good to me and thoughtful. The army might do a home visit, so be mentally prepared."
Captain Ning was stunned. Was his daughter's action that fast?
"What about his family? Will people from Beijing look down on us country folk?"
Xiao Nian became anxious, wishing he could grab the phone and talk to his future father-in-law himself.
Ning Yan looked at his anxious expression and smiled, her eyes curving. "If they look down on us, then they look down on us. I'll just find another one then."
Xiao Nian couldn't hold back anymore and quickly assured from the side, "They won't look down on you, they won't. My mother told me to bring you home early. My grandfather made arrangements for the marriage application. My father has no say in our family, and even if he were allowed to speak, he'd only nod."
Captain Ning understood everything now. His future son-in-law was listening nearby. However, hearing the other party's conditions, he seemed to be a good match. It was a good thing for his daughter to find a good partner. As for Zhou Hongjun, he could go to hell.
"Alright, then you two get along well. When the young man has time, bring him over so your mother and I can see him. Alright, Dad has things to do, so I'll hang up now."
No matter how aloof Xiao Nian was, he couldn't remain calm. "Yanyan, just wait for me in my office. At noon, I'll accompany you to ask those two for the money.
I'm not busy these past few days. I'll ask the leader for leave and go home to see your parents first to settle the engagement. Do you think that's okay?"
Ning Yan: Is this speed a bit too fast? She didn't want to work in the fields, but she wasn't that desperate.
However, thinking that after marriage she could completely have a tall, long-legged, and obedient soldier, it seemed that being a little fast wasn't a big deal.
"You have to think carefully. I'm not good at production, I don't want to work, and I love spending money. It will be very hard for you to marry me."
Xiao Nian expressed, "Those are not problems at all."
After he finished speaking, he looked outside the door. Seeing that the person outside was gone, he leaned into Ning Yan's ear and whispered, "My family is rich, and I'm also rich. After we get married, all my salary will be yours. When I have time, I'll cook; when I don't, we'll eat at the cafeteria. I'll do the housework easily."
Ning Yan: ...Anyone who didn't know would think you hadn't married a wife in eight lifetimes, to agree to such demanding conditions?!
"I've noted what you said. Remember to do what you say."
Xiao Nian: "Yes, I'll do what I say."
Anyway, the household chores were just those: folding quilts, making beds, sweeping, and washing clothes. He did these chores even when he lived in the dormitory. It was just an extra share for his wife, and he would do it easily.
To him, it was no big deal at all.
When Ning Yan came, Zhou Hongjun naturally saw her. He was genuinely afraid that Ning Yan would blurt things out, so he specifically took half a day off that morning with Bai Moli to withdraw the money, and then gave the money to Ning Yan in front of Xiao Nian and Qu Muyang.
"Once you've received the money, we're even. You promised not to say anything, and I hope you can keep your word."
Ning Yan counted the money, confirmed the amount was correct, and nodded. "I won't say anything. I can't control others, after all, this isn't something only I know about.
But since I've taken your money, I can guarantee one thing: I won't ruin your reputation. As for the rest, you're on your own."
With the engagement broken off, she stayed at the guesthouse for two more days. Then, the marriage application was approved. Xiao Nian directly took half a month off, and he and Ning Yan got their marriage certificate, then returned to his hometown for a wedding banquet. Afterwards, his application to have her join the army was also approved, and after discussing it with Ning Yan, they chose a courtyard house.