His positive expectations are also why he hasn't found it too boring to stay here these days.

During a break in the performing arts troupe, a few young girls huddled together and started gossiping.

"Hey, has anyone noticed lately that our Comrade Li Xue is acting differently than before?"

"What's different? You're still the same as before, with the same temperament and the same weight. There's nothing different about you."

"Some people say she's fallen for Battalion Commander Xue. These days, she always sits opposite him in the canteen and keeps staring at him. She's secretly in love with him."

"Which Battalion Commander Xue? It can't be that most famous combat hero in our military region, can it?"

"You're right."

"Oh dear, you mean Xue'er has taken a liking to him?"

"If it were you, would you not like it?"

The girl smiled shyly: "I like him, but he doesn't like me. I guess he has high standards, otherwise, with such good qualities, he wouldn't have remained single for so long."

"He has high standards and can't resist those with better conditions. Who in our military region is better than Xue'er? She's beautiful, talented, and her father is a division commander in the military region. Don't you think she's a good match for Battalion Commander Xue?"

The other girls looked at each other in bewilderment.

Whether they are a good match or not is not up to us to decide. If they really like each other, then they are a good match.

Actually, several of these girls were jealous of Li Xue. They had also heard the rumors that Xue Yanchen was not interested in women, and they all hoped that Li Xue would fail to catch up with Xue Yanchen and lose face.

"Hey, let's just wait and see when they get together, and then we'll be waiting to eat their wedding candy."

"They are both prominent figures in our military region. We should ask them for some treats later."

As soon as Li Xue arrived, she heard the girls talking about wanting candy.

"What kind of candy do you want? Give me some too," Li Xue joked.

"Xue'er, we've all been saying we want to eat your wedding candy."

"My wedding candy? What wedding candy?"

"Oh, Xue'er, don't deny it. We already know about you and Battalion Commander Xue. Once you two get together, you have to give us some treats!"

Li Xue paused for a moment, realizing that Xue Yanchen, that blockhead, was really hard to win over.

"Who told you that we have anything going on between us?"

"Xue'er, don't deny it. You are talented and beautiful, and Battalion Commander Xue is not only handsome but also highly capable. There is no better match for you two in our military region. You two are a perfect match, a match made in heaven."

Li Xue was an extremely confident person to begin with, and after being praised by her best friend, she became even more certain that she could catch up with Xue Yanchen.

He's just a piece of wood, even if he's a stone, she'll still warm him up.

Driven by vanity, she deliberately asked her girlfriends, "Do you guys think the two of us are definitely going to get together?"

"That's for sure. Once Xue'er takes action, you'll definitely take down Battalion Commander Xue."

Li Xue smiled and said, "Okay, once we're married, I'll definitely ask Battalion Commander Xue to buy you wedding candy as soon as possible."

The girls immediately cheered, making Li Xue appear even more like the center of attention.

But how much of it is genuine remains to be seen.

In the Victory Brigade, Luo Jingyan had already finished making her wedding dress and Xue Yanchen's groom's attire, but she didn't have any buttons in her spatial storage, so she had to go to the county town to buy some.

"Grandma, let's go to the county town to buy some buttons, and we can also consider it a trip."

“Okay.” Grandma Xue hadn’t been to the county town since she came here. “I’ll go see my in-laws while I’m here. Hmm, I haven’t seen Grandma Qin in a long time either. Oh, I should call her Grandma Qin now. Otherwise, if you both call her Grandma, it will be hard to tell the difference.”

"Let's go."

Luo Changtian, finding the weather too cold, stayed in the cowshed, while Luo Jingyan and Old Mrs. Xue went to the county town together.

Despite the cold weather, quite a few people are still taking oxcarts to the county town.

When they arrived, the oxcart was almost full of people, men, women, and children.

Fortunately, there are still places for them.

Luo Jingyan carried a basket on her back, with two cotton pads inside, one for Grandma Xue and one for herself, so they wouldn't get cold while riding in the car, and she could put them back in the basket after getting off.

Just as Luo Jingyan was wondering why so many people were going to the county town today, she got the answer: it turned out that the Lantern Festival was in two days, and everyone was going to the county town to buy New Year's goods.

Upon arriving in the county town, Luo Jingyan and Grandma Xue first went to the Qin family home and met with Grandma Qin. Qin Zhenzhen was also at home.

Grandma Qin had already learned from Qin Zhenzhen that Luo Jingyan and Xue Yanchen were getting married this year, so she asked Luo Jingyan, "Have you heard anything from the military yet?"

Qin Zhenzhen and Old Mrs. Qin listened intently.

“He’s here,” Luo Jingyan said. “Yanchen said he’ll be back in two or three days, and he won’t go back home. We’ll get our marriage certificate when he gets back.”

Qin Zhenzhen felt a pang of regret. She had been hoping that after marrying Zhao Jun, she and Luo Jingyan could go to the military compound together and keep each other company. But since Luo Jingyan couldn't go, she didn't plan to go either.

Grandma Qin responded with an "oh," without showing any obvious change in her emotions. Although this was not the outcome they had hoped for, it was still a joyous occasion that her grandson and granddaughter-in-law were finally getting married.

She smiled and said, "Jingyan, Grandma congratulates you in advance."

"Thank you, Grandma."

"Grandma is so happy to see you get married in a few days. It's been a long time since our family has had such a joyous occasion. We must make sure to have a big celebration."

"Uh-huh."

Grandma Xue smiled and said, "My dear in-law, let's have a drink together in private sometime."

Grandma Qin immediately waved her hand: "No, no, I don't have your physique or your alcohol tolerance, I can't drink that much."

Luo Jingyan and Old Mrs. Xue left the Qin family and then went to the supply and marketing cooperative.

After buying buttons at the supply and marketing cooperative, Grandma Xue also helped Luo Jingyan choose shoes for her wedding and two pairs of red socks.

The day after tomorrow is the Lantern Festival, and of course we have to eat glutinous rice balls. The supply and marketing cooperative has freshly made glutinous rice balls, which won't spoil even after a few days in this season.

Luo Jingyan wanted to make it herself, so she bought glutinous rice flour, peanuts, black sesame seeds, and other ingredients. She also bought some pork and tofu to use when she got home.

"Grandma, let me take you for a stroll around some more."

“Okay, Grandma likes to wander around.”

There wasn't much to do in the county town at that time. After wandering around for a while, I got bored and went back to the place where I had gotten off the bus to find the oxcart.