Chapter 3

"Xu Zhao, you're back. I heard that the mission was accomplished well this time. You're likely to get a promotion. You've already gotten ahead of me. Are you going to give us a chance to survive?"

Zhang Xiangqian lightly hit Xu Zhao's right shoulder, but he didn't dare to use too much force because he knew he was still injured. He was really envious and admired him sincerely.

Xu Zhao is very capable in the army, and he works very hard to carry out missions. There is no leader who doesn't like such talents. He is brave and resourceful, and he is a top student who graduated from a regular military academy. As long as he is given some more time, his future achievements will definitely not be low.

Xu Zhao slightly turned sideways and accepted Zhang Xiangqian's praise without any guilt: "Don't take the opportunity to retaliate while you are injured. The Yangtze River's back waves push the front waves, and the front waves die on the beach. I am still young, and if you, the front wave, don't work harder, you will inevitably be beaten to death on the beach."

Zhang Xiangqian's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help rolling his eyes. "If you don't know how to talk, just say less. It gives me a headache. No wonder you're still alone in your twenties. You're as hard as a rock. What girl would be attracted to you? Hey, don't blame me for not reminding you. The political commissar gave you the final order. You must get your life event done this year, otherwise you'll be in trouble."

He looked like he was enjoying the show.

The day before yesterday, he passed by the political commissar's office and happened to hear the political commissar and the chief of staff mentioning Xu Zhao's marriage, saying that they could no longer let Xu Zhao do whatever he wanted, otherwise it would be delayed until who knows how long.

"Let me tell you, the older a man gets, the more girls will dislike him. They'll say you have nothing in common and that you're not romantic enough and can't say nice things. Anyway, listen to my advice. While you're still young and handsome, find a girl and marry her. Otherwise, my kids will be old enough to play with soy sauce, and your date will still be reading novels. It will be awkward then."

Xu Zhao frowned: "The political commissar is just worrying about nothing. I am living a good life on my own. I have food and clothes in the army. He should spend his free time thinking about serious matters and thinking about how to improve the combat effectiveness of the team."

There are so many single people in the army, why does the political commissar just focus on him and mess around? Thinking of the political commissar's nagging, Xu Zhao felt a headache.

"When you have a wife and children, you will know what it feels like. I think you are a typical example of someone who has not yet gotten the hang of things. It is true that the emperor is not anxious, but the eunuchs are. Even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about the other bachelors in the army. A full man does not know the hunger of a hungry man."

Zhang Xiangqian shook his head, thinking that Xu Zhao would get slapped in the face one day, so he just had to wait and see.

Xu Zhao glanced at Zhang Xiangqian indifferently. What was the necessary connection between him not looking for a partner and other people in the army?

"Ah, I can see that you are hopeless. Every time the female soldiers from the art troupe come to perform, your face attracts so many girls because you are a shining pearl in the front. The others are just like dogtails. The girls only see you and can't see those people."

Zhang Xiangqian spoke with resentment, secretly complaining in his heart.

The guy in front of him, apart from having a good-looking face, had a cold expression every day and never smiled at girls. He couldn't understand why those girls only fell in love with Xu Zhao.

Is appearance so important that we don’t even look at the inner qualities?

I heard that a battalion commander of the neighboring regiment took a fancy to a female doctor who came here some time ago. Unfortunately, the female doctor fell in love with Xu Zhao. The battalion commander tried to show his support in various ways, but the female doctor didn't waver at all. It seemed that she was wholeheartedly devoted to Xu Zhao. She gave Xu Zhao all kinds of hints and took good care of him, but this guy was totally unmoved and was eager to be discharged from the hospital before his injuries were fully healed.

I don't know what the female doctor felt. How pitiful! Such a good girl, how could she be so stupid and fall in love with such an unromantic guy.

Seeing Zhang Xiangqian stroking his chin in a daze, Xu Zhao walked past him and planned to go back to the dormitory.

Seeing that the person was about to walk away, Zhang Xiangqian hurriedly called Xu Zhao: "Oh, by the way, wait a minute, there are two envelopes for you. They arrived two months ago. One was sent from the capital, and the other was addressed to Mingjiang City. I brought them back to you on the way and put them on your desk."

Xu Zhao first read the letter from home. His father mentioned in the letter that he had arranged a marriage for him and that time was running out, so he was asked to rush to Mingjiang City to pick her up as soon as possible. He also specifically reminded him to be nicer and not to have a cold face, because if he scared away his future daughter-in-law, he would be in trouble when he got home.

He frowned subconsciously, thinking that his father was unreliable for forcing two strangers together. He had never even seen what the girl from the Jiang family looked like, and felt a sense of absurdity as if he had been betrayed by his old father.

He opened another letter. The sender's name was written on the envelope. It was Jiang Guoxin. The name felt familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before, but he couldn't remember it for the moment.

A thin piece of paper fell out from inside, with some scribbled words on it.

Xu Zhao read very quickly, frowning as he read.

Zhang Xiangqian was curious and couldn't help but move closer, stretching his neck to take a peek at what was written in the letter, but Xu Zhao dodged it quickly. He folded the letter again and put it in his pocket, then hurried upstairs.

Still so vigilant!

"Stingy!" Zhang Xiangqian muttered.

He remembered that Xu Zhao's home was in the capital, not in Mingjiang City. He reached out to call him and ask him if something happened. The expression of the usually calm and composed man changed.

I barely cleaned up the house. There was only one bed in the house, and there was a hole in it.

Jiang Suihan looked at the hole and felt very sad.

Finally, Jiang Leyun found a piece of wood from somewhere and put it on top of the big hole. It just covered the hole, but it was low on both sides and bulged in the middle. It prevented you from falling into the hole while sleeping, but it was very uncomfortable to sleep on it.

But the conditions are harsh now, so this is the only way. At least I can lie on it and not get stuck.

There are three sprouted sweet potatoes left at home, and there is nothing else to eat.

The brother and sister looked at each other, and gurgling sounds one after another rang out in the empty house.

Jiang Leyun stared at the three sweet potatoes on the ground, frowning, and worried about tomorrow.

After tonight's meal, the family will run out of food, and his sister is injured. With his weak arms and legs, no one wants to hire him if he goes out to find a job.

As the only male in the family, Jiang Leyun has a strong sense of being the head of the family and wants to do his part for the family. However, he is young and can't think of a way to resolve his predicament.

Jiang Suihan ruffled her brother's hair and said, "Stop frowning. You're almost an old man. Don't worry. I'll find a way."

Although she was also worried about the family's livelihood, she was an adult and had to take care of the family. She couldn't let a seven-year-old child worry about it.

Jiang Leyun asked eagerly: "What method?"

When asked about the point, Jiang Huihan hesitated and said seriously: "Well, I haven't thought of it yet. It will take some time, but I will think of it eventually."

Jiang Leyun pursed her lips and looked at her sister who looked a little guilty. She didn't quite believe what she said, but she didn't want to refute her either. She put on a stern face and nodded with a lost expression to show that she understood.

Since she couldn't wash her hair due to the wound on her head, Jiang Suhan had to take a simple shower. She was tired after being busy for a long day, but she couldn't sleep because of the headache. In addition, the quilt had a strange smell and was dirty.

She has a mild obsession with cleanliness and can't stand a dirty bed, but the situation doesn't allow it and she has to endure it.

The weather was hot and she felt sticky. Jiang Huihan couldn't sleep and her mind was in a mess.

She touched the white jade around her neck and couldn't help wondering whether her friend's son would come. The letter was sent at the end of May. Now it is August, more than two months have passed, and there has been no news.

She guessed that either the letter was lost on the way to be sent, or the person received the letter but did not reply. He should have given face to the two families and did not refuse in person.

She might have done the same if she were in his shoes. Who would want to marry a stranger?

The current situation of the Jiang family is like a mud pit. It is no exaggeration to say that it is extremely bad. It is difficult to stay out of trouble if you jump in. You may even be dragged deeper and deeper. People tend to seek benefits and avoid harm. You can't blame others for not coming.

The moon was very round tonight, and the white moonlight shone in through the small window. Jiang Suihan held the jade pendant in her hand and stared at it intently. The white jade looked crystal clear and watery. Apart from that, she couldn't see any other special features of it.

After thinking about it, she quietly got up from the bed, accidentally knocking over a small wooden stool under her feet. She turned her head to look at the bed, and Jiang Leyun showed no sign of waking up.

The little guy was tired after running around all day and his emotions were very up and down. He was exhausted and fell asleep as soon as he went to bed at night.

She took out the only knife in the house, which had a cut in the middle. Jiang Suihan held the knife in her right hand, pointing it at herself and her left index finger, preparing to cut it.

However, she was so tired of raising her hands that she still couldn't do it to herself.

You’re not cruel enough!

I gritted my teeth, hardened my heart, closed my eyes, and scratched my index finger. When I opened my eyes, I found that I didn't use enough force. There was only a shallow wound on my finger, and there was no bleeding.

Jiang Huihan took a deep breath and tried again.

The pain almost made her scream out, but she bit her lower lip to hold it back. Finally, blood came out the second time. She quickly put down the knife, pinched her left index finger, and squeezed the blood onto the jade pendant.

A minute passed and the jade pendant did not change. Five minutes passed and there was still no change. Half an hour passed and her eyes were almost cross-eyed, but there was still no change.

It was all a lie. She was indeed not destined to be the protagonist.

Jiang Suihan looked at the wound on her finger, feeling like crying but unable to shed tears. She had really lost both the wife and the army.