"If you refuse, your military career might end before it even begins. So for your own happiness, brother, you should hurry up and settle down on your marriage!"

Ke Meiyu's words made Ke Yuanda tremble.

"What the heck? This isn't ancient times, how could there be a 'marriage candidate' system? I'm not exactly a hot commodity," Ke Yuanda's heart still trembled.

“Why not? Children of soldiers are all tough and strong. We’re from a rural family, they might look down on us. I don’t want to be looked down upon by my sister-in-law when I visit my older brother’s house,” Ke Meiyu said pitifully.

“Our family hasn’t stolen or robbed anything, so why should we be looked down upon? How noble can the character of those who look down on others be?” Ke Yuanda also frowned.

What the girl said is true. The military is a place full of passion, but in addition to purely serving the country, there are also many interpersonal relationships involved. If not handled properly, being forced to leave the military is the least of your worries; you might even face disciplinary action.

The best recruits will definitely be sought after by those in power.

Ke Yuanda felt that he had no ambition. He would be content as long as he could stay in the army peacefully for the rest of his life, dedicating his blood to protecting his country.

He really can't leave any leverage that could be used against him, so his marriage must be settled within two years!

"Alright, this isn't something for a little girl like you to worry about. I'll ask my mother to help me arrange it later," he nodded helplessly and compromised.

"Brother, what do you think of Sister Meizi?" Ke Meiyu pressed on. "Isn't she pretty? Doesn't she have a good personality? Doesn't she have a beautiful smile? Her eyes are like crescent moons?"

Ke Yuanda was taken aback, then his face turned bright red with the expression of a man seeking marriage. He stammered for a long time, "You little brat, don't talk nonsense and ruin the reputation of this woman."

"Her family is well-off, why would she look down on a country bumpkin like me?"

Ke Meiyu smiled, wondering why they both thought they weren't good enough for each other.

"Brother, don't underestimate yourself. Marriage is a matter between two people. As long as you are able to support your wife and children in the future, that's enough. We don't expect anything from her family. Just tell me, do you like Sister Mei?"

Ke Yuanda turned around and vigorously stir-fried the vegetables with a spoon. The girl's charming and smiling face was vaguely in his mind. He couldn't help but nod and readily admitted, "I like her."

"Do I love her enough to promise her a lifetime of happiness? To never leave her, to support and rely on her for the rest of my life?"

Everyone says that a man's promises are worthless, but Ke Meiyu knows that her older brother is a man who keeps his promises.

Ke Yuanda continued cooking, "Of course, you should cherish your wife after you marry her. Everyone only has one life, and we should cherish every day. Why do something so foolish as to deceive ourselves?"

"If I could marry her, I would definitely treat her well for the rest of my life!"

Ke Meiyu clicked her tongue and said, "He didn't want a wife before, but now he's starting to enjoy it..."

Before she could finish speaking, she smelled the burnt smell in the air and roared in fury, "Ke Yuanda, you burned my braised pork!"

Qin Yuanjiu walked in, patted her shoulder, put his arm around Ke Meiyu who was about to rush over to save his braised pork, and said with a smile, "Yu'er, just forgive your brother this once, and understand his excitement about finding a girlfriend."

Ke Meiyu was taken aback, then waved her hand weakly, leaned back, and said to Li Juanmei, whose face was also flushed, "Sister Mei, did you see that?"

"My older brother seems indifferent to marriage, but he's actually very concerned about it!"

"I only mentioned you twice, and they've already wasted a whole pound of meat!"

When this is mentioned, Ke Meiyu feels extremely distressed.

She had been craving braised pork belly all day; she was living for that bowl of braised pork for dinner.

Li Juanmei was a straightforward person. Since the two of them were somewhat interested in each other and were compatible in other aspects, she mustered up her courage and said, "Comrade Ke Yuanda, marital happiness is something you have to fight for yourself."

"I'm quite traditional and hope my family will unanimously approve of my marriage. So, if you can convince my parents, then I'll date you!"

Ke Yuanda slammed the spoon in his hand against the edge of the pot with a clatter, then calmly picked it up and nodded solemnly: "Comrade Xiao Li, don't worry, I will try my best to get the consent and blessings of both families!"

"There's too much smoke in the kitchen, why don't you and my sister talk outside? The food will be ready soon."

Li Juanmei couldn't help but glance at him again, then grabbed Ke Meiyu and ran off.

Qin Yuanjiu leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed, watching Ke Yuanda trying his best to maintain a normal appearance. His thoughts drifted. Who hasn't gone through this stage?

Even someone as seemingly omnipotent as himself has dreamt of a future marriage and longed to have a woman for life, only that woman has always been just one person.

Ke Yuanda's cooking skills were praised by the whole family. Except for Ke Meiyu, who regretted the pound of braised pork and ate two extra steamed buns to ease her heartache.

The sky had darkened, and the north wind howled in the alley, making the chill even more intense.

After finishing his meal, Ke Yuanda went back to the kitchen and tinkered around for a while before coming out carrying a small package with an ugly bow tied around its neck. "Hey, let's take Comrade Li home, shall we?"

He also began to understand the importance of avoiding suspicion.

Ke Meiyu exclaimed, rummaged through her belongings and pulled out two military overcoats, wrapping herself and Li Juanmei up tightly before running out.

Ke Yuanda and Qin Yuanjiu were both waiting in the yard, pushing their carts.

"Oh, Ninth Brother, are you going too?" Ke Meiyu asked, tilting her head in surprise.

Qin Yuanjiu raised an eyebrow: "Just some digestive food after a meal."

"Alright," Ke Meiyu said nimbly as she jumped into the car, her hand naturally reaching out to wrap around his lean yet powerful waist.

Li Juanmei sat demurely in the back seat with her head down, her hands diligently working on the metal frame.

The Xia Hua fans, now without their leader, had already taken down the threshold and were looking at the two couples strangely, wondering when their eldest brother had become so familiar with Comrade Li.

"Why do I have a feeling that this girl is looking for a sister-in-law?" Ke Yuanhua, the strategist, stroked his chin and voiced his hesitation, which was met with emphatical nods from his brothers.

"Third brother, you're absolutely right. With our sister's opportunistic nature, if she meets a saleswoman from the supply and marketing cooperative, wouldn't she be eager to snatch her away?"

"The girl loves chocolate and milk powder. For her future food supply, she needs to find a wife from the supply and marketing cooperative!"

They may dote on girls without limits, but that doesn't mean they can't see through the greedy and playful nature of unscrupulous girls.

Given her foolishness—she'd practically call someone "Dad" and follow them around if they gave her a piece of candy—is she absolutely certain, certain, and carrying out this plan to the end?

They couldn't help but shudder, imagining how much the girl loved meat and how cheaply she would sell them off!