"What? You're getting married? To whom?"
Mrs. Zhuang was startled when she picked up the phone, but then she became happy again.
Her son's marriage had always been a worry for her, but she never expected to hear such good news today.
"Mingcheng, is she Commander Xiao's daughter?"
On the other end of the phone, Zhuang Mingcheng had already frowned.
He glanced at the soldier beside him, feeling quite displeased. He knew that their unit was a classified unit, and his mother's words today would definitely be recorded.
Taking a deep breath, Zhuang Mingcheng solemnly said, "Mom, Xiao Ting and I are just ordinary comrades-in-arms. I'm already engaged."
Mrs. Zhuang had a bad feeling. She gripped the phone tightly and hurriedly asked, "Mingcheng, what do you mean by that?"
"My fiancé is Lu Fangfang, Lu Fangfang from the Lu family of Hongxing Brigade. This marriage was arranged for me by my grandfather, and I am very satisfied with it."
When Zhuang's mother heard this, she immediately became anxious.
Lu Fangfang was just an ordinary rural woman who hadn't even finished junior high school and was practically illiterate. How could she be worthy of her son?
"Mingcheng, don't be impulsive. Your grandfather is your grandfather, and you are you. I have always disagreed with this marriage. Please don't do anything foolish."
"Mom, I've made up my mind. I just wanted to let you know today."
“Zhuang Mingcheng, let me tell you, I don’t agree to this. Your father and I are both highly educated intellectuals. I don’t approve of an illiterate woman from the countryside as my daughter-in-law. She can’t enter our Zhuang family.”
Seeing that there was still no response from the other end, Mrs. Zhuang quickly said again:
“Mingcheng, listen to me, I’m doing this for your own good. You two have nothing in common. Commander Xiao’s daughter is the right match for you, she…”
Zhuang Mingcheng hung up the phone with a mocking smile.
He sat there in silence for a while.
After a long pause, he said to the soldier beside him with a self-deprecating laugh, "I've made you laugh at me."
"No, Battalion Commander Zhuang, if I were you, I would also choose to spend my life with the person I love."
“A lifetime…” Zhuang Mingcheng murmured to himself.
Yes, the person Zhuang Mingcheng will spend his life with must be someone he likes.
With no more worries in his heart, he smiled at the soldier and then went to the mess hall.
He made a phone call to Beijing, which took half an hour. Fangfang must be starving by now, so he had to hurry.
...
Family compound.
Lu Fangfang sat in the yard, feeling warm and cozy in the sun, and almost fell asleep.
In her dazed state, she seemed to see a familiar person walk in.
"Girl? Girl? Wake up."
Lu Fangfang rubbed her eyes and quickly stood up. "Sister Shufen, what brings you here?"
“I was passing by and saw the courtyard gate was open, so I thought I'd come in and take a look, and sure enough, I saw you.”
Wang Shufen gripped Lu Fangfang's hand and patted it hard. "Sister, I've heard everything about your situation from the boss. Battalion Commander Zhuang is a reliable person. From now on, we'll be neighbors."
Wang Shufen was genuinely happy for her sister.
She glanced around the yard and pulled Lu Fangfang outside, saying, "Little sister, haven't you eaten yet? Come on, let's go to my house and have something to eat."
Lu Fangfang was a little embarrassed, and she quickly said, "Sister Shufen, no need, no need. Mingcheng went to get food and will be back in a while."
Wang Shufen wouldn't listen and pulled Lu Fangfang out of the yard.
When they arrived at the courtyard gate, she picked up two tin buckets of water with one hand and held the girl's hand with the other.
Lu Fangfang was both amused and exasperated; Sister Shufen was just too enthusiastic.
Seeing Sister Shufen steadily carrying two metal buckets of water, Lu Fangfang was somewhat amazed by her strength.
If you want to live in the family compound, you need to get some exercise, otherwise just getting water will be a hassle.
The regiment's location was really remote. The family compound had electricity, but no running water. If they wanted to use water, they had to fetch it from the well in the family compound.
If you don't have enough strength, you'll be in trouble.
Wang Shufen's house was right behind, very close. Before long, the two of them arrived at the gate of the courtyard.
Lu Fangfang opened the courtyard gate in advance, allowing Wang Shufen to carry water in.
Once inside the courtyard, Lu Fangfang looked around.
The courtyard is noticeably cleaner and tidier than before. There's an extra fence on the far east side of the courtyard, which is obviously intended for raising chickens.
Upon entering the north room, both Daya and Tiedan were there. They were quite happy to see Lu Fangfang and greeted her as "Auntie."
Wang Shufen chatted with Lu Fangfang while cooking.
She came from the countryside, had little education, and didn't expect to find a job in the troupe. She was determined to clear land and raise livestock to supplement her family's income.
Wang Shufen was delighted to hear that Lu Fangfang shared the same plan.
"Girl, I can't boast about anything else, but I know a lot about farming. If you have any questions, just ask me."
Lu Fangfang smiled and nodded.
There was nothing she could do. She was a college student in her previous life, but she was useless in this era and could only farm to support her family.
Thinking of the semi-wasteland she had seen on the riverbank that morning, she mentioned it to Wang Shufen.
"The wasteland by the river should be quite fertile, so how come the harvest is poor?"
Wang Shufen was somewhat puzzled.
After thinking for a moment, she shook her head. "I'll ask my husband tonight, little sister. If no one wants it, I'll have him plant it for you. I'll also clear some wasteland next door, and we can farm together."
Lu Fangfang smiled and agreed.
After a while, Wang Shufen rolled out the noodles and put them into the pot.
After the pot boiled, she served a bowl to her daughter and son, and Lu Fangfang was no exception; she scooped a whole big bowl for her sister.
While eating, Wang Shufen sat at the table and sighed, "This place is good in every way, except that it's long in winter and there aren't many vegetables. Sister, you should dry more vegetables in the summer, otherwise we won't have anything to eat in the winter."
Lu Fangfang nodded in agreement and kept the matter of drying vegetables in mind.
In the Great Northwest, winters are cold and long. It would be too difficult to endure without vegetables, and not eating vegetables is also bad for your health.
It seems we should plant more vegetables on the wasteland along the riverbank.
There's a bus to the county town the day after tomorrow, and she needs to go to the state-run seed store to buy some vegetable seeds.
The weather will get hot soon, and it's time to plant vegetables.
Thinking about going to the county town, Lu Fangfang mentioned it to Wang Shufen again.
Wang Shufen was delighted to hear this. She also needed to go to the county town to buy some things, so the two agreed to meet up the day after tomorrow.
After finishing her meal, Lu Fangfang expressed her gratitude and then hurriedly went home.
She was worried that Zhuang Mingcheng would be anxious if he couldn't find her.
But when Lu Fangfang returned, she couldn't find Zhuang Mingcheng anywhere.
She doesn't know where the man went; she's already finished lunch and he still hasn't come back.
She shook her head, plopped down, and started sunbathing in the yard again.
The noodles that Sister Shufen made were very chewy, and she couldn't help but eat two bowls. Now that she was full and basking in the sun, she felt even more sleepy.
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