Chapter 17

Cheng Zheng frowned, which was rare, as he looked at the telegram in his hand. There were only a dozen or so words on it, but he looked around repeatedly, as if he didn't recognize it.

The slender fingers pressed on his brow bone, and the usually alert Marine Corps Commander fell into deep thought for a rare time. His mind was in a mess. What did his mother mean by this?

Even if you're joking, you can't use such things as this, especially since this is an urgent telegram. Did his mother really send him a wife?

Thinking of this, Cheng Zheng's brows furrowed even deeper. Xiao Zhao, the communications soldier, was waiting on the side. It was rare to see his own captain so distressed. It was really strange!

"Captain, aren't you going to reply to the letter today?" In the past, when the captain received a letter from home, he would immediately write a reply and ask him to mail it. Little Zhao reminded him weakly and waited for the captain to finish writing the letter and send it by mail.

Reply? How?

Cheng Zheng waved his hands and said he must make a phone call today to get things clear.

"Don't go back yet, just go out."

"Yes, Captain!" Xiao Zhao stood at attention and saluted, put his hands on his waist, turned and left, leaving Cheng Zheng in the office with an embarrassed look on his face.

Cheng Zheng held the telegram and read it for a while, but he really couldn't figure it out, so he got up and went to the unit's communications room.

There are three telephones in the communications room. Officers and soldiers below the regimental level need to report and apply in advance if they want to use them. Officers above the regimental level can use them after registering on the same day.

Cheng Zheng signed his name in the registration book, but his handwriting, which used to be neat and elegant, now looked a little sloppy.

There was a rocker phone in the office of the Xingmin Industrial Brigade. He could call it and ask someone to call his mother. After waiting for about half an hour, his mother would call back.

However, he was obviously unlucky this time. He asked someone to go to her house to call for her, but the reply he got was that Aunt Wang had gone to her second son's home in the county town and had not returned yet.

Cheng Zheng:!!!

This guy is so anxious, and he doesn't even answer the phone?

Cheng Zheng put down the phone and strode out of the communication room. Forget it, don't think about it anymore. He still doesn't believe that there really is a wife on the way to the island!

=

The green train traveled through the snowy north all the way south. The scenery outside the window changed, the snow gradually disappeared, and the scenery of the south was clearly revealed.

"It's almost there, it will be here in the afternoon!"

The dawn of victory was in sight, and the passengers on the train were becoming increasingly restless.

Jian Lu stretched her arms and breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that the time was almost up. "It's not that cold here anymore. That's great!"

"Of course not. We don't need to wear cotton jackets on the island in winter. We save a lot of money." Feng Xiuhui also likes living on the island. After all, cotton coupons are hard to come by.

"Aunt Lulu, touch my hand, it's warm." Dunzi had become familiar with Jian Lu along the way. After all, he was a very outgoing person.

"Really, your little hands are quite warm." Jian Lu felt like she had touched a small stove.

Liang Haisheng glanced at his son and said, "He is a firecracker. He is full of energy every day."

Dunzi looks just like Liang Haisheng, as if they were carved from the same mold. He was not in a hurry when his father teased him, but started to laugh loudly, as if to tell everyone that his father was right.

"Aunt Lulu, I'm also in the first grade of elementary school, and you've just started learning to read and write, so let's learn together!"

Ever since he heard at Grandma Wang's house that day that Aunt Jian Lu had never been to school and had just started attending the anti-blindness class run by the educated youth, Dunzi seemed to have found a like-minded good partner!

Although there is a big age gap between the two, it’s not a big deal!

In front of study partners, age is not a problem, and height is not a distance!

Jian Lu: “…”

She was so tired, but she was actually invited by elementary school students to study together. How did she end up like this?

If I make rapid progress and achieve academic success, will I be taken for research as a genius?

Her mind was racing, but she could only agree, "Okay, let's learn and improve together."

“Okay!”

Dunzi shouted joyfully and jumped out to play with a five-year-old boy sitting on the hard seat in the front left.

The two were the closest in age in this carriage, and after spending a few days together, they seemed to have fallen in love with each other.

The boy was brought out by his mother, and it was said that he was also going to join the army.

Feng Xiuhui looked at her son from time to time to make sure he was safe, and then chatted with Jian Lu about family matters. This time, not only her, but also Political Commissar Liang joined in.

Political Commissar Liang was selling out his brother's secrets to Jian Lu. Except for military secrets, he told her everything about Cheng Zheng.

"This kid is just two words, no energy!"

Cheng Zheng is obviously three years younger than him, but he seems to be older than him and more mature than him.

However, after Political Commissar Liang finished complaining, he suddenly realized that his wife was winking at him.

Feng Xiuhui felt that her man was usually quite good at ideological work, so why did he start to slander his brother after encountering Cheng Zheng's incident? She knew that this man was very excited, and seeing that his brother had a wife, he didn't want to be ruined by others.

Political Commissar Liang and his wife still have some tacit understanding. He suddenly realized that they couldn't break up the show before they got married, and hurriedly tried to make up for it, "This shows that Cheng Zheng is a good person. He doesn't like to go out and attract women. He doesn't like to watch any art performances. He didn't even blink when a female soldier from the art troupe walked past him."

Jian Lu thought that Political Commissar Liang and his wife were quite interesting, but she didn't take them seriously. No matter what others said about them, she had to see them with her own eyes to know what they were like.

......

The long green train journey finally ended with the sound of a whistle.

After five days of clanging sounds, the green train stopped at the station.

Even in February in the southernmost country of China, there is still a hint of warmth, which is completely different from the winter in the north.

"Sister Lulu, please help hold the stool and follow us."

Feng Xiuhui had a package in her hand, and Political Commissar Liang had two packages in his hand. They brought a lot of things with them on this trip back to their hometown to visit relatives, and naturally they also brought a lot of special products back to the troops.

Jian Lu, carrying her own bag and holding Xiaodunzi's hand, followed Political Commissar Liang and his wife closely.

The H City Railway Station was crowded with people, and passengers carrying bags could be seen everywhere. Jian Lu and the other three had already changed out of their cotton jackets before the train arrived at the station. Now they were only wearing thin long-sleeved shirts, and in just a short while, they were almost sweating.

"Sister Lulu, this is your first time here, do you feel much warmer?"

"Yes." This was not Jian Lu's first time here, but she had never expected that the tourist destination in the future would look so plain. "I like it here too. I won't shiver from the cold."

She has made up her mind that no matter whether she can force Cheng Zheng to change his mind or not, she will stay here!

Political Commissar Liang again hosted lunch for the four of them, who had a meal at a state-owned hotel, with two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes.

Jian Lu didn't spend any money on her meals along the way. Whenever she wanted to pay, she was stopped by Political Commissar Liang and his wife. As a result, Cheng Zheng, who was unaware of the situation, "owed" more and more favors.

After dinner, they waited for the afternoon ferry to the opposite island.

The blue waves are rippling, and the white ferry is swaying on the sea. Most of the people on board are military personnel and their families. There are supply and marketing cooperatives and grain and vegetable stations on the island. Goods are transported to the island from the city every month. It is usually difficult for people to travel, so occasionally they will go to the city to buy supplies by themselves.

Jian Lu looked around curiously, watching the golden sunlight shining on the sea, making the waves sparkle like glowing gems.

The boundless sea fills my eyes, leaving no room for anything else.

Jian Lu loves the sea. In her previous life, she would go to the beach every year. Now, when she sees the sea again, she feels particularly familiar with it.

"Aunt Lulu, aren't you seasick?"

Dunzi tightly grasped the orange peel and took a sip of the nerve-stimulating smell from time to time. Although he usually jumps around happily, he is a professional seasickness sufferer.

I like the sea and boat rides, but I get seasick.

"I'm not dizzy, you're dizzy, please move closer to the boat."

Dunzi nodded, looking listless, like an eggplant hit by frost, completely wilted.

After more than an hour of sailing on the sea, the ferry finally docked at the coast.

Crescent Island stands majestically, as if opening its arms to welcome everyone. Only the sentries standing guard on the shore are intimidating.

"Hui'er, take Comrade Jian Lu and Dun Zi home first. I'll get someone to notify Lao Cheng to come over!"

Political Commissar Liang was extremely anxious and couldn't wait to see Cheng Zheng's reaction. Not only did he want to see it, he also had to notify Xu Lang!

"Okay, let's go there first."

Jian Lu followed Feng Xiuhui all the way. After getting off the boat, Dunzi immediately regained his energy and started running and jumping.

It is the Spring Festival now, and many soldiers have gone back to their hometowns to visit their families. The soldiers who stayed behind also gathered together to celebrate the New Year. They didn't meet many people along the way. Occasionally, there were a few military wives that Feng Xiuhui was familiar with. They just greeted them and looked at Jian Lu.

"Xiuhui, who is this? Is there someone coming to our family compound again?"

It was hard not to be noticed by Jian Lu's look. A hint of surprise flashed across Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Zhou's eyes, and they couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

"We are from the same hometown." Feng Xiuhui said vaguely. This was Jian Lu's request.

Although Feng Xiuhui didn't understand why he didn't just tell others that he was her fiancé, Jian Lu thought about it more.

Cheng Zheng was originally designed by the author of the original book to be a lifelong unmarried male supporting role, so one naturally has to be tactful when pursuing him. Forcing him to announce to the world that he is an engagement partner before even knowing each other will only backfire.

=

At the same time, the office of the head of the third regiment, not far from the family courtyard, was quiet.

Cheng Zheng was writing the mission report at his desk. There was no rush for the report, as he had a week's vacation after returning from the mission. However, he was disturbed by the telegram he received from home yesterday afternoon, so he could only find something to do.

"Captain." Communication soldier Xiao Zhao knocked on the office door of Captain Cheng Zheng.

Cheng Zheng's heart skipped a beat when he heard Xiao Zhao's voice. He had sent him letters and telegrams before, so he couldn't...

"Come in, what's up?"

"Captain, there's a call for you."

When Cheng Zheng heard this, he understood that his mother had called back.

He hesitated for two seconds, then stood up and went to the communications room.

The moment the call was connected, Cheng Zheng heard a familiar voice in the receiver and just called out, "Mom..."

Wang Xia interrupted him and asked, "Shitou, has Lulu arrived yet?"

Lulu?

Who is Lulu?

Cheng Zheng was full of questions. Could it be the daughter-in-law mentioned in the telegram?

On the other end of the phone, Wang Xia, who was worried about the phone bill, quickly explained the situation to her son, "Mom has found a girl for you, her name is Jian Lu, she is very good-looking, has a good temper, and is a down-to-earth girl. I asked Haisheng and his wife to take care of her and send her over..."

Cheng Zheng frowned at Wang Xia's rapid-fire conversation. He reached out and pressed his temples. His mother actually found a wife for him without his permission!

And from the sound of it, even Liang Haisheng knew it before me!

"Mom, what era is this now? Why are you still doing this kind of arrangement?"

"How dare you say that? I allowed you to fall in love freely and find a wife, but you refused. Now I'm going to arrange it for you! If you calculate the time, the person will be here this afternoon, so you have to treat him well!"

Cheng Zheng was severely scolded by his mother. Just when he was about to try to persuade her again, he heard the voice on the other end preparing to hang up the phone.

"Stop talking about it. Your second sibling is going to give birth in two months. I have to go over and help you. The commune is going to call and ask about buying phosphate fertilizer. Please remember it clearly and treat Lulu well! No bullying is allowed. people!"

After hanging up the phone, Cheng Zheng felt at a loss for the first time while holding the receiver. How did he suddenly have a wife?!

"Captain?"

The communications soldier Xiao Zhao came again. Cheng Zheng felt that Xiao Zhao had been at odds with him recently, and the news he brought both times was not good.

"What's wrong?"

"Political Commissar Liang is back and wants you to go to his house quickly. He says he has a surprise for you!"

Xiao Zhao didn't know what the surprise that Political Commissar Liang was talking about was for Captain Cheng, but looking at the excited look on Political Commissar Liang's face, he knew that it must be good news.

Cheng Zheng pursed his lips, held his forehead and sighed. Surprise?

"Xiao Zhao, go buy a train ticket from City H to City C."

Xiao Zhao knew that Cheng Tuan was from City C. "Captain, are you going home? This year's family visit leave hasn't started yet..."

"It's not me, I bought it for someone else." Cheng Zheng's mind was racing, thinking about how to solve this troublesome matter quickly.

It's better to send him away as soon as possible and don't delay the girl.

"Oh, okay!"

After Cheng Zheng told Xiao Zhao about buying a train ticket for...that female comrade, he thought of the "Hongmen Banquet" Liang Haisheng had prepared for him, and his steps became heavy, as if he was going to the battlefield.