Thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
"Now, let's exchange tokens!" Deputy Commander Liu announced with a smile.
Su Tang's heart skipped a beat. Qin Ye hadn't told her about this part beforehand.
Qin Ye took a deep breath, as if he had made a tremendous decision, his expression more serious than ever before. His straight back relaxed slightly, and his slender fingers reached into the pocket closest to his heart on his brand-new military uniform, pulling something out.
It wasn't a ring, nor any valuable jewelry, but a brass-colored bullet casing.
He had polished the bullet casing until it gleamed, and the edges still bore signs of wear, clearly indicating that it had a history.
Under the illumination of the incandescent lights on the ceiling of the auditorium, it reflected a warm and profound light.
Qin Ye held it in both hands and solemnly presented it to Su Tang in front of thousands of eyes below the stage.
His voice carried clearly to every corner of the auditorium.
"Comrade Su Tang," he began, still unable to shake off the seriousness of a work report, which drew a few well-meaning, suppressed laughs from the audience.
He paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts, but finally decided to go all out and said in his most sincere voice:
"Wife, I... I have nothing to give you. This bullet casing is the one closest to my heart. I want to give it to you."
He raised his head, and his deep black eyes, which once held sharpness and coldness, were now filled with overflowing affection.
"My life belongs to the country."
"But my heart, my body, everything I have left in this life... belongs to you."
The entire audience fell silent for a moment, then erupted in applause and cheers ten times louder than before!
"Well done, Commander Qin!"
"Commander is awesome! This is more effective than any sweet talk!"
"Sister-in-law! Quickly accept it!"
Li Xiumei and the other military wives' eyes instantly welled up with tears, and they clapped their hands excitedly.
A few of the bolder greenhorns started shouting, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"
Su Tang's eyes instantly welled up with tears.
She looked at the bullet casing in her hand, still warm from his body, and then looked up at the man in front of her.
He didn't understand romance or sweet words, but in the simplest way, he gave her the most important and sincere promise a soldier could make.
This gives her more peace of mind than any diamond ring or any vow.
She solemnly clenched her fingers, tightly gripping the bullet casing in her palm. Then, in front of everyone, she stood on tiptoe and quickly kissed Qin Ye on the cheek.
A dragonfly skimming the water, yet its weight is as heavy as a thousand pounds.
Qin Ye froze completely, his face turning as red as a branding iron from his cheeks to the base of his neck.
The cheers and whistles from the audience almost lifted the roof off the auditorium.
After the ceremony, the wedding banquet begins.
The banquet was held in the largest canteen in the military region, with a total of twenty tables.
Although the military emphasizes thrift and frugality, the wedding of a regimental-level officer, coupled with Qin Ye and Su Tang's great achievements and the personal witnessing of Deputy Commander Liu, made the celebration legitimate and a source of pride.
The canteen was cleaned spotless by the soldiers, and the tables were covered with brand-new red cloth, creating a festive atmosphere.
The Qin family held considerable influence in the military region, and the guests attending the wedding banquet included almost all the prominent figures and close relatives of the entire military region.
Everyone sat together, creating a lively atmosphere.
When the cooks carried bowls of food to the table, the air in the entire canteen was filled with an irresistible aroma of meat, causing everyone to crane their necks in anticipation.
"Wow! That's a real treat!"
On the table, a small mountain of braised pork belly, glistening red and rich yet not greasy, stood; golden and crispy fried chicken nuggets emitted an irresistible aroma; a large iron pot held a stew of pork, cabbage, and vermicelli, the vermicelli soaking up the broth and glistening with oil, making it incredibly tempting; a dish of stir-fried vegetables with precious Jinhua ham slices and winter bamboo shoots was so delicious it was almost unbearable; and a plate of cold jellyfish salad, crisp and refreshing, was a rare treat in this inland plateau. The staple foods were unlimited white flour steamed buns and rice.
This feast, in this era, can be described as the ultimate luxury.
Qin Ye and Su Tang, holding wine glasses, began offering toasts from the main table.
At the main table, Deputy Commander Liu chuckled and raised his glass: "Qin Ye, you're really lucky! You've married such a capable wife. You'd better not bully her! You have to treat her like a treasure!"
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