In the military headquarters courtyard.
Jiang Linchuan strode in, carrying two bags.
"I've bought everything needed for the engagement. Is there anything else we need?"
Xu Xinghe came up in slippers, her hair loosely draped over her shoulders. Her cheeks were flushed from being indoors, making her look soft and fluffy, like a freshly unwrapped candy, so sweet that you wanted to take a bite.
"I don't know anything about these things, you just arrange it as you see fit."
Jiang Linchuan looked at her dependence on him, and the tenderness in his eyes almost overflowed.
The longer he spent with her, the softer his cold, hard edges became.
“Since you’re from Shanghai, I’ve prepared some things according to their customs.”
The two did not discuss the specifics, but he had already made up his mind that whether it was done according to the rules of Heilongjiang Province or the customs of Shanghai, as long as she was happy, it didn't matter.
Xu Xinghe was most touched by his thoughtfulness and concern for her, so she couldn't help but reach out and hug his strong waist, then tiptoe and quickly kiss him on the lips.
Soft to the touch, separates with a single touch.
Jiang Linchuan's eyes suddenly darkened. He was about to catch up when Xu Xinghe nimbly stepped back. "We're getting engaged tomorrow, so we can't kiss too much today, or our lips will be swollen and won't look good tomorrow. Let's just follow the customs of Heilongjiang Province. I'm not picky."
Jiang Linchuan nodded, "Okay, tomorrow after you change your clothes, we'll go take photos first, then get our marriage certificate. By the way, has your medical examination report come out yet?"
"You're out." Xu Xinghe handed over a piece of paper, which she had specially gone to the hospital to get today. The four words "Good Health" were clearly written on it.
As a soldier, Jiang Linchuan undergoes annual physical examinations, so naturally there are no problems.
Although the military's rules are strict, they are also intended to prevent health problems from affecting the relationship after marriage, and to maintain the stability of military marriages to the greatest extent possible.
Jiang Linchuan carefully read through the report, stacked it together with his own copy, and put it in his pocket. "I'll hand these over to Political Commissar Wang along with the marriage application in a bit. He said that if I submit them that day, they'll be stamped and approved."
"Then you should go quickly." Xu Xinghe's face turned even redder, and even her ears felt hot.
She had been so bold and fearless before, but the thought of officially getting together tomorrow made her heart race with nervousness, and she even felt uncomfortable being with him.
This is probably what is meant by "the closer you get to home, the more timid you become"—the closer you get to an important moment, the easier it is to panic.
Jiang Linchuan looked at her rosy cheeks and couldn't help but smile. "Okay, I'll go right now. I'll pick you up at seven tomorrow morning, don't oversleep."
"Don't worry, I definitely won't!" Xu Xinghe nodded vigorously. Not only would she not oversleep, but she would also get up early, change into her prettiest clothes, carefully comb her hair, and even draw her eyebrows neatly.
A marriage certificate is something for a lifetime, and she didn't want to have any regrets.
Jiang Linchuan walked to the courtyard gate, but stopped in his tracks and couldn't help but look back.
Xu Xinghe was standing at the doorway, his small figure wrapped in a soft cotton-padded coat, his eyes sparkling, reflecting only his own image.
Those heartwarming scenes behind them will become a part of their lives in the future.
"I'm leaving," he said again.
"Hurry up, hurry up!" Xu Xinghe waved her hand, her cheeks still flushed.
Only after Jiang Linchuan's figure disappeared at the alley entrance did she close the door, turn around and snuggle into the soft quilt, staring blankly at the old newspapers pasted on the wall above her head.
what to do?
Her heart was pounding, and her cheeks were burning.
When she got her marriage certificate with Xu Mingli in her past life, she was like a puppet on a string, letting him arrange everything without any discussion or expectation.
Even the moment she received her marriage certificate marked the beginning of her tragic life.
The days and nights she spent locked in the basement later made her feel that marriage was the most terrible shackle in the world.
But now things are different. Touching her chest, she felt for the first time that this might be the beginning of a new life for her.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Xinghe... are you home?"
Lian Xiao?
Xu Xinghe sat up abruptly and quickly opened the door.
Lian Xiao, standing at the door, had a sallow complexion, dark circles under his eyes, and bloodshot eyes, clearly indicating that he had been up for several sleepless nights.
He only dared to come over after Jiang Linchuan left.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Lian Xiao forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, "I guess so... Xinghe, can you please not get married?"
"Why?"
“Grandpa sent me to Heilongjiang Province to protect you. I can’t let anything happen to you.” Lian Xiao’s voice was terribly hoarse. This was a reason he had thought of for several days before coming up with it. “I haven’t figured out Jiang Linchuan yet. Can you wait a little longer? You’re still so young. There’s no need to rush into settling down.”
He actually wanted to say it a few days ago, but he had no idea what stance to take.
He even... developed a slight desire to escape.
It's as if this whole thing won't happen if I don't think about her getting married.
As it turns out, everything still happened.
Therefore, he had to stop it; he couldn't continue to run away.
Otherwise, he would lose the girl he loved forever.
“You haven’t seen through it because you’re prejudiced,” Xu Xinghe said calmly. “It’s enough that I see through it.”
Having watched Jiang Linchuan for so many years in her past life, she knew better than anyone that this man's sincerity was never fake.
Anyone can be distracted, but he is the only one who cannot.
"You'll regret this!" Lian Xiao's frustration surged up again. "You're not even twenty years old yet, you have such a good brain and you're so capable, why do you have to trap yourself in marriage? You can totally focus on your career first, or even wait a year or two before considering marriage! Otherwise, you'll only be able to stay at home doing laundry, cooking, and raising children. Are you really willing to do that?"
People like them have seen more of the world than ordinary people.
While the people of Heilongjiang Province were still listening to Errenzhuan (a type of folk opera), they had already watched foreign movies, read foreign books, and even the things they used were trendy goods from Hong Kong that they had asked others to buy for them.
Xu Xinghe sensed the prejudice in his words, but she wasn't angry.
Not everyone understands Jiang Linchuan as well as she does.
She gently shook her head. "He won't keep me confined at home. Doing laundry, cooking, and raising children isn't just my responsibility; he'll share the burden with me. If I want to go out and make my own way in the world, he'll definitely support me."
"You..." Lian Xiao was speechless, his lips moved but he was left with only helplessness. "Can't you really think about it again?"
"No." Xu Xinghe's tone was unwavering and resolute. "I'm going to marry Jiang Linchuan."
Lian Xiao looked at the undisguised expectation in her eyes, and his heart felt like it had been crushed by a boulder, a mix of sourness and pain. He could only grit his teeth and squeeze out, "Fine, fine...you'll regret this sooner or later!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
