Chapter 45
Bi Chunliu followed Xing Fei with the three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment he had carved out for himself, and walked into the state-owned hotel step by step with heavy steps.
After Xing Fei's introduction, the two sat down in front of Wang Xiaoman and her partner in military uniform. Bi Chunliu's heart finally settled down and died with a snap.
Wang Xiaoman was pleasantly surprised to see the person before her. She had heard Wei Dongzheng speak so seriously, saying that this comrade had saved him before, now worked at the Public Security Bureau, and was a capable man. She was also quite nervous when she heard that the comrade had brought a partner with him, fearing that this partner might be difficult to approach. Unexpectedly, she was relieved to find out that it was Chun Liu.
"I didn't expect that we would meet again, Chunliu. We are quite destined to meet each other."
Bi Chunliu nodded, "Sister Xiaoman, I didn't expect that we all knew each other."
The four of them were sitting at a square table. Originally, Wang Xiaoman was sitting close to Wei Dongzheng and wanted to talk to him. But now, seeing that her comrade's partner was Chun Liu, she moved her stool. Since the two grown men hadn't seen each other for such a long time, they must talk, so she decided to chat with Chun Liu.
Wei Dongzheng recognized Bi Chunliu the moment he ran into her at the state-owned restaurant. It was this girl and her sister-in-law who had seen him and his wife cuddling. He figured he'd be embarrassed if he didn't say anything, and the chances of them meeting again were slim. He hadn't expected this girl to be Xing Fei's girlfriend! This was awkward...
Just then the dishes were served. Bi Chunliu raised her eyebrows and glanced at the waitress. She discovered that the waitress was really judging the guests by their appearance.
When Xing Fei came in police uniform, the elder sister softly and kindly asked them to serve the dishes and helped to bring two plates. When she and Xing Fei were in casual clothes, the elder sister shouted at them to come over and serve. This time, Xing Fei and Wei Dongzheng were in police uniform and military uniform respectively. The elder sister served the dishes and even took the initiative to bring four glasses of water!
Wei Dongzheng and Xing Fei ate a few bites of food while talking. Wei Dongzheng took out the bottle of wine he brought with him, filled it up for himself and Xing Fei, and gulped the wine down in one gulp. His face suddenly turned dark red.
Xing Fei uttered a "huh," "Old Wei, you're drinking so fast? Has your alcohol tolerance improved? You dare to drink like this?"
"Well, not really. I'm just happy to see you!" Wei Dongzheng patted Xing Fei's shoulder, hoping that he wouldn't laugh at him when he knew that he and his wife were looking at each other with tears in their eyes.
The two men drank and talked about the past, and from time to time they would interrupt Bi Chunliu and Wang Xiaoman's conversation. The four of them ate and talked, and it was at this time that Bi Chunliu learned that Wang Xiaoman's place with the army was an island.
Wang Xiaoman complained worriedly, "Although being with Dongzheng is great in every way, I'm still worried I won't be able to get used to the living and food there. I heard that houses by the sea are damp, the wind is strong on weekdays, and they mostly eat fish..."
Bi Chunliu couldn't get used to living by the sea, and there was nothing he could do. In later times, it was all concrete and steel, so dampness was inevitable, let alone now. But when it came to food, Bi Chunliu got excited and started telling Wang Xiaoman all the different ways to eat seafood.
That's an island! In the novels she'd read in her spare time, most of the characters who followed the army were set on islands! Some became famous on the islands, while others made their fortunes on the islands. Big fish, big shrimp, clams, oysters—there were so many ways to eat them! Steamed, stir-fried, stewed, simmered in sauce, garlicky...
Wang Xiaoman works in the canteen of a textile factory. Although she is just a handyman, she understands Bi Chunliu's methods very clearly. They sound easy to do. She becomes more and more confident in her thinking. When she arrives at the island, she will show Dongzheng her skills!
"Thank you, Chunliu, I will definitely try it when the time comes!" Wang Xiaoman thought that after she settled down there, she would learn to make some dried goods, send some back home, and then give them to Chunliu to try.
Bi Chunliu: "Okay!"
Xing Fei saw Chun Liu and Old Wei's wife chatting animatedly and asked, "What are you two talking about? You look so happy?"
Bi Chunliu turned around and saw a pair of sparkling eyes. When Bi Chunliu looked at him, her eyes curved and she smiled foolishly. "It's just one bottle, isn't it? Are you drunk?"
Wang Xiaoman also looked at Wei Dongzheng. Wei Dongzheng's face was darker than Xing Fei's, and his expression couldn't be seen. Wang Xiaoman touched his face directly, then looked at Bi Chunliu and nodded. "Okay! It's so hot, let's go home quickly."
Wei Dongzheng was even more drunk than Xing Fei, and Bi Chunliu was worried Xing Fei might fall while riding the bike. She pushed the bike herself, while Wang Xiaoman and Xing Fei supported Wei Dongzheng from behind. They slowly walked Wei Dongzheng to the guesthouse. After Wang Xiaoman told her brother to take care of Wei Dongzheng, Bi Chunliu and Xing Fei finally felt relieved and went back.
Bi Chunliu knew that Xing Fei could drink much more than just this bottle. Looking at Xing Fei who was quietly pushing the cart to take her home, Bi Chunliu said, "Go back and pour the water and put it next to the bed before going to sleep."
"Hmm..." Xing Fei moved his mouth, wanting to speak but stopping himself. "Chun Liu, you haven't answered my previous question. Have you thought it through?"
"What?" Bi Chunliu looked at him in confusion. What question? What answer?
Xing Fei stopped the car and approached Bi Chunliu, bending slightly. He reeked of alcohol and blinked, "You didn't tell me how you feel about me? Are we dating now?"
Bi Chunliu: “…”
After meeting Xing Fei, she felt a tangle deep in her heart, a tangle that she couldn't express...
Although they had dated in their past life, and she was young now, she had lived to be seventy in her past life. Every time she thought about her past life, she felt like an old cow eating young grass! And she couldn't say such words to anyone!
Don't look at me because I look only 20, I'm actually 70...
You thought I was your sister, but actually I am your grandmother...
Sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night and thought of Xing Fei. Even if I repeatedly comforted myself that I was really twenty now, I had returned to the past. This was completely different from my previous life, and there was nothing I could do...
Sometimes I really hate myself. What's the point of this useless guilt?! Or am I just too thin-skinned? I'm already dating Xing Fei, who's in his fifties, and I'm still worried about Xing Fei, who's in his twenties?!
"I……"
Xing Fei suddenly interrupted her with a grin, "It's okay, you don't have to answer so quickly, I'm just reminding you, you can think about it again, if you don't like it, I'll ask you again later."
"OK……"
Bi Chunliu sincerely thanked Xing Fei for his thoughtfulness. She couldn't continue to pretend that as long as I didn't think about it, it wouldn't happen.
.
The day after Wang Xiaoman got married, she left with Wei Dongzheng, and Wang Xiaojun started living with Bi Chunliu again.
"Ah..." Wang Xiaojun sighed, "I don't know if my sister has arrived at the destination, or if she's carsick or seasick."
Bi Chunliu was watching Zhao Mei sorting out the wool. She had taken apart the sweater and smoothed it out at home. The wool was now much straighter than when she had just taken it apart, just a little bit harder than when she had just bought it.
"Xiaojun, don't worry. I think your sister is very happy. Instead of worrying about this, you should think about the fact that your sister is married. Now your mother has started looking for a partner for you. She has already contacted me." Wang Hongxia said while standing at the door with a glass of water.
Wang Xiaojun sat up straight in shock, "No way..." Her mother was really that kind of person, "Aunt, how old am I? Chunliu is older than me, and she doesn't have a partner yet. I'm not in a hurry."
Bi Chunliu: "...Actually, I do..."
Wang Xiaojun: “???”
Wang Hongxia put the water cup on the table: "Chunliu, do you really have a partner?"
Zhao Mei stopped fiddling with the sweater at this time and looked at her worriedly. Could it be that this girl's boyfriend was introduced by her third uncle?
"What does this person do? Did your grandma tell you? Chunliu, you can't be fooled by your grandma and your third uncle."
Bi Chunliu: "Sister Xia, Sister Mei, Xiaojun, don't worry. It wasn't my grandma who introduced us, but Chairman Ren. We just confirmed our relationship, so I haven't told you yet." Her colleagues are all very nice!
Knowing it was Chairman Ren who introduced her, Zhao Mei felt relieved. The person her unit leader introduced her to must be reliable! She picked up the yarn and knitting needles again and asked, "Which unit does this man work for?"
"I'm from the Public Security Bureau, and I used to be a soldier." Bi Chunliu honestly explained Xing Fei's situation. She had only been in two relationships in her lifetime, both with the same person. She thought that perhaps Sister Hongxia and Sister Mei could give her a different perspective on Xing Fei.
Zhao Mei: "That sounds good. Marrying a man provides food and clothing. This man is fine."
Bi Chunliu: "..." You said a few days ago that being a military wife was difficult. Oh, no, Xing Fei is no longer a soldier, so he won't be a military wife.
Wang Hongxia also nodded. She thought it was pretty good. Being a policeman sounded very decent!
Thinking of the task Wang Xiaojun's mother had entrusted to her, Wang Hongxia asked, "Chairman Ren, do you have any other male comrades like this who could introduce one to Xiaojun?"
Wang Xiaojun had just been angry that Chunliu had found a boyfriend but didn't share it with him right away. But when he heard Wang Hongxia wanted Chairman Ren to introduce him to someone, he quickly refused. "No, no, no, I don't want to. I'd better wait another two years. A guy like that sounds a lot older than me. We can't have a conversation."
Zhao Mei advised her, "Xiaojun, you don't have to refuse. This kind of thing depends on fate. Don't reject it in your heart. Aren't you just like those judges in ancient times? You sentenced someone to death before even meeting them."
Wang Hongxia also said, "That's the thing. If you find someone suitable, you can get in touch with him first. Your mother is thinking that you are an adult now that you are working. If you really meet a good man, you will be lucky. This way, you won't be in your twenties and only meet the ones that others have picked out, and then you won't have anyone suitable. Xiaobi, what do you think?" Wang Hongxia wanted those who just had a partner to persuade Wang Xiaojun together.
Xiao Bi, Xiao Bi didn't dare to speak.
As someone who fell in love in her fifties, whose partner died heroically after just a few years, and who remained alone until her death, she has no right to advise others to get married...
She's had both freedom and a partner. She believes it's better to live her own life than worry about other people's lives! She's never persuaded anyone to get married before; if they want to, they can get married. It's no use trying to persuade someone who doesn't want to get married; as long as they can live a comfortable life on their own, that's all she needs.
"That's right, Xiaojun, you need to listen to the advice given to you by people like us who are older. Well, let me tell you about a sister from my next-door neighbor's house." Zhao Mei stopped knitting, took a sip of water from her teacup, and began to share...
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