Chapter 5 The Handsome Officer
Chapter Five: The Handsome Officer
Upon hearing this, Li Yue looked at him in confusion:
"Bring something better?"
"But I don't have anyone better."
Ling Jianwei forced a smile: "If you don't have one, I'll lend it to you."
"?" Li Yue looked bewildered, her voice murmuring, "You're lending it to me? You mean, I'll take you to the wedding?"
Ling Jianwei exclaimed, "I think she's better than that guy, at least she's taller."
Li Yue sneered: "That's much better. You're not only taller than him, but also more handsome, and you're from the military."
Hearing this answer, Ling Jianwei was satisfied: "Isn't that settled?"
But Li Yue didn't immediately think it was feasible. Instead, she calmly analyzed: "It's easy to say. If I take you there, they'll take it seriously and ask all sorts of questions. Then rumors will spread that my boyfriend doesn't want me anymore, and my reputation will be ruined."
Ling Jianwei's voice became casual: "That's easy. Just say we're friends. It doesn't have to be that we're a couple. The important thing is to create a misunderstanding and make people think there's something between us. Anyway, I'm not often in Beijing, so the chances of them knowing or running into me are slim."
Li Yue understood. Was he deliberately creating ambiguity to mislead the public?
"But my cousin's uncle and aunt have met you."
"Will they attend the wedding?"
"Won't."
"Isn't this perfect?"
Li Yue: "..."
He started the car: "Let's go eat first, and we can chat while we eat."
Thinking about this plan on the way here is quite exciting. Those people will be speechless with amazement when they see Ling Jianwei.
During the meal, Li Yue said, "Since I'm going to take you to the wedding, I need to know you to some extent. Otherwise, if people ask me questions, I won't be able to answer anything, and I'll be exposed."
The man nodded: "Ask anything, I can answer anything that doesn't involve classified information."
Li Yue felt relieved: "You work in Beijing?"
"On vacation, I'm going back to Beijing to visit relatives."
How many days of vacation do you have?
"Theoretically, it's a month, but in practice, we can be recalled immediately."
"Oh, where are the troops?"
"In the Central Plains."
He mentioned a specific place name, but Li Yue didn't take it to heart; knowing which province he was in was enough for her.
Li Yue then asked, "So what is your position?"
"Deputy Battalion Commander."
In this day and age, it's not uncommon for a deputy battalion commander to be 25 years old. Li Yue said, "We've asked enough questions."
"Almost done?" he laughed. "You haven't even asked about our family situation yet."
"They don't need to know so much about my family's situation. If they ask, I'll just say it's not convenient to talk about it."
After a moment of silence, Ling Jianwei glanced at her and said, "My parents only have me as their child, but I also have three half-sisters, two older brothers and one older sister."
Li Yue was eating a delicious piece of pork rib and thought it was normal for leaders of their era to have several marriages, so she casually replied, "Oh."
“Also,” he looked at me intently, “I’m currently single.”
Li Yue used her chopsticks to remove the bone and placed it on the table, grinning, "Of course you can't have a boyfriend, otherwise your boyfriend will be angry if he finds out."
Ling Jianwei glanced at her carefree appearance, closed her eyelids briefly, and then placed a piece of pork rib into her bowl.
“However,” Li Yue looked up at him, “since you’re back in the capital to visit your family, didn’t your family arrange any blind dates for you?”
Ling Jianwei: "Are you just curious, or are you concerned about my personal life?"
"Just out of curiosity," Li Yue said.
The air fell silent instantly. Li Yue opened her innocent, clear eyes and noticed that he seemed displeased. She wondered to herself, had she said something wrong? Was this a taboo topic?
Seeing that her eyes were clear and she had no other thoughts, the man paused for a moment and said, "Eat quickly, and I'll take you home after you finish."
"oh."
This is probably a topic that shouldn't be brought up.
Li Yue silently wrote it down.
On the way home, Li Yue remained calm and continued, "By the way, won't what you're doing violate the rules?"
The man driving clicked his tongue.
This girl may seem naive, but she's actually quite sharp-minded and clear-headed.
"I just went to a wedding with a friend, didn't say or do anything, how can that be considered a violation of rules?"
Li Yue said, "Alright, I won't dwell on these details anymore. I'll be waiting for you the day after tomorrow."
The car was parked outside the family compound. Li Yue got out and walked home with a light step.
The man lit a cigarette and, through the thin smoke, looked at the slender figure, as if watching himself fall for her little by little.
For the past 25 years, he has always been law-abiding, obedient, and lived a very disciplined life.
Now, however, I have to help a young girl regain her dignity.
He was the one who brought it up.
He's probably really gone mad...
-
In the courtyard, Gu Yanmei's quilt was drying on a line in the sun, and she was using a stick to beat the quilt.
After Li Yue returned, Gu Yanmei called out to her, "Rongrong and Dongping are here. Did they find you?"
Li Yue nodded: "Found it."
"How did the talks go?"
"The same as always."
Gu Yanmei said, "I understand you. If you really don't want to go, then don't go."
Li Yue laughed: "Why are you suddenly on my side today?"
"I was originally on your side, but I felt that the four of us had grown up together and had such a good relationship, so I didn't want things to turn out so ugly."
Li Yue looked at Gu Yanmei and replied, "I'll think about it."
"Really?"
"Hmm. But could I leave right after being a bridesmaid, without attending the banquet or anything?"
Gu Yanmei asked in confusion, "Since you've already gone, why aren't you eating at the banquet?"
"Something might have happened."
Gu Yanmei didn't think too much about it and replied, "As long as you come over, that's fine."
Having already decided to be a bridesmaid, Li Yue figured she should dress up a bit too.
The next day, Li Yue asked Gu Yanmei, "What are you wearing?"
“An old dress,” Gu Yanmei said. “If you’re going, wear an autumn dress too, but don’t dress up too nicely, or you’ll overshadow the bride.”
Li Yue said, "This is how I look, whether I dress up or not."
Gu Yanmei sighed: "Yes. But it's okay, she can do her makeup. And I'll definitely be her bridesmaid, and you'll be her best friend. I'll stay by her side, and you can carry some things and follow behind."
Li Yue asked curiously, "What are you taking?"
"You'll find out tomorrow. Getting married now is not like it used to be; it's quite simple."
Li Yue was not familiar with the wedding customs of the time, only knowing the phrase "three turns and one sound," so she asked, "Do they have three turns and one sound?"
"Yes, I bought a bicycle, a watch, a sewing machine, and a radio," Gu Yanmei said, listing the items with great familiarity. "Hey, you can carry the radio with you."
Li Yue nodded: "That works too."
So you really want to go?
"Let me think about it some more."
Seeing that she was softening her stance, Gu Yanmei went to report the news that afternoon.
Finally, Sunday arrived.
Early in the morning, Li Yue wore an old plaid skirt, a thin navy blue knitted cardigan, and had her hair in two braids.
My cousin said sarcastically from the side, "If you go over like that, you'll steal the bride's thunder."
"But I didn't put on any makeup, I just washed my face."
My cousin shook her head: "There's nothing I can do, I'm naturally beautiful."
Gu Yanmei was waiting for her outside the door. Li Yue put on white socks, then changed into leather shoes, and went out.
We arrived at the alley and entered the large courtyard where they lived.
Wu Rongrong was dressed in a red dress, her hair styled, and she had put on makeup and face powder. Sitting in front of the dressing mirror, she saw Li Yue and said happily, "I'm so glad you could come."
Li Yue said, "Anyway, I'm just mentioning a radio; I don't know the other procedures."
The matchmaker reminded them from the side: "There's no set procedure. They've decided to come to pick up the bride by bicycle, and our wedding procession will follow behind slowly."
"Is the banquet being held right there in their residential compound?" someone asked.
"Yes, they have a cafeteria there, so it's quite convenient to host a banquet."
As the firecrackers went off, the wedding party arrived. Li Dongping dressed up in a brand-new Zhongshan suit. After entering the courtyard, he busied himself handing out cigarettes to people, then went inside to help the bride put on her shoes. Surrounded by the crowd, he carried the bride to a bicycle parked at the alley entrance.
Amidst the hustle and bustle around her, Li Yue quietly watched everything from a corner, her heart filled with emotion as she watched Li Dongping carry the bride.
If the original owner of this body were to see this scene, she would probably feel sad but also wish them well.
She was so gentle and kind.
Li Yue carried the radio and walked in the wedding procession. After passing through the alley and onto the road, Ling Jianwei's jeep was parked on the side of the road.
As Li Yue passed the car, she glanced inside. The man inside turned his head and smiled at her, raising an eyebrow. In that instant, Li Yue suddenly felt that he didn't have to go.
Perhaps, the original owner has already let go of the past.
She didn't want to be harsh on the newlyweds anymore.
The family compound where Li Dongping lived was also very lively. Most of the guests were chatting and eating melon seeds in the canteen. The bridal suite was small, and there were many people coming and going. Many children came to ask for candy. The elders of the Li family all knew Li Yue. When they saw her, they smiled and nodded without saying anything more.
Li Yue placed the radio in the bridal chamber, looking at the room, which, although simply furnished, was filled with bright red "double happiness" characters, exuding a festive atmosphere, and at the bride who couldn't stop smiling.
Everyone seemed quite happy.
Only Li Yue, feeling disheartened, left the bridal chamber.
She went to the public restroom, and coincidentally, there were people from the family compound chatting inside.
"The girl who came from Dongping to talk became a bridesmaid. Dongping's mother said not to hire her anymore, but the bride insisted on having her."
"Why must someone be the bridesmaid? Aren't you afraid of embarrassing them?"
"It seems that the bride was originally going to be with Dongping, but the other guy snatched her away. Fortunately, his family didn't agree, so she got back into the bride's hands."
"Is that really true?"
"I don't know, that's what the bride said."
Li Yue sneered inwardly upon hearing this.
What is this? A complete distortion of the truth?
Wu Rongrong is really... She already has him, why does she still have to throw mud at him?
Firecrackers went off in the cafeteria. Li Yue washed her hands and walked along the road, feeling that she absolutely had to bring Ling Jianwei with her, otherwise those people would really look down on her.
Gu Yanmei, who had come looking for her, called out, "Li Yue, hurry to the cafeteria, everyone's there."
After walking a few steps, Gu Yanmei said mysteriously, "Let me tell you, there's a very handsome military officer inside who gave a rather large red envelope. The registrar asked him which side he was a guest from, and he said it didn't matter which side he was a guest from. He just happened to have seen the bride and groom and was passing by and wanted to get a cup of wedding wine and share in the joy."
Li Yue: "..."
A note from the author:
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