Wang Xiuxiu offered a solution, and the two set off.
They quickly returned to the entrance of the compound.
Just as Xu Ruantang was about to part ways with Wang Xiuxiu, she saw three or five people walking towards them.
Several young men in military uniforms followed behind Chen Ji and Xu Hanli.
They quickly stepped forward and took the cake carried by Xu Ruantang and Wang Xiuxiu.
"Hello, sister-in-law!"
"Hello, sister-in-law!"
Xu Ruantang didn't know why they were here.
It was Xu Hanli who spoke up to clear things up, "Sister-in-law, everyone is waiting for your cake! We've been waiting for you here especially for you."
When Chen Ji arrived at the military base in the morning, he mentioned it to Xu Hanli, asking him to remind him to keep track of the time.
He was planning to come out to pick up Xu Ruantang, but he was worried that the cake was too big for her to carry.
To everyone's surprise, less than half an hour later, Xu Hanli had spread the word throughout the entire troupe.
Xu Ruantang nodded knowingly, "Okay, then you should take it back and eat it together."
Fortunately, she didn't have to be taken inside.
"Sister-in-law, you worked so hard to make this cake, aren't you going to eat it with us?"
Xu Hanli seemed surprised and moved closer to her, saying, "No, you have to go. Everyone has prepared gifts for you!"
The young men behind him echoed, "Yes, sister-in-law, let's just consider it a celebration for the regimental commander's promotion."
The promotion of a regimental commander to deputy brigade commander should have been a cause for celebration, but now the rules are strict and it's not allowed at all.
So, the only way to express my feelings is through a cake.
Xu Ruantang blinked and turned her head to look at Chen Ji.
Chen Ji nodded gently, his expression softening. "Let's go together."
Wang Xiuxiu had only gone halfway home when Xu Hanli persuaded her to continue.
"Sister-in-law, let's not talk about anything else today. You've been avoiding me. Is it because of what happened last time? Are you still angry with everyone?"
Xu Hanli, a man over 1.8 meters tall, was circling around Wang Xiuxiu.
Wang Xiuxiu frowned. "Why are you angry? Nothing happened."
"That's good. You even brought the cake to the door. You went through all that trouble. Aren't you going to have a taste?"
Xu Hanli continued to contribute.
Wang Xiuxiu looked at him as if he were a monster, "I eat this every day, I don't want to eat it at all."
Xu Hanli was not afraid at all. "That's different. You're not angry with everyone anymore, so why don't you sit down and share a piece of cake with everyone?"
"Sister-in-law, I promise, it'll only take the time it takes to eat a piece of cake."
Wang Xiuxiu was getting annoyed by what he was saying.
Xu Ruantang tried to step forward to smooth things over, but Chen Ji grabbed her wrist.
"Let her decide for herself. If she doesn't want to go, I'll talk to Hanli."
Chen Ji spoke in a deep voice, at a volume only Xu Ruantang could hear.
Xu Ruantang glared at him, "She said she's not going, are you guys really deaf!"
Before she could break free from Chen Ji's grasp after she finished speaking, she heard Wang Xiuxiu's voice.
"Okay, you've eaten the cake. Don't bother me anymore."
Wang Xiuxiu thought about it and agreed.
Hiding from the political commissar isn't a solution. Since everyone is so curious, it would be best to explain things clearly in front of everyone.
When I arrived at the unit, a table had already been set up outside the regimental headquarters office.
"Commander! You're finally back!"
The young man holding the cleaver saw Chen Ji and the others and ran towards them at top speed.
Xu Ruantang was startled and her first reaction was to pull Wang Xiuxiu and hide behind Chen Ji and the others.
"Stand still."
Chen Ji witnessed Xu Ruantang's actions and had no choice but to speak up to stop him.
The young man paused, hesitated for a couple of seconds, and then said awkwardly, "Commander, this was borrowed from the mess hall. Weren't we going to cut the cake..."
Xu Ruantang: "......"
Soon, the table was surrounded by people.
Everyone stared at the cake with shining eyes, and when Xu Hanli stepped forward to open it, they all exclaimed in surprise.
Xu Ruantang framed cartoon characters in military uniforms on it and also drew chibi-style guns.
"So beautiful! Your sister-in-law is amazing!"
"I've never seen such a big cream cake before, and it's three layers! My goodness, how much did this cost?"
"There must be quite a lot. I ate it on my birthday before I joined the army, but it wasn't this pretty."
"Thanks to my sister-in-law!"
"Reporting, Commander! It's Cheng Shuanzhu's birthday today. Could we let him blow out the candles?"
A young soldier with rosy cheeks spoke in a loud voice, standing ramrod straight with tears of excitement glistening in his eyes.
Soon someone else followed suit, "Reporting, Commander! Two people in our class are also having birthdays!"
The chorus of reports from everyone ceased at Chen Ji's glance.
Chen Ji nodded slightly to Xu Hanli, "Then let's take this opportunity to have those celebrating their birthdays today stand up and blow out the candles and cut the cake together."
As soon as he finished speaking, a cheer erupted.
Xu Hanli also laughed and said, "Which little brat is having a birthday? Hurry up and step forward, or you won't be able to blow up the candles. Don't cry then."
Soon, some of the bolder ones stepped forward voluntarily, while others, who were more reserved, were pushed forward by their classmates.
In the end, eight people were selected.
Xu Ruantang pointed to the side of the box for Xu Hanli, "The candles and matches are inside, as well as a birthday hat."
The birthday hat was designed by Xu Ruantang herself and has a distinctive style of their store.
When she came, she hesitated for a moment about whether to bring it, since it wasn't for anyone's birthday.
Later, I thought I'd bring it along just in case, and I never expected it would actually come in handy.
Xu Hanli emptied all the candles and looked at the first soldier standing there, asking, "How old are you?"
"Report! Cheng Shuanzhu, nineteen years old!"
The young man was thin and dark-skinned, with exceptionally bright and piercing eyes.
"good."
Xu Hanli took out a birthday hat, but couldn't assemble it for a long time. Chen Ji stepped forward and fixed it for him.
Chen Ji always understood Xu Ruantang's design very quickly.
Xu Hanli patted Cheng Shuanzhu on the shoulder, "Today, we'll sing the birthday song eight times, one by one, no one needs to rush."
"Come on, let's invite Old Chen, who is about to be promoted to deputy brigade commander, to put a birthday hat on the first birthday boy!"
Thunderous applause erupted, everyone was in high spirits, and countless eyes turned to Chen Ji.
A hint of surprise flashed in Chen Ji's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
Xu Hanli always acts on a whim.
In such a pleasant atmosphere, Chen Ji went along with it and went forward to put a birthday hat on Cheng Shuanzhu.
Cheng Shuanzhu immediately gave Chen Jijing a military salute, his eyes glistening with even more tears.
Soon, nineteen candles were placed on the cake and lit one by one.
Everyone gathered together and sang "Happy Birthday".
This process was repeated eight times that day.
Chen Ji helped the eight children put on birthday hats, Xu Hanli lit the candles eight times, and everyone sang the birthday song eight times.
As the song progressed, some people began to choke up, and others started to sob.
Some people were already in tears.
This was the most memorable day they spent in the military, and one of the few warm moments they had since leaving home.
Later, before cutting the cake, everyone tacitly expressed their gratitude to Xu Ruantang and Wang Xiuxiu.
"Thank you, sisters-in-law!"
The sound was so loud it resounded through the sky.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
