Chapter 38

It wasn’t a holiday for the military district, but training wasn’t intense lately, so taking half a day off was still possible.

Besides Ji Wanqing’s acquaintance, the battalion commander Li Biao, three company commanders from the first battalion came to pick up the bride.

A total of five people, riding five bicycles, came to pick up the bride. Behind them were many soldiers who were on rotation and came to watch the fun. They made a lively procession to the family compound.

At the Fang family’s house, Aunt Zhuge had called several familiar neighbor aunties and over a dozen children from the courtyard. A group of women and children blocked the entrance, making the men who came to pick up the bride hesitant. They couldn’t get through.

Jiang Che had to give out candy, hand out red envelopes, do push-ups, and even recite several passages from the quotations before they were allowed to enter the courtyard to pick up the bride.

Ji Wanqing, dressed in a red top and black skirt, came out of the room. Her bright and impactful look had a strong Hong Kong style.

The courtyard fell silent for a moment, followed by the screams of the children, the surprise of the neighbor aunties, and several amazed and envious glances.

“The bride is so beautiful! Grandma, I want to wear a red dress too! I want to!”

“Oh, Xiao Jiang’s wife is so outstanding! Our family compound has a beautiful Guanyin!”

“My goodness, they said the sister-in-law is prettier than Comrade Su, and I thought that was an exaggeration. Now that I’ve seen her, she’s truly a beauty!”

The children, with wide eyes, rushed forward to hug the bride, but Jiang Che was the first to move. He bent down and picked her up by the waist.

His 6’3″ frame held her in front of his chest, and the children couldn’t even reach her skirt. They cried out in frustration.

Jiang Che was wearing his most formal uniform today, with military medals on his chest and rank insignia on his shoulders, the kind of uniform that would be worn to receive awards on stage.

Ji Wanqing was held in his arms, and he raised her up a little higher. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

There were teasing and playful voices coming from around them. Ji Wanqing didn’t mind much, but Jiang Che, for once, seemed a little flustered.

“Let’s go, we’re going to the regiment headquarters.”

The five bicycles, proud and majestic, rode through the family compound. The bride’s skirt billowed in the air, and the children’s laughter as they chased after the bicycles echoed far and wide.

Commander Wen’s office.

Secretary Feng walked in and reminded him, “Commander, it’s almost time. Shall I take you there now?”

Seeing the commander’s confused expression, Secretary Feng reminded him, “You forgot? Today you’re going to the regiment headquarters canteen of the 113th Regiment to be the witness for Battalion Commander Jiang’s wedding.”

Commander Wen pulled at the corner of his mouth and reluctantly stood up. “Let’s go then. By the way, does Xiao Qian know?”

His old friend was really good at making things difficult for him. Everyone knew that his granddaughter had a crush on that guy named Jiang, but he had to be the witness for Jiang Che’s wedding!

Was he trying to make his family’s life miserable?

Secretary Feng said, “Miss Wen has been busy with the radio station lately. She should not know.”

But as soon as he finished speaking, Wen Qian’s voice came from outside the office. “Grandpa! Are you going to Jiang Che’s wedding? I want to go too!”

“…” Commander Wen helplessly rubbed his forehead, put on a stern face, and shouted, “What are you going for? You’re going to someone’s wedding? Aren’t you ashamed?”

Wen Qian had been spoiled since she was a child, always carefree and outspoken. “What’s shameful? I call it bravely pursuing love! Epic romance!”

“Ancestors! You are my ancestors! If you dare say this outside my office, I’ll break your legs!”

Although the current situation wasn’t as tense as it was a few years ago, it was best to keep some things to yourself!

Wen Qian pouted. “I just want to see what his fiancée looks like. What’s so good about her that he chose her over me, humph.”

“No, you can’t go.” Commander Wen adjusted his hat, his tone Brooking No Refusal.

Aunt Zhuge had invited him to be the witness as the bride’s family. If he brought his granddaughter and something happened, wouldn’t that be slapping her in the face?

Wen Qian said, “I want to go, I want to go!”

But Commander Wen was the commander of a division after all. He spoiled his granddaughter, who had lost her parents early, but if he really got serious, she wouldn’t be able to win against him.

So, Wen Qian was locked in the office by Commander Wen and told the duty officer that she could only be released after lunch.

The regiment headquarters canteen, second floor.

Jiang Che was well-liked, and everyone was willing to give him face. Basically, everyone he invited came.

The quota for holding wedding banquets at the regiment headquarters canteen was limited based on rank, but Jiang Che had bought extra ingredients for the canteen and added two hard dishes, braised cabbage and pork and mushroom chicken soup. The banquet today was quite sumptuous.

When Commander Wen arrived, many people couldn’t believe their eyes. Battalion Commander Jiang actually had such great influence that he could get the commander to be his witness?

Later, they learned that it was the bride’s side who had invited the commander. Everyone looked at the newlyweds with even greater shock.

The sister-in-law/brother-in-law was not only beautiful and a good cook, but she also had such a powerful background!

They were envious, jealous, and hateful!

The wedding began.

But weddings in this era were simply the witness saying a few encouraging words, the bride and groom reciting the quotations together, then toasting everyone.

During the toasting, Jiang Che introduced everyone to her. When they reached the third table, he said, “This is Wang Zi Hua, and this is Shen Feng. They’re both deputy battalion commanders of our first battalion.”

Wang Zi Hua and Shen Feng said, “Hello, sister-in-law!”

Ji Wanqing raised an eyebrow.

Shen Feng.

The male lead in the book looked like the name. He was not only tall and strong, but he was also very muscular. From behind, he looked like a bear. Add his cold and sharp jawline, and he definitely had a cold and rough temperament.

But he was too muscular, lacking in beauty. Compared to this dark-skinned and rough man, Ji Wanqing preferred the handsome, broad-shouldered, long-legged, and handsome type like Jiang Che.

Her gaze lingered for a moment before she quickly retracted it and smiled in response. “Hello.”

After lunch and sending off well wishes, everyone went back to their respective regiments and headquarters to work.

Jiang Che took Ji Wanqing to their new home in the family compound to see if they needed to buy anything else.

Ji Wanqing looked around their new home and exclaimed in surprise, “I didn’t expect it to be so close to Aunt Zhuge’s house. It’ll be convenient to visit each other.”

Jiang Che was also surprised because according to his rank, he should have been assigned to the flat area, the kind where several families share a large courtyard.

He didn’t expect the organization to assign him to this area.

He glanced discreetly at the girl, who was full of curiosity, and thought that maybe it was because of his wife.

The new courtyard was quite large, a two-story small building.

There were several flower beds and wooden frames in the yard, covering an area of about twenty square meters.

The first floor had a kitchen, living room, and a small bedroom. There was also a dry toilet in the backyard.

The second floor also had three rooms. Ji Wanqing planned to use the largest one in the middle as the master bedroom, the one on the left as a study, and the one on the right as a walk-in closet.

However, the previous family had moved out with nothing but the bare essentials. They had left the stove built in the kitchen and the earthen bed in the bedroom, but almost nothing else.

So, Ji Wanqing had to go to the county to find a carpenter and buy furniture. Wardrobes, chests, tables, chairs, and the dressing table and desk she had ordered before, she had them all delivered together.

Jiang Che stayed in the courtyard to clean the new house and moved things from the dormitory.