Chapter 31

At the Home of Political Commissar Su Mingliang

Feng Aiqin returned home, holding back her anger. She had just prepared dinner and was about to eat when Wu Xiaomin arrived with some vegetables.

“Aunt, Uncle, I went back to the village today and brought you some vegetables.”

Su Mingliang said, “You haven’t eaten yet, right? Join us for dinner.”

Feng Aiqin set another place at the table, and Wu Xiaomin began to inquire about Cheng Jingmo. “Uncle, has the final decision regarding Cheng Jingmo been made?”

Hearing Cheng Jingmo’s name made Feng Aiqin angry, and she started to scold Wu Xiaomin, “When we introduced him to you back then, you had all sorts of complaints. Now that Cheng Jingmo is married, you suddenly care about him!”

Upon hearing this, Su Mingliang’s face turned serious. “What do you mean by that?”

He didn’t like Yu Xiangnian, but as a soldier, he couldn’t tolerate his family interfering in someone else’s marriage.

Realizing she had misspoken, Feng Aiqin didn’t dare to respond.

Su Mingliang sternly said, “Cheng Jingmo is a married man! If you keep thinking about him, at the very least, it’s a question of propriety, and at worst, it’s a criminal offense to disrupt a military marriage. You could end up in jail!”

With Su Mingliang speaking so seriously, Wu Xiaomin didn’t dare to ask about Cheng Jingmo anymore.

She responded calmly, “Uncle, I don’t have those thoughts. Cheng Jingmo and I are just ordinary friends, showing concern between friends.”

Only then did Su Mingliang’s expression soften. “There are many outstanding single young men in the army. I’ll introduce you to someone someday.”

Wu Xiaomin thought of Yu Xiangyang.

In her memory, Yu Xiangyang later became a high-ranking officer in the army, second only to Cheng Jingmo.

Yu Xiangyang was also Yu Xiangnian’s brother. If she became Yu Xiangnian’s sister-in-law, it would infuriate Yu Xiangnian!

“Uncle, I remember there is a very outstanding person in your regiment named Yu Xiangyang.”

Su Mingliang’s face, which had just softened, turned serious again. “You have high standards, picking only the best soldiers in the army, but Yu Xiangyang won’t do!”

“Why not?”

Su Mingliang said, “Not only is Yu Xiangyang excellent himself, but he also comes from a good family background. Many officials want to marry their daughters to him! Moreover, his parents are very powerful and won’t allow just any woman to enter their home.”

Feng Aiqin said discontentedly, “Nowadays, isn’t it all about advocating for freedom in love and marriage? Do his parents still want to arrange his marriage?”

“You studied for a few years in vain!” Su Mingliang said earnestly, “It’s not about arranged marriages. Every parent wants the best for their children. Look at Cheng Jingmo; he had to marry the best.”

After all, it was her own niece, and Feng Aiqin wanted to find a good match for her. “Our Xiaomin is not bad! She’s educated, skilled in medicine, and from a big city. Introduce them first; maybe they’ll like each other!”

Su Mingliang was a bit helpless. “Alright, alright, I’ll find an opportunity to ask Yu Xiangyang.”

It was Monday again.

Yu Xiangnian came to the office with an extremely heavy heart.

She didn’t want to go to work, didn’t want to see those two, but she didn’t know what else to do other than work.

In the afternoon, she went to the warehouse to get something and accidentally bumped into Ding Yunfei and Bai Mei, who were having a rendezvous behind the warehouse.

Their eyes met, and she cursed herself for coming at the wrong time!

Since she had run into them, she had to react somehow; otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense!

After all, she was now wholeheartedly in love with Ding Yunfei!

She first looked at the two of them with an expression of disbelief, clutching her chest and looking heartbroken, then turned and ran away.

Seeing Yu Xiangnian was startled, Ding Yunfei reacted two seconds later. He immediately let go of Bai Mei’s hand and took a step back to put some distance between them.

“Nian Nian…” he started to explain, but Yu Xiangnian had already run off in distress.

Ding Yunfei instructed Bai Mei, “Remember, we just ran into each other here and chatted for a bit. No matter what, we don’t admit to anything.”

Then he quickly ran off to chase Yu Xiangnian, leaving a stunned Bai Mei behind.

Yu Xiangnian hadn’t run far. She stood at the corner, rubbing her eyes to make it look like she had been crying, waiting for Ding Yunfei to come and explain.

Her goal wasn’t achieved yet; she couldn’t afford to have a falling out now!

Ding Yunfei came running anxiously, “Nian Nian, let me explain.”

Yu Xiangnian covered her ears, shaking her head vigorously, “I don’t want to listen! I don’t want to listen!”

Ding Yunfei grabbed her wrists, trying to pull her hands away, but Yu Xiangnian shook off his hands in disgust.

“Nian Nian, I just ran into Bai Mei behind the warehouse and chatted with her for a bit. Don’t misunderstand!”

Yu Xiangnian channeled her inner drama queen, her eyes reddened as she looked at Ding Yunfei with deep affection, “You were chatting with her. You must have discussed poetry and philosophy. I haven’t even discussed poetry and philosophy with you. Next, are you going to watch the snow and the moon together? I haven’t even watched the snow and the moon with you.”

Ding Yunfei was speechless.

After a moment of silence, he said, “No, we didn’t talk about those things. We just chatted about everyday stuff.”

Yu Xiangnian’s voice trembled slightly, as if she were extremely aggrieved, “Are you unwilling to spend your life with me? Is my status making you afraid? But my mind, my thoughts, my heart are all filled with you!”

Yu Xiangnian almost made herself sick with her own words!

She used to get goosebumps watching this kind of drama, and now she was making herself feel the same way!

Hearing Yu Xiangnian say her heart was filled with him, Ding Yunfei felt relieved, “Nian Nian, I only like you too. If you don’t like me being with Bai Mei, I’ll stay away from her in the future.”

Yu Xiangnian stayed in character, “No! I don’t want you to wrong yourself like that. Seeing you wrong yourself would make me sad!”

“Then what do you want me to do?”

Yu Xiangnian said, “I consider Bai Mei a sister, and you should consider her a sister too. My heart only has room for you, and your heart should only have room for me!”

Ding Yunfei was completely reassured, “Nian Nian, don’t worry. My heart only has room for you.”

Little did they know, this entire scene was witnessed by Xiao Jie, who was hiding around the corner.

He had gotten out of school early and picked some yellow loquats from the loquat trees at school, thinking Yu Xiangnian would like them, and brought them to her.

Unexpectedly, he saw such a scene.

Watching the scene, Xiao Jie’s eyes dimmed. He turned around, carrying the loquats, and left.

Not long after he got home, Cheng Jingmo returned as well.

Xiao Jie thought for a moment and decided he couldn’t keep it from Cheng Jingmo, “Uncle, today I saw my aunt with Captain Ding!”

Seeing Cheng Jingmo’s lack of reaction, Xiao Jie continued, “My aunt was crying and said she wanted to watch the snow and the moon with Captain Ding. She said her mind and heart were filled with him and said things like spending their lives together and that her heart only has room for him.”

Cheng Jingmo listened, still expressionless, “Eavesdropping on others is not a good behavior.”

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I was bringing loquats to my aunt and overheard by accident.”

“Don’t listen in next time.” Cheng Jingmo went to the kitchen to start cooking.