Chapter 27 : Call Her Mom  

Fang Xiaoluo didn’t care much about such things.  

She was the type of person who, if others were easygoing, she’d be easygoing too. But if someone was difficult, well, she could be even more so.  

After finishing the formalities at the groom’s side, everyone flocked to the canteen of the military district compound.  

The wedding of Shen Zheng and Fang Xiaoluo was held right there.  

Today, the canteen was decorated with red banners and festive symbols of double happiness, creating a jubilant atmosphere.  

The place buzzed with activity, lively and full of people coming and going.  

By noon, more and more people had gathered in the canteen. Many were soldiers who came straight from morning training, eager to enjoy the wedding feast and join in the fun.  

Everyone who entered looked curiously in Fang Xiaoluo’s direction.  

Shen Zheng, concerned that Fang Xiaoluo wasn’t familiar with the people or the environment, stayed by her side the entire time.  

At exactly 11:58 a.m., the sound of firecrackers echoed outside. Commander Li Zhongxun stood at the front and spoke in a loud, clear voice: “Dear comrades, friends, and family, today we are gathered here to witness the joyous union of a wonderful couple.”  

“Today is a day of great celebration as we mark the wedding of Captain Shen Zheng of the 3rd Regiment and his lovely bride, Comrade Fang Xiaoluo. Let’s give them a warm round of applause and welcome the newlyweds!”  

Fang Xiaoluo and Shen Zheng stood side by side at the front. With his striking looks and her radiant beauty, they were like a perfect pair from a painting.  

As she glanced at the crowd, Fang Xiaoluo couldn’t help but smile. Everyone seemed even more excited than the bride herself.  

Li Zhongxun continued with his speech, and Shen Zheng said a few polite words in return, taking the opportunity to formally introduce Fang Xiaoluo to everyone.  

Once the feast began, Shen Zheng accompanied Fang Xiaoluo as they went from table to table to toast the guests.  

At one point, someone handed over a bottle of alcohol, but Fang Xiaoluo, sharp-eyed, noticed Shen Zheng quickly swapping it for another bottle that looked identical.  

She didn’t say anything but realized, when she drank, that it was just water.  

She smiled. Shen Zheng was indeed thoughtful.  

When they reached the first table on the far left, everyone stood up in unison and greeted her loudly, “Hello, Sister-in-law!”  

Shen Zheng introduced them. “Huo Jinlei, Lu Weiguo, and Chen Shisong, our regiment’s three company commanders and my brothers-in-arms who’ve shared life and death with me.”  

Fang Xiaoluo nodded with a smile. “Nice to meet you all. Thank you for coming to support Shen Zheng and me.”  

Chen Shisong grinned. “Sister-in-law, it’s our duty. If there’s anything you want to know about our captain, just ask. We know him best and will tell you everything, no holds barred!”  

Huo Jinlei chimed in, teasing, “That’s right, Sister-in-law. Ask us anything!”  

Shen Zheng shot them a warning glance. “Are your training schedules too light lately?”  

Lu Weiguo swirled his teacup leisurely. “A captain who resorts to threats is hardly a good husband.”  

Fang Xiaoluo smiled warmly. “Then let me ask: why do you all seem more excited about your captain’s wedding than he does?”  

Chen Shisong nearly jumped up. “Sister-in-law, you don’t know? Our captain is known throughout the entire division as the number one ‘tough nut.’ His wedding is like a miracle! You didn’t see how happy our commander was, he couldn’t stop grinning!”  

Huo Jinlei raised his teacup. “Sister-in-law, we three represent the entire regiment in thanking you for taking our captain. We toast you with tea instead of wine!”  

The three of them lined up and downed their tea in one gulp.  

Fang Xiaoluo lifted her glass. “It seems I’ve done a good deed, then.”  

She tilted her head back and drank her glass empty.  

Chen Shisong quickly gave her a thumbs-up. “Sister-in-law, impressive! What a drinker!”  

Huo Jinlei grabbed a bottle of wine. “Come, come, let’s fill her glass again!”  

Shen Zheng’s eyes narrowed as he stepped in. “I’ll pour my own wife’s drink.”  

As he spoke, Shen Zheng picked up another bottle in his free hand and filled Fang Xiaoluo’s glass to the brim.  

Lu Weiguo quickly pulled Huo Jinlei back. “The old tree has finally blossomed!”  

Fang Xiaoluo couldn’t help but find these three quite amusing.  

Seated at the same table were their family members. After exchanging greetings with them, Shen Zheng and Fang Xiaoluo toasted with the table before moving on to the next.  

After making their way through all the tables, Fang Xiaoluo leaned closer to Shen Zheng and whispered, “Good thing you got me something to eat earlier otherwise, I’d have fainted.”  

Shen Zheng looked at her with a touch of concern. “It’ll be over soon. Rest properly when we get back.”  

The military district was a busy place, with heavy workloads and numerous tasks to handle.  

The meal was a quick affair, with one group finishing and another replacing them almost immediately, eating quickly before returning to their duties.  

When the banquet finally wound down, Commander Li Zhongxun approached Shen Zheng and Fang Xiaoluo with a cheerful smile.  

“Shen Zheng, you must treat Comrade Fang well. A wife like her is hard to come by.”  

Then he turned to Fang Xiaoluo and said, “Xiaoluo, privately, I see Shen Zheng as a junior. You can call me Uncle Li. If Shen Zheng ever misbehaves, come find me, and I’ll set him straight.”  

Fang Xiaoluo smiled and replied, “Thank you, Uncle Li.”  

Though it was a simple wedding, everyone knew that Shen Zheng, the military district’s notorious bachelor, had married a bride as beautiful as a goddess.  

On the way back, Fang Xiaoluo asked, “Why didn’t your mom and the three kids come to the banquet?”  

Shen Zheng replied, “I had meals sent to them. Hai Ping’s condition is a bit special, and it’s not suitable for him to attend such events. My mom worries about him, so she stayed behind with them.”  

Fang Xiaoluo had indeed noticed that the second child, Shen Haiping, had some issues.  

She hadn’t yet had the chance to ask Shen Zheng about the three children. After all, she had chosen the wedding date herself, and everything had felt a bit rushed.  

Both she and Shen Zheng had been busy, leaving little time to meet or talk.  

Before long, they arrived home.  

The courtyard, once bustling with people, was now empty. Fang Xiaoluo glanced around, taking in the place where she would now be living.  

The military district compound consisted of rows of single-story houses.  

As a regiment Captain, Shen Zheng had been allocated a larger house with its own yard. However, there were still neighbors nearby, each with their own separate courtyard.  

Shen Zheng’s yard was quite spacious.  

There were some vegetables planted in the yard, with fresh sprouts just breaking through the soil, giving the place a lively feel.  

But it was clear that Shen Zheng’s mother, Zheng Lanhua, was struggling to manage. Weeds grew unchecked around the sprouts, showing signs of neglect.  

It was understandable. Shen Zheng was undoubtedly busy, and Zheng Lanhua, taking care of the three newly adopted children, probably had no time to tend to the garden.  

The children themselves, to be honest, looked malnourished and frail, clear evidence of abuse before Shen Zheng brought them home.  

Even after nearly a month, they hadn’t recovered much.  

The house Shen Zheng was assigned had a living room and three bedrooms.  

One room was prepared as the bridal suite for Shen Zheng and Fang Xiaoluo. The two boys, Shen Haifeng and Shen Haiping, shared another room, while Zheng Lanhua and the youngest, Shen Jinxia, occupied the third.  

As they entered the courtyard, Fang Xiaoluo heard faint voices from inside the house. However, when she and Shen Zheng stepped inside, the voices stopped.  

Zheng Lanhua was in the living room with the youngest, Shen Jinxia.  

The two older boys, Shen Haifeng and Shen Haiping, were nowhere to be seen.  

Shen Zheng walked in. “Mom, you’re still up?”  

Zheng Lanhua replied, “We were waiting for you.”  

Shen Zheng gently pulled Shen Jinxia, who was timidly hiding behind Zheng Lanhua, to his side.  

Pointing to Fang Xiaoluo, he said, “Jinxia, call her Mom.”