Chapter 41

After hesitating for a moment, Zhang Chaoyang picked up the envelope, tore it open, and pulled out the letter paper.

“Comrade Zhang Chaoyang, hello:

My name is Xu Di, Aunt Wang told me about your situation, she said you’re a good young man, responsible, respectful to women, and capable of supporting a family.

Well, let me introduce myself.

My name is Xu Di, I’m eighteen years old this year. I’m 1.65 meters tall and weigh 56 kilograms. I graduated from high school and now work in the warehousing department of the department store.

I admire the People’s Liberation Army very much, I think you are the most lovable people.

I’m writing this letter to say hello, if you don’t mind this introduction, we can write letters first.

That’s all the important things, I wish you all the best, stay safe.”

Zhang Chaoyang looked at the letter paper, the neat and elegant handwriting showed that she was a cheerful and optimistic girl.

Zhang Chaoyang, who had grown up so much, was truly writing letters to a girl for the first time.

Before, the children of the compound loved to ride their bicycles, roaring past the girls, they felt very cool.

Many people also had Beijing girls sitting on the back of their bikes, with red scarves fluttering in the wind, leaving behind a string of silver bells.

Zhang Chaoyang might have been missing a screw, he wasn’t interested in any of that.

Even if girls were interested in him, he would politely refuse, he found it meaningless.

He grew up with his grandma, he thought that girls should be like his grandma, strong, optimistic, and open-minded.

He couldn’t tolerate girls who were always throwing tantrums, even if they were his own sister or cousin.

From the letter, Zhang Chaoyang felt that Comrade Xu’s personality was a bit like his grandma, his fondness for her grew.

He thought about the letter he had sent, he wondered what Comrade Xu would think after reading it, would she be scared and back out?

Zhang Chaoyang picked up the second letter, opened it, and pulled out the letter paper.

“Comrade Zhang Chaoyang, hello:

I received the letter you sent, I understand your concerns, but I’m confident that I can overcome them.

Although, as you said, if I choose to marry you, I’ll face many difficulties.

I can’t join the army, we’ll be separated for a long time, I’ll have to face the chores at home alone, and in the future, I might have to raise the children alone…

I’ve considered everything you said, I’ve thought about it carefully. I’ve asked myself if I can be a good soldier’s wife.

After careful consideration, I think it’s no problem. Although we’ll be separated for a long time, I know you’re protecting our country, and my sense of faith is strengthened.

Compared to our parents’ generation, the conditions are much better now, any difficulties can be overcome.

So, Comrade Zhang Chaoyang, I think I’ve made up my mind, I can handle the role of a military wife.”

Zhang Chaoyang stared at the letter paper in his hand, he replayed the content of the letter in his mind.

Comrade Xu was brave and bold.

From the letter, it showed her admiration for soldiers, but there was a feeling that he couldn’t quite grasp.

Zhang Chaoyang put down the letter paper, closed his eyes, and thought.

He couldn’t possibly not get married, other people didn’t matter, but he couldn’t ignore his grandma’s feelings.

His profession meant that he would be separated from his wife for a long time. So, finding a woman who his grandma liked and he didn’t dislike to start a family wasn’t impossible.

He couldn’t be with his wife all the time, but he could be loyal to her, and he could turn over his salary on time.

If he wanted to do it, he would do it, Zhang Chaoyang was never a hesitant person.

He quickly wrote a reply and prepared to send it out tomorrow.

And Xu Di in Beijing, after sending the letter, she didn’t think much about it.

Zhang Chaoyang’s conditions were very much in line with her requirements, but he wasn’t the only one.

Recently, the weather had gotten colder, it was already winter.

The pedestrians on the street were all bundled up, everything except their eyes was covered.

Wearing thick cotton pants, even walking felt more difficult.

She had been working with Jin Weidong for a while, and there had been no mistakes.

Every weekend, Xu Di found time to deliver the goods, she always brought the same amount, five hundred eggs and twenty roosters.

As for the fruit, she decided to sell it before the New Year. There would be many people selling things then, and there would be a wide variety, her little bit of fruit wouldn’t be noticeable.

Jin Weidong would put the money in a fixed place in the cave in advance.

When Xu Di delivered the goods, she took the money, left the things, and left.

This place was very hidden, no one had discovered it yet.

She had been in the 1970s for over a year now, Xu Di now had a job and had saved some money, next, she would find a suitable man, have a few children, and live a happy life.

Another weekend, Xu Di carried a bag, which was filled with soil, and went to the Liang family.

“Xu Di, come in quickly, it’s cold outside, isn’t it?”

“Aunt Wang, it’s okay, I’m wearing a lot of clothes. Where are Fang Jie and the others, are they not home?”

“They went back to her parents’ home, her cousin is getting engaged today.”

Aunt Wang helped Xu Di carry the bag into the house, they were going to plant some vegetables inside.

The ones they planted last year were all eaten by Kangkang, he gained three pounds in the winter, he didn’t catch a cold, he didn’t even have to stay in the hospital once.

“That’s a shame, I was thinking of playing with Kangkang for a while.”

Xu Di really liked Kangkang, and her nephew Xu Ping’an, they were both fun ages, innocent and cute.

“Come over next week if you have time, Kangkang misses you too.

By the way, have you been writing to Chaoyang?”

Aunt Wang was very concerned about this, she had asked before, at that time Xu Di said she had written a letter and sent it, but she hadn’t received a letter from Comrade Zhang yet.

“Yeah, I received Comrade Zhang’s letter.”

Xu Di thought about her second letter, she wondered if Comrade Zhang Chaoyang would be scared.

People at this time were still quite reserved, especially in terms of wording between men and women, they were very cautious, rarely as direct as she was.

But Xu Di didn’t like to beat around the bush. Especially, they were so far apart, a letter would take at least a month to arrive.

“Really, what did Chaoyang say in his letter. That child, he’s not very good with words, he’s not good at saying nice things.”

Aunt Wang was worried, Zhang Chaoyang was too direct, he might ruin a good thing.

“Aunt Wang, Comrade Zhang analyzed some disadvantages in his letter. If I marry him, I’ll have a hard time.”

“That’s true, Chaoyang wasn’t lying.”

Xu Di thought, Comrade Zhang was honest, he didn’t say anything flowery, and he didn’t paint a rosy picture for her.

Maybe he didn’t like her, he was trying to scare her away, or maybe, he was giving her a heads-up, letting her know.

Whatever the reason, she would have to wait for his second letter, he should have something to say.

“Aunt Wang, I wrote back a second letter after I received his letter. I expressed my attitude, I don’t mind being separated for a long time, and I’m confident that I can be a good military wife.

As for what Comrade Zhang thinks, I don’t know yet, because I haven’t received his reply.”

Xu Di counted the days, the letter should have arrived.

“Chaoyang must be on a mission again, he’s not that stupid. Whatever he thinks, he’ll write back to you.

Wait a little longer, he won’t not write back.”

Aunt Wang was afraid that Xu Di would be discouraged and give up writing letters, ending their communication.

“I know, I didn’t think about giving up. It’s still a while before the New Year, I think I’ll be able to receive Comrade Zhang’s letter before the New Year.”

Xu Di wasn’t in a hurry, she would be nineteen years old by the New Year, she could wait.

The main thing was that it wasn’t easy to find a man who met her requirements.

“Yes, you’ll definitely receive it.”

Aunt Wang and Xu Di worked for a whole morning before they finished planting the flower pots, they also left a lot of soil and chives for Grandma Qian, and some vegetable seeds.

Xu Di didn’t go over because she heard from Aunt Wang that Grandma Qian wasn’t home.

She left after lunch at the Liang family.