Chapter 16

It seemed that noticing the girl’s low spirits, Fu Tingchuan explained:

“Don’t take it personally with her. That person just has some minor issues. If anything happens in the future, just come to me. I’ll help you with whatever I can.”

Su Nian looked at him in disbelief. How long had it been? His attitude had taken a complete 180-degree turn.

“Really anything?”

Fu Tingchuan nodded solemnly.

“When I was in Hangcheng, my dad sent me some luggage, but I just heard your Qin Meili say that they only go to the post office at the end of each month. Can you help me get it earlier?”

“Of course.”

For Fu Tingchuan, the original schedule was just to reduce unnecessary trips and save time. Now that the little girl had asked, and it wasn’t a big deal, of course he could do it.

But those two words sounded completely different in Su Nian’s ears.

What exactly did this man mean?

Hearing how easily his uncle agreed, Fu Mingjun figured he must be in a good mood and chimed in with a smile:

“Uncle, could you bring mine back too? My dad sent me a bunch of stuff too. Yueyue and I don’t even have warm quilts—we’re freezing!”

Fu Tingchuan replied coldly, “No.”

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

Fu Mingjun whined, “Why not? You’re my real uncle. If you can help Su Nian, why can’t you help me? I’m going to tell my dad!”

Fu Tingchuan’s expression didn’t change.

“A grown adult still tattling to his parents—Fu Mingjun, how impressive! From now on, call me Commander Fu, not uncle. Our family clearly isn’t good enough for you.

As for Su Nian…”

He said it proudly, without the slightest hesitation.

“She’s my fiancée. So what if I want to help her get her things?”

He clearly didn’t think his words would have any consequences, as if it was all perfectly natural.

Fu Mingjun bit his lip and said nothing—after all, it was the truth.

But Su Yue couldn’t take it.

“Impossible! I clearly saw that jade pendant Su Nian has around her neck all these years—it’s the same as the one Fu Mingjun has. How could she be his uncle’s fiancée?”

Su Yue felt like the sky was falling.

But Fu Tingchuan seemed completely oblivious to her hysterics. He pulled a photo from his pocket. In it, a thirteen-year-old boy held a four- or five-year-old toddler.

He turned the photo around and held it up for Su Yue to see.

“Look closely. It’s signed by my mom and Su Nian’s mom. It clearly states that I, Fu Tingchuan, will marry Su Nian when she turns eighteen.”

Su Nian leaned in to look too. Even she didn’t know this thing existed.

Fu Tingchuan had hidden it well!

Standing behind Su Nian, Shen Mo’s eyes flickered as he looked at Fu Tingchuan, deep in thought.

As a soldier, Fu Tingchuan naturally noticed Shen Mo’s probing gaze. He hadn’t forgotten—earlier today, Su Nian had wanted that man to pull her onto the truck.

Were they… close?

A strange sense of rivalry suddenly arose.

The others didn’t really care—who Su Nian’s fiancé was had nothing to do with them. Only Su Yue continued to make a fuss.

“I don’t believe it!

She’s already eighteen. If it were real, why didn’t you come to marry her before? Are you and Su Nian trying to trick me?”

Su Nian was in a hurry to make a phone call and didn’t want to become the center of attention like a monkey in a zoo. She walked over and gave Su Yue a slap, ending her tantrum.

“What are you yelling for? I am here to marry him, aren’t I?”

After hitting her, she went off to make her call, ignoring the stunned crowd behind her. Her priority now was to win over Su Daqiang and Su Gang’s favor.

She couldn’t let that shameless Yao Xiaojun gain the upper hand again.

Hiding in the corner, Wang Dahu’s mouth dropped open: “Xiao Jiang, did you hear that? That Su educated youth said she came here to marry our commander?”

Xiao Jiang, still shocked, nodded. “Heard it loud and clear.”

Wang Dahu now felt completely defeated. He had just been trying to teach Fu Tingchuan a few tricks and tactics, and yet the guy had settled it all with one sentence?

He wasn’t just dating successfully—he had a marriage already arranged.

This Fu Tingchuan was something else. Not only did he rise through the ranks quickly, he even had his marriage lined up.

No—what really mattered was that he had a good mother. One who secured the best for her son from a young age, probably knowing how hard it would be for someone like Fu Tingchuan to find a partner.

Smart woman!

Why couldn’t he have had that kind of luck?

Far away in Hangcheng, Su Daqiang was overjoyed to receive a call from his daughter after so long:

“Finally! I thought something had happened these past few days!”

“Is it cold over there? Hard? Are you getting used to it?”

Su Nian replied pitifully, “Don’t worry, Dad. I can endure all the hardship for your promotion. It’s really cold here—I’m only wearing a sweater.

We have to get up at 5:30 a.m. to wash up and get ready for work.

I heard the food isn’t great—they prioritize the soldiers, and we educated youths get whatever’s left. But it’s okay.

As long as you and Xiao Gang are well, I’m happy.”

Su Daqiang’s eyes welled up with tears, and even Su Gang, who had been eating nearby, looked a little heartbroken. “My sister’s life is that hard? It’s not even light out at 5:30!”

Hearing their reaction, Su Nian was satisfied. As long as they still had a bit of a conscience and felt guilty, that was enough.

Now they’d start sending her more money—she’d save it up and buy a few houses when she got into university and returned.

Sure enough, Su Daqiang slapped his thigh: “Nian Nian, I just argued with the Yao family the other day and got back 200 yuan. Plus our salaries this month—I’ll send it all to you soon.”

Su Nian quickly declined: “No need, that’s too much. Didn’t we agree eighty was enough?”

Su Daqiang waved his hand grandly, even though Su Nian couldn’t see: “Pfft, eighty’s not enough at all. You deserve more. I heard there’s a shipment of formula milk coming soon—I’ll buy a few cans to send you too.

Eat something good and nourish yourself. Ever since we heard you were going to the countryside, you’ve lost so much weight!”

…

Fu Tingchuan stood not far away, hearing every bit of the little girl’s nonsense. The phone lines weren’t soundproof—he could even hear Su Daqiang’s words clearly.

This little thing sure could sweet-talk.

When it came to Fu Mingjun and Su Yue, it was a completely different story. They immediately started demanding money, self-righteously.

Fu Tingshan was okay—at least he and his wife agreed to send money and food coupons. But Su Daqiang hung up the moment he heard Su Yue’s first sentence, too angry to say another word.

What a double standard!

Su Yue glared at Su Nian viciously: “Dad used to really love me. What did you say to him?”

Su Nian smiled and pulled out a thick stack of national food coupons: “Oh, nothing really. Dad went to your grandma’s place and probably saw your mom stealing money from our family to help her relatives—he must’ve been furious!”

The household didn’t spend much, but there was still over a thousand yuan missing from Wen Wan’s savings book—who knew how much Yao Xiaojun had taken.

Even if Yao had reported an accurate amount to Su Daqiang, Su Nian wasn’t so easily fooled. Now, she was just waiting for him to slowly recover it all!