Chapter 29: The sister from the same village might not be my beloved sister?

If Wu Lifang hadn’t reacted quickly and used her hands to shield her cheeks, her face would have swollen up like a pig’s. Ever since returning from the clinic, she had been covering up, afraid her roommates would see her hands swollen like radishes. Seeing Wu Lifang’s expression, Xu Zhenhua worried she might blow up, so he quickly explained, “Lifang, I know my mother hit you, and you’re very angry. But they’ve been on the train for so long; I can’t just send them back immediately. If word gets out, what kind of person would that make me? Besides, tomorrow is our wedding. Let them have a cup of wedding wine and then leave. Even if people find out, they can’t really complain, right?”

Although Wu Lifang was still angry, she knew Zhenhua was telling the truth. And it was only a one-day delay; she could tolerate that. She couldn’t let this small matter affect Zhenhua.

“Alright, I’ll listen to you,” Wu Lifang said coquettishly. “Zhenhua, you know I really like you, but your mother really went too far. Look at my hands—they’re swollen like radishes!”

Seeing Wu Lifang’s red, swollen hands, Xu Zhenhua’s guilt toward his parents eased slightly. His mother really had gone too far; Lifang was his fiancée, and yet she had been hit so hard. Luckily, it was her hands, not her face. If it had been her face, how could they have gotten married tomorrow? Xu Zhenhua gently cupped her hands and blew on them softly. “Lifang, I apologize for my mother. Don’t take it personally.”

“For your sake, I won’t hold it against her,” Wu Lifang said, her tone suddenly turning serious. “But after the wedding tomorrow, you have to make sure they leave.”

Zhenhua smiled. “Yes, my beautiful bride. Go rest now. I’ll come get you tomorrow.”

Wu Lifang blushed, then covered her face and ran back to the dormitory.

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The next day

When Tang Wanning woke up, Su Meijuan had already brought back breakfast.

“Mom, why are you up so early?” Tang Wanning asked.

Su Meijuan forced a smile, hiding her worry. “Getting older means sleeping less.” In reality, she hadn’t slept well all night, anxious and worried. Though she appeared calm at home, it was just an act.

Tang Wanning roughly guessed her mother’s thoughts, but there was no point trying to console her. You can teach someone a hundred times, but they won’t remember; show them once, and they’ll never forget.

After washing up and eating breakfast, it was only about 7:30 a.m. The mother and daughter quickly tidied up and set off for the small plaza outside the military compound.

“Mom, once we get there, remember to follow my lead,” Tang Wanning said.

Su Meijuan clenched her fists and nodded firmly. “Okay.”

At the plaza, many military wives had already arrived with their children. They chatted in small groups while the children played happily. Some elderly men were playing chess, sometimes focusing intently, sometimes arguing passionately.

Tang Wanning observed for a moment, then approached a woman chattering away. She looked to be in her early forties, and next to her sat another woman around thirty. Tang Wanning put on an innocent smile and addressed the older woman.

“Auntie, I want to ask, is there a soldier in this military compound named Xu Zhenhua?”

Hearing a young girl call her “sister,” Jiang Hongmei beamed. “You’re so sweet! But I’m already forty; you should call me auntie.”

Tang Wanning was surprised. “Really? I wouldn’t have guessed. I thought you were only thirty.”

Jiang Hongmei’s smile softened. “Young girl, you look unfamiliar. You’re not from the compound, are you?”

“No, I’m here looking for someone,” Tang Wanning replied, her mood dropping slightly. “I want to ask if there’s a soldier named Xu Zhenhua in this compound.”

Jiang Hongmei was known in the compound as a gossip. With Xu Zhenhua’s return from a mission and the possibility of promotion to deputy battalion commander, she had even considered matchmaking for him.

Earlier, when her niece had been introduced, Wu Lifang had also been pursuing Xu Zhenhua. Jiang Hongmei didn’t want her niece to miss out on a promising man, and her niece liked Xu Zhenhua too. So a subtle contest ensued between them. Despite their efforts, Xu Zhenhua ended up with Wu Lifang. Jiang Hongmei was displeased but cautious, so she didn’t answer Tang Wanning directly. Instead, she curiously asked, “Young girl, what’s your name?”

“Tang Wanning,” she replied.

“Oh, Tang Wanning, what a beautiful name,” Jiang Hongmei said warmly. “How are you related to Xu Zhenhua?”

Both Jiang Hongmei and Tang Wanning were testing each other. Though the compound was large, the chance of her being close to Wu Lifang was slim, but it was better to be careful.

Tears filled Tang Wanning’s eyes. Her voice choked as she said, “I’m Xu Zhenhua’s younger sister from the same village. Everyone in the village says he died on a mission, but I don’t believe it. I came to the army myself to ask.”

Jiang Hongmei’s eyes lit up with excitement. A younger sister from the same village? Could she be a love rival? If not, why would Xu Zhenhua hide the fact that he was alive? Seeing the girl’s sorrowful expression, Jiang Hongmei couldn’t believe they had no prior connection. This was going to be interesting.

“Has Comrade Xu not called back to the village?” Jiang Hongmei asked, puzzled. “He returned to the army six months ago. If nothing unexpected happens, he should be promoted to deputy battalion commander soon.”

Though her excitement briefly faded, Tang Wanning noticed it. There seemed to be some tension between them.

Tears welled up even more. “Sister, is what you said true? You’re not lying, are you?”

Jiang Hongmei pretended to be stern. “I’m a military wife. Would I lie?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Tang Wanning couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears streamed down her face. “I didn’t mean it. I just got too emotional hearing this news.”

“It’s okay, it’s understandable,” Jiang Hongmei said softly, feeling a little reluctant to tell her that Xu Zhenhua was getting married today. Although she wanted Wu Lifang to suffer a bit, this girl was innocent.