Chapter 16

“Clack—”

The phone in Commander Chen’s hand dropped onto the table, and his expression changed dramatically.

He understood now!

No wonder Old Lu reacted that way just now!

This was going to be a real problem!

Qin Hua walked over. “Lao Chen, what’s wrong?”

Commander Chen came back to his senses and looked at Qin Hua. “I’ll explain later.”

He hurriedly picked up the phone. “Old Lu, this is not something to take lightly. What were you thinking?”

Lu Yuanzheng told him the truth. “If I had received this call earlier, and they insisted on Yanchi and Yancheng getting divorced, I wouldn’t have objected—after all, the two of them couldn’t get along. But now that they’ve consummated the marriage, the Lu family won’t do something so irresponsible!”

Commander Chen asked, “Did Song Dalong and his wife say that explicitly?”

Lu Yuanzheng: “Yes.”

Commander Chen’s expression grew solemn. “I understand. Think it through carefully. It’s not like the old days anymore—no more arranged marriages or child betrothals. The state promotes free love now. Those two already got their marriage certificate and now truly care for each other. Don’t be the one to break up a loving couple!”

Hearing this, Qin Hua looked over. “Lao Chen, what nonsense are you talking about?”

Commander Chen glanced at his wife. “I’ll explain it to you in a bit.”

Then, speaking firmly into the phone, he said, “Lu Yuanzheng, listen to me. I’m that kid’s direct superior. If you insist on making them divorce and submit the application, I’ll tear it up myself. I absolutely won’t approve it!”

Lu Yuanzheng was stunned.

Not long ago, Old Chen had talked to him about this and even encouraged him to let Lu Yancheng and Song Yanchi divorce. He’d said that if Lu agreed, he’d personally help prepare and approve the divorce report!

How had he suddenly done a complete 180 and started siding with Song Yanchi?

“Old Chen…”

Bang!

Commander Chen didn’t want to hear another word and angrily ended the call.

Qin Hua quickly came over to rub his back. “How did a phone call with Old Lu make you this upset?”

Commander Chen looked at his wife. “I think Old Lu wants Yanchi and that brat Lu Yancheng to divorce! Just thinking about it pisses me off!”

Qin Hua was confused. “Why would he want them to divorce?”

Commander Chen let out a sigh. “Sigh… Yanchi isn’t Song Dalong and Li Li’s biological daughter. Old Lu said they’ve found their real daughter. She called him and asked him to get Yanchi and Lu Yancheng to divorce—probably so she can marry in instead.”

Qin Hua was stunned. “What…”

She really liked Yanchi!

Such a sweet, charming girl—she adored her so much she wished Yanchi were her own daughter.

Commander Chen looked at Qin Hua. “What do you think?”

Qin Hua said, “Yanchi is such a well-behaved girl. Of course I don’t support them getting divorced.”

Commander Chen was pleased that his wife was on the same page. “Alright then, call Yunzhen later and try to get a feel for her opinion.”

Qin Hua: “Okay.”

He Yunzhen was none other than Lu Yuanzheng’s wife—Lu Yancheng’s mother.

She had also received a call from her husband and was silent for a long while.

So, when Qin Hua tried to call, she couldn’t get through.

She looked at Commander Chen. “The line’s busy.”

Commander Chen said, “Probably that old fox Lu is still on the phone with Yunzhen.”

Qin Hua replied, “I’ll try again later.”

Commander Chen’s expression turned grim. “Old Lu said Song Dalong and Li Li already bought their train tickets to come here, but he didn’t say what day.”

Qin Hua looked at him. “Then it’s probably tomorrow. Didn’t Old Lu ask someone to help them find jobs? They still need to work normally.”

Tomorrow?

Commander Chen’s face darkened.

Everything was happening at once!

Just as Yanchi and Lu Yancheng were finally getting along, now this mess was coming. What a headache!

He thought for a long time, drank several cups of water, then looked at his wife. “Should we tell that brat Lu Yancheng now?”

Qin Hua hesitated. “That… how can we bring it up? I heard what you told Xiao Chen outside earlier—the young couple is finally bonding. How are we supposed to say this? Maybe we should wait until Song Dalong and his wife arrive and see how it goes?”

Commander Chen nodded. “That’s probably best.”

…

When Lu Yancheng returned to his single dorm room, he casually placed two pillows on the bed. Seeing Song Yanchi’s expression change, he spoke at the right time. “I didn’t borrow these from Aunt Qin.”

Song Yanchi fumed, “That doesn’t make a difference—still borrowed!”

Lu Yancheng replied in a low voice, “Mm.”

Song Yanchi: “Where did you borrow them from?!”

Lu Yancheng sat on the bed. “From Deputy Commander Zhang’s place—the one you met earlier today.”

Song Yanchi let out a sigh of relief.

[Whatever, Deputy Commander Zhang already heard her moans. Her face was already gone. Borrowing from them is still better than borrowing from Uncle Chen and Aunt Qin.]

Lu Yancheng pressed his lips into a thin line.

If one day, she found out that everyone could hear her thoughts…

He didn’t dare imagine what might happen. Best not to tell her for now!

Thinking back to the past half day, he was still quite surprised at himself—how he had so easily accepted all the information revealed by her inner voice and even consummated the marriage with her.

Song Yanchi felt sticky and uncomfortable all over. “Do the single dorms have a place to bathe?”

Lu Yancheng glanced at her still slightly damp hair. “This is the male dorm. I’m not too familiar with the female side.”

“Does the military compound have a bathhouse?”

“It’s already closed at this hour.”

Song Yanchi checked the time.

[It’s not even nine yet and it’s closed? People in the 1970s really had no nightlife!]

Lu Yancheng’s dark eyes dimmed even more.

Even though he was used to hearing her inner voice, that one still hit him.

So that world she came from wasn’t the 1970s? Was it much later?

Song Yanchi looked at him, feeling wronged. “I’m all sticky and uncomfortable. I can’t sleep like this. What should I do?”

Lu Yancheng snapped out of it. “I’ll take you to Deputy Commander Zhang’s place to shower.”

Song Yanchi glanced at the time. “Isn’t it a bit late for that?”

Lu Yancheng lowered his voice. “Didn’t you just say you were really uncomfortable?”

Song Yanchi: “Forget it. I’ll bear with it.”

Lu Yancheng thought of tomorrow’s trip to the city. He took the money out of his pocket and placed it in her hand. “We’re going into the city tomorrow. Take this.”

Song Yanchi was stunned. “We’re buying clothes again?”

Lu Yancheng’s gaze fell on the small blanket. “No. Since we’re applying for a couple’s housing, we should get bedding while we’re there.”

Song Yanchi: “Oh.”

[This boatman is pretty thoughtful, huh? I didn’t even think of that.]

Lu Yancheng frowned.

Wasn’t she calling him “dog man” before? How did he become a “boatman” now?

He had no idea where this nickname came from.

Did he look like someone who steered boats?

“Song… Yanchi…”

Calling her “Song Yanchi” felt too formal, but calling her “Yanchi” to her face felt way too intimate. Lu Yancheng blushed.

Song Yanchi found it fascinating.

Lu Yancheng stood up. “You go to sleep first. I’ll wash your clothes.”

Song Yanchi was suddenly a little touched.

[Ah, the boatman really is a good husband!]

Lu Yancheng: “……”

There it was again—boatman!

He quietly walked over to the table, picked up the Xinhua Dictionary, flipped to the page for “boat,” and looked up the meaning of “boatman.”

He studied it for a long time but couldn’t figure it out, so he grabbed the Kangxi Dictionary and got the same result—nothing useful.

Song Yanchi: “……”

[Didn’t he say he was going to wash my clothes? Why is he looking through dictionaries now?]

“Lu Yancheng.”

“What is it?”

“What are you looking up?”

Lu Yancheng quickly closed the dictionary and returned it to its place. Just as he was about to answer, there was a knock on the door.

He walked over and opened it. It was a fresh-faced new recruit under his command. His voice had that natural authority. “What is it?”

“Commander Lu, your… your phone call.”

Clearly, he’d interrupted the commander and his wife. No wonder the commander was so scary!

After reporting, the recruit fled in a flash.

Lu Yancheng frowned.

Who would be calling at this hour?