Su Chang’e was still at home practicing her handwriting.

It had been a week since she sent out the letter, so she figured a reply should be arriving soon.

What she didn’t know was that the ten yuan she had spent had only bought her the general address of a communications squad in the army. The matchmaker had simply thrown her off with a random address. As for the so-called reform labor prisoners at the labor farm, that was also something the matchmaker made up.

Su Chang’e kept this matter to herself.

However, Su Rui knew the truth.

She recalled a scene from the book where Su Chang’e was scammed out of ten yuan. After sending the letter, she never received a response, which left her feeling dejected for quite some time.

Later, she even stormed into the matchmaker’s house, kicking up a fuss until she finally got her ten yuan back.

Su Rui didn’t have any expectations for a reply. She was only regretting losing that photograph of hers.

After finishing her work, Su Rui headed to the grain milling ground for a meeting with the other village heads.

Guo Qingwang hadn’t looked pleased these past few days. He handed over a document issued by the township to Director Zhao, gave a few perfunctory remarks, and then left with the people from Qingnan Village.

Director Zhao didn’t mind. She flipped through the document for a while and, after everyone had arrived, said to the group, “Everyone knows that the army has come to help with construction, right? Starting tomorrow, the people from Qingnan Village will be sent to clear land in the barren mountains, while the autumn harvest will be our responsibility in Xiaoba Village.”

The women of Xiaoba Village were more than happy to stay as far away from the people of Qingnan Village as possible. However, working alongside the army was an honorable task. Why should Qingnan Village get the chance to stand out?

Director Zhao understood what everyone was thinking and explained, “A few days ago, Qingnan Village had already harvested most of their collective farmland. The army leaders were considerate of our village and didn’t want outsiders handling our crops, which is why they chose them instead.”

Hearing this, Su Rui, Chen Xianglan, and the others finally looked satisfied.

Later, when they learned that the task involved quarrying stone at the foot of a rocky mountain—dirty and exhausting work with no extra labor credit—they clapped their hands in delight, thinking it was karma for those who always tried to slack off.

“Village Head Guo will be at the stone mountain for the next few days and won’t be coming here. In the meantime, I will be in charge of the daily affairs of Xiaoba Village,” Director Zhao continued. “We need to rally the women together. There are not enough hands for this year’s autumn harvest, so we must ensure all the crops are harvested in time.”

***

“Captain Fang, please wait a moment.”

At the bottom of the office building, during the bustling off-work hours, Commander Sun’s orderly, Ou Hua, blocked his way. “Commander Sun has invited you to dinner.”

Fang Chiye had his military jacket draped over his forearm, his neatly tucked-in shirt accentuating his lean and strong physique. He seemed to already know why Commander Sun had invited him over. His sharp phoenix eyes remained calm and indifferent, exuding the confidence and determination honed from years on the battlefield.

Ou Hua chuckled. “The commander is at home and even made dumplings for the occasion.”

That meant Commander Sun was acting as a matchmaker.

Just as expected.

Fang Chiye said, “I need to teach him a lesson.”

“What?”

“I’m on my way.”

Fang Chiye understood that Ou Hua was trying to curry favor with him, so he responded with a brief but polite smile before striding toward Commander Sun’s home with his long legs.

Commander Sun had once been comrades-in-arms with his father, Captain Fang in the Wuguang Military District. They had fought side by side in counterattacks and had even thrown explosive charges together at the 38th parallel.

Fang Chiye grew up in a military family. Both his parents were high-ranking officers, and he had been raised by an orderly since childhood. His understanding of family came entirely from Commander Sun’s household across the way.

He had little attachment to relationships, but he was sharp and quick-witted. With his smooth-talking skills, he had managed to keep his indifference toward emotions well hidden.

To him, family held no particular meaning or longing. His view on relationships was shaped by his parents’ long-term separation, making him feel that whether or not he built a family had no real impact on his life.

But while he didn’t find it important, his godfather and godmother—Commander Sun and his wife—certainly did.

Fang Chiye first returned to his dormitory to grab a bottle of Maotai liquor, hoping it would help calm his godfather’s temper.

When he arrived at the standalone Western-style house in the family compound, the wide-open door gave him a sense of walking straight into a trap.

…

“Godmother, are we having sauerkraut dumplings again today? Let me help.”

Fang Chiye, carrying the bottle of Maotai, moved through the living room toward the kitchen with practiced ease. As he passed, he noticed a girl sitting on the sofa with twin braids.

As of September 8, 1973, she was the seventeenth girl he had been set up with.

Sorry about this.

Like someone with poor eyesight, Fang Chiye acted as though he hadn’t seen the girl standing up to greet him, and swiftly slipped into the kitchen.

Man Yiyi: “……”

Commander Sun’s wife was busy making dumplings. When she saw him sneaking in, she scolded, “What are you doing in here? Go talk to Yiyi. Leaving her sitting out there like that is just rude.”

Fang Chiye put down the Maotai and said with displeasure, “Go out there for what? To sit and stare at each other, waiting for food?”

Commander Sun’s wife sighed helplessly. “I was the one who told her not to come in and help. She’s from the provincial cultural troupe. If it weren’t for your outstanding qualifications, she wouldn’t have agreed to this meeting.”

Fang Chiye peeked outside the kitchen. Indeed, she had a good figure, long arms, long legs… and a long face.

Man Yiyi only caught a glimpse of his side profile before he disappeared again.

When Commander Sun finished his phone call upstairs, he came down and asked, “Hey, isn’t that rascal back? Where is he?”

Man Yiyi sneered, “I didn’t see a person, just a rat scurrying inside.”

Commander Sun bellowed, “Chiye, get over here and pour me a cup of tea.”

He was clearly trying to lure him out so the young woman could get a proper look at him. Just now, she had referred to him as a rat—how could an esteemed colonel be reduced to such an image?

Fang Chiye emerged with a kettle in hand, as if nothing had happened. He nodded at Man Yiyi and greeted, “Hello, Comrade Man Yiyi. I was in a hurry to speak with my Godmother and forgot to greet you. I hope you understand.”

Man Yiyi had been holding back her frustration, letting her sharp tongue loose earlier. But now that she was face to face with the famous Captain Fang and caught his gaze, her heart skipped a beat. He truly was a charming man. She immediately regretted her earlier words.

“Oh, not at all. I’m the one imposing on everyone,” she said with a softer tone.

Fang Chiye poured tea for Commander Sun and then placed a cup in front of Man Yiyi as well.

She held the cup, her cheeks dusted with blush under the warm light. It seemed she was used to wearing stage makeup, but in person, it looked slightly unnatural.

For some reason, Fang Chiye recalled another face—one with naturally rosy cheeks and a radiant, healthy glow.

Setting aside the earlier mishap, Fang Chiye sat there, tall and handsome. Every movement exuded the effortless charm of someone born into a family of high-ranking officers. After exchanging a few words, it was clear that Man Yiyi was quite taken with him.

Commander Sun was also pleased.

Man Yiyi was a star performer in the provincial cultural troupe. If she ever got the chance to transfer to the central troupe, she might even become the wife of a high-ranking official.

Her father had retired as a company-level officer and now worked as a grassroots official. Her mother had been a primary school teacher. Her family background was good, her connections were simple, and she had delicate features—perfectly aligning with Fang Chiye’s parents’ wish for him to marry someone from a military-related background.

Plus, as a dancer, she had a certain softness and grace that balanced out the strict military demeanor. She was an ideal candidate for someone like Fang Chiye, who resisted the idea of marrying a fellow soldier.

Commander Sun knew he should leave and let the young people talk. But he also knew Fang Chiye too well—he was completely incorrigible.

He looked proper and respectable on the surface, but in reality, he was nothing but trouble.

If he left the room, would you believe it? Within a minute, the girl would probably storm out in frustration.

This wasn’t the first time. It had happened so many times that he had lost count.

Man Yiyi had no idea what Commander Sun was thinking. She simply assumed that he lacked tact and was getting in the way of her pleasant conversation with Captain Fang. In reality, if Commander Sun were to leave, the only one who would truly be pleased was Fang Chiye—while she would be left out in the cold.

Commander Sun remained stationed in the living room, keeping a watchful eye on that bastard surnamed Fang.

Meanwhile, Aunt Sun had finished steaming the dumplings and called everyone to wash their hands for dinner.

The sauerkraut dumplings were a northeastern specialty. Aunt Sun, being from the Northeast, made excellent pickled cabbage. The moment Fang Chiye, who had grown up in a military compound in Beijing, took a bite, he was reminded of the canteen back home.

However, Aunt Sun’s dumplings were far better than the canteen’s. Not only did she use lard for extra fragrance, but she also added diced pork, cutting it into pieces the size of dice, making each bite incredibly satisfying.

Throughout the meal, Fang Chiye occasionally exchanged a few words with Man Yiyi. Aunt Sun, having arranged countless introductions before, could tell with just a few sentences that Fang Chiye was merely humoring her.

After finishing her meal, Man Yiyi put down her chopsticks and headed straight to the living room for some fruit. She even called out to Fang Chiye, “Forget about that. Come over here; I have something to ask you.”

“Just a moment,” Fang Chiye replied. Instead of following immediately, he stayed behind to help Aunt Sun clear the table, then took the dishes to the kitchen and even washed them for Commander Sun. Only then did he leisurely make his way to the living room.

Aunt Sun couldn’t help but remark to Commander Sun, “The girl your old comrade introduced doesn’t have much awareness. I wouldn’t actually make her do any chores, but she should at least pretend a little.”

Commander Sun dismissed it, saying, “It’s just a couple of dishes. What’s there to pretend?”

Aunt Sun shook her head. This setup was yet another failure.

Fang Chiye only sat in the living room for a few minutes before he suddenly slipped back into the kitchen, pretending to peel an apple.

Commander Sun exchanged a glance with Aunt Sun, who immediately went over and lowered her voice, asking, “Well? What do you think?”

Fang Chiye looked at her, confused. “What do you mean, what do I think?”

Commander Sun scowled. “The matchmaking!”

He wouldn’t have realized if no one mentioned it, but once brought up, Fang Chiye looked genuinely stunned.

“Matchmaking?” he repeated in disbelief. “How is this matchmaking?”

Commander Sun was about to lose his temper but, remembering that he had just had two cups of Maotai, he forced himself to stay calm. “How is this not matchmaking?”

“Of course it’s not.” Fang Chiye’s tone was matter-of-fact. “Didn’t you say your old comrade’s daughter was just coming over to visit? I treated her as a friend.”

Commander Sun clenched his molars. “Don’t try to fool me. Save that trick for the enemy troops.”

“She’s such a delicate person—I can’t handle her.”

“Say that again?”

Fang Chiye knew he had to come up with something convincing today.

With no other choice, seeing that his godfather was about to explode, he calmly reached into his pocket and pulled out a photo. “I wasn’t planning on revealing this so soon—”

Commander Sun cut him off angrily. “You’re already twenty-eight. You call this soon?! After the New Year, you’ll be thirty by traditional age. Keep playing around, and you’ll be forty in no time!”

Fang Chiye: “……”

Aunt Sun glanced toward the living room, gesturing for Commander Sun to lower his voice. Then, she took the photo and glanced at it. “Oh my, what a pretty and well-mannered young lady. Who is she? When did you meet her?”

Fang Chiye thickened his skin and replied, “I just met her recently, and we’re in the process of getting to know each other.” That, at least, was the truth.

He glanced toward the kitchen door and suppressed a smirk, pretending not to notice someone eavesdropping outside.

Aunt Sun’s eyes lit up as she examined the photo more closely. The girl in the picture, Su Rui, had a naturally bright and cheerful aura. Her face was flushed with a healthy glow, and when she smiled, two little tiger teeth peeked out, making her instantly likable.

“Oh my, then we mustn’t have one foot in two boats,” Aunt Sun said just as Man Yiyi, who had been sneaking around outside, suddenly burst out, “What?! You already have someone?!”

Fang Chiye: …That’s not what I said.

He innocently shrugged. “Don’t get worked up, Miss. I didn’t even know today was supposed to be a matchmaking setup.”

Commander Sun was no longer furious, but now Man Yiyi was. She turned to him with an accusatory glare and said, “Uncle Sun, he already has someone, yet you still asked me to come here for a blind date. What do you take me for?”

Fang Chiye, thoroughly enjoying himself, added fuel to the fire. “Exactly! What kind of situation is this?”

As he spoke, he cautiously took a step back and subtly gestured to his godfather—this mess was his to clean up.

Half an hour later, Fang Chiye was kicked out of the house by Commander Sun.

Still, he didn’t forget to take some of Aunt Sun’s sauerkraut dumplings with him for breakfast the next morning.

Patting his pocket, he strolled to the supply and marketing cooperative, where he bought an envelope, a stamp, and a blank sheet of paper.

He needed to reply to a letter.

But as for the photo—he wasn’t giving that away.

If someone was trying to play tricks, he was more than happy to see how things played out.

°.✩┈┈∘*┈˃̶୨୧˂̶┈*∘┈┈✩.°

Ayalee: I’d like to address the issue regarding Fang Chiye’s rank and the way he is addressed as Captain Fang in the story. I’m not very familiar with military ranks and how soldiers are properly addressed, so I did some research. From what I found, a Deputy Company Commander is not typically called Captain, but in this story, the author refers to Fang Chiye that way. To stay consistent with the original text, I will keep using Captain Fang as the author intended.

I hope this clears up any confusion, and I appreciate your understanding.