Chapter 77 1/2

As Yan Lei turned around, Qiao Wei caught sight of Secretary Gao.

“Ah, Secretary,” Qiao Wei greeted, “You’re here.”

The first time she saw Secretary Gao was on the first Sunday she worked. She guessed he was a leader back then. Later, as expected, she saw him in the cafeteria, and her colleagues told her he was the top leader of the unit.

Qiao Wei remembered Yan Lei telling her that the local power structure below the town mayor was quite complicated, and the top leader was an airdrop.

Secretary Gao’s first impression of Qiao Wei was very good, and feedback from Chief Xie later proved that his judgment was correct. Qiao Wei was an outstanding comrade at work and could already shoulder heavy responsibilities in her own position.

He kindly said, “Captain Yan is in charge of supporting our town this time. We had a meeting together this morning, and everything’s been discussed. Just now, I accompanied him on a tour of our town committee.”

Qiao Wei hesitated for a moment and glanced at Yan Lei.

Yan Lei, holding the child, remained particularly calm.

He felt a bit unfamiliar, lacking the relaxed feeling he had at home, more like the feeling of a big boy.

Here, he wasn’t tense, but that composure still made Qiao Wei feel unfamiliar.

She and Chief Lu stood to the side, listening to Yan Lei and Secretary Gao talking.

“You’re busy. Don’t let me delay your work. There must be a lot going on these days.”

“Have a meal here; I’ll arrange it.”

“No need, we’ll go home together later.”

“Well then, thank you for this matter. You’ve been very attentive.”

“Don’t worry. Since you’re from the military, leave this matter to us, and rest assured.”

“Envious of you, still able to carry a gun, achieve military merit. In my position here, right, right here, there’s a bullet fragment that’s been stuck in there all this time. It hurts when it’s windy or rainy.”

“This is your military medal.”

“The year you wrote your deed report, I was sick and hospitalized, missed it. I regret not being able to hear the story from the battle hero himself. Later, I read about your deeds and admired them, truly admired.”

“You’re too kind. If you were in my place, you would have done even better.”

“Hahaha alright, you guys chat.”

“You take care.”

After the top official left, the people at the broadcasting station finally relaxed.

Chief Lu said, “Weiwei, is this your husband?”

Yan Lei, holding Yan Xiang, saw off Secretary Gao. When he heard Chief Lu speaking, he turned around.

But he saw Qiao Wei scrutinizing him with a certain look. Yan Lei thought she had seen through him.

But maybe not.

Qiao Wei introduced each other to Chief Lu and Yan Lei.

The two of them exchanged official pleasantries, and then flattered each other. 

Qiao Wei reached out, “This is Hu Sui, you know.”

Yan Lei called out, “Sister-in-law.” Hu Sui smiled, “Hey.”

Qiao Wei reached out again, “This is Tianming.”

Yan Lei warmly said, “Hello, Tianming. Sorry for the trouble my son might cause you.”

Lu Tianming liked to bring Yan Xiang and often found books for him to read. After all, the shelves in the library were too high for Yan Xiang to reach alone.

Lu Tianming said, “No, no. I’ve never seen such a well-behaved child like Yan Xiang.”

“And this is Manman,” Qiao Wei said, “We’re the dynamic duo of the broadcasting station.”

Lu Manman had just finished her broadcast and could have gone home. Today, Hu Sui brought her fried melon seeds, which smelled especially fragrant. Lu Manman stayed in the office and ate melon seeds with them.

Who would have thought the top official would suddenly come?

Lu Manman wasn’t afraid of the mayor, deputy mayor, director, or chief, but she was afraid of Secretary Gao.

It was unfortunate that she was just ten minutes late leaving and almost got caught eating melon seeds by the Secretary. Fortunately, Chief Lu reacted quickly, stood up to block the Secretary, and she and Hu Sui swiftly grabbed books and newspapers to cover the melon seeds.

Then a tall and handsome soldier stood at the door.

It turned out to be Qiao Wei’s husband!

Oh my god!

Hu Sui, Lu Manman, and Lu Tianming were all inside the office, while Qiao Wei, Yan Lei, and Chief Lu were standing outside on the corridor.

Yan Lei greeted the three people inside through the window.

For a young woman like Lu Manman, a simple “hello” suffices.

Lu Manman was originally standing behind Hu Sui, leaning on Hu Sui’s shoulder as she looked outward. At this moment, she quickly raised one hand and said, “Um, hello, hello.”

Her face turned red with nervousness.

Chief Lu also invited Yan Lei, “Let’s have a meal together.”

“No need, I’m heading home now.”

“Alright then, take care.”

“Goodbye.”

The couple then went home with Yan Xiang.

Chief Lu finally relaxed.

Lu Tianming returned to his seat.

Lu Manman didn’t let go of Hu Sui’s shoulder. She shook her like a koala, saying, “Sister Hu, are there any men in your unit who have grown up like this? Just like Xiang Xiang father! Are there any?”

With that height, those shoulders, that powerful waist, long legs, her clothes were all puffed up, and her face was exceptionally beautiful.

No wonder Yan Xiang is so cute.

“Don’t shake, don’t shake, I dropped my melon seeds!” Hu Sui shouted.

Only then did Lu Manman stop.

Hu Sui took out another handful from his pocket and gave half to her. “Didn’t your mom forbid you from joining the army?”

The country has always been at war, and the shadow of nuclear bombs from imperialist countries has always loomed overhead.

Those who join the army are truly going to the battlefield and they could really sacrifice their lives.

Many families aspire for their children to join the army because of the high treatment soldiers receive.

But Lu Manman is the daughter of the director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. Her family lacks nothing, and they’ve always been the ones others come to for help, never needing to seek help from others. Her mother doesn’t allow her to join the army.

“Never mind my mom!” Lu Manman said. “The people my mom introduces me to are all weirdos.”

Lu Manman is nineteen, the perfect age for marriage. Many people have introduced potential partners to her, but she’s tired of blind dates, and she still hasn’t found anyone she likes.

She’s become known as having “eyes on top of her head” among matchmakers.

“Do they exist or not?” she persisted.

Hu Sui chuckled.

“There are good-looking ones, of course,” she said, “but to be like Weiwei’s man, young and good-looking, and have rank, that’s rare. Among the regimental-level cadres, he’s the only one. And most of the battalion-level cadres are older than him.”

“Many of those who are the same age as him are still in the company-level cocoon.”

“And I can’t introduce you to someone too senior, I’m afraid your mom will come looking for me with a broomstick.”

Lu Manman thought for a moment and said decisively, “I don’t care about rank, I just want good looks!”

After so many blind dates, she was almost face-blind. When she saw Qiao Wei’s family of three today, she finally understood what she wanted.

She just wanted someone good-looking.

Only good-looking men can produce good-looking children!

“Okay, I’ll find you a good-looking one for sure.” Hu Sui readily agreed, full of enthusiasm.

Middle-aged women love to play matchmakers.

Yan Lei and Qiao Wei walked out holding Yan Xiang’s hands, and they met many people from the County Committee along the way. Everyone saw that they were a couple, each holding one of Yan Xiang’s hands.

The image of a wicked stepmother who married a divorced older man and had five children out of necessity vanished into thin air.

As they left the county government compound, Yan Lei even greeted Old Xu from the Information Office.

Old Xu waved back from behind the small window, watching the family of three walk away.

“They really are a couple.”

Yan Lei looked at the sky and said to Qiao Wei, “Don’t bother cooking when we get home, let’s eat out today.”

With a good mood, they deserved a good meal.