Chapter 31: A First Promise, I Cannot Break

The sudden news stunned everyone present, the cheerful atmosphere instantly turning heavy.

Fu Yanci frowned, his face turning serious.

He knew that military orders were paramount.

Everything else came after military orders.

Fu Yanci’s mother, Tang Fengzhen, glanced at him and sighed inwardly.

This was incredibly bad timing, a sudden urgent summons.

His son had finally come home, finally had the intention to get married.

What kind of work did the army do?!

Tang Fengzhen observed Fu Yanci’s demeanor these past two days and his seriousness about the proposal today.

She knew her son had placed this future daughter-in-law in his heart.

After some thought, she comforted him, “Military orders are important, Yanci. Why don’t you quickly write a note? Mom and Dad will take it to the Su family and give it to Xiao Wan. She will understand.”

As she spoke, Fu Yanci’s father, Fu Weiping, had already prepared paper and pen, handing them to Fu Yanci.

Fu Yanci looked at the paper and pen and said to his parents, “Dad, Mom, yesterday I was the one who proposed going to the Su family. Xiao Wan is surely waiting for me at home with Uncle Su. This is my first promise, I cannot break it!”

Writing the cold words on paper, he felt uneasy.

He didn’t want Su Wantang to be sad or upset.

He didn’t want this to cause the villagers to gossip about Su Wantang.

Without hesitation, Fu Yanci jumped into his car, started the engine, and gave instructions to Fu Yanxue.

“Sister, please accompany Mom and Dad to deliver these things to the Su family and apologize to Uncle Su for me. I’ll go say goodbye to Xiao Wan and then head straight back to the army!”

Fu Yanxue quickly nodded, “Okay, don’t worry! Go quickly! I’ll take care of things here!”

Fu Yanci sped towards Heping Village, to the Su family home.

The road was clear, and he drove straight to the Su family’s gate.

The gate was open.

Fu Yanci jumped out of the car and rushed into the Su family courtyard.

As soon as he entered, he saw a chaotic scene of chickens scattering everywhere.

Su Wantang was chasing a chicken around the yard.

The chicken, which Su Wantang had been chasing all morning, saw Fu Yanci as a lifeline and darted towards him.

Fu Yanci stepped aside, extended his hand, and caught the chicken.

“Cluck, cluck, cluck…”

The chicken struggled in Fu Yanci’s hand.

Su Wantang, with a few chicken feathers in her hair, stood with her hands on her hips.

Seeing the chicken caught by Fu Yanci, she said angrily, “You must be a hen! I chased you all morning and couldn’t catch you, but you run to a man!”

Fu Yanci smiled gently and walked up to Su Wantang.

He extended his other hand, brushing the chicken feathers from her hair.

He asked, “Do you want to kill the chicken?”

Su Wantang nodded.

Then, she looked around, “Why are you here so early? Are you alone?”

Fu Yanci’s expression darkened, and he said softly, “I’m here to say goodbye.”

Su Wantang looked up at him.

Fu Yanci continued, “I just received orders and need to return to the army immediately. My parents are behind me. I’m sorry, I won’t be able to have dinner with you.”

Su Wantang was slightly stunned.

Receiving a military order requiring an immediate return to the army at this time.

The plot from the book, where he goes on a mission, falls into the water, and his legs are severed by something in the water, suddenly came to Su Wantang’s mind.

She gently pursed her lips.

Seeing Su Wantang’s silence, Fu Yanci held the chicken and walked towards the kitchen.

As he walked, he asked with a smile, “Do you know how to kill a chicken?”

Su Wantang shook her head, “No.”

Fu Yanci rolled up his sleeves, “I’ll teach you.”

Fu Yanci then picked up the cleaver, lightly rubbing it on a nearby stone.

The chicken seemed to sense something and squawked in alarm, its wings flapping wildly.

Su Wantang, arms crossed, said, “Everyone dies eventually, sooner or later. Don’t struggle.”

Fu Yanci looked up at her with a doting smile.

Then, holding the chicken’s wings and head firmly, he straightened its neck and raised the cleaver high.

With a swift stroke, he cleanly severed the chicken’s neck.

Blood gushed out.

Fu Yanci quickly hung the chicken upside down to drain the blood into a basin.

The chicken’s body still twitched slightly, gradually weakening.

After the blood drained, Fu Yanci poured some boiling water from the pot into the basin and immersed the chicken for a moment.

Then he began plucking the feathers. Su Wantang watched his hands deftly remove the feathers in a few moments.

Finally, he carefully cleaned the chicken’s insides and washed it thoroughly.

Su Wantang watched his skilled movements and praised, “Commander Fu, I didn’t know the army taught you how to kill chickens! You’re really good at it!”

Fu Yanci wiped his hands with a cloth and glanced at his watch.

His gaze fell again, his eyes full of reluctance.

His voice hoarse, he said, “Comrade Su, I have to go.”