Chapter 60

In the kitchen, Aunt Wang was cooking. The door was closed, and she couldn’t hear the conversation in the living room.

She hoped the two children would like each other. They were both good kids.

In the living room, Xu Di took a sip of tea and thought about how to ask about his family situation. Her parents would want to know the details.

“Comrade Xu, have you really thought it through? Can you accept being separated for years and living with my grandmother?”

“Comrade Zhang, I’ve thought it through. I can accept that kind of life.

Although I might be a bit more tired in the future, I’ll have more responsibilities than others.

But you’re defending our country, doing something meaningful.

As a military spouse, I have to shoulder some responsibilities, but at the same time, I also enjoy certain benefits.”

Of course, Xu Di couldn’t say that she just wanted a husband who was away for years, living a single life that wasn’t single.

Besides, Xu Di had a good feeling about soldiers. In her past and present lives, she thought they were an amazing group of people.

Moreover, being a soldier was a very honorable thing. Especially in the 1960s and 1970s, it was the mainstream of society.

Military spouses enjoyed good treatment and were taken care of.

“Thank you for your understanding. I truly love this uniform, I love this job.

I’ll say it again, I can’t be with you every moment, but I will be absolutely loyal to our marriage.

My salary and allowance are not low. Besides necessary living expenses and some help for the families of fallen comrades, I’ll give it all to you.”

Zhang Chaoyang felt that since he was on a blind date, he should be upfront and honest. He shouldn’t hide anything. He would tell her everything, good and bad, to avoid conflicts later.

“Comrade Zhang, I understand your sincerity. Now, I want to ask about your family situation.

You know, marriage is not just about two people, but also about two families.

I’ve always been spoiled by my family since I was a child. I’m not afraid of hardship, but I can’t be wronged.

You need to tell me about your family dynamics. If there’s a domineering mother-in-law, a unreasonable younger sister-in-law, or a sister-in-law who stirs up trouble, I can’t accept that.”

Zhang Chaoyang’s eyes dimmed. His family had a strong-willed mother, a delicate sister, and a domineering sister-in-law. He felt like he was caught in a trap.

“Comrade Zhang, your family doesn’t have all of that, does it?”

Although Comrade Zhang’s facial expressions were well-controlled, Xu Di couldn’t see anything. But his sudden silence made her suspicious.

“Comrade Xu, to be honest, it’s pretty much the same.

My mother is quite strong-willed and a bit domineering. My father likes to play peacemaker.

My older brother and sister-in-law don’t get along well. They argue every other day.

I also have a pair of twin siblings, a brother and a sister. My brother is normal and is studying at the Workers’, Peasants’, and Soldiers’ University.

My sister is in the army’s art troupe. She’s a bit delicate.

But these problems aren’t difficult to solve because I don’t live with them.

I grew up with my grandmother. My relationship with my parents is ordinary.

When I was younger, my parents were working in other places. There were times when I didn’t see them for three or four years.

Besides, I don’t blindly obey my parents’ opinions.

As for my brother and sister, they’re a bit afraid of me. They think I’m cold-hearted and don’t interact with me much.

So, if you count it up, I don’t have all of the things you mentioned.”

Zhang Chaoyang had a strong will to survive. He truly had a good impression of Comrade Xu.

It wasn’t love at first sight. He had felt a bit of a flutter when they exchanged letters before.

Today, after meeting her, that flutter turned into his whole heart fluttering.

He had lived for twenty-four years and had never felt this way before. He didn’t want to give up easily.

Xu Di’s heart sank at first. She was very satisfied with Zhang Chaoyang’s conditions. He fit the setting of a man who didn’t come back but sent money back.

After meeting him today, she was also very satisfied with him as a person.

First, his appearance passed.

With their looks, their children wouldn’t be ugly. Second, he wasn’t as dull as Aunt Wang had said, unable to speak nicely.

Although he was quite direct, he also had a bit of humor.

Even though they wouldn’t be living together every day, they would still be living together sometimes. She still hoped that her husband would have a sense of humor.

It was just that his family situation was a bit complicated.

It seemed like the mother-in-law relationship wouldn’t be too good. His mother was quite domineering, so her family background wouldn’t be considered by his mother.

But he had been raised by his grandmother, and he wouldn’t be living with his parents in the future. That was a good thing.

As for whether he could truly disregard his parents’ opinions and make his own decisions, she would have to ask Aunt Wang. She didn’t want a mama’s boy.

“Comrade Zhang, can you really make your own decisions? Will your parents really not interfere with your life?

I don’t want to get married and take care of the house alone, only to constantly receive orders from my mother-in-law, demanding that I be a good and filial daughter-in-law.”

Xu Di also wanted to ask clearly to see if it was within her acceptable range.

It wasn’t easy to find someone with suitable conditions and looks.

“I can guarantee that if we get married, you don’t have to pay attention to anyone else besides my grandmother.

My grandmother is reasonable. You’ll definitely get along with her.

My mother is a person who cares about face. She won’t cause trouble at your workplace.

As for the others, you can just ignore them.

My relationship with my siblings is ordinary. We don’t have any conflicts, and we’re not particularly close.

We live our own lives, minding our own business. It’s good.”

Zhang Chaoyang quickly stated his position. He felt that if he hesitated for a second, Comrade Xu would back out.

“I’ll ask Aunt Wang for confirmation later. Is what you said true?

Don’t think I don’t believe you. Compared to a stranger like you, I trust Aunt Wang more.”

Xu Di wanted to ask directly, to put the question out in the open. She didn’t like to beat around the bush.

“That’s natural. Your thinking is right. Compared to a stranger like me, Aunt Wang is someone you can trust.

If I have the chance, I also hope to become one of the people you can trust.”

“Comrade Zhang, Aunt Wang said you’re a bit dull and not good at talking. But I think you’re quite talkative and articulate.”

Xu Di had a question and brought it up directly.

“Aunt Wang grew up watching me. She’s stuck with the stereotype of me from when I was young.

I graduated from high school and joined the army. I went south, where the language was different. I’ve only come back a handful of times during this period.

We have to adapt to different environments, and for the sake of our missions, we have to undergo different training, which also changes our personalities.”

When Zhang Chaoyang was younger, he was quiet and shy, so in the eyes of adults, he was a quiet and dull child.

“I understand. Growing up isn’t just about growing taller.

I’ll also tell you about my family situation. My parents work at a machinery factory. My older brother is married and also works at the machinery factory. I have an older sister who is an educated youth in Yunnan Province. She just got married, and I have a younger brother who is in elementary school.

I also lived with my grandparents when I was younger, until I was eight or nine years old and had to come back to go to school.

My family is relatively simple. We all get along well, and our relationships with our relatives are also close.”

The Xu family was a harmonious family, rare in this era. They didn’t have any of those messy things.

They had both revealed their cards. Xu Di was thinking to herself, should she accept?