Chapter 12 Military Marriage 1
The Original Host was the daughter of the village Captain, pampered since childhood. After graduating from high school, she couldn't find a job and would have to work in the fields to earn work points. Unable to endure such hardship, and with her fiancé, Zhou Hongjun, already a Deputy Battalion Commander in the army and eligible for family quarters, their families quickly arranged their wedding, and she followed her husband to the military base.
Unexpectedly, after only two months at the base, the Original Host discovered Zhou Hongjun embracing another woman.
The Original Host immediately caused a scene. Zhou Hongjun protected Bai Moli as she left, then forcibly dragged the Original Host back home.
It turned out that Zhou Hongjun had liked Bai Moli, the Regiment Commander’s daughter, for a long time. However, as a poor boy from the countryside, neither the Regiment Commander nor his daughter thought highly of him. Bai Moli married Qu Muyang, the only son of the Qu family in Beijing.
They were sweet and loving for a while, but Qu Muyang was killed during a mission.
At that time, Bai Moli was only twenty-two. Even though she had just given birth to a daughter, it was clear she couldn't remain single forever.
Zhou Hongjun's thoughts became active again, regretting that he hadn't persisted more. He often showed concern for Bai Moli, and such embraces were not uncommon, but Bai Moli never gave him a definitive answer. The most she would say was, “I cannot do anything immoral. You are already married, so please don't bother me anymore.”
In Zhou Hongjun’s heart, Bai Moli was a pure and kind little fairy.
Initially, after their affair was discovered, he completely denied it. Fearing that the Original Host would ruin Bai Moli’s reputation, he promised never to see Bai Moli again and to live a good life with her.
The Original Host believed him, and soon she became pregnant. Zhou's mother came to personally care for the pregnant woman.
Then, the Original Host had a difficult labor.
Zhou's mother absolutely refused a C-section, and Zhou Hongjun also urged the Original Host to endure it a bit longer. The Original Host died in childbirth.
Ning Yan was very angry. She also wanted Zhou Hongjun to endure it!
When she arrived, the Original Host was in her third year of high school.
This weekend, after returning from school, Ning Yan directly proposed visiting the army base.
Captain Ning Da didn't understand, “Why do you suddenly want to visit?”
“Of course, it’s to get to know Zhou Hongjun better. If he’s not suitable, we can break off the engagement early, to avoid disliking each other after marriage and being unable to live together.”
Ning's Mom reached out and poked her daughter’s forehead. “Listen to what you’re saying?” Then, changing the subject, she added, “However, visiting the army base isn’t a bad idea.”
And so, Ning Yan’s visit to the army base was decided.
The train rattled and swayed for four days before it reached the army base where Zhou Hongjun was serving.
After checking into the guesthouse and settling her luggage, Ning Yan tidied herself up before going to the base to find Zhou Hongjun.
Zhou Hongjun, who had just finished training, had a dark expression when the guardhouse told him his fiancée was looking for him.
The first words he spoke upon seeing Ning Yan were laced with anger: “Why are you here?”
Ning Yan knew what kind of person this guy was, so she wasn't surprised.
“You don’t want me to come? No wonder when I just told this comrade I was your fiancée, he didn’t believe me. Is it because you have someone you like in the army, and that’s why you’ve hidden my existence?”
Zhou Hongjun wished he could cover Ning Yan’s mouth.
“What nonsense are you talking about? Come on, come on, follow me to the dormitory first.”
Ning Yan was there to break off the engagement and incidentally to catch Zhou Hongjun in the act, so she naturally wanted Zhou Hongjun to take her around the base to establish her presence. Therefore, she said no more and followed Zhou Hongjun into his dormitory.
Zhou Hongjun had been promoted to Deputy Battalion Commander after successfully completing a special mission at the end of the year and earning a second-class merit. At this time, he was still just a Company Commander, and living conditions in the army were limited; he shared a dormitory with another Company Commander from the Second Battalion.
Seeing him bring in a beautiful female Comrade, Regiment Commander Zheng was surprised. “Hongjun, is this your sister? You have such a beautiful sister?”
Zhou Hongjun directly ignored the look of astonishment on Regiment Commander Zheng’s face. A flash of awkwardness crossed his features, and after thinking it over, he decided to tell the truth. After all, Ning Yan seemed a bit reckless, and if he dared to lie, she would likely expose him on the spot. “This is Ning Yan, my, my fiancée.”
As soon as Regiment Commander Zheng heard that Ning Yan was Zhou Hongjun’s fiancée, a look of regret flashed across his face, then he said in surprise, “Your fiancée? You have a fiancée and yet…”
He swallowed the rest of his words, his opinion of Zhou Hongjun plummeting. To openly pursue Bai Moli when he had a fiancée—this person’s character was questionable.
“Well, since your fiancée is here, you should spend some good time with her. How about I help you request a day off?”
Zhou Hongjun quickly refused: “No need. I’ll send her to the guesthouse later. No need to take time off.”
Regiment Commander Zheng lowered his eyelids and said no more, simply grunting “Hmm” and leaving.
After he left, Zhou Hongjun’s expression immediately changed. “Why didn’t you call ahead before coming? I had no preparation at all. Who told you to come?”
They had been engaged the year before last. Last year, he was transferred to his current unit and met Bai Moli, the Regiment Commander’s daughter. He had no feelings for Ning Yan, so he had never taken her seriously. When Ning Yan showed up, he felt only annoyance and anger; his mood was simply awful.
“What did you want to prepare?”
Zhou Hongjun choked, then immediately thought, no wonder he didn’t like her; there was a reason for it. This personality was just unlikable. What was the use of being good-looking?
“Alright, you sit. I’ll go get you some food.”
“Wait, you want me to eat in the dormitory? Am I not presentable? I want to eat in the mess hall.”
Zhou Hongjun: …
Finally, Ning Yan was taken to the mess hall. She was good-looking and had deliberately dressed up before coming.
Unlike the common attire of women at the time, her long hair was not braided into a large plait but was tied high into a ponytail. She wore a white floral long dress, and on her feet were sheer stockings with matching small leather sandals, emphasizing a pure, clean, and unpretentious look.
Upon arriving at the mess hall, she was also very poised, smiling and greeting those around her, speaking in fluent Mandarin. With a smile that revealed two small dimples, who wouldn't praise her?
Regiment Commander Zheng, who had arrived earlier, looked at Zhou Hongjun with even more disdain. Comrade Ning was clearly more beautiful and polite than Bai Moli.
That Bai Moli always spoke with a condescending attitude and had more than once called soldiers like them, who came from the countryside, “mud legs.” Would such a person really be interested in Zhou Hongjun?
Hmm, Comrade Ning’s eating manners were also better than Bai Moli’s.
…
After leaving the mess hall, Zhou Hongjun offered to walk her back. Ning Yan nodded but didn't let him escort her. “You’re busy. The guesthouse is only a few hundred meters from here; I can go back by myself. I can’t let myself delay your work.”
Zhou Hongjun only wanted her to leave; he didn’t genuinely want to escort her. When Ning Yan said that, he stopped in his tracks.
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