Qin Yuanzheng was getting married. This news quickly spread throughout the military district.
After all, Qin Yuanzheng had always been a prominent figure in the army.
Originally, he was the most favored son-in-law candidate among the leaders of various departments.
Later, he caused another stir in the military district when he was diagnosed with infertility.
Now, let alone in the army, even in the various factories of Longcheng City, whenever Regiment Commander Qin was mentioned, people would secretly ask, "Is that the Regiment Commander Qin who is impotent?"
Now, that impotent Regiment Commander Qin was getting married.
He wrote a marriage application in wild handwriting. Because he was somewhat anxious, he didn't even bother to wait and drove directly to the Construction Engineering Corps Headquarters building to find his superior, Commander Li.
Commander Li had just asked about his marriage a few days ago.
What did Qin Yuanzheng say at that time?
He said he had no plans to get married.
Well, now Qin Yuanzheng, who had no plans to get married, came in person with his marriage application for Commander Li to sign.
Commander Li was naturally happy that Qin Yuanzheng could get married. He said, "I heard you carried the little girl directly out of the hospital?"
Qin Yuanzheng: "..."
Qin Yuanzheng was completely bewildered: "How did you know?"
Commander Li snorted and said, "You brat, you need to pay attention to your influence. So many people saw it. It wouldn't sound good if rumors spread that the army is forcibly taking civilian women."
Qin Yuanzheng: "..."
The marriage application wouldn't be approved until tomorrow.
Therefore, the earliest they could get their marriage certificate was tomorrow afternoon.
It wasn't that Qin Yuanzheng was in a rush; it was just that since he had decided to marry the young lady, he wanted to be efficient.
Company Commander Xiao Yang brought Qiao Lanshu's luggage from the hospital back to the guest house, but he couldn't find Qiao Lanshu.
He then took the luggage back to the mining area office.
Staff Officer Lin looked at Xiao Yang and asked, "Xiao Yang, Comrade Xiao Qiao is going to get a marriage certificate with our regiment commander. Did you know about this?"
Xiao Yang looked completely bewildered: "Ah? Is it that sudden? I didn't know."
Staff Officer Lin shook his head and sighed: "What a good girl Comrade Xiao Qiao is. Our regiment commander really got a bargain."
Xiao Yang deeply agreed. Who could say otherwise?
Their regiment commander was so fierce, who knew if Xiao Qiao could handle it?
...
By the time Qin Yuanzheng came out of the headquarters building, it was already getting late.
Today, he not only submitted his marriage application but also handed in a housing application.
He was getting married, so he couldn't let Comrade Xiao Qiao suffer any grievances.
He applied for a two-bedroom apartment with a living room in the military compound, and then found people to exchange for some industrial coupons and a bicycle coupon.
He had to get all the essentials ready, like a bicycle, a sewing machine, a watch, and a radio.
He also needed to have a new cotton quilt made, as well as a new padded cotton jacket for the young lady.
He listed everything he could think of first, running around all afternoon, exchanging for the coupons he lacked.
When he was about done, he prepared to get off work.
The thought of having Comrade Xiao Qiao waiting for him at home instantly warmed his heart.
He drove to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought half a catty of pork, a catty of flour, along with potatoes, sweet potatoes, and Chinese cabbage.
When he lived alone, he had nothing at home. He ate all three meals at the canteen and never cooked for himself.
Because of this, he had saved a lot of money. When the time came, he would hand all his money over to Comrade Xiao Qiao and let her manage the household.
Qin Yuanzheng took out his accumulated food and grocery coupons, bought a catty of fruit candies, two catties of biscuits, and some melon seeds and peanuts.
The young lady was still quite young; she probably liked eating these things, so he bought them as snacks for her.
Carrying these items, he returned to his dormitory.
Qiao Lanshu spent the entire day in Qin Yuanzheng's dormitory.
His dormitory was a small one-bedroom apartment with a living room. It wasn't spacious, but because there were few things, it looked quite empty.
In the small living room, there was only a wooden bench with a backrest, a round table, and two stools.
In the bedroom, there was a standard military double-tier iron bunk bed. The top bunk neatly held Qin Yuanzheng's daily necessities.
The quilt on the bottom bunk was also neatly folded, looking like a square block.
Qiao Lanshu walked around the room twice. The place was clean and deserted, with fewer things than she had during her few days at the guest house.
But this was Qin Yuanzheng's place. Since he brought her back here, it meant he truly wanted to marry her.
Qiao Lanshu felt happy in her heart. She sat on the bench in the living room, held Qin Yuanzheng's cup, drank half a cup of water, and then leaned back to rest.
At noon, a guard came over to deliver food to her, using Qin Yuanzheng's lunchbox.
The lunchbox contained stewed potatoes with vermicelli and a coarse grain steamed bun.
She ate it all, washed the lunchbox clean, and leaned back on the chair to take a nap.
She wasn't going to go out. What if she went out and Qin Yuanzheng regretted it and went back on his word?
She was going to stay right here; it would be best if everyone knew about it.
Just as the sky was getting dark, Qin Yuanzheng returned.
Carrying many things in his hands, the moment he returned, he asked the guard stationed outside, "Did Comrade Xiao Qiao go out today?"
The guard replied, "Reporting to the Regiment Commander, no. I delivered lunch to her at noon and asked if she needed anything; she said no. I asked if she wanted to go out, and she said she wouldn't."
Qin Yuanzheng thought to himself, Comrade Xiao Qiao was so obedient. He told her not to go out, and she really didn't?
Such an obedient young lady—indeed, he wouldn't feel at ease leaving her with anyone else.
It was best to tie her to his side and look after her himself.
Qin Yuanzheng took out his key, opened the door, and went in.
The room was dark. He turned on the light and immediately saw Qiao Lanshu lying on her side on the bench, sleeping with her eyes closed.
Because she had been fiercely rejected by Qin Yuanzheng a few days ago, Qiao Lanshu hadn't slept well for three consecutive days.
Today, her emotions had calmed down, and she slept on the chair all day.
Woken up by the noise, she groggily opened her eyes.
Afraid that the light would make her uncomfortable, Qin Yuanzheng turned it back off.
He placed his things on the table, walked over to Qiao Lanshu, crouched down to look at her, and asked in a low voice, "Why are you sleeping here? Isn't there a bed in the room?"
Comrade Xiao Qiao had just woken up. She yawned with sleepy eyes, sat up, and looked at Qin Yuanzheng crouching in front of her in the dim light. Belatedly, she began to blush.
Qiao Lanshu said a bit shyly, "That's your bed. Can I sleep on it?"
Thinking about Comrade Xiao Qiao sleeping on his bed, wrapped in a quilt filled with his scent, Qin Yuanzheng's heart surged with heat.
He looked at Qiao Lanshu with dark eyes and said, "We are about to get our marriage certificate. Of course you can sleep in my bed."
He paused for a moment, then added, "Comrade Xiao Qiao, you know what marriage means, right?"
Qiao Lanshu looked at him: "I know."
"You know?" Qin Yuanzheng demanded. "You know, and yet you still ask such a question? Once we get married, we will be lawful husband and wife. Not only are you allowed to sleep in my bed, but you will be sleeping in it for the rest of your life, understand?"
He looked down at Qiao Lanshu's delicate face, his voice low, yet carrying a cold, unyielding dominance. "I have already submitted the marriage application with your identification details on it. Comrade Qiao Lanshu, you no longer have any room to back out now."
