Chapter 79 - 79 73 EngagedMixed Thoughts (Begging for Pink)

Words : 2013 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

79: Chapter 73 Engaged/Mixed Thoughts (Begging for Pink) 79: Chapter 73 Engaged/Mixed Thoughts (Begging for Pink) The second watch arrived. ———- After giving it some thought, Liang Xiangyang nodded, “That’s true, these two kids may have special recruitment authority, but they were actually selected through the standard procedure. No one can find fault with that, but can you give your brother a hint as to whether the regimental commander has any hidden intentions?” Zhou Hanliang’s face was filled with amusement, “Division Commander, are you worrying a bit too much?” “It’s well-intentioned, well-intentioned...” Liang Xiangyang said with an embarrassed smile, “I purely mean well. It’s about time the regimental commander had a wife.” “If you have the guts, go and say that to the regimental commander’s face.” “How could I do that?” Liang Xiangyang quickly shook his head, “Brother, you can’t let me down like that. If I didn’t consider you a brother, why would I say these things to you, right?” “Enough, I won’t expose you in front of the regimental commander, rest assured...” Zhou Hanliang looked at him with disdain, “Do I come across as such a gossip in your eyes?” “No, no, it’s about preventing trouble before it happens, haha...” After glancing at the time, Liang Xiangyang sighed, “I need to hurry off now. Establishing such a large-scale mobile hospital is a nationwide first, and the leaders are taking it very seriously. Last night, they suddenly issued a notification, summoning the preparatory staff to a meeting at the general military region. There was no choice. I had to hand over all the home visit duties to Xiao Zeng. I rushed back overnight, and when I was entering the division headquarters, I happened to meet the Division Commander leaving. After greeting him, I came straight to you. How’s that for thoughtfulness?” “Thoughtful, very thoughtful...” Zhou Hanliang frowned slightly, “Is it appropriate for Zeng Meili to do the home visits by herself? Being a girl, couldn’t that be unsafe?” Liang Xiangyang waved his hand dismissively, “Before I left, I notified the commune directors of each commune. Whichever commune Xiao Zeng visits, that commune will assign two accompanying staff, one male and one female, for the home visit. Don’t worry, there won’t be any safety issues.” Zhou Hanliang nodded, “In that case, it’s acceptable. If she gets too busy, there’s no need to visit Lin Chuxia and Luo Xiaoqiong. These two kids won’t cause any trouble.” “Alright, I’ll give Xiao Zeng a call later and tell her not to go to Dalin Village. One less place to visit is still one less place. Thanks, Old Zhou!” ... Jiang Xiaodie, 18, from Little Shop Village of Red Flag Commune in Yunping County, father: Jiang Aiguo, mother: Lian Xiangcui. Xue Qinqin, 19, from Xue Family Village of Red Flag Commune in Yunping County, father: Xue Lisheng, mother: Miao Aifang. Luo Xiaoqiong, 18, from Dalin Village of Red Flag Commune in Yunping County, father: Luo Gangshun, mother: Xiao Chaxiang. Qiao Ningyi, 18, from Yin Family Village of Red Flag Commune in Yunping County, father: Qiao Guanghui, mother: Yu Naling. Lin Chuxia, 17, from Xiaoxia Village of Red Flag Commune in Yunping County, father: Lin Weiguo, mother: Zhao Xiangxiang. Sun Shangmei, 19, from Xiaoxia Village of Red Flag Commune in Yunping County, father: Sun Qidong, mother: Liu Aimei. This list consisted of the home address registration materials for the selected candidates from Red Flag Commune. Zeng Meili was reviewing it when Xue Ligang arrived with a sturdy black young man in his early twenties and a plump woman of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years: “Chief Zeng, these are Liu Yuqiang and Yang Xiaohui, who will accompany you for the home visits. They are very familiar with the villages in this area.” Zeng Meili stood up politely, “Thank you, I have really troubled Director Xue too much during this period.” Xue Ligang waved his hands repeatedly, “Not at all, not at all, we ought to do this. Our Red Flag Commune can’t fall behind others.” Zeng Meili’s gaze shifted to Liu Yuqiang and Yang Xiaohui, “It’s already half-past seven, shall we head out?” “Yes!” The two stood at attention, saluting in unison. Zeng Meili smiled, “No need to be so formal, I’ll be relying on you guys a lot. I don’t know anything about the villages around here, I’d probably get lost on my own.” “It’s our honor to assist Chief Zeng!” Liu Yuqiang said. Yang Xiaohui didn’t want to be outdone, “It’s our privilege to work with Chief Zeng!” These flatteries..., a slight twitch tugged at the corner of Zeng Meili’s mouth. She thanked Xue Ligang again and led the way out. “Take a look at the list and see in what order we could save some time?” Liu Yuqiang took a look at the list for a while and suggested, “Let’s go to Xue Family Village first, then Little Shop Village, followed by Yin Family Village, Dalin Village, and finally Xiaoxia Village. We should be able to cover it all in one day.” Zeng Meili nodded, “Alright, let’s do as you suggest.” The three had just pushed their bicycles out the door when Xue Ligang came running out of breath, “Chief Zeng, Chief Zeng, wait a moment!” Zeng Meili turned around, puzzled, “Is there something else?” “Chief Liang just called, saying you don’t have to visit the homes of Lin Chuxia and Luo Xiaoqiong.” “Why not?” “Chief Liang said, he is familiar with those two families, so there’s no need to visit...” “Director Xue, what’s wrong with you?” Zeng Meili looked puzzled at Xue Ligang, who seemed suddenly frozen, confused about what had stunned him mid-sentence. “No... no... nothing.” Xue Ligang quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead, smiling with his face full of wrinkles, “I got a stitch in my side just now, it hurt, heh heh...” Zeng Meili laughed, “Why are you running so fast? Even if we’re gone, at worst, we would just have to visit a few more places. Alright, we’ll decide based on the actual situation if we want to go to Lin Chuxia’s and Luo Xiaoqiong’s homes.” “Uh... uh...” Xue Ligang responded woodenly, somewhat absent-minded. Thinking that he was still feeling unwell, Zeng Meili smiled and said, “Director Xue, you should go back and rest. We’re leaving right now.” Xue Ligang quickly said, “Have a safe trip.” “Thank you.” Zeng Meili smiled and looked at Liu Yuqiang and Yang Xiaohui: “Let’s go.” Liu Yuqiang, with facial muscles slightly trembling from excitement, smiled at Xue Ligang, “Director, we’re off. Don’t worry, with us leading the way, Chief Zeng will definitely have a safe journey.” Xue Ligang smiled and waved his hand at the group, “Go on, the sooner you leave, the sooner you’ll return. Tonight, I’ll make sure the canteen prepares something delicious for you.” Watching Zeng Meili and the others disappear, Xue Ligang quickly returned to his office, gave some work instructions, then immediately mounted his bicycle and left the commune yard. ... In the Luo family, the atmosphere was joyful and festive. At nine nineteen in the morning, the folks from Zhao’s house arrived at the Luo family compound with the bride price in tow. “Meiying is really lucky, look at all these preparations. They’ve already brought so much just for the engagement, what will the wedding look like?” “Indeed, indeed. Meiying is highly valued by her husband’s family.” “I wish my daughter could find a husband’s family that values her this much.” “Dream on, a good family like that isn’t easy to find.” “...” Red-covered oval bamboo baskets—four in total—and two square-shaped food containers, not to mention a brand new bicycle, left the onlookers gossiping about the array of colorful bridal gifts in the yard. After some initial pleasantries, male guests were seated in the east room and female guests in the west room. Fat Auntie then took Zhao Yulan to the east room, “Yulan, it’s just an engagement, why have you prepared so much? And the bicycle, it’s not even the wedding yet, why have you bought it already?” “It’s the will of my dad and mom. They said they are content with finding such a good daughter-in-law as Xiaoqiong and insisted that those be given to their future daughter-in-law, asking you to definitely accept them.” After hesitating for a moment, Fat Auntie said, “Yulan, we’re willing to marry into this family because we value the Zhao family’s character, not their wealth. People here think that less bride price means the bride won’t be valued in her new home. But we don’t care about such things. We’ll accept the gifts for the engagement, but when it comes to the wedding, we won’t ask for a bride price. Just make sure the wedding banquet is well-organized.” “That’s enough. If I’m happy, why shouldn’t I be? Xiaoqiong is such a good girl marrying Qiliang, how can we let her be slighted?” Zhao Yulan playfully scolded. “My older brother and sister-in-law only have Qiliang as their son, how could they not prepare properly? Don’t worry about it, they will do what they can afford.” “What are you two whispering about here?” Zhao Yucui came in smiling. Zhao Yulan, without even looking at her, turned and walked away. “Little sister!” Zhao Yucui grabbed hold of her, “Do you really believe what your second sister-in-law said? Do you really think that Qiyan replaced Chuxia because of me?” Zhao Yulan didn’t say a word, but her facial expression clearly showed she believed just that. Seeing this, Fat Auntie quickly said, “You sisters chat slowly, I’m going outside to check if the helpers have arrived for cooking. We can’t miss the right timing for this.” Zhao Yucui smiled at Fat Auntie and tightened her grip on Zhao Yulan’s hand, “Little sister, do you think I’m capable of that? Even if I dislike you, I wouldn’t use such a method to get revenge, right?” Zhao Yulan looked at her, “If you didn’t do it, why explain?” “Something about this doesn’t sit right with me, really...” Zhao Yucui furrowed her brows, “Yes, I did something wrong to you, but not this. I didn’t want to tell you, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt something was off, so I decided to take this opportunity to tell you the truth. The teaching position meant for Meifeng at eldest sister’s home should’ve been Chuxia’s. It was me who took the liberty of giving it to Meifeng. My brother-in-law chewed me out when he found out. But what’s done is done; the decision was final. Second sister-in-law somehow heard about it and threatened me, saying if I didn’t cooperate with her, she would tell you about it, so...” Zhao Yulan said, baffled, “Why would my second brother-in-law arrange a teaching job for Chuxia?” “Didn’t Baohe tell you? During the New Year’s visit, he asked your brother-in-law for that favor. I always thought you knew. Yulan, I’m in the wrong about this, but, but...” Zhao Yulan scoffed, “But you couldn’t stand to see our family’s Chuxia benefiting from your influence, right?” “Yes.” Zhao Yucui nodded, “But this matter with the military enlistment, it really wasn’t my doing. Even if I wanted to do it, I wouldn’t have had the means. Little sister, you should be able to figure this out if you think about it a little, right?” “I understand.” Zhao Yulan nodded. “Little sister...” Zhao Yulan frowned at her, “Do you have anything else to say?” (To be continued. If you like this work, please head over to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

Chapter 79 - 79 73 EngagedMixed Thoughts (Begging for Pink)

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