An Accidental Military Marriage

"What did our third son tell you?"

Although he’d complained about his son always calling home, Lu Deyao couldn’t help but feel concerned and curious once Jiang Moli hung up.

"Jiang Qing made it to the military base. After we eat, I’ll head over to my parents’ place to let my dad know."

Lu Deyao and An Hui breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that Jiang Qing was safe and sound.

Although Jiang Qing had no real connection to them, as elders, they couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy hearing about a young woman running away from home all by herself.

Gazing at Jiang Moli’s fair and pretty face, An Hui couldn’t help but let her mind wander.

’If Jiang Qing hadn’t interfered, perhaps it would’ve been our daughter-in-law marrying into the Zhang family.’

’Even someone as diligent and dutiful as Jiang Qing couldn’t endure it. Our daughter-in-law is so much more pampered; she probably would have suffered even more.’

’But on second thought, with our daughter-in-law’s temper, if the Zhang family dared to give her any grief, wouldn’t she tear their house down?’

The thought made her feel a strange sense of anticipation and excitement.

Neither the Jiang family nor the Lu Family realized one thing: Jiang Moli had unknowingly influenced their way of thinking and upended their principles.

That philosophy was: take life and death in stride, and if challenged, fight back.

...

Inside the guesthouse room.

Zhang Jia Ming and Jiang Qing, a man and a woman alone together, were like dry tinder meeting a blazing fire.

Two minutes later.

Zhang Jia Ming looked at Jiang Qing, who was snuggling shyly in his arms, and asked gently, "You must be exhausted?"

Jiang Qing shook her head. "I’m not tired."

"Nonsense. How could you not be tired after something like this? You’re always so considerate."

Jiang Qing genuinely didn’t feel tired, just a little sore. But she was too shy to talk about such things, so she changed the subject to Zhang Jia Ming’s performance at the military base.

"Now that you’ve been promoted to squad leader, has your monthly stipend increased?"

Due to his outstanding performance during the disaster relief efforts, Zhang Jia Ming had been promoted to squad leader upon returning to his unit.

"Yes, it went up by 2.7 yuan a month."

Jiang Qing excitedly kissed his cheek, her eyes filled with adoration and her voice as soft as water. "Jia Ming, I told you before, you’re destined for great things. You won’t be second to anyone in the future."

"It’s also because Camp Commander Lu saw my potential. I was only promoted to squad leader because of his support."

"Then... did you tell him about the things I wrote to you in my letters?"

"I told him everything. Camp Commander Lu was quite angry when he found out."

Out of masculine pride and the need to save face, Zhang Jia Ming didn’t mention that he had been punished by Lu Cheng.

After all, being yelled at to his face by his superior and called a gossip was pretty humiliating.

Jiang Qing was overjoyed. "Jia Ming, from now on, if we work together, our lives will definitely get better and better."

"Mhm."

Zhang Jia Ming hugged her tightly, his voice thick with emotion. "Xiao Qing, marrying a wonderful wife like you is the greatest blessing of my life."

Jiang Qing rested against his warm chest, her face radiating contentment and happiness.

’This is wonderful,’ she thought. ’My life is finally back on track.’

"By the way, Xiao Qing, how did you meet Doctor Qiao?"

Upon learning that Qiao Wenjing was a military doctor at the base, Jiang Qing couldn’t help but hold her in higher regard.

Among all military professions, doctors were highly respected.

Moreover, Qiao Wenjing was so young; it was clear she was professionally trained, at least a university graduate.

In this day and age, anyone who could attend university was unlikely to have a poor family background.

With this in mind, Jiang Qing briefly explained how she and Qiao Wenjing had met.

"Jia Ming, it seems like Doctor Qiao doesn’t like Jiang Moli. Do you know why?"

"When Doctor Qiao first arrived at the base, she went up the mountain alone to gather herbs and had an accident. She fell off a cliff and was knocked unconscious. If Camp Commander Lu hadn’t found her in time and carried her down the mountain for treatment, she probably would have been eaten by wild wolves. After that, Doctor Qiao developed a crush on him and started bringing him gifts every day."

"So that’s how it is."

Confirming Qiao Wenjing’s hostility toward Jiang Moli, Jiang Qing was secretly pleased.

’Qiao Wenjing is much better than Zhou Xiaoqing in every way. She’ll definitely be a great ally in dealing with Jiang Moli.’

...

Seeing Qiao Wenjing walk out of the camp area, Jiang Qing went forward to greet her. "Doctor Qiao."

"Ms. Jiang, can I help you?"

"I wanted to thank you for your help yesterday. I made this hat myself as a gift for you. You can wear it when you go out to get some shade."

The hat was sewn from green cloth. It had a round crown and a ruffled brim the width of an index finger, supported by a thin wire. When worn, it provided just enough shade to cover her eyes and neck.

"Thank you for giving me this green hat. I like it a lot."

"I’m just glad you like it, Doctor Qiao. I just arrived from my hometown and don’t really have any proper gifts to offer."

"You’re very skilled."

"After I lost my job, I worked part-time at a hat factory for a while and picked up the skill."

Qiao Wenjing was immediately curious about why she had lost her job.

Jiang Qing told Qiao Wenjing about being reported, but she deliberately omitted that the person who reported her was her neighbor, Zhou Xiaoqing, leading Qiao Wenjing to suspect Jiang Moli.

Jiang Qing gave a bitter smile. "Without any proof, I don’t dare make baseless accusations. But... there is something else, though I’m not sure if I should say it."

"Tell me!"

Qiao Wenjing took her hand. "Fate brings people together, even from a thousand miles away. The fact that we’ve met means it was destined."

Jiang Qing hesitated. "This is a family scandal. Please, Doctor Qiao, don’t tell anyone else."

"Okay, I promise."

Only then did Jiang Qing say with relief, "Actually, my husband, Zhang Jia Ming, and Jiang Moli were engaged as children."

Seeing the shock on Qiao Wenjing’s face, Jiang Qing continued, "Jiang Moli always looked down on Zhang Jia Ming, despising him for being from the countryside and for his family’s poverty. But because she had a bad reputation, she couldn’t find anyone better, so she just dragged out the engagement. That is, until she met my husband’s superior, Camp Commander Lu."

"I don’t know what she said to Camp Commander Lu in private, but he came to our house to propose marriage soon after. My stepfather didn’t want to miss out on a rich and powerful son-in-law like him, so he had me, the stepsister, marry my husband in Jiang Moli’s place."

"To be honest, I was happy with the marriage. My husband may be poor, but he’s not without ambition. He’s down-to-earth and driven, and I believe he’ll have a great future. But Jiang Moli wouldn’t leave me alone. She had someone slander me, making it impossible for me to stay with my in-laws, so I had no choice but to come here and seek refuge with my husband."

Qiao Wenjing was filled with righteous indignation. "How outrageous! How could she be so vicious?"

"She’s been like this since we were children; I’m used to it. Doctor Qiao, you’re such a kind and upright person that I just couldn’t help but tell you all this. I hope you can keep it a secret for me. After all, if this gets out, it won’t be good for Camp Commander Lu."

Hearing Jiang Qing say this only made Qiao Wenjing more furious.

’Scum like Jiang Moli, who only brings harm to herself and others, deserves to be despised and spat upon by the whole world!’

’But she had to be mindful of Lu Cheng’s reputation and image, so she couldn’t expose Jiang Moli’s wicked deeds.’

’It’s absolutely despicable and hateful!’

"Doctor Qiao, it’s embarrassing to say, but I actually ran away to come visit him. Once Jiang Moli finds out, she’ll definitely find a way to make trouble for me again."

"Ms. Jiang, don’t be afraid. If she’s so determined to make your life difficult, then I’ll be just as determined to help you. We’ll see if we can’t drive her mad with anger!"

Jiang Qing waved her hands in feigned panic. "Oh no, Doctor Qiao, I couldn’t. I know you mean well, but I don’t want to cause you any trouble. Camp Commander Lu really dotes on my sister."

Those words directly ignited Qiao Wenjing’s jealousy and rage.

"You think I’m afraid of her? My mind is made up, I’m helping you!"