An Accidental Military Marriage

Lu Cheng wasn’t the least bit intimidated by Zhong Weiguo’s fury.

He picked up the tea mug from the table and stuffed it into Zhong Weiguo’s hand. "Sir, have some tea. Cool down and let me explain."

Zhong Weiguo raised the mug to drink, but after a long moment, nothing came out. He glanced down and saw it was empty.

Just as he was about to erupt, Lu Cheng quickly grabbed the thermos from a cabinet and poured him some water.

"Sir, this whole incident today is my fault. I didn’t go to the station to pick her up, and on top of that, my attire was inappropriate, causing some of the women to comment on my appearance. She got jealous and upset, which is why we bickered a little. Sorry to have made a scene."

"I missed our wedding for a mission, so I already feel like I owe her. Now that she’s come all this way to visit, the least I can do is protect her."

Hearing him mention the disaster relief mission in Dian City, Zhong Weiguo’s anger subsided a little.

His tone, however, became even more stern. "I could have assigned someone else to the Dian City mission. You should know full well why I assigned it to you!"

Lu Cheng replied seriously, "Yes, sir. I understand you had my best interests at heart!"

With an expansion on the horizon, Zhong Weiguo was determined to promote Lu Cheng, his star subordinate, to the position of new regiment commander.

But Lu Cheng was, after all, too young, and it had been less than a year since his promotion to camp commander.

Assigning the Dian City mission to Lu Cheng was also intended to let him accumulate more experience and military achievements.

Zhong Weiguo was still deeply moved by Lu Cheng’s words about protecting his wife. In the end, he agreed to let Lu Cheng write a self-criticism report on his own.

Before leaving, Lu Cheng used the phone in Zhong Weiguo’s office to call home and let them know he was fine.

...

He hadn’t gone far from Zhong Weiguo’s office when he ran into the other two camp commanders from his regiment, Wang Fugui and Zhang Ziqiang.

Wang Fugui teased him, "Camp Commander Lu, what did you do this time to make Commander Zhong so furious?"

Lu Cheng replied, "How did you know my wife came to visit?"

Wang Fugui: "..."

"I don’t have time to waste talking to you guys. I have to hurry and bring dinner to my wife."

Watching Lu Cheng stride away, Wang Fugui couldn’t help but complain to Zhang Ziqiang, "Look at him, all smug. As if no one else has a wife!"

Zhang Ziqiang laughed and patted his shoulder. "That’s just how Camp Commander Lu is. Why do you bother provoking him? Come on, let’s go report to Commander Zhong."

Back at the barracks, he ran into a few soldiers heading to the mess hall together.

"Camp Commander Lu."

"Camp Commander Lu."

Lu Cheng looked at the saluting soldiers. "Your sister-in-law is here visiting the base. She’s staying at the guest house. If you run into her, you’d better be on your best behavior. Got it?"

"Loud and clear!"

After watching him walk away, the soldiers immediately huddled together.

"The Camp Commander actually smiled at us."

"Of course he’s happy! His wife is here!"

"I wonder what kind of heavenly beauty the Camp Commander’s wife is to have bewitched our stone-faced King of Hell like this."

Back in his dorm, Lu Cheng grabbed his washbasin and towel and headed to the bathhouse.

At the entrance, he came face-to-face with Zhang Jia Ming, who was just coming out from his shower.

"Camp Commander Lu."

"Mm."

Remembering the gossip Jiang Qing had told him, Zhang Jia Ming turned around and went back into the bathhouse. He walked over to the sinks and started scrubbing his already-washed underwear again.

He took the opportunity to speak to Lu Cheng, who was splashing water on his face. "Camp Commander Lu, I heard that while you were out on a mission today, some floozy made a pass at you..."

Lu Cheng wiped the water from his face and cut him off coldly. "Zhang Jia Ming, do you just believe everything people say? Don’t you have a mind of your own?"

In the past, Zhang Jia Ming would never have believed that Lu Cheng could be led astray by a shameless woman.

But with the precedent set by Jiang Moli, Lu Cheng’s image in his mind was no longer so squeaky-clean.

’If Lu Cheng could be swayed by a pretty face like Jiang Moli’s, there’s no guarantee he wouldn’t go for other women.’

However, he didn’t dare voice such a thought to Lu Cheng’s face.

Lu Cheng turned off the faucet, tossed his towel into the washbasin, and barked, "Zhang Jia Ming!"

"Sir!"

"When you’re done, go find Sun Lian. In front of him, you will recite the five new disciplinary regulations issued this month fifty times!"

"Yes, sir!"

After venting his anger, Lu Cheng took his washbasin and went into a small stall to wash up.

Zhang Jia Ming also gathered his things, ready to head back to the dorm.

As he turned, he found several of his comrades crowded around the bathhouse entrance.

"Jia Ming, what did you do to make Camp Commander Lu that angry?"

How could Zhang Jia Ming possibly explain?

The five newly issued disciplinary regulations primarily emphasized discipline, seriousness, and proper conduct. They directed soldiers to focus on missions, training, and self-improvement, and forbade the spread of unconfirmed news, rumors, or engaging in pointless chatter and gossip.

Lu Cheng’s punishment—making him recite them fifty times—was clearly because he was annoyed at his gossiping.

...

After his shower, Lu Cheng found his newest uniform and put it on. He then took out a razor and neatly groomed his chin and sideburns. Only then did he grab his mess tin and head to the mess hall to get food.

As he walked, soldiers in the hallway saluted him.

"Camp Commander Lu."

Lu Cheng nodded in acknowledgment.

After he was a good distance away, a few soldiers put their heads together to whisper. "The smell of soap on Camp Commander Lu is really strong today."

"I smelled it too!"

"His wife is here, so of course he has to get extra clean. What if his wife thinks he’s gross and won’t let him in bed?"

"Do you have a death wish? Daring to joke about Camp Commander Lu? Aren’t you afraid he’ll punish you?"

"Holy crap, don’t you dare go snitching on me!"

When Zhang Jia Ming returned from reciting the disciplinary regulations for Sun Jianhua, he overheard his comrades’ discussion. Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked what was going on.

Upon learning that Jiang Moli had come to the base for a visit, he finally understood why Lu Cheng had been so angry.

He returned to the dorm sullenly and lay on his bed, staring into space.

Sun Jianhua hadn’t asked why he was being punished; he only said one thing after the recitation was complete.

—Camp Commander Lu has always had high hopes for you. Don’t let him down.

’What’s gotten into me lately?’ he wondered. ’I just keep messing up. I was never like this before.’

...

Arriving at the mess hall, Lu Cheng looked at the food in the trays and frowned. "Why are the dishes so plain today?"

The cook was taken aback by the question. "They’re this plain every day."

After leaving the barracks area, Lu Cheng didn’t hurry to the guest house. Instead, he took a turn into the family quarters.

"Getting ready for dinner, Commander Zhong?"

Seeing Lu Cheng arrive uninvited, Zhong Weiguo teased, "Shouldn’t you be with your wife? What are you doing here?"

Jiang Wenjuan warmly offered Lu Cheng a seat. "Xiao Lu, come in and sit down. Have you eaten? Commander Hu’s family caught a wild rabbit in the mountains this afternoon. They gave me half of it. Come join us for a taste."

Lu Cheng stared intently at the fragrant braised rabbit on the table and said, "I won’t stay for dinner. Just pack some up for me. I want to take it for my wife to try."

With that, he held out his empty mess tin.

Jiang Wenjuan: "..."

Zhong Weiguo chided him, "Your sister-in-law was just being polite, and you’re actually taking her up on it!"

"What’s there to be polite about between us?"

He then grinned at Jiang Wenjuan. "On Moli’s behalf, thank you, sister-in-law. I’ll be sure to bring her over for a formal visit another day."

Since he’d put it that way, Jiang Wenjuan couldn’t very well refuse.

From a whole bowl of braised rabbit, Lu Cheng managed to pack away nearly half.

As he was leaving, Zhong Weiguo asked, "What did you really come here for?"

"To see what you were having for dinner. Now that I’ve seen it, I’m off. Goodbye, sister-in-law!"

Zhong Weiguo: "..."

’You son of a bitch! So you really just came here to freeload!’

After leaving the Zhong family’s home, Lu Cheng lowered his head and took a whiff of the fragrant rabbit meat in his mess tin. Satisfied, he snapped the lid shut and strode excitedly toward the guest house.