It was the second watch of the night.
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"If it weren’t for the fact that you explained the cause and consequences to me so clearly, and that you haven’t harmed me, I would not have used myself as an example to explain to you. Since you won’t listen, there’s nothing I can do," Chuxia spread her hands, "Sorry, I have to go to work now. Please leave."
"I’ve disturbed you." Zhong Hongying gave a wistful smile, stood up to leave, her footsteps slightly unsteady, her silhouette exuded an indescribable bleakness.
Zhong Hongying turned around, surprised and delighted: "Chuxia, have you changed your mind?"
"If you truly love Commander Liu, then tell him your true feelings..." Chuxia paused, sighing, "Only if he leaves with concerns will he return with concerns."
Without a second thought, Zhong Hongying shook her head: "If he knew what my family was like, he probably wouldn’t dare marry me.
Moreover, he might misunderstand that I approached him and stayed with him deliberately to avoid marrying Li Lin. I don’t want and can’t take that risk."
Such a vain woman, going over the top, did she really know what true love was? Chuxia had no desire to talk to her anymore and grabbed her lock to leave.
Zhong Hongying, who had been waiting for Chuxia to speak, now understood that she was being shown the door, disappointment flashing in her eyes as she turned and left with heavy steps.
She never dreamed that one day Lin Chuxia would be doing better than her.
From childhood, she was always the one praised by everyone, while Lin Chuxia was the exact opposite, representing two extremes.
Especially before Lin Chuxia and Hongqi’s engagement, Hongqi had specifically sought her out to tell her that he liked her, and that with a single word from her, he would break off relations with his family and certainly not engage with Lin Chuxia. This made her even more confident.
However, at that time, she didn’t fancy Hongqi. Apart from being tall and strong, Hongqi really didn’t have much else going for him, the only thing he had over others was that his father was the village party secretary.
But he was as stubborn as a mule. Marrying such a man, one could imagine what kind of life she’d lead—it was not the life she wanted, so without a second thought, she refused him.
But she did so tactfully. She told him that if he could join the army, she would consider being with him. It also served as keeping her options open.
She never imagined that keeping this option open would actually turn out to be right. Later, when she found out that her mother was secretly arranging a marriage with the Li family, she sought out Hongqi immediately and proposed that if he could join the army, then she would be with him.
That was because she knew the Luo family definitely had the power to send Hongqi into the army, and she had an inherent admiration for soldiers. As long as he became a soldier, all the things she disliked could be ignored.
Back then, she looked down on Lin Chuxia very much. Even though Chuxia had a pleasing appearance, who would want to marry such a woman who was useless and be a burden at home?
It wasn’t until Xue Guohong took an interest in Lin Chuxia, and Xue Ligang schemed to forceably marry her for his son, did she realize that ordinary families might not value such women, but wealthier families did.
Later, when Lin Chuxia was selected as a medic, but she was not, all she could do was lament the unfairness of the heavens. Academics were indeed her weakness, and she could only hope for the normal military selection that followed.
Not long after Chuxia enlisted, rumors swirled in the village that she had been fancied by a regimental commander. She pretended it didn’t affect her, but inside, she was rocked by a tumultuous wave. Why didn’t such good fortune befall her? Even if he were an old man, she’d be willing!
After that, her interest in Hongqi faded away, and she became desperate to enlist. That way, she could marry an officer too. Even if not a regimental commander, a company or squad leader would do!
And she indeed got her wish.
On the first day of new recruit training, Liu Lianbao took a liking to her.
What did it matter if he was seven years older? She could accept even seventeen years older!
So, the marriage was quickly settled.
She quickly wrote to her family, and her mother’s reply, brimming with pride and joy, gave her vanity a huge boost, especially when it mentioned that the regimental commander Chuxia married had committed a crime and been arrested. She felt that she would always be better than Lin Chuxia!
But then she was deeply shocked to find out that her wedding guests from the village had stayed in A city, and the only military base in A city was theirs, and the only regimental commander who got into trouble was Zhou Mikang.