When men gather and start drinking, it’s always lively!
Especially during the New Year celebrations. Even when the higher-ups are around, they either turn a blind eye or join in enthusiastically. Hence, the drinking bouts are always hearty and grand.
Niu Rang and Kang Xing soon left and started drinking with others. Chen Ya’nan, dragging her mother with her, headed straight for He Zhilan. Upon noticing He Zhilan’s hand, Chen Ya’nan began to grumble, "Uncle He really couldn’t care less. Aunt He’s hand is injured and he didn’t even bother to feed her, instead he went drinking."
The wife of the political commissar listened, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, "What do you know? Children shouldn’t lecture adults."
"Did I say something wrong? If my husband went to drink when my hand is injured, I’d give him a whipping!" Chen Ya’nan has no inhibitions when she speaks, her attitude towards her future husband is clear, despite her young age.
"You’re too young to understand. Didn’t your father leave us to go drinking? So why don’t you go and give him a whipping?" The political commissar’s wife glanced at He Zhilan. From the extra bowl on her table, she knew He Teng had definitely taken care of her before he left.
"My father is your husband. If you’re displeased, you should be the one to scold him! What business is it of mine, his daughter? If I really did reprimand him, I could kiss goodbye to my red envelope tonight!" Chen Ya’nan shrugged her shoulders.
"All she cares about is money!" retorted the political commissar’s wife, laughing.
Watching the mother and daughter converse, He Zhilan also laughed along. Chen Ya’nan really is interesting, she’s certainly not afraid to speak her mind.
He Teng was called away to drink. With it being New Year’s, He Zhilan wasn’t resentful nor did she expect He Teng to stick around like he were serving the Empress Dowager simply because of her minor burn. He Teng did everything that he should do; what he left in his bowl was all food she loved.
Because they had an award ceremony soon, the men didn’t go crazy with the drinking. He Teng returned after only half an hour. He first greeted the wife of the political commissar and Chen Ya’nan, then checked He Zhilan’s bowl. Seeing that she’d eaten all the food he’d left for her, he didn’t comment further.
"Let’s go, the award ceremony will begin in thirty minutes." He Teng said succinctly. He Zhilan nodded and got up.
He Zhilan put on He Teng’s coat and followed him out of the dining hall. As soon as she went outside, a gust of chilly wind blew, freezing her face. Even so, hearing the voices of a group of girls in the distance, He Zhilan couldn’t help but curiously stick her head out to see a group of girls, whose attire was evidently mismatched and even flashy compared to the military uniform. She was taken aback.
"Big brother, why are there so many pretty ladies in the camp today?"
" Didn’t you read the notice?" He Teng glanced at He Zhilan, "They’re from the entertainment troop! Didn’t I tell you that there would be a performance by the entertainment troop after the award ceremony."
"Oops~ I forgot!" He Zhilan whispered with a giggle. She had picked up the term ’pretty ladies’ from Chen Xiting. She didn’t know where Chen Xiting had watched a war movie, and since then, whenever she saw a beautiful girl, she’d call them ’pretty ladies’. Eventually, He Zhilan got used to and started using it too.