It was the second watch of the night.
-----------------
As the dumplings were being taken out of the pot, Lin Yanqiu received a call from Zhu Xinqin. After listening to what the other party said, Lin Yanqiu was utterly stunned. Today was Little New Year, with only seven days until the New Year, and then, the two children were going to get married before the New Year...
When she sat down at the table, Lin Yanqiu was still doubting the authenticity of the news. However, whether it was true or not, since Zhu Xinqin had called, she had to pass on the ssage. Otherwise, she’d certainly be accused of hiding it out of jealousy.
Although she didn’t know what there was to be jealous of, she just couldn’t afford to have that reputation.
Clearing her throat, Lin Yanqiu announced, "I have so good news to share first. Jing Zhe is about to get married. Zhu Xinqin just called to tell this news."
Old Madam Zhou chuckled, "Xiao Zhe and Xiaomi are the sa age; it makes sense that he should get married now too. This is good news indeed."
Old Master Zhou smiled in agreent, "Correct, correct. Now Old Man Jing and Old Madam Jing won’t have to envy us anymore, haha. Hearing this news today is really great."
Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe’s affection for Jing Zhe was only slightly less than for Zhou Mikang, so upon hearing this news, they were also extrely delighted...
After everyone expressed their happiness about the occasion, Chuxia asked the most crucial question, "Mom, did Aunt Zhu say when big brother is getting married?"
"That’s exactly what I’m questioning," Lin Yanqiu counted on her fingers, "Look, in just these few days, how can she manage it?"
"Could it be that you heard ’engagent’ as ’marriage’?" Old Madam Zhou asked.
"Not at all..." After a pause, Lin Yanqiu beca sowhat uncertain, "It could also be that what Zhu Xinqin had in mind was ’engagent,’ but she misspoke and said ’marriage’."
"That ti big brother and Sister ili invited the whole family out to eat, didn’t they say it counted as an engagent?" Chuxia once again expressed her doubts.
This ti, the Zhou family mbers were a bit embarrassed, and Lin Yanqiu had to explain, "Around here, there’s a custom before marriage called ’setting the date,’ which we now directly refer to as getting engaged.
To put it simply, the first engagent is actually setting the relationship, which ans fixing the match between the two people. This ti’s engagent is actually about setting the date for the dowry.
Once this process is finished, you can set a date to get married. When you and Xiaomi got married, it was so rushed that we didn’t follow all these protocols," Lin Yanqiu explained.
"Oh, oh, oh..." Chuxia nodded in sudden understanding, "Mom, I won’t take it the wrong way. Sister ili is local, so it’s convenient no matter what. Our family is so far away, and there were so special reasons; if we really followed that procedure, we would indeed have been very worried."
Zhao Yulan realized this and quickly agreed with her daughter.
Old Master Wan was watching from the side, chuckling heartily and couldn’t help but join the conversation,"You folks always like to worry about yourselves. You’re just not the sort to fuss over details. Why explain so much?"
"Fine, no more explanations. Today’s Little New Year, and it’s also the day Jing Zhe’s marriage is set. It’s a double blessing. Let’s all drink to that."
With only Zhou Jingping and Zhou Mikang father and son missing, everyone in the household heeded Old Master Zhou’s call to raise their cups — the ladies drank sweet grape wine.
This was also Wang Lei’s first New Year with the Zhou family since she had married into it. She couldn’t leave Wang Jing alone for the New Year, so, with her insistence, Wang Jing was brought over to the Zhou family to celebrate Little New Year.
Initially resistant to spending New Year’s in an unfamiliar family ho, Wang Jing’s aversion disappeared instantly when she was seated next to Luo Xiaoqiong and Chuxia. As the elders chatted, the three of them engaged in casual conversation, just as they would at the hospital.
Chuxia felt a hint of regret about Zhou Mikang not being able to co ho, so even though she wore a smile, those who knew her well could tell her mood wasn’t high.
"Still worried?" Luo Xiaoqiong took the chance when Wang Jing went to the restroom to quietly console Chuxia, "Didn’t I tell you? Your brother wrote to . Commander Zhou definitely won’t have any problems; otherwise, he surely would have ntioned it in his letter."
"I know. I’m not worried anymore; it’s just a little regret. After all, this is our first New Year’s since getting married. I’m now a bit worried about if he can’t make it back for the New Year. That would be such a disappointnt," Chuxia said with an embarrassed smile, "Am I being a bit lodramatic?"
"Not at all," said Luo Xiaoqiong. "If I were married, I’d also look forward to spending New Year’s with my husband. Besides, customs vary by region, and anyway, traditions are there to be believed in or not. Stop worrying. Be happy. If you’re not, Uncle Baohe and Aunt Yulan won’t be either. I can see it, and how could they not?"
Hearing Luo Xiaoqiong say this, Chuxia hurriedly adjusted her mood to prevent herself from feeling down any longer.
Chuxia had to be in surgery the next day. After eating and chatting with everyone for a while, she went back to her room to sleep. Waking up feeling thirsty, she took a cup and went downstairs to get so water, still half-asleep.
Suddenly, her waist was tightly grasped, and before she realized what was happening, she was being carried horizontally. Startled, she was about to scream when a hand covered her mouth, "It’s ," Zhou Mikang’s voice whispered in her ear.
Her panicked heart cald down, and Chuxia pinched him, mumbling unclearly, "Let go."
Zhou Mikang quickly removed the hand that covered her mouth, "I didn’t want to wake everyone up, hehe..."
Hehe my ass! Chuxia rolled her eyes at him, "Did you really not write, not send a telegram, not call, just to surprise by returning all of a sudden?"
"Yeah, so, surprised or what?"
"Not pleased, just shocked!"
"Really not pleased?"
"Of course!"
Muttering, they entered the room, and Mikang set Chuxia on the bed before snatching the cup from her hand, "I’ll go get you so water."
"Pfft!" Chuxia rolled her eyes, "Dumbass!" He obviously could have just brought the water up earlier, but he had to make an extra trip—what else could that be if not being a dumbass?
"Has everyone arrived?" When Mikang ca back, Chuxia hurriedly asked, "I an, has my brother and the others co back too?"
"No, the main force should take another two days to arrive."
"Did you get special treatnt again?" Chuxia scornfully flipped him off, "Your comrades must look down on you for sure, and Hanliang must look down on you especially."
"If I hadn’t asked for special treatnt, wouldn’t you have worried yourself sick?" Mikang reached out to lift her chin, sizing her up, "Tell , did you worry about these past days?"
"You’re way too full of yourself, what’s there to worry about?" Chuxia denied stiffly.
"Really didn’t worry?"
Did she really not worry? Thinking about her own emotions over the last few days, Chuxia suddenly jumped on him and bit his face, "Don’t you ever pull this stunt again, got it?"
"..."
"Are you listening to ?!" Chuxia, growing aggravated, jabbed at the grinning Mikang, "What’s with that expression? What kind of attitude is that?"
"Haha..." Mikang just laughed, "I’m considering if you’re finally willing to openly admit that you’ve fallen for . You’re not being so tough now, are you?"
"Yeah!" Chuxia raised her eyebrows at him, "Let tell you, don’t think this is a good thing. From now on, you’re branded as mine. Outside of work, no jokes with other won except relatives, no fond feelings for any woman but , no gifts for any woman besides family mbers. Can you do that?"
"That’s what I’ve always done."
"That was then, this is now. Whether it’s in three years, seven years, or ten, you still have to hold yourself to this standard, or else I’ll cut off your lil’ JJ!"
Mikang with a face of disbelief: "Chuxia, can’t we talk about sothing else?"
"Hmph, that’s what I think, so why shouldn’t I say it?" Chuxia reached out to pinch his face, "Xiaomi, you’ll get at if you listen to , okay?"
"Then I want so at right now." Mikang said as he flipped himself to pin her down on the bed.
It was only then that soone realized the double entendre in what she had just said, hastily clarifying: "No, no, by at I ant the kind you eat with als, I’m saying if you listen to , I won’t withhold your living expenses. You misunderstood, really... "
"Then let’s carry on with the misunderstanding..."
At this ti, can you really clear up a misunderstanding with a man?
"Mikang, I must get so good rest... tomorrow... tomorrow I have to perform surgery by myself... my first solo surgery..." Even amidst the heated mont, Chuxia hadn’t forgotten her mission and breathlessly "reported" to him.
Mikang chuckled in her ear: "No worries, just once, and not only will you not be tired, but you’ll also feel more refreshed..."
As it turned out, he really was a man with incredible self-control, stopping at just once and always paying attention to Chuxia’s responses. When she reached her climax, he quickly brought himself to the peak as well.
Chuxia felt moved by his consideration but didn’t know how to express her gratitude.
Usually, he’d need about an hour, but today, it took him only twenty minutes. She wanted to say that he shouldn’t control his body that way, as it would be too damaging, yet that might sound like she wasn’t satisfied and wanted more. If she didn’t say anything, though, it felt quite unfair to him...
In such a dilemma, she had no idea when she fell asleep.
Exceptionally, when she woke up in the early morning, he was still beside her. Chuxia glanced at the ti; it was already six o’clock, so she looked at him with so confusion, "Why didn’t you go for morning training?"
"I waited so I could talk to you after you woke up." Mikang pulled her into his arms, "Actually, I ca back last night because the mission had ended, and I could leave. I wasn’t intentionally keeping it from you to create a surprise because I knew it would worry you."
"You an, other than stationing at the border, you took on another mission?" Chuxia sat up promptly, "I know there are so things I shouldn’t ask, so I’ll just ask you this: was it dangerous? Can you tell the nature of it?"
(To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welco to co to Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian to read.)
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