A whirlwind marriage with a high-ranking official: Lights out, don't force me to take the initi

The festive atmosphere in the military compound began to intensify from the morning.

Red couplets were pasted on the doors of every household, and newly cut paper-cut window decorations were pasted on the windows.

The children ran wildly in the yard, clutching loose firecrackers in their hands, occasionally throwing one into the snowdrift, where it would explode with a "pop" and a puff of white smoke.

The aroma of stewed meat wafted over from the kitchen, mingling with the smoke from burning firewood, and seeped into every alleyway.

Ye Wenxi organized a lunch gathering for the helpers in a small private room in the cafeteria.

Similar to today's "company annual meeting".

She specifically asked the logistics department to apply for this small private room and set up a table there.

On the table were the dishes she had ordered out of her own pocket: braised pork, stewed chicken, fried ribbonfish, four-happiness meatballs...

The helpers were initially reserved, pushing and shoving each other, hesitant to touch their chopsticks.

Ye Wenxi took the lead by picking up a chopstick, poured everyone a glass of soda, stood up and said a few words that were genuine and sincere.

"Today, the clothing company is on the right track, not because of my own efforts."

"It's thanks to you all, stitch by stitch, day by day, that we've made it this far."

"Thank you all for your hard work. We owe you all our success."

"Let's work together again this year. Sisters and aunties, I toast you all."

"Let's toast to ourselves and wish ourselves—money in our pockets, peace of mind in our hearts, and a brighter and brighter life."

Zhang Yunxia was the first to stand up, raise her glass, and speak louder than anyone else:

"Come on! Let's toast ourselves!"

"What are you standing there for? Drink up!"

The atmosphere then warmed up.

Halfway through the meal, Ye Wenxi stood up, picked up a few bags from the corner of the wall, and handed one to each person.

"It's just a small token of my appreciation; I'll take it back for the kids to eat."

The helpers opened it and found a red envelope containing some New Year's goods.

Milk candy, peanut brittle, peach crisps, glutinous rice strips, canned goods... all good stuff, and each person also has ten yuan.

The table full of food was eaten clean.

As they were leaving, they were all carrying large packages as they walked along the stone-paved path of the military dependents' compound.

Everyone was like a child, as if the gift box in their hands was the best toy in the world.

They wanted to hold it high so that everyone could see it.

The streets and roads are filled with pride in what they hold in their hands.

It was all pride in himself.

The laughter echoed through the alley, drawing people out of their homes to look, and causing children to run after them.

"I'll definitely work hard again this year."

"We can make money too!"

"I earn just as much as my husband now!"

.....

Those words echoed in my heart, along with my footsteps, one after another, endlessly.

It will continue to ring from today until the future.

The sound will resonate from your feet into the future.

-

Laughter and drumbeats filled the military auditorium that evening as the soldiers enjoyed their New Year's Eve dinner in a lively atmosphere.

Ye Wenxi stood by the telephone and dialed a number for Harbin.

"Mom, Happy Chinese New Year."

A familiar voice came from the other end of the phone, asking her incessantly if she was cold, tired, and whether Lu Weidong treated her well.

Ye Wenxi answered each question one by one, her lips curving into a smile.

After hanging up the phone, she leaned back on the sofa, staring blankly at the newly hung New Year's picture on the wall for a while.

Lu Xiaojun leaned closer and said, "Second Aunt, I'd like to wish you a Happy New Year!"

Ye Wenxi smiled at him and said, "You have to kowtow when you offer New Year's greetings."

Without saying a word, Lu Xiaojun knelt down with a thud and lowered his head.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

Ye Wenxi was stunned.

Lu Xiaojun looked up, holding an enamel mug in his hand, grinning mischievously:

"I used this as a pad to avoid bumping my head and getting hurt."

Ye Wenxi was both amused and exasperated, while Lu Weihua snorted coldly:

"You call this a New Year's greeting? That's fraud!"

Ye Wenxi smiled and said, "The thought is what counts."

Ye Wenxi took out two red envelopes from his pocket and gave one to each of them.

Lu Xiaojun took it and examined it closely under the light.

"My God!"

"Second Aunt! I'm willing to be your son!"

Lu Weihua kicked him: "Get lost."

-

Around nine o'clock, the sound of military boots clattering on the ground came from the doorway.

Ye Wenxi stood up; the door had already been pushed open.

Lu Weidong walked in, exuding a chill, his face still flushed with alcohol, but his eyes were bright.

"You're back?" Ye Wenxi greeted him.

Lu Weidong was quite drunk, and when he saw Ye Wenxi, his heart felt sweet and itchy.

He first hummed in agreement, then lowered his head and kissed her directly on the forehead.

Lu Xiaojun: "..."

Lu Weihua: "..."

"Is dinner ready?" he asked.

"I'll definitely be waiting for you for this midnight meal. Without you, staying up all night wouldn't be fun."

Ye Wenxi looked at him and smiled sweetly.

Lu Xiaojun & Lu Zhenghua: "..."

Lu Xiaojun leaned close to Lu Weihua's ear and whispered:

Lu Xiaojun: "Were they like this when you came last time?"

Lu Weihua: "That's why I always say they're together... um!!"

Ye Wenxi quickly covered Lu Weihua's mouth and warned her with the look of a knife-wielding man.

Lu Weihua blinked and wisely shut up.

Lu Weidong put down his things and called his parents, brother, and sister-in-law in Harbin.

We chatted for a long time about everyday things, and our words were filled with happiness that life was getting better and better, as well as New Year's wishes.

On the other end of the phone, Lu Zhenghua and Liu Xiuyun listened with smiles on their faces.

After hanging up the phone, the group gathered around the table and started chopping filling and making dumplings.

As soon as the dumplings were put into the pot to boil, Lu Weihua scooped them out with a strainer and immediately started yelling.

"Lu Xiaojun, look at that thing you've wrapped!"

"It all fell apart as soon as it hit the pot, turning into a soup of noodles and meatballs!"

Lu Xiaojun leaned over to take a look and saw that there were only a few wrappers floating in the pot, while the filling had all sunk to the bottom.

He scratched his head and stubbornly said, "That's better than what you make. At least even if mine looks awful, I can still eat it. What you make will go straight down the drain."

Lu Weihua glared: "Who are you saying went into the sewer?"

She reached out and grabbed a handful of flour, then threw it directly at Lu Xiaojun's face.

Lu Xiaojun paused for a second, then grabbed the flour and chased after him.

The two chased each other around the room.

Lu Weidong patted the flour off his hands.

"If you keep making a fuss," he said slowly, "you won't be able to eat dumplings by midnight."

Finally, things calmed down, and they made two kinds of fillings: pickled cabbage and pork, and radish and pork.

Lu Xiaojun can eat sixty dumplings in one meal.

They prepared three large plates just for him, stacked up like a small mountain.

The group ate while the water in the pot continued to boil.

The dumplings on the table were steaming hot.

White mist rose from the plate, and a warm feeling emanated from the dumplings, filling the small room and seeping into everyone's eyes.

"Come on! Let's raise a glass!" Lu Weidong raised his glass. "May we have a peaceful and prosperous new year."

"Cheers! May I become a special forces soldier someday!" Lu Xiaojun raised his glass high.

Lu Weihua retorted, "I hope I can find a super handsome boyfriend!"

Ye Wenxi, holding her glass, said, "Wishing you..."

Many things flashed through my mind...

Clothing stores, warehouses, mutual aid societies, college entrance exams, and that future still in the planning stages.

And... Ding Jiahe.

Ding Jiahe, who is far away in Yunnan.

Where is she now? What is she doing? Has she eaten dumplings yet?

The cup paused in my hand for a second.

Then she looked up and smiled.

"I wish us all the best."