Chapter 16 — Return to Xiangnan Military Region

On the round wooden table, the braised meat dish has a layer of golden fat that shines under the light. Chu Tri Luat picked up a piece of lean and fatty meat and put it in her bowl: "Last time I saw you eat too little, today I have to show you respect." Mai Tu Khanh looked at the meat in the bowl and laughed: "That day I had to look at Tong Dinh Nien's face, even if it was a mountain of sea food, I couldn't swallow it down." She took a bite, the rich smell of meat spread on the tip of her tongue, then whispered: "And the last time I ate Master Chu's braised meat was really delicious, cooked by fire." correct." "Clack" - the chopsticks lightly tapped on the edge of the ceramic plate. Chu Tri Luat slowly peeled the boiled peanuts, not taking his eyes off the plate: "My old man used to be in the logistics team for three months, this dish is his favorite dish." He pushed the bowl of peanuts in front of her. "Next week after the field training, I will cook another dish for you to eat. The chef's secret is passed down." Mai Tu Khanh scooped up a spoonful of beans and mixed with rice, laughing: "Why would any man fight over cooking rice? It's always been said that a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen..." "There's no such thing in the army." Chu Tri Luat suddenly leaned back and gently wiped the food crumbs from the corner of her lips with his fingertips: "In the past, on the front lines in Korea, the logistics team had to carry pots to climb snowy mountains and flying artillery still prioritized protecting the kitchen. As long as they could feed their comrades a hot meal, it was worth more than anything." Seeing that the story seemed too serious, he coughed twice: "Cooking for someone you like, It's a matter of course." Mai Tu Khanh was so upset by what he said that her ears turned red and she only dared to bow her head to eat. The corner of her eye glanced slightly, seeing his throat move slightly. The collar of his military uniform was unbuttoned, revealing firm tanned skin. Braised gravy mixed with salty peanut crumbs, the flavor crept onto the tip of the tongue, yet it was even more flavorful than Master Chu's dish. When the two of them had almost finished eating and stood up to leave the table, from the end of the hallway came the sound of broken porcelain. Tu Sam's sharp voice penetrated through the door of the private room: "What do you mean by postponement? Haven't we already discussed it all? What if we get suspended? Just in time to have a free month to get married!"Tong Dinh Nien lowered his voice and replied harshly: "Now how many people are waiting to see me lose face, even the deputy commanders don't bother to contribute money!""What's more, Chu Tri Luat and Mai Tu Khanh are about to get married, so right now they're holding a wedding party in anticipation of it." rang…”Comparing the two, how embarrassed he would be. Mai Tu Khanh looked through the crack in the door and saw Tu Sam angrily throwing his military cap on the ground: "You're afraid that marriage will be compared, right? Tong Dinh Nien, what did you say when you persuaded me to apply for marriage? Now just because of dignity, the whole wedding has to be postponed?" Hearing the crazy screams in the room, Mai Tu Khanh couldn't help but frown. It seems like the two of them lived peacefully in their previous lives just because they didn't fully understand each other. At this moment, Chu Tri Luat's warm palm suddenly placed on the back of her hand, pulling her back half a step: "Do you want to intervene?" Mai Tu Khanh shook her head, pulled his sleeve and quickly walked out. "Forget it, the play is about to start." When the jeep started, the two of them could still faintly hear the voice of Tong Dinh Nien angrily shouting "You listen to my explanation!" mixed with Tu Sam's choked sobs coming from the car door. Mai Tu Khanh lowered the car window and let the wind blow through: "Tong Dinh Nien has been like that since he was a child, his pride was false and he brought suffering to himself." "That year the flood came, half of the rafters collapsed, the village chief wanted to build a temporary shack for us to live in, the Tong family insisted on waiting for the roof tiles assigned by the district. As a result, heavy rain swept away the remaining half of the house." It is implied that their whole family is stubborn like that. Chu Tri Luat drove with one hand and turned the corner, unconsciously thinking about her life at the Tong family. With that type of person teaching, Mai Tu Khanh certainly won't have an easy life in her hometown.

exposed." Chu Tri Luat half-jokingly and half-seriously comforted: "Waiting for the marriage certificate to be approved, I will take you back to the village to build three green-tiled houses, right opposite the Tong family's house, to see who has the newer tiles." Mai Tu Khanh was made to laugh, the gloomy mood from earlier also disappeared. Twenty minutes later, they went to the theater to watch an opera. After all, it was the first time watching live theater, Mai Tu Khanh looked at the crimson curtain on the stage, She was so nervous that she unconsciously twirled the buttons on her cheongsam. Chu Tri Luat folded the ticket into a paper crane and stuffed it into her palm: "The first time I saw it, I was as nervous as you. But then I realized that the story on stage was so captivating that all other emotions were forgotten." The drums beat loudly and the curtains were pulled to both sides. "The ice wheel island began to rotate——" Duong Quy Phi, wearing a robe embroidered with golden phoenix threads, gently walked out, each look and gesture exuding love and affection. Mai Tu Khanh held her breath, the song she had heard countless times on the radio, now rang out right before her eyes. Chu Tri Luat leaned over. whispered in her ear, his warm breath lingering on her earlobe: "This movement of Quy Phi lying on her side holding a flower in her mouth, you have to use your waist to keep balance with the gold phoenix brooch." "I heard that in the past there was a famous artist who practiced this movement, kneeling on the blue stone to the point of creating two deep grooves." Not knowing how long later, the play ended, Quy Phi absentmindedly returned to the stage. Mai Tu Khanh looked after that staggering figure, her throat choked again: "She shouldn't tie all her joys and sorrows to Duong Minh Hoang alone. If you don't come, if you wait, you will only suffer." Those words were also asking herself in her previous life. Chu Tri Luat was silent for a moment, then suddenly squeezed her cold hand: "If Duong Minh Hoang really cared, he would not have broken his promise." Hearing that, Mai Tu Khanh's nose stung. Duong Quy Phi was so sad because of a broken appointment, how did she endure it in her previous life for forty years? Sensing that she was sinking, Chu Tri Luat gently hugged her. “Khanh Khanh, military marriage is protected by law. From the moment I applied for marriage, my life and honor were tied to you." His fingers gently caressed the edges of her red eyes, each word was firm: "I absolutely will not become a Duong Minh Hoang that makes you wait patiently." When the theater ended, it was almost afternoon. Most of the department stores on the street were closed, Chu Tri Luat felt a bit regretful. "At first, I was going to take you to see clothes, but it seems like I don't have time anymore. then.”