Chapter 23 — Return to Xiangnan Military Region

"I won't make you wait, don't make me wait either. Last time at the restaurant, when you talked about marriage, let me decide-" Mai Tu Khanh's face turned red, she punched him angrily: "Obviously I heard you, you pretended to be cold!" Chu Tri Luat laughed, hugged her, his chin resting on the top of her head: "It's only stupid people who don't love their wives, and I'm happy to be stupid." The next day, at Tuong Nam photo shop. Chu Tri Luat specially asked for a day off to take wedding photos. He carefully ironed his uniform and buttoned each button neatly. Mai Tu Khanh wore a newly purchased light-colored cheongsam, her long hair tied in a bun, with a gentle, classic beauty. As soon as the photo shop owner saw the two of them, he smiled widely: "Oh my god, military uniforms and cheongsam, what a revolutionary couple just like the picture! I'm sure the child you two will be born with will definitely be very beautiful!" Then he adjusted the camera and directed: "Male comrades, stand a little closer to female comrades, put your arms on your shoulders. Then, smile!" The flash "clicked". Chu Tri Luat suddenly tilted his head and whispered in Mai Tu Khanh's ear: "Boss said my child is definitely beautiful, or... should I try next year?" Mai Tu Khanh's face immediately turned red: "Aren't you ashamed?" The boss behind the camera also grinned: "Comrades, don't be shy! Last year I took wedding photos for battalion commander Tieu Truong, yesterday they and their husband brought their month-old baby to take family photos!" He glanced meaningfully. towards Chu Tri Luat: "If the group leader tries a little harder, next year I will have more business!" Listening to the shop owner, Chu Tri Luat really seriously thought: "We must give birth to a daughter, with a beautiful smile like her mother, who wouldn't love her." Mai Tu Khanh was so embarrassed that she wanted to crawl into his shoulder: "Who said she would give birth to my children..." He laughed softly, hugging her tighter: "It's okay to have a few children, my allowance is enough to take care of them all." Each film stopped in the shimmering light, the boss changed the roll and muttered: "I've taken pictures of hundreds of couples, and you two are the most affectionate!" It was already noon when they left the photo shop. The two went straight to the department store to prepare wedding clothes. Mai Tu Khanh held the list, attentively choosing each item: A red cotton blanket with the image of the couple underwater, an enamel basin with the word Song Hy, a water vase with crimson peonies... Chu Tri Luat carried her bag behind, looked at her tilting her head to compare two boxes of osmanthus soap, burst out laughing: "Doctor Mai is planning to move the whole department store home?" "What do you know!" Mai Tu Khanh stuffed the soap box into his hand, "Living together, you have to have these little things to feel secure." Chu Tri Luat choked up, stepped forward and grabbed her hand: "The house in the family area is divided into three rooms. The east room is for parents to stay in when they visit, the west room has two small wooden beds with railings, for the children. How about it?" Mai Tu Khanh really couldn't stand his straightforwardness, so she pretended to be angry: "The wedding hasn't even ended yet, but she's already daydreaming about things that won't work out!" But as soon as she turned away, she couldn't help but imagine that future. Late afternoon, the jeep slowly turned into the Chu family's yard. Tran Thu Lan was already waiting on the porch. As soon as she saw Mai Tu Khanh, he immediately pulled her hand into the house: "Uncle Chu will cook pigeon soup stewed in Hoai Son for you, nourish your blood and energy!" The two of you knew that they were coming back today to discuss the wedding, everything was ready. As soon as he sat at the dining table, Mr. Chu An Quoc took out a bulging red envelope and gave it to Mai Tu Khanh: "Tri Luat's allowance for the past few years has been in this savings book, from now on I will hand it over to you." He didn't forget to glance at his son: "If this kid dares to hide a slush fund, you can come and tell me!" Auntie Tran Thu Lan also took off her bright jade bracelet

On my hand, I carefully put it on Mai Tu Khanh's slim wrist: "This is something passed down to the Chu family's daughter-in-law, now I can see you wearing it with my own eyes." Knowing that she no longer had parents, her aunt said seriously: "Good girl, from now on this is your home." Mai Tu Khanh gently stroked the warm jade bracelet, both sad and warm emotions rolling in her chest. She solemnly bowed her head to the two uncles: "Mom, Dad, I will definitely live happily with Tri Luat." After dinner, the two men took an excuse to go for a walk to give the young couple some private space. Under the moonlight across the grape arbor, there were only two people sitting opposite in the yard. Chu Tri Luat spread the wedding schedule on the stone table: "The wedding is scheduled to be held next Sunday. I have invited the former head chef of the military kitchen to cook, and also invited the whole troupe of writers to perform the performance..." Mai Tu Khanh looked at the list full of words, stunned: "Is it too urgent? But wait, the wedding clothes haven't been chosen yet." "I have already chosen it a long time ago." Chu Tri Luat smiled gently, under her curious eyes, he went out to the car to get a colored paper bag. brown. Opening the bag, inside was a dark red cheongsam woven with hidden flowers. He put the cheongsam in her hand: "The last time I came to the medical room to find you, it was to show you. This one was made by a famous embroiderer in Giang Hu for several days and nights. I think when you get married, you must have a cheongsam of your own." Mai Tu Khanh opened her eyes and couldn't take them away. It is truly the work of a master, each stitch of embroidery is exquisite, the buttons are studded with pearls, and the mouth of the button is shaped like a flying phoenix holding a pearl. Her eyes suddenly became wet: "Chu Tri Luat... why did you prepare everything..." Chu Tri Luat smiled, lifting her face with both hands: "Isn't that good? You just need to feel secure about being my wife." The night wind blew, he gently whispered into her hand. "Remember the first time I met you at the department store, even though you were annoyed by the staff, you still didn't give in. I thought... this girl is definitely the destiny of my life. Otherwise, even the hair is so pleasing to me?" Mai Tu Khanh looked at him, her eyes seemed to have moonlight: "Chu Tri Luat, it turns out I was really love at first sight for you?" Chu Tri Luat did not deny: "That's right. Meeting you means I've used up all my luck in this life." His lips gently touched her trembling eyelashes, then gently slid down the bridge of her nose, finally sucking on the soft lips he had longed for.