Chapter 147 - 146: Not Optimistic (Monthly Ticket 505+)

free𝑤ebnovel.com Without Yu Zhen’s presence, it wouldn’t have mattered, but with Yu Zhen around, He Xuegang grew even more fond of her, mainly because Yu Zhen had taken a liking to He Xuebing, whom the entire unit knew was devoted solely to Xia Xiao, leaving Yu Zhen’s affections cast aside.

"We have been in the military for several years now, and in ten years we can apply for family members to join us," said He Xuebing. "In another six years, Xia Xiao will be able to come here." If Xia Xiao agreed to date him and marry him, she could then live with him at the base.

"It’s up to you, although Dad agreed, Mom is still the mother-in-law, and that hurdle isn’t easy to overcome, plus if the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship goes awry, it will cause a lot of disturbances at home. Just look at Gao Er’s family—Cousin Xiang Hong hasn’t even moved out of the old house yet. If they lived together, there would be even more problems."

Anyway, He Xuegang did not like seeing Xia Xiao and He Xuebing together, and knew too well that whatever he said at this point would be futile; his brother wouldn’t listen to any advice.

Having said his piece, He Xuegang left, just as Yu Zhen came over. He raised an eyebrow.

Upon seeing He Xuegang, Yu Zhen smiled and said, "Mr. He agreed, is Mr. He available?" She used this form of address to differentiate between the two brothers.

"Where, do you need him for something?" He Xuegang asked.

"I just came to see him," Yu Zhen smiled.

"He might be busy, but go ahead and find him," said He Xuegang.

"What’s Mr. He busy with?" Yu Zhen asked.

"He got some pickled vegetables sent from his beloved; it made him so happy. If you go now, he probably won’t have time for you." He Xuegang spoke and then walked away.

Yu Zhen quickly called after the retreating figure of He Xuegang, "Mr. He, wait."

"Do you need something else, Mr. Yu?" He Xuegang asked.

"Do you know who Mr. He likes?" Yu Zhen asked.

He Xuegang nodded. "Yes, one of our production team’s educated youths, named Xia."

He Xuegang openly sold out Xia Xiao. Yu Zhen said, "Educated Youth Xia must be very pretty, otherwise why would Mr. He like her so much?"

"Did he say that?" He Xuegang raised his eyebrow.

"Yes, Mr. He said Educated Youth Xia is prettier than me." Yu Zhen pouted unhappily.

"Don’t listen to his nonsense. I have seen Educated Youth Xia: dark, thin, short, not attractive." He Xuegang did not believe Xia Xiao could have changed enough to become beautiful, especially considering Yu Zhen, who was pretty and the flower of the unit, not to mention the commander’s daughter. Many admired Yu Zhen, pity that she had set her eyes on his silly brother.

And his silly brother was unaware of so many seeking trouble with him, challenging him to duels, all because of Yu Zhen.

"Really?" Yu Zhen asked again for confirmation.

"Of course it’s true. I saw her when I went back that year. Besides, my mother doesn’t like her."

With that, Yu Zhen breathed a sigh of relief, her face breaking into a bright smile. She said no more to He Xuegang and went looking for He Xuebing.

At that moment, He Xuebing was savoring Xia Xiao’s pickled vegetables piece by piece; although a bit salty, he found them exceptionally delicious.

Thinking of Xia Xiao’s beauty, grace, and dexterity, He Xuebing felt like he had found a treasure, beaming with joy inside.

"Mr. He," Yu Zhen approached just when He Xuebing’s room was empty, everyone else having gone out.

Seeing He Xuebing relishing a jar of pickled vegetables, Yu Zhen smiled faintly, "Is it tasty? I’d like to try some, too."

He Xuebing furrowed his brows with displeasure at being disturbed, but considering Yu Zhen was the regiment commander’s daughter, he didn’t shoo her away and simply said, "You can’t eat this."

Speaking of which, He Xuebing tucked it away like it was a treasure.

Yu Zhen’s mouth twitched, not expecting He Xuebing to be so blunt, and immediately said, flustered, "Mr. He, you’re really not being nice, keeping the good stuff to yourself and hiding it away."

"It’s not anything precious," He Xuebing waved his hand dismissively.

Yu Zhen laughed, "How is it not precious? I’ve heard from Mr. He himself, it’s from your favorite, Educated Youth Xia. How are her culinary skills? Let me have a taste. You keep praising her; let us see her skills for ourselves."

Yu Zhen was pestering He Xuebing, who was noticeably uncomfortable, while Yu Zhen continued, "Hurry up and let me try, or else I’ll call for others to come in, and see how you explain then."

Her threat seemed to work on He Xuebing, who reluctantly took out the pickles and said, "You can only try a piece, I barely have enough."

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhen deliberately grabbed several pieces, causing He Xuebing enormous distress.

Yu Zhen stuffed all the pickles into her mouth, and upon tasting, spat out, "So salty, I need water, I need water!"

She quickly grabbed the water cup He Xuebing had placed on his desk and drank it all in one go.

He Xuebing’s face went dark instantly.

"Get out."

Yu Zhen hurriedly, with a pitiful face and tears welling up, said, "Mr. He, I’m so sorry, I didn’t expect the pickles to be so salty—I didn’t mean to drink your water."

"Mr. Yu, you better leave, this men’s dorm isn’t a place for women," He Xuebing said sternly.

"Mr. Yu, forgive me, please. I really didn’t mean to," Yu Zhen pleaded, crying.

"I don’t blame you, really, I forgive you, just stop crying," He Xuebing was bewildered by Yu Zhen’s antics.

If someone else saw Yu Zhen crying in his dormitory, they might think he was bullying her.

The regiment commander’s daughter is always trouble—can’t kick her out, nor afford to offend her.

Eventually, Yu Zhen started smiling and said to He Xuebing, "Mr. He, I’m really sorry, give me another slice. I promise I won’t spit it out. I just had too much earlier, that’s why it tasted too salty, it wasn’t on purpose."

He Xuebing, keeping the jar of pickles close, walked out the door, no longer paying any attention to Yu Zhen.

But the next day, in the cafeteria, Yu Zhen casually mentioned that He Xuebing had a jar of delicious pickles, which tasted really good.

As expected, He Xuebing couldn’t keep that jar of pickles safe anymore. He Xuexiang took it out and shared it with everyone.

"I’m sorry, Mr. He, I didn’t mean to, I didn’t expect it to turn out this way, are you mad at me?"

Yu Zhen apologized to He Xuebing, but how could he be mad at Yu Zhen? He had to smile as everyone kept saying how delicious it was, feeling utterly gloomy inside.

After leaving the cafeteria, He Xuexiang noticed He Xuebing’s unhappy expression and said, "This was such a good opportunity to bond with everyone, and you didn’t seize it, Bingzi. It seems like Educated Youth Xia has really got you confused. Can you really afford to offend the regiment commander’s daughter? Putting on a dark face in front of the commander’s daughter in the cafeteria, do you still want to make a career in the military?"