Hello, Comrade. I'm Here to Marry You!

Chapter 5: Chapter 5: The Flower of the Arts Troupe

The spring water in the space was spiritual spring water, good for one’s complexion and health.

That patch of land was also fertile black soil.

It looked just like what she’d read about in novels; if she scattered some seeds, they would probably take root and sprout quickly.

However, Su Zhaozhao was not a diligent person.

She pointed at the black soil and said, "I hope you’re sensible enough to grow some crops on your own!"

Su Zhaozhao emerged from the space and finished arranging her luggage. Soon, a knock sounded at the door.

"Zhaozhao, I’ve brought you some things," Xiao Yuanming’s voice called out.

Su Zhaozhao opened the door. Xiao Yuanming stood there holding a thermos, a washbasin, a bucket, a towel, and some clothes hangers.

"The Camp Commander sent me to help you. I just got back from a mission and am pretty free for the next couple of days," Xiao Yuanming said with a chuckle.

"Thank you, Brother Xiao," Su Zhaozhao said, thanking him at once.

"I’ll bring you dinner later. What would you like? The braised pork our cafeteria chef makes is to die for."

"That would be too much trouble, Brother Xiao. Could I go to the cafeteria with you? That way, I can start going on my own and won’t have to bother you," Su Zhaozhao asked, her voice soft and sweet.

’She knew that if she just stayed cooped up in her room, she wouldn’t get to see Xie Huaizheng at all before she had to leave.’

’But she still wanted to see Xie Huaizheng.’

"Of course! You’re practically the Camp Commander’s family, so don’t stand on ceremony with me." ’This girl is just too wonderful,’ Xiao Yuanming thought. ’She’s pretty, has a great personality, and knows just what to say.’

Su Zhaozhao went back into her room and brought out some pastries for Xiao Yuanming. "I brought a lot, so please have some."

"Oh, no, you don’t have to."

’Wow, look at that. She’s so considerate!’

Xiao Yuanming’s favorable impression of Su Zhaozhao skyrocketed.

’He just couldn’t understand why the Camp Commander didn’t like her. It looked like he’d have to work harder at putting in a good word for Su Zhaozhao.’

In the end, Xiao Yuanming accepted the pastries from Su Zhaozhao.

When dinnertime arrived, Xiao Yuanming came to get Su Zhaozhao and took her to the cafeteria.

The base’s cafeteria wasn’t just for soldiers; their families could eat there too.

Although Su Zhaozhao and Xie Huaizheng weren’t married, their engagement meant she was allowed to eat here.

Su Zhaozhao looked around the cafeteria. It seemed quite nice. The moment she stepped inside, the aroma of cooking meat wafted over to her.

Su Zhaozhao couldn’t help but swallow hard.

In the week since she’d arrived in this world, she had barely eaten any meat.

At the original host’s home, the stepmother gave all the meat to her own son.

Once, when she got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, she saw the woman handing a chicken leg to the chubby boy. "Eat it quickly," the woman had said, "before someone finds out."

’That scene had stunned her. People really did hide meat to eat in secret!’

After that, Su Zhaozhao decided to run away. She had a rough journey and didn’t get to eat much.

Fortunately, she could drink the spiritual spring water from her space, which kept her in perfect physical condition.

But it did little to satisfy her cravings.

She followed Xiao Yuanming, lunchbox in hand, to the service window to get her food.

Su Zhaozhao got some braised pork, a potato and eggplant dish, and a fried egg.

Just then, someone from another table called out to Xiao Yuanming, "Yuanming, come eat with us!"

They were the men who had been on the mission with Xiao Yuanming.

Su Zhaozhao recognized them as well.

After getting a nod from Su Zhaozhao, Xiao Yuanming led her over to their table.

The four of them sat together, chatting as they ate.

Next to Xiao Yuanming sat the man who had been holding the gun on the train when Su Zhaozhao was taken hostage.

His name was Wang Guofu.

He still remembered Su Zhaozhao’s every action. He had even been watching from the side when she made her move.

He admired such a female comrade from the bottom of his heart. She was so decisive and calm, able to turn the tables on her attacker even when taken hostage and in mortal danger.

"Comrade Su, I was truly impressed by your actions on the train today." Wang Guofu’s large, dark-browed eyes were filled with admiration.

Su Zhaozhao quickly replied, "Please, just call me Zhaozhao. I was just scared for my life, it was pure instinct. You have no idea how terrifying he was. He even cut my neck."

Su Zhaozhao pointed to her neck.

On the girl’s fair neck was a faint scar, almost invisible unless you looked closely.

Everyone at the table knew what had happened, and their admiration for Su Zhaozhao grew.

"As expected of the Camp Commander’s fiancée!"

They really liked Su Zhaozhao. She was beautiful and so easy-going. Even though she was Xie Huaizheng’s fiancée, she fit right in with them.

"By the way, Zhaozhao, are you planning to head back in five days?" Xiao Yuanming asked.

"I came here to marry him." Su Zhaozhao sighed. "Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to want to."

"Zhaozhao, to be honest, it’s because Brother Zheng is just too popular. Most of the girls in the Northwest Military Region like him."

"He’s that popular?" Su Zhaozhao was stunned. ’Not bad. So before meeting the heroine, the male lead is the type to walk through a field of flowers without a single petal sticking to him!’

’So many people like him, but his first real relationship is with the heroine.’

"So, it’s a good thing you’re here, Zhaozhao. You can keep an eye on the Camp Commander."

Just then, a group of girls in military uniforms entered the cafeteria not far from them.

Unlike ordinary female soldiers, they didn’t have to cut their hair short. Instead, they wore their long hair in thick braids. Each girl was pretty and proper, with a straight, graceful posture.

These were the members of the Northwest Military Region’s Arts Troupe.

Four of them were known as the most beautiful in the Arts Troupe, and Jiang Manzhi, who stood in the center of their group, was the most striking of all.

Jiang Manzhi was tall and slender, her face as smooth and radiant as jade. Her eyes were dark and bright, and she exuded a vibrant energy.

Her father was a political commissar, but she never put on airs. On the base, she was the dream girl for many of the soldiers.

The cafeteria wasn’t crowded, so Jiang Manzhi immediately spotted the table with three men and one girl.

"Huh, isn’t that Xiao Yuanming’s group? Who’s that girl with them?" Xu Fengxia exclaimed.

Through Xie Huaizheng, they had gotten to know several soldiers who were close to him. Men like Xiao Yuanming and Wang Guofu were Xie Huaizheng’s right-hand men.

Jiang Manzhi had even asked Xiao Yuanming to deliver things to Xie Huaizheng in the past.

Now, Jiang Manzhi didn’t just notice the girl—she realized the girl was quite pretty.

Unlike her own stately beauty, this girl looked as delicate as a flower that would wilt at the slightest touch.

"I heard she’s supposedly Camp Commander Xie’s fiancée," another girl, Liu Ranran, whispered.

"Really? Camp Commander Xie has a fiancée? How come we’ve never heard anything about it?" Xu Fengxia asked, her face a mask of surprise.

They all turned to look at Jiang Manzhi.

Jiang Manzhi looked just as shocked; she had never heard of this either.

At this thought, Jiang Manzhi bit her lip and immediately started walking over.