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

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Figuring Things Out

Meanwhile, Jiang Manzhi was also too furious to eat.

She returned to her dorm and had a good cry, growing angrier the more she thought about it.

’When did Xie Huaizheng get a fiancée? I never heard a thing about it!’

’She definitely isn’t from Beijing.’

’After all, with Su Zhaozhao’s looks, if she were from their social circle, I would have known her long ago.’

’But now it’s clear she’s not.’

’What kind of backwater fiancée is she? And so uncultured.’

So, Jiang Manzhi immediately called home.

Her mother answered the phone.

"Mom, when did Xie Huaizheng get a fiancée? How come I didn’t know?" Jiang Manzhi demanded as soon as her mother picked up.

"He has a fiancée?" Mrs. Jiang was also surprised.

"Yes, and she even came to our cafeteria today, humiliated me, and called me a shameless homewrecker."

As Jiang Manzhi spoke, her body trembled and she began to cry.

She had been the center of attention her entire life.

Even during those turbulent years, her parents had done their best to protect her, leaving her almost completely unscathed.

Now, they sent her anything and everything good they could find.

The number of people around her who admired and adored her was countless.

This was the first time in over twenty years she had ever felt so wronged.

"What?!" Mrs. Jiang was utterly astonished. "Manzhi, how dare she say that to you? Mom will get justice for you!"

Mrs. Jiang could only try to soothe Jiang Manzhi, her heart breaking even over the phone.

They were on very good terms with the Xie Family; both families lived in the same large compound.

She had never heard a word about this.

After calming Jiang Manzhi down a bit, Mrs. Jiang was about to go to the Xie Family to talk about this.

But her husband stopped her.

"It’s too late today. The old folks of the Xie Family have probably gone to bed. Let’s talk about this tomorrow."

Indeed, Old Sir Xie was already eighty years old this year. He was still in relatively good health, but an elderly person’s well-being always had to be considered.

Mrs. Jiang thought for a moment and decided she had no choice but to endure it for the night.

Meanwhile, Xie Huaizheng’s mother also received a call from him.

When she saw the familiar area code, Mrs. Xie was deeply moved.

’Yes, yes, good.’ Her youngest son had been so rebellious that the old master had exiled him to the Northwest in a fit of anger. For all these years, Xie Huaizheng had never once called her on his own; she always had to be the one to call him.

’He’s finally grown sensible, calling home on his own.’

Huang Jiqin answered the phone. "Is that you, Huai Zheng? What’s the occasion? You actually have time to call your mother."

But she hadn’t expected that the first thing Xie Huaizheng would say was to ask for his grandfather. "Mom, where’s Grandpa?"

"Your grandfather is in the living room watching TV."

"Get him over here, quickly. I have something to ask him!"

Hearing Xie Huaizheng’s irritable tone, Huang Jiqin couldn’t help but say, "Xie Huaizheng, don’t you talk to your grandfather like that. He’s old, he can’t take..."

"He’s in great spirits. He smokes and drinks every day and can still out-drink his old comrades," Xie Huaizheng interrupted Huang Jiqin. "I have something important to talk to him about."

Huang Jiqin had no choice but to go get Old Sir Xie.

Old Sir Xie was also a little surprised that Xie Huaizheng would call home of his own accord.

In the six years since he had gone to the Northwest Military Region, he had basically ignored his family.

At first, he harbored resentment towards them and wouldn’t even come home for the New Year.

He wrote to Xie Huaizheng every month, but Xie Huaizheng never replied.

Old Sir Xie went over to take the phone.

"What is it, you brat?"

"What’s the deal with that childhood engagement you mentioned in your last letter?"

Hearing Xie Huaizheng’s words, Old Sir Xie immediately laughed. "Oh? Are you planning to get married?"

"The girl came all the way from Jiang City to find me," Xie Huaizheng said. "So tell me, what am I supposed to do now?"

"Something like that actually happened?" Old Sir Xie was also a little surprised. "When I mentioned it, I just thought it was about time for you to settle down. When I was your age, your eldest uncle was already three years old."

"But there wasn’t a single girl in Beijing you liked. The Jiang Family’s girl is indeed beautiful and talented, but she’s been by your side for five years and you haven’t shown any interest. You think I don’t know what’s on your mind?"

Xie Huaizheng couldn’t help but sneer. "Well, Grandpa, if you know what’s on my mind, then you should also know I have no intention of getting married."

"How could that be?" Old Sir Xie said at once. "That’s why I thought of the childhood engagement I made with my old comrade when we were young, and why I brought it up to you. Since the girl has gone all the way to find you, it must be fate. Why don’t you just submit the report and get married?"

"Are you sure?" Xie Huaizheng was astonished, his dark eyes glinting with coldness. "Old man, you’ve really gone too far this time. You’ll be ruining my happiness and hers."

"She went all the way to find you. That means she has you in her heart. Who knows, maybe those couple of times you met as children made her secretly have a crush on you all this time."

"I heard from Old Shu that his granddaughter is timid, gentle, and virtuous. Don’t you go scaring her." Old Sir Xie couldn’t help but laugh as he said this. "Bring her back to Beijing when you can, so we can all meet."

’Timid? Gentle and virtuous?’ The image of that stunningly beautiful face surfaced in Xie Huaizheng’s mind, a face that had absolutely nothing to do with those two words.

He hung up the phone abruptly.

Hearing the dial tone, Old Sir Xie couldn’t help but frown.

But the thought of Xie Huaizheng finally getting married made him sigh in relief.

’Well now, that girl from the Shu family is quite something, isn’t she? Traveling a thousand miles to the Northwest to find my grandson.’

’The Jiang Family’s girl isn’t cutting it. I’m counting on the Shu family’s girl to step up and win over Xie Huaizheng.’

Huang Jiqin asked him, "Father, what did Huai Zheng say to you? You look quite happy."

So Old Sir Xie told her what had happened.

At that moment, Su Zhaozhao had just finished making her bed and lay down on it.

The Northwest was a bit chilly at night, so it was a good thing the bedsheets Xiao Yuanming had brought over in the afternoon were usable.

Lying in bed, Su Zhaozhao found herself missing modern life. Right now, she should be playing video games, not suffering in a desolate place like this.

There was very little water for bathing here. Seeing the slow trickle from the faucet, Su Zhaozhao gave up and just used the water from her space to wash up.

After washing, Su Zhaozhao discovered her skin had become a degree more delicate and smooth.

Her slightly weary body, from a full day of running around, finally relaxed quite a bit.

She lay on the bed and sighed comfortably.

She entered her space again to see if her supplies had increased.

She looked around, but it was all still the same stuff. Su Zhaozhao was a little disappointed.

But soon, she discovered that a small green sprout seemed to have emerged from the soil.

Su Zhaozhao recalled her lamentations from the afternoon. ’Could it be that the space actually heard me?!’

’After all, having to actually farm with my own hands would be so much work. It would be amazing if the land was sensible enough to grow what I need on its own!’

She looked at the tiny green sprout poking out of the ground, wondering what it was.

Su Zhaozhao lay on the hard plank bed, only managing to fall asleep after 2 A.M. as she tried to get used to it.

The next day, while she was still in a sleepy daze, a knock came from the door.

"Su Zhaozhao, are you awake?"

Xie Huaizheng’s cold, deep, and pleasant voice came from outside the door.

Su Zhaozhao shot up in bed, startled.