Chapter 85: The Pretty Military Wife of the Seventies 8

How fast could people get married in the seventies?

Marrying after only half a month of getting to know each other was a common sight everywhere.

Su Huandan was married.

Zhan Hongjun’s marriage report hadn’t been officially approved yet; it was still going through the process, requiring paperwork to be sent back and forth to Harbin for stamping. However, the wedding banquet could already be held.

The Zhan family didn’t hold it in the military compound. They had only recently moved in and weren’t very familiar with the neighbors yet.

The banquet was held at the military family housing area where they used to live.

There were so many old comrades-in-arms that ten tables were filled, making for a truly lively scene.

On Su Huandan’s side, everyone from her courtyard came to see her off.

The two grandmothers gave Su Huandan the new quilts and mattresses they had saved up and never used as part of her dowry.

As for the four sisters-in-law, two of them chipped in to buy a pair of thermoses¹, while the other two bought enamel basins. They all bought things in pairs, totaling four items.

Once the banquet was over, Su Huandan packed some old clothes and moved into the military compound.

The new home was right there in the compound. On the left side of the second floor, Zhan Hongjun’s room had been outfitted with bright red new bedding, serving as their bridal chamber.

To ensure the young couple had a happy wedding night, Sister-in-law Zhan took her child and rode in her father-in-law’s car to the military district in the suburbs of Beijing to visit her husband as soon as the banquet ended.

Her husband was too busy to return even for his younger brother’s wedding. Her bringing the wedding candy and wine over served as a gesture of celebration.

Father Zhan and Mother Zhan also returned to the military unit, where they both had dormitories.

In the empty two-story house, Su Huandan found the layout all too familiar; the original owner had deep memories of it.

Despite Zhan Hongjun’s slender frame, he was the type who looked lean in clothes but possessed a solid, muscular build underneath.

The wooden bed creaked for half the night.

The next morning, by the time Su Huandan woke up, Zhan Hongjun was long gone. Before leaving, he had prepared breakfast for her.

Zhan Hongjun’s train was at nine in the morning. Father Zhan’s driver had arrived early to pick him up and take him to the station.

Su Huandan wasn’t accompanying the military² unit just yet. Many procedures hadn’t been completed. Zhan Hongjun had previously stayed in dormitories, and accompanying the military required a small bungalow, which hadn’t been applied for yet. Only after those matters were settled and Su Huandan’s job transfer was resolved would it be time for her to join him.

So, for the time being, she had to live with her parents-in-law.

Comparison truly brought out the pain.

Thinking back to the life the original owner led after marrying into a military family, and then looking at Su Huandan’s current life.

A person’s sense of happiness is indeed born from comparison.

After breakfast, Su Huandan followed her own habits, wiping the tables and sweeping the floor. For lunch, she simply heated up the leftovers from breakfast. In the evening, her mother-in-law called to say the whole family would be back for dinner. She told Su Huandan not to be nervous, saying they were family and wouldn’t eat her alive.

Su Huandan really wasn’t afraid of anyone eating her.

Timing it perfectly, Su Huandan had the meal ready just as her parents-in-law and sister-in-law arrived home with the child.

Father Zhan was a General and Mother Zhan was the head of a performing arts troupe³, so their benefits and pay were excellent. The Zhan family didn’t lack meat, but since the wedding banquet had just finished, Su Huandan didn’t feel it was right to cook all the meat in the fridge.

She prepared a balanced meal of meat and vegetables with rice.

Remembering that Zhan Hongjun had mentioned his little niece was in poor health with a weak stomach, Su Huandan specially made a small bowl of wontons for the child.

Who wouldn’t have a smile on their face coming home to the scent of a delicious meal?

During this first time living with her parents-in-law and sister-in-law, Su Huandan wasn’t pretentious; she was poised and natural.

This made her in-laws like her even more.

After dinner, Sister-in-law Zhan went to coax the child to sleep. The parents-in-law were tired and retired to their room, and Su Huandan also went back to her room to rest.

Su Huandan didn’t even have to wash the dishes; Sister-in-law Zhan did them quickly.

Compared to the Liu family, the Zhan family was what a normal family should be like.

A family shouldn’t always pick on one person to bully. If everyone is considerate and shares the chores, it would be a miracle if the family didn’t get along harmoniously and warmly.

Su Huandan integrated into the Zhan family’s daily routine very easily.

She still had to go to work, so waking up early was a must. However, when she got up, her mother-in-law had already started breakfast, and Sister-in-law Zhan had begun cleaning. She would either help with the meal or join in the cleaning.

After eating breakfast, she would ride her bicycle to the factory.

She ate lunch at the factory.

After work, she would look for things to buy on her way home.

Whether she ran into someone selling eggs or anything else, as long as it didn’t require coupons, she didn’t mind if the price was a bit higher. Su Huandan still followed the original owner’s standard: save thirty yuan and keep twelve yuan as pocket money.

Previously, that twelve yuan was her entire monthly living expense. Now, after deducting the cost of her lunches, the rest was truly pocket money.

How else should she spend it?

By adding things to the household so the whole family ate better, everyone would feel good, wouldn’t they?

The first benefit of marrying Zhan Hongjun manifested in her food, housing, and daily life.

She ate better, lived better, and dressed better.

Her standard of living had jumped up several levels.

Her parents-in-law were reasonable, and although her sister-in-law was a bit of a gossip, she wasn’t the type to be unreasonable. They were all easy to get along with, making her days increasingly comfortable.

What was even more interesting was that after living in the military compound for half a month, Su Huandan ran into the original owner’s former mother-in-law while returning from work.

The old woman of the Liu family almost didn’t recognize Su Huandan. Once she realized she hadn’t mistaken the person, the old woman must have imagined some scenario in her head. She grabbed the handlebars of Su Huandan’s bicycle and sneered, “Oh, isn’t this my stubborn, foul-tempered daughter-in-law? Oh, right, you’re the former daughter-in-law now. What are you doing here? Trying to remarry my Zhanyuan? Let me tell you, it’s impossible. My Zhanyuan is already married and has taken his wife to the military unit. My current daughter-in-law is much better than you. She has a good background and is well-bred. My son found someone better after leaving you. I really have to thank you for bringing up the divorce, otherwise where would we have found such a good daughter-in-law?”

Su Huandan looked at the former mother-in-law with a stunned expression. Liu Zhanyuan was married?

To… Zhan Hongjun’s ex-wife?

It couldn’t be true, could it?

If it were true, the Zhan and Liu families would probably provide enough drama to keep the military compound entertained for the next twenty years.

“Well then, congratulations are in order. A hooligan like your son actually managed to get remarried? I find it quite unbelievable myself. It’s a pity, though, because I truly look down on your son. Rest assured, there is absolutely no chance of us reconciling. I’ve already remarried, and I found someone far better than your son. How stupid would I have to be to give up someone great just to be stubborn and remarry your son?” Su Huandan’s words drew laughter from the other neighbors who had been watching the scene.

Who in the military compound didn’t know the truth behind the divorce of the Liu family’s youngest son?

The girl wasn’t wrong; finding anyone would be better than being with that woman’s son.

“What’s going on? You’re already at the door, why haven’t you gone in? Dandan, I just went out and bought some pork belly. I’ll make braised pork for you tonight, isn’t that your favorite?” Sister-in-law Zhan had actually been standing right behind the two of them for a while. She had listened for some time and only showed herself after her younger brother’s wife had finished shutting the woman down.

She thought to herself that this new sister-in-law was quite alright. She had a tough attitude toward outsiders, which she liked. The two of them really shared the same temperament.

Translator’s Notes