CHAPTER 983: CHAPTER 984: I WON’T MAKE YOU WAIT THAT LONG

Once all the girls who signed up were seated across from the soldiers, the applause subsided, and the Emcee began a speech, followed by a speech from the regiment commander.

Cheng Su glanced around and whispered to Sister-in-law Gao: "Too many monks and too little porridge!"

There were not that many girls who signed up, about thirty or so, yet the number of single soldiers was twice as many. Of course, not all were there; some were single but had arranged partners through their families and were just waiting for the right moment to go home and marry, so they didn’t sit down.

"There’s no other way; it’s not like it used to be. Not everyone wants to marry a soldier," Sister-in-law Gao whispered back.

Cheng Su nodded; it was just as Qi Taiguo said, considering all sorts of factors.

She sighed inwardly; soldiers defending the country have hard marriages, no wonder military marriages are protected, their service alone makes it worthwhile.

Once the regiment commander finished speaking, the gathering began, and Cheng Su and the others chatted and laughed, but her focus remained on those checking each other out.

These days, things are slowly becoming more open, but still comparatively conservative, so everyone didn’t dare speak much, and merely ate quietly, not even daring to lift their heads to look at each other.

No one knows who started the conversation, but soon people were speaking to those sitting across from them, albeit with flushed faces.

Cheng Su found it amusing, and the smile on her lips didn’t fade.

Sister-in-law Gao noticed and asked why she was laughing; Cheng Su truthfully said, "Just find their shy and embarrassed look really funny."

Sister-in-law Gao glanced at her and said, "I think you’re here just for the fun."

Cheng Su stuck out her tongue, indeed, she was just here for the fun.

Suddenly feeling someone’s eyes on her, Cheng Su looked over and saw Qi Taiguo staring at her, she couldn’t help but flash a big smile.

After a lively meal, everyone moved to the auditorium, where a temporary stage was set up, with rows of chairs for people to sit.

Unlike meal time where they were seated apart, this time Cheng Su and Qi Taiguo sat together, enjoying the performances they had arranged.

The program was varied, featuring martial arts performances, solo singing, choral singing, skits, and small plays.

The play depicted a newlywed couple, the husband went to battle because the country was at war, with an indefinite return date. Before parting, they promised to tie red ribbons under the tree by their house; if the husband saw the ribbons upon return, he would know his wife was still waiting for him. Despite the ribbons being tied one by one, the husband never returned, while the wife became pregnant, raised their child alone, as the husband fought without news of life or death. Years later, someone came looking; the husband had been overseas, with a crippled leg, only returning once their son reached adulthood. The family reunited under the tree with fluttering red ribbons.

Cheng Su watched with tears in her eyes, gripping Qi Taiguo’s hand tightly.

Qi Taiguo wiped the tears from her face, saying, "Silly, I won’t make you wait for years!" He couldn’t bear to.

Cheng Su nodded; if it weren’t for the crowd, she might have thrown herself into his arms and had a good cry.

When the soldiers’ performances ended, it was the girls’ turn. However, none of them had rehearsed, so they did solo acts, mostly singing, except for Xiaoying, Cheng Su’s employee, who performed a comedic skit, garnering thunderous applause.

Cheng Su pulled Qi Taiguo’s hand, quietly leaving the venue.