The 60s Island: The Daily Life of a Capitalist Young Lady with the Army - Chapter 15: Come Meet Your Sister-in-Law in Three Days

Chapter 15: Come Meet Your Sister-in-Law in Three Days

Long Peiye strode briskly out of the regiment headquarters building. The moment he stepped through the camp gates, before he could even reach his own office, the soldiers—whose news traveled faster than rabbits and whose ears were sharper than hounds’—swarmed around him like a pack of cats catching the scent of fish.

“Battalion Commander! The Battalion Commander is back!”

“Battalion Commander! You’ve finally returned from Shanghai!”

Shouts brimming with barely suppressed delight and enthusiasm rose one after another, buzzing in his ears.

Especially the unruly bunch from his direct subordinate reconnaissance company—they were practically glowing with excitement, like a pack of starved wolf pups finally catching sight of meaty bones.

“Battalion Commander, Battalion Commander! We heard… that you went to Shanghai to take care of some tremendously happy business?” A particularly bold young soldier winked and nudged closer to Long Peiye, lowering his voice to ask mysteriously.

Long Peiye was both amused and exasperated by these rascals. He could only put on a stern face and bark with feigned authority, “What’s all this racket! What are you all shouting about! Looks like you’ve got too much free time! Have you completed your training tasks? Met all the drill standards?”

The soldiers chuckled and brushed off his questions with casual “Done, all done,” but not a single one budged from their spots. They craned their necks, their eyes shining with gossip curiosity, fixed unblinkingly on their battalion commander.

Long Peiye felt helpless inside but showed no trace of it on his face. He could only wave his hand impatiently. “Alright, alright, all of you, scram! Get back to your duties! I have important news to announce later!”

Ignoring the curiosity-driven soldiers, he headed straight for his battalion office and called over his shoulder to the messenger without turning around, “Go, immediately summon all the company commanders and political instructors from our battalion, plus the platoon leaders from the reconnaissance and guard platoons to my office for a brief meeting.”

“Yes, Battalion Commander!” The messenger responded crisply, saluted, then dashed off like the wind to notify everyone.

Before long, the key officers of the battalion had gradually gathered in Long Peiye’s office.

Once the office door was closed and everyone was present, Long Peiye cleared his slightly dry throat, his sharp gaze slowly sweeping over the men standing ramrod straight before him.

“Comrades,” he began, his voice calm yet carrying a faint, barely detectable gravity. “I’ve called this emergency meeting today because there’s a personal matter of mine—and at the same time, a joyous occasion—that I need to formally announce to everyone.”

As he spoke, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and an uncommonly gentle smile appeared on his face—a rare sight indeed.

The company commanders, political instructors, and platoon leaders seated below immediately pricked up their ears in unison, exchanging glances with each other, their eyes blazing with intense curiosity.

Good heavens! Their battalion commander’s expression… his tone… this was like the sun rising from the west! A once-in-a-century occurrence!

“I, Long Peiye,” he paused slightly, as if still somewhat unaccustomed to announcing such matters publicly, but his tone was exceptionally firm, “am married.”

“Boom—!”

These three simple words exploded like a bomb, detonating without warning in the small battalion office.

“Wh…what?!”

“Battalion Commander?! You…you said you’re married?!”

“Oh my god! Is it true, Battalion Commander?! You’re not joking with us, are you?!”

Every single person in the office was so shocked their mouths hung open wide enough to fit an egg, eyes bulging round, expressions looking as if they’d seen a ghost in broad daylight—completely filled with astonishment and disbelief.

After all, their Battalion Commander Long was famously known throughout the coastal defense regiment, even the entire military district, as the “iron-blooded tough guy,” the “steel-straight man,” the typical exemplary representative who “kept women at arm’s length”!

After a brief, deathly silence and extreme shock, the office instantly erupted with overwhelming congratulations and exclamations.

“Congratulations, Battalion Commander! Wishing you a happy marriage and early arrival of a precious child!”

“Battalion Commander, you…you’ve really kept this hidden! Your secrecy work is absolutely top-notch!”

“Oh my god! This is so sudden! Battalion Commander, you’re really not being fair! Such huge happy news, and you didn’t even give us brothers the slightest hint! We’re completely unprepared!”

Long Peiye was getting a headache from their noisy clamoring and had to raise his hand, pressing it downward, raising his voice: “Quiet! All of you, quiet down!”

When the noise in the office finally subsided a bit, Company Commander Li Dayong, being impatient, couldn’t hold back his curiosity first, leaning forward to ask: “Battalion Commander, then…then where’s our sister-in-law? Our battalion commander’s wife? Where is she from?”

“Yeah, yeah, Battalion Commander, tell us quickly—is sister-in-law pretty? Do you have a photo for us brothers to get a sneak peek?” The third platoon leader joined in loudly, his face full of anticipation.

For a moment, the office became lively again, everyone chattering and competing to ask about everything regarding the “new battalion commander’s wife,” their enthusiasm even more intense than when discussing military exercise plans.

Long Peiye looked at his overly excited subordinates, a trace of helplessness on his face, but his deep eyes clearly held a faint, warm smile.

“My wife is named Xu Xiangsi, from Shanghai.”

He spoke slowly, his voice carrying a tenderness he didn’t even notice himself.

“She came with me this time, traveling by ship from Shanghai, and has already arrived on the island.”

“The sea was rough these past few days on the ship, she got a bit seasick and is quite fatigued, so I had her rest properly at home for a couple days to recover.”

Looking at everyone’s eyes filled with anticipation and curiosity, he couldn’t help but smile and continued: “How about this—in three days, when my place is more settled, all of you can come over to my home, see the place and meet your sister-in-law.”

“At that time, I’ll personally cook a home-style meal for you brothers and properly host everyone.”

“Then, won’t you be able to see the sister-in-law you’ve all been longing to meet?”

As soon as he said this, the crowd erupted with thunderous cheers.

“Great! Fantastic! The battalion commander is cooking personally! Then we’re in for a heavenly treat!”

“We’ll definitely be there! Battalion Commander, we guarantee we’ll arrive on time! Not a single one of us will be missing!”

Long Peiye briefly went over some routine tasks and training matters in the battalion before waving his hand, signaling that everyone could disperse.

“Alright, if there’s nothing else, you can all go about your duties. Just don’t forget to come to my place in three days.”

“Yes, sir! We guarantee we’ll complete the mission! Thank you, Battalion Commander!”