Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s
Chapter 1102: It’s Good to Enjoy the Shade When You Lean on a Big Tree

Chapter 1102: Chapter 1102: It’s Good to Enjoy the Shade When You Lean on a Big Tree

He opened and looked at it, which said she should go to his house earlier to propose marriage.

An Ping planned for a while. It would take him a week to finish his lectures, then another week of waiting for An Hao to have a break, so they could meet.

Preparing the betrothal gifts would also take some time.

It would be about three or four weeks from now at the very soonest.

But it would just be a short month anyway.

Preparing the betrothal gifts would also need some time. By the time they actually went to propose, it would be at least a month later.

He decided to formally propose to the Niu Family in a month.

....................................

Ma Mei was picking vegetables in the kitchen, preparing to cook dinner last night.

Hen Zhiyuan returned home, took off his military coat, and paced restlessly in the room.

"Uncle, what’s wrong with you?" Ruan Fangfang came into the living room looking for water to drink. Hen Zhiyuan, in a bad mood, asked absentmindedly.

"What’s a child meddling in adult business for? Just get me a glass of water!" Hen Zhiyuan said.

Ruan Fangfang poured a glass of water from the thermos and placed it on the table, then turned and went to the kitchen to help Ma Mei.

She had just rolled up her sleeves when she heard Hen Zhiyuan’s roaring voice coming from the living room, "Are you trying to scald me to death? Why didn’t you warn me before pouring such hot water?"

"If water is poured from a thermos, could it be anything but boiling? Is it going to be cold water?" Ruan Fangfang yelled back from the kitchen.

When it quieted down in the living room, she then turned her head to ask Ma Mei, "Aunt, what’s been up with my uncle recently? Could it be that men can also get periods like women?"

Ma Mei continued picking the vegetables without lifting her head and said, "Don’t bother with him! He’s just anxious over the promotion to battalion commander."

"So is there hope for that promotion, or not?" Ruan Fangfang was concerned too. If her uncle got promoted to battalion commander, it would be like having a great tree to lean on for shade.

"There was a bit of hope before, but now it’s completely hopeless."

"Aunt, you’re talking in riddles; I don’t understand," said Fangfang.

Ma Mei finished picking the vegetables and washed them in a basin as she spoke, "There was hope because there were no strong competitors before! Now that a competitor has emerged, and it’s the son of the military district Commander, do you think your uncle still stands a chance?"

"Ah? If my uncle can’t get promoted to battalion commander, then what will he do?" Ruan Fangfang started to worry.

"Then he’ll just have to change careers and work locally, what else?" Ma Mei had come to terms with the situation. Even if she couldn’t accept it, it wouldn’t change anything, because in terms of personal qualities or connections, her husband just couldn’t beat the other candidate.

Take the sentinel shooting case that shocked the whole country last year, for instance – the other candidate played a leading role in that.

And then there were the military exercises where he always won in commanding battles, proving the outstanding quality of the soldiers he led.

The more she understood about the situation, the more she realized there was no hope.

So Ma Mei wasn’t in a rush anymore. If it really came down to it, transitioning to a civilian role wouldn’t be so bad for a deputy battalion-level cadre. He wouldn’t lack for a good job.

But clearly, Hen Zhiyuan didn’t think the same.

From the beginning of his enlistment, he had always aimed to stay in the military for the long haul.

It would have been fine if he had no connections.

But the key point was that the Commander of their infantry regiment was his old superior, who had led him before.

From whichever angle, he should have some advantage, right?

If it hadn’t been for the parachute entry of Qin Jian and his certainty of becoming battalion commander, his career wouldn’t have been affected.

"I hate this kind of thing the most!" Ruan Fangfang said.

She thought of her own situation; something that seemed so certain, yet was foiled by An Hao.