Dare to shirk responsibility? This adorable little one will tear down your military district!

Meng Yaya sat cross-legged on the only wooden bed, holding an empty enamel mug in her hand, banging it against the bed railing.

"Meeting."

The two words, though spoken in a childish tone, conveyed the force of an army marching into battle.

Gu Changfeng stood in front of the desk. Despite being over 1.8 meters tall, he inexplicably felt that the ceiling was a bit low, making it hard to breathe.

Lin Wanrou huddled at the foot of the bed, twisting the hem of her clothes with both hands, her head so low that she almost buried her face in her knees.

"Dad, sit down." Meng Yaya pointed to the chair with the jar.

Gu Changfeng pulled up a chair and sat down, standing at attention with his hands on his knees, his brows furrowed: "What do you mean by illegal occupancy? Don't use such language."

"Misuse?" Meng Yaya sneered, throwing the jar onto the bed. "Then let me ask you, do you and my mother have a marriage certificate? A red booklet with an official stamp?"

Gu Changfeng's Adam's apple bobbed: "The situation was urgent at the time, so we held a banquet and left. Everyone in the village accepted it..."

"What good is the village's recognition!" Meng Yaya interrupted him directly. "This is a military region, where national laws apply. Without a certificate, my mother is your 'illegal cohabitation partner,' and I'm an 'unregistered resident.' If we walk out this door now, the military police can arrest us and strip you of your uniform!"

Gu Changfeng's face darkened.

He knew the boy was right. Military discipline was strict, and conduct was a red line. Although it was a common-law marriage, the incomplete paperwork was a serious problem.

Lin Wanrou trembled, hurriedly raised her head, her voice trembling with tears: "Changhe... no, Commander, I don't want to cause you any trouble. If it will cause you to lose your uniform, I'll leave now and take Yaya back to the village..."

"Shut up."

"no."

Two voices rang out simultaneously. Gu Changfeng and Meng Yaya exchanged a glance.

Meng Yaya rolled her eyes and pointed at Lin Wanrou: "Mom, can't you be a little more sensible? Go back to the village? Go back and let that old hag sell me to an idiot, or have her chew your bones to pieces?"

Lin Wanrou turned pale and remained silent.

Meng Yaya turned her head and stared at Gu Changfeng: "Dad, you're a commander, you know the policies. No household registration means no food ration book, no food ration book means no food quota. Are you planning to let Mom starve in the military region, or are you planning to give your share of food to us and then starve to death on the training ground?"

This is a very real and sensitive issue.

Gu Changfeng looked at the child in front of him, who was so thin he was just skin and bones, and then at the timid woman beside him, who seemed ready to sacrifice herself at any moment.

These are his wife and daughter.

He risked his life on the front lines to protect his country, but in the end, he couldn't even give them a full meal or a legal identity.

"Your mother and I... really have no feelings for each other." Gu Changfeng said the truth, his voice a little hoarse. He was a straightforward person and wouldn't lie.

Upon hearing this, Lin Wanrou's shoulders slumped even more.

"What's the value of feelings? Can they put food on the table?" Meng Yaya curled her lip in disdain. "What we need is a way to make a living. You need a wife to shut others up, and we need a long-term meal ticket. This is a win-win situation."

Gu Changfeng choked on the word "buy and sell," his chest aching. Why did this girl speak with such a bandit-like accent?

"Besides," Meng Yaya changed the subject, a sly glint in her large, clear eyes.

"Feelings can be cultivated slowly. Look at my mom, she's pretty, obedient, and even makes shoes for you. Where else can you find such a good wife? If you don't take responsibility, I'll go to the political department and cry, saying you're a heartless man who abandoned his wife and daughter. Let's see how you can remain a leader then!"

Threat.

A naked threat.

Looking at his daughter's shameless expression, Gu Changfeng suddenly felt an itch to punch her. But deep down, a strange emotion welled up inside him.

This child is fighting for her mother's life.

"No need to go to the political department."

Gu Changfeng suddenly stood up, the chair scraping against the cement floor with a loud thud.

He walked to the washbasin stand, picked up his hat and put it on, then strode to the wardrobe, opened the locked drawer, and took out his household registration book and military officer's ID.

"Let's go now." Gu Changfeng put his documents in his pocket, turned to Lin Wanrou, and said, "Take your ID and the village's letter of introduction, and come with me."

Lin Wanrou froze, sitting on the bed without moving: "Where...where to?"

"Submit a marriage application and get the marriage certificate," Gu Changfeng said succinctly.

Lin Wanrou panicked, waving her hands helplessly: "No, there's no need to rush... Brother Changhe, if you don't want to, you don't have to force yourself..."

"Enough with the nonsense!"

Gu Changfeng strode over and grabbed Lin Wanrou's wrist with a force that left no room for refusal. He could feel that the wrist in his palm was frighteningly thin, all bone that was hard to hold.

"You are my soldier, and I am your superior." Gu Changfeng stared into her eyes, his tone stiff but firm. "This is an order. Execute it!"

Lin Wanrou was taken aback by his shout and instinctively straightened up: "Yes!"

Meng Yaya, watching from the side, couldn't help but laugh. She jumped off the bed and shoved the pre-prepared letter of introduction into Lin Wanrou's hand: "Mom, come along! This is our indenture... no, our long-term meal ticket!"

The three of them left the dormitory building.

The morning sun was shining brightly, and a rousing march was playing over the loudspeaker in the courtyard.

Gu Changfeng walked ahead, taking large strides.

Lin Wanrou trotted behind, head down, her face showing both shyness and fear. Meng Yaya, with her short legs, followed at the very back like a supervisor.

As soon as I stepped out of the large iron gate of the family compound, a female officer in a fitted military uniform walked towards me.

The woman's hair was slicked back and polished, and she carried a folder in her hand. She walked with a swaying, snake-like gait. It was Zhao Fang, the head nurse of the sanitation team who had bent the chopsticks in the cafeteria yesterday.

Zhao Fang saw Gu Changfeng from afar, but before she could even put on a smile, her gaze fell on Lin Wanrou behind Gu Changfeng.

His tattered cotton-padded jacket, patched upon patched, and his unsophisticated, country-weary look were completely out of place in this neat and solemn military compound.

"Hey, Commander Gu." Zhao Fang deliberately blocked his way, her voice shrill, "Where are you going? And that person following behind... is that your nanny? Why are you dressed like that and coming into the compound? Aren't you afraid of affecting the image of our military region?"

Gu Changfeng paused, his face instantly darkening.

Lin Wanrou shrank back behind Gu Changfeng, her head hanging even lower. She was most afraid of the disdainful looks from city people; they felt like needles pricking her.

"Get out of the way," Gu Changfeng coldly uttered.

Zhao Fang was stung by this cold attitude, feeling somewhat embarrassed, but she still forced a smile: "Sir, I'm doing this for your own good. Recently, the higher-ups have been strictly checking outsiders. If these country folk don't have the proper paperwork..."

She is my lover.

Gu Changfeng interrupted her directly.

Zhao Fang's fake smile froze, as if she had been slapped hard across the face: "Love...lover? How is that possible? Commander Gu, aren't you single?"

"It was before, but not anymore." Gu Changfeng was too lazy to waste words with her. He reached out and grabbed Lin Wanrou's arm, pulling her directly to his side, adopting a protective stance. "Let's go get our marriage certificate now. If Officer Zhao doesn't have anything else to do, don't block the way."

After saying that, Gu Changfeng grabbed Lin Wanrou and tried to get around her.

Meng Yaya followed behind, stopping as she passed Zhao Fang.

She looked up at the woman whose face was contorted with jealousy, a naive smile playing on her lips, and said in a childish voice, "Auntie, your makeup is too thick; it's flaking off when you smile. Also, my dad has good eyesight; he doesn't like this kind of 'white-boned demon.'"

After saying that, Meng Yaya made a face and chased after him with an air of indifference.

Zhao Fang stood there, trembling with anger, the folder in her hand creaking loudly as she gripped it tightly.

"Get a marriage certificate? Whether we can even get one is still uncertain!" She watched the three figures leave, her eyes turning venomous, and then she turned and ran towards the political commissar's office.