1970s: My childhood sweetheart ran away, and I turned around and married the wildest chief.

Chen's mother sneered, "Otherwise what? Does she have any other choice? I'm warning you, this time she's come to beg you, you're not allowed to soften your heart."

"If you agree right away, she will still be arrogant in the future. You have to let her know the difficulties, let her go to the countryside, experience some hardship, and temper her temperament so that she will be obedient."

Chen Jin lowered his head and remained silent.

Mr. Chen said, "Your mother is right. Wanwan is too arrogant. Even if you marry her, she'll still be bossy and domineering. You'll need to temper her temper so she'll be willing to live with you in the future. In short, no matter what, I won't let you gamble with your future. The Chen family has invested so many resources in raising you, not for you to be willful and reckless."

After much deliberation, Chen Jin finally made a decision: "It's settled then. Let her suffer some setbacks first and go to the countryside to avoid trouble. If the Qiao family is exonerated in the future, it will be a benefit to our family. It's not too late to marry her then."

"However, Mom and Dad, please be mindful of your attitude and don't go too far with them, otherwise it will be difficult to get along in the future. After Wanwan goes to the countryside, send her more supplies, and I will go and check on her. She will definitely be grateful to our family."

Mr. and Mrs. Chen were very happy to see that their son was so successful.

Gao Family

The atmosphere in the Gao family was very oppressive. Gao Zhan knelt on the ground and pleaded, "Dad, please let me go. I can't just stand by and watch her be defiled by an old man."

"No way!" Mr. Gao interrupted directly. "If you get involved with her now, you'll never be able to turn your life around. Our Gao family has worked so hard to raise you, and we absolutely cannot let you ruin it because of this."

Mr. Gao earnestly advised his son, "Son, you are still young. You will understand in the future that what a man needs is a career. Without these, you will be nothing in the future."

"You and she aren't even engaged, you have no real relationship to begin with. Sacrificing your future to chase after her? Even if Dad agrees to let you marry her today, you'll regret it when you see your peers succeeding while you're stuck in a life of poverty!"

"Dad will find you someone of equal social standing. At this point, Qiao Wanqing is no longer good enough for you!"

"No..." Gao Zhan shouted, his expression full of pain, "I don't want anyone else, I don't like anyone else, Dad, do you value family background that much? I will fight for my own future, I will succeed, please say yes!"

He shouted louder than anyone else, and cried more pitifully than anyone else.

Mr. Gao was exasperated. "What do you know? The Qiao family is a centuries-old clan. In families like this, girls are just tools for political marriages. Do you think Qiao Wanqing is still a pampered young lady at this time?"

"Let me tell you, she will soon be sent to Bai Zhengxiong's bed by the Qiao family. The Qiao family would never sacrifice a successful son for a granddaughter."

Gao Zhan cried out in anguish, "Then I must save her even more! Wanwan is such a proud girl; doing that would be worse for her than death!"

Mr. Gao, having exhausted his patience, said directly, "Impossible. I would never watch my carefully nurtured son jump into a fire pit."

After saying that, Gao's father called his wife over, and the couple locked Gao Zhan in the room together, not allowing him to come out.

On the second floor, Gao Yuqing watched her tall and strong younger brother struggle in tears, but was still locked in his room by their parents. She sneered and went back to her room.

At this moment, Lu Mingzhou, who was about to go find his leader, was stopped by Li Hongjun. Li Hongjun was furious. "Are you crazy? Your promising future will be ruined if you marry her. Have you forgotten what we went through on the battlefield? The future we risked our lives for, are you just going to throw it away like that?"

Lu Mingzhou remained silent.

Li Hongjun was even angrier. "Lu Mingzhou, are you fucking crazy? Does the Qiao family need you to save them? Her uncle is still doing well in Beijing. His official rank is higher than yours. Don't be fooled by that girl's pitiful crying. Her family is not at the point of desperation at all. She just wants to drag you down with her."

"I know!"

Enraged, Li Hongjun was stunned, incredulous. "You...you knew?"

Lu Mingzhou nodded, looking at the night sky. "Yes, I know."

Coming to his senses, Li Hongjun became even angrier. "Then why did you agree to her request?"

Lu Mingzhou sighed, "I dare not gamble. Hongjun, she is just a twenty-year-old girl who has always been pampered by her family and has never experienced any major upheavals. Now the family has suddenly suffered a change, and it all started because of her. I dare not imagine how panicked and scared she has been these past few days."

"The people in charge of the household are not around, and there is a group of people with ulterior motives who want to harm her. If she can't withstand the pressure and makes a rash decision to give herself away, I will regret it for the rest of my life."

Of course he knew that the Qiao family hadn't reached that point yet. He guessed that this girl might just want to drag him down and increase his bargaining chips, so he hesitated at first. How could he not care about the future he had risked his life for?

But when she cried and said she wanted to find someone else, he couldn't hold back anymore. If he missed this opportunity, she might marry someone else. What she said might not all be true, but it wasn't entirely false either. In the current situation, let alone protecting her family, it was normal for her to want to get married, or even just seek protection.

But no matter who she marries, he can't accept it.

Li Hongjun opened his mouth, but suddenly couldn't say a word.

Yes, who can guarantee that a young girl who has just turned twenty can rationally analyze her situation?

Let's go!

Lu Mingzhou spoke, then strode into the darkness, his back view proud and resolute.

Li Hongjun watched, feeling helpless and heartbroken. He stomped his foot angrily and followed in his footsteps.

……

Lu Mingzhou arrived even faster than expected. The next morning, just after Qiao Wanqing had finished breakfast, Lu Mingzhou arrived, accompanied by Qiao Yuanhe, who had just left home.

Lu Mingzhou's dark gaze fell on Qiao Wanqing, and there was an undisguised excitement in his eyes.

"The marriage application has been approved, let's go get our marriage certificate now."

Qiao Wanqing was taken aback. So fast?

A barely perceptible hint of surprise flashed in Qiao Wanqing's eyes. The fact that the marriage application was approved meant at least two things: first, Lu Mingzhou had put in effort; second, he was eager to protect her; and third, he genuinely wanted to marry her.

Secondly, just as she had guessed, the military was protecting her family. Once the marriage application was approved, she immediately registered her marriage with Lu Mingzhou and became a military wife, which added another layer of protection.

By making her marry Lu Mingzhou at this critical juncture, their stance is clear enough.

Qiao Yuanhe, standing to the side, looked at his younger sister with a somewhat inscrutable expression. He grabbed Qiao Wanqing's arm and said, "I have something to tell you."

As he spoke, he pulled Qiao Wanqing into a room next door and closed the door.

"Brother, what are you doing?"