The aloof military doctor arrives at the unit, and the tough guy can't sit still.

When Lu Zhenghan and his group arrived at the commune, the only small bridge had been washed away by the rain, and even with emergency repairs overnight, they could not go to survey the route for digging the canal until tomorrow.

Lu Zhenghan could only stay at Xia Qiuran's house temporarily.

Finally, it was time to go home. Xia Qiuran carried her luggage and jogged ahead of Lu Zhenghan.

"Commander Lu, my home is rather simple, please don't mind when you arrive, but rest assured, my family members are all very kind and they will definitely welcome you very much."

Soon she arrived at her doorstep, pushed open the wooden gate, and Xia Qiuran saw her mother washing clothes in the yard.

"Mom!" Xia Qiuran immediately ran over.

"Xiao Ran? Why are you back?" Qian Guifang's eyes lit up instantly upon seeing Xia Qiuran, and she quickly called out to the house. "Pingsheng, husband, come out quickly, Xiao Ran is back."

Xia Dazhi and Xia Pingsheng quickly came out, exchanged a few pleasantries with Xia Qiuran, and then looked at Lu Zhenghan behind her.

"Look, I was so busy talking that I forgot to introduce him." Xia Qiuran first introduced Lu to her family. "This is our regimental commander Lu. I came back this time to take care of some official business with Commander Lu, and I just stopped by to visit your home. I'll be going back in a couple of days."

Then she introduced her family to Lu Zhenghan: "Commander Lu, these are my parents and my older brother."

"Uncle, Aunt, Brother, Comrade Xia Qiuran and I came back this time mainly to survey the terrain for digging flood control channels. We apologize for disturbing you. These are some small gifts I bought at the station. Please accept them as a token of our appreciation." Lu Zhenghan greeted them respectfully and then handed over the gifts he had bought at the station.

Xia Qiuran was somewhat surprised by Lu Zhenghan's behavior. She had thought he bought those things because he was afraid he wouldn't be used to the food in the countryside, but she didn't expect that he was going to give them to her family.

"Commander Lu, you're too kind. The troops are digging channels to clear rainwater for the benefit of us ordinary people. We absolutely cannot accept this." Qian Guifang and Xia Dazhi had spent their entire lives in the countryside and had never seen anything so good before. They were so frightened that they quickly refused.

Xia Pingsheng carefully examined the malted milk powder, cured meat, premium liquor, and boxed pastries. These were all gifts that money couldn't buy. He immediately refused, saying, "Yes, these are too valuable. Commander Lu, please take them back."

Lu Zhenghan simply smiled calmly. "It's just some ordinary stuff. If everyone keeps refusing, I won't be able to stay any longer."

"Mom and Dad, please accept this. Our Commander Lu has always been considerate of his subordinates," Xia Qiuran said, seeing her family members who seemed a little lost.

These things aren't cheap, but refusing them would be disrespectful to Lu Zhenghan, so I'll just have to find another opportunity to return them later.

"Alright then, please come inside and have a seat." Qian Guifang then took the things and hurriedly ushered Lu Zhenghan into the house. "Commander Lu, please don't mind that my home is simple."

"How could that be, Auntie? You're overthinking it. Sometimes we even spend the night on the grasslands during our marches. It's already very good that we have a house to live in now," Lu Zhenghan replied as he walked.

"Brother, I heard you fell again. How are you? Is it serious? Let me see." After entering the house, Xia Qiuran hurriedly asked Xia Pingsheng.

"It's just a minor injury, I'm fine now," Xia Pingsheng said with a smile as he put down his crutches and sat down in a chair.

Xia Qiuran squatted on the ground, looking at her older brother's still somewhat red and swollen calf. She felt extremely distressed. Although she knew medicine, her brother's leg injury was to the bone, and he needed to have surgery at a large hospital to have a chance of recovering well. It seemed that she should save money as soon as possible to take her older brother to a hospital in the city for a check-up.

The time spent at home always feels so short; before you know it, night has fallen.

Lu Zhenghan was arranged to sleep in Xia Pingsheng's room, while Xia Pingsheng went to the main room to set up a simple bed to sleep on.

After washing up, Lu Zhenghan took a towel, toothbrush, and cup and prepared to go back to his room to sleep.

"Xiao Ran, are you and Commander Lu really back to survey some kind of channel?"

Halfway there, Qian Guifang's voice suddenly came from outside. Xia Qiuran was chatting with his family. He shouldn't have lingered, but when he heard the question, he wondered why they had come back, so he stood at the door for a while.

"Of course, Mom. The army has already spoken to the commune secretary, so there's no doubt about it," Xia Qiuran replied while spreading out the blankets.

Upon hearing this affirmative answer, Qian Guifang sighed with a hint of disappointment. "So it's true. I thought this was the son-in-law you brought back for us to meet."

"This Commander Lu is a handsome man, and he speaks very politely without any airs of a superior. Xiao Ran, I think he's a good candidate, better than Zhao Feng." Xia Dazhi, who usually had no opinions on anything, rarely spoke up at this moment.

"Dad, Mom, Commander Lu has very high standards. Our regiment's political commissar has introduced him to so many outstanding female comrades, but Commander Lu simply doesn't even look at them. How could he possibly be interested in me?" Xia Qiuran replied.

"Xiao Ran, but you're very pretty too. Don't people always say that heroes love beauties?" Xia Pingsheng continued.

Xia Qiuran just smiled after hearing this. "Big brother, I think you've been reading too many comic books. The most practical and feasible approach for us ordinary people is to try our best to improve our personal abilities and cognitive level, and strive to make progress in our careers on our own. As for other things, we can just let things take their course."

Having already lived through a lifetime, she had long seen clearly that in the end, no hero or beauty could compare to someone with their own strength.

"I don't understand those things about careers, Xiaoran. You are a girl after all, and girls should get married. You'll be 20 soon, which is not young anymore. If you don't hurry up and find someone, you'll become an old maid in a few years. Then it won't be you choosing others, but others choosing you." Qian Guifang started wiping away tears as she spoke.

Xia Qiuran never expected that she, who was not even 20 years old, would be pressured to get married, but marriage in this life was completely out of her plans.

"Yeah, Xiaoran, your mom's right. Isn't Commander Lu single too? Since they're both single, why not give it a try?" Xia Dazhi chimed in.

"Mom, Dad, Commander Lu is 26 years old. We're not the right age for each other. Besides, he's my superior. Please don't say these things in front of him," Xia Qiuran quickly instructed, afraid that her family would say too much to Lu Zhenghan and anger him.

"Actually, I also met someone in the city, and we're getting to know each other. He's about my age and a very good person." After saying that, afraid they would worry, he made up another excuse on the spot.

"Really? Where is he from? How did you meet? What does he look like?" Qian Guifang asked impatiently upon hearing this.

"Mom, it's still far from certain. I'll tell you next time I come back. I'm going to wash up now."

After Xia Qiuran came out, Lu Zhenghan had already returned to his room, his fingers gripping the handle of the toothbrush cup tightly.

Old age? It turns out that's what she's always thought.

Then she remembered that Xia Qiuran had once praised Han Yu's character. The two were about the same age, so the person she was talking about who was of similar age and had good character must be Han Yu.