Chapter 321 - 255: A Marriage Proposal

The next day.

Third floor, the rest room.

The curtains were drawn, and no lights were on. On two single sofas lay two middle-aged men, in repose but not at ease.

"Look, maybe I should give it some more thought."

Hao Chengbin sucked on his cigarette, took a deep drag, and crushed the butt into an ashtray resembling a skewer of candied hawthorns.

Fang Huai waved his hand, dispersing the smoke that had drifted toward him, and got up with a hint of disgust. He opened the door and windows to let in some fresh air, and the sunlight flooded in as well.

"Tsk, Squad Leader Hao, I finally finish breakfast, come up here looking to catch some extra sleep, and the moment you walk in, it’s all puff, puff, puff with your smoking. And after all that, you hit me with this line.

Squad leader, do you have any idea how long I’ve been preparing for this?

And now you’re throwing a spanner in the works? Spit it out! What’s the deal?"

Hao Chengbin pondered for a moment before attempting to light another cigarette.

Fang Huai, growing impatient, snatched the cigarette from him.

"Talk, talk, talk. Why’s it like an interrogation with you? Do you need another one to open up?"

"Hmm... tsk." Hao Chengbin lay back down and glanced at the ceiling, saying, "Her mom wants her to find someone local. I think I oversimplified things. It wasn’t until I heard you talk about it the other day that I started to consider it."

"What am I saying, just stay if you want to. Don’t you have a rural wife back in Jiangxi that’s keeping you?"

Relieved by the response, Fang Huai sighed and walked back to his former spot on the sofa and sat down, continuing,

"I might end up staying here myself. A good man can make his home anywhere. You’ve been drifting around for ten years, lived in this poor place for ten years; what’s holding you back?

Guizhou’s going to develop quite well. This place will become more and more beautiful, the living indicators surpassing all expectations. It’s quite livable."

"She meant Guiyang, the provincial city, not here. Do you have any idea how expensive housing is there?" Hao Chengbin said with a helpless smile,

"I had a place downtown in Anshun that cost just 100,000. I had 130,000—130,000, man. I thought I was rich here.

But then I reached the provincial city and realized just how high the sky is.

Last night, she and I almost had a fight. She talked about getting married, buying a house, having kids... got to the point of discussing a Maternity Center, right? I just couldn’t hold it in anymore, said work was busy at the squadron, and left.

She didn’t even bring up the bride price, but come on, I’m a man after all. Shouldn’t I, at least, make a gesture with thirty or fifty thousand?

I know it’s expected, but I can’t afford it."

When he first listed his dream life, he felt a pang of pride knowing that Fang Hongliang, who had served longer, had only managed to save 50,000. Now that he thinks about it, Fang Hongliang had his house and kid long ago, having bought his house when prices were still under 2,000 yuan per square meter. Nowadays, they’ve climbed to over 4,000 yuan per square meter.

Fang Huai pondered this, himself falling into reminiscence.

Wasn’t it for these very reasons that he himself had remained unmarried?

Fresh in society, aiming to be a chairman.

If the hometown provided no prospects, one would strive in the big cities.

When the realization dawned that one might truly never make it, the thought would arise: why not return home, descend from grand ambitions, and live an ordinary life, marrying and having children?

But society dealt a harsh slap, pointing to the park bench and saying, "You wish. With no way to even make a down payment, that will be your ultimate resting place."

Thus, he could only persist as an idealistic bachelor.

However, Hao Chengbin’s situation was ultimately much more secure than his had been, and the man himself was more grounded.

After some thought, Fang Huai made a dismissive gesture and said, "It’s not that dire. You’re overthinking it. Pay the down payment, hold the wedding; if it’s not enough, I can lend you some. Just take your time paying me back."

Hao Chengbin laughed, "If I could pay it back, would I be pussyfooting around with you? I would’ve asked you straight up already.

Plus, I have a few old comrades who could lend me some.

Scrape together enough to buy a house, borrow some money, get married, but the future expenses... they can pile up.

Paying back loans while paying a mortgage.

Our salaries won’t provide her a happy life."

"I’ve thought about it; might as well forget it. After finishing the third term and getting discharged, I’ll have about 300,000 saved up. I’ll build a house back home and make other plans then."

"What are you on about?" Fang Huai’s eyes widened upon hearing this,

"I’ve got inside information. In four or five years, when you get to your fourth term, non-commissioned officer salaries should gradually rise to well over 10,000! If you get discharged, you’ll regret it to death! You mustn’t discharge. Aim for the fourth, no, the fifth term! No matter what, you’ve got to stay, even if it means risking your life!"

"How much?!" Hao Chengbin bolted upright,

"They could triple?"

Fang Huai grimaced, forgoing further talk, and pulled out his bank card, "Go withdraw 70,000. Make it 200,000 in total, get the house purchase sorted out, pick a better one. Get the essentials dealt with, and in a few years, you can pay me back. If your salary doesn’t increase, consider the money as my gift."

Hao Chengbin immediately backed down, "Forget it, don’t pull this stunt on me. You’re just finding an excuse to give me charity. I don’t take handouts."

Fang Huai’s face twitched, "We’ll add interest! 3% a year! If you’re not comfortable with that, fill out... 4% works too! Go write me an IOU, and if you’re short later, come borrow from me. If your salary doesn’t go up, serve out the fourth term, then give me all your re-employment bonus! Alright?"

"Damn, kid, you drive a hard bargain. If I get discharged after the fourth term, opt for civilian employment, that’s at least twenty..."

As Hao Chengbin spoke, Fang Huai raised his hand to cut him off,

"You’re overthinking again. If you leave service for civilian life after the fourth term, you’ll get no less than 500,000 at the very least. The house you bought will have at least doubled or tripled in value. With your salary, plus owning a house, making over 10,000 a month, you’ll be well within the middle class. If you’re ever short on cash, just borrow from me. I’m wagering on your re-employment bonus. Now, are you in or out? A man should be decisive."

...

When Hao Chengbin left the rest room, he was clutching a bank card and his head was still swimming. Fang Huai’s words echoed in his mind, insisting on buying a better, bigger house with no regrets, and the calculations of a middle-class life Fang Huai had laid out for him.

How did I, with only a hundred thousand or so, get talked up to a millionaire by him?

Chewing this over, Hao Chengbin clenched his teeth.

If worst comes to worst, I’ll forgo the discharge job and pay him back with my civilian employment bonus.

Within the room, Fang Huai gazed at the ceiling, heaving sighs of deep thought.

You’re lucky it’s me you encountered.

A few tens of thousands isn’t much, but it could change a decision significantly.

This was the first time since his rebirth that he profoundly altered someone’s future.

Just moments ago, Hao Chengbin had been contemplating a third-term discharge, building a house back home, and slowly looking for a rural wife.

In 2011, with the soldier’s salary having undergone two major increases and the discharge fee also set to rise, advancing to a fourth term should be no issue for him. If he manages to extend to a fifth term to witness another pay increase in 2018 and then transfers out of active firefighting duty in 2019...

Tsk, tsk.

Wouldn’t he have a tidy sum of a few hundred thousand?

Add in the monthly 12,000 to 13,000 in allowances and salary during service, owning a large house...

And a wife who’s a civil servant police officer.

Tsk, tsk. According to old traditions, his kids would have to kowtow to me, call me godfather, and even choose a name based on my birthdate and hour.

...

PM, 7:00.

The entire squadron was busy.

Accompanied by Fang Huai’s loud shouting.

"Props, are all the props in place?"

"Lights! They must shine at my feet! The spot is already marked!"

"Hey, hey, hey, those things are expensive, don’t break them! I rented those!"

"Hungry? What’s there to be hungry about? Wait for the late-night snacks; you’ll have plenty!"

"Sorry, big brother, you two will have to wait inside with the photography equipment later, and might miss out on the late-night snacks. I’ve got two pieces of bread here; wanna fill up on those first?"

Fang Huai inspected everywhere.

As the protagonist, Hao Chengbin stood in the center of the front yard, looking bewildered and at a loss:

"This... such a big production? How much did it cost? I just said to keep it simple, that you can sing a song, and I’d just present the ring..."

Fang Huai waved his hand: "No worries, everything’s rented."

Yang Shaoqing came bounding over happily, latching onto Fang Huai’s arm, her eyes filled with stars.

"Squad Leader Hao, it’s really beautiful! Sister Bai Ling will definitely love it! You have to perform well tonight!"

Fang Huai pushed Hao Chengbin impatiently:

"Hurry up and try getting on the car; your sister-in-law will be here soon! It’d be a huge embarrassment if you fall later!"

The usually authoritative and stern old soldier Hao Chengbin was then helplessly and confusedly pushed along by Fang Huai, as if he were just stepping into society.

By the time Fang Huai returned, Yang Shaoqing was once again cheerfully clutching his arm.

Fang Huai then somewhat mysteriously asked, "How are the preparations?"

"Hehe, don’t worry."

...

PM, 8:30.

"Thanks to Director Fang, we’re having late-night snacks again today!"

"Cheers!"

Everyone raised their glasses together, but Bai Ling seemed preoccupied, absentminded until Hao Chengbin tugged at her. She then snapped back to reality, raising her drink and forcing a smile.

Hao Chengbin’s expression also began to grow serious.

But as he reached into his pocket and squeezed the card Fang Huai had given him, he gritted his teeth and took Bai Ling’s hand.

"Bai Ling, come outside. I have something to tell you."

Upon hearing this, everyone’s expressions instantly became mischievous, struggling to hold back laughter.

Fang Huai also quickly ran to the kitchen, grabbed his guitar, and sneaked a peek at the situation outside.

By the time Bai Ling was led out by Hao Chengbin to the front yard, their comrades shouted:

"Hahaha... Quick! It’s starting!"

When everyone arrived in the front yard, Hao Chengbin had already started his declaration.

"Bai Ling, I’m just a poor soldier. I... I’m not that capable and might not be able to afford a house, but I promise, I will do everything I can to treat you well..."

As he spoke, Hao Chengbin pulled out a box.

Bai Ling’s pupils dilated, and she covered her mouth.

The surrounding soldiers also started to cheer loudly.

"Whoa... Marry him, marry him!"

The festive atmosphere had barely begun when:

"Woop..."

Suddenly, everyone started panicking and running towards the garage.

"Fire alarm! Quick! All four squads, move out!"

Cao Yi shouted from the hallway.

Hao Chengbin seemed at a loss.

Ye Jiahong, also anxious, quickly patted him: "Hurry! Don’t dawdle! You can propose when you get back!"

Hao Chengbin could only drop a line: "Wait for me to come back!"

Then he ran towards the combat uniform platform, took off his military attire, put on the combat gear, and rushed to vehicle number three.

Soon, vehicles one, two, and three all left the squadron.

Bai Ling stood there dumbfounded, her expression reflecting a sense of loss.

The lights from the departing squadron shone briefly and vividly, but as the fire trucks went distant, they slowly faded, leaving only some rather dim light spilling out from the hallway.

The siren’s wail grew fainter, and the surroundings became quiet.

Yang Shaoqing silently walked up to her, taking her arm.

The two of them just stood quietly, staring at the entrance to the squadron, lost in a daze.

Bai Ling sighed, ready to walk away.

In the guard pavilion, the guard on watch, Liu Jianfeng, saw this and panicked. He grabbed the two-way radio and started calling: "Hurry, hurry, the sister-in-law’s about to leave!"

Yang Shaoqing outside also held onto Bai Ling, cooperating:

"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, just wait a bit longer! Maybe they’ll be back really soon?"

Bai Ling, however, patted Yang Shaoqing on the head and said with a smile:

"Silly child, didn’t you just hear? They’ve gone to a big fire, they definitely won’t be back. Not likely tonight... That’s how firefighting is; no point in waiting."

Liu Jianfeng, who was keeping the door slightly ajar "eavesdropping", heard this and immediately growled into the two-way radio:

"Hurry, hurry up! We’ve screwed up, the sister-in-law’s leaving!"

From the radio came Cao Yi’s voice: "We’re back!"

The voice of Fang Huai also immediately followed: "Turn on the lights!"

At this moment, the front yard of the Second Squadron burst into light, and the wails of the approaching fire trucks could be heard getting closer.

Several spotlights mounted on the roof suddenly lit up, a burst of intense light shining directly on Bai Ling and Yang Shaoqing.