Chapter 266: Three Cups of Wine

An Yinan smiled and said, "Qin Hao and the others are here."

She opened the curtain and saw Wang Ping with her cheeks puffed out, as well as Qin Hao, who looked rather sickly.

"What happened to you two?" An Yinan asked curiously.

Qin Hao rubbed his brow helplessly, "Sister-in-law, you should ask her."

An Yinan turned her gaze to Wang Ping, who glared at Qin Hao, "An Jie, this guy didn't tell me where we were going, he just dragged me away. Lots of people saw it; how am I supposed to find a partner in the future?"

She thought to herself that she was already a twenty-year-old young woman, and her mother had even said recently that someone was going to introduce a suitor to her.

That hateful Qin Dafu didn't say a word and just dragged her off; if this got out, how could she face anyone in the future?

An Yinan looked at Qin Hao; this guy didn't seem like the type to be a blockhead.

Logically speaking, something like this shouldn't have happened.

"A girl is grown up, so it's natural to look for a partner, but I never heard you mention it before," An Yinan said as she took the military overcoat Wang Ping had taken off, hung it on the rack nearby, and then asked carefully.

Wang Ping paused, then sighed, "I hid in the Military District Hospital, which is why I've avoided it for so long. Otherwise, given the customs of our village, I would have been betrothed by the time I was eighteen."

"I received a letter from home this morning saying they've arranged a suitor for me. The man is willing to work hard, has ambition, and his family's situation is quite good, so they want me to take leave and go back to meet him."

When Wang Ping said this, her eyes swept over Qin Hao. Seeing his expressionless face, her gaze turned indifferent for a moment, and she curled her lips.

"Do you know the man?" An Yinan looked at Wang Ping's expression; it didn't look like a case of unrequited love.

"We're from the same village, so you could say we grew up together," Wang Ping sighed.

An Yinan thought about it; she shouldn't get too involved in their affairs, and if Qin Hao didn't have a clue, nothing anyone else said would be of any use.

Looking at Wang Ping's expression just now, she feared Wang Ping had already realized her own feelings.

To win a girl's heart, it couldn't be done through outside forces like them; it depended on Qin Hao's own efforts.

"Help me tidy up the things first. You have to be on a roster to take leave anyway, so take this time to think about what you really want," An Yinan patted Wang Ping on the shoulder.

This girl had a kind heart, was playful and cute, and carried a touch of innocence and sincerity.

She knew very well what she wanted and what she didn't want.

As an outsider, there wasn't much advice she could give.

"Okay," Wang Ping smiled and followed An Yinan to the kitchen.

Qin Hao's complexion was not good; usually, he was all smiles, but today he was exceptionally silent.

The playful, irreverent look on his face had vanished today.

Everyone helped carry things, and the bowls, chopsticks, and several large basins of food were soon placed on the table.

After Chen Xun and Zhang Qian returned, they bolted the courtyard gate before walking into the house, where Chen Xun saw the dejected Qin Hao.

"What's wrong with you?" Zhang Qian leaned over to Qin Hao and couldn't help but ask.

Qin Hao shook his head, "I don't even know what's wrong with me, I just feel out of sorts everywhere."

Upon hearing this, An Yinan rolled her eyes helplessly.

It would be a miracle if you felt "in sorts."

Chen Xun glanced at his wife and gave her an inquiring look, but An Yinan shook her head and didn't speak.

Soon, everyone was at the table. Mo Kun looked at the large basins and said with a wry smile, "You're certainly generous; others don't even fill their plates, and you're serving directly in basins?"

An Yinan tapped her forehead, "Look at my memory. I warmed some wine—there's high-proof white liquor and some low-proof fruit wine. I'll go get it for you. If you're not on duty, have a little; those on duty can only watch and drool, haha."

As she spoke, An Yinan went to the stove and brought over half of the warmed wine.

The other half was still being kept warm in the water.

"I've been craving Sister-in-law's fruit wine for a long time," Zhang Qian said. He was the type who had a poor tolerance for alcohol but loved to drink anyway. Regardless of how he held his liquor, he was a lightweight who would fall over after a few cups, yet he still loved to drink and would come over to beg for a few cups of fruit wine every time he was off duty.

"I'm on duty today, so I won't touch the alcohol," the Secretary said with a chuckle.

Mo Kun laughed heartily, "Then you're missing out; you can't drink wine like Nan Nan's anywhere else."

"Oh? Is there a story behind it?" Deputy Brigade Commander Zhang looked at Mo Kun curiously.

"A lot of the wine is brewed by her personally, especially this fruit wine. She brews it herself, and she adds medicinal herbs to the wine, which is beneficial to the body," Mo Kun introduced carefully.

Nowadays, fruit was particularly conspicuous; even shriveled apples could be sold for a high price.

She couldn't take out the fruit from her space, so she brewed a lot of fruit wine. She would send some to everyone every few days, which was also a way to consume a large portion of her fruit inventory. Of course, she would also sneak a few bites herself in the space from time to time.

"There's such a story? Then I must ask for a few more cups," Deputy Brigade Commander Zhang laughed.

The food and wine were all on the table. An Yinan looked at Mo Kun and said, "Uncle Mo, among the elders, I'm most familiar with you, so please say a few words."

Mo Kun picked up the fruit wine and looked at the people at the table. Among them were his students, the younger generation he admired, his old partners, comrades-in-arms who had fought side-by-side, and the family members.

"The great roc rises with the wind, soaring ninety thousand miles." Mo Kun looked at An Yinan and the group of young successors.

"Seeing you all, I suddenly realize that I am truly old, lacking your vitality, lacking your daring and drive."

"Seeing you all, I understand that the country is progressing, and the new generation of the country is already shining and striving forward," Mo Kun smiled, his expression solemn yet filled with gratification.

"The first cup, a toast to our Huaxia," Mo Kun raised his glass.

Everyone, no matter who they were, raised their glasses. Even little Xinsheng raised a cup filled with warm water to join in the excitement.

"A toast to Huaxia!" everyone shouted.

Everyone was proud to be Huaxia.

Proud of the country's rapid development!

"The second cup, a toast to the new life," Mo Kun proposed the second cup.

A toast to the country's new forces; they were already rising.

Everyone looked at those around them, their eyes filled with excitement and the Huaxia Soul.

"A toast to the new life!"

Mo Kun laughed and looked at Deputy Brigade Commander Zhang and the Secretary on his left and right.

"This third cup, a toast to those martyrs whose hot blood has soaked the motherland, a toast to those veterans who left the army wounded, and a toast to those predecessors who are working hard in every corner."

"A toast to the senior," Mo Kun finally said.

This time, everyone's eyes were focused, "A toast to the senior."

After the three cups of wine were offered, everyone sat down one after another; no one spoke, and everyone was calming their excited hearts.