The Stunningly Beautiful and Delicate Darling in the 1980s Military Compound - Chapter 40

Wang Bing and the others had been obsessed with the idea of “disturbing the bridal chamber” for years. Back when they were first assigned to Chen Che’s squad, none of them were quite fond of his stern, humorless attitude. They used to whisper among themselves about when they would finally see a crack in his icy exterior—and they decided that his wedding day would be the only time he’d be forced to lighten up.

Now that the day had actually arrived, they no longer wanted to mock him—they genuinely respected him—but the desire for a bit of wedding mischief remained. Afraid to ask Chen Che directly, Wang Bing acted as the representative to ask Song Mingyue.

The “Sister-in-law” was kind and gentle; she was much easier to talk to than the Commander.

But Mingyue didn’t fall for it. Biting into an apple, she said, “It’s useless to ask me. Go ask Chen Che. If he agrees, then go ahead.”

Of course, he wouldn’t agree.

At this time, the custom of “disturbing the bridal chamber” was quite popular. In the military compound, it was relatively tame since everyone was educated, focusing mostly on games for the bride and groom. In some rural areas, however, these customs could turn vulgar.

The liveliest part of the wedding was the evening. While most of the compound was dark, Mingyue’s house was brilliantly lit with red lanterns and candles, looking incredibly festive.

Wang Bing used a red thread to dangle an apple, challenging Chen Che and Mingyue to each take a bite from opposite sides. Every time they tried, he would jerk the thread upward, causing them to accidentally kiss. It was the oldest trick in the book.

Wang Bing had been worried Chen Che would shut the game down with a cold glare. To his surprise, Chen Che not only complied but stared at Mingyue with eyes that were almost unnervingly intense.

Love truly makes people lose their minds, Wang Bing thought. The man standing there today was unrecognizable compared to the lonely, aloof Commander they knew.

When Chen Che “accidentally” lingered on a kiss after Wang Bing pulled the apple away, the crowd went wild. The young wives blushed, while the bachelors like Wang Bing cheered for an encore.

Yin Xiumei, acting as the women’s director, eventually stepped in to stop them. “Alright, alright. We advocate for a polite wedding here. You’ve had your fun; it’s time to go home.”

With Auntie Xiumei speaking up, the crowd began to disperse. But just as the mood was cooling down, Mingyue suddenly grabbed Chen Che’s face and planted a large, firm kiss on his cheek. She smiled at the crowd, her voice sweet and teasing: “Alright, everyone, stop bothering this block of wood!”

The atmosphere exploded with cheers one last time. The older women in the compound finally realized that a girl could make such a bold display of affection look natural and charming rather than scandalous.

By the time the crowd vanished and it was late into the night, Mingyue felt her entire body aching with exhaustion. She changed into comfortable pajamas, washed her face, and collapsed onto the bed.

It felt surreal. She had just had a simple 1980s wedding—no flower walls or ocean views, just a flowing feast in a military courtyard and a dress she had designed under tight constraints. But she didn’t feel any regret. She could feel the sincerity of the neighbors; everyone had genuinely wanted the day to be a success.

Chen Che naturally lay down on the other side of the bed.

Mingyue heard him but was too tired to even open her eyelids. She muttered groatily, “Why are you sleeping here again?”

Seeing how spent she was, Chen Che didn’t bother her. He lay there, his body tired but his mind racing with a sense of profound happiness. Sharing a life and receiving blessings with the person he loved was a feeling no achievement could replace.

He wanted to kiss her. He actually regretted being shy earlier in front of the crowd.

After a while, Chen Che whispered, “Mingyue, shouldn’t we do something… different tonight?”

Mingyue’s sleepiness flickered for a moment. She was shocked to hear those words come out of his mouth. The breeze was soft, and the moment was perfect. She opened her eyes halfway and saw his sharp, handsome profile and the tiny, alluring mole beneath his eye.

She teased, “And what do you think we should do?”

Chen Che sat up slightly, gently tucking a stray hair behind her ear. “If you’re tired, just sleep.”

Mingyue took his hand. She wasn’t that tired, but she didn’t want their “first time” to happen when she felt like a wet noodle. She wanted it to be a relaxed, intentional moment.

That night, they simply fell asleep holding hands, watching each other until their eyes closed.

The next morning, Mingyue felt even more tired than the day before. One night of sleep wasn’t enough to recover from the wedding chaos.

Chen Che was already gone. He should have been on leave, but the data he brought back from S County was critical and needed organizing immediately. If it weren’t for the wedding, he wouldn’t have taken even a single day off.

When Regimental Commander Zhao Hongwei saw him at the base, he looked like he’d seen a ghost. “Chen Che! You can’t be here. It’s the day after your wedding! Who told you to come to work?”

Chen Che ignored him, returning to his usual cold, serious persona. Zhao Hongwei wondered if the smiling, radiant young man from yesterday had been an impostor.

Wang Bing was also horrified. He pulled Chen Che aside and warned, “Commander, you don’t understand girls. Sister-in-law is special, but she still needs to be pampered. You can’t put all your energy into work. If you neglect your home, she’ll be the one who ends up sad.”

Chen Che hadn’t considered that. Mingyue always seemed to support his work wholeheartedly. But seeing the shocked expressions of his colleagues, he began to doubt himself. Was it wrong to leave so early? How should I talk to her when I get home tonight?

While Chen Che was pondering his domestic communication strategy, something was happening back at the house.

Mingyue had been woken up by the morning drills in the compound, but she had drifted back to sleep. Suddenly, she heard a commotion at the door. She opened her eyes to find a panicked Zhang Jingjing standing by her bed.

Jingjing, assuming Mingyue’s exhaustion was due to “wedding night activities,” stammered, “Mingyue, are you… rested? There are people from the police station here to see you.”

“The police? To see me?” Mingyue sat up, confused. “Jingjing, are you sure? Why would the police be looking for me?”

Jingjing looked out the window at the uniformed men. “They’re at the door. I don’t know why. Mingyue, you haven’t… done anything wrong, have you?”

Jingjing was terrified. Mingyue had unconventional ideas; it wasn’t impossible for her to get into trouble.

Mingyue dressed quickly and let the officers in. They placed a photo on the table and asked, “Is this the home of Comrade Chen Che?”

“Yes,” Mingyue replied. “What is this about?”

“A woman claiming to be his cousin has been detained at the station for failing to pay a debt. She requested that he come and pick her up.”

Wait. Cousin?

Mingyue didn’t know anything about a cousin. In this era, people were generally straightforward; the “fake cousin” trope wasn’t common.

“Chen Che is at work. I am his wife. You can tell me.”

“Very well. Please bring fifty yuan and follow us to the station.”

Fifty yuan? In the 1980s, that was a massive sum—more than a month’s salary for many.

Mingyue’s suspicions immediately spiked. Cousin or no cousin, this sounded like a scam.