Chapter 112: Selecting the Family Residential Area

Zhong Xiao, out of curiosity, leaned in for a glance at the negative. She shielded her eyes with her palm and squinted hard, yet no matter how hard she tried, she could only make out a blurry silhouette.

Even so blurred, however, one could still tell they were two exceptionally handsome people.

Zhong Xiao looked up and asked Song Tingshen, “Would you like to take a look?”

Song Tingshen replied, “Let us wait until we see the finished prints.” He then turned to Tang Hui. “About when can the photographs be developed?”

Tang Hui had just emerged from the darkroom. Covering her mouth, she giggled, “Oh my, Regiment Commander Song is in such a hurry! Eager to get the photos so you can go collect the marriage certificate, is that it?”

Song Tingshen pressed his lips together, looking somewhat embarrassed, and tacitly agreed.

Lin Jiadong asked at that moment, “Regiment Commander Song, has your marriage application been approved yet?”

“It has,” Song Tingshen said. “We need only wait for you to finish the photographs, then we can go and register.”

“Oh dear, then even if I forgo sleep tonight I shall work overtime to get them ready for you! Otherwise, if I open the door first thing tomorrow morning only to find Regiment Commander Song blocking my doorway demanding the photos, whatever shall I do?”

With that, Tang Hui and Lin Jiadong exchanged a smile.

Song Tingshen was momentarily taken aback, then realized this must have come from Political Commissar Liu’s wife, Hu Xinxin.

In the military region’s family compound nearly everyone knew one another inside and out and were thoroughly familiar, especially the women, who after finishing their household chores loved to gather in the sun to chat.

Surely Hu Xinxin had told them about the earlier time Song Tingshen had gone to Political Commissar Liu’s house and blocked the door.

He felt a little guilty and averted his gaze. To spare Song Tingshen further embarrassment, Lin Jiadong nudged his wife with his elbow. “You—always so fond of gossiping about such things.”

Tang Hui continued to smile.

Only Zhong Xiao looked utterly bewildered, having no idea what they were talking about.

She glanced at Song Tingshen. His neck seemed even redder than before, a few thick blue veins standing out along it, looking...

quite evocative.

It looked thoroughly appetizing.

Zhong Xiao was suddenly a little embarrassed by some improper thought that had risen in her mind. She asked nothing further and simply said, “Then, Tingshen, shall we go home first?”

“Sister Tang Hui, how about we come for the photographs tomorrow at noon? Will that be too rushed?”

Tang Hui waved her hand. “Not at all, not at all. Just come over when you rise tomorrow morning. I shall hurry them along tonight and all will be fine.”

Zhong Xiao smiled and took a box of vanishing cream from the small pouch she carried.

“Sister Tang Hui, this is for you,” Zhong Xiao said. “Look how fine your skin already is—if you apply more vanishing cream it will be even better, as smooth as a peeled egg. I brought this from Yue City. I meant to give it to you earlier but feared you would not accept it. Now the moment is perfect. I have troubled you, Sister Tang Hui, so you must take this gift.”

Tang Hui’s eyes lit up.

What woman does not love beauty?

Moreover, through gossip everyone more or less knew Zhong Xiao’s background and that she came from a distinguished family. Anything she gave was certain to be fine.

Tang Hui could not put it down and immediately declared, “I shall have your photographs finished tonight without fail! If you cannot collect your certificate tomorrow, come find me!”

“Then thank you so much, Sister Tang Hui. When the time comes I shall bring you wedding candies and invitations. You and Brother Lin must come for the meal.”

“Absolutely!”

Having spoken, Zhong Xiao naturally slipped her hand onto Song Tingshen’s arm. Song Tingshen looked at his somewhat tanned, dark arm where Zhong Xiao’s slender wrist rested, her delicate fingers looking as if they were made of tofu—so white and tender.

His heart contracted involuntarily.

Standing thus, the two of them looked every bit a newlywed couple, exceptionally well-matched.

After leaving the photo studio, Song Tingshen took Zhong Xiao to choose a house.

The family compound of the Taizhou Island Military Region was vast; at present the residents occupied less than half of the planned area. Most people lived near the compound exit closest to the troops, extending gradually inward.

The farther one went inside, the more desolate the family compound became.

At the very rear it bordered Baiyun Mountain. At the foot of Baiyun Mountain there remained a large stretch of wasteland. Quite a few families had each selected a plot, yet even so a vast expanse was left.

Because the wasteland was so extensive, and the number of people living in the compound was truly not great.

Moreover...

The soil quality of Taizhou Island was truly not very good.

Compared with the nutrient-rich black earth of the inland regions, the island’s soil was dry and gritty, difficult to cultivate. Coupled with the island’s overly abundant sunlight and insufficient humidity, many crops were unsuitable for planting; the varieties that could be grown were few. Gradually people became unwilling to expend much effort upon it.

Yet Zhong Xiao had set her sights upon this very land.