Chapter 92: Afraid? It's Just the Commander

Afraid? Xia Yan arched her brow slightly. What was there to be afraid of? He was just the Commander, after all...

But...

Three minutes later, Xia Yan sat up straight and proper, repeatedly whispering reminders to the three children beside her not to speak, terrified that they might disturb the elderly man in the front row who was absorbed in his documents.

From the back seat, she studied his profile—a man whose very presence commanded respect without a word.

Peng Zhenguo seemed to sense the gaze from behind and spoke, “When did you arrive in town?”

“Ah?” Xia Yan didn’t react at first.

“Mom, Grandpa is asking when you came to town,” Lin Hongzhuo kindly prompted her.

“Reporting to the Commander, we arrived last night and went to see Commissar Zhou this morning,” Xia Yan replied honestly and thoroughly, anxious that any omission might displease Peng Zhenguo.

He heard the tension in her voice and chuckled, “Girl, don’t be so nervous. I’m not some wolf from the mountains waiting to eat you.”

“I... I’m not nervous... ha... ha ha.”

“Mom, then why are your legs shaking?” Lin Hongzhuo patted Xia Yan’s trembling calf, asking with curiosity.

At these words, even Xiao Wu, who was driving, couldn’t help but giggle.

Xia Yan was mortified; her dear son certainly knew how to pick a moment.

After more than ten minutes of driving, the car arrived at the entrance to the military district. The soldiers on duty, seeing Peng Zhenguo’s car, saluted and opened the gate.

As soon as Peng Zhenguo got out, he turned to Xiao Wu, “Xiao Wu, go to the Commissar and tell Captain Lin that his family is with me. Have him come straight to my house tonight and wait for me.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Peng Zhenguo walked a few steps ahead, then turned to see Xia Yan still frozen in place. “Girl, what are you standing around for? Come on.”

At his words, Xia Yan hurried after him with the three children. The military district was nothing like the mountain outpost; every so often, someone carrying a briefcase would pass by—these were all leaders.

Everyone who saw Peng Zhenguo would stop, stand at attention, and salute before glancing at Xia Yan and the children following him.

Peng Zhenguo’s office was much like those Xia Yan had seen in TV dramas: the lower half of the walls painted green, two single armchairs with a coffee table between them, and against the wall a desk, above which hung a portrait of the national leader.

Lin Hongzhuo and Lin Nuannuan were wide-eyed with curiosity, looking here and there. As for the eldest, he remained calm as ever, only sitting down on the sofa after Peng Zhenguo had taken his seat.

“I thought it would be a few more days before I saw you. Didn’t expect Lin You to be so impatient and bring you over so quickly,” Peng Zhenguo said, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He was about to light one but, seeing the children running about the room, put it aside.

Xia Yan responded, “Lin You came home yesterday. When I saw him, I hadn’t expected it either. I thought he’d wait until he was fully recovered before bringing me to meet all of you.”

Peng Zhenguo smiled, “It’s the first time I’ve seen him so eager about anything outside of a mission. It seems he truly cares about you.”

Hearing this, a wave of happiness surged in Xia Yan’s heart.

Peng Zhenguo chatted with Xia Yan for a while, asking about her life at the base and her future plans. She confided to him her plans for the next two years, including her intention to take the college entrance exam.

Though her explanation was brief, Peng Zhenguo nodded with satisfaction throughout.

They spoke for quite some time, but perhaps because the children were present, Peng Zhenguo didn’t bring up the topic of marriage.

Xia Yan was just about to mention her plans to raise pigs when there was a knock at the office door.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and Lin You hurried in.

Peng Zhenguo wasn’t surprised in the slightest. “I knew you’d come, boy. What’s the matter? Worried I’d make things difficult for your partner?”

Seeing Xia Yan sitting there composedly and the three children munching on apples, Lin You’s anxiety vanished. He snapped to attention and saluted Peng Zhenguo, “Commander.”

“Save it,” Peng Zhenguo said with a glare. “Didn’t I tell you to come to my house tonight? What’s the rush? Do you think I’d send Xia Yan away?”

“That’s not certain. You already rejected our marriage application—who knows what else you might say?” Lin You replied candidly, as he always did with his old superior.

Hearing Lin You speak so bluntly, Xia Yan hurried over to his side. “Commander Peng, he’s not very tactful. Please don’t be upset...”

As she spoke, she pinched Lin You’s waist, her eyes warning him to watch his words.

Peng Zhenguo, tidying the papers before him, remarked, “You should learn from Xia Yan, boy. She’s young, but far more sensible than you.”

Lin You seized on this, “Commander, do you also think Xia Yan is sensible? That she’s a good person?”

He looked at Peng Zhenguo with hopeful eyes. As long as Peng Zhenguo nodded, there would be no more obstacles to marrying Xia Yan.

All his life, nothing had ever made him nervous—not even danger in the mountains—but now, for Xia Yan’s sake, he was genuinely anxious, afraid Peng Zhenguo would disapprove.

Lifting his cup, Peng Zhenguo smiled at Lin You, “Xia Yan is indeed a sensible child, and she has her own ideas.”

Lin You nodded eagerly in agreement.

Just as he thought Peng Zhenguo would finally relent, the old man changed tack. “But...”

“But what?” Lin You asked anxiously.

“At first, I was worried about Xia Yan. Now, it's the opposite. I think she may outshine you by far. You’ll have to work hard to keep up with her.”

Lin You was stunned, while Xia Yan prompted him from the side, “Aren’t you going to thank the Commander?”

Coming to his senses, Lin You was about to speak when Peng Zhenguo raised a hand to stop him. “Don’t thank me yet. The matter concerning Xia Yan’s family back home isn’t settled with me. At dinner tonight, you’ll have to give me a proper explanation.”

“Yes, Commander!” Xia Yan replied, mimicking Lin You’s earlier salute as she entered the room.

Peng Zhenguo was amused by her antics. “Let’s go.”

...

Night fell. After dinner, Lin You and Xia Yan walked side by side, watching the three children run ahead.

“I really didn’t think things would go so smoothly...”