Chapter 82: Living in the New Society with an Old-Society Mindset

As for why Wang Yadan was angered by someone trying to set up Captain Li on a date—

It was because in her perception, that outstanding man had already been marked by her.

Anyone daring to entertain improper thoughts was essentially challenging her.

Since they were challenging her, they naturally became her enemies.

And settling scores with enemies had always been her consistent way of doing things.

With this mindset, and also to know both herself and her opponent, she eventually squeezed into the crowd engaged in passionate discussion.

The final information she obtained was:

A young couple had brought a female comrade to stay at the guesthouse, explicitly stating they were here to see Captain Li.

Since Captain Li was away on a mission and not at the base, the three could only stay at the guesthouse, and their stay would be less than ten days.

This news inexplicably pleased Wang Yadan.

This newcomer was truly foolish!

She could find out that Captain Li was unmarried, so why didn’t she inquire about the guesthouse’s stay duration?

Did she think it was like local guesthouses, where you could stay as long as you wanted as long as you had money and coupons?

How laughable!

Unlike her, with her uncle being the Base Political Commissar and her aunt being the Political Commissar’s wife.

Living in a three-bedroom apartment, she could stay as long as she wanted without ever worrying about accommodation time limits.

Staying at the guesthouse was simply not the kind of treatment someone of her status would “enjoy.”

After gathering all the information she needed, she didn’t linger in the crowd but quickly and deftly squeezed out of the noisy flow of people.

Returning home, she saw her aunt sitting in the living room mending clothes.

“Aunt, why are you sewing that stuff?”

“Uncle is the Base Political Commissar. He gets not just a salary but also subsidies every month.”

“Our family isn’t short of money. If something’s missing, just buy new ones. Mending things just strains your eyes.”

Hearing this, Political Commissar Liang’s wife glanced at her helplessly.

“Have you been living too comfortably for too long? Have you forgotten the hard times when we had patches layered on patches?”

As she spoke, she ran the needle through her hair a couple of times before continuing her mending.

“Life is getting better day by day, but we should learn to cherish our blessings.”

“If people forget their roots, they’ll be like duckweed without roots, unable to find solid ground.”

“There’s much to learn about life. You’ll understand gradually.”

Faced with this oft-repeated advice, Wang Yadan curled her lip disdainfully.

The hardships of her childhood were due to the poor overall environment.

Now that the environment had improved, why should she continue to live austerely?

It wasn’t as if she had nothing better to do!

But these thoughts she only dared entertain in her heart, never voicing them in front of her aunt.

After vaguely skirting the topic, she brought up her real purpose for coming home.

“By the way, Aunt, do you know when those on missions will return?”

“I went for a walk downstairs earlier and heard those aunties and grannies discussing it again.”

Hearing this, Political Commissar Liang’s wife replied without looking up.

“Don’t ask too much about military affairs.”

“You might cause trouble for your uncle.”

“Can’t I even ask?” Wang Yadan’s tone took on a coquettish note at her aunt’s response.

“I heard those aunties say that the flight team on missions will be back soon.”

“They said Captain Li is among them, so I just wanted to ask…”

Her voice grew softer with each word, until finally nothing could be heard at all.

But Political Commissar Liang’s wife understood the underlying meaning in her words. She immediately set down her needlework, her expression turning unusually serious.

“Yadan, there are some things I’ve been meaning to tell you for a long time.”

“I kept thinking you’re still young and would gradually come to understand things with time.”

“But hearing you talk like this now, I can see you’re still stuck in your stubborn thinking.”

She let out a long sigh at this point.

“When I brought you to the base, aside from wanting to spend time with you, I did indeed have the intention of helping you meet potential partners.”

“But that person absolutely cannot be Captain Li!”

Hearing this, Wang Yadan grew anxious.

“Why? Why can’t it be Captain Li?”

“Aunt, you know perfectly well—you know I like Captain Li!”

“You’re my own aunt, how can you not consider my feelings?”

Seeing her frantic expression, Political Commissar Liang’s wife sighed helplessly.

“It seems you’ve completely forgotten what I told you before.”

“Captain Li is indeed outstanding in appearance, but his family background is even more remarkable.”

“Even though your uncle is the Base Political Commissar, he has neither the authority nor the qualification to interfere in Captain Li’s personal matters.”

After saying this, she paused briefly before continuing.

“So, you only have two paths before you.”

“Either meet with other young officers, or return to your hometown.”

“Which path to take is your decision to make.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Yadan’s expression instantly froze.

She had worked so hard to come to Luochuan—she’d rather die than return to her hometown.

But if she didn’t go back, she would have to start a family with someone she didn’t know…

She couldn’t accept this!

“Aunt, why do you always focus on family background?”

“Yes, I don’t have an impressive family background, nor do I have wealthy or powerful parents. But aren’t you and Uncle my greatest support?”

“Besides, my family has four older brothers—our family has the genes for bearing sons.”

“Knowing this, I don’t believe Captain Li’s parents wouldn’t be pleased.”

This wasn’t just empty boasting from Wang Yadan—the Wang family truly did have strong genes for male offspring.

Not to mention distant relatives, just take Political Commissar Liang’s wife as a closer example.

In her generation, the family had over ten male cousins before finally having her as the only girl.

Though life was hard, all the sweet treats went to her.

In Wang Yadan’s generation, there were too many male cousins to count—just in their immediate family, they had five consecutive boys.

She was the youngest in the family.

Excessive pampering had fostered an arrogant and domineering character in her.

When she was young and the family bought new toys, she would arrogantly declare, ‘No one is allowed to touch the toys—even my brothers’ toys are mine!’

If she broke something, she’d add, ‘What worthless junk—only fit for my brothers to play with.’

When she started school, she would toss her homework to her brothers: ‘Big brothers, do my homework for me, or I’ll cry!’

There were countless similar situations, too many to enumerate.

Having grown up with such indulgence, one could imagine how troublesome her personality had become.

But since she was the only daughter (and youngest sister) in the family, the Wangs had no choice but to spoil her.

However, Political Commissar Liang’s wife was unaware of all this.

Her initial contact with her hometown had been through letters, and after telephone service became available, they frequently spoke by phone.

Hearing from her brother that her niece’s temperament was exactly like hers when she was young, she developed the idea of having the girl stay at the Family Compound for a while.

But what she encountered turned out to be completely different from what she had imagined.

But since the person had already arrived, they couldn’t just send her back. So they thought, why not find her a match within the military?

And that’s how things ended up in this mess.

What a headache!

But Wang Yadan was unaware of her aunt’s regrets.

After hearing her aunt point out the reality of their mismatched family backgrounds, she immediately used the excuse that her family had a “gene for bearing sons.”

After all, current society was obsessed with having boys, as if giving birth to girls was some kind of celestial crime.

That’s why Political Commissar Liang’s wife was both exasperated and amused by her rebuttal.

“You’re living in the new society, but your mind is stuck in the old one.”

“Who told you Captain Li’s family lacks sons?”

After saying this, she couldn’t be bothered to argue further and simply waved a hand at Wang Yadan, whose face was flushed with agitation.

“Think it over carefully. Come talk to me again when you’ve figured it out.”

“Save me from being accused of always bringing up family backgrounds.”

Seeing her aunt lower her head again to focus on her needlework, Wang Yadan desperately wanted to retort, “Isn’t that exactly what you’re doing?”

But she knew better than to say it aloud—doing so would offend her biggest supporter at the Base.

Without further argument, she turned and left the house.

After wandering around the life plaza for a while, she finally decided to go to the guesthouse to confront the newly arrived woman.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

There was a reason that saying had endured for centuries.

When she entered the lobby on the first floor, a staff member questioned her briefly.

Learning that she was there to visit a guest who had checked in that day, they assumed they were acquaintances, provided the room number, and let her go upstairs.

If you wondered why the staff allowed her up so easily, it was mainly because the location itself was secure.

If anyone dared to cause trouble on Aviation Base grounds—well, let’s just say they’d be getting exactly what they deserved.

After obtaining the room number, Wang Yadan easily found her destination.

She passed by the double rooms without a second thought—no doubt those belonged to the married couple.

Stopping in front of a single room door, she immediately followed up with a knock.

But when she saw the person who opened the door, the confidence on her face and the disdain in her eyes froze solid.