Chapter 5: Married

By the time Gu Fengji withdrew his gaze, the superior who had accompanied him had already inquired once more about the intentions of Lu Jianping and Su Yulan. Yet, they were met with disappointment again; the couple had not changed their minds.

However...

"Comrade Lu, I heard that Comrade Xiao Lu is not yet twenty. According to regulations, she cannot be registered for marriage..."

"That is no problem. We can change her age. We will go do that right now; it is not an issue."

"That’s right, Leader. You don’t know how nasty the rumors about my daughter are outside. This matter truly cannot wait any longer. Otherwise, how can my daughter go on living?!"

"Sigh, we don’t want to return kindness with ingratitude, and we truly owe Comrade Gu an apology. But my daughter is a wonderful person—diligent, kind, and filial. Please, just give her a way to survive."

"It is not easy for a woman to live in this world. For my daughter's sake, Comrade Gu, I am sorry. I truly apologize."

The superior was displeased. Putting aside his family background, Gu Fengji was the most promising, capable, and outstanding officer in their unit. He did not want to see him suffer such an injustice, especially since marriage was a lifelong commitment.

However, before he could finish speaking, Lu Jianping and Su Yulan cut him off. The couple’s attitude was incredibly sincere, making no attempt to hide the fact that they were essentially forcing his hand.

To put it bluntly, they were being remarkably honest and straightforward.

For a moment, the superior, Gu Fengji, and Ling Yulin were at a loss for words. Had the Lu family been shameless ruffians, they would have known how to handle them. Unfortunately, the family was acting with extreme reason and humility, entirely devoted to the well-being of their daughter.

"No need to say more. Let us go to the police station now, and then to register."

Gu Fengji did not wish to prolong the entanglement. Things had reached this point, and ultimately, he bore an unavoidable responsibility for the situation. It could only be said that fate was playing a cruel trick, and it was all ordained by heaven.

Thus, he ceased his struggle.

Lu Jianping and Su Yulan were overwhelmed with joy. They had expected a long, drawn-out dispute, never imagining that this Comrade Gu would agree so readily.

Fearing that delays might lead to complications, the elated Lu Jianping and Su Yulan immediately retrieved their household registration book, called for Lu Jiaojiao and their youngest son, and headed out.

The group first went to the police station to amend the birth date. Thanks to the military's influence, it took less than half an hour to adjust Lu Jiaojiao’s age and, in the process, issue her an identification card.

Directly next to the police station was the town government office, where the marriage registration was even simpler.

With the certificate issued by the military and Lu Jiaojiao’s household registration book, a marriage certificate was freshly minted in just over ten minutes.

Lu Jiaojiao held the certificate, feeling a mix of novelty and deep emotion. Across two lifetimes, this was her first time getting married, and the first time she had ever seen a marriage certificate.

Gu Fengji gazed at the document with a complex expression. Even he could never have imagined that he would end up married to someone he neither knew nor understood.

Only Lu Jianping and Su Yulan felt completely relieved as they looked at their daughter’s marriage certificate. Now that she was married, no one would dare spread malicious gossip, and she would not be forced into a marriage with an unsuitable family.

As for their son-in-law, his family background seemed quite decent. He was a military officer with a steady salary, so their daughter would certainly no longer have to toil in the fields for her survival.

"Since we are now one family, I will address you as Mom and Dad. I am here on a mission, so my family is not permitted to accompany me at this post. I plan to have Xiao Lu go to my home."

Throughout the journey, Gu Fengji had already considered how to settle his newly acquired wife. Guangxi Province was not his original base; he had only been transferred here for this mission, and the situation here was volatile. Even though her natal family was nearby, he could not leave Lu Jiaojiao behind.

"Ah?!"

"He wants to send her away?!"

"The son-in-law wants to send our daughter away?!"