Military Marriage in the 1970s: Why Is the Stern Officer Blushing?

[Alternate history + joining the military family + island setting + no pocket dimension + love after marriage + family squabbles + a slow, steady romance + food]

After her family is reported, Song Shu’s parents worry for her and hurriedly arrange a marriage. They hear the groom is a handsome military officer, though a little older.

Fine. At least an older man should be mature.

And so, without ever having met him, Song Shu boards a train bound for an island.

But when she sees the photo of a muddy little monkey climbing a tree to raid a bird’s nest, she falls silent.

Is this a husband-raising story?

*

At twenty-seven, Cheng Zhi is famous across the island for being impossible to marry. He swears he has no interest in marriage, making everyone both love and hate him as they eagerly await their chance.

Then one day, he brings home a pretty young woman, and the usually taciturn Cheng Zhi spends all day hovering around her.

Word spreads through the military compound.

“A fresh flower planted in cow dung!”

One kid delivers a spicy verdict: “An old bull eating young grass!”

But later, their tune changes.

Everyone realizes that Xiao Cheng dotes on his wife and can handle every chore, both inside and outside the home. They cry that they’ve been fooled, and that Song Shu has struck gold.

They all start trying to reform their own lazy husbands. Whenever one of the men resists, they say,

“Are you saying you can’t do it?”

“If Xiao Cheng can manage it, why can’t you?”

And so the men grit their teeth and start competing to do more.

Everyone keeps a close eye on Song Shu’s front door, swapping gossip every day.

“Song Shu’s hen laid ten eggs last night.”

“The vine on Song Shu’s vegetable patch grew eight gourds.”

Later, when a new era dawns, the gossip changes.

“Song Shu got into college!”

“Song Shu published a book!”

…

Only Cheng Zhi watches them all without a word, holding his wife as he leisurely enjoys the sea breeze.

He’s in an inexplicably good mood~