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The military actually places great importance on the difficulties faced by soldiers' families, but there has been one reason for their lack of assistance: money.
Now, there are those who act as "big spenders," cough, I mean, there are noble individuals who voluntarily offer financial help to those struggling soldiers. Naturally, the military welcomes this and is eager to get involved.
"Although the military won't provide funds, they can offer connections and support us as a foundation," Shen Chuiyang said. "I have a resume that aligns with the military."
Hanno chuckled after hearing this. "Of course, I wholeheartedly welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the military."
"That's good," Shen Chuiyang replied. "The military wants to meet you; should we arrange a time?"
Hanno was surprised. "You're the head of the foundation; they can discuss things with you directly. Why do they need to meet me?"
Shen Chuiyang explained, "The money is yours. The military wants to see what kind of person selflessly helps them."
Hanno sighed dramatically. "It's not like I have three eyes. Fine, I'll meet them."
Shen Chuiyang said, "I'll contact them then. How about tomorrow evening?"
Hanno nodded. "No problem."
Lansiya took pride in her wealth and status; otherwise, how could she dine at the Garden Restaurant in Jinjiang Hotel? The Garden Restaurant is the best in the Provincial Capital, and even having money doesn't guarantee a reservation; one must also have power and influence. However, when Lansiya saw Hanno at the Garden Restaurant, she felt uncertain. How could someone like Hanno get into the Garden Restaurant? When did its standards drop?
Seeing her niece staring in one direction, Lansiya's elder followed her gaze and his expression changed.
"Siya, do you recognize that person over there?"
Lansiya's face darkened as she nodded. "The woman on the left is my high school classmate."
The elder remarked, "Then you should maintain a good relationship with this classmate."
"Why?" Lansiya said, feeling quite displeased.
The elder replied, "Do you know who that middle-aged man talking to your classmate is?"
"Who?" Lansiya asked.
"That's Minister Qian from the N Military District's Logistics Department, a Major General responsible for external affairs of the military region. Usually, people want to curry favor with him but can't get close. It seems your classmate is quite extraordinary."
Lansiya's face twitched slightly. Is there anything more frustrating than suddenly realizing that someone she once thought was beneath her actually holds a higher status?
"I'm just an ordinary classmate of hers, and we haven't been in touch for years; our relationship has long faded," Lansiya turned her head. "Third Uncle, I'm hungry; let's hurry into the private room and order."
"You child, sigh—" Uncle Lan shook his head in exasperation, feeling that his sister-in-law had spoiled her daughter to the point where she couldn't distinguish between right and wrong. However, he felt powerless against Lansiya's attitude and followed her into the private room.
The meeting with the military went very smoothly. The specific cooperation details were discussed by Shen Chuiyang with the military; this was merely the military's curiosity about Hanno and their desire to meet her. After this meeting, the cooperation officially commenced, and the number of beneficiaries increased significantly. However, Shen Chuiyang was very capable; no matter how many issues arose, he could handle them well, making Hanno feel fortunate to have found such a partner. Chang Miao, on the other hand, was unhappy because her boyfriend was too busy and had no time to spend with her. Naturally, she sought trouble with Hanno, whom she blamed for her boyfriend's absence. Hanno was so annoyed by her that she decided to pack up and return to D City. Not wanting to leave her boyfriend behind, Chang Miao could only curse her unscrupulous cousin under her breath.
After returning home, Hanno brought back local specialties from Provincial Capital for Han Dad and Mom Han. These weren't gifts she bought herself; they were presents from Shen Chuiyang for Han Dad, Mom Han, and her future in-laws. Second Aunt Han happily accepted the gifts; her joy stemmed not from the gifts themselves but from the person who sent them. Knowing that their daughter finally had a boyfriend made the elderly couple very happy as they pulled Hanno aside to inquire about Shen Chuiyang's situation. Hanno naturally shared everything in detail. When Aunt Han heard that Shen Chuiyang had lost a leg, she frowned.
"Why did Miao Miao end up with someone disabled? Who will take care of whom in the future?" Aunt Han didn't have prejudice against disabled people, but when it came to her own daughter, her expectations for a future son-in-law were naturally high. Aunt Han felt that her daughter was lively and still immature; she needed someone to take care of her. Now that she had chosen someone disabled, wouldn't it mean that her daughter would have to take care of him? Could she manage that?
"Second Aunt, Shen Chuiyang has been fitted with a prosthetic leg; he looks just like anyone else and it doesn't affect his daily life," Hanno spoke highly of Shen Chuiyang. "He is very capable; after leaving the army, he started his own company and now has assets. Just two months ago, he even bought Miao Miao a car. Moreover, he is responsible and dedicated; after marriage, he will definitely treat Miao Miao well and won't change just because he has money."
Uncle Han was quite satisfied with this son-in-law; he appreciated stable and solid personalities in young men.
"I think this young man is quite good," Uncle Han said. "Nono also agrees; he has a prosthetic leg but it doesn't affect his mobility or life. Besides, this kid lost his leg while serving the country—he's a hero. We shouldn't discriminate against him; instead, we should be proud to have such a son-in-law."
Aunt Han pouted, "Alright, I know you love watching 'Special Forces.' This future son-in-law is definitely your type."
Hanno couldn't help but chuckle; Aunt Han's tone suggested she was not opposed to Chang Miao being with Shen Chuiyang.
"Second Aunt, I promise, Shen Chuiyang is really a good man. He will treat Miao Miao very well."
Aunt Han laughed, "That's enough, no need to promise. Does Second Aunt not trust you? Now that Miao Miao has a boyfriend, when are you going to bring one home for me and your dad to see?"
Hanno felt overwhelmed by the question, forcing a laugh as she stood up. "Second Aunt, Uncle Han, I just remembered I have something to take care of. I'll be leaving now."
With that, she quickly dashed out of Aunt Han's house.
Aunt Han chuckled to herself, "Girl, do you think you can run away from the temple after escaping the monk? I'm calling her parents right now. At her age, being alone all the time isn’t good."
So when Hanno returned home, she found her dad and mom staring at her with bright eyes.
"Nono, your Second Aunt's Miao Miao already has a boyfriend. When are you going to find someone to bring home for us to meet?" Mom Han’s expectant gaze made Hanno feel cornered.
Hanno felt her scalp tingle. "Boyfriends aren't like big carrots that you can just pull out whenever you want. It depends on fate. Miao Miao met Shen Chuiyang because their fates aligned. You’ve introduced her to other boys before; did any of them catch her eye?"
Mom Han thought for a moment. "That’s true."
Just as Hanno sighed in relief, Mom Han added, "Even though fate is tricky, it's always good to meet more people. Who knows, your fate might be among those you know."
Hanno wanted to plead, "Please spare me," but facing Mom Han's hopeful and worried eyes, she held her tongue. Fine, she decided to go along with Mom Han's wishes. After all, meeting more people didn’t mean she had to settle on a boyfriend right away.
"Do whatever you want," Hanno said weakly.
This weekend, Mom Han quickly arranged a blind date for Hanno. The other party was the son of Han Dad's colleague, eight years older than Hanno, and an elite who had studied abroad. This man, named Zhou Donghang, Hanno had met once in her youth when she had just started high school. She had accompanied Han Dad and Mom Han to visit the Zhou family, where Zhou Donghang had opened the door for them and then returned to his room to study. According to Uncle Zhou, Zhou Donghang was preparing to take the TOEFL exam to study abroad at that time, and Han Dad and Mom Han had used this as a lesson for Hanno, encouraging her to learn from him. At that time, Hanno resented Zhou Donghang as if he were just another child from someone else's family. After that encounter, Hanno never saw Zhou Donghang again. It was said that he went abroad at the end of that year, obtained a doctorate, worked overseas, and even took his parents on a trip abroad. Many believed he would settle down there; so why had he returned home?
"What would you like to drink?" Zhou Donghang asked politely. The man in his early thirties appeared mature and composed, with refined features and a slightly above-average height. Such a man was considered a catch by many women; otherwise, Mom Han wouldn't have been so eager for Hanno to meet him.
"Red tea," Hanno replied. She preferred tea over coffee; although she enjoyed the aroma of coffee, she did not like drinking it.
Zhou Donghang called the waiter, ordered red tea for Hanno, and then ordered a cup of coffee for himself.
"What hobbies does Sister Han have?" Zhou Donghang stirred his coffee and asked for a topic.
"Just call me Nora; that's my English name," Hanno said. "The term 'sister' isn't really a good way to address someone in modern times."
"Ah, I'm sorry," Zhou Donghang apologized. "I haven't been back home for a long time and am not familiar with many things."
Hanno smiled lightly. "It's okay. By the way, I enjoy browsing the internet and writing online myself. What about you?"
"I like sports and rarely go online," Zhou Donghang replied.
Hanno was left speechless.
A moment of silence followed; they truly had nothing in common to discuss.
"Shall we go watch a movie later?" Zhou Donghang suggested.
"Alright."
When they arrived at the cinema, there was a disagreement over which movie to watch, but in the end, Hanno compromised. By the time they parted ways, Hanno let out a sigh of relief.
Back home, she was greeted by Mom Han's sparkling eyes. "How was it? How was it?"
"Not great. He's not right for me," Hanno replied. Being with Zhou Donghang was exhausting, even more so than her writing.
"How is he not right for you? Zhou Donghang is young and accomplished, and his personality is stable. How could he not be a good match?" Mom Han was dissatisfied with this answer.
Hanno explained, "We have so many different interests. He likes Western food, while I prefer hot pot; he loves coffee, but I enjoy tea; he watches Hollywood movies, while I like domestic films; I'm a homebody, and he loves sports... We just can't connect. Forcing it would only tire us both out."
Mom Han listened with disappointment. "Oh—how can you two not have any common ground? You know Zhou Donghang is one of the most outstanding people I know. I was hoping you'd seize the opportunity, but... sigh. Fine, I'll find someone whose personality and interests are more similar to yours next time."
With that, Mom Han hung her head and returned to her room, muttering as she walked away, "What a pity. What a shame. Such a great catch, but he can't become part of our family."
Before Mom Han could introduce Hanno to a new match, Zhou Donghang surprisingly called Hanno to invite her out. Upon hearing this, Mom Han was overjoyed. "Haha! You said you and Zhou Donghang didn't get along. So why did he reach out to you? It seems like he's interested in you!"
Mom Han truly believed in Zhou Donghang; finding such a highly educated and capable son-in-law was no easy task.
"Not getting along means not getting along," Hanno mumbled. "Who knows what he's thinking? He barely speaks when we're together; I can't see any signs that he likes me."
"Isn't it possible that he's just shy?" Mom Han urged her on. "Hurry up and go out; don't keep Zhou Donghang waiting."
"Are you my mom or his?" Hanno complained.
"Once Eastern Airlines makes me their son-in-law, I'm done for," Mom Han said, not giving her daughter a chance to refuse as she urged her out the door.
Hanno couldn't argue with her mother and had no choice but to change into something suitable to meet Zhou Donghang. She wanted to see what Zhou Donghai was up to; it was clear he didn't like her and felt forced to be with her, so why did he still want to go out?
This date was just as exhausting for Hanno as it was for Zhou Donghang; it felt like a torment for both of them. Yet, Zhou Donghang asked Hanno out again, and once more, an excited Mom Han pushed her out of the house. The Zhou parents and Mom Han were pleased, believing that Hanno and Zhou Donghang were a good match, and both families had already begun discussing marriage. Hanno quickly rushed to stop Han Dad and Mom Han, deciding to take the initiative and ask Zhou Donghang what he really meant.
"What do you mean?" Zhou Donghang replied calmly. "I'm getting older, and you're not exactly young either. Our parents approve of us. We should start a family together; that's what I mean."
Hanno was taken aback. "Start a family? We're completely different people; how can we start a family? Aren't you afraid that we would get married first and then divorced?"
Zhou Donghang said, "I won't. Once we're married, I won't get divorced."
Hanno looked at him in disbelief. "I don't believe you."
Zhou Donghang continued, "We can sign a prenuptial agreement. If I initiate the divorce, all shared assets will belong to you."
Hanno rubbed her temples. "Why are you so insistent on marrying me when it's clear you don't like me?"
"There are many couples who marry without liking each other; adding one more doesn't make a difference. What's important is that my parents like you," Zhou Donghang replied.
"I don't think you're someone who would marry an unfamiliar person just because your parents like them, affecting your own life," Hanno said. "So what is your real intention?"
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