Elder Mrs. Shen was the first to come out to greet them. She sized up Jiang Ling from top to bottom and was very satisfied with this daughter-in-law.

“Ling girl, come in quickly!”

Seeing how enthusiastic Elder Mrs. Shen was, Jiang Ling didn’t feel that she was scary at all.

She smiled brightly and replied, “Mom.”

Elder Mrs. Shen was even more satisfied. She took Jiang Ling by the hand and led her inside. “Ah, my good daughter-in-law!”

Shen Yan walked behind Jiang Ling. Hearing her naturally call Elder Mrs. Shen “Mom,” the corners of his lips lifted almost imperceptibly.

At that moment, another jeep arrived at the entrance.

The commotion was loud, and many people ran out to look.

Curious, Jiang Ling followed Shen Yan outside to take a look. Two military officers in dark green uniforms got out of the vehicle.

Their temperament was very different from ordinary soldiers—they were likely of high rank.

Shen Yan stood straight and gave a salute to the officer on the left.

“Regimental Commander Lu!”

The officer addressed as Commander Lu smiled as he walked over and patted Shen Yan’s shoulder. “Old Shen, congratulations! You finally got your wife!”

The younger officer also ran over with a smile and congratulated him, “That’s right. We’ve been waiting so long—finally we get to drink your wedding wine.”

As they spoke, both officers looked at Jiang Ling standing beside Shen Yan.

Her face was gentle and refined, her eyes curved in a smile—clearly a good-tempered girl. Shen Yan was truly lucky.

Seeing the two officers staring at her, Jiang Ling politely greeted them, “Hello, I’m Shen Yan’s newly married wife, Jiang Ling.”

Shen Yan’s gaze flickered slightly, and he introduced them.

The officer on the left, around forty years old, was named Lu Zhijun, a regimental-level cadre and Shen Yan’s superior.

The younger one on the right was named Gu Ye, a deputy regimental officer, at the same rank as Shen Yan.

When they heard Shen Yan was getting married, they immediately rushed over from the military base just to attend his wedding banquet.

Lu Zhijun smiled warmly at Jiang Ling. “Little sister-in-law, hello.”

Gu Ye teased Shen Yan with a punch to his shoulder. “You’re really lucky, kid. You married such a beautiful wife.”

Shen Yan was in a good mood today and said, “If you’re really happy for me, then drink a few more cups today.”

“Of course! We’re definitely going to drink you under the table!”

“We came here on an empty stomach just waiting for this meal!”

Lu Zhijun and Gu Ye were sincerely happy for Shen Yan. He was already twenty-six before finally getting married.

They had urged him before, but Shen Yan always said he wasn’t in a hurry and treated other female comrades coldly.

Later they learned that his parents had arranged a marriage for him in the village without his involvement. Now seeing his wife, they finally understood why he treated other women so coldly.

Jiang Ling was gentle and elegant when speaking. Although she was a village girl, she did not look rustic at all when properly dressed.

Seeing Shen Yan arranging for them to sit, Jiang Ling thoughtfully said, “Shen Yan, go entertain them. I’ll stay with Mom.”

“No need. I’ll let them drink first. You stay with me.”

Shen Yan couldn’t leave Jiang Ling alone. It was their wedding day, and she was visiting the Shen family for the first time—she would surely feel uncomfortable.

Jiang Ling’s eyes flickered slightly. He was quite considerate.

Elder Mrs. Shen watched as Jiang Ling and Shen Yan alternated between greeting and serving drinks, and she became more and more satisfied with the match.

Shen Pingping ran up to Jiang Ling and called sweetly, “Third Sister-in-law.”

Jiang Ling recognized Shen Pingping. They had once gathered pig grass together, though they hadn’t spoken much.

“Mm.” Jiang Ling smiled and responded, then took a handful of wedding candies from her pocket and placed them into Shen Pingping’s hands.

Shen Pingping happily accepted them, smiling even more brightly.

The Shen family brothers and sisters-in-law were busy eating at the banquet and only briefly greeted Jiang Ling.

Jiang Ling wasn’t very familiar with the Shen family, but since they were all from the same village, she could still recognize who was the eldest brother and sister-in-law, the second brother and sister-in-law, etc. Only Shen’s fourth brother and Shen Pingping were still unmarried.

Halfway through the banquet, Shen Yan lowered his voice and said to Jiang Ling, “Wife, eat first. I’ll go drink with them for a bit.”

Regimental Commander Lu was his superior, and Gu Ye was his comrade. He couldn’t just leave them alone.

Jiang Ling nodded in understanding. “Okay, go ahead.”

She was busy enjoying the banquet anyway—the Shen family’s dishes were quite abundant today.

What surprised her a little was that he casually called her “wife” so naturally.

Who said he was cold and distant? Jiang Ling actually felt he could be quite proactive sometimes.

To make it easier to talk, Shen Yan arranged a separate table for Lu Zhijun, Gu Ye, and Qian Zheng.

Seeing Shen Yan approach, Gu Ye and Qian Zheng stood up to toast him.

“Congratulations!”

Shen Yan raised his brows slightly. “Thank you.”

Lu Zhijun, after seeing Shen Yan sit down, asked, “Old Shen, how is your leg injury recovering? Can you return to duty soon?”

“Not yet.”

Shen Yan moved his left leg. Although it didn’t hurt much, he still had a slight limp when walking.

To return to duty, he still needed a military hospital examination.

He had tried almost every treatment method over the past three months, but nothing had worked. Shen Yan no longer held much hope.

Lu Zhijun felt it was a pity.

Shen Yan was a soldier he had personally trained—strong in both combat and reconnaissance—but an accident during a major mission had injured his left leg.

Shen Yan raised his glass to Lu Zhijun. After drinking, he calmly said, “It’s fine. If I can’t return to duty, I’ll retire. The army will probably assign me a job.”

Now that he had a wife, a stable job would ensure he could support her.

“Don’t say such discouraging things. I believe you can return to duty.”

Lu Zhijun also filled his glass and drank it in one go.

Gu Ye looked at Jiang Ling, who was happily eating not far away, and said to Shen Yan, “You’re usually cold to other female comrades in the military, but your mother arranged such a beautiful wife for you in the village.”

Shen Yan didn’t deny it—his wife was indeed beautiful.

Seeing them all look at her, Jiang Ling generously went over to toast.

“Commander Lu, Deputy Commander Gu, drink more.”

She only took a small sip and immediately found it too spicy.

Shen Yan noticed she couldn’t drink and took her glass, finishing it in one gulp.

Lu Zhijun, Gu Ye, and Qian Zheng were all stunned—was this really the Shen Yan they knew? So protective of his wife.

Now that they looked closely at Jiang Ling, Gu Ye felt she looked somewhat familiar.

As if he had seen her photo somewhere before, but couldn’t quite remember.

Gu Ye smiled and said, “Sister-in-law, if you have time later, come visit our military base with Shen Yan. My wife is about your age too—she cooks very well. She’ll take good care of you.”

Jiang Ling smiled and replied, “Sure.”

Shen Yan’s gaze stayed fixed on Jiang Ling. Her face was like a peach blossom, her eyes bright when speaking, and her lips carried a faint smile.

His expression unconsciously softened.