Chapter 336: Chapter 335: The Matchmaking Event

During the break between the two training plans, the special training team’s social gathering was successfully held.

Zhang Yuanhong’s connections in the provincial city were indeed impressive, as he managed to invite some doctors and nurses from the military hospital and a few school teachers.

Among them, a female doctor surnamed Tong was particularly noticeable among the dozens of young ladies with her graceful beauty and alluring figure.

However, despite her outstanding appearance, she had an aura of cool elegance that made people hesitant to approach her.

Some soldiers even avoided her at a distance, not daring to even glance her way, which made Ling Chengyan quite curious.

Although Fu Qiang was younger, he had been around the military district much longer than Ling Chengyan and naturally recognized such an outstanding person. He quietly educated Ling Chengyan: That doctor Tong Xue is a top graduate from the medical school, a skilled heart surgeon.

She has a good job, strong abilities, and is very beautiful, making her theoretically an ideal marriage prospect for many. But this doctor Tong Xue is famous for being a cold beauty. She treats her patients kindly but always dismisses the young men who try to approach her.

Importantly, she has trained in some martial arts, and it’s said that even a couple of strong men can’t get close to her.

Once, a young man from the provincial office professed his love to her, and she directly tossed him out like a sandbag, resulting in him breaking a front tooth.

The incident caused quite a stir, but oddly, the young man didn’t dare to make a fuss, taking the loss quietly. Rumor has it that Doctor Tong comes from an extraordinary background, and the young man not only got beaten but was also warned off, leaving him no choice but to swallow his pride.

Ling Chengyan raised an eyebrow and was even more curious: According to Fu Qiang, someone like her wouldn’t be eager to find a partner to marry right away. Why would she ’lower her standards’ to join their special training team for a social gathering?

Although called a ’social gathering’, everyone knew it was actually an event to match single men and women.

This Doctor Tong must have known it was a ’social gathering’, so did she come because she fancied someone here?

Ling Chengyan’s mind began to turn, quickly reviewing the bachelors in her special training team, finally settling on someone busily engaged in the venue, revealing a meaningful smile.

Interesting.

Just as she was pondering, Geng Wei and Zheng Hongwei came over carrying orange candies, placing some on the table in front of Ling Chengyan and Fu Qiang.

Ling Chengyan smiled at Geng Wei and said, “Come fall, Old Zheng is going to be a dad. Don’t busy yourself here, quickly go greet some young ladies.”

Geng Wei chuckled, “I won’t hide it, the family just introduced a girl to me.”

Ling Chengyan immediately became interested and upon asking, learned that the girl Geng Wei’s family introduced is an early childhood teacher, a young lady who just graduated from a vocational school, only nineteen years old, pretty, and most importantly, has a good personality, gentle and generous.

“Hehe, we’ve already exchanged a few letters and I’m thinking about asking for leave from the team leader to go home and meet her.” Geng Wei laughed joyfully, clearly satisfied with the girl.

Ling Chengyan nodded without hesitation: “This leave must be approved. After the next training session ends, you’ll get half a month off.”

Geng Wei’s home was in the province. Once in the provincial city, his journey home was shorter, only taking two hours by bus.

With half a month off, let alone meeting and getting to know each other, if they’re fast enough, they could even get engaged and married.

Zheng Hongwei nudged him with his elbow and laughed, “When you go back, instead of visiting the girl, bring her to the provincial city to visit. You can also take her around and show her the place… Oh, if it works out, she’ll join the army with you, and it’s just right for her to see the environment and conditions here.”

The special training brigade was at a high level, and although Geng Wei was a small team leader, he was already a battalion-level officer. When married, he could apply for his spouse to join the army, so there was no fear of being separated after marriage.

Ling Chengyan joked, “If she comes, it’ll be perfect with more family members, like half a daycare center.”

Geng Wei immediately played along happily, “Then I’ll thank the team leader in advance.”

As they chatted away, Zhang Yuanhong had settled the guests and glanced around the venue, seeing Ling Chengyan and the others in the corner, hurrying over.

Ling Chengyan’s gaze went beyond Zhang Yuanhong to the female guest area, just in time to see Dr. Tong also looking in their direction following Zhang Yuanhong’s gaze. Across half the venue, Tong Xue’s eyes met with Ling Chengyan’s, to which Ling Chengyan smiled slightly and nodded.

Tong Xue seemed surprised, hesitated momentarily, then nodded back to Ling Chengyan before averting her gaze.

“Captain.” Zhang Yuanhong strode over like a schoolboy finding his parents, looking at Ling Chengyan and saying, “Could you go over and say a few words?”

Ling Chengyan leisurely withdrew her gaze, looked up at the young man before her, silently praising: Dr. Tong indeed has good taste!

She stood up, walked to the front to act as the ’guardian,’ warmly welcoming the female comrades attending the ’social gathering,’ complimenting the ladies for being beautiful and gracious, then deftly handed the hosting duties to the two professional hosts Zhang Yuanhong had invited—both are lead performers from the district’s arts troupe, hosting with a humorous and excellent stage presence.

With professional hosts taking charge, Zhang Yuanhong only needed to manage coordination and logistics, and Ling Chengyan, who had been hands-off from the beginning, simply returned to her old spot, watching the show with Fu Qiang while munching on fruit and seeds.

This social gathering was more thoroughly prepared than the one in Huicheng, with a better atmosphere during the process, and after several rounds of lively and innovative games, the young men and women gradually loosened up and familiarized themselves, with some even starting to chat together.

This was the time to engage in activities that promoted further understanding and exchange.

Then, the hosts asked everyone to vote for today’s favorite male and female guests. Each ballot recorded the voter’s basic information and contact details. Those voted could choose to make further contact; if receiving two or more votes, they could also reverse choose who they wanted to contact and understand better.

Results decided on-site allowed for seat adjustments, with two people sitting together for easier exchange and understanding…

Anyway, Ling Chengyan watched with great enjoyment.

Most of the young men and women were quite happy too.

By the end of the gathering, statistics showed more than ten pairs matched successfully.

This efficiency made Ling Chengyan very satisfied. After seeing off the invited female comrades, leaving only the special training team themselves, Ling Chengyan reminded the particularly smiley team members, “Don’t forget to toast the instructor, the great matchmaker, when you bring home brides.”

Turning back to the office when only a few were left, Geng Wei and others started teasing Zhang Yuanhong, “Instructor, don’t just worry about us brothers, you should also find a girl for yourself.”

Tian Kai directly joked, “You’ve delayed your son’s soy sauce buying, delay any more, and you’ll directly delay your son’s marriage.”

Tian Kai, Zhang Yuanhong, and Ling Chengyan were of similar ages; Ling Chengyan’s daughter was already in junior high, and several others had children too, the oldest in grades three or four. Saying this in front of Zhang Yuanhong, they each spoke with pride.

Zhang Yuanhong, smiling cheerfully, wasn’t bothered by their teasing, continuing to banter deftly and divert the topic.

Seeing him in such spirits, Ling Chengyan couldn’t help speculating: she didn’t know much about Zhang Yuanhong’s past, having gone through stages of rural placement, working on his return, joining the army… Did Zhang Yuanhong have some past heartbreak?

However, Ling Chengyan, being someone who watched the commotion occasionally without probing into others’ personal histories, smiled along and then put it aside.

Soon after, the month-long spring training began.

A couple of days later, nearly all of the special training team’s shooting squad departed for Ji Province for this year’s military shooting competition.

Originally, Zhang Yuanhong was scheduled to lead the team but unexpectedly, two days before departure, Zhang Yuanhong’s mother fell ill and was hospitalized, receiving a critical condition notice. As there was no choice, Ling Chengyan temporarily took charge, leading the team to Ji Province.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep