Rebirth in the 1970s: Refusing to Be a Side Character

Chapter 23: Standing Strong

◎Some people are just mean◎

The next day was sunny.

As Lu Jinzhou drove Dong Jiaojiao into the city, Lu Yao was arriving at the base with a batch of her homemade big meat buns to check on He Chengjun.

Now that He Chengjun was divorced, the previous restriction on her bringing him food was naturally lifted. Moreover, with a recently divorced man being particularly vulnerable, Lu Yao seized the chance to make a good impression.

She had intended to bring the food yesterday afternoon, but a sudden engagement with the performance troupe kept her busy. By the time she finished, Lu Ming had invited her to dinner at home, leaving her no opportunity to visit He Chengjun.

Initially, He Chengjun was in a bad mood due to the divorce. However, this morning, his promotion was finally confirmed, replacing his dissatisfaction with the joy of advancement.

Starting today, he was officially the battalion commander rather than just the deputy commander. It seemed that his promotion report had been delayed due to Dong Jiaojiao, and now that the divorce was finalized, his promotion was promptly confirmed.

He Chengjun was relieved he had decisively chosen divorce, or he would have been held back by Dong Jiaojiao. Clearly, a man needed to act decisively to achieve success, without hesitation. A supportive partner was crucial.

However, during morning exercises, He Chengjun heard people from the neighboring camp talking about Dong Jiaojiao. They seemed to be discussing arranging a match for her, with a few jabs at his expense.

He Chengjun's face darkened. He felt Dong Jiaojiao's eagerness to find a new partner so soon after the divorce was a blow to his pride, as if she were rubbing his face in the dirt.

He was angered by the thought of Dong Jiaojiao immediately seeking another match. He found it humiliating and suspected she might be doing it to provoke or hurt him.

While He Chengjun was indeed affected, he had no intention of seeking reconciliation. His future was bright, and there were many women in the army who admired him. The performance troupe even had a flower-like woman eyeing him.

"Yao Yao, I told you before, there's no need to bring me food. I can eat at the cafeteria just fine."

"Brother He, when you were married, we needed to avoid any misunderstandings. But now that you're single, we can meet openly. There's nothing to be afraid of."

Lu Yao, trying to be charming, opened the food box and said sweetly:

"Brother He, these buns are made by me. They have more filling than those from the cafeteria. Please try them."

He Chengjun had initially said that out of habit, but he genuinely enjoyed Lu Yao's admiration. He figured if Dong Jiaojiao could find a matchmaker, having a few buns from Lu Yao wasn't a big deal.

He Chengjun picked up a bun and took a bite, but his expression immediately soured.

The taste was nothing like the buns Dong Jiaojiao had made. He recalled the flavor of Dong Jiaojiao's buns from when he had eaten them at Yang Hongwei's place—memories that made the contrast stark.

Lu Yao's buns, though made from good flour, lacked flavor and had become somewhat cold and unappetizing compared to Dong Jiaojiao's, which were superior even to the cafeteria's offerings.

He Chengjun felt disappointed. It seemed that city girls couldn't cook as well as rural women. He thought that if he were to find someone, they should be better in every aspect—cooking, looks, and temperament—than Dong Jiaojiao.