Because of the special circumstances surrounding Daniel's family, when we reported our marriage, the officers barely glanced at our names before stamping their approval right away.
On that black-and-white document, my name was suddenly marked in red.
Everyone in the military compound knew about Daniel's grandfather's serious illness.
Liam handed over the official certificate with a grin. "Alpha Daniel, we just wanted to congratulate you. You should hold the wedding ceremony as soon as possible—who knows, it might even help improve your grandfather's health."
"Thank you," Daniel replied, clearly considering the idea. He had heard similar things from many people. If so many believed it, perhaps there was a chance it might actually help. It was a slim hope, but he still held onto it.
Daniel collected the household registration book and the marriage certificate before driving us to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Upon arriving, he glanced around. I wasn't there yet, so he waited by the entrance. Just a few minutes later, I arrived.
We exchanged brief nods before heading inside to register our marriage.
As a soldier, Daniel received priority service. Within ten minutes, we were done, and I held the thin marriage certificate, flipping it over and admiring it.
This was my first marriage, and at only twenty-two years old, too—the peak of my youth.
Daniel cleared his throat and said, "It's getting late. This evening, I'd like to meet your parents. Tomorrow, would you come visit my family?"
I knew that as their daughter, my parents were probably more anxious about this sudden marriage than Daniel's family would be.
After thinking it over for a moment, I nodded. "Sure."
We left together, and Daniel led me to his car.
It was a green army Jeep, freshly washed and spotless. He opened the passenger door for me, and I climbed in before he got into the driver's seat.
I hadn't expected him to have his own vehicle. Quietly, I took in the interior. It was tidy, with no unnecessary clutter—a stark contrast to what I'd expected.
We stopped briefly at a fruit stand, and Daniel insisted I stay in the car while he got out to buy a large selection of fruit.
Oranges, apples, watermelons—he bought entire baskets of everything.
I stared in shock as he loaded them into the trunk. The fruit looked so fresh and sweet. It must have cost a fortune.
But since this was his first visit to my home as a son-in-law, it made sense for him to bring gifts.
When Daniel got back in, I gave him directions, and we soon arrived at my building.
"We live on the fifth floor," I said.
He handed me a small bag of apples, insisting on carrying everything else himself.
I led the way upstairs, hurrying to unlock the door.
Luna Elzzie heard the commotion and came out, ready to scold me for being noisy. But her words died on her lips when she saw a very handsome young man carrying an armful of fruit.
"Hello, ma'am," Daniel greeted her, setting the bags down and offering a polite bow.
Despite lugging heavy bags up five flights of stairs, he wasn't even slightly out of breath. His physical fitness was evident.
Luna Elzzie looked Daniel up and down, clearly impressed. Her eyes flicked to his face, then back to his strong build. It didn't take long for her to figure out why I'd decided to marry him after just one meal together.
If she were a young woman in her twenties and met a blind date as handsome as this, she probably wouldn't have hesitated either. Better to snatch him up quickly before someone else did!
After marriage, if things didn't work out, we could always divorce. But if I let him slip away now, I'd only have regrets.
"Hello, hello! You brought so many things—are you tired? Come in and have a seat," Luna Elzzie beamed, practically pulling Daniel inside. She remembered I had mentioned that Daniel was a soldier earlier.
Military men were disciplined and trustworthy, she thought. They wouldn't be bad people.
I couldn't help but smile at how pleased she looked. As she passed me, she even gave me a thumbs-up of approval.
"Go on, girl, make him some tea," she urged.
I quickly went to make tea for Daniel.
Not long after, Beta Jackson, my father, came home.
He worked as a math teacher at the local high school. In this era, teachers earned a decent salary, unlike in later years when they were underpaid.
With his monthly salary of over two hundred dollars, plus winter and summer vacation pay and various benefits, he was able to support our small family comfortably.
When Beta Jackson entered, he spotted Daniel sitting in the living room. He glanced at his keys, then at the door, looking puzzled, as if he wasn't sure this was his own home.
Since when did we have a young man visiting our house? Was he one of my old classmates?
My father raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed by Daniel's appearance.
"Hello, sir," Daniel greeted him politely, having guessed who he was based on the resemblance to me.
"Ah, hello, hello," my father replied instinctively.
Luna Elzzie hurried over, tugging Beta Jackson toward the kitchen. "Dear, you're home! Come help me wash the vegetables."
She pulled him inside, glancing back to say, "Daniel, make yourself comfortable."
I finished washing the fruit and brought it out, placing it on the table in front of Daniel.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Luna Elzzie was busy explaining the situation to Beta Jackson.
Luna Elzzie had only completed high school before working in a factory for a few years. After marrying my father and becoming pregnant, she quit her job to focus on being a homemaker. She was a typical woman of her time, believing that a woman's main role was to care for her family.
Luckily, her gamble paid off. My father worked hard, and they were able to build a happy family together.
After listening to her, Beta Jackson's eyes went wide in disbelief.
He'd only been away at work for a day, and now I was married?
Was this really his daughter—the same daughter who always resisted blind dates?
Today, she not only agreed to a blind date but had also gone straight to registering her marriage after just a few hours?
Had this man somehow tricked her?
Beta Jackson quickly peeked out of the kitchen, stealing a glance at Daniel.
Tall, over six feet, with long legs and striking good looks.
In the old days, women would have fought over a man like this.
And since he was a soldier, his character must be solid. Military training would ensure he was disciplined and trustworthy. I could see from my father's expression that he was starting to understand why I'd made such a swift decision.
He probably thought to himself, No wonder she married him so fast. If we don't grab a good catch like this quickly, someone else definitely will.