The Zhongxing New Village is very close to the Keelung River, with a vast field in between, and the riverbank is covered with green grass. Usually, besides the kids like Ashan who often play there, many couples also come here for dates. Especially when the sun is setting, the water and the sky reflect beautiful golden hues, and the gentle river breeze makes it the perfect time for couples to share their feelings.
Brother Ma and Ashan's sister were no exception. At first, the little kids would follow them around, pointing and making faces behind their backs. "Boys love girls" was always a hot topic among the kids. However, after Ashan almost got into a fight, the kids wisely stopped trailing the couple, giving Brother Ma and Ashan's sister some privacy. For this, Ashan received a model airplane from Brother Ma and a ticket to a military support movie from his sister.
One day, Aunt Hu from the village visited Ashan’s mom. As they chatted, the conversation gradually shifted to Brother Ma and Ashan's sister. Aunt Hu sighed and said, "Ma Yingding is indeed a good lad, but it's a pity he's a pilot. My sister married a pilot, and she worries every day. Every time her husband flies, she doesn’t know if he will come back. Whenever there's news of a plane crash, she and other pilots’ wives rush to the airport. They wait anxiously by the runway, watching plane after plane land. If their husbands don’t come back, they cry their hearts out. It’s really pitiful! Marrying a soldier means accepting your fate. Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘Marry an army man and you’re destined to be a poor widow; marry a navy man and you’ll be a living widow; marry an air force man and you’re bound to be a widow of the dead.'"
Ashan's mom's face turned red and white as she struggled to respond. Aunt Hu continued, "We married into the army and are destined to be poor widows, but it's better than being a widow of the dead!" Ashan's mom forced a smile and said, "They are just friends, nothing serious. Thank you for your concern."
From then on, Ashan's mom couldn't help but feel a shadow over her heart. If even the villagers had such thoughts, it's no wonder that many local families were reluctant to marry their daughters to soldiers from other provinces.
中興新村離基隆河很近，中間是一大片田地，河岸邊佈滿了綠草。平常除了阿三這些小孩子們常在那玩耍外，也有不少的情侶們在此約會。尤其當太陽將下山時，河水及天色是互映著一片片美麗的金光，河風徐徐吹來，這正是情侶們互傾心聲最好的時刻。
當然馬大哥及大姐也不例外。起初小傢伙們總會跟在後面指指點點，暗地做著鬼臉。｢男生愛女生」一直都是小傢伙們最熱門的話題。但是在阿三幾乎翻臉的情況下，小傢伙們最後都識趣而不再尾隨這一對打轉，還給了馬大哥及大姐單獨相處的空間。為此阿三還得到了馬大哥送的飛機模型，及大姐送的勞軍電影票。
有天村子裏的胡大媽來串門子，跟阿三媽談著談著，話題慢慢地轉到了馬大哥及大姐身上去了。胡大媽嘆了口氣說道：「馬英鼎這小伙子，說實話還真的不錯，可惜就是個飛行員。我妹妹就嫁了飛行員，每天提心吊膽。妹夫每天一飛上了天，就不知道當天下不下得了地。只要一聽到有飛機出了事，她就和幾個飛行員老婆們趕到機場去。等在跑道，尾眼巴巴的望著飛機一架一架的降落。到飛機都飛回來了後，還等不到老公的太太，就一把眼淚、一把鼻涕的嚎哭不止，真是可憐啊！我們嫁了軍人是只得認了命。妳有沒有聽人家說，『嫁給陸軍是守窮寡，嫁給海軍是守活寡，嫁給空軍就是要守死寡了。』」
阿三媽聽了臉上一陣紅一陣白，一時也搭不上腔。胡大媽接著又說：「我們雖然嫁了個陸軍，註定守窮寡，但總比守死寡強啊！」阿三媽勉強說道：「他們倆只是普通朋友，談不上婚嫁。多謝你操心了。」
從此阿三媽心中難免蒙上了一層陰影。連眷村裏的人都有這種想法，也難怪當時本省人大多不願意把女兒嫁給外省的阿兵哥了。
