Celebrate
In the teachers’ office, several female teachers gathered to chat.
“Heard that something happened to Mr. He’s family.”
“Which Mr. He?”
“The one who was dating Little Zhan and they were about to get married…”
“Oh? What is she going to do then?”
Ye Fangjing chimed in, “What is there to do? She has nothing to do with the He family anymore. Miss Zhan has already found a new partner.”
“Zhan Aiping is beautiful, educated, and smart. Many people like her. Her new partner is her childhood friend. It’s really admirable. They grew up together, know each other inside out, and their families are close. I wish I had a childhood friend like that,” Ye Fangjing said with envy. She thought that Zhan Aiping had made a good choice by marrying into a familiar family, rather than getting into trouble.
“Really? Childhood friends, huh…”
…
Chen Jiabao interjected, “I’m not so sure it’s a good thing. Zhan Aiping’s new partner is a soldier, and you can tell he’s not well-educated. It’s quite a mismatch with Mr. He. She probably settled for him as a backup.”
“Marrying for women is like being reborn for the second time. You can’t marry haphazardly. They grew up together from childhood, and after so many years without any sparks, now suddenly they’re together. Can it bear good fruits?”
“Women all like handsome, educated, and romantic young men. Even if I were a man, I’d understand the twists and turns in this.”
Another female teacher, Zhang Yi, chimed in, “You’re right. Soldiers, well, they might be rough and not very good-looking.”
“What do you mean by ‘not very good-looking’? Don’t speak without knowing the facts,” Ye Fangjing scolded her. “He comes from a good family, a veteran’s family, and he’s a leader’s child. He’s not an ordinary soldier; he’s an officer.”
“So what? With such good conditions, and the fact that neither of them had found a partner before, there must be something seriously wrong with this man. Let’s not talk about anything else; he’s definitely ugly.”
Chen Jiabao wholeheartedly agreed, “He’s not just ugly, he’s probably exceptionally ugly. Maybe he’s good at family work, but men who rely on their parents are not reliable at all.”
Chen Jiabao had envied the neighbour, Zhan Aiping, for finding a well-off partner before. However, now that the He family was in trouble, she had not only managed to get away with it but also found an even better partner. How could this be possible?
“I’ve seen someone marry the son of a factory director before. Is the director’s son that great? He’s ugly and short, but he’s lucky to have a good dad.”
“Don’t believe it? Just wait until our wedding and see for yourself.”
Ye Fangjing scolded them with a disdainful look, “Why can’t you appreciate the good in others?”
Zhang Yi rolled her eyes, “Ye Fangjing, why have you been defending Zhan Aiping lately? I just can’t stand her. She’s so fickle, first the He family, and now this. Shameless.”
Zhang Yi didn’t marry well and had a tough mother-in-law. When Zhan Aiping was about to marry into the He family, her mother-in-law was also a formidable one, but Zhan Aiping dared to confront her head-on. People around them would say to Zhang Yi, “Why don’t you learn from Zhan Aiping? You act like a downtrodden daughter-in-law every day, complaining to everyone.”
“She’s better off than you!”
Being teased by others, Zhang Yi had grown resentful of Zhan Aiping. She harbored hatred because Zhan Aiping had what she didn’t. She envied her good fortune and wanted to see her suffer.
Ye Fangjing chuckled, “You’re the shameless one here. You’re just jealous that Zhan Aiping married well. Even though she lost this family, she still has a devoted childhood friend waiting to snatch her.”
“Is it ‘childhood friend’ or ‘pig’ friend? We’ll find out when we meet. Ye Fangjing, if you dare, let’s make a bet. If that man is ugly, you give me your next month’s salary, meal allowance, and meat allowance.”
Ye Fangjing hesitated for a moment. A month’s salary, meal allowance, and meat allowance were not a small amount. If she lost, life would be very difficult.
“What’s the matter? Are you afraid to bet?” Zhang Yi saw her expression and felt very pleased with herself.
Ye Fangjing got worked up, “Let’s bet, I’m in! If I lose, you have to give me everything.”
“Alright.”
Chen Jiabao chimed in, “Wait, count me in too. I’m on Teacher Zhang’s side.”
“Little Ye, we’ll leave you a few bucks to get by,” Chen Jiabao added.
Zhang Yi chuckled on the side, not caring about the outcome of the bet now that she had severed ties. She was confident they would win. Since Ye Fangjing had a good relationship with Zhan Aiping, if Zhan Aiping found out that they were betting on her man and Ye Fangjing lost, facing that ugly “pig-horse” in the future would be unbearable.
She wanted to trouble Zhan Aiping. Why should Zhan Aiping, after falling out with the He family, still be able to marry the son of a leader?
*
Ye Fangjing had impulsively agreed to the bet, and now she was feeling extremely anxious. She had a sinking feeling in her heart, suspecting that Zhan Aiping’s “childhood friend” probably looked quite ordinary. She hoped he wouldn’t be too ugly.
She might lose the battle, but she wouldn’t lose her spirit.
There was no need to wait until the wedding day, so Ye Fangjing decided to face the truth and talk to Zhan Aiping in advance.
When she found Zhan Aiping, she was in the activity room, performing acupuncture for a pregnant female teacher who was suffering from severe morning sickness. Despite trying various remedies, the teacher’s condition had not improved, and she was considering getting an abortion. However, when Zhan Aiping offered to try traditional Chinese medicine, the teacher agreed.
After one acupuncture session and a couple of days of care from Zhan Aiping, the teacher felt much better. Today, Zhan Aiping was performing acupuncture for her again, and they were chatting.
“I didn’t expect you to know traditional Chinese medicine, Professor Zhan.”
“I learned some basic knowledge from an old military doctor in our compound.”
“Does traditional Chinese medicine really work when diagnosing by pulse?”
“It can be effective, but it’s not a guarantee. The key is observation and thorough examination.” A good doctor needed keen eyes, attention to detail, and careful observation skills.
After chatting with the female teacher for a while, Ye Fangjing finally approached Zhan Aiping. She was fidgeting and struggling to find the right words.
“Whatever you want to say, just say it. Otherwise, I’ll give you a couple of acupuncture needles.” Zhan Aiping teased, holding three needles between her fingers and playfully waving them in front of Ye Fangjing.
Ye Fangjing’s heart skipped a beat. “Put those away, put those away quickly. Don’t scare me.”
“Little Zhan, it’s you… you!” Ye Fangjing nudged her with her elbow. “Do you happen to have any… photos?”
Zhan Aiping looked puzzled. “What photos?”
Ye Fangjing lowered her head and adjusted her clothes. “I just wanted to see a picture of your devoted childhood friend.”
Zhan Aiping was taken aback. “What?!”
Devoted childhood friend?
“What else could it be? Your childhood friend,” Ye Fangjing replied.
Zhan Aiping couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “Haha!”
She had never imagined that Gu Sheng would be referred to as her “devoted childhood friend.”
“Oh, don’t laugh. Just show me.”
Zhan Aiping chuckled and said, “It’s almost time, why look at photos now? You’ll see him in person soon enough.”
“No, Professor Zhan, I’m really sorry.” Ye Fangjing hesitated before confessing to Zhan Aiping about the bet she made with Zhang Yi and others.
Zhan Aiping thought to herself, “You people have way too much free time on your hands, full and still making bets like this.”
“Rest assured, there’s no need to worry about that,” she continued. “My childhood friend, well… his only advantage is that he has a handsome face.”
If he didn’t look good, Zhan Aiping wouldn’t have encouraged her younger sister to call him “Sister.” Gu Sheng had a handsome face when he was young, and even as he aged, he didn’t shrink in height. He remained a tall, long-legged, handsome old man.
Ye Fangjing was left speechless.
“He only has one advantage—a handsome face?” She couldn’t help but think that this man was nothing more than a pretty boy.
“So, you better get ready to give up your meal tickets. Make them bleed a little, and I’ll take half of the winnings,” Zhan Aiping said. She couldn’t let them off the hook for betting on her man like that.
“Sure!” Ye Fangjing was thrilled.
*
“Mom, my sister has truly gone mad. She’s lost her mind, she’s gone crazy!”
“Listen to what the neighbors are saying. They’re talking about my sister marrying her childhood friend, a devoted childhood friend from their early years. And that devoted childhood friend… is none other than Gu Sheng!”
“Oh my goodness, I heard it directly from my sister’s own mouth. She said Gu Sheng liked her since they were kids and he wouldn’t marry anyone else but her.” Zhan Aijia truly believed that Zhan Aiping had lost her mind. Why would she tell such an outrageous lie?
“Who would believe that if it got out?” Zhan Aijia was about to continue when she noticed her mother’s hands had stopped moving. She followed her mother’s gaze and saw Zhan Aiping standing by the door.
Zhan Aiping said calmly, “Go on, please continue.”
Zhan Aijia stammered, “I…”
“I grew up with Gu Lao Wu since we were kids. If he didn’t like me back then, do you think he’d like you?” Zhan Aiping smirked and gave her a mocking look.
“Zhan Aijia, did you steal his photos from me before? Could it be that you like him? Well, that’s a shame because he’s going to be your future brother-in-law.”
Zhan Aiping continued with a cold laugh, “I’ll warn you one last time, Zhan Aijia. You’d better control your hands and your eyes. Gu Sheng is my man, your brother-in-law. If you dare to look at him too much, be careful that I don’t gouge your eyeballs out.”
Zhan Aijia was left stunned.
After Zhan Aiping finished speaking, she couldn’t help but find the situation amusing. Her taunting words had made her feel like a villainous character from a TV drama. But she couldn’t deny that saying it felt rather satisfying.
“She’s gone crazy, completely crazy,” Zhan Aijia thought.
Zhan Aijia stared dumbfounded at Zhan Aiping’s retreating figure. Why was she so confident in her words? Gu Sheng liked her since he was a child? He wouldn’t marry anyone else but her? Gu Sheng was a devoted childhood friend?
This couldn’t possibly be true.
Zhan Aijia couldn’t understand it. She couldn’t fathom how Zhan Aiping could tell such a lie. She was convinced that this lie, no matter how beautifully crafted, was still a lie. She was certain that she would embarrass herself on the day of the wedding!
On the day of the wedding, Zhan Aiping woke up early and arrived at the agreed-upon location with Gu Sheng. They hadn’t been in contact since their last meeting, but she knew he wouldn’t stand her up.
Sure enough, under the dimly lit sky, Zhan Aiping saw a tall figure.
It had snowed the night before, but now it was clear. A thin layer of snow covered the ground, and the sky was still somewhat overcast. Occasionally, a bird would fly by, and the sound of the Phoenix bicycle bells rang as people passed on the snowy roads.
Zhan Aiping was dressed in her old military uniform. Although she referred to it as “old,” she had never worn this particular uniform before. Today was the first time she put it on. She wore a cap on her head, and even though her clothes were tainted dark gray by the surrounding shadows, the red star on her cap shone brightly amidst the gloom.
In the faint morning light, although she couldn’t see the man’s face clearly, the dim light and shadows outlined his figure vividly. The surroundings were washed out in gray and white, but his silhouette was black. The contours of his cap, his nose, and his lips all connected to form a winding line. He stood upright like a statue, yet also like a flag fluttering in the wind.
Zhan Aiping quietly observed him for a while. Suddenly, she recalled his appearance when he used to carry the flag. She jogged over to him and made a hand gesture, to which Gu Sheng naturally responded with a hand gesture of his own.
They stood facing each other.
Gu Sheng: “…”
Zhan Aiping: “…” It really felt like an underground party rendezvous from the old society.
She thought this way in her mind, and Zhan Aiping couldn’t resist mentioning it, “Don’t you think we look like two underground party members meeting?”
Gu Sheng glanced at her, “Dressed like this, for a rendezvous?”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
“Do you not have anything else to wear?” Gu Sheng asked.
Zhan Aiping: “…”
Gu Sheng chuckled, “Then we would be arrested.”
Zhan Aiping said, “On this joyous occasion, don’t talk about such depressing things. Control yourself.”
“What joyous occasion are you talking about?” Gu Sheng asked.
“Ahem,” Zhan Aiping cleared her throat, “Now, I, Comrade Zhan Aiping, officially announce that as of today, the two-person strategic alliance underground party group formed by Comrade Zhan Aiping and Comrade Gu Sheng is officially established in Shanghai.”
Gu Sheng said, “Should we light a few incense sticks to celebrate?”
Zhan Aiping replied, “You can smoke a cigarette.”
This comrade better smoke a cigarette first to calm down.
Gu Sheng indeed took out a cigarette, and Zhan Aiping lit it for him. He squinted his eyes at her and said, “Just say what you want to say, no need to be so polite.”
Zhan Aiping blinked her eyes and said, “I just wanted to remind Comrade Gu that it’s better to claim your identity first.”
Gu Sheng blew out a smoke ring and asked, “Go on.”
“Well, I’ve already told people that you’ve liked me since childhood and won’t marry anyone else,” Zhan Aiping explained quickly and calmly, “They say you’re the infatuated childhood friend living next door. Please remember your underground party identity at all times and don’t expose it.”
Gu Sheng widened his eyes and stared at her from a higher vantage point. “Zhan Aiping, have you gone crazy? I’ve liked you since childhood? I won’t marry anyone else?”
“You’re daydreaming!”
Zhan Aiping raised her head, staring him down without any fear in her eyes. She poked his chest with her finger, saying, “No dowry, no salary handed over, and I do all the housework. Do you think a pie will fall from the sky? Are you just going to pick up this beautiful bride for free?”
“You’re daydreaming!”
Gu Sheng said, “…”
Zhan Aiping said, “…”
The two of them stared at each other for ten seconds, and finally, Zhan Aiping decided to reassure her fellow team member first. “Comrade Gu, think carefully. Your good days are still ahead.”
Gu Sheng said, “…” Why does that sound so strange?
“Okay.” Gu Sheng extinguished his cigarette, then placed his hands on Zhan Aiping’s shoulders. He lowered his body, their noses touching, and they were very close, their breaths mingling.
Zhan Aiping could smell the scent of tobacco on him.
“I’ve liked you since childhood, I won’t marry anyone else, I’m the infatuated childhood friend living next door to you…” Gu Sheng chuckled and then kissed her cherry-red lips.
It was more of a bite than a kiss.
Before, he used to think about two strangers pressing their lips together, sharing saliva, and the thought disgusted him. However, when he actually bit her lips, it didn’t disgust him as expected. He just felt that it was soft, and her mouth tasted sweet, like she had sugar in it, inexplicably pleasant.
It made him instinctively plunder that sweetness.
This kiss didn’t last long. They separated, each looking at a different direction, avoiding eye contact.
Gu Sheng cleared his throat. “Comrade Zhan, as members of the underground party, we must be prepared to sacrifice our bodies at any time.”
Zhan Aiping said, “…” What kind of underground party is this? It’s more like a drama queen PLA (**Peoples Liberation army. Someone in the PLA whose known for outbursts**).
“I hope Comrade Gu also has this kind of determination.”
Anyway, they were an old married couple.
Zhan Aiping thought there was nothing to be shy about. She took the initiative to hold Gu Sheng’s hand and snuggled up to him in an affectionate manner.
Gu Sheng felt stiff all over. “…”
His hand stiffly rested on her slender waist, and he found that her waist was as soft as her lips.
Gu Sheng’s scalp tingled, so he turned his head to look at the layers of clouds in the sky. He was grateful that at this moment, Zhan Aiping was hugging his right hand, while his left earlobe had turned red, burning hot.
…
Oops, he suddenly realized that his buddy was quite feminine.
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