Gu Sheng
After Zhan Mingzhao’s death, his fellow “rusticated youth” friends handed over his belongings to her. Reading through her brother’s diary, Aiping finally understood their past. She felt a mix of anger and guilt, leading her to confront the mother and daughter pair, her stepmother and stepsister, with a heated argument at home. However, the past could not be changed, and people who had passed away could not be brought back to life. The emotional debts from the past could not be completely reconciled.
Aiping blamed herself and felt remorse for not being a better sister. She was rough and assertive, treasured comradeship but was reserved in expressing her affection to her family. This had led to misunderstandings and regrets regarding her relationship with her younger brother.
Fortunately, in this new life, her brother Zhan Mingzhao was still alive. A touch of warmth flickered in Aiping’s eyes when she thought about him. However, when she laid eyes on her stepsister, Aijia, that warmth turned cold.
“Jiejie, have some water and sit down. Mom has been working hard all day, sewing you a new cotton-padded jacket. Look, her hands even pricked a few times. She nearly fell earlier, and her eyesight is getting worse,” Aijia said. She wore a fashionable cotton-padded jacket from a well-known department store in Shanghai, a gift from Aiping. Aijia looked delicate with her neat chin-length haircut, a popular style among city girls. She had trimmed her two braids, which had reached down to her waist, to this modern length, which flattered her face shape. She also had some snowflake cream on her face, but it wasn’t evenly spread, leaving a few white spots on her skin.
Aijia used Aiping’s snowflake cream, and she didn’t mind it at all. She would apply it liberally to her face every day, as if it were free.
This snowflake cream was produced in Shanghai, and it was a gift from an old comrade who worked at the snowflake cream factory. She had received quite a few jars and kept them at home, applying it whenever she remembered. When Aijia came to her house, she noticed the abundance of snowflake cream in her cabinet, all given by factory workers, and assumed it was the best product available. She believed it could make her skin fair and radiant, so she applied it to her face as often as possible.
Aijia had a slightly darker complexion, while Aiping had become relatively fair, especially when she was exposed to the sun during her time in the military.
Aiping’s skin was naturally fair, and being young, she had not been exposed to much sunlight since starting her teaching job. Regular exercise and sweating had further improved her complexion, giving her a snowflake cream-like skin tone. Her cheeks were particularly healthy and rosy.
Her complexion was better than that of most girls, and even in plain, drab clothes, she still looked radiant.
Aijia quickly glanced at Aiping’s face, smiled as their eyes met, and then her gaze unintentionally fell on Aiping’s hands.
“Oh! Sister Ping, your hand is bleeding,” Aijia exclaimed, her eyes brightening.
Aiping raised an eyebrow and replied, “It might be a scratch from exercising.”
“I’ll get some medicine for you,” Aijia said, suppressing her excitement as she rushed to find some antiseptic. She opened a box and retrieved a bottle of medicine and a cotton swab, her face filled with anticipation as she looked at Aiping’s injured hand.
She had an unusual eagerness regarding Aiping’s “hands.”
In her eyes, her stepsister Aiping possessed a “beautiful and delicate” face with a “graceful and slender” figure. However, Aiping’s hands were “extremely unsightly.” They lacked the slender and tender quality typically associated with a woman’s hands. Although her fingers were long, they were rather thick, and her palms and fingertips were covered in rough calluses and various scars from old injuries, making her hands feel very rough.
They looked like a man’s hands.
“You don’t have to,” Aiping said, taking the items from her and applying the medicine herself.
“Sis, take a look,” Aijia said deliberately, extending her right hand and placing it next to Aiping’s hand, creating a striking contrast.
Aijia’s right hand was pampered and delicate. She avoided doing any household chores, as she considered it a waste of her hands. She had kept her hands slender and tender, even though they were not particularly fair, each finger being long, slender, and soft to the touch.
“Sis, why don’t you use some snowflake cream on your hands too? As a woman, you should keep your hands fair and tender. How else do you think Professor He became fond of you?” Aijia’s heart raced, and she couldn’t hide the smile at the corners of her eyes and lips. She felt proud of her hands, which she believed surpassed Aiping’s.
Previously, her stepsister Aiping had lived a rough life from childhood, keeping her hair short, not wearing dresses, and avoiding any form of self-care. After joining the military, she became a female soldier, further roughening her appearance, with her skin tanned to a wheat-like color. Even though she had attractive facial features, when she wore her military uniform, she looked like a handsome young man, showing no signs of femininity.
Aijia, on the other hand, kept her long hair in a braid. She thought she looked better than Aiping, who appeared as a rough, pseudo-man. However, everyone around them praised Aiping for her naturally good looks, which annoyed Aijia. Now that Aiping had left the military and switched to a teaching job, her facial skin had become fair and tender, and she had grown her hair long again. Aijia had to admit that, even in Shanghai, her stepsister Aiping was still a stunning beauty.
What was even more astonishing was her figure.
Aiping didn’t pay much attention to her appearance at home. She exercised wearing a black tank top, showcasing her well-defined and muscular physique. Her shoulders were particularly striking, and the entire line from her upper arms to her wrists was incredibly smooth, resembling the artwork of a fine arts student.
When she wiped away her sweat by lifting the hem of her shirt, she revealed her toned abdomen. Her slender waistline looked like it could be held with a single hand. It was beautifully defined, with no excess fat, appearing exceptionally tight and attractive. Two clear curves near her navel were captivating.
Fortunately, it was winter now, and her bulky coat concealed her outstanding figure, leaving only glimpses for others to see.
However, even in this attire, her clothes always seemed different when worn by Aiping.
Aijia bit her lip, envious of her stepsister’s stunning beauty, perfect figure, and the fact that she had found a well-off city man like He Mingzhang. He was a Shanghai local, and his family even had a large house.
Aijia had originally been the daughter of a rural teacher. Later, she followed her mother, Zhu Jiaorong, to the Zhan family after her remarriage. Although Zhan’s father was only a minor government official, he was still a cadre, and he lived in the city. This significantly changed their lives.
Aijia and her mother spoiled Zhan’s father and favored their little family of three, pushing Zhan Mingzhang out of their lives. In the future, all the benefits of the Zhan family would go to Aijia and her younger brother, Zhan Mingjian.
Unfortunately for Aiping, their stepsister who rarely came home was incredibly successful. She was a university graduate from a military academy and remained in a large city like Shanghai. What made Aijia even more upset was that Aiping, the “pseudo-man,” had managed to find a well-off local man from Shanghai, He Mingzhang.
Privately, Aijia and Zhu Jiaorong conspired together. Aijia said, “I also want to stay in Shanghai.”
“Compared to Shanghai, our hometown feels like the countryside. We’d be considered hicks coming to the city,” replied Zhu Jiaorong.
“Don’t you want your daughter to have a better future?” Aijia insisted.
Zhu Jiaorong worried, “Aiping is not like her younger brother, who is both foolish and clumsy. She excels academically and is smart. She’s a university graduate.”
“But my sister, Aiping, is smart but not scheming.”
Mother and daughter decided to use Aiping’s wedding as an opportunity to take advantage and secure a better future for Aijia in Shanghai. They wanted to ensure that Aijia could stay in the city, find a well-off suitor, and potentially improve her own social standing.
“Yes, you’re right, Aiping. You’re in the stage of finding a husband and getting married. You should pay more attention. Men like beautiful women, so use that snowflake cream. It’s a great product, and it will make your hands fair and tender,” Aijia added, subtly reminding Aiping of her plan.
“Jiajia, bring the snowflake cream you’ve been using and let your sister try it. Doesn’t this stuff cost quite a bit of money? Many women are thrifty with it. Tell your sister not to be frugal, and if she runs out, I’ll buy more for you,” Zhu Jiaorong said with a smile, hinting at their plans to make use of Aiping’s wedding.
Aiping watched them in amusement as they occupied her house, slept in her bed, used her snowflake cream, and shamelessly discussed these things in front of her.
“All right, I’ll keep these snowflake creams in the cabinet from now on and use them regularly,” she replied. Of course, she planned to lock all her belongings in the cabinet.
After hearing this, Zhu Jiaorong and Aijia exchanged a glance and continued, “Aiping, your father and I discussed it. Since you’re getting married, you’ll need some new clothes. I’m thinking of going to the department store to choose some fabrics for you.”
Aijia chimed in, “Aiping, you have no idea how many fabric patterns there are in Shanghai. They have fabrics we can’t even find in our hometown. Mom has a good eye and has picked out a few excellent ones for you. They’re quite expensive, several yuan per foot. Mom said we must get you the best. We can’t make you settle for less.”
Zhu Jiaorong and Aijia were waiting for Aiping’s response.
Aiping, who had received a monthly allowance during her time at the military academy and had seen her salary increase after starting her job, was pragmatic and led a simple life. She didn’t buy new shoes, hair accessories, or clothes like other women. Her closet was filled with old and new military uniforms that she couldn’t wear out. She wasn’t picky about food and usually ate at the cafeteria. Over the years, Aiping had saved up a significant amount of money, grain coupons, and fabric coupons.
Since she didn’t need these things in her daily life, she was generous with her money and coupons.
Two days ago, Aijia had seen the fabric coupons Aiping had saved and immediately hatched a plan to get those coupons and make new clothes for their family.
Aiping nodded, “Go ahead and buy what you think is suitable.”
With that, she turned to start packing her things.
Zhu Jiaorong and Aijia were puzzled by Aiping’s response. Had she not understood their hints? Why didn’t she say something like, “If you need money or coupons, you can take them from me”?
Zhu Jiaorong gave her daughter a meaningful look, and Aijia nodded. She tried again, “Sister, before Mingzhi went to the countryside, we made several sets of new clothes for him to take… Sister! What are you doing? Why are you searching through my bedding?”
Aijia’s voice grew more urgent as she spoke.
However, Aiping ignored her. The room was small, about ten square meters, and she quickly understood where things could be hidden. Opening the cabinet and glancing inside, she saw her belongings clearly.
With limited hiding places in such a small room, she began to pull on the bedding. Several items fell out with a clatter, including her snowflake cream, a small mirror, a comb, a silver bracelet, and three photographs.
She picked up the silver bracelet, which was a gift from her mother. It was actually a gold bracelet covered in silver for concealment.
Putting aside the other odds and ends, last time Aiping discovered that this silver bracelet was missing. Aijia had quietly returned these items to her. At that time, Aiping considered that they were family, and she wasn’t close to the members of the Zhang family. She didn’t want to create a scene in front of the Zhang family and decided not to make an issue of it.
She gently rubbed the bracelet and her gaze settled on the three photographs.
These three photographs were pictures of her and Gu Sheng together, capturing her at the age of seventeen and Gu Sheng at nineteen.
They had both skipped a grade in order to make their studies easier, and it was common practice during that era to increase one’s age by two or three years for convenience.
Growing up in the same courtyard, they had never gotten along since childhood. However, fate seemed to have a strange sense of humor as they ended up joining the military together, and it was a twist of fate that landed them on the same team for a comprehensive military competition when Aiping was seventeen years old. Their selection as teammates was beyond their understanding.
They had serious clashes and were unhappy with the assignment, which escalated to higher authorities. They received a scolding for their behavior, “Would you be allowed to choose your teammates on the battlefield?” “You are comrades-in-arms, you must entrust your lives to each other!” “You two are like crickets tied together on a string; you better cooperate.”
They were punished together, reluctantly accepted the assignment, but still couldn’t stand each other. Both were young and full of vigor, both were competitive, and they could only grit their teeth and cooperate. In their unit, they had countless internal disputes, and they often wanted to strangle each other, but the more they argued, the more they held their breath and vowed to surpass the other.
And so, they ended up taking first place in the comprehensive competition.
In the three photos, Aiping and Gu Sheng were both dressed in military uniforms. In the first photo, she was gripping her sleeves while competing with Gu Sheng in an arm-wrestling match. Her face was contorted with effort, and only the side of Gu Sheng’s face was visible, making it hard to discern his expression. Despite only showing his profile, he looked incredibly handsome, with his arched eyebrows and a heroic, vigorous demeanor. He also rolled up his sleeves, revealing his well-built arm muscles, exuding a strong sense of masculinity.
When other female soldiers saw this photo, they all exclaimed in awe, but Aiping felt like cursing. What a cheesy propaganda photo, and she wished she could have fought the photographer on the spot.
The photos also had accompanying captions: “Chinese sons and daughters have extraordinary ambitions, not fond of dressing up but of donning the military uniform.”
Aiping had originally intended to tear the photos apart when she got back, but she forgot, and they remained intact.
In the second photo, Aiping and Gu Sheng looked extremely disheveled. They were dressed in military uniforms, lying on the grass with their clothes covered in mud, forming clumps and feeling stiff. Their faces were also covered in mud. Despite being a black and white photo, it captured their contours clearly. Both of their eyes were shining brightly, like stars in the night.
In the photo, Gu Sheng was looking at her.
The third photo showed them wearing hats with bright red stars on them, each holding medals. Aiping in the photo was gracious, smiling at the camera. Beside her, Gu Sheng had a nonchalant expression, even slightly disdainful, with a straight nose bridge and tightly pressed lips.
During the photoshoot, she had pretended to accidentally step on Gu Sheng’s foot.
What a satisfying moment!
…
In her previous life, she hadn’t seen these three photos after getting married. She had thought she had accidentally lost them when moving houses. Her military photos were stored together, and it was only after a long time that she realized these photos were missing.
It wasn’t until she reunited with Gu Sheng in her rebirth that Aiping saw those three photos again, as he had kept them for over forty years.
After her rebirth, Aiping had just returned home, and she speculated that it might have been stolen by Aijia. Her suspicions were confirmed when she discovered the photos in her sister’s possession.
Aiping raised an eyebrow with a cold smile, “Do we have a thief in the house?”
Aijia’s face lost all color at once, and when she saw Gu Sheng in the photos, her mind went blank. It was Gu Sheng, from the Gu family!
Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng both grew up in the same compound. However, when Zhan Aiping’s father remarried, the two families no longer lived together. Originally, Aijia didn’t have a chance to meet Gu Sheng. But whenever someone mentioned her stepsister Zhan Aiping, they would always mention Gu Sheng from the Gu family.
The Gu family had risen in status while the Zhan family had fallen. Initially, Zhan Aiping’s mother held a higher position, but after her mother’s passing, her father, Zhan Bo, didn’t handle things well and was demoted and relocated.
Gu Sheng’s family background, his appearance, and his excellence—all of these factors drew Aijia’s attention. After meeting Gu Sheng once, she kept him in her thoughts.
Her mother had married an official, and if she could somehow climb up to Gu Sheng, who was a high achiever, she would transform from a sparrow to a phoenix.
Aijia harbored resentment toward Zhan Aiping. If only her stepsister, Zhan Aiping, had not been so stubborn when she was young and had cultivated a good relationship with Gu Sheng, then maybe Aijia could have had the opportunity to get to know Gu Sheng and make him her partner. Unfortunately, Zhan Aiping had a problem with her brain, and she and Gu Sheng were well-known as arch-enemies from a young age.
But she never expected that… Zhan Aiping had photos with Gu Sheng.
While rummaging through Zhan Aiping’s belongings while she was out, Aijia discovered those three photos. The more she looked at Gu Sheng in the photos, the more she liked him. The only thing ruining the photos for her was Zhan Aiping standing next to Gu Sheng. Aijia decided to cut out Zhan Aiping from the photos and only keep Gu Sheng’s image.
*Smack!* A fiery slap landed mercilessly on Aijia’s face. She stared in disbelief at the radiant Zhan Aiping before her. Her face stung and reddened, and it even forced out tears.
Aijia screamed, “You hit me!”
*Smack!* Another slap, landing symmetrically on the other side of her face. Zhan Aiping smiled and said, “I’m really sorry, little sister. I’ve had a bad temper since I was young.”
“If your mother didn’t teach you how to behave, I’ll teach you now,” she said with a smile.
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