Hesitating to Speak
After dealing with the hospital matters, Zhan Aiping, Gu Sheng, along with Li Yuxia and yesterday’s driver, the young comrade Zheng Hua, plus the repaired little car by Zhan Aiping, the four of them drove up the mountain road, swaying as they headed back.
In order to redeem himself, young comrade Zheng Hua was driving very seriously, fully focused. Li Yuxia sat in the passenger seat, praising him continuously, “Young comrade, you’re driving much better than yesterday…”
Zheng Hua: *sighs* He might actually start feeling emotional at this rate!
Having the scrutiny of a female director like Zhan Aiping right under his nose was hard to bear. He might as well have been on guard duty.
Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng, the married couple, sat in the back. Gu Sheng had his arm around her shoulder, and the two of them leisurely admired the scenery outside the window. Despite the slow speed and the car’s swaying, it felt like a sightseeing bus.
Leaving aside other things, the scenery outside was truly breath-taking. The sky here was exceptionally blue due to the absence of winter, and the vegetation was lush. The forest landscapes were picturesque, and there were quite a few wild animals.
Gu Sheng said, “We might come across peacocks.”
Zhan Aiping replied, “I’d like to see white peacocks.”
Besides the beautiful and attractive wild animals like peacocks, there were also things like elephants, pythons, and venomous snakes that could send shivers down one’s spine. Li Yuxia cautioned, “Little Zhan, if you’re alone, don’t venture into the woods.”
“Don’t assume the ground beneath you is just leaves and rocks. You never know if there are seven or eight snakes basking in the sun there. Don’t think I’m scaring you.”
Zhan Aiping chuckled, “Alright, thanks for the reminder, Director Li.”
Li Yuxia: “…”
She turned around and caught a glimpse of Gu Sheng whispering something in his wife’s ear, and the couple burst into laughter. They held hands, smiling at each other.
Seeing this situation, Director Li felt an inexplicable sense of frustration.
Why had she, as a female director, come here yesterday? She had come to mediate conflicts! She had come to console the emotions of military dependents! Yet, after a whole day, what had she mediated? Nothing! It was all about showcasing the talents of the military spouse, Zhan Aiping.
Yesterday, she had driven, fixed the car, and even performed surgery at the hospital. As a result, Captain Gu’s emotions had calmed down. She had initially thought he would cause a scene with the hospital director, but instead, he had played the hero and made a significant contribution during the rescue operation.
—They, the married couple, received praise from the military hospital!
They even mentioned holding a meeting for commendation!
Li Yuxia: “…Movies on the big screen don’t even dare to exaggerate like this.”
Meanwhile, she had accompanied someone to donate blood yesterday, and when she saw the blood bag, she felt lightheaded and nearly caused a commotion at the hospital. She had spent the night resting on the side-lines.
The hospital had expressed gratitude towards her, and she felt utterly unworthy, her face turning red with embarrassment.
After experiencing the events of yesterday, the young newlyweds’ relationship had clearly warmed up.
However, Li Yuxia’s heart sank to the bottom as she remembered her preparations and her notebook.
She really couldn’t believe it!
Which newlywed couple doesn’t have a bit of conflict now and then?
—Sooner or later, she would have to mediate the marital and family conflicts between these two!
*
Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping returned home, and the couple took a shower first, changing out of their dirty clothes. Zhan Aiping made sure to wash herself thoroughly, even carefully washing her hair.
Perhaps from spending too much time in the hospital, she still sensed a faint smell of disinfectant around her.
Her long hair fell to her shoulders, and compared to the Lunar New Year, it had grown a bit longer, glossy and black. Zhan Aiping applied some hair conditioner to her hair.
Gu Sheng had already washed their clothes. He had also somehow acquired an old electric fan, which he positioned for Zhan Aiping to blow her hair with. It happened to be noon, and the breeze from the fan was especially refreshing.
“Did you get this old fan through your good connections again?” The climate here was warm but not excessively hot. The hottest temperatures reached around thirty degrees Celsius, and even on cooler days, it was only slightly above ten degrees. With a bit of effort, you wouldn’t even need an electric fan on the hottest days. Nights were cooler than daytime, making fans unnecessary.
Zhan Aiping quite liked this climate, even though it was a bit humid and hot, it was a paradise for various insects, snakes, and mosquitoes.
“More or less, but it didn’t cost much,” Gu Sheng replied. The old fan was still functional and inexpensive. The Gu Sheng who used to spend money generously when he was single had learned to be frugal.
Gu Sheng, who had not yet handed over his salary, planned to save up some money before doing so. He didn’t want his wife to discover that he used to be a spendthrift. After all these years in the military, he hadn’t saved much.
Some officers and soldiers in the army were excellent at saving money. They spent the whole year in the military without spending a dime, sending all their earnings back home. Gu Sheng’s family had decent conditions, and he didn’t have the need to support a family. He also didn’t have a habit of saving money. In the past, he didn’t even think he’d get married, so when it came to things like cigarettes and alcohol, he never skimped. If he could afford the good stuff, he wouldn’t settle for less. Besides his military uniform, he even bought himself some civilian clothes from stores. As for occasionally eating out, that was a given…
Now that he was married, he couldn’t be as extravagant as before. He had to save some money so that his wife wouldn’t think he was a spendthrift.
“Ping Ping, when the salary and allowances come in next month, I’ll give them to you to manage. I’ll give you both my salary and savings. From now on, you’ll handle the finances in our household,” Gu Sheng said.
Zhan Aiping smiled, “Alright, Fifth Brother Gu, I didn’t know you had savings…”
Gu Sheng’s face darkened, “Why wouldn’t I have savings?”
“…I just don’t have as much as you,” young Comrade Gu said, somewhat unsure, as he indeed didn’t have much savings left.
Although Zhan Aiping was a woman, her military job was even more frugal than his. She didn’t spend much on daily expenses.
Zhan Aiping: “…Suddenly, it feels like our roles have been reversed, and I’ve married a ‘spendthrift’.”
“Recently, with the wedding and all, you must have spent quite a bit of money. I was worried your savings would run out,” Gu Sheng covered the expenses for the wedding, and Zhan Aiping hadn’t spent much. Most of the expenses for moving into their new home were also covered by Gu Sheng.
This just added insult to injury for his already not-so-prosperous pockets.
Gu Sheng tried to maintain his composure. “It’s manageable.”
Zhan Aiping teased, “Can’t even afford cigarettes anymore?”
Gu Sheng sighed, “Well, it’s not that bad.”
He didn’t dare to buy expensive cigarettes anymore, and cheap ones felt beneath him. He might as well quit smoking altogether. At the age of twenty-five, Captain Gu was feeling the pressures and pains of married life.
He couldn’t be a carefree man anymore.
—He didn’t want to run into Commander Jiang.
They used to be carefree together, but now it was just Commander Jiang.
“In the future, you can give me your salary and allowances, and I’ll give you a monthly allowance. As for your previous savings, you can keep that as your private stash, your little treasury,” Zhan Aiping guessed that there couldn’t be much left in that savings.
“Alright,” Gu Sheng hugged her from behind, and he couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. He didn’t have much of a little treasury left now.
—His resources were depleted.
Zhan Aiping reached up to pat his head. “From now on, I’ll give you twenty yuan as your monthly allowance.”
Gu Sheng had a decent monthly salary, enough to support a family by itself. On top of that, he had received a second-class merit award previously, which meant a percentage-based salary supplement each month.
“My dear wife, you’re so generous.”
Zhan Aiping asked, “How much do others get?”
Gu Sheng held up one hand.
“Five yuan?”
Gu Sheng chuckled, “That’s considered a lot; some don’t even get any.”
“Then you better remember my kindness.”
Gu Sheng smiled, “You’re the best wife.”
In reality, their life in the military didn’t necessarily require them to spend much money each month. Gu Sheng didn’t have to buy cigarettes, alcohol, clothes, or dine out. The twenty yuan would be more than enough. They made their own clothes, cooked at home, didn’t need to drink alcohol excessively, and only bought a pack or two of cigarettes to get by.
When you thought about it, their quality of life might not be worse than before, but they now had the responsibility of supporting a family.
Even though young Comrade Gu was now married, he occasionally envied Commander Jiang’s carefree bachelor life.
Commander Jiang would surely taunt him about it.
But it didn’t matter; these days, Comrade Gu had a thicker skin than a city wall.
“Tomorrow, invite some familiar people over, and we’ll have a warm family dinner at home. I’ll introduce you to them. We won’t cook ourselves; we’ll have Xiao Xie and the kitchen staff come over. With more people, it’ll be tiring for you to cook. Let them make a big pot of food.”
“Sure,” Zhan Aiping agreed. Since she was here, it was a good opportunity to meet the people from Gu Sheng’s unit.
With a larger group, it would be troublesome to wash dishes and cook, so it was better to invite the kitchen staff to help.
“Let them bring their own pots and dishes. It’ll be easier for us.”
Zhan Aiping chuckled, “You just want me to be a lazy wife.”
“I haven’t even had enough of your cooking yet, how can I let others have it? That would be a loss for me,” Comrade Gu understood the principle of “silent wealth accumulation.” There was no need to show off unnecessarily or make a big fuss. He just didn’t want everyone to start thinking they could come to his house for free meals.
“Do you believe now that my cooking is delicious?”
Gu Sheng smiled, “Whether it’s delicious or not, I have to eat enough first before passing judgment.”
“By the way,” Zhan Aiping asked him, “My dear undercover comrade, how should I cooperate with your act tomorrow?”
“What act are we still putting on? We’re in the liberated area now. Look at the blue sky of the liberated area. No need for acting, just be yourself.”
“Really?”
Gu Sheng gently cupped her head and kissed her cheek, “Is there any reason to pretend? I’ve liked you for so many years, and now that I’ve finally married you, shouldn’t I be happy?”
“It’s not embarrassing to say it out loud…”
Zhan Aiping smiled, “Then I’ll act naturally.”
Gu Sheng said, “Wife, take it easy and give me some face.”
“Okay, okay.”
In the evening, Gu Sheng said he wanted to learn how to cook. They were both willing to learn and teach each other. The husband and wife stood together to cook, preparing two dishes that tasted quite good. Gu Sheng commented, “Working together as a couple, it’s not tiring at all.”
“In the future, I’ll chop vegetables, and you can stir-fry, or I’ll stir-fry, and you can chop vegetables…”
Zhan Aiping smiled, “If we have time, we can make soup together.”
“Next time, let’s get some pork bones when we slaughter a pig.”
As the couple chatted, the two hearty eaters finished all the food. Gu Sheng was in his prime and had a substantial appetite, and Zhan Aiping was no different, eating just as much as a grown man. When the two food enthusiasts joined forces, they consumed a massive amount of food during a meal.
Gu Sheng sighed, “People like us are better off in the military.”
Zhan Aiping teased, “Do you regret it now? Should I go beg Director Xu to take me in?”
“Regret? It’s too late to regret now.”
“I’ll go be a barefoot doctor first. Who knows, my patients might give me a bunch of delicious food as payment.”
In the evening, Zhan Aiping was washing dishes. She didn’t want to be a hands-off manager every day, so she said, “I’ll do the laundry tonight. Don’t take it from me. I’ll wash a piece of clothing for you.”
“Alright.” Gu Sheng took a long shower and finally brought a small stool. He turned on the radio and sat beneath the skylight, watching Zhan Aiping do the laundry.
Zhan Aiping said, “Your gaze is like that of a supervisor.”
Gu Sheng laughed heartily, “It’s not every day that I get to see you do the laundry, so I need to savour the moment.”
Zhan Aiping said, “Remember to tell your comrades tomorrow that I helped you with the laundry yesterday.”
Gu Sheng teased, “You want to earn the reputation of a virtuous wife?”
Zhan Aiping chuckled, “After helping you with the laundry for once, of course, I have to make it known to the world.”
“The clothes here are thin and easy to wash. It’s no trouble at all. Don’t dream of receiving compliments.”
“That’s true.” How long could they wash a few thin summer clothes? Besides dust and sweat, there wasn’t much else that would make the clothes dirty.
After finishing the laundry, with the radio still on, the couple didn’t have much else to do. They listened to the radio while attempting to figure out how to use the “sewing machine.” To be honest, neither of them knew how to use the sewing machine very well.
They fumbled and tried to figure it out for a while.
Zhan Aiping stepped on the sewing machine pedal and found it quite fun. Da-da-da-da—
The fabric passed through the needle and came out in a neat line. Whether you were lazy or had a touch of OCD, it was very satisfying and gave a sense of accomplishment.
Zhan Aiping said, “I think I’ll just make the clothes myself.”
Gu Sheng looked puzzled, “Didn’t I say I would do it? You can always count on your fifth brother to keep his word.”
In her heart, Zhan Aiping thought, “That’s only if you can actually do it.” She had just realised that the sewing machine was not very tall and couldn’t be adjusted. It was designed for the convenience of women, and it was a decent fit for her height. But for Gu Sheng’s height and long legs, it was impractical for him to step on it. It was not compatible!
Zhan Aiping casually said, “Can you help me with pattern drawing?”
“Seeing you step on the sewing machine, I already find it painful.”
Gu Sheng laughed, “You finally understand. I really can’t do it.”
Zhan Aiping remarked, “I knew you agreeing so readily had to be a trap. My heart almost gave out. You’ve tricked me into making a phone call for you for nothing.”
“Aiping, you look really good when you’re using the sewing machine.” Gu Sheng bent down and kissed her on the cheek with a smile.
He had made the right choice with this sewing machine! His wife was going to make clothes for him!
“Gu Sheng, you’re quite adaptable, you can endure, and you’re especially good at pretending. You’re such a sly fox.” Zhan Aiping raised her hand and pinched his face. “You, be careful and take good care of yourself. Don’t let me accidentally sew into you with this needle.”
“If you want to sew on me, I’m willing.”
“Wife, what kind of clothes would you like to wear? I’ll draw it for you.” Apart from his other skills, Gu Sheng had a talent for drawing. Although he hadn’t formally studied art, he had a knack for it. When he was young, he used to draw comics for Zhan Aiping.
“I want to make clothes with lotus leaf sleeves…” Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng huddled together to draw. Gu Sheng held a pencil in his hand, and his mental calculations allowed him to draw proportional lines on the paper effortlessly.
Even without using a ruler, when asked to draw a line of 20 centimetres, he could draw a line that precisely measured 20 centimetres. He could also freehand draw circles. In this aspect, Zhan Aiping greatly admired him.
The local girls here often wore tube skirts. Zhan Aiping planned to make a few skirts as well. Of course, short skirts were not suitable in this context; they needed to be knee-length. She had Gu Sheng make several sketches, but they couldn’t settle on a design.
Gu Sheng said, “Drawing a skirt is so particular…”
Zhan Aiping said, “Forget it, let’s start by making a set of clothes for you. I’ll make a white shirt for you.”
Gu Sheng said, “That’s simple. I’ll just draw it casually.”
Zhan Aiping said, “No, it’s not that simple. I want to tailor it to your measurements, create a good pattern, add a waistline design, and focus on the back…”
While a shirt might seem simple, the pattern and design of a shirt could be quite intricate. If the pattern wasn’t well-made, it would end up looking like an old-style gentleman’s shirt or something a door-to-door insurance salesman would wear.
Gu Sheng asked, “Can’t we just base it on my military uniform?”
Zhan Aiping replied, “No.”
After a whole evening of sketching and redrawing, they still hadn’t decided on the shirt’s design. They went through several sheets of drafting paper, with Gu Sheng using a pencil to make countless alterations. Their patience had worn thin.
In the end, they both agreed to call it a night and go to sleep.
The task of making clothes was a long and challenging one.
Since they had already taken a bath, they simply washed their faces and feet, changed into their pyjamas, and climbed into bed. Zhan Aiping lay on the bed, and Gu Sheng, being considerate, attempted to go to the inner side of the bed.
Zhan Aiping raised her hand to stop him and said, “Have some dignity. How can you let a woman sleep on the outside.”
Gu Sheng sighed, “…”
Gu Sheng could only pick her up and place her inside the bed, then he lay down himself, saying, “My dear, I’ll lie here obediently for ten minutes tonight, you can start.”
Today, his wife was going to make clothes for him. He was more than willing to lie down for half an hour, let alone ten minutes.
Zhan Aiping replied, “Dream on.”
Turning away from him, Zhan Aiping decided it wasn’t worth getting upset. She didn’t want to strain herself for a momentary sense of satisfaction while he took it easy. In the end, she was the one who would be tired, and the slight sense of contentment she might get wasn’t worth it. This guy was really good at pretending. He loved to use reverse psychology on her. Who knew if he secretly enjoyed it? He just liked to challenge her.
A true winner should just lie there and not move a muscle.
In such matters, if she wanted to remain perfectly still, then she would absolutely remain perfectly still. Humph!
Gu Sheng sighed inwardly and felt a tinge of regret. His strong-willed wife had let her guard down. The subtle perks were gone.
Turning the tables, he pinned her down beneath him. Zhan Aiping pushed his face lightly and mumbled with her eyes closed, “Be gentle.”
She used to be so competitive, always wanting to outdo Gu Sheng in everything. Now she realised she didn’t need to be that way all the time. She didn’t have to endure everything on her own, bearing it all with strength. Sometimes, showing vulnerability was also acceptable.
In this particular matter, women were at a disadvantage by default. Her physical strength and endurance couldn’t compare to Gu Sheng’s. Trying to compete with him in this area would be foolish.
Hearing her say, “Be gentle,” Gu Sheng’s heart melted. The prideful and strong-willed person, who usually stood her ground, had just uttered a soft plea. That feeling was simply extraordinary.
He lowered his head to look at Zhan Aiping. She had her eyes closed, and her eyelashes, delicate and glossy, rested gently on her eyelids. Her skin was fair and had a soft glow in the dim light, like honey.
He leaned closer to her ear and whispered, “Don’t worry, my dear. I’ll be gentle.”
The next day, Zhan Aiping wasn’t sure how long she had slept. The diffuse daylight outside illuminated the room. She realised that they had guests coming today. She covered her face with a pillow and had no intention of moving.
Outside, there was still no movement, so it shouldn’t be considered late. However, if someone from outside were to arrive, it would be trouble.
Zhan Aiping: “…”
In the end, she changed her clothes and got out of bed. Gu Sheng cooked porridge and brought it to her. Zhan Aiping stared at him, thinking that this guy was just talking nonsense. He might have been gentle in his words, but his endurance was truly impressive. He always liked to push her to tears, and she has had enough. If it weren’t for him getting out of bed early in the morning on his own, Zhan Aiping would have kicked him several times.
“Wife, have some porridge.” Gu Sheng walked over to her and shamelessly sat down, smiling tenderly.
Zhan Aiping threw a pillow at him.
Gu Sheng quickly caught the pillow.
Zhan Aiping sat cross-legged with a cold face and drank the porridge, while Gu Sheng acted like a sticky candy, staying by her side with a playful smile, clearly in need of some discipline.
“Wife, don’t give me a cold shoulder. When outsiders come later, give me some face.”
Give him some face? What a joke!
This guy really understood tactics in everyday life. He deeply understood the principles of “when the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy retreats, we pursue; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy is tired, we attack.” He had a black heart and thick skin. While he talked about saving face on the surface, in reality, he cared about it less than anyone else.
When it was time to be tough and speak harshly, he didn’t hold back. When it was time to beg for mercy and admit defeat, he didn’t hesitate to lower his pride. When he had the chance, he would immediately pursue and strike fiercely.
This guy even holds grudges.
Back in the day, he dug up old history to interrogate her, saying, “…did you grow up for nothing?”
Zhan Aiping kept a cold face, not giving him a single pleasant look. When their fellow soldiers from the unit arrived, she gave everyone else a smile but gave him a scowl. Others could tell that the married couple was having a quarrel, and they all exchanged knowing glances, enjoying the scene.
Gu Sheng forced a smile and said, “My sister-in-law is mad at me, giving me the cold shoulder. I’ll make it up to her later.”
“Gu Sheng, even you have your days.”
“Little Gu, even you have your days.”
“Company Commander Gu, who would’ve thought even you have your days…”
…
A series of “even you have your days” remarks almost made Zhan Aiping burst into laughter.
“That’s Zhang Zheng from the first company, and that’s Instructor Zhou Hongliang from the third platoon… and this is Commander Jiang.”
Gu Sheng introduced them one by one, and Zhan Aiping tried to remember the faces. There were so many people, and she couldn’t recall all of them at once. She would naturally become more familiar with them as time went on.
Commander Jiang held a glass of wine and looked at him without expression, as if he was gazing at a traitor. “Gu Sheng, who would have thought you’d also have your days.”
Commander Jiang was also a robust man, tall and sturdy, with a slightly rounder head. He had a shaved head and wore a cap. He looked much better with a shaved head than when he had hair, but he needed to wear a cap because without it, he looked like a bald egg.
“Commander.” Gu Sheng clinked glasses with him, signifying that their “bachelorhood club” was completely disbanded from today.
Beside them, Captain Sun said, “Old Gu, you’ve hidden it well. Weren’t you saying before that you wouldn’t get married and would remain a bachelor for life? And now, you’ve brought back such a beautiful wife.”
The wife Gu Sheng brought back was truly beautiful. She was a former female soldier, a doctor, from a good background, with a good family, good looks, and a delicate charm. It seemed like everything good had fallen into his lap.
—Except for the fact that she had a bit of a temper.
It would be best to keep old Gu in check.
“No choice, the girl I’ve liked since childhood was willing to marry me. It would be foolish not to marry her.”
“Have you two really known each other since childhood?”
“Really.”
…
Commander Jiang listened to their conversation while drinking on the side, and he felt that the taste of the wine in his mouth was getting more and more bitter. This guy had looked like a typical bachelor before, but it turned out he had a girl he liked all along.
He used to say that he wouldn’t get married, just like him, and live a carefree life. Yet, he suddenly married a stunning wife, and they seemed to have a close and innocent childhood connection.
The day before yesterday, he almost went to the military hospital to cause a commotion, clearly showing genuine emotions.
—He had hidden this too well!
Commander Jiang might appear carefree on the surface, but deep down, he was bitterly jealous. He also wanted the warmth of a wife and children, but he gritted his teeth and endured it.
Before, he had Gu Sheng accompanying him. Gu Sheng came from a well-off family, had good looks, and had also claimed he wouldn’t get married, hinting at a lifetime of bachelorhood. Countless days and nights, Gu Sheng had comforted him, making Commander Jiang think that with Gu Sheng, who had such excellent qualities, being a bachelor was fine. They could enjoy the envy of many men and lead a carefree life together.
Little did he know that this rascal would turn around and marry a young lady, which felt like the deepest betrayal.
Many people had boasted about the benefits of having a wife in front of him in the past, but those had not hurt Commander Jiang much. However, Gu Sheng’s betrayal was a knife to his heart, especially since Gu Sheng had claimed to be a bachelor while secretly loving someone for many years. Now that his wish had come true, it was much more significant than those who married after just a few meetings at matchmaking tables. It was twenty years of emotion!
The political commissar asked him, “Gu Sheng, have you handed over your salary?”
Gu Sheng casually replied, “I handed it over. From now on, my wife will manage the money at home.”
The people around them laughed, saying, “You’re in trouble now. Your wife will be in charge, and you’ll have some tough times ahead.”
Gu Sheng joined in the laughter with them, saying, “I won’t have money to buy cigarettes anymore.”
…
Commander Jiang listened to their conversation and silently drank his sorrows away. He wanted a wife too!
Before leaving, Commander Jiang called Gu Sheng over and gave him a warning, “Gu Sheng, let me remind you in advance, don’t keep talking about your wife in front of me.”
Commander Jiang had seen all kinds of newlyweds, and some of them couldn’t stop talking about their wives all the time. “My wife did this… my wife did that…” It was annoying to listen to.
Commander Jiang preferred talking to men who had been married for a while, complaining about their wives nagging over trivial matters, their mischievous children, and the daily household chores. Those were the conversations he enjoyed.
“Alright, Commander, you can rest assured,” Gu Sheng promised, with a look that said, “I won’t deliberately annoy people.”
Commander Jiang thought, “Rest assured my foot.” He had seen the bad habits of newlywed men before, who couldn’t resist showing off and bragging about their wives. Gu Sheng was definitely not going to be an exception, and he was certain Gu Sheng would come to him to show off sooner or later.
After marrying such a beautiful wife, how could he not show off? How could he not boast? Everything she does is like a breath of fresh air.
When he starts showing off, he must give him a “fatal blow” and make him the laughingstock.
—He really wanted a beautiful wife too.
“Gu Sheng, do you still have something to do over there? Come over for a moment…” His wife called him with a strangely sweet voice.
“Wife, what’s wrong?” Gu Sheng eagerly ran over.
Commander Jiang watched his receding figure and thought that Gu Sheng used to be quite a “tough guy.” When those pretty nurses tried to flirt with him, he wouldn’t even give them the time of day. He would just hold his cigarette, maintain a cold expression, and act like he was in front of his subordinates. But now, in front of his own wife, why was he being such a brown-noser?
Were women really that amazing?
Regardless, he would never become a brown-noser like this in his life!
—If only Director Li Yuxia would be willing to introduce him to a potential partner.
Commander Jiang rarely visited the family housing area, but he had heard about Director Li’s reputation. He knew that Director Li Yuxia, besides being the Women’s Director, was also a renowned matchmaker. She could find a match for anyone, and her introductions were always spot-on, like a matchmaker reincarnated.
Commander Jiang had gone on several blind dates before, and he couldn’t help but think that the problem lay with the matchmakers. Many people had tried to introduce him to potential partners, but Director Li Yuxia hadn’t done so yet.
Commander Jiang was silently thinking that if he could get introduced to a potential partner by this “spot-on” matchmaker Li Yuxia, maybe he could also enjoy the warmth of having a wife and children.
However, he had been stubborn about it before, making it clear that he wouldn’t actively seek someone to introduce him to a partner. In the past, it had always been others insisting on introducing potential partners to him. He couldn’t bring himself to ask someone for help in finding a partner.
Now that he had encountered Director Li, who was also attending the gathering, Commander Jiang adopted a roundabout tactic, saying, “Director Li, how have our newlyweds, Little Gu and his wife, been doing these past few days since they moved in?”
Li Yuxia hesitated for a moment before responding, “Well… their relationship seems to be going well.”
Commander Jiang continued, “Did you also go to the military hospital with them earlier?”
Li Yuxia replied, “Yes, I did. Little Zhan, she’s adapting quite well. She doesn’t seem to have any emotional issues. She truly is a good family member.”
She had never seen such a reasonable “family member” before, which made her feel unfulfilled in her work.
Commander Jiang thought, “Why doesn’t she just ask him to introduce him to a partner already?”
He continued, “She’s a good family member indeed, Director Li. Have you been introducing people to potential partners recently?”
Li Yuxia smiled and said, “Yes, I have. In fact, I just recently facilitated a match.”
Her career as a matchmaker had never had any failures.
Commander Jiang asked, “…Did you never think about introducing Little Gu to a potential partner before?” Now that this bachelor was right in front of her, she didn’t want to take the initiative to introduce him to someone?
Li Yuxia replied, “What’s there to introduce for Little Gu? Doesn’t he already have someone in his heart? I could tell a long time ago. When he meets someone he likes, even the toughest steel can turn as soft as silk… Commander Jiang, I have something to attend to. I’ll leave now.”
Commander Jiang: “…”
Li Yuxia didn’t pay any attention to him. Although others eagerly introduced potential partners to Commander Jiang despite his cold demeanour, she was not that type of person.
To maintain her flawless record as a matchmaker, Director Li never wasted time on difficult cases like his.
That way, she could avoid any failures.
After the lively family gathering and dinner, people started to disperse. Before leaving, they all helped tidy up the tables, chairs, and utensils efficiently. The house and the yard became clean and neat again. Those who came for the meal were used to not causing any trouble.
Zhan Aiping went to open the bedroom door, revealing the small, broken bed that was her only piece of furniture.
The collapsed bed was not something she wanted anyone else to see.
Gu Sheng had had quite a bit to drink and was sitting on a stool to sober up. Zhan Aiping brought him a bowl of sour soup to help him recover from the alcohol. Gu Sheng took a sip, and while it helped him sober up, it made his mouth feel sour to the point of wanting to throw up. He buried his head on Zhan Aiping’s shoulder.
Zhan Aiping patted his back and said, “Why are you losing face again? You said you handed over your salary; at least show off your twenty bucks of pocket money.”
“What’s there to show off? I’ll just say I’m broke now. My wife at home will be strict with the finances, so people won’t ask to borrow money from me.” Gu Sheng had actually lent money to quite a few people before. Knowing that he had decent financial means and was single, people often approached him for loans. Instead of lending it out, he preferred to spend it generously on himself, so people would think he had a big expenditure, had no money to lend, and he could save a good amount.
“Do you want me to praise you as very clever?” Zhan Aiping smiled and patted him.
Gu Sheng, buried in her shoulder, nudged her playfully. Zhan Aiping touched his head and asked, “If you’re feeling uncomfortable, should I give you a couple of injections?”
Gu Sheng replied, “…” Damn, he had forgotten that his wife always carried needles with her.
“Alright, I’ll give you the shots.”
Zhan Aiping proceeded to give him two injections, and Gu Sheng found it rather comforting. “Wife, you really have some skills. I apologize for making you go to the township hospital.”
“Where’s the ‘some skills’? I’ve got plenty of skills.”
Gu Sheng gently touched her head and added, “You met our commander today. He’s still relatively young, but he’s already losing his hair significantly on top, while the sides are lush and green… He got so annoyed that he shaved all his hair off and now he goes around with a bald head.”
Zhan Aiping asked, “Do you want me to help him with his hair loss?”
“It’s not that… forget it.” Gu Sheng thought it would be awkward to approach someone and say, “I can help you with your baldness.”
“It’s fine if you can cure it, but what if you can’t? You might end up annoying people if you promise something and can’t deliver,” Zhan Aiping advised.
Zhan Aiping chuckled, but she didn’t mind being called a “quack doctor” because that was a common perception among doctors. No matter how skilled you were, in the eyes of your closest family, they still saw you as a quack. It was similar to not believing that your classmates could become good doctors or teachers because you had seen them copying homework.
“Do you have a day off tomorrow? Accompany me to see my younger brother…” As soon as Zhan Aiping mentioned her younger brother, Zhan Mingzhao, her mood sank. They hadn’t seen each other since they parted last time, and over the phone, he sounded full of energy. She had no idea how he was really doing here.
He said he could drive a tractor now.
As a sent-down youth, working in the countryside day by day, life was undoubtedly tough, and many people sought ways to return to the city. Her younger brother could have chosen to join the military and leave, but he refused to.
Gu Sheng readily agreed, “Sure, I’ll accompany you to meet your younger brother. I, the ugly brother-in-law is finally going to meet his little brother-in-law.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “When he sees you, he might be so shocked that his jaw drops to the ground.”
Zhan Mingzhao had actually made a promise. He told Gu Sheng that if Gu Sheng became his brother-in-law, he would join the military. Zhan Aiping hoped he would remember his words.
Every time she mentioned her younger brother, Zhan Aiping couldn’t help but repeat and ask multiple times, “My brother has been in the countryside for a while now. I heard he said you visited him. How are the conditions there? Is it tough? I’m quite worried about him. Is he leading a good life every day?”
“Gu Sheng, what was it like when you met him before? He says he’s doing well over the phone, but my brother is a bit timid. I’m afraid he might be getting bullied.”
Upon hearing her concerns, Gu Sheng’s expression became quite vivid, and he hesitated, “Well…”
Zhan Aiping asked, “Why do you always do this? Why do you hesitate every time?” She had asked Gu Sheng about this before, but he always hesitated like this.
Gu Sheng replied, “It’s actually quite good there. He doesn’t have any problems with his daily life.”
Zhan Aiping narrowed her eyes and said, “Are you hiding something from me?” Gu Sheng’s mouth twitched, and he said, “You might not believe it if I tell you… As his sister, it’s probably better if you see for yourself.”
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