Business Trip
“Going on a business trip is a great opportunity. If you don’t want to do it, you can pass it to someone else as a favour…” Commander Jiang quickly explained everything. He shifted the responsibility of the official duty onto Gu Sheng, with a look that said, “You’re getting a great deal.” He suppressed a smile and casually said, “You handle it yourself.”
“Oh, and this is for your wife. I hope she likes it.”
With that, Commander Jiang handed something to Gu Sheng, then quickly turned and left, practically running as if he were afraid Gu Sheng would catch up to him. Within a few steps, he disappeared from Gu Sheng’s sight.
Gu Sheng couldn’t be bothered to chase him, nor did he want to argue with Commander Jiang. That guy was smart—he knew to give the gift at the very end. After Old Wang sent something once, Commander Jiang also came by to deliver a piece of floral Dacron fabric as a token of appreciation for Zhan Aiping’s help during her postpartum recovery.
The fabric was indeed beautiful, but a bit too flashy. Gu Sheng shook his head and chuckled, “What a ‘great opportunity’—he just pushed the responsibility onto me.”
It was a clear case of shirking responsibility.
He dumped the task right on my head.
Zhan Aiping came out and asked, “What did Commander Jiang come for?”
Gu Sheng replied dryly, “He brought you another piece of fabric and, while he was at it, threw a task at me.”
Zhan Aiping smiled, “What task did he throw at you? Stuck it right on your forehead?”
Gu Sheng replied, “Official duty—going to Spring City for about ten days.”
“Well, that’s quite the opportunity! A paid trip,” Zhan Aiping said, tucking her hair behind her ear. Going on official duty wasn’t a bad thing after all.
Life in the camp was strict, but if you were sent on official duty, you had a lot more freedom. It was almost like a paid vacation—once the work was done, you could go shopping or explore wherever you liked.
A business trip to Spring City wasn’t too far. If it had been to somewhere farther, like Shanghai or the capital, it would have been like being a “personal shopper” of this era. Anyone sent on a business trip to a big city was always expected to buy things for their colleagues and family. Of course, you couldn’t buy too much—if people thought you were profiteering, you could be labelled as engaging in “speculation,” which was a serious offense.
“Paid vacation? I’d rather stay home with my wife every day. I don’t want to go on any trips,” Gu Sheng said. He’d be away for about half a month on a trip, but he much preferred staying at home with his wife instead of all the traveling back and forth.
Zhan Aiping laughed as she looked at him, “They’ve handed you a good deal, and you’re not happy about it. There’s nothing anyone can do about that.”
Gu Sheng replied, “If it’s such a good deal, why didn’t he take it himself and instead shoved it onto me? Tomorrow, I’ll find someone else to take it off my hands.”
Zhan Aiping said, “There must be some officer without family who would love this task. You just have to find the right person.”
“Always finding me something to do.” Gu Sheng handed her the fabric, “Look at this, wife. Is it nice?”
Zhan Aiping helplessly replied, “They’ve given me so much fabric, I feel a bit embarrassed. Most people only make one or two new outfits a year.”
Gu Sheng shrugged, “What’s there to be embarrassed about? After all the work you’ve done, you deserve some reward.”
Zhan Aiping said, “I’ll make some small cotton outfits to give back. This fabric isn’t suitable for children’s clothes—I’ve told them that before.”
Gu Sheng chuckled, “You’re always so particular.”
“I’m going to visit He Lingling. She just had her baby, and I’m going to bring her some things.”
Director Li just had a baby, and He Lingling had also given birth to a baby girl. The couple was overjoyed to have a daughter. Zhan Aiping brought some nutritional supplements to congratulate her.
When she arrived at He Lingling’s home, He Lingling was lying in bed, looking pale, with her baby sleeping beside her. When she saw Zhan Aiping, it was as if she saw a saviour. “What should I do, Doctor Zhan? Breastfeeding is so painful, it feels like needles are stabbing me!”
Zhan Aiping asked, “Could it be your posture?”
She taught her the correct breastfeeding posture and how to burp the baby. She also prescribed some lactation medicine. He Lingling sighed, “These things really need to be taught by someone. You can’t just learn it from notes.”
Zhan Aiping replied, “Once you learn, you can teach your husband.”
He Lingling said, “He’s so thrilled about having a daughter, but his hands are clumsy—he doesn’t even dare hold her.”
“When he did hold her, she cried so hard, and he panicked immediately. He’s not afraid of anything, except when his daughter cries.”
Zhan Aiping said, “You should let him hold her more often. The more he holds her, the more he’ll get used to it.”
“There’s always a process of getting used to it.”
After leaving He Lingling’s home, Zhan Aiping headed back to her yard. When Gu Sheng saw her, he teased, “Whenever someone has a baby, you always have to visit, more dedicated than the doctors in our courtyard.”
Zhan Aiping washed her hands and said, “Of course I have to visit. If someone has a baby, how could I not go congratulate them?”
Gu Sheng replied, “I almost forgot your title as the ‘Fertility Goddess.’”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “One more word from you, and I’ll step on you. It was just a coincidence back then. I haven’t seen any pregnancies lately.”
“By the way, while you were out, Sister Zhou from next door came over with ‘big elbow’ and asked if you could take a look at the child.”
Zhan Aiping asked curiously, “What’s wrong with her child?”
Gu Sheng chuckled, “What could be wrong? Her ‘big elbow’ is chubbier than your sweet and sour pork! She just wanted to show you. That kid used to be skinny as a monkey, but now he’s getting sturdier.”
Zhan Aiping shook her head, “It’s not good to raise a child too sturdy. Our two kids are just right—not too fat, not too thin.”
“You can weigh them both later.”
“Yeah,” Gu Sheng said. “With both parents in good health, how could our kids not grow strong?”
A mischievous smile appeared in Zhan Aiping’s eyes. “What if our little ‘Sweet and Sour Pork’ ends up short, like his dad—a little shorty.”
“What nonsense are you talking about? I was just a late bloomer. Am I shorter than you now? Come here, come over, feel for yourself the height of your husband—”
“If ‘Sweet and Sour Pork’ takes after me, he’ll eventually surpass the others and grow even taller. Out of my five brothers, I’m the tallest.”
Zhan Aiping handed him a large banana. “Go feed the kids some fruit puree and help them grow a bit taller.”
Gu Sheng went to feed the kids, and Zhan Aiping followed behind, saying, “Are you really not going on the official trip? It seems like an easy task. Once you finish, you basically have free time. It’s like a paid vacation—with travel and accommodation costs covered. It really is a paid trip, isn’t it?”
Except for being confined to Spring City, it was almost like a holiday. Plus, the travel, lodging, and meal costs were reimbursed. This official trip was indeed a good deal.
“Don’t you feel like you’re missing out by not going?”
Gu Sheng replied, “If you and the kids aren’t by my side, what’s the point of being free?”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “You really have your priorities straight.”
Since Gu Sheng didn’t want to go, Zhan Aiping didn’t push him. Although she thought it was a good opportunity and a bit of a waste not to go, she didn’t want Gu Sheng to be away for more than ten days either.
Better to let someone else have this opportunity.
Gu Sheng said, “Wife, stop thinking about it. Tomorrow, I’ll pass this task on to someone else.”
Though it was a good deal, it wasn’t easy to hand off. After all, the back-and-forth travel wasn’t exactly a visit home, and few people would be willing to go—it wasn’t worth the hassle.
Going to Spring City with nothing to do might as well be staying behind for daily training, at least surrounded by familiar people.
“Do your best then.”
The next morning, when Zhan Aiping woke up, Gu Sheng was already gone. She rolled over in bed and, as usual, fed the kids for fifteen minutes, steamed some eggs, cooked noodles, ate a bit herself, and fed the little ones as well. After that, she packed a thermos, a small box of teething biscuits for the kids, and pushed the baby stroller to work.
Jiang Meihui accompanied her, helping carry a few things.
“The kids are so cute. Call me Auntie Jiang,” Jiang Meihui said as she played with a rattle to amuse the children.
With their mother around, the kids felt secure. Lately, they loved making friends and enjoyed being surrounded by adults. The siblings were babbling together, “Ba ba ba, ah ba ba.”
Jiang Meihui asked, “Are they calling ‘Daddy’?”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “Their dad has been teaching them songs lately. They’ve started babbling like this.”
Only Comrade Gu in their family could sing on key, and he had a lovely voice, though he didn’t sing often.
Lately, Zhan Aiping had been encouraging him to learn more lullabies.
In a quiet voice, Jiang Meihui asked, “Really? Dr. Zhan, do you sing to the kids? My sister-in-law sings lullabies to her baby at night. She sings beautifully.”
“Don’t babies need lullabies to fall asleep?”
Zhan Aiping replied, “I tell them stories to put them to sleep.”
When she was little, Zhan Aiping loved singing, especially around the age of five or six. She was convinced she had a talent for it. Back when she was six, she would wake up early and mimic the opera singers, practicing her voice.
That led to complaints from neighbours to her mom, saying she was making too much noise. She got a good scolding for it.
Jiang Meihui said, “Telling stories to the kids—that’s culture for you, Dr. Zhan! I’ve heard your science stories before; they were so interesting. I’m sure your kids will inherit your storytelling talent.”
Zhan Aiping sighed, “I hope so.”
“I’d love it if the kids inherited their father’s good singing voice. In our house, it’s their dad who sings them lullabies.”
Since she had a terrible singing voice and was always off-key, Comrade Zhan was very self-aware and never subjected the kids to it. At most, she would hum a few soothing words like “Sleep tight, little one” to help them fall asleep, but actual lullabies? Absolutely not.
Though her singing was bad, she hoped her kids would have lovely voices.
You always want your kids to have the talents you don’t.
Jiang Meihui was astonished. “Their dad sings lullabies?”
She had never heard of a father singing lullabies before. Could those big men really sing lullabies?
Zhan Aiping said, “My husband sings beautifully, and the kids love it.”
“Really?” Jiang Meihui nodded, “I’ll go tell my brother and sister-in-law to get my brother to learn, too.”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
She really couldn’t imagine what Commander Jiang’s singing voice would sound like. In the military, aside from the performers in the entertainment troupe, everyone else just relied on loud shouting when they sang.
Zhan Aiping smiled and said, “It wouldn’t hurt to learn a bit. Having more skills is never a bad thing.”
“Exactly,” Jiang Meihui nodded. “I’d love to see my brother holding ‘Big Plate Chicken’ and singing a lullaby.”
**Nomad: The names the picked for the kids is giving me a headache, I should have noted them down TT **
Zhan Aiping: “…”
“Since Dr. Zhan’s husband sings, how could he not sing? And he’s a commander, no less.”
Zhan Aiping stayed quiet, thinking that this younger sister was really putting her brother in a tough spot.
Jiang Meihui giggled and said, “I also want to find someone who can sing lullabies, has a good voice, and can soothe children.”
“Dr. Zhan, I’m not great at singing, but you have a nice voice. You and your husband must both sing beautifully.”
Zhan Aiping modestly replied, “I’m just average at singing.”
In reality, her singing was awful.
When they arrived at the hospital entrance, the two got out of the car. Jiang Meihui helped her push the stroller inside. If Zhan Aiping got busy, Jiang Meihui could help watch the children for a while.
Jiang Meihui brought a bag of sunflower seeds to work. If there wasn’t much to do, she would snack on them while chatting with others.
Zhan Aiping advised, “Don’t eat too many seeds. It’s easy to get heaty.”
“Okay, got it.”
There were many patients today, and one after another, they all came to see her. By noon, Zhan Aiping received a phone call from the nursing school where Teacher He told her, “Dr. Zhan, there’s a learning opportunity. Would you like to go? The Spring City Medical College just started the semester, and they’re holding a seminar and exchange program. People from other regions will be attending. Our school has two spots available, and the principal asked me if you’d be interested in going.”
A study visit to Spring City Medical College?
Zhan Aiping thought this was perfect. If she went, she could visit her teacher’s old friends, meet up with Liu Shi, and, on top of that, it coincided with Gu Sheng’s business trip. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly asked, “When is it?”
“It’s about eight or nine days long. The dates are—”
Zhan Aiping was stunned. She blinked and realized that the study period matched Gu Sheng’s business trip, except his trip was a bit longer.
She looked at her schedule. If she worked overtime without taking any leave and swapped shifts with someone, she could manage to get herself about ten days off.
Her heart raced as she rushed to the director’s office to bring it up with Director Hao. The director was thrilled. “The nursing school is letting you go for study? That’s fantastic! You must seize this opportunity. You young people learn fast, and sending you is perfect. Dr. Zhan, you’ll represent our hospital well.”
Such a spot was rare, and their hospital getting one was indeed a big deal.
“It’s great news,” Zhan Aiping said, smiling. “There’s something else too. My husband is also going on a business trip there, so I was thinking we could go together. That’s why I’d like to swap shifts in the coming days…”
She opened her calendar and marked out the dates in front of Director Hao.
Director Hao nodded as he looked, “It’s not easy being a military spouse. It’s rare to get such a good opportunity.”
“Once you approve it, I’ll arrange everything else.”
Director Hao said, “Originally, we needed you to handle the county’s guidance team when they arrive.”
Zhan Aiping replied, “I can take care of it when I return.”
“That’s true. We can’t rely on you for everything. You go ahead and focus on your study trip.”
After talking with the director, Zhan Aiping confirmed the shift swaps with several other doctors. She had a good rapport with her colleagues, so they helped her out. After asking around, she managed to arrange everything.
Now, she was eager to go home. She wanted to know if that fool Gu Sheng had successfully passed off the “good task.”
It had only been a day. Surely it wasn’t resolved that quickly?
With her kids in tow, Zhan Aiping rushed home, only to find that Gu Sheng wasn’t back yet. She anxiously waited for a while before he finally showed up, strolling in leisurely.
Unable to hold back, she asked, “Why are you only getting back now?”
“Wife, why so anxious? You even brought the kids to the door to greet me?” Having successfully passed off the task, Gu Sheng was in a great mood and smiled warmly at his wife. “Missed me?”
Zhan Aiping said, “I have something to tell you. I’m going to Spring City for a study trip, so we can go together. You haven’t passed off your task yet, have you?”
Gu Sheng: “…?!”
“If you haven’t passed it off—” we’ll take the kids with us.
Before she could finish, Gu Sheng swiftly turned around and, with the speed of his life, ran off, disappearing from sight in an instant.
Zhan Aiping: “…”
“What is all this?” Zhan Aiping laughed and sighed, thinking how even good things often come with complications.
Half an hour later, Gu Sheng returned. As soon as he came in, he hugged Zhan Aiping tightly, his body drenched in sweat from all the running around, steaming like a big boiler.
Zhan Aiping was a bit repelled by him but couldn’t push away the bear-like embrace.
“Look at you, you’re covered in sweat, you smell awful!” she complained.
Gu Sheng rubbed against her, wiping his sweat on her, clearly overjoyed. “Wife…”
Zhan Aiping sighed, “Let’s take a bath together later.”
She was also quite happy, the thought of them going to Spring City with their children making her heart race. Unable to resist, she buried her face in Gu Sheng’s chest.
“Snuggling up to me now? Not bothered by the smell?” Gu Sheng teased as he hugged her tighter.
Zhan Aiping replied, “It smells, but you’re still the one I love. I guess I’ll just have to put up with it.”
Gu Sheng couldn’t resist rubbing against her again.
Zhan Aiping, laughing, said in mock disgust, “You’re just like Lai Fu from the courtyard.”
Lai Fu was the German Shepherd they had in the camp.
“I’m happy! This time, our commander has finally done something good. Tomorrow, I have to go thank him sincerely,” Gu Sheng said, grinning.
Zhan Aiping laughed, “You’re going to thank him? More like you’re going to tease him, right?”
Gu Sheng smiled gently, without saying a word.
“Go dry off your sweat. When you sweat like this during training, make sure you take care of it. Use some paper to keep your back dry so you don’t catch a cold.”
Gu Sheng replied, “I know, you’ve reminded me many times. My wife is so particular.”
“It’s for your own good, I don’t want you getting sick.”
Gu Sheng said, “I’m strong, I won’t get sick.”
Zhan Aiping soothed him, “You’re the pillar of our family, you have to take care of yourself. With the two little ones already keeping us busy, I don’t want to have to take care of a third sick baby.”
She urged him to take a shower and change into clean clothes, but Gu Sheng was reluctant to leave her. His peach blossom eyes blinked as he looked at her eagerly. “Wife, you need to confirm you’re going too. Don’t just send me off by myself.”
Gu Sheng, having already reported for the trip, was worried that if his wife didn’t go, he’d be stuck there alone for over ten days.
Zhan Aiping sighed, “I can’t be sure yet, but there shouldn’t be any changes.”
Gu Sheng: “…”
“You’d better not gloat too soon. Wait until we’re ready to leave before saying anything. Otherwise, Commander Jiang will laugh at you.”
Gu Sheng huffed, “I’m going tomorrow! I don’t believe it, I’m betting everything on this—I trust my luck.”
“Alright,” Zhan Aiping nodded. “I trust my luck too. We’ll definitely succeed as a couple.”
She raised her hand and high-fived Gu Sheng three times.
“If I go to the seminar, I’ll be really busy these next few days with work. You’ll have to help take care of the kids.”
Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow. “Even if I go on the trip, you’re saying I’ll be watching the kids every day?”
Since Zhan Aiping would be attending the seminar, and his official duties were light, it would be like a vacation for him. But that also meant he’d likely spend most of his time watching the kids in an unfamiliar place.
Zhan Aiping covered her mouth, laughing, “Of course! We’ll need to rely on Daddy to look after the kids during those days.”
“Can we not take the kids?”
Comrade Gu was hoping for some alone time with his wife.
“Not take the kids? How could you say that? If we don’t bring them, what will you do while I’m at the seminar?”
“I’ll just stay with you.”
Zhan Aiping playfully pushed his head. “As a responsible father, how can you avoid your duties? You should spend more time bonding with the kids.”
“You don’t spend much time with them during the day, so why not take this chance? We can all go to the zoo together later.”
Gu Sheng chuckled, “Alright.”
Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping took turns showering. Once the trip was confirmed, Zhan Aiping began to plan ahead. She wanted to call Teacher Sun and let him know she was visiting his old friends in Spring City, as well as reconnect with Liu Shi from the Spring City Sanatorium.
In addition to these plans, she also had to ensure the hospital work was handled. She needed to update her patients and set up a schedule for the next two weeks…
Late into the night, she still had many materials to process. “I’ll have to work overtime for several days to be able to go. Gu Wuge, you’ll need to help take care of things at home.”
Gu Sheng gave her a thumbs-up, signalling that he would take care of laundry, cooking, and the kids.
Zhan Aiping was satisfied.
She worked all night, and the next day she was back at the hospital, continuing her busy schedule. After seeing patients in the morning, she worked through lunch, and around noon, she took a moment to call her godfather, Teacher Sun.
“Are you coming over?” Teacher Sun asked.
“Yes, I’m going there for a seminar.”
“That’s great.”
After writing down names and detailed addresses, she tried calling Liu Shi, but she couldn’t reach her. By the evening, Liu Shi finally called back.
“Pingping, what’s up?”
After their last reunion, Liu Shi had gotten married, and she had informed Zhan Aiping, who congratulated her and sent her a gift.
“I’m going to Spring City for a seminar. How about we meet up?” Zhan Aiping asked.
“What?! You’re coming over? That’s amazing! Come to my house, my husband and I will host you. He’s been so curious to meet you.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “Really? What’s there to be curious about? I’m not coming alone, though. I’m bringing my husband and the two kids.”
Liu Shi was surprised, “You’re bringing your husband and kids?”
“Yeah, it’s quite convenient. My husband also has a business trip there.”
Liu Shi was delighted, “That’s great! Finally, I’ll get to meet your husband and those adorable twins.”
“When are you coming? Come to my house for a meal. We’ll host you and make sure to bring your husband along.”
Hanging up the phone, Liu Shi was so excited. When her husband came home, she eagerly told him, “My old classmate is coming—the one you’ve been wanting to meet.”
Her husband, Zhao Zhiyong, was curious, “You mean Zhan Aiping?”
“That’s right, Pingping! We’ll host her whole family.”
Zhao Zhiyong was even more surprised, “Her whole family is coming?”
“Yes, including their twin boy and girl.”
Meanwhile, after Gu Sheng finished his tasks, he visited Commander Jiang, bringing along a few gifts. When he arrived at the Jiang household, Commander Jiang was in the courtyard, holding his “Big Plate Chicken” (his child) and humming something. Upon seeing Gu Sheng, Commander Jiang glared at him.
Gu Sheng was in high spirits, his face beaming with satisfaction.
Commander Jiang squinted at him, frowning so hard he could crush a fly between his brows. He continued glaring and said, “I heard you’ve been singing lullabies to your kids every day.”
Thanks to him, now Commander Jiang had to learn how to sing lullabies too, all because his sister and wife had been nagging him about it.
His younger sister had really been corrupted, constantly praising Dr. Zhan and saying how her husband sang lullabies to their kids. And now, as a commander, he felt he was losing out to Staff Officer Gu just because he couldn’t sing lullabies.
Gu Sheng’s lips twitched, “Who spread that rumour? I haven’t been singing.”
Commander Jiang mercilessly pointed out, “Your wife said it. She told my sister herself that you sing lullabies to the kids.”
“I’ve never even heard my staff officer sing a lullaby before.”
“So, is your wife lying, or are you?”
Gu Sheng suddenly understood, “Oh, my wife said that? Then she’s right. I do sing… just occasionally.”
Commander Jiang: “…” Occasionally? He thought, *You’re killing me here.*
As a new father, he now had to sing lullabies to his own “Big Plate Chicken.”
With a glint of schadenfreude, Commander Jiang asked, “Did you manage to pass off the duty?”
Gu Sheng’s eyes twinkled with amusement, “No need to find anyone else. I’m going myself. Commander, thank you for assigning me such a great task.”
Commander Jiang was puzzled, “What happened?”
Gu Sheng said, “My wife happens to be going there for a seminar, so we’re going together. We’re even bringing the kids.”
Commander Jiang’s jaw nearly dropped to the ground, “How can it be so coincidental?”
“Truth is stranger than fiction, sometimes things just happen this way,” Gu Sheng said with a smile as he walked off, leaving Commander Jiang sighing heavily. Holding his child, he went to find his wife, feeling a surge of jealousy. He wished he could also go on a trip with his wife.
Qin Lanfang said, “You should focus on learning those lullabies first.”
“Little sister said Staff Officer Gu has a lovely singing voice. Why don’t you learn a bit? I think you have a nice voice too, just don’t sing too loudly.”
Although Commander Jiang’s singing could make anyone cringe, Qin Lanfang remembered what Zhan Aiping had once said—that it was important to encourage fathers to have more intimate interactions with their children. She thought lullaby singing would be a great way for him to bond with their child. After all, if Gu Sheng could do it, as a commander, Jiang should also give it a try.
Reluctantly, Commander Jiang agreed, “Fine, I’ll sing.”
It felt like a nightmare to him.
Meanwhile, Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng were busy preparing for their trip. After several days of hard work, Zhan Aiping finally managed to finish her tasks. Only then could the whole family happily head out.
Zhan Aiping had already finished the first draft of her book, ‘Surgical Techniques’, but it still lacked a few case studies. She planned to complete it after returning from the trip. Even though she was currently working in the Traditional Chinese Medicine department, she believed in finishing what she started.
“Little ones, we’re going on a trip with Daddy and Mommy! Are you excited?” she asked her two children.
The kids hadn’t yet travelled anywhere far; it was either the camp or the hospital with their mother. The two little ones on their bamboo bed drooled, not fully understanding what their mother said, but they responded happily with a few sounds.
Clearly, they were more than happy to go along with whatever their mother decided.
“Looking at you two, I can tell you’re excited. Mommy’s excited too,” Zhan Aiping said.
Preparing to travel with the kids, Zhan Aiping packed two large bags, filled with clothes, baby supplies, and essential medicines and disinfectants. She always liked to bring medical supplies just in case.
It didn’t matter how much stuff they had—Gu Sheng was there as the muscle. While Zhan Aiping pushed the stroller with the two kids, Gu Sheng was responsible for carrying the luggage.
The siblings sat in the stroller, curiously looking around. They could now stand up by holding onto the sides of the stroller, although they would sometimes lose their balance and plop back down.
Sometimes the siblings would cling to each other, playing together affectionately. Zhan Aiping had hung several toys, like little rabbits and tigers, on the stroller. These were handmade by their father, and the twins loved them—so much that they often threw them around while playing.
The family caught a ride and bumped along the mountain roads for several hours until they finally arrived in Spring City. It was no wonder people back then avoided long-distance travel. Even going to another county felt far, let alone outside the city or province.
It had been a while since Zhan Aiping had taken a long trip, and the bumpy ride left her a little queasy. After getting off the vehicle, the family headed to the army guesthouse to settle in. Since they had coordinated their trip with Gu Sheng’s business travel, they would stay there for a couple of days before she went to the Spring City Medical College for her seminar.
The medical college only had two cohorts of worker-peasant-soldier students at that time, so there were still plenty of empty dorms.
At the army guesthouse, Gu Sheng went off to handle some matters. Besides meeting with Liu Shi, he also planned to catch up with some old comrades stationed nearby. After so many years in the military, Gu Sheng had old friends scattered all over the country.
“Wife, take the kids inside and rest. I need to make a few phone calls.”
“Tomorrow you’ll meet with your old classmate, and then I’ll meet up with my old comrades.”
Zhan Aiping yawned, “So many social obligations.”
“And this is considered a lot?” Gu Sheng laughed. “Wait until I take you to back to my parents. The number of gatherings will be endless.”
“The friends I grew up with in the courtyard—there are still three or four I keep in touch with. They’re dying to meet you and see what my wife is like.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “I refuse to meet them. I’m not going to satisfy their curiosity.”
Gu Sheng pinched her cheek. “You’ll have to meet them eventually. You can’t avoid it forever.”
“Fine, I’ll meet them. My friends are curious about how you, Gu Lao Wu, handle being a husband. I bet they think I’ve whipped you into shape.”
“Yes, yes, you’ve whipped me into shape. Whatever my leader says, I obey without question.”
Zhan Aiping said, “Don’t be so cheeky. You’ve defied me plenty of times.”
The room in the guesthouse wasn’t too big, but it was cozy, similar to a small inn with a bed, a cabinet, chairs, a table, and a bathroom with a pull-chain toilet.
After setting down her things, Zhan Aiping pulled out iodine and cotton swabs to disinfect a few places, like the door handles and switches. She also set up a small, clean sleeping bag on the bed.
When Gu Sheng opened the door and saw what she was doing, he quipped, “So fussy.”
Zhan Aiping replied, “That’s just how doctors are.”
It was always better to be cautious, especially with two little ones in tow. She laid a thin cotton blanket from home on the bed before letting the children crawl around.
The two kids, excited to be in a new environment, looked around at their mom and each other, crawling and playing. They didn’t want their mother to leave their sight.
Zhan Aiping said, “Tomorrow, you handle your business first. Afterward, we’ll meet up with Liu Shi and have dinner at her house to meet her husband.”
Gu Sheng asked, “Is this the old classmate of yours who recently got married?”
“Yes, she’s a nice person, a woman,” Zhan Aiping replied.
Gu Sheng said, “Alright, make sure to catch up with your friend and chat a lot. It’s not easy to meet old classmates—even though you guys just saw each other a few months ago.”
Zhan Aiping smiled and said, “You need to focus on taking care of the kids. Don’t interrupt our gathering. When women get together, we have a lot to talk about. You’ll need to look after Guobaorou and Xiao Tangyuan.”
Gu Sheng sighed, “Commander Jiang said you’re great at undermining others, but I think your ability to pass off responsibilities is just as strong.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “Comrade Gu, you need to embrace the heavy responsibility. The kids are still small and easy to manage.”
Once the kids turned four or five, they would be like two energetic huskies, bursting with energy that would need to be burned off. Thankfully, they lived in a compound with other families, not in high-rise buildings, so the children could play with other kids in the yard without too much adult supervision.
“Alright, I’ll work hard to bond with the kids, and I’ll sing them lullabies,” Gu Sheng said.
Zhan Aiping smiled and nodded, “That’s the positive and forward-thinking attitude of a good comrade.”
“You can also chat with Liu Shi’s husband. I know you men need social time too,” she added.
Gu Sheng joked, “What would we talk about? Parenting tips?”
“You can talk about whatever you want. Do I need to tell you what to discuss?” Zhan Aiping teased. “If you want to talk about parenting, that’s fine too—it’s your choice. Though, they’ve just gotten married, so they might not be thinking about kids yet.”
Meanwhile, Liu Shi was excited about Zhan Aiping’s upcoming visit. She had taken a day off and thoroughly cleaned the entire house. Her husband, seeing her in such a state, sighed helplessly.
Liu Shi pulled out several outfits, asking her husband, “What should I wear when Pingping arrives? Which one looks the best? How should I dress?”
“I’ll cook myself that day, or maybe we could order a few dishes from the state-owned restaurant? Don’t you know a chef there?”
“You—you—” Zhao Zhiyong, her husband, was jealous. Although Liu Shi was preparing to host a female classmate, he was still filled with envy.
Who exactly was this Zhan Aiping?
Liu Shi had previously mentioned that Zhan Aiping was very beautiful—beautiful, but also, during their school days, she initially mistook her for a man…
Zhao Zhiyong couldn’t picture what this classmate looked like at all, especially since she was coming with her husband and children.
**Nomad: Sorry for posting this late. I’ve caught the flu that’s been going round. Is it a bad time to say I should have taken the flu injection?
I’m aiming to post chapter 62 later than the usual 6 am, I’ll probably be able to get it done in my lunch break. If you don’t see it by 5 pm GMT then it will be posted tomorrow since I have lessons after work TT**
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