Lonely and Widowed
After dinner, it was still early, so the family sat together chatting. Guobaorou and Little Tangyuan both clung to their mother, while Guobaorou held a storybook and read from it in a serious, proper manner.
“Pingping, you’re pregnant again?”
Zhan Aiping nodded. She was pregnant with her third child, but they had not made a big announcement about it. Only Gu Ze’an and Qin Ying knew that the family would be welcoming another child, and they were extremely excited.
“Our family is getting more and more lively.”
Qin Ying said in surprise, “Youyou can recognise characters when he’s still this young?”
Zhan Aiping said, “He can recognise a few characters, but he can’t write.”
Her eldest son was precocious, but Zhan Aiping had not forced him in particular. She did not restrict him either, letting him do whatever he liked. She had taught him pinyin and given him a dictionary. At such a young age, when his little palm was not even as big as the dictionary, he had already started flipping through it with great interest. Whenever he came across a character he did not know, he looked it up himself. Who knew how many characters he could recognise now?
Gu Ze’an said happily, “My eldest grandson is a genius.”
“You two must nurture him properly.”
Eldest Brother Gu called Gu Sheng into a room and exchanged a few words of concern with him. Then he said frankly, “You need to properly discipline this wife of yours. If things continue like this, the two of you will divorce sooner or later.”
The smile at the corner of Gu Sheng’s lips faded. “Eldest Brother, can’t you say a few nice words for once? My wife and I have a very good relationship.”
“Good? How good can the two of you be? After marriage… from what I can see, this wife of yours hasn’t changed her temper at all. She’s still so hard, like a stone.”
Gu Sheng said, “I like that personality of hers.”
Eldest Brother Gu said, “When an official rises in rank, his temper rises with him. Right now, you can still tolerate her personality. But what about later? You’re already a regiment commander, which counts as a mid-to-high-ranking military officer. There are fewer and fewer people above you, and more and more people will come asking favours of you. More and more people will listen to your orders. Can you still guarantee you’ll remain like this? Will you still be willing to go home and lower your head before your wife? I’ve seen too much…”
Over the years, there had been no shortage of men who changed wives. Many people had already replaced their first wives once.
Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow. “Have you not seen our dad?”
Eldest Brother Gu: “…”
“Our dad and our mom are different.”
Gu Sheng said, “The relationship between my wife and me is even more different. Eldest Brother, worry less about me and solve your own personal problems first.”
“Living as a bachelor can’t feel good, right? That brother who used to be close to you, the one who’s only three years older than you — I heard his daughter-in-law is already pregnant. He’s about to become a grandfather…”
Those who had married early were already becoming grandfathers.
Eldest Brother Gu narrowed his eyes at him. “We are talking about your problem right now.”
Gu Sheng looked down at Eldest Brother Gu from above. He was taller than him. “Eldest Brother, your problem is more serious.”
“Watching all your good brothers around you get married and have children one by one, it can’t feel good, can it? If it doesn’t feel good, then hurry up and find a partner. How about I introduce one to you?” His eldest brother was the true example of someone whose temper rose with his rank. He thought that because the people around him followed his lead and tried to please him, he no longer needed to take anyone else seriously. Gu Sheng thought he really ought to introduce him to someone with a fiery temper, so he could experience that not everyone would accept this attitude.
Eldest Brother Gu’s face darkened. “You want to introduce someone to me?”
Eldest Brother Gu felt that one day, he would truly be angered to death by his own younger brother. Aside from the fifth brother, who else would dare say such things in front of him?
Gu Sheng put an arm around his eldest brother’s shoulders. “Eldest Brother, in this family, among all the brothers, I’m the one with the most experience.”
“You barely even dated anyone. Stop standing here trying to direct the world.”
“That girl you brought home back then — did you truly like her? Didn’t you just think she was suitable?”
Eldest Brother Gu: “…”
“Suitability is the most important thing.”
Gu Sheng said, “Brother, there are already plenty of people around you who obey you in every possible way and try to please you. What’s the point of adding one more obedient woman?”
Eldest Brother Gu said, “At least she won’t delay my work.”
Gu Sheng said, “You just want someone you can summon and dismiss at will. In that case, you might as well keep a bird.”
“You didn’t like that girl, and that girl didn’t like you either. She just wanted to marry into the Gu family. Anyone with eyes could see that. I don’t believe you couldn’t see it.”
“The two of you had no real feelings.”
Gu Sheng found the whole thing absurd and laughable. His eldest brother had never once been truly moved, yet other people insisted on treating him as some deeply devoted lover.
Eldest Brother Gu said, “As long as she wants something.”
“Then she will inevitably be under my control.”
Someone like Gu Yao was never willing to hand over his sincere heart to another person. As for the woman he had brought home before, he knew full well she was full of faults and knew what she wanted in her heart. The more clearly he knew what she wanted, the more reassured Gu Yao felt.
As long as he firmly held in his hands the things she wanted and gave her the life she desired, he could keep her under his control.
Gu Yao hated the feeling of losing control the most. He hated having his emotions affected by others.
Eldest Brother Gu looked at his youngest brother with disappointment. “Do you think I’m as foolish as you?”
Gu Sheng smiled. “I’m perfectly willing to be played in the palm of her hand.”
He crossed his arms and lowered his eyes with a faint smile. Many memories unconsciously surfaced in his mind. For example, before they got married, Zhan Aiping had bared her claws and teeth while testing him. Or on the day they registered their marriage, Gu Sheng knew that she was deliberately controlling and handling him, yet he was still perfectly happy to wash her clothes and clean the house for her.
All his emotions would be affected by her every move, rising and falling. There would be painful low points, but when he was happy, he would also be even happier.
Eldest Brother Gu had a headache. “You’re already the father of three children. Stop talking about love and romance all day.”
In this world, the person most capable of stirring up his emotions was Gu Sheng.
Gu Sheng whistled. “I didn’t say anything about love and romance. You were the one who mentioned it first.”
“Don’t you two just act in front of Mom and Dad. After Younger Sister-in-law gives birth next year, I’ll personally go to your home and see for myself. I want to see with my own eyes what kind of life the two of you are living.”
“Look at you. Is there any other regiment commander like you?”
Gu Sheng crossed his arms and thought to himself that Regiment Commander Luo next door had better not move away. His brother needed to come and broaden his horizons.
When he went back, he would have to provoke Regiment Commander Luo more and make him become a good husband.
“Brother, right now I have a wife who loves me and two obedient children. You, on the other hand, have nothing. Stop worrying so much and making our parents worry.”
Eldest Brother Gu sneered. “Your wife loves you? I certainly can’t see it. All I can see is that you’ve lost your head.”
“You can’t see it because you’re blind.”
After saying that, Gu Sheng left. Eldest Brother Gu was so angry his liver hurt. Of his five younger brothers, who dared speak to him so bluntly?
And he even dared say that he had nothing.
Eldest Brother Gu was furious. This rotten younger brother was the best at finding the sharpest blade and stabbing him where it hurt. Yes, that “good brother” of his was about to become a grandfather. He was about to become a grandfather… It was enough to give him heart pain.
Gu Sheng returned to his room to hug his wife. Zhan Aiping said worriedly, “Don’t let your eldest brother brainwash you.”
Gu Sheng smiled. “My loyalty to the Party will not waver.”
Zhan Aiping said, “Alright. Don’t anger your eldest brother too much.”
“Who told him to try to discipline you? I haven’t even disciplined you before.”
Zhan Aiping: “…Give you an inch and you take a mile.”
“After the New Year, I’ll hurry and take you back so you can rest during pregnancy.” Gu Sheng held her. Although Zhan Aiping had not said much recently, her reaction to the third pregnancy had been severe. She had been tormented into losing quite a bit of weight, and Gu Sheng felt terribly distressed. He was already regretting bringing her all the way back to his parents’ home this year.
“If you feel unwell, say it. Don’t hide from me when you throw up.”
“You’re just stubborn. Whatever my brother said, don’t take it to heart. Don’t let it affect your mood.”
Zhan Aiping nodded and leaned into his arms. Since she was physically uncomfortable, she did want to go back.
“When we leave, carve a little green frog… no, let’s buy a tin frog and give it to your eldest brother.”
Gu Sheng: “?”
Zhan Aiping imitated a frog croaking several times. “Lonely, lonely, lonely…”
Gu Sheng burst into laughter. “Maybe you really will anger him into finding a partner.”
“If my eldest brother finds a partner, that would truly be an old tree blooming.”
Zhan Aiping was also curious what kind of partner Eldest Brother Gu would find.
The New Year at the Gu family was lively. After the New Year, Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng first took the children to Shanghai. They visited their godfather and godmother. Since Zhan Aiping was pregnant, they did not stay long, and then hurried back without stopping to the military station so she could rest and take care of the pregnancy.
“No golden nest or silver nest can compare to one’s own doghouse.” After being away for some time, the house had gathered dust. Gu Sheng did not let her clean. He said he would do it himself and told her to sit outside in the sun and rest.
Guobaorou and Little Tangyuan stayed by their mother’s side.
When Zhang Lirong from next door saw Zhan Aiping, she said in surprise, “Doctor Zhan, your family is back?”
“The journey must have been uncomfortable.” Zhang Lirong felt delighted. She did not like bumpy mountain roads. It had worked out perfectly for her. She had discovered that Regiment Commander Luo had a bad relationship with his family, and with his mother — her mother-in-law — he was practically estranged for life…
That was truly comfortable.
Even after getting married, no one could run over her head and impose rules on her.
As for Zhan Aiping, she still had to go back to her husband’s family and be a filial daughter-in-law. Gu Sheng also had four older brothers above him, which meant four sisters-in-law. That would be more than enough for her to deal with.
“It wasn’t very comfortable,” Zhan Aiping said. “Did your family not go out anywhere?”
Zhang Lirong said, “What’s there to go out for? Old Luo is at home taking care of the child. I think he has quite a knack for childcare.”
Zhan Aiping encouraged her. “That’s right. You should encourage Old Luo more. Who in the family compound doesn’t praise the two of you as a good match? After marrying you, Old Luo has become devoted to the family.”
“Exactly!” Zhang Lirong straightened her back.
“Doctor Zhan, you should also make your Regiment Commander Gu care for you more. It’s so hard for you to raise two children. When men are at home, they should help women more.” Zhang Lirong had no other intention now. She only hoped the family next door would start fighting. Ideally, Zhan Aiping’s temper would become spoiled and terrible, until Gu Sheng could no longer tolerate her.
Zhan Aiping said, “How can you call it helping? Are the children only the woman’s children? Is it only natural for women to do housework? When men do chores, they’re helping women? That isn’t helping us. It’s only right and proper.”
Zhang Lirong: “…”
That was something she had never thought of.
But she felt Zhan Aiping was quite right.
The two women chatted outside, while Regiment Commander Luo listened inside the house with a dark expression. Great. Little Gu from next door was back. He had still been thinking of forming an alliance with Little Gu. Men had to be firm and assertive. But instead, these two women had started getting arrogant.
When Zhang Lirong entered the house, Regiment Commander Luo quickly grabbed her. “What were you saying to Doctor Zhan next door?”
Zhang Lirong laughed. “You don’t understand. This is called: when Heaven wants someone to perish, it first makes them mad. I’ve been reading a few history books recently, and I’ve understood the principle.”
“We have to let Doctor Zhan next door become arrogant. Listen to the things she says. Does she sound like a proper woman?”
“If a man does housework at home, and that isn’t helping the woman, then who is he helping?”
Regiment Commander Luo: “…”
Regiment Commander Luo looked at Zhang Lirong’s serious face and thought that he was not sure whether Doctor Zhan next door was arrogant, but Zhang Lirong was already quite arrogant at home.
When would she perish?
Maybe he should change tactics and let Zhang Lirong become even more arrogant and overbearing at home. Sooner or later, she would cause a huge disaster and bring ruin on herself.
When Eldest Brother Gu left, he took a tin frog with him. He was indeed furious. Thinking of Gu Sheng saying “lonely, lonely,” he thought that he really was both alone and widowed.
If he had not been provoked by his fifth brother, he truly would not have thought about finding a partner.
But once that frog appeared, the provocation became too much.
Eldest Brother Gu wavered. He asked someone to help him find a partner, someone around his age. But he could not tolerate that either, so he still planned to find someone younger than himself. As for a younger woman who had never been married before, he could not tolerate that either. So he thought of finding a pretty woman who had been divorced and had a child. However… the woman did not need to be too pretty. If his wife looked too seductive and flirtatious, it would damage his image.
A woman of slightly above-average appearance would be enough.
After searching here and there, someone happened to introduce one to him: a divorced woman with a daughter, who had also once lived in the same compound. She was younger than him, and her name was Qin Lu.
**Nomad: THE Qin Lu?!?**
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