Bizarre
Zhang Lirong held back from asking. She would wait until Zhan Aiping really gave birth to a daughter. “Your younger brother has been coming to your house a lot lately?”
Zhan Aiping smiled. “My body isn’t very convenient right now, so my younger brother comes to help me with some housework.”
Zhang Lirong said gloomily, “You really do have a good younger brother.”
This was something Zhang Lirong also envied.
Zhan Aiping stopped talking to her. Supporting her large belly, she went back inside. Her body had become heavy, and she grew tired easily and loved sleeping. Whether it was Gu Sheng or Zhan Mingzhao, both of them told her to rest properly. Even the two children at home spoke in tiny voices, trying their best not to disturb their mother.
Gu Sheng would not return until late at night. Zhan Mingzhao cooked the meal, ate with them, and stayed at the house for the night instead of leaving. The next morning, he rushed back to work.
After Guobaorou and Little Tangyuan finished eating, they went to the room to practise writing. Zhan Mingzhao took out a winnowing basket, needle, and thread, and began mending clothes for the two children. He frowned. “Why are your children’s clothes getting torn every day recently?”
Zhan Aiping: “…Let them satisfy a small little wish of theirs. It’s because the clothes their uncle mends are pretty.”
“No wonder Brother-in-law says you spoil them.” These two little nephews of his did not have any major faults, but they had a pile of small ones.
Zhan Aiping said gently, “Who doesn’t have a little vanity when they’re young?”
“Children these days don’t have it easy either. It’s not even as good as when we were young.” Clothes at this time were monotonous, mainly black, white, grey, blue, and green, with no real variety. Back in the 1940s and 1950s, there had still been qipao and foreign-style dresses…
Zhan Mingzhao bit off the thread. A dim yellow lamp was lit in the room, illuminating the hall for a moment and making it seem especially empty. The courtyard outside was quiet, yet the chirping of insects and croaking of frogs was also very loud, continuing endlessly by one’s ears until those sounds were almost ignored.
Zhan Mingzhao looked at Zhan Aiping beneath the lamplight. Her skin was delicate, and because of her pregnancy, her bright and striking face had softened quite a bit. Zhan Mingzhao had always known that his biological older sister was a very beautiful woman.
She was outstanding, strong-willed, and gorgeous. Ordinary men would not dare like her, afraid they would not be able to handle her. Ordinary men liked virtuous, gentle women, the sort who spoke softly and leaned dependently on them.
Zhan Mingzhao asked her, “Do you regret it?”
Zhan Aiping was puzzled. “What would I regret?”
Zhan Mingzhao still felt that his outstanding and beautiful sister had been wronged. He could not help saying, “Look at you. How did you end up falling for Gu the Fifth? You were clearly so outstanding. If you had stayed in Shanghai, the biggest city, with every kind of material guarantee, wouldn’t it have been good to work there and marry a man you liked there?”
Zhan Aiping said, “This place is quite good too. Don’t think that just because I left the army, I’m no longer a soldier. I’m still a soldier. And soldiers should be stationed at the border.”
At this time, the border areas were not peaceful. Conflicts, large and small, continued without end, and there were also various spy and enemy-agent activities. This was also when the army had the greatest number of personnel.
Zhan Mingzhao said, “…Don’t talk to me about those grand principles of defending the country. I’ve heard them so much since I was little that I’m sick of them. Maybe I’m selfish, but I just want my sister to live the kind of life girls in big cities live.”
Zhan Aiping said, “You don’t need to beat around the bush. I know you just don’t want me to become the family member of a martyr again.”
Zhan Mingzhao said, “Then why did you still—”
“Only with a country can there be a home,” Zhan Aiping said. “Forget it, I won’t talk to you about so many grand principles. In any case, I’ve already married him, and we already have three children. You should just hope your brother-in-law stays safe and sound.”
Zhan Mingzhao said, “I’m only showing my attitude in front of Brother-in-law. Just because I’m marrying Xiangyi, don’t let them really think that we siblings are attached to their family. I’m your natal family. I can’t let him bully you. I have to make him remember your sacrifices, so that if he becomes a division commander or army commander in the future, he won’t look down on everyone.”
“In the past, plenty of men changed wives. Sis, you need to think of danger in times of peace. Be careful not to become a cast-off wife who shared his hardships.”
“As your natal family, I have to give him a warning from time to time.” Zhan Mingzhao was very displeased with how attentive Zhan Bo was toward Gu Sheng, as if their family really needed to curry favour with him. Zhan Mingzhao was afraid that, as time passed, Gu Sheng would look down on his sister.
After all, the true implementation of monogamy had only been around for just over twenty years. In the past, many men had concubines.
Zhan Aiping could not help laughing. “…Alright, you can slowly keep warning him.”
Zhan Mingzhao said, “Sis, can you be serious?”
“He wouldn’t dare.” When Zhan Aiping said this, she actually was not completely certain either, because she knew that life was long and human hearts changed easily. Having started over again, would the couple who once seemed perfect eventually become a resentful pair? She did not know.
People talked about the seven-year itch… It seemed that if one stayed with a person for too long, one could grow tired.
When dating, the ambiguous early stage was always the sweetest. When two people first got to know each other, they had endless things to say. But after two people had been together for a long time and understood each other more deeply, everything that should be said had already been said. Saying it again only became tiresome “old talk.” The sense of freshness would be lost, life would become dull and boring, and the rest of life would be no more than getting by together, focused on raising the children.
Happy days were not remembered as deeply. Broken things were often more unforgettable. Tragedy was taking beautiful things and tearing them apart for people to see.
She had chosen to make up for regrets and be with Gu Sheng. Whether they could walk to the end together, she did not know either. After all, Heaven always loved to toy with people.
“You’re telling me to think of danger in times of peace, but surely that can wait a few more years. Your sister isn’t so easy to turn into a cast-off wife.”
Zhan Mingzhao crossed his arms. “Look at you, blindly confident again.”
“Your man is a sought-after prize. Keep a close eye on him.”
Zhan Aiping’s elegant brows moved. “Little brother, if you went to ancient times, you might even become a—” champion of household scheming.
Zhan Mingzhao said, “A what?”
Zhan Aiping said, “Nothing. My younger brother is very outstanding. As your sister, I feel very comforted. I should even learn from you.”
Zhan Mingzhao: “…”
“With you as my strategist, your brother-in-law definitely won’t escape the palm of my hand. What, can he overturn the heavens?”
Zhan Mingzhao: “…”
His sister had nothing else, but she was very reckless, very confident, and very stubborn.
Late at night, after Guobaorou and Little Tangyuan had fallen asleep, Gu Sheng finally came back. Zhan Mingzhao did not say much to him. Fine, without his sister backing him up, he was actually still rather afraid of his brother-in-law. His brother-in-law was older now, his position had risen, and his imposing air had also grown stronger. In front of his brother-in-law, Zhan Mingzhao unconsciously felt guilty and short of breath.
But for his sister’s sake, he could not show the slightest fear. He was her natal family. He had to be firm.
“Brother-in-law, take good care of my sister.”
Gu Sheng nodded. He showered and changed into clean clothes, then returned to the couple’s bedroom. Zhan Aiping was sitting at the head of the bed holding a book. Gu Sheng walked over and pulled the book out of her hands.
“Don’t read for too long. It’ll hurt your eyes.”
“Hiss—” Zhan Aiping drew in a breath. “See, it’s because you startled me. The baby kicked me hard. I suspect she wanted to kick you.”
“Is that so? Let me listen.” Gu Sheng carefully placed a pillow behind her back, supported her high, rounded belly, and leaned his ear close, listening for the child’s movements.
Through the layer of her belly, he lightly touched the little one’s fist.
Zhan Aiping said, “I suspect this one is a little troublemaker.”
This child was rather restless.
Gu Sheng smiled gently. “If we have another daughter like you when you were little, then my life will be complete.”
Zhan Aiping forcefully pushed his face away. “Comrade Gu, can you say something nice? Don’t shake the army’s morale. The organisation needs an obedient, sensible daughter who can sing…”
Gu Sheng said, “Reporting to the organisation: now that things have come to this, you need to face reality.”
Zhan Aiping said, “I don’t believe it. Why should it be a daughter like me just because you say so? I say she’ll be like you.”
Gu Sheng said, “Doesn’t Yuanyuan resemble me?”
Zhan Aiping covered her face. “Only her features are a little like yours. Everything else is like me.”
“My son also resembles me.”
“If she’s mischievous and naughty, then she must be like you. One day without a beating, and she’ll climb onto the roof and tear off the tiles.”
Gu Sheng: “…Wife, you’re being unreasonable.”
Zhan Aiping looked at him. “Are you really going to reason with a pregnant woman?”
“Comrade Gu, the organisation solemnly informs you: I have my natal family backing me up.”
“Your little brother-in-law said he’ll give you a warning from time to time.”
Gu Sheng said, “Perfect. You can also tell him that his future eldest brother-in-law will also give him a warning from time to time.”
Zhan Aiping said, “You wouldn’t dare.”
Gu Sheng pinched her face. “You’re the biggest protective umbrella in this family.”
Zhan Aiping said, “This umbrella leaks wind.”
She clearly had not stopped Gu Sheng from disciplining the children.
Gu Sheng: “…Then please leak a little more.”
Zhan Aiping held her belly and lay on her side by the bed. Gu Sheng gently hugged her from behind.
“Wife, I’m sorry.”
“Even if you don’t say it, I know.” Wasn’t it just that he could not be by her side when she gave birth? “The first time is unfamiliar, the second time is familiar. There’s nothing to worry about. Mingzhao and Little Sister will be here too.”
…
When Zhan Aiping gave birth, Regiment Commander Gu was not there. Gu Xiangyi stayed by her side, and Zhan Mingzhao rushed over as soon as he heard the news. Guobaorou and Little Tangyuan anxiously kept asking, “When will Mom come out?”
“Soon, soon.”
It was not her first child, and this birth went very smoothly. It was a little daughter weighing five jin, and when she cried, her voice was especially loud.
Listening to that loud voice, Zhan Aiping thought, could this really be a little daughter like her?
Had sweet Little Marshmallow turned into a cotton club?
“Youyou, Yuanyuan, you have a little sister!”
Her sister-in-law had safely given birth, and Gu Xiangyi finally relaxed. Zhan Mingzhao also felt relieved and busied himself here and there.
Zhan Aiping did not stay long in the hospital. She returned home for her postpartum confinement. Her daughter, Little Marshmallow, slept beside her, sleeping very sweetly.
This little daughter had cried loudly when she was first born, but she did not really make much trouble. As long as she was fed and comfortable, she would at most make a few ah-ah, ya-ya sounds. She was a very easy child to care for.
Zhan Aiping stared at her little daughter’s face. She discovered that her little daughter did not look much like Gu Sheng, nor did she look much like her. Gu Sheng had a high nose and sword-like brows, and the lines of his face were all straight and sharp, firm and masculine. She herself also had a striking, sharp-edged beauty.
But their little Cotton… her features were especially soft and delicate, gentle and tender, truly like a little marshmallow. Soft and fluffy. When she smiled, there was a kind of innocent, charming tenderness.
Zhan Aiping could not help thinking, with this kind of appearance, would her personality be like hers, like Zhan Da-Pingping’s?
She and Gu Sheng had actually given birth to a daughter who looked like this!
Bizarre.
Little Marshmallow seemed to look like both of them, yet also seemed to look like neither of them. She was soft like a little dough ball. She looked so gentle.
It was as if all the sharp corners on her and Gu Sheng’s faces had been smoothed away.
Zhan Aiping: “…”
Gentle?
Would her personality also be gentle?
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