Within Reach
Zhan Aiping’s wedding day had arrived, and Ye Fangjing was more excited than anyone else. She had woken up early, even before the sun had risen, and had taken a few walks in the yard. Her mind was filled with curiosity about Zhan Aiping’s childhood friend, the one whose only advantage was his face. What did he really look like?
She had even looked at several military recruitment propaganda photos, but they didn’t quite match her imagination. Perhaps the “pretty boy” didn’t look like this after all.
But his physique would undoubtedly be impressive.
Blushing and feeling her heart race, Ye Fangjing scolded herself for “being drawn to good looks” while getting herself ready. She was going out to attend the wedding banquet.
When she arrived at the entrance of the state-owned restaurant, the sunlight was particularly bright that day, and most of the snow had melted. The road was half dry and half wet, but under the eaves and around the tree roots, there were still tiny fragments of ice.
Ye Fangjing couldn’t see Zhan Aiping, but she spotted a young man who looked like a soldier directing people to carry various items like cigarettes, alcohol, and sweets.
The man had a dark complexion, a handsome face, and a lean and tall physique. He didn’t look bad at all, and his facial features were quite well-defined. Compared to most men on the street, he was above average in looks. Plus, being a soldier, his walking posture and straight body made him stand out.
Could he be Zhan Aiping’s childhood friend?
Ye Fangjing felt a slight disappointment in her heart.
—Reality couldn’t quite live up to her imagination.
Ye Fangjing had a slight headache, but at least the man didn’t look ugly. He was actually quite good-looking. She had made a bet with Zhang Yi, and she could consider herself the winner now.
Ye Fangjing approached him and greeted him, saying, “Hello there.”
“Oh, it’s you? Sister!” Wang Yourui immediately recognized Ye Fangjing and had a sudden realization. He had just greeted Gu Sheng and was told to hand over the items to his wife for arrangement.
Seeing Ye Fangjing looking beautiful with some makeup, he thought she was the bride for the day.
Before Wang Yourui arrived, he had assumed that Gu Sheng’s chosen wife, while not being a great beauty, shouldn’t be too ugly. Now, looking at Ye Fangjing, he indeed saw a pretty girl.
…He just didn’t expect this slender lady to carry Gu Sheng for ten kilometers on her back.
“What sister? I’m not, I’m not,” Ye Fangjing blushed as her face turned bright red. “Do you know Teacher Zhan? Teacher Zhan Aiping. She’s getting married today.”
“Oh, I know her. She’s getting married today, my sister…” Wang Yourui began to explain.
“Ah!” Ye Fangjing’s eyes widened, and she exclaimed, “Teacher Zhan is here!”
She rushed forward, her mouth wide open as if she could swallow an egg. She loudly exclaimed, “Today is a joyous day, Teacher Zhan, you look so beautiful!”
It was truly incredible, and Ye Fangjing’s heart raced. She couldn’t believe how rapidly Zhan Aiping had transformed over the past couple of weeks. Ever since the day she mentioned going to practice boxing, she seemed to be getting more beautiful by the day.
Could practicing boxing really make someone more beautiful?!!
“Little Ye, did you put honey on your lips? You’re talking so sweetly,” Zhan Aiping said, and then she turned her gaze to Wang Yourui. “You must be Comrade Wang Yourui, right? I’m Zhan Aiping, and I’m getting married to Gu Sheng.”
“Hello, hello, Comrade Zhan,” Wang Yourui nearly bit his tongue off. Gu Sheng hadn’t mentioned that his new wife was such a stunning beauty.
That rascal even casually handed him a bald-headed photo to deceive him.
The girl before him was not only stunning but also had a sweet voice, like a nightingale. People might believe she was the star of a performing troupe.
She’s a military doctor?
She’s even more good-looking than the star of the performing troupe!
Gu Sheng was nothing but an animal!
“Gu Sheng had someone bring all of this?” When Zhan Aiping saw all the cigarettes, alcohol, and sweets, she was a bit taken aback. There were even Maotai and Wuliangye, not to mention the cigarettes, which were definitely not the cheap kind. The candies were all of high quality, and there were even chocolates.
Zhan Aiping had mixed feelings. “…” This guy would have been better off giving her the money as a dowry directly.
Although it was a wedding banquet, due to the inconvenience of transportation and the scarcity of holidays, most of the guests invited today were not very important or close friends. There was no need to provide such high-quality items.
She was even thinking of skimming some off.
Zhan Aiping grabbed a handful of candies and gave them to Ye Fangjing. “Try some; they’re a gift from your brother-in-law.”
Ye Fangjing smiled happily. “Brother-in-law is really generous.”
Wait a minute… Hmm? Wasn’t she older than Zhan Aiping?
Well, let’s just call him brother-in-law.
Ye Fangjing unwrapped a candy and put it in her mouth. “Where’s my brother-in-law? I want to meet him.”
“He went to the kitchen to ask for more dishes.” Gu Sheng wasn’t satisfied with the menu and said he wanted to order more dishes.
“Then I’m really in for a treat today.”
After chatting with Zhan Aiping and Ye Fangjing for a few moments, Gu Sheng came out. He had a cigarette in his mouth, unlit. Although it was cold outside, the sunlight was strong, and he might have felt too warm. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing a strong upper arm.
Outside of the military camp, he didn’t walk as rigidly. When he was in a good mood, he even had a carefree gait. With his long legs and large strides, he quickly approached Zhan Aiping.
Zhan Aiping was already one of the taller female teachers, but when Gu Sheng stood next to her, he was even taller.
Ye Fangjing had initially been curious about what Zhan Aiping’s “childhood sweetheart” looked like, but when she saw him in person, she couldn’t bring herself to look at his face and felt very nervous.
When the “childhood sweetheart” lazily glanced at her like that, it made her feel uneasy, as if she were a student being called upon by a teacher or someone under the scrutiny of a high-ranking official.
Zhan Aiping introduced them, “This is my colleague, Teacher Ye Fangjing.”
“And this is Gu Sheng, my fiancé.”
Ye Fangjing reluctantly greeted Gu Sheng and then Zhan Aiping whispered to her, “Your next month’s meal ticket is guaranteed.”
Ye Fangjing replied, “…” Gu Sheng did indeed have a tall and attractive stature with a cold and handsome face, but she didn’t dare to look too closely. She was afraid, no matter how good-looking his face was.
Zhan Aiping was truly amazing!
Ye Fangjing shook the candies in her hand and said, “I’m going inside to sit.”
As Ye Fangjing walked inside, she couldn’t help but turn back. She saw the side profiles of Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping, and her heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, she found the scene in front of her very pleasing.
The tall and stern man, accompanied by the stunningly beautiful woman, seemed to be having a conversation. As they spoke, they exchanged smiles.
Ye Fangjing thought, “…it’s like spring has arrived!”
Her meal ticket was secured.
*
Zhan Aiping said to the man beside her, “You ordered more dishes again? With all these additions, it’s too extravagant.”
“I’ll take care of the restaurant bill,”.
Gu Sheng chuckled, “How many times can a person get married in their lifetime?”
Wang Youli, not far away, holding a cigarette, wanted to kick him for that comment. How many times can you get married? You copied my marriage announcement.
Gu Sheng put his arm around Zhan Aiping’s shoulder and whispered to her, “Don’t worry, just call me ‘Gege,’ and I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly today.”
Zhan Aiping was speechless and choked back her words. She looked at him with disdain, thinking that he was pretending to be a big shot.
However, Zhan Aiping was in a good mood, and after all, it wasn’t her money being spent.
“I’ve also bought a sewing machine with three shifts and one chime. I asked someone to deliver a set of furniture, enamelware, and a thermos… so when you move in, you can use them directly,” Gu Sheng mumbled quietly, trying to cover up his true intention.
The ultimate goal of buying the sewing machine with three shifts and one chime was to see this guy using it. He had bought it, so he couldn’t just let it sit there, right? They had agreed that she would do the household chores, and his good days were still ahead.
“You’ve bought one too?” Zhan Aiping hadn’t noticed this detail. “I also bought a pair of watches and exchanged a train ticket with someone.”
“Since you’ve bought them, just keep them.” Gu Sheng felt relieved when he heard Zhan Aiping say that. As for other things, he didn’t care anymore.
He just wanted to see what his buddy looked like using a sewing machine.
Zhan Aiping secretly chuckled at him. He had previously claimed he wouldn’t give a dowry or hand over his salary, acting stingy, but now he was spending so much. Well, she would have to figure out a way to get Gu Sheng’s salary in the future. This spendthrift, even if he lived to seventy, would still spend money according to his preferences, buying whatever he wanted.
After all, he ate in the cafeteria, wore a military uniform, and didn’t spend much on daily necessities. He hadn’t started a family yet, so every month he had his salary to spend as he pleased, without any plans.
Zhan Aiping lowered her gaze and smiled gently. She noticed his clothes were wrinkled and took the opportunity to straighten his collar and cuffs. She remembered his injured left hand and took his hand, pressing on a few places before softly asking, “Does it hurt?”
“…Not too bad,” Gu Sheng’s voice was a bit hoarse, and his Adam’s apple moved.
Zhan Aiping thought to herself, “You big oaf.”
“It seems like it’s recovering quite well,” Zhan Aiping pressed a few more times.
Gu Sheng wanted to pull his hand back but found himself unable to. His left hand wasn’t cooperating.
“It actually feels quite comfortable after you pressed it,” he said, feeling some relief in the areas that had been swollen and tense.
Zhan Aiping smiled faintly. “That’s because my technique is good.”
“I’ll give it more pressure in the future.” Hopefully, with a few needles.
Gu Sheng raised his other hand to touch his nose and spoke softly, somewhat unnaturally, “Hmm.”
He lit a cigarette but felt uncomfortable all over, unable to pinpoint exactly why.
Zhan Aiping couldn’t help but say, “You should smoke less in the future.”
She didn’t directly ask Gu Sheng to quit smoking. It was a gradual process, and she knew that Gu Sheng had a heavy load on his shoulders, overseeing hundreds or even thousands of people. He had rigorous training and tasks to deal with regularly, and he needed a way to release the pressure and alleviate the pain.
Many soldiers had the habit of smoking, drinking, or chewing betel nuts.
Gu Sheng’s throat rolled. “You… care about me?”
Zhan Aiping didn’t argue with him; she simply said, “Smoking less is better for your health.”
Gu Sheng responded with a puzzled look.
He saw her lips, which were moving gracefully, and suddenly felt that the cigarette in his mouth tasted bland. What was even more bizarre was that it should have been bitter, but unexpectedly, it had a slightly sweet taste.
Gu Sheng decided to extinguish the cigarette, thinking that it had gone bad.
Wang Youli, who had forcibly put away his lighter, had witnessed the whole scene. Earlier, he had talked about quitting smoking, but today, seeing Gu Sheng get married and taking out so many good cigarettes, he had thought, “For the sake of celebrating a good comrade’s wedding, should I have one last smoke?” But before he could make up his mind, they were already talking about whether it hurt or not.
Wang Youli: “…This guy is unbelievable!”
A beast! Unbelievable, unbelievable.
**I think Gu Sheng’s friend has misunderstood something..**
In the past, when the sweet nurse had bandaged him, he hadn’t thought much of it. But now, he realized that there was a beautiful doctor waiting there.
*
At noon, Zhang Yi and Chen Jiabao sat at the same table as Ye Fangjing, but they had no appetite for all the good food and wine on the table. Meanwhile, the newlyweds were busy toasting and chatting with each table of friends and family.
The three of them couldn’t eat much, but Ye Fangjing was enjoying her meal, saying, “The chef at the state-owned restaurant is really skilled.”
“I’ll have to think about this meal for a month.”
“When will something this good happen to me?”
A fellow female teacher on the side laughed, “You should find such a handsome partner too.”
Ye Fangjing chuckled, “I don’t have the ability for that. It would be great if I could have an extra month’s food tickets.”
She glanced at Zhang Yi.
“Miss Zhang’s childhood friend, this ‘bamboo horse brother,’ is really something. Good family, good looks. They say rabbits don’t eat grass near their burrow, but if the grass near the burrow is fragrant, then it’s a must to eat it.”
“Not eating it is not human.”
Zhang Yi rolled her eyes in irritation. She then turned to look at the couple on the other side. The woman was beautiful, the man was handsome, and he was also an officer from a good family background, with four older brothers above him. If they weren’t in the military, they were in politics.
Even though Zhan Aiping, in this case, had a falling out with He Mingzhang, she managed to find an even better partner!
And it was her childhood friend who had liked her since childhood and was deeply devoted to her.
Just look at this table full of food, along with the cigarettes and alcohol. After marrying her, he should spare no effort in pampering her.
Zhang Yi was feeling restless, and Chen Jiabao wasn’t in a much better mood. The “fake woman” next door had surprisingly found such a good partner again.
And he had lost a month’s salary and food tickets.
Chen Jiabao was thinking about how to avoid paying for these expenses, but as a man, he couldn’t bring himself to ask directly, so he waited for Zhang Yi to initiate the conversation.
Zhang Yi had already thought about leaving, but when she turned around and looked back, her eyes suddenly lit up. She unexpectedly saw two unexpected guests.
He Mingzhang, along with his mother Zhou Jiacui.
Upon seeing the two of them, the noisy banquet suddenly fell silent. Zhou Jiacui and He Mingzhang looked exhausted. He Mingzhang was dressed in new clothes, obviously dressed up, but his spirit was not as strong as before.
He looked at Zhan Aiping beside Gu Sheng, and his emotions immediately became complex, but then he regained his composure.
He was about to be demoted, and Zhan Aiping was his only chance. She was the daughter of a martyr, she had connections. If she could help his family with connections, this problem might be resolved quickly.
He had to use his “deep affection” to win her over.
When Zhan Aiping saw the two of them, she glanced at Gu Sheng and he walked over, holding her.
Zhou Jiacui’s expression was hesitant, no longer as domineering as before. She now regretted it deeply: “Ping Ping, Mingzhang has something to tell you.”
Gu Sheng said, “Let’s go outside.”
“If you don’t go out, I’ll kick both of you out. I’m a person of my word,” he threatened.
He Mingzhang swallowed hard, and before him, Gu Sheng exuded an aura like a wolf. His bold sword-like eyebrows, when he saw He Mingzhang, were filled with hostility, like a wolf guarding its prey, ready to tear him apart in the next moment.
Why did Zhan Aiping find such a person?
He had clearly inquired about it. Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping had never been close, they had always been at odds since childhood. How could they possibly get married? It must be fake.
Gu Sheng was a military officer, and in just a few days, he couldn’t have submitted a marriage report and passed a political review. They definitely hadn’t obtained a marriage certificate. Maybe they were staging a joint act.
But with Gu Sheng’s current demeanour, he had He Mingzhang intimidated. He reluctantly yielded to his presence, and the four of them left the state-owned restaurant and went outside.
The people at the dinner table looked at each other.
Could something be about to happen?
Was this wedding between Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng even real? Who would she marry?
Ye Fangjing said, “Of course, she’s marrying the grass by her doorstep. Such good grass, not eating it would be a waste.”
Zhang Yi: “…”
Zhan Aijia: “…”
When Zhan Aijia saw He Mingzhang arriving, she displayed hope on her face. She secretly hoped that He Mingzhang could disrupt her sister’s wedding.
She held her hopes secretly.
Outside, He Mingzhang looked at Zhan Aiping with deep affection and wore a bitter and embarrassed expression on his face. “Ping Ping, I’m not here to cause trouble. I wish for your happiness more than anyone else.”
“Marriage is a lifelong commitment. I hope you’ll think it over more, there’s still time for regrets.”
“Ping Ping, I want to talk to you alone, just a few words—”
Zhan Aiping looked at him coldly. “I don’t have anything to say to you. If I must say something, then I’ll tell you one thing. Do you remember the note left by the roadside that day?”
“That was written by me.” Zhan Aiping gestured toward him with her fist.
Zhou Jiacui, who was nearby, was puzzled, and He Mingzhang’s blood ran cold. His face turned ashen.
She knew about his affair with the widow.
It’s over, everything is over.
But at that moment, Gu Sheng released his grip and his expression turned stern. He walked forward and delivered a knee strike to He Mingzhang’s abdomen. Then, he used his right hand to grab He Mingzhang by the throat, lifting him up as if he were a dead dog. In a cold tone, Gu Sheng said, “Ping Ping is mine. If you ever try to bother her again, hmph—”
He sneered and whispered a few words into He Mingzhang’s ear, leaving He Mingzhang with a look of fear and uncertainty on his face.
Gu Sheng threw him to the ground and said coldly, “Get lost.”
Zhou Jiacui trembled on the side, saying, “How can you be like this…”
Zhan Aiping had found such a terrifying man. The way he looked at people seemed like he wanted to kill them.
If it were just Zhan Aiping alone, they might dare to pester her. But now with this “jinx” standing here, the mother and son didn’t dare to make a peep and quickly left with their tails between their legs.
Seeing the two of them scurry away, Zhan Aiping recalled Gu Sheng’s threatening demeanour earlier and couldn’t help but think of him as if he were a villain from a TV drama.
—They seemed like a villainous couple.
Zhan Aiping had a smile in her eyes that she couldn’t hide, and when Gu Sheng turned his head with his cold expression, all he saw was her smile. His expression grew even colder, and the anger in his heart didn’t subside. Just a moment ago when He Mingzhang was speaking… he truly felt the urge to kill the man.
The meat in his bowl, if he wouldn’t eat it, no one else could touch it.
Gu Sheng said coldly, “Since you’ve married me, you should keep your virtue and not think about other men.”
Zhan Aiping couldn’t hold back her laughter this time, shaking with laughter.
Gu Sheng was annoyed, “Why are you laughing?”
“Alright, I’ll keep it, I’ll keep it. From now on, I’ll only think of you,” Zhan Aiping said with a smile as she linked her arm with his.
Gu Sheng had an expressionless face and remarked, “This is what a good brother, a good buddy, and a good comrade should be like.”
Zhan Aiping replied, “…”
“Well, good brother, let’s continue inside and have a toast at the wedding banquet.”
Zhan Aiping pushed and pulled him inside to continue enjoying her wedding banquet. Gu Sheng took out some good wine. With the idea of not losing out, she had a few more glasses. Zhan Aiping had a decent alcohol tolerance, but her face easily turned red after drinking, and her cheeks were now a rosy hue, with her eyes sparkling.
She was in a great mood today and had been smiling constantly, and her smile made Gu Sheng feel dizzy.
He couldn’t help but keep his eyes on her lips. Gu Sheng began to wonder if he was a bit bewitched today.
Gu Sheng didn’t know who to talk to about this, so he took the opportunity to call Wang Youli out and said, “Today… something doesn’t seem right, does it?”
Wang Youli looked at him askew. Having had quite a bit to drink today, he pointed at Gu Sheng and said, “Gu Sheng, even though it’s your big day today, I still have to say—Gu Sheng, you beast!”
Old Wang thought to himself that he had never seen such a shameless and pretending beast in his life, taking advantage of others!.
In the army, all female soldiers are treasures, not to mention such a pretty female soldier, who is prettier than those girls in the art troupe, has a thin waist and long legs, and is educated, a college student, and a female military doctor.
A charming and beautiful woman like her, persistently wanting to marry him and even carrying him for ten kilometers! Still owing her a favor and needing to tidy her up. Who would believe this kind of good fortune?
Someone needed to sober him up right away!
A fight? They had been fighting since they were kids.
Oh my God, he could even lay hands on such a beautiful female soldier. He was indeed a beast.
—A real beast!
Gu Sheng’s expression remained cold as he said, “You’re the beast here. Speak the human language.”
“Human language? Alright, I’ll speak human language,” Wang Youli chuckled. “Gu Sheng, from today onwards, be a decent person!”
**Yes, he definitely did misunderstand **
After saying that, Wang Youli turned and walked away.
He wasn’t giving Gu Sheng any chance to speak. Wang Youli had just realized it; there was no need for any marriage report. This guy was here to show off to him!
He was deliberately flaunting and showing off!
Wang Youli wouldn’t give him the chance to flaunt.
He would choke it out of him.
Gu Sheng: “…?”
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