Young Wife
In the 1970s, the medical conditions in various regions were not very good. Regional military hospitals were considered to have relatively good medical standards and conditions. As for other township hospitals, they had very few doctors, and there were no proper operating rooms. Most of the villagers in the communes relied on local barefoot doctors for medical treatment and advice.
With Zhan Aiping’s educational qualifications and abilities, being a military spouse, she could have easily been placed in a local military hospital. However, the military hospital refused to accept her.
The director of the military hospital, Xu Zhengang, was a stern and uncompromising person who didn’t tolerate any nonsense. He was an old friend of Professor Sun and had heard about Zhan Aiping’s reputation and past.
Director Xu bluntly stated, “Wishing to enter our hospital? No chance. Our small military hospital can’t accommodate such a big shot.”
“Oh, is the military a place where she can come and go as she pleases? Is it her family’s backyard? Is she a military spouse now? Does she want to return to the military hospital? She’s not even qualified to enter.”
“A martyr’s daughter? Useless. The Gu family? Let old Gu come and talk to me… She’s been spoiled all her life, doing whatever she pleases. Has she ever thought about the consequences? With my temper, I won’t pamper or tolerate such a spoiled girl. Let her stay wherever she’s comfortable, but don’t come to me and irritate me.”
“One moment she wants to wield a surgical knife, the next she wants to be a teacher, and then she casually runs from Shanghai to our place with a man. Do you think she can last a few days here?”
Director Xu had already formed a strong opinion. In his eyes, Zhan Aiping was a spoiled girl who had lived a comfortable life from a young age, acting recklessly without considering the consequences. His old friend, Professor Sun, had high hopes for her, but she turned her back on surgery. Instead of excelling as a teacher, she started talking about marriage. She had even changed her mind about marriage before. She was picky and chose the son of a high-ranking official’s family. What was she after? Wasn’t it all for her own benefit? She had run from Shanghai to Yunnan Province… She was simply an unsettled and restless woman.
Professor Sun said, “Young people need to pay a price for their choices; facing setbacks would be good for her.”
Director Xu wholeheartedly agreed, “Our hospital won’t take her. Let her find another place.”
…
“Commander Zhao personally tried to intercede, but they still wouldn’t budge. Yuxia, as the head of the Women’s Association, the higher-ups have suggested that you go and appease Zhan Aiping’s emotions on the other side, to see what she’s thinking.” Ensuring the well-being of families accompanying the military was an important issue for maintaining stability in the rear area. It couldn’t be ignored. Commander Zhang, speaking to his wife Li Yuxia, said, “If she can’t go to the military hospital and she doesn’t like the conditions at the county or township hospitals, you know her personal circumstances are indeed good. After graduating, she stayed at a hospital in Shanghai. What are the conditions there compared to here?”
“She might not even like our military hospital, let alone others.”
“If she can’t adapt or is unhappy here, she’ll end up causing trouble for Gu Sheng.”
“The stability of rear-area families is indeed a significant issue.”
Li Yuxia was feeling extremely excited inside, as she felt she had finally been assigned a major task. As the head of the Women’s Association, she didn’t have many other responsibilities and was mostly dedicated to mediating family conflicts. Lately, there hadn’t been any significant issues—just some trivial matters involving in-laws, children, and younger sisters-in-law. Even the Xie family, whose husband and wife would quarrel about anything, had started to tire her out. At first, she had tried to mediate, but later she realised that this was their way of getting along. They quarrelled all the time, threatened divorce every day, but they never actually separated. They were like a pair of turtles and couldn’t live without each other.
As for the couple, Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping, they seemed compatible on the surface. When they moved in, they began living together happily, but the reality turned out to be much more challenging.
“They got married on a whim because of Gu Sheng? They’re just trying to make do with each other? No wonder.”
“Why do they seem so awkward together?”
—This married couple has a big problem!!!
In Chinese culture, people typically advise reconciliation rather than separation. As long as a couple can get by, they try to endure together. Regardless of why Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping got married, as long as they can continue their marriage, they should try their best to make it work.
This was a tough nut to crack.
Li Yuxia became increasingly excited because she had been idle for a while, and she liked tackling difficult challenges.
She hoped that, with her assistance, the newlywed couple Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping could navigate their marriage successfully.
“We are still coordinating with the military hospital over here, of course, we need to be prepared for both outcomes. You just focus on handling things on Zhan Aiping’s side…”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this.” Li Yuxia patted her chest. Finally, she had something interesting to work on, and this newlywed couple was quite intriguing.
Gu Sheng was a person with a good family background, a strong work ethic, and exceptional personal abilities. He had a strong-willed personality. As for his wife, she was even more intriguing. She was a former female army doctor, a pampered daughter, and came from a wealthy family, yet she had chosen to marry him on a whim. My goodness, how many years would it take to come across a couple like this?
One was handsome, and the other was beautiful. Li Yuxia found great satisfaction in mediating their family conflicts. On one hand, she felt a sense of accomplishment in her work, and on the other hand, she enjoyed dealing with those who were “good-looking.”
Li Yuxia felt that she needed to focus on Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping and create a separate work manual for them. She aimed to successfully complete the task given by her superiors and ensure that no more couples under her supervision ended up divorcing.
After Li Yuxia left, Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng finished their meal. Gu Sheng took the initiative to wash the dishes. Zhan Aiping saw his attentive demeanour and couldn’t help but say, “Next time, I’ll make Mapo Tofu for you.”
Gu Sheng’s movements with the dishes momentarily froze. “Alright.”
Although the two dishes Zhan Aiping cooked for this meal were delicious, he was worried that she would only know how to cook these two dishes right from the beginning, showing her best culinary skills.
This was quite a concern.
She even mentioned making Mapo Tofu…
Although he enjoyed eating spicy and numbing dishes, based on his experience from his mother, people who didn’t know how to cook spicy dishes tended to make them even more terrifying. Without chili, even if the dish tasted bad, it could still be eaten with some effort.
With chili added, who knew what horrifying thing it might become.
…
“Don’t underestimate me,” Zhan Aiping said as she saw what he was thinking. She wanted to kick him.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Gu Sheng replied. Afterward, he continued washing the dishes, and as a couple, they only had a few dishes, so they were soon done.
Zhan Aiping continued to arrange things in the house, such as the radio, watch, sewing machine, and bicycle – the four essential items for a married couple. They already had all of them in their home. She asked Gu Sheng to turn on the radio and try tuning in to different channels. They found that they could receive several channels with clear sound quality and minimal interference.
“The reception is better outside, but there’s some interference inside. Let’s reinforce the antenna.”
“You handle it,” Zhan Aiping said.
The bicycle they had in their home was a black Phoenix-brand bike. Gu Sheng couldn’t ride a bicycle in the military camp, so it served as her means of transportation. She had learned to ride a bicycle at a very young age, and having one was indeed convenient.
Finally, Zhan Aiping’s gaze landed on the sewing machine placed in the corner of the study. When they moved the sewing machine into the house together, Gu Sheng had casually mentioned, “The four essential items for married couples – other people have them, so we should have one in our home too.”
“I mentioned it to you before,” Zhan Aiping replied at that time, nodding without saying much.
Of course, she knew Gu Sheng’s little scheme – he wanted to see her using the sewing machine.
Zhan Aiping couldn’t help but smile inwardly.
She had learned the art of suturing through her medical training, and threading a needle and stitching were no longer difficult for her. However, she was used to suturing flesh and skin. Zhan Aiping thought, “I’ve been sewing up wounds outside, and now I have to operate a sewing machine at home? That’s just not possible.”
Standing at the entrance of the study, Zhan Aiping looked at the large, shiny machine. She had her own little scheme in mind.
Gu Sheng wanted to see how she would use the sewing machine.
What a coincidence.
She also wanted to see how Gu Sheng would use the sewing machine.
Zhan Aiping’s eyes twinkled with mischief, thinking that they could each demonstrate their skills.
Although they were already married and had confessed their feelings for each other, old habits die hard, and they couldn’t resist a little competition.
It was a delightful game to challenge the heavens and each other.
“Gu Sheng, once we finish tidying up, let’s call our families together. Your parents…” Zhan Aiping’s words came out with a hint of anxiety. Uncle Gu and Aunt Qin were all familiar faces from the past. She had married Gu Sheng, and it was a done deal. Since she had followed the army to Yunnan, it was only right to inform them with a phone call. It would be inappropriate not to.
But she was also unsure how to face Gu Sheng’s parents.
“It’s a good idea to make the call,” Gu Sheng felt quite relaxed. Now that his wife had come with him and was truly his wife, no one could stop them. “Let’s also call your dad.”
Even an unattractive son-in-law must meet his father-in-law.
Gu Sheng did admit that he hadn’t handled this matter very tactfully.
“Okay, let’s make the call together.” Now Zhan Aiping was torn. She wondered if she was going to shoot herself in the foot. How could she make Gu Sheng cooperate with her act? Did they need to sign a humiliating treaty?
Whatever, it didn’t matter. Regardless of what happened, her biological father, Zhan Bo, couldn’t cause any trouble.
Zhan Aiping heaved a sigh of relief, thinking she could just go with the flow. After all, Zhan Bo was her biological father, and she would personally tell him about the situation. She just hoped Gu Sheng wouldn’t get too arrogant afterward.
As for her younger brother’s side, she decided not to call. After all, it wasn’t too far away, right? They would visit him in person and give him a pleasant surprise. Thinking about her younger brother, Zhan Mingzhao, Zhan Aiping’s mood brightened.
“Well, I wonder if he’ll recognize me as his brother-in-law,” Gu Sheng pondered.
Zhan Aiping teased him, “Why wouldn’t he? You two had a good relationship before.”
Gu Sheng chuckled, “I took away his dear sister; he might be mad at me.”
“Oh no,” Zhan Aiping laughed even harder, “How am I going to face Xiangyi? I stole her brother and became her sister-in-law.”
Gu Sheng said, “…”
Zhan Aiping added, “…”
The husband and wife both felt awkward, but they couldn’t help but laugh. They hugged each other, feeling like long-lost friends. Their eyes were filled with tears of laughter.
They were in quite a complicated situation!
However, no matter how much they didn’t want to face it, they would eventually have to. Gu Sheng held his wife tightly and rested his head on her shoulder, whispering, “Wife, I have one request.”
Zhan Aiping reached up to touch his handsome face and asked, “What is it?”
“Give me some face,” Gu Sheng made a pleading gesture.
“Don’t worry, I’ll give you face without damaging your reputation,” Zhan Aiping assured him.
“No,” Gu Sheng closed his eyes briefly and continued, “Before we got married, I told your parents that I would slowly mould you into a well-behaved and obedient wife…”
Zhan Aiping interrupted, “…You had no qualms saying all that, but now?”
“Honey, give me some face.” Little Gu, the comrade who could adapt to any situation, knew when he had to swallow his pride. He couldn’t let that old man mock him!
Zhan Aiping patted his face and said, “Alright, I’ll give you face, but you have to promise me something.”
Gu Sheng asked, “What is it?”
Zhan Aiping revealed her purpose, “You have to make two pieces of clothing for me, handmade, using our sewing machine at home.”
Gu Sheng’s mouth twitched, “Are you kidding me?”
There was no way he would tread on a sewing machine.
He bought the sewing machine for a completely different purpose; he didn’t intend to tie himself down with it.
“Then you must be kidding me too. Later, in front of my parents-in-law, I’ll…”
” You called them parents-in-law?” Gu Sheng’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he reached out and pinched Zhan Aiping’s cheek. He compromised, “Alright, alright, I agreed. Just remember to ‘act’ nicely in front of your in-laws.”
Zhan Aiping smiled, “I’ll be a well-behaved little wife who has been properly moulded.”
“I, on the other hand, am a pitiful soul who was ‘properly moulded’ by you.” Buying a sewing machine for what? He realised he had just shot himself in the foot. He knew Zhan Aiping wasn’t easy to deal with.
Zhan Aiping kissed his face and teased him, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely save your face as Gu Laowu. Look, when you use the sewing machine at home to make clothes, only you, me, and the walls will know. No third party will ever find out.”
“Make a set for yourself and one for me. When we talk to others, we can say that I made them.”
“Make them well, and I might even get a reputation for being a skilled and thrifty wife.”
Gu Sheng sighed, “Why don’t you do it yourself?”
He had never imagined in his life that he would have to tread on a sewing machine and make clothes.
Zhan Aiping was honest, “My dear rival, I just want to see what you look like while using the sewing machine.”
Gu Sheng chuckled, “Well, that’s quite a coincidence.”
“I’m afraid the clothes I make won’t earn you a reputation for being skilled and thrifty.”
Zhan Aiping smiled and shook her head, “I don’t believe that. We grew up together, and we know each other well. Gu Sheng, I know you’re skilled and meticulous, with your high-level drafting skills. Making clothes should be a piece of cake for you.”
“The clothes I make for myself won’t earn me a reputation for being skilled and thrifty,” Zhan Aiping had a good sense of self-awareness.
Gu Sheng teased, “You’re quite competitive.”
“Yeah, we all need to save face,” Zhan Aiping nudged him. “You bought the sewing machine, and everyone in the compound saw it. If we don’t use it, people will surely ask questions. But if we do use it, they’ll be curious about my skills. As the saying goes, ‘If you want something done right, do it yourself.’ Our reputation as a newlywed couple depends on you. You have to make a few presentable pieces for me to show off, so I can hold my own, right, Fifth Brother Gu?”
“We don’t need to be the best, but we can’t let people laugh at us. We’ll aim for moderation. What do you think?”
Addressing him as “Fifth Brother Gu” and emphasising their status as a newlywed couple clearly scratched Gu Sheng’s itch. He raised his hand and pointed at his face, saying with a smile, “Give me a kiss, and I’ll agree.”
Zhan Aiping happily kissed his face, and Gu Sheng lifted her waist and kissed her lips.
“Let’s live our lives like this; it’s pretty good.”
“Let’s go call your parents, little wife.”
*
There was no telephone at home, but there was a public telephone room in the family housing area not far away. The two of them went straight there, where they found a young female soldier with short hair wearing a military uniform. When she saw the couple, a tall, handsome officer and his newlywed wife, she raised her head with curiosity.
The female soldier, He Man, had short hair. She realised that the officer must be Lieutenant Gu, the new couple in the family housing area. He was tall and handsome, with a stern demeanour. Standing beside him was his newlywed wife, who, while not short, still seemed somewhat dependent on her husband, making her look exceptionally beautiful.
The three of them exchanged simple greetings, and He Man pretended to read a newspaper while eavesdropping on their phone call.
Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng sat down. Zhan Aiping glanced at He Man and then at the telephone in front of her. She exchanged a knowing look with Gu Sheng, realising that this was a test of their underground party skills.
The two of them exchanged a high-five.
—Everyone must save face.
Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow. “Should we call your father first?”
“Sure,” Zhan Aiping nodded in agreement.
The call was connected, and it was soon transferred to Zhan Bo on the other end. He picked up the phone, and with a worried heart, he answered, “Hello, Ping Ping?”
Zhan Bo, who answered this call, was nervous because it was coming from Yunnan Province. He had no idea what infuriating news he might hear from this troublesome daughter of his.
Standing behind him were Zhu Jiaorong and Zhan Aijia. The mother and daughter had heard that Zhan Aiping was calling, so they quickly gathered around to eavesdrop.
Zhan Aijia had gone through a tough time during this period. She had been doing all the household chores, as Zhan Bo had become an idle man. He had plenty of free time every day and no one to supervise him at work. He couldn’t control others in his unit, so when he came home, he acted like a boss, saying he wanted to discipline his daughter.
He wanted to mould Zhan Aijia into a “virtuous wife and good mother,” just like her mother.
Zhan Aijia was furious, but Zhan Bo acted like he was doing it for her own good, constantly telling her, “You should learn from your mother,” and “I’m teaching you because I consider you my own daughter.” Moreover, she didn’t want to go to the countryside and had to rely on Zhan Bo’s connections to find a job, so she had no choice but to endure it.
Why should his own daughter suffer for her mistakes? It wasn’t fair that her troubles were being attributed to her.
Of course, Zhan Bo also dangled a carrot in front of her, promising to find her a good husband in the future. Zhan Aijia had no choice but to endure it.
She couldn’t help but think, would any prospective in-laws be better than the Gu family? She wanted to marry Gu Sheng.
Did Zhan Aiping really go to Yunnan Province to live with Gu Sheng?
—They should hurry up and get divorced!
Zhan Aijia hoped that Zhan Aiping would end up like her, living a miserable life. Gu Sheng had a difficult temperament, and although his family had good conditions with four older brothers, he was the youngest, so he tended to have a bit of a spoiled attitude. If Zhan Aiping lived with him, she would probably be miserable every day.
Moreover, they were arch-enemies, sworn rivals. Gu Sheng had agreed to marry Zhan Aiping, which meant that Zhan Aiping had probably made some “promises” to him.
Gu Sheng had taken her away with the intention of dealing with her thoroughly!
“It’s me, Uncle Zhan… no, I mean, Dad.”
When Zhan Bo heard this voice, he was momentarily puzzled. But when he heard that “Dad,” he felt like he had won the lottery. His whole demeanour became more cheerful. “Hey, little Gu, is Ping Ping with you now?”
“Yes, Ping Ping is right here with me.”
…
“Alright, alright, let Ping Ping be with you and have a good life.”
Zhan Bo was overjoyed to hear that Zhan Aiping was with Gu Sheng.
“Dad, don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Ping Ping.”
“Alright, alright, as long as you two are living happily, I’m relieved…”
Zhan Bo indeed wore the look of a loving father and son. He listened in on their conversation and thought it was all too cliché, lacking any real substance. After all, when newlyweds call their families, it’s only natural for the conversation to be polite and friendly, with both sides being agreeable.
Even after hanging up the phone, Zhan Bo was still on cloud nine. The sound of Gu Sheng addressing him as “Dad” echoed in his mind like sweet music. Gu Sheng was the ideal son-in-law he had always hoped for – handsome, tall, capable, and good at everything. Zhan Bo’s eldest son, Zhan Mingzhao, didn’t want to join the military, and his youngest son had been spoiled by his mother. Gu Sheng, with his promising future and outstanding qualities, was the son he had always dreamed of having.
Zhan Bo was overjoyed at the thought of his daughter being taken care of by such an exceptional young man. He hoped that his beloved Ping Ping would learn to be more demure and live happily with Gu Sheng.
“Did you hear that? Your sister and her husband are going to have a wonderful life together.”
“Your sister must have become more virtuous. You should learn from them.” Zhan Bo was so excited that he kept rubbing his hands together.
But Zhan Aijia couldn’t help but think, how could that be possible?
Until now, Zhan Aijia couldn’t comprehend why Gu Sheng’s tone was so pleasant during the phone call. Why did he directly call her father “Dad” and say he would take care of her and ensure they had a good life together? Were those words really coming from Gu Sheng?
Zhan Aijia couldn’t make sense of it. After all, her sister and Gu Sheng had a tumultuous relationship, and they were sworn enemies. How could they peacefully coexist under the same roof?
On the other end, Zhan Bo was secretly delighted, while Zhan Aijia pulled her mother closer and whispered, “I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it. I don’t believe that Zhan Aiping can live happily with Gu Sheng.”
“It must be that Zhan Aiping promised something to Gu Sheng, which is why he spoke that way on the phone. They must be a fake couple, Mom. Look at how they’ve deceived my dad!”
Jiaorong shook her head, feeling troubled herself. “Now, your brother-in-law’s sweet talk in his ears works better than mine.”
Zhan Bo’s heart had shifted towards his eldest daughter, not for any other reason but because she had brought him such an exceptional “son-in-law.” Gu Sheng was practically more beloved than his own son!
Jiaorong said to Zhan Aijia, “You need to find him an even better son-in-law, or else he’ll be fixated on your sister.”
Zhan Aijia replied, “How can I find one? You and Dad never introduce me to anyone.”
“Just be more diligent with housework. You’ll do all the chores from now on, and do them well. Then, we can slowly pick a suitable match for you.”
Zhan Aijia complained, “My hands are all rough now; they’re unsightly. How can I find a good match?”
“Well, prospective in-laws like that kind of hardworking attitude.”
Zhan Aijia sighed, feeling exasperated.
“I don’t believe it. How long can this act of Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng last? One year? Two years? Three years? This fake couple will break up sooner or later! It will be our time to shine then.”
After hanging up the phone, nearby, He Man tilted her head. Although this couple looked good, she had lost interest in listening to their phone call. There was no excitement at all, and it was giving her a sore ear.
She had listened to hundreds of calls like this, and it was getting boring. The next call would probably be the same, nothing interesting.
Rubbing her cheeks, He Man took out a newspaper, planning to lower her head and read it. She had no interest in hearing them politely chatting like this.
While dialling the phone, Gu Sheng asked Aiping, “Should I speak first or you?”
Aiping nudged him and whispered, “You go first. After all, I’m a shy little bride.”
He Man: “… What kind of little bride?”
Gu Sheng: “…Alright.”
The call on the other end was answered, and immediately, a loud voice came through the microphone. Gu Ze’an’s voice was the loudest, and he gradually grew louder as he spoke. “Move away, all of you, move away. Wife, come closer. The sixth, don’t come too close, stand straight, and listen with your ears.”
Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping exchanged glances: “…”
It seemed like there were many people on the other end of the phone.
“Hello.”
Gu Sheng went straight to the point: “Old man, it’s me, Gu Sheng, your good eldest son.”
He Man: “?!”
“Good eldest son, do I have such a good eldest son? You little rascal.” Gu Ze’an got angry as soon as he heard the voice. “Is Aiping really with you? Have you both arrived?”
Gu Sheng said, “We’ve arrived. She’s sitting right next to me.”
“Really? Let her talk on the phone later. How are you two getting along now?”
Gu Sheng smiled proudly, “Pretty well.”
Pretty well?
Gu Ze’an was stunned. Could he not know how his own biological son was doing? What was that smug tone about? What was he so proud of? “Is Aiping really sitting with you?”
“Don’t believe it?” Gu Sheng was feeling incredibly smug. “If you don’t believe me, I’ll let her say something. Right now, she won’t dare to go east when I tell her to go west. If I tell her to go west, she won’t dare to go east.”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
He Man: “…?” This was way too audacious.
“You—” Gu Ze’an was almost out of breath. This little rascal was being too audacious. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Can Aiping really listen to you? If she can listen to you, then pigs can fly. What are you daydreaming about? Is Aiping really with you?”
“Yes,” Gu Sheng replied lazily. “Aiping is here with me. Aiping, say something to our dad.”
He gave Zhan Aiping a meaningful look, implying that she should handle this, and if their plan fell through, their agreement would be null and void.
Zhan Aiping was left speechless: “…”
To make him use the sewing machine, she had to give it her all. She couldn’t let their agreed-upon plan fail.
Zhan Aiping took the phone and said, “Hello, Uncle Gu, it’s me, Aiping.”
Hearing her voice, Gu Ze’an, Qin Ying, and Gu Xiangyi were all filled with excitement.
It was really Aiping!
“Aiping, it’s really Aiping! No need to call me Uncle Gu; call me Dad.” Gu Ze’an was excited.
Much better than that little brat.
Zhan Aiping chuckled, “Dad.”
This simple “Dad” filled Gu Ze’an with joy, prompting Qin Ying beside him to snatch the phone away. “Ping Ping, it’s me!”
Upon hearing Qin Ying’s voice, Zhan Aiping’s smile deepened, and she directly called out, “Mom.”
After saying this, she felt a twinge in her nose but managed to hold back her emotions for a while.
Qin Ying had always treated her exceptionally well when she was young, loving her like her own daughter.
Qin Ying happily responded, “Ping Ping, is Lao Wu bullying you? Don’t listen to him. If he bullies you, just tell us.”
“And me too, and me too, sister-in-law, Ping Ping, how did you become my fifth sister-in-law…”
Zhan Aiping happily interrupted her, “Little sister.”
“My Ping Ping brother, you married my fifth sister…”
Zhan Aiping was about to burst into laughter when Gu Sheng gave her a meaningful look that said, “Handle it yourself.”
Comrade Xiao Zhan could only shut her mouth.
It’s more important to keep an eye on the enemy on the sewing machine.
“I plan to live well with Gu Sheng in the future.”
After she finished speaking, Gu Sheng snatched the phone, “Old man, did you hear that? My wife plans to live well with me.”
Gu Ze’an: “Don’t talk, just hearing you speak gives me high blood pressure. Let me hear my daughter-in-law speak.”
When Gu Ze’an and Qin Ying heard Zhan Aiping’s words, they relaxed. Whatever their marriage circumstances, as long as they were willing to live well together in the future, it was fine with them.
However, Gu Ze’an was very suspicious, what was this kid so proud of?
Gu Sheng smiled, “I have to tell you about it.”
“What are you going to say? You talk big, and you still want to control Ping Ping? You, just live an honest life with Ping Ping,” Gu Ze’an said disdainfully.
“Ping Ping is my wife now, you know?” Gu Sheng smirked, “My own wife, I can handle her as I please. I’m not like you, all strict and fearful.”
Zhan Aiping: “……? Aren’t you leaving yourself any room for manoeuvre?”
Gu Ze’an took a deep breath, and Qin Ying chuckled on the side. She took the phone and said, “Old Fifth, let me tell you something first, after a while, let your little sister go over to your place. You, as brother and sister-in-law, help take care of her.”
Gu Sheng: “?!?”
Zhan Aiping: “……”
Gu Ze’an grabbed the phone and said, “You little rascal, are you scared now? Let your sister go see who will end up dominating who.”
Gu Xiangyi said over the phone, “Sister Ping Ping, wait for me. I’ll ally with you and make sure my brother doesn’t bully you.”
…
The call ended.
Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng walked out of the phone room together. Gu Sheng had a blank expression, dressed smartly in military uniform. Zhan Aiping could still sense a sense of heroism from him, like “The wind is howling, the river is icy cold, the brave warrior sets forth, never to return.”
She reached out and grabbed his hand. “Comrade Gu, have you noticed something? You’re quite like Li Bai—’Today, drunk with wine, enjoy it to the fullest.’”
**Nomad: Li Bai (also known as Li Po) was a Tang dynasty poet famously known for his romanticism and free-spirited nature. Zhan Aiping is comparing Gu Sheng to Li Bai, implying Gu Sheng’s ability to enjoy life’s pleasures freely.**
Gu Ze’an was full of courage.
Gu Sheng sighed and said, “Forget it, let the old man suffer for a while. I can always not answer his calls in the future.”
“What are you afraid of? You should trust your revolutionary comrade. Comrade Xiao Zhan is definitely considering your face,” Zhan Aiping said.
Gu Sheng rubbed his wrist. “She’s coming to ally with you.”
Zhan Aiping reassured her revolutionary comrade, “I’ll bring her over to form an alliance with you.”
“I’m not afraid of her coming.” Gu Sheng put his arm around Zhan Aiping’s shoulder. “Let’s just focus on living our lives well as a couple. It’s none of that little girl’s business.”
“When she comes, you should talk to her nicely.”
Zhan Aiping sighed. “Matters of the heart, others can’t advise.”
She knew a bit about Gu Xiangyi and that man’s situation. However, this time was different from before. She remembered Gu Xiangyi had never visited Yunnan Province. Perhaps it was because she had become her sister-in-law that Gu Ze’an and his wife finally felt at ease letting her come over.
Although she hadn’t come, in the end, she still married that man. He had previously been married in Yunnan Province and had a child. Later, that wife passed away, and eventually, Gu Xiangyi married him. Their life wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad either.
“That’s true,” Gu Sheng agreed.
Gu Sheng accompanied her back home. Their courtyard was almost fully renovated. The chickens and ducks were well-kept in a corner, and the vegetable seedlings that Li Yuxia had given them were neatly planted in a small plot of land, looking fresh and green, full of vitality.
The vibrant green easily makes people feel good.
Zhan Aiping smiled as she looked at Gu Sheng. “Comrade Gu, are you satisfied with everything you just saw?”
Gu Sheng chuckled helplessly. “Satisfied, I guess.”
“Remember what you promised.”
“Alright.” The current Gu Sheng was particularly easy-going in front of her. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. “I’ll go to the brigade headquarters for a while. You stay at home, rest well, and make good use of your time. You won’t have much free time left. When your organisational status is transferred, and your work is arranged, you’ll also need to start working, Dr. Zhan.”
“With your qualifications, they’ll definitely be able to arrange a position for you at the Military Hospital. They’re short of doctors there.”
“Alright.” As soon as he mentioned the Military Hospital, Zhan Aiping thought of the person Gu Xiangyi liked, a male military doctor. She wasn’t sure if he was at the Military Hospital right now.
“Then I’ll be going.”
“Wait.” Zhan Aiping stopped him, and Gu Sheng looked at her in confusion. She smiled as she straightened his clothes and smoothed them out. “Pay attention to military discipline and appearance.”
She looked up at Gu Sheng’s face, thinking about his arrogant demeanour earlier, and couldn’t help but smile. He may be a handsome guy outside, but at home, he was obedient to her.
Zhan Aiping gestured for him to lower his head, then she tiptoed and kissed him on the lips, followed by giving him a push. “Let’s go.”
Gu Sheng chuckled, took a few steps forward, and turned back to look at her several times. Zhan Aiping waved at him until she saw his figure disappear.
Zhan Aiping felt a void in her heart. They had been together for the past few days, and suddenly, he was gone, leaving her with a sense of reluctance.
She felt restless and a bit disoriented. Even after being apart for a short while, she was already starting to miss him.
Her thoughts kept replaying the moments they had spent together over the past few days, a smile playing at the corner of her lips. Zhan Aiping decided to tidy up the house again and planned to cook a couple of dishes for him in the evening.
Lost in her thoughts for a while, Zhan Aiping belatedly realised that during these past few days, he hadn’t smoked in front of her. At most, he would put a cigarette in his mouth but not light it.
—That’s quite nice, keep it up.
Zhan Aiping’s mood inexplicably improved, and she decided to go inside and take a look at her sewing machine; it needed a good cleaning.
Before long, Director Li, Li Yuxia, came to visit her.
Director Li was really caring about the people.
Seeing Zhan Aiping holding a cloth in her hand, Li Yuxia asked, “What are you doing?”
“I’m cleaning the sewing machine at home,” Zhan Aiping replied.
Li Yuxia was surprised, “Are you going to make clothes?”
This beautiful young army wife in front of her, who was said to be able to charm even three strong men, and who had supposedly remarried on the spur of the moment, and who was also… well, every rumour she heard about her was hard to connect to the woman standing in front of her.
“Yes,” Zhan Aiping nodded.
“Are you going to make them yourself?”
Zhan Aiping said, “Yes,” although she wasn’t actually going to make them herself.
Li Yuxia said, “I’ll have to see how skilled you are when the time comes.”
“Sure,” Zhan Aiping thought to herself that this enthusiastic comrade was bound to be curious.
“Little Zhan, there’s something I need to tell you.”
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