Learning
What did I do?
Gu Sheng looked at Zhan Aiping in amazement. Their eyes met, and by now, it was already dark outside. With just a lamp illuminating their faces, Gu Sheng could only see the faint halo of light shining on his wife’s face, her eyes sparkling with the light.
Zhan Aiping kicked him lightly and then took his hand, placing it on her abdomen. “Still don’t understand? Silly.”
Gu Sheng’s expression was extremely strange. “…”
Zhan Aiping felt that his expression at that moment was like being struck by lightning, leaving him dumbfounded. His usual fierce and unruly face immediately turned into that of a “silly dog,” with both ears standing straight up.
“You’re going to be a father. Is that so strange?”
Gu Sheng finally came back to his senses. Now, he was looking at her like she was some kind of strange treasure. He reached out, hesitating to touch her, his voice drifting, “I never thought about it.”
It had only been a few months, it felt like a dream. He had married the girl he liked, and she was now pregnant with his child.
“Are you sure you’re really pregnant?”
Zhan Aiping looked at him disdainfully. “Is there any doubt? Do you doubt my medical skills?”
Gu Sheng: “…”
Gu Sheng gently embraced her, unsure of where to place his hands and feet, afraid of accidentally hurting her.
“You don’t have to be so stiff.” Zhan Aiping smiled as she hugged him back. She suspected that if someone remained so stiff, they might end up with sore muscles and joints.
“Going to be a father, happy or not?”
How could he not be happy when his beloved had his child? Gu Sheng lifted her up in his arms. “Of course, I’m happy. It’s just that it came too soon, without proper preparation.”
Zhan Aiping was speechless. “What else do you want to prepare?”
“You have so many medical books at home, and I haven’t had a chance to look at them yet. Especially, I need to learn how to take care of pregnant women, what they can eat, what they shouldn’t eat, how to supplement their nutrition, and also… how to take care of you during childbirth.” Gu Sheng thought casually, realising that he still had a lot to learn. With time pressing, many books needed to be put on the schedule. With great motivation, Gu Sheng said, “Maybe I can even deliver the baby for you.”
The house is full of medical books. It’s necessary for the family members of a doctor to have some medical skills to be reliable.
Zhan Aiping felt like he was telling a horror story. “You, as an impromptu-trained quack doctor, are the ones who scare people.”
But Comrade Gu’s spirit of learning was indeed worthy of encouragement and support.
“Don’t worry, trust me, your fifth brother is quite reliable.”
The couple excitedly discussed for a while, but alas, while love was strong, one still needed to address the basic needs of sustenance. Gu Sheng asked his wife to rest while he rolled up his sleeves, unbuttoned his collar, and prepared to cook himself.
“You really don’t have to.” Zhan Aiping sat in a chair. “You don’t need to treat me like a fragile porcelain doll.”
Cooking a meal was not a difficult task.
Gu Sheng said, “My dear leader, you just stay there and guide me with your mouth.”
“Okay.” Zhan Aiping guided him on how to cook while Gu Sheng, who had previously assisted her in washing, cutting vegetables, and meat, was more than capable of handling these preparations. He just didn’t have her “wild imagination.”
At this time, households didn’t pay much attention to cooking. Many only had basic cooking ingredients, unlike his wife, who needed at least three types of vinegar and collected various types of chili peppers and dried chili peppers. She even added sugar to the dishes while cooking.
Each step was peculiar, but surprisingly the taste turned out to be good. Gu Sheng suspected that she must have read a lot of “cooking” related books while studying medicine, as many medicinal herbs were also ingredients in cooking.
“I’ll follow your instructions.” Gu Sheng quickly prepared everything, intending to cook himself.
With both of them earning salaries and having subsidies, they didn’t need to send money home or have any other expensive hobbies. Gu Sheng didn’t even smoke much anymore. Therefore, with their salaries, they could afford to buy some condiments and have a comfortable life. They didn’t need to spend money on vegetables and eggs for their daily meals.
“Pay attention to the heat,” Zhan Aiping directed him while cooking, but intentionally teased him. In the past, Zhan Aiping cooked with carefully proportioned spices, never failing as she always followed the same ratios.
In this regard, teaching the apprentice while starving the master, she didn’t intend to tell Gu Sheng the detailed proportions. She simply said to add salt, sugar, and soy sauce.
As for how much to add?
Zhan Aiping said, “You figure it out yourself.”
“Wife, how much salt should I add?”
“Just enough, estimate it yourself, don’t make it too salty.” Zhan Aiping laughed inwardly, thinking, I’ll just tease you.
Gu Sheng’s dishes would definitely have some mishaps, but fortunately, both of them grew up eating cafeteria food. When the chef was in a bad mood, the probability of messing up was also high.
As long as it wasn’t too bad or completely ruined, and the taste was mediocre, they could both eat it.
After finishing the meal, to make this guy feel guilty, she would let him promise her that he would definitely humbly learn from Chef Zhan and seriously study cooking. Zhan Aiping would then hypocritically comfort him—do it a few more times, and you’ll naturally get the hang of it.
Zhan Aiping also didn’t tell him the proportion of water to rice when cooking, but Gu Sheng remembered to add a drop of sesame oil.
She guided him from the side, and Gu Sheng diligently cooked three dishes, serving them on the table. He personally scooped rice for her, put down the chopsticks, and they sat under the light to eat.
Because there were plenty of ingredients at home, the three dishes on the table—pan-fried tofu, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and stir-fried potatoes—all sprinkled with beautiful chopped green onions, looked both colourful and fragrant.
Zhan Aiping glanced at the lamp above her head, thinking that this must be the “lighting effect.”
Gu Sheng was very attentive. “Wife, try the dishes I made.”
Sure, why not?
Zhan Aiping thought they probably wouldn’t taste as good as hers. She casually picked up a piece of pan-fried tofu and was surprised to find that it was delicious. The outer layer was crispy and salty, while the inside was tender and tasty. Even though there was no meat added, it tasted just as good as if there were.
“How is it, wife?” Gu Sheng eagerly awaited her answer.
Suppressing her astonishment, Zhan Aiping simply said, “It’s okay.”
“Not bad, right? Wife, try the other dishes,” Gu Sheng breathed a sigh of relief and also picked up his chopsticks, ready to eat.
Zhan Aiping took another bite of the scrambled eggs with tomatoes and stir-fried potatoes. The more she tasted, the more she doubted her own sense of taste. Why did she find it so delicious?
How could this be possible?!!!
Gu Sheng had hardly cooked a few times, and he relied on her guidance…
She hadn’t even told him the proportions of salt and soy sauce!!!
Why hadn’t any of the three dishes failed? Why did they taste so delicious?!!
The more Zhan Aiping ate, the more incredulous she felt. This was Gu Sheng’s first time cooking according to her guidance, and yet the dishes he cooked were even more delicious than hers. Despite her years of experience and encountering several talented chefs…
Gu Sheng tasted each dish and found them quite good. He happily said, “Wife, you’re really good at guiding me. The dishes taste great.”
Zhan Aiping replied with a poker face, “I want to eat your cooking again tomorrow.”
“Sure, as long as I have time, I’ll cook for you. But don’t go hungry, eat something else to fill your stomach.”
Zhan Aiping gave a soft “Hmm.”
Zhan Aiping refused to admit that Gu Sheng had a better talent for cooking than her. This was clearly a case of “a lucky punch killing the master.”
He had just randomly added seasonings, so how could they have been so perfectly matched? This must have been pure beginner’s luck.
Next time he cooked, he was bound to fail.
After finishing their meal, Gu Sheng went to wash the dishes. With only a few dishes to clean, he finished quickly. Meanwhile, Zhan Aiping went to the study to work on her sewing machine. Gu Sheng even showed some enthusiasm for studying, delving into her medical books.
—He wants to learn how to take care of pregnant women.
Zhan Aiping suspected he had a touch of new dad anxiety.
For this type of anxious patient, it was best to let him work it out on his own. Zhan Aiping thought it would be a good opportunity for him to read medical books, so they each did their own thing—Zhan Aiping tinkering with the sewing machine and Gu Sheng delving into medical texts.
After a while of working on the sewing machine, Zhan Aiping got tired and began drafting her own series of “Surgical Operation Techniques” books. She planned to first outline a basic framework.
With work not being too busy at the township hospital and her being pregnant, she had some free time to write.
As one person read medical books and the other wrote them, Zhan Aiping glanced back at Gu Sheng and thought to herself: Your dad is still your dad.
He definitely couldn’t beat her in medical skills.
As the night grew late, the couple showered and got ready for bed. After cuddling for a moment, Gu Sheng, this newly minted “mediocre doctor,” surprisingly wanted to practice.
Gu Sheng suggested, “Let me check your pulse.”
He had just carefully studied the smooth pulse in traditional Chinese medicine, also known as the “happiness pulse,” which was said to flow smoothly like beads rolling on a jade plate.
Zhan Aiping: “…”
“Alright, give it a try,” Zhan Aiping extended her hand to him, waiting patiently for his result.
Gu Sheng went through the motions, using a small handkerchief and towel to create a pulse pillow, adopting a somewhat old-fashioned demeanour, which was quite particular.
“How is it?”
Gu Sheng: “…” Why didn’t he feel that rolling beads on a jade plate sensation? He only felt the pulse beating, nothing like the mystical descriptions in traditional Chinese medicine.
Gu Sheng then checked his own pulse and remarked, “My pulse seems more like the smooth pulse.”
Zhan Aiping: “…Yes, yes, I’m pregnant. You’re really quick to pick up on things.”
“Why don’t you feel it yourself?” Gu Sheng handed her his hand.
Zhan Aiping pretended to feel her pulse, saying seriously, “Congratulations, Mrs. Congratulations, you’re pregnant, three months.”
“Really?” Gu Sheng smiled and leaned down to peck her on the face, “Let me feel, is it really three months?”
“Get away, get away.” Zhan Aiping pushed away his hands, laughing as she leaned against his chest.
Gu Sheng hugged her, his peach blossom eyes filled with a gentle smile, radiating warmth under the soft yellow light.
Zhan Aiping met his gaze, paused, then suddenly said, “I think we shouldn’t be too happy too soon.”
“What if this child is like you…” Zhan Aiping paused, remembering how annoying Gu Sheng was when he was a child!
Gu Sheng ruffled her hair, “Then it’ll be like you, we’ll have a daughter just like you.”
“Being like me might not be a good thing.” Zhan Aiping remarked.
Both of them were quite mischievous troublemakers when they were young, real rulers of mischief.
Gu Sheng chuckled, “Perhaps we’ll have twins, one like me, one like you.”
Zhan Aiping immediately covered his mouth, staring at him, silently hoping he wouldn’t jinx it.
“Having one like me and one like you, will we still have a roof over our heads?”
Gu Sheng held her in his arms, full of disdainful dominance, “I refuse to believe we can’t handle two little tyrants.”
Under his command, any supposed tyrant would end up powerless.
Dealing with troublesome situations was his specialty.
“Let’s handle them together, just right.”
Zhan Aiping: “… Gu Sheng, Comrade Zhan hopes you can maintain your confidence.”
Gu Sheng patted his wife’s shoulder reassuringly, “Don’t worry, experience speaks for itself.”
“You always have this inexplicable confidence.” On this point, Zhan Aiping greatly admired him, and this kind of confidence always fuelled her competitive spirit.
She exchanged a high-five with Gu Sheng, thinking, can the two of them, the old overlords, not handle two little tyrants?
“Let’s have one child,” Zhan Aiping touched her stomach, “Too many kids are as noisy as ducks outside.”
“Okay, let’s have one,” Gu Sheng hugged her, “You’ve worked hard.”
“And what about you? Take a rest too.”
Gu Sheng: “…”
Gu Comrade felt uncomfortable. He had only eaten this piece of meat for a few days before being reduced to eating grass like a rabbit.
Tough times.
Better be more careful about birth control in the future.
The next morning, Gu Sheng left energetically. It was his first time becoming a father, and he was extremely excited. He was looking forward to accompanying his wife to the hospital in the afternoon for a check-up. Whatever theories or considerations he had previously were completely thrown out of his mind.
He didn’t care about any fuss.
Zhan Aiping had arranged a shift swap with someone else. After finishing her morning shift, she had lunch at the hospital, took a short nap, and not long after, Gu Sheng arranged for a car to pick her up. Together, they went to the military hospital.
Both husband and wife were feeling somewhat excited. Although Zhan Aiping was a doctor herself and had already been diagnosed, having her husband accompany her to the hospital for the check-up was still a happy occasion.
Once again, they stood at the entrance of the military hospital. Gu Sheng looked at the gate, feeling a thousand emotions. The last time he was here, he was filled with indignation, unexpectedly grabbed to serve as a soldier, feeling like a great injustice. But this time, he was filled with excitement.
He and his wife were going to become parents.
Gu Sheng escorted Zhan Aiping into the hospital. The staff at the military hospital were familiar with them both, and many doctors glanced their way. Initially, Gu Sheng didn’t think much of it because his wife was beautiful and he wasn’t bad-looking himself, and many people would naturally take a second look at them as a couple.
However—
Gu Sheng couldn’t help feeling that a few male doctors who knew him were looking at him with a “strange” gaze.
As if to say: I never thought you were this kind of Gu Sheng.
Gu Sheng: “…”
Gu Sheng went to register his wife, and a familiar male doctor approached him, whispering, “I never thought you’d be such a romantic.”
Gu Sheng was puzzled: Romantic?
“Good for you.”
The male doctor left with a flirtatious smile.
Confused, Gu Sheng inquired about why he had become labelled a “romantic” and soon discovered it was due to Gu Xiangyi’s meddling.
While Zhan Aiping went for her check-up, Gu Sheng sat outside, waiting with a fierce determination, thinking about how to deal with Gu Xiangyi.
Xiangyi didn’t need him to seek her out; she arrived on her own, dressed in her nurse uniform. As soon as she saw him, she excitedly said, “Bro, you brought Sis-in-law to see me. Why didn’t you let me know in advance?”
“Don’t flatter yourself; we didn’t come specifically to see you.”
Xiangyi pouted, “Then why are you here?”
“You’re going to be an aunt.”
“Really?!!!!!” Xiangyi almost shouted with excitement. Realizing she was in a hospital, she covered her mouth, thinking, oh my god, she was going to be an aunt and would have a niece or nephew soon.
“I’m really going to be an aunt, I’m really going to be an aunt, I’m really going to be an aunt…” Xiangyi was even more excited than Gu Sheng, who was the actual father. She stared at the closed door with longing.
Sister Aiping was having a baby, and her parents probably wouldn’t believe it. They were going to have a grandson or granddaughter.
“Calm down for now,” Gu Sheng warned, “Don’t tarnish your brother’s reputation in public.”
Xiangyi replied, “I didn’t do that.”
Gu Sheng scowled, “Romantic.”
Xiangyi asked, “Isn’t it true?”
“Stop talking about your brother and sister-in-law outside. Don’t be so flashy.” Gu Sheng didn’t mind being labelled anything but didn’t want his and his wife’s relationship to become fodder for gossip. He didn’t want people scrutinizing them under a magnifying glass.
If it had to be talked about, he preferred it be on his own terms, not with this girl embellishing the details.
“Got it, got it.” Xiangyi felt a bit guilty, “Bro, don’t scowl like that. You’ll scare the baby when Sis-in-law comes out.”
Compared to other older brothers, Xiangyi was actually most afraid of her fifth brother, who was closest in age to her. Her eldest and second brothers were much older and treated her with gentle care, whereas her fifth brother never spared her any courtesy and could be quite intimidating when he was serious.
Despite her boldness in front of Gu Sheng, it was all a façade of bravado. She only dared to act up because Zhan Aiping was around.
When she was young, she only dared to call him “Fifth Sister” due to “Ping’s” influence. If Zhan Aiping weren’t there, she would be as timid as a mouse around Gu Sheng.
This was also why the Gu couple could trust her with him. Only Gu Sheng could keep her in check; she wouldn’t dare disobey him.
— Luckily, he married Sister Ping.
Xiangyi could continue to rely on “Ping” for support.
She had no desire to be alone with Gu Sheng.
Zhan Aiping had finished her check-up, and Gu Xiangyi eagerly rushed over. Gu Sheng, showing no mercy, grabbed the back of her dress and pulled her away, stepping forward to support his wife.
“Little sister, you’re here too,” Zhan Aiping said with a smile, clearly pleased to see Gu Xiangyi in her nurse uniform.
“Sister Pingping! I’m going to be an aunt!” Gu Xiangyi was so excited her face turned red, more thrilled than a father-to-be.
Gu Xiangyi was genuinely excited. All her older brothers were unmarried, making her the youngest in the Gu family. Now with a nephew or niece on the way, she would no longer be the youngest.
When the results came in, the three of them huddled together to look at the ultrasound images. Indeed, there were twins—two gestational sacs. Zhan Aiping had no twin genes in her family, but she noticed that Gu Sheng had two twin brothers.
Could it be that the old saying about curses coming true was really happening?
Gu Xiangyi was over the moon: “Twins, twins! I’m going to have two little nephews or nieces. How wonderful would it be to have a pair of dragon and phoenix twins? Now I’ll have both a niece and a nephew!”
Gu Sheng was indeed surprised by the news of twins. He pulled out the ultrasound sheet and pushed Gu Xiangyi aside. “I’m the one who’s the child’s father.”
The couple huddled together to examine the images slowly.
“So stingy,” Gu Xiangyi clucked her tongue. “I’m still the aunt, you know.”
“This is going to be lively,” Zhan Aiping also hadn’t expected twins. Whether they were dragon and phoenix twins or all boys or girls, it felt like it would be… quite noisy.
The news of twins left all three of them stunned.
Before heading back, Gu Sheng used the hospital’s phone to call Comrade Gu Ze’an. Gu Ze’an’s tone was grim over the phone: “Say what you need to say. I don’t have time for idle chatter.”
With the children not around, Qin Ying had taken up researching cooking, which Gu Ze’an found quite bothersome.
“I’m here to give you some good news,” Gu Sheng said cheerfully, skipping pleasantries. “Congratulations, Comrade Gu, you’re going to be a grandfather. Twins—two at once.”
With that, Gu Sheng hung up the phone abruptly.
He didn’t give the old man a chance to respond, leaving him anxious. Gu Sheng grinned and turned to take his wife home.
On the other end, Gu Ze’an was left fuming. He was going to be a grandfather? Twins?!
That brat hung up on him directly.
Gu Ze’an called back, but Gu Sheng was already gone. He finally reached Gu Xiangyi, his youngest daughter, who chatted with him for a while. Hearing all the details satisfied him greatly.
He was really going to be a grandfather. He had to go tell Old Zhang next door.
Wang Youli, beaming with joy, arrived at the family compound with his wife, Shen Liqing. Despite the tiring and bumpy mountain journey, they finally reached their destination.
Shen Liqing, standing beside him, also breathed a sigh of relief. Throughout the trip, she felt a mix of excitement, regret, and uncertainty. For the sake of what she believed was love, she had travelled a long way, and now she was uncertain about what the future held.
Shen Liqing swallowed hard. Unlike the bustling big city, the lush greenery here was refreshing. Despite the bumpy mountain roads, it felt like walking through a picturesque world.
The air was fresh, and a deep breath seemed to wash away all her fatigue.
“Once we’re settled, I want to get in touch with a few friends.” Many young intellectuals from Shanghai had come to Yunnan to work in the countryside. Although Shen Liqing hadn’t been one of them, she had a few friends who had been working in the countryside for years.
Like Shen Liqing, these two female friends were literary and artistic young women who loved reading. One of them had painted a dreamlike picture of forest landscapes and pastoral life, which had captivated Shen Liqing while she was still in the city.
Part of the reason she chose to be with Wang Youli was her admiration for this cultured and excellent military man, and part of it was because of her friend’s vivid descriptions. Shen Liqing had mustered the courage to travel such a long distance, driven by noble dreams and the encouragement and support from this friend.
She longed to see high plateaus, snow-capped mountains, and enter that dreamlike, fairy-tale forest world.
Now, she was about to start a new life.
Shen Liqing sighed. During their journey, she and Wang Youli had not gotten along very well. Wang Youli had promised to quit smoking in a written guarantee, but she had secretly found out that he still smoked.
Shen Liqing had reprimanded him about it. Although it wasn’t a major issue, it made her uncomfortable.
However, she was generally satisfied. Apart from this, Wang Youli was indeed a considerate and outstanding partner.
She had heard that he knew a comrade named Gu who was also newly married and had brought a Shanghai girl all the way here. However, he was far from being an ideal match. Supposedly, he boasted about his good family background, saying things like: “No dowry, no salary contributions, all housework is her responsibility, and I’m going to make sure my wife is completely obedient…”
One might be busy with work, but who openly wants to be a “hands-off manager”? It’s a new society now; women can hold up half the sky!
He was just a spoiled man who relied on his family background.
Shen Liqing thought she had to see what this arrogant man looked like.
Upon arriving, they were warmly greeted by a few military wives from the family compound. Leading them was the Women’s Director, Li Yuxia. As soon as Li Yuxia saw them, she greeted them with a warm smile.
“Welcome, welcome. Welcome new military couple.”
Shen Liqing was touched by their warmth and her face broke into a smile.
Wang Youli introduced her, “This is Director Li Yuxia, wife of Political Commissar Zhang. This is Sister Tian Jia. This…” Wang Youli noticed that the couple from the Gu family hadn’t arrived yet, so he assumed they were still at work.
“Hello, hello,” Shen Liqing said cheerfully. It matched her expectations perfectly. The women here were indeed very welcoming.
Chen Yuan had mentioned in her letter that friends from the mountains were even more enthusiastic.
Li Yuxia, upon seeing the couple, nodded to herself. After encountering Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping, she thought to herself, “You can’t judge a person by appearances; you can’t measure the sea with a bucket.” A city girl willing to travel such a long distance must have thought it through carefully, so she didn’t need to judge.
Sister Tian said, “Your wife seems great. You’d better treat her well.”
“Of course,” Wang Youli replied with satisfaction. “Since Xiao Shen came all this way with me, I will cherish her. I’ll help out around the house as much as I can and hope you all will take good care of her.”
The other military wives responded, “Definitely.”
Li Yuxia also nodded in agreement.
However—
Li Yuxia’s ears perked up at the familiar-sounding praise, feeling a sense of déjà vu as if she had heard something similar before.
A nearby military wife said, “You better not just be talking. What if you end up being a hands-off manager who wouldn’t lift a finger even if the oil bottle fell over?”
Wang Youli quickly responded, “How could I be a hands-off manager? I’m eager to take care of everything at home. I’ll definitely pamper my wife.”
“My wife is from a big city and is delicate, so I will take good care of her.”
The military wives laughed, “Very good, very good.”
At this moment, Li Yuxia was struck by a sudden realization, like a bolt from the blue. She envisioned a stern face and remembered someone with a “cold-hearted” demeanour saying similar things.
Li Yuxia thought, “…”
The phrases sounded eerily familiar, making her wonder if they had coordinated their stories beforehand.
“Comrade Wang, you’re also a good comrade,” Li Yuxia said with satisfaction, then added, “In the future, you should learn more from Company Commander Gu. Your situations are quite similar, so you should really follow his example. Your life will definitely be better.”
Sister Tian and Sister Sun nodded in agreement, “Yes, yes. Comrade Wang, you should learn well from Comrade Gu.”
Wang Youli and Shen Liqing were stunned.
Wang Youli asked, “Which Comrade Gu? Is there another Comrade Gu in the family compound with a situation similar to mine?”
“Gu Sheng! Don’t you know him?”
“Gu Sheng and his wife, Xiao Zhan, have a very good relationship. They’re living quite happily now.”
“Comrade Gu is such a good person. It’s not an exaggeration to say he’s a model for young male comrades.”
“Gu, Gu Sheng?” Wang Youli felt the name was almost burning his tongue. Was he hearing things correctly? “Is it the Gu Sheng I know?”
“Yes, there can’t be many Gu Shengs. His wife, Xiao Zhan, Zhan Aiping, is a doctor.”
Wang Youli was dumbfounded upon hearing this.
Gu Sheng, a model for young male comrades? They had only been apart for a few months, and Gu Sheng had become a role model?
After all, he had even copied Gu Sheng’s marriage report.
What had Gu Sheng done?
Shen Liqing, too, was perplexed and looked at Wang Youli. Was this Comrade Gu the same one they had heard about, the so-called “hands-off manager” who didn’t turn in his salary or do housework?
Wang Youli, at a loss for words, could only manage a dazed response.
“Company Commander Gu is very attentive to his wife.”
“Yes, yes.”
As for the Gu Company Commander they were talking about, he was currently fully immersed in attending to his wife. The couple was chatting about their two little bean sprouts while Gu Sheng himself had prepared a feast for Zhan Aiping, cooking up a table full of dishes.
The more Zhan Aiping ate, the more she felt like throwing the table.
Why was it that the seasonings she added with precise measurements according to the recipe didn’t taste as good as Gu Sheng’s casual sprinkling? Why did Gu Sheng’s casual cooking turn out so delicious?
She didn’t believe it.
It must be some kind of bad luck; Zhan Aiping suspected that the two kids were giving her foolish husband some kind of support buff.
Why could he make such good dishes with just a casual sprinkle?
The next day, after Wang Youli finished his duty report to his superiors, he immediately sought out Gu Sheng in the camp. Gu Sheng was surprised to see him and then realized:
“Old Wang, long time no see. You’ve come over.”
Gu Sheng was in high spirits and greeted Wang Youli with a smile. He used to be someone who rarely smiled in the team, but now he seemed genuinely cheerful.
Wang Youli stared at Gu Sheng with suspicion, his eyes scanning him up and down as if looking at a “fraud.” This guy seemed to be living quite comfortably. Compared to back in Hu City, he looked refreshed and unburdened, and his already handsome face seemed even more suited for a promotional photo.
He had heard that Gu Sheng had almost quit smoking, seemingly under strict supervision from his “wife,” and had turned over all his salary with no pocket money left.
Unlike back in Hu City when Gu Sheng had been chain-smoking, despite Wang Youli’s advice to cut back, Gu Sheng had been stubborn, sitting alone in a corner smoking as if he had some deep concern.
Now it seemed he was completely under his “wife’s” control?
“I want to ask you something, Comrade Gu,” Wang Youli said through gritted teeth, “Not handing over your salary, being a hands-off manager at home, letting your wife do all the housework, and making sure she obeys you… which of these have you achieved?”
It sounded just like the guarantee he had written—full of nonsense!
Gu Sheng paused for a moment and then blinked: “Old Wang, that’s where you’re wrong.”
“Didn’t you say that being a military wife is not easy, and we shouldn’t be hands-off managers at home? Of course, we should lend a hand whenever we can.”
Wang Youli: “…” Those were his own words.
Gu Sheng put his arm around Wang Youli’s shoulder: “That’s the principle. We’re all good comrades in the revolution.”
“But you weren’t saying that before.”
“Times have changed,” Gu Sheng said, “Back then, I was really worried she wouldn’t marry me. You know, the wedding report was rushed, and we couldn’t even get the certificate. I feared it was all for nothing.”
“Look, I even carry her photo with me, which shows how much I’ve been thinking about her. Now that she’s really here with me, I have to treat her like royalty.”
“You should congratulate me, at least it wasn’t all in vain.”
Wang Youli was left speechless: “…”
If you’re not experiencing false hope, then I’m the one with the empty promises.
These… Wang Youli thought to himself: Who can I reason with?
Originally thought to be the biggest counter-revolutionary leader, who would have known that once he took off his outer clothes, the party flag underneath was brighter than anyone else’s. He truly was the most successful underground party member in Greater Shanghai.
“Also, Lao Wang, I’m going to be a father.”
Wang Youli: “…I don’t want to see you.”
Wang Youli and his wife moved in, and Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping went to eat their warm family meal. This meal was made by the couple themselves, but they were busy with it, and it ended up causing some unhappiness.
Shen Liqing said she wanted to show off her skills, and Wang Youli agreed. However, they found it quite troublesome to cook because the new home environment was simple and lacked many things. They were unfamiliar with the stove, and Shen Liqing was particular about it, so many dishes didn’t turn out as tasty.
It wasn’t difficult to eat, at the level of canteen food, and everyone enjoyed it because there was meat. However, Shen Liqing was still somewhat uncomfortable in her heart, after all, she wanted to show off her culinary skills.
Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping, this pair of freeloaders, ate happily like two rice buckets. They were quite happy because freeloading is indeed enjoyable, and the food tasted good enough. They grew up eating canteen food, so as long as it was better than canteen food and had meat, they were satisfied.
“Wife, try this, it tastes pretty good.”
Because Zhan Aiping was pregnant, Gu Sheng declined the alcohol and didn’t sit down to drink with others.
Drinking the bitter wine in his mouth, Wang Youli glanced sideways at Gu Sheng, who was showing affection in front of his wife. Seeing how they ate, he thought at least my wife’s cooking skills are better than his wife’s.
People nearby said, “You should learn more from Little Gu.”
“Yes, learn from Gu Sheng, see how he treats his wife.”
Wang Youli: “…Learn what?”
Shen Liqing saw “Comrade Gu” who was completely different from the rumours, and his wife. Shen Liqing didn’t think much of it, but rather thought to herself that his wife was so pretty, a doctor, and they grew up together since childhood. A loving couple was what mattered. This “Comrade Gu” was indeed a good comrade worth learning from.
In the future, Wang Youli must learn from him, and everything should be in line with Comrade Gu.
Similarly, Shen Liqing looked at Zhan Aiping and sincerely said:
“Comrade Zhan, I must learn from you in the future.”
Shen Liqing planned to learn from their marital bliss. Later, when she met Chen Yuan, she would tell her that she had truly achieved the happy life Chen Yuan had envisioned in her letters.
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