Vanity
After sleeping one night in the guesthouse, Zhan Aiping didn’t sleep well because she wasn’t used to the bed. She woke up early in the morning, stood on the bed, and watched the sunrise alone for a while. The weather here was great, the clouds were beautiful, and with not many tall buildings around, she could see the distant horizon. The sunrise painted the sky with colourful clouds, and the glowing light was radiant, though it was a bit cold.
It’s always coldest at dawn, just as the sun rises.
The two children also woke up early. Zhan Aiping fed them milk and breakfast, but not long after, she fell asleep again. When she woke up, she opened her eyes to see a large and two small figures standing by her side. The two children were especially excited to see her awake, spreading their arms, wanting to be held by their mother.
Zhan Aiping hugged each of them and groggily asked, “What time is it now? Why didn’t you wake me up?”
Gu Sheng smiled, “You’re still asking what time it is? It’s almost noon.”
Zhan Aiping: “?!”
“Why didn’t you wake me up? Did you finish your business?”
Gu Sheng nodded and said, “It’s all done. I wanted you to rest more. Just look at yourself—how tired you’ve been! You haven’t rested in days, always busy. You travelled all day yesterday, so take some extra time to sleep today.”
Gu Sheng felt sorry for his wife. She had been working non-stop, not even taking breaks to accumulate enough vacation time. She worked from morning till night, taking care of patients, and when she came home, she still had to work on documents and paperwork. Seeing her so busy, Gu Sheng felt distressed.
Now that they were finally on a trip, he just wanted her to rest as much as possible.
Even if it meant watching her sleep all morning, he felt content.
Zhan Aiping rubbed her temples. “Did you take the kids with you to handle everything?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Zhan Aiping: “… You’re really a great dad.”
Taking the kids along to get paperwork stamped!
Gu Sheng: “?”
“Nothing, just complimenting you.”
Gu Sheng lazily replied, “I’ll take care of the kids. Hurry up and change your clothes and freshen up. Don’t you need to meet your old classmates?”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “Yes, I’m rushing to change now.”
“Hurry and change. Once you’re done, I’ll change too.”
Zhan Aiping: “? You’re changing too?”
Gu Sheng firmly replied, “Yes, changing.”
Zhan Aiping, who still had a bit of a no-nonsense ex-soldier attitude, was quick at dressing up and getting ready. She freshened up and looked neat and pretty. Once she took over watching the kids, Gu Sheng also quickly took off his military uniform and changed into casual clothes: green pants, a white shirt, and black leather shoes. Since his hair was short, there wasn’t much styling needed, and he looked completely different.
Zhan Aiping: “You deliberately changed into casual clothes? We’re meeting a military couple, after all.”
Of course, even though they were all military personnel, there were many different types—soldiers, officers, and officers who worked in administrative units, grassroots combat units, or as instructors in military schools. Military doctors like them had their own differences too—those in hospitals could work regular hours, while those in grassroots units had to train alongside the soldiers, ensuring their safety during training and providing emergency aid. Then there were people like Liu Shi, who worked in the cadre convalescent homes…
Gu Sheng replied, “I’ve worn the uniform so much, I’m tired of it.”
Zhan Aiping said, “Nowadays, people are proud to wear the green uniform.”
Gu Sheng: “After seeing it every day, you’d get tired of it too.”
“Not tired.” Zhan Aiping looked him up and down. “You look good like this. Tighten your belt a bit?”
Gu Sheng had a great physique—tall, with long legs and a well-proportioned body. His broad shoulders and narrow waist made him appear even taller and bigger from a visual perspective.
Zhan Aiping had seen men over 1.95 meters tall before, but their proportions weren’t as striking as Gu Sheng’s. His presence made her feel even more overwhelmed.
Though Zhan Aiping wasn’t short, she still felt like she was being crushed by a big bear when Gu Sheng leaned over her, unable to move at all.
She understood that Gu Sheng usually held back when playfully wrestling with her, deliberately teasing her. Zhan Aiping’s strength was greater than the average man, but against someone like him, she had to rely on flexibility and cleverness.
Gu Sheng: “…Tighten it more? Are you planning on not letting me eat?”
He’d only heard of tightening your belt during famine.
Zhan Aiping said, “Since you’ve already dressed up, broad shoulders and a narrow waist look better. Cinch your waist a bit more. I want to show you off to my old classmates.”
Gu Sheng’s looks and height made him quite popular with the female soldiers. In the past, many had asked her for his contact information and sent him letters.
Gu Sheng: “You showed me off plenty back when you were in school, didn’t you? You even had your friends and classmates writing me letters.”
Zhan Aiping: “… That really happened?!”
Gu Sheng replied, “Did you forget? You were the one attracting all the attention for me!”
Zhan Aiping’s eyes widened. “I never gave out your contact information!”
She was still quite stingy and never helped anyone contact Gu Sheng proactively.
“You even opened the letters that other women sent you?”
Gu Sheng replied, “I didn’t open them, someone else did. I only noticed because I heard your name.”
Zhan Aiping: “… I’m so angry.”
Someone had actually tried to use her name to flirt with her man, even though their relationship on the surface wasn’t great at the time.
“Don’t be mad.” Gu Sheng smiled, “I’ve been a model husband now. Back then, I used to think, how nice it would be if you sent me a letter every month.”
Zhan Aiping: “… You need to remember that you’re a father of two now.”
She now felt that staying within the military was a good thing, preventing others outside from coveting her man.
“And you should remember that you’re a mother of two as well.” Gu Sheng sighed, “I used to be very relaxed when you were in the military. Now, I’m not so sure anymore. You’re so pretty, don’t let some other man deceive you.”
“Back then, none of my comrades wanted to send you letters after seeing your picture.”
Zhan Aiping, embarrassed and angry, said, “Are you feeling proud of yourself now? If it weren’t for the fact you’re wearing new leather shoes, I’d step on you.”
Gu Sheng casually responded, “I’d proudly wear your footprint to meet your classmates.”
“Wife, don’t be angry. Seriously, I only have eyes for you. I don’t even look at other women.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “I believe you on that.”
She then added with satisfaction, “You wouldn’t dare marry anyone else besides me.”
Gu Sheng corrected her, “It’s not that I wouldn’t dare; it’s that I wouldn’t want to marry anyone else but you.”
Zhan Aiping smiled, “I love how stubborn you are.”
The Gu family was full of such stubbornness. After Gu Sheng’s eldest brother lost his first love, he never married and continued taking care of the woman’s family. Though, the woman’s brother and his family weren’t exactly easy to deal with.
Gu Sheng complained, “What do you mean stubborn? Use a nicer term, like maybe… deeply devoted or something.”
Zhan Aiping remarked, “I just hope our son and daughter don’t inherit your stubbornness.”
Looking at their two little kids, she pinched their chubby little cheeks. Their proportions looked good, and of course, since both parents had good body proportions, there was no chance of genetic anomalies. Their legs already looked long.
“I’ll push the kids, you carry the stuff, including the camera. Let’s get ready to go.”
They had even brought a camera on this trip.
Gu Sheng said, “Don’t worry, I’ll take some nice pictures of you and the kids.”
After leaving the guesthouse, they took a bus. Since the city wasn’t large, they arrived at their destination quickly. Liu Shi and her husband were already waiting for them at the bus stop.
Zhan Aiping was surprised. Was this a case of great minds thinking alike, or had Liu Shi and her husband been waiting for a while?
Liu Shi had been eagerly waiting since early morning. She’d brought her husband along to pick them up, worried they might miss them. Zhao Zhiyong stood by, feeling quite helpless, not understanding his wife’s excitement.
“Why are you so excited? She’s just a female classmate.”
At most, this classmate was just a bit prettier and more exceptional.
Liu Shi replied, “I’m curious about her husband’s appearance. Plus, she has twins.”
Zhao Zhiyong felt a little uneasy. “Her husband couldn’t be better than me, right? You’ve married yourself a considerate husband who cooks for you. Have you forgotten?”
Many men didn’t help at home at all, and many of their wives didn’t work, just managing the household. Compared to them, Zhao Zhiyong, who was considerate and caring, was already a model husband.
Some of the older ones even had child brides or arranged sibling marriages between two families…
“Yes, yes, I’ve got good taste, choosing such a good partner like you.” Liu Shi nodded, “But I think Aiping’s taste is even better. She married her childhood sweetheart, someone she’s known since she was young. Her husband must be great; otherwise, she wouldn’t marry him with that temper of hers.”
Zhao Zhiyong said, “You already said she’s proud and has a bad temper. She probably married someone with an even worse temper. A woman like that must admire strength, and would definitely look down on a weak-willed man. She’d think he’s a wimp.”
Liu Shi raised an eyebrow, “You think you know women better than I do?”
Zhao Zhiyong replied, “Aren’t you all like that, you female soldiers?”
Liu Shi said, “No, we female soldiers all like good-looking men.”
Zhao Zhiyong: “…”
“You men like good-looking women, and we women like good-looking men too.”
Zhao Zhiyong said, “Good-looking men? That sounds like some pretty boy. Just like how you once mistook a woman for a man.”
Liu Shi replied, “You don’t know how beautiful Aiping is.”
“Wait until you see her, and then you’ll understand how gorgeous she is.”
Zhao Zhiyong: “…”
Zhao Zhiyong said, “I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. That proud and beautiful female classmate you have in your mind is now married with two kids. She’s long lost her spirit and now bows down in front of her husband, acting like the perfect wife who follows her husband’s lead.”
“You’ll see for yourself how well I treat you.”
Liu Shi: “Stop praising yourself like a peddler boasting about her melons.”
“The heroine you admire has already become a dutiful wife and loving mother.”
Liu Shi: “Can you stop talking for a bit?”
The idea of Zhan Aiping turning into a perfect housewife annoyed Liu Shi. In her mind, Zhan Aiping was still that ambitious and high-spirited youth, and even though time had passed, she was still a fierce and capable deputy director. How could she possibly bow down to her husband and become a meek, obedient housewife?
Zhao Zhiyong said, “I’m telling the truth, and you still don’t believe me. You said yourself she no longer wears her military uniform, that she’s wearing dresses and looking prettier now—it’s all probably for her man. I’ve heard that this Gu guy is quite excellent, and officers who lead troops generally don’t have good tempers. When you see for yourself how he has your proud classmate under control, you’ll understand.”
“She’s busy with her kids now and probably has no time to care about an old classmate like you.”
Liu Shi: “Are you… are you jealous of a woman? Why are you bad-mouthing my Aiping?”
Liu Shi realized that Zhao Zhiyong had a lot of hostility towards Zhan Aiping. He was trying his best to convince her that Zhan Aiping was no longer the brilliant person she admired in school but had become a quiet, obedient housewife who listened to her husband.
Zhao Zhiyong stubbornly said, “I’m just being honest.”
“I don’t believe you.” Liu Shi was getting annoyed by his words. She wasn’t afraid that Zhan Aiping had really become a dutiful wife and mother, but if she truly bowed down to her husband, it would sadden her. Seeing someone who was once so proud lose their pride and have their wings clipped was always disheartening.
Liu Shi’s mind was troubled as she waited for Zhan Aiping and her family to arrive. Zhan Aiping got off the bus first, smiling and cheerfully calling out to Liu Shi, “Shishi!”
“Pingping!” Liu Shi was thrilled to see her. “You look so good today, still as beautiful as ever.”
Zhao Zhiyong, standing by, was momentarily stunned when he saw Zhan Aiping. Though he’d heard from Liu Shi how pretty she was and had seen photos of her before, where she looked dark and handsome, without a clear indication of gender, he hadn’t expected her to be so stunning when dressed as a woman.
Her facial features were strikingly elegant, and if it weren’t for her clean and sharp demeanour, her eyes and brows would have exuded a seductive charm.
Zhan Aiping smiled and said, “You look great too!”
After Zhan Aiping got off the bus, Gu Sheng followed with their two kids. It was Liu Shi’s first time seeing Gu Sheng, and she was astonished by how handsome he was. When he stepped off the bus, Liu Shi didn’t immediately realize he was Zhan Aiping’s husband.
Zhao Zhiyong’s gaze was also drawn to Gu Sheng. Even though he wasn’t in military uniform, Zhao Zhiyong could instantly recognize him as military personnel.
Gu Sheng set down the stroller, and the two little ones looked happily at their mom.
Zhan Aiping introduced them, “This is my husband, Gu Sheng, and my two kids.”
Liu Shi exclaimed, “These are your kids! They’re so adorable, such big, beautiful eyes, so fair and chubby…”
“This is my husband, Zhao Zhiyong. You can call him Old Zhao.”
After a brief exchange of greetings, Liu Shi linked arms with Zhan Aiping, and the two walked ahead, chatting. Gu Sheng pushed the stroller, walking side by side with Zhao Zhiyong. The two women were deep in conversation, while the two men, along with the two little ones, remained silent, the only sounds being occasional babbles from the children.
Zhao Zhiyong couldn’t help but keep glancing at Gu Sheng: “…”
He thought this guy was really flashy—how could he make himself look so dashing, just like he had done that morning?
He felt a little overshadowed.
Gu Sheng: “…”
Gu Sheng also found Zhao Zhiyong’s behaviour odd. The man kept staring at him without saying a word, and Gu Sheng had no idea what he was thinking.
Liu Shi’s residence was in a newly built housing block for the convalescent centre. She lived on the third floor, with two bedrooms and a living room. They took a few photos together downstairs, with Zhan Aiping holding Tangyuan and Gu Sheng holding Guobaorou. Zhao Zhiyong helped carry the stroller, and they all headed upstairs together.
Guobaorou, who was forced to be separated from his sister, was unhappy. He kicked his legs and made little sounds, reaching out for her.
His sister missed him too, peeking out from their mother’s arms. The bond between the siblings, built from sharing a stroller, made them long for each other when separated.
Liu Shi remarked, “Your two little ones are so close! When I was younger, I wished I had a brother around my age.”
“They’re close now.” Zhan Aiping smiled. “But they do fight sometimes.”
“Really?”
Zhan Aiping gently soothed Tangyuan, “Be good, don’t fuss. We’re going to Auntie’s house.”
Gu Sheng also comforted his son. Meanwhile, Zhao Zhiyong felt a strange sense of unease.
When they reached Liu Shi’s home, the siblings were reunited, rolling around happily together. The two little chubby kids kept looking at their dad and then at their mom, all smiles.
Zhan Aiping said, “You’ll watch the kids today. I’m going to chat with Shishi, and she’s taking me around the convalescent centre.”
Gu Sheng readily agreed, “Sure.”
He was there to take care of the two kids anyway.
Liu Shi, hearing this, asked curiously, “Does your husband often take care of the children?”
In her experience, most male officers were very busy, and taking care of children was usually left to the mothers or the grandparents. If both parents were in the military, they often had to find someone else to help.
Zhan Aiping replied, “Whenever he has time, he takes care of the kids.”
Zhao Zhiyong remarked, “Men are usually careless when looking after children, not as attentive as mothers. There’s a woman in our unit, Sister Guilan, who doesn’t even let her husband wash the diapers. She says he doesn’t wash them clean enough, and every time he does, she rewashes them.”
Liu Shi: “…” Did Zhao Zhiyong eat the wrong thing today?
Zhan Aiping blinked, “My husband is very careful.”
Gu Sheng added, “I don’t just take care of the kids. I also sing lullabies to help them sleep.”
Liu Shi was surprised, “Really?”
Wasn’t it usually the mothers who sang lullabies? A man singing one?
Zhao Zhiyong: “?!”
Zhao Zhiyong found it unbelievable.
Zhan Aiping didn’t want her husband to sing lullabies in front of others. His singing was reserved for her and the kids. So, she quickly changed the topic, “Not only does he sing lullabies, but he’s also a great cook. Whenever he’s home, he does the cooking. You see, even the kids’ teething biscuits were made by him.”
“The little ones love eating them.”
Liu Shi was even more amazed, “Really? The biscuits smell delicious.”
Zhan Aiping invited, “Would you like to try some?”
Liu Shi shook her head, “No, no, I can’t take food from the kids.”
After lunch at Liu Shi’s place, Gu Sheng and Zhao Zhiyong sat properly in the small living room watching the kids, while Liu Shi and Zhan Aiping stayed in a small room, which doubled as a study since the couple didn’t have kids yet.
There were still many old textbooks in Liu Shi’s study. Zhan Aiping flipped through them, and Liu Shi sighed, “It’s a shame I didn’t become a doctor in a hospital. I probably don’t even count as a doctor anymore, right?”
After spending several years in a cadre convalescent home, she hadn’t improved her medical skills. In fact, her skills had likely declined day by day, though her life wasn’t bad. Sometimes, she envied her classmates who stayed in hospitals.
When she was assigned to the convalescent home, they couldn’t let someone of her skill level treat the old cadres. Her role was limited to basic daily health care, with no opportunity for growth.
“I’m kind of envious that you’re a deputy director.”
“If I were to become a director, it would be something out of a dream.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “Who knows, you might become the director of this convalescent home in the future.”
Being a director didn’t necessarily require high medical skills.
Liu Shi said, “Thanks for the good wishes. Let’s head out and talk. I’ll show you around the convalescent home.”
Thinking about the two men outside, it wasn’t appropriate to talk about too personal matters. After all, there could be ears listening through the walls.
“Sure, I wanted to go for a walk with you anyway.”
Liu Shi was surprised, “I didn’t dare suggest it earlier since you have the two kids with you, and I thought you wouldn’t be able to leave them.”
Zhan Aiping said, “Their dad’s here. I can leave them with him.”
Liu Shi chuckled, “That’s perfect. Let my Old Zhao learn a thing or two from your Gu Sheng. Your husband seems like a great guy.”
Zhan Aiping replied, “Gu Sheng’s pretty good.”
“He’s more than just pretty good. I think you really have a good eye.” Remembering what Zhao Zhiyong had said earlier, Liu Shi felt mischievous and thought it would be good for Zhao Zhiyong to spend more time with Gu Sheng.
“Let’s go out then and leave the two men to chat.”
Zhan Aiping and Liu Shi happily walked out hand in hand. Gu Sheng and Zhao Zhiyong sat on the sofa, looking at each other. Both sat up straight, while the two little ones, full and content, were getting sleepy.
After Liu Shi and Zhan Aiping closed the door and left, Zhao Zhiyong looked at Gu Sheng and thought, Stop pretending, brother. Looks like we’re both in the same boat. He said aloud, “Brother, now that they’re gone, let’s be honest with each other. There’s no need to keep up the act.”
As a shrewd political officer, Zhao Zhiyong was determined to get Gu Sheng to reveal his true nature. He suspected that Gu Sheng had been threatened by his wife before coming here, which explained why he was so well-behaved and even looked after the kids.
He wanted to expose Gu Sheng’s true nature and then tell Liu Shi that the perfect husband image Gu Sheng presented was just a facade.
Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow, “I’m not pretending.”
Zhao Zhiyong insisted, “Don’t try to fool me. We’re all the same. Let’s just be honest with each other. You really know how to endure, just to satisfy that little bit of vanity between women.”
“I should know better, right? My wife and your wife are old classmates,” Zhao Zhiyong said.
Gu Sheng: “…”
Zhao Zhiyong flashed a bright smile, trying to use it to trick Gu Sheng into believing his words.
Gu Sheng gestured with his chin towards the two little kids and said, “Look at how skilfully I’m taking care of these kids. Do you think I’m pretending?”
Zhao Zhiyong’s breath caught. Gu Sheng’s words hit him hard—kids are the best at recognizing people. Gu Sheng’s actions with the children were so practiced, handling their every need, from feeding to diaper changes. If he hadn’t done this regularly, how could he be so adept? And the kids didn’t cry or fuss even after their mom left.
Gu Sheng helped the two children go to the bathroom and then coaxed them to sleep. He asked Zhao Zhiyong curiously, “Were you pretending earlier? Putting on the image of a good husband just to satisfy your wife’s vanity?”
Zhao Zhiyong’s face stiffened. “…”
“I didn’t say that.”
Gu Sheng chuckled lightly.
Zhao Zhiyong cursed inwardly. He had been tricked instead.
Gu Sheng said, “It seems like life’s not easy for you. You don’t have much authority at home, do you? That’s tough.”
Gu Sheng sounded genuinely sympathetic.
Zhao Zhiyong picked up on the sympathetic tone and felt itchy all over. “And what about you at home—”
Gu Sheng replied, “Yeah, she keeps me in line.”
Zhao Zhiyong: “… Don’t say something so timid with such a tough face.”
Gu Sheng sighed, “What can I do? I went through so much trouble to marry her, I’m terrified she’ll leave. On the day we got our marriage license, I went to her house early in the morning and cleaned up and did her laundry.”
Zhao Zhiyong: “Really?”
Gu Sheng nodded.
“Brother, I’m just like you!”
Gu Sheng: “…?”
Seeing Gu Sheng’s confused look, Zhao Zhiyong felt a wave of embarrassment and shame. “You’re not trying to trick me, are you? So you can go home and laugh with your wife about how unmanly I am.”
Gu Sheng said, “You’re overthinking it.”
Zhao Zhiyong: “…”
Zhao Zhiyong sighed, “Seems like both of our wives are alike. These female military doctors really know how to pick a good partner.”
Gu Sheng said, “Female soldiers are treasures.”
Meanwhile, Zhan Aiping and Liu Shi were walking down the stairs. The convalescent home was large, with a beautiful environment and fresh air. There were flowers planted everywhere, thanks to the favourable climate, so there were always flowers in bloom. The two women strolled and chatted, laughing together.
Liu Shi said, “Your Gu Sheng is really great.”
Zhan Aiping replied, “Your husband is pretty great too.”
They smiled at each other.
After walking a bit further, Zhan Aiping suddenly spotted a bunch of bright red roses. Liu Shi eagerly explained, “These flowers are edible. Uncle Zhang’s wife even made flower pastries for us to eat.”
“Really?”
An elderly man with white hair stood in the yard, and when he saw Liu Shi, he greeted her, “Xiao Liu, who’s this with you?”
“This is my old classmate, her name is Zhan Aiping.”
“An old classmate, huh? She’s really beautiful. Would you like to come in and sit down?”
Zhan Aiping, noticing how well the roses were growing, shamelessly asked, “Uncle Zhang, your roses look amazing. Could I have a few plants?”
Uncle Zhang’s eyebrows shot up. “You really don’t hold back, do you? I’m quite attached to these flowers and don’t usually give them away. But how about this, play a game of chess with me. If you win, I’ll give you three plants.”
“Alright,” Zhan Aiping agreed.
Liu Shi, standing nearby, said, “Uncle Zhang, go easy on Xiao Zhan.”
“Pingping, Uncle Zhang is really good at chess. You might not be able to beat him.”
Uncle Zhang overheard their conversation and said, “Xiao Liu, don’t go spreading rumours. Here’s the deal—I’ll give her three chances. As long as she wins one game, I’ll give her the flowers.”
Uncle Zhang didn’t think this young girl, Zhan Aiping, could be that good at chess.
He just wanted a fresh opponent to play against—he was tired of playing with the same old people every day. Picking on younger folks was much more fun.
Zhan Aiping helped Uncle Zhang set up the chessboard in the yard, and the two began their game.
The game went by quickly. As the first round ended, Zhan Aiping placed her piece down and smiled, “Huh?! I actually won.”
She had plenty of experience playing chess over the years with her crafty husband, Gu Sheng.
Uncle Zhang stared at the board in shock, unable to believe what had just happened. He even started to feel a little nervous, but he kept a straight face and said, “I wasn’t paying attention and let you, a young one, win this time.”
Liu Shi happily chimed in, “You won! Let’s not play anymore and go explore other places.”
“Uncle Zhang, thank you so much!”
But Uncle Zhang wasn’t pleased. “Wait, wait, wait! We agreed on three games, so three games it is. Keep playing, Xiao Zhan, don’t leave. If you leave, I won’t give you the flowers.”
Zhan Aiping had no choice but to play another round with Uncle Zhang, and she won again.
Now Uncle Zhang was losing face, and Zhan Aiping started to feel a little bad. She hesitated, wondering if she should let him win on purpose, but it’s not easy to lose deliberately without being noticed. Plus, her chess instincts had kicked in, and she wanted to play seriously.
They started the third game, with Zhan Aiping fully absorbed in the match.
Liu Shi took a glance and exclaimed, “Pingping won again, three rounds in a row!”
Uncle Zhang’s face darkened. “You’re quite good at chess, young lady. Did you learn this from your grandfather? Who’s your grandfather?”
“My grandfather passed away a long time ago,” Zhan Aiping replied, shaking her head. “Uncle, which flowers are you going to give me?”
Uncle Zhang felt both embarrassed and reluctant. “Just wait, you’ll get your flowers.”
“Do you know what I did before I retired?” Uncle Zhang, trying to save face, jokingly threatened, “Who’s your superior? How dare you win my flowers!”
Since Zhan Aiping was Liu Shi’s classmate, Uncle Zhang knew she was likely a military doctor—or at least a soldier. He was just trying to scare her a little.
But Zhan Aiping wasn’t fazed. Having grown up in a military compound, she was used to this kind of talk and knew Uncle Zhang was joking. She playfully teased him back, “Uncle, a bet’s a bet. Knowing my superior won’t help you. I’ve been retired for a while now.”
“No one’s in charge of me anymore!” Zhan Aiping added with a touch of pride in her voice.
Uncle Zhang’s face turned dark, “How can a pretty girl like you be as annoying as a young rascal?”
“Xiao Liu, where did you find this classmate of yours? Does she have a boyfriend? If not, I’m grabbing her to be my granddaughter-in-law.”
Liu Shi couldn’t help but laugh, “That won’t work.”
“Why not? Xiao Zhan, I’ve got three grandsons who aren’t married yet. I’ve got pictures of them at home. Come, take a look—they’re all strong, strapping lads.”
“Besides grandsons, I also have grand-nephews. Come, see if there’s anyone you like.”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
“Uncle, I’m already a mother of two.”
Uncle Zhang chuckled, “You’re joking, right? You think I’d believe that?”
Liu Shi quickly interjected, “It’s true, it’s true! Her husband and kids are back at my house.”
“Her children aren’t even a year old yet. If you don’t believe it, you can come to my place and see for yourself.”
Uncle Zhang: “…”
“Xiao Liu, how come you didn’t bring such a pretty and smart classmate to see me earlier?”
Uncle Zhang seemed truly regretful.
“Xiao Zhan, pick out a few flowers for yourself.”
Zhan Aiping replied, “Uncle, I’ll be here for a few more days. I’ll come back to get the flowers before I leave—otherwise, I might not be able to take care of them at home.”
Uncle Zhang grumbled, “You better bring your husband and kids over for me to see. I need to see if you really have a husband and kids.”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
“If you don’t bring them, don’t expect to get your flowers.”
Zhan Aiping said, “You’re so unfair.”
Uncle Zhang scoffed, “I won’t fall for the tricks of you young people.”
Liu Shi: “…”
Uncle Zhang continued, “You absolutely have to come! If you’re brave enough, you’ll come. A woman in the military keeps her word.”
Zhan Aiping: “I won’t fall for an old man’s goading.”
Uncle Zhang: “Are you really giving up on the flowers?”
“I want them. You pick out a few good ones for me. Those that bloom well, I really like.” Zhan Aiping casually pointed at a few beautiful blossoms.
Uncle Zhang was so angry he jumped, “You’re really not holding back, are you? Fine, if you bring your husband along, I’ll give you this one.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “Alright, I’ll thank you in advance for parting with it.”
“You’re as annoying as my brat. Hurry and get out of here.”
Zhan Aiping and Liu Shi exchanged a smile and continued walking. Liu Shi couldn’t help but say, “Aiping, you better keep a close eye on your little girl in the future, or someone might snatch her to be their daughter-in-law.”
Zhan Aiping said, “You, you better take care of yourself first. You’re probably expecting by now.”
Liu Shi shook her head, “I don’t know.”
“Then you’d better go to the hospital and check. Back where we’re from, people are already calling me—” Zhan Aiping stopped herself from saying it out loud. What “Goddess of Children,” she wasn’t about to admit that.
Liu Shi asked curiously, “What are they calling you?”
Zhan Aiping said, “Want me to check your pulse?”
Liu Shi shook her head, “No need. I think I might be, but it’s still early, so I’m not sure.”
There’s a tradition in their hometown that when a woman is pregnant, she has to wait until the third or fourth month before telling others. You’re not supposed to announce it too early.
Zhan Aiping smiled, “Is that so? Well, congratulations in advance.”
Liu Shi said, “I hope my husband can learn a thing or two from yours about raising kids.”
The two continued walking and chatting. Liu Shi gave Zhan Aiping a detailed introduction to her work at the nursing home and vented some work frustrations. Zhan Aiping gave her plenty of advice and suggestions.
Liu Shi was shocked, “Aiping, how do you know so much?”
Zhan Aiping smiled, thinking to herself that it was because she’d once taken care of a stubborn old cadre.
Liu Shi said, “I think your management tips are really useful. Tomorrow, I’ll bring them up with the director.”
Zhan Aiping said, “Why don’t I write them down for you?”
Liu Shi said, “Sure, write them down. I won’t take credit for your ideas. If some of the management can be adjusted, my life will be a lot easier.”
Zhan Aiping: “I don’t need any credit here.”
Zhan Aiping took out a notebook. Having spent some time as a deputy director, she was now used to writing these things, with clear thoughts. Combined with her knowledge of future management practices, she quickly wrote down a list of suggestions.
After she finished, she handed it to Liu Shi.
Liu Shi happily said, “I’ll take this to the director tomorrow. She’ll definitely love having such a talented person like you.”
They chatted a bit more, and finally remembered their husbands waiting at home. After making plans to keep in touch via letters, they decided it was getting late. Zhan Aiping led her husband and two children home.
The two little ones were overjoyed to see their mom again. After just a little while apart, they missed her already. “Be good now, don’t fuss. Mommy will hold each of you for a bit.”
“Say ‘Mommy.’”
“Ma?”
Liu Shi stood by enviously, “They’re such well-behaved kids. So adorable.”
Zhan Aiping said, “You’ll have yours soon too.”
Zhan Aiping and her husband left Liu Shi’s home. On the way, Zhan Aiping casually asked Gu Sheng, “What were you two men talking about secretly?”
Gu Sheng, with a mysterious air, replied, “I helped you secure your sense of vanity as a woman.”
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