Chapter 51 He Was Very Happy
She didn't respond to Gu Heng's words, lowered her head, and took a bite of the dumpling, then bit into a clove of garlic, this time taking a smaller bite.
Chewing, it was still spicy, but more tolerable, "It has a unique flavor, quite good."
Quite addictive.
Gu Heng offered another clove to her, "Do you want more?"
Su Zhaozhao shook her head, "One is enough, I'll have more next time."
Gu Nian didn't want to eat anymore; she found it not at all tasty, with her nose stinging and almost tearing up, holding half a clove of garlic in her hand, unsure what to do with it.
Seeing this, Gu Heng took it from her and stuffed it into his mouth along with the dumpling.
Su Zhaozhao: "Looks like we need to stock up on more garlic at home."
Gu Xiang nodded, that's right.
When they were almost done eating, Yan Guang's family arrived, rushing to the window upon seeing today's menu, but unfortunately, the dumplings were already gone by the time it was their turn.
"Should have asked you to get them for us earlier," Yan Guang said, having ordered noodles, and sat down opposite them with his wife and child.
"I didn't know there would be dumplings today, nor did I know you'd come to the canteen," Gu Heng put the last dumpling and the last clove of garlic into his mouth.
Yu Huixin smiled at Gu Heng, "He's just joking. If I hadn't suggested coming to the canteen, he wouldn't have thought of it. I rarely cook, so I don't want to do it when I finally have a day off."
"Hmm..." Yan Guang couldn't help but laugh.
Yu Huixin looked at him, "What are you laughing at?"
Yan Guang didn't contradict his wife, "I'm laughing because the noodles are delicious, I'm just happy."
But in his heart, he was thinking: How many times do you cook in a week? The canteen is where you usually go.
Yu Huixin rolled her eyes at him, "It's just noodles, worth making you laugh. Back in the day, when I cooked Western food..."
Yan Guang's face darkened instantly, interrupting her, "What are you talking about?"
He looked around, lowering his voice, "Be careful! Luckily, only Laogu and the others heard that. If someone else had heard, they would say you're bourgeois!"
Yu Huixin was also a bit scared, as her relatives all lived cautiously, and only because she married an officer did she have a better life.
But she felt a loss of face, "You really know how to make a big deal out of nothing. What did I say that deserves you scolding me in front of everyone?"
At least she remembered they were outside, keeping her voice low so only those nearby could hear.
Feeling her anger, Yan Guang retreated, "I'm not scolding you, how can that be called scolding? I just said to be careful, we're outside."
"I know, no need to remind me."
"You understand, that's fine..."
Gu Heng, who was clearly used to such scenes, saw that Su Zhaozhao and the others had finished eating, "Let's go back first."
Su Zhaozhao nodded.
The family got up, washed their bowls at the sink, and returned them.
Before leaving, they greeted Yan Guang's family.
After they left, Yu Huixin noticed the garlic peel on the table where Su Zhaozhao had been sitting and muttered, "A woman, eating garlic..."
Yan Guang didn't hear clearly, "What did you say?"
Yu Huixin was still upset and didn't want to talk to him, pointing directly at the table.
Yan Guang: "...You have a problem with her eating garlic?"
"Eating garlic makes one's breath stinky. Men can eat it, but women shouldn't, it's not proper." Clearly, she was from the countryside.
Yan Guang put down his bowl, "Then I'm a man, can I eat it?"
"No!" Yu Huixin glared at him, whispering, "If you dare to eat it, stay away from me..."
Yan Guang sighed silently in his heart.
Su Zhaozhao's family walked slowly on the way back.
"Don't repeat what you heard just now," Gu Heng, hands behind his back, looked into the distance like an old cadre.
Dusk fell, and the residential area for military families resembled a tranquil town, with wisps of smoke rising from almost every house, drifting gracefully like gossamer, misty and ethereal.
Su Zhaozhao felt a sense of inner peace, a tranquility she hadn't experienced in modern society, where anxiety seemed to have long vanished from her life.
Hearing Gu Heng's words, she turned to look at him, "Does Sister Yu often act like that? You didn't seem surprised at all."
Considering the ranks of the men in both families, Yu Huixin should call her sister-in-law, but since Gu Heng was a few years younger than Yan Guang and they had been comrades for many years, it seemed inappropriate to use rank here.
Just like when Political Commissar Huang came to their home, he and Gu Heng were in charge of different departments in the regiment, with Gu Heng technically being a half-rank higher, but given his age, it would be awkward for him to call a woman in her twenties sister-in-law, and Su Zhaozhao wouldn't feel comfortable with it either, so they called her sister-in-law.
The same went for Advisor Yang.
In terms of titles, Gu Heng and his wife were somewhat at a disadvantage.
"Heard it a few times," Gu Heng explained, fearing she might not understand, "Sister Yu comes from a capitalist background."
"I know, Wang Dasi told me."
"Once you get to know her well, you'll understand her temper. To put it bluntly, she doesn't know how to keep her mouth shut. Whatever she says in the future, don't repeat it to anyone else. Although there's no big problem now, who knows what might happen later, given her position here. Even when we talk, we need to be careful."
As the male lead, Gu Heng had a keen political sense.
During those ten years, many people were brought down because of old accounts being dug up. What they said in the past could be used against them.
"Don't ask her about anything, and don't go along with what she says."
Su Zhaozhao nodded, "I understand. Listen more, speak less, and make fewer mistakes."
She wasn't someone people liked to talk to, being from the countryside.
Gu Heng knew she understood what he meant.
She was very smart, even smarter than he had imagined.
Gu Heng was pleased, a smile on his lips.
"I've also reminded Lao Yan, but it's their family matter, so we can't say much about it."
"It's indeed hard to bring up between a married couple. Even if you want to remind them, you can't be too direct."
They had finally managed to marry a cultured young lady, and if you start criticizing her this way and that, they would definitely get upset.
I can teach my own wife behind closed doors, but it's not your place to tell me how to do it. That's the gist of it.
"You're right," Gu Heng smiled.
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian were walking ahead with a basin, stopping every now and then to wait for their parents, who were walking too slowly.
"Mom, hurry up, it's getting dark."
Su Zhaozhao waved her hand, "I know, you two go back first."
"No, we'll wait for you."
When Su Zhaozhao first arrived, these two children seemed like little adults. Since finding their father, they gradually started to act more like children their age.
Su Zhaozhao understood this feeling very well, as her own childhood had been quite the opposite.
Chapter 52: The 28-inch Bicycle
Upon returning home, all that was needed was to brush teeth and wash the face. Su Zhaozhao stood alone by the sink, brushing her teeth for a full ten minutes.
Gu Heng watched her several times, finally unable to hold back, he reminded her, "If you keep brushing, your gums will start to hurt."
Su Zhaozhao pressed her tongue against her gums; surprisingly, they did feel a bit sore.
The bristles were too hard, she missed the days of using an electric toothbrush.
It wasn't the first time Gu Heng had seen her brush her teeth, but seeing her brush for so long tonight made him wonder if she thought her breath stank from garlic?
Then, when it was his turn to brush, he subconsciously extended the time.
After finishing their nightly routine and entering the room, Su Zhaozhao was sitting at the vanity, applying cream to her face. The fragrance of pearl cream filled the air, and upon smelling it, Gu Heng's heart suddenly felt a tickle.
He stood quietly at the door, his gaze involuntarily drawn to her gentle movements as she applied the cream to her cheeks and neck, each subtle gesture exuding a unique feminine grace and delicacy.
In the dim light, everything seemed to be filtered through a soft lens. To Gu Heng, Su Zhaozhao looked especially beautiful tonight.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart, but the agitation only grew stronger.
He felt his heartbeat quicken, his blood seeming to boil.
This feeling was not unfamiliar to him.
A young, strong, energetic man, and one who was married and experienced in matters of the flesh, would be lying if he said he had no desires or thoughts.
Her body was too frail, and there were no condoms at home...
"Hey, what are you standing at the door for?" Su Zhaozhao had noticed him long ago. Seeing him standing still, she turned her head and asked.
"Nothing." Realizing his voice was somewhat hoarse, he cleared his throat and averted his gaze, "Get some rest early."
Su Zhaozhao inexplicably felt something was off about him.
She picked up the watch she had taken off before washing up and checked the time; it was not yet nine o'clock, "I'll read a bit more."
The agricultural books were quite interesting.
Su Zhaozhao picked up the book and opened it, glancing at the light above, "Are you sleepy? I can go to the living room."
"No need, you read," Gu Heng lay down on the bed, his hands behind his head, his gaze fixed on the ceiling.
Su Zhaozhao still felt something was amiss. His words were the same, but his tone seemed a bit strange.
She walked over with the book, standing by the curtain and looking at him, "What's wrong?"
He didn't even cover himself with the blanket, just lying there stiffly. Though she couldn't see his eyes, she could sense the depth of his gaze, as if he were holding back some intense emotion.
Gu Heng lowered his eyelids and glanced at her, "Nothing, aren't you going to read? Go ahead, I'm just lying here thinking."
Su Zhaozhao: "...Oh."
She then pushed aside her concerns and began reading.
Gu Heng: "..."
Another restless night.
...
The next morning.
Without the need to wake up early to prepare breakfast for the students and workers, Su Zhaozhao slept in a bit longer.
When she woke up, breakfast was already in the pot.
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian were also up, washing up.
"Aren't you running this morning?"
Gu Nian rinsed his mouth, "Dad said we'll have our rest days on Wednesdays and Sundays from now on. After breakfast, we have to go to the countryside with Dad. Are you coming, Mom?"
Your dad didn't invite me yesterday?
Gu Heng poked his head out of the kitchen, "Do you want to come?"
"No," Su Zhaozhao shook her head, "Military families might drop by today, so I'll stay home."
"Did you meet them at the bathhouse?"
"Yeah, it was pretty awkward..."
After breakfast, Gu Heng went out for a while and soon returned pushing a bicycle.
"Wow! A bicycle!" Gu Nian happily circled around the bicycle.
Bicycles were rare in those days. Even with industrial coupons, you needed special bicycle tickets to qualify for a purchase, and they weren't cheap—most families couldn't afford them.
Even in cadres' households, it wasn't guaranteed. Bicycles, being such precious items, were mostly owned by various organizations, with only a few in smaller units used as important means of transportation.
Of course, by the 1970s and 1980s, bicycles became more common, experiencing explosive growth. But even then, you still needed tickets to buy one.
Starting from the late 1960s and early 1970s, well-off families began to favor the 'three revolutions and one sound' for weddings, with bicycles topping the list. But that was in the 1960s and 1970s. If someone were to say they wanted a bicycle as a dowry gift now...
Only the daughter of a high-ranking official would dare make such a request.
"Where did you get it?" Su Zhaozhao was also quite surprised. A 28-inch bicycle!
What a tall bicycle.
She had only ridden 'shared bikes' before.
This one must be twice as tall as those.
"Borrowed from someone. Once we get the ticket, we'll buy one too." In a family like theirs, it wasn't money they lacked, but tickets.
"Getting a bicycle ticket is quite difficult, right?"
"Yes," Gu Heng nodded, "Last year, the battalion got two tickets and held a lottery. I didn't win."
Mentioning not winning, he frowned.
"Well, if you didn't win, that's it. Maybe there will be another chance this year. We can try again then," Su Zhaozhao smiled.
But Gu Heng was thinking, no more lotteries; he needed to win it through a competition!
The 28-inch bike truly lived up to its reputation as the coolest bicycle in period literature.
Gu Heng held the handlebars, first placing Gu Nian on the front bar, then letting Gu Xiang straddle the seat at the back. Then, with his left foot on the pedal, he slid forward a couple of steps, and with a swift motion, his long right leg swung over Gu Xiang's head...
By the time Su Zhaozhao managed to close her wide eyes, he had already pedaled several steps ahead.
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian were waving at her, "Mom, we're going!"
Su Zhaozhao murmured, "Bye... so cool!"
How could his legs be so long?
The military dependents arrived at half past nine. Leading the group was Aunt Cao Cui from Commissar Huang's family, followed by Aunt Zhao SuFen and a few other military dependents whose names Su Zhaozhao couldn't match yet.
The lighting in the bathhouse was dim, and everyone was naked and wet, their hair plastered to their scalps. In such an environment, she didn't feel comfortable staring at them for too long.
But that didn't matter; she could call the older ones Aunt and the younger ones Sister-in-law, and she wouldn't go wrong. There was no younger regiment commander in the army than Gu Heng.
"Come in quickly, I was just wondering when you would arrive."
It was their first visit, and Su Zhaozhao took it very seriously. Sunflower seeds, candies, and cookies were laid out on the table, and tea was ready.
The military dependents didn't come empty-handed either. One carried a handful of chestnuts in her bag, another had a pocket full of peanuts. As soon as they sat down, they took out their treats and placed them on the table to share, chatting and eating together.
Chapter 53: The Tea Party of Military Families
Cao Cui cracked sunflower seeds as she surveyed the room, "It's very tidy; it's clear that Zhaodi is a diligent wife."
"Exactly, spotlessly clean, not a speck of dirt. My place isn't like this; with so many children, no matter how well I clean, it gets messy again in no time. Old Yang always tells me to keep the house cleaner, but I just won't do it. After all, he doesn't have to clean, and he doesn't get tired. I take care of the whole family day in and day out, nearly exhausting myself." This was the wife of Advisor Yang, about the same age as Cao Cui, named Liu Guilan.
"Who asked you to have so many? You're pregnant again, aren't you!" This was said by the wife of Deputy Regiment Commander Chen from the Second Regiment, surnamed Chang, called Chang Qiuxia.
"My Old Yang is amazing! Since I can bear children, naturally, I have more. More children mean more blessings. If I could have twins, that would be even better!" Liu Guilan patted her belly, and only then did Su Zhaozhao notice she was pregnant, looking to be about four months along.
Liu Guilan must be around forty, which makes her a high-risk pregnancy.
She looked about the same age as Cao Cui, but clearly lacked Cao Cui's vitality.
Seeing Su Zhaozhao staring at Liu Cuilan's belly, Cao Cui remarked, "They have seven children, and with this one, it will be eight! If they hadn't been separated for a few years because of the war, there might be even more."
Su Zhaozhao's eyes widened in surprise.
Cao Cui laughed, "You and Captain Gu should hurry up and have a few more while you're young. You've been delayed too. If you hadn't been separated, you probably wouldn't have fewer children than them. You can have twins! Two at a time, who can match you!"
Su Zhaozhao chuckled, "Having children is a matter of fate."
"I heard that having twins is due to genetics in the family, right?" Zhao SuFen asked.
"It seems so," Chang Qiuxia replied. "A distant relative of mine is like that; every generation has someone who can have twins." She had brought a basket of yarn when she arrived and began knitting a sweater as she spoke.
Zhao Sufang asked Su Zhaozhao, "Is it your family or Captain Gu's that has this genetic trait?"
This was something Su Zhaozhao didn't know; it wasn't mentioned in the book, nor in her original memories.
She shook her head, "I don't think either of us does. Maybe some ancestors a few generations back did, but we just haven't heard about it."
"That's possible."
"What are you all talking about?"
As they were chatting, Wang Chunhua arrived. The front door was left open, waiting for her.
Wang Chunhua held a half-bowl of stir-fried beans in one hand and a shoe sole in the other. After placing the beans on the table, she started sewing the shoe sole.
"Making shoes again? You must have made over a dozen pairs this year, right?"
"I have to." Wang Chunhua picked up a needle as thick as a fish bone and ran it through her scalp a few times. "My in-laws back home, and my unmarried younger brother-in-law, need clothes and shoes sent to them every year. If I don't make them, I'd have to buy them, and where would I get the money?"
Chang Qiuxia commented, "Sending three or five pairs to them isn't as good as buying a pair of Liberation shoes to make them happy."
Her knitting was swift, and Su Zhaozhao listened to their conversation while watching her knit.
"I once knitted a sweater for my mother-in-law and sent it to her. She wrote back saying she wanted Liberation shoes and a Lenin suit, and the sizes weren't hers or my father-in-law's. I knew it was for her son and daughter, treating us like fools."
Chang Qiuxia grumbled whenever she talked about her mother-in-law, "We send money home every month, and every time we visit, we bring big and small packages. They never seem satisfied. We take care of the old couple, but why should we also take care of their children born later?"
The topic sparked a flurry of complaints.
One person talked about their mother-in-law.
Another about their sister-in-law.
Everyone had their grievances, one after another.
Every family has its own troubles.
"You're lucky," the conversation suddenly turned to Su Zhaozhao.
"No mother-in-law above, no sisters-in-law below, it's truly enviable."
"That's true."
Su Zhaozhao became the envy of everyone.
"... You envy me, but I envy you. If we had more family support back then, we wouldn't have been separated for ten years."
Everyone thought about it and agreed.
Su Zhaozhao changed the subject, asking Chang Qiuxia, "Are you knitting a sweater or a vest?"
"A vest."
She was knitting from top to bottom, and in just a short while, the entire neckline was complete.
"You're really good at knitting."
Chang Qiuxia smiled, "What's the big deal? Store-bought sweaters are much better; they're machine-made, with patterns and designs, very beautiful, just expensive."
Su Zhaozhao found it quite interesting and wanted to learn how to DIY.
"Is knitting easy to learn?"
Chang Qiuxia: "It's easy. I learned after joining the military, following others. Back home, everyone was poor, and we couldn't even buy yarn. After coming here and seeing others knit, I learned after watching a couple of times. Look, let me show you..."
She started teaching Su Zhaozhao without any hesitation.
Cao Cui got up to use the toilet and, upon returning, commented that having a toilet in the yard was great.
"I'll find someone to build one at home too, so I don't have to run to the public toilet every time, and I won't have to clean the chamber pot in the morning."
Wang Chunhua said, "I'm thinking about building one too, but if I do, I'll lose part of my vegetable garden."
"Go ahead and build it. Do you really eat all the vegetables you grow? Having a toilet is much more convenient."
The two began to discuss where to buy bricks.
Zhao SuFen also went to the toilet and, upon returning, noticed that a curtain seemed to be hanging in the east room. She approached for a closer look and laughed outright, "What have you hung here? It's actually quite nice."
"It's a reed mat, used as a partition."
One by one, they all got up to take a look. After seeing it, they all agreed it was good. "Why didn't I think of using a reed mat to cover things? This would work well on windows too," Liu Guilan said.
"Haven't you hung any curtains on your windows?" Chang Qiuxia asked her.
"No, if I had extra fabric, I'd rather make another set of clothes for the little devils at home."
Liu Guilan's family was the poorest among these military wives, mainly because she had too many children. Though Advisor Yang's salary wasn't low, it couldn't support such a large family.
Cao Cui joked, "Aren't you afraid someone might peek through the window while you're busy?"
"Who would dare at night? I'll chop off their legs if they do."
They laughed and joked for a bit.
Liu Cuilan genuinely liked it. "I'll have my family go gather some reed stalks when we get back."
Wang Chunhua smiled, "Now the reed stalks in our area are in trouble."
As they chatted, the group stayed until nearly lunchtime before leaving, each returning to their own home.
Chapter 54: What Wine
They hadn't gone far when Gu Heng returned on his 28-inch bicycle with his son and daughter.
As they approached the house, Gu Heng rang the bell twice.
"Ding! Ding!"
Before Su Zhaozhao could get up to open the door, Gu Xiang had already pushed it open, carrying a duck with its legs tied.
Gu Nian followed closely behind, holding a bag of mountain pears in her hand.
"Where did you get these?"
"Bought... or rather, traded for them in the countryside." Gu Xiang held up the duck, "Dad said we should cook it, Mom, can we keep it?"
"No." Su Zhaozhao refused without hesitation; she didn't want to step on duck droppings.
"Oh." Gu Xiang was disappointed.
Gu Nian brought the pears inside, washed one, and offered it to Su Zhaozhao, "Mom, have some. They're sour but sweet, really delicious."
Su Zhaozhao took a bite, "… Mm, delicious."
They were too sour, not sweet enough, a bit astringent, and the skin was thick—hardly what you'd call delicious.
Su Zhaozhao took the pear from her daughter, went into the kitchen, and used a knife to peel it. The texture improved after peeling.
Gu Heng went to return the bicycle and came back shortly, "Someone will deliver the stone slabs this afternoon. I've already arranged it; they'll lay them down for us directly."
Su Zhaozhao looked at the duck, "Will there be dinner tonight?"
"No, it won't take long. Should we cook the duck for lunch? If so, I'll start preparing it now."
The duck, with its legs tied, trembled pitifully on the ground.
Talking about killing the duck in front of it was too cruel.
"Go ahead." Early death, early rebirth.
The duck: … Shivering!
It was an old duck, and in this era without electric rice cookers, it needed to be simmered over a low flame. It wouldn't be ready for lunch, but it would be perfect for dinner after simmering all afternoon.
The duck giblets were also good, and no one wanted to waste them. After Gu Heng cleaned them, Su Zhaozhao stir-fried them with chili peppers, ginger, and garlic sprouts, making them incredibly fragrant.
There wasn't much duck blood, but she didn't want to waste it either, so she made a duck blood vermicelli soup.
She stir-fried some vegetables as well, and it was another perfect meal!
After dinner, Su Zhaozhao started stewing the duck.
The blood had been drained, but it still needed to be blanched. After blanching, she rinsed it with clean water.
She heated oil in a pan, added the duck meat, and stir-fried until the moisture was gone, then added scallions, ginger, and spices.
Suddenly, Su Zhaozhao remembered she didn't have wine.
"Who can bring me some wine?"
A moment later, Gu Heng came over with a bottle of wine.
"What do you need the wine for?"
"To stew the duck." Su Zhaozhao took the bottle and poured it into the pot with a 'glug glug glug.'
She poured about half a bowl, then added water.
Gu Heng looked at the wine bottle, "This wine…"
Su Zhaozhao slammed the lid on the pot, "What's wrong with this wine? Is it expired?"
Gu Heng looked at her helplessly, "Baijiu doesn't expire."
She laughed at herself; she didn't drink, so how would she know?
"Is there any other problem with this wine?"
"No, it's fine for cooking." He pointed to the remaining wine in the bottle, "Do you need more?"
"No."
Gu Heng took the bottle and left.
Something felt off. Was this wine expensive? Or hard to find?
Su Zhaozhao scratched her head, "… It's not Maotai."
She recognized Maotai and had even tried Maotai milk tea.
Phoenix brand, she had never heard of it.
She only knew about Phoenix bicycles from period dramas.
At two in the afternoon, the men delivering the stone slabs arrived. Two young men, who seemed like brothers, pushed a tricycle loaded with evenly thick stone slabs. They started unloading the slabs, and Gu Heng went to help.
Su Zhaozhao prepared water and placed it on a stool under the eaves.
The two men worked efficiently, leveling the uneven ground with their tools.
Before long, a path of bluestone slabs was laid from the main gate to the hall, and a slab was also placed beside the kitchen faucet, so there would be no more splashing water.
Inside the toilet, which previously had only two stone slabs on either side of the pit, the entire floor was now covered with slabs, making it safe from wetness even when flushing.
After finishing the work, Gu Heng saw the workers off.
With the bluestone slabs in place, the courtyard looked much better. If they could plant some flowers... Yes, her flowers.
When Gu Heng returned, Su Zhaozhao asked him, "Do you know where I can buy flower seedlings?"
Gu Heng was washing his hands by the pond. "There's nowhere around here; you'd have to go to the city for that. In a couple of days, I'll ask someone to bring some back for you."
Su Zhaozhao nodded. "Alright."
After washing his hands, Gu Heng continued weaving the straw curtain. With nothing to do, Su Zhaozhao took a book and sat under the eaves to read. She didn't like hunching over; she preferred to sit upright against the wall and read at eye level.
Gu Heng glanced at her. "The chairs should be delivered in a few days."
Su Zhaozhao: "...Oh." She shifted her stool to make herself more comfortable.
The aroma of stewed duck filled the house all afternoon, distracting Gu Nian and Gu Xiang from their homework.
They were practicing calligraphy, though formal lessons hadn't started at school yet. The teacher had them practice at home over the weekend, with official classes beginning on Monday.
Gu Heng brought back a stack of old newspapers, and after finishing their homework, the two boys began scribbling on them.
Su Zhaozhao sat below the west room's window, occasionally glancing up... It was a mess, pure scribbles.
Just as she was about to go in and give them some pointers, Gu Heng stood up, went inside to correct their grip, then came out to continue weaving the straw curtain.
Even after the correction, it was still a mess...
Su Zhaozhao wasn't in a hurry; she let them practice slowly, knowing that with time, they would improve.
Every so often, she put down her book and went to the kitchen to turn the duck or check the fire. When the duck was tender and the broth reduced, she replaced the coal briquette in the stove and closed the air vent, allowing the duck to simmer further.
Time flew by, and before she knew it, it was time to prepare dinner again.
Gu Heng finally finished the straw curtain for the west room. As usual, he borrowed a ladder from the neighbors. Before leaving, he asked Su Zhaozhao to ladle a bowl of duck meat and take it to the Zhou family.
He returned with the ladder on his shoulder and a bowl of steaming three-ingredient egg pancakes from the Zhou family, piled high with eight pancakes.
Su Zhaozhao took the bowl. "I was just about to get the rice. Now we don't need to cook anything else."
Gu Heng said, "When I went over, Sister-in-law was making the pancakes. She said she had been smelling our duck all afternoon and wanted something special, so she made these pancakes."
The pancakes were made with white flour and cooked in a pan brushed with fragrant oil, turning golden brown and looking rich and delicious. They smelled wonderful too.
Chapter 55: A Thief's Heart Without the Courage to Steal
Placing the pancake on the table, Su Zhaozhao turned and walked into the kitchen.
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian had been smelling the aroma all afternoon, their mouths watering countless times. The siblings couldn't wait to put down their brushes and hurriedly went to the kitchen to help.
Soon, a large bowl of steaming, fragrant duck meat was steadily carried out.
"Try it and see if it's good," Su Zhaozhao handed the chopsticks to Gu Heng.
Gu Heng took the chopsticks, very obligingly, "It must be delicious."
"You haven't even tasted it yet?"
Praising without trying.
Su Zhaozhao immediately thought of a scene: a man sitting on the sofa playing with his phone, his wife dressed beautifully asking if she looks good, he doesn't even lift his eyelids but keeps saying she looks good.
Gu Heng glanced at her, thinking, do I need to taste it?
The neighbors were almost enchanted by the aroma.
"If it weren't good, it wouldn't smell so good."
"That's not necessarily true. Isn't there a phrase called 'appearance over substance'? Maybe this duck is the same, smells good but tastes bad. Captain Gu, you're praising before verifying?"
Gu Heng: "..."
For some reason, he felt she was doing it on purpose.
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian held their chopsticks, looking at the fragrant duck meat, then at their parents...
Just eat it and you'll know.
What's there to talk about?
The adult world, so confusing?
Su Zhaozhao let him off, smiling, "Eat up."
She found herself acting strangely, why did she start arguing like this?
From a psychological perspective...
What psychological perspective? It's not that at all!
Gu Heng picked up his chopsticks and first gave a piece of duck to Su Zhaozhao, then to his daughter and son.
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian said thank you and eagerly stuffed the duck into their mouths, "Mmm... delicious!"
"Mom, it really is delicious, Dad wasn't wrong."
Swallowing the duck in his mouth, Gu Heng looked at Su Zhaozhao and seriously, responsibly, and factually commented, "Very delicious."
Su Zhaozhao: "...Then eat more."
Su Zhaozhao could now lie in bed with Gu Heng very naturally. At first, she would think all sorts of things, her head filled with naughty thoughts, eyeing his muscles with envy, unable to look away.
Now, she could chat with him for a bit after getting into bed, then cover herself and sleep.
In just a few short days, they had become as intimate as an old married couple!
Captain Gu was somewhat depressed; he clearly felt a change in Su Zhaozhao's gaze when she looked at him.
It felt like a flower, at first glance: Wow! So beautiful!
A few days later: Hmm, beautiful.
In short, her eyes weren't as bright when she looked at him anymore.
At first, he could often feel her sneaking glances, but in the past two days, almost none.
She didn't touch his waist anymore...
For example, in bed, previously, he could feel her tension, but now, her expression was increasingly natural and relaxed, as if that's how a couple should be. But somehow, Gu Heng felt something was off.
Something was definitely off!
Gu Heng turned over, bringing himself closer to Su Zhaozhao.
Su Zhaozhao yawned, "Turn off the light, I'm sleepy."
With a click, Gu Heng reached out and turned off the light.
Creak. The wooden bed made a slight sound.
After a while, creak...
Su Zhaozhao: ! This creaking, so suspicious! Is he making pancakes in bed?
She opened her eyes and turned to look at Gu Heng.
!
When did he move closer?
This person usually slept straight and still, staying exactly where he was from bedtime to morning (though she hadn't seen it, she could imagine), never moving.
Now, there was only a palm's width between them, and Su Zhaozhao could clearly feel the warmth radiating from his body, warm and cozy.
Though the room was dark, the outlines of things could still be faintly seen.
Both knew the other wasn't asleep.
Gu Heng lay on his side facing her, very close to Su Zhaozhao, his breath audible.
"Can't sleep?" Gu Heng asked in a low voice.
As if! With you this close, who could sleep?
Su Zhaozhao's heart began to thump wildly.
"This bed must have loose screws; it creaks strangely." She regretted saying it as soon as the words left her mouth. The atmosphere was already oddly intimate, and she had to bring up the bed.
She wanted to slap herself!
"Maybe. I'll check it tomorrow."
"Oh."
Then there was silence.
Gu Heng reached out his hand.
Su Zhaozhao could see the outline of his arm, and her heart beat faster.
The hand gently patted her twice through the blanket.
"Go to sleep."
Then he lay flat.
Su Zhaozhao: "!"
She lay there with her eyes wide open until the person beside her breathed steadily, truly asleep, before she slowly exhaled.
She had been genuinely afraid that Gu Heng would make a move.
If he had come at her, would she push him away? Or push him away?
Su Zhaozhao had a clear understanding of herself: she had the desire but not the courage!
No matter how much she fantasized about it, when it came down to it, she would definitely be the first to back down.
But there would be a day for that, Su Zhaozhao thought, torn between whether to take the plunge sooner or later.
Sigh! It was so difficult.
Finding it too difficult, Su Zhaozhao overslept the next day.
By the time she woke up, Gu Heng had already taken Gu Xiang and the others out for a run. A note on the table said to go to the cafeteria if she woke up late, no need to rush to cook.
Su Zhaozhao checked the time and headed out with her lunch box.
Just as she reached the cafeteria entrance, she ran into Yu Huixin, who was also there for breakfast.
Yu Huixin was just leaving the cafeteria.
Su Zhaozhao was about to greet her, but as she extended her hand, Yu Huixin turned her face away, as if she hadn't seen her, and walked off with her lunch box.
Su Zhaozhao retracted her hand, tsking.
To say it wasn't intentional, Su Zhaozhao wouldn't believe it. Yu Huixin had clearly seen her but quickly turned away. It seemed this sister-in-law had quite a grudge against her.
Was it because she was from the countryside, or because her arrival thwarted Yu Huixin's matchmaking plans, costing her a thank-you gift?
In front of Gu Heng, they could still maintain some civility, but now, without Gu Heng around, even a greeting was too much trouble.
Pfft! Who cared!
After getting her breakfast, she returned home to find Gu Heng and the two children already there, the three of them washing their faces by the pond.
Gu Heng looked up at her, "Did you get breakfast?"
"Yes."
Their conversation felt a bit superfluous.
Su Zhaozhao went to the kitchen to get chopsticks and bowls, then returned to the main room, avoiding looking in Gu Heng's direction the whole time.
But once seated at the table, she couldn't help but glance at him repeatedly.
Gu Heng held his bowl in one hand and a steamed bun in the other, sipping porridge and eating the bun. Feeling her gaze, the corner of his mouth slowly curved upward behind the bowl.
Chapter 56: He Was Teasing Her
After breakfast, those who needed to go to the military base went there, and those who needed to go to school went there. Su Zhaozhao was left alone at home again.
She had just finished washing the clothes she had changed out of yesterday when Su Zhaozhao went to the market to buy groceries. On her way back, she stopped by the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.
"Do you have any yarn?"
"None left. It should be restocked tomorrow," the salesperson replied to Su Zhaozhao and then went to help other customers.
Someone asked, "Where's Xiao Qiu? On leave?"
The person was referring to another younger salesperson, who, even when the store was quiet, always worked alongside someone else.
The salesperson responded with a hint of complaint, "Yes, on leave. I don't know when she'll be back, but it's killing me here."
Unable to buy the yarn, Su Zhaozhao left the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives and went to the tailor shop to pick up two sets of ready-made pajamas.
This time, the old tailor made the adult sizes first.
The style of the pajamas was simple—long-sleeved shirts and long pants, with a small V-neck. Instead of buttons, there were two ties, one above the other, sewn onto the front.
As soon as she got them, Su Zhaozhao washed them. With the strong sun at noon, they would be dry by evening.
When Gu Heng returned, he saw the pajamas hanging in the breeze.
At first, he thought they were new clothes, but upon closer inspection, he noticed something was off—no buttons, only four ties fluttering in the wind.
Then he saw that one set was his size, and he understood—the pajamas were ready.
He felt quite excited about it.
He reached out to touch them... they were half-dry.
Seeing this, Su Zhaozhao said, "There's no sun today, so we'll need to hang them out again tomorrow."
Gu Heng looked up at the sky, "It might rain tomorrow."
"You can predict the weather now?"
Gu Heng glanced down at her, "I heard it on the radio."
Su Zhaozhao: So honest.
With something in his pocket, Gu Heng went into the house after talking to Su Zhaozhao. Inside, he opened a drawer and placed the item deep inside. Unconvinced it was hidden well enough, he took it out again, walked to the wardrobe, opened the door, and placed it at the very top.
Satisfied it wouldn't be easily found, he closed the wardrobe door.
Gu Xiang poked his head in from the doorway, "Dad, are you busy?"
Gu Heng took off his military uniform, "Not really, what's up?"
"I have calligraphy class today. My sister and I can't hold the brush properly. Can you teach us?"
"Sure." Gu Heng followed his son to the west room.
After teaching his son and daughter and watching them write a few characters, Gu Heng went to the kitchen to help with dinner.
For dinner, they were making hand-torn noodles. Not needing his help, Su Zhaozhao told him to do his own thing.
Gu Heng didn't move, instead, he pulled a stool over and sat down, watching her cook.
If you keep watching, I won't know where to put my hands and feet!
Su Zhaozhao shouted in her heart!
She picked up the dough that had been resting and tore off two pieces... "Do you want to try?"
Gu Heng stood up, "I'll wash my hands."
After he washed his hands and came back, Su Zhaozhao handed him the dough, "You take over, I'll go borrow some scallions from next door."
Gu Heng: "..."
A few days ago, the seeds they planted in the garden had sprouted tiny buds, including the scallions, though they weren't ready to eat yet.
Su Zhaozhao went out and knocked on the neighbor's door.
Wang Chunhua was also cooking, while Comrade Zhou sat under the eaves at a small table, sipping wine with peanuts.
Knowing she was borrowing scallions, Wang Chunhua bent down and plucked a handful from the garden, "Why say 'borrow'? If you run out, just come over; we have plenty. By the way, how did you make that duck yesterday? It tasted amazing."
Comrade Zhou also praised it and asked Su Zhaozhao to teach Wang Chunhua.
"That's easy." Su Zhaozhao explained the steps.
"You have to use wine?"
"Yes."
Comrade Zhou protectively held his bottle, "But not my wine."
Wang Chunhua rolled her eyes, "I'm not that foolish. Your wine is more expensive than the duck."
The same wine that Comrade Zhou was protecting was also in Su Zhaozhao's house.
...It was indeed expensive, no wonder Gu Heng had that expression when he saw her using wine to cook the duck.
"Where's Laogu? What's he doing at home? Tell him to come over for a drink."
Su Zhaozhao said casually, "I'm cooking at home. I'll ask him when I get back."
With that, she took the scallions and left.
She had no idea how shocked the Zhou couple were by her words.
"Old Gu is cooking?" Commissar Zhou looked utterly incredulous.
Wang Chunhua was also quite surprised; in those days, few men ever entered the kitchen.
If a man did enter the kitchen, his wife would be called a lazy woman, and he would be criticized for failing to uphold the husband's authority.
"Tsk tsk, Captain Gu is really a good man," Wang Chunhua, as a woman, genuinely envied it. Her own husband wouldn't even bother to pick up a fallen oil bottle.
Commissar Zhou shook his head, "What's so good about it? His hands are meant for holding guns, not spatulas. He should learn other things, but instead, he learns from that Lao Yan. Look at Lao Yan, he has pampered his wife to the point where she's not herself anymore."
Wang Chunhua glared at him, "Zhaodi and Yu Huixin, the capitalist's daughter, are different. Don't make random comparisons! What's wrong with helping in the kitchen? Just because he holds a spatula doesn't mean he can't hold a gun. Nonsense!"
"His wife just arrived, and she looks frail. Of course, he needs to take good care of her. Think about all the hardships Zhaodi has endured over the years. It's only right for him to treat his wife well! Captain Gu has a conscience! But me, I got stuck with you, who has none! Taking care of the whole family day and night, and no one ever says a word of thanks..."
One sentence led to a long rant, almost setting the place on fire.
Commissar Zhou quickly waved his hands, "I didn't say anything bad about Old Gu's wife, I was talking about Lao Yan, Lao Yan."
"Have the guts to say it to their faces!"
Commissar Zhou: "... I'd have to be crazy to do that."
"Then shut up!"
Hey! This woman, she could chat with others, but he couldn't?
Only the officials are allowed to set fires, while the common people aren't allowed to light lamps?
Su Zhaozhao returned home with the scallions. Gu Heng was quick, already having put all the noodles in the pot. She washed a few scallions under the tap, then went inside and picked up the knife to chop them into scallion flowers.
"Commissar Zhou said to invite you over for a drink."
Gu Heng replied, "I'll go after dinner."
After dinner, Gu Heng went to the Zhou family's house.
No one knew what they talked about, but it was very late when Gu Heng finally came back.
He washed up outside, and Su Zhaozhao, lying in bed, could hear the intermittent sound of water. After a while, he finally came in.
There was a rustling sound as he lay down beside her.
Su Zhaozhao caught a faint scent of alcohol. Even after washing up, he still carried a hint of it.
Just like last night, he faced her side-on, very close to her. His breath brushed against the back of her neck, stirring the fine hairs and causing a slight tickle.
Her heart rate, just like last night, involuntarily sped up, 'thump thump thump!'
She could hear her own heartbeat very clearly.
She suddenly wondered, since he was so close, could he hear hers?
Just as Su Zhaozhao was getting nervous, Gu Heng, just like last night, reached out and gently patted her, "Go to sleep." Then he turned over onto his back.
Su Zhaozhao: "!"
He was teasing her!
He must be teasing her!
Chapter 57 Fear of Wife
Provoked once again, Su Zhaozhao woke up late.
It wasn't her fault; if anyone was to blame, it was Gu Heng, whose act of provoking her and then falling asleep immediately was truly despicable.
Waking up late left no time for breakfast, so Su Zhaozhao could only take some money and head to the canteen with her lunch box to buy something.
As she stepped out, she encountered Wang Chunhua who was just going out to dispose of garbage, "Where are you off to?"
Su Zhaozhao shook the lunch box in her hand, "To buy breakfast."
"Didn't have time to make it?"
"Right, woke up late."
After a brief chat, Su Zhaozhao continued on her way with her lunch box.
Wang Chunhua entered the courtyard where Comrade Zhou was shaving, "Who were you talking to so early in the morning?"
"It was Zhaodi next door. She was heading to the canteen to buy breakfast, said she woke up late and didn't have time to make it. I think she also went to the canteen for breakfast yesterday morning..." Wang Chunhua muttered casually.
Comrade Zhou chuckled.
"What are you laughing at?" Wang Chunhua patted the dust off her hands and pushed him aside to wash them under the tap.
"Hehe, I'm laughing at Laogu."
"Why are you laughing at him?"
"Do I have to tell you why?" This woman, can such matters be discussed openly? She's so clueless!
Wang Chunhua glared at him, "Can't I ask? Get your own breakfast from the pot! I won't serve you..."
On the way to the military base.
Gu Heng walked side by side with Comrade Zhou.
As they walked and talked, Comrade Zhou patted Gu Heng on the shoulder, "Young man, you need to learn self-restraint. You have a family now; eating canteen breakfast every day isn't right."
Gu Heng: "..." What nonsense is this?
If this isn't restraint, what is?
"And, I didn't ask you last night, do you really cook at home?"
"Occasionally make porridge, nothing else."
Comrade Zhou patted him again, "You're really something! If others found out, they'd definitely say you fear your wife."
Gu Heng: "Then let them say it to my face."
Comrade Zhou fell silent.
Heh! He really does fear his wife!
After finishing breakfast, Su Zhaozhao went to the market to buy vegetables. Not long after returning, the sky turned overcast, and a cold wind began to blow. Soon, a drizzle started, which later turned into a heavy downpour.
The young sprouts in the vegetable garden were battered by the rain, swaying back and forth. Su Zhaozhao feared that after this rain, they might not survive.
She had no good solution, only watching helplessly. In one of the agricultural books she bought, it mentioned covering the seedlings with plastic film to protect them, but unfortunately, they didn't have any.
Su Zhaozhao loved rainy days, especially sitting under the eaves, watching the raindrops fall in a continuous line, the sound of the rain soothing and pleasant. She could sit there all day, lost in thought, feeling content.
After watching for a while, the wind became too strong, and the rain was being blown onto the steps under the eaves, wetting the ground. She had to carry her stool inside.
A gust of wind blew through, making Su Zhaozhao shiver and break out in goosebumps.
Her long-sleeved shirt couldn't keep out the cold wind anymore.
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian wore shirts this morning, and since their school was on higher ground, the wind must have been even colder.
Su Zhaozhao went inside, opened the wardrobe, and first put on an overcoat she had bought during her last trip to the city. Then, she took out the overcoats she had bought for the two children.
Thinking it wouldn't get this cold so soon, she had placed the overcoats on the top shelf. She stretched up on tiptoe to reach them.
"Clunk!" A small box fell with the clothes.
Su Zhaozhao looked down to see a small wooden box.
She knew everything in the wardrobe, but when did this little box appear?
Since she hadn't put it there, it must belong to Gu Heng.
Putting the clothes on the bed, she squatted down.
The fall had opened the lid, revealing its contents.
There were two small bags inside. One was semi-transparent, containing something that looked like powder, labeled as talcum powder.
The other bag was opaque, with no label. Su Zhaozhao picked it up and examined it closely.
Feeling the contents through the packaging, she suddenly realized what it was!
"Clunk!" The wooden box fell to the floor again.
Su Zhaozhao's face turned bright red!
She quickly squatted down to pick up the box, hastily repacked the items, and stuffed it back in its place, closing the wardrobe door. She took the children's clothes, grabbed two umbrellas from behind the door, and left the house.
Passing by Wang Chunhua's house, she called out, "Sister Wang, are you at home?"
The sound of the rain masked her voice, and it wasn't until she called again that Wang Chunhua responded from inside.
"Zhaodi, what brings you here on such a rainy day?"
Wang Chunhua, holding an umbrella, came to open the door for her, saying as she did so, "Next time, just push the door open. We don't have so many formalities."
Su Zhaozhao replied, "I'm going to school to bring clothes and umbrellas to Gu Xiang and the others. I came to ask if you want me to bring something for Xiaojun too."
Wang Chunhua hadn't thought about this at all. Country kids were tough; if it got cold, they'd just be cold, and a little chill wouldn't hurt them. If it rained, they could just run faster when school was over.
"You're so thoughtful, I didn't even think of that. Yes, please help me bring some things." She then went into the house and quickly brought out a set of clothes and an umbrella for Su Zhaozhao.
"I'll be off then."
"Take your time, the road is slippery after the rain."
The road wasn't just slippery; it was also muddy.
In the resettlement area, only the main road in front of the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives and the canteen was paved with cement. The rest of the area was just dirt.
After the rain, water had pooled, and after just a few steps, her originally clean shoes were caked with mud.
Su Zhaozhao had never walked on such a road before.
It was incredibly difficult, requiring all her attention to focus on her feet, even using her toes to maintain balance, fearing a slip and a fall.
A ten-minute walk usually took her half an hour to reach the school.
Just as she arrived, classes had ended. Because of the rain, most students were still in their classrooms, while some stood or squatted under the eaves, seemingly unfazed by the cold. Su Zhaozhao noticed some students still wearing short sleeves.
Someone spotted her and ran into the classroom, shouting, "Gu Xiang, Gu Nian, your mother is here!"
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian, who had been reading at their desks, immediately stood up and ran outside.
"Mom!"
"Mom, why are you here?"
Su Zhaozhao had just stepped onto the stairs and hadn't even put away her umbrella when her children came running out to greet her.
"I've brought clothes and umbrellas for you." Su Zhaozhao extended her arm and handed the clothes to them. "There's another set for Xiaojun, along with an umbrella."
Hearing this, Zhou Xiaojun also ran over, happily accepting the clothes and umbrella.
It was the first time his mother had asked someone to bring him an umbrella, which was quite unusual!
Chapter 58: Leather Shoes
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian were overjoyed, putting on the new clothes their mother had brought them, amidst the envious gazes of their classmates.
Though Gu Xiang was beaming inside, he still said, "The road is difficult, but the rain might stop by the time school ends. It's not cold sitting in the classroom."
"The sky is so gloomy; it won't clear up anytime soon. It might rain all day. With an umbrella, we won't get wet going to the cafeteria or the restroom."
When Su Zhaozhao had brought them to register, she had already seen the layout of the school. The classroom, cafeteria, and restroom were separate buildings with no covered walkways between them, so they would have to brave the rain.
Just then, their homeroom teacher, Mr. Zheng, came out of his office. Seeing her, he thought a parent had come for something and approached.
As he got closer, he recognized that it was Gu Xiang and Gu Nian's mother, who had changed her hairstyle, making her almost unrecognizable.
Naturally, one should be warm to the children's teacher. Su Zhaozhao smiled and greeted him, "It's cool in this rainy weather. I came to bring the kids some clothes and an umbrella so they don't catch a cold and affect their studies."
Mr. Zheng replied, "That's very thoughtful. The weather changes every day, cold one day and hot the next, which makes it easy to catch a cold. During the change of seasons, the most students catch colds. If possible, it's best to bring an extra jacket to keep in their bags."
"Understood." She then asked about Gu Xiang and Gu Nian's studies.
Mr. Zheng said they were doing well, "They listen very attentively in class and always complete their homework excellently."
The bell rang, and Gu Xiang and Gu Nian entered the classroom. After a few more words with Mr. Zheng, Su Zhaozhao left the school under her umbrella.
On the way back, the rain had lessened a bit. By the time she reached home, it had started pouring again.
The shoes on her feet were beyond repair, covered in mud. Regardless of the rain, she took them directly to the pond to clean, then placed them on the windowsill to dry.
For lunch, she made some noodles, ate, and took a nap for an hour. In the afternoon, she spent the whole time reading at her desk, taking breaks now and then to listen to the rain and watch the sky.
The day passed like this.
Sure enough, the rain lasted all day. When Gu Xiang and the others finished school, it was still raining. The siblings returned home with umbrellas, barefoot, carrying their shoes in their hands.
The shoes in their hands were clean, but their feet were covered in mud.
"Coming home with your shoes on is fine; you can wash them when you get here. Walking barefoot can lead to injuries."
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian didn't mind, washing the mud off their feet by the pond. "Everyone does this. We used to walk barefoot all the time."
Su Zhaozhao recalled the hardest times when these two children always walked barefoot, only wearing shoes in winter.
"…We're not short of shoes now. You don't need to go barefoot anymore."
The family still needed a few pairs of rain boots, so Su Zhaozhao made a mental note to buy them.
Gu Heng returned wearing a raincoat and rain boots, fully equipped. Only the area around his knees was wet from the journey.
He took off his raincoat after entering the house and pulled out a rectangular cardboard box from inside.
He handed it directly to Su Zhaozhao, "Try them on."
"What is it?" Su Zhaozhao took it and opened it, "Leather shoes!"
Inside the shoebox was a pair of black low-heeled leather shoes, simple and elegant, a versatile style that would still be popular in modern times.
Seeing her surprise, Gu Heng smiled, "I had someone bring them for you. Try them on and see if they fit."
Su Zhaozhao looked at him with the shoebox in hand.
This was the second gift she had received from Gu Heng. The first was a watch, which he had given her from his own collection. These shoes, however, he had bought specifically for her.
He had mentioned several times that she should buy leather shoes, but she hadn't, so he must have decided to buy a pair for her.
It was hard to describe how she felt—she was touched and happy.
"What are you looking at? Try them on quickly." Gu Heng smiled again.
Only then did Su Zhaozhao take out the shoes and sit down to try them on.
After putting them on, she stood up and took a few steps, "They fit perfectly."
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian also said they looked good.
"Thank you."
Gu Heng: "What are you thanking me for? We're a couple; there's no need for such formalities."
Right, couples don't need such formalities.
As the night grew darker and bedtime approached, Su Zhaozhao couldn't help but think about what she had seen earlier in the day, feeling restless.
If he wanted it, should she just go for it?
Or should she wait a bit longer?
He had gone through the trouble of buying the shoes, so he must have had a reason.
A normal, vigorous man would definitely want it. If he didn't, he wouldn't be a man.
She had known it all along; he had been teasing her.
Su Zhaozhao scolded herself. She clearly wanted him, yet she was hesitating and thinking about backing out.
How pathetic!
"Sigh, it's so hard~!"
"What's so hard?" Gu Heng heard this as soon as he entered the room. He saw the book in front of her and asked, "Is there something you don't understand? If there's anything unclear, tell me, and we can discuss it together, exchange ideas."
It really does seem difficult, your face is all scrunched up.
Su Zhaozhao covered her face and mumbled in a muffled voice, "Discussing, exchanging... beauty can be misleading."
"Who said something about no one?" Gu Heng didn't hear clearly.
Su Zhaozhao lowered her hand, "Nothing."
She avoided his gaze, focusing only on the book.
Gu Heng truly thought she was facing some problem, so he walked over, placed one hand on the desk, and the other on the back of the chair, bending down.
Su Zhaozhao's back straightened up immediately!
Gu Heng was very close to her, the distance between them so narrow it made hearts race. With just a slight turn of her eyes, she could see the faint stubble on his chin, and her nose caught the scent of his breath, which smelled of mint toothpaste.
This was the toothpaste she had bought from the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, choosing this flavor over the watermelon one.
It reminded her of mint candies, refreshing and invigorating.
Gu Heng lowered his head to take a closer look but couldn't find anything wrong, his gaze then shifted to Su Zhaozhao.
Su Zhaozhao reacted quickly, lowering her eyes just before he looked at her.
Gu Heng: ... She was clearly looking at him just now.
Suddenly understanding, perhaps it wasn't a problem with the book.
Gu Heng straightened up, "Your job has been arranged."
Su Zhaozhao instantly relaxed, full of energy, "What job?"
"A salesperson at the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives."
"But doesn't the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives already have two salespeople? Are they still short-handed?"
The store wasn't big, and the two people were often idle; Su Zhaozhao never saw them busy, one reading books, the other knitting sweaters.
"One is going to university, leaving the position open, and we're responsible for filling it."
Su Zhaozhao hadn't expected the military to arrange a salesperson position at the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives for her, one of the coveted "Eight Positions" of the era, a highly envied good job. If others held iron rice bowls, then a salesperson held a golden rice bowl.
"Such a good position, the requirements must be quite high, right?"
Chapter 59: I Want to Change My Name
"The requirements aren't low," Gu Heng said. "One must be able to read and write, with a vocabulary of at least three thousand characters, and also have good handwriting. These are the basic requirements."
"Originally, this position required a junior high school education, but as you know, most military spouses come from rural areas, where few have had the opportunity to study and learn to read and write. The educated military spouses from the city have already been assigned jobs, so the logistics department has been considering for several days who to place in this position. They can't just assign someone who might not be able to handle it and make a fool of themselves."
Gu Heng looked at Su Zhaozhao and said, "I know you can write well, and your vocabulary should be no problem."
Su Zhaozhao patted her chest and assured him, "Definitely no problem!"
Three thousand characters, for a modern person, is about the level of a primary school graduate. For her, a university graduate from a 211 institution, it was a piece of cake!
Gu Heng smiled, crossed his arms on the desk, and leaned back. "That's why I recommended you. They're willing to give you a chance, with a three-month probationary period before becoming permanent. By the way, within a month, you'll need to learn how to use an abacus, which is also a basic requirement. If you don't know how, someone will teach you after you start."
Worried she might feel pressured, he added, "If you can't handle it, it's not a big deal. We don't rely on this salary. Regardless, it's a good position, and we can secure it while giving ourselves a chance to learn."
Su Zhaozhao felt no pressure at all. "Don't worry, I won't let you down."
Seeing her confidence, Gu Heng smiled again. "Alright, then you can report tomorrow. I'll take you there in the morning."
Feeling confident, Su Zhaozhao put away her book and stood up to rest. "Let's go to bed early."
Gu Heng held her back. "Not yet."
Su Zhaozhao sat down again and watched as he opened a drawer and took out a small booklet.
"A household registration book?"
"Yes, after processing the transfer, your household registration will be moved to the garrison location, along with your grain and oil relations. You need the household registration to collect monthly ration tickets. I've already collected them for this month."
The ration tickets he had collected were stored in an iron box in the drawer.
Su Zhaozhao flipped through the household registration book and saw only her name and those of her two children. The place of origin was Sujia Village, and the new location was Sea City. It was not a rural household registration but that of an urban resident.
Reason for transfer: Transfer with the military.
"Why isn't your name here?"
"I'm registered with the military."
She understood; his household registration was managed by the military.
Military dependents' household registrations, however, were registered in the city or town where the military unit was stationed, still under civilian status.
Su Zhaozhao thought about the land in the village. Since her household registration was now here, her village registration must have been canceled. She had thought about leaving the land to the village to grow crops and receive some grain in return, but that was wishful thinking. Without her household registration there, the land would definitely be taken away.
She blamed herself for not fully understanding the process, and probably Guo Damao didn't know much about it either.
She wondered if Guo Damao would make a fool of herself when telling this to Director Su.
With the household registration, she and her children would receive a fixed amount of grain and oil tickets and other entitlements for urban residents each month. Of course, these still needed to be purchased with money.
Since arriving here, they had used the tickets Gu Heng had saved. Money wasn't an issue, but the tickets were getting fewer and fewer. Each month, a fixed amount was issued, and while they could trade for more, it wasn't sustainable in the long run.
Looking at the name Zhaodi in the household registration book...
"I want to change my name."
Gu Heng was surprised. "Change to what name?"
She pointed to the name Zhaodi. "Change these two characters. Zhaodi, Zhaodi, just hearing the name tells you that my... parents wanted a son, not me. Otherwise, they wouldn't have sold me. Now it's a new era, one of equality, where women hold up half the sky. Zhaodi sounds like a relic of feudalism. Since it's a relic, it should be discarded. I want a positive, bright, and uplifting name."
Gu Heng asked, "What do you want to be called?"
He didn't find it strange; many people liked to change their names during this time.
In the past, naming wasn't taken seriously, especially in the countryside. Girls were often named Big Girl, Second Girl, Third Girl, Fourth Girl, and boys were named Big Dog, Second Dog, Third Pillar, Fourth Pillar, Cat Boy, Bad Egg, and Lumpy. There were names you couldn't imagine, but nothing they couldn't think of.
These names were fine at home, but once they started working or joined the military, when a leader called out Second Pillar, a whole group might respond.
Names like Bad Egg were even worse. Either they changed their own names or asked their leaders to help. It was quite normal.
Su Zhaozhao picked up a pen and wrote 'Zhaozhao' on a piece of paper.
"Zhao, meaning brightness and clarity, the sun represents the rising sun, the east is red, the sun rises... I almost sang it," Su Zhaozhao said. "I think the meaning of this character is very good. It sounds the same as the 'zhao' in my name, and the change isn't significant. What do you think?"
Gu Heng read the name aloud, "Zhaozhao."
Su Zhaozhao felt a tingle inside. Why did these two characters sound so good coming from his mouth?
"Su Zhaozhao." Gu Heng read the full name. "This name is very good. Let's use it."
Su Zhaozhao was satisfied. "When can we change the name in the household registration book?"
"I'll take care of it tomorrow."
"Can I use my new name when I report for work tomorrow?"
"Of course."
Su Zhaozhao happily put away the household registration book. "Let's go to bed then. We need to wake up early tomorrow."
Gu Heng was also pleased. "Alright."
Su Zhaozhao went into the inner room, and he closed the door, drew the curtains, and tidied up the books on the desk.
As he passed the wardrobe, he paused, then walked to the bed, undressed, turned off the light, and lay down.
Just like the last few days, he lay down and moved closer to Su Zhaozhao.
Su Zhaozhao suddenly turned over, mimicking his actions, and patted him, "Go to sleep."
Then she withdrew her hand and lay down obediently, placing her hands on her abdomen, closing her eyes, and deliberately emitting a light snore.
"..." Do you want to hear how fake it is?
Gu Heng felt a bit disheartened. Was she rejecting him?
Thinking about her reporting in tomorrow, he suppressed the restlessness in his heart and closed his eyes.
The next morning, Su Zhaozhao finally didn't oversleep.
The rain from last night had stopped by midnight, leaving the ground still damp and unsuitable for running outside.
Gu Heng was teaching Gu Xiang and Gu Nian how to box in the courtyard.
Su Zhaozhao sat at the kitchen door, cooking while enjoying the scene.
The morning air was cool, and with the rain from yesterday, the temperature was even lower. Gu Xiang and Gu Nian were dressed in long sleeves and pants, while Gu Heng wore only a tank top.
What a great physique!
Chapter 60: Reporting for Duty
After breakfast, Su Zhaozhao changed her clothes, mainly to avoid getting them dirty while cooking; even a tiny oil stain on white clothes would be very noticeable.
She wore a white shirt and blue trousers again, this time tucking the hem into her waistband and fastening a thin women's leather belt around her waist. She wore a watch on her wrist and new leather shoes that Gu Heng had bought for her.
She slung her olive-green canvas bag over her shoulder.
Standing in front of the mirror, Su Zhaozhao felt she looked good.
It captured the essence of a simpler era.
She walked out and twirled in front of Gu Heng and the children, "Do I look nice?"
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian clapped their hands immediately, "Very nice!"
They already knew that their mother was going to work, and at the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives no less, which made them very happy.
Gu Heng nodded, praising her in a very reserved manner, "You look great. Tucking in your shirt makes you look very spirited and energetic, just right for work." It also made her waist look particularly slender.
As he spoke, he handed her the military water bottle from the table, "Take this too. It's already filled with water. You'll need to drink plenty during your first day."
Su Zhaozhao took it, slinging it over her shoulder along with her bag.
"Let's go!" Like a soldier setting off on a mission.
The whole family marched out the door in unison.
Their neighbor, Comrade Zhou, and Zhou Xiaojun were also about to leave, with Wang Chunhua still putting things into Zhou Xiaojun's schoolbag.
"Hey! Where are you all heading?" Comrade Zhou asked.
Gu Nian: "Uncle Zhou, my mom is going to work!" She was even happier than if she herself were going to work!
Comrade Zhou had heard about it, "So soon? Already settled?"
Gu Heng: "There just happened to be a position available."
Wang Chunhua was the most curious, "What kind of position? Where will you be working?"
"Sales clerk at the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, a position just opened up."
Wang Chunhua was genuinely happy for Su Zhaozhao, "That's great! Now we'll have someone at the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, so we won't have to worry about not being able to buy what we need."
She was extremely envious. When she first arrived, she had also wanted to find a job, but unfortunately, she couldn't read or write, only her name. She couldn't do good jobs, though she could handle cleaning positions, which were available. However, Lao Zhou, her husband, was a man who cared about his reputation and didn't want her to take such a job.
Everyone said that all jobs were equal, but in reality, they weren't. Besides, when she first arrived, Yu Huixin had subtly looked down on her, and she didn't want to give the capitalist's daughter another reason to look down on her.
Why should the wife of a political commissar clean while the wife of a deputy regimental commander sits in an office?
Thinking about it made her feel uncomfortable, so she didn't apply.
Knowing that Su Zhaozhao was going to the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, she felt that Su Zhaozhao was bringing honor to their group of military dependents from the countryside!
"Work hard! We'll join the Party too and become cadres! Let everyone see how capable we are!"
Su Zhaozhao smiled and responded, "Certainly, certainly!"
Gu Heng smiled at her, noting her high spirits. She hadn't even reported for duty yet, but she had already promised to join the Party and become a cadre.
"Alright, let's go. I still need to take her to report for duty."
"Sure." Wang Chunhua then said to Su Zhaozhao, "We'll chat after you get off work."
Zhou Xiaojun had already pulled Gu Xiang and Gu Nian away.
Zhou Ming walked with them for a bit before parting ways. Gu Heng and Su Zhaozhao continued toward the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.
At the entrance of the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, Gu Heng did not go in but led Su Zhaozhao into a nearby alley. After walking about twenty steps, they saw a door with a sign that read "Office of the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives."
The office door was open, and Gu Heng walked straight in, with Su Zhaozhao following closely behind.
Inside, there were several offices, each with a sign on the door indicating the Purchasing and Sales Department, Finance Department, Human Resources Division, and others.
Gu Heng led her to the door marked "Director's Office" and knocked.
A middle-aged man in his forties, reading a newspaper, looked up upon hearing the knock, "Captain Gu."
He quickly stood up, "What brings you here? Please come in."
Gu Heng shook his hand, "Director Liu, I've brought my wife to report for duty."
Director Liu was taken aback, "The military dependant assigned to our Supply and Marketing Cooperatives is your wife?"
He had only received the notice yesterday that a military dependent would be placed in the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.
"That's right." Gu Heng stepped aside, revealing Su Zhaozhao, who was standing behind him.
Su Zhaozhao extended her hand with a smile, "Director Liu, hello. I am Su Zhaozhao. I am very pleased to join the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives. I will work diligently and strive to excel in my duties. If there are any areas where I fall short, please don't hesitate to point them out. I will correct my mistakes and continuously learn and improve to keep up with everyone else."
Director Liu smiled as he shook her hand, "Comrade Su, you look like a capable and energetic comrade, full of vitality!"
"Thank you, Director Liu, for your kind words."
Before Su Zhaozhao arrived, Director Liu had been wondering what kind of military dependent the army would assign. He was worried they might send someone who didn't meet the requirements, someone who couldn't be taught, given the generally low educational level of military dependents. However, he couldn't refuse the army's request.
Seeing her, he felt much more at ease. She was young, attractive, well-spoken, and articulate, clearly well-educated.
Because Gu Heng was present, Director Liu personally escorted Su Zhaozhao to the Human Resources Division to complete the onboarding process, without even conducting an assessment.
The head of the Human Resources Division hurriedly came forward when he saw Director Liu bringing someone over.
"This is our new comrade. Please process their onboarding."
The head first looked at Gu Heng. He didn't recognize him, but one glance at the rank insignia on his military uniform told him everything.
The person had come with the new comrade, and Director Liu had personally escorted them... The head smiled, "Which division is the new comrade from?"
"Purchasing and Sales Department. She's a new salesperson," Director Liu replied.
Su Zhaozhao introduced herself, and the head took out a form for her to fill out while sitting aside.
"You go back to your unit first. I can handle it myself." She wasn't a child anymore; she could take care of the rest on her own. With a colonel escorting her for onboarding, no one would dare to bully her in the future.
Gu Heng nodded, "I'll be off then."
"Alright. Go ahead."
Director Liu smiled, "Leaving Su Comrade here, you can rest assured. Come, I'll see you out."
Just as the two were about to leave the Human Resources Division, several female comrades rushed in from the main entrance!
"Director Liu, I want to file a complaint! This isn't fair!" One of the women, a robust woman in her thirties, raised her hand angrily and shouted.
Her shout drew everyone from the other offices.
Director Liu was taken aback; this was the first time someone had shouted at him like this, "What are you complaining about? What's unfair?"
