Chapter 11: Free Grain Coupons
Aunt Guo was afraid of spilling the sugar and hesitated to take it, "This is really… I can't accept it, please keep it."
Su Zhaozhao smiled, "Sister-in-law, take it. It's not much, but we've been so grateful for your help over the years, especially these past few days when you've been busy helping us find the children's father. I don't know how to thank you."
"What's there to thank? We're from the same village and even related. Helping out is nothing much."
"That's true, but over the years, no one else has helped us as much as you have. Zhaodi remembers all the kindness. We still have a lot of things to trouble you with after we leave. If you refuse, I'd feel bad asking for your help."
Aunt Guo held the sugar, troubled, "What you say… Sigh! I'll accept it then, but no more of this in the future."
Su Zhaozhao nodded with a smile and took out the house key from her pocket, handing it to Aunt Guo, "Thank you for the trouble."
Aunt Guo accepted it, "Don't worry, I'll make sure everything is safe at your home, not a grain of food will be lost."
Before leaving, there was one more thing to do—sell the cicada nymphs that Gu Xiang had collected over the past few days at the health clinic.
The health clinic wasn't far; it only took two minutes to walk there. A large bag of cicada nymphs sold for sixty-seven cents, enough for half a pound of fruit candy.
Gu Xiang handed the money to Su Zhaozhao, who told him to keep it himself, "Put it in your pocket."
Aunt Guo agreed, "Yes, carry some money. If you get separated outside, you can use it to catch a ride."
Gu Xiang thought for a moment and gave thirty-four cents to Gu Nian to keep.
Aunt Guo praised him, "That's what a good older brother should do!"
Next to the health clinic was the township office. As Aunt Guo passed by, she glanced at the entrance, "After you leave, I need to go in and inform them so they can call the army."
Su Zhaozhao's expression changed, "The township officials don't know we're leaving today, right?"
"No, you left too suddenly."
Su Zhaozhao smiled, "Since we're here, why don't I go in and thank them?"
Aunt Guo's eyes lit up, "Of course you can!"
With that, she called Su Zhaozhao and her children toward the township office gate.
Aunt Guo was well-known in Sujiagou Village, though she didn't hold an official position, she was a respected women's representative and had influence in the village. She wasn't intimidated by the township office and confidently led Su Zhaozhao and her children inside.
"Xiao Wang, the clerk."
Clerk Xiao Wang was sitting in the office closest to the entrance. Hearing someone call, he looked up, "It's you, Sister Guo. What brings you here?"
Aunt Guo smiled and pulled Su Zhaozhao from behind the door, "It's like this…"
She briefly introduced Su Zhaozhao and explained the reason for their visit.
Clerk Xiao Wang was curious about Su Zhaozhao and looked at her several times, "So urgent? Unfortunately, the mayor and other officials went to the county early this morning for a meeting. If you had arrived earlier, you could have hitched a ride on the tractor to the county."
Aunt Guo looked disappointed, "If we had known, we would have left earlier."
Su Zhaozhao also felt regretful. The town was small, and there were no buses to the county. For those without bicycles, the only way to get to the county was by walking or paying for a ride on a mule cart.
A tractor was much faster than a mule cart.
"We'll be heading to the county now."
"Wait a moment," Clerk Xiao Wang called out, stopping them. "I was wondering when to send these to Sujia Village. Since you're here, I'll give them to you."
As he spoke, he opened a drawer and took out two one-jin national grain coupons, handing them to Su Zhaozhao, "These are specially approved for you by the township. The mayor said that things are different outside the village, and you need grain coupons for oil and grain. There aren't many, but take them just in case."
What a pleasant surprise!
The township officials were so thoughtful!
They were truly kind!
Su Zhaozhao quickly accepted them, "Thank you, Clerk Xiao Wang. Please thank the mayor and the township officials for me."
Clerk Xiao Wang nodded, "Alright, don't delay any longer. You should set off now."
The group left happily. Aunt Guo said, "It's a good thing we came in. If we had left directly, you wouldn't have received these grain coupons."
Su Zhaozhao put the grain coupons in her pocket and switched hands to carry the wicker box, "The township officials are really nice."
"Of course! This is the new society, not like the old days when officials didn't care about the people." Aunt Guo looked toward the town entrance and hurriedly called out, "Hurry! Old Li's mule cart seems to be leaving."
While running, she waved and shouted to the driver, Old Li, "Driver, wait a moment! We have more passengers!"
Su Zhaozhao and her two children followed behind.
Old Li, the driver, was probably in his sixties, wearing an old-style buttoned jacket and a waistband, with a tobacco pipe tucked into his belt.
"I won't leave until everyone is on board," Old Li chuckled. He lived alone and made a decent living from driving the cart, enjoying a life better than many officials.
The cart had only a wooden board for seating, with no benches. Two people, one adult and one child, were already on board. Su Zhaozhao let the two children climb on first, then climbed up herself.
She wanted to sit on her luggage, but they only had a wicker box and a cloth bag. The cloth bag contained dry food for the journey, while the wicker box held clothes. She was afraid that sitting on it might break it.
So she sat on the ground, "Sister-in-law, you can go back now. We're leaving."
Old Li started to drive the cart.
Aunt Guo walked a few steps forward, "Be careful on the road! Xiao Xiang and Xiao Nian, stay close to your mother, don't get lost."
"Got it, Aunt Guo, goodbye!"
"Time to write the letter..."
Only after the mule cart turned the corner and they could no longer see anyone did the three of them lower their waving hands.
Su Zhaozhao took a deep breath, "We're off now, are you scared?"
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian both shook their heads. They weren't afraid, just anxious—would Dad... like them?
The mule cart swayed as it made its way to the county town. Halfway through, they saw someone on a bicycle zoom past them and quickly disappear into the distance. Su Zhaozhao envied them; her head was almost shaking like a blender.
By the time they reached the county town, it was already past one in the afternoon. The other two passengers got off at the town, and Su Zhaozhao asked the mule cart to take them to the train station.
When they arrived, she asked, "How much?"
"Fifty cents, twenty for adults, ten for children."
Su Zhaozhao's hand paused as she reached for her money, "Shouldn't it be forty cents?"
Old Li glanced at her, "We went a bit further, so it's an extra ten cents."
This was really... Su Zhaozhao smiled, "Alright, fifty cents it is."
She had exactly fifty cents in her bag and handed it over.
Old Li took the money but didn't leave. He pulled out his pipe and called out, "Anyone going to the county? Phoenix Town is about to depart..."
Chapter 12: A Ticket Price to Make One Spit Blood
"Comrade, I need tickets for the next train to Sea City, one adult and two children."
The ticket seller glanced down from the high window, "Letter of introduction."
Su Zhaozhao handed over the letter she had prepared in advance.
After reading the letter, the ticket seller clacked away on the abacus, "To Sea City, an adult ticket is seven yuan and thirty cents, two children at half price, that's fourteen yuan and sixty cents in total."
Hearing the price, Su Zhaozhao nearly spat blood!
When she arrived, all her possessions were worth only eighteen yuan and fifty-six cents in new currency. She sold the chickens at home for two yuan, spent one yuan and thirty-eight cents on candy in town, and five cents on the ride here. Now she had only eighteen yuan and eighty-six cents left. After buying the tickets, she would have only four yuan and eight cents remaining. By the time they reached their destination, she might not have a single cent left.
No wonder people these days don't like traveling far; who can afford such a journey?
Seeing her pale face, the ticket seller asked, "Do you still want the tickets?"
Su Zhaozhao felt exhausted, "Yes."
She quickly counted out the money and handed it over.
The ticket seller took the money, "Why are you still using old currency?"
Su Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow, "Can't use it anymore?"
"Not exactly, it's fine here, but I heard that big cities have already stopped using it. If you have old currency, you need to exchange it at the bank. Since you're going to a big city, if you have more old currency, you should go exchange it soon to avoid inconvenience."
Oh no! That would make collecting old currency quite troublesome?
Looking at the four yuan and eight cents in her hand, Su Zhaozhao forced a smile, "Comrade, I'm about to leave and don't have time to go to the bank. Could you help me exchange this?"
She then handed over the four ten-thousand-yuan notes.
The ticket seller was initially reluctant but agreed when she saw the small amount of money, giving her four yuan in change, "I'll give you some smaller denominations, it will be more convenient for you."
A yuan was a large denomination in those times, and most transactions involved jiao and fen.
Su Zhaozhao was extremely grateful, took the tickets and money, and checked the departure time—5:30 PM. There were still several hours to go.
"Mom, the tickets are so expensive!" The siblings were also shocked, even more than their school tuition.
Su Zhaozhao led them to sit on a wooden bench in the waiting area, "There's no choice, our destination is too far."
The siblings' faces were as worried as buns, too expensive, they had no money left. What if they couldn't find Dad?
Unaware of the children's concerns, Su Zhaozhao took out the pancakes she had made the night before and gave each child one, "Eat quickly, you must be hungry after the long trip."
Not only were they hungry, but they were also thirsty. Su Zhaozhao took out a bowl to get some water.
Why a bowl? Because they were so poor they didn't even have cups or enamel mugs, and without a bowl, they wouldn't have anything to drink from during the journey.
There weren't many people in the waiting area, but there was a staff member sitting behind a desk. Su Zhaozhao asked the children to watch the luggage and went to get a bowl of hot water.
After eating the dry food and drinking water, Su Zhaozhao took out three fruit-flavored candies, "Have some."
"Mom, keep them for yourself." The siblings knew she was weak and needed sugar to supplement her health, so they didn't feel bad about spending money on candy at the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.
Su Zhaozhao peeled the wrappers and put one candy in each of their mouths, patting her bag, "We have more, enough for us to have one each day for the next few days."
She also ate one herself. The fruity candy made her mood better, bringing a sense of happiness!
Before entering this world, if anyone had told her that a piece of candy could make her happy, she would have slapped them.
Now, it really was delicious!
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian, with sweet candies in their mouths, kept their eyes on the candy wrappers in Su Zhaozhao's hand.
Su Zhaozhao smiled and gave them the wrappers.
In this era of scarce resources, candy wrappers became cherished toys for children.
The sun outside was intense. Gu Nian held the candy wrapper up to her eyes and looked through the window at the sky, where the sunlight and blue sky transformed into different colors before her eyes.
So beautiful!
The train was delayed and began boarding at six o'clock. Gu Xiang carried the bag, holding his sister's hand tightly as they followed their mother.
There weren't many people boarding at the small station. Once on the train, Su Zhaozhao found their seats, "Here."
Three connected seats, with the children seated inside. She thought about putting the wicker box on the luggage rack but decided to place it at her feet.
The cloth bag containing the food was held tightly in Gu Xiang's arms.
Across from them sat two fashionable women in blouses, who instinctively covered their noses when the family sat down, perhaps thinking it was impolite, they quickly lowered their hands.
Su Zhaozhao glanced at them.
Gu Nian stood on tiptoe, tucking her legs in, afraid of accidentally touching the clean and attractive shoes of the woman across from her.
Su Zhaozhao patted her leg, "Relax, you look so tense."
Gu Nian looked at the woman across from her and carefully placed her feet straight.
As the train started moving, a conductor soon came by pushing a cart selling food. There wasn't much variety—steamed buns made of mixed flour, steamed dumplings, and porridge made from coarse grains.
"Steamed buns for three fen, dumplings for four fen, coarse grain porridge for two fen, no tickets needed!"
The two women opposite each other each bought two buns with their money.
Compared to these prices, the train tickets were really expensive, and even the donkey cart wasn't cheap.
Su Zhaozhao didn't buy any food; she took out a bowl and asked the conductor to fill it with water. For dinner, she ate half a pancake and some fried rice with the water.
By nightfall, sleeping became a problem. Su Zhaozhao's back ached from sitting, but she had to endure it. She let the two children take turns lying down and sleeping with their heads on her lap.
After three days and nights on the train, they finally arrived at Sea City station at noon that day.
The station was crowded, and the three of them followed the crowd out. In this completely unfamiliar place, Gu Nian held tightly onto Su Zhaozhao's hand, not letting go. "Mom, will Dad come to pick us up?"
"I don't know." The main character might not have returned to the unit yet, Su Zhaozhao scanned the area. "It doesn't matter if no one comes to pick us up. We have the address, we can call a car when the time comes." It seemed their hope for a military escort was dashed.
At the mention of a car, the siblings both pursed their lips; taking a car was too expensive!
The difference between a big city and a remote small town was significant. Despite the current difficult times, there were quite a few people outside the station wearing floral dresses, leather shoes, and white shirts. The colors of their clothing weren't as dull as those in the 1960s and 1970s; from a 21st-century perspective, some of their outfits couldn't be called old-fashioned.
Of course, there were also people wearing patched clothes, mostly those who had just gotten off the train. But even so... Su Zhaozhao looked down at what they were wearing; no one had more patches on their clothes than they did!
(Note: The Sea City mentioned in the text is fictional and does not correspond to any real city.)
Chapter 13: Arrival at the Destination
Upon reaching the roadside, Su Zhaozhao took out the address and was about to ask someone for directions when a jeep screeched to a halt nearby. A young man in military uniform stepped out of the vehicle.
The young man, with long limbs, ran past Su Zhaozhao in a flash, taking two steps as one.
"Comrade! Military comrade!" Su Zhaozhao hurriedly called out to him.
The young man stopped, turned around, and pointed at himself, "Are you calling me, ma'am?"
It was the first time Su Zhaozhao had been called "ma'am," and she was speechless for a moment, "…"
"Yes, comrade, you came to the station…?"
The young man looked at Su Zhaozhao and then at the two children who were eagerly watching him, realizing the situation, "I'm here to pick someone up. Ma'am, could you be Comrade Su Zhaodi?"
Ma'am Su Zhaozhao chuckled, "What a coincidence, that's me."
The young man broke into a wide smile, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, "Oh! It really is you, Sister-in-law!" He then looked at Gu Xiang and Gu Nian, "These must be Captain Gu's kids! They look so much like him! Come on, come on, get in the car."
He enthusiastically took the wicker box from Su Zhaozhao and the cloth bag from Gu Xiang before the latter could react.
He pushed Gu Xiang and Gu Nian into the car, and once Su Zhaozhao was seated, he closed the door for her, "I'm really sorry, Sister-in-law. I left late and almost missed you."
"Not too early, not too late, just right." Sitting in the car, Su Zhaozhao felt a wave of relief; it was better this way since she didn't have to find her way there herself, especially with her limited funds.
"Our Captain Gu is truly blessed! You wouldn't believe it, Sister-in-law, but I only found out I was coming to pick you up just before I left. When they said I was to meet Captain Gu's wife and children, I was quite surprised! After all, Captain Gu is known in the army as a bachelor…"
Su Zhaozhao thought to herself that if she hadn't come, their Captain Gu would have married a new wife before the New Year.
"Has your Captain Gu returned yet?"
"Not yet."
"Then when do you think he'll be back?"
"I don't know, Sister-in-law. I'm just the driver; we don't know about the leaders' affairs."
The car left the city and headed towards the suburbs.
While driving, the driver kept sneaking glances at Su Zhaozhao and the children through the rearview mirror. He had a lot of questions in his mind—how did Captain Gu suddenly have a wife and children?
Not only was he puzzled, but others were as well.
"What? Gu Heng has a wife and children?" Yu Huixin shot up from the sofa, "Isn't he a bachelor? Where did he get a wife and children from?"
Yan Guang took off his hat and hung it up, "He married many years ago. The village was attacked by bandits back then, and everyone thought they were dead. Who knew after all these years, they'd be found again. They even gave birth to twins for Laogu, and the kids are almost ten years old now."
Yu Huixin frowned deeply, "Why now, of all times? What about Shulan?"
Yan Guang glanced at her and sat down at the dinner table, "Don't mention it again in the future. Fortunately, it hasn't been officially arranged. If we had seen each other and established a relationship, Laogu would have made a mistake."
Unaware that Laogu's wife was still alive, Ye Shulan was certainly a fine match, and he was willing to help bring them together. But now that the wife has come looking, it's natural that the original couple would be better.
"Laogu's daughter-in-law has had a tough time these years, raising two children on her own without remarrying. It's unexpected that they could get back in touch after all these years."
Yu Huixin handed him the chopsticks and bowl, "Why did you suddenly get in touch?"
"A few years ago, didn't Laogu make the newspaper? I saw it there..." and then shared what he knew, "It's quite a challenge, the commander knew someone was coming to visit relatives and even arranged for a car to pick them up."
Yu Huixin abruptly put down her bowl, "Are you saying she's almost here?"
Yan Guang glanced at her, "They said they'd arrive today. I sent Xiao Fang to pick them up this morning; they should be here soon."
She was also instructed, "When they arrive, you should go over and help greet them. After all, they are in a completely unfamiliar environment and don't know anything yet. Laogu hasn't come back either. Given our relationship with Laogu, you must get along well with them."
Yu Huixin waved her hand, feeling extremely agitated. How was she supposed to explain this to Shulan?
It was agreed that as soon as Gu Heng returned, they would arrange a meeting for him. In preparation for this event, Shulan had even made her own clothes for the blind date.
Yu Huixin was so annoyed that she didn't even feel like eating. She picked at her food a couple of times before putting down her chopsticks. Once the person arrived, she was determined to see what they looked like.
The male protagonist's troop is stationed in the suburbs of the city, quite far from the urban area of Sea City. As one exits the city, residential buildings gradually become less visible. On both sides of the road are fields planted with crops, and after traveling a while, one might see an old farmer leading an ox along the roadside. The local people here seem to be in better spirits than those in their village.
"Comrade Xiao Fang, how much longer until we arrive?" The car had been on the road for nearly an hour, passing through a small town along the way. From the look on the driver's face, it seemed like it would still be quite some time before they reached their destination.
"Almost there, just half an hour left. I'm sure you must be hungry, sister-in-law. Once we arrive, I'll take you to the dining hall for a meal. Don't be put off by our remote location; we have everything here—dining hall, Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, market, and bathhouse. It's just as good as the city," Xiao Fang, the driver, quickly listed the benefits of the military base, fearing his sister-in-law might disdain the remoteness.
"Our base is quite close to the nearby village. Whenever we need something like farm-raised chickens or ducks, we can easily purchase them from the locals..."
Su Zhaozhao nodded as she listened, recalling from her readings that there were military-run schools for the children of military personnel, so she didn't have to worry about the education of Gu Xiang and his sister.
If there were no schools, one would have to go to the village or town to study.
After another half an hour of driving, the silhouette of the military base finally came into view, which oddly resembled a small town.
The car glided through the traffic and came to a stop outside a two-story cottage.
"Sister-in-law, we've arrived."
Su Zhaozhao and the two children got out of the car, "Where is this?"
Glancing up, the words "Guesthouse" were brightly illuminated at the entrance.
Comrade Xiao Fang brought down the luggage, "This is our military's guesthouse. You can put away your luggage first, wash your face, and then I'll take you to the dining hall for a meal."
The room was on the second floor. After seeing them to the room, Comrade Xiao Fang went downstairs.
The room was simply furnished, with two iron-framed beds, a desk, and a washstand, while the restroom was located at the end of the hallway.
A thermos sat on the table. Su Zhaozhao poured half a pot of water into the washbasin, took out a facecloth, and the three of them washed their faces properly.
Since getting in the car, Gu Xiang and Gu Nian hadn't spoken a word, but now they started chatting.
"Mom, this little building is so new," Gu Nian ran to the window and looked down.
"Of course it's new; it must have been built just in the past year or two."
"Will we be living in a house like this in the future?" Gu Xiang asked.
"Maybe not for now..."
Chapter 14: Captain Gu, Something's Wrong
The car drove on, and Su Zhaozhao kept looking outside. There were only a few buildings, mostly concentrated, while the rest were mostly bungalows, many of which were old houses made of mud.
She remembered that in the book, the male protagonist and female protagonist lived in an old bungalow when they first got married and applied for housing, until they moved into a new residential complex and got to live in a building later.
After washing up, she went downstairs, and Comrade Xiao Fang led them through several turns before they arrived at the canteen.
At this time, there were already few people in the canteen. Comrade Xiao Fang asked them to sit down while he went to the counter.
After a while, he came back with three bowls of noodles, "Sister-in-law, there's not much food left in the canteen, so I asked the chef to cook some noodles. Please eat first."
He placed the bowls of noodles in front of them, returned the tray, and started eating a steamed bun on the side.
Seeing this, Su Zhaozhao felt quite embarrassed, "Comrade Xiao Fang, how much are these noodles? I'll pay you now."
Xiao Fang quickly waved his hands, "No need, no need. Deputy Commander Yan gave me money and tickets, and there's still some left. We usually don't eat here; our unit has its own canteen. This one is for the family area and is open to the public. If the sisters-in-law don't want to cook, they can come here to get their meals."
Su Zhaozhao nodded to show her understanding.
After eating, Xiao Fang finally took them to meet the leadership at the base.
Looking at the large iron gate and the soldiers standing guard, Su Zhaozhao knew this was the real military camp, while the area they had passed through earlier was the living area.
Entering the camp was very strict, requiring registration. When the soldier in charge of registration heard that she was Gu Heng's wife, his eyes widened!
His gaze darted back and forth between Su Zhaozhao and Gu Xiang and Gu Nian.
A passing soldier, upon hearing the news, didn't even call out to the sister-in-law but ran off instead.
Su Zhaozhao: "..."
At this moment, Gu Heng was in the camp.
After completing his mission and returning to the camp, he changed clothes and went to report to the commander. Just as he reached the administrative building...
"Commander! Commander! Something big has happened!"
The orderly, Xiang Beifang, ran towards him quickly, shouting as he ran.
Gu Heng frowned, "Did someone set your pants on fire?"
Xiang Beifang hurriedly shook his head, "No, no, Commander! There's a woman outside with two children claiming to be your wife and kids!"
Gu Heng furrowed his brow, "Nonsense!"
"It's true! I saw it with my own eyes! They're registering at the gate right now!"
Gu Heng didn't believe it at all. Where did he get a wife and kids from?
Could someone really dare to scam the military?
How daring!
"Hmph!" Gu Heng sneered, "Go over there and keep an eye on them. Don't let them in." He then turned and entered the building.
Xiang Beifang nodded vigorously, "I will complete the task!" and ran off again.
During the work report, Gu Heng always felt that the army commander and political commissar were looking at him strangely, as if they had something urgent to tell him.
After he finished his report, the political commissar spoke, "Little Gu, there's something we need to tell you. Your wife has been found."
"..."
Gu Heng looked at the political commissar and then at the army commander.
"We know you must be confused and suspecting a scam. To be honest, we thought the same when we first heard the news..."
"The county authorities contacted us, and this can't be faked. We carefully reviewed your file and confirmed that you indeed married a woman from your hometown..."
"The county authorities provided detailed information about Su Zhaodi over the years, and after comparing it, it does match..."
"It hasn't been easy for a woman to raise two children alone..."
Gu Heng was shocked. Zhaodi... is still alive?
"They should be arriving soon, you..."
Gu Heng stood up abruptly!
He saluted the two leaders and quickly left.
The political commissar chuckled and pointed at the door, "This Little Gu, he must be ecstatic."
"If it were me, I'd be happy too. Suddenly having a wife and kids..."
Su Zhaozhao was stopped at the main gate.
After completing the registration and just stepping inside, a young soldier ran up and blocked their way with his arms spread wide.
"What are you doing, Xiang Beifang?" Comrade Xiao Fang found this behavior strange and quickly stepped forward to pull his hand away.
Xiang Beifang stared intently at Su Zhaozhao, his gaze like he was looking at an enemy spy, "What do you mean? I should ask you! Who told you to bring them into the camp? This is a military zone, not a place for just anyone to enter. What if they are spies?"
Why bring up spies? Xiao Fang quickly explained, "Deputy Commander Yan sent me to pick up the sister-in-law and the children at the station. He said they are Commander Gu's wife and kids. How could this be fake? He even asked me to bring them here. If you don't believe me, go ask Deputy Commander Yan!"
Xiang Beifang huffed, "Our commander just said himself that there's no such thing!"
"Has Gu Heng returned?"
"Captain Gu is back?"
Su Zhaozhao and Comrade Xiao Fang asked simultaneously.
"Of course! The Captain also said to keep an eye on you two; he'll be over shortly." Xiang Beifang stared at Su Zhaozhao, "Confess and be lenient, resist and be strict!"
Su Zhaozhao almost burst into invective. Confess and be lenient?
Her identity had suddenly shifted from sister-in-law to criminal?
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian were both frightened, clutching tightly onto Su Zhaozhao's sleeves.
Gu Nian's eyes welled up with tears, "Is Dad not going to want us anymore?"
Gu Xiang's lips were pressed tightly together, "If he doesn't want us, so be it! We'll go home."
Su Zhaozhao sighed, her gaunt face filled with worry, "Comrade, do we look like bad people to you?"
Xiang Beifang looked from one to the other; they didn't seem like it, but... anything was possible!
The enemy was cunning and unpredictable, and this could very well be a smokescreen, a ploy to impersonate someone while Captain Gu was away from the base!
Fortunately, Captain Gu returned early.
The enemy's resolve to destroy us never wavers!
Our task is arduous.
"Don't talk about appearances; everything must be based on facts. Don't try to argue..."
Comrade Xiao Fang, seeing that he was being too harsh, quickly interrupted, "Why don't we call Deputy Commander Yan over?"
"Our Captain will be here soon..."
Just as he spoke...
"Xiang Beifang."
"Here!" Xiang Beifang turned around, his eyes lighting up, "Captain!" He pointed at Su Zhaozhao and the others, "Look, it's them. Fortunately, I arrived just in time, otherwise..."
Gu Heng raised his hand to stop him, his eyes lingering on Su Zhaozhao's face for a moment before moving down to the two children.
One was hiding behind his mother, peeking at him cautiously, while the other stood protectively in front of her, staring at him with the same intensity, like a little wolf.
A gentle thud seemed to hit Gu Heng's heart, making it soften and ache.
"Su Zhaodi."
Su Zhaozhao was taken aback for a moment before responding, "Ah, it's me."
She couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the imposing presence of the man who had just walked over.
Chapter 15: The First Meeting
What does a tough soldier look like?
Just like this!
Tall and straight, with long arms and legs that must be around 185 cm. How can the rhythm of his strides be so pleasing to the eye?
His rugged face is far more handsome than any in the newspapers.
The green military uniform on him looks better than any male lead in modern TV dramas she has seen!
The descriptions in books and photos cannot match the impact of reality.
Hormones are overwhelming!
Su Zhaozhao felt herself regaining her confidence; she could actually juggle work and men.
"Have you eaten?"
The casual greeting snapped Su Zhaozhao out of her pink bubble, "Y-Yes, I have."
Then there was silence...
Isn't this family reunion scene too calm?
Should she cry a bit?
And then hug the male lead for a little extra affection?
Xiang Beifang stammered, his eyes darting back and forth, "C-Captain, do you recognize me?"
Gu Heng glanced at him, "Your sister-in-law."
Oh no!
Xiang Beifang felt he was in trouble!
Oh no, he had offended the sister-in-law.
"S-Sister-in-law..." It wasn't me, Captain made me stop you.
Comrade Xiao Fang, being perceptive, pulled him away.
Xiang Beifang looked back every few steps, "I haven't apologized to Sister-in-law yet."
"Forget it, there will be plenty of opportunities later. Hurry up, don't disturb the Gu family's reunion..."
Su Zhaozhao cleared her throat awkwardly and nudged the two motionless children, "This is your father."
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian did not speak, only looking at Gu Heng without a word.
Su Zhaozhao: "Hehe, they're just shy. They'll warm up soon."
Gu Heng squatted down, gripping his slightly trembling hands, and met the eyes of the two children, "What are your names?"
Gu Nian looked at his brother, then up at his mother, his voice tiny, "Gu Nian."
Gu Xiang lifted his chin, "I'm Gu Xiang."
Gu Nian, Gu Xiang—Gu Heng repeated these two names several times in his mind.
"Xiang is the older one, right?"
Gu Xiang: "That's right." With an air of pride, as if acknowledging Gu Heng's discernment.
The corners of Gu Heng's mouth twitched, and he smiled, reaching out to pat the heads of the two children. Standing up, he said, "Is the accommodation arranged?"
Su Zhaozhao: "Yes, we're staying at the guesthouse."
"Let's go to the guesthouse first."
"Comrade Xiao Fang said he would take us to meet the leader..."
"There's no need. We'll have other opportunities." He then took Gu Xiang and Gu Nian's hands and walked forward.
Su Zhaozhao lagged behind.
She couldn't help pouting; men, after all, always prioritize their children over their wives.
But her two children were the best, constantly looking back to make sure she was following.
Also, why is the male lead so calm? Not even a hint of excitement?
With a cool expression, nothing gives him away, just like the aloof and composed male leads in novels.
Entering the guesthouse, Gu Heng glanced back at Su Zhaozhao.
Su Zhaozhao understood, "It's upstairs, room 202."
Gu Heng started up the stairs.
At the door, he waited for Su Zhaozhao to get the key and open it.
Once inside, he let go of Gu Xiang and Gu Nian's hands.
"I have some questions to ask you."
After being separated for so many years and suddenly having two more children, it's normal for the male lead to have doubts. Su Zhaozhao nodded and sat down on the bed, "Go ahead and ask."
Gu Heng looked at the two children, leaning against the desk, "What exactly happened in the village back then? What about Father and Mother..."
Su Zhaozhao sifted through her host's memories, "After you left, Father and Mother thought you had returned to the provincial city to work, so they didn't worry much. Who knew that just two months later, someone brought news that the provincial city had been bombed, and you were gone, with all the details..."
"Mother almost cried herself blind. The two elders went to the provincial city but couldn't find your remains... Fortunately, I was diagnosed with pregnancy before that, which gave them some comfort..."
At this point, Su Zhaozhao sighed deeply, "Who knew that not long after, a gang of bandits came from somewhere, breaking into the village in the middle of the night. Father and Mother were light sleepers and woke up early. They hid me in the cellar before the bandits broke down the door, saving me from the disaster. We thought the bandits would leave after looting, but when I came out, Father and Mother were already..."
Her eyes reddened, and tears fell as she became more agitated, influenced by the emotions of her host. At this moment, what she said didn't seem like the host's memories but rather her own experiences.
Fear, sorrow, and utter helplessness...
Su Zhaozhao got goosebumps. She had never felt this way since she arrived. Could it be that the host's consciousness had always been in this body?
Unable to control herself, she continued, "I called for Father and Mother, but they didn't respond. Father had a cut on his stomach, and Mother's head was covered in blood. Fires were everywhere in the village, and our house was burning too. All the grain and money in the house were stolen."
"Everyone was running away, afraid the bandits would come back. I didn't know what to do, so I followed them. I don't know how long we ran, only remembering that it was almost dawn, and I was the only one left on the road..."
"I wanted to go back to the village to check, but I was too scared. Thinking that we had no relatives in the village and that I was alone, with no home, and hearing that several nearby villages had also been raided by bandits, I decided to return to my parents' home..."
"I begged all the way, not knowing how long it took. By the time I arrived, I was almost ready to give birth. Because I couldn't find food, the two children in my belly lacked nutrition and were born as small as kittens. I was really afraid I wouldn't be able to raise them..."
"I thought of you and their grandparents, so I named them Gu Xiang and Gu Nian..."
She recounted every detail of her life and all the hardships she had endured.
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian were in tears, while Gu Heng remained silent, his hands gripping tightly on his thighs, veins bulging.
"Brother Stone, I never believed you were gone. Thank heaven, finding you is such a blessing. I've brought the two children to you, and now I have no regrets..."
As soon as she finished speaking, Su Zhaozhao's eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
"Mom! Mom! Waa..."
"Zhaodi!"
Ignoring the shock to the two children and Gu Heng, Su Zhaozhao herself was terrified.
Looking at the unfamiliar face in front of her, Su Zhaozhao asked, "Are you Zhaodi?"
The opposite Su Zhaodi nodded.
Oh my God! A paranormal event!
Su Zhaozhao didn't know where she was, it was pitch black, and she was scared to death, "Are you coming back?"
If you come back, I'll leave. Although the two children are pitiful and adorable, modern life is what I miss.
The opposite Su Zhaodi shook her head, "I can't come back."
Su Zhaozhao was disappointed, "Then what are you doing here?"
"I just want to thank you in person, thank you for being good to the children, thank you for bringing them to their father. If you hadn't come, they would never have known their father was still alive, and I would never have seen him again..."
Are you thanking me or scaring me?
It looks like if I hadn't treated the children well, you would have taken me away!
Su Zhaodi bowed deeply to her, "I have to go. From now on, it's up to you. You're a good person..."
With that, her figure faded away.
"Don't go! I still have questions, can I go back? Hey!"
As the word 'hey' echoed, Su Zhaozhao suddenly opened her eyes!
Chapter 16 Gu Heng's Promise
"…malnutrition, coupled with extreme emotional fluctuations…"
Su Zhaozhao opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Gu Heng's back.
He was talking to someone, his tall figure blocking the person at the door completely. The white corner of a coat peeking out suggested it was a doctor.
"Her body is in a terrible state; this will shorten her life if it continues…" The doctor's words carried a tone of resentment, as if blaming someone for letting things get this bad.
"Don't be stingy; eat more nutritious food. An egg every day would be best. With proper nourishment, it should take about one or two years to recover. Once she wakes up, she can be discharged…"
Gu Heng nodded continuously. After the doctor left, he turned around and noticed she was awake.
"How do you feel? Any better?"
Su Zhaozhao nodded, trying to sit up. Gu Heng stepped forward to help her.
"Where are Gu Nian and Gu Xiang?" She didn't see them in the room.
After helping her sit up, Gu Heng poured her a glass of water. "I sent Xiao Xiang with them to buy some things." Worried she might not know who Xiao Xiang was, he added, "The one who stopped you at the camp entrance—Xiang Beifang."
"Oh, him." Su Zhaozhao took the water, sipping it sweetly, noting the sugar inside.
"I'm sorry."
"Huh?" Su Zhaozhao blinked, puzzled by the sudden apology.
"For what happened back then, and all these years, no matter what, I owe you an apology. I left too hastily back then. And I must thank you for raising such wonderful children for me. After so many years, I never thought there would still be family in this world."
Su Zhaozhao lowered her eyes. These words shouldn't have been heard by her, but Zhaodi was truly gone, and she never got to hear these words before leaving forever.
Gu Heng sat beside the bed, looking at her. "I, Gu Heng, promise you that I will take good care of you for the rest of my life and will never wrong you."
Hearing these words, Su Zhaozhao felt a pang of guilt. "…As long as you acknowledge these two children and take good care of them, Zhaodi… would be content."
Gu Heng, unaware of the true identity of this Zhaodi, replied, "Rest assured."
At that moment, Su Zhaozhao suddenly wanted to ask a question on behalf of the original Zhaodi, "Back then, did you really want to marry… me?"
She had the memories of the original Zhaodi, who believed her Stone Brother didn't like her. If he did, he wouldn't have left home the day after their wedding.
Though she had lived in the Gu family for many years, due to Gu Heng being away in the provincial capital for training since his youth, they rarely met. But from the beginning, she knew she was meant to be Stone Brother's wife.
In little Zhaodi's heart, she loved her Stone Brother and never imagined she wouldn't marry him. So, under the arrangement of her in-laws, she became Stone Brother's bride at seventeen.
On her wedding day, she was happy, but this happiness ended abruptly the next day.
For so many years, she harbored a deep-seated regret: he didn't want to.
Su Zhaozhao had read the book and knew the male protagonist left hurriedly because of a mission, but the original Zhaodi didn't know this.
She also wanted to ask this long-standing question on behalf of the original Zhaodi.
Gu Heng looked at her with a heavy gaze, not expecting her to ask this.
"Of course," he said.
"I'm sorry, I never told you back then. Many years ago, I secretly joined the Party. That night, I received an urgent mission and had to leave home in a hurry. In the provincial capital, I indeed encountered a bombing, was injured, and moved with the troops to another place. I wrote letters back, but never received any replies. When the war ended and I returned to the village, I only learned that you had passed away during the bandit turmoil…"
"Zhaodi, I didn't leave home the day after our wedding on purpose; it was a matter of necessity." He explained.
Bound by parental wishes and raised as a bride from a young age, though they didn't interact much and didn't know each other well, Gu Heng, like most young people of that era, married according to his parents' arrangements and planned to live out his life that way.
There wasn't a grand passion, but to say there was no feeling at all would be a lie.
Su Zhaozhao understood. She thought that if Zhaodi heard this answer, she would be satisfied. Her Stone Brother never intended to avoid her.
He was willing to marry her.
Su Zhaozhao smiled. "I understand."
"Mom, you're awake!" The half-open ward door was pushed open, and Gu Nian and Gu Xiang ran in, hugging the bed. "Mom, are you feeling better?"
Gu Nian sniffled. "Mom, you scared me to death. This is the third time you've fainted."
Su Zhaozhao wiped the tears from her face. "It's okay, I'm much better now."
Gu Xiang frowned. "You said that last time too. We shouldn't have listened to you; we should have called the doctor earlier."
"It's really fine." Su Zhaozhao felt guilty. "If you don't believe me, ask your dad."
Su Zhaozhao passed the ball to Gu Heng.
The siblings looked at Gu Heng in unison.
Gu Heng: "The doctor said eating more nutritious food will help."
Then he looked at Su Zhaozhao. "You fainted before? Why didn't you see a doctor?" His eyes showed disapproval.
Su Zhaozhao sighed. "Where would I have gotten the means?"
One sentence silenced Gu Heng.
No money for a doctor, and even if they saw one, there were no resources to improve her health.
"It won't happen again," Gu Heng said firmly.
"Commander." Xiang Beifang, who had been standing at the door, spoke up. When Gu Heng looked over, he lifted the items in his hands. "I bought the things."
Gu Nian's eyes sparkled. "Mom, Uncle Xiao Xiang took us to buy so much food! There's candy, sponge cake, and malted milk."
Su Zhaozhao smiled. "Is that so? We should thank Comrade Xiao Xiang then."
Xiang Beifang placed the items on the bedside table, grinning. "Sister-in-law, I'm just the errand boy; the captain asked me to buy all these."
Afraid Su Zhaozhao might hold a grudge, his smile was particularly bright.
"Still, I have to thank you for the trouble."
Xiang Beifang waved his hand. "No need, no need." He quickly handed the remaining money and coupons to Gu Heng. "Captain, if there's nothing else, I'll be off?"
"Go ahead."
"Alright!" He darted away in a flash.
Su Zhaozhao sighed. "Comrade Xiao Xiang must be a long-distance running champion in the army."
Gu Heng gave her a puzzled look.
Pointing at the items on the table, she said to Gu Nian and Gu Xiang, "If you want to eat anything, help yourselves."
Gu Nian: "For Mom to eat."
Gu Xiang: "I'm not hungry, save it for Mom to regain her strength."
Su Zhaozhao reached out directly and took two sponge cakes from the pile. "Eat up, your dad has money; we won't lack these things in the future."
Gu Heng glanced at her again. "Your mom is right."
Only then did the siblings take the sponge cakes and eat them cautiously, afraid of dropping crumbs on the ground, they held their hands underneath to catch any that fell, savoring each bite for a long time.
So this is what sponge cake tastes like, it's really delicious!
Chapter 17 Dad is So Rich
Su Zhaozhao was also tempted and took a piece to offer Gu Heng, but he declined, so she ate it herself.
While she was eating, Gu Heng discussed with her, "This time, don't leave after coming over. With my rank, you can stay with the military."
Su Zhaozhao nodded with a mouth full of sponge cake, finding it very agreeable! She had no intention of leaving anyway.
"I'm currently living in the dormitory. You can stay at the guesthouse for a couple of days while I apply for housing as soon as possible. Once the house is ready, we'll move in."
"Alright." She took a sip of water, feeling very comfortable.
"As you say. By the way, there's something else to take care of. School is about to start, right? Gu Xiang and Gu Nian should go back to school; this cannot be delayed."
Gu Heng nodded, "I remember." He then asked the siblings, "What grade should you be in?"
"Third grade."
Su Zhaozhao added, "We didn't have the conditions at home, so they started two years late."
"That's already quite good." Gu Heng was very pleased, and at the same time, he marveled at Zhaodi's perseverance. Despite the family's difficulties, the children's education was not neglected, which was quite rare, even in the city, where many families did not send their children to school due to poor economic conditions.
"Many students at our military dependents' school have joined the military in the past one or two years. Some are around ten years old and haven't even started primary school. At their age, third grade is just right."
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian looked at each other, feeling very happy at the prospect of going back to school.
The doctor said that once the patient woke up, they could return. Su Zhaozhao didn't want to occupy the bed any longer, so she tidied up and returned to the guesthouse.
On the way, they encountered a few acquaintances who were very curious to see Gu Heng with a woman and two children.
When Gu Heng explained that they were his wife and children, everyone was stunned, mouths agape.
Gu Heng, who rarely chatted with people, simply walked away with his family without further ado.
Su Zhaozhao felt somewhat embarrassed under the scrutiny, mainly because she lacked confidence. Her husband was so handsome, and in contrast, she wore an old-fashioned, patched-up gray jacket and black pants. This outfit was actually the best Su Zhaodi had.
The children's clothes were not much better.
After today, Gu Heng's rural wife and children would likely become a topic of conversation for quite some time.
"Is that Captain Gu?"
As they approached the guesthouse entrance, someone called out to Gu Heng from behind.
Gu Heng turned around, "Sister-in-law."
The caller was Yu Huixin, the wife of Deputy Regiment Commander Yan Guang.
Yu Huixin was around thirty, with her hair braided and coiled at the back of her head. She wore a red and white checkered dress, a belt around her waist, and black low-heeled leather shoes.
This was the most vibrant and fashionable outfit Su Zhaozhao had seen since arriving at the military base.
While Su Zhaozhao secretly observed Yu Huixin, Yu Huixin openly scrutinized her.
Seeing Su Zhaozhao's appearance, Yu Huixin smiled, "So this is Sister-in-law? I just heard from Lao Yan about your situation. Since you're staying at the guesthouse, I thought I should come over and visit."
"Thank you, Sister-in-law," Gu Heng said. "They just arrived. Once we settle down, we'll invite everyone for a gathering."
Yu Huixin raised an eyebrow, "Sister-in-law plans to bring the children with the military?"
"Yes."
Yu Huixin's lips twitched, "Then I won't disturb you. Once you're settled, we'll come over to warm your new home."
With that, she nodded at Su Zhaozhao with a smile and left.
Once she was far enough away, Su Zhaozhao asked, "Who was that?"
"I didn't get a chance to introduce her. She's the wife of Deputy Regiment Commander Yan, surnamed Yu." Gu Heng didn't want to elaborate, "You'll get to know her better later."
Mentioning her surname and her husband being Deputy Regiment Commander Yan, Su Zhaozhao knew who she was.
The book mentioned that the matchmakers for the main characters were this couple.
To be precise, it was Yu Huixin, who had a good relationship with the female protagonist in the book.
However, they did not stay in the military but transferred to civilian life in the early sixties.
The reason for the transfer was due to Yu Huixin's family background as a private capitalist, which made it difficult for Deputy Regiment Commander Yan to advance during that special era.
After the transfer, they were not mentioned again in the book.
Because of this, the female protagonist kept her family background a secret until the 1980s when she finally revealed it to the male protagonist.
It was clear that Comrade Yu Huixin was indifferent to her sudden appearance.
She really just glanced and left.
"Oh, Comrade Xiao Fang, who picked us up, said that the money and tickets for lunch at the canteen were paid by Deputy Regiment Commander Yan. Remember to pay him back."
Gu Heng nodded.
After dropping them off at the guesthouse, Gu Heng left, promising to join them for dinner in the evening.
He returned to the base.
"Laogu."
Just after seeing Yu Huixin, he now ran into Yan Guang upon returning to the base.
"Have you seen your wife and kids yet?" Yan Guang strode over.
"Just got back from the guesthouse."
"You're a lucky guy!" Yan Guang slapped him on the shoulder. "Now you've got a wife and kids, and they're twins! See who dares call you an old bachelor anymore."
Gu Heng shot him a sidelong glance. "Wasn't it you guys who spread that rumor? Who else would say such things about me?"
Yan Guang chuckled. "Your sister-in-law and the kids have finally come. Why don't you take some time off and spend it with them."
"I'll pass on the leave. We can do it another time."
Yan Guang invited him. "Why don't you bring your sister-in-law and the kids over for dinner tonight?"
Gu Heng shook his head. "Next time, after they settle in, we'll treat you."
"Alright then."
When Su Zhaozhao saw Gu Heng again, it was evening.
He was holding a lunch box and a bag of steamed buns. Su Zhaozhao opened the door and let him in.
"Got held up a bit. Are you hungry?" He placed the multi-layered lunch box on the table and opened it layer by layer. On top were a bowl of steamed egg, a plate of braised pork, and a dish of stir-fried vegetables.
"Not hungry, there's plenty to eat on the table. I won't starve." She wasn't the type to be stingy with food.
"Don't be stingy. If you finish, we can always buy more."
Su Zhaozhao turned to Gu Nian and Gu Xiang. "Did you hear that? Your dad said you can eat as much as you want, and we can always buy more."
Gu Heng looked at the siblings. "Are you being too frugal?"
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian lowered their heads, a bit embarrassed. They had been taught to be thrifty from a young age. They had already eaten an egg cake today; how could they keep eating like this? It would be too extravagant.
Gu Heng gestured for them to come over and eat. After a moment, he said, "I earn 141 yuan a month, enough for all of you. Don't worry about saving for Dad or Dad."
Gu Heng was a regimental-level officer with the rank of major, receiving a salary at the 14th administrative level. In addition to his salary, he received other benefits, such as food, daily necessities, clothing, and shoes.
Supporting the whole family was no problem for him.
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian's eyes widened!
Dad is so rich!
Chapter 18: The House
For Gu Xiang and Gu Nian, whose family savings amounted to only eighteen yuan and fifty-six fen, Gu Heng's salary was a revelation.
By the way, Su Zhaozhao now had only three yuan and forty-eight fen left, as she had spent money on steamed buns and porridge on the train.
When Gu Heng mentioned his salary, the tense shoulders of the brother and sister relaxed.
Su Zhaozhao found it amusing, "Let's eat." The aroma of the steamed eggs and braised pork wafted into her nose.
It was the first time Gu Xiang and Gu Nian had tasted braised pork in their lives.
The delicious flavor made them forget about their still somewhat unfamiliar father, as they leaned over the table, savoring every bite!
Su Zhaozhao also enjoyed the meal immensely; who knew how much she had missed this taste, never before had braised pork tasted so good.
The desk was small, with one side against the wall, so Gu Heng stood, holding a steamed bun in one hand and chopsticks in the other. He didn't eat much himself, instead, he kept serving meat to the two children and Su Zhaozhao.
Su Zhaozhao stole several glances at him; the male lead looked cool, but he was actually very gentle inside!
After the meal, Gu Heng said, "We've been assigned a house. We can move in after tidying up tomorrow."
"So soon?" They had only applied that afternoon, and got the result that evening—it felt like they were riding a rocket.
"There just happened to be an empty house available, so a few days earlier or later doesn't matter."
Su Zhaozhao understood; it meant that the application for accompanying the military had been submitted, and whether it was approved earlier or later, it would eventually be approved.
Gu Heng picked up his lunch box, "I'll leave first, I'll come back early tomorrow morning."
Su Zhaozhao saw him off to the door, watching him go down the stairs.
As soon as the door closed, Gu Xiang and Gu Nian collapsed onto the bed.
"Mom, I'm so full, I've never eaten so much delicious food," Gu Nian smacked her lips, still savoring the taste of the braised pork.
Gu Xiang patted his belly; he had eaten three large steamed buns!
Su Zhaozhao also sat down and lay next to them, "I'm full too."
In the past, steamed buns, which were a staple food, were something she rarely ate, maybe once or twice a year. She hadn't expected to finish three in one sitting!
"Is Dad okay?" Su Zhaozhao asked them.
The siblings were silent for a moment, then Gu Nian replied, "He is."
Gu Xiang added, "Better than expected, but we need to observe more."
These two kids hadn't called him Dad yet, and Su Zhaozhao didn't push them; they would call him when they were ready.
She smiled, "Then you should observe him well."
The next morning, the three of them were woken by the sound of a bugle.
Su Zhaozhao didn't have a watch, and there was no clock in the guesthouse room. It was just getting light outside, probably around six o'clock.
Gu Nian rubbed her eyes and sat up, while Gu Xiang yawned with his hand over his mouth.
"Mom, what's that noise?" The siblings were still groggy from sleep.
"It's the bugle, probably the wake-up call for the military."
Hearing about waking up, the siblings decided to get up.
Su Zhaozhao said, "Sleep a bit longer, we'll get up when your dad comes."
They hadn't slept well during the train ride, and it would take a couple of days to catch up on sleep.
Children love sleeping in, so hearing this, the siblings lay back down.
Su Zhaozhao yawned a few times and fell asleep instantly.
When they woke up again, it was already past eight in the morning, and Gu Heng had arrived, knocking on the door.
Su Zhaozhao ran her fingers through her messy hair and got up to open the door.
As soon as the door opened, Gu Heng's gaze lingered on her head for a second, "Go wash up, I'll take you all for breakfast."
The three of them took five minutes to freshen up and followed Gu Heng downstairs to the canteen they had visited the day before.
The canteen served steamed buns, congee, sesame pancakes, and pickled vegetables for breakfast. Gu Heng bought a little of each, placed the breakfast on the table, and then pulled out three eggs from his pocket, giving one to Su Zhaozhao and each of the children.
Even with the good treatment in the military, eggs were still a rare delicacy in those times. They weren't listed on the menu, so these eggs must have required some connections.
At this hour, there weren't many people eating in the canteen, most were taking their meals home in containers.
"After breakfast, I'll take you to see the house. We'll tidy up in the morning and move the furniture in the afternoon. We can stay there tonight."
"Okay."
The assigned house was quite far from the canteen. On the way, Gu Heng introduced various places to them.
"The bathhouse is right next to the canteen..."
"Just turn the corner ahead, and you'll find the school..."
"This is the market, the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives is a bit further ahead. If we need anything, we can buy it here..."
After about ten minutes of walking, they finally arrived at their destination.
"Right here." Gu Heng pushed the door open.
Su Zhaozhao followed a step behind, looking around as she walked. The courtyard wall was made of adobe, neither too high nor too low, just enough to block the view from outside, ensuring that whatever they did in the yard wouldn't be seen by passersby.
Upon entering the gate, they faced the main house. The foundation and lower part of the house were built with stones, while the upper part used adobe bricks. In the center was the main room, with two bedrooms on either side. Surprisingly, the one on the right had a large kang, a traditional northern-style bed.
The three sides of the kang were covered with newspapers, likely pasted by previous residents.
The kitchen was on the side of the right bedroom, a small annex, but it was sufficient.
What Su Zhaozhao liked most about the house was the tap water, even though there was only one faucet, and it was in the yard.
No more fetching water for drinking; what a blessing!
"Is there no toilet in the house?"
After scanning the area, Su Zhaozhao couldn't find any sign of a toilet.
Really? Just when she thought things were going well, this happened?
Gu Heng pointed outside, "There's a public toilet 300 meters to the right."
Su Zhaozhao stared at him, "… I think we should build a toilet at home, don't you agree?"
She looked at Gu Xiang and Gu Nian for support, needing their backing!
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian nodded in agreement, "We should have one at home."
Why use a public toilet when the waste can be used as fertilizer? Of course, it should be at home.
Gu Heng scanned the yard and pointed to a corner near the gate, "It can only be built there."
"Fine, let's do it there!" She feared Gu Heng might change his mind, "By the way, we need to make some changes inside the rooms."
If possible, she wanted to make her living space more comfortable. It would be better to make these changes before moving in rather than after.
"You decide. Just let me know what you need."
"Bricks and white lime. I plan to build a wall in the middle of the kang. The kids are growing up, so they should sleep separately. A wall in the middle can serve as two beds. We should also paint the walls white to prevent dust and make the room look brighter and cleaner."
Gu Heng nodded, "Alright. You start cleaning up, and I'll go out for a bit."
Chapter 19: Renovation (Slight Changes)
As soon as he left, Gu Xiang and Gu Nian began to explore their new home.
"Will this be our home from now on?"
"Yes." The house was relatively clean, so Su Zhaozhao picked up the broom in the corner and started sweeping, planning to do a thorough cleaning after the walls were painted.
"It's so big!"
Much larger than their old house, and it even had a tiled roof!
And there were electric lights!
Gu Xiang and Gu Nian were eager to help. Without being asked, they each grabbed a broom and started sweeping.
Gu Nian went to tidy up the yard, picking up scattered bricks and placing them neatly against the wall, pulling out dead branches and weeds, and piling up those that could be used for firewood.
"Mom, we can grow vegetables in the yard."
"The yard can wait; we'll take care of it once we've settled in..."
Gu Heng returned quickly, followed by several helpers, all of whom Su Zhaozhao didn't recognize except for Xiang Beifang.
Gu Heng introduced them; they were all soldiers from his unit, on leave today, and eager to help when they heard about the move.
They met Gu Heng on the way and offered to help transport bricks.
With so many helpers, Su Zhaozhao and the two children couldn't even find a way to assist. Some were building walls, others painting, and some digging holes in the yard to build a toilet.
The house had a stove but no pots or pans, making it impossible to boil water. It wouldn't be right for the helpers to not have a drink, so Su Zhaozhao informed Gu Heng and set out alone.
Su Zhaozhao headed to the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.
This branch was much larger than the one in town, with glass cabinets displaying rows of goods—tobacco, alcohol, groceries, daily necessities, fabrics, shoes, hats, oil, salt, vinegar, and more.
Looking up, Su Zhaozhao saw a few ready-made clothes hanging from the ceiling beams, with simple designs.
Someone was buying fabric, which was more common in this era, as people preferred to make their own clothes or have them tailored.
Ready-made clothes were expensive.
No wonder this large Supply and Marketing Cooperatives didn't have any fashionable blouses, indicating poor sales.
There were two salespeople in the store; one was measuring fabric, while the other was reading a book with her head down.
"Comrade, how much is a bottle of soda?"
The salesperson reading the book didn't look up, "Ten cents."
"Could you please give me ten bottles?"
Buying ten bottles at once caught the attention of the customer buying fabric, who turned and smiled, "Guests at home?"
Su Zhaozhao smiled, "Yes."
The salesperson put down her book and brought ten bottles of soda to the counter, "How will you carry them?"
Su Zhaozhao's hands were empty, so the salesperson bent down and retrieved a mesh bag from below, "Use this."
Despite not smiling much, the salesperson wasn't condescending, unlike what she had read in other novels.
"Thank you."
"Could you also get me two packs of Daqianmen cigarettes?" After a moment's thought, she added, "Do I need coupons for the cigarettes?"
"No, not yet, but who knows about the future. They cost thirty-five cents per pack." The salesperson was used to being asked about coupon requirements as more items required them.
Su Zhaozhao paid, taking out one yuan and seventy cents.
"You're short ten cents for the deposit. You'll need to return the bottles, one cent each."
Su Zhaozhao handed over another ten cents.
So poor!
Poor Su Zhaozhao carried a mesh bag full of soda back home.
As soon as she entered the yard, Gu Nian ran over, "Mom, what did you buy? Soda?!" She had seen others drinking it on the train!
Seeing the soda in her mother's hand, the little girl's eyes lit up, reaching out to take it.
"It's too heavy. Go get the small table from the kitchen."
Gu Nian ran off to the kitchen to fetch the table.
Su Zhaozhao glanced inside and saw Gu Xiang handing bricks to his father, working well together.
"Take a break and come out for some soda."
Gu Heng looked up, dusted off his hands, and called to the others.
"Brother, you're too polite. We're not thirsty."
"That's true, there's tap water in the yard. We can drink whenever we're thirsty."
Smiling, Su Zhaozhao handed them the sodas, "You've worked hard helping us. How can we let you drink tap water?"
She then passed the cigarettes to Gu Heng, asking him to distribute them.
Su Zhaozhao was also thirsty, just thinking about how to open the bottle without a bottle opener when a bottle was handed to her.
She looked up and saw Gu Heng.
Looking again, she noticed Gu Xiang and Gu Nian were already drinking, clearly their father had opened the bottles for them.
"Thank you," Su Zhaozhao instinctively said, taking the soda and gulping it down.
So refreshing!
It only took half a day to finish the walls and the toilet at home.
The newly built toilet wasn't large, just a squat toilet surrounded by bricks, spacious enough for two people to stand inside.
During the process, Gu Heng went out with Xiang Beifang and brought back a door and some thatch for the roof.
The door wasn't new; like these bricks, it was obvious they were from somewhere else, old and used.
The toilet was a dry one, needing cleaning every so often, but this was simple. The villagers nearby needed manure for their fields, so there would be no shortage of people willing to come and collect it for free.
At noon, Gu Heng sent Xiang Beifang to the canteen to buy some food. After eating, they continued working.
The furniture arrived in the afternoon, along with two pots—one for stir-frying and a small aluminum pot for cooking—two iron buckets, two large basins with floral patterns, a large iron basin for washing clothes, and a cylindrical coal stove with a big basket of coal balls.
Su Zhaozhao had seen a coal stove on TV before but never used one.
But she knew it was more convenient than a traditional stove; once lit, it wouldn't go out for days.
With a kang bed already laid out, they only needed one more bed. Looking at the bed placed in the east room, Su Zhaozhao couldn't help but let her mind wander. When they moved in, would she have to share a bed with the male lead?
Oh my! The perpetually single Su Zhaozhao blushed.
After setting up the bed, Gu Heng looked up and saw her standing there, dazed, eyes vacant, and cheeks flushed.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"No!" Su Zhaozhao quickly shook her head and fanned herself, "A bit hot."
Of course it was hot; it was almost September, and the sun was still blazing. Gu Heng had long taken off his outer shirt, working in a tank top, his muscles rippling, which made Su Zhaozhao's eyes widen.
She didn't dare stare for too long, afraid he might notice.
"Sister-in-law, where should we put the desks?"
"Just by the windows." Su Zhaozhao hurriedly directed.
Two desks were placed, one under the window in the west room and one in the east room. There was only one wardrobe, which was placed in the bedroom of the east room.
In the middle hall, they set up a dining table and a cabinet against the wall.
"Let's leave it at that for now. We can add what we need later," Gu Heng said.
They definitely needed to add more things; there were still many areas in the house that needed tidying up. They could move in first and then gradually make improvements. Living in a guesthouse with a house available wasn't ideal.
After arranging everything, Gu Heng dismissed Xiang Beifang and the others.
"Once we settle in, let's invite them over for a meal?" They had been busy all day and hadn't properly entertained them, which felt quite remiss.
"Sure," Gu Heng agreed, having planned to treat them at the canteen at some point. With Su Zhaozhao's suggestion, he naturally consented.
Gu Nian and Gu Xiang found two rags and a bucket of water to clean the furniture.
"Where did you find them?"
Gu Nian pointed to the kitchen, "In the cupboard."
There was a cupboard in the kitchen, old and broken, which Su Zhaozhao hadn't planned to use, thinking it could be chopped up for firewood.
Hearing they were from the cupboard, she felt a bit reluctant, unsure what they might have been used for before.
She decided to wipe off the dust first and bring clean rags tomorrow to do a thorough cleaning.
Chapter 20: The First Meeting with the Female Lead
The family stayed in their new home until it was dark, having cleaned up quite thoroughly, though there were still some fine details to attend to.
"Would you like to go to the bathhouse for a wash?"
"Yes, yes!" Su Zhaozhao nodded eagerly. After sitting on the train for several days and only managing a quick wipe-down at the guesthouse last night, she had been covered in dust and sweat all day. She was practically disgusted with herself.
Her muscles must have been sore.
"Then take the basin," Gu Heng asked, "Shall we bathe first or eat first?"
"Bathe first!"
Gu Heng glanced at his watch, "Be quick, we can still make it to the canteen for dinner. Wait for me at the entrance of the bathhouse; I'll go back to the dormitory to get towels and soap, they're new and unused."
Towels and soap were issued monthly, and as a bachelor, Gu Heng had accumulated quite a few.
"Okay." They also needed to return to the guesthouse to fetch clean clothes.
At first, the family walked together, but soon Gu Heng's pace quickened, and he disappeared from sight.
"Dad walks so fast!" Gu Nian said enviously, "Dad is so tall, will I grow tall too when I grow up?"
That's not certain, considering your mother isn't tall.
Smiling, Su Zhaozhao asked her, "Did you call your dad in front of him?"
Gu Nian blushed, "Not yet."
Under his mother's gaze, Gu Xiang looked around, "I didn't have the chance."
Do you need an opportunity to call someone?
After fetching their clothes from the guesthouse, they arrived at the bathhouse entrance just as Gu Heng came over.
He carried a basin with soap and towels, one half-bar of soap and one towel per person. Gu Heng took Gu Xiang, while Su Zhaozhao took Gu Nian into the bathhouse.
The bathhouse in the residential area wasn't open every day, only twice a week, with additional openings during holidays. It was quite crowded at this time.
As soon as Su Zhaozhao entered, she saw a sea of white bodies, which was quite a shock for the southern girl.
She couldn't stare, so she kept her eyes forward and found a corner for her daughter.
Turning on the tap, hot water gushed out.
Su Zhaozhao rinsed herself from head to toe, washing away all the grime!
The benefit of bathing with her daughter was that someone could help scrub her back, even if the strength was minimal, it was better than nothing.
Unfortunately, there was no shampoo or shower gel, only soap to wash her hair, which made it tangle and feel uncomfortable.
Still, it was much better than in the countryside, where the Su family couldn't afford soap and used soap nuts and wood ash for washing.
After the bath, she felt refreshed and invigorated!
"Dad, can you help me?"
Su Zhaozhao turned around, recognizing the familiar voice—it was Gu Xiang.
At the entrance of the bathhouse, Gu Heng held a basin in one hand and supported his son with the other, a smile on his face.
There must have been pebbles in Gu Xiang's shoes, as he was shaking them off on the ground.
This was the perfect moment to call Dad.
Su Zhaozhao looked at her daughter, who pouted and lowered her head, having been beaten to it by her brother.
Just as Su Zhaozhao was about to take her daughter over, someone else stepped past her.
"Captain Gu."
Su Zhaozhao didn't see the person's face but recognized a beautiful woman from behind. The woman, who had just come out of the bathhouse, had waist-length hair loosely tied with a handkerchief, wearing a white blouse and navy blue skirt. Her sleeves were rolled up, revealing slender, fair elbows, and she held a basin at her waist, accentuating her slim figure.
Gu Heng clearly knew this person and nodded, "Comrade Ye."
Surnamed Ye?
Su Zhaozhao's heart skipped a beat—could this be the female lead?
Could they have already met?
Or perhaps they had already gone on a blind date?
Ye Shulan smiled, "When did Captain Gu return?"
"Yesterday."
Watching the two of them converse, it was truly a feast for the eyes! Su Zhaozhao held her basin, admiring the scene. Should she interrupt now?
Gu Heng saw her and waved her over.
Ye Shulan turned around, and Su Zhaozhao finally saw her face.
No wonder she was the female lead—she was truly beautiful!
Clearly pampered since childhood, her skin was snow-white, and her figure was graceful and elegant. In contrast, Su Zhaozhao felt dark and thin, with no notable features.
Su Zhaozhao almost felt depressed; she was a young woman who cared about her appearance too!
With her hair in disarray, she too was in the same state, but why didn't she have a handkerchief to tie her hair?
Fortunately, there were no mirrors; otherwise, she would surely look like a ghost.
"Who is this?" Ye Shulan had already learned about Gu Heng's family situation from Yu Huixin. At first, when she saw Gu Heng supporting a little boy, she didn't think much of it, assuming he was a child from one of the families in the unit. But when she saw Su Zhaozhao and Gu Xiang, she became puzzled.
Does Captain Gu have relatives here?
I haven't heard Sister Yu mention anything about this?
Didn't they say his family was all gone?
Despite her confusion, Ye Shulan still wore a smile, but it froze on her face when she heard Gu Nian call out "Daddy."
Children are sensitive; seeing a beautiful sister talking to her father, the little girl quickly asserted her mother's claim.
Hearing his daughter speak, Gu Heng smiled and responded, "Hey, are you hungry?"
Gu Nian nodded, eager to eat.
Su Zhaozhao glanced at Ye Shulan.
Sorry, heroine, this world can't unfold as written in the book.
She has come; she is now Su Zhaodi, and she must fight for the rights of these two children.
She also wants to live a good life.
Gu Heng nodded to Ye Shuxin and left with his wife and children.
As soon as they were gone, another person emerged from the bathhouse—it was Yu Huixin.
Seeing Ye Shulan, she was about to call out, but then followed her gaze to see the back of Gu Heng's family.
Her words caught in her throat. How did they run into them?
If I had known, I should have let Shulan stay longer, what a mess!
Yu Huixin sighed, "Shulan, I didn't get a chance to tell you yet."
Ye Shulan turned her gaze away, "Captain Gu has a wife and children."
"He really didn't before, I never thought of introducing a married man to you." Yu Huixin assured her, "I only found out yesterday..." She pulled Ye Shulan toward her home, "Come, let's go to my place, and I'll explain everything."
"Why didn't you introduce us to that pretty comrade just now?"
The canteen was nearby, just a few steps away. When Gu Heng returned with the food, Su Zhaozhao asked.
"She's from the cultural troupe, surnamed Ye." Gu Heng couldn't remember her specific name.
That's right.
The heroine is indeed from the cultural troupe, as mentioned in the book. The heroine was transferred to the newly established military cultural troupe and soon after, met and married the hero through an arranged meeting.
Since the heroine is already at the base, it means the cultural troupe has been established.
The book doesn't elaborate much on the period before and after their arranged meeting, focusing mainly on their married life.
So, whether the hero and heroine met before their arranged meeting is unclear.
"You only know her surname is Ye? Don't you know her name?" Su Zhaozhao asked with a half-smile.