Xue Shanshan froze in place after being slapped. She had only spoken out of jealousy, so was it really necessary to hit her?
And the man who hit her… he was so handsome practically the image of her ideal husband.
Su Die, on the other hand, was touched by her own man’s domineering act of protecting his wife.
“Y-you… how can you hit someone?”
Tears welled up in Xue Shanshan’s eyes as she wobbled, on the verge of crying but not quite, like a fragile white lotus drifting in the wind.
Su Die chuckled. This level of acting could easily win an Oscar.
Gu Jingzhou wrapped Su Die in his arms, his voice cold and sharp:
“You insult my wife, of course I’m going to hit you! My wife works tirelessly to heal and save lives this noble act of serving the people is not something a gutter-dwelling little insect like you can maliciously attack!”
Su Die looked up at Gu Jingzhou’s chiseled face; her eyes sparkled.
Being completely protected by someone… it felt wonderful.
The lunch lady who had witnessed the scene put down her spoon, placed her hands on her hips, and pointed at Xue Shanshan’s nose:
“How can you be so malicious, comrade? Someone saves a life out of good intentions, and you turn it into something foul with your rotten mouth? A slap is too light for you. People like you, with vile thoughts who undermine unity, should be paraded through the streets!”
“Well said! Even as an outsider, hearing this makes me uncomfortable. Imagine how the doctor who saved the person feels!”
“Unbelievable! You look all proper, yet your heart is so filthy.”
The people eating in the dining car nodded in agreement.
Su Die glanced at the crowd speaking up for her and felt a warm glow in her heart.
In this era, most people were good-hearted; when injustice occurred, they were willing to speak up.
Xue Shanshan covered her face and sobbed. Gu Jingzhou scolded her sharply:
“You bully my wife and still have the nerve to cry? Don’t act no one’s here to watch your performance.”
Su Die: “…” My man’s got some serious attack power leaving zero room for a green tea b*tch.
“Shanshan, what’s going on?”
Xue Jiashu, worried that his sister had been gone so long, came over.
“Com… Commander Gu?”
Gu Jingzhou shot Xue Jiashu a cold glance and lifted his chin. “This is your sister?”
Xue Jiashu nodded, confused. “Y-yes…”
“Captain Xue, my wife saved someone out of kindness but was insulted by your sister for no reason. If everyone were as scheming and poisonous as her, where would the future of China be? As a soldier defending the country, you should know how to restrain the people around you. Your sister must apologize!”
The more Gu Jingzhou spoke, the angrier he got he wished he could tear Xue Shanshan apart with his own hands.
His wife was someone he held at the tip of his heart; how could anyone humiliate her at will?!
“Exactly! She must apologize!”
The lunch lady, smooth-talking, quickly recounted the incident for everyone.
Xue Jiashu furrowed his brows, grabbed his sister by the collar, and pushed her in front of Su Die:
“Shanshan, apologize immediately.”
Xue Shanshan looked at her brother with a hint of grievance, her chest heaving. Reluctantly, she muttered, “I… I’m sorry.”
Su Die snorted. “Jealousy won’t work I’m just this capable.”
She took Gu Jingzhou’s hand and returned to the sleeping car, leaving Xue Jiashu sighing in frustration. He had brought his sister to the northwest to find her a husband, and Gu Jingzhou was the best candidate in the military district.
But in just a few days… she already had a wife.
And they looked so affectionate.
Xue Jiashu glared at his uncooperative sister and scolded, “Hurry up and go! Standing here is embarrassing!”
Almost accused of undermining unity that’s no joke.
Xue Shanshan felt extremely wronged. She had been slapped, and now her own brother scolded her. She couldn’t understand what she had done wrong.
However, this little incident didn’t affect Su Die’s mood.
Because Gu Jingzhou’s unconditional defense made even the bland boxed meal seem delicious.
“Honey, you eat first. I’ll eat what’s left after you’re full.”
Gu Jingzhou opened both lunchboxes and let Su Die eat the dishes she liked.
“Let’s eat together, or it’ll get cold and taste bad.”
Su Die smiled at her man, suddenly feeling an urge to kiss him.
Unfortunately, they were on a train, so it wasn’t the right time or place.
Once settled, she would definitely reward him.
A loving husband always rises to the occasion.
Gu Jingzhou’s behavior earned him 90 points in Su Die’s heart; the remaining 10 points were motivation for him to keep impressing her.
After finishing lunch and sharing a few lingering glances, Su Die climbed onto the bunk to sleep.
Gu Jingzhou glanced down the carriage aisle and got up to leave.
“Commander Gu… I want to apologize on behalf of my sister. She’s spoiled at home and sometimes speaks without thinking. Please… don’t be angry with her or… with my sister-in-law.”
Xue Jiashu, after thinking it over, decided to personally apologize. Gu Jingzhou was his superior, and he didn’t want to make enemies.
“Just remember this: anyone who dares to bully my wife will face my wrath.”
Gu Jingzhou’s words were direct his wife was his life, and anyone who messed with her would pay.
Xue Jiashu awkwardly forced a smile. “Commander Gu, don’t worry. I’ve got it.”
“Anything else?” Gu Jingzhou asked, noticing he was still standing there.
“You and your wife… are already… registered?”
Xue Jiashu asked tentatively.
“Of course. If she weren’t my wife, why would I register?”
Gu Jingzhou thought the question was odd. No wonder this guy, five years older than him, was still a captain his brain wasn’t the sharpest.
But then again, if the sister is that foolish, the brother can’t be too clever either.
“Then… congratulations to you and your wife.”
Xue Jiashu finally accepted it. His sister had no hope; he would have to look elsewhere.
Gu Jingzhou ignored him and looked at his peacefully sleeping wife before lying down himself.
…
The train arrived at 4 p.m. the next day.
Xiao Lu and Meng Shiguang drove a jeep to pick them up.
“Com… Commander Gu, this… this is…”
The two rugged northwest men stammered at Su Die’s exquisite face.
Gu Jingzhou opened the door and let Su Die in. “This is my wife. You all call her ‘sister-in-law.’”
Xiao Lu quickly closed his dropped jaw. “Commander Gu, you really found a fairy.”
“Enough talking start the car.”
Gu Jingzhou slid into the seat next to Su Die.
“Honey, you must be tired. Rest against me for a bit. We’ll stay a few days at the courtyard we rented for Grandpa Ge. Once the family housing is ready, you can move in.”
After greeting Xiao Lu and Meng Shiguang, Su Die leaned against Gu Jingzhou and fell asleep.
Even on a sleeper train, it had been exhausting loud and smelly, with hardly any rest.
Meng Shiguang glanced back from the passenger seat, envious. “Commander Gu, with your wife here, she’s probably the most beautiful in the northwest military district. Even prettier than the main performers in the cultural troupe.”
Gu Jingzhou glared at him. “Of course. No one can compare to my wife. To compare is to humiliate oneself.”
Meng Shiguang: “……” His words were ruthless. If the troupe’s main performer heard that, she’d be furious.
After nearly four hours of bumpy driving, they arrived at the residential area rented for Grandpa Ge.
“Honey, we’re here.”
Gu Jingzhou carefully helped her out of the car.
Su Die took a deep breath, feeling like she had truly come back to life.
“Sister-in-law, this courtyard belongs to my maternal aunt’s family. Rent is two yuan per month. I’ve prepared rice, oil, cooking utensils, bedding all new,” Meng Shiguang said, unlocking the door with a smile.
Su Die looked at the courtyard. Small but neat and tidy.
There was a well and a jujube tree.
Each side room had a kang (heated brick bed), and the main room had a stove—no worries in winter.
Su Die smiled. “Thanks. How much did it cost?”
Everything required ration tickets at the time unless bought on the black market.
Meng Shiguang scratched his head with a silly grin. “24 yuan total: 4 grain tickets, 2 oil tickets. The rest… didn’t use tickets.”
Su Die glanced at Gu Jingzhou and understood. Time was tight; most of the items were likely from the black market.
She handed over money and tickets, and also gave them a pack of White Rabbit candies.
“Thank you. Once Grandpa Ge arrives, I’ll treat everyone to a meal.”
Xiao Lu and Meng Shiguang hesitated, afraid Gu Jingzhou would be angry. The candy was valuable; they didn’t dare take a whole pack.
“Take it. Your sister-in-law gave it share it with the guys.”
Only then did they take the candies with smiles.
“The family housing application has been submitted. It should be ready in a couple of days. Once it’s prepared, you can move in,” Meng Shiguang added.
Su Die didn’t want to live in a narrow, noisy dorm-style room it would be inconvenient.
“They applied for a courtyard, slightly bigger than this one,” Gu Jingzhou explained.
He didn’t want his wife confined to a tiny room. His rank allowed him to request a courtyard anyway.
“That’s better,” Su Die nodded, satisfied. “I want to grow vegetables and keep a dog a courtyard is more convenient.”