Su Die, wearing pink pajamas and with her hair loose, climbed out of bed. Her voice was soft and sweet, making Gu Jingzhou melt completely.
“Go wash up and eat,” she said.
Gu Jingzhou untied the apron around his waist, walked over, pulled her into his arms, and inhaled her scent. It smelled so good.
These past few days on his mission had never felt so unbearable he hated being away and wished he could have flown back immediately.
“Mm.”
After a quick wash, Su Die sat down at the table.
“We’ve never avoided pregnancy… later you’ll need to get some of that at the clinic…”
The “little umbrellas” (condoms) back then weren’t as refined as in later times they were thick and reusable.
Gu Jingzhou didn’t want to become a father just yet; he still wanted a few more years of life with just his wife.
“I’ll do whatever my wife says,” he said.
Su Die knew she was only eighteen; she was still young. She could wait until she was more mentally mature to have children. Fortunately, Gu Jingzhou agreed with her completely on this point, they were unusually aligned.
After lunch, Su Die went back to her room to take paper and pencil and sketched a few clothing designs.
“What’s this, wife?” Gu Jingzhou asked as he walked over.
It was his first time seeing clothes drawn out on paper like this.
“These are clothes I designed,” Su Die said, pointing to the top sketch. “I want to have one of the ladies in the military housing compound make you a couple of pajamas for sleeping at night, and some outer clothes for Grandpa Ge and Feng Tao.”
“Pajamas? I don’t need pajamas at night too many layers make it uncomfortable when I cuddle with you…”
Gu Jingzhou wanted to be close to his wife every night pajamas would just get in the way.
Su Die: “…” That naughty man! She knew it would be like this always full of energy and stubbornness.
“Then just make them for Grandpa Ge and Feng Tao.”
“Wife, why don’t you make a few for yourself too?”
Seeing her agree, Gu Jingzhou seized the moment to plant a kiss on her.
Su Die scolded him with a look, then returned to the room.
Truth be told, the fabric she had grabbed from Qi Dazhuang’s house was really good soft and delicate. Those dozens of bolts would last a long time.
She had previously picked three brightly colored ones and put them in her wardrobe. Upon entering the room, she cut a few pieces and packed them into her bag.
“Let’s go.”
The two of them walked to the military housing compound; they didn’t take a bike.
In the past few days, thanks to Xiao Lu and Meng Shiguang’s boasting, everyone in the military district knew Gu Jingzhou had returned home to visit and had married a beautiful wife.
Everyone was eager to see her in person.
So when Su Die and Gu Jingzhou entered the compound, everyone chatting, running errands, or just passing by all stopped in their tracks.
“Oh my goodness, she’s really a beauty! Even a celestial fairy from the heavens probably looks like this.”
“Exactly! Perfect figure, great chest, big hips Commander Gu is so lucky.”
“No kidding, no wonder Commander Gu didn’t fancy any female officers here none of them compare to his wife.”
Su Die had expected some interest from the military housing women, but not this many.
In an instant, dozens of them gathered around just to see her.
Still, Su Die’s mindset was steady; she was happy to be friendly with those who were kind.
For those with ill intentions, she didn’t mind giving a slap.
Gu Jingzhou carried a bag in one hand and protected his wife with the other, worried the group of sturdy women might touch her.
Liu Juan, responsible for managing the military housing compound, had just finished handling a dispute between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law when she saw Gu Jingzhou and Su Die approaching.
“Commander Gu, I’ll take you both to see the house,” she said.
“Wife, this is Sister-in-law Liu Juan.”
“And this is my wife, Su Die. She just arrived here please take care of her, Sister-in-law.”
Worried his wife might be wronged, Gu Jingzhou had already asked Liu Juan for help on the day they returned.
Liu Juan was kind-hearted; she was willing to help whenever she could.
Su Die smiled. “Sister-in-law, thank you for your help.”
“Help? It’s just work serving the people,” Liu Juan said warmly, introducing the compound as she walked. “On the left is the newly built apartment block, on the right are small courtyards. Three courtyards are vacant; pick one.”
All three were bigger than the one rented for Grandpa Ge.
Su Die liked quiet, so she chose the most secluded one.
Normally when she cooked or made something delicious, it wouldn’t draw attention.
More people meant more trouble; not every household was well-off, so keeping low-profile meant fewer issues.
Gu Jingzhou didn’t say a word and let his wife decide.
Seeing their dynamic, Liu Juan immediately understood… Commander Gu was completely under his wife’s control.
The most untouchable, promising “high mountain flower” of the military district turned out to be so protective of his wife.
Su Die had no idea what Liu Juan thought. She was focused on planning the courtyard: vegetable garden, fish pond, dog kennel, chicken coop, root cellar, shower all essential.
She also planned a grape arbor to sit under in summer and read, very relaxing.
And the ground would be paved with colorful cobblestones.
A well-arranged small courtyard could be very picturesque.
She loved life and naturally wanted to live it fully.
Seeing his wife standing silently in the yard, Gu Jingzhou tugged her hand. “Wife, what are you thinking about?”
“I’ll draw a plan first, then we can organize the yard according to my idea, okay?”
Su Die blinked her bright, sparkling eyes at him.
Gu Jingzhou, obedient as ever, quickly said, “Wife, whatever you say, I’ll do.”
Liu Juan, having seen enough domestic bliss, thought: should I stay out of this?
The courtyard was spacious, and there were plenty of rooms.
Three rooms were for people alone, which Su Die was very satisfied with.
Her old friend Niu Zhenzhu, thousands of miles away, would come eventually, and she would also have children more rooms meant more space.
“I’ll finish the drawings tonight and start work tomorrow.”
After checking the yard, Gu Jingzhou went to the clinic to get the “little umbrellas.”
Liu Juan took Su Die to find Sister Guihua to make the clothes.
Nian Guihua was the best seamstress in the military compound she didn’t even need a ruler; she could judge the fabric needed at a glance.
“Guihua, busy?”
Liu Juan shouted as soon as she entered, “Commander Gu’s wife is here for clothes!”
Hearing this, Nian Guihua quickly set aside her work and came out.
“Oh my, this figure… even I’m drooling. Commander Gu’s nights are going to be busy.”
Su Die: “…” This sister-in-law speaks too bluntly.
Nian Guihua had been making clothes for years and always sized people by eye. She wasn’t malicious, just direct.
“What are you standing for? Come in and sit,” she said, smiling.
Su Die followed her in and took out the fabric and design sketches from her bag.
“Sister-in-law, can you make them according to my drawings?”
It was also Nian Guihua’s first time seeing such a thing, very curious. “You even wrote the measurements it’s so convenient! You’re really talented, girl.”
Su Die smiled faintly. “Off-the-rack clothes don’t fit well, so I thought I’d design my own.”
Clothes back then were wide and shapeless not flattering and wasteful of fabric.
So Su Die planned to design her clothes first and then have someone make them.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make them well. As for the leftover fabric…”
There were two ways to make clothes with Nian Guihua:
One, pay per item two yuan for a piece.
Two, use leftover fabric to offset the cost.
Fabric was precious, and Nian Guihua had a big family to buy for.
Besides, the fabric Su Die brought was clearly high-end and expensive.
After hearing this, Su Die immediately said, “Use the leftover fabric.”
She had cut extra pieces for exactly this situation.
Money? Spend as little as possible, saving it for future business.
“Okay, come back in a week to pick them up.”
…
Exiting Nian Guihua’s house, they ran into the foolish Xue Shanshan.
“Comrade Xiao, why are you always avoiding me? Did I make you angry?”
Xue Shanshan’s goal in the northwest military district was clear: marry an officer.
Since she couldn’t have Gu Jingzhou, she needed a new target.
Tall, strong, and well-off Xiao Lu became the new “target.”
Xiao Lu had just been promoted to deputy regiment commander earlier this year his future was bright.
Many girls in the military district liked him and tried to get close.
But he had high standards and hadn’t met anyone suitable.
Passing the military housing compound, he heard from the guard that Gu Jingzhou had brought Su Die—so he came over, only to bump into Xue Shanshan.
“Annoying! How thick-skinned are you? Ugly but thinks you’re beautiful stay away from me!”
Xiao Lu was fed up; he had never seen such an unrestrained woman.
“Tell me what I did wrong, I’ll change,” Xue Shanshan pestered, even standing in front of him with her chest pushed high.
Xiao Lu wanted to hit someone.
“Comrade Xiao, why are you only coming now?” Su Die said sweetly. “Come check out my courtyard. I also need your help finding some cobblestones.”
“I’m coming, sister-in-law,” Xiao Lu said, sidestepping Xue Shanshan and walking toward Su Die.
“Why is it you again?”
Seeing Su Die reminded Xue Shanshan of the train incident she still felt indignant.
Su Die snorted with disdain. “What’s the matter? Mouthy and asking for a beating?”
“I haven’t finished talking to Comrade Xiao! How dare you call him away? You already have a man and still flirt shameless vixen!”
Xue Shanshan finally caught Xiao Lu; she wouldn’t let the chance go.
Su Die deliberately called Xiao Lu away just to defy her.
Old grudges and new grudges Xue Shanshan hated Su Die.
‘Smack! Smack! Smack!’
Before she could finish, Su Die’s slaps came in rapid succession, accompanied by scolding:
“I wanted to hit you on the train! Today you’ve come to me again, flaunting yourself like a lustful sow, still daring to insult me?
My man has height, good looks, long legs, and strength I’m lucky enough already! Need I seduce someone else?
You’re vile. Don’t assume everyone else is as dirty as you!”