Qiao Yu, Wang Guilan, and Zhao Jinhua returned carrying large and small bags, while Zhang Xiulian and Liu Cuicui were already washing vegetables in the kitchen.
Seeing Qiao Yu and the others return, Liu Cuicui wiped her hands and went to greet them.
“Are all the sisters-in-law back?”
Qiao Yu couldn’t help but frown. Liu Cuicui’s tone made it sound as though she were the lady of the house.
“Qiao Yu, from now on, you’re my sister-in-law.”
Liu Cuicui gave a hypocritical smile and took out two new towels she had specially bought. “This is my wedding gift for you and Shao Yuan. I hope you don’t mind it, sister-in-law.”
Qiao Yu looked at the towels in her hand, her expression puzzled.
What was Liu Cuicui up to, suddenly trying to be nice to her? She didn’t believe for a second that Liu Cuicui had good intentions.
Qiao Yu politely declined, “No need, keep them for yourself.”
Liu Cuicui caught sight of Gu Shaoyuan approaching out of the corner of her eye. Biting her lip, she put on an innocent expression.
“Sister-in-law, do you dislike the towels I gave you? I know they’re not as nice as the ones from Shanghai, but they’re a token of my sincerity.”
Such pretentious talk.
Qiao Yu couldn’t help but roll her eyes. If there weren’t so many people around, she would have already slapped Liu Cuicui across the face.
“What’s going on?”
Gu Shaoyuan’s deep voice sounded in her ear, and only then did Qiao Yu notice he had walked over.
He naturally took the things from her hands.
Liu Cuicui rushed to say, “Brother Shao Yuan, sister-in-law dislikes the wedding gift I gave you. I just wanted to wish you and sister-in-law well.”
Qiao Yu was full of question marks, but she had to admit Liu Cuicui was right.
She really did dislike it.
Gu Shaoyuan’s eagle-like, deep eyes fell on Liu Cuicui. With a cold expression, he said, “Don’t call me brother from now on. I only have one sister, and that’s Gu Ling.”
“Also, our family really doesn’t need towels. You can take them back.”
Hearing Gu Shaoyuan’s words, Liu Cuicui’s face instantly flushed bright red with embarrassment.
With two sisters-in-law and a deputy regiment commander watching nearby, Liu Cuicui felt her face burning with shame.
Unable to stay any longer, she covered her face and ran out of the family building.
Seeing this, Gu Ling quickly chased after her. Her brother was too harsh—how could he show no consideration for Cuicui at all?
Gu Shaoyuan ignored them and looked down at Qiao Yu, saying, “You rest for a while. I’ll go help with the cooking.”
Qiao Yu was surprised. He knew how to cook?
In this era, it was generally the man’s role to work outside and the woman’s to manage the household. Men who knew how to cook were few and far between, let alone someone like Gu Shaoyuan, who was an officer.
…
Out of curiosity, Qiao Yu followed Gu Shaoyuan to the kitchen.
But she didn’t go inside, only stood at the doorway to watch.
She saw Gu Shaoyuan roll his sleeves up to his elbows, revealing the smooth, firm muscles of his arms as he skillfully handled the meat on the cutting board.
He really did know how to cook.
Just as Qiao Yu was watching intently, Wang Guilan pulled her away.
“Let the men handle these chores. We’ll sit and rest for a while.”
Wang Guilan even shooed her husband, Li Jun, into the kitchen.
With both Regimental Commander Gu and Deputy Regimental Commander Li in the kitchen, Deputy Regimental Commander Luo felt too embarrassed to sit and wait for the meal, so he went to help as well.
Seeing the kitchen taken over by several men, Gu’s mother, Zhang Xiulian, simply came out as well.
Wang Guilan and Zhao Jinhua pulled Qiao Yu aside and brought up the matter of Liu Cuicui.
“Sister Yu, before you came to the island, the whole island knew about Liu Cuicui’s crush on Regimental Commander Gu. There were even rumors back then that Liu Cuicui was the Gu family’s child bride.”
“But don’t worry, Regimental Commander Gu is a very upright man—he didn’t even give her a glance!”
Wang Guilan had long disliked Liu Cuicui, who, taking advantage of living in the Gu household, spent every day trying to seduce the engaged Regimental Commander Gu.
Qiao Yu smiled cheerfully; she hadn’t even considered Liu Cuicui a threat.
Right now, she couldn’t say she loved Gu Shaoyuan—she just liked his looks, his physique, his character, and the fact that he could cook…
Oh no, the more she thought about it, the more his good qualities seemed to multiply.
Qiao Yu had started out as just someone who appreciated good looks, but the more she got to know Gu Shaoyuan, the more outstanding she found him.
As she watched his tall, busy figure moving around in the kitchen, a little girl suddenly ran up and hugged her legs.
It was Deputy Regiment Commander Li and Wang Guilan’s daughter, Niuniu, who was just over four years old.
Wang Guilan laughed and said, “Niuniu, say hello to Auntie Yu.”
Niuniu greeted Qiao Yu in a sweet, soft voice, “Auntie Yu, you’re so pretty.”
“Thank you, you’re very cute too.”
Qiao Yu couldn’t help but pat Niuniu’s head and gave her a handful of wedding candies.
Just as Gu Shaoyuan came out of the kitchen, he happened to see Qiao Yu bending down to talk to Niuniu.
When she spoke, the corners of her eyes curved into gentle arcs, and the wind carried her voice toward him, making his heart skip a beat.
Seeing Gu Shaoyuan staring so intently, Li Jun couldn’t resist giving him a nudge.
“I’m starving—let’s eat already. Look at you, so smitten. You’ll have plenty of time to admire your wife tonight.”
Gu Shaoyuan: “…”
There were too many people to fit at one table, so two tables were set up in the courtyard.
Naturally, Qiao Yu and Gu Shaoyuan sat with the Gu family, along with the two deputy regiment commanders.
Yang Zhongcheng also brought his wife to share in the festive atmosphere, congratulating their regimental commander on marrying such a beauty.
Li Jun’s face was flushed from drinking as he stood up with his glass and said, “Old Gu, we finally get to see you settle down. All your brothers are happy for you!”
“Thank you.”
Gu Shaoyuan also stood up and toasted him.
Seeing this, Zhao Jinhua quickly nudged Luo Bin, urging him to propose a toast to Regimental Commander Gu.
Luo Bin was a quiet man and not one for flowery words, so he simply said, “Congratulations to Regimental Commander Gu and his wife on their wedding.”
Qiao Yu couldn’t handle alcohol and only took a small sip, finding it unbearably strong.
Gu Shaoyuan was considerate—anyone who tried to toast Qiao Yu was politely intercepted by him.
Uncle Gu and Aunt Gu, unable to keep up with the younger crowd, finished their meal early and went back to rest, while the two deputy regiment commanders drank themselves into a tipsy state.
Qiao Yu looked up at Gu Shaoyuan and saw that although his face was flushed, his eyes were still clear and alert.
He really could hold his liquor.
Wang Guilan and Zhao Jinhua quickly helped Qiao Yu clean up the aftermath before dragging their drunken husbands home.
Before leaving, they gave Qiao Yu meaningful looks, hinting that she and Gu Shaoyuan should take it easy tonight.
Qiao Yu: “…”
Once everyone had left, the courtyard fell silent.
Gu Shaoyuan’s gaze never left Qiao Yu. Rubbing his throbbing forehead, he said, “Let’s go inside and rest. I’ll clean up the tables.”
Qiao Yu looked at his flushed face. “You seem drunk. Why not clean up tomorrow?”
Gu Shaoyuan curled his lips slightly and said softly, “I didn’t drink much. They didn’t dare push me.”
His mind was still perfectly clear, but he flushed easily when drinking, which made Qiao Yu think he was drunk.
Qiao Yu didn’t believe him and fixed her gaze on him.
“Usually, people who are drunk won’t admit they’re drunk.”
Gu Shaoyuan met her watery almond-shaped eyes, his Adam’s apple unconsciously bobbing up and down—perhaps the alcohol had emboldened him.
He urgently wanted to prove something, striding forward a few steps until he stood before Qiao Yu.
With a long arm, he wrapped it around Qiao Yu’s waist and effortlessly lifted her into a princess carry.
Qiao Yu’s mind buzzed, “?!”
Why had this man suddenly picked her up?