“…That damned kid, I really owe him one.”
Political Commissar Liu had just entered Old Yue’s office when he saw him hanging up the phone while cursing under his breath. He pulled out a chair and sat down: “Whose call? Little Chu?”
Regiment Commander Yue paused while striking a match: “How did you know?”
“Is it hard to guess?” There were few people in the entire regiment who could make Old Yue both annoyed and delighted, especially through a phone call. Besides Little Chu, who else could it be?
Old Liu was as sharp as a tack. Seeing that he didn’t elaborate, Regiment Commander Yue didn’t press further. He continued striking the match, lighting the cigarette in his mouth before shaking out the remaining flame: “I remember there’s an empty house next to yours, right?”
Political Commissar Liu placed the documents in his hand on the desk: “There is one. Is Little Chu bringing his family for Sui Jun?”
“Yeah, that kid’s already registered his marriage.” Although asking his old superior to put pressure on Su Shi might invite some gossip, the outcome was good, and Regiment Commander Yue felt it was worth it.
Political Commissar Liu understood, then frowned: “Isn’t Little Chu preparing to transfer north? He won’t be able to stay for long then.”
“Let him stay however long he wants.” Regiment Commander Yue took a deep drag of his cigarette: “That damned kid has had it tough these past years.” If he could help, he would.
Old Yue was still as protective as ever. Political Commissar Liu shook his head helplessly: “Alright, alright, I’ll have someone arrange it later.”
Regiment Commander Yue trusted his partner to handle things, but he still called for the orderly standing outside and instructed: “Don’t follow me this afternoon. Gather some people to clean up Chu Yu’s house. Oh, and go to the barracks department to pick out some decent furniture. Pull the weeds in the yard too, and…”
Political Commissar Liu listened quietly for a while until the orderly left, then he massaged his temples and remarked: “Anyone who didn’t know would think Little Chu was your own son.”
Regiment Commander Yue glared: “Am I doing this for Little Chu? I’m doing it for his wife. Such an outstanding female comrade is willing to marry down—shouldn’t we, as the groom’s family, put on a good show?”
What nonsense? Who’s “we” as the groom’s family? Political Commissar Liu couldn’t be bothered to argue with his partner anymore. He tapped the documents on the desk: “Take a look, just transmitted from the division headquarters.”
“What is it…” Regiment Commander Yue reached out and took them. When he saw the words on the first page, he frowned: “Outline for conveying the spirit of the political work conference? Why give it to me? You’re in charge of political work—you take the lead.”
Political Commissar Liu: “I was thinking of calling the standing committee members for a meeting.”
Regiment Commander Yue: “I have no objections, but while political study is important, it can’t interfere with my training…”
While the two regimental-level leaders were coordinating work in the office, news that Battalion Commander Chu Yu—that outstanding but burdened-by-his-background, perpetually single older bachelor—had gotten married spread like wildfire.
The soldiers were all skeptical about the accuracy of the news. Whenever they had free time, they all went to Sun Guangming to verify.
Men love gossip too.
Sure enough, after getting confirmation from Sun Guangming, soon there were those who loved stirring up trouble, casually strolling over to the third battalion to find Zhao Youliang.
Then, to his disbelief, they enthusiastically praised Chu Yu’s wife for being beautiful and kind-hearted.
He didn’t leave until he had praised Zhao Youliang to the point where the latter’s face turned as dark as ink, then departed cheerfully.
In truth, Sun Guangming hadn’t mentioned anything about the female comrade’s situation, but Zhao Youliang’s recent underhanded actions had left everyone fuming. Naturally, they piled all the flattering words onto Chu Yu’s wife.
If she turned out not to match the description, so be it—venting their anger came first…
=
Elsewhere.
After hanging up the phone and stepping out of the post office with his new wife, Chu Yu was completely unaware of the commotion back at the military base. He glanced at the young woman beside him: “It’s still early. Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”
It was only a little past nine in the morning, indeed quite early. Gu Fangbai had no particular destination in mind and honestly shook her head: “Not really. What about you?”
Chu Yu: “Then come with me to buy train tickets?”
Gu Fangbai had no objections: “…Where should we leave the bicycle?”
Chu Yu swung his long leg over the bicycle, turning his head to flash a bright smile: “We’ll ride there.”
Gu Fangbai, who had assumed they’d take the bus, was taken aback: “Ride there?” Wouldn’t that take over an hour round trip?
Chu Yu patted the bicycle’s rear rack: “Yeah, hop on quickly.”
Alright then. Gu Fangbai complied and climbed onto the back seat. Only when the man in front started pedaling as if riding a wind-and-fire wheel did she belatedly realize… Brother Chu seemed to be in very high spirits.
His long legs pumped with seemingly endless energy.
He was truly happy to be married to her…
When this realization struck her, Gu Fangbai froze.
Beyond the shock, what followed was deeper reflection.
Never before had she understood so clearly: compared to her own perspective of marriage as merely completing a mission to repay a debt—something that could end in divorce ten years later—Brother Chu clearly approached it with the intention of spending a lifetime together.
He even… held considerable fondness for her. To put it more bluntly, he might even harbor some affection. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be this happy. Look… he’d even started humming a military song.
And what about herself? Although she’d once fleetingly imagined that beyond repaying the debt, they might develop a harmonious marital relationship.
But that had been just a passing thought, quickly dismissed and never acted upon.
Thinking back to how Brother Chu had immediately handed her a substantial bankbook after they received their marriage certificate, Gu Fangbai felt even more uneasy.
To be honest, setting aside various complicating factors, she’d be quite willing to be in a relationship with someone like Chu Yu.
He handed over his salary card, was tall and handsome, served as a military officer, came from a well-off family, and his sister was her closest friend. As for his parents whom she hadn’t met yet, Gu Fangbai believed that anyone who raised children as outstanding as the Chu siblings couldn’t be bad people…
These were the reasons she hadn’t resisted the marriage of gratitude too strongly.
Of course, if Chu Yu had been ugly and unimpressive, things might have been different. After all, she was only human…
At this thought, Gu Fangbai couldn’t help but lift her eyes to study the broad shoulders and narrow waist right in front of her… Then she slowly moved her hands from gripping the bicycle rack to clutching the fabric at the man’s waist.
Feeling the touch at his waist, an unprepared Chu Yu—who had been humming into the wind—jerked his hands, causing the bicycle to instantly swerve in an S-shaped path.
“Ah!”—fearing she might fall, Gu Fangbai gasped and instinctively wrapped her arms around the solid waist in front of her.
Chu Yu reacted quickly, stabilizing the bicycle within moments. He looked back: “Are you alright?”
“It’s fine.” Gu Fangbai released her arms from around the man’s waist and was about to continue tugging at his clothes when she felt her hand enveloped by a pair of warm, broad palms.
Chu Yu pressed his wife’s soft hand back against his waist, saying with feigned seriousness, “Just like this. Hold tighter for safety.”
“…Alright.” Gu Fangbai didn’t expose his little scheme. As she cooperatively tightened her arms, a smile surfaced at the corners of her mouth.
==
11:00 AM.
The newlywed couple, having successfully purchased train tickets, returned to the Glass Factory Family Compound.
Since it wasn’t a holiday, most people were at the factory.
However, there were still many retired elders or non-working family members bustling about preparing lunch in the compound.
Seeing the handsome couple enter, they greeted them with smiles:
“Fang Bai, not working today?”
“Is this your cousin? Saw him the other night.”
“Eh? Fang Bai’s cousin? How come I haven’t met him? What does the young man do?”
“Fang Bai, were you out with your cousin?”
“We made fermented glutinous rice balls today. I’ll bring you a bowl to try later.”
“……”
In the time it took Chu Yu to lock the bicycle in the shed, Gu Fangbai was immediately surrounded by enthusiastic neighbors.
She didn’t even have time to greet them before being bombarded with questions one after another.
Just as she was maintaining a stiff smile, unsure which question to answer first, Gu Weiguo—stir-frying with a wok on the second-floor corridor—leaned out: “Back already? Why so late?”
Chu Yu, who had just finished locking the bike and walked over, looked up with a smile: “We made another trip to the train station.”
Hearing the commotion, Xu Huailan came running downstairs and waved a bag at the crowd: “The kids registered their marriage today. Everyone, come share in the joy…”
At these words, all eyes turned to them in surprise.
The eldest grandfather among them asked puzzledly, “Regis…registered marriage?”
Xu Huailan opened the cloth bag and began pulling out wedding candies and pastries, confirming: “Yes, indeed they’ve registered.”
Someone else questioned suspiciously: “Wasn’t it said this young man is Fang Bai’s cousin? Is he a distant cousin beyond the five degrees of mourning?”
These were all close neighbors who had watched their niece grow up. Plus, since the marriage was already registered, Xu Huailan held nothing back. She briefly explained the reason for the earlier secrecy and proudly introduced her nephew-in-law to everyone…
Meanwhile, Chu Yu took over the cloth bag and, together with his wife, cheerfully distributed wedding treats to the crowd, all while fielding wave after wave of questions from the neighbors.
After all the commotion, the three of them spent a full half-hour in the courtyard before finally managing to break away and head toward the staircase.
From afar, Gu Fangbai could even hear someone reminding others that since the young couple wasn’t holding a wedding banquet, they should help keep it quiet—the kids have it hard enough, so don’t go spreading rumors.
On the stairs, Chu Yu—who had also overheard the comments behind them—took his wife’s hand and chuckled softly: “Everyone treats you very well.”
Gu Fangbai glanced at the large hand that nearly enveloped hers completely and gently returned the grasp: “Mm, they really do.”
Feeling her response, Chu Yu instantly tightened his grip, but worried he might crush the delicate hand in his palm, he immediately relaxed his hold again.
Ahead of them, Xu Huailan—who had been watching the young couple out of the corner of her eye—felt quite satisfied.
Although the marriage was rushed, the two clearly had feelings for each other. And being such a well-matched pair, their life together would likely turn out just fine…
==
Though there was no wedding banquet.
Though it was just a family gathering.
But the dishes were no less impressive than those at a formal banquet.
Not to mention the sumptuous feast Gu Weiguo had prepared early and cooked himself.
Even just the six excellent dishes sent by neighbors after learning of the couple’s marriage were enough to fill the Ba Xian Table completely.
In the end, they had to bring out the round tabletop from the storage room to barely accommodate all the dishes.
Gu Fangbai looked at the heavily laden table, then at their small group, and sighed helplessly, “How can we possibly finish all this?”
“We can have another meal tonight,” said Xu Huailan, bringing two wine cups and handing them to her husband and nephew-in-law. She added, “I didn’t want to accept them at first—everyone has their own lives to manage… But with your marriage, everyone is so happy for you. They insisted that if we didn’t take the dishes, we’d have to accept gifts. Since we didn’t host a banquet, how could we possibly accept gifts?”
Gu Fangbai still felt embarrassed and suggested, “Then let’s send some candies and pastries to each household later.”
Xu Huailan, who never liked taking advantage of others, immediately nodded, “That works.”
The family head Gu Weiguo then produced a bottle of Maotai liquor and cheerfully announced, “Alright, let’s eat. It’s a joyous occasion—Little Chu, have a couple drinks with me.”
“Uncle, let me,” Chu Yu promptly stood up and took the liquor.
Beside them, Gu Rongzhi looked eagerly at the alcohol and offered his secretly stashed small cup, “Third Brother-in-law, pour me a cup too.”
Xu Huailan instinctively wanted to scold him, but remembering it was her niece’s wedding day, she could only chide lightly, “You’re not even grown yet… Just one small cup, and that’s it.”
In Su Shi, people usually drank from small thimble cups holding about 10 milliliters each. Gu Rongzhi thought it wasn’t enough and wanted to protest.
But when he met his mother’s chilly gaze, he immediately backed down. He smiled ingratiatingly, “One cup is enough. What’s so great about alcohol anyway? I mainly want to toast Third Sister and Third Brother-in-law’s marriage.”
The 16-year-old boy hadn’t fully matured yet, and his strikingly handsome features made his smile somewhat androgynous. While Gu Fangbai couldn’t help stealing a few extra glances, she still teased, “I wouldn’t mind if you used tea instead.”
“Come on, Third Sister, I rarely get to taste it,” Gu Rongzhi pleaded with clasped hands before turning to his new brother-in-law with gleeful schadenfreude, “Third Brother-in-law, my sister is as strict as Mom. You’ll have a hard time drinking in the future too.”
After pouring wine for the uncle and confirming the aunt didn’t drink, Chu Yu took his brother-in-law’s cup. Instead of being annoyed by the brat’s gloating tone, he smiled and replied, “You’re still young—you don’t understand the happiness of having someone care about you.”
“Ugh…” Gu Rongzhi rubbed his arms, unable to explain why, but suddenly feeling quite full.
“Thwack!” Xu Huailan finally couldn’t resist and smacked her son on the back of the head, “Can’t even eating keep your mouth shut?”
Gu Weiguo picked up his chopsticks and cheerfully urged, “Eat, eat!”
Xu Huailan stopped looking at her son clutching his head and making exaggerated faces, smiling as she said, “Yes, yes, today eat more dishes and less rice.”
With family meals, there was no rule about not talking while eating.
After just a few mouthfuls, Xu Huailan began asking about their marriage registration process.
When she learned how smoothly it had gone thanks to the old army Chief’s help, she repeatedly marveled, “No wonder! I was wondering why no one had approached me about matchmaking for Fang Bai these past couple days.”
This was the first time Gu Weiguo had heard about it. He had previously thought it was due to the connections he had asked for help: “You must remember this kindness. When you return to the army, don’t forget to visit and express your gratitude in person.”
Chu Yu raised a glass to his father-in-law: “Don’t worry.”
Xu Huailan then shifted her concern to another matter: “When is your train?”
Gu Fangbai picked up some dishes for the man busy drinking and, when he smiled and looked over, urged him to eat before turning to her aunt: “Brother Chu has no more leave. We bought train tickets for the day after tomorrow, a little after 4 p.m.”
“So soon?” Xu Huailan frowned. “I wanted to prepare more things for you to take to the army.”
Gu Fangbai quickly waved her hands: “No, no, I don’t want to bring anything. It’s better to travel light. If I really need something, you can help mail it to me later.”
Although their family was better off than most, Xu Huailan believed in saving where possible. She immediately poked her niece, exasperated: “You don’t know the cost of firewood and rice until you run a household. Isn’t postage money? If you can’t carry it, let Little Chu do it.”
Chu Yu quickly chimed in: “I’ll definitely carry it. Fang Bai doesn’t need to worry about anything.”
Xu Huailan was quite pleased with her nephew-in-law’s attitude but modestly added: “Still, you shouldn’t have to shoulder everything alone. Fang Bai can carry the bag with the food.”
How heavy could food be? Gu Fangbai was amused by her aunt’s “favoritism”: “We really don’t need to bring much. Brother Chu might be transferred to another unit around August or September. We can buy whatever we need then, to avoid the hassle of moving things back and forth.”
Since her nephew-in-law had mentioned this before, Xu Huailan didn’t press further. Instead, she asked her niece about her work at the newspaper: “Do you still have to work a full day tomorrow?”
“Yes, just wrapping things up. I should be able to get off on time.”
“It’s about time. Only one day off for getting married? So stingy…”
“……”
Elders always have endless worries, especially when facing children about to travel far away.
By the end of the meal, Gu Fangbai had answered more questions than she had eaten dishes.
As for why it was only her, the reason was simple—our Battalion Commander Chu was busy drinking with her uncle the entire time…
Finally, looking at her husband, red-faced and flushed from drinking, Xu Huailan was tempted to get physical: “I told him to drink less, drink less. He agreed so nicely, but once he starts, there’s no end to it… Rongzhi, come help me take your dad back to his room.”
Then, remembering something, she turned to her niece: “Little Chu has had quite a bit to drink too. Let him rest in your room.”
Quite a bit? The three of them together only finished one bottle of baijiu.
Though she thought this to herself, Gu Fangbai still glanced at the man beside her, who looked as composed as ever. He didn’t seem drunk, but she went over to support him anyway.
Chu Yu was actually already drunk. It’s just that he didn’t show it in his face when drinking and, due to some special training, it wasn’t apparent on the surface.
He didn’t even need anyone’s support and could steadily follow his wife into her room on his own.
Curious, Gu Fangbai leaned in: “Brother Chu, are you drunk?”
Chu Yu stared fixedly at the beautiful girl before him, as if pondering the question. After a long while, he shook his head: “Not drunk.”
Well, with such a delayed reaction, he was definitely drunk. So such a tall man couldn’t handle even half a bottle? Gu Fangbai suppressed a laugh and coaxed him: “Alright, you’re not drunk. Do you want to sleep for a bit?”
Chu Yu hesitated again for a long moment before confirming, mumbling: “Fang Bai? My wife?”
Gu Fangbai was momentarily confused by the question. Before she could process its meaning, she saw the man who had been standing motionless moments earlier kick off his slippers and lie down stiffly on the woven mat bed.
“…” So, was this his way of confirming the territory was safe and he could sleep soundly?
Why did she inexplicably find this somewhat endearing?
Meanwhile.
Compared to his nephew-in-law who fell asleep instantly, the equally drunk Gu Weiguo was anything but restful.
Not only did he refuse to sleep, he stubbornly retrieved from a drawer his treasured photographs of his younger brother and sister-in-law. One moment he declared he had lived up to his responsibilities toward the couple, the next he praised Fang Bai as a good child who had always been well-behaved since childhood.
Finally, he rambled about how his niece had married a fine young man – an upright war hero who had served on the battlefield – intermittently wiping away tears throughout his monologue.
This moved Xu Huailan, who had originally intended to scold him, to the point where her nose tingled and her eyes gradually reddened…
Would her second brother and sister-in-law… finally be able to rest in peace?
=
The 1960s.
Compared to marriage certificates, most ordinary people only recognized wedding banquets as legitimate.
In their view, only after hosting a banquet could a couple be considered properly married.
Therefore, even after obtaining their marriage certificate, Chu Yu returned home alone that evening.
However, before leaving, he made arrangements with his wife to take her to the newspaper office the next morning and distribute wedding candies and pastries to her colleagues.
Xu Huailan couldn’t bear to part with her niece. The thought that the girl she had cherished since childhood would leave the day after tomorrow made her crave every possible moment together.
Consequently, she directly brought her pillow and slept in her niece’s room.
With two women lying together, conversation was inevitable: “…After Sui Jun, if you find suitable work, you should still take a job. We women need to earn our own money to have confidence.”
“Don’t worry, Auntie, I understand.”
“Also, remember to take control of Little Chu’s finances after marriage. It’s not about how much you spend, but he must entrust his earnings to you.”
“He already has. This morning after we got the certificate, he gave me two bankbooks.”
“Really? I knew Little Chu was decent.”
“……”
That night, aunt and niece talked late into the night, discussing everything from work to married life and future children…
Ultimately, because they stayed up so late, Gu Fangbai failed to wake up on time the next morning and had to be roused by Chu Yu.
Indeed, now that their relationship was official, Battalion Commander Chu could freely enter his wife’s room.
Thus, shortly after five o’clock when Auntie woke and left, he entered the bedroom.
He sat by the bed watching her, sometimes stroking her small hand, sometimes smoothing the long hair spread across her pillow – unable to get enough of admiring her.
Only when the clock hands pointed to six did he finally reach out to wake his sleeping beauty.
Having slept only about five hours, the forcibly awakened Gu Fangbai remained somewhat dazed. She stared at the man by her bed for quite some time before gradually coming to her senses: “What time is it?”
Previously, Chu Yu hadn’t wanted to disturb his sleeping wife, but now he couldn’t resist pinching her cheek as he smiled: “Six o’clock. Don’t you need to go to the newspaper office? Time to get up.”
She did need to fulfill her final shift responsibilities. Gu Fangbai struggled to sit up, but just as she was about to ask him to leave, she noticed something odd about her hair.
Looking down and reaching up to feel, goodness gracious – her entire head was covered with tiny braids.
She gave a speechless look at the man beside her. The awkwardness from earlier—when he had appeared in her room and she had no idea how long he had been watching—vanished completely in an instant. She reached out and pinched one of the braids: “…Did you braid this?”
Chu Yu cleared his throat lightly, covering his mouth with a fist: “Mm, I was just practicing.”
But did you have to braid her entire head? Any denser and it would’ve been African dreadlocks—what kind of preference is this? Also, since when did she sleep so soundly? She hadn’t felt a thing. Unable to figure it out, Gu Fangbai stopped pondering and could only urge with mixed amusement and exasperation, “Hurry up and help me take them out.”
Chu Yu reached out to undo them: “Doesn’t it look good?”
Loose and messy—it’s downright ugly, okay? Though inwardly critical, Gu Fangbai spared Battalion Commander Chu’s dignity in her words: “With this many braids, I can’t go out like this.”
Chu Yu nodded: “True. Then shall I redo them into twin tails for you?”
Gu Fangbai… Thank you so much.
Author’s Note: I’m stuck with writer’s block [sobbing]. The next chapter will be up tomorrow at 8 PM, still combining two chapters into one. I’ll try to adjust back to 6 AM updates soon, mwah [heart][heart]!
Still desperately seeking collections!! [heart][heart][heart] Please comment!! Please give nutrient solutions!!! This chapter randomly drops 100 red envelopes, mua! [peeking through fingers](*╯3╰)