Nothing is more important than marriage.
Chu Yu was indeed distracted, looking at his wife with full anticipation: “How about tomorrow evening?”
Gu Fangbai was surprised: “In the evening?”
Chu Yu explained: “The military unit usually hosts banquets in the evening. There’s no time during the day.”
Gu Fangbai suddenly understood: “You decide the time. I have no objections, but… aren’t we going to the city to buy things tomorrow?”
Receiving confirmation, Chu Yu’s mood instantly soared. He raised his hand, instinctively wanting to touch his wife’s cheek, but withdrew it when he saw the dust on his hand.
Seeing this, Gu Fangbai found it amusing and reached out instead, pinching the man’s cheek: “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Seizing the rare initiative from his wife, Chu Yu took the opportunity to lean down and plant a kiss on her cheek before saying proudly: “The banquet will be held in the cafeteria. We don’t need to worry about it. We just need to give the money and coupons to the Cooking Crew later.”
So that’s how it works? Gu Fangbai looked up in surprise: “I was prepared to be busy for a day or two.”
Chu Yu found his wife adorable and couldn’t resist bending down to kiss her again: “I can’t bear to see you work hard…” Actually, most families would choose to host banquets at home mainly to save money, but since their family had substantial resources, why suffer unnecessarily?
“Ahem, ahem, ahem…”
The couple’s intimacy was interrupted by sudden coughing. Both turned to look at the door.
Sun Guangming winked, wearing a lecherous smile: “Am I interrupting?”
Chu Yu moved to shield his wife behind him, disgusted: “Yes, you are. Get lost!”
As if he hadn’t heard, Sun Guangming stepped into the room on his own: “Sister-in-law, I’m Sun Guangming, Old Chu’s partner. Welcome to the 586th Regiment!”
After half a month, Gu Fangbai had gained some understanding of Battalion Commander Chu. The more familiar he was with someone, the more relaxed he became.
This comrade clearly belonged to the category of close friends, so she took a step to the side and greeted with a smile: “Hello, Comrade Sun.”
Seeing the young woman fully in his view, Sun Guangming felt his eyes light up: “Hello, hello! Sister-in-law, just call me Old Sun. Old Chu and I are life-and-death brothers!”
After saying this, he looked at his partner: “Our sister is quite honest! Not a single false word!”
Gu Fangbai was curious: “Xiangxue? What happened to her?”
“Nothing.” Chu Yu vaguely brushed it off and began pushing him out: “You can leave now.”
“Brother, I came here with good intentions to help…” Sun Guangming rolled his eyes dramatically, but before he could finish his protest, a Tang Ci Pen was placed in his hands. He was stunned: “What’s this for?”
Chu Yu tossed a ragged towel into the basin: “Weren’t you going to help? Go fetch some water and help me clean the room.”
The help he meant was contributing some money and coupons, not cleaning! Sun Guangming tried to resist: “Old Yue had someone clean it yesterday.”
Chu Yu insisted: “Clean it again.”
Sun Guangming still refused: “I… well, there are things waiting for me at the camp.”
“It’s lunch break now. Don’t worry, brother will go with you!” Chu Yu picked up the thermos from the five-drawer cabinet, dragged him outside, and turned back at the doorstep to remind his wife: “Fang Bai, if you’re tired, go rest in the bedroom first.”
“…Fang Bai, if you’re tired, go rest in the bedroom first~~” After mimicking in a strange tone, Sun Guangming, wearing an expression of disdain, hugged his enamel basin and bolted away.
Chu Yu, with his long legs and tall stature, quickly caught up, then lifted his leg and delivered a merciless kick to the cheeky fellow’s backside!
“Ow! Just you wait, you Chu bastard!”
Meanwhile, standing at the doorway and having witnessed their entire interaction, Gu Fangbai was utterly speechless.
Where had her Battalion Commander Chu’s initial seriousness and intensity gone?
But… this change was a good thing, wasn’t it?
She just wondered if Xiangxue, far away at the Honghe Brigade, had managed to relax a little?
=
Chu Xiangxue had indeed relaxed.
In fact, the tension in her heart had begun to ease the moment she boarded the train.
As days passed and she traveled farther from Su Shi, she felt increasingly at ease.
Even sleeping on hard earthen beds, eating bland soups, and doing strenuous farm work she’d never done before…
As long as no one was ostracizing, cursing, or even spitting at her daily, Chu Xiangxue found life quite wonderful.
Especially since her parents were in the same brigade – just thinking about soon reuniting with them filled her with energy…
“…Xiangxue, I want to go to town to buy some things. Are you coming?” New educated youth were usually given half a day off by the brigade. Zhao Yan wanted to buy a thermos and some candy for occasional treats.
Chu Xiangxune didn’t need anything. Besides the luggage she brought, her eldest brother had mailed four packages before she left Su Shi. Yesterday in town, with Comrade Li Yonghui’s help, she had retrieved them all and brought them to the educated youth spot by ox cart.
But since Zhao Yan got along well with her, and Chu Xiangxue also wanted to see the northern Supply and Marketing Cooperative, she readily agreed: “Sure, but give me about fifteen minutes. I want to send a letter to my brother too.”
Zhao Yan was puzzled: “Didn’t you send a telegram yesterday?”
“Telegrams are so limited! I have so much more I want to tell Sister-in-law.” As she spoke, Chu Xiangxue had already opened the camphorwood chest she bought from a local family. Taking out paper and pen, she was about to close it when her eyes caught on a light-colored envelope.
This… seemed to be the ration coupons Fang Bai gave her?
With so many people on the train, she hadn’t dared to open it. After arriving at Honghe Brigade yesterday afternoon, she was busy settling in, worked half the morning today, and after work was too preoccupied with her blistered palms to remember the envelope.
Now that she saw it, she naturally had to check its contents…
“What kind of lucky star were you born under? It’s one thing for your brother to treat you well, but your sister-in-law gets along with you too? Speaking of which, your sister-in-law is so beautiful. When I saw her at the train station that day, I was stunned. Don’t laugh, but I couldn’t stop my eyes from staring at her… Actually, your whole family is good-looking. If I were… Xiangxue?! Why are you crying?” Zhao Yan, half-reclining on the kang and swinging her legs while expressing envy, jumped up in surprise before she could finish rambling.
Chu Xiangxue quickly stuffed everything back into the envelope before wiping her tears, saying in a muffled voice: “Sister-in-law was worried I wouldn’t have enough to eat and prepared some national grain coupons for me. I’m touched.”
Actually, that wasn’t true. She had already found the envelope suspiciously thick.
Sure enough, inside were not only a thick stack of ration coupons but also twenty Da Tuan Jie bills.
Oh my… How could Fang Bai be so wonderful?
What kind of fate did her elder brother have?
It’s utterly enviable!
=
Military Family Compound.
Gu Fangbai didn’t have the habit of taking afternoon naps.
While her husband and his comrades were busy in the living room, she opened the bundles and began organizing the contents one by one.
Considering they would only be staying temporarily in Tianjin, it took her about half an hour to fully unpack both bundles.
Just as Gu Fangbai was rearranging the clothes in the wardrobe by color, noise erupted outside.
Before she could listen carefully, Chu Yu entered the bedroom: “Fang Bai, the sisters-in-law have come to welcome us.”
“So soon? We don’t have anything prepared at home… Well, didn’t we buy some candy? Let’s offer them some.” Gu Fangbai closed the wardrobe door and hurried out.
Chu Yu naturally had no objections: “I’ll get it.”
To Gu Fangbai’s surprise, there were quite a few military families accompanying the troops—perhaps because Tianjin was a relatively prosperous city.
Seeing the twenty or so military wives gathered outside, she carried out benches while politely greeting them: “Our home is quite small, so I apologize for having to seat everyone outside.”
Lin Xifeng took a bench and set it aside, somewhat apologetically saying, “I originally planned to visit after you’d settled in, but these restless ones insisted on rushing over to help. I hope we’re not disturbing you…”
Gu Fangbai took the bag of candy from her husband and replied with a smile, “It’s so kind of you sisters-in-law to think of us. How could it be a disturbance?… It’s just that we don’t have hot water ready, so please have some candy to sweeten your mouths.”
Her playful remark immediately drew the curious women closer enthusiastically.
It wasn’t that they particularly cared about the candy, but they could tell that Battalion Commander Chu’s young wife wasn’t difficult to get along with.
Thus, one brought a head of cabbage, another a bundle of beans—each person contributed some homegrown vegetables and fruits.
Even when Gu Fangbai politely mentioned they might not be able to finish everything, they insisted on leaving the gifts.
Then, after confirming their help wasn’t needed for cleaning, they all departed in a bustling crowd.
The entire visit lasted less than ten minutes.
Watching everyone leave, Gu Fangbai looked at the untouched benches and the small pile of vegetables, both amused and exasperated: “They came and went in such a rush.”
Chu Yu bent down, carrying two benches back inside with each hand: “The sisters-in-law seem quite friendly, but appearances can be deceiving. If you encounter anyone difficult later, just ignore them.”
“I understand, don’t worry about me… By the way, where’s Political Instructor Sun?” Gu Fangbai wasn’t particularly fond of social interactions, but that didn’t mean she was completely inept.
Chu Yu: “It’s time for him to return to the camp and take charge… Fang Bai, are you tired?”
Gu Fangbai: “Not at all, why do you ask?”
Chu Yu adjusted the position of the last bench around the square table: “If you’re not tired, let’s go check out the commissary.”
“What do they have at the commissary?” If the commissary could supply all their daily needs, Gu Fangbai truly didn’t want to make another trip to the city—some parts of the road were far too bumpy.
Noticing his wife’s hesitation, Chu Yu regretted his lack of consideration: “The commissary only has common condiments and daily necessities. I’ll go to the city alone tomorrow to get anything else we need. You can rest at home.”
“After we get back from the commissary, I’ll make a list and you can buy according to it.” Gu Fangbai was genuinely intimidated by the local road conditions. After only a moment’s hesitation, she made her decision, then pulled open the five-drawer cabinet to retrieve money and ration coupons.
Chu Yu rested his hand on his wife’s slender waist, feeling the soft curve beneath his palm. Though his heart burned with desire, he maintained a gentlemanly composure: “Are all the money and coupons in the drawer?”
This being the first time a man had ever held her waist, Gu Fangbai instinctively stiffened. But after just a moment, she relaxed again: “Cash and coupons are all here. Take whatever you need.”
His wife didn’t mind his advances! This single thought consumed Chu Yu’s mind, making him completely miss her actual response as he mumbled vaguely: “Mhm… okay.”
“…” Gu Fangbai locked the drawer and turned to flick the distracted man’s forehead: “Weren’t you going to the commissary?”
“Coming!” Rubbing the spot between his brows, Chu Yu followed cheerfully.
=
The young couple walking out together arm-in-arm didn’t escape many people’s notice.
Among the observers was Zhao Youliang, whose face had been dark with displeasure for several days.
Having come out later than others, he only caught a distant glimpse of the couple’s retreating figures.
Driven by some inexplicable impulse, Zhao Youliang changed direction from heading to the camp and returned home instead.
Feng Xiangyun was stitching shoe soles when she saw her husband return unexpectedly: “Why are you back again?”
Zhao Youliang moved closer to his wife and asked quietly: “Did you visit Battalion Commander Chu’s house earlier?”
Though Feng Xiangyun was illiterate, that didn’t mean she was blind or foolish. Since marrying into the family, she had learned most of what she needed to know – including how Colonel Yue had originally intended to match her with Battalion Commander Chu, and how her husband had intervened while the latter was away on assignment.
So when Feng Xiangyun had followed the crowd to visit Battalion Commander Chu’s home earlier, besides welcoming the new military wife, she’d wanted to see what the battalion commander looked like.
And then… she’d completely given up any lingering thoughts. The young couple seemed perfectly matched, just like those storybook descriptions of heavenly unions.
Feng Xiangyun clearly understood that even without Zhao Youliang’s interference, Battalion Commander Chu might not have been interested in her anyway.
This wasn’t self-deprecation – she simply knew her place.
That young couple clearly didn’t look like they came from rural backgrounds.
She wouldn’t be able to share meals or conversations with people like them.
So Feng Xiangyun felt no regret. Her mother had always said that only with a suitable man, one you could manage, could you build a prosperous life.
With this thought, she looked at her husband who pretended indifference while standing rigidly, and said with mild disgust: “You just want to ask about Battalion Commander Chu’s wife, don’t you? She’s indeed very beautiful, more so than movie stars.”
Zhao Youliang’s face fell: “You’re exaggerating.”
Feng Xiangyun threw the half-stitched shoe sole into her work basket with a “smack!”, clenched her fists and shooed him away fiercely: “What’s a grown man doing constantly eyeing other people’s households? Get to work already!”
Remembering how he’d been pummeled the last few times he’d angered his wife, Zhao Youliang gritted his teeth… and made himself scarce.
Feng Xiangyun rolled her eyes: “…just asking for trouble.”
=
Battalion Commander Chu wasn’t very reliable – his information was clearly inaccurate.
The commissary’s goods turned out to be unexpectedly well-stocked.
Besides various seasonings, there were common items like biscuits, candy, sponge cakes, canned goods, and more.
Apart from that, daily necessities were basically complete, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, pots, bowls, and other kitchenware.
According to the shop assistant, sometimes there were even fresh sea fish available.
Gu Fangbai felt that this small shop alone could already meet their basic living needs.
Thus, the couple went on a shopping spree, and the two bags they brought were soon filled to the brim again.
“…Fang Bai, there are paper and pens on the innermost shelf. Do you want to buy some more?” While paying with money and coupons, Chu Yu turned his head to remind his wife, thinking of her previous work.
Gu Fangbai initially wanted to say no, but the words that came out were: “Just a few notebooks will do. I don’t lack pens.”
The shop assistant, who was in the middle of calculating the bill, immediately turned around and fetched a few notebooks. “Comrade, you can choose for yourself.”
They all looked quite plain. Gu Fangbai picked out two with black covers. “These two will do. Thank you, comrade.”
“Ah, no need to thank me. Serving the people, after all…”
Chu Yu pointed to the remaining black one and asked his wife, “Do you want to take one more?”
“No need, two are enough.” Gu Fangbai had suddenly come up with an idea. She planned to write an article about military life, about her husband who, despite his problematic class status, had a heart loyal to the Party…
If it could be published here in Jingu City, it might earn him some political points.
Never underestimate the power of words, especially in this era—they could often bring astonishing influence.
It was better to be prepared. Who knows… it might become a significant advantage for his future promotion?
Author’s Note: Dear readers, I’ve adjusted quite a bit and will resume double updates starting tomorrow, still at 8 p.m. My health isn’t great, so I can’t stay up late. [dog head holding a rose][dog head holding a rose][dog head holding a rose] Thank you for always being here, [heart][heart][heart]
Still frantically asking for favorites!! [red heart][red heart][red heart] Please leave comments!! Please give nutrient solutions!!! This chapter will randomly drop 100 red envelopes, mua! [covering face and peeking](*╯3╰)