Tall and imposing in his military uniform, he stood out conspicuously among the crowd of women.
Even as several young women and married ladies selecting fabrics glanced at him from the corners of their eyes, he showed no discomfort, his gaze casually sweeping over the pile of small fabric pieces.
Shen Yu was the type to push her luck when given an inch. Seeing he didn’t shy away, her boldness grew even more audacious.
She ran over, picked up a floral-print undergarment, and without caring about the people around, held it up against herself, leaning forward with a smile that curved her eyes.
“What do you think? Does this color suit me?”
Several women who were browsing nearby blushed at her words.
Gu Huai’an lowered his eyelids, his gaze shifting between the fabric and Shen Yu’s neck.
“No need to fuss over the color. It’s worn underneath anyway and will come off sooner or later. All colors look the same to me.”
“…”
Shen Yu was speechless.
What kind of person was this? His mouth could be even more shameless than hers.
Before she could respond, Gu Huai’an straightened up, slapping the money and ration coupons directly into Shen Yu’s hand.
“Pick what you want yourself. Come out when you’re done. I’ll go smoke a cigarette outside.”
With that, he turned and strode out on his long legs.
Shen Yu glanced at him and burst into laughter, doubling over.
So he could blush after all.
And they called him Ghost’s Despair?
Ten minutes later, Shen Yu emerged, swinging a large mesh bag.
Gu Huai’an was leaning against the jeep, smoking, with two cigarette butts already crushed under his feet.
Seeing Shen Yu come out, he stubbed out his cigarette, took the mesh bag from her hand, and without looking at what was inside, tossed it onto the back seat.
“So slow.”
Though his words were dismissive, his hand still protectively shielded her from a passing bicycle.
In high spirits, Shen Yu pulled out a piece of White Rabbit milk candy she had bought earlier, unwrapped it, and held it up to Gu Huai’an’s mouth.
“Want a taste? It’s sweet.”
Gu Huai’an leaned his head back. “I don’t—”
Ignoring his refusal, Shen Yu took advantage of his open mouth and popped the candy inside.
Her fingertip unavoidably brushed against his slightly dry lips, and Gu Huai’an stiffened.
He had never in his life encountered such a sticky, cloyingly sweet thing.
That stuff was for coaxing children and women.
But now, looking into Shen Yu’s crescent-shaped smiling eyes, the sweetness didn’t seem so unbearable.
“Is it sweet?” Shen Yu tilted her head and asked.
Gu Huai’an chewed the candy and grunted vaguely, “It’s passable.”
He opened the car door, ushered Shen Yu inside, then walked around the front and jumped into the driver’s seat. “Alright, back to the garrison.”
Once in the car, Shen Yu mentally calculated her expenses.
This trip had cost quite a bit, but she had managed to stock up on all the basic daily necessities.
With food and supplies in hand, her heart felt at ease.
The car headed north, leaving the county town behind as the roadside scenery gradually grew desolate.
After about half an hour, they finally arrived back at the garrison family compound.
Several military wives were gathered by the water taps, washing vegetables and clothes. When they saw Gu Huai’an’s car, they stopped what they were doing and began whispering among themselves.
“Isn’t that Commander Gu’s car? I heard he didn’t lead drills today and was out driving all day.”
“Didn’t you see this morning? He brought back a girl.”
“Huh? Whose girl?”
“No idea, but she’s really pretty!”
The car stopped in front of Building No. 2. Just as Xiao Zhang pulled out the keys, someone outside began knocking loudly on the window.
“Commander Gu! You’re finally back!”
Outside the vehicle stood a bespectacled civilian clerk, looking utterly frantic.
Gu Huai'an rolled down the window. "What's all the shouting about? Is your ass on fire?"
"Worse than that!"
Clerk Li glanced at Shen Yu, hesitating before speaking. "The political commissar has been waiting for you in his office for ages. He slammed the table and said he won't approve your marriage report."
Shen Yu's heart sank upon hearing this.
Not approved?
Gu Huai'an narrowed his eyes. "Reason?"
Li said, "This afternoon, someone from the Xiangyang Brigade rushed over to deliver a letter of complaint. They said Comrade Shen Yu's conduct… is improper, and it involves assaulting a cadre. The nature is serious. The political commissar said that for the sake of the unit's discipline, the report needs to be put on hold and reviewed again."
Both frowned.
Wang Dashan, what a piece of work.
Just moments ago, he was paying up and acting submissive, and now he's already writing a letter to stab them in the back.
Letters of complaint were deadly serious in these times.
Once tainted by one, even if the investigation finds no evidence, the review process alone could drag on until it ruins someone.
If the political review gets stuck, she would be sent back.
Returning to the Xiangyang Brigade would be like a toothless tiger falling into a trap—Wang Dashan would have a hundred ways to finish her off.
Having lived two lives, was she really going to let a local tyrant play her to death?
Shen Yu tossed the vanishing cream onto the seat and was about to get out of the car.
"Sit still."
A large hand reached back, pinching the nape of her neck like lifting a kitten, and pressed her back into the seat.
Gu Huai'an didn't even turn his head, glancing sideways at Li. "Has Lu Jianguo lost his mind as political commissar? Is his head full of paste?"
"When I was out there risking my life, he was sitting in his office drinking tea and reading newspapers. Now that I want to marry a wife, he's going to use the gossip of those long-tongued women to disgust me?"
"Regimental Commander! You can't say things like that!"
Li's face turned pale with fright.
If such words reached the political commissar's ears, what would happen?
He didn't dare respond, only offering a dry plea. "The political commissar is just following regulations. After all, someone filed a real-name complaint…"
"Real-name my ass! If Wang Dashan's record were clean, pigs could fly!"
Gu Huai'an cursed, then kicked the front seat. "Drive, to the regimental headquarters."
Shen Yu, however, remained calm.
"Should I go explain myself? A clear conscience fears no accusation. I have my martyr's certificate—that filth won't stick to me."
"Explain my ass."
Gu Huai'an leaned back, his long legs cramped in the car. "That mouth of yours is sharp, but in the face of political review regulations, sometimes it's like a scholar meeting a soldier—reason won't get through."
He reached over and patted the back of Shen Yu's hand twice.
"Just relax. Since I brought you out, as long as I don't nod, no one can send you back."
Shen Yu just said "Oh" again.
When they arrived in front of the red-brick office building, Gu Huai'an didn't let Shen Yu get out of the car.
Carrying his cap in hand, he sauntered into the building alone.
Inside the office.
Lu Jianguo was blowing on the foam in his tea mug. On the desk lay the rejected marriage report, with a letter pressed beside it.
The door was kicked open.
Lu Jianguo's hand jerked, spilling tea all over the desk.
"Gu Huai'an!"
Lu Jianguo glared at the man swaggering in, furious. "Don't you know to report when entering? This is the regimental headquarters, not your kang at home! Have you no discipline at all?"
Gu Huai'an paid no mind. He strode to the desk, leaned sideways, and half-sat on the edge.
"Old Lu, how many years have we known each other? You know exactly what kind of rotten temper I have."
He fished a match from his pocket and lit the cigarette in his mouth. "Today I'll just ask one thing: will you approve this report or not?"
Lu Jianguo was so infuriated by his soldierly rogue demeanor that his head throbbed. He pushed the letter toward Gu Huai'an.
"Take a look for yourself—improper conduct, promiscuous relationships, extortion, assaulting village cadres!"
"Our regiment is the spearhead of the entire military district. How many eyes are on you? If you marry a woman like that, how will you advance in the future? Do you even care about your prospects?"
Gu Huai'an didn't even glance at the letter, simply reaching out to pick it up.
Lu Jianguo thought he was going to read it and was about to say more.
But Gu Huai'an just pinched the paper between two fingers and held it over the cigarette's ember until it caught fire.
As the flame leaped up, he watched indifferently as the paper turned to black ash.
Lu Jianguo panicked. "Hey! What are you doing? That's evidence!"
"Bullshit evidence."
Gu Huai'an brushed the ash from his hands, his tone cold. "Her father was a martyr. Could a child from that kind of family be rotten?"
"Just because of some bastard's slanderous letter, you'd condemn a martyr's orphan? Old Lu, I think you've been out of touch with the masses for too long—your brain's rusted."
"It's true she's a martyr's child, but this—"
Lu Jianguo stared at the pile of ash, his heart aching, and could only change tactics.
"Huai'an, don't be so stubborn. Comrade Zhao from the cultural troupe—she's a proper university-recommended student, and her father is a senior leader in the division. She's perfect for you. If you're willing, I'll arrange it tomorrow—"
"Stop right there."
Gu Huai'an straightened up, looking impatient. "That woman talks like a mosquito buzzing, and she's about to shed tears before she's even said two words. Am I supposed to bring her home and worship her like an ancestor?"
Lu Jianguo had watched Gu Huai'an grow up and knew he was impervious to both soft and hard tactics. He glared in frustration.
The two were locked in a stalemate in the room when a clear voice sounded from the doorway.
"Reporting!"