Zou Ao immediately said: “Yes, of course no problem, I will write the introduction letters for you right now.”
After she left, the crowd dispersed soon enough. Within not long, the entire brigade would know that Xiangzhi was the future daughter-in-law of Regiment Commander Gu’s household.
Xiangzhi thanked You Xiu and Comrade Wu, reluctantly saw them off, and was then called into the ancestral home by Qin Zhixin to speak.
“Not that I am rushing you away, I just have a feeling he will not let this rest. Let us not invite trouble by delay, I will personally send you to the military unit!”
Qin Zhixin had thought it through well. Xiangzhi was young and thin-skinned, if she accompanied her to meet that foul-mouthed boy Gu Wenshan, Qin could support Xiangzhi if anything went wrong, preventing that boy from taking advantage and then denying it.
Even knowing her own son was not an irresponsible person, she could not help but manage the situation herself.
Xiangzhi was of course ten thousand times willing, her small face was flushed with excitement, cute as a porcelain doll. She could not help but emit the scent of gardenia, sweeping through the air around the courtyard.
Qin Zhixin caught the sweet scent of gardenia flowers, released a turbid breath, and the congestion in her chest seemed to scatter like drifting clouds. She felt clear-headed and refreshed, she had rarely had such a good mood since middle age.
Aunt Du was the same, she placed her hand on her chest and drew in a deep breath of the scent, muttering to herself: “It is late autumn, yet there is still a gardenia flower blooming.”
Xiangzhi took the opportunity to ask: “Do you like the scent?”
Qin Zhixin spoke frankly: “I like its intense fragrance, it is like the north. Cold, piercing wind, snow like goose feathers, a spirited nature—they all possess a passionate and pure heart.”
“Gardenias also symbolize auspicious omens, particularly the type called Faxian Gardenia, it is quite powerful.”
Xiangzhi finished speaking and smiled mischievously, if she could see her original form, she would surely be spreading out her leaves and flaunting them proudly.
“Faxian? There is actually a type of gardenia with such a name, it sounds like a treasure just from the name,” Qin Zhixin said, nodding slightly and committing it to memory.
Secretary Zou was quick to write the introduction letters and brought them over with a beaming smile. Qin Zhixin disliked her false kindness, gave a couple of perfunctory remarks, and sent her away.
Xiangzhi looked at the introduction letters, Qin Zhixin shook her head helplessly and helped her turn the letters the right way. Xiangzhi did not wait for others to laugh, she laughed first, giggling: “So many characters, my eyes go cross just looking at them, I really cannot tell which way is forward and which is backward.”
In these troubled times, being uneducated was safer than being educated. Qin Zhixin did not lecture her about learning, only smiled with her lips pressed together on the side.
“Anyway, you are young, you can learn slowly,” Aunt Du also laughed. So the love letters that surname Lu said she had written to him were indeed all fabricated nonsense.
“Aunt Du, go inside and help me pack some luggage for both of us. We will set out early tomorrow morning. Xiangzhi, go with her and pick out a few plain, simple outfits to bring. I have new quilted jackets, bring one more set with you.”
Qin Zhixin was worried about not meeting up with Gu Wenshan on the road and went to the brigade office once more to contact the military.
This time the one answering the telephone was Stone Zhibing, like Little Guo, he was shocked speechless.
He hung up the telephone and then rushed to the relocation site. Gu Wenshan was serving as the overall commander here, Stone Zhibing waited in a tent for him to return, covered in dust and dirt.
“This is bad, this is bad, your mother is serious!” Stone Zhibing hovered around Gu Wenshan, anxiously saying: “You need to call her right now.”
Gu Wenshan removed his military hat and handed it to Little Guo, took a sip of hot water: “Serious about what? Did not she say for me to go pick up the person?”
Stone Zhibing naturally knew what kind of gossip was spreading through the compound, seeing Gu Wenshan maintaining his usual unperturbed expression, he said coldly with a smile: “Your mother is bringing the person here personally.”
Gu Wenshan’s hand froze as he reached for the enamel cup, he had not expected Qin Zhixin to be so swift and resolute. Instinct told him there was something behind this, once they met he would certainly find out.
“I understand.”
“I understand?” Stone Zhibing sat in a folding chair, the tent walls were buffeted by the north wind with whooshing sounds. He could not help but say: “Well then, wishing you a child soon [1]wishing you a child soon (zao sheng guizi, 早生貴子) Idiom, traditional wedding blessing wishing a couple children soon jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3398887_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3398887_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.”
“Stop talking such nonsense,” Gu Wenshan, hearing his teasing tone, said with a light laugh: “The supplies being transported outside will arrive soon, do you want to go or should I?”
“No need for either of you, I will go!”
Mu Ying stood at the tent entrance wearing a military overcoat, her tall figure and the supplies list in her hand made for an impressive sight. She said: “Uncle Liu sent me to express sympathy to the disaster victims, we female performers cannot always stay in the rear.”
Gu Wenshan said nothing, simply nodded as a greeting and then lifted the tent flap and went outside.
Feeling his coldness, Mu Ying was somewhat deflated. Her close friend had told her to come and perform more in front of Gu Wenshan, perhaps she could warm up this ice mountain. She had begged for a long time before Uncle Liu would let her ride along with the convoy, now it seemed unlikely to work.
She picked up the folding chair and sat across from Stone Zhibing. Stone Zhibing stood to leave, but was called back: “Wait, I have something to ask you.”
Stone Zhibing, with his back to her, rolled his eyes white, here we go again.
He had been comrades with Gu Wenshan for many years, almost every female comrade who spoke to him was trying to fish for information about Gu Wenshan’s private matters.
This time was naturally no exception.
“Do you know who Regiment Commander Gu’s object is?” Mu Ying asked directly: “What kind of person is she?”
“What object, object? Do not spread rumors. Nobody has even met the person, how did she become an object?”
Stone Zhibing, to prevent Gu Wenshan future trouble, simply explained for him: “You are a soldier at least, how can you believe such baseless talk?”
Mu Ying could not help but say: “But you just wished them many sons and grandsons early.”
Stone Zhibing let out a helpless sigh: “Anyway, this matter has not even begun to take shape, I will not say more. I have other things to attend to, I am leaving first.”
This matter became a knot in Mu Ying’s heart. After finding out more clearly, she felt extremely pleased in her heart.
She had said that the little country girl who came rushing in was no match for her at all. She stood in front of Gu Wenshan’s temporary office desk, and seemed to smell a faint, sweet scent.
She had smelled it in Uncle Liu’s office last time, she had thought it was someone else’s fragrance.
“How does he have such a sweet scent on him?”
Mu Ying muttered as she walked out, calculating how she should give a show of strength when the country girl arrived. It was best to discuss it with her good friend, the other was more resourceful than she was.
We shall see.
Getting confirmation, Mu Ying felt pleased in her heart and went off to busy herself.
***
“Good child, are you cold?” Early in the morning, Qin Zhixin and Xiangzhi boarded a long-distance bus together.
The ticket agent checked their tickets and introduction letters. Knowing they were headed to 114 Regiment, she became much more courteous, arranging them good seats in the front row, a pair of seats.
Many people got motion sickness in these times, Xiangzhi was one of them. She leaned limply against Qin Zhixin’s shoulder, groaning feebly: “Not cold.”
She actually feared cold, but motion sickness was more uncomfortable than cold.
The young man sitting behind them was nearly frozen to ice, but seeing such a beautiful young girl sitting in the front row, he stiffened himself. He had ginger slices in his pocket to prevent motion sickness and thought several times to hand them to her, but he was too embarrassed to start a conversation.
Qin Zhixin, seeing Xiangzhi was uncomfortable, felt great pity. She fed her water from her flask, when the bus reached the station, she got off and bought her a roasted sweet potato to warm her hands.
The golden, fragrant, glutinous roasted sweet potato was more effective than anything else. Xiangzhi ate it and said sweetly: “Aunt Qin, you try some too, it is really delicious.”
The girl’s eyes curved as she smiled, speaking in a soft, glutinous voice. Qin Zhixin leaned over and took a bite from her hand: “It is indeed quite sweet, eat less so you do not feel worse.” As she spoke, she reached out to wrap Xiangzhi’s quilted jacket more tightly around her.
The old lady sitting beside them had initially thought they were mother and daughter, their clothing and appearance did not match that of ordinary families. Only after hearing Xiangzhi call her “Auntie” did she start a conversation: “You two look closer than mother and daughter, I would not have thought you were aunt and niece.”
Qin Zhixin smiled and said: “We will soon be family.”
After the old lady understood, she said happily: “No wonder you look like one family, you two have a strong bond.”
The old lady said all the right things, Qin Zhixin listened happily and chatted with her.
When they reached the stop, it was the provincial bus station.
After saying goodbye to the old lady, Qin Zhixin took Xiangzhi to the provincial guest house to stay for one night.
Mountain cities were like this—inconvenient, although the straight-line distance was short, circling the mountains still took some effort.
Qin Zhixin stayed at this “Friendship Guest House” every time she went to the military unit. The male attendant at the reception desk, seeing her arrive and checking her identity and introduction letters, said: “Professor Qin, there is a telephone call for you from Beijing, they said it was urgent. You should return the call.”
Xiangzhi’s original body feared cold, on snowy days, gardenia flowers were easily frost-bitten. She stood shivering to the side, listening to the urgent tone in Qin Zhixin’s voice during the telephone conversation, she felt something was wrong.
Indeed, after Qin Zhixin hung up, her face full of apology, she told Xiangzhi: “I am afraid I cannot continue escorting you, something has happened at home, and I need to return to manage it.”
Xiangzhi hurried to say: “Do not worry about me, tomorrow morning I can cut through the alley across the street to the station, and take bus number six straight to the military unit. I know the way.”
Qin Zhixin said regretfully: “It is my sister who was injured on a task, her leg is hurt and she has no one to care for her. Otherwise I could send you first?”
Xiangzhi felt that family was still very important, especially for Qin Zhixin. The fact that she could care so much for Xiangzhi, who had no blood relation to her, showed how important her family must be to her.
Moreover, Xiangzhi did not particularly want to confront Gu Wenshan in front of Qin Zhixin. She felt guilty and timid.
Here was someone making efforts to send her to the military unit, and she was making efforts to eat his son—was that appropriate? Being timid was understandable.
Qin Zhixin grasped Xiangzhi’s hand and gave her much advice, Xiangzhi listened obediently and nodded, committing it all to memory.
Qin Zhixin also wrote down the bus information for her, considering Xiangzhi was illiterate inside, she repeatedly emphasized: “Before boarding, ask the ticket agent if it is bus number six, do not take the wrong bus. If you do take the wrong one, do not panic, find—”
“Find a police officer to have Gu Wenshan call and pick me up.”
Xiangzhi clutched the paper slip, beaming as she pushed her away: “You go quickly, your sister cannot manage without someone.”
Qin Zhixin had not expected the girl to be so capable, and was about to leave when she heard Xiangzhi call out: “Aunt Qin, what if the meat is too hard to bite, what should I do?”
Qin Zhixin said instinctively: “Marinate it! Marinate it for ten minutes and it becomes tender.” She turned around and asked: “Why do you suddenly ask this?”
Xiangzhi said guiltily: “Just curious. You go now, be careful!”
Qin Zhixin left, puzzled, thinking perhaps Xiangzhi had an interest in cooking.
Perhaps she was planning to prepare some good food for Gu Wenshan. After all, they say to get to a man’s heart, you must first get to his stomach.
Xiangzhi spent one night alone in the room, the environment here was good with heated pipes. Xiangzhi transformed into her original form, stretching her flower branches luxuriously on the bed, savoring the warm environment.
Ah, so comfortable.
Soon she would find him, first castrate then eat, heheheh.
Even more comfortable now.
These past days, in order to successfully devour Gu Wenshan, she had worried so much she nearly lost her leaves. She shook her jade-green leaves, like a Faxian gardenia, her petals unfurled and bloomed, releasing a room-full of subtle fragrance.
The next day, she went to eat at the guest house dining hall first.
Qin Zhixin’s money purse contained thick stacks of large-denomination notes and several ration tickets. She was no longer a fresh young spirit just down from the mountains, quite naturally, she handed over money and tickets in exchange for smoked meat roll pastries so fragrant they were irresistible for breakfast.
While she was eating, an old man outside the window kept looking over. He wandered back and forth outside twice, waiting for Xiangzhi to leave before following closely behind.
“Oh, miss! Please, help me up,” the old man suddenly stumbled in the alley, trembling as he reached out his hand to Xiangzhi for help.
Xiangzhi turned and looked at him, unmoved, continuing forward.
The old man hastily stood up, limping along behind her, saying: “Hey, comrade, please help me home, my house is at the very end of this alley. I will thank you well for it!”
Xiangzhi turned her head, a faint fluorescent green light flashed in her eyes: “You really want me to help?”
The old man felt dazed for a moment, he sensed an inexplicable smell in the air and found himself nodding: “Thank you for your help.”
Xiangzhi reached out and grabbed his arm, the old man was surprised at her strength. He quickened his pace, hoping his accomplices spying from a distance could see him.
Today was really lucky, he had met such a beautiful young woman—cherry-like little lips, willow-leaf eyebrows, such a thin little waist.
Should be worth a decent sum of money.
References[+]