Gu Wenshan abruptly bent down and quickly caught the falling glass with the back of his foot, then grabbed it. He stuck his fingers into his collar, his wind collar pressed against his throat, causing his Adam’s apple to ache.
Standing up and seeing Xiangzhi leaning out to look, illuminated by warm sunlight, he could clearly see the fine down on her face.
Gu Wenshan’s throat moved, he breathed deeply to calm himself.
Xiangzhi’s ruddy small mouth grumbled: “If you do not want to let me eat, just say so, why hide?”
With his right hand not holding the glass, Gu Wenshan clenched his fist then relaxed it, he placed the glass against the window edge: “Be good, go drink milk on the sofa by yourself.”
“Stingy,” Xiangzhi had never drunk milk before. Since Gu Wenshan refused, she could only comfort herself with milk.
She held the enamel cup and sipped bit by bit, with an enticing ring of milk foam around her lips. Drinking rich milk for the first time, she inadvertently released a wisp of gardenia scent.
Gu Wenshan smelled the fragrance and watched her finish all the milk, even sticking out her soft, tender tongue to lick her lips.
He had tasted it, not only soft and tender, but also sweet.
Gu Wenshan felt his chest burning, he turned away and quickly drove in a nail. As if he did not, his heart would burst forth before Xiangzhi.
After finishing the window, the afternoon work time began.
From the bungalow dormitory, temporary staff who had napped during the break began trickling out to prepare for work.
“The greenhouse is warm, change into something loose inside,” Gu Wenshan offered his first ever opinion on a woman’s clothing.
Xiangzhi lowered her head, looking at her form-fitting sweater, and said reluctantly: “This one is warm.”
Winter was far too difficult for her, she had to stay warm, warm, and warm.
Gu Wenshan, knowing she had few clothes, did not press further.
The greenhouse was located between the military camp and the family compound, a twenty-minute walk from the bungalow dormitory.
The snow on the path had been swept timely and was not too thick, a narrow gray road surface was exposed in the middle.
As they walked, the bungalow disappeared and rows of Khrushchevka buildings appeared on both sides, red brick tiles covered in white snow, solemn yet romantic.
On the utility poles on both sides, quotations were wedged in wherever there was space. Xiangzhi had learned a few at the sent-down youth station and could vaguely recognize several characters.
She remembered a great human leader had said: “Being too hasty accomplishes nothing, the more hasty, the less accomplished, better to slow down and advance in waves.”
She thought as she walked, now she was walking in waves~
Gu Wenshan, seeing her walk with a smile, suddenly said: “Did you not ask how much the temporary worker’s salary is?”
Hearing this, Xiangzhi’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Right! Salary could buy sesame oil!
“How much?!”
Gu Wenshan quirked his lips: “A whole fifteen point eight yuan.”
The little flower spirit did not know if fifteen point eight yuan in wages was high or low, but the word “whole” gave her very strong confidence. She said stingily: “Thank you for helping me so much, once I get paid, I will treat you… to a sesame pastry!”
Gu Wenshan found it both amusing and exasperating: “That is it?”
How many people squeezed their heads trying to find work in the military district, even temporary positions were highly sought. Was it worth just a pastry in her eyes?
Xiangzhi still needed to save two catties and seven ounces of sesame oil, this was already quite generous. But facing Gu Wenshan, she was always generous: “You can dip it in sesame oil to eat.”
Gu Wenshan gave a light laugh: “Thank you in advance for your treat.”
Xiangzhi was satisfied, humming a song, she stepped on the edge of the curb, continuing forward with her arms stretched out like a bird, twisting as she walked.
Several times she nearly slipped, Gu Wenshan’s large hand steadied her quickly before immediately releasing.
“So happy?” he asked.
Xiangzhi jumped down from the curb and boasted: “A whole fifteen point eight yuan!”
Gu Wenshan laughed again.
Walking a few steps further, he ran into acquaintances and greeted them. Turning his head, he caught a wisp of fragrance.
So the little flower spirit emitted scent when she was happy.
Gu Wenshan coughed.
Xiangzhi reacted quickly, guiltily thinking the scent had irritated him. She quickly contained her aura.
Walking more than ten meters, Gu Wenshan coughed again. Xiangzhi, thinking there was still scent, secretly smelled and contained it again. After a few more steps, Gu Wenshan coughed once more.
Xiangzhi angrily grabbed a snow ball ready to throw it, then suddenly remembered she should act obedient, she threw the snow ball at her feet instead. But she was still upset.
Gu Wenshan said mischievously: “What is wrong?”
Xiangzhi blinked and huffed: “Nothing.”
Gu Wenshan pressed down his upturned lip corners and stopped teasing her, he escorted the little spirit all the way to the greenhouse.
For temporary workers, the greenhouse was a great place to test technical skills.
The staffing was simple, with only Old Zhou maintaining it daily. Come winter, there was even less work—only New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day required preparing flowers to decorate evening parties. Other times were quite leisurely.
Normally this place did not hire people, no one knew how Gu Wenshan had communicated with him, but the normally inaccessible Old Zhou had actually agreed to let an unfamiliar young girl come work.
Xiangzhi stood obediently before the greenhouse, delighted as she looked at the structure. Back when she was just a small flower swaying in wind and rain, she had most envied what Yeshanyinying described about the flowers in greenhouses.
She actually had such good fortune, she was immensely happy.
Her delight did not escape Gu Wenshan’s eyes. Knowing she liked it, Gu Wenshan felt those two bottles of vintage liquor had not been given in vain.
Old Zhou was nearly sixty with a sturdy physique. He was round and chubby with a double chin, like an affable Maitreya Buddha. But Gu Wenshan knew: without thunderous methods, there could be no compassionate heart.
This man was 114 Regiment’s treasure.
“Apply fertilizer once a week, be careful not to burn the roots.”
Old Zhou slowly led Xiangzhi around introducing the work. Gu Wenshan stood outside the greenhouse waiting.
Xiangzhi followed behind with her hands behind her back, if not for knowing better, one might think she had come to inspect the work. Gu Wenshan glanced over and smiled, saying “no respect for hierarchy,” though he did not remind her.
When Xiangzhi came out, she held a detailed daily work schedule for plant cultivation handwritten by Old Zhou, indicating how work should be arranged each day.
“Very detailed,” Gu Wenshan entered the greenhouse to greet Old Zhou: “Old Zhou, thank you. If she has issues, she can tell me directly. Please bear with her.”
Old Zhou said with a smile: “No problem, the girl seems straightforward and sincere, entrusting her with work, I am at ease. But I am not at ease about you.”
Gu Wenshan was stunned hearing this: “Not at ease about me?”
Old Zhou looked behind him, Xiangzhi was crouching on the ground gently caressing a drooping Rui Yun Dian plant, her technique gentle and tender. Nodding in appreciation, then turning to face Gu Wenshan with a serious expression: “This place is not for flirting. If you do not watch your image, hereafter only she may come, you are forbidden.”
Gu Wenshan chuckled as he explained: “Please do not misunderstand.”
Old Zhou was a man of experience who had shared excellent feelings with his late wife—a rare case of free love in that era: “I have heard enough nonsense from you young people. The military watches closely, many hide here to pursue relationships, do not think I do not know.”
Gu Wenshan pressed his lips: “Rest assured, I would not do that.”
Old Zhou was military-first, courteous-second, he held up a “Commander Flag” chrysanthemum and handed it to Gu Wenshan: “I will not take your Maotai for nothing, take this chrysanthemum.”
Gu Wenshan could not refuse an elder’s gift, he accepted the “Commander Flag.”
Xiangzhi, seeing so many flowers and plants in the winter, had joy in her eyes. Gu Wenshan worried she might inadvertently emit gardenia scent. After bidding farewell to Old Zhou, he quickened his pace to take her back.
“Why hurry so?” Xiangzhi was reluctant, frequently looking back.
Gu Wenshan pointed at the work schedule in her hands: “Can you read it?”
Xiangzhi’s eyes went blank, she stammered: “What do I do? You read it to me and I will memorize it?”
The little illiterate had no other solution.
Gu Wenshan sighed: “Take you back home, I will mark it with pinyin for you.”
Xiangzhi thought that was feasible, You Xiu had taught her pinyin!
She might even recognize several characters each day. With fifteen point eight yuan of work, it could not be that simple, right?
Gu Wenshan first bought paper and pencils and erasers, then brought the little flower spirit to get dinner and returned.
Xiangzhi ate with him the turnip and egg drop soup and fried tofu balls. As evening approached and the north wind grew stronger, Xiangzhi, wrapped in her military overcoat, asked: “Can I close the door?”
Of course not.
Closing would confirm they had something between them.
Gu Wenshan stood and sat by the door, instantly, the north wind swirling in was reduced.
After dinner, Gu Wenshan washed the bowls and walked to the living room to see Xiangzhi’s crookedly written name.
“This is not the right way to hold the pen.” Gu Wenshan tapped the tea table and sat beside Xiangzhi, glancing outside.
The crowds leaving work had greatly diminished, those who had wanted to observe the new resident had finished looking. The neighbors on both sides had returned inside to manage their own affairs.
Gu Wenshan propped his long arm beside Xiangzhi, as if about to embrace her. The Xiangzhi in her sweater, just as in memory, was delicate.
His large hand was placed on the back of her hand, her skin, like congealed fat and snow, soft and tender, slid smoothly. Her cheeks still showed the rouge-colored warmth from the fire, and noticing Gu Wenshan was about to teach her to write her name, she inadvertently turned her head, her lip corner brushing his jawline.
The large hand holding her tightened, the pen tip below trembled. Then “Xiangzhi,” two characters appeared in exquisite, elegant handwriting on the paper.
“Written so well,” Xiangzhi’s eyes overflowed with starlight, her breath seemed to carry fragrance.
Gu Wenshan withdrew his long arm, his expression complex: “You practice several times yourself. Tomorrow at work you need to sign in, do not forget how to write.”
Xiangzhi, unexpectedly, pulled his right hand down to the table, catching him off guard so he nearly pressed onto her body.
“What are you doing?” Gu Wenshan, braced, asked her.
Xiangzhi patted the back of his hand, seeing the veins and blood vessels not raised, she obediently said: “You teach me again like just now, write two more times. You write much better than You Xiu.”
Gu Wenshan had no choice but to carefully lead her through two more times.
Xiangzhi was not good at other things, but had decent memory. After learning, she had Gu Wenshan write his own name on paper and copied it by drawing the same shape.
She held her head down, her lashes trembling as she carefully wrote each stroke. Gu Wenshan, beside her, marked pinyin for her. From the corner of his eye, he could see the fine, delicate neck between her falling hair, completely defenseless as it exposed itself to his view.
The room was extremely quiet, he could hear their breathing blend together, the atmosphere became unusual.
He struggled to redirect his gaze, glancing out the window. Night was fast approaching, he could not stay any longer.
“Leaving already?” Xiangzhi stood, stretching her rolled-up sleeves, below her slender waist, her round, plump bottom was cute and tempting.
Gu Wenshan steadied his breathing, internally chanting “do not be improper in word or deed.”
He was a gentleman, not a scoundrel.
“Will you come find me tomorrow?”
Gu Wenshan said: “Tomorrow there is work, I will be busy.”
“Oh,” the little spirit was dejected and went to the doorway to wait for him to leave.
Next door, Wu Zhaodi, seeing Xiangzhi come out, did not know Gu Wenshan was inside.
She called over the low courtyard wall: “Hey, you new here? Which department? How much monthly salary?”
Xiangzhi revealed her pink, puffy face: “I am temporary—”
“Temporary? So how much a month?”
Xiangzhi said: “A whole fifteen point eight yuan.”
Wu Zhaodi burst into hearty laughter: “Fifteen point eight yuan is not even as good as outside internship workers, paying that little and you still say ‘whole’—clearly no education. Well, I am going inside.”
Wu Zhaodi had heard some properly contracted workers had moved in and thought she might learn gossip. Temporary workers—she really did not look up to them.
Xiangzhi asked indignantly: “How much do you make?”
Wu Zhaodi sneered and said: “Why should I tell you?”
Xiangzhi, watching her laugh coldly and shut the window, stood stunned.
What kind of person was this? Was fifteen point eight yuan not much?!
Recalling Gu Wenshan’s daytime behavior, Xiangzhi suspected perhaps he had been teasing her.
“Gu Wenshan!”
“I am leaving first.”
Gu Wenshan put on his overcoat and came out, saying seriously: “Do not close the window too tight.”
Xiangzhi bit her lower lip and huffed: “I know!”
After sending Gu Wenshan off, she turned to see the female neighbor again.
Wu Zhaodi did not know Xiangzhi, but she knew Gu Wenshan. The honor roll, propaganda columns, and broadcasts frequently carried information or photos of him.
She had not expected a mere temporary worker to be connected to the famous Regiment Commander Gu. Under the dim dormitory light, she barely made out the stunning beautiful face.
She suddenly recalled the rumors outside and immediately put on an ingratiating smile, pulling out some leftover walnut crackers and extending two to the wall: “My, my dear sister, I got these crackers out but the wind was so strong it blew the door shut, do not be angry with me.”
“I do not need your crackers.”
Xiangzhi was a quick learner, mimicking Wu Zhaodi’s manner, she sneered, twisted her hips as she entered the room and slammed the door closed.
Wu Zhaodi: “…”
***
On her first day of work, Xiangzhi was very happy.
She recognized all the flower types in her flower valley, Old Zhou did not need to teach her extra. She knew all their preferences. There were also sick plants, temperamental ones, those with other needs—all were under her mastery.
Old Zhou clicked his tongue in amazement, this girl was naturally born for this job. It was a pity she could only work as a temporary for two months.
These days Xiangzhi stayed in the warm greenhouse, not needing to wear the heavy military overcoat, watching snow drift down the transparent roof, she felt incomparably happy.
She had already asked Old Zhou: each month when wages were paid, ration tickets would also be supplied, then she could find someone to exchange for sesame oil tickets. A paltry three catties of sesame oil—easily manageable.
The only thing displeasing Old Zhou was that lately more people had been coming with excuses to ask for potted plants.
Especially the young male comrades, if their requests were refused, they would use the excuse of coming to appreciate fresh flowers. What flower they actually appreciated—as if he did not know.
And this little flower busily “watering friends,” carrying a watering can around all day, ignoring the world, only perking up when Regiment Commander Gu occasionally visited to say a few words.
At first she did not listen well to Old Zhou or obey him. Gu Wenshan told her to respect her superior more, otherwise the superior could fire her. The little flower spirit became frightened and grinned at Old Zhou with her small white teeth every day.
Old Zhou had once had a daughter, word was she had been lost. Gu Wenshan felt that perhaps because of this, as a parent thinking from a parent’s perspective, he was quite indulgent with Xiangzhi.
“What? Only two months?”
Old Zhou registered her on the temporary worker post-year termination form. Seeing her small face fall, he asked concernedly: “Temporary worker means temporary employment. If you want long-term work, you need to register and take the contract worker exam.”
She felt Gu Wenshan was cunning and difficult, she could not be sure she would eat him in two months. Plus, she could not even save enough sesame oil in two months.
The little flower spirit felt the sky was falling.
She was an illiterate flower spirit demon, eating a person required an exam—where could she complain about this?
Old Zhou shook his head and returned to the duty room, pulling out last year’s exam to show her: “Look at this. If you think you can do it, then try. Anyway, after you finish work here, you can study, I will not report you.”
The little flower spirit looked at last year’s exam and her eyes went black. The dense test papers had thousands of characters, all told, she could recognize seventeen, ten of which were Arabic numerals.
The world was too unfriendly to little flower spirits!
Xiangzhi went to work happy-faced and came back sad-faced. The north wind on her face felt like it was cutting into her flower stamen.
Xiangzhi entered her room and untied her scarf, sitting quietly with a dark expression for a while. She truly needed to be quiet.
Suddenly! She got up, pulled out the remaining little money from the infant formula can, and marched toward the supply store with high spirit.
Could not save enough sesame oil? So what!
Take him by force [1]take him by force (bawang ying shang gong, 霸王硬上弓) Idiom, to force oneself on someone against their will (crude historical allusion to a king forcing the bow jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3398891_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3398891_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });)!
Meat too hard? No matter—Aunt Qin said marinating worked!
Why take an exam when illiterate?
No exam!
She stomped against the north wind and angrily came to the supply store, the attendants recognized her, as she often came to buy snacks lately, spending lavishly. All said behind her back that Regiment Commander Gu was subsidizing her.
The attendant smiled and asked: “Comrade, we are about to close soon, what do you wish to purchase?”
Xiangzhi said fiercely: “I want to buy a kitchen knife! The best one!”
The attendant pulled a kitchen knife from the counter and handed it to her. Xiangzhi tested the blade, the attendant, from behind the counter, pushed the sale: “A sharpening stone costs two dimes a piece, essential for households managing their lives.”
“Take both,” Xiangzhi spent two yuan and forty cents, completely depleting her savings to buy a Gold Bell brand kitchen knife and a Sincere brand sharpening stone. She tested them in her hand, feeling confident she could cut a cow’s head.
With confidence and weapons, Xiangzhi returned home, quietly lying in bed, hands clasped on her chest, silently waiting for deep night to arrive.
“…No matter. Eating a human—once is unusual, twice becomes routine.”
She encouraged herself: “At worst I go back to the flower valley, I cannot let him take advantage for nothing. My flower dew was eaten into his belly, I eat him into mine—very fair. If Heaven and Earth strike me, that is unreasonable.”
After boosting her morale, she suddenly got up and began sharpening her knife in the dead of night.
***
This was the most strictly guarded place Xiangzhi had ever been.
Saying Heaven and Earth would not reasonably strike her, she still waited until the dead of night and howling wind before daring to leave.
Her remaining spiritual power was not much, she had used it all up on the mountain. It was strange though—after Gu Wenshan ate her mouth, she had regained some spiritual power.
But this place had ample righteous qi. All the way, she dodged the patrol, following the scent of flower dew until she arrived at Gu Wenshan’s building, with a startling heart.
She transformed into her original form and hid in the accumulated snow, trembling from the cold.
Six soldiers patrolled the dormitory building in two rows, carrying real weapons and ammunition. After they left, the duty soldier stood at attention, eyes forward.
She found no opportunity, finally discovering a water drainage pipe at the building’s side.
Xiangzhi, riding a north wind gust, petals swirling, blending with the falling snow as background, struggled to climb the drainage pipe, borrowing the wind’s force bit by bit to search upward.
The hardships of the journey need not be detailed, she discovered their quarters were excellent. Not just indoor ping-pong and a library but also a small shop and bathhouse.
A bathhouse was good.
The little flower spirit looked at the misty interior and her petals trembled excitedly. So many people bathing, so many bare-chested large pieces of meat, even a bit less mist would be better.
The hot steam from the window cracks made her dizzy, she tried hard to climb one more level. Just as she saw Gu Wenshan heading to the bathhouse.
He removed his jacket, wearing only a military tank top on his upper body. Over one meter eighty in height, his back muscle and line definition were firm and strong, facing away from the little flower spirit clinging to the window, he left.
A human male far more beautiful than a spirit demon was truly impressive.
The little flower spirit squeezed through the window crack into the room, her petals nearly flattened. She had assumed Gu Wenshan would go to sleep, now it seemed she had to wait.
She transformed into human form and hid under the bed, holding the kitchen knife in her palm.
Meanwhile, Stone Zhibing came back once and, in the middle of the night without sleeping, went out again. Such a man was not worth having.
She dozed a bit under the bed, occasionally voices from the hallway, everyone maintaining discipline with very low voices.
Xiangzhi could not hear clearly, she grumbled like humming a lullaby, twisting her waist as she squeezed further under the bed, drifting to sleep.
Tomorrow was the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the military had arranged to bring warmth to disaster-stricken people. Outside the building at midnight, trucks were still being loaded with supplies.
Until two in the morning did Gu Wenshan finally return to the dorm.
He opened the door and paused. The familiar fragrance appeared in his nostrils, his thin lips curved up.
He had just finished the shower after moving supplies, covered in sweat. After sweating, he had showered again before returning.
The water vapor on his healthy body had not yet evaporated, his neck veins and muscles showed, his chest bare, muscle tight, his abs without a trace of excess, under the quiet moonlight outside the window, showing faint hidden excitement.
Xiangzhi awoke as he entered, nearly simultaneously upon awakening, her fragrance contained itself. She swallowed, from under the bed, she could see Gu Wenshan’s legs moving about. Looking higher… she swallowed again, her small eyes did not dare linger on other areas.
Gu Wenshan also did not know whether intentional or not, after tidying up, he sat at his desk and began reading and writing.
Three in the morning, starting to read?
Xiangzhi, stuck under the bed, was both cold and frustrated. Was this what people did?!
She waited and waited until exhausted, continuously nodding off with drowsiness.
Gu Wenshan’s nose twitched, he smiled again. Guessing the little flower spirit was driven to desperation, he got up and put away the drawing he had made, placing it in the drawer.
Xiangzhi woke to the sound of getting into bed, she did not know when the dormitory lights went out. All around was silent and dark, only beneath the bed flickered a faint fluorescent green light.
She flexed her muscles, her hand gripping the kitchen knife handle with slight perspiration.
Not craving then? Time to… eat.
Xiangzhi thought herself very light, she crawled out from under the bed, grunting, just as she was about to implement the plan when a great force flipped her directly onto the bedding, her wrist pressed above her head!
Instantly, a tall figure loomed over her!
“Ah!” Xiangzhi, frightened, shut her eyes!
“What did you come to do?”
Gu Wenshan successfully caught the little flower spirit, this was fortunate. But seeing the normally happy, lively little flower spirit trembling under him, he felt a twinge of reluctance.
Xiangzhi’s eyes gazed at the body that had fused with flower dew so close before her, at such proximity, it made her yearn, desperately wanting to eat him. She twisted her wrist only to discover the kitchen knife she had bought at great expense had been kicked under the bed!
Oh, how unfair!
Without weapons, how could she face Gu Wenshan?!
“What did you come to do?” Gu Wenshan’s voice was low, steady with probing.
The little flower spirit, weaponless and low on spiritual power, visibly became timid.
Her lashes trembled, she stammered nervously: “I, I—”
Gu Wenshan, holding her wrist with one hand, bent closer to gaze into her spring-water eyes: “You better not lie to me.”
How could she not lie!
If she told the truth, she would be driven away, if not, there was still a sliver of hope.
Her lashes fluttered as she said: “I, I came to show you me flowering!”
Her mouth said this, but her body twisted away to the side.
Gu Wenshan’s large hand grasped her slender waist, not letting her escape to the side, he pulled hard to bring her against his chest at the bed’s edge.
Gu Wenshan pretended not to know, deliberately saying: “You are a spirit demon? Show me you flower?”
“I am a harmless little flower spirit!”
Xiangzhi, panicked, her small hands trembling as she pushed his chest, her palm holding up two flower petals before his face: “Gu Wenshan, I, I not only can flower, I also give you petals!”
The completely impoverished little spirit could only offer these.
After she said so softly, Gu Wenshan accepted the petals with one hand, his other hand did not release her slender waist.
The small petals lay in his palm like jade fat, dew still at the tips, translucent and gleaming, releasing a charming, sweet gardenia fragrance. The little flower spirit in his arms, more so, released full gardenia fragrance unknowingly. Xiangzhi, ashamed and furious, watched him gently sniff the petals right before her.
Scoundrel, perverted scoundrel.
She twisted her waist struggling, the large hand tightened its control.
Gu Wenshan, by moonlight, could see the cute down on Xiangzhi’s face and her feather-fan-like lashes clearly.
“Be good,” Gu Wenshan grasped her wrist, examining her, he said: “Hiding under the bed all night just for this?” saying as he moved to look under the bed.
Not good.
Xiangzhi averted her face, not daring to let him flip the mattress, busily she created four or five more petals and cupped them to Gu Wenshan’s face, softly coaxing: “Let me go, these are all for you! All for you, there is not any more even if you want!”
Gu Wenshan, about to release his grip hearing her plead, when “clang—” a shout came from the doorway: “What are you doing in the pitch black, you bastard?!”
References[+]