She turned to look at Gu Wenshan, Gu Wenshan squeezed her shoulder with an air of having known all along.
What… what was going on?
“If you do not believe me, I have my wife’s photo from when she was young here,” Old Zhou walked to the office desk and said: “All my old battle-comrades know my wife was also from Yanxia Village, mother and daughter were cut from the same mold!”
Xiangzhi knew nothing of this, she came to Old Zhou’s side and leaned to look at the photo.
Inside was a wealthy girl wearing an indigo-blue qipao, her neck glowing with pearls and jewels, dignified and graceful. She appeared to be around thirty years old, the background was packed with books—likely a scholarly family.
Her eyebrows and eyes were mature and charming, with a refined bookish temperament, her gaze was turned toward Old Zhou standing beside her, eyes full of laughter.
Old Zhou at that time was also around thirty, wearing a fine military uniform, full of vigor and vitality. Without today’s double chin and round belly, he looked quite distinguished.
But… if you said she was like this person… there was not a shred of resemblance.
Such a great household lady and a country girl who rolled her eyes every day were mother and daughter?
Everyone’s expression toward Old Zhou became very complicated.
Gu Wenshan, however, saw the resemblance.
Old Zhou’s wife had a similar naive curiosity in her eyebrows and eyes as Xiangzhi. Though hidden well, facing a camera she had never seen before, she revealed a tiny flaw.
“My wife also has a natural flower scent, this is genetic inheritance in their family constitution,” Old Zhou’s words made everyone suddenly understand.
Xiangzhi’s natural sweet body scent was already an unspoken secret among everyone. This being the case, Old Zhou could not possibly be mistaken about his own daughter, Xiangzhi really was Old Zhou’s daughter. Moreover both mother and daughter were exceptionally beautiful types, that was good genetics.
So the little country girl was Old Zhou’s only daughter?!
Big news!
Xiangzhi looked at the photo again and again, it felt very familiar somehow.
When did Yeshanyinying become her mother?
Gu Wenshan found her look of stunned shock amusing. Actually he had learned this a few days ago chatting with Old Zhou, they had probed each other and discovered both knew Xiangzhi was a little flower spirit.
Gu Wenshan thought that was as it should be, Old Zhou knowing was a bit strange.
Old Zhou, having weathered storms and lived over half a lifetime, did not keep it from him either, he simply told him the past with his wife.
He even mentioned how at that time his wife had “borne” him a daughter, who was later persecuted and forced away, the wife grew injured and died, the daughter scattered to elsewhere.
“That is her.”
Xiangzhi watched Old Zhou explaining to everyone in front, she tugged Gu Wenshan’s sleeve and whispered: “It was her who taught me to twist my waist and shake my hips. Where does such dignity come from, I think Old Zhou was deceived.”
Moreover how could Yeshanyinying give birth to a gardenia? This was just taking advantage of her.
Gu Wenshan pressed his thin lips together tightly, his eyes flickered with laughter as he lowered his voice: “I suspect she used you as a child to deceive Old Zhou. Later she disappeared and went into hiding, who would have thought that by fate’s design you and Old Zhou would still meet.”
Yeshanyinying had always liked to tell Old Zhou they met by fate. Now was this not another fateful meeting?
“I do not know the detailed truth,” Gu Wenshan looked up at the continuously apologizing Section Chief Chen, his gaze dark and inscrutable: “Let us handle the matter first before discussing.”
Standing in the crowd, Wu Lili and Wu Zhaodi were sitting on pins and needles.
Just then Commander Liu came in from outside carrying newly prepared household files saying: “Congratulations Old Zhou on recognizing your daughter and regaining your child. This is the household registration that Commander Gu applied for, the local household registration bureau attached great importance to it and worked overtime to transfer it. Taking it upon myself, I registered it under your name. What do you think?”
“You handled it well. It would be best if she took the Zhou name.”
Old Zhou looked lovingly at Xiangzhi, Xiangzhi still wore an expression of being struck by lightning. He glared at her, lowering his voice: “Call someone now.”
Xiangzhi twisted shyly and approached, feeling her face burning terribly, her voice inexplicably grown hoarse: “Greetings Commander Liu.”
Old Zhou laughed angrily, scolding: “Call me!”
Gu Wenshan knew that whether true or false, with Old Zhou’s support Xiangzhi would not be troubled again. He lightly pushed her from behind, Xiangzhi reluctantly called out: “Dad.”
Old Zhou’s old face bloomed into a smile, his eyes reddening as he told everyone present: “Am I not qualified?!”
Commander Liu smoothed things over saying: “Old Zhou, why are you upset with these young people. By the way, Wu Zhaodi, you also do not need to be upset.”
Commander Liu pulled scores from his pocket and showed them to everyone: “Xiangzhi comrade scored seventy-eight—practical fifty, cultural twenty-eight. Now this Wu Zhaodi comrade, you scored nine in cultural, fifteen in practical. The practical instructor mentioned you could not even distinguish flower names, giving you fifteen points was already generous.”
Gu Wenshan said calmly: “Your total adds up to twenty-four, not only do you not qualify for hire, you have not even passed. I want to ask—where do you get the confidence to say Xiangzhi stole your slot?”
Wu Zhaodi’s face turned red and purple, she quickly pointed at Wu Lili saying: “She said it, she said Xiangzhi came from the countryside, illiterate, and definitely cheated to pass the exam.”
“That is even more wrong.”
A person stepped out from the crowd. Xiangzhi’s eyes widened seeing her literacy class teacher—the formidable old woman who had made her study so hard she nearly died.
“I am her teacher and willing to guarantee with my own reputation that her scores match her normal study performance.”
“I can also testify,” someone from the literacy class called out: “She was punished to copy every day, even if she was stupid she learned plenty of characters!”
“What nonsense is this!” Xiangzhi shouted embarrassed: “I was not punished to copy anymore after!”
What had been a solemn occasion was suddenly filled with laughter at her words.
Gu Wenshan also revealed a slight smile and told Commander Liu: “Since Xiangzhi’s identity guarantee is reasonable and has been approved, can the contract be signed normally?”
Commander Liu nodded saying: “Of course, no problem!”
This statement was the final word, today’s farce was over.
Commander Liu said directly: “Wu Zhaodi, I am giving you until today to leave the unit.”
Wu Zhaodi wiped her tears saying: “I was harmed by Wu Lili, I, can I not come back in two years…”
Section Chief Chen was so angry his stubble seemed to stand up, gasping for breath, his glasses fogged, making him look all the more embarrassed: “No technical skill, no culture, just good at stirring trouble! I am forbidding you from ever taking 114 unit recruitment exams!”
Wu Zhaodi watched as Xiangzhi, a country girl, flew up to become a phoenix, now she was someone Wu Zhaodi definitely could not offend.
She stamped her foot angrily: “I will not leave, I will not!”
The several people who came with Section Chief Chen, failing to drive out Xiangzhi, now swarmed forward and shoved Wu Zhaodi out the door.
“Get going, get going!” Section Chief Chen still shouted behind: “Whoever lets her back in, I will not be finished with them!”
“Tsk, bullying the weak and fearing the strong—no-good people,” Xiangzhi of course rolled her eyes at his back.
“We are continuing with dinner, other comrades may leave now,” Gu Wenshan gave the dismissal.
The farce was over, but he would not let off Wu Lili who had orchestrated it all. Her matter needed to be handled by the cultural troupe.
The gathered crowd gradually dispersed, Wu Lili stood in the duty room at a loss, not knowing how the cultural troupe leadership would deal with her. Unless Mu Ying could put in a good word for her.
The cultural troupe leader valued Mu Ying, Mu Ying was acquainted with both Commander Liu and Gu Wenshan…
“Little Ying…”
Mu Ying did not look at her, she first greeted Old Zhou and Commander Liu who were present and prepared to leave.
Wu Lili stood nervously at the door holding it open for her. Mu Ying glanced over, before today she did not know Wu Lili had been overshadowed by herself. Perhaps she owed Wu Lili something… perhaps if not then Wu Lili would not be like this?
Seeing hesitation in Mu Ying’s gaze, Wu Lili suddenly felt hopeful and earnestly called out: “Little Ying, I was just acting impulsively…”
“Comrade Mu Ying, wait a moment.”
Gu Wenshan saw the situation, he picked up the telephone and called orderly Little Guo, and after the call, he simply closed the door.
Wu Lili stood outside unable to decide whether to go or stay, she let the snow and wind blow on her face, looking pitiful.
Mu Ying stood at a loss in the duty room: “What happened?”
Gu Wenshan rarely sought her out, this made her feel special.
Xiangzhi did not pay attention to Mu Ying, she did not offer her a seat. After seeing Commander Liu off, she pulled Old Zhou to the side of the hot pot to talk.
Little Guo came very quickly, carrying a letter in his hand. The envelope was unique, painted blue like the sky with a red heart drawn in the middle.
Obviously, this was a confession letter.
Gu Wenshan handed it to Mu Ying: “This is a letter Wu Lili wrote to me.”
Xiangzhi sat up straight, her eyes wanted to see through the envelope.
Gu Wenshan said to Mu Ying: “Actually I should not be so disrespectful to a female comrade, but the letter contains parts that slander you. If you want to help her and let her stay in the cultural troupe, you can see for yourself and decide.”
Mu Ying quickly opened the letter, the angrier she read, she gripped the letter with white knuckles, saying word by word: “How could she say behind my back that I slept with someone! And that it was you! She clearly knew that I, I—”
She swallowed the rest, clenching her fists in anger, wishing she could run out and tear Wu Lili to pieces right now.
The two of them were together every day, she did not expect Wu Lili would do such a thing behind her back!
She had given Wu Lili plenty of benefits, she prided herself on treating Wu Lili well.
Danceshoes sent from Beijing did not fit, she gave them to Wu Lili. Knowing Wu Lili would not part with meat, she gave her meal tickets, she herself only ate from the small kitchen anyway.
She even gave Wu Lili an old woolen overcoat she had worn only a few times and did not like anymore. Knowing Wu Lili could not afford the ticket home for New Year, she even let a male comrade who liked her give her a ride part of the way.
As a friend, she had done her utmost!
Gu Wenshan ignored Mu Ying, he walked toward Xiangzhi, seeing the charcoal in the copper pot was low. He opened the fire door and clipped in two more pieces of charcoal, fanning them.
Xiangzhi was adjusting sesame oil, seeing Mu Ying slam the door angrily and drag Wu Lili away in disarray, she wondered: “What happened to them? What was in the letter?”
“Some dirty things, you do not need to know,” Gu Wenshan patted her head saying: “Anyway you will have some peace after this.”
Old Zhou said cheerfully beside them: “For the sake of my daughter Zhou Xiangzhi, I will give you a big thumbs up today.”
Xiangzhi was unhappy: “I do not want to take the Zhou surname, I want to take Gu.”
Gu Wenshan’s hand motion paused, he surprisingly did not object.
Old Zhou’s eyes widened: “How can you take your husband’s surname before even marrying into his family! I do not agree!”
“Who cares if you agree,” the unfilial daughter said fiercely: “I am going to be Gu, I want to be called Gu Xiangzhi, Little Gu Flower!”
Old Zhou still disagreed, there were proper ways of doing things. He had just recognized his daughter, how could she not take his name the next moment? That would not do.
“The household registration is already done, nothing else will work. You will take the Zhou surname later, it is set in stone you will be Zhou!”
Xiangzhi felt suffocated in her chest, she turned to Gu Wenshan saying: “He made me so angry I cannot breathe.”
Old Zhou was speechless, then he laughed. She really was her mother’s daughter. Bad at everything, false in everything, never satisfied eating anything, only in creating nonsense was she number one.
Gu Wenshan noticed her face reddening unnaturally, earlier her small voice had been hoarse. Thinking she had eaten the hot pot too aggressively, combined with coal smoke: “Let me help you sit over there for a while, should I open the window to air it out?”
“Okay.”
Xiangzhi stood up supporting herself on the table, suddenly she felt dizzy and her vision blurred, blood seeming to rush out through her skin.
She swayed standing, her ears could not hear Gu Wenshan and Old Zhou’s voices, she fell headlong into Gu Wenshan’s warm, broad embrace and could not get up.
“Xiangzhi—”
“Daughter!!”
Old Zhou grabbed his coat and wrapped it around Xiangzhi, Gu Wenshan held the tender girl and ran outside.
Old Zhou had just reclaimed his beloved daughter, meeting with such tragedy, the old man’s face went pale.
Passing the flower house, he saw Xiangzhi’s trembling little hand pointing. Following her finger’s direction Old Zhou saw half a bag of new fertilizer.
Only half a bag left?!
“Just how much poison did you give yourself?! Are you addicted to drugs?!”
Old Zhou was both angry and distressed, he hurried saying: “Get her to the hospital for stomach pumping right away!”
Little Guo drove quickly, Old Zhou sat in the passenger seat constantly looking back.
Xiangzhi looked drunk, her face was flushed red, her eyes glazed, yet she was still reaching to feel Gu Wenshan’s abdominal muscles—truly outrageous behavior.
Thinking of this, Old Zhou’s old face reddened.
The daughter took after the mother, there was no helping it.
At the military area hospital, doctors were already waiting in the hallway.
Xiangzhi was pushed in for stomach pumping, the heartbroken Gu Wenshan paced anxiously in the hallway.
Little nurses gathered together whispering, saying Xiangzhi had drunk pesticide.
Why would she drink it?
She failed to pursue Commander Gu, so she drank pesticide!
Before Old Zhou could make them quiet, Gu Wenshan’s face turned iron-blue as he scolded: “She pursued me for what? I am the one pursuing her!”
Commander Gu pursuing Xiangzhi?!
After he finished speaking, the hallway fell completely silent with echoes.
After about more than half an hour, Xiangzhi had not come out.
Stone Zhibing came to visit the sick little soldier, hearing Gu Wenshan was here, he wandered over.
He was about to ask if Xiangzhi had drunk pesticide failing at love when observing the atmosphere he quickly closed his mouth.
He quietly asked the familiar military doctor, hearing that Gu Wenshan’s shout had caused countless rumors to go up in smoke, he was filled with admiration as he slowly clapped: “Old Gu, you really pulled it off.”
“Get lost.”
Xiangzhi was still suffering inside, her little voice whimpered, Gu Wenshan had no energy to chat with him.
After two hours of waiting, Xiangzhi was pushed out awake.
She was actually not suffering much anymore, just having eaten fertilizer and then stomach pumping…
This was truly shameful, she had no face to open her eyes!
The doctor pumping her stomach was gentle, he told her: “If you do not open your eyes, we will have to pump again.”
Xiangzhi immediately opened her eyes, brilliant and bright.
Only her fingers nearly picked holes in the bedsheet.
After arranging a ward, she stayed in the hospital for two days.
“Old Zhou said he paid out of pocket for the new fertilizer,” Gu Wenshan came to visit Xiangzhi carrying a fruit basket. After hearing her concerns he said: “It does not count as embezzlement of official position, you can consider it job benefits.”
“I did not want to anyway, so shameful for a flower,” Xiangzhi was limp against the bed, eating in small spoonfuls: “The pressure was too much, I got into the habit of taking a bit.”
“Is that a bit? One shovel is a catty, you took over fifty shovels!”
Old Zhou came in from outside bringing her hot water bottles: “From now on all fertilizer will be stored in the warehouse, I am keeping the keys in my pants pocket. I cannot let you degenerate like this!”
“Okay,” With no more tingling snacks to eat, the little flower spirit turned her gaze to Gu Wenshan.
She leaned toward his shoulder, Gu Wenshan surprisingly did not dodge but actually slid his stool closer to her.
The little flower spirit’s heart bloomed with joy, when one door closes another opens! She swallowed hard, gazing at Gu Wenshan with affection.
Old Zhou could not bear to watch, he poured her a cup of purifying chrysanthemum tea.
Xiangzhi scoffed: “I will not drink bath water from other flowers, I just want Gu Wenshan.”
Old Zhou argued with her eight times a day: “Speak quieter!”
Xiangzhi continued shouting: “I just want Gu—Wen—Shan!”
Gu Wenshan gripped her hand tightly, half-expecting Old Zhou to splash the chrysanthemum tea on him.
Xiangzhi later got full and fell asleep curled on the bed, but even so she held onto Gu Wenshan’s hand tightly, afraid someone would steal him.
The hospital room had no one else, it was a private ward.
Xiangzhi’s afternoon nap breathing was light, Gu Wenshan still had questions. He lowered his voice: “You said her mother was a wild cherry blossom tree? How then could she give birth to a cluster of gardenias?”
Old Zhou had visited the flower valley some time ago, old affairs did not need to be explained one by one to younger generations. Since Xiangzhi was fine, he set his mind at ease.
He first poured himself a cup of hot tea and said slowly: “She said it was grafted.”
Gu Wenshan pressed his lips together, lowered his head and fought hard not to laugh.
Old Zhou continued slowly: “I believe whatever she says. Anyway I treat her as a biological daughter, if you are not good to her, I will press you to death.”
Gu Wenshan said: “I will not be.”
Old Zhou’s presence exploded, he glared and said: “Not be what? You think I cannot press you to death?!”
Gu Wenshan hastily explained: “I said I will not mistreat her.”
Old Zhou was silent for two seconds: “Eat an apple.”
Gu Wenshan: “All right.”
When Old Zhou left, Xiangzhi had not yet woken.
Gu Wenshan’s large hand was clasped on the back of her hand, stroking her tender skin.
“Hm? Where did convenient father go?” Xiangzhi woke groggily, rubbing her eyes with messy hair.
Gu Wenshan found her easy on the eyes, even with hair disheveled that was a celestial maiden descended, incomparably beautiful. Every single strand of hair was caught on his heartstrings.
“He went back to move the flower pots that cannot withstand cold into the greenhouse.”
Gu Wenshan stood up and poured her warm water: “This is medicine to protect the stomach, eat some.”
“It is so bitter, I do not like eating this,” Xiangzhi reluctantly took the medicine, after swallowing, Gu Wenshan produced a large shrimp cracker like magic and fed it to her lips.
Her cherry-red lips held the shrimp cracker, reluctant to eat it right away, her tender pink tongue stirred at the sugar, opening and closing, scratching at Gu Wenshan’s heart.
Though the shrimp cracker was sweet, it was not nearly as sweet as her lips—he had tasted them at their first meeting.
This being the case, that artificial respiration certainly had mixed in certain indescribable colors.
“Why are you always staring at my lips?”
Xiangzhi stretched out a hand hooking around Gu Wenshan’s neck, her breath like orchids, her eyes flowing with laughter: “My lips are very soft.”
Xiangzhi thought Gu Wenshan would hastily pull away as before, but he seemed to have changed his attitude, saying frankly: “Very soft and fragrant, with a sweet taste you can discern.”
Xiangzhi’s eyes level with his, she reached out touching his strong jawline: “How come you say such things without feeling shy anymore, do you want to taste again?”
“I want to.”
“Will you listen to me then?”
Gu Wenshan grasped her hand, separating her fingers one by one and interlacing them with his, a flirtatious motion yet a resolute gaze: “As long as you are safe, I will say anything, do anything. Seeing you in danger, I nearly went crazy.”
His large hand stretched her fingers to the point of pain, Xiangzhi tried to pull back her hand but he held it tight: “I will not run away again, you also do not run away anymore.”
“Really?” Xiangzhi slightly opened her red lips, quickly pecking Gu Wenshan’s thin lips once.
“Really.”
Gu Wenshan not only did not dodge, he held the back of her head, preventing escape, swiftly turning passive to active, attacking and conquering, fiercely kissing down.
The unexpected fierce kiss captured her lips and he savored them in his mouth. Like a dream it made him intoxicated and lost, sweet as honey.
Xiangzhi’s waist went soft, Gu Wenshan’s kiss was so different from hers. Like he wanted to suck away her soul.
She helplessly wrapped her arms around his neck, her small arm slid down but Gu Wenshan caught it and placed it at his own back of his neck, actively letting her climb, he would have to teach her to climb even tighter later and eat properly.
“Hiss.”
Gu Wenshan pulled apart with pain, his fingertip touched his lip discovering a trace of fresh blood. He looked at Xiangzhi, her cherry lips were stained with fresh blood, incomparably beautiful and bewitching.
She licked her lips, smiled, between her white teeth a small pointed tiger fang appeared.
Gu Wenshan’s deep kiss let her sense his invasiveness, she could not help but bite down, making his thin lip bleed a bit.
Seeing it was still bleeding, Xiangzhi disregarded Gu Wenshan’s protest and pressed close again, using her tongue tip to lick…
Ah, delicious.
Gu Wenshan’s breathing grew heavier, just as Xiangzhi wanted to deepen the kiss, both his hands firmly grasped her arms and pulled the greedy little flower spirit half a meter away by force.
Barely managing to taste lips and now being pulled apart, Xiangzhi’s face showed unwillingness, her tongue tip peeked out licking at her sharp little teeth.
Gu Wenshan could not help laughing: “You cannot kiss randomly.”
The little flower spirit grew urgent, both hands pushing his chest saying: “This time you started eating first!”
Gu Wenshan gripped her wrist, coaxing: “You accept my pursuit and become my girlfriend, once you become my girlfriend we can kiss.”
“You let me eat once first, let me see if you are sincere.”
Xiangzhi actively opened her lips, her smooth little tongue was right before his eyes, alluring: “Come on.”
“Really so greedy?”
Gu Wenshan reached out stroking her flushed cheek, the little flower spirit obediently rubbed her head into his palm, eagerly saying: “I want to eat you, I am starving for it.”
Gu Wenshan’s heart skipped several beats, he was delighted at her direct expression. He himself was equally unsatisfied but had to restrain himself saying: “Cannot eat for now, the place is not convenient, but we can kiss again.”
Xiangzhi realized she was tricked, she pretended to be angry: “Then your heart pursuing me is not sincere.”
“My heart toward you is very honest,” Gu Wenshan lowered his voice: “I will let you eat.”
“Really?”
A green glimmering light suddenly flashed through Xiangzhi’s eyes, because it was too fast, the naked eye could not perceive it, Gu Wenshan also did not see: “Really.”
He saw Xiangzhi was silent, looking again, the little flower spirit was actually licking her lips. Gu Wenshan was attracted by the sweet and cloying scent she emitted, he could not help reaching out to touch her little face.
Xiangzhi turned her head, she quickly nipped his fingertip, gently bit a moment and released it, flashing him an ingratiating smile.
Gu Wenshan hooked his hand and relaxed his collar, his throat moved.
The little demoness was a natural temptress unaware of it, she was an enticement making his blood rush to his head, wanting to immediately carry her home like treasure.
Since Gu Wenshan was pursuing her, he let Xiangzhi play around. She touched him all over, it was more thorough than a medical examination.
The little flower spirit made hungry sounds, Gu Wenshan could not help pushing her into his embrace again, fiercely kissing her.
“Knock knock knock—” Someone knocked at the locked hospital room door.
Gu Wenshan released Xiangzhi, the little flower spirit affectionately rubbed face to face, reluctant to return to the hospital bed.
Mu Ying stood outside the door holding a flower basket for a long time, inside there was barely any sound.
Just when she thought no one was there, the door opened.
Gu Wenshan was wearing only an undershirt, his self-possessed image completely gone, his healthy upper body had three buttons undone, exposing his throat in her line of sight, his throat working sexily, his collarbone was even flushed red.
Gu Wenshan did not like her gaze, no other woman was permitted to even look. Having promised the little flower spirit, he was hers completely, he had to be entirely hers.
But…
“Hiss.”
Deliberately taking a sharp breath, he made Mu Ying’s gaze shift to his injured lip corner.
Mu Ying hesitantly asked: “This is… what happened?”
Gu Wenshan was satisfied with the question.
Mu Ying’s breathing suddenly froze, her face flushed red, she seemed to realize what she had interrupted. But she still held out hope saying: “Your lips… are inflamed?”
“No.”
Gu Wenshan cleared his throat, smiling indulgently: “Kissing, my future girlfriend kissed me.”