On Sunday morning, after breakfast, Chen Aifang and the others went out together.
Because today they were going to visit Bureau Chief Wei’s home under the name of paying a visit, Chen Aifang also brought the two children along. The more people there were, the livelier it would be, and it would not seem too deliberate.
After learning that they were going to the county town today, Baohua had been excited since last night. This morning, as soon as dawn broke, she climbed up early and woke her mother and brother.
“Don’t wake your little aunt.” Chen Aifang said seriously.
Baohua covered her mouth and said in a breathy voice, “I won’t. I know little aunt won’t wake up that quickly.”
Gu Yijia’s health was poor, and her sleep was light too. Once she was woken up, it was hard for her to fall asleep again. If she didn’t get enough sleep, her spirits would be bad and her body would also feel uncomfortable. Her face would be white, ghostly white, looking like she could fall ill at any moment, frightening indeed.
So in their home in the mornings, they all tried to keep their voices as low as possible, and everyone did things with light hands and light feet.
After so many years, Chen Aifang and the two children had already gotten used to doing this.
This was their thoughtfulness.
Because a bicycle really could not carry four people, and if they walked to the county town, Gu Yijia’s body absolutely could not make it, so today they were going to ride the brigade’s tractor to the county town.
Every few days, the team’s tractor would make a trip to the county town.
If there was nothing special, ordinary commune members were not allowed to ride the tractor. They needed the brigade captain’s permission first.
It just so happened that every Sunday, the tractor had to go to the county town, and along the way it would carry some commune members going to the county town to study. They could also hitch a ride to the county town.
When they arrived at the village entrance, the tractor had not yet set off, and the commune members who were going to the county town to study had already arrived.
Among them were sent-down youth, and also members of the commune, and Huang Pingping was conspicuously among them.
When Gu Yijia saw that Huang Pingping was wearing the skirt she had made for her a while ago, with her hair combed neatly and even a pair of new shoes on, she had a sudden realization.
When Huang Pingping saw them, she happily waved. “Sister-in-law, Jiajia!”
Baohua bounced over and sweetly praised her, “Auntie Pingping, you’re especially beautiful today!” Although the little girl didn’t understand much, when she saw Huang Pingping wearing a new dress, she immediately praised her.
Huang Pingping was overjoyed. She hugged the little girl and rubbed her a few times, then asked, “You two are going to the county town today too?”
“Yes,” Chen Aifang said with a smile. “We’re going to the county town to visit a friend.”
After hearing that, Huang Pingping did not think much of it and smiled. “Then when are you coming home? We can come back together then.”
The few of them were chatting, and the commune members and sent-down youth also looked over here, their gazes all falling on Gu Yijia.
Gu Yijia was still wearing a large sun hat today. The hat was handwoven. Obviously, its style was not much different from the straw hats most villagers wore, yet it somehow gave off a different feeling.
Probably because the hat had some patterns on it, removing a bit of rural roughness, and when she wore it, it matched her especially well.
She wore a white shirt, with a long green skirt that reached her ankles below. There were no patterns or designs on the clothes at all, and her outfit was very plain and neat. Such simplicity and plainness did not make her look bland in the least. On her, there was a refined and quiet bearing, as if she were unreachable and impossible to grasp.
Even though the weather was hot, hot enough to make people feel irritated, when she walked over gracefully, her skirt hem swaying lightly, it was as if she brought with her a wisp of cool breeze that brushed over the heart, and the irritability in people’s hearts somehow disappeared by more than half.
The commune members and sent-down youth stared at her blankly, losing themselves for a moment.
Beautiful things always made people unable to help looking again and again, whether they were people or objects.
It was only when the brigade captain came over and shouted for them to get on the truck that everyone finally came back to their senses and hurried onto the vehicle, though they were still somewhat absent-minded.
Chen Aifang held her daughter and sat in the tractor, with her sister-in-law and son sitting on her left and right.
Huang Pingping also sat next to Gu Yijia, separating her from those commune members and sent-down youth, especially the male sent-down youth, who did not blink as they looked at Jiajia.
Although everyone had no bad intentions, as her older sister, she still instinctively protected Gu Yijia.
On the road, Gu Yijia asked softly, “Sister Pingping, are you going to a blind date today?”
Huang Pingping’s apple-like face instantly turned red. She lowered her head somewhat awkwardly and gave a muffled mm, then said quietly, “Yes, we agreed to eat lunch at the state-run restaurant… Don’t tell anyone else, okay? It’s not settled yet…”
Although they both had feelings for each other, the matter had not yet been completely settled, so it was not appropriate to spread it around.
Gu Yijia smiled. “Sister Pingping, don’t worry. I know.”
When they reached the county town, Chen Aifang took her sister-in-law and the two children off the vehicle first.
Then they headed toward the county committee compound.
The first time they came to the county committee compound, it was Gu Mingcheng who brought them. Although two years had passed, Chen Aifang still remembered the way, mainly because the county committee compound was easy to recognize too.
When they reached the family compound, there was an old man guarding the gate.
Chen Aifang explained their purpose, and the old man said, “Bureau Chief Wei’s home is over there. Just go that way.”
“Thank you, old man. Sorry to trouble you.” Chen Aifang said politely.
Today was Sunday. Most people did not need to go to work and were all at home.
Chen Aifang carried gifts in her hands and led the two children and her sister-in-law into the family compound, attracting a lot of attention.
Most of the gazes landed on Gu Yijia.
There was no other reason, only because this female comrade was truly too good-looking. Under the bright sunlight, that face seemed to glow, her brows and eyes graceful like a painting, her figure slender and lovely, very eye-catching.
It was just that her complexion was too pale, and she had lost some weight, looking a little sickly and not very well.
When they arrived at Bureau Chief Wei’s home, Chen Aifang went up to knock on the door.
Very soon, a brisk voice sounded from inside. “Coming, wait a moment.”
The one who opened the door was Bureau Chief Wei’s wife, Zhao Manli. Seeing the people at the door, she only froze for a moment before smiling quickly. “So it’s little sister-in-law, and also Jiajia, Baoshan, and Baohua. Hurry and come in.”
A smile appeared on Chen Aifang’s face. She carried the gifts and walked in. “Sister-in-law, sorry to bother you.”
“What do you mean, bother? Aiyo, since you’re here, you’re here. Why did you have to bring gifts?” Zhao Manli said reproachfully, then smiled again. “I was still hoping you’d come. It’s a pity you haven’t come for so long.”
Actually, she also knew clearly that Chen Aifang did not want to come and disturb them, and since they lived in the countryside and did not come to the county town much, they simply didn’t come.
Today, seeing them suddenly, and thinking of what Old Wei had told her a few days ago, it was not strange either.
Zhao Manli enthusiastically led them into the living room, while calling toward the inner room, “Baohua, Baozhu, come out quickly. Guests are here.”
With her call, two children came out from the room.
One was a boy around twelve or thirteen, and the other was a ten-year-old girl.
Gu Yijia followed the host and sister-in-law inside, took off the sun hat on her head, and revealed a fresh and pretty face.
Unlike Chen Aifang, Baoshan, and Baohua, who were drenched in sweat from the heat, there was not a single drop of sweat on her body. She was clean and fresh.
This was also related to her constitution. She probably really had anemia and weakness. Even in the middle of summer, her body was warm and cool, and she did not sweat easily. At night, she even had to cover herself with a quilt to sleep.
When the girl Wei Baozhu saw Gu Yijia, her eyes widened all at once, and she blurted out, “This older sister is so beautiful!”
Wei Baohua was already a youth who knew beauty from ugliness. When Gu Yijia looked over and smiled at them, his face instantly turned as red as a monkey’s butt.
In his heart, he thought his younger sister was right. This older sister was really beautiful, like an immortal maiden from a play.
When she smiled, he felt his face getting hot.
Zhao Manli laughed until she nearly couldn’t stand it. She patted them both. “What older sister? This is Aunt Gu! She’s been here before our house too, but you were at Grandpa’s place back then, so you weren’t around.”
Although Gu Yijia was not very old, by seniority she had to call herself sister-in-law.
As she spoke, she introduced her two children to Chen Aifang and the others.
Chen Aifang said, “I didn’t expect them to have grown so big. These two children really look lively, just like Sister-in-law and Bureau Chief Wei.”
“Those two? They’re just little monkey troublemakers. How could they compare with your Baoshan and Baohua, who are so obedient and cute? Look at these two children, neat and proper, and they’re looking more and more like Regiment Commander Gu.”
The two mothers immediately started praising each other’s children, chatting very warmly.
Wei Baohua, his face red, went to make tea for the guests.
Wei Baozhu sat on the other side, still staring at Gu Yijia nonstop. Every time Gu Yijia looked up and smiled at her, the little girl’s face would blush red, full of shyness.
This little auntie was too pretty. If she kept smiling at her like this, she would definitely feel all dizzy and wouldn’t know what to do.
When Wei Baozhu saw that her brother, who usually was so fierce and aggressive in the compound, was also looking shy, she immediately laughed and made a face at him.
Wei Baohua’s hands itched. He really wanted to give his younger sister a beating.
If she went unpunished for three days, she would start teasing him again.
Baohua, on the other hand, curiously stretched her head out to look at Wei Baozhu. The head flower on this older sister’s head looked so nice.
When Wei Baozhu saw how cute she was, she handed her a piece of White Rabbit milk candy and smiled. “Your name is Baohua? It’s very similar to our names.”
Baohua was not shy with strangers at all, and she said brightly, “Baohua is my little name. My brother and I also have big names.”
The two girls, one big and one small, quickly gathered together to talk.
Meanwhile, Zhao Manli talked with Chen Aifang and Gu Yijia.
“Old Wei was called out early this morning. I heard there was something at the公安局, and he’ll be back at noon.” She said warmly, “You don’t come often, so stay and eat a meal.”
Chen Aifang did not decline and said readily, “Then we’ll be troubling Sister-in-law.”
“What do you mean, troubling? It just so happens that we also have guests today, and I bought a lot of vegetables. Since you’re here, it’s just a few more sets of bowls and chopsticks.” Zhao Manli was also a straightforward person, and she especially liked Chen Aifang’s attitude.
She simply did not like that kind of fake politeness where people pushed back and forth. Because of their status, dealing with all that social courtesy in daily life was already annoying, so when facing their own people, she did not want to be that distant.
Gu Mingcheng and Bureau Chief Wei were comrades-in-arms, and they had gone through life-and-death together. There was no need for empty formalities.
Zhao Manli looked at Gu Yijia and sighed with a smile. “Haven’t seen you in two years, and I didn’t expect Jiajia to have grown so much. She’s really getting prettier and prettier.”
Back when she was still young, she already looked like a little fairy. Now that she had grown out, she was so pretty that even women couldn’t take their eyes off her.
The more Zhao Manli looked, the more she felt that this girl was really good-looking. It was a pity her body was not well. Otherwise, she would even want to act as a matchmaker for her.
If such a beautiful girl were to go on a blind date, how many male comrades would be scrambling to marry her!
Gu Yijia smiled shyly and said, “Sister-in-law, don’t praise me anymore. How could I compare with the two sisters-in-law and Baozhu, who are healthy and beautiful? You look full of energy at a glance. You’re the prettiest like this.”
These words did not just praise her sister-in-law, but also Zhao Manli and her daughter.
She was not wrong either. The women of this era all had that vigorous kind of beauty, very attractive. She herself was just too thin and frail.
Zhao Manli was smiling on the surface, but she was a little surprised inside, discovering that Gu Mingcheng’s younger sister seemed to have become much livelier. When she had seen her two years ago, she had been soft and weak, quietly sitting beside her brother and sister-in-law, hardly saying anything.
When a person became livelier, she also looked much more spirited, and the sickly air around her was not so heavy anymore.
Zhao Manli could not help but look at her a few more times, thinking that if her body could improve, there was no telling where the men wanting to marry her would line up to.
After sitting and chatting for a while, and seeing that the time was about right, Zhao Manli went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.
Of course, Chen Aifang would not really treat herself as a guest, sitting here waiting to eat while the host was busy in the kitchen. She rolled up her sleeves and went to help too.
Zhao Manli discovered that the house was out of soy sauce and told her son to go buy some.
Wei Baohua said, “Okay, I’ll go with Baoshan. I want to buy an ice pop to treat Baoshan.”
When Zhao Manli heard that, how could she not know what her son was up to? Usually she did not allow the children to eat ice pops much, afraid they would get stomachaches. Now that guests had come, he was taking the chance to mooch an ice pop.
“Brother, Baohua and I want ice pops too!” Wei Baozhu hurriedly shouted. “This weather is really maddeningly hot. I want to cool down so badly!”
Wei Baohua said, “Baohua can, you don’t get one. You’re not a guest.”
Wei Baozhu immediately got so angry that she wanted to hit him. It was Zhao Manli who helplessly pulled the siblings apart and gave each of them a tap on the head. “All right, go on. Don’t take Baoshan running all over the place. Be careful your dad beats you.”
Wei Baohua was not afraid of his mother at all. Smiling, he took the money and left with Baoshan.
Wei Baozhu also took Baohua to her room to play.
Although the two girls were separated by several years in age, Baohua was truly a lively and adorable child, very good at talking and with a sweet mouth. In no time at all, she had coaxed Wei Baozhu into calling her younger sister this and younger sister that, wanting to give her all sorts of nice things, and she pulled Baohua along to her room to look at the treasures she had collected.
Only Gu Yijia was left in the living room.
Gu Yijia had wanted to go to the kitchen to help, but Zhao Manli and her sister-in-law pushed her out, saying the kitchen was hot and she should just sit in the living room and rest.
As for Baohua and Wei Baozhu, she was an adult, and really had no way of playing with little girls. In the end, she could only sit boredly in the living room drinking tea.
Just as she was drinking, she heard knocking at the door outside. Thinking it was those two boys who had gone to buy soy sauce and had forgotten their keys, she got up to open the door.
When the door opened, she found that what appeared at the doorway was not the two boys, but a tall figure.
Gu Yijia subconsciously looked up, and saw a face so handsome it was overwhelming, sharp-edged and exposing its edge, with an aggressive air.
His features were exquisite and handsome, but his brows were as sharp as a sword just drawn from its sheath, full of pressure.
Seeing that face all at once, she was a little dazed, and at the same time her heart skipped a beat uncontrollably, because she was startled.
He stood outside the door, and she stood inside. The distance between them was very close, and his tall body seemed to have suddenly enveloped her in front of him. In a vague sense, it even seemed possible to smell the gunpowder smell of battle on him.
Anyone suddenly enveloped by such a dangerous male presence would be unable to stop themselves from being frightened, as if they were being covered by a lurking beast, ready to become its prey at any moment.
Gu Yijia stood there stiffly, her expression somewhat wooden.
“Comrade Gu?”
The other party lowered his head to look at her and called her once.
Gu Yijia came back to her senses. Her startled heart slowly settled back down. She blinked and said slowly, “So it’s Comrade Feng…”
As she spoke, she subconsciously moved aside to let him in.
Feng Lin did not rush in. Instead, he asked, “Are you all right?”
His perception had always been sharp. How could he not have seen that she had been startled a little just now? A trace of doubt rarely arose in his heart. Could it be that he looked very frightening?
He completely forgot that he had once scared a female comrade from the cultural troupe to tears.
At this moment, Feng Lin thought expressionlessly to himself whether he should smile a little. But Old Gu seemed to have said that he’d better not smile, or else he would look even more frightening.
Gu Yijia showed him a polite smile. “I’m fine. Is Comrade Feng here to look for Bureau Chief Wei? Come in.” After he came in, she added, “Oh right, Bureau Chief Wei is out on business and won’t be back until noon, Sister Wei said.”
Feng Lin said, “I know. It was Sister-in-law who asked me to come for a meal.”
Gu Yijia gave an oh.
Zhao Manli and Chen Aifang, who heard the noise, came out from the kitchen.
Seeing Feng Lin, Zhao Manli smiled especially happily. “Regiment Commander Feng, you’re here. Old Wei hasn’t come back yet. You sit for a while first, and have tea and some fruit with Jiajia. Lunch will be ready very soon.”
Feng Lin answered with a sound.
Gu Yijia and Chen Aifang were somewhat surprised. So he was a regiment commander?
Indeed, he was young and promising.
Chen Aifang also smiled and said, “So Regiment Commander Feng is here too. What a coincidence.”
“Isn’t that so.” Zhao Manli said. “Regiment Commander Feng is a busy man. Old Wei called him several times before, but he never came. We weren’t even sure whether he could make it today.”
But now that Feng Lin had come, it was indeed a coincidence.
The rice was still cooking, and the two of them went back to the kitchen to keep busy, leaving only Feng Lin and Gu Yijia in the living room.
Gu Yijia once again had that embarrassing feeling of wanting to dig a hole in the ground with her toes.
She had not expected that after only a few days, she would meet Feng Lin here. She had thought that unless she and her sister-in-law went to join the army, she would not see this person again in the short term.
Mainly because that day, Gu Mingyue had been talking nonsense, saying he was her blind date partner. Although that matter was later clarified, at the time it was really too awkward, and the memory was still fresh. When facing him, Gu Yijia always felt somewhat uneasy.
Gu Yijia was a little restless, but staying silent like this made her even more uncomfortable.
She was a bit obsessive-compulsive. Whenever the atmosphere on the spot was too awkward, she would want to break it and liven things up a little. This personality was completely different from her current fairy-like cool and aloof appearance.
So she gathered her courage and asked, “Comrade Feng, do you drink tea? I’ll pour you a cup.”
“No need,” Feng Lin said. “I’ll do it myself.”
Who knew that Gu Yijia had already reached out, about to pour the tea, and Feng Lin’s hand just happened to reach over too, covering the back of her hand.
Gu Yijia’s hand shook, as if she had been frightened by something, and she suddenly pulled her hand back.
Feng Lin’s hand hovered in midair, then he withdrew it in a half-clenched motion, looking at her deeply and saying in a low voice, “Sorry.”
“I-it’s fine, it’s not your fault.” Gu Yijia was even more embarrassed. She felt a kind of shame and awkwardly explained against her own feelings, “It’s my own reason. I’m not used to physical contact with people…”
Actually, it was that she was not used to getting along with this soldier brother.
Feng Lin looked like that kind of iron-blooded, upright soldier, a man given to the country. She always felt that no matter what she did, it would be disrespectful to him, and she shouldn’t even have such delusions.
Feng Lin did not say anything. He picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for her already empty teacup.
He said, “Your health is not good. Don’t drink too much tea.”
Gu Yijia froze for a moment, then looked up at him. She hadn’t expected to hear words of concern from him. While feeling somewhat flattered, the body that had been tense because of his presence also relaxed.
She smiled with pursed lips. “I know. Thank you for your concern, Regiment Commander Feng.”
The two of them sat there, quietly drinking tea without speaking.
Feng Lin was taciturn, and when there was no need, he had always spoken little. Facing someone who made his heart move, he was even less daring to say much, afraid of being rude to the young lady.
Mostly he also didn’t know what to say. What if he said something unpleasant and left a bad impression on her?
For the first time in his life, Feng Lin felt a sense of helplessness.
Gu Yijia, on the other hand, struggled for a long time and still did not know how to find a topic, so she could only give up dejectedly.
Forget it, if the atmosphere was awkward, then let it be awkward. She had a thicker skin, so she just needed to endure this wave of awkwardness. It should not be long until lunch time anyway.
Fortunately, just as Gu Yijia stiffened her face and worked hard to endure the silent awkwardness, there was the sound of the door opening at the entrance.
After the door opened, Bureau Chief Wei returned.
Together with him came the two boys who had gone to buy soy sauce. Each of them was holding a half-eaten ice pop, and the bag in their hands still contained several more.
When Bureau Chief Wei entered and saw the two people sitting in the living room, he was also a little surprised.
What was going on? Why was Feng Lin here too?
Although he had asked Feng Lin to come to his house for a meal today, he had not expected Feng Lin to have already arrived and to run into Chen Aifang and the others. He had thought Feng Lin would come a bit later.
Seeing the two young men and women sitting quietly there, the man handsome and the woman pretty, if he had not known the situation, he really would have thought they were on a blind date.
That look was quite like a blind date.
Seeing the host return, Gu Yijia felt that she could finally be rid of the awkwardness and hurriedly stood up.
Because she got up too quickly, her head became dizzy again, and her body swayed, nearly toppling to the side. It was Feng Lin who reached out in time to support her, one hand lightly holding up her back.
His brows almost imperceptibly furrowed.
Too thin, as if she had no weight at all.
Gu Yijia was only a little dizzy. She would be fine once she recovered. Seeing Feng Lin supporting her, her eyes immediately widened.
Baoshan took one look and knew that little auntie was dizzy again, so he hurried over, saying, “Little auntie, don’t get up too fast. You’ll get dizzy.”
These words also explained her condition.
When Bureau Chief Wei heard this, he no longer thought much about Feng Lin supporting her. He asked with concern, “Little Sister Gu, are you all right?”
Gu Yijia had already recovered and said, “I’m fine.” Then she said to Feng Lin, “Thank you, Regiment Commander Feng.”
Feng Lin helped her sit down, then sat back down himself. His hands rested on his knees, his fingers lightly curled and rubbing together a few times.
Last time near the bus stop, when he had supported her, he had not had any improper thoughts. He had just been helping a female comrade, so he had not felt anything. This time, he supported her for a longer time, and he could finally feel the softness peculiar to a girl.
Although she was thin, she was very soft, and there was also a faint fragrance in the air.
Are all girls this soft, this fragrant?
Hearing the children’s voices, Zhao Manli turned out from the kitchen to take a look, and just happened to see this scene of Feng Lin supporting Gu Yijia.
She froze for a moment, feeling somewhat suspicious.
As for Feng Lin, when Old Wei was still in the army before, she had gone with her husband to the troops and had seen him at the garrison. She knew him. It had been said that Feng Lin had grown up in a compound in Jing City, and many people in the Feng family were in the military or worked in government departments. His background was not something ordinary people could compare with.
Back then, when he was only thirteen or fourteen, he had already been thrown into the military camp by his elders to be tempered.
It could be said that Feng Lin had grown up in the military camp.
Precisely because of this, at such a young age, he had already achieved accomplishments others could only look up to.
Of course, this was also related to his ability. He was indeed extremely outstanding and capable. He had been on the battlefield, carried out many dangerous missions, and made countless meritorious contributions. His military honors were extraordinary.
If he had not been so young, and the higher-ups had wanted to hold him back a little, he probably would not be at just this rank now.
Such an outstanding young man had a limitless future, and surely many people were keeping an eye on his marriage.
When he was younger, he had been wholly devoted to the army. Even if many people coveted him, they could not really do anything. As his age increased, and now that he was already twenty-seven and still had no intention of getting married, those leaders were probably getting anxious about his marriage too.
Zhao Manli also admired Feng Lin very much. Young and capable, with background, looks, and personal ability all outstanding. Who would not admire such an excellent young man?
When she learned that he was not married yet, she even wanted to arrange a match for him.
This was a common problem for many people of this era. Once people reached a certain age, they liked to arrange matches for those excellent young people and could not stand seeing them alone. However, she also knew that many people must be keeping an eye on Feng Lin’s marriage, and it was not her place to worry about how his marriage should go.
So when she called Feng Lin over to her house for a meal, she had no special thoughts. It was purely just to host a capable young man, and also her old Wei’s comrade from years ago.
Don’t look at Old Wei and Feng Lin as having quite a big age gap. Back then, the two of them had actually gone to the battlefield together, and Feng Lin had even saved her old Wei’s life.
Just for that alone, Zhao Manli was very grateful to him.
At this moment, seeing him supporting Gu Yijia’s figure, Zhao Manli suddenly had a thought.
If you looked at it like this, these two actually matched quite well. The man was tall and handsome, the woman beautiful and delicate, standing together they were especially pleasing to the eye and complementary.
And Feng Lin had even taken the initiative to support her…
Even though Zhao Manli knew that Feng Lin might have done so out of courtesy and responsibility, supporting a female comrade who was about to faint, she still found it strange in her heart, and somehow felt that the atmosphere between these two was a little off.
She could not help but look a couple more times, muttering to herself as she turned back to the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Chen Aifang was cutting vegetables. Seeing her come in carrying soy sauce, she smiled and said, “I heard the noise outside. Did Bureau Chief Wei and the two children come back?”
“Yes.” Zhao Manli also smiled. “They just got back and already started making a fuss, giving people a headache.”
Chen Aifang herself had two children too, conveniently also one boy and one girl, and she knew that when the siblings started making a fuss, even the roof could be blown off by them.
The two talked about the children for a while, and then the topic unconsciously shifted to Gu Yijia.
Zhao Manli said, “I heard about Jiajia’s matter from Old Wei. This time Jiajia suffered a grievance. In this day and age, a female comrade who looks good is really…”
Thinking of something, disgust appeared on her face.
Not to mention in the countryside, even in this town, things had been far too chaotic in these past few years. What had she not seen?
Some pretty girls were maliciously ruined by others, and the methods used were very simple, just a report or some underhanded scheme to frame them. Then the girl’s family was gone, and in the end, to survive, they were either forced to go down to the countryside or reluctantly married.
How many pretty girls had been forced into marriage helplessly?
When she heard from Old Wei about what happened to Gu Yijia, she felt that that Director Jiang definitely was not a good thing.
He took a fancy to someone’s girl. Does that mean the girl must marry him?
Even if he had not done anything yet, after Gu Yijia clearly rejected him several times and he was still pestering her without letting go, who knew whether in the end, for the sake of his own face, he would do something? Especially with his kind of status, and in the Revolutionary Committee, wanting to do something was just too easy.
Even if Gu Mingcheng’s position was high and his connections wide, distant water could not save a nearby fire. What if they could not wait for Gu Mingcheng to act, and Gu Yijia had already been harmed?
By then, that would truly be lifelong regret.
Chen Aifang’s face darkened a little, and she said, “That Director Jiang is still locked up now, so there’s nothing much to worry about. I’m just afraid of the Jiang family people…”
Zhao Manli knew what she meant and comforted her. “It’s fine. Old Wei’s side has already sent people to watch them.”
Her husband’s work was special, and there were some things she could not inquire too deeply about, but she vaguely knew that the Jiang family did not seem clean. Old Wei had been busy with this lately, and had even been called away on his day off.
Chen Aifang’s heart moved, and she immediately understood why, even after Jiang Jinwang had been locked up for several days, no one from the Jiang family had come to bother them.
It seemed the Jiang family was too busy protecting itself to spare the attention.
If the Jiang family were clean themselves, the公安局 would naturally be unable to do anything to them. But if they themselves were not clean…
Thinking of this, Chen Aifang felt slightly relieved.
Today they had come to Bureau Chief Wei’s place precisely to find out the Jiang family’s situation so they could prepare a response.
At this moment, she also heard Zhao Manli say, “Aifang, you still haven’t planned to join the army, have you?”
Chen Aifang froze for a moment, and for a time the taste in her heart was hard to describe.
How could she not plan to join the army? It was just that Jiajia’s body was not suitable for a long journey. If she fell ill halfway and there was no time to send her to the hospital…
They could not bear that kind of outcome.
“I heard from Old Wei that in the military hospital at the garrison where Regiment Commander Gu is stationed right now, there’s a doctor with very strong medical skills. If you go to join the army, you can take Jiajia to see that doctor and have her body examined. Maybe Jiajia’s condition could be cured?” Zhao Manli said.
Chen Aifang’s eyes instantly lit up. “Really?”
“Of course it’s true. This was even said by Regiment Commander Feng. He’s at the same garrison as Regiment Commander Gu, so it must be right.”
Chen Aifang was stunned at once. So this was said by Regiment Commander Feng. Regiment Commander Feng really was a good person. He must have noticed that Jiajia’s health was poor, which was why he specially brought up these things.
Zhao Manli said, “I think Old Gu probably noticed this too. It’s just that Jiajia’s body isn’t good, and she can’t sit through a long-distance car ride, so he didn’t tell you…” to avoid his wife and younger sister overthinking.
At this point, she also could not help sighing.
If you wanted to take someone to see a doctor, you’d be afraid that before they even got there, before the illness was even seen, the person would be worn out on the road. Transportation in this era was not developed, and the roads were not good. Going anywhere took a long time by car. The journey was far, and even healthy people could hardly endure it, let alone a frail, sickly girl.
It was better to stay at home and nurse her carefully.
To some extent, she could understand Gu Mingcheng and his wife.
Chen Aifang felt complicated inside.
She very much missed her husband in the army and wanted to take the children to reunite with him, but she was also afraid that her sister-in-law’s body could not take it and that something would happen on the road.
For all these years, over this matter, she had suffered tremendously in her heart.
In the end, she decided to stay home for her sister-in-law, and not take the risk, so that she would not regret it in the future.
When Bureau Chief Wei and the two children returned, the house immediately became lively.
Wei Baozhu smiled and took the ice pop her brother brought back, first handing one to Baozhu, and then taking out another one for Gu Yijia.
“Little Auntie, have an ice pop.”
When Bureau Chief Wei heard this, he could not help but laugh. “What little auntie? Call her Aunt Gu!”
Wei Baozhu was not afraid of her father. On the contrary, her father spoiled her even more than her brother. If her mother did not discipline her strictly usually, she would have already been spoiled rotten by her father.
“Dad, Aunt Gu is so young, you could even call her older sister. But you want me to call her aunt… I don’t care, she’s little auntie anyway.”
Gu Yijia found this amusing and very much liked these lively children.
In her previous life, she had also been lively and mischievous, and the people around her had more or less the same personality. In this life, with such a sickly body, she could not be lively, so she liked these lively children even more.
She did not take the ice pop. “Thank you, Baozhu. My body isn’t good, I can’t eat cold things.”
When Wei Baozhu heard this, she first asked with concern, “What’s wrong with little auntie’s body?”
Gu Yijia smiled and said, “Nothing much is wrong. I was born premature, and my body wasn’t taken care of well when I was young. I probably have the problem of weakness and anemia, and my resistance is poor too. I can’t take heat or cold, and I get sick very easily.”
These days, she had also been carefully figuring out her own body, and more or less understood what was going on.
There should not be any underlying disease. It was probably because she had been born prematurely, and with the medical system in this era being underdeveloped, she had not been treated properly in time. On top of lacking clothing and food, and not getting enough nutrition, her body had been raised into a sickly state. Later, because of the stepmother Yu Xiaolan’s torment for two years, this body was completely ruined.
So her repeated illnesses were actually just colds, fevers, things like that.
But this body was truly too fragile, with very poor resistance. A small cold or fever might even take half her life away and leave her unable to get out of bed.
Thinking of this, Gu Yijia could not help but sigh inwardly.
If the original owner had been born in modern times, such a body would not be a big deal. She could have been raised properly from childhood and grown up like a normal person.
But she had to be born in this era where everything was lacking.
After hearing this, Wei Baozhu looked full of sympathy, then remembered that showing that expression in front of the host was not right, so she quickly put it away.
“Little auntie needs to take good care of her body.” She looked at Gu Yijia’s face. “Little auntie is so pretty. If you’re healthy and well, you’ll be even prettier.”
Most girls loved beauty. Wei Baozhu rarely saw such a pretty older sister, one who spoke so softly and gently and had such a pleasant voice, and she felt that everything about her was good. Naturally, she also hoped she would be fine.
This was a kind of expectation for beautiful things.
Gu Yijia smiled with pursed lips. “Thank you, Baozhu.”
Knowing that Gu Yijia could not eat ice pops, and after asking whether her father and Uncle Feng would not eat them, Baozhu sent the remaining two ice pops into the kitchen to honor her mother and Aunt Chen.
Because her father had come home, Wei Baozhu took Baohua out to play. Plus there was Bureau Chief Wei present, so the living room was noisy and lively.
When Bureau Chief Wei was at home, he was not like his stern-faced self outside. He was smiling and laughing, looking very approachable.
Finally no longer in an awkward state, Gu Yijia secretly let out a breath of relief and sat there quietly drinking tea, occasionally listening to Bureau Chief Wei and Feng Lin talking with the children.
The lunch at Bureau Chief Wei’s home was very lively.
With several children around, it was impossible to stay quiet, not to mention that Bureau Chief Wei even dragged Feng Lin to drink, generously taking out the liquor he had treasured for a long time.
Feng Lin only drank one cup before raising a hand to refuse. “I still have things to do later.”
Bureau Chief Wei regretfully took back the hand that was pouring the wine. “It’s been a long time since we sat together to drink. Thinking back to those days… hey, when we all have time, let’s find Old Gu and have a proper drink, the brothers.”
Feng Lin nodded lightly.
After lunch, Feng Lin prepared to leave.
Bureau Chief Wei left with him and still had to go to the公安局.
Before leaving, he said to Chen Aifang and the others, “Little sister-in-law doesn’t come often, so you should stay and play a little longer. Don’t worry about Jiajia’s matter. The Jiang family will soon be too busy saving themselves to come bother you.”
With his assurance, Chen Aifang finally let go of her worries.
She said gratefully, “Bureau Chief Wei, thank you for the trouble.”
“What do you mean, trouble!” Bureau Chief Wei said with a smile. “If the Jiang family were upright, we wouldn’t be able to do anything either, right? It’s because the Jiang family is not upright and was found to have broken the law and violated discipline. We policemen naturally have to handle it according to the law.”
He did not explain the Jiang family situation in detail. Some things had not yet settled, and it was not good to say too much.
Chen Aifang understood this too and smiled, nodding. “Bureau Chief Wei is right.”
Feng Lin stood at the doorway waiting for Bureau Chief Wei, his gaze directed into the doorway and landing on Gu Yijia.
The others did not pay much attention to him, mainly because his aura was too strong, making people dare not let their gaze fall on him. Zhao Manli, however, for some reason, looked at him a few more times. When she discovered that he was gazing at Gu Yijia, her heart gave a slight jolt.
Oh my, this is serious. Could Regiment Commander Feng really have taken a fancy to Regiment Commander Gu’s younger sister?