Chapter 420 The Transformation of the Performing Arts Troupe's Star Performer

The sun is setting.

A brand-new sign was hung at the entrance of the farm: "Red Star Military Family Comprehensive Farm".

Gu Beichen and Su Yue stood side by side under the sign.

"Do you regret it?" Su Yue asked, "You've made yourself look like a peasant."

Gu Beichen looked down at the dirt still stuck in his fingernails, then glanced at the military wives in the distance who were beaming with joy as they held their money.

"This is even more exhilarating than hitting the bullseye at the shooting range."

He reached out and put his arm around Su Yue's shoulder, pulling her closer to him.

"Su Yue".

"Um?"

"Let's buy this land."

Su Yue was stunned, and suddenly looked up at him: "What did you say?"

“I said, once the policy allows it, let’s contract this land.” Gu Beichen’s gaze swept past the farm and looked at the distant wasteland. “Five hundred acres is not enough. I want to build a real empire for our peace and tranquility.”

At that moment, Su Yue saw ambition in his eyes.

That ambition—to break free from constraints and seize a significant share of this rapidly developing era.

"Okay." Su Yue laughed, a wild and unrestrained laugh. "As long as you dare to want it, I dare to go crazy with you."

Time flew by like a clock wound up faster, and winter arrived in the blink of an eye.

Winter on Hainan Island has no snow, only a cool breeze blowing from the sea, which is more comfortable than the sweltering heat.

The arrival gate at Haikou Airport was crowded with people.

Gu Pingan sat on the railing, holding a half-eaten coconut in his hand, his neck stretched out like a giraffe.

Gu Ningjing was held in Zhang Huilan's arms, wearing a bright red tiger-head hat, which made her little face look like a New Year's picture doll.

"Mom, stop pacing around there." Su Yue leaned against the Jeep door and glanced at her watch. "The plane just landed, and it'll take a while for it to taxi. People won't be out so soon."

Zhang Huilan stopped, reached out to tidy her wind-blown temples, and then tugged at the hem of her clothes: "I was just worried that Jingya wouldn't be able to find us. It's been more than half a year since we last saw each other. I wonder if that girl has gained or lost weight."

"She's definitely gained weight." Su Yue took out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped the coconut juice from Gu Ping'an's mouth. "How can a pregnant woman not gain weight? Besides, Bei Xiao is such a doting husband, would he let her go hungry?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Gu Ping'an suddenly pointed to the exit and shouted, "They're here! That's Second Aunt!"

In the crowd, Chu Jingya stood out among the crowd of people in gray-blue Zhongshan suits, wearing a beige cashmere coat and a red scarf.

Despite being more than six months pregnant, she still walked with the air of a pillar of the performing arts troupe, her back ramrod straight.

He was carrying a small leather suitcase, but before he had taken more than a few steps, it was snatched away by a guard who was following him.

"Jingya!" Zhang Huilan called out, her voice trembling involuntarily.

Chu Jingya stopped and scanned the crowd, pinpointing the family.

His previous composure crumbled instantly, a big smile spread across his face, and he strode over here.

"Auntie! Yueyue!"

"Slow down! Slow down!" Zhang Huilan was so frightened that her heart almost jumped out of her chest. She rushed over and grabbed her arm. "My little darling, you're pregnant, how come you're running around like nothing's wrong?"

Chu Jingya hugged Zhang Huilan and rubbed her face against her shoulder: "Auntie, I missed you so much! The food in the capital is not good at all. I just crave your pickled fish."

"I'll do it! I'll do it as soon as I get home!" Zhang Huilan patted her round belly, smiling so broadly that her eyes disappeared from her teeth.

Su Yue stepped forward and took the luggage from the guard: "Alright, stop standing here like a road post. You can be all lovey-dovey when you get home. The car has the heater on, don't let our great artist get cold."

The jeep was packed full.

Gu Ping'an and Gu Ningjing squeezed next to Chu Jingya, staring curiously at the bulging belly. Gu Ping'an mustered up his courage and poked it, feeling it was hard as a rock, and withdrew his hand in fright: "Second Aunt, is my little brother practicing boxing in there?"

"Yes." Chu Jingya took his little hand and placed it on her belly. "He's greeting his brother."

Just then, the little one in her belly kicked, and Gu Ping'an felt a jolt in her palm. Her eyes widened: "Wow! He's really strong! He'll definitely be able to go crabbing with me in the future!"

The carriage erupted in laughter.

Back in the compound, as soon as I entered, a strong, sour and spicy aroma hit me.

Yang Yiyi, with a belly even bigger than Chu Jingya's, was sitting on a wicker chair in the yard, eating a sour mango.

Seeing Chu Jingya enter, she struggled to stand up, her movements clumsy like a penguin.

"Oh my god, I'm finally back." Yang Yiyi threw down the sour mango and opened her arms wide. "Let me see if this lady from the capital is more sophisticated than us country bumpkins on the island."

"Get lost." Chu Jingya laughed and hugged her. The two big pregnant women were pressed together, making the scene particularly comical. "You look great. You're much rosier than when we talked on the phone before."

“That’s all thanks to Su Yue.” Yang Yiyi sat down, touching her stomach. “You have no idea, I was vomiting so badly a few months ago that I almost thought I was going to die. If it weren’t for Su Yue’s acupuncture skills, I would still be in the hospital getting an IV drip right now.”

Su Yue carried the luggage into the house and poured everyone a glass of warm water: "Alright, stop with the mutual flattery. Yiyi, isn't Yun Mu coming back today?"

"Him?" Yang Yiyi pouted. "These past few days, he's been so focused on the all-army competition that he practically lives on the training ground. Never mind him, we sisters are having a good time."

Gu Beichen was in charge of cooking dinner.

The newly promoted Brigade Commander Gu took off his military uniform, put on an apron, and began to practice his skills in the kitchen, which was less than five square meters in size.

His knife skills were swift and precise, slicing potatoes into thin shreds as fine as hair, and his wok-tossing motion carried the air of someone commanding a vast army.

Before long, the octagonal table was filled with dishes.

Pickled fish, braised pork, boiled shrimp, and a plate of stir-fried pea shoots specially prepared for the two pregnant women.

“Bei Xiao was supposed to come back too.” Chu Jingya picked up a piece of fish and ate with a satisfied look. “But he’s been busy with some internal audit lately and can’t get away.”

"Work is the priority." Zhang Huilan put a large piece of meat on each of her two daughters-in-law's plates. "As long as everyone is safe, it doesn't matter where you are. Besides, with you here, our family is half reunited."

Just then, the phone rang in the living room.

Gu Beichen put down his chopsticks and went to take the receiver. Gu Beixiao's signature loud voice came through the receiver, which could be heard even from two meters away.

"Brother! Did you pick up Jingya? She's a bit absent-minded, did she get lost? Was the ride bumpy? Did she throw up?"

Gu Beichen moved the receiver further away, and only after the machine-gun-like chatter on the other end finished did he reply casually, "The person here is eating fish, and they're enjoying it more than you are."

After speaking, he handed the receiver to Chu Jingya.

Chu Jingya took the phone, and her originally carefree expression instantly softened.

She didn't say anything mushy, but just rambled on about what she had seen and heard on the road, how Ping'an had grown taller, and how her aunt's fish still tasted the same.

As he hung up the phone, Gu Beixiao called out, "Honey, once I'm done with this, I'll crawl home to see you!"