Chapter 44 Wife and Children

After Qin Lie and Zhao Xue arrived, the old lady was also pushed out of the ward by her wife to get some fresh air.

In an instant, only Su Nanzhi, Gu Xizhou and Xu Jianian were left in the ward.

After Xu Jianian had lunch, he was still in a very low mood because of what happened to Grandpa Xu, even though he ate his favorite meat.

"Sister Nanzhi, I want to go home."

Every time his grandfather was taken away, he would come home with wounds all over his body, and he was the one who applied medicine to his grandfather every time.

A hint of contemplation flashed across Su Nanzhi's eyes, and after a few seconds, she nodded.

Seeing this, Xu Jianian immediately smiled and struggled to get up and get out of bed.

The next second, his body fell into an embrace.

Gu Xizhou picked up Xu Jianian and said calmly to Su Nanzhi who was looking at him in surprise, "I just don't have anything to do today."

Su Nanzhi thought about what she was going to do next and didn't refuse. She nodded and said, "But does Captain Gu really know the person who made the banner?"

A smile flashed in Gu Xizhou's eyes and he nodded.

Half an hour later, Gu Xizhou brought Su Nanzhi to a yard.

Even without opening the door, you can hear the faint "clacking" sound of the sewing machine coming from inside.

Gu Xizhou held Xu Jianian in one hand and patted the wooden door with his free hand.

The sound of the sewing machine in the yard stopped, and after a while, the gate was opened.

An old lady with gray hair appeared at the door. When she saw Gu Xizhou, a smile immediately broke out on her face.

"Xizhou is here."

The old lady was halfway through her words when she saw Su Nanzhi and Xu Jianian. A puzzled look appeared on her face. Before Gu Xizhou could speak, she suddenly realized, "These are your wife and child?"

"This child looks like you. Why is his arm injured?"

"And it's not Grandma Li who's saying this about you. You look healthy yourself, but your wife and children are so skinny."

The old lady carefully touched Xu Jianian's plastered hand and looked at Gu Xizhou with some reproach.

Su Nanzhi didn't feel anything about this misunderstanding, but when she saw Gu Xizhou's ears had turned red at some point, she couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth.

Gu Xizhou, who was already feeling uncomfortable, saw this and didn't care about her laughing at him. He immediately introduced Su Nanzhi and Xu Jianian to the old lady and the reason for their visit.

"And Grandma Li, didn't I come to see you last month?"

Grandma Li pretended not to hear the last sentence. When she found out that Xu Jianian and Su Nanzhi were not Gu Xizhou's daughter-in-law or children, she showed an expression of obvious regret. After looking at Gu Xizhou with a look of disapproval, she turned to Su Nanzhi and said, "Xiao Su, are you married?"

"What do you think of our Xizhou?"

"He just looks a little cold, but he's a good guy."

This time, the person who felt uncomfortable was Su Nanzhi. In her previous life, she was successful in her career, but she couldn't resist the enthusiastic aunties who came to introduce her to a partner.

"Grandma Li, my family arranged a marriage for me when I was little."

"Besides, Captain Gu is so outstanding that she doesn't need your introduction. There are many young girls chasing after her."

Gu Xizhou, who was standing by, had a flash of disappointment in his eyes that he himself did not understand.

Even though Qin Lie hurt her so much, can't she forget Qin Lie?

Hearing this, Grandma Li couldn't help but sigh.

“It’s useless to be an excellent person without a bright mind.”

Thinking of Gu Xizhou's declaration of being single, Su Nanzhi could not say anything to comfort him. She gave Gu Xizhou a helpless look and stood aside without saying anything.

Gu Xizhou smiled bitterly, "Grandma Li, I'm busy with work, so there's no rush for getting married."

"Please help us make the flag first."

As he spoke, he helped Grandma Li into the yard.

Grandma Li looked unconvinced, but she didn't ask any further questions.

The yard is not big, but it is well-organized and full of life. There is also a pot of wild flowers planted in the corner, which looks very lively.

There was a sewing machine in the middle of the main room, with a half-finished piece of clothing on it.

Seeing this, Su Nanzhi said, "Grandma Li, please finish the clothes you have on hand first. I'm not in a hurry."

Grandma Li didn't say anything polite and nodded to continue making the half-finished clothes.

Gu Xizhou had already put Xu Jianian down and went to the kitchen next to the main hall. He soon came out carrying two buckets of water.

"Sit down and take a rest."

Leaving these words behind, Gu Xizhou left the yard carrying the bucket.

Su Nanzhi found a stool and sat down, looking around the main room with some curiosity.

Although the furniture in the main room looked a bit old due to being used for so long, it was very clean. However, Su Nanzhi always felt that something was strange about it.

It wasn't until I saw a family photo hanging on the wall that I realized what was going on.

Although the main room was clean, it was too clean, as if Grandma Li was the only one living in this yard, with no trace of anyone else's life.

"That's a family photo taken when my grandson was just born."

"Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye. My family members have either fallen ill or died, and now I'm the only one left, an old woman."

Grandma Li's calm voice was heard amidst the noisy sound of a sewing machine.

Su Nanzhi turned to look at Grandma Li, but could only see her profile as she lowered her head and worked diligently.

"Life is unpredictable, and Xizhou still wants to frame an old woman like me."

"What's the point of being too busy with work and not in a hurry to find a partner? He doesn't want to get married at all."

Before Su Nanzhi had finished digesting Grandma Li's first words, she heard Gu Xizhou's name again, and for a moment she didn't know how to control the expression on her face.

Grandma Li obviously didn't know what Su Nanzhi was thinking, and she slowly dropped another bombshell.

"This is the first time Xizhou has brought a girl to my place."

"I think Xizhou must have a crush on you."

After a brief blank in her mind, Su Nanzhi finally reacted after hearing these words.

"Grandma Li, I have a fiancé."

Although this fiancé will be gone in a few days, Su Nanzhi does not recommend using him as a shield.

The sound of the sewing machine stopped, and Grandma Li's smiling voice came clearly.

"I've lived for decades, and you, a little girl, can't fool me. The way you talked about your fiancé didn't seem to have any feelings at all."

"I think you and Xizhou are a good match. You are both good kids with tough words but soft hearts."

Su Nanzhi had no idea how the topic had led to this point. She just wanted to lie to Grandma Li that she had deep feelings for her fiancé, and she didn't want to disgust herself.

Fortunately, Gu Xizhou came back carrying water soon, and the matter was finally put to rest.

Grandma Li didn't dwell on the matter anymore, but Su Nanzhi still felt a little uncomfortable.

Gu Xizhou also noticed that something was wrong with her, but he didn't ask.

Grandma Li was an experienced seamstress with decades of experience. Making silk banners was simply a waste of her talent. After finding two pieces of red cloth and cutting them, she quickly made the silk banners.

Printing technology in the 1970s was not very advanced, and most of the words on the banners were handwritten.

Therefore, Su Nanzhi also knew that in addition to Gu Xizhou's physical condition being among the best in the army, he could also write beautifully.

“Your handwriting is really beautiful.”

Seeing Gu Xizhou put away the brush, Su Nanzhi couldn't help but praise him.

A smile flashed in Gu Xizhou's eyes, but his face remained calm. "I used to write the Spring Festival couplets for the village every year."

In the village? Su Nanzhi was curious.

Gu Xizhou didn't look like he grew up in the countryside, but although she was curious, it was not appropriate for her to ask further questions.

Xu Jianian, who was standing by, came over with sparkling eyes. Although he hadn't started school yet, Xu Wenshu had been teaching him to read privately, intentionally or unintentionally. At least he recognized the three characters "Xu Jianian" on the banner.

"Xu...Jia...Nian, this is my name."

"Is this my banner? Sister Nanzhi, is this really for me?"

Although he knew her, Xu Jianian couldn't help but confirm it again and again.

Su Nanzhi was not impatient and would patiently reply to him every time.

"This is for the brave little boy Jianian. I hope Jianian will accept it."

As she said this, she looked at Xu Jianian with a pleading look, as if she would cry if Xu Jianian didn't agree.

Gu Xizhou looked at this scene, and the corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously.

Grandma Li, who was standing by, was so happy to see the three of them getting along that her face was almost blossoming with smiles.

In addition to sending a large banner to the street office, Su Nanzhi also used the remaining red cloth to make a small banner specifically for Xu Jianian.

After the banner was made, Su Nanzhi wanted to pay for it, but Grandma Li was unwilling to accept it. Su Nanzhi wanted to give her some money, but was stopped by Gu Xizhou.

After leaving Grandma Li's house, Su Nanzhi immediately looked at Gu Xizhou.