Chapter 443 The Snowman

As the year draws to a close, the weather is getting colder and colder.

It snowed all night last night, completely covering the bluestone path in the Gu family's courtyard.

Gu Xiao went to the ministry early in the morning. Sister Zhang was busy buying New Year's goods. After breakfast, Nan Zhiyi and Gu Zhao, mother and son, each with a bamboo broom, started sweeping snow from under the eaves.

Halfway through the work, Gu Zhao, puffing out white breath, said, "Mom, after we finish sweeping, shall we build a snowman?"

"Okay." Nan Zhiyi straightened up and smiled as she ruffled her son's hair.

"I want to build a dad, a mom, and me!" Gu Zhao hadn't finished speaking when the phone in the room suddenly rang.

He dropped the broom and ran inside, shouting, "I'll go get it!"

Nan Zhiyi smiled and shook her head, continuing to gather the snow towards the corner of the wall.

A moment later, Gu Zhao came bouncing back: "My aunt and uncle are coming at noon! They said they'd bring me a gift!"

"Okay." Nan Zhiyi nodded with a smile.

Gu Zhao brandished the broom, "Then I'll pile up another aunt and an uncle!"

When Zhang Yueran and Zhou Xingzhi arrived at the Gu family's courtyard, they saw five snowmen sitting in a row next to the grape trellis, four big and one small, looking adorable.

Gu Zhao ran out to show off: "Auntie! Uncle! Look, these are you two!"

The little snowman representing Zhang Yueran had a faded red woolen scarf around its neck, while the one representing Zhou Xingzhi wore an old felt hat.

Zhang Yueran also happened to be wearing a brand new red scarf today.

She hugged Gu Zhao tightly. "Thank you, Gu Xiaoman, you did a really good job!" She turned to Zhou Xingzhi beside her, a mischievous smile in her eyes. "Mr. Zhou, look, doesn't it look like you?"

Zhou Xingzhi looked at the snowman wearing a felt hat, gently scratched her palm with his fingertip, and nodded helplessly: "It looks like one."

Zhang Yueran gave a light hum and then handed the paper bag she had been carrying to Gu Zhao: "Here, the electromagnetic experiment device I promised you last time, it's assembled. Go try it out?"

Nan Zhiyi also came out of the house and stood under the porch, waving: "Come in quickly, it's cold outside."

The room was well-heated, and a layer of white mist condensed on the windowpanes.

As soon as Zhang Yueran entered the room, she took off her coat, revealing a bright red woolen skirt underneath.

Zhou Xingzhi followed behind her, carefully hanging up their coats, then taking the scarf Zhang Yueran had casually placed on the back of the chair, folding it in half, smoothing it out, and gently draping it aside.

Gu Zhao knelt on the carpet, studying the magnet assembly. Seeing the child frown, Zhou Xingzhi squatted down beside him, pointing to the markings on the circuit diagram with his slender fingers, and gave him a simple explanation.

Zhang Yueran held the teacup but didn't drink. Her gaze lingered on Zhou Xingzhi for a moment, then looked at her sister, and a faint blush gradually rose to her ears.

"What's wrong?" Nan Zhiyi asked softly.

Zhang Yueran put down her teacup, picked up her handbag, and pulled her sister toward the study.

She closed the door, took out a red envelope from her bag, unfolded it layer by layer, and found a folded piece of cardboard—their marriage certificate.

The bright red cover features a gold double happiness symbol, and the inner pages contain a black and white photo of the two people, with their names written side by side below.

"Oh!" Nan Zhiyi exclaimed softly, taking the certificate and examining it closely.

"So fast, you're really married?" She looked up at Zhang Yueran, her eyes welling up with tears. "Our Yueyue has really grown up..."

How could she not feel a pang of emotion? In her heart, Zhang Yueran was still a young girl; she never imagined that she would now be a married woman...

Zhang Yueran buried her face in her sister's shoulder, "I'm so, so happy to have married him. Sister, do you think things will always be this good?"

"Yes, he will." Nan Zhiyi hugged her shoulders tightly. "He will cherish you, just like he does now."

Recalling how Zhou Xingzhi had been adjusting the scarf earlier, she couldn't help but laugh. "With your impulsive nature, you need someone as meticulous as Zhou Xingzhi."

She then asked, "Did you tell Aunt Feng and Uncle Zhang?"

"We called each other the day we got our marriage certificate," Zhang Yueran said, sticking out her tongue. "Dad was yelling on the phone, saying it was too fast, too fast. Mom was quite happy, saying the house was all stocked with New Year's goods, just waiting for us to come home..."

"That's wonderful, Yueyue. I hope you'll always be this happy."

"Definitely! I will definitely try my best to make myself happy, and I will also try my best to make him happy."

The two sisters leaned closer and whispered a few more words to each other.

Nan Zhiyi kept pressing Zhang Yueran about the couple's private affairs, and Zhang Yueran answered hesitantly in a low voice.

When Zhang Yueran was too embarrassed to speak, Nan Zhiyi patted the back of her hand and said, "Okay, I won't ask anymore. If you keep asking, you'll burn the house down."

In the living room, Zhou Xingzhi was helping Gu Zhao adjust the swing amplitude of the electromagnetic swing.

Hearing the two sisters' footsteps, he looked up and his eyes met Zhang Yueran's. Her eyes were still glistening with tears, but she gave him a bright smile.

Zhou Xingzhi smiled slightly and stroked her long hair.

Nan Zhiyi suggested to the affectionate young couple, "Yueyue, we happen to have some wine at home, how about we have a glass at noon?"

Zhang Yueran hooked her fingers around Zhou Xingzhi's sleeve: "Great! Today is a day to celebrate!"

Nan Zhiyi: "I'll make a call and ask if Fifth Brother is coming back for dinner."

She dialed Gu Xiao's office number and heard from Nan Zhiyi that guests had come to her home and invited him to dinner. Gu Xiao decided to take some time to go home: "Okay, I'll be home before noon."

"Okay, we'll wait for you."

After hanging up the phone, Nan Zhiyi quickly went into the kitchen to tell Sister Zhang about adding more dishes.

He then turned and went into the storage room, picking and choosing among the wine cabinets that covered the wall. Unable to make a decision, he called out, "Yueyue, why don't you pick a bottle?"

Zhang Yueran followed her advice and spent a long time examining the bottle. She picked up a dark brown glass bottle with the words "Tonghua Red Wine" written in gold on it.

“This was given to Gu Xiao by his comrades from the Liaoning Military Region last year.” Nan Zhiyi looked at it. “It’s made from wild grapes, and it has a mellow flavor. You have a good eye for quality.”

Back in the living room.

Zhou Xingzhi took the bottle and said, "I'll let it sober up."

Zhang Yueran then found a decanter in the cabinet and stayed with him.

Seeing him use a bottle opener to uncork the bottle, Zhang Yueran whispered, "You're driving this afternoon, can you drink?"

Zhou Xingzhi continued working, raising an eyebrow: "Then you'll drink it for me?" Seeing her eyes widen, he added softly, "Or... stay here tonight?"

"You..." This old fogey has actually learned to flirt back.

Zhang Yueran poked the back of his hand with her fingertip. "Mr. Zhou, you've gone astray!"

Nan Zhiyi pretended not to see the young couple's affectionate behavior and turned to set the table.

Seeing that it was almost midnight, Nan Zhiyi put on her coat and went out to greet Gu Xiao.

As soon as I reached the main road of the family compound, I saw Gu Xiao's tall and upright figure walking towards me through the snow.

Upon seeing her, Gu Xiao quickened his pace, taking large, steady steps, the hem of his military overcoat fluttering slightly with each step.

Nan Zhiyi jogged over and took his arm.

"Gu Xiao, guess why Yueyue and the other two suddenly showed up today?"

Gu Xiao took her hand, which was resting on his arm, and checked its temperature before slowly saying, "A gift for our son?"

"wrong."

"Want to chat with you?"

Nan Zhiyi narrowed her eyes suspiciously: "Gu Xiao, are you teasing me on purpose?"

“My wife is really hard to please,” Gu Xiao said, squeezing her fingers with a smile in his eyes. “I really don’t know what to do. She gets angry whether I guess right or wrong.”

Just as Nan Zhiyi was about to glare at him, she heard him whisper, "Did you... get your marriage certificate?"

Nan Zhiyi snorted, unsure whether to laugh or be angry. He had clearly already guessed it, yet he was still seriously guessing.

“You know perfectly well!” She lightly punched his arm.

Gu Xiao grabbed her hand and put it in his coat pocket: "See? I told you my wife is hard to please."

“Okay, okay,” Nan Zhiyi leaned her head against his shoulder, “They got their marriage certificate, let’s have a simple celebration at noon today.”

She remembered the bottle of Tonghua red wine, and a smile curved her lips. "I also opened a bottle of red wine. It's a pity you have work this afternoon and can't drink it. Zhou Xingzhi also has to drive."

Gu Xiao hummed in agreement. "Just the two of you sisters drinking?"

“Yes,” Nan Zhiyi blinked, “You two are both grown men, one has to go back to the army, and the other has to drive his new wife home. Neither of you can get anything done.”

The two walked home through the snow.

Upon entering the yard, Nan Zhiyi pointed to the largest snowman: "Doesn't Xiaoman's snowman dad look like him?"

Gu Xiao stopped and examined it closely.

The snowman wore an old training hat, and red chili peppers were embedded under his two black coal eyes as mouths, giving him a rather stern look.

"Hmm, you look quite energetic."

He pulled Nan Zhiyi closer to him: "Alright, Snowman Mom, come inside, your hands are getting cold."

Nan Zhiyi smiled and said, "Yes, Snowman Daddy."