Chapter 96 Zhao Ju's Family Opinions
Early the next morning
Gu Yihan had finally managed to get some rest and was hoping to sleep until she naturally woke up, but she was awakened by Aunt Chen's crying and shouting.
Gu Yihan had no choice but to cover her ears with her hands, trying to quickly fall into a deep sleep.
"Zhou Hua, are you stupid?! How could you let someone bully you like that?"
"How dare you marry a peasant from the countryside and have a child with him?"
Gu Yihan was still startled by Aunt Chen's desperate cries.
She casually put on a blue dress and quickly opened the gate to the courtyard.
I noticed that many military wives who were watching the commotion were whispering to each other with their heads down.
Gu Yihan's gaze swept to the doorway of Sister Chen's house.
There stood a woman who looked to be in her early twenties, with a dark complexion.
She was holding a boy who looked about two years old in her arms. The boy was cowering and clinging to the woman's neck.
With tears in her eyes, Zhou Hua looked at Aunt Chen and said, "Mother, life in the countryside is too hard. All we do when we open our eyes is endless farm work and never enough to eat."
She held the child in one arm and stretched out her other hand to show Aunt Chen; her fingers were thick, red, and swollen.
"In winter, my hands and feet get chilblains that are incredibly itchy."
"I couldn't stand it anymore, so I scratched it with my hands, and then it started to fester."
Aunt Chen grasped Zhou Hua's hand with trembling hands, gritted her teeth, and sobbed, "My poor daughter, how much suffering has she endured?"
Political Commissar Zhou stood in the courtyard, looking at the mother and daughter at the door, and shouted sternly, "What are you crying for? Didn't she ask for this herself?"
Political Commissar Zhou glared at Aunt Chen and said, "Aren't you going to come inside? Aren't you ashamed?"
Knowing that Political Commissar Zhou was angry, Zhou Lian and Zhou Yaozu, who were inside the house, immediately ran to the door, pulled Aunt Chen and Zhou Hua back inside, and closed the door.
Standing at Gu Yihan's door, Deputy Battalion Commander Wang's mother whispered, "What a tragedy! These city kids can't possibly endure the hardships of the countryside."
Gu Yihan had never met Aunt Chen's eldest daughter, Zhou Hua. She was also puzzled. It was 1970, and logically, if they had gone to the countryside in 1968, the child should not be that old.
So Gu Yihan asked Wang's mother curiously, "How could Aunt Chen bear to send her child to the countryside?"
Seeing that the onlookers had dispersed, Deputy Battalion Commander Wang's mother whispered in Gu Yihan's ear, "Zhou Hua volunteered to go to the countryside in 1966."
"What? You weren't forced to go to the countryside?" Gu Yihan asked in surprise, looking at Deputy Battalion Commander Wang's mother in a low voice.
Deputy Battalion Commander Wang's mother also sighed, "Political Commissar Zhou and his wife aren't heartless people. They love their children dearly, how could they bear to let them go to the countryside on their own initiative?"
"It's because Zhou Hua is a stupid girl who would rather believe outsiders than believe what Political Commissar Zhou and his wife say."
"They say that the countryside is a vast world where one can achieve great things."
"If it were really that good, why would anyone bother to go to the city to find a job?"
Gu Yihan recalled Zhou Hua's state just now and sighed, "She certainly has a bright future ahead of her."
"Pfft." Deputy Battalion Commander Wang's mother looked at Gu Yihan with amusement and said warmly, "We're all neighbors. Come over and play when you have free time."
Thinking of the orchid, Gu Yihan smiled awkwardly and said, "I'll go when I have free time."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries and farewells, the two returned to their respective courtyards.
After finishing her breakfast, Gu Yihan stood in the yard and called out to Mao Mao several times. Finding that he wasn't home, she simply locked the gate to the small yard.
Family Building
Wenjuan was sitting at her doorstep chatting with another military wife when she looked up and saw Gu Yihan.
"Commander Lu's wife, you've come to see Zhao Ju?" Wen Juan asked Gu Yihan with a smile.
Gu Yihan knew Wen Juan, and she nodded with a light smile.
Gu Yihan walked to Zhao Ju's door and knocked.
"Thump, thump, thump."
When Shi Jianguo opened the door and found Gu Yihan, he warmly invited her to come in and sit on a stool.
As Shi Jianguo poured water, he said, "Sister-in-law, I've been busy taking care of Zhao Ju these past few days and haven't had a chance to come and thank you."
Gu Yihan looked at the closed bedroom door and didn't see Zhao Ju. She said perfunctorily, "Zhao Ju's health is the most important thing."
Shi Jianguo knew that Gu Yihan had come to see Zhao Ju, so he said directly, "I'm here to see if Zhao Ju is awake yet."
Before Gu Yihan could reply, he went straight to Zhao Ju's bedroom, opened the door a crack, and whispered, "Wife, you're awake?"
Zhao Ju glanced at the other person expressionlessly, without replying.
Shi Jianguo's eyes dimmed, and he forced a smile at Zhao Ju, saying, "Commander Lu's wife is here. I asked her to come over and talk to you for a bit."
Zhao Ju's eyes lit up, then she lowered her gaze and said, "I understand."
When Zhao Ju saw Gu Yihan, her eyes were filled with tears, and she called out in a sobbing voice, "Xiaohan."
Gu Yihan walked to Zhao Ju's bedside, pulled over a stool not far away, sat down, and held her hand, asking, "What are your thoughts now?"
Upon hearing Gu Yihan's question, Zhao Ju's tears suddenly fell.
“My family won’t let me get a divorce. They say it’s shameful,” Zhao Ju said, crying.
“My mother also said that since Shi Jianguo’s mother has passed away, I should live a good life with him.”
Zhao Ju gripped Gu Yihan's hand tightly, her voice trembling uncontrollably: "But, Xiaohan,"
“I hate her. My baby can greet me every day while it’s in my belly.”
"My son will be here in just a few days to be with me."
“It was Shi Jianguo’s mother who caused me to lose my son. I can’t help but resent him whenever I see him. I can’t get over that hurdle in my heart.”
Gu Yihan also knew that divorce was not easy in this era, especially since Zhao Ju was in a military marriage, and divorce would also affect Shi Jianguo's promotion.
She opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything to make Zhao Ju let go, nor could she say anything to make the other party divorce her.
Gu Yihan sighed and said softly, "Sister Ju, you are currently in your postpartum period and cannot cry too often."
"Everything else is secondary; your own body is your only true asset. Only when you take good care of your health can you live a good life in the future."
Zhao Ju was injured this time and cried for a while. She got tired soon after. When Gu Yihan saw this, she quickly got up to say goodbye.
Gu Yihan opened the door and saw Shi Jianguo standing at the bedroom door, his eyes slightly red, looking at her with a hint of something in his eyes.
Shi Jianguo saw Gu Yihan to the door and suddenly said, "Sister-in-law, could you please find some time to come and chat with Zhao Ju?"
Gu Yihan nodded and said softly, "Okay."
Upon hearing Gu Yihan's agreement, Shi Jianguo was visibly moved and repeatedly expressed his gratitude.
When Wenjuan saw Gu Yihan coming out of Zhao Ju's house, she called out softly, "Lu Tuan's wife, come here for a moment."
Gu Yihan walked towards Wenjuan with a puzzled look, but before she could react, Wenjuan pulled her aside and whispered, "You advised Zhao Ju not to get a divorce?"
Gu Yihan looked at Wen Juan with a puzzled expression, wanting to ask them how they knew.
Another military wife chimed in, "Our apartment building isn't soundproof; you can hear everything that's going on in each other's homes."
Wenjuan looked up at Gu Yihan and sighed, "Yes! Being a military wife is tough. We should have thought of that when we got married."
“Since you married a soldier, you should know that you need to take care of the children and do housework on your own and be separated from Shi Jianguo for long periods of time.”
Gu Yihan didn't want to discuss Zhao Ju's matter, so she said to the two of them perfunctorily, "I have things to do at home, you two talk."
After saying that, Gu Yihan turned around and walked straight towards the stairwell.
The military wife who was with Wenjuan suddenly remembered something.
She slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "No wonder this Commander Lu's wife looks familiar! Isn't she the one who was walking with Lin Yifei last time?"
"What did you say?" Qiao Shuhui's shrill voice echoed throughout the corridor.
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