Chapter 41 My Daughter is Lost
When Xie Shiyu came home from get off work, he saw Gu Qiuyue sitting in a recliner in the corridor in a trance, and she hadn't turned the page of the book in her hand for a long time.
"What's wrong?" Xie Shiyu took off his military cap and hung it on the rack, then walked over and asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"
Gu Qiuyue, pulled back to her thoughts, shook her head. "I just feel that sometimes, people's hearts are too fickle. They'll praise you to the sky one moment, and trample you into the mud the next."
Xie Shiyu knew what she was referring to and consoled her, "Zhou Lihua deserved it. We were very generous not to kick her when she was down. You don't have to be so kind to her..."
Before he could finish his words, there was a gentle knock on the courtyard door, with a steady rhythm and a soldier's restraint.
Gu Qiuyue and Xie Shiyu looked at each other, and Xie Shiyu stood up to open the door.
Standing outside the door was Zhou Sheng, the political commissar of the Third Regiment. He was dressed in a military uniform, buttoned up meticulously, but his face was filled with an unconcealable grayness and fatigue, with dark circles under his eyes. He was holding nothing in his hands, but he kept a low profile.
"Thank you, Deputy Colonel, Secretary Gu." Zhou Sheng's voice was a little hoarse, and his eyes fell on Gu Qiuyue's face with a heavy sense of apology. "I... just heard about the great news that your parents have been rehabilitated and reinstated. Congratulations to you two! The two elders are highly respected, and it is what people want to see their grievances redressed." He paused, and his Adam's apple rolled, as if the next words weighed a thousand pounds.
"I came here today to apologize to Secretary Gu and Deputy Commander Xie for my sister Zhou Lihua and... and for the foolish things I did!" Zhou Sheng's waist bent slightly. This man who never bowed his head on the battlefield now had a face full of pain.
"It was my family who spoiled my younger sisters and failed to discipline them properly, causing them to do those things...that upset Secretary Gu and caused him harm. Especially since Comrade Gu had just experienced the pain of family separation, and they...it's truly a sin!" His voice trembled with suppressed emotion.
Xie Shiyu stood inside the door, his posture as straight as a pine tree, his eyes sharp and calm as he examined Zhou Sheng. He was silent for a few seconds before he spoke calmly: "Political Commissar Zhou, Qiuyue and I have received your apology. The organization's handling of Comrade Zhou Lihua was fair and strict. However,"
He changed the subject slightly, his tone becoming more serious. "Your mother's actions have caused substantial mental harm to my wife. This is a fact. Our Gu family is not dough that can be kneaded at will by anyone."
Gu Qiuyue stood half a step behind Xie Shiyu and gently held his hand behind his back. She looked at Zhou Sheng with clear eyes. There was no anger or arrogance of a winner on her face, only a calmness that came from having experienced a storm.
"Political Commissar Zhou," she said softly, but each word was clear. "Let's put the past behind us. We accept your apology. Shi Yu and I just want to live a peaceful life. We hope... that something like this won't happen again."
Zhou Sheng suddenly looked up, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes, including gratitude and deeper guilt.
He nodded vigorously, almost with a bit of ruthlessness: "Don't worry, Secretary Gu, and Deputy Regimental Director Xie. I, Zhou Sheng, guarantee with my Party spirit and my military honor that even if my sister is transferred from the art troupe, I will also control my mother and not let her have the opportunity to embarrass herself and destroy the unity of the compound." He straightened his back, as if he had made some kind of decision, saluted solemnly again, turned around, and left with heavy steps.
The courtyard door closed again, and the atmosphere was more relaxed than before. Xie Shiyu held Gu Qiuyue's slightly cold hand with his backhand, silently conveying his strength.
Not long after, the courtyard door was slammed again, and a loud voice pierced through the door: "Old Xie! Sister-in-law! Open the door! I'm Li Zhiguo!"
As soon as the door opened, Xie Shiyu's partner Li Zhiguo rushed in carrying a net bag of apples and two cans of malted milk.
There was a genuine, dazzling smile on his face, and his big hand like a palm-leaf fan slapped Xie Shiyu's shoulder heavily, almost making him stumble: "Good boy, you hid it well enough. You didn't even tell me about such a big happy event. It's a huge joy that the two elders of your brother-in-law's family have been rehabilitated. Congratulations!" His voice was so loud that the eaves seemed to buzz, and it instantly dispersed the heavy haze brought by Zhou Sheng.
He turned to Gu Qiuyue, grinning from ear to ear: "Sister-in-law, after all the hardships, happiness finally comes. From now on, Old Xie will be a legitimate 'son-in-law from a wealthy family'. His father-in-law and mother-in-law will both be top-notch professors in Beijing. Haha, I'm so envious!"
He put the things on the table without paying attention, and patted Xie Shiyu, "You kid, you have to be nicer to your sister-in-law in the future! Otherwise, you will have to pass the test of your brother-in-law, hehe..." He made an "you know" expression and winked.
Xie Shiyu smiled helplessly and shook his head, but there was warmth in his eyes: "Okay, Lao Li, you are the only one who talks too much. Come, sit down." The atmosphere in the room became completely lively.
Li Zhiguo took a few sips of the tea poured by Gu Qiuyue, then he stopped laughing and said seriously: "Honestly, sister-in-law, I'm so happy for you! We soldiers are rough guys, and what we respect most are scholars with real skills and integrity. Now that our family is reunited, the hard times are over." He talked a little more about the recent training intensity of the troops, and mentioned that Xie Shiyu had a heavy workload after returning to the team.
The afternoon sun was shining brightly. Gu Qiuyue sat by the window, spread out the letter paper, and wanted to write a reply to her parents. The tip of the pen was hovering over the paper, but she didn't know where to start. She had only met her adoptive parents once before her marriage, and she was really afraid of saying too much and making mistakes.
Suddenly, there were several clear car horns outside the yard, followed by the crowd's suddenly louder discussions, buzzing together.
"The division headquarters' car?!"
"Wow, you drove right to my doorstep?"
"Look! Are you looking for Vice Captain Xie's family?"
Gu Qiuyue and Xie Shiyu stood up and walked to the window. They saw a jeep painted in military green with a white divisional license plate parked steadily in front of their courtyard. The door opened, and a serious-looking young staff officer in a neat uniform jumped out swiftly. The star emblem on his shoulder strap gleamed in the sunlight.
He did not look around, and amidst countless gazes focused on him, full of shock and inquiry, he walked straight to the gate of the Xie family's courtyard, raised his hand, and knocked on the door in a clear rhythm, "Knock, knock, knock."
Xie Shiyu opened the door.
The staff officer snapped to attention and saluted with a standard military salute. His voice was clear and resonant: "Reporting to Deputy Regimental Commander Xie, by order of the division commander, we have a special confidential mission. Comrade Gu Qiuyue, please prepare and set off immediately!"
The sound was not loud, but it was like a huge rock thrown into a calm pond, instantly causing an uproar in the family compound!
"Oh my God! Is a special car from the division headquarters coming to pick me up?"
"Is it still a confidential mission? Did the commander personally call on me?"
"Gu Qiuyue... isn't she from the Propaganda Department? She's not a soldier, so why would she be asked to perform a special, confidential mission?"
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