Chapter 108
Although it was the weekend, there was a meeting at the regimental headquarters, so Shen Mingzheng left early in the morning.
By the time he got home, it was already late at night.
Shen Mingzheng tiptoed into the room and found that Gu Xi was still awake.
The study light was on, and Gu Xi was writing at her desk. The night was quiet, with only the sound of the night wind blowing through the treetops and the scratching of the pen on the paper.
Shen Mingzheng stood quietly at the door for a while, then went to get his clothes and take a shower.
After he finished showering, he came to the study and gently knocked on the door to bring the person engrossed in their work back to attention.
"Huh? Big brother, you're back?" Gu Xi blinked, picked up the watch next to her, and realized that it was almost midnight.
The night was quiet, and since he hadn't come home yet, she decided to write something, and ended up being busy until now.
Shen Mingzheng walked over, snatched the pen from her hand, and picked her up in his arms.
Gu Xi quickly said, "No, no, no, my manuscripts..." The wind is strong at night and will blow them away.
He supported her hips with one hand, letting her sit in the crook of his arm, and used the other hand to pick up a book from the desk and place it on the manuscript she had written, then carried her back to the room.
Gu Xi was used to being hugged by him, so she put her hands on his shoulders and mumbled something. Shen Mingzheng didn't need to listen to know that she was complaining, complaining that he was disturbing her work.
After getting him back to his room, he said, "Go to sleep early, or you'll be tired again tomorrow."
"No, I'm much better now and full of energy." Gu Xi stood up straight and was able to defend herself. "Besides, I don't have to get up early. I can sleep as late as I want."
Despite her complaints, he carried her back to her room, and she lost the will to continue writing.
She was inspired today, and since he wasn't home, she couldn't help but get engrossed in writing. After writing for a while, her hand started to ache.
Gu Xi went to wash up, changed into her pajamas, and then threw herself into the arms of the man who was sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for her. He picked her up and carried her to the bed, pulling the blanket over her.
The temperature on spring nights was still cold for her; if she didn't cover herself with a blanket, she would definitely get sick the next day.
Gu Xi yawned, snuggled into his arms for warmth, and suddenly asked, "Do any of your leaders want to introduce someone to Battalion Commander Xiang?"
Shen Mingzheng was massaging her sore wrists when he heard this and asked, "Why do you say that?"
"Just curious." Gu Xi told him about how Xiang Zhao and his sister were stopped by Wan Cuihua earlier that day. "I heard that when you first transferred here, you encountered something similar. Not only were the wives in the family compound eyeing you, but even the leaders wanted to introduce you to potential partners..."
She straightened up slightly and looked at his face under the light, thinking that the more she looked at him, the more handsome he became; no wonder he was being targeted.
Ye Fenghua had never worked before, but she was well-informed in the family compound and knew a bit about everything.
Today, she heard a lot from Sister Ye about how Shen Mingzheng was favored by everyone, and even the leaders wanted to introduce him to potential partners.
Shen Mingzheng wondered to himself, was she bringing up old grievances?
He was unusually nervous, but he didn't show it on his face. He said seriously, "It has nothing to do with me. I already have a fiancée."
He's perfectly content with his fiancée; nothing else matters to him.
Seeing his upright and dignified appearance, Gu Xi couldn't help but find it a little funny, and continued, "Battalion Commander Xiang is quite popular. Many people want to introduce him to potential partners. Xiao Zhao and Xiao Yun have been stopped by many people asking about their uncle... But compared to Battalion Commander Xiang, I heard that Regiment Commander Shen was even more popular than him back then."
It seems they really are bringing up old grievances.
Shen Mingzheng was already certain of this, so he didn't panic and calmly said, "I had just been transferred here and had a lot of things to do, so I didn't pay attention to those things. Besides, you and I are engaged. After I told the leaders, they helped me stop those who wanted to arrange marriages, so no one came to me."
Gu Xi propped herself up and carefully looked at Commander Shen, finding him to be nothing more than upright, and then snorted.
She may not mind, but she can't let him off easy. She has to show him that she cares about these things and that he should know to avoid suspicion in the future.
Shen Mingzheng: "..."
"What about Battalion Commander Xiang now?" Gu Xi continued to ask. "Has any leader offered to introduce him to someone?"
Seeing that she continued to ask about Xiang Changchuan, Shen Mingzheng felt it was time to turn the page and said, "Yes, he did, but he refused them all." He lowered his voice, "You know the Xiang family's situation, and Changchuan doesn't know what the future holds. He doesn't want to get married so as not to delay other women... Moreover, there are leaders in the military who can see his file and know his situation, so they won't introduce him to anyone."
Few leaders had access to Xiang Changchuan's file, and those leaders all remained silent.
They wouldn't introduce Xiang Changchuan to someone at this juncture.
As long as these leaders aren't too concerned about their subordinates' marriage prospects and don't try to introduce them to potential partners, Xiang Changchuan can refuse anyone else, unafraid of offending anyone.
Gu Xi didn't take it to heart.
She knew that many people would be exonerated in the future, and the Xiang family would definitely be exonerated too, as long as they waited a few more years. Even if Xiang Changchuan got married, it wouldn't really make a difference.
But nobody knows these things, so Xiang Changchuan's current caution is justified.
Gu Xi said, "It seems that Battalion Commander Xiang is not planning to get married for the time being."
"Maybe." Shen Mingzheng didn't say anything too definitive.
Gu Xi didn't dwell on the topic and quickly fell asleep.
Unfortunately, the people in the family compound were unaware of Xiang Changchuan's situation and were still very enthusiastic about introducing him to potential partners. They would always find an opportunity to stop Xiang Changchuan and try to introduce him to someone.
This troubled Xiang Changchuan somewhat, but he firmly refused.
No matter who introduced him to a potential partner, he refused. Even if someone suggested that his two young children needed a younger aunt to take care of them, he would say that the children were already grown up, could take care of themselves, and could also take care of him, their uncle.
He was like a simpleton, so clueless that those who wanted to introduce him to potential partners could only leave empty-handed.
As time went on, everyone came to know that Battalion Commander Xiang did not want to get married and was willing to remain a widow.
As a result, the people who wanted to introduce him to potential partners were gradually driven away, and Xiang Zhao and his sister were no longer stopped and questioned by people from the family compound from time to time.
**
May has arrived in the blink of an eye, and the weather is getting better and better.
That day, Gu Yuanyang returned from a mission and was told by the communications room that he had received several urgent phone calls from Beijing in the past few days, and asked him to return the calls when he had time.
Beijing city?
Gu Yuanyang knew immediately that the call was from his family, and he was a little puzzled, wondering why his family was calling him.
Ever since he joined the army, his family has unilaterally broken ties with him. His parents act as if he doesn't exist, and they never call him during holidays. Even when their only granddaughter, Gu Tuantuan, was born, there was no celebration in Beijing. It's as if they're trying to ignore him and treat him as if he doesn't exist.
They probably didn't even remember what his wife Ji Ya's name was.
Gu Yuanyang naturally didn't want to wrong his wife and children, so he never thought of taking them back to Beijing to meet his family over the years.
As the saying goes, distance makes the heart grow fonder. As long as we haven't met, let's pretend we're all living in peace.
Although Gu Yuanyang was puzzled, he still went to the communications room to make a call.
However, when he called back, no one answered.
Gu Yuanyang had no choice but to wait for them to call back.
When he got home, he told Ji Ya about it, saying, "My parents and Yuanzheng rarely call me. I don't know what's wrong. I heard they've called here several times in the past few days, but I was on a mission and didn't answer."
He was away for a month for this mission.
Ji Ya was also puzzled and said, "I really don't know about this. I've been working overtime at the hospital lately and don't get back until very late... The hospital hasn't received any calls either."
She came back late, and even if the communications room wanted to find her to help answer the phone, they couldn't find her.
Moreover, if you want to find her, just call the military hospital; you'll definitely be able to reach her. It seems that her in-laws aren't looking for her.
Gu Yuanyang felt a slight pang in his heart upon hearing this.
I'm afraid none of his family knows that Ji Ya works at the hospital, or what her phone number is... He did write the letter to his family when he wrote it, but they certainly haven't seen it.
He knew all this in his heart, but he really couldn't tell Ji Ya; it was something he found difficult to say.
The couple couldn't figure out what urgent matter was in Beijing, and since they couldn't get in touch with anyone, they had no choice but to put up with it.
It wasn't until the third day after Gu Yuanyang returned that the people in Beijing finally called him again.
As soon as the call connected, Gu Yuanyang heard his father's furious shouts: "Gu Yuanyang, where have you been for the past two weeks? Do you even know your brother is in trouble? When we need you, you, as the older brother, are nowhere to be seen. What good are you—"
Gu Yuanyang frowned, resisting the urge to move the microphone to the side.
At this moment, the people in the communications room glanced over as if they didn't, all pricking up their ears to listen.
Gu Yuanyang asked, "Dad, don't panic! Who's in trouble? Is it Yuanzheng or Yuanhui? What happened? Tell me first, and I'll do my best to help."
As the elder brother, he has a responsibility to take care of his younger siblings.
After hurling his insults, Gu Maowen said wearily, "What's the use of telling you now? It's too late. Yuanhui has already been sent to a labor camp in the Northwest..."
Gu Yuanyang was stunned for a moment, then said in surprise, "Sent to a farm for labor reform? Why?"
His first thought was that Gu Yuanhui had been framed and sent to a labor camp. He couldn't help but think of the chaos outside in recent years, how many families had been torn apart and destroyed.
Gu Maowen was silent for a moment, then reluctantly recounted Gu Yuanhui's story: "...Someone deliberately started a fight with him, and he accidentally injured someone. The other person later died from excessive blood loss...But this wasn't Yuanhui's fault. He was trying to help a friend, which is why he went a little too far..."
By the end, the veins on Gu Yuanyang's forehead were throbbing. If it weren't for the fact that it was his father on the other end, he would have hung up the phone immediately.
Even if his father tries his best to exonerate Gu Yuanhui, if someone is hurt or even killed, then it is Gu Yuanhui's fault.
Being sent to a labor camp was considered lucky.
After Gu Maowen finished speaking, Gu Yuanyang calmly said, "I understand. This was indeed Yuanhui's fault. Dad, don't be too sad. Let him reform himself. As long as he's not dead, there's still hope for the future."
He really thought so. They killed people, yet they only got sentenced to labor camp instead of being forced to eat peanuts. This shows that things weren't as bad as they seemed.
Unfortunately, that wasn't what Gu Maowen wanted to hear. He immediately launched into a tirade, scolding him for not acting like an older brother, for not caring about his younger brother, and for not trying to help him.
There was someone else on the intercom, but Gu Yuanyang couldn't argue with him, so he hung up the phone directly.
After leaving the communications room, his face was frighteningly grim.
When Ji Ya returned home that evening, she noticed that Gu Yuanyang was in a bad mood and asked, "What's wrong? Did Beijing call?"
Gu Yuanyang gave a soft "hmm," but because his daughter was still beside him, he didn't tell her about it.
Only after he had put the child to sleep did he tell her about what had happened in Beijing.
Ji Ya listened calmly, not losing her composure because of this, and asked, "I remember, your youngest brother is named Yuanhui, he's sixteen years old this year, right?"
"It's seventeen," Gu Yuanyang said coldly. "Seventeen isn't young. I joined the army when I was sixteen."
In his view, a seventeen-year-old is a "mature" who can take responsibility for his actions, but Gu Yuanhui still acted recklessly and without regard for the consequences, resulting in the death of someone and being sent to a labor camp. It was entirely his own fault.
But his family members clearly didn't think so, and they all wanted to protect Gu Yuanhui.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been calling him in such a hurry these past few days; she probably wanted him to help her get Gu Yuanhui out of trouble.
Unexpectedly, he was away on a mission and not at the military base. He didn't receive the call, and by the time he returned, the matter had already been settled.
Ji Ya naturally thought of this as well, and secretly thought that it was fortunate that they missed each other.
Even if his in-laws begged and pleaded, given Gu Yuanyang's personality, he wouldn't agree to help with such a favor, but it would still make him feel bad.
Gu Yuanyang's brows remained furrowed. Finally, he wiped his face and said, "Forget it, things have already come to this, there's nothing we can do. I just hope that Yuanhui will reform himself at the farm and, if he gets out in the future, won't act impulsively again." He hesitated for a moment, then added, "Don't tell Xixi about this."
Perhaps because he had left home as a teenager and hadn't seen his family for many years, Gu Yuanyang still harbored some resentment towards them.
But this time, after hearing Gu Yuanhui's father's rude insults, his prejudice against his family faded a little. He suddenly understood why Gu Xi never mentioned her family after coming here, and why she scrutinized him, her older brother, when they first met, instead of accepting him happily.
No wonder his dad only called him; even though Gu Xi and Shen Mingzheng were in the same unit, he didn't call them.
He even had a guess that perhaps his family didn't know that Gu Xi was stationed here with the army.
This is really...
Ji Ya, being an observer, saw things more clearly and nodded, saying, "I understand. There's really no need to tell her."
I suppose my sister-in-law probably doesn't want to hear about things in Beijing.
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