Chapter 26
Shen Mingzheng's marriage application was approved quickly.
It was mainly because Commander Chang took care of him. He knew that he was getting on in years and was finally getting married. He couldn't wait for him to settle down and get married. As long as the woman's political background check was fine, he would approve it immediately. He also granted him half a month's leave.
Shen Mingzheng came out from Commander Chang's place and ran into the political commissar of the First Brigade.
When the brigade political commissar learned that the unit had granted him leave and that he would be returning home to get married in a few days, he first offered his congratulations and then asked, "By the way, after you get married, will your wife join you in the military?"
Shen Mingzheng nodded: "Yes."
“You’ll need to apply for housing first, but there are no more apartment buildings left, only single-story houses. Would you like to go take a look?” Commissar Xuan was worried that the girl from the big city might not be used to living in a single-story house, so he added, “We’ll let you know when an apartment building becomes available.”
He heard that Shen Mingzheng's fiancée was from Beijing and had postponed their marriage because she insisted on continuing her studies.
It's clear that this young lady is a cultured person; she probably would prefer to live in an apartment building rather than the bungalows that are common in rural areas.
Of course, living in a bungalow also has its advantages, such as having a large yard where you can grow vegetables and the like.
Shen Mingzheng thanked the political commissar for the information and decided to go and check on the bungalows later.
He didn't know if Gu Xi liked living in an apartment building. If she did, he would ask someone to keep an eye out for available apartments and apply for one later.
The brigade political commissar had never seen him so enthusiastic before. He thought this guy was very composed no matter what he did, a tough character, as if nothing could shake his will. Who would have thought that getting married would reveal his true colors.
He couldn't help but tease, "It seems you value your wife quite a bit. I wonder what kind of woman your sister-in-law is, that she can actually keep a living devil like you in check."
"Living Yama" was a nickname given to him by the soldiers who had been thoroughly humiliated by Shen Mingzheng, and people would occasionally use it to tease him.
Shen Mingzheng remained unmoved and walked away.
He rarely talks about his private matters with anyone, let alone those concerning his fiancée.
For this reason, the military knew very little about his fiancée. They only knew that he had a fiancée, but they had no idea what she looked like, how old she was, or how tall or thin she was.
Shortly after Shen Mingzheng submitted his marriage application, the entire military unit knew that he was getting married.
When people learned that he applied for a house in the military and went to see the house in person, and after choosing the house, he asked the logistics department to help him renovate it, repaint it white, and add a bathroom and toilet, they knew how much he valued his fiancée.
This made everyone even more curious about his fiancée, wondering what kind of woman could make this living devil value her so much.
Those unmarried girls who originally had some feelings for Shen Mingzheng but regretfully gave up because he was already engaged felt a little sour.
Even Ji Ya, who works at a military hospital, heard about this from the nurses' casual conversation and was quite surprised.
"Is Regiment Commander Shen of the First Brigade getting married?"
"yes!"
The nurses chattered amongst themselves about what Shen Mingzheng had been doing recently, and finally said with envy, "I never expected that Commander Shen, who looks so cold and hard and doesn't understand romance, to be so meticulous in his work. He's obviously a considerate person."
"A man like this is the kind of man we women should marry."
"Yes, very few men pay attention to our needs as women. His wife hasn't even arrived yet, but everything is already prepared so that she doesn't have to worry about anything."
"..."
The nurses chatted, all with envious expressions.
Turning to Ji Ya, he said, "But Dr. Ji doesn't need to be envious. Commander Gu is also a good man and treats Dr. Ji very well."
"Yes, yes, I heard that whenever Commander Gu is home, he does all the work."
"We women should marry men who help with housework, and definitely not men who can't even wash a dish."
"Let's follow Dr. Ji's example!"
Ji Ya was both amused and exasperated, but she also agreed with what they said.
When a woman marries, she should marry a man who will help her with chores, not one who stays at home like a burly man and does nothing.
Commander Gu didn't want to do it before either. I heard that's how he was in the Gu family. She was the one who trained him.
In the evening, after getting off work, Ji Ya went to pick up her daughter from kindergarten and they went home together.
As soon as I entered the house, I found that there was an extra person in the house, standing in the yard, shirtless, carrying a bucket of water and rinsing himself.
"dad!"
Five-year-old Gu Tuantuan called out with delight in her sweet, childlike voice.
Ji Ya immediately covered her daughter's eyes, and Gu Yuanyang quickly grabbed the wet clothes next to him and put them on. After all, his daughter was already five years old, and he couldn't just go shirtless in front of her.
After Gu Yuanyang finished getting ready, Ji Ya was in the kitchen boiling water with her daughter.
I originally planned to eat at the cafeteria today, but since Gu Yuanyang is back, let's have noodles instead. Gu Yuanyang is very good at kneading dough, and the noodles he makes are very chewy. With the sauce on top, they are incredibly delicious.
Gu Yuanyang came in and saw that she was boiling water, so he took out flour from the cabinet and started kneading the dough.
Their family is small, and they eat simply. When Gu Yuanyang and Ji Ya are busy, they eat in the cafeteria; if everyone is free, they cook at home.
Gu Tuantuan is an easy girl to take care of; she can eat anywhere.
During dinner, Ji Ya suddenly said, "Yuan Yang, I heard that Commander Shen is getting married."
Gu Yuanyang was momentarily stunned. "Commander Shen?"
Seeing the blank look on his dark, handsome face, Ji Ya said in a harsh tone, "It's Shen Mingzheng, the commander of the Second Regiment of the First Brigade, the one who got engaged to your sister Gu Xi five years ago."
Gu Yuanyang finally reacted and exclaimed in surprise, "So fast?"
"No, it's too late." Ji Ya wiped her daughter's face, which was covered in food stains, with a handkerchief. "If I remember correctly, Gu Xi should be twenty years old already, right? Commander Shen is also twenty-seven this year. We really can't delay any longer."
The reason they knew Shen Mingzheng's age so well was because when Shen Mingzheng first came here, his young and handsome appearance, along with his status as a regimental-level cadre, attracted the attention of countless women who wanted to play matchmaker, as well as single girls.
Ji Ya works at a military hospital, where there are many single nurses. She often hears the nurses talk about him, so she naturally knows a bit about Shen Mingzheng's situation.
Gu Yuanyang grunted and said nothing more.
Ji Ya glanced at him and continued, "You haven't been home for several years. Do you plan to go back? Or could you attend their wedding? I heard they're holding it in Beijing."
"I have a mission and can't leave," Gu Yuanyang said calmly. "But my sister will be with the army in the future. When she comes, we'll give her a big red envelope and take good care of her."
Ji Ya smiled and said, "Indeed."
After dinner, it was still not dark.
Gu Yuanyang was squatting by the well washing dishes when he heard a knock on the door. Gu Tuantuan, a little girl playing in the yard, tiptoed to open the door.
After opening the door, she saw a tall, unfamiliar man in military uniform standing outside. Her little voice asked, "Uncle, who are you looking for?"
Gu Yuanyang peeked out and was somewhat surprised to see Shen Mingzheng standing at the door.
"It's Commander Shen! What brings you here?"
He placed the washed dishes on the shelf next to him to drain, then wiped his hands with a cloth and came over to invite him in.
Ji Ya, who was reading in her room, heard the noise and came out. She was also a little surprised to see Shen Mingzheng arrive. She went to pour a glass of water for her guest.
Although Shen Mingzheng and Gu Xi are engaged and she is considered Gu Xi's future brother-in-law, they are not familiar with Shen Mingzheng.
Firstly, Shen Mingzheng was parachuted in here at the end of last year, and no one had seen him before; secondly, both Shen Mingzheng and Gu Yuanyang were very busy and rarely saw each other or interacted.
This meant that only a few high-ranking leaders in the military knew about their connection.
Shen Mingzheng took the water that Ji Ya poured and said in a deep voice, "Thank you, sister-in-law."
Hearing her addressed as "sister-in-law," Ji Ya gladly accepted.
When Shen Mingzheng and Gu Xi get married, he will indeed have to call her sister-in-law.
Shen Mingzheng stated his purpose directly: "Gu Xi and I have decided to get married this month. My mother has already chosen a date, which is at the end of the month. I have already taken leave and will return to Beijing the day after tomorrow."
Gu Yuanyang didn't speak, but stared at him with a deep gaze.
Ji Ya smiled and congratulated her. Seeing this, Gu Tuantuan, who was standing next to her mother, also congratulated her.
Shen Mingzheng asked, "Do you have time to go back?"
"I'm busy." Gu Yuanyang shook his head and frowned. "I've been busy with training exercises lately and haven't received any messages from home, so I haven't had time to ask for leave."
Ji Ya also looked apologetic, "I can't ask for leave right now."
That's what he said, but actually his family didn't tell him about it at all, so he and Ji Ya only found out today. If they had known about it beforehand, Ji Ya might have been able to take a leave of absence and go back home.
There's too much time to spare.
Shen Mingzheng seemed to know everything, yet also seemed to know nothing, and changed the subject, asking, "Is there anything you need me to bring back for you?"
Gu Yuanyang shook his head and said straightforwardly, "Take this red envelope back with you. It's a big red envelope I gave to my sister for her wedding."
Ji Ya pinched his waist hard to tell him not to be so straightforward.
After chatting for a while, Shen Mingzheng got up and left.
Gu Yuanyang personally escorted him to the door, and as Shen Mingzheng was about to leave, he said, "Shen Mingzheng, treat her well from now on!"
Shen Mingzheng looked up at him, nodded slightly, and said in a steady and powerful voice, "I will!"
After seeing Shen Mingzheng off, Gu Yuanyang returned to his room and began to sigh deeply.
Gu Tuantuan looked at her father in confusion, wondering why he suddenly sighed like an old man.
"Dad, stop sighing, you'll get old!" She reached out her little hand and touched her father's face.
Gu Yuanyang hugged his sweet little girl and continued to sigh.
Ji Ya was tidying up the house when she saw him like this and couldn't help but laugh, "What's wrong with our Commander Gu? Is he reluctant to see his sister get married?"
Gu Yuanyang said, "Time flies so fast. I can't believe five years have passed. I haven't even met this younger sister yet, and she's getting married."
When Gu Xi returned to the Gu family that year, he was on a secret mission, and Ji Ya had just given birth. The couple had no time to deal with the chaos and turmoil in Beijing.
When he finally returned from his mission, he was stunned to learn that his younger sister had been switched at birth.
However, everything was already set in stone.
In recent years, he and Ji Ya have been very busy, and with their child still young, they have been unable to leave home and have not been able to go back.
Although they didn't go back, they often sent things to Beijing, to their parents and younger siblings. However, apart from sending things, they didn't keep in touch with each other much, and even correspondence was rare.
Perhaps as people grow up, they will eventually leave home and their parents. After starting their own families, the feelings between them will gradually cool down, leaving them with nothing to say to each other.
However, it's really a bit much that they didn't even tell them about such a big event as their sister's upcoming wedding.
Gu Yuanyang harbored some resentment towards her parents. Perhaps in their eyes, their daughter, who grew up in the countryside and brought them shame, was not worth mentioning.
Ji Ya laughed and said, "What's the big deal? Anyway, she'll be with the army in the future, so we can see each other whenever we want." Then she smiled gently again, "When my sister comes here, I'll have someone to talk to, and our Tuantuan will have an aunt to keep her company."
"Auntie?" Gu Tuantuan looked up at her mother with her big, dark eyes.
Ji Ya lowered her head and kissed her cute face. "Yes, it's Auntie. I heard Auntie is very beautiful."
Gu Yuanyang crossed his arms and said, "I heard from my uncle that this little sister looks most like my grandmother. My grandmother was a great beauty when she was young, so she must be just as beautiful."
When he was a child, he had seen photos of his grandmother when she was young. Although they were black and white photos, he could still see how beautiful his grandmother was when she was young, which left a deep impression on him.
If Gu Xi really looks like her grandmother, she must be a great beauty.
Gu Yuanyang clicked his tongue, "That kid Shen Mingzheng really got off easy."
**
During her stay at the Shen family's house, Gu Xi ate and slept well, and had a chatterbox to play with every day. The two siblings were always together, running outside from time to time, as if they were having a blast.
In just half a month, he looked completely different; his skin wasn't so pale anymore, and he had more color in it.
Seeing this, Feng Min and the others realized that the Gu family was indeed incapable of taking care of her and didn't pay much attention to her, which was why she looked sickly and listless after her serious illness.
With August approaching, Feng Min and Shen Zhongshan discussed visiting the Gu family.
Since both children agreed to get married, it was necessary to visit the bride's family to discuss the wedding arrangements. Although Feng Min felt that Gu Jia didn't need to do anything—she was worried that Gu Jia might not take it seriously or do a good job—this process still had to be followed.
On their day off, Shen Chenshan and Feng Min took Gu Xi and their youngest son to visit the Gu family.
The two men took this visit very seriously, bringing many gifts with them.
When they entered the family compound, they encountered many people who, upon learning that they had come to the Gu family to discuss the wedding arrangements for their two children, offered their congratulations.
No one said anything about Gu Xi and Shen Chongshan coming together.
In the past, people might have murmured about it, but after the incident where Gu Maowen was injured and hospitalized, everyone knew that Gu Xi had been wronged in the Gu family, so it was understandable that she couldn't stand it and ran away to her future in-laws' house.
Someone laughed and said, "Look at Gu Xi's complexion now, she looks much better than she did half a month ago. As expected, the Shen family knows how to take care of people."
Those around couldn't help but laugh when they heard this.
Isn't this blatantly saying that the Gu family doesn't know how to raise children and doesn't care about their biological daughter, Gu Xi?
"Yes, Comrade Feng is indeed a good mother-in-law. She treated her like a daughter even before she was married into the family."
"What do you mean by treating her like a daughter? If Gu Xi hadn't gone back to the Gu family, Comrade Feng would have adopted her. It was only because he couldn't adopt her that he arranged a marriage between her and his son."
"In the end, it was because Gu Xi saved Comrade Feng back then that Comrade Feng treated her so kindly."
"No matter what, Gu Xi will have a blessed future."
…………
The Shen family arrived at the Gu family's house and knocked on the door.
Gu Yuanxiang opened the door. She was somewhat surprised to see the Chen Chongshan couple who had come to visit in person, and quickly invited them in.
The Gu family is all here.
Seeing them, they all stiffened, and I quickly invited them to sit down.
Gu Maowen sat stiffly on the sofa, and his lower back began to ache again.
Gu Maowen has been recuperating at home recently. After all, it takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone, and he injured his lumbar spine. In order to avoid leaving any lasting damage, he can only accept the doctor's advice to rest at home for three months. He cannot move around or sit for long periods of time. If he were to injure himself again, he might be bedridden for the rest of his life.
With no other option, Gu Maowen had to take leave and rest at home.
However, his department doesn't allow for long leave that can be taken casually; each person has a specific role, and he's worried about where he'll be assigned when he returns, which inevitably causes him anxiety.
He's still young and doesn't want to retire so soon.
At this moment, seeing the couple from Shenchongshan solemnly come to his door, he felt both happy and worried.
The good thing is that this marriage with the Shen family is really good. The Shen family values Gu Xi so much, which is beneficial to their family.
What worries me is that Gu Xi is such a disobedient girl; she's really good at infuriating people. Just seeing her makes my back start to hurt again.
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