Chapter 61
Gu Xi held her little niece's hand and followed her brother into the house.
It was already dinnertime, and every household was cooking, with the aroma of stewed meat wafting from the kitchen.
When Ji Ya saw them return, she smiled and said, "Xi Xi is here. We can have dinner ready after stir-frying some vegetables."
Gu Yuanyang rolled up his sleeves, washed his hands, and took over the work from her.
"I'll do it, you go set the table first."
Gu Tuantuan pulled Gu Xi into the main room and, taking advantage of her mother's inattention, shared the snacks from the bag with her.
She chewed incessantly, mumbling, "Auntie, it's delicious."
No child can resist the allure of fried food, so Gu Xi took most of the bag of snacks Qian Rong gave them and let them try some too.
Ji Ya came over with the bowl and chopsticks. Seeing this scene, she said, "Gu Tuantuan, what are you secretly eating? It's almost time to eat. No snacks allowed, or you won't be able to eat your meal."
"No, my belly is big!" Gu Tuantuan patted her little belly. "I can eat a lot!"
Ji Ya didn't believe her at all. She confiscated the bag of snacks and said, "Don't give Xixi any more snacks next time, or she'll eat snacks instead of meals and won't grow tall!"
Gu Xi said, "This was given to me by Chief of Staff Gao's mother next door. It's a local specialty from her area. She gave me quite a lot, so you can try some too." Then she patted the little girl's head and said, "Tuantuan didn't eat much, she only tried one piece. It won't affect her height. She'll definitely grow as tall as her mother."
Gu Tuantuan hugged her aunt, feeling that her aunt was still the best.
After Ji Ya left, she whispered to Gu Xi, "Auntie, don't listen to Mom. I'll share my good food with you from now on. We're best friends."
She stretched out her little hand and made a pinky promise with her aunt, indicating that the two of them were the best of friends in the world.
Gu Xi couldn't help but chuckle, hugging the little girl's soft body and agreeing with her.
After dinner was prepared, the group sat down to eat.
Gu Tuantuan scooped up rice mixed with meat gravy and vegetables with a spoon, her face covered in rice grains. When Gu Xi saw this, she took a handkerchief and wiped it off for her.
The little girl looked up and smiled at her.
Ji Ya said, "Xi Xi, Commander Shen isn't here. Would you like to come and stay here?"
"Why don't you come over today?" Gu Yuanyang said. "After dinner, I'll prepare a room for you. There are mats and blankets at home, so you can just settle in."
Thinking about her being home alone, I felt really uneasy.
Gu Tuantuan asked happily, "Can I sleep with my aunt tonight?"
She adored her aunt. Her aunt was beautiful, told her stories, drew pictures with her, and even made her a bunny house and a folding stool. In her heart, her aunt was truly amazing.
Besides her parents, her favorite people right now are her aunt.
Gu Xi said, "Brother, sister-in-law, no need, I can stay at home. This is the military base, there's nothing to worry about here."
"Can I go to my aunt's house and sleep with her?" Gu Tuantuan asked.
Gu Xi smiled and said, "If you don't miss your dad and mom tonight, you can come over."
Gu Tuantuan hesitated. She had rarely been separated from her mother in all her life, and she was unsure whether she would miss her mother if she stayed at her aunt's house that night.
Before she could even come up with anything, Ji Ya rejected it.
“No, you have to go to school in the morning. Getting up so early will disturb your aunt’s rest.”
Gu Xi is still recuperating, and her schedule is different from those of other workers. Asking her to get up early in the morning to take her child to school would definitely affect her sleep.
Gu Xi said, "Sister-in-law, it's alright. I go to bed early at night and can get up in the morning, so I won't bother you."
Ji Ya smiled and said, "Xi Xi, don't spoil her. You can't spoil children."
Gu Xi saw the little girl pouting and indicated that she couldn't help her.
No wonder Gu Tuantuan is such a strong, optimistic, and organized child at such a young age. It turns out that she was trained by her mother, who teaches her when she needs to and spoils her when she needs to, without being overly indulgent.
Because Gu Xi insisted, Ji Ya and Gu Yuanyang were unable to persuade her to come and stay, so they had to give up.
However, they were still worried, so after dinner, they all went for a walk to digest their food, and when it was almost time, they personally took her home.
After seeing her home, Gu Yuanyang was still worried. He pulled her aside and said, "If anything happens, just come to us. Don't worry about Mingzheng. With his abilities, nothing will happen to him. He'll be back soon."
Fearing she might overthink things, her brother has to try his best to comfort her.
Gu Xi smiled and nodded, agreeing to whatever he said.
Compared to him, Ji Ya was much calmer. She said to Gu Xi, "After you married your brother, it was his first mission, and I was actually quite worried. I felt very uncomfortable being home alone. But after he came back, I felt fine. You'll gradually get used to it after a while."
Since she decided to marry a soldier, she had to get used to it. They had their responsibilities and couldn't be by their wives' side like ordinary husbands.
She thought Gu Xi would understand.
Gu Xi smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, I know."
Compared to her brother's worried nagging, she was more comfortable with and admired her sister-in-law's calm and composed demeanor.
Without a doubt, this sister-in-law is an independent and strong woman who shines in her field and serves the people. Her words resonate with me even more.
After seeing her brother and sister-in-law off, Gu Xi went to the kitchen to boil water for a bath.
After taking a shower, she went to the study to practice calligraphy until it was almost time. Then she filled a hot water bottle, put it in the quilt, and went to bed.
**
With Shen Mingzheng absent, Gu Xi's daily routine remained largely unchanged.
I get up before dawn every day. After waking up, I boil an egg and make a cup of malted milk for breakfast. Then I read books and practice calligraphy. At noon, I make myself lunch.
At noon, Gu Tuantuan ate at school, Ji Ya ate at the hospital canteen, and Gu Yuanyang ate at the military canteen. No one cooked at home.
So Gu Xi was the only one who went over for dinner in the evening.
If she had nothing to do in the afternoon, Gu Xi would sometimes feel like making some snacks and sending them to her neighbors. Then, in the evening, she would go to her brother and sister-in-law's house for dinner.
When Qiao Hui learned that Shen Mingzheng was away on a mission, she couldn't help but worry about her. When Gu Xi came over, she asked, "Your Commander Shen isn't here. Are you alright on your own? If you need any help, just come over."
Gu Xi laughed and said, "Actually, it doesn't matter whether he's here or not, my schedule is pretty much the same."
It's just that there's one less person to warm the bed at night.
Qiao Hui glanced at her, and seeing that her expression was normal, she breathed a sigh of relief. She then talked about the mission that Chief of Staff Gao had taken after she came to join the army.
"The first time he left for three days, to be honest, I wasn't used to it. Before I joined the military, I might not see him more than a few times a year. Who knew that after I came to join the military and spent some time with him, his sudden departure would make me feel uneasy..."
In the end, she spoke with a touch of self-deprecation.
Gu Xi said, "That's normal. I've heard that it takes twenty-one days to form a habit. Once you've formed a habit, it's hard to adapt when it's suddenly broken."
This is quite a novel idea; it's the first time I've heard someone say it this way. Qiao Hui thought about it and realized that it made perfect sense.
Gu Xi came over to return the book she had finished reading to Qiao Hui and then continued looking for more books to read.
She reads very quickly, mainly because she has a good memory; she can remember most of what she reads after just one reading and doesn't need to go back and review it repeatedly. Furthermore, she is very eager to acquire new knowledge and read new stories; once she finishes reading something, she wants to read something new and doesn't repeatedly go back to what she has already memorized.
When Qiao Hui went to the study to find her a book, she laughed and said, "At the speed at which you read, I'm afraid you'll finish all the books here soon."
After joining the army, she also brought some of her collected books with her.
She used to work at a publishing house, and because of the convenience of her job, she could buy and collect books that interested her. When she had nothing to do, she would sit down and read them repeatedly to pass the time.
Gu Xi said, "It's okay. After I finish reading, I'll go to the bookstore in the city and buy some books to read."
After hearing this, Qiao Hui paused for a moment, then sighed, "The bookstores in the city are quite deserted these days, I'm afraid you won't be able to find any good books..."
In this special era, there are too many taboos. Some of the literary works she had read before have been banned under various pretexts. Many people dare not touch them easily, and bookstores will not sell them. It's a pity. I don't know if they will be restored in the future.
-
When Gu Xi left, she took not only books but also some newspapers with her.
The newspaper was recommended by Qiao Hui; some of the articles in it were quite good, and she suggested that she take a look.
As soon as I stepped outside, I saw a little girl of about seven or eight years old squatting in front of the house of Deputy Regiment Commander Yu across the street.
The door was closed, so the little girl couldn't go inside. She could only squat there, poking at passing ants with a twig. There was also a pile of firewood she had just gathered next to her.
This is Deputy Regiment Commander Yu's youngest daughter. Deputy Regiment Commander Yu's mother, Granny Yu, is a sexist. Since coming to the army, Gu Xi has seen Yu Xiaoyue locked out of the house several times.
It's school time now, but Yu Xiaoyue, being a girl and young, isn't going to school. Instead, she stays at home and helps with chores.
Gu Xi walked over and asked, "Xiaoyue, where are your family members? Why aren't they going inside?"
Yu Xiaoyue looked up at her. Her face was thin, which made her eyes look very big. She was wearing ill-fitting clothes with many patches, and her hair was messy, as if no one had taken care of it for her.
"My mom went to my grandma's house," Yu Xiaoyue said softly. "Grandma isn't home, there's no one here."
As they were talking, the little girl's stomach made a rumbling sound. She shrank back in embarrassment, not wanting to lose face in front of the pretty aunt.
Seeing this, Gu Xi said, "Then come home with me first." She softened her voice, "Did you go to collect firewood today? You must be thirsty, right? I'll pour you some water. You can go back after your family comes back. You'll get sick if you sit here in the wind all the time."
Yu Xiaoyue thought about how unpleasant it would be to be sick, and quietly agreed.
Gu Xi took the little girl home.
After putting away the books and newspapers, she took the little girl to wash her hands and made her a cup of brown sugar water.
Yu Xiaoyue was pleasantly surprised by the sweet brown sugar water, but after a few sips, she felt uneasy. She felt that she shouldn't drink her aunt's sugar water. Sugar was so precious, and only her two older brothers could drink it. She was a girl and shouldn't drink it.
Gu Xi said, "Drink it, no one will know."
As she spoke, she winked at the little girl, her smile remaining unchanged.
Yu Xiaoyue thought, "If no one knows that she drank sugar water at her aunt's house, then Grandma won't scold her, right?"
Thinking this, she continued drinking the sugar water.
Gu Xi took out a cookie box and offered her some cookies, saying, "These cookies were a gift from someone. There are too many for me to finish. Please have them."
Yu Xiaoyue quickly waved her hand, "Aunt Gu, no need, I'm not hungry, I can't eat your food."
Gu Xi sighed, "These cookies will expire if we don't eat them soon. Expired cookies are bad; they'll give you diarrhea. It's such a waste to have to throw them away..."
Yu Xiaoyue doesn't know what "expired" means. Do you throw away expired cookies?
She was confused and reluctant when she heard that she had to "throw it away," so she ate it without really understanding what was going on.
Gu Xi sat beside her reading a book, while the little girl quietly ate cookies; neither of them disturbed the other.
When it was almost time, they heard noises outside and knew that Grandma Yu had returned. Yu Xiaoyue also had to go home, because if she went home too late, Grandma Yu would scold her.
Before seeing the little girl off, Gu Xi combed her messy hair, tied it into two little buns, and said to her, "It's a secret that Xiaoyue came to my house to play today. No matter who asks you, don't tell them, okay?"
Yu Xiaoyue obediently responded, looking at her smiling face, she felt that the aunt in front of her was really beautiful and gentle. No one had ever been so gentle to her, not even her mother.
She whispered, "Aunt Gu, I'm leaving."
Today's events felt like a dream. A beautiful aunt took her home, offered her sweet soup and cookies, and even combed her hair.
That's great!
When Yu Xiaoyue returned home, she was indeed scolded by her mother-in-law.
"Where have you been gallivanting off to? I haven't seen you since you came back! Hurry up and start a fire to cook, so your dad and the two kids won't have nothing to eat when they get back."
Yu Xiaoyue obediently agreed, went to fetch a bundle of firewood and placed it next to the stove, then skillfully started a fire to cook.
Although they have a coal stove, Grandma Yu feels that burning coal is too expensive and prefers to burn firewood. Every day when she has nothing to do, she will take her daughter-in-law and granddaughter to the river or nearby woods to collect firewood to burn, which can save her some money.
When Yu Xiaoyue's mother, Ma Chunling, returned home, she noticed that her daughter's hair was neatly combed and had been styled, unlike its usual messy state.
This definitely wasn't done by the mother-in-law. She never pays attention to her daughter, thinking that a little girl doesn't need much attention.
After dinner, the mother and daughter were cleaning in the kitchen when Ma Chunling asked her daughter who had combed her hair.
At first, Yu Xiaoyue refused to tell. She had promised Aunt Gu that she wouldn't tell, and she didn't want to tell her mother either. She felt that if she told her, she would not keep her promise to Aunt Gu, and she would be a bad child.
In the end, it was Ma Chunling who said that since the other person had helped her, she should thank them, otherwise she would be considered impolite and disliked. Only then did she hesitantly say it.
Ma Chunling was stunned when she learned that Gu Xi had brought her daughter, who had been locked outside, home.
She knew Gu Xi not only because the two families lived close by, but also because Gu Xi was very famous in the family compound.
Not only did she marry a young and capable husband, but I also heard that her family was well-off; her brother and sister-in-law were in the army, one a regimental commander and the other a military doctor. Despite being so beautiful, she was surprisingly strong, having saved the wife of Chief of Staff Gao, earning praise from many people in the family compound. I heard that even the women's director of the army praised her highly, encouraging everyone to take her as a role model.
Most importantly, she was very popular in the family compound, and very few people disliked her.
Even if someone really dislikes her, they wouldn't be so tactless as to go up to her and criticize her. Mainly, there's nothing to say. If they really have a problem with her, it would just look like they're jealous of how well she's doing, which would only make them look bad.
Yu Xiaoyue whispered, "Mom, Aunt Gu is very nice. She even gave me sugar water and biscuits..."
Ma Chunling was shocked. "You still eat other people's food? How could you do this?"
Candy and cookies are so expensive, how can this brat be so greedy?
Seeing that she was angry, Yu Xiaoyue was a little scared and quickly told her what Gu Xi had said.
Upon hearing this, Ma Chunling knew perfectly well that this was just something Gu Xi used to fool her daughter, to avoid putting her under pressure. It was truly...
No wonder so many people like her; she's beautiful, generous, and considerate.
Seeing her daughter's frightened expression, Ma Chunling softened and patted her head, saying, "Don't eat other people's food next time. It's impolite, and don't tell anyone."
Gu Xi took care of her daughter out of kindness, perhaps because she felt sorry for her.
But there are so many kids in the family compound. If they knew that they could get sugar water and cookies at her house, they would probably all rush over. No matter how much she had, it wouldn't be enough for the kids to have their fill. Wouldn't that put her in a difficult position?
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