Whether it was because the room was dark or because Jiang Wanpeng was careless, he didn't notice Zhang Wanfang's blushing face. He carefully held the soup bowl and fed Zhang Wanfang the soup.
Zhang Wanfang sipped the drink slowly.
This was the most delicious soup she had ever tasted.
After finishing the soup, Jiang Wanpeng did not linger. He knew this was a girls' dormitory and that he needed to be mindful of boundaries and tact.
"Comrade Zhang, Comrade Shang, I'm leaving now. If you need anything, just say so, don't be shy!"
Zhang Wanfang nodded, watching Jiang Wanpeng's tall figure leave, her eyes sparkling as if they held stars.
For three consecutive days, apart from changing the dressing which Shen Jingyan helped with, Jiang Wanpeng took care of almost every detail of Zhang Wanfang's care.
She delivered meals, fetched hot water, and even took over her job.
Every time Zhang Wanfang blushed and said "thank you," Jiang Wanpeng would reply seriously, "Serving the people."
After finishing work in the evening, Gu Zhiyun had just washed his hands in the dormitory when Lao Xu came to the door, shouting excitedly in a loud voice:
"Xiao Gu, come quick, come quick, your parents are here to see you!"
Gu Zhiyun was startled. Without even wiping the water off his hands, he threw down the towel and rushed out the door like a gust of wind.
When he saw two familiar figures he hadn't seen in a long time standing in front of him, a feeling mixed with warmth and bitterness welled up in his throat.
His parents were sent to the countryside for five years, and he has been at the forest farm for three years. The family has not seen each other for five years.
"Dad, Mom..."
Fang Ru was the first to rush over. She hugged Gu Zhiyun tightly and couldn't help but sob.
Standing beside Gu Zhiyun, Gu Huaiqian, with tears welling up in his eyes, patted his shoulder, choking back sobs: "You've grown so tall!"
When the couple left, Gu Zhiyun was a sixteen-year-old boy; now he has grown into a twenty-one-year-old young man.
Gu Zhiyun silently gazed at his parents. They had both lost weight and become darker, with the marks of time etched on their faces.
Fang Ru wiped away her tears while looking Gu Zhiyun up and down: "Zhiyun, look at you, you're all..."
She wanted to say that her son had grown taller and thinner after so many years, which is a common phrase used by parents and children when they haven't seen each other for a long time.
But Fang Ru changed her mind halfway through her sentence: "He's grown quite a bit taller, but he doesn't seem to have lost much weight; in fact, he looks stronger!"
The couple were quite surprised. After working in such a harsh place as the forest farm for three years, how come they didn't lose weight but instead became stronger?
That doesn't make sense!
Gu Zhiyun smiled and said, "Dad, Mom, I'm doing great here, especially the food. Jingya is practically fattening me up!"
Mentioning Jingya, Gu Huaiqian and Fang Ru suddenly remembered the purpose of the forest farm and hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, Jingya, please take us to see Jingya!"
Their son's dating is a big deal for the whole family, and the couple is extremely curious about this girl, Jingya.
Gu Zhiyun said, "I can take you there, but you came a bit too suddenly. Jingya will definitely be flustered when she sees you. Don't ask her any questions right away, she'll be shy!"
Fang Ru laughed and said, "I know, I know, I'll protect you now!"
The couple keenly noticed that Gu Zhiyun's expression softened whenever Jingya was mentioned.
The son was naturally aloof and rarely showed a smile to those close to him. The couple became even more curious about what charm this little girl had that could bewitch their icy son.
When Gu Zhiyun led his parents in, Shen Jingyan was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) knitting woolen trousers.
"Jingya, look who's here!"
When Shen Jingyan saw Gu Zhiyun leading two well-dressed middle-aged men into the house, she quickly got up to greet them.
"Uncle, Aunt?"
She recognized the two men at a glance.
Surprised, she couldn't help but feel deeply moved. Only after meeting Gu's parents did she understand where Gu Zhiyun's stunningly handsome face came from!
Gu Huaiqian is a dashing middle-aged man with deep eyes and well-defined features, while Fang Ru is an elegant and intellectual beauty.
Both of them wore loving smiles and looked at Shen Jingyan with gentle eyes.
"You must be Jingya?"
The couple immediately understood why their son was so fond of the young girl when they saw Shen Jingyan.
The little girl's face was exquisitely beautiful, fair and delicate, and her eyes were full of spirit. Although she was dressed simply, it could not hide her lively temperament.
Fang Ru thought to herself, "Such a beautiful young girl, even among the young actors in the capital drama troupe, there are few who can compare to her. Moreover, the young girl's temperament is nothing like the country girl Zhao Yanyan described."
Seeing that the couple's eyes were fixed on her, Shen Jingyan lowered her head shyly and said, "Hello, Uncle, hello, Aunt!"
Her voice was melodious and sweet, like a lark in a valley.
Shen Jingyan warmly and generously invited Gu Huaiqian and Fang Ru to sit down, and served them tea, snacks and fruit.
While Shen Jingyan was busy preparing tea and snacks, Fang Ru paid special attention to Shen Jingyan's dormitory.
The house wasn't big, but it was clean and tidy, and the colors of the furniture, desk, and bed sheets and blankets were carefully matched, which was very different from the houses where ordinary rural people lived.
If you didn't know better, you'd think the little girl was a sophisticated city girl.
Fang Ru also took the opportunity of going to the toilet to check on the kitchen.
The kitchen was spotless, the stove was immaculate, and there wasn't a trace of oil smoke. The bowls, chopsticks, cups, and plates were neatly arranged in the cabinets, showing attention to detail and refinement everywhere.
Fang Ru felt much relieved.
The young girl was unaware of the two men's sudden visit today. The house was so clean and tidy inside and out, it was definitely not just for show.
The little girl must be a hardworking and skillful girl.
Back inside, Fang Ru noticed that Shen Jingyan had left a pair of woolen pants that were mostly knitted, and the size was clearly meant for Gu Zhiyun.
The stove inside was burning brightly, so much so that even a cotton-padded coat couldn't be worn. Gu Zhiyun had already taken off his coat. Fang Ru noticed with her sharp eyes that the sweater her son was wearing over his shirt was newly knitted, with fine and neat stitches, and a red five-pointed star pattern was knitted on the chest, showing great care.
Although they hadn't exchanged more than a few words, Fang Ru's impression of Shen Jingyan was almost perfect.
Isn't this the kind of considerate daughter-in-law that the couple hoped their son would find?
Shen Jingyan personally handed the teacups to Gu Huaiqian and Fang Ru. Fang Ru asked a few questions casually, and Shen Jingyan answered them generously and naturally, without any of the restraint or pettiness of a country girl.
As they chatted, Shen Honggang led Anzi inside.
"Greetings, gentlemen. I am Jingya's uncle. You have come from afar; I am truly sorry for not welcoming you properly!"
As soon as Shen Hong finished work, he heard from Lao Xu that Gu Zhiyun's parents had arrived. He didn't go anywhere else but went straight to Jingya's dormitory.
Isn't this just an obvious way of showing up to see Jingya?
He hurried home, changed into clean clothes, and brought Anzi over.
Gu Huaiqian and Fang Ru quickly stood up. Looking at the tall, strong man with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a dignified appearance, Fang Ru smiled and said:
"Everyone says that nieces resemble their uncles, and that's absolutely true!"
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