After walking for a while, we arrived at a lush forest.
Huo Qingfeng led her to a stop under a large tree. The tree wasn't towering, but its trunk was exceptionally thick, probably requiring four or five people holding hands to encircle it. Most remarkably, about three meters above the ground, the trunk forked into a flat surface, where a makeshift bed had been constructed using branches and dry grass.
Huo Qingfeng grabbed her waist, lifted her up, and leaped up into the tree. "How was it?"
Looking at the bed, Ling Ruoke couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of nature. Pulled by Huo Qingfeng, she lay down on the bed. A cool breeze blew, making her feel incredibly comfortable. Looking down, her view opened up, filled with lush greenery. "This is truly a wonderful place. How did you find it?"
"A coincidence." Huo Qingfeng raised an eyebrow smugly and lowered his head to kiss her. He had long wanted to bring his wife here, and hopefully, they could have some fun here. With that thought, his hands started to wander a little.
Ling Ruoke was nestled against his chest, feeling drowsy. Just then, a large, unruly hand slowly moved over her body. She suddenly opened her eyes and glared at him. "What are you doing?"
Huo Qingfeng gave a wicked smile and licked her ear. "I've wanted to do it with you here for a long time, it must feel amazing."
"I don't want to!" Ling Ruoke struggled to jump down. At least inside the car there was something to cover her, but now they were actually talking about having sex in the open? She absolutely refused!
Huo Qingfeng wasn't about to let her escape so easily. He had already held her tightly in his arms, sealed her lips with his, and began to undress her with rocket-like speed. He had been lusting after her for so long; how could he let her go!
Ling Ruoke was no match for him, and in the end, he still succeeded. She lay limp in his arms, panting, her eyes wide as she stared at him. Seeing his smug look, she lowered her head and bit him.
Huo Qingfeng chuckled softly, his voice pleasant.
The two lingered on the mountaintop for more than three hours before strolling hand in hand down the mountain. They hadn't eaten breakfast and were now quite hungry.
"I can't walk anymore, carry me." Ling Ruoke stopped, pouting and acting spoiled. After running ten kilometers and being forced to exercise, her legs were indeed a little weak.
Without saying a word, Huo Qingfeng pulled her onto his back and carried her down the mountain as easily as carrying a baby.
Ling Ruoke hugged his neck, rested her chin on his shoulder, and chatted with him, one sentence at a time. She only let him put her down when they were almost at the campsite, so as not to make a bad impression.
Huo Qingfeng was busy and didn't have time to spend with her. After lunch, Ling Ruoke wrote in his dorm room. She was thankful that she still had a computer to use, otherwise she would have gone crazy.
To avoid distracting the colonel, Ling Ruoke only stayed in the military camp for one day, and returned to the city the next morning with a car that went shopping.
Knowing she was leaving the next day, Huo Qingfeng spent most of the night with her, and Ling Ruoke almost couldn't get out of bed the next morning. She wondered more than once how he could have so much energy? Or had he been holding back for too long?
...
Not long after, Chen Shan's marriage application was approved, and he took Mei Yanting back to his hometown in Shandong to meet his parents.
Ling Ruoke gave Mei Yanting a long vacation, but Chen Shan's situation couldn't be delayed for too long. However, she heard that preparations for the wedding banquet had already been made back home, just waiting for the two newlyweds to appear.
Although the guzheng issue has been resolved, Huo Qingfeng still wants to apply to join the army. He also wants to officially live the life of a wife, children, and a warm bed, just like his other brothers.
Therefore, Ling Ruoke personally went to talk to Tan Peishi. The two of them were inseparable, and naturally wanted to be in the same courtyard every day. Who knows, they could even have dinner at each other's houses, saving time and hassle by avoiding cooking once a day.
Tan Peishi is now a mother, and she stays at home all day, at most taking her son for a walk in the neighborhood downstairs.
When Ling Ruoke arrived, Tan's mother was cooking at home, while Ling Ruoke was carrying her child and planning to take a walk downstairs.
"You've come over to freeload a meal? Son, look, your godmother's here again!" Tan Peishi turned the baby's face towards Ling Ruoke, and sure enough, she saw the baby's dark eyes staring at her.
Ling Ruoke clapped her hands and then reached out to the little guy. He was too young and wasn't interested in being held; he just stared at her with his big, dark eyes. She had no choice but to take him in, and the little guy didn't cry. "Godson, don't you recognize your godmother? Don't you recognize her? Don't you recognize her?"
The little guy doesn't know how to laugh in a real sense yet; he just naturally grins and drools.
Tan Peishi crossed her arms and smiled at her son. "Come on, let's go downstairs for a walk. My mom is cooking, we can eat when she gets back. The team leader isn't home, so you might as well eat here before going back."
"Okay." Ling Ruoke, holding the child, turned and walked downstairs. "Waaah, let's go out and play, let's go out and play..."
Little Lele was a little excited then, but she didn't giggle like she would three months later. Her little hands were segmented like lotus roots, white, tender, and soft. A gentle poke would leave a dent.
Tan Peishi followed behind. "Godmother, did you come here specifically to freeload a meal?"
Ling Ruoke chuckled and glared at her from behind. "I don't have a goddaughter as old as you."
"Tch, you think I'd call you godmother? No way!" Tan Peishi curled her lip, her face full of disdain. "Right, son? If your mother calls her godmother, then you'll have to call her god-grandmother! God-grandmother!"
Ling Ruoke snapped out of her daze in anger and kicked her. "I'll teach you to talk nonsense again!"
"Take it easy, be careful not to hurt my son!" Tan Peishi was really anxious, and she reached out her hands to try to support her.
Ling Ruoke dodged her hand and said, "Don't worry. Godson, your godmother is reliable, much more reliable than your own mother! Isn't that right? Don't you think so?" She gently rubbed her forehead against hers, and Xiao Lele's little hands touched her face.
Ling Ruoke gave him a quick kiss.
Tan Peishi yelled, "You female hooligan!"
After some playful fighting, we finally made it safely downstairs.
It was late afternoon, and the neighborhood was bustling with people, mostly elderly folks, bringing their children to play. The covered walkway was already packed with people playing cards. The walkway was covered in lush, green vines, making it a very cool and comfortable spot.
Ling Ruoke carried the child and walked side by side with Tan Peishi. The road was lined with trees, so there was a slight breeze and it wasn't too hot. "Has Fu Peigang mentioned anything to you about accompanying the soldier? That's why I came to see you."
Tan Peishi pouted and nodded. She didn't seem too keen on going with Fu Peigang. "If possible, I'd like to spend more time with Fu Peigang. But what will happen to my mother if I go with him?"
"Can't your mother come along?" Ling Ruoke frowned. She hadn't really looked into the relevant regulations. Since no one else was going to accompany her to the military base, she hadn't thought much of it.
"According to the 'Notice of the State Council and the Central Military Commission on Approving the Request of the General Political Department on Revising the Conditions for Military Officers' Families to Accompany Them with the Military,' eligible officers and civilian cadres, along with their spouses, minor children, and children without the ability to support themselves, may accompany them with the military upon approval by the political organ of a unit at or above the division (brigade) level. Do you understand? It includes spouses and children, as well as minor children or children without the ability to support themselves."
"I'm sorry." Ling Ruoke also felt that she had been too hasty and hadn't thought things through enough. "Actually, I was a little hesitant. I don't know what I can do in the army. I'll only see the same few people every day. I wonder if I'll go crazy."
Tan Peishi smiled, knowing she was trying to comfort her. "That's not a problem. Once you have children, you won't have the energy to do anything else. And it'll be many years before the children grow up."
"That's true." Ling Ruoke smiled and decided not to bring up the issue. Tan's mother had raised Peishi with great difficulty; if it weren't for that false bad news, she would still be living a lonely life in another city. Now that she could finally enjoy a peaceful retirement with her daughter and son-in-law, she couldn't let her become lonely again.
Just then, a grandmother walked by with her grandson. The little boy was only a little over a year old, still unsteady on his feet, but loved to run. A moment later, he fell to the ground. He looked up, glancing this way and that, and finding no one paying attention to him, he got up, clapped his hands, and ran off again.
Ling Ruoke and Tan Peishi couldn't help but burst into laughter, finding the child incredibly adorable.
“Godson, you need to grow up quickly, you know?” Ling Ruoke turned her head and said to Tan Peishi, “When he can babble and walk, he will definitely be incredibly cute.”
“That’s right. Now that everything’s over, hurry up and have a baby with the captain. My Lele will have a companion then. It would be best to have a little princess to be my Lele’s wife. Isn’t that right, son?” Tan Peishi reached out and poked his little chin, and he grinned.
Speaking of this, Ling Ruoke felt a little disappointed. "The doctor said my health isn't very good, and it's not easy for me to get pregnant. I need to take good care of myself. Before, his mother and grandfather would talk about this every time they called, but now they don't mention it anymore. I guess they're afraid of putting pressure on me."
But the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to get pregnant quickly so that the older generation would be happy. Especially her grandfather, who was already so old and this was his only hope.
"Did the doctor say how long the recovery period would be?" I hope they're not trying to rip me off. Some doctors these days are really unethical; they're only thinking about how to squeeze every penny out of their patients.
Ling Ruoke frowned. "The doctor didn't say either, but traditional Chinese medicine treatment is a long process, so it probably won't be quick."
Tan Peishi pursed her lips. "Ruo Ke, let me tell you, stop drinking any Chinese medicine. You should rest well, keep a good mood every day, and cook yourself some nutritious food. That's more effective than medicine. Did the doctor say anything about your health during your checkup? How long have you been recuperating?"
"They didn't say there was anything wrong with my body, they just said I was a little weak and needed to recuperate for a while. I started taking the medicine when Lele was about twenty days old, so it's been almost a month now." Perhaps because she was anxious, it felt like a long time had passed.
Tan Peishi's voice suddenly rose. "Then stop drinking it immediately! Stop right away. People who need to recuperate must have some kind of health problem. Besides, you don't look weak at all!"
"It's probably because I was in a bad mood and didn't rest well recently. Qingfeng's mother told me I had to get checked out and take some medicine to regulate my body. I don't understand these things and didn't think much about it. But I'll listen to you and not take it anymore." Guzheng's matter had been bothering her for a while, and she couldn't eat or sleep well, so she finally believed the doctor's words.
Tan Peishi smiled and leaned closer, nudging her chin with her hand. "Don't worry, beauty. If you eat well, sleep well, and have the captain work harder, you'll be pregnant soon."
"You're so outspoken!" Ling Ruoke glared at her, but she secretly hoped her words would come true. She never imagined that one day she would be so eager to get pregnant; it was really strange.
Tan Peishi replied with a grin, "I'm just spouting auspicious words, I don't know anything about speaking!"
"Alright, then I'll grant your wish!" Ling Ruoke said, blushing.
Seeing her ears turn red, Tan Peishi put her hand on her shoulder. "What's there to blush about? It's only natural for a woman to want to have children with the person she loves after they've been together. There's nothing to be ashamed of. You weren't home when I was pregnant, otherwise you would have burst out laughing. From the day we stopped using protection, I bought a pregnancy test every few days. Fu Pei happened to be home the day I found out I was pregnant. When I saw two red lines, I almost went crazy. I hurriedly asked Fu Pei to buy two more, and after testing, there were still two red lines. Only then did I feel relieved. Fu Pei was even funnier. He kept running back and forth into the bathroom to check, afraid that one of the lines might suddenly disappear. My mom was standing next to us, and she almost fell over laughing at our reactions."
Ling Ruoke could imagine the scene, and couldn't help but smile softly. She was very much looking forward to seeing how her colonel would react if he knew she was pregnant.
The two strolled around for a while longer when Tan's mother called, telling them to come home for dinner.
Ling Ruoke suddenly felt envious of such a happy life. How wonderful it was to have her mother cook dinner and call her home for a meal. In a daze, she recalled how she used to like going to the garden in the evenings. When dinner was ready, her mother would come to the garden to find her while calling out. That "Ruoke, dinner's ready!" still echoed in her ears, as clear as ever.
He shook his head, exhaled, and tried to stop himself from thinking about it. "Godson, let's go home for dinner! Go for it!"
Tan Peishi smiled and caught up from behind.
Ling Ruoke looked at her and thought to herself, "It's good to have such a good sister."
After enjoying a free meal, Ling Ruoke strolled downstairs and drove home.
After showering, I turned on my computer, feeling a strong urge to write about Tan Peishi and Fu Peigang's longing for a child. But after typing just a few sentences, I suddenly deleted them all. She and the colonel will also have a child; I'll save that for when I experience it myself.
After discussing the matter of accompanying the army with Huo Qingfeng, Ling Ruoke put it on hold.
Huo Qingfeng knew about his wife's relationship with Tan Peishi and was also well aware that life with a soldier was monotonous, so he didn't force her. He just felt sorry for her being lonely at home alone, so every time he returned to his unit, he would stay until there was no time left before leaving.
In the blink of an eye, more than a month has passed.
Since returning from Tan Peishi's, Ling Ruoke hasn't taken any more Chinese medicine. However, Huo Qingfeng hasn't been home this month either, seemingly quite busy. The pregnancy has to be postponed again; she doesn't dare think about it too much, fearing that trying too hard might make it harder to conceive.
Mei Yanting and Chen Shan had already returned from their hometown in Shandong. Both of them were beaming with joy, radiating the happiness of newlyweds. Northerners are generally warm and outgoing, so Mei Yanting was well-liked by everyone and excitedly told Ling Ruoke about it for a long time after her return.
Seeing her excited expression, Ling Ruoke was happy for her. She hoped that she and Chen Shan could live a good life together, holding hands peacefully for the rest of their lives.
The next day, Mei Yanting treated the company staff to dinner with Chen Shan. Previously, because of the bomb incident, everyone had some reservations about her. Perhaps it was Chen Shan's honesty and simplicity that made them more likable; after this meal, their hostility towards Mei Yanting gradually faded. There was no deep-seated hatred, just a temporary inability to let go of the past.
Ling Ruoke lived a peaceful and uneventful life, without a single storm. Her days were a monotonous routine, almost without any change. But life loves to unexpectedly unleash monstrous waves, leaving you with no escape.
Upon hearing the sound of the guzheng again, Ling Ruoke was completely stunned. After careful listening, she was certain that it was indeed a guzheng.
"What do you want?" Ling Ruoke asked calmly, having regained her composure. Didn't the colonel say the guzheng wouldn't bother them anymore? Where did things go wrong?
Gu Zheng chuckled softly, her voice chilling. "It's nothing, I just wanted to ask you out for a chat. There's a big banyan tree in front of Xinghai Park in the west of the city, I'll be waiting for you there in five minutes."
After saying that, she hung up the phone.
Ling Ruoke slowly put down her phone and waited quietly. She knew that if Gu Zheng was so certain that she would go, then she must have some leverage to offer.
Sure enough, a while later, the text message alarm rang.
Ling Ruoke opened it and saw it was a multimedia message. After seeing the content of the picture, her eyes widened suddenly, and she stood up abruptly from her seat.
A chill ran through my heart and spread to my limbs.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com