Chapter 326 The Garden
The front yard has changed dramatically and is no longer as spacious as it used to be.
In the center of the courtyard, paved with blue bricks, a path inlaid with bluestone slabs leads to the main house, with various flowers and plants adorning both sides of the path.
Several clumps of green bamboo were planted against the wall, rustling softly in the wind.
Jade hairpins and hydrangeas dotted the corners, their heavy clusters of flowers drooping low, some blue, some pink, a truly beautiful sight.
The layout of the entire front yard is well-balanced, with harmonious colors. It retains a rustic charm while injecting vibrant life, clearly the result of careful design by someone knowledgeable, perfectly capturing the pleasure of changing scenery with every step.
Seeing that she was satisfied with what she saw, Gu Xiao took her hand and together they passed through the hanging flower gate and entered the backyard.
"Go check the back."
The backyard is an even more hidden gem.
The fishpond was thoroughly cleaned, and the pond walls were built with Taihu stones in a natural and elegant manner. Several Taihu stones with good shapes were scattered around the pond.
In the clear pond water, several koi carp swayed their tails leisurely, and Xiaoman was trying to talk to the koi carp by the pond.
What surprised Nan Zhiyi the most was that a small wooden pavilion had been erected under the old locust tree in the corner of the courtyard, and inside the pavilion was a rattan rocking chair.
"This..." Nan Zhiyi looked at Gu Xiao with surprise, "I was just saying it casually, you actually got it?"
Gu Xiao put his arm around her waist. "I remember everything you said."
Nan Zhiyi was so moved that she couldn't speak. She held his hand tightly and said, "Fifth Brother, thank you. You've worked so hard."
Gu Xiao felt the strength in her fingertips, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. With his other hand, he deliberately pinched the soft flesh on her side.
He wasn't used to her thanking him so formally, and always felt that doing anything for her was something he should do as a matter of course.
"What's so hard about it? I just talk to people and delegate the work to others. I haven't even come to check on things much."
"It's already quite difficult for you to think about all these things and do everything according to my preferences."
She let go of his hand, quickened her pace, sat down in the rattan rocking chair, and began to sway gently.
Nan Zhiyi sighed comfortably and exclaimed sincerely, "Wow, this place is really nice."
After enjoying a moment of tranquility, she turned to Gu Xiao beside her with curiosity and asked, "Such an elegant design can't be the work of an ordinary gardener. Where did you find such a talented person?"
Gu Xiao placed one hand on the back of the rocking chair and gently rocked it for her. "It was designed by Boss Zhou."
"Boss Zhou?" Nan Zhiyi was taken aback for a moment, then realized, "Ah? Boss Zhou Xingzhi? Isn't he in the antique furniture business?"
"It's him. He comes from a family with a long history of learning and is very knowledgeable about gardens, architectural layouts, and the arrangement of objects. Collecting antique furniture is just one of his businesses, and designing and arranging these kinds of gardens is also his forte. His eye and taste are first-rate. I also have to thank Lao Qin. It was he who told me that Boss Zhou knew about this, so I made the contact."
Gu Xiao chuckled, "Our little courtyard is really a waste of Boss Zhou's talents."
Nan Zhiyi couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. "You really can't judge a book by its cover. I never expected Boss Zhou to be so unassuming. We should thank him properly."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I'll thank Boss Zhou properly."
"Um."
Hearing Gu Xiao say that, Nan Zhiyi stopped asking questions.
Seeing her son Xiaoman still exploring the yard with great interest, she got up and walked to the front yard.
"Taking advantage of the good weather, I'll open the windows to let in some fresh air and then take the bedding out to air it out."
Gu Xiao pulled her back. "Let's go together." He then called Xiao Man over, and they went to the front together.
In one corner of the side room of this courtyard house, a small area of cement-smoothed open space has been deliberately left, with a few wires strung up, which is just right for drying clothes and bedding.
Gu Xiao draped a quilt over the clothesline. "Wife, judging from your posture, you're planning to stay here for a couple of days?"
Nan Zhiyi was indeed somewhat tempted. But she immediately thought of Gu Xiao's identity and shook her head: "You are now strictly disciplined, how can you just stay out overnight? Never mind, we'll talk about it later."
Senior military officers are usually required to report staying overnight outside their private residences, especially for reasons other than official business, which can be quite inconvenient. She didn't want to cause him any trouble or risk violating regulations because of her momentary whim.
Gu Xiao reached out and smoothed her wind-blown hair. "...If you come during the day, you can write your manuscript here, read a book, and let Xiaoman play in the yard. We can go back to the compound in the evening. That would be fine. When I have the weekend off, we can come early in the morning and stay until evening. That would be a way to steal half a day of leisure from our busy lives."
Nan Zhiyi nodded vigorously when she heard him say that: "That's good!"
Gu Xiao then spent the entire day with his wife and children in the courtyard.
Xiaoman got tired from running around in the new courtyard, so she took a nap in the side room after lunch. Nan Zhiyi, on the other hand, lay in a rocking chair and watched Gu Xiao roll up his sleeves to loosen the soil and water the newly planted flowers and plants.
As dusk settled and the first light faded, the family of three drove back to the army compound.
When they got home, Aunt Zhang was already waiting at the door. She greeted them and took Xiaoman in her arms. Seeing his rosy cheeks but full of energy, she smiled and said, "Did our Xiaoman have fun today? Aunt Zhang made you something delicious. You have to eat a lot tonight so you can grow up strong and healthy."
She then turned to Nan Zhiyi, "Sister-in-law, this afternoon, Comrade Li Xiaoxuan called looking for you. I told her that you and Minister Gu had gone out. She asked you to call her back when you have time."
Nan Zhiyi nodded: "Okay, thank you, Sister Zhang."
She went back inside to wash her hands and then dialed Li Xiaoxuan's number.
The call was answered quickly, and Li Xiaoxuan's cheerful voice came from the other end, "Hello? Zhiyi?"
"Xiaoxuan, it's me. I went out this afternoon and just got back. Sister Zhang told me you were looking for me?"
"I knew it was you who called me back. How was your day? You should be free tomorrow, right? How about we go out for a bit?"
Throughout the summer vacation, Li Xiaoxuan contacted Nan Zhiyi several times.
At first, Nan Zhiyi was a little awkward, but she gradually became interested and went out with her twice, either to watch a movie or to chat over tea. The two got along quite easily and happily, and their relationship became much closer and more casual than before.
Following up on her words, Nan Zhiyi replied, "If someone else calls me, I might not have time. But if Xiaoxuan calls me, then I definitely have to be available."
Li Xiaoxuan laughed heartily, clearly pleased: "That's more like it! It's settled then, tomorrow morning we'll go to Wangfujing Department Store first, you come with me to buy some toiletries. Then at noon we'll have hot pot at Donglaishun, my treat! In the afternoon... I've already made plans, the same few people as last time, come to my place, we'll play a few more rounds of mahjong, how about it? You can practice your skills too, don't always say you don't know how."
After a moment's thought, Nan Zhiyi realized she had submitted the manuscript a few days ago and didn't have anything urgent to do tomorrow, so she readily agreed.
Li Xiaoxuan quickly finalized the meeting time and then happily hung up the phone.
After Nan Zhiyi hung up the phone, Gu Xiao wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, rested his chin on her shoulder, and deliberately dragged out his words with a hint of resentment: "Sigh, my wife is going out to play tomorrow, leaving me all alone at home..."
Nan Zhiyi felt a tickle on her neck from his hot breath.
She turned to the side, gently pinched his chin with her fingertips, and teased him: "Yes, Minister Gu is very busy. Why don't you take some time to come and inspect the people's conditions and see how we women entertain ourselves?"
Gu Xiao has to go to work tomorrow, so naturally he can't go.
He lowered his head and rubbed his chin against her cheek, causing a slight tingling sensation.
"What would I go there for? To see you and Comrade Li Xiaoxuan holding hands while leaving me standing there? I'm not going."
He pulled her closer into his arms, his lips almost touching her earlobe, "I just hope my wife comes back soon. Otherwise..."
The threatening words made Nan Zhiyi's ears burn. She smiled and pushed him away, saying, "I know, I promise to return to the team on time and won't delay your check-up."
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