Chapter 35 Mission
The resounding bugle call rang out precisely on time over the camp.
Nan Zhiyi stirred in Gu Xiao's arms and groggily opened her eyes.
It's not even dawn yet.
Gu Xiao had already woken up and was looking down at her with clear eyes.
Did I wake you up?
Nan Zhiyi shook her head and snuggled closer to him.
"I should get up now, you can sleep a little longer."
As Gu Xiao spoke, he did not get up immediately. Instead, he lowered his head, found her lips, and kissed her.
Only when Nan Zhiyi sobbed in protest did he reluctantly let go.
Wait until it's fully light.
After washing up and changing into her usual cotton-padded jacket, Nan Zhiyi began to eat the breakfast that was warming on the stove.
Outside the courtyard, Wang's loud voice could be heard:
"Zhiyi! You've been back for a few days, I came to see you!"
Nan Zhiyi also called out, "Sister-in-law, the door isn't locked, just come in."
Sister-in-law Wang walked in cheerfully, carrying a steaming enamel basin. "These are freshly steamed meat buns, still warm! Have a taste."
Nan Zhiyi smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, you've come at the perfect time. I was just having breakfast."
Wang's sister-in-law then placed the enamel basin on the table, gesturing for Nan Zhiyi to take one and try it.
Nan Zhiyi didn't eat any, but first gave a thumbs up: "Sister-in-law's cooking is great, I'll save it for lunch!"
She didn't want to disappoint Sister-in-law Wang's kindness, so even though she couldn't eat it all at the moment, she saved it for Gu Xiao.
Sister-in-law Wang chuckled a few times, looked Nan Zhiyi up and down, and praised her, "You look even better after your trip back to the city. You look more handsome than the leading man in the art troupe."
"Sister-in-law, stop teasing me," Nan Zhiyi said with a reproachful smile.
She tidied up the aluminum lunchbox and enamel basin on the table, and put the steamed buns in her own enamel basin.
Sister-in-law Wang watched her busy work with a smile.
After washing and drying the enamel basin in Sister Wang's house, Nan Zhiyi walked to the chest of drawers, grabbed a handful of White Rabbit milk candies, and put them into the basin: "Sister-in-law, give the children some sweet treats!"
Sister-in-law Wang was both surprised and delighted: "Oh my! This is so much! Such precious things..."
"Here you go! You worked so hard to steam these buns, we can't just eat them for free. Let's share some with the kids, so they can have some fun."
Unable to refuse, Sister Wang happily accepted the gift, muttering "You're too kind," before leaving satisfied.
The room fell silent again.
Nan Zhiyi walked to the desk, sat down, opened the drawer, and took out letter paper and a fountain pen.
She picked up her pen and wrote to Aunt Feng Xuemei first.
"...I spent the New Year holidays at the Gu family's house. The commander treated me kindly, and all the families were harmonious...They provided me with many things, such as milk powder, malted milk powder, and snacks...I'm doing well here. Fifth Brother treats me extremely well. The area is quiet, and the neighbors are friendly. Please don't worry, Auntie..."
He wrote a long and detailed piece, filling three pages before stopping.
Next was a letter to Zhang Yueran, written in a more lively tone, urging her to study hard. Several brand-new and beautiful bookmarks were tucked into the letter.
She still didn't write to Zhou Anping, afraid that the postmark would reveal her identity...
After writing the letter, I prepared the package to be mailed.
Milk powder, malted milk powder, Beijing-style pastries, a bag of White Rabbit milk candy, and a wool blanket... The box was packed full of things, and it was tied tightly with several hemp ropes when it was sealed.
Where is the post office in this residential compound deep in the mountains? How do I send a mail?
At noon, Gu Xiao pushed open the door right on time, just as the bugle sounded, carrying a familiar aluminum lunchbox.
It was still rice and cabbage stew with glass noodles.
Nan Zhiyi heated up the steamed buns that Wang's sister-in-law had sent that morning and put them on the table.
"Fifth Brother, I want to send a letter and a package back to Aunt Feng and Yueyue. Where should I send them?"
Gu Xiao: "There's a military post office next to the military service center. Is everything ready?"
"Yes! Send some milk powder and food back home. Aunt Feng always thinks of me."
In the afternoon, Nan Zhiyi carried the heavy package all the way to the military post office.
In a small bungalow, a green mailbox hangs by the door.
Staff in green uniforms inspected the package, weighed it, and calculated the postage.
Nan Zhiyi paid the money, watched the package being labeled and put away, and then solemnly dropped the two letters into the mailbox. Only then did she feel relieved.
Nan Zhiyi cooked egg noodles for dinner.
She sat on a small stool by the kitchen stove, flipping through an old book by the firelight.
Gu Xiao returned a little later than usual, and his expression was not good.
"Fifth Brother, what's wrong?"
He paused for a few seconds: "We have a mission early tomorrow morning."
"Mission? Where to? Is it dangerous? How long will it take?"
For a moment, she panicked.
He avoided giving specific details, only saying, "The time is uncertain. If all goes well, ten days to two weeks. If..."
He paused, not saying anything more, but simply raised his hand and brushed her cheek.
"Can't we not go?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew she had asked a foolish question.
Gu Xiao: "Military orders are absolute."
The little bit of excitement I felt when mailing the letter during the day has long since vanished, leaving only worry.
She turned her face away, a tear falling onto her knee and spreading into a dark spot.
She quickly wiped her nose with the back of her hand, sniffed, and said, "I... cooked some egg noodles for you to try."
On the table, two bowls of clear soup noodles with poached eggs are steaming hot.
The lunchbox Gu Xiao brought back from the cafeteria contained stir-fried shredded potatoes, which were bland and tasteless.
The two ate in silence.
The steam from the noodle soup stung Nan Zhiyi's eyes, making her lose her appetite. She managed to swallow only a small half-bowl.
Even when Gu Xiao praised her noodles for being very fragrant, she only gave a slight smile.
Gu Xiao stopped eating, pulled her onto his lap, and gently stroked her hair, comforting her, "Don't worry. Take care of yourself, and I'll take care of myself too. Don't be stingy with the money and tickets. If you need anything, just ask the logistics department to buy it from the city. I've already spoken to them. Don't deprive yourself, okay?"
Nan Zhiyi pressed her head against his face, "Fifth Brother, I can't bear to part with you..."
That evening, she absentmindedly finished washing up, lay in bed, and her gaze followed Gu Xiao like a sunflower.
Gu Xiao felt hot all over from her gaze and leaned down to kiss her lips.
"Zhiyi, I have to leave soon..." His fingertips caressed her neck, hinting at something.
Nan Zhiyi's body stiffened slightly, then softened, and she softly hummed in agreement.
She took the initiative to kiss his lips.
With tacit consent, Gu Xiao's kiss instantly turned fierce, prying open the teeth and conquering the area.
He slipped his hand under her nightgown, his burning palm pressed against her skin...
Her sobs were swallowed up.
But even when he lost control, he didn't go all the way to the end.
He simply ravaged her until she was covered in sweat and begged for mercy with tears in her eyes.
Nan Zhiyi thought in a daze, "Where did this person, who is usually so aloof and dignified, learn these shameful tricks from?"
The first light of dawn.
Nan Zhiyi opened her sore eyes; her side was cold.
Gu Xiao has been gone for three days.
Her heart felt as if a piece had been hollowed out, filled with a heavy sense of loss.
She was too lazy to even eat breakfast, and just stayed in bed, lost in thought.
"Zhiyi, are you up yet?" Sister Wang's distinctive loud voice broke the silence with a knock on the door.
Nan Zhiyi quickly tidied herself up and went to open the door.
Wang's wife and Liu's wife were standing outside the door. Liu's wife still had a shy smile on her face.
Sister-in-law Wang teased her, "Oh dear, look at your face! Did your soul fly away with Commander Gu as soon as he left?"
Nan Zhiyi's face flushed slightly, and she changed the subject: "Did your sisters-in-law need something from me?"
"Let's go to the market! It's a big market day at Xiaoheyan today! Have you almost finished eating all the stuff you stocked up on before the New Year? Let's go buy some more!"
Nan Zhiyi, noticing the empty kitchen, nodded: "Okay, let me get a basket."
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