Chapter 203 Standing Punishment
In the days that followed, Gu Xiao taught Nan Zhiyi math whenever he had free time.
Under the desk lamp, the two people sat head to head, their pens scratching on the draft paper.
Nan Zhiyi often stared at his focused profile, lost in thought. When he explained something, he always frowned habitually, his slender fingers carefully pointing out the steps of the formula derivation, and even the curve of his Adam's apple showed his ease and control.
“You need to exchange currency here,” he suddenly turned his head, meeting her adoring gaze, and raised an eyebrow. “Are you looking at the question or at me? So distracted? Hmm?”
His tone was so captivating that Nan Zhiyi's ears burned, and she quickly lowered her head to check her calculations.
Unbeknownst to her, Gu Xiao had secretly added "Self-Study Series on Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry" and "Essentials of High School Physics" to his office drawer.
Whenever he had free time, he would study chemical equations and physical laws, and even made a notebook of his mistakes, for fear that he would be stumped by his wife's questions one day.
Fortunately, Nan Zhiyi is currently mainly reviewing humanities subjects, and his progress in mathematics, physics, and chemistry is slow, so he is still managing to keep up.
When Gu Xiao got home from get off work that day, he sensed something was wrong as soon as he opened the study door.
Amidst the scattered scraps of paper, Nan Zhiyi sat at her desk with red-rimmed eyes, while Xiaoman sat on a mat clutching half a torn test paper, tears still clinging to her face.
"What's wrong?" Gu Xiao asked, putting his arm around his wife.
Nan Zhiyi buried her face in his military uniform chest: "Your son... tore up the mock exam I just finished! He also ripped the cover of the 'Review Guide'... I spent the whole afternoon writing it... and I didn't even have time to show it to you!"
Gu Xiao glanced at the several pieces of paper torn to shreds on the ground, then looked at the tattered pages clutched in his son's hand, and his face darkened: "Gu Zhao, stand by the wall."
Xiaoman couldn't understand his father's words at all, but he saw that his father's face was serious, his lips were pursed as if he wanted to cry, and his tears were about to fall but couldn't.
Gu Xiao dragged her son to the corner and spread several pieces of paper in front of him: "Reflect on why you ruined your mother's learning achievements."
He went back, hugged his wife, and whispered a few words of comfort, adding, "Next time he makes a mistake, just beat him up!"
Xiaoman stood pitifully in the corner.
Nan Zhiyi softened a little: "Never mind, he's still too young to understand..."
"One year and two months old, it's time for her to learn manners." Gu Xiao said quite seriously, and quietly squeezed her palm.
The family of three was at an impasse when they heard the sound of a Jeep engine coming from downstairs.
Sister Zhang hurried upstairs. She had never seen Commander Gu before, and only said, "Deputy Division Commander Gu, we have a guest!"
Nan Zhiyi nudged Gu Xiao, signaling him to go and hold their son.
Gu Xiao glanced at her, "A doting mother spoils her son..." he said, picking up the little one.
Xiaoman was hugged by her father, and her face instantly brightened. She hugged her father's neck tightly.
The three of them went downstairs. Commander Gu was looking around the living room with his hands behind his back. Xiao Li put two net bags on the table: one bag of Guoguang apples and one bag of Hebei pears. He then went out and took out a box of Daoxiangcun pastries and a Jinhua ham from the trunk.
"Dad." Gu Xiao saluted, urging his father to sit down quickly. Xiaoman hid in her father's arms, peeking at her grandfather.
Nan Zhiyi went to the kitchen to make tea. Sister Zhang had already prepared hot tea and snacks and placed them on a tray.
She carried it out.
On the living room sofa, Commander Gu picked up his grandson and said, "Grandpa's eldest grandson, do you still remember Grandpa?"
Xiaoman was very obliging, calling out indistinctly, "Yay!"
Commander Gu picked him up and bounced him a few times, very satisfied. "Good, he's fatter and stronger than in the photos! Fifth brother, Zhiyi, you've taken good care of him."
Nan Zhiyi smiled and said, "This little guy isn't picky about food, he's easy to feed."
Seeing that Commander Gu was focused on playing with his grandson, she went to the kitchen to instruct Sister Zhang to add more dishes and help out.
Soon, the sound of stir-frying filled the kitchen. While she was helping to peel garlic, she overheard the conversation between the father and son in the living room.
"I'm here to attend the inauguration ceremony of the memorial hall," Commander Gu said in a low voice. "The placement ceremony for the crystal coffin... will be decided soon, and each military region will send a representative."
He then asked, "Will your operations department also send personnel to assist with security?"
Gu Xiao nodded: "Yes. We've already held a coordination meeting, and we'll go to survey the route tomorrow. I'll be in charge of coordinating the perimeter security."
The father and son talked about the military region's political affairs.
Feeling bored, Xiaoman struggled to get down from Commander Gu's arms, walked to the coffee table, picked up a peach shortbread from the plate, and stuffed it into her grandfather's hands.
Commander Gu laughed loudly, took the peach shortbread but didn't eat it: "He's really a good grandson of your grandfather, even more filial than your uncle!"
He said to Gu Xiao, "The matter of your father-in-law's exoneration is nearing a conclusion. There have been some difficulties in inventorying the assets of the yarn factory, but the property certificates for several buildings should be returned in a while. I have also collected some other valuables according to the list."
He took a list out of his briefcase and handed it to Gu Xiao, saying, "Take a look at this with Zhiyi later."
Gu Xiao accepted it: "Thank you, Dad. You always go to so much trouble for us."
Commander Gu waved his hand, picked up his teacup and took a sip, "We're family, why say such things?"
Looking at the similar eyes and eyebrows of the three generations in the living room, Nan Zhiyi suddenly felt a bittersweet feeling in her heart.
The commander had a good appetite at dinner, and even praised Sister Kuo's braised ribbonfish for being very flavorful.
Nan Zhiyi carefully picked out the thorns with serving chopsticks before serving the food to Commander Gu. The commander asked her, "What have you been busy with lately, Zhiyi?"
She answered earnestly, "To write something, and also... to review my lessons."
"Good! Good study!" Commander Gu nodded approvingly. "No matter what you do in the future, the knowledge you gain will always be yours!"
Gu Xiao served his father soup: "Dad, I heard... there's going to be a science education symposium in September?"
Commander Gu nodded: "Deng Gong will personally oversee this, and the great leader also said before his death, 'Talented people emerge in every generation'... Some policies really need to be changed."
Xiaoman couldn't understand the adults' conversation. After being fed by Nan Zhiyi, she struggled to go out and play.
Commander Gu put down his chopsticks. "I'm done eating. I'll take him out to play."
He carried Xiaoman to the grape trellis in the yard to cool off, lifting her high so she could reach the small, green grapes.
Xiaoman laughed heartily.
At nine o'clock in the evening, Xiao Li drove over to the courtyard to pick up Commander Gu and take him back to the hotel.
“Dad, stay at home,” Gu Xiao said softly, handing his father his military cap. “Zhiyi has already prepared the room.”
Commander Gu waved his hand, his gaze following his grandson who was yawning in Gu Xiao's arms: "Many old comrades-in-arms are staying at the hotel. I haven't seen them for many years... Those who crossed the river together back then, now they're scattered, some have left..."
His voice lowered, "It's rare to see all the military region commanders here, it's quite an event..."
Gu Xiao and Nan Zhiyi did not try to persuade them further.
Suddenly, Xiaoman leaned out and stretched out her chubby little hand to her grandfather: "Yay...hug..."
Commander Gu took his grandson and rubbed the child's face with his stubble: "My dear grandson, Grandpa will come to see you in a couple of days."
He handed Xiaoman back to Gu Xiao and quickly got into the car.
The family of three stood at the gate of the courtyard and watched the jeep drive away, the red taillights fading at the end of the sycamore-lined road.
Nan Zhiyi suddenly felt a warmth on her shoulder. Gu Xiao hugged her, and Xiaoman was already yawning on his shoulder.
He said apologetically, "Honey, I might be busy next week, and I might have to stay at the command center for a few more days."
Nan Zhiyi hugged his arm tightly and walked into the house. "When Dad said... the transfer of fortune would take us through Chang'an Avenue, I guessed it. It's okay, we'll wait for you to come home."
Gu Xiao earnestly promised, "Once I'm done with this busy period, I'll take you to the Summer Palace."
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