Chapter 9 Obtaining the Marriage Certificate
Nan Zhiyi stayed at Feng Xuemei's house for a few days.
The Zhang family of three took great care of her, soothing her cold and frightened heart.
She helped with some light housework, and when she and Zhang Yueran picked vegetables in the corner of the yard, a faint smile would occasionally appear on her face.
However, she was still uneasy, wondering if things were going smoothly with Gu Xiao.
Or, will he ever come back...?
That afternoon, Zhang Jianguo unusually returned home early and entered the house together with Feng Xuemei.
Feng Xuemei was carrying a blue cloth bundle in her hand, her face beaming with joy.
"Zhiyi!" Feng Xuemei called out to her and walked over quickly. "Commander Gu just called. He'll come to pick you up first thing tomorrow morning to get your marriage certificate!"
Nan Zhiyi's fingers trembled, and the green beans she had just picked fell into the basket.
Her heart skipped a few beats, her cheeks felt slightly hot, but more than anything, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Getting a marriage certificate?!"
Zhang Yueran jumped up in shock and grabbed Nan Zhiyi's arm. "Sister! You're going to marry Fifth Brother? No...no, not Zhou Zhengping..."
She didn't finish her sentence.
"Zhang Yueran!"
Feng Xuemei's expression changed drastically, and she shouted angrily, "What nonsense are you spouting! If you keep talking nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart!"
Her chest heaved with anger, furious that her daughter had brought up such a sensitive topic.
Nan Zhiyi held Feng Xuemei's hand, signaling her not to be angry.
She turned to Zhang Yueran: "Yueyue, the Zhou family has broken off the engagement. My family background is bad now, if I don't get married... I'll have to go to the countryside."
Zhang Yueran froze, her eyes instantly reddening. After a long pause, she blurted out in a tearful voice, "...Then...then if I were a man...I could marry my sister, and you wouldn't have to marry someone else."
Feng Xuemei was both distressed and angry. She said urgently to Zhang Jianguo, "Old Zhang, quickly take this silly girl to the kitchen! Don't let her cause trouble here!"
Zhang Jianguo half-dragged and half-coaxed Zhang Yueran away, leaving her with tears in her eyes.
After calming herself down, Feng Xuemei pulled Nan Zhiyi into the inner room and opened the blue cloth bundle.
Inside was a brand-new light beige wool coat, the material of which was extremely rare in those days.
"Come on, give it a try!"
Feng Xuemei forced a smile: "I asked someone to get the fabric and worked on it for several nights. Zhiyi is so beautiful, he looks good in anything. It would be a good deal for him to marry anyone else."
She helped Nan Zhiyi put on her coat, buttoned it up, looked her over from left to right, and nodded in satisfaction.
"So handsome! Like a movie star in a magazine! Before you get your marriage certificate tomorrow, remember to go to the photo studio and take a couple of photos, just to remember the occasion. When your Uncle Zhang and I got married, we didn't keep any photos, and the ones we took later just didn't feel the same..."
Nan Zhiyi touched the soft, thick fabric, her nose tingling slightly, and nodded vigorously: "Yes, I've got it, Aunt Feng."
At night, Zhang Yueran clung to Nan Zhiyi like an octopus, whimpering, "I don't want my sister to get married, especially Gu Xiao. He looks so fierce. Will he hit you in the future?"
Nan Zhiyi smiled: "That shouldn't be the case. Do you remember when we were little, we used to tease Fifth Brother with Gu Yan? Even when he was angry, he would only hit Gu Yan and... Don't worry, Yueyue, Fifth Brother just looks fierce..."
Zhang Yueran didn't speak, but Nan Zhiyi could feel that her shoulder was gradually getting wet.
"If...he dares to bully you, I'll definitely fight him to the death!"
Nan Zhiyi patted her back: "Okay. Yueyue is my support."
The two chatted on and on until midnight before finally drifting off to sleep.
The next morning.
A military jeep came to a steady stop at the gate of the compound.
Gu Xiao was dressed in a crisp military uniform, his posture upright.
Nan Zhiyi had already gotten ready. She used Aunt Feng's cosmetics to do a simple makeup, and wearing that wool coat, she looked elegant and gentle.
Gu Xiao watched her walk towards him in the morning light, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes: "Get in the car."
He opened the passenger door.
The jeep's base was quite high, and Nam Ji-yi was a little embarrassed when she tried to climb up.
Gu Xiao noticed her hesitation, put an arm around her waist, and lifted her up.
Feng Xuemei watched the young couple's interaction from the doorway, a maternal smile on her face.
Zhang Yueran, standing nearby, muttered under her breath, "How annoying...he's already hugging my sister before we're even married..."
Feng Xuemei covered her mouth and said, "Don't talk nonsense!"
Nan Zhiyi leaned against the car window, "Aunt Feng, we...we'll be back soon, don't worry."
Feng Xuemei said, "Okay, after we get the marriage certificate, let's go home for dinner."
The jeep drove away from the military compound.
Nan Zhiyi stared at her fingers and whispered, "Fifth Brother, Aunt Feng told us to go take pictures first."
"Okay, let's go to the photo studio first."
Gu Xiao kept his eyes fixed ahead, his voice steady.
Inside the photo studio, the experienced photographer directed the two to sit down.
The background is a simple skylight.
"Oh my, PLA comrade, your wife is so beautiful! That overcoat suits her perfectly!"
Through the camera, the experienced craftsman couldn't help but praise, "Get your head a little closer... Yes! Relax your expression, PLA comrade... Alright!"
A blinding flash of a spotlight.
Nan Zhiyi subconsciously closed her eyes.
After taking this photo, the master photographer instructed the two to change their poses a few more times.
Nan Zhiyi glanced at Gu Xiao with some confusion: Why is Fifth Brother being so cooperative today?
Gu Xiao was also looking at her, and the smile on his lips made Nan Zhiyi's cheeks inexplicably start to heat up again.
It will take a few days to get the photos after they are taken.
The two went directly to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
With Gu Xiao's status as the regimental commander, the procedures went exceptionally smoothly.
The stamp landed with a "snap," and the dust settled.
Stepping outside, the autumn sun brought warmth.
Nan Zhiyi held the thin marriage certificate, her feelings a mix of emotions.
"Your file," Gu Xiao said, opening the car door, "will soon be transferred to the military region. What are your plans next?"
He added, "To join the army, or to stay in the city for the time being?"
Nan Zhiyi was slightly taken aback.
He gave us a choice? Though it might just be a formality.
She stayed in the city, unemployed, in an awkward social class situation, and Aunt Feng's house was not a place she could stay for long.
"I... am with the army."
Gu Xiao nodded: "Okay."
The two got back into the car.
Instead of driving directly back to the residential compound where Feng Xuemei lived, he drove to the department store.
"Go in and pick out some things."
Gu Xiao got out of the car and went around to the passenger side to open the door for Nan Zhiyi.
As Nan Zhiyi lowered her head to get out of the car, he naturally reached out his hand, and their eyes met briefly.
Nan Zhiyi quickly lowered her eyes, placed her hand in his palm, and got out of the car.
The store was fairly well stocked.
With a clear goal in mind, Gu Xiao headed straight for the grocery counter and the daily necessities section.
Nan Zhiyi quietly followed beside her.
"Two cans of malted milk powder, three bottles each of canned fruit, two jin of White Rabbit milk candy, and three boxes of Shanghai-made biscuits," Gu Xiao ordered the salesperson.
The sales clerk quickly and efficiently packed the bags.
He walked to the other side and pointed to the enamel basins, thermos flasks, and thick cotton towels printed with the double happiness symbol in red on the shelf: "Take one of each."
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