Chapter 161 New Home
Nan Zhiyi immediately praised sincerely, "Dad, what a wonderful name! Gu Zhao, it sounds beautiful and has a great meaning!"
Gu Xiao nodded, "Thank you, Dad. You've worked hard."
Commander Gu smiled smugly, clearly very pleased with the name.
Then he added, "Aunt Wu is meticulous and thoughtful in her work. Zhiyi and Xiaoman can't do without her. Why don't we let Aunt Wu come with you to the capital?"
Gu Xiao shook his head: "Dad, Wu Ma's relatives and friends are all in Jian'an, so she is more familiar with the area. If you stay here alone, you will need someone to take care of your daily life. We can rest assured with Wu Ma here. Once we get to the capital, we can find a suitable helper."
Commander Gu thought about it and felt that his son made sense, so he stopped insisting.
As Wu Ma listened, she looked at Nan Zhiyi, then at Xiaoman in the crib, and her eyes immediately reddened. She turned away and quietly wiped away her tears.
She couldn't bear to part with Zhiyi and Xiaoman, whom she had raised single-handedly, nor could she bear to part with her own family.
Nan Zhiyi quickly went over and took Wu Ma's hand, gently comforting her: "Wu Ma, don't be sad, we'll be back for the New Year. If you take good care of the Commander at home, we can feel at ease outside."
Not wanting Nan Zhiyi to be sad and affect her health, Wu Ma quickly wiped away her tears, nodded vigorously, and then turned to Gu Xiao, repeatedly urging, "You must, please take good care of Zhiyi and Xiaoman..."
Gu Xiao solemnly agreed: "Don't worry, Aunt Wu."
On the day they left, the family of three had quite a lot of luggage.
The couple's clothes and personal items, the baby's various odds and ends, and all sorts of food that Commander Gu had asked Wu Ma to prepare...
then.
Gu Xiao drove his jeep in front, while Nan Zhiyi sat in the passenger seat, holding Xiaoman in her arms.
Xiao Li followed behind in a truck loaded with luggage.
Both vehicles, fully loaded, drove out of the military compound and headed towards Beijing, beginning a new journey.
As dusk settled, the two cars drove one after the other into the military compound in the western suburbs of Beijing.
The hood of the jeep was so hot it could cook an egg, and the tarpaulin covering the truck was covered in dust.
Xiaoman cried until her face was red in her swaddling clothes, and her soft hair was soaked with sweat and stuck to her forehead.
Nan Zhiyi hugged him and patted him gently, her own back already soaked with sweat, her shirt stained with dark marks.
She pursed her lips, enduring the stuffiness and discomfort caused by the bumpy ride in the carriage.
"We're almost there," Gu Xiao said, one hand on the steering wheel, the other reaching over the gearshift to rest on her knee. "Just bear with it a little longer."
Nan Zhiyi hummed in response but didn't say anything.
"Drink some water and let it cool down to a warm temperature."
Nan Zhiyi took it, sipped it, and found the water temperature to be just right.
She looked at Gu Xiao. His short hair was neat, his neck was straight, and his military uniform collar was buttoned up neatly. It seemed that the sweltering heat had little effect on him, with only a little bit of dampness at his temples.
She recalled his concise instructions on the way: he had been promoted to deputy division commander and allocated a small, detached house with a courtyard; she would probably like that.
The car eventually drove into a heavily guarded compound, shaded by green trees, with rows of neat gray brick buildings, which appeared more solemn and quiet than Jian'an's family compound.
Their new home is in the innermost row, with a slightly higher courtyard wall and a small gate.
Some neighbors, fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans, sat in the shade of the trees, their eyes following the car as it entered.
Gu Xiao turned off the engine, got out of the car first, and walked around to open the door for her.
He took the crying Xiaoman in his hands, which were so large that they almost supported his son's entire back.
Xiaoman's crying subsided a little in his arms, replaced by soft sobs.
"This is it. It's provided by the military region. There are toilets upstairs and downstairs, a boiler installed, and hot water is readily available. In winter, we have central heating."
He spoke briefly, but he covered the most important points.
Nan Zhiyi was helped out of the car by him with one hand. She looked up at the small building, with its gray walls and red tiles, and clean windows and tables. The restlessness in her heart was soothed a little.
She took Xiaoman from her and lifted him higher, saying, "Xiaoman, look, this is our new home~ Daddy is so amazing, isn't he?"
Gu Xiao's brows relaxed a little when he saw her smile, and he wiped the beads of sweat from the tip of her nose with his knuckles: "It's my duty."
The truck behind stopped, and the bodyguard, Xiao Li, jumped out and ran over, giving a crisp salute: "Deputy Division Commander, Sister-in-law!"
Gu Xiao nodded: "Let's move them. Keep it light, especially the children's things."
He was always decisive and efficient. He first took out the two heaviest suitcases, then nodded to Nan Zhiyi: "Take Xiaoman inside and rest. The master bedroom is on the second floor, turn left. The room has been cleaned."
Nan Zhiyi didn't try to be brave; she carried Xiaoman into the building.
The room was indeed clean, the terrazzo floor was polished to a shine, and there was a faint smell of soap in the air.
She went straight upstairs to the master bedroom and opened the bathroom door.
The wall is covered with white ceramic tiles, and the enamel bathtub and sink are new.
She turned on the tap, waited a moment, and sure enough, warm water came out.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
Gu Xiao quickly came up with a small wicker basket containing Xiaoman's bathtub, soft towel, prickly heat powder, her usual items, and a clean set of pajamas.
He put his things down and said, "Take care of the kids first. I'll handle things downstairs."
After he turned and left, Nan Zhiyi squatted down to give Xiaoman a bath.
After soaking in warm water, the child stopped crying and looked at her with his big, dark eyes.
Her heart softened completely. She carefully dried him off, applied powder to his skin, put on a small shirt, and then placed him on the bed.
Gu Xiao had already turned on the fan and was shaking his head, sending out a gentle breeze.
She fed the child and watched him fall asleep before she could wash herself.
The warm water washed away her fatigue and stickiness, and she felt alive again when she changed into dry cotton pajamas.
The muffled thuds of furniture being moved and the hushed voices of men could be heard downstairs.
She didn't go down immediately, but leaned against the window and looked down.
He and Xiao Li carried a five-drawer chest, stepping steadily into the doorway.
When he is focused on his work, his lips are always slightly pursed and his jaw is taut.
As she watched, the little bit of longing in her heart quietly peeked out again.
This is the capital city, his new world, and it will also be hers.
It was completely dark by the time my luggage was mostly put away.
Xiao Li said goodbye and went back to the guesthouse.
Gu Xiao went to the kitchen, wrung out a damp towel to wipe his face and neck, and walked to the bedroom door.
"Are you hungry?" he asked.
"There's a canteen in the compound; I'll go get some. What do you want to eat?"
"A light meal is fine." Nan Zhiyi looked at his sweat-dampened shirt collar. "You've had a long day too."
"It's okay. I'll be back soon."
Gu Xiao quickly returned with two aluminum lunchboxes. He walked lightly, and the wooden stairs creaked almost inaudibly as he went upstairs.
The master bedroom is spacious, with a small wooden coffee table by the window and a rattan chair on each side.
Gu Xiao placed the lunchbox on the coffee table and opened it.
One dish was braised pork with potatoes, glistening and fragrant; the other was stir-fried bok choy, a few steamed buns, and a small bowl of millet porridge, clearly intended for Nan Zhiyi.
"The cafeteria chef's cooking is quite good," he said, handing over chopsticks. "Eat it while it's hot."
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