Chapter 61 - 21: Zhaozhao, Be Reasonable

Chapter 61: Chapter 21: Zhaozhao, Be Reasonable

Realizing his dad didn’t know they were about to get little army hats, Er Zai piped up, "My mom said that for the New Year, she’s going to give me and my big brother each our own little army hat!"

A faint smile touched the corners of Gu Chenghuai’s lips. "Is that so? Your mom is certainly good to you two." ’She’s never even given me a pair of socks.’

"Yeah." Er Zai glanced at Lin Zhao, his smile huge. "My mom is super nice to us. Tie Chui is really jealous, you know. He was crying his eyes out, asking why he couldn’t be Mom’s son."

Gu Chenghuai listened patiently. "Since your mom is so good to you, you two need to listen to what she says."

"We do! Grandma says my brother and I are the most well-behaved kids! We help Mom take care of Third Child and Fourth Child, gather firewood and start the fire, and we’ve even washed clothes!" Er Zai’s face was animated, his voice full of pride.

Gu Chenghuai’s eyes were brimming with amusement. He believed that Da Zai was well-behaved, but Er Zai was a mischievous little rascal. Fortunately, he always listened to whatever Da Zai said.

"That’s wonderful! Your mom works hard, so you and your brother need to help share her burden. Since Dad isn’t home, you two are the only other men in our family. You have to protect your mom, and if anything happens, go to the old family house to get help."

He was too far away to be of any real help.

That was why Gu Chenghuai couldn’t bring himself to blame Lin Zhao at all, even though she had neglected the children for the past few years.

Er Zai looked as thrilled as a first-grader who had just gotten a gold star from the teacher. He declared loudly, "I know! I’m a man of the house, and I’ll protect Mom!"

"Me too," Da Zai chimed in, his little face flushed red.

Gu Chenghuai chuckled. "Er Zai, put your mom on the phone."

Lin Zhao took the phone. "What is it?"

Gu Chenghuai said, "I’ve asked Yang Junzhi to help with the authorization slips for the bricks and tiles. Go to the county government building and find him; he’ll give them to you. Transporting the materials will be a pain, so ask Dad and my older brothers to help."

"Okay."

After agreeing, Lin Zhao suddenly found she had nothing else to say. "I’ve made a note of everything you said. Was there anything else? If not, I’ll hang up now. I’ll write to you."

"Alright, Zhaozh—"

Gu Chenghuai had barely gotten her name out when he heard a loud CLANG, immediately followed by the BEEP-BEEP-BEEP of a dial tone.

She had hung up.

He set down the receiver, a flicker of exasperation in his eyes. He had been about to tell her he was coming home on leave soon.

’Oh well. It can be a surprise.’

Just as Gu Chenghuai was leaving the communications room, Sun Yeli appeared. He caught the ghost of a smile on Gu Chenghuai’s lips and asked curiously, "It sounds like you and your wife are on good terms. Have you ever thought about bringing her and the kids here?"

"Don’t tell me you’ve gotten addicted to the cafeteria food. You’re not single like me. You’ve been married for years, yet you still haven’t brought your family here. There isn’t really a problem, is there?!"

Gu Chenghuai stopped in his tracks. His deep, dark eyes landed on Sun Yeli, his expression puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"You really haven’t heard?" Sun Yeli glanced around, then lowered his voice. "Over in the family compound, people have been gossiping about your wife."

Gu Chenghuai’s brows knitted tightly, his expression turning sour. "What kind of gossip?"

Sun Yeli detected the coldness in his tone and didn’t dare drag it out. "It’s not your fault you haven’t heard, since you don’t live in the family apartments," he said quickly. "A lot of people in the compound are saying... that you and your wife had an arranged childhood marriage and that there’s no affection between you. Others are saying she’s from the countryside, uncultured and plain, and that you’re bound to divorce her sooner or later."

"Bullshit!" Gu Chenghuai couldn’t help but curse.

"It was love at first sight for me and Zhaozhao! We were talking marriage by the second time we met! My wife is still in high school—who says she’s uncultured!"

Gu Chenghuai found the rumors utterly baffling.

Sun Yeli was dumbfounded.

After a long moment of stunned silence, the usually decisive soldier stammered, "L-love at first sight?"

A flicker of unease crossed Gu Chenghuai’s eyes, though his expression remained impassive. "What about it?"

"N-nothing. It just... doesn’t sound like you," Sun Yeli said, scratching his head.

This was Gu Chenghuai, a hardened, iron-willed soldier who didn’t have a romantic bone in his body. Him, falling in love with a girl at first sight?

It was completely unbelievable.

Gu Chenghuai looked puzzled.

"So, is your wife really beautiful?" he asked, unable to suppress his gossipy curiosity.

The confusion in Gu Chenghuai’s eyes vanished. He leveled a look at him. "You’re a soldier, steadfast and upright. How can you judge a person by their appearance? Shallow."

"..." ’That’s considered judging by appearance?’

Before Sun Yeli could argue, Gu Chenghuai’s expression turned cold and severe. "Do you know who is spreading these nasty rumors about my wife?"

"I wouldn’t know. I live in the barracks, too."

"Then how did you find out?" Gu Chenghuai pressed.

"Unlike you, I have my sources," Sun Yeli said, lifting his chin proudly.

Gu Chenghuai was the youngest battalion commander in the military region, exceptionally skilled in every area. But he was also strikingly handsome and rarely showed any emotion, giving him an unapproachable air. Because of that, no one dared to gossip in his presence, so the rumors naturally never reached his ears.

"So this is the reason you’re always telling me to bring my wife and kids to the base?"

Sun Yeli shot back, "What do you think?"

’Do I look like I have nothing better to do?’