Chapter 37.2

After eating, Gu Qinghan rode home with Wen Nuan and Lele.

Gu Qinghan drove their brand-new bicycle very smoothly. 

In this era, riding a shiny new bicycle was quite impressive. Lele was giggling joyfully, attracting the attention of many people as they passed through the streets. 

As they rode towards their home, there were fewer people on the road, and they occasionally spotted some pedestrians. 

Wen Nuan, who was sitting in the back seat, turned to Gu Qinghan and said, “If I had known, I would have taken photos after buying the bicycle. We could have asked the photographer to include our new bicycle in the shots.” 

Upon hearing this, Gu Qinghan stopped the bicycle, propped one leg on the ground, and turned slightly to glance at Wen Nuan. “Should we go back now and take a picture?” he asked. 

Wen Nuan couldn’t help but laugh. Noticing there was no one around, she reached out and hugged Gu Qinghan’s strong waist. “Never mind, we’re almost back to the family compound. Let’s just wait until we pick up the photos next time.” 

Gu Qinghan withdrew his gaze and resumed pedaling, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly. “Alright, we’ll take pictures next time.” 

—o—o—o—

When they returned to the family compound, many people noticed them, or rather, their new bicycle. 

Some familiar neighbors remarked, “Wow, what an impressive bicycle! And it’s still brand new!” 

Though some others in the compound had also bought bicycles, they were not common, as most people tended to stay within the compound’s vicinity. 

The woman who spoke was the mother of Captain Zhang Ying from the next house. Wen Nuan had encountered her a few times before. The neighbor mentioned that her daughter-in-law had just given birth to a girl and was currently in confinement.

Seeing that some people had walked over to admire their new bicycle, Wen Nuan got off the back seat and smiled, “Yes, Auntie, we just bought it.” 

Aunt Zhang’s eyes lit up as she examined the new bicycle from front to back. “How much did this cost? This looks like a Phoenix brand, right? Those are quite expensive, at least twenty or thirty yuan more than other brands.” 

The price of bicycles was quite transparent; both new and used ones cost over a hundred yuan, so there was no need to hide it. Wen Nuan replied, “Yes, it is a bit more expensive.” 

More and more neighbors gathered around. In addition to asking about the price, some began to inquire why Wen Nuan’s family needed a bicycle while they were also carrying a small baby. 

Gu Qinghan observed the growing crowd of neighbors, the noise of their chatter increasing. Lele, sitting in front, leaned closer to him, seeming a bit frightened. 

Gu Qinghan frowned and said casually, “Comrades, I have some matters to attend to, so I can’t chat right now.” 

He then pedaled away with Wen Nuan and the children toward their home. 

Wen Nuan had thought the situation in the family compound would be a bit better. After all, many people had already bought bicycles, including those in positions like Gu Qinghan’s as a regiment-level officer. However, she didn’t expect the neighbors to remain so curious. 

As the crowd watched Gu Qinghan and Wen Nuan ride away, they began to gossip. Someone asked Aunt Zhang, who had been the first to chat with Wen Nuan, “Aunt Zhang, why did Vice Captain Gu’s family suddenly buy a bicycle?” 

Aunt Zhang didn’t actually know the details; she just loved to gossip. But she heard someone say, “Don’t you know? It was the avalanche incident! Vice Captain Gu’s wife saved some people and received recognition for it. They even held a commendation meeting to honor her.” 

They all knew about the commendation meeting, but what did that have to do with buying a bicycle? 

“Wow, you all don’t even know this? Comrade Wen Nuan apparently got a job! They say she’s going to… oh, the kitchen unit!” 

The kitchen staff was the best logistics unit in the entire regiment, and many family members in the compound wanted to get in there, but not many had succeeded in recent years. 

Now, Wen Nuan had only been in The Northern Military District for a few months and had already landed a job in the kitchen unit. It was no wonder everyone was curious. 

They gathered together, discussing whether this news was true or not. 

Aunt Zhang listened to their chatter, frowning slightly. Her daughter-in-law worked in the kitchen unit, but since she had just given birth, she was at home recovering and couldn’t go to work. 

The idea of Wen Nuan suddenly entering the kitchen unit made her uneasy.

Did that mean she had taken her daughter-in-law’s place? 

Feeling a bit flustered, Aunt Zhang asked the person who had spoken earlier, “That can’t be right. Don’t they not hire from outside for the kitchen unit? How could they assign her there?” 

“Well, I heard it from my husband. He said Comrade Wen Nuan would report there in March. You’ll know then.” 

Aunt Zhang still felt skeptical. “But Wen Nuan has a baby who hasn’t been weaned yet! What could she possibly do in the kitchen unit?” 

The other person replied: “I don’t know about that.”

—o—o—o—

After Wen Nuan and Gu Qinghan returned home, Gu Qinglan happened to come back from the hospital.

Upon seeing her brother and sister-in-law riding in with their new bicycle, she exclaimed, “Big Brother, sister-in-law, you bought a bicycle! It looks so impressive!” 

Gu Qinglan had reported to the hospital a few days earlier. Gu Qinghan had even sent someone to check on how things were going over there. 

The comrades at the hospital said that Gu Qinglan was not only articulate and capable but also very diligent in her studies. She returned to the dormitory at the latest every day and had filled two notebooks with notes in just a week. 

The people at the hospital were unaware of what Gu Qinglan had experienced during her time in the countryside.

They thought she was avoiding the labor required of young intellectuals by having Gu Qinghan secure her a military position.

However, during their time together, everyone had grown quite fond of Gu Qinglan’s cheerful personality and hardworking nature. 

Wen Nuan knew that to fit in and get up to speed, Gu Qinglan hadn’t been sleeping well this past week, and since starting at the hospital, she rarely came over to their home. 

Sometimes, when Wen Nuan made soup, she would ask Gu Qinghan to invite Gu Qinglan over for a meal, but she had only come once.  

Looking at Gu Qinglan’s slightly thinner face, Wen Nuan smiled and said, “Your brother said it would be convenient for me to commute, so he bought the bicycle.” 

“Don’t even mention it! Just now, when I was riding back, the people in the family compound were all so curious! Everyone asked me how much it cost and what the difference is between the Phoenix brand and other brands. I didn’t even know how to respond! Luckily, your brother is clever and just drove me straight home,” Wen Nuan suddenly realized that Gu Qinghan’s cold temperament could actually be quite useful.

Gu Qinglan examined the brand-new bicycle from all angles, her eyes shining with excitement. “This bicycle looks amazing! I can’t help but look at it a few more times.” 

Then, she turned to Wen Nuan and asked, “Sister-in-law, can you ride a bicycle?” 

Actually, Wen Nuan could ride, but she had never used a 28-inch bicycle before. She smiled and replied, “I’ve ridden other people’s bicycles back in my hometown, but I’m not very skilled at it.” 

Gu Qinglan had also learned to ride when Gu Qingsong took her biking in their hometown. It had been many years since she had last ridden, and she wasn’t sure if she still remembered how. 

Hearing Wen Nuan’s response, Gu Qinghan picked Lele up from the small seat and unfastened it as well. He then gestured for Gu Qinglan to come over and hold Lele. “I’ll teach your sister-in-law how to ride. You hold the baby for now.” 

Gu Qinglan smiled as she took the squirming Lele in her arms. “Sure! Once my sister-in-law learns, I want to try riding too and enjoy the glory of this new bicycle!” 

“Alright, you can give it a try later,” Wen Nuan said as she placed her hands on the handlebars and positioned her left foot on the pedal, preparing to mount the bicycle. Unlike Gu Qinghan, who could simply sit on the seat and reach the ground, her legs weren’t long enough to do that. 

Gu Qinglan settled onto a wooden stump in front of the courtyard gate while holding Lele. The little one still wanted to ride, babbling excitedly. 

Sister Guihua heard the commotion and was drawn outside. Upon seeing Lele making a fuss, she came over to play with her. 

Meanwhile, Wen Nuan had successfully gotten on the bicycle, with Gu Qinghan supporting the bicycle for her as she practiced in the open space at the front of the courtyard.

Wen Nuan pedaled steadily, her hands trembling a bit at first as the front of the bicycle wobbled. The ground in front of her was muddy and uneven, but she focused intently on riding, occasionally asking the man behind her, “Qinghan, can you hold me up?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got you,” he replied in his deep voice from behind her, which reassured Wen Nuan.

Although the bicycle was a bit large for her, she had to admit that the quality of products in this era was really good. It felt effortless as she pedaled, smooth as silk. At one hundred eighty-five yuan, it was worth the price.

At that moment, Li Qiuyan, who had just finished her shift at the kitchen unit, saw Wen Nuan riding the brand-new bicycle as she passed by her house.

Following behind Wen Nuan was a tall man whose usually serious face was surprisingly adorned with a doting smile.

Li Qiuyan’s companion, Liu Meili, stared in shock, wide-eyed, as she watched Wen Nuan ride by. “How did she buy a bicycle? What’s the use of it in the family compound? What a waste of money…”

After all, it cost over a hundred yuan.

Li Qiuyan pressed her lips together and then turned to Liu Meili, saying, “I heard she’s going to work at the kitchen unit. She probably bought it for convenience in commuting.”

“What?” Liu Meili had actually heard rumors a couple of days ago that someone had arranged a job for Wen Nuan, but she hadn’t expected it to be in the kitchen unit. 

Wen Nuan had only been in The Northern Military District for a few months, and finding a job was one thing, but getting a position in the kitchen unit—where many people in the family compound were eager to get in—was something else entirely. Liu Meili suddenly felt a pang of jealousy. 

Furrowing her brow, Liu Meili asked Li Qiuyan in a displeased tone, “Qiu Yan, didn’t you say there was a vacant position in the kitchen unit? When can you help me get in?” 

Li Qiuyan’s two children had stolen her pork, and at that time, she had mentioned that a female comrade in the kitchen was going on maternity leave and that she could get Liu Meili in there. 

Now, over a month had passed, and there was no news whatsoever! 

Li Qiuyan felt awkward and furrowed her brow, unsure of how to respond. 

—o—o—o—

Meanwhile, Wen Nuan had already ridden her bicycle back to the entrance of her courtyard, continually asking, “Qinghan, are you still holding me?” 

Gu Qinglan and Sister Guihua laughed and said, “You’ve ridden quite a long way all by yourself!” 

“Sister-in-law, you’re amazing!” 

Wen Nuan then lifted one foot and pressed it down to stop the bicycle, glancing back at Gu Qinghan, who was a distance away but was smiling and leisurely walking toward her.

—o—o—o—

Lucia: Stay jealous girlies, jealousy will never take you anywhere!