Chapter 14 – The Female Supporting Character in the Confession Book

At that time, in the countryside, no family could keep new happenings a secret. Sure enough, that afternoon, Lin Jianzhang was caught in bed, and by evening, the news had already spread to Hongshu Village.

Wen Xin returned home from work in the evening, surrounded by sympathetic and schadenfreude-filled gazes, feeling a bit confused. When she got home and asked about it, Zhang Xiuying angrily said: “Isn’t it because the Lin family is bullying people too much? He can’t even cut ties with his ex-wife, and now he’s ruining other people’s daughters. Lin Jianzhang seemed like a good person before, but now he’s been caught sleeping with his ex-wife. Luckily, you broke up with him, or you’d have no idea how embarrassed you’d be.”

Zhang Xiuying even blamed Minister Zhang: “And your leader is also causing trouble, setting up a good girl with a man like him. He’s pushing people into the fire pit.”

Wen Xin felt that Minister Zhang was somewhat wronged, since when he had introduced Lin Jianzhang to the original owner, he genuinely thought Lin Jianzhang was a decent man. He believed they would live happily together. 

Who would have thought that Luo Manzhen would be reborn?

But now that Zhang Xiuying was still angry, Wen Xin didn’t argue in defense of Minister Zhang, and Zhang Xiuying’s bad mood lasted until evening.

After a good night’s sleep, Zhang Xiuying’s anger had dissipated. It was unclear whether Wen Yuejun had persuaded her or if she had just come to terms with it.

Before the sky had cleared, light rain intermittently fell. Wen Xin always wore a raincoat when she went out now. Her luck was reflected in many aspects. For instance, that morning, just as she was arriving at work, it started to rain. She wore a raincoat made from plastic sheeting, staying completely dry, while her colleagues had their pant legs drenched and had to roll them up.

After work, Gei Wei came to see her. She was a teacher at a local primary school. After so long, the issue had faded in her heart. After dealing with Lin Laizi’s matter, the Gei family had visited the Wen family. 

Since then, the relationship between Gei Wei and Wen Xin had improved, and every noon, after lunch, Gei Wei would come to find Wen Xin to hang out.

Wen Xin didn’t have many friends. Her colleagues were all busy with their own matters. Gei Wei, who was the same age as her, was lively, sincere, and easy to get along with.

Gei Wei had come to invite Wen Xin to her house for dinner; today was her grandmother’s birthday. Wen Xin didn’t want to go. “Weiwei, I think I’ll pass. I’m just an outsider at your grandmother’s birthday, it would be awkward.”

Gei Wei said: “What’s so awkward about it? We don’t have any relatives here. My grandma’s birthday is a big one, her seventieth, and we can’t even get two tables of people together. It has to be lively, right? There’s no one else, so you’re my best friend. You have to come! My brother even brought his comrades along.”

Gei Wei pulled Wen Xin’s hand, trying to push her out. Gei Wei’s family had settled in Sanyi Yong Township after Ge Hongjun retired from the army. Besides the long-time neighbors and her grandma’s side of the family, they didn’t really have any other relatives around. 

This time, since her grandma was celebrating a milestone birthday and there were so few people, Ge Hongjun had asked Ge Fu and Gei Wei to bring friends to the house for the meal.

Gei Wei immediately thought of Wen Xin.

Wen Xin was persuaded by Gei Wei. As they passed by the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, she went in and bought two pounds of snacks, two bottles of canned food, and two pounds of apples before heading to Gei Wei’s house.

The birthday celebration for Gei Wei’s grandmother was held at their home. Since it was raining today, they set up two tables in the east room and one table in the west room. 

The two tables in the east room were for the elders and other older guests, while the west room was for Gei Wei, Ge Fu’s friends, and their fiancés, who sat with them at the table.

Wen Xin was seated next to Ge Fu’s fiancée, and directly across from her were Gu Xiuping and Zhu Dazhi.

When Zhu Dazhi saw Wen Xin, his eyes immediately brightened. “Oh, Comrade Wen, it’s you! We’re really lucky to meet like this.”

Zhu Dazhi’s words made Gu Xiuping glance at him, but Zhu Dazhi, seemingly unaware, continued trying to get closer to Wen Xin.

Although Wen Xin was a lucky Koi that had lived for over a thousand years, she had never taken human form before, so her encounters with men had been few. 

Most of the men she had interacted with as an adult were reserved like Big Brother Wen and Second Brother Wen. She truly couldn’t handle someone as enthusiastic and forward as Zhu Dazhi.

She appeared a bit awkward. Gu Xiuping noticed this and entered the conversation, diverting Zhu Dazhi’s attention. Wen Xin gave him a grateful look.

Ge Jun was arranging the dishes outside, and Gei Wei stepped out for a moment. Soon, the food was served in the west room.

The three members of the Ge family worked for a living, and since they had no young children to support, the dishes at the birthday banquet were very lavish.

There were four meat dishes: chicken stewed with mushrooms, sauerkraut with pork, braised carp, and braised beef. For the vegetable dishes, there were two: a cold three-salad mix and smashed cucumbers.

Gei Wei sat next to Wen Xin, and as everyone picked up their bowls to eat, the atmosphere became more harmonious, thanks to Gei Wei acting as a social lubricant. Gei Wei poured Wen Xin a cup of rice wine, brewed by Gei Wei’s grandmother. It wasn’t much, only a barrel per year. It was sweet, with a light alcohol taste, and Wen Xin immediately liked it after taking a sip. Seeing this, Gei Wei poured her several more cups.

Since they were all young, after the meal, the conversation became more casual. Zhu Dazhi, a promising and eligible bachelor, began suggesting that Gei Wei and her sister-in-law introduce him to someone, perhaps even a match for Gu Xiuping.

Most of the girls around Gei Wei’s age had already gotten married, so she said there weren’t any suitable ones. However, Ge Fu’s fiancée then brought up her cousin, and the two of them hit it off and chatted happily.

Wen Xin stood up to go to the bathroom. After she left, Gu Xiuping asked Gei Wei: “Weiwei, does your friend have a partner?” 

He was absentmindedly playing with a matchbox in his hand as he asked, though only he knew how fast his heart was racing while asking that question.

Zhu Dazhi nearly jumped up. What was going on with Old Gu? Didn’t he know whether Comrade Wen had a partner? Hadn’t he seen Comrade Wen dining with Captain Lin last time? Why was he asking such a question? Did Old Gu want to steal a march? Wasn’t that against the rules?

Zhu Dazhi was extremely anxious.

Gei Wei was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said: “No, she doesn’t have anyone. She used to be with someone, a soldier. That guy had been divorced once, and after the divorce, he still had lingering ties with his ex-wife. Xin Xin broke up with him, so now she’s single.”

Gei Wei smiled brightly at Gu Xiuping.

Zhu Dazhi was stunned by this news. “Comrade Wen and Captain Lin didn’t end up together?”

Gei Wei gave him a confirming answer. “They broke up a long time ago, around late May.”

Zhu Dazhi did the math, so that meant Wen Xin had broken up with Lin Jianzhang not long after that meal at the State-Owned Restaurant?

Gu Xiuping didn’t say anything else. He was in a great mood now, his face softening with a more gentle expression.

When Wen Xin came back from the bathroom, Gu Xiuping would glance at her from time to time. His gaze was no longer restrained; it now held a certain warmth, a sense of determination.

Wen Xin felt a bit flustered under his gaze, her heart beginning to race again. 

This was the second time her heart had sped up, and Wen Xin wondered if she should visit a doctor to check if something was wrong with her.

Gei Wei’s gaze shifted back and forth between Gu Xiuping and Wen Xin. She had the urge to play matchmaker but then remembered what her Big Brother had said about the Gu family’s background, so she quickly dismissed the thought.

Since ancient times, family connections in marriage had been about matching social status. Marriages where the families didn’t match rarely ended well. Wen Xin was her lifesaver, and she couldn’t repay kindness with harm.

Wen Xin still had work the next day, and seeing that it was getting late, she decided to leave first. There were many guests at Gei Wei’s house, so she didn’t see her off. Wen Xin left the house alone.

That afternoon, Wen Xin stayed later at work, organizing materials. It was Saturday, and there was a holiday the next day, so everyone had left early. By the time she finished, the office was nearly empty except for the few people on duty.

The cafeteria was closed on Saturday afternoon, and Wen Xin locked the office door, wheeling her bicycle out. When she saw the man standing at the entrance by the wall, she was momentarily surprised. “Comrade Gu, are you looking for Minister Zhang? He’s already left for the day.”

Minister Zhang, as the head of the local military affairs office, was responsible for overseeing the enlistment lists for young people in the village, so many soldiers came to see him.

Gu Xiuping walked up to Wen Xin and looked at her, saying: “I’m not here to find Minister Zhang. I’m here to find you.”

Wen Xin was taken aback. “You’re looking for me? Is there something you need?”

Gu Xiuping cleared his throat, trying to calm his nervousness: “Comrade Wen, my name is Gu Xiuping, I’m from Yan Jing, and I’m an active-duty soldier. I hold the rank of Colonel, I’m 26 years old, I smoke a maximum of two cigarettes a day, and I drink alcohol no more than once a week.”

Wen Xin stared at him in confusion as he introduced himself. She couldn’t understand what he was trying to do.

Gu Xiuping wracked his brain to think of other qualities he hadn’t mentioned yet. “I will not hit my wife, nor do I flirt with other female comrades. I like reading and have attended military school for further training…”

Having listed his qualities, Gu Xiuping finished: “Comrade Wen, I want to be friends with you.”

Wen Xin wasn’t a fool. When a man was so direct in saying he wanted to be friends with a woman, and considering the context of what Gu Xiuping had just said, it was clear that he didn’t mean just “friends.”

Wen Xin might not understand love, but she wasn’t naive. When the man from the Finance Department pursued Xian Qian , he had said he wanted to be friends first, and they eventually became a couple.

The words of rejection were on the tip of her tongue, but when she looked at Gu Xiuping’s face, she couldn’t bring herself to say them.

After a long pause, Wen Xin finally found her voice: “Comrade Gu, it’s getting late, I have to go home. We’ll talk about this another time.”

She quickly hopped on her bicycle and rode off—escaping the situation.

Gu Xiuping didn’t chase her, only watching her figure disappear down the street.

——

That evening, Gu Xiuping stayed at Gei Wei’s house. On his way back, he was filled with excitement that he couldn’t contain. 

Passing by a neighbor’s yard, he saw a persimmon tree with branches growing over the fence. He jumped up to slap the branches, startling the old yellow dog in the yard, which began barking loudly.

The sound of the barking only made Gu Xiuping more exhilarated. He even considered yelling at the dog, wanting to release some of his pent-up excitement.

As a soldier, once he set his sights on a target, he knew he had to act swiftly and decisively. 

When he had thought Wen Xin had a partner, he had accepted it, but now that she was single, he knew he couldn’t hesitate. 

What kind of man would he be if he didn’t take his chance?

As for whether Wen Xin would agree, as long as she hadn’t explicitly rejected him, he believed there was still an opportunity. 

After all, there was an old saying: a bold woman fears an persistent man. If one confession didn’t work, he could try again. 

If two attempts failed, he could try three. As long as Wen Xin wasn’t involved with another man, he had all the time in the world to wear her down.