Chapter 32: I Want to Live

“No, I don’t really have any objections, it’s just…”

Su Ying hesitated, then shook her head.

“It’s actually good. Having someone else to help take care of you makes things much easier for me.”

She had initially wanted to say that having a strange man live in the house might be inconvenient. But then she remembered there were still several vacant rooms in the courtyard, so it really wasn’t a big deal. What puzzled her was this: when Li Weimin served as the personal guard, he didn’t live here—so why did Du Feng need to?

She glanced toward Gu Jinghong, only to see his face darkened and his expression… clearly displeased.

Su Ying blinked. She thought she’d been quite considerate—she didn’t know how she’d managed to offend this man again.

Gu Jinghong clearly didn’t want to talk to her further. He called out toward the courtyard:

“Du Feng, come in.”

Du Feng answered immediately and soon pushed the door open and entered.

“Commander, are you feeling unwell?”

Gu Jinghong gave Su Ying a glance and said indifferently,
“Boil a kettle of hot water and let it cool for her.”

Du Feng smiled,
“No need, Commander. I already set out a big enamel mug of cooled boiled water. It should be ready to drink now. Sister-in-law can have it anytime.”

Gu Jinghong gave a nonchalant “Mm.”

“Commander, lunch is ready. I’ll feed you. Sister-in-law, you go ahead and eat first.”

Su Ying sighed. She still had no idea how she’d offended this big shot. She responded with an “Okay” and went out to eat.

Du Feng was very attentive. He took two bowls, filled half of one with braised pork, added a few pairs of chopsticks’ worth of bean sprouts, and ladled a bowl of soup for Gu Jinghong.

“Sister-in-law, go ahead and eat. I’ll feed the Commander first.”

Su Ying looked at the generous portion of braised pork and asked,
“Can he eat that much?”

Du Feng paused, then chuckled.

“Why not? The Commander once ate three full bowls of meat in one sitting. This little bit is nothing.”

Back then, the troops hadn’t had meat in ages. During the war, the cooking team did occasionally butcher pigs, but the Commander always refrained from eating. Once they returned victorious to the capital, he finally indulged—ate three big bowls in a row.

Su Ying pursed her lips, recalling how, on their wedding day, when Sister Wu and the others brought braised pork, Gu Jinghong had only eaten three pieces before claiming it was too greasy and refusing to eat more. In the end, Su Ying herself had finished most of it.

She looked up at the bedroom door, catching a glimpse of Gu Jinghong lying in bed. Though he often gave her the cold shoulder, he had actually been… pretty good to her.

Du Feng seemed to know Gu Jinghong well. As Su Ying quietly ate her food, she could still hear their low conversation. A few fragments reached her ears.

“I brought some winter clothing for you this time. It’s getting cold soon, and the Gu family is still worried about you…”

Gu Jinghong didn’t seem to respond. Du Feng continued reporting something, but Su Ying never heard Gu Jinghong speak.

Du Feng soon noticed that the Commander seemed distracted while eating. The spoon hovered at his lips for a while before Gu Jinghong finally took a bite.

“Commander.”

Gu Jinghong snapped out of his thoughts and took the bite of meat. But before he’d finished chewing, his gaze again drifted toward the door.

Du Feng discreetly turned his head for a look—Sister-in-law was quietly eating alone.

Du Feng frowned. He was a straightforward guy, only familiar with training and martial arts. He didn’t understand much else. But seeing the Commander glance repeatedly at Sister-in-law, he asked—

“Commander, do you have something to say to Sister-in-law?”

Gu Jinghong immediately looked up at him, his gaze cold.

“No.”

Having Du Feng as his guard really was a great help. For the first time in days, Su Ying even managed to squeeze in a half-hour nap during the afternoon. After she woke up, she checked in on Gu Jinghong and saw him quietly… emotionally bonding with the ceiling. She didn’t disturb him and quietly closed the door behind her.

Du Feng was in the courtyard tending the vegetable garden.

Su Ying wheeled out her bicycle and asked,
“Aren’t there still a few unripe tomatoes? Why are you pulling out all the plants now?”

Du Feng yanked out a clump of vines and wiped some mud on his rolled-up sleeve.

“These tomatoes can ripen off the vine. Right now, while it hasn’t frozen yet, I want to plant a batch of napa cabbage. I’m clearing the space today so I can plant tomorrow.”

Su Ying smiled. She didn’t know much about farming. Even though she grew up in a welfare home, she’d never really done farm work. Later, after studying medicine, she’d had even less chance to experience rural life.

As she rode off on her bicycle, Du Feng bent down to keep working—until a firm voice rang from inside the house.

“Du Feng.”

He instinctively answered faster than he could react physically,
“Here!”

“Come in.”

He tossed aside the tomato vines, stomped the dirt off his shoes, and quickly went inside.

“Commander, do you have instructions?”

Gu Jinghong glanced toward the window and said,
“Contact Professor Fu Jinren at the Capital University Hospital. I want to speak with him.”

Du Feng looked at him, visibly emotional.

“Commander… have you finally decided? You’re going back to Beijing for treatment?”

A flicker of barely detectable hope appeared in Gu Jinghong’s eyes.

“I just want… to try to get better. I want… to live.”

Du Feng’s heart ached. He had once served directly under Commander Gu—he knew best what the man had endured. His military honors were earned with blood. Now that the country was strong and stable, the Commander should be enjoying peace and comfort—but instead, he was like this.

Actually, when he first learned that the Commander would be leaving Beijing to live in Jiangcheng, Du Feng had requested to be transferred with him. But Gu Jinghong had refused. This time, after receiving a message from the Commander, Du Feng immediately requested a transfer, wrapped up his duties, and rushed over.

Now, the Commander was finally willing to live again. With his determination, Du Feng believed he would get better.

“Yes, sir. I’ll call right away.”

Professor Fu Jinren was currently the most renowned neurologist in the country. Though Gu Jinghong’s condition was severe and even Professor Fu couldn’t guarantee success, he was still happy to receive the call. The Commander’s willingness to continue treatment was a very good sign.

—

Since Su Ying got married, Chen Shuyun had locked herself in the house for two or three days. She hadn’t gone grocery shopping. Sometimes, she’d just cook porridge or noodles and eat it with some pickled vegetables—but it still tasted good. The truth was, she missed Su Ying.

Su Ying had promised she’d visit on the third day, and now it was the third day—but she still hadn’t come. Chen Shuyun was anxious and worried. What if Su Ying wasn’t treated well by her in-laws? What if her husband was abusive? What if they wouldn’t let her come home?

Her thoughts spiraled, and before she knew it, the sky had darkened. She got up, tied on her apron, and went to make dinner.

But when she opened the door, she was startled to find a woman standing right outside—hand raised, just about to knock.

The two women locked eyes.

Chen Shuyun looked confused and timid. Zhao Yumei, on the other hand, wore a dark, arrogant, disdainful expression.

So this is Su Jianshe’s original wife, Zhao Yumei thought smugly—just as I expected: skinny, plain, dressed in shabby clothes. Typical rural woman.