Chapter 5: Gu Ye

Meanwhile, the person Xiao Chaoyang had mentioned, who was supposed to be lying in bed unable to move, was bending over and pacing in his hospital room.

“What are you doing? Be careful with your wound, why the rush?” As soon as Xiao Chaoyang entered the room, he saw Gu Ye walking around on the floor.

“Gu Ye, you need to listen to the doctor, you can’t move around on your own.” a middle-aged man who entered behind Xiao Chaoyang said sternly.

This was Colonel Yang Li, who had once served under Gu Ye’s grandfather. He held a more affectionate and close relationship with Gu Ye due to their family ties.

“Colonel.” Gu Ye sat up on the bed and gave a military salute, his face devoid of any extra expression.

Gu Ye had been injured while saving someone.

It all started when the General from their fleet headquarters came to the island for a grassroots inspection and needed to take a boat out to sea. Gu Ye was accompanying him.

Everything had been going smoothly, but during the return journey, Gu Ye noticed some unusual movements among the General’s entourage.

Unable to communicate with anyone, he quietly kept an eye on the situation. When they were still a distance from shore, one person suddenly made a move.

Without thinking, Gu Ye lunged at him. The man was close to the edge of the boat, and when Gu Ye felt a sharp pain in his abdomen, he was thrown into the sea.

The boat became chaotic in an instant. No one had expected an ambush. All the people on board had undergone repeated political screenings.

By the time the situation was brought under control, Gu Ye had been carried far from the boat by the waves.

The General immediately ordered a rescue mission, which led to the encounter with Grandpa Lin and his team later on.

“Gu Ye, there’s something you need to know.” Xiao Chaoyang began cautiously.

Gu Ye raised his eyebrows but remained silent, signaling for him to continue.

Xiao Chaoyang and Gu Ye had worked together for many years, and Xiao Chaoyang knew Gu Ye’s temperament well. He spoke slowly: “The female comrade who saved you last time… she breathed air into you by mouth on the shore. Everyone saw it.”

Xiao Chaoyang paused for a moment, watching Gu Ye’s thoughtful expression, wondering what he was thinking.

“Now, the whole island is gossiping about it. There are some hurtful rumors. Her family has come to the Military Unit, asking if we can do something about it. What’s your take on this?”

Xiao Chaoyang finished speaking and looked at Gu Ye, waiting for a response.

“What do they want? What decisions have you made?” Gu Ye asked calmly.

Grandpa Lin’s words came to Xiao Chaoyang’s mind, and he repeated them: “Comrade Lin’s grandfather wants us to speak up, to make it clear that she was saving someone, not acting inappropriately. If possible, they want her to join the military and leave here.”

Gu Ye thought for a moment before responding: “If we speak up, will they stop gossiping? Her family will still be living here. Can everyone leave?”

He didn’t think this was a good solution—it addressed the symptoms, not the root cause.

“We know this isn’t easy, so we’ve been considering another option.” Xiao Chaoyang licked his lips, unsure of how to present the idea.

“What plan? Spitting it out already.” Gu Ye said, noticing Xiao Chaoyang nervously licking his lips, knowing that the plan probably wasn’t great.

“Well, uh, Colonel, Comrade Fang, and I think the best solution is for you to marry Lin.” Xiao Chaoyang hesitated, using a few shields to avoid taking the full heat from Gu Ye.

“Marry her?” Gu Ye exclaimed loudly, startling Xiao Chaoyang.

“Why are you shouting? You’re 24, getting married and having children is perfectly normal. What’s so surprising about that?” Colonel Yang scolded.

“I have no intention of getting married in this lifetime. The best outcome for me is to die in battle!” Gu Ye retorted, clearly uninterested in marriage.

“The Military Unit doesn’t need a coward who’s too afraid to get married. Besides, this is about Lin. She’s a young woman, and because of you, people are gossiping about her. Shouldn’t you take responsibility?” Colonel Yang understood Gu Ye’s reluctance and knew that the old leader had been concerned about Gu Ye not wanting to marry, hoping he could find an opportunity to talk some sense into him.

This time, Gu Ye remained silent. When he had been tossed around by the waves in the sea, thinking he was going to die and that his body might never be found, he had felt that such an end was not the worst outcome.

Then, suddenly, in a dazed state, he felt someone grab him, and they were both tossed around by the waves.

When he regained some consciousness, he vaguely saw someone falling backward.

“She’s not married, and she doesn’t have a partner?” Gu Ye wondered aloud, confused about the comrade who had saved him, not knowing how old she was or why she might want to marry him.

(You’re overthinking it, big brother! The girl doesn’t even know about this yet!)

Xiao Chaoyang saw an opening and immediately seized the opportunity. “She’s not married, has no partner, she’s 19 years old—just about the same age as you.”

Gu Ye couldn’t even look at him. She’s five years younger than me, and that’s supposed to be the same age?

“Marriage, well, it’s not impossible, but you’ll have to let her meet me first. If she doesn’t want to, then forget it. Just arrange for her to join the military.” Gu Ye said, considering it for a moment. Marriage might work; it could shut up his grandfather and brother.

However, there were a few things he needed to make clear first.

“Alright, it’s settled. Xiao Chaoyang, you go back to the island and hurry to the Lin Family to talk to them.” Colonel Yang said. His words to Xiao Chaoyang were clear—he hoped to speak well of Gu Ye to the Lin family, hoping that their daughter would take a liking to him.

The two exchanged meaningful glances behind Gu Ye’s back, understanding each other’s intentions. Xiao Chaoyang left first.

“Gu Ye, marriage isn’t that scary. Let go of your prejudices and try to feel it out. Stop thinking about dying on the battlefield. The country didn’t train you to die wrapped in a horse’s hide!” Colonel Yang was also worried. His carefree personality made others concerned.

Gu Ye didn’t respond, lost in his own thoughts.

Colonel Yang sighed, preparing to head to the fleet headquarters. The previous matter still hadn’t been resolved.

Meanwhile, the Lin family on the island was having their own conversation.

“What? Join the army?” Lin Baoni exclaimed in surprise after hearing her grandfather’s words.

“Yes, if you join the army, you won’t have to listen to their gossip. It’s a good thing.” Grandpa Lin explained the benefits of joining the military to Baoni.

“I don’t want to join the army. I don’t want to at all. It’s too restrictive!” Lin Baoni resisted strongly. In her past life, to avoid joining the army, she had resisted fiercely under the pressure of Old Jiang, and even in this new life in the 1960s, she had no desire to join the military.

“Baoni, are you crazy? Joining the army is a great thing!” Second Brother Lin said, who would have joined if he had the chance!

“If you want to join, then you go. I’m not going. By the way, Second Brother likes the army, let him go.” Lin Baoni panicked. She definitely didn’t want to join the army.

“You silly child, do you think this is something you can pass off to someone else?” Grandpa Lin chuckled angrily, speaking as though it were a childish thing to say.

No matter how the family tried to persuade her, Lin Baoni wouldn’t change her mind. She refused to go, and that was final.

Everyone was at a loss. They decided to put the matter aside for now and wait to see what the Military Unit would say.

Now, the people on the island, intimidated by Baoni, no longer dared to openly discuss the matter. It was clear, though, that Baoni’s marriage wouldn’t be easy to arrange.

That night, aside from Baoni and Dabao, no one in the Lin family slept well.

“Why is Baoni so opposed to joining the army?” Sister-in-law Lin didn’t understand. Joining the army was such a good thing. There was allowance, clothes for all seasons, and everything one could need.

“I don’t understand either. Baoni never said she disliked joining the army.” Big Brother Lin also couldn’t figure it out. Baoni had always been very headstrong. If she really didn’t want to, no one could change her mind.

Mother Lin was actually reluctant to let Baoni join the army. After all, she would leave the house, and who knew how long it would be before she could come back!

The whole family had doubts in their minds, while Baoni was sleeping soundly, snoring away.

After returning to the Military Unit, Xiao Chaoyang went to the logistics department to apply for some benefits, as he couldn’t go empty-handed the next day.

He also bought some things himself, knowing that they couldn’t afford to forget this matter. After all, they had made the female comrade suffer through rumors.

Xiao Chaoyang got everything ready and placed it in the office, intending to take it with him the next day.

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Schedule of Updates: 5 Chapters every Monday.

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