Chapter 32.2

After leaving the hospital, Wen Nuan and Gu Qinghan went to make a phone call.

However, long-distance calls in that era were not easy, and after waiting for almost two hours without getting through, they returned home.

Once home, Wen Nuan prepared dinner for Gu Qinglan. The half chicken saved from New Year’s Eve came in handy again. To save time, she made a mushroom chicken dish, placing it on rice to steam.

Gu Qinghan delivered the dinner. When he returned, he said that Gu Qinglan had taken a nap and was feeling much better, able to eat and drink.

After dinner, Wen Nuan tucked Lele in early. The little one had gone out with them and hadn’t taken a nap, so she quickly fell asleep.

Wen Nuan took advantage of the child’s sleep to go into the small room and tidy up the clutter inside.

Gu Qinghan finished washing the diapers and leaned against the door frame of the small room, quietly watching Wen Nuan as she worked.

Initially, he was unsure whether Wen Nuan would be uncomfortable with Qinglan staying here for a few days, but during dinner, she had already taken the initiative to tell him to call Qinglan’s place in the countryside and help her request a two-week leave.

Wen Nuan had said, “The young girl might be feeling quite dispirited. This time, the place where Qinglan was injured is on her face, and she probably doesn’t want to return to her village in the countryside just yet. She’s afraid of people asking too many questions. She might not even know how to explain, so she came to find us.”

Qinglan was his sister. Although there was a few years’ age difference between them—when he joined the army, Qinglan was still a little girl—so the sibling bond they shared was not as deep as what she had with Gu Qingsong.

Nevertheless, she was still his younger sister and Gu Qinghan knew he couldn’t just ignore her.

Meanwhile, Wen Nuan had already noticed Gu Qinghan standing at the door watching her. She put down the jar she was holding and turned to look at him. “You didn’t sleep last night; you should go to bed early tonight.”

When Gu Qinghan met her gaze. His heart softened, and he walked over, wrapping his arms around her from behind. He whispered in her ear, “Wen Nuan, thank you.”

Wen Nuan thought he was about to do something else. It was just tidying up the room. “Do we need to be so polite with each other?”

Besides, the room had actually been tidied up when they moved in. It was just that Wen Nuan had added some items later, making it look a bit messy, so she was only organizing it a little.

The man behind her didn’t say a word; he leaned closer to her ear and gently kissed her earlobe. “I just want to thank you.”

“Qinglan is right; you’re the best. You’re the best person I’ve ever met.”

He wished to possess all her goodness, to shield her from others’ eyes.

He didn’t know what love was or how to love.

But ever since Wen Nuan and the child had come with him to Northern City, he felt he had gained both his weakness and a shield in his life.

He suddenly wanted to walk alongside her, together to the end of their lives; he also wanted to protect her, ensuring she never suffered harm.

He thought, perhaps this is what love feels like.

Wen Nuan chuckled softly, knowing what he meant. She teased him, “That’s only because you’ve met so few people. There’s no such thing as the best; nobody is perfect, you fool.”

Then Wen Nuan added, “Besides, your family is my family. Qinglan is a good child, and we’ll certainly help her in any way we can.”

“No, you are the best.” Gu Qinghan insisted. He turned Wen Nuan’s body around so they were facing each other.

His deep, dark eyes sparkled with a subtle light. “Wen Nuan, don’t ever leave me in this lifetime.”

Wen Nuan tilted her head slightly to meet Gu Qinghan’s serious gaze. She then embraced him and joked, “Hmm, well, I’ll have to think about it… Let’s see if you’re worth it.”

Then, she buried herself in his chest again, wrapping her arms around his waist, listening to the steady sound of his heartbeat.

She caught a faint scent of soap from his body and couldn’t help but sniff a few more times.

Gu Qinghan suddenly picked her up horizontally and walked toward the small bed, gently placing her down on the mattress.

“You can look now.”

Wen Nuan felt the tension in the man and suddenly blushed, using her hand to push against his shoulder. “Rogue, I don’t want to look!”

Gu Qinghan chuckled softly, pressing her hand down and lifting it high above her head. “We are a legitimate couple; how is that being a rogue?”

“Besides, you clearly wanted to look last night.”

“Not at all! I, I, I…”

Alright, she admitted it.

Before she could finish speaking, Gu Qinghan lowered his head and kissed her sweet, tender lips.

The wind outside howled as if it were going to snow again. With her hand pinned to her head, Wen Nuan couldn’t move and could only respond tentatively to his kiss.

The man was full of energy, his body as hot as a furnace, and the minty fragrance wafting from him made Wen Nuan’s head feel as if it were stuck in glue, leaving her unable to think. She could only reach out and cling to his shoulders.

“Wen Nuan, call my name.”

In her dazed state, Wen Nuan heard Gu Qinghan’s hoarse voice. He propped himself up slightly, allowing her to see his deep features clearly. His high nose and dark, deep-set eyes resembled a starry night sky, captivating her heart.

Wen Nuan called out woodenly, “Qing…Qinghan.”

Gu Qinghan looked at Wen Nuan, noticing the focused and tender look in her eyes. His heart tightened, and he impatiently lowered his head.

Snowflakes danced down from the night sky, landing on the windowsill and decorating the glass as if they were blooming flowers.

Wen Nuan’s mind was in disarray. She stretched out her pale arm and climbed onto Gu Qinghan’s back, falling together with him into the swirling blizzard, floating and sinking.

In the chaos, their first time came to an end.

—o—o—o—

Wen Nuan curiously asked him, “Where did that thing you just used come from?”

Gu Qinghan gazed at the blush on Wen Nuan’s face and, feeling reluctant to part, kissed her cheek softly. “I got it at the hospital last night.”

Wen Nuan reached out and pinched his arm, her face flushed as she scolded, “Rogue! You still have the time to think about that!”

Then he explained, “I was worried about you. Lele is still too small; we need to be cautious.”

After hearing this, Wen Nuan felt much better. The child was indeed too young; it wasn’t the right time to have another.

There had been plenty of opportunities in the past and Gu Qinghan didn’t have to wait until now.

However, before she could regain her composure, the man turned over and, crazily, turned on the light.

Wen Nuan no longer believed his words. Worried? Pah!

—o—o—o—

The next morning, as expected, Wen Nuan slept in, and Gu Qinghan had already gotten out of bed.

She glanced at Lele, who was playing with a walnut bracelet beside her.

At some point, the child had already sat up and was playing by herself.

When Lele saw Wen Nuan wake up, she lunged toward her, calling out, “Mom… Mom.”

Wen Nuan initially wanted to pick up Lele, but her waist hurt a little, and she didn’t want to move.

Fortunately, Lele loved to come to her when she woke up and crawled over by herself. The little one was getting faster at crawling—getting quicker each month.

The two were playing on the bed for a while when Gu Qinghan entered with an enamel basin. “Are you awake? If you’re awake, wash up a bit; breakfast is ready.”

He walked straight to the bedside and picked up the chattering little one. “Come on, let’s change your diaper first.”

Watching Gu Qinghan’s back, Wen Nuan felt a bit of heat on her face.

She turned over and walked out of the room, heading to the small room to see if the things from last night had been tidied up.

Gu Qinghan was indeed reliable; the small room looked as if no one had ever lived in it, with the blankets folded neatly like tofu blocks.

Gu Qinghan approached at some point and said: “It’s been changed. This is a new blanket and bedding I picked up from the supply office.”

Wen Nuan turned her face away. “Who said anything about the blanket?”

Then she noticed that the room had a small crack for ventilation; it was a bit cold now, probably left open from last night.

She closed the window before heading to wash up.

By the time she finished washing, the little one had already been dressed up nicely by Gu Qinghan, who had even pinned a red clip in her hair, making her look incredibly cute.

—o—o—o—

After breakfast, Gu Qinghan went to make a phone call again, while Wen Nuan took Lele to deliver food to Gu Qinglan.

Gu Qinglan was no longer as depressed as she had been yesterday. When she saw Wen Nuan come in with Lele on her back, she raised her voice and called out, “Sister-in-law.”

Wen Nuan smiled as she walked over, giving her a thorough look. “You look much more energetic today. After you finish your breakfast, I’ll help you with the discharge procedures.”

The family area had also approved Gu Qinglan’s application, allowing her to move into the family housing. Once her injuries healed, they could decide what to do next.

“Okay, thank you, sister-in-law.” Gu Qinglan accepted the lunchbox that Wen Nuan handed her and happily ate a couple of steamed buns.

After Gu Qinglan had eaten a bit, Wen Nuan completed the necessary paperwork. Thinking that it would be a bit cold walking back to the family housing, she had prepared a coat for Gu Qinglan in advance.

However, Gu Qinglan was reluctant to wear it. “My clothes are too dirty. It’s only a short walk; I won’t put it on.”

Gu Qinglan didn’t have much luggage—just two bags, which probably contained a change of clothes and some daily necessities.

Wen Nuan glanced at the overcast sky outside but still draped the coat over her. “You can wash it clean afterward; it’s better than being cold.”

Seeing the brand-new cotton jacket draped over her shoulders, Gu Qinglan’s nose began to feel sour. She wasn’t a crybaby. “Thank you, sister-in-law.”

“Why are you so polite? Sister-in-law is not an outsider.” Wen Nuan replied with a smile.

Gu Qinglan paused, looking at Wen Nuan’s profile, and suddenly asked softly: “Sister-in-law, why don’t you dislike me? Aren’t you afraid that I’ll cling to you and Big Brother?”

In truth, Gu Qinglan knew that Lin Meizhi looked down on her.

On the first night she returned to her hometown, after sitting on the train for several days, Lin Meizhi had covered her nose the moment she saw her.

Later, when she learned that Gu Qinglan was inquiring about returning to the city, Lin Meizhi had deliberately spouted numerous glorified phrases about going to the countryside—clearly worried that Gu Qinglan might want to move back to the city.

Wen Nuan was momentarily unsure how to respond to Gu Qinglan’s question.

Gu Qinglan must have thought of Gu Qinghan as a reliable person, which was why she had traveled such a long way to find him.

However, to say that Gu Qinglan would cling to Gu Qinghan, Wen Nuan was sure she wouldn’t.

During her years in the countryside, Gu Qinglan had never asked Gu Qinghan for a single penny. In contrast, Gu Qingsong, a grown man working in the city, had the audacity to ask her husband for money, which was utterly shameless.

Wen Nuan smiled at Gu Qinglan. “Why should I hate you? You are our family and also a proud, honorable educated youth who went to the countryside. You are our pride.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Gu Qinglan sighed in relief and continued, “Once I’ve recovered from my injuries, I will go back to the countryside. Sister-in-law, don’t worry; the villagers and educated youth there treat me quite well.”

Wen Nuan thought about Gu Qinglan returning to her village in the countryside, and she figured that it wouldn’t be easy for her. Yet, this child didn’t seem willing to speak about it.

But for now, Wen Nuan couldn’t think of any way to help her, and suddenly felt a pang of discomfort in her heart.

So she said, “Don’t worry, just focus on healing your wounds first.”

—o—o—o—

Having just finished tidying up Gu Qinglan’s things, Gu Qinghan arrived, though his expression was somewhat grim.

Wen Nuan guessed that he had managed to get through on the phone, but there had been a disagreement between Gu Qingsong and Zhao Wuzhu—possibly even an argument.

However, with Gu Qinglan present, Wen Nuan didn’t ask any questions and directly led everyone back to the family compound.

The people in the family compound were curious about what kind of person Wen Nuan and Gu Qinghan had brought back. Gu Qinglan, having injuries on her face, wore the hat Gu Qinghan had given her and kept her head down—following Wen Nuan’s pace.

Li Daxiang also trailed behind, helping to carry things.

Once they arrived at their home, Gu Qinglan finally lifted her head and said, “What a clean courtyard.”

Aside from a bit of snow, there were no scattered items outside; it looked neat and tidy.

Upon entering the house, Gu Qinglan realized that not only was the courtyard clean, but the inside was also very organized and faultless.

A small flower adorned the center of the Eight Immortals table in the living room, and even next to the stove, there was no visible coal dust. Though the house wasn’t large, every corner was just right.

It was nothing like their educated youth dormitory, where the floor was littered with enamel basins and urinals, and even the kang was piled high with various books and clothes.

Every time they cleaned up, it didn’t take long before it would be messy again, and they would have to tidy up once more.

Li Daxiang helped Gu Qinglan put her luggage into the small room. He had originally planned to return to the team, but seeing how he had been busy helping out these past few days, Wen Nuan invited him to stay for dinner.

Once back home, Gu Qinglan became more talkative. After changing out of her dirty clothes, she started playing with Lele, who wasn’t shy at all and laughed happily at Gu Qinglan.

Li Daxiang had intended to go into the kitchen to help, but when he saw the beautiful sight of Wen Nuan and Gu Qinghan leaning close together, he decided not to disturb them and returned to the living room instead.

Noticing Li Daxiang coming in and out, Gu Qinglan asked, “Are you feeling bored?”

Li Daxiang recalled the girl who had been crying yesterday, now speaking so freely, and he was momentarily taken aback. “I was going to help sister-in-law, but she’s talking with Vice Captain Gu.”

Then Gu Qinglan, with her forehead wrapped in bandages, leaned closer and quietly asked, “By the way, comrade, how is my big brother’s relationship with sister-in-law? Are they…?”

Li Daxiang nodded vigorously. “I can responsibly say that Vice Captain Gu and sister-in-law are the most loving couple I’ve seen so far.”

Gu Qinglan smiled, but the bruises on her face became more pronounced, and she felt a slight sting. “It seems that what others say isn’t necessarily true.”

During her recent trip back, she heard a lot of negative comments about Wen Nuan and Gu Qinghan from Gu Qingsong and Zhao Wuzhu.

Gu Qingsong had claimed that he and Lin Meizhi were doing great, but just a few days after her return, the couple had argued three or four times.

Before she decided to come to Northern City, Gu Qinglan had felt quite anxious—she was worried that her eldest sister-in-law wouldn’t like her. However, the thought of returning to the educated youth dormitory with injuries made her even more reluctant.

Although Gu Qinglan had only spent less than two days with Wen Nuan, she felt that she was not a bad person; in fact, she was so good that it almost felt like a dream, making it hard to believe it was real.

Li Daxiang frowned, recalling the rumors circulating in the family compound. “Who said anything bad about our sister-in-law?”

“What? You want to confront someone?” Gu Qinglan shot him a glance and then said, “It was my mom and my second brother.”

Li Daxiang was momentarily speechless.

He had to admit she was quite bold.

—o—o—o—

Meanwhile, Wen Nuan was stewing meat and glanced at Gu Qinglan, who was chatting with Li Daxiang outside. She turned to the man tending the fire and asked, “Did you get through on the phone?”

Gu Qinghan responded with an “mm.” “Qingsong admitted he contacted Qinglan, but he insists he did nothing wrong. Lin Meizhi is unyielding, she insists that Qinglan pushed her.”

Wen Nuan frowned, her frustration growing, wishing she could take the spatula and rush back. “What about that child? Is he really gone?”

Gu Qinghan lifted his head slightly and replied calmly, “He’s still here; he was saved.”

Wen Nuan let out a huge sigh of relief. “Really?”

“Qingsong said he was saved, but Lin Meizhi has to stay in bed for recovery.” Gu Qinghan tossed a handful of firewood into the stove and added, “According to him, it probably cost a lot of money.”

Wen Nuan pursed her lips. Could it be that she was about to ask for money again?

Gu Qinghan smiled as if he had read Wen Nuan’s thoughts. “But then the phone line got cut off. Later, could you tell Qinglan that the child is still there, and she shouldn’t feel too guilty?”

Wen Nuan grinned and nodded. “Alright, got it.”

After a brief pause, she thought for a moment and asked, “By the way, can Qinglan join the army?”

She wasn’t familiar with the policies of the era, but she also wanted to help Gu Qinglan escape from that place.

Gu Qinghan lifted his gaze to look at her and then said, “I doubt it. Every year, each production brigade only has one slot for workers, farmers, and soldiers. Anyone who gets the chance to go to university wouldn’t consider joining the army.”

“Why? Did Qinglan say she wanted to join?”

Wen Nuan shook her head. “No, I was just thinking that Qinglan is quite tall, and she has a lively personality. If she could join the army, it wouldn’t be a bad choice.”

Gu Qinghan didn’t ask further. “It depends on her decision.”

Wen Nuan glanced at the pot where the pork belly was simmering. She used the spatula to lift a thick, juicy piece and presented it in front of the man. “Here, Vice Captain Gu, try this braised pork and see if it’s good.”

Whenever Gu Qinghan was tending the fire, Wen Nuan always liked to pick out some dishes for him to try. Each time, it was big chunks of meat. That’s when he realized she was doing it on purpose, wanting him to eat more meat.

He glanced at the piece of meat, then curved his lips slightly and said, “You try it.”

He wanted to save the meat for her.

Wen Nuan immediately pinched the meat between her fingers and brought it to his mouth, smiling warmly. “Come on, Qinghan, open up.”

“Is it good?”

Gu Qinghan couldn’t really taste anything, but all he felt was sweetness.

“Everything my wife cooks is delicious.”

Gu Qinglan, who had come in to grab chopsticks and bowls, saw this scene and quickly retreated back to the living room.

Turns out her big brother and sister-in-law were this affectionate…

—o—o—o—

Lucia: Poor little sister, good thing our Mother Wen Nuan is there~  Oh, and do we see a potential couple? Let’s see….