Chapter 35

The man looked at Wen Nuan’s somewhat dazed expression and suddenly smiled. “No rush. Let Xiao Gu eat first. Later, you two can come and find me.”

After he finished speaking, he didn’t give Wen Nuan a chance to respond and directly walked toward the last room at the end of the hallway.

Not long after, a younger woman, dressed simply, came out and helped him back into the room.

Wen Nuan, full of confusion, walked to Gu Qinghan’s ward. Judging by the man’s words earlier, his position seemed to be above Gu Qinghan’s—

though she wasn’t sure at what level.

Could he be in charge of the cooking unit if he were to assign her there? Maybe the head of the kitchen team?

But Wen Nuan didn’t think much about it because, as soon as she entered, she saw Gu Qinghan doing push-ups on the floor, and his forehead covered in sweat.

Wen Nuan slammed the lunchbox heavily on the table, making a loud “thud” sound, and couldn’t help but scold, “Gu Qinghan! Do you think you’re still 18? Do you not care about your body anymore?”

She was furious. He didn’t even know if his body had fully recovered, yet he was already so eager to exercise!

Would delaying it for two more days really ruin his figure?

Seeing how impatient he was, Wen Nuan really wanted to give him a good beating!

When Gu Qinghan saw her, he immediately jumped up from the floor, patted the dust off his hands, and smiled, “Didn’t you say last night that I’m still just a reckless kid?”

Wen Nuan, recalling the blush-inducing moments from the previous night, glared at him, “Starve to death, for all I care!”

“You can’t bear to.” Gu Qinghan chuckled, then picked up a towel from the side to wipe the sweat off his face.

Wen Nuan reached out and pinched the man’s arm, but because he had just finished exercising, it was too firm for her to squeeze. Annoyed, she said, “Go wash your hands and come eat.”

Gu Qinghan didn’t dare to argue. He obediently walked over to wash his hands, even using soap.

After washing, he held out his hands for Wen Nuan to inspect. “They’re clean.”

Wen Nuan couldn’t help but smile—but still glared at him, “I don’t care if you washed them or not.”

She handed him a pair of chopsticks and placed the soup she had poured out next to the meal.

Gu Qinghan took the chopsticks Wen Nuan handed him, and as soon as he smelled the rich aroma of the meat, even though he hadn’t felt hungry before, his stomach suddenly began to rumble.

Meanwhile, Wen Nuan placed Lele, who had been on her back, onto Gu Qinghan’s hospital bed.

As soon as Lele smelled the aroma of the meat, she tugged at Gu Qinghan’s sleeve and made two “ah ah” sounds, drooling from the corners of her mouth.

These past few days, whenever Gu Qinghan ate, he would also feed Lele a little, so it had become a habit by now. Whenever she saw him eating, she expected him to feed her too.

As Wen Nuan watched the two of them, one big and one small, start eating, she thought of the man she had just seen in the hallway. She said to Gu Qinghan, “Oh, right. When I came to bring you food just now, I ran into a man. He said to come find him after you’ve eaten. He’s in that room at the very end of our floor. Who is he?”

Gu Qinghan, eating his fragrant stir-fried meat, raised his head slightly to look at her and said, “The room at the end? That’s where our Major General is staying. Why? What did he say to you?”

“Major… General?” Wen Nuan’s eyes widened in disbelief, and then she muttered, “He just told me to work in the cooking unit.”

Oh my god, that man was the Major General?

Wen Nuan was in a bit of a daze and looked at Gu Qinghan again, and asked: “Your Major General just told me to go to the cooking unit. He wasn’t joking, was he?”

It was the first time Gu Qinghan had seen Wen Nuan so confused. He couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch her cheek and laughed, “Our Major General doesn’t joke around like that.”

Wen Nuan wished she could turn back time. Being personally assigned a job by the Major General—wasn’t that like being recruited directly by the boss on the spot?

This job was locked in.

Suddenly energized, Wen Nuan picked up the child, tugged on Gu Qinghan’s arm, and urged, “Hurry up and eat. After you’re done, let’s go see your Major General.”

Gu Qinghan glanced at the stir-fried meat he had barely touched, then smiled affectionately at Wen Nuan before quickly finishing his dinner.

He told her that General Xu had recently undergone a minor stomach surgery, so he was staying in the hospital for a few days. But what he didn’t expect was that, by chance, General Xu had taken notice of the food Wen Nuan had cooked.

Gu Qinghan carried the child as he walked ahead, and when they reached the door of General Xu’s ward, Wen Nuan paused for a moment. She quickly tidied her hair and adjusted her clothes, making sure she looked presentable, then had Gu Qinghan knock on the door.

“Come in.” said by a woman’s voice from inside—it was probably the same female comrade who had earlier helped General Xu.

As soon as the door opened, Wen Nuan saw General Xu sitting at a desk, one hand connected to an IV drip.

Even though he was hospitalized, he still seemed immersed in work.

Gu Qinghan straightened his posture, holding the child in his arms, and saluted. “Good day, General.”

Then, he saluted the woman beside him. “Secretary Song.”

Secretary Song was General Xu’s wife. She had previously worked as a secretary at a state-owned factory but had retired just a couple of years ago.

Wen Nuan followed suit politely, greeting: “General Xu, Secretary Song.”

General Xu set down the pen in his hand and looked over at them. “Come, have a seat first.”

He then turned to the female comrade in the room and said, “Comrade Song, could you please make us a pot of tea?”

Wen Nuan had thought about going over to help, but General Xu had already motioned for them to sit down.

General Xu turned to Wen Nuan and said, “Comrade Wen Nuan, I heard about your heroic actions a couple of days ago. ‘A woman is no less than a man,’ as they say. It seems Qinghan married well.”

The stern expression on General Xu’s face softened with a hint of joy, and his tone was full of admiration. “You’ve shown such loyalty, courage, and determination. You’re the pride of our military family community. Once Qinghan recovers, we’ll hold a recognition ceremony to honor you. Without you, our 34th Division might have lost one of its most experienced pilots. So, on behalf of all the soldiers of the 34th Division, I thank you.”

Wen Nuan quickly stood up. “General Xu, you flatter me. It was my duty.”

As long as there was even the slightest chance, Wen Nuan would have done everything in her power to bring Gu Qinghan back.

“Sit, sit, sit. No need to be nervous,” General Xu said.

General Xu then turned his attention to Gu Qinghan, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk. “Comrade Wen has made a significant contribution to the organization this time. In addition to recognizing her at the upcoming commendation ceremony, the organization intends to offer her a job. I’ve been observing for the past few days, and I think Comrade Wen Nuan would be well-suited for the cooking unit. Have you thought this through?”

Gu Qinghan glanced at Wen Nuan, who didn’t hesitate. Calm and composed, she looked directly at General Xu and asked, “General Xu, may I exchange this job opportunity for something else?”

“Oh? What’s on your mind? Feel free to speak,” General Xu replied, not upset at all—his expression inviting her to continue.

With a poised smile, Wen Nuan addressed her thoughts: “General Xu, as you can see, my daughter is not even a year old yet. She still needs me to look after her. I’m afraid I won’t be able to fulfill the responsibilities of the job you’ve assigned me.”

She paused and took a deep breath, then spoke straightforwardly, “So, I’d like to ask, General Xu, if I could exchange this job for a place in the military for my sister-in-law, Gu Qinglan, who is Qinghan’s younger sister?”

Wen Nuan had thought it through. Lele was still too young, and without any older family members to lend a hand, it would be difficult for her to manage even a clerical role in the cultural department.

Although there was a daycare in the military family compound, Wen Nuan didn’t want to send her child there so early.

But it was different for Qinglan.

These past few days, Wen Nuan had been thinking about how she could keep Gu Qinglan in the military. But if Gu Qinglan were to stay without a clear, justified reason, it wouldn’t be a long-term solution.

Gu Qinglan was an educated youth, and if she remained a military family member without a job or military status, her strong-willed nature would eventually be worn down by gossip.

She’d likely return to the countryside sooner or later.

Moreover, Wen Nuan was certain that Gu Qinglan would never agree to stay in the military and solely depend on their family. Gu Qinglan wouldn’t want to burden Gu Qinghan or let others think of her as a deserter from the youth labor program.

Therefore, Wen Nuan believed that having Gu Qinglan officially join the military and become a real part of the unit was the best option.

Now, with this opportunity in front of her, Wen Nuan knew she had to seize it.

Under the table, Gu Qinghan reached out and held Wen Nuan’s hand. The little one, with her big, bright eyes, looked around curiously but didn’t make a fuss, she simply watched them and giggled.

General Xu noticed the scene and suddenly chuckled. “I haven’t even told you what position I’d assign you to in the cooking unit, yet you’re so sure you can’t handle it?” he asked with a smile.

General Xu stood up, while Secretary Song had already walked over with two cups of black tea, placing them in front of Wen Nuan and Gu Qinghan.

General Xu then smiled and said, “Qinghan, you’re a part of the flight team yourself, so you should understand why we initially established the flight duty meals. Flying a plane is not just physical work, but also mental work. Each flight consumes a great deal of energy and stamina. Although the current conditions in the military are tough, if the nutrition doesn’t keep up, it could very likely affect your judgment and technical responses as pilots.”

Gu Qinghan and Wen Nuan took the enamel cups handed to them by Secretary Song and spoke in unison, “Thank you, Secretary.”

General Xu nodded, “That’s right. Others envy you Combat Pilots for having flight meals to eat, but they don’t know how dangerous it is to fly up there. One could even say that every time, you are walking on the edge of death. So, during the New Year, we went to the capital for a meeting and discussed assigning a nutritionist to the flight kitchen, to ensure the nutrition of the pilots’ meals is well balanced.”

“Coincidentally, I think Comrade Wen is quite suitable for this job. It wouldn’t affect your family, and the working hours are not long.”

General Xu glanced at Wen Nuan and asked again, “As the nutritionist for the flight kitchen, you’d only be responsible for daily meal planning for the pilots. Such a simple task—are you sure you still want to switch?”

Wen Nuan met General Xu’s gaze, and still firmly nodded. “General Xu, thank you for your care, but I still insist on giving Qinglan the chance to enlist.”

Secretary Song on the side adjusted the IV tube, then helped General Xu sit back down.

General Xu looked at Wen Nuan, puzzled, and asked, “Can I know why?”

‘Why reject such a good and easy job?’

Wen Nuan pressed her lips together and, with a burst of determination, said, “Because Qinglan encountered someone with bad intentions in the countryside. I can’t let her go back there, and I believe, like Qinghan, she is also a good candidate for the army.”

“Is that true?” General Xu frowned slightly. “Comrade Gu Qinglan is an educated youth. Going to the countryside is part of the organization’s larger plan. Do you understand the consequences of lying?”

Wen Nuan’s gaze was unwavering as she looked at General Xu. “I am willing to bear the consequences.”

Gu Qinghan also looked at General Xu and said, “I will bear them with Comrade Wen Nuan.”

General Xu suddenly chuckled, giving the two of them a faint snort. “Words alone are not enough. Since you claim she encountered trouble in the countryside, before giving her a spot in the army, I must send someone to verify it.”

He looked at Wen Nuan and added, “Your husband is injured and couldn’t go with her, so I’ll find someone reliable to escort Comrade Gu Qinglan on this trip.”

“If this matter turns out to be true, I will welcome Comrade Gu Qinglan into our army family.”

Wen Nuan breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, “Thank you, Colonel.”

General Xu glanced at her. “Don’t thank me just yet. The matter isn’t resolved.”

Wen Nuan was inwardly pleased. General Xu had mentioned finding someone to take Gu Qinglan back to the countryside, and she couldn’t be more eager for that to happen!

She also hoped to see if they could deal with that rogue who had set his sights on Qinglan. If Qinglan left, another female comrade might fall victim.

It would be best to send that scoundrel straight to prison!

What a vile criminal!

—o—o—o—

After Gu Qinghan and Wen Nuan left, Secretary Song smiled at General Xu and said, “That Wen Nuan, she looks delicate and soft, and doesn’t like very assertive, but she’s actually quite strong-willed.”

General Xu chuckled. “She reminds me of how you were when you were younger. She’s loyal and righteous.”

Secretary Song smirked, “So, are you agreeing to let Wen Nuan give up her job in exchange for her sister-in-law’s chance to enlist?”

General Xu raised an eyebrow. “No, no, the job and the military enlistment spot don’t conflict.”

He never intended for Wen Nuan to give up her job. But after this encounter, he realized that this woman indeed had a big heart and a deep sense of loyalty.

A truly righteous person.

Secretary Song couldn’t help but give him a playful pinch, and scolded him: “Then why didn’t you tell Wen Nuan earlier? You old rascal!”

General Xu laughed with a couple of mischievous chuckles. “It doesn’t hurt to let them worry for a bit. Why should Gu Qinghan get to eat and drink well every day while I’m stuck eating porridge and steamed buns?”

Secretary Song glared at him. “That’s because you didn’t take care of your own body! Your stomach problems are your own doing—what does that have to do with poor Gu Qinghan?”

Despite her scolding, Secretary Song felt a bit sorry for the old man. So, while he was busy, she quietly made her way to Gu Qinghan’s ward to exchange some dietary advice with Wen Nuan.

Meanwhile, Gu Qinghan and Wen Nuan had returned to the ward. Wen Nuan glanced at her husband, who was playing with the child, and asked, “Aren’t you worried that Qinglan’s situation might affect you?”

Gu Qinghan met her gaze, placed the child on his lap, and said, “When you first asked me if Qinglan could join the army, I started to get suspicious.”

“Then I remembered the night Qinglan arrived in Northern City. Although she had fainted, in her half-awake state, she was extremely resistant to anyone touching her.”

It was only then that Gu Qinghan realized that perhaps Qinglan really had encountered something terrible in the countryside.

It just so happened that the same night Qinglan came to Northern City, Wen Nuan had asked him the same question.

Gu Qinghan pulled Wen Nuan into his arms. “I realized it too late. If I had known earlier, I would have beaten that scum to a pulp!”

Wen Nuan listened to the sound of Gu Qinghan’s heartbeat and shook her head. “It’s not too late. We can still do something.”

“I just wonder who General Xu will send to take Qinglan back. Hopefully, they’ll teach that scumbag a lesson!” Wen Nuan spoke through gritted teeth, wishing she could go herself.

But Gu Qinghan likely wouldn’t allow it, considering she still had to take care of the child.

Earlier, she had worried that Gu Qinghan might become suspicious, especially since nothing about what happened to Qinglan had been revealed. But she hadn’t expected that Gu Qinghan had also picked up on the details.

It seemed that scum had already harassed Qinglan. When Wen Nuan thought about this, she felt an overwhelming urge to go and kick that scumbag herself.

Gu Qinghan pulled her tighter into his embrace and said in a low voice, “I’ll have Daxiang follow along to take a look. He definitely needs to teach that guy a lesson.”

Wen Nuan felt that Li Daxiang was reliable, so she nodded. “That would be a big help.”

Li Daxiang was dependable, and he had spent a few days with Qinglan, so it wouldn’t be too awkward. Plus, telling Li Daxiang about the situation would allow him to deal with that scum—it wouldn’t have been as effective if it were someone else.

Gu Qinghan looked at Wen Nuan’s profile and asked again, “Are you really planning to let Qinglan take your spot to enlist? Actually, she could just come to stay in the family compound for now.”

He remembered that when they first arrived in Northern City, Wen Nuan had asked him if he could help her find a job.

She must have been planning to work all along. The position of nutritionist in the flight kitchen was relatively easy, and it would mean he could see her from time to time, rather than returning home at night to find that they had already gone to bed.

Wen Nuan smiled and nodded. “Qinglan needs this opportunity more than I do. Besides, Lele is still small; I’ll just spend a couple more years playing with her.”

Then, Wen Nuan pinched the little one’s cheek.

The little one seemed to be teething again, grabbing onto Gu Qinghan’s sleeve and gnawing at it—drooling everywhere.

Wen Nuan pulled the fabric away from her hands and frowned. “Your daddy’s clothes are filthy, and you’re still biting them!”

Gu Qinghan frowned in response. “You can scold her but why am I getting dragged into this too?”

Furthermore, his clothes are not dirty at all.

The little one giggled, knowing that Wen Nuan was scolding her. She twisted her small head and buried it in Gu Qinghan’s embrace, feeling that she had hidden well.

Her big eyes occasionally peeked at Wen Nuan to see if she was coming to catch her.

Wen Nuan looked at the two of them and laughed out loud. “Both of you deserve to be scolded!”

Suddenly, thinking of something, Wen Nuan stood up. “No, I can’t waste time talking to you. I need to hurry back and inform Qinglan about this news, and I need to prepare some food for her and Daxiang to eat on the road. You should go to bed early. Tomorrow, when you are discharged from the hospital, I’ll see if I can come to pick you up.”

As she spoke, she asked Gu Qinghan to place Lele on her back. She needed to hurry home with the child.

Gu Qinghan felt a bit uncomfortable, sensing that she was being neglected…

Just as Wen Nuan stepped out of the ward, she bumped into Secretary Song and exchanged greetings with her.

Secretary Song had initially wanted to ask Wen Nuan some dietary questions, but seeing her footsteps were a bit hurried, she decided not to ask. They could discuss it slowly tomorrow when she comes back.

—o—o—o—

Wen Nuan nearly jogged home and, upon arriving, saw Gu Qinglan sitting on a small stool, staring blankly at a string of candied hawthorn.

It was the string of candied hawthorn that had been bought during the Lantern Festival in town, and Wen Nuan was surprised that this girl hadn’t eaten it yet.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Gu Qinglan turned her head and smiled: “Sister-in-law, why are you back so early today? I haven’t even started cooking yet. Wait a moment, and I’ll stir-fry some greens for you to eat.”

When Wen Nuan prepared dinner for Gu Qinghan, she had already cooked the dishes, and usually, they would just stir-fry some cabbage or sour shredded potatoes.

However, Wen Nuan usually returned home around dusk, and today she was a bit early; Gu Qinglan hadn’t even had time to chop the vegetables yet!

Could it be that she had quarreled with her brother?

Wen Nuan first set Lele down from her back and let out a sigh of relief, then picked up the tea on the table and took a couple of sips.

She had just returned from the hospital—almost running home, which had left her exhausted.

Seeing Wen Nuan gulp down two big mouthfuls of tea, Gu Qinglan quickly refilled her cup with some warm water. “Sister-in-law, take it slow. What are you in such a hurry for?”

Having lived in the family compound for so long, this was the first time Gu Qinglan had seen Wen Nuan so anxious—except for that time when she had saved her brother.

What could have made her so anxious?

Gu Qinglan suddenly became nervous.

Wen Nuan drank too quickly and almost choked on the water. After a moment of catching her breath, she asked Gu Qinglan, “Qinglan, do you want to stay in the army?”

Gu Qinglan’s eyes widened, and she almost thought she misheard.

She shouted loudly, “What?!”

Wen Nuan felt as if her eardrums had been shaken. She smiled and looked at her. “Don’t be so loud; sister-in-law can hear you!”

“I’m asking you if you want to be a soldier. Do you want to stay in the army? Then we can look out for each other.”

Gu Qinglan was too excited and shouted out in a moment of enthusiasm.

She frantically nodded her head. “I’m willing! I’m willing! I’d be willing for a thousand times!”

“Can I really be a soldier? But I’m an educated youth… Sister-in-law, how did you get the quota?”

Wen Nuan smiled, looking at the excited girl, and brushed her fallen hair back. “Sister-in-law saved someone, so it’s only right to get a reward. I happened to meet General Xu in the hospital, and he said he wanted to commend me. He even gave me a quota to be a soldier.”

Wen Nuan didn’t want to mention the mess hall situation to avoid Gu Qinglan regretting it. “You know me, I always get up late. I’m not cut out to be a soldier, so I thought of you right away. Look at you; you’re tall, and your personality is great. You should be just like your brother—a good candidate for being a soldier.”

Gu Qinglan didn’t expect that the quota had come about this way, and she felt even more moved. She never expected that Wen Nuan would think of her so quickly…

“Sister-in-law, I don’t know how to thank you. You’re really like my…”

Gu Qinglan was so overwhelmed with emotion that tears streamed down her face. “You’re like a mother to me. You’re really too good!”

Having lived for twenty years, Gu Qinglan had never felt such familial affection from anyone, not until she met Wen Nuan. It was wonderful to know that someone cared for her and kept her in their thoughts.

Choking back her sobs, Gu Qinglan continued, “Sister-in-law, I want to tell you… Actually, a year ago, in the place I was sent to work, I was almost bullied by a rogue. That’s why I went back to my hometown.”

However, she had not expected her return home to turn out that way.

Not only was she falsely accused by her new sister-in-law, but she was also beaten up by her second brother and her own mother.

So when Gu Qinglan returned to the north, she truly felt like she had nowhere to turn.

Suddenly, she thought of her big brother.

At first, she had prepared herself to be looked down upon by her big brother’s wife, but compared to being harassed by that scumbag in the countryside during the Spring Festival, she would rather face some disdain.

Wen Nuan hadn’t expected that there was such a thing. Thankfully, Gu Qinglan had come to Northern City to find them.

Wen Nuan wiped away her tears and smiled: “The sister-in-law is like a mother. Doesn’t that mean I’m your mother? Silly child, don’t cry anymore. Your brother will have Daxiang go back with you to the countryside to help you with the paperwork. You don’t have to be afraid of him. After the paperwork is done, you should hurry back. Sister-in-law is waiting to see you in a military uniform!” ^[1]“The sister-in-law is like a mother.” This phrase emphasizes the respect and familial responsibility a sister-in-law (typically the wife of one’s elder brother) is expected to hold … Continue reading

After hearing this, Gu Qinglan felt completely at ease. Even if she returned to that place, she wouldn’t have to fear that village rogue anymore!

“Thank you, sister-in-law. I will make sure to come back quickly.” Gu Qinglan pinched the little one’s cheek. “Besides, I can’t bear to part with Lele!”

Then, Gu Qinglan looked at Wen Nuan seriously and said, “Sister-in-law, I will remember your kindness to me for a lifetime.”

Wen Nuan didn’t think that much; the most important thing was that she could help Gu Qinglan escape from that hellish situation. That was already the greatest fortune.