Chapter 21: Gu Cheng Didn’t Die?

Gu Mu didn’t think much of it. “So what if you got a marriage certificate? You can still get a divorce. Son, with your conditions, I’ll make sure to find you another young and beautiful virgin!”

Hearing her go on more and more absurdly, Gu Cheng didn’t want to listen to their nonsense anymore. He grabbed his things and directly walked out.

Gu Mu immediately became anxious. “Where are you going? Don’t go looking for Liu Yinyin! She’s been back for so long, maybe… maybe she’s already found someone else by now.”

Gu Cheng said with a stern face, “We’re still husband and wife, you can’t just say we’re divorced. I’m going to see for myself.”

Gu Mu’s lips moved, trying to stop him. “What’s there to see? If she’s gone, I’ll just find you another one. You’re an officer, what kind of girl can’t you find?”

Gu Cheng turned around and looked at her. He said directly, “Mother, I’ve retired from the army. I’m not going back this time.”

“What? You’ve retired?” Gu Mu instantly panicked.

Gu Cheng didn’t speak any further and walked out the door.

Gu Mu was left stunned in place, watching her son walk farther and farther away.

Her heart was shaken. “Old man, what did our son just say? He retired? Does that mean he can’t go back to the army anymore?”

Heavens!

This statement hit her like a thunderclap, just like when she first heard the news that Gu Cheng had “sacrificed.”

She had lived most of her life, and her greatest pride had been raising a good son. Her son served in the army, and every month he sent allowances and tickets back home.

Gu Mu walked out, her back straight as a rod. No one in the village could compare to her.

Gu Fu sighed when he heard her words. “Well, he’s back, that’s all that matters. As long as he’s alive.”

Being out there always made people uneasy, afraid that one day he wouldn’t come back.

Gu Mu scolded him, “What do you know!”

If Gu Cheng wasn’t going back to the army, who would send her money every month?!

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When Gu Cheng arrived at Liu’s village, everyone had already started work. He couldn’t find anyone at the Liu household, so he hurriedly headed to the fields.

After some searching, he finally found his father-in-law and mother-in-law…

At this time, Liu Yinyin was working in the drying field, spreading the rice out to dry. During her free time, she sat on a small stool, keeping an eye on the surroundings.

If she saw any birds trying to steal the rice, she had to chase them away.

“Yinyin, how many months pregnant are you?” asked Grandma Cai, an elderly woman in her sixties, who was also assigned to work in the drying field.

Grandma Cai, being older, liked to chat with people when there was nothing to do.

“Almost seven months,” Liu Yinyin replied.

“Then it’s almost time to give birth. That’s good, in two or three months, when the autumn harvest is over, your mother will have time to help you with your confinement,” Grandma Cai said as she looked at Liu Yinyin, seemingly lost in thought.

Liu Yinyin smiled but didn’t say anything. She was alone, and when it came time for her to give birth and recover, she would indeed have to trouble Jiang Cuihua for help.

Seeing Liu Yinyin remain silent, Grandma Cai waited for a moment before quietly saying, “You’re still so young, and raising a child alone won’t be easy. Have you ever thought about finding someone to help you raise the child together?”

Liu Yinyin: “……”

So, after all this, Grandma Cai was actually trying to set her up with someone.

Not wanting to be too blunt, Liu Yinyin replied vaguely, “Grandma, times are tough for everyone these days. Who would willingly take on someone else’s child?”

In these times, just like in Liu Family Village, every household had ten or even twenty people to feed. Taking care of their own families was already difficult enough, let alone raising someone else’s child.

Grandma Cai lifted her eyelids and said, “That’s not necessarily true. Let me tell you, in my home village, there’s a young man named Chen Guangjun. He’s exactly twenty-two this year and has never been married. He’s quite picky about looks—he insists on finding someone beautiful. And from what I see… if it were you, he’d definitely be interested.”

Liu Yinyin was stunned!

Before she could say anything, Grandma Cai continued rambling, “Grandma is old, I wouldn’t try to harm you. This Chen Guangjun is truly a good young man.

He works at the county’s supply and marketing cooperative as a formal employee. His salary and benefits are great, enough to support a wife and child.

His family is also easygoing. His parents are well-known in the village for being honest people. They wouldn’t engage in any shady business behind your back.”

Liu Yinyin wiped off some imaginary sweat and awkwardly smiled. “Grandma Cai, with conditions as good as his, why would he be interested in me?”

To outsiders, apart from her looks, Liu Yinyin had no other advantages.

In the past, maybe she could have barely matched up. But now, she was a “widow” with a baby on the way.

Even if Chen Guangjun was willing, would his family agree to let him marry a “widow”? Especially when he’d have to become an instant father?

Grandma Cai sighed and said, “I’ll be honest with you, child. Chen Guangjun has had a tough life. He was injured in the past, and one of his arms is now useless, so he’s not quite like a normal person. But he’s truly an honest and capable man. Other than his injured arm, there’s nothing wrong with him.”

Chen Guangjun had been injured while protecting state property. As compensation, he was given a job at the supply and marketing cooperative.

Otherwise… as a rural villager, how could he have landed a job in the county? And not just any job, but one in the supply and marketing cooperative—a highly desirable position.

With his qualifications, he could even aim for a city girl. But things don’t always work out perfectly—

The ones he liked didn’t like him, and the ones who liked him, he didn’t fancy.

So, he had to lower his standards a bit. No one is perfect, after all.

Now Liu Yinyin understood. Because of his disability, Chen Guangjun had lowered his standards for a wife and was willing to accept a “widow” like her.

Even though she understood, Liu Yinyin still politely declined, “Grandma Cai, thank you for thinking of me, but I’m not considering these things for now.”

Grandma Cai had good intentions, and Liu Yinyin didn’t want to reject her too harshly.

People in these times had different views from those in later generations. If you told someone now that you didn’t want to get married or have children in the future, they’d definitely think there was something wrong with your head!

Grandma Cai looked surprised. “Why not? Chen Guangjun’s salary is more than enough to support both you and the child.”

She wasn’t just saying this on a whim.

Actually, Chen Guangjun had seen Liu Yinyin before and was interested in her. But before he could ask someone to arrange a proposal, Liu Yinyin had already gotten married.

Later, when Liu Yinyin returned alone, Chen Guangjun somehow heard about it. The feelings he had buried before started surfacing again.

Liu Yinyin smiled at her and was about to explain when—

“Yinyin! Your husband is back!”