Chapter 8 Adoration

The signalman paused for a moment, then his tone turned delighted. “Ah, you and sis-in-law are childhood sweethearts — no wonder you pay no attention to the women in the regiment.”
He steered the vehicle forward once more. The haystacks outside fell away in their wake. Gu Zhiye quietly turned the pocket watch in his hand, choosing to ignore him.

Before he went to Xiangyang Village, he hadn’t even known that the girl in the pocket watch was Su Niannian. So many times, before setting out on a mission, he would habitually check the pocket watch — because it represented luck.
Once, during the conclusion of a mission, he was responsible for retrieving injured soldiers. At that moment, amid the ruins, the pocket watch glimmered faintly in the sunlight. His team rushed forward to investigate — just as a bomb fell directly on their previous hiding spot, turning stones to dust. Gu Zhiye, in that moment of danger, pressed his comrade down, the shrapnel grazing his own hand, leaving a permanent scar. Because of that pocket watch, he kept his life. And when he later saw the smiling girl, he felt his heart accelerate — that moment, it was for her.

When Su Niannian awoke, Gu Zhiye was already gone. The army green quilt was neatly folded at the foot of the bed, looking much like a dried brick of tofu. She had rested so well that she overslept.
She hurriedly grabbed a dress from the cabinet and was just about to reach for the doorknob when Ma Hongmei’s voice was heard, ringing outside.
“What’s Gu Zhiye thinking? Didn’t we agree he’d leave tomorrow? He left without even a word to his new wife. I think… he’s not that fond of her…”

Gu Shutong, who was chopping firewood, said impatiently, “Shut up! A couple’s business isn’t for you to talk about.”
“Who says I care? I’m just stating a fact! This morning, before dawn, your brother slipped away in the dark to pick some wild fruit — do you know who those wild fruits went to? Tian Danniang’s Guihua! I say, if it hadn’t been for Mom’s interference, the two might already have children by now. Guihua is much easier to get along with than this ancestor in the room…”

With a sharp crack, a piece of wood split in two.
“Aiya, we women are destined for hard lives…”
Su Niannian opened the door, causing whatever remained in Ma Hongmei’s throat to choke back.
“Sister-in-law, breakfast is in the stove. Zhiye had a mission — he went back to the army at dawn. We saw you were resting, so we didn’t wake you.” Gu Shutong turned to wipe his face with a towel, his tone much softer.

Su Niannian nodded in acknowledgement. As a soldier’s wife, she knew the army’s orders came first — she certainly wouldn’t blame Gu Zhiye for that. As for whom he liked or was kind to, it was none of her business. That night had been an accident; she knew her own place, and without him, at least she could enjoy a restful night’s sleep.
“Did Mom eat yet?”
“She’s resting due to shortness of breath.” Ma Hongmei was quick to answer.
After that brief exchange, Su Niannian turned and walked toward the stove. Her pale yellow dress fell gracefully over her, a pair of delicate black shoes peeking out, along with a bit of her porcelain-like ankles. As her skirts flowed with her movement, her slim, graceful form was outlined — a sight that nearly made Gu Shutong stare in awe. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.

Ma Hongmei glared suspiciously back and forth, guessing something was amiss. “Gu Shutong—”
“That’s enough, get out.” The man, his face coloring in embarrassment, fiercely drove his axe into the stack of firewood and walked away.
Frustrated, Ma Hongmei turned and rushed into the stove room, only to see Su Niannian sitting by the stove, quietly and slowly nibbling a sweet potato.
“Affected! Artificial! Cunning!” Ma Hongmei raised her nose in indignation, barely suppressing her resentment. “Niannian, it’s not that I’m criticizing you, but you’ve been married nearly a week, yet you haven’t lifted a finger to help care for Mom. I care about you, but there’s a limit. Mom’s condition is deteriorating these two days. So to avoid her growing a grudge against you, today you’ll cook lunch — I’ll be your helper.”
“You’ll light the fire?”
“All right.” Ma Hongmei’s voice was tight with resentment.

Su Niannian nodded quietly. She had read many cookbooks — which ingredients went with which, how much salt to add — everything was clear to her. The only thing that might be a bit difficult was lighting the fire, but with that, the rest was a breeze.
Word that she was going to cook soon drew Gu Shutong’s disbelief. The graceful silhouette busy in the stove room, putting everything in order — adding oil, adding salt, adding sugar — it was a picture of domestic competence. The food was soon ready and placed neatly on the table.
Gu’s mother’s face blossomed into a chrysanthemum-like smile. “Niannian is really virtuous.”
Su Niannian remained calm and composed. “If you like it, I can cook every day.”

While they were talking, Gu Shutong had already tasted a piece of green vegetable. His expression briefly stiffened.
“How is it?” Su Niannian asked with concern.
“Mm… good.” His voice was somewhat muffled, and he began to wolf down his food faster.
Ma Hongmei quickly grabbed a piece of fatty pork and put it into her own mouth — then immediately sprayed it back out. “Heavens! Did you spill the entire jar of salt in there? This is a waste of food…”
Gu’s mother remained silent, quietly finishing her meal. Because of the chicken soup incident, her youngest son had quarreled with her, and she knew that Su Niannian’s staying was meant to keep the peace and keep her from causing trouble. Among the two daughters-in-law, it was clear which was more valued.

Su Niannian was rarely confused — she had followed the recipe and used two spoonfuls of salt; there shouldn’t be a problem. She casually pinched up a piece of green vegetable and put it in her mouth — and then began to cough violently from its salty taste.

Gu Shutong, sitting across from her, quickly stood up, filled a bowl of water, and brought it to her lips. This small gesture made Gu’s mother take a second look at him. After a moment, without letting it show, she took the bowl of water from her son’s hands and handed it to Su Niannian. “Niannian is still young. Hongmei, teach her more. In the future, Zhiye will appreciate your kindness — he’s someone who’s fiercely protective of his own.”

Ma Hongmei immediately straightened up. “No problem.”
Gu Shutong kept his head down while he ate, a hint of unhappiness creeping into his expression.

…

After Su Niannian broke two bowls in a row, Ma Hongmei decisively gave up on asking her sister-in-law to do the dishes. Instead, she pushed a basin full of dirty laundry toward her. “Go wash these by the stream.”
Usually, Gu Shutong was busy in the fields, and the laundry was so dirty that it needed heavy scrubbing. Ma Hongmei thought this might be a good opportunity to teach her sister-in-law a lesson — but when she got down to the stream, she saw her own husband bending over the laundry instead.

This was a hornet’s nest, and Ma Hongmei immediately started a tirade, scolding all the way back to the house.
“Didn’t you say men shouldn’t do this kind of dirty work? What’s this then?!”
Gu Shutong, while hanging up the laundry, tried to explain, “These are my own clothes. How can you…？”
“What’s there to explain? Tell me!”

Ma Hongmei saw Su Niannian looking completely unfazed, even helping Gu Shutong carry a basin, and this made her even more furious.
“You — you’re the big brother, yet you gave up your chance to be a soldier and let your wife come instead! Was it because you secretly care about her?!!”
“Sister-in-law, what nonsense are you talking about?!!”
Gu’s mother suddenly appeared in the doorway, her expression icy-cold as she glared at them.
Su Niannian’s heart tightened. “Mom, it’s a misunderstanding. Big Brother was just helping me.”
“Misunderstanding? Su Niannian, you know this very well — if I hadn’t married into this family, today’s wife would be you! But he’s a cripple — not as tall or as handsome as Gu Zhiye. Are you looking down on him in your heart?!!”
Ma Hongmei’s eyes turned red as she screamed at her husband, “If you want her, wait until I’m gone — until Zhiye is gone — then you can be together!!”

Su Niannian remained calm and indifferent, as if none of this were happening to her.
“You… you…” Gu’s mother knew what her eldest son was thinking, but it was another matter for someone to say it openly. She was so angry that her molars ached. Just as she was about to scold them, a rush of sweet blood suddenly rose up in her throat, and the very next moment, in front of them all, Gu’s mother fell backwards, vomiting blood.

“Mom—!”
Gu Shutong turned ashen, his face drained of color.