Chapter 9

Gu Cheng didn’t have a great impression of Li Mingjie. A grown man, clearly acquainted with the young woman, yet he didn’t lift a finger to help carry her luggage—leaving her to haul everything on her own.

Besides, Gu Cheng had overheard what Ye Huan said to the older woman earlier—likely about Li Mingjie.

He looked down on that kind of person. Still, since both he and Ye Huan were heading to the farm, he couldn’t justify taking Ye Huan and leaving Li Mingjie behind. So he said nothing, just furrowed his brows and picked up another one of Ye Huan’s bags, saying simply, “Let’s go.”

Fang Hui, who was rather thick-skinned and oblivious, didn’t notice Gu Cheng’s dislike for Li Mingjie. Seeing Gu Cheng walking off, he called out to Ye Huan and Li Mingjie and cheerfully followed Gu Cheng, chatting nonstop about all the funny things that had happened in the unit while Gu Cheng was away.

Fang Hui was a boy Gu Cheng had rescued from the rubble during the disaster relief efforts in Yun Province. Orphaned by the tragedy, Fang Hui had received financial support from Gu Cheng over the years. When Fang Hui enlisted and was assigned to their unit, Gu Cheng immediately brought him under his wing.

Fang Hui, oblivious to Gu Cheng’s disapproval of Li Mingjie, called out to Ye Huan and Li Mingjie as Gu Cheng walked ahead, then cheerfully followed after him, chattering about the amusing incidents that had occurred at the unit during Gu Cheng’s absence.

The boy was competent at his duties but somewhat thick-skinned and prone to gossiping. Still, as long as it wasn’t a matter of principle, Gu Cheng usually let him be.

Li Mingjie, however, was good at reading people’s moods and quickly sensed that Gu Cheng wasn’t fond of him.

But passing up a free ride just to take a tractor or ox cart to the farm would be stupid. So, whether Gu Cheng welcomed it or not, he followed along.

No one had said he couldn’t go, so he took it as silent approval.

Fang Hui parked the jeep outside the train station exit.

Once all the luggage was loaded into the backseat, Gu Cheng opened the driver’s side door and climbed in.

Fang Hui asked, “Commander, you’re driving?”

Gu Cheng replied with a simple “Mm.”

The road back wasn’t great. Fang Hui, being hotheaded, drove fast regardless of road conditions, and his rough driving could toss people around like rag dolls.

If it were just the two of them—two rough guys—no big deal. But with a young woman in the car now, she probably wouldn’t be able to handle it. Better if he drove himself—at least he could keep the ride smoother.

Fang Hui assumed Gu Cheng just missed driving and didn’t argue. He happily opened the passenger door and called out to Ye Huan, “Comrade Ye, sit up front—it’s less bumpy.”

After Ye Huan got in and closed the door, he and Li Mingjie squeezed into the back.

Fang Hui was a naturally chatty guy. No one even needed to prompt him—he could ramble on all by himself.

Ye Huan learned a lot about the farm from him during the drive.

Hongxing Farm not only had flower nurseries but also grew grains, vegetables, and fruits.

The grains and produce were mainly for supplying Gu Cheng’s military unit. As for the flower nursery, besides supplying several neighboring provinces, it also had the responsibility of cultivating rare plant varieties.

That job fell mostly to skilled, senior horticulturists.

“Our farm’s horticulturists are really something. Ever heard of Hu Chunsheng, Master Hu?” Fang Hui gave a big thumbs-up. “Even folks from the capital come to him for advice. Last spring at the city’s flower exhibition, there was a green peony he cultivated—blooms as big as a rice bowl! Talk about luxurious and elegant. Only one in all of China. I heard it even made it into international newspapers.”

Ye Huan was very interested in flowers and plants. She asked, “Is that green peony still at the farm? Can we see it normally?”

Fang Hui said, “Yeah, it’s still there—that thing’s the pride of the farm! Master Hu treats it better than his own kid. But he rarely shows it off. Only brings it out on special occasions…”

Then Fang Hui suddenly remembered something and turned to Gu Cheng. “Commander, aren’t you close with Master Hu? You should take Comrade Ye to see it sometime.”

Ye Huan looked eagerly at Gu Cheng. She really wanted to see that green peony.

Before Gu Cheng could respond, Fang Hui regretted his words.

Fang Hui immediately regretted his impulsive suggestion. In their unit, Battalion Commander Gu was notorious for his strictness, treating men and women equally. During the last field training exercise, a female soldier showed up perfumed and dolled up.  Commander Gu reprimanded her so harshly that she burst into tears, ordering her to wash off the makeup in a nearby stream before rejoining the group.

Sure, it was a field training and too much scent could give away their position—but still, Gu Cheng was utterly unbending. The poor girl had been terrified of him ever since—she ran whenever she saw him.

Ye Huan smelled nice too—even Fang Hui, with his poor sense of smell, had noticed. Gu Cheng, with his “dog nose,” sitting so close, must’ve noticed as well.

He probably already disliked Ye Huan but hadn’t said anything only because she wasn’t one of his soldiers.

So expecting him to take Ye Huan to see the green peony? Wishful thinking.

Fang Hui quickly backpedaled, “Oh right, our Commander is super busy—no way he has time for that. Anyway, the flower’s still on the farm. When it blooms, Master Hu’s bound to bring it out. You’ll see it eventually—no rush.”

He congratulated himself for reacting fast. Otherwise, he’d probably get chewed out back at the base.

Noticing Gu Cheng looking at him through the rearview mirror, Fang Hui silently mouthed: Commander, I messed up. Won’t do it again.

Ye Huan thought about it too. She had only met Gu Cheng twice; it really wasn’t appropriate to trouble him like that. She turned to Fang Hui and said, “You’re right. I’ll see it eventually since I’m stationed at the farm.”

The Educated Youth Office was in the town government compound, just a ten-minute drive away.

There was a tractor parked in the courtyard, with a flatbed trailer attached.

A sturdy young man with tanned skin was wiping the tractor with a rag. When he heard the jeep approaching, he looked up.

Fang Hui saw him and told Ye Huan and Li Mingjie, “That guy’s from the farm—probably came to pick you up. I’ll go talk to him.”

He knew the man. As soon as Gu Cheng parked, Fang Hui jumped out and shouted, “Liu Quangui, you here to pick up the educated youth? No need—I came to pick up our Commander and just happened to run into them. We’ll take them to the farm with us.”

Liu Quangui said, “Perfect! Director Xu told me to pick up a few sacks of fertilizer too, and I wasn’t sure there’d be room.”

The mention of “Director Xu” caught Li Mingjie’s attention. He leaned out of the window and asked, “Comrade Liu, is the Director Xu you mentioned named Xu Guochao?”

Liu Quangui replied, “Yeah, that’s him. You know him?”

Li Mingjie blurted, “Yeah,” then realized that Gu Cheng and Ye Huan had overheard him trying to cozy up to an old lady on the train earlier. Feeling awkward, he laughed dryly, “I’ve heard of him.”

Liu Quangui muttered, “That counts as knowing him? In that case, half the country knows Director Xu.”

Just then, a short, middle-aged man walked out of the building. He was Director Wan of the Educated Youth Office.

He asked, “Comrade soldier, there’s one more educated youth going to the farm. Do you think you can give her a ride too?”

A young girl followed Director Wan out. He introduced her: “This is Yao Yujuan, Comrade Yao.”

Yao Yujuan looked about the same age and height as Ye Huan. She had a round-square face, a short bob haircut, and wore a blue cotton shirt with a Chairman Mao badge pinned to her chest. Her posture leaned slightly forward, as if she were always ready to charge ahead.

Fang Hui scratched his head.

The jeep had five seats: two in the front, three in the back.

But with Ye Huan’s luggage piled in the back, one seat was already taken. That meant there wasn’t enough room for Yao Yujuan—unless either Ye Huan or Li Mingjie got off and took the farm’s tractor instead.