Chapter 23 – The Female Supporting Character in the Confession Book

Today was the last workday of the year, and Wen Xin, along with Gu Xiuping, rushed to the marriage registration office at the last moment to obtain their marriage certificate.

At that time, the marriage certificate was made of two thin sheets of paper, with the chairman’s quotations printed on it, the names of the couple in the middle, and a steel stamp. With that, Wen Xin was officially recognized as a married woman.

After leaving the Civil Affairs Bureau, Gu Xiuping held their marriage certificates in one hand and tightly grasped Wen Xin’s hand with the other. “Xin Xin, you’re finally my wife. Officially recognized by the country.”

Wen Xin looked at his silly expression and laughed aloud. “Look at you, you’re so goofy. It’s getting dark. Let’s head home. Our parents are waiting for us.”

Gu Xiuping hummed in response and quickened his pace.

The New Year was approaching, and the state-run stores in the county town stayed open later than usual, more than an hour past the usual time. Gu Xiuping was the first to enter, sweeping up all the remaining candy. He also bought some pastries, cigarettes, and alcohol, filling a whole bag.

Wen Xin knew he was happy and didn’t stop him from spending money. She followed him along. Anyway, Gu Xiuping’s salary was high enough to afford such extravagance.

The newlyweds returned home, where the Wen family had already prepared dinner and opened a bottle of wine. It was a joyful occasion, a double celebration. Everyone, except for the two younger generations of the Wen family, had a drink.

With the marriage certificate in hand, they were now officially husband and wife. That night, Gu Xiuping was going to stay in Wen Xin’s room. Wen Xin’s dowry had been prepared since the beginning of the year.

There were four beds with different colored bedding, and just these blankets alone had cost Zhang Xiuying over a hundred yuan. Tonight was their wedding night, and while everyone was eating, Zhang Xiuying went to Wen Xin’s room to set up the bed. She spread a bright red double happiness quilt.

She also lit two candles on the table. When the room lights were turned off, the candles emitted a soft glow.

As the night grew late, the young couple entered the room and sat at opposite ends of the kang (bed). Gu Xiuping, who was usually thick-skinned, seemed unusually shy.

After a long while, the sound of barking dogs could vaguely be heard from outside. Gu Xiuping seemed to wake from his daze.

“Xin… Xin Xin, let’s go to sleep.” Gu Xiuping said, his voice stammering slightly.

Wen Xin responded with a soft “mm.” and the two of them began undressing, turning their backs to each other. Wen Xin, wearing a thermal shirt, got into the bed first, which was warm and cozy. She sighed in comfort.

Gu Xiuping finally joined her on the bed. His body was stiff, and he dared not move.

The room was dark, the candlelight flickering faintly. Before long, the two of them, who had been sleeping apart, found themselves tangled in each other’s embrace.

The room was filled with warmth.

Wen Xin felt like a small boat floating in the water, swaying with Gu Xiuping’s rhythm. In the dim candlelight, the corners of his peach blossom eyes were tinged with a faint pink, reflecting the emotions stirred by the intimate moment.

The next morning, when Wen Xin woke up, and Gu Xiuping was already awake. He brought a bowl of brown sugar eggs into the room. “Mom said you’d be awake by this time, so she asked me to bring you some eggs. Eat them while they’re still warm.”

When their eyes met and she saw Gu Xiuping’s smiling gaze, Wen Xin’s face instantly flushed.

She could hear his clear voice, but all she could remember was the hoarse tone in which Gu Xiuping had whispered his love words into her ear last night, every word lingering in her mind.

Suddenly, she felt a wave of heat rush over her.

Wen Xin’s body ached all over, but she still got up to eat the bowl of sweet egg soup.

Gu Xiuping returned the bowl to the kitchen, and when he came back to her room, he sat down at the edge of the kang, speaking softly to her.

In Linjia Village, Lin Jianzhang and Luo Manzhen had returned home to visit relatives.

Luo Manzhen had been with Lin Jianzhang for a year and a half, accompanying him on his military assignment, but she still hadn’t gotten pregnant.

The two of them had arrived home in the early hours of the morning, and when they got up today, her mother-in-law’s first question upon seeing her was about why she hadn’t gotten pregnant yet.

Lin Jianzhang, who was speaking with his father and brothers, didn’t even glance at her upon hearing this.

Luo Manzhen, no longer in the mood to please Liao Jinzhi and the others as she had the previous year, simply responded in an impatient tone, offering vague answers.

Her attitude left Liao Jinzhi and the others momentarily stunned. Seeing Luo Manzhen like this reminded Liao Jinzhi of how she had been two years ago.

Lin Jianzhang gave Luo Manzhen a stern look.

At noon, a villager came to speak with Lin Jianzhang. In their conversation, Wen Xin was mentioned. It was then that Lin Jianzhang learned that Wen Xin had been accepted into university, that she already had a partner, and that her partner was also a soldier.

A mixture of emotions filled Lin Jianzhang’s heart, as though a jar of seasonings had been overturned.

Once the villager finished talking and it was nearly time for lunch, he left. Lin Jianzhang lay on the kang, staring at the dark ceiling, his expression unreadable.

Luo Manzhen came in from outside and, in a fit of rage, swept the enamel teacup off the kang cupboard. It fell to the solid ground with a muffled thud.

It wasn’t clear when, but Luo Manzhen had started throwing things when she was upset. The few enamel bowls and teacups in the family compound had long been dented and chipped.

Lin Jianzhang had grown accustomed to her outbursts and ignored her. This only fueled Luo Manzhen’s anger. She wanted to argue but couldn’t find the words, and the frustration only made her angrier.

As she thought about the things she had just heard, about Wen Xin being accepted into university, about her already having a partner, she felt a surge of resentment. Her own life had been so difficult. How could Wen Xin live such a happy life?

Luo Manzhen was not willing to accept it.

Luo Manzhen had always been a selfish and self-centered person. She never reflected on her own faults and always blamed others for her problems. She attributed the breakdown of her relationship with Lin Jianzhang to Wen Xin.

She believed that if Wen Xin had never been involved with Lin Jianzhang, he would not have treated her with such emotional neglect. Lin Jianzhang would have been as obedient and caring as he was before their separation.

However, Wen Xin had changed drastically from a year ago. Now, Gu Xiuping stood by her like a guardian, following her wherever she went. With his protection and her own awareness, Luo Manzhen no longer had the chance to harm her.

After the New Year, while Lin Jianzhang’s vacation was still not over, Gu Xiuping had already finished his honeymoon leave and returned to the military unit.

Wen Xin was not due to report to school until February, so with nothing much to do, she decided to accompany Gu Xiuping to his station.

Since Gu Xiuping was about to be transferred, he had not been assigned a family housing unit. When Wen Xin came, they could only stay in a guesthouse.

The guesthouse was a small courtyard with no more than thirty square meters, divided into a bedroom and a living room. The living room had simple furniture, but there was no kitchen.

During the day, Gu Xiuping went to the camp. The weather was cold, and there were not many family members staying at the guesthouse. Wen Xin would wake up, eat the breakfast Gu Xiuping had brought her, read for a while, and then go back to sleep for a nap. After lunch, she would rest again and wait for Gu Xiuping to return.

In the evening, Gu Xiuping didn’t participate in the training and would come back early to spend time with Wen Xin. The two of them always had endless conversations and things to do when they were together.

By mid-February, Wen Xin had to report to Provincial Capital University. Gu Xiuping also received his transfer orders. Both Wen Xin and Gei Wei had been accepted into the university’s literature department. After discussing it, they decided to go together. Gei Wei’s fiancé hadn’t performed as well in the exams but had also been accepted to the Provincial Capital University’s teacher’s college, where he would become a teacher after graduation—still a good outcome.

This time, they were taking the train. Wen Yuejun, concerned about Wen Xin, decided to accompany her to the school, while Gei Wei’s father, Ge Hongjun, also worried about his daughter and decided to join. The two fathers, both doting on their daughters, had much to talk about.

Gu Xiuping used his connections to buy six connected sleeper tickets. Once they boarded the train, Gei Wei’s fiancé, after placing his things down, walked out without saying a word.

Wen Xin nudged Gei Wei’s arm. “What’s wrong? Did you two have a fight?”

Gei Wei and her fiancé had always had a good relationship and rarely argued. It was unusual for them to not speak to each other at all, as they were now.

Gei Wei snorted and quietly explained to Wen Xin: “We didn’t argue. It’s just that his family is making a fuss, saying we should get married early. It wasn’t a big deal at first because our wedding was already planned for this year. Our families had agreed to it. But then his mother pushed further and made demands. She said that traditionally, it’s always the wife who supports the husband while he studies, and never the other way around. She told me to stop studying and just wait for He Zhi at home after we get married.”

“My family definitely disagreed. My parents argued with his parents right there. The scene was really bad that day, but in the end, it all died down. But He Zhi is mad at me and won’t speak to me now.”

“He doesn’t speak, and I won’t speak to him either.” Gei Wei’s excitement about starting university had been dampened by this situation.

Wen Xin patted Gei Wei’s hand and offered a few words of comfort.

They set off in the morning and arrived in Provincial Capital by afternoon. First, they went to report to Provincial Capital University. The university, which had been neglected for ten years, felt somewhat deserted. The campus was bustling with students, all carrying hopeful expectations for their future lives.

Wen Xin and Gei Wei were in the same department and the same class. Their dormitory was also the same, an eight-person room. They arrived early enough to choose beds by the window, set up their bedding, and then went outside with the rest of the group.

Everyone was hungry.

After eating, Wen Xin and her parents planned to visit the family compound at the Provincial Capital Military District, while Gei Wei and her father would go with He Zhi to the teacher’s college. The two families parted ways.

Gu Xiuping had previously been a Colonel. His transfer to the Provincial Capital Military District was a lateral move, and he had reported there in late January. He had already been assigned a family housing unit.

The two-bedroom apartment had a small balcony and a little kitchen. The bedroom was divided into a large one and a small one, both with good lighting and heating. Wen Yuejun thoroughly inspected the place and was quite satisfied.

That night, they stayed at the family compound, and the next day, Wen Yuejun was scheduled to return home. Wen Xin and her husband sent him off at the train station.

Before getting on the train, Wen Yuejun pulled out a crumpled stack of money and offered it to Wen Xin. This was the savings he had kept hidden for years, money that even Zhang Xiuying didn’t know about.

Wen Xin naturally refused: “Dad, I don’t need this money. Keep it for yourself, buy some cigarettes or alcohol. I’m not lacking money.”

The day after Wen Xin and Gu Xiuping got their marriage certificate, Zhang Xiuying had given Wen Xin her entire dowry without withholding a single cent. With the private savings she had accumulated over the past two years, Wen Xin now considered herself a small wealthy woman.

Wen Yuejun insisted: “This money should be kept for emergencies in the future. I don’t handle the family finances at home, so saving this much wasn’t easy. It’s not much, but take it and buy some sweets.”

Wen Xin pressed her lips together and accepted the money. Wen Yuejun broke into a simple, honest smile. After the ticket was checked, he boarded the train and sat by the window. He waved his hand at Wen Xin and Gu Xiuping and told them to head back quickly.

As the train started moving, Wen Xin’s tears fell in an instant.

Gu Xiuping put his arm around Wen Xin’s shoulder and softly comforted her.

Wen Yuejun got off the train at the county station and walked to the bus station to catch the shuttle. As he passed by the state-run store, he saw Lin Jianzhang standing at the entrance, smoking a cigarette. Wen Yuejun snorted and walked past him without even glancing sideways.

Lin Jianzhang’s eyes were bloodshot. He took two hard drags from his cigarette and followed Wen Yuejun’s pace. They both took the same bus back, yet neither said a word.

When Lin Jianzhang returned home, Luo Manzhen was lying on the heated bed, asleep. Lin Jianzhang pushed open the door and yanked Luo Manzhen up from the bed.

“Lin Jianzhang, are you crazy?” Luo Manzhen woke up in a start, angrily shouting at him.

Lin Jianzhang tightly gripped Luo Manzhen’s shoulder, his face twisted in fury. “Luo Manzhen, tell me, what is your relationship with Sun Haowen?”