Chapter 25 More and more like her mother

When Song Yiyi saw him, she hopped over in two or three quick steps, tilting her smiling face up at him.

“Brother, you’re back? Go wash your hands, I’ll show you a treasure!”

As she spoke, she used her sleeve and hand to shield the enamel basin. But she didn’t realize that, because of their height difference, her effort was completely pointless—Gu Chengze’s angle allowed him to clearly see the neatly arranged strawberries inside.

Still, he didn’t ruin her excitement. He smiled lightly and said, “Alright.”

Gu Chengze went back to the main room, set down the oiled paper package in his hand, took off his coat, and then went to the courtyard to fetch water to wash his hands. Song Yiyi stood beside him waiting.

Suddenly, she remembered what had happened that afternoon.
“Brother, I ran into Uncle Gu and Cen Yue at noon.”

Gu Chengze’s hands paused mid-wash.

Thinking he was done, Song Yiyi grabbed the towel from the rack and eagerly handed it to him.

Taking it, Gu Chengze replied in his usual calm tone, “Mm. The strawberries—Cen Yue gave them to you?”

Song Yiyi nodded. “Yeah. Did he tell you?”

This guy sure knew how to take credit. But fine, she thought, let him take credit—after all, this gift had gone straight to her heart.

Gu Chengze set the towel back on the rack, lowered his gaze to look at Song Yiyi for two seconds, then reached out and ruffled the top of her head.

“No. I picked them.”

Earlier that day, he had been doing outdoor training at the mountain base when he came across a patch of wild strawberries. Immediately, he thought of Song Yiyi. Since he was busy, he had asked a teammate who was heading down the mountain early to bring them back. One bag was for Cen Yue—who apparently decided to gift them to his own sister.

When they returned to the main room, Song Yiyi finally noticed the oiled paper package on the table.

“I knew it,” she said knowingly. “Brother, next time take me up the mountain too. I want to pick my own. Maybe I can even find something else.”

Just the thought of a whole field of strawberries made her mouth water.

Gu Chengze shook his head. “That mountain is part of the training base. It’s complicated in there.”

Song Yiyi instantly drooped in disappointment. But a second later, her expression brightened again. She plunked the enamel basin in front of Gu Chengze.

“Here! Look! Your sister made this herself today—strawberry cake!”

She lifted her right arm to show him. “My arm is practically useless now from whipping the cream.”

As she waved her arm in front of him, Gu Chengze was just about to reach for it—

“Eat first,” Song Minghui interrupted, bringing in a pot of chicken soup. He said gruffly, “If you fill up on random stuff first, you won’t eat dinner properly.”

“…” Song Yiyi decided to let it go—for the sake of his contribution in helping whip the cream.

“Fine. But don’t eat too much tonight. We’ll have cake after dinner.” She cheerfully ran into the kitchen to help carry dishes.

Song Minghui began setting the table. The strawberries Gu Chengze had brought were taken into the kitchen. As he walked, he muttered, “What’s so special about this stuff? When we were kids, they were everywhere.”

Gu Chengze was unusually quiet today. When Song Minghui ladled him two bowls of chicken soup, he downed them both immediately.

Song Yiyi stared, wide-eyed.

Cai Mengjun and Song Minghui exchanged a look.

“Brother, aren’t you afraid it’s too hot?” Song Yiyi asked. “Or is the food at your canteen so bad you didn’t get enough to eat? How about I bring you lunch while Mom and Dad are here?”

Only then did Gu Chengze realize everyone was looking at him. He set his bowl down with a small smile. “No, the food’s fine.”

Then he turned to Song Minghui. “Dad, did Cen Bowen come by today?”

Song Minghui nodded. “Yes. That kid still has some sense of responsibility—he came to apologize to Yiyi.”

“What?!” Song Yiyi’s voice shot up. “He came again? Does he have no shame? He’s like a plaster that won’t come off!”

Seriously, how could Cen Bowen have the nerve?

“Yiyi, watch your language!” Song Minghui glared at her. “A young lady shouldn’t be speaking so crudely! Frankly, between you and young Cen, I think most of the problem lies with you.”

Putting his bowl down, he slipped into his lecture tone: “He brought plenty of gifts today, sincerely apologizing. His attitude was good. If you ask me, the young man hasn’t done anything terribly wrong.”

“What do you mean, ‘not terribly wrong’? Only murder and arson count as wrong now?”

“Nonsense!” Song Minghui’s voice hardened. “He’s a soldier—a deputy battalion commander at such a young age—of course he’s focused on his career. You women get caught up in petty squabbles. If young Cen slipped up once in a while, what’s the big deal?”

“Yiyi, you’re going to get married someday. You can’t do everything according to your temper.” His voice rose with his temper. “With that personality of yours, who besides your family could put up with you? You’re already a grown woman—you need to change!”

He slapped the table. “Starting tomorrow, you’ll follow your mother into the kitchen and learn how to do housework and cook. As for your marriage, you don’t need to worry about it—I’ll arrange everything. You just have to marry when the time comes.”

Song Yiyi was so shocked by his words she sprang to her feet.

“Who am I marrying? Don’t tell me you want me to marry Cen Bowen! Dad, are you out of your mind? If I get married, I’ll choose myself. You don’t get to decide.”

“I’m your father! How dare you talk back to me! Even if it’s not the Cen family—what about your attitude today when that old lady in the courtyard tried to introduce you to someone?”

She hadn’t expected him to know about that too. She frowned. “Even if you are my father, that’s not okay. Were you following me? Are you some kind of Qing Dynasty relic? It’s modern ti—”

Slap!

The blow came out of nowhere, nearly knocking Song Yiyi off her feet.

Gu Chengze stood up and helped her to her feet, then smoothly pulled her behind him. His tone was cold: “Dad, what are you doing?”

Cai Mengjun also stood up anxiously. “Old Song, how can you hit the child? Marriage isn’t something you can rush—whatever it is, talk it out slowly.”

Song Minghui himself looked utterly shocked. It was as if he had frightened himself by hitting her. He stared blankly at Song Yiyi, unable to recover for a long time.

Peeking out from behind Gu Chengze, Song Yiyi said, “Don’t pretend—you did hit me! Song Minghui, don’t force me to hate you!”

After saying that, she hugged the enamel basin and ran out of the main hall.

Gu Chengze glanced at Cai Mengjun. She gave him a look, and he quickly strode out after her.

The main hall was left with only Cai Mengjun and Song Minghui.

Cai Mengjun pulled him down to sit on the bench. “Old Song, you were too worked up—you scared Yiyi.”

Song Minghui’s eyes were vacant as he stared at his own hand in disbelief. After a long while, he murmured, “I… I never thought about hitting her, but she… how could she say something like that? Mengjun, you know I’ve always worried she’d turn out like her mother.”

Cai Mengjun reached out and patted his back in comfort, speaking softly, “I know, but Yiyi is not her. Yiyi was raised by you alone—you know your own child’s nature better than anyone. Old Song, you’re just too tense.”

Song Minghui’s hands trembled. “Lately, this child’s temperament has changed—she’s becoming more and more like her mother. I…”

Cai Mengjun held his hands tightly. “She won’t, Old Song, she won’t.”