Chapter 19

As soon as Xu Xiangqian spoke, the noisy office fell silent.

A group of young officers glanced over, and Xu Xiangqian acted as if nothing was wrong. He waved his hand and said, “What are you looking at? Is there something to see? Get back to work. It doesn’t matter how delicious those snacks are, they’re for Deputy Director Gu. No need to stare with your eyes wide open. Look at you all, staring like copper bells. No wonder none of you have wives yet.”

The police station’s single men: “………”

Most of the officers at the county police station were young men in their early twenties. They were used to joking around and goofing off, so they were thick-skinned by now.

Although they had all heard that the Deputy Director was married to a young wife, she was only about twenty years old. She was from the countryside, and girls from the countryside usually worked hard from a young age, carrying pig grass and doing heavy chores. They were often dark-skinned with rough hands and didn’t look particularly pretty.

But Deputy Director Gu’s wife was different. She had a delicate face, fair skin, and looked as beautiful as a movie star. Word spread through the courtyard, and everyone agreed that this was a good match.

The group of young men left, chuckling among themselves.

Xu Xiangqian stayed behind, shamelessly hoping to grab a piece of the white sugar cake.

When the lunchbox was opened, the sweet aroma of rice wafted out. Inside the aluminum box, the white sugar cakes were neatly arranged—wait, these were improved white sugar cakes.

Before being delivered, the sugar cakes must have been reheated. They were still warm and steaming. Inside, there were green beans, salted cured meat, and sweet red beans. They were soft, fragrant, and had a rich, glossy shine from the meat. It was utterly tempting.

Xu Xiangqian sniffed, “Smells so good.”

Gu Shi’an didn’t notice, so Xu Xiangqian grabbed a piece and popped it into his mouth. As soon as the improved sugar cake hit his stomach, his eyes lit up. He immediately praised, “Delicious! So good! Old Gu, can I have another piece?”

As soon as he reached for another, a pair of large hands swiftly took the lunchbox away.

Xu Xiangqian looked up to see Gu Shi’an’s impassive face. Without a change in expression, Gu Shi’an calmly took the lunchbox away, leaving Xu Xiangqian to whine, “Old Gu, don’t take it away! Let me have just one more piece!”

Deputy Director Gu said there was no way he was giving him another piece.

“If you want one, go ask Chunmei to make it.”

Xu Xiangqian: “………”

Never mind. With Chunmei’s magical cooking skills, he’d rather stay hungry than eat another piece.

Grumbling, Xu Xiangqian left. Gu Shi’an looked down at the lunchbox with its white sugar cakes, a smile spreading in his eyes.

*

At three in the afternoon, the pig farm shifted shifts. As usual, Zhang Cuilan returned with a basket of pig offal.

Gu Shidong was outside drawing water. The youngest son, who rarely worked hard, was busy, and Zhang Cuilan was just about to compliment him.

The mischievous little boy ran over, abandoning the bucket. “Mom, what’s in the basket?”

“Pig offal. Put it in the water and hang it in the well. We’ll take it with us tomorrow when we go to the countryside to see your grandmother.”

“Grandma’s already eating at the big canteen. Does Grandma still care about eating pig offal? Why not just go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy some pork belly to make red-braised meat for Grandma?”

“Eat, eat, eat! What do you know? Red-braised meat requires meat coupons! You think money grows on trees? Earning money is tough, just like eating excrement! Would you want to eat it if I gave you some? No? Well, you won’t make money, so just go hungry and drink the northwest wind. Your father spends the whole day in the workshop and can’t even afford a piece of meat. Go inside now!”

Zhang Cuilan scolded her son and sent the little rascal back to the house.

There was some rustling noise from the small side room. Lin Yao listened and wondered if it was rats causing the disturbance.

Rats were a common problem in large courtyards, and if not careful, they could ruin the food.

Lin Yao opened the door to check. If it was rats, she would quickly set up a mouse trap inside.

When the door opened, Gu Shidong in the room was startled. The little rascal was squatting in the room, secretly eating sugar cakes, with white goo all over his face, looking like a white-mustached hero.

Gu Shidong thought his mother had come to check up on him, but seeing it was Lin Yao, he jumped off the bed with his hand on his chest. “Sister-in-law, you scared me to death.”

Lin Yao didn’t hold back and slapped him. “Little rascal, you’re turning things around, aren’t you? Didn’t I leave a plate of sugar cakes for you earlier? Why are you sneaking more?”

And with sugar all over your face!

Gu Shidong yelped, “Sister-in-law, I’m sorry! Please don’t pull my ear off!”

Lin Yao released her grip and glared at him. “Look at your room. It’s a mess! Be careful when your brother comes back. He’ll deal with you.”

The room, once neat and tidy, had been turned into a chaotic mess—half a dog’s den, half a military barracks.

After leaving the army, Gu Shi’an still maintained strict self-discipline. His clothes were folded neatly, his belongings well-organized, and his bedding was arranged perfectly with no creases.

These past few days, Gu Shi’an and his brother had been sleeping on separate bunks. One side had a military-style bed with the sheets laid out crisply, while Gu Shidong’s side was cluttered with books and sunflower seed shells, a mess that was hard to look at.

Only then did Gu Shidong remembered that his brother would be sleeping with him tonight.

He sluggishly started sweeping the floor with a broom, and Lin Yao, bothered by the dust, went back to her own room.

Unexpectedly, after cleaning up his room, Gu Shidong opened the window and poked his head outside.

“Sister-in-law, can I ask you something?”

Lin Yao was rolling yarn in her room. Without looking, she knew he had something on his mind and suspiciously glanced at him. “What do you want to ask?”

Cut the nonsense. She didn’t have time for it.

Gu Shidong bit his lip, his hands twisting awkwardly, and said, “Sister-in-law, do you not like my brother?”

Lin Yao: “What are you talking about?”

Gu Shidong scratched his head and, without hesitation, pulled over a small stool and sat down, speaking all his thoughts aloud. “Sister-in-law, don’t think I’m just a little kid who doesn’t understand anything. Actually, I know everything you adults talk about. When my grandma was still alive, she always said that a good life is something you build together. To live well as a couple, you need to be in sync with each other, always thinking of each other, working together to move forward. She also said that people who are meant to be together are fated to be. You and my brother are really lucky. He treats you differently from others. Before, that Lin Hongna always came to our house, and my brother didn’t even look at her. Since my brother came back, he keeps looking at you and always smiles when he sees you.

Second Sister says it’s like spring hearts fluttering, like an old tree blooming. I don’t quite understand that, but I know my brother has feelings for you, and you treat him well too. You two really like each other. Why not just talk about it openly? Isn’t there a saying that it takes a hundred years of good fortune to share a boat, a thousand years of good fortune to share a pillow? The White Lady and Xu Xian wanted to be together, but Fa Hai separated them. How pitiful. You and my brother are such a good match. Just live a good life together. Unless, Sister-in-law, you don’t like my brother.”

Lin Yao was stared at by Gu Shidong’s bright eyes and really couldn’t say she didn’t like Gu Shi’an.

Well, she was indeed attracted by his good looks.

Gu Shidong was quick-witted and immediately grinned. “Sister-in-law, so you really like my brother! That’s great! What? You don’t want me to tell anyone? Don’t worry, we’re good friends. I’ll keep it a secret for you! You can trust me!”

The little rascal patted his chest, swearing an oath.

Lin Yao finally, with a stiff face, sent Gu Shidong away.

Before leaving, the brat didn’t forget to wink at her. “Sister-in-law, my brother is really great. He’s tall, handsome, has a good job, and a great figure. In the future, when he earns money, he’ll give it all to you. You can spend it however you like. When you have a little nephew, my brother will take care of him—change diapers and wipe his little bottom. He’s really good with kids. He could take care of ten or eight kids.”

Lin Yao: “……”

An old sow giving birth, ten or eight at a time!

Go already!

*

After sending off the little troublemaker, Lin Yao sat at the table, resting her chin in thought for a long time.

In her past life, she wasn’t inexperienced in love. Back in college, from freshman to senior year, she had plenty of handsome young men pursuing her.

Lin Yao was a bit slow to warm up to relationships and also had high standards. She grew up in a loving family with grandparents, parents, all of them in a happy marriage, so she had always been surrounded by love.

She received enough love and could live happily alone without needing much in terms of romantic relationships.

When handsome young men pursued her, she would refuse if she didn’t feel a connection. She just didn’t want to fall too early into the world of romance.

During her four years at university, Lin Yao briefly experienced a relationship. The senior who pursued her came from a good family and had decent character. He was polite and gentlemanly, but their relationship was as bland as plain water—unremarkable and flavorless. Eventually, it ended because of their incompatible personalities.

Lin Yao wasn’t heartbroken at all. In fact, she felt a sense of relief.

Her feelings for her ex were entirely different from the ones she had for Gu Shi’an. She pressed her warm face with her hand and realized she had truly fallen for Gu Shi’an.

Now that she had feelings for him, there was no need to hide them.

That afternoon, Lin Yao decided to take matters into her own hands and wait for the right moment to approach Gu Shi’an and have a serious conversation.