Chapter 33

This roar startled Lin Qingping so much that she jumped back two steps.

“Lin Qingping!” Gu Juncheng was at a loss for words. He nodded repeatedly, pacing in circles around the room. “You’re really something! So clever, huh!”

“I…”

“Don’t talk!” Gu Juncheng shouted. “What do you think about all day long, huh? What’s in that head of yours?”

“Jun… Jun… Juncheng…”  

It was all her fault. She had said something that hurt his pride… What now? How could she fix this?

“Juncheng… it’s nothing serious, really. If you’re that concerned, we can take time to adjust things… Really, really, I know a traditional Chinese doctor. He’s amazing…”  

She truly did know an old Chinese medicine doctor, although that was something from many years later. But still, they could take the initiative now, go meet him ahead of time! She thought it was a good idea, and her eyes lit up with hope. “Next time you’re on leave, we can go…”

“Lin Qingping!”  

She hadn’t even finished her sentence before his furious voice cut her off.

“Stand in the corner!”

Lin Qingping: …Alright, alright. I’ll stand, I’ll stand…

She obediently walked to the corner, standing just like Zhiyuan had earlier. Still unwilling to give up, she turned her head and said: “Juncheng…”

“Start reciting! Don’t stop unless I say so!”

Lin Qingping: …

“Re… Recite what?” Lin Qingping was completely confused.

“Whatever you want! If I don’t say stop, you don’t stop!” Gu Juncheng barked, still pacing back and forth in the room.

Lin Qingping racked her brain. She recited everything from The Pavilion of Prince Teng to Ballad of Mulan, An Humble Room, and even Memorial on Sending Out the Troops…

All in all, it was a good thing she had helped her nephew with schoolwork in her past life and developed an interest in classical literature herself. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to recall even a few lines at a moment like this.

That night, Lin Qingping recited from the corner of the room to the chair, then from the chair to the bed. Even when it was time to sleep, she was still muttering: “As I gaze upon the vastness of heaven and earth, I am overwhelmed with sorrow and tears fall…”  

Half-asleep, she vaguely heard someone knocking on the door, looking for Gu Juncheng. Startled awake, she instinctively blurted out loudly: “In such a time of spring’s harmony and radiant scenery, the waves remain calm…”  

She just kept reciting—whether the lines were mixed up or not, how would she know? She was completely dazed.

The next morning, she trudged wearily to the canteen for breakfast. There, she ran into Sister-in-law Lei Sufang and a few other wives. Sister-in-law Lei Sufang greeted her with a smile, then leaned in mysteriously and asked: “Hey, Little Lin, have you read a lot of books?”

Lin Qingping had no idea why Sister-in-law Lei Sufang asked that. “I studied… in the village school.”

“No wonder…” Lei Sufang laughed. “Our Old Chen said you were reciting poetry last night.”

Lin Qingping had been reciting all night, and her brain was still foggy. Hearing this, she didn’t even think it through and shook her head with deep exasperation. “Don’t mention it. I recited books all night long—my head’s about to explode!”

“Why though?” Lei Sufang found it amusing. “You and Commander Gu… you two live together and you’re this into studying?”

Forgive her for being behind the times—being stationed in different places, finally reunited, and they spent the time… studying? That level of devotion, even she and Old Chen couldn’t compare.

“I said something wrong and got punished…” Lin Qingping said, then suddenly realized she shouldn’t keep talking.

Lei Sufang burst into laughter. “Little Lin, even getting punished is different when you’re an educated one!”

Lin Qingping was speechless. Unable to resist her curiosity, she asked Lei Sufang: “And what about you? Does Old Chen punish you?”

“Well… um… hehehe…” Lei Sufang didn’t say any more and just laughed.

Gu Juncheng felt something was off the entire day. Old Chen kept looking at him with a half-smiling expression, and a few of the other s seemed to be struggling to hold back laughter. Even Xiao Tian seemed to be acting strangely.

“Xiao Tian!” After the day’s training ended, Gu Juncheng called Xiao Tian over. “What’s going on?”

Xiao Tian didn’t dare look the commander in the eye. “It’s nothing, really!”

“Look at me and say that.”

Xiao Tian’s eyes widened, but they were unfocused. “It’s nothing, really nothing.” His tone was firm, full of resolve.

“Alright.” Gu Juncheng didn’t press him further and let him go.

On his way back, Gu Juncheng finally figured it out—his good , Old Shi, came up with a grin plastered on his face.

The moment Gu Juncheng saw that expression, he knew it was nothing good, so he decided not to pay attention to him. However, Old Shi wasn’t one to let it go if Gu Juncheng ignored him. If Gu Juncheng didn’t respond, Old Shi would just raise his voice.

And sure enough, Old Shi’s loud voice rang out: “Commander Gu! You and the sister-in-law…”

As soon as the words “sister-in-law” left his mouth, Gu Juncheng knew there was no avoiding it. He was quick to act—before Old Shi could say anything else, he covered his mouth.

Old Shi couldn’t stop laughing, his crow’s feet crinkling with amusement under Gu Juncheng’s “iron hand.”

“You can stop now!” Gu Juncheng released his grip.

How could Old Shi stop? He spoke in a quieter voice: “What’s the big deal? Isn’t it a good thing? You and the sister-in-law stayed up all night studying, improving your cultural knowledge… It’s already spread everywhere. It’s such a good thing, hahahaha!”

If Old Shi hadn’t added the final “hahaha.” Gu Juncheng might have let it go. But the moment that laugh came out, Gu Juncheng immediately lunged for him. Old Shi, experienced as he was, quickly darted away. As he ran, his laughter echoed through the air: “Hahahaha…”

When Gu Juncheng returned, he saw Sister Lin Qingping sitting there, writing in a notebook. The moment he entered, she quickly covered it up.

“What are you writing?” he asked.

She kept the notebook covered. “I’m not telling you.”

Gu Juncheng didn’t press the issue. He took a towel and went to wash his face. By the time he returned, she had already come over to talk to him.

“Juncheng, I ran into Lei Sufang at the canteen today. She said that in two days, her husband, Old Chen, is inviting us over to their house for dinner. Later, some of the other sisters said we should all go, and everyone will bring two dishes. What do you think about me making two types of dim sum?”

Gu Juncheng already knew about this; Old Chen had told him earlier that day.

“You can make whatever you like. Tomorrow, I’m off. I can go out with you and shop for anything you might need.”

“Really?” Lin Qingping was overjoyed. “You really can go with me?”

“Are you that happy?” Gu Juncheng looked at her.

Of course she was happy!

Then, Lin Qingping went back to writing in her notebook. Gu Juncheng glanced over and saw she was writing down the ingredients she would need for the desserts.

“What’s this?” Gu Juncheng asked.

Lin Qingping felt his gaze carried a different meaning. “Nothing.”

Lin Qingping furrowed her brows, clearly sensing something was off. “What do you think I’m writing?”

“I thought…” Gu Juncheng dragged out the words: “you were memorizing your texts! Quite diligent.”

Lin Qingping: … Fine, since you’re going to “shop” with me tomorrow, I won’t hold it against you!

The next day, Gu Juncheng changed into casual clothes and went out with her.