Chapter 85 : Comradeship

It was already late when they arrived at the guesthouse in the city.

Gu Fangxun took out the letter of introduction, opened a room, and said to Xu Fan with a smile, “It’s already late, I won’t keep you here any longer. Go back early, and be careful on the road.”

Xu Fan looked at him and the two children, feeling guilty, said, “What happened? I came all the way here, and I couldn’t even let you stay for a few days.”

Gu Fangxun patted his shoulder and said, “We are in a hurry this time. I really can’t stay here. I’ll come to see you when I am free later.”

Xu Fan sighed, took out 20 yuan from his pocket, and handed it to Jiang Lichen. “I wanted to buy some food for the children, but the supply and marketing cooperative is closed at night. You can buy them some buns tomorrow morning.”

Gu Fangxun quickly stopped him, “What are you doing? I have money with me.”

“This is a little gift from me for the child.” Xu Fan pushed his hand away and insisted on stuffing the money into Jiang Lichen’s hand.

Gu Fangxun said helplessly, “If I had known you were like this, I wouldn’t have come.”

Seeing that the little girl in his arms had fallen asleep, Xu Fan picked up the two large bags on the ground and said, “Let’s go. I’ll take you to your room and then go back.”

He brought his bag to the room, went to get them some hot water, talked to Gu Fangxun for a while, and then left reluctantly.

Gu Fangxun walked him to the door and said, “Oh, I forgot to tell you that after completing this mission, I will be transferred to the Northwest Military Region. Don’t write to Beijing anymore. I’ll give you the new address after I settle down.”

Xu Fan immediately stopped and asked in surprise, “Why was you transferred there?”

“It’s an order from above.” Gu Fangxun didn’t say much and helped him open the door. “It’s getting late. Go back quickly. Your elder brother is still waiting downstairs.”

“Well, write to me when you’re settled.”

“Okay.” Gu Fangxun looked at his back, feeling a little reluctant.

This is the brother who had been through thick and thin with him. After this separation, they may never see each other again.

Thinking of the frail little girl at home, he couldn’t help but remind him.

“Xu Fan, go back and take care of your daughter. She looks very frail.”

Xu Fan paused for a moment. He was busy with team matters all day long and rarely took care of family matters.

After hearing his brother say this, He realized that his daughter is indeed not as healthy as his son.

Thinking of Zhang Damei’s usual behavior, he gritted his teeth in anger. He turned around and said seriously, “I know.”

When Xu Gui saw his brother coming out of the guesthouse, he led an ox cart to meet him.

Xu Fan looked back at the guesthouse and got on the ox cart. “Brother, let’s go.”

“Okay.” Xu Gui whipped the bull, and the ox cart slowly moved forward.

He asked, “Xu Fan, is this young man the comrade you often mention?”

Xu Fan nodded, “Yes, it’s him. We have a very good relationship. He even saved my life when I was on a mission.”

Xu Gui said, “Why don’t you let him stay for a few days? He came so far to see you, why do you put him in a guesthouse?”

“Yes, but he didn’t. He said he had a mission and had to catch a train early tomorrow morning.”

“What kind of mission are you on with two children and so much luggage? I think they are here to see you.” Xu Gui glanced at him and said disapprovingly, “At least you should let them stay at your home for a night.”

Xu Fan frowned slightly after hearing what his elder brother said. The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong.

If Gu Fangxun was passing by here on a mission, it would make sense for him to come and see him.

But how could it be possible for them to bring their nephews and nieces, along with so many bags, to his house, and have to take several buses to get here?

How could this be a convenient trip? he clearly came here specifically to see him.

He remembered what he said just now about being transferred to the Northwest Military Region, and what his little nephew said when he just came out of his house.

Xu Fan cursed in his heart and immediately asked his brother to go back to the guesthouse.

Gu Fangxun had just wiped the faces and washed the feet of his nephew and niece. When he was carrying the dirty water out to pour it out, he saw Xu Fan running towards him.

He hurriedly asked, “Why are you back again?”

Xu Fan took a breath, pulled him into the room, and asked anxiously, “Gu Fangxun, is there something wrong in your family?”

Gu Fangxun paused, smiled, and shook his head. “No, why do you ask?”

He was no longer planning to give the children to Xu Fan to raise, so he wasn’t planning to tell him about this matter. It would be of no benefit to him, and it was meaningless.

It’s not that he didn’t trust his brother, but that he didn’t trust his wife.

Xu Fan is a man, after all, and the captain of the team. He can’t even take care of his own daughter, let alone foster children.

Xu Fan stared at him for a while and said very seriously, “Gu Fangxun, if you need my help, just ask. No matter what it is, I will do my best to help you.”

“It’s really okay. I just stopped by to see you this time.”

Seeing the guilt on his face, Gu Fangxun revealed some things to him, both true and false.

“Something happened at my brother-in-law’s house, but it wasn’t serious. My sister asked me to send the two children to live with my eldest brother for a while. I happened to be here to do some work, so I came over to see you.”

Then he smiled and joked, “If I had known you had so many thoughts, I wouldn’t have come.”

Xu Fan breathed a sigh of relief, as long as nothing serious had happened. He asked again, “You’ve been promoted to company commander in the Beijing Military Region. Why were you transferred to the Northwest Military Region this time?”

Gu Fangxun made up an excuse. “My father wanted me to go out for a few years to train myself, as he said that Beijing has been very unstable in the past two years.”

Xu Fan nodded and sighed, “Let alone Beijing, even our countryside isn’t peaceful. The commander asked you to stay in the Northwest Military Region for a few years. Although it’s not as good as the Beijing Military Region, it doesn’t have so many problems.”

He glanced at the two children on the kang and said, “I’m leaving now. Come back tomorrow morning, and I’ll take you to the city to catch the train.”

“No, really. I’ll catch the earliest bus tomorrow. You don’t have to run back and forth.” Gu Fangxun quickly rejected his kindness.

Xu Fan waved his hand and said, “Wait for me tomorrow, otherwise we won’t be brothers anymore.”

Gu Fangxun saw him off, closed the door, and then lay down on the kang tiredly.

He had already excluded Xu Fan from his options, so where should he send the two children to foster care?

Where can he find such a suitable and reliable family in such a short time?

Gu Fangxun sighed heavily and suddenly thought of one of his father’s subordinates.

Baishan River at Nanping Machinery Factory in Wenshan City, not far from here.

When he and his brother-in-law went to Pingnan County last year, he had asked him to help arrange for his sister and brother-in-law’s savior to work as a driver in a machinery factory.

Bai Shanhe had followed his father for many years and was a very trustworthy person. If his right leg hadn’t been seriously injured, he would not have retired.

His current job was also arranged for him by his father, and Gu Fangxun planned to go to Nanping County to find him.

He would see if Bai Shanhe could help find a reliable family to adopt Chenchen and Anan.

If he really couldn’t find a suitable family, he would take the two children to the Northwest Military Region.

Then he’d see if he could rent a house there and hire someone to take care of them.

In fact, his brother-in-law’s cousin also worked in the Nanping County Armed Forces Department and was a reliable person.

But because the two families were so close, the news of his sister and brother-in-law being arrested would sooner or later spread here.

So, the two children couldn’t be left in their home.

They lived in the county party committee’s staff quarters, and if two more children suddenly appeared, others would know what was going on.

By then, not only would the two children be lost, but the whole family would also be implicated.