Chapter 154: The Political Commissar’s House Next Door
She just needed a plausible excuse to bring vegetables out of her space. Since they had been allocated a plot of land, it would look odd if she didn’t utilize it.
“Then let’s plant the whole thing,” she decided.
A garden didn’t have to be limited to one crop; they could cultivate a variety of vegetables all in the same plot. Gu Tingxiao nodded, completely on board, and gave her a quick rundown of his plans for the rest of the day.
“I’ll go cut the bamboo first, and then I’ll turn the soil over tonight.” He looked at her tenderly. “Wife, you should stay back and get some good rest at home.”
Wanyan smiled and nodded. If her husband wanted to take the initiative and show off his hard-working side, she certainly wasn’t going to stop him. However, the thought of sitting around an empty house all by herself sounded incredibly dull. She wanted to stretch her legs and join him.
“I want to go up the mountain with you.”
Gu Tingxiao paused. But then he realized she was entirely unfamiliar with the area; leaving her alone in a strange house might leave her feeling unsettled or anxious. He gave a supportive nod. He wasn’t planning on heading deep into the wilderness anyway—just foraging for bamboo along the outer edge of the forest.
Taking his wife along would be a great chance for her to learn her way around. Besides, there was a river running right along the base of the mountain. Many of the local military wives gathered there during the day to wash clothes, rinse vegetables, or try their hand at catching fish.
“Make sure you stay close to me once we get there,” he instructed.
“I will,” Wanyan promised obediently, flashing him a bright smile.
Looking down at her, Gu Tingxiao felt a sudden rush of devotion so profound he felt like he would gladly give his life for her. Compared to that, her simple request to tag along up the mountain was nothing. Anything to keep his little wife in a happy mood.
Wanyan went back inside to change into something practical. She put on a short-sleeved shirt, straight-leg trousers, and a pair of sturdy sneakers she had acquired from a prominent department store back in the city. Her mother had bought them for her as a parting gift before returning to Chengdu. Wanyan usually wore standard cloth shoes or leather flats, but during a trip to the store, her mother had spotted the high-quality athletic shoes and insisted on getting them for her daughter.
Wanyan hadn’t expected her mother to spend so lavishly. Sneakers like these were quite expensive, yet her mother hadn’t blinked an eye, completely setting aside her usual frugal habits. When it came to their children, parents always wanted to provide the absolute best.
Heading into the woods required proper, flexible clothing. The wilderness was full of unpredictable variables, and dressing practically meant she could easily… run away if something went wrong.
Gu Tingxiao, who fully intended to shield her from any danger, was momentarily speechless. My own wife is already planning to abandon me and bolt?
Wanyan followed Gu Tingxiao out the door, making sure to carefully secure both the front and back entrances. The wooden door connecting the living room to the backyard was barred from the inside with a thick beam, and the front door received the same treatment, reinforced by a heavy padlock on the outside. Securing the perimeter ensured no one could wander in while they were away. They repeated the process for the main courtyard gate, fastening it tightly with an inner wooden latch and an exterior lock.
Even though the family compound boasted a very high safety factor, it didn’t mean absolutely everyone was a saint. Vigilance was always necessary. Satisfied, Wanyan slipped the key into her pocket and set off toward the mountain path with Tingxiao.
The courtyard houses in this section were arranged in neat rows facing one another, separated by a wide dirt road. The intersection to the far left marked the main entrance to the neighborhood, while the road to the right led deeper inward, terminating right where the river met the base of the mountain. Their house sat near the back of the row, quite close to the foothills. There were only four other properties between them and the edge of the wilderness, and the house directly next door belonged to the base’s political commissar.
“Captain Gu! Is this your wife?”
The moment they stepped onto the main path, a middle-aged woman emerged from the neighboring courtyard, looking like she was on her way out to run errands. Spotting Gu Tingxiao, she called out a warm, enthusiastic greeting. But as her eyes shifted to the woman standing beside him, she caught her breath in pure astonishment.
Don’t tell me this is the bride Captain Gu went back home to marry! she thought, dazed. Goodness gracious, where on earth did this fairy come from?
“Yes, Auntie,” Gu Tingxiao replied proudly. “This is my wife, Sheng Wanyan.” He then turned slightly to Wanyan. “Honey, this is Political Commissar Xie’s wife.”
Wanyan offered a polite, graceful greeting. “Hello, Aunt Xie. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Gu Tingxiao’s wife.”
Aunt Xie remained momentarily speechless, utterly captivated by the young woman’s beauty. Coming to her senses at the sound of Wanyan’s pleasant voice, she stepped forward, eagerly clasping Wanyan’s hands in her own and launching into friendly conversation.
“Well, now I finally understand why Captain Gu was in such a tearing hurry to head back home!” Aunt Xie teased. If she had a daughter-in-law this breathtakingly beautiful, she would have sprinted back to the city to marry her and bring her home immediately too.
Aunt Xie sighed in admiration. Wanyan felt a light blush touch her cheeks, but she quickly noticed that someone else was far more embarrassed than she was. Gu Tingxiao was standing awkwardly to the side, his gaze shifting all over the place as he studiously avoided looking directly at either of them.
“My dear, since I live right next door, you must come over and chat with me often,” Aunt Xie insisted warmly.
“I would love to,” Wanyan replied smoothly. “Once we have the house a bit more organized, I’ll definitely come by to visit. I just hope you won’t find me too annoying.”
Aunt Xie let out a hearty laugh. Captain Gu had truly married a wonderful girl who knew exactly how to speak to people. Her voice was incredibly sweet, and her manners were impeccable.
“I’ll keep my door open waiting for you then,” Aunt Xie beamed. She glanced down at the sickle in Gu Tingxiao’s hand. “Are you two heading up to the mountain?”
“Yes, we’re going to harvest some bamboo,” Wanyan explained. “We still have quite a few things to get sorted out at home.”
Aunt Xie nodded understandingly, not wanting to take up any more of their time. Decorating a fresh home from scratch required an immense amount of time and physical labor, and she knew Tingxiao’s wedding leave expired after today. Since the newlyweds were still in the absolute sweet peak of their honeymoon phase, she didn’t want to play third wheel. She could always have a long, proper chat with the lovely girl later.
“In that case, you two hurry along. I need to make a run to the supply and marketing cooperative myself.” Aunt Xie started to turn, but suddenly paused, smacking her forehead as she turned back to Wanyan. “Look at my memory! I almost forgot the most important thing.”
“Tomorrow is the day the base procurement truck heads into the city. The logistics department goes in every Monday morning, so you can hitch a ride with them. Would you like to go? They gather right at the main base gates at seven o’clock tomorrow morning.”
Aunt Xie had taken an immense liking to Wanyan the moment she laid eyes on her, and she wanted to offer her this convenience without a second thought. Furthermore, as the political commissar’s wife, she considered it her personal responsibility to welcome new military wives and help them integrate into the community.
Wanyan’s eyes brightpped. She had actually been trying to figure out how to carve out some time over the next couple of days to travel into the city and bring back more supplies. “Yes, I’d love to go. Thank you so much for letting me know, Auntie.”
Aunt Xie smiled brightly, waving off the thanks. “There’s no need to be so polite with me. We’re going to be next-door neighbors from now on, and our husbands are comrades-in-arms. There’s no reason to be distant.”
“As military wives, our husbands are soldiers who frequently have to go away on dangerous missions. It’s up to us to look out for one another and help out whenever someone is in need. That way, our men can focus on their duties without worrying about things back home, and they can truly dedicate themselves to serving the nation.”
Wanyan nodded, her expression earnest. In this era, nothing carried more weight or respect than contributing to the country. She deeply understood the sentiment behind Aunt Xie’s words and wholeheartedly agreed that solidarity among the military wives was essential.
“Alright, I’ll swing by and call for you when it’s time to head out tomorrow morning,” Aunt Xie promised.
“Thank you, Auntie. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With their plans locked in, Aunt Xie hurried off toward the cooperative.
As they resumed their walk, Gu Tingxiao began filling Wanyan in on their neighbors to give her a solid understanding of the community. “Aunt Xie’s husband is the primary political commissar for our unit. They have five children together. Their eldest is twenty-seven, and their youngest is fifteen, currently attending junior high school over in the city.”
Wanyan listened attentively to his explanations, quietly taking notes and making her own social assessments as they walked.
