Chapter 307: “left Brain Vs. Right Brain”
“Sleep?” Commander Gu glanced at the bunk bed and lowered his voice.
Lin Zhao tucked the blankets around the two sons and replied in a whisper, “Just fell asleep. Let’s go out and talk.”
The husband and wife left the room.
They sat in the yard talking.
“What’s the situation?” Lin Zhao asked first.
Commander Gu said concisely, “The telegram has been sent back. Whether to send Xiao Shitou to the provincial capital depends on Eldest Sister and Brother-in-law’s opinion.”
“What’s your opinion?”
Commander Gu glanced at his wife and said, “It’s a good opportunity. Sports may not be promising now, but in the long run, it might be the best path for Xiao Shitou.”
He knew his nephew well—he wasn’t the studying type, introverted and not outgoing. The best outcome would be finding him a job at home, earning a steady salary, marrying, having kids, and living a plain life.
Going with the coach to the provincial capital might be a broad avenue.
Lin Zhao nodded. “I think so too.”
It depends on whether Eldest Sister and Brother-in-law are willing to let the child go.
“Never mind, no guessing. We’ll know when we get back.”
Hearing this, Commander Gu couldn’t smile.
He opened his arms and hugged Lin Zhao, burying his face in her shoulder hollow.
Lin Zhao’s eyes curved. “Can’t bear for me to go back?”
“Right, can’t bear it.” Commander Gu didn’t deny it.
“When you become Commander Gu from Battalion Commander Gu, I’ll bring the children to accompany the army…”
Before Lin Zhao finished, Commander Gu released his arms. His dark eyes locked on her, with expectation hidden between his brows. “You mean it?”
“Yeah, I mean it.” Lin Zhao smiled brightly.
Commander Gu’s thoughts raced, looking at his wife expectantly. “Next year?”
“Whenever, I’ll follow your arrangement. Second half of the year works too. Aren’t you unwilling?” Lin Zhao looked at him, eyes full of laughter.
The man thought to himself it wasn’t that he was unwilling—he wished his wife and sons wouldn’t leave, staying by his side forever.
He hurriedly explained, “How could I be unwilling…”
Before the man could explain, Lin Zhao raised her hand to cover his mouth, her voice tinged with laughter. “I’m joking. How could I not know you? You’d love for me to stay just like this, and even have the family send Qian Bao and Yao Bao over.”
Commander Gu nodded. “Yes, that’s exactly what I think. This idea has been in my mind for days.”
Every night when his wife lay on his chest asleep, this thought would arise in his heart.
The passionate little person righteously: Your wife is already here, why send her back to her hometown? There’s a place to live, nothing missing at home. Keep her—do you want to live in the dormitory again, like a monk?!
The rational little person waving a flag: Be rational! You’re about to go for training. Do you have time to care for wife and kids?! You have four children, all still young, needing care for eating, drinking, and everything. No close family in the family courtyard—do you want your wife to care for four kids alone?! If you’re not afraid of her resenting you, go ahead and let them come…
The two sides of the brain battled, with rationality always winning.
At home, there were people to help with the four kids, so Zhaozhao had time to breathe. If she came to accompany the army, she’d have to care for them all alone. Just thinking about it made Commander Gu want to retreat.
“Wife, when you come to accompany the army, we’ll find someone to help care for the home.” Commander Gu thought of the Ning Family situation and felt it was a method.
He meant hiring someone with money to cook and wash clothes.
Lin Zhao understood and hesitated. “Doesn’t that break the rules? If reported, it would affect you. Maybe forget it.”
“Find someone reliable.” Commander Gu felt it more feasible the more he said. “If others ask, say it’s family.”
He and Lin Zhao discussed it, seeking his wife’s opinion.
“How about I ask Mom to see if she has a good candidate? Need someone diligent, honest, and clean-loving. Can’t be unclean—you wouldn’t feel comfortable.”
Commander Gu really thought it workable. After speaking, he looked at Lin Zhao to see if she had other concerns.
The man was trying hard to relieve his own pressure—how could Lin Zhao pour cold water? She was already half-agreeing in her heart.
“Can I still go to work when I come to accompany the army?”
“Of course.” Commander Gu never thought his wife had to stay home caring for their daily life, washing clothes, cooking. Home was for the whole family—whoever had time could do it. His wife wasn’t the family’s long-term laborer.
“What job do you want? I’ll keep an eye out ahead of time.”
Lin Zhao’s eyes lit up, amusedly looking at him. “Choices available?”
“At least it has to satisfy you.” Commander Gu said.
“Then I want to do propaganda work.”
“Still like writing and drawing, huh? Arrange it.” Commander Gu’s voice was gentle.
“I’m already looking forward to it now.” Lin Zhao’s eyes were full of smiles.
As the couple talked, Zhang Ping appeared at the door, carrying a vegetable basket with all kinds of fresh vegetables.
“Not disturbing you?” Zhang Ping glanced at the clingy couple, her smile teasing.
Lin Zhao stood to greet her. “No, Sister-in-law Ping, come in.”
Commander Gu poured water for the guest and went into the children’s room.
“You came and brought vegetables too? We still have some at home.” Lin Zhao took out peanuts and candy.
“You haven’t even cleared a vegetable patch. All veggies have to be bought. I brought these—at least a few meals.” Zhang Ping said warmly.
“Then thanks, Sister-in-law.” Lin Zhao saw her sincerity, didn’t refuse, thinking to give her a pack of mung bean cakes later as return gift for Sister-in-law Ping’s kids.
“No need to thank me—I should thank you.” Zhang Ping’s face was full of smiles, like a heavy burden lifted.
“Thank me? For what?” Lin Zhao was puzzled.
Zhang Ping drank some water, feeling sweetness spread in her mouth, eyes brightening, impression of the Gu Family even better.
She set down the bowl, sobering her smile, seriously saying, “How not thank you? If not for you…I don’t know how long Comrade Bai would’ve rampaged in the family courtyard! You exposed her true face, made her leave the military region, vented anger for my stinky butt, avenged us—I even wanted stinky butt to recognize you as godmother!”
She was just saying the last part—Lin Meizi already had sons, big-hearted and smart. What would recognizing her son mean? Besides, recognizing godkin wasn’t simple. Clinging without measure wasn’t thanks—it was repaying kindness with enmity!
“Comrade Bai left the military region?” Lin Zhao’s eyes showed surprise.
Did the military region resolve the troublemaker so quickly?
Decisive enough.
“Yes, Bai Taohua is gone!” Zhang Ping smiled brightly, mood exceptionally refreshed. “She didn’t want to go, tried that cry, make scene, threaten suicide routine, got held back. Director Qian warned her hard, then had them sent away without delay.”
What she didn’t say was Bai Taohua dragging Lin Zhao in, cursing Lin Meizi for meddling, her two daughters saying filthy things too.
It brought them no benefit, only fueled Director Qian’s anger more, revoking all favors to Bai Taohua.
In future, Bai Taohua couldn’t get any military region benefits.
“She wasn’t upright—someone else would’ve done it sooner or later. No need to thank me, Sister-in-law. She targeted me, I’m not a soft persimmon, had to fight back. Her bad luck—she angered the leaders, leading to being ordered out. Freezing three feet isn’t one day’s cold. Everyone saw her deeds. Not settling with her was probably for the hero’s face. But such favors wear out. That ending was her own fault.”
No way!
Zhang Ping shook her head inwardly.
She heard Battalion Commander Gu and Doctor Meng took turns finding leaders, demanding punishment for those disrupting unity and harmony.
Without them, Bai Taohua wouldn’t have left so fast.
What Zhang Ping didn’t know was that besides Commander Gu and Meng Jiusi, there was also Mao Dan’er.
His family had a high-ranking leader, seen daily.
Mao Dan’er told his grandma, Ning Lao Tai immediately said, “Rules shouldn’t be broken. This mess—Xiao Lin is wronged too, just strolling and got cursed. Military region considering hero’s widow must consider other military wives too, or how to convince everyone.”
Mao Dan’er munched meat, adding, “Wanted to destroy military marriage, rotten to the core.”
Leader Ning took it to heart, said nothing at dinner.
Later he had the police officer investigate—indeed Bai Taohua intended to destroy a military marriage, his brows knitting enough to crush a fly.
She’d been a military wife too, should know how hard maintaining a family is—how could she have such immoral thoughts? Heart rotten through!
Leader Ning spoke too.
Pressure layer by layer, so handled so fast.
No one knew these things.
At this moment, Zhang Ping stared at Lin Zhao, silent for a long time.
Finally, “Lin Meizi talks so eloquently, very educated. You’re a top student, right?”
“?” Lin Zhao paused, then said, “Not a top student, just high school graduate.”
“How’s that not top student!” Zhang Ping looked impressed, praising, “High school student! We have few in the family courtyard. No wonder you seem different—truly a cultured person.”
“You’re open-minded, don’t look down on us. Though cultured, not annoying.”
Lin Zhao: “??”
What sin did cultured people commit? Why did it feel like Zhang Ping had issues with them?!
Soon, Zhang Ping gave the answer.
“Meizi, I’m not saying you’re annoying. Some cultured people don’t even glance properly, treat us country folk like trash, look down anytime—very annoying.”
Family courtyard had military wives from countryside and city cultured ones.
Few country ones literate, but hardworking, frugal, good at housework and gardening, loud voices, quick tempers, foul-mouthed plenty; city ones pretty, educated, jobs, good maternal families, naturally proud, looking down on crude, flawed country sisters.
Dislike can’t be hidden—city ones disdain country, country ones ignore city, so courtyard unconsciously split into two factions.
Lin Zhao: “…Sister-in-law means the family courtyard sisters?”
“You’ll know when you see more.” Zhang Ping didn’t elaborate, remembering Lin Zhao was high school and salesperson, likely pulled over, face changing slightly.
She hurriedly said, “Lin Meizi, if Fang Family badmouths me, tells you stay away, don’t listen.”
“Who’s Fang Family?” Lin Zhao asked.
“Lin Meizi, don’t mind who yet—promise me first.” Zhang Ping looked at her.
“I promise.” Lin Zhao smiled. “Mouth short from eating—my whole family ate Sister-in-law’s pumpkins, of course I’m on your side.”
Saying good words cost no money, she was happy to.
Whether deep friendship later depended on values matching.
Zhang Ping beamed. “Lin Meizi rest assured—your family’s pumpkins are on me from now on!”
Lin Zhao’s lips curved into a smile, dimples like flowers.
“That’d be great—we won’t lack pumpkins.”
Zhang Ping looked at her smile, slightly stunned. No wonder they say Commander Gu’s wife doesn’t look like mother of four—that face prettier than Fang Family’s by multiples, clearly from big city, spot on. Lin Meizi was beautiful—some phrase, prettier than flowers.
“Lin Meizi, you and your man are talented man and beautiful woman, perfect match.” Zhang Ping couldn’t hold back. “Commander Gu looks grim reaper, people want to stay far, but at home he’s okay, eyes lively—you’re fortunate.”
Where’d she see that? Commander Gu pouring water for guest…explained a lot. Her man at home hands out, does nothing—if not for earning money, useless.
“???” Grim…reaper?
Did Commander Gu know his family courtyard rep? Would kill her laughing.
Lin Zhao suppressed overflowing laughter. “He’s good. If he weren’t, would I marry him? Bear his children? I’m not dumb.”
She was also nudging this enthusiastic capable sister-in-law—don’t be so toiling and resigned. Men can’t be spoiled, especially macho ones—don’t give too much face.
Who doesn’t contribute at home? Why should full-time housewives grovel in dust!!
So what if sky flips.
This touched Zhang Ping a bit.
She was dumb, knowing man unreliable, still bore him several kids.
But.
Before knowing Bai Taohua, her man wasn’t so unreasonable, okay to her and kids—how’d he change so fast.
Whatever, just live like this—have kids, can’t divorce. Divorced, no guarantee better than now.
Zhang Ping left Gu home, back to hers—man sat expressionless in yard.
“Where’d you go?” he asked coldly.
“Visiting. What, something?” Zhang Ping heard wrong tone, shot back stiffly.
“Nothing then visit less, mind the kids.” Man ordered.
He knew Zhang Ping went to Gu home—he had no goodwill toward Commander Gu and Lin Zhao, felt they shamed him utterly.
“I go if I want.” Zhang Ping unhappily said. “I’m your wife, not prisoner—you mind me.”
Finished, went to kitchen.
Man frowned, tone full of displeasure. “Drove Bai Meizi out family courtyard—you proud? Satisfied? Zhang Ping, how didn’t I see you so petty before? She’s a lone woman with two daughters—me helping how? Why so jealous! If something happens to them, you’re culprit, know? All women—why no gentle understanding…”
Zhang Ping’s eyes chilled, retorting, “I’m petty, no gentle understanding—you want magnanimous, go find! Dumbass!”
