Chapter 40: Preparations Before Joining the Army

The jeep circled around Huaihua Village and returned to the Gu family home, where everyone was already waiting. The atmosphere was especially lively.

Sheng Zexi held Gu Jianing’s hand as they got out of the car. In front of both sets of elders and beneath the portrait of the leader, they made their vows together, promising to walk hand in hand through life as revolutionary partners.

“Wonderful!” With a loud cheer, everyone burst into enthusiastic applause.

As dish after dish was brought to the table, the banquet began.

The villagers attending the wedding banquet knew that Sheng Zexi and the Gu family valued Gu Jianing highly, but they hadn’t expected just how much. Each table had ten dishes, symbolizing perfection and completeness, with five meat dishes and five vegetarian ones.

And those meat dishes weren’t just for show—there was a generous amount of real, visible meat.

“What a lavish spread! This must have cost a fortune,” someone marveled.

“Who cares how much it cost? As long as we get to eat our fill.”

“That’s right, today we’re going to eat until we’re full.”

Lu Weixian was also stunned by the feast, especially when he saw the meat dishes—he nearly started drooling.

He was truly grateful to have been invited by the Gu family.

Lu Weixian had been sent down to the countryside for over two years now. He didn’t have a good relationship with his family back in the city—otherwise, he wouldn’t have been sent down in the first place. It was as if his city relatives pretended he didn’t exist; they never sent him anything. Still young, Lu Weixian had been living in hardship for over two years, barely eating any meat all year round.

As a result, he was still quite thin.

So, seeing a table full of food and meat, how could he not be overjoyed?

When he finally tasted the meat, he was almost moved to tears.

Gu Jianing was also led by Sheng Zexi to sit down and join the banquet—after all, it was their wedding feast, so of course they had to be present.

Traditionally, the bride wouldn’t participate in the banquet and would stay in the bridal chamber. That’s how it was when Wen Zhuqing married into the Bao family not long ago.

But the Gu family and Sheng Zexi couldn’t bear for Gu Jianing to go hungry. Besides, this was a new society, not the old feudal days.

This time, the villagers of Huaihua Village ate to their hearts’ content.

When Lu Weixian and another female educated youth who had also been invited returned to the educated youth spot, they were met with plenty of jealous looks and sour remarks.

But neither of them cared much.

After living under the same roof for so long, they already knew what kind of people their companions were.

There was no need to go out of their way to please anyone.

No matter what others said, as long as they lived their own lives well, that was enough. Let others talk as they pleased.

After finishing her wedding banquet, Gu Jianing returned to the bridal chamber to rest.

She had been up early and busy all day, and the tension had left her both physically and mentally exhausted. Now that she could finally rest, she fell asleep almost instantly.

When Sheng Zexi came in, he saw his delicate wife sleeping soundly.

He sat gently on the bed, gazing at her peaceful and lovely sleeping face, his features softening with contentment.

He leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on Gu Jianing’s smooth forehead, then carefully tucked her in before leaving.

Gu Jianing slept deeply and didn’t wake up until dinner time.

Gu Jianing was to accompany Sheng Zexi to his post, and they had already bought train tickets for the next day. Thanks to Sheng Zexi’s connections, they had managed to get two sleeper tickets, since the train ride would take three days and two nights—a long journey.

Since the train was leaving early the next morning, they needed to pack their luggage that night.

The Gu family had prepared plenty of things for her. After dinner, Gu Jianing was called into her parents’ room, where they gave her the bride price Sheng Zexi had provided, along with the money and ration coupons they had set aside for her.

Yao Chunhua had also prepared thick, brand-new cotton-padded clothes and quilts.

“You’re heading to the northwest, and it’s the coldest time of year. Remember to wear these cotton clothes and jackets, and don’t think the quilt is too much trouble—you have to bring it,” Yao Chunhua said, her eyes turning red with emotion. She couldn’t bear to part with her daughter, who had never left her side before, and now was heading to the distant, frigid northwest.

“Mom, I know,” Gu Jianing said, stepping forward to hug her mother. Under her father’s eager gaze, she went over and hugged him too.

These clothes and quilts had all been made by her mother, day and night, after learning about her marriage. How could she possibly think they were a burden?

Even if they were heavy, it was a sweet burden.

“When you get there, Sheng is the one you can rely on. If you run into any problems, the two of you need to talk things over—don’t be stubborn, understand?” her father advised earnestly.

“If you need anything, call or write home. We’ll send it to you.”

“Yes, Dad, Mom, I know.”

When she left her parents’ room, her brothers and sisters-in-law also gave her gifts.

Her eldest sister-in-law gave her a thick, hand-knitted red scarf. When Gu Jianing tried it on, it fit perfectly, was very warm, and made her skin look even fairer and more delicate.

Her eldest brother gave her a stack of ration coupons she might need in the northwest.

“Big Sister-in-law, today is your last day of treatment. Soon you’ll be able to conceive. I hope that not long after I arrive in the northwest, I’ll hear good news from you and Big Brother,” Gu Jianing said.

“Thank you, thank you! I’ll take your good wishes,” Yang Manman replied with a bright smile.

She was well aware of the changes in her body after her sister-in-law’s treatment. She already had an answer in her heart, but hearing her sister-in-law, a real doctor, say it so confidently made her even more hopeful.

Her sister-in-law really was skilled.

Perhaps before long, she and her husband would welcome their own child.

Her second brother and sister-in-law gave her a generous supply of cured meats, all hunted by her brother in the mountains recently.

“I heard that in the northwest, when it snows heavily, the mountains get cut off and food becomes scarce. These are all cured and will keep for a long time.”

“Take them all. If it’s not enough, let me know.”

“Second Brother, this is too much. Save some for Second Sister-in-law—she just had a baby and needs to recover.”

Second sister-in-law Su Miao shook her head. “Ningning, just take them. If I need more, your brother can always get some. It’s easier for us here, but it’ll be harder for you there.”

Unable to refuse, Gu Jianing accepted the gift.

As for her third brother, Gu Yunzhou, he handed her a small box. When she opened it in her room, she found it was filled with beautiful jade jewelry, many of which were of excellent quality and very pretty.

Gu Jianing couldn’t help but laugh and cry—she knew her third brother had collected them especially for her because he knew she liked pretty things.

These items might not be worth much now, but in the future, they’d be quite valuable.

All the gifts from her brothers and sisters-in-law were thoughtful and precious.

Gu Jianing’s eyes grew hot with emotion—she was deeply moved."