Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Who Dares Insult My Wife? Mr. Gu Lays Down the Law: Get a Telephone!

The courtyard gate creaked open with a “zi ya”.

Lin Wan Yi was just humming a little tune as she hung a washed shirt on the clothesline when she saw Gu Yanshen return.

His military uniform was neatly pressed, his steps steady, yet on that handsome face of his, a layer of frost seemed to have formed, cold enough to scrape off ice shards.

Lin Wan Yi just wanted to speak when the voices of Sister in law Li and Sister in law Qian from next door floated over in a harmonious duet, as if they had planned it.

“Oh my, Mr. Gu is back!” Sister in law Qian’s face, laced with a fake smile, was harsh enough to pierce ears.

Li immediately chimed in, her gaze like a knife across Lin Wan Yi, her voice raised by a full octave to ensure the entire courtyard could hear: “Isn’t that so, Mr. Gu is really hard-working — toiling for the country in the army during the day, and at night… still has to serve the delicate daughter of a capitalist at home.”

The words “daughter of a capitalist” were especially emphasized by her.

The army wives in the courtyard, who were at the well washing vegetables and chatting, slowed their hands, their ears pricking up like radars.

Sister in law Qian, seeing she had garnered enough attention, picked up the momentum with sour envy that tasted like a decade-old jar of vinegar had been spilled: “Isn’t that right, such undesirables are truly precious. Look at that frail figure, like it’s made of paper, ready to fall over at the slightest breeze. Who knows if she can endure the hardships here, or will she get sick every other day, troubling our Mr. Gu to take care of her.”

“A sickly body is a minor issue!” Li slapped her thigh, her voice growing louder, clearly intended for Gu Yanshen to hear, “What’s important is, a woman must be able to bear children! We in the military want a stable home front and a future generation! With her seductive looks, she doesn’t seem like someone who could bear sons! What if she occupies a spot and doesn’t lay any eggs, delaying our Mr. Gu’s lineage!”

Each word more venomous, each line more piercing to the soul.

“Seductress”, “doesn’t lay eggs”, these words were like a bucket of dirty water thrown over Lin Wan Yi.

Living on the east side, Sister Zhang couldn’t take it anymore, standing up with her vegetable bowl, frowning as she said: “Sister in law Qian, Li, the two of you should say a few less words. Xiao lin just got married, she’s a good person.”

“Good? What’s good about her!” Sister in law Qian immediately aimed her barrage at Sister Zhang, “Sister Zhang, you must’ve been fooled by her looks! Such offspring of capitalists inherently aren’t like us! Getting close to her, you’ll get bad luck!”

Sister Zhang’s face turned red and white in embarrassment, she opened her mouth, then sighed, carrying her bowl back to her house.

In the courtyard, no one dared to make a sound anymore.

The air seemed to freeze.

Gu Yanshen’s steps had long stopped.

He didn’t look at the two gossipy women, but his sharp eyes were fixed on his house door, a storm brewing underneath.

The air pressure around him was frighteningly low, his clenched fists making cracking sounds with the force.

A battle-seasoned aura mixed with a metallic tang rose from him, dropping the temperature several degrees in the courtyard.

Sister in law Qian and Li were startled by his presence, their necks shrinking, but the words had been said, and they had to stand awkwardly, holding their chests with false bravado.

Just as Gu Yanshen was about to erupt and tear these two women apart —

The tightly closed wooden door was gently pushed open from inside, revealing a crack.

Lin Wan Yi peered out half of her body.

She didn’t look at Sister in law Qian and Li, her water-like eyes gazed directly at Gu Yanshen, without a trace of anger on her face, instead blooming into a smile brighter and more radiant than sunlight.

She winked playfully at him, then lightly shook her head with a small movement.

Her eyes seemed to say: Don’t be angry, watch me. Pay attention to them and you’ve lost.

The volcano of emotions within Gu Yanshen, about to erupt, was suddenly calmed by a clear, refreshing spring.

His tense jawline relaxed slightly.

He withdrew his gaze, no longer looking at anyone in the courtyard, and walked straight into the house with long strides.

“Bang!”

The door slammed shut behind him.

Sister in law Qian and Li exchanged a glance, both faces slightly embarrassed, and went back to their own homes disgruntledly.

Inside the house.

Gu Yanshen took off his military hat without a word, hanging it on the wall.

His chest heaved violently, clearly still suppressing a swirling anger.

A strong aroma of dishes, mixed with a faint fruit fragrance, entered his nostrils, easing his taut nerves somewhat.

Following the scent, he saw Lin Wan Yi standing at the stove, wearing an apron, humming an off-key tune, deftly slicing a plate of red, juicy fruit.

It was a fruit he had never seen before, dripping with bright red juice, almost glowing in the dim kitchen.

Her profile, under the glow of the setting sun, was as white as the finest mutton fat jade, her cheeks rosy and full, where was there a trace of the “frail like a gust away from falling” look?

The “seductress” from those women’s mouths was at this moment managing the household, warm and homely.

His gaze unintentionally fell on the clothes hanging in the room.

It was a sky-blue shirt made of synthetic fiber, he remembered, an old item she brought from home, colors long faded.

But now, the shirt’s color was as bright as new, softly glowing in the room.

This magical shirt, the mysterious disappearance of wounds on his hand, and the enchanting fragrance on her body…

Gu Yanshen’s heart thudded heavily.

The stark contrast made the venomous words of Sister in law Qian and Li seem pale and laughable.

The anger in his heart was gradually replaced by an unfamiliar, burning emotion.

It was tenderness, guilt, and an unprecedented determination to protect her under his wings.

His wife, he had not yet borne to say a harsh word, why should she be treated so poorly by outsiders?

The dinner was soon on the table.

A platter of stir-fried greens, vibrant and dripping, a golden, fragrant plate of eggs, and on a bowl of white rice, a few slices of cut red fruit were laid.

Lin Wan Yi served the rice, placing it before him, while she propped her chin up, smiling brightly at him.

“What’s wrong? Came back with that long face, who made our Mr. Gu angry?” She feigned ignorance, her voice soft and teasing.

Gu Yanshen didn’t speak, lifting the bowl, silently eating a mouthful of rice.

The rice infused with a fruity aroma, sweet and refreshing, seemed to flow warmly through his body, dispelling much of the gloom in his heart.

“Are you upset about what Sister in law Qian said?” Lin Wan Yi leaned closer, her bright eyes blinking, “Oh, they’re just jealous I’m pretty and married to such a hero like you, their sour words won’t harm me.”

Her carefree attitude only made Gu Yanshen feel more congested in his chest.

The more she showed she didn’t care, the more it proved she was swallowing all the grievances herself, not wanting him to worry.

Gu Yanshen placed the bowl and chopsticks down heavily.

“Pa!” The sound rang sharply in the quiet room, startling Lin Wan Yi.

She looked at his dark face, thinking he was really about to lose his temper.

The man lifted his head, his eyes fervently fixed on her, speaking each word distinctly and precisely.

“Tomorrow,” he paused, his voice deep and commanding, with an undeniable resolution, “I will file a report at the regiment.”

Lin Wan Yi was stunned: “File a report? What report?”

Gu Yanshen looked at her and uttered the rest of the sentence.

“To have a telephone installed at our house.”

Lin Wan Yi was completely taken aback.

In this era, what a rare thing is a private telephone? In the entire military family quarters, probably only the commander and political commissar’s families have one!

He… he wants to pull strings for her?

Seeing her shocked expression, the pent-up frustration in Gu Yanshen’s chest finally found an outlet, and he continued, using that reassuringly steady voice:

“From now on, if there’s anything, they can call me directly.”

He paused, his sharp gaze seeming to penetrate the walls, landing in the adjacent courtyard.

“I don’t want flies buzzing in my courtyard.”

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