Chapter 56: He Was Teasing Her

Chapter 56: He Was Teasing Her

After breakfast, those who needed to go to the military base went there, and those who needed to go to school went there. Su Zhaozhao was left alone at home again.

She had just finished washing the clothes she had changed out of yesterday when Su Zhaozhao went to the market to buy groceries. On her way back, she stopped by the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.

"Do you have any yarn?"

"None left. It should be restocked tomorrow," the salesperson replied to Su Zhaozhao and then went to help other customers.

Someone asked, "Where's Xiao Qiu? On leave?"

The person was referring to another younger salesperson, who, even when the store was quiet, always worked alongside someone else.

The salesperson responded with a hint of complaint, "Yes, on leave. I don't know when she'll be back, but it's killing me here."

Unable to buy the yarn, Su Zhaozhao left the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives and went to the tailor shop to pick up two sets of ready-made pajamas.

This time, the old tailor made the adult sizes first.

The style of the pajamas was simple—long-sleeved shirts and long pants, with a small V-neck. Instead of buttons, there were two ties, one above the other, sewn onto the front.

As soon as she got them, Su Zhaozhao washed them. With the strong sun at noon, they would be dry by evening.

When Gu Heng returned, he saw the pajamas hanging in the breeze.

At first, he thought they were new clothes, but upon closer inspection, he noticed something was off—no buttons, only four ties fluttering in the wind.

Then he saw that one set was his size, and he understood—the pajamas were ready.

He felt quite excited about it.

He reached out to touch them... they were half-dry.

Seeing this, Su Zhaozhao said, "There's no sun today, so we'll need to hang them out again tomorrow."

Gu Heng looked up at the sky, "It might rain tomorrow."

"You can predict the weather now?"

Gu Heng glanced down at her, "I heard it on the radio."

Su Zhaozhao: So honest.

With something in his pocket, Gu Heng went into the house after talking to Su Zhaozhao. Inside, he opened a drawer and placed the item deep inside. Unconvinced it was hidden well enough, he took it out again, walked to the wardrobe, opened the door, and placed it at the very top.

Satisfied it wouldn't be easily found, he closed the wardrobe door.

Gu Xiang poked his head in from the doorway, "Dad, are you busy?"

Gu Heng took off his military uniform, "Not really, what's up?"

"I have calligraphy class today. My sister and I can't hold the brush properly. Can you teach us?"

"Sure." Gu Heng followed his son to the west room.

After teaching his son and daughter and watching them write a few characters, Gu Heng went to the kitchen to help with dinner.

For dinner, they were making hand-torn noodles. Not needing his help, Su Zhaozhao told him to do his own thing.

Gu Heng didn't move, instead, he pulled a stool over and sat down, watching her cook.

If you keep watching, I won't know where to put my hands and feet!

Su Zhaozhao shouted in her heart!

She picked up the dough that had been resting and tore off two pieces... "Do you want to try?"

Gu Heng stood up, "I'll wash my hands."

After he washed his hands and came back, Su Zhaozhao handed him the dough, "You take over, I'll go borrow some scallions from next door."

Gu Heng: "..."

A few days ago, the seeds they planted in the garden had sprouted tiny buds, including the scallions, though they weren't ready to eat yet.

Su Zhaozhao went out and knocked on the neighbor's door.

Wang Chunhua was also cooking, while Comrade Zhou sat under the eaves at a small table, sipping wine with peanuts.

Knowing she was borrowing scallions, Wang Chunhua bent down and plucked a handful from the garden, "Why say 'borrow'? If you run out, just come over; we have plenty. By the way, how did you make that duck yesterday? It tasted amazing."

Comrade Zhou also praised it and asked Su Zhaozhao to teach Wang Chunhua.

"That's easy." Su Zhaozhao explained the steps.

"You have to use wine?"

"Yes."

Comrade Zhou protectively held his bottle, "But not my wine."

Wang Chunhua rolled her eyes, "I'm not that foolish. Your wine is more expensive than the duck."

The same wine that Comrade Zhou was protecting was also in Su Zhaozhao's house.

...It was indeed expensive, no wonder Gu Heng had that expression when he saw her using wine to cook the duck.

"Where's Laogu? What's he doing at home? Tell him to come over for a drink."

Su Zhaozhao said casually, "I'm cooking at home. I'll ask him when I get back."

With that, she took the scallions and left.

She had no idea how shocked the Zhou couple were by her words.

"Old Gu is cooking?" Commissar Zhou looked utterly incredulous.

Wang Chunhua was also quite surprised; in those days, few men ever entered the kitchen.

If a man did enter the kitchen, his wife would be called a lazy woman, and he would be criticized for failing to uphold the husband's authority.

"Tsk tsk, Captain Gu is really a good man," Wang Chunhua, as a woman, genuinely envied it. Her own husband wouldn't even bother to pick up a fallen oil bottle.

Commissar Zhou shook his head, "What's so good about it? His hands are meant for holding guns, not spatulas. He should learn other things, but instead, he learns from that Lao Yan. Look at Lao Yan, he has pampered his wife to the point where she's not herself anymore."

Wang Chunhua glared at him, "Zhaodi and Yu Huixin, the capitalist's daughter, are different. Don't make random comparisons! What's wrong with helping in the kitchen? Just because he holds a spatula doesn't mean he can't hold a gun. Nonsense!"

"His wife just arrived, and she looks frail. Of course, he needs to take good care of her. Think about all the hardships Zhaodi has endured over the years. It's only right for him to treat his wife well! Captain Gu has a conscience! But me, I got stuck with you, who has none! Taking care of the whole family day and night, and no one ever says a word of thanks..."

One sentence led to a long rant, almost setting the place on fire.

Commissar Zhou quickly waved his hands, "I didn't say anything bad about Old Gu's wife, I was talking about Lao Yan, Lao Yan."

"Have the guts to say it to their faces!"

Commissar Zhou: "... I'd have to be crazy to do that."

"Then shut up!"

Hey! This woman, she could chat with others, but he couldn't?

Only the officials are allowed to set fires, while the common people aren't allowed to light lamps?

Su Zhaozhao returned home with the scallions. Gu Heng was quick, already having put all the noodles in the pot. She washed a few scallions under the tap, then went inside and picked up the knife to chop them into scallion flowers.

"Commissar Zhou said to invite you over for a drink."

Gu Heng replied, "I'll go after dinner."

After dinner, Gu Heng went to the Zhou family's house.

No one knew what they talked about, but it was very late when Gu Heng finally came back.

He washed up outside, and Su Zhaozhao, lying in bed, could hear the intermittent sound of water. After a while, he finally came in.

There was a rustling sound as he lay down beside her.

Su Zhaozhao caught a faint scent of alcohol. Even after washing up, he still carried a hint of it.

Just like last night, he faced her side-on, very close to her. His breath brushed against the back of her neck, stirring the fine hairs and causing a slight tickle.

Her heart rate, just like last night, involuntarily sped up, 'thump thump thump!'

She could hear her own heartbeat very clearly.

She suddenly wondered, since he was so close, could he hear hers?

Just as Su Zhaozhao was getting nervous, Gu Heng, just like last night, reached out and gently patted her, "Go to sleep." Then he turned over onto his back.

Su Zhaozhao: "!"

He was teasing her!

He must be teasing her!