Chapter 270: Life (Final Chapter)

Chapter 270: Life (Final Chapter)

An unexpected visitor showed up at the Jiang household.

When Gao Yue came to visit, Ye Shulan had a feeling that the other shoe she had been waiting to drop for years was finally about to hit the ground.

Sure enough, the moment Gao Yue spoke, she said, "Shulan, could you help me get my parents transferred to our family canteen? It doesn’t have to be the canteen, as long as they’re within our military district’s jurisdiction."

Ye Shulan poured her a glass of water, "It’s not that I don’t want to help, but I can’t. I don’t have that kind of pull."

"You do, if Commander Jiang just says the word..."

"Gao Yue," Ye Shulan interrupted her directly, "Don’t say any more. I can’t possibly ask that of him."

Gao Yue bit her lip, "I know this puts you in a tough spot, but I’m out of options..."

Last month, because of her background, she was let go from her job at the machinery factory. The factory claimed she wasn’t qualified to be a broadcaster, worried she might spread the wrong ideas. They wanted to move her to the cleaning crew, and even as a military family member, she couldn’t hold onto her broadcaster role.

Old Peng didn’t want her to keep working at the factory, and she couldn’t handle the cleaning job, so she had no choice but to quit.

Losing her job was one thing—her family didn’t depend on her small paycheck—but her parents were struggling because of their background.

Because of their marriage, Old Peng was pretty much stuck at the regimental level for life. In these unusual times, he could protect her, but shielding her parents... that was a lot tougher. Gao Yue had to face this reality.

She thought of Ye Shulan—and the lost pocket watch from years back.

Ye Shulan said, "You know how things are right now. It’s not that I don’t want to help, but there’s really nothing I can do."

She stood up to show her guest the door.

Gao Yue stood up too and finally blurted out what she’d been holding back, "Did you lose something?"

Ye Shulan’s heart skipped a beat. She thought, here we go.

She spread her hands, "I’m always losing stuff. I’ve lost so much, I don’t even know what you’re talking about."

"A pocket watch, with a photo inside," Gao Yue said, watching Ye Shulan’s face closely.

Ye Shulan raised an eyebrow, "Then it’s not mine. Someone from a poor family like me wouldn’t have something so fancy."

No matter how Gao Yue pressed, Ye Shulan kept saying it wasn’t hers.

Gao Yue stared at her, "Aren’t you worried I’ll hand it over?"

Ye Shulan looked at her and smiled, "You’re really something. I already told you it’s not mine, so why are you still going on about this? If you want to hand it over, go ahead. You should’ve done it sooner. You’ve been educated, so you should know the term 'returning lost property.'"

Her calmness left Gao Yue speechless.

If that pocket watch was still in her hands... At this thought, Gao Yue suddenly felt a shock. Could the pocket watch have made its way back to Ye Shulan?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

Unless someone found it and returned it to her, but who could that be?

Su Zhaozhao?

At that time, only the two of them had walked down that road.

"No wonder, I should have thought of her earlier."

Ye Shulan perked up. Her? Who is she?

Gao Yue didn’t want to beat around the bush any longer, "You know the pocket watch isn’t in my hands, right? Did Su Zhaozhao pick it up and return it to you?"

Ye Shulan’s expression shifted slightly. So it was her, no wonder the pocket watch was left in the yard.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about."

Gao Yue gritted her teeth, "I wonder if Commander Jiang and his wife know that their daughter-in-law comes from a capitalist family, and what about Jiang Yuan?"

Ye Shulan pretended to be shocked, "Gao Yue, what on earth are you talking about? My background was thoroughly vetted during the political review, don’t go throwing accusations at me! You can’t just drag me into your problems because of your own questionable background. If you keep spouting nonsense, the Jiang family will have no choice but to seek an explanation from Director Peng!"

When she said the last few sentences, Ye Shulan’s tone was particularly firm!

Gao Yue knew she was at a disadvantage unless Su Zhaozhao was willing to help her expose Ye Shulan. But doing so might offend more people. Her original intention wasn’t to expose Ye Shulan; she just wanted her assistance.

Besides, the idea that Su Zhaozhao had picked up the pocket watch was just speculation. Even if it were true, would Su Zhaozhao be willing to help her?

If Su Zhaozhao had the same intentions, she wouldn’t have returned the pocket watch to Ye Shulan.

If she really didn’t care and caused a scene, prompting the higher-ups to investigate Ye Shulan, she’d offend the entire Jiang family.

Offending the entire Jiang family wouldn’t do her any favors; it would only make things worse for her.

Gao Yue’s mind was racing; this move of hers had backfired!

"Let’s just pretend I never brought this up today."

With that, she walked straight out of the Jiang residence.

At the entrance to the Jiang residence, she ran into Su Zhaozhao.

"You lied to me."

Su Zhaozhao: "What’s this all about?"

Gao Yue hurriedly left, and Su Zhaozhao turned around to see Ye Shulan standing at the door.

Ye Shulan gave her a smile, "Just got back from work? Where are the twins?"

Su Zhaozhao also smiled, "Their sister got off early and already picked them up."

After chatting for a bit, Su Zhaozhao went home.

That evening during dinner, Ye Shulan showed up at the door with a plate of homemade steamed meat.

Su Zhaozhao was speechless.

And for a long time after that, she kept bringing food over.

It left Gu Heng puzzled.

Recalling what Gao Yue had said that day, Su Zhaozhao probably figured out the reason.

Soon after, Su Zhaozhao heard the news that Director Peng had been transferred, and from then on, she never saw Gao Yue again.

...

Su Zhaozhao really doesn’t like going to Sea City for meetings anymore; it's too chaotic there.

So chaotic that she can't bear to see or hear it.

Seeing it firsthand feels completely different from novels or TV. It makes her uneasy and scared.

She is grateful she never agreed to transfer to Sea City in the first place. If she had gone to work there, she’d probably be as anxious as the others at the Sea City Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

Su Zhaozhao thinks that even with a god’s-eye view, she might not avoid some things.

Fortunately, she has that god’s-eye view.

Gu Heng quickly noticed how she was feeling.

"What's wrong?"

Su Zhaozhao shook her head, "It just feels insane and terrifying."

Gu Heng held her tightly, "Don't be afraid. No matter how chaotic it gets outside, the military won’t fall into chaos."

Su Zhaozhao nestled in his arms, clinging tightly, drawing warmth from him.

In that moment, she felt completely at peace.

...

Su Zhaozhao has been memorizing Mao’s quotations these days; everyone in the office has a little red book. They say elementary students’ promotion depends on reciting these quotations.

After work, she tucks the little red book in her bag and heads to the nursery to get the twins.

"Mommy!"

"Mommy!"

The moment they see their mom, the twins come running out of the nursery.

Su Zhaozhao crouches down and asks, "Were you good today?"

The two nod eagerly, their little voices drawn out, "Good~"

"Good, let’s head home."

Su Zhaozhao takes each by the hand as they walk home, the twins asking, "Where’s sister?"

"When’s sister coming back?"

"Sister’s performing with the troop; she’ll be back in a few days."

"Do you two miss your sister?"

"We miss her~"

"Do you miss your big brother?"

"Brother doesn’t come home." Xiaozhan pouts, wondering why their brother doesn’t come home to play with them.

Xiao Wei: "Brother is always so busy."

Su Zhaozhao laughed, "Yes, brother is always so busy. Brother has to defend our country; he's really strong."

"Dad is strong too!" Xiao Zhan patted himself, "I'm strong too!"

Su Zhaozhao held back her laughter, "What makes Xiao Zhan so strong?"

"I'm going to protect the country too when I grow up!"

Xiao Wei jumped up, afraid that his brother would forget him, "I want to do that too!"

Xiao Zhan had the air of an older brother, "We'll do it together."

Yes, together.

On their way home, the mom and kids ran into Gu Heng coming back from work.

The jeep pulled up next to them, and the kids started jumping and yelling, "Daddy, daddy!"

Gu Heng got out of the car, handed his bag to Su Zhaozhao, and picked up one child in each arm, "These two are louder than a bomb explosion."

Su Zhaozhao laughed, "Oh, come on, it's not that bad."

Hearing their father call them bombs, the two little ones protested, "Bombs are for blowing up bad guys."

"Daddy's not a bomb."

"So what is Daddy then?"

"He's just Daddy."

"He's our hero!"

Gu Heng laughed heartily, "Who said that?"

"Mom did."

Gu Heng shot Su Zhaozhao a look, his eyes intense.

After years together, Su Zhaozhao knew exactly what that look meant. She rolled her eyes at him but couldn't help smiling.

Gu Heng tilted his head back to look at the sky.

Su Zhaozhao followed his gaze. The setting sun bathed the sky in light, and the clouds on the horizon stretched like an endless river of time.

It flows on and on, day and night, sweeping away years and stories in its wake.

Some happy, some sad.

That's just how life is.

She mused.

[The End]

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