Chapter 123 First Update

Chapter 123 First Update

Nearly six years have passed since 1972. Zhao Mingjin is now married and has a child of his own. As he has entered middle age, he has become more steady, especially after taking on the responsibility of being a "father." He is no longer as lively and humorous as before, or perhaps it's more accurate to say that he has become more subdued.

He isn't the only one who has changed; Gu Cheng has also changed quite a bit. He got married in 1973, and now, five years later, his child is already four years old. As people grow older, Gu Cheng is about to turn thirty-five in another year and is gradually approaching forty.

Forty is a good age for a man. Between forty and fifty is when a man is at the peak of his career, and it's almost certain that he can land a minor post, becoming some kind of chief, like a bureau chief, school principal, or factory director... Many of his peers have already become officials like that.

After completing his current training, Gu Cheng's promotion is as good as certain. Over the years, Zhao Mingjin has witnessed Gu Cheng's transformations, mostly in his work. Occasionally, he's heard people mention that Gu Cheng is "henpecked" at home, but Zhao Mingjin has always been skeptical about that.

He didn't really want to inquire too much. The more he knew, the more it reminded him of the painful past. He had been screwed over by this guy!

In Zhao Mingjin's eyes, twenty-eight-year-old Gu Cheng was already cunning enough. He had secretly set his sights on Qin Yao but didn't make a sound about it, all the while eliminating rivals and engaging in underhanded tactics to win her heart.

Qin Yao, who was only about twenty years old at the time, couldn't outplay this old schemer. Even now, at twenty-four, she still couldn't outwit Gu Cheng, this manipulative old fox.

The whole "henpecked" act was probably just for show in front of others.

With Gu Cheng's stubborn bull-headedness, everyone in the fleet knew that no one could change his mind. He remained as confident and autocratic as ever, even to the point of being dictatorial. A man who is dictatorial at work, would he really be soft at home? Hah...

However, in recent years, Captain Gu has become more restrained, speaking and acting more tactfully, making it hard for others to find fault. He still rarely cracked jokes or laughed, remaining as serious and unsmiling as ever.

Marrying such a man, Zhao Mingjin thought Qin Yao had "drawn the short straw."

But—

"Captain Gu, I almost didn't recognize you without your military uniform..." Zhao Mingjin's eyes swept over Gu Cheng on the stroller with a strange look. Gu Cheng, finally showing some shame, swiftly sprang to his feet, his face calm and composed, rolling up his sleeves slowly and methodically.

In the military, even if it was hot, one couldn't just casually pull up their sleeves. They had to be neatly rolled up to the elbows. Gu Cheng rolled up one sleeve, then, thinking about how he was already wearing a white shirt, wondered why he needed to roll them up at all, so he stopped and scratched his head a couple of times.

Qin Yao gave him a sideways glance. After five years of marriage, she knew exactly what he was about to do. At that moment, he was like a cat that had failed at jumping, pretending to stretch and scratch at a scratching post to cover up his embarrassment.

"You're just not used to seeing me this way." Gu Cheng finally let his sleeves down, coughing lightly as he placed his right fist near his mouth. "What's the business? Let's talk in the study."

He was annoyed that they had come at such an inconvenient time, disturbing his fun!

"Political Commissar Zhou coming is understandable, but why are you here?"

As soon as he asked, Zhao Mingjin felt a surge of anger. After all these years of camaraderie, Gu Cheng was about to leave for further training and would likely return as a leader, though nothing was certain. In five or six years, who knew what the situation would be?

Normally, there was no need to come in person... At the very least, he could have come to have a chat, see him off, say goodbye. But as soon as he arrived, he heard those words.

This guy didn't seem to have any sense of parting sorrow at all. Sent for training, he had no psychological burden and happily stepped down from his position as the main officer, even joyfully playing games with his son at home.

With that kind of attitude, who wouldn't give a big "I'm impressed"?

Wearing these clothes, with the way he had been sitting on the stroller just now, one would think he was fifteen rather than thirty-five. Zhao Mingjin thought someone should bring Vice Chief Zeng over to see this. The same Captain Gu who was always scolding him in the fleet was actually like this at home...

"I came to have a chat and maintain our relationship. Captain Gu, don't flatter yourself. I'm here to see Comrade Xiao Qin. I haven't seen Nurse Xiao Qin in a long time..." After six years, although Qin Yao had long stopped being a nurse—she hadn't been one for long anyway—Zhao Mingjin still remembered her as she was back then. After Qin Yao married Gu Cheng, there had been fewer updates about her.

Especially knowing that Qin Yao had given birth to two children for Gu Cheng, the more he knew, the more it hurt.

"Comrade Xiao Qin, Qin Yao, do you ever regret marrying a man ten years older than you?" Since Gu Cheng was about to leave soon, Zhao Mingjin decided to speak more freely. If not now, then when? He wasn't afraid of any retaliation; Gu Cheng wouldn't have the time.

Qin Yao couldn't help but smile. Everyone has misunderstood. If they counted her actual age, including the twenty-six years she had lived before entering the book, Gu Cheng was only two years older than her.

"I don't regret it." Thinking of the mix-up back then, Comrade Xiao Qin finally smiled gently.

"Of course she doesn't regret it. At least she married me and not you. Old Zhao, you look ten years older than me now." Gu Cheng's words were quite harsh.

"Captain Gu, please try to be a bit more considerate with your words." Zhao Mingjin regretted coming over today, only to have salt rubbed into an old wound.

Gu Cheng ended the conversation: "Let's not talk about these things anymore. Let's discuss the main issue."

At this moment, Rui Rui and Mingming were dragging a cart, making a racket as they passed by, already calling out "Uncle" and "Uncle." The two kids, completely oblivious to the situation, excitedly said, "Dad, are you not playing anymore?"

"Dad, hurry up and get on!"

"Dad, we're waiting for you."

……

Originally, the two kids were pulling their father and found him too heavy, which tired them out. Their father's voice wasn't as sweet as their mother's, and it sounded harsh to their ears. However, with others present, the two kids had a strong desire to perform and wanted to show off their immense strength in front of the uncles.

They were as enthusiastic as street vendors trying to attract customers.

Gu Cheng: "……”

Political Commissar Zhou's expression cracked: "After being neighbors with Gu Cheng for five years, I never knew he interacted with his kids like this."

Thinking of this, Political Commissar Zhou felt a bit sad. His own child hadn't shown such eagerness towards him, and his troublesome daughter, needless to say, had written in her diary and compositions about making her father a martyr several times.

She would casually turn him into a martyr, leaving him, the father, in an awkward position.

Mingming said loudly: "Dad loves to play with us the most!"

Rui Rui: "Dad sneaks fish cakes behind Mom's back."

……

Gu Cheng closed his eyes, thinking that since he was going to be away for a while, there was no need to explain.

He wasn't afraid of Zhou Zhengwei and Zhao Mingjin exposing this. Who would believe it even if they did?

Thinking of this, Gu Cheng felt relieved and shooed the two kids away: "Dad needs to talk to the uncles first. We'll continue playing later."

"Dad, hurry up, please!"

"Dad, no, I don't want to let you go. I can't bear to be without you." Mingming, the little actor, came forward and hugged his father's leg, wishing to say a long goodbye, even if his father was just going into the next room. He wanted to hold his father's hand and look into each other's eyes, unwilling to be apart even for a moment.

Gu Cheng's lips twitched, looking down at his son, who looked just like him. It felt like he had set off a bomb that exploded right in his face.

……This is definitely my biological child.

Before, he would push back and claim that his son only looked like him but had a completely different personality. However, with these increasingly familiar actions, the truth was undeniable, and any argument to the contrary was futile.

"Alright, be good. I'll play with you later. Dad loves you." Gu Cheng said dryly, picking up his son and pinching his cheek. This seemingly false father-son affection appeared so genuine in the eyes of the outsiders present.

"Dad, no, I don't want to let you go." Little Mingming, now fully in character, clung to his father's neck, refusing to let go.

Qin Yao sighed.

This shows how important an audience can be. When a child falls, they don't cry if the mother isn't around. But when the mother is present, they cry out in pain.

Similarly, when alone, they might complain about their father, but with others around, they suddenly acted like they were best buddies.

Qin Yao stepped forward to "remove" this clingy child. "Alright, alright, don't disturb Dad. Mom will play with you and your brother."

"Okay." The little one rushed into his mother's arms without a second thought.

Anyway, he didn’t care for his dad who smelled. At home, only Mom was fragrant.

Gu Cheng: "..."

In his heart, he cursed: This little rascal, he actually got emotional just now.

Zhao Mingjin said begrudgingly: "Captain Gu, you really are a good dad."

Gu Cheng remained silent.

Political Commissar Zhou felt a slight heat on his cheeks, feeling like Zhao Mingjin's words had a double meaning. Thinking of his own two kids, he tried to save face by saying: "Children are mostly clingy when they're young. Once they start elementary school, they become a headache."

When Gu Cheng's kids grow up, Political Commissar Zhou thought he'd secretly encourage them to write about their dad's death in their diaries or compositions, so Gu Cheng could experience what it's like to have filial children.

It didn’t have to be death. Even writing about him breaking a leg or arm would be enough...

After finishing the discussion and witnessing a strong display of father-son affection, Political Commissar Zhou went home with a lingering feeling and said to Neighbor Sister Zaohua: "I really misjudged that guy."

Zaohua, confused, asked: "What did you misjudge?"

"What? My neighbor."

Political Commissar Zhou doubted himself. Was he really an unfit father?

??

"Do you ever regret it? Are you sure you don’t regret it?" After Zhao Mingjin left, Gu Cheng sneaked up to Qin Yao, shooed the two little ones away, and whispered sweet nothings to his wife.

"What about He Guangzhi and Zhao Mingjin? None of them can compare to me... Look at them now, Doctor He is going bald, his head looks like it’s wrapped in a scarf, he might as well just shave his head."

"He Guangzhi? You mean Doctor He?" Qin Yao said, half amused and half exasperated. The name had almost slipped her mind, but this man remembered it vividly and even noticed the other man’s baldness. Was he really that competitive?

Gu Cheng continued: "Yes, him. Your matchmaking partner, the one who brought us together, if it weren't for him wanting to meet you, I—"

Qin Yao, holding back laughter, said: "It's not like you didn't force your way into my life."

"Yaoyao, you're always full of surprises. What do you mean by 'force your way'? This is called volunteering." Gu Cheng said with a wink: "After marrying me for five years, do you ever regret it?"

Qin Yao's smile hadn't faded as she took the initiative to hug the man in front of her, rubbed her nose against his, and left a kiss on his lips, saying with a smile: "You are just as cute as Mingming."

We've got two drama queens in the house.

Gu Cheng felt a sweet warmth in his heart, but also a pang of something like an arrow through his chest.