Volume 1, Chapter 6: Gu Chengfeng, I Do

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Gu Chengfeng felt an uneasy knot in his chest, like the suffocating weight of lying face down in mud on a scorching day, a deep and helpless sense of powerlessness.

"Right now it isn't..." he muttered under his breath, thinking to himself: that doesn't mean it won't be later.

"What did you say?" Shen Sisi asked.

He hurriedly swallowed and said, "Nothing. It doesn't matter."

Seeing the little woman in front of him with tears brimming in her eyes, he temporarily suppressed the fire in his chest.

"As for that medicine, I'll think of a way..."

He gave Feng Yanzhou a meaningful look, telling him to take good care of Shen Sisi and her daughter, then turned and strode off in a rush, leaving Shen Sisi bewildered.

Think of a way? What way could he possibly think of?

Seeing that her mind was elsewhere, Feng Yanzhou very considerately took Niu Niu into his arms and held her like a treasure.

"Don't worry. Once Battalion Commander Gu makes a move, he'll definitely get the medicine for you," Feng Yanzhou said with a hearty laugh, showing no concern at all for Gu Chengfeng's "abilities."

The more Shen Sisi heard, the more unbelievable it sounded. Did Gu Chengfeng really have that much influence?

He wasn't abusing his authority, was he?

That would be a violation of discipline!

Feng Yanzhou guessed what she was thinking. "Relax. Battalion Commander Gu would never use his power for personal gain..."

"I don't want to make things hard for him..." Shen Sisi rose to chase after him. She had already made up her mind that if she couldn't buy the medicine, she would find a way to take Niu Niu to the provincial capital to get it.

Feng Yanzhou, that old fox, blinked and said, "As long as it's about you, our Battalion Commander Gu won't find anything hard at all..."

Shen Sisi's eyes turned up at the corners as she glared at Feng Yanzhou. Was this really a political commissar? He spoke in the least proper way imaginable.

"Commissar Feng, don't talk nonsense." She herself did not mind, but she worried others might misunderstand Gu, her senior.

She did not want to continue this topic. Seeing them at the hospital, she suspected something might be wrong.

Concerned, she asked, "Why did you come to the hospital? Is something the matter?"

"Nothing..." Feng Yanzhou rolled his eyes, a wicked smile curling at his mouth. "Well, never mind, there's no harm in telling you. We're all on the same side. I came with your Senior Gu to have a checkup."

"What's wrong with Senior Gu?" Shen Sisi pressed.

Feng Yanzhou's eyes drooped at once, the smile fading from his face. With a troubled expression, he sighed, "Still the same as always. You understand."

Shen Sisi's bright eyes dimmed as well. It seemed Gu Chengfeng's injury was not likely to heal.

Still, that was all right. If it could not be cured now, that did not mean it could not be cured later. Heaven favors the worthy. As long as Senior Gu did not give up, there would surely come a day when he recovered.

"Why don't you do him a favor and agree to him? Otherwise he'll never manage to marry a wife in his whole life," Feng Yanzhou lamented.

Shen Sisi was also considering the matter very seriously, worried that if Gu Chengfeng recovered someday, she would be holding him back from marrying and having children.

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As she was thinking, a set of footsteps drew near, and Gu Chengfeng strode into the emergency room.

"An urgent matter came up. The hospital had to get two bottles of medicine from the neighboring city. They should arrive tonight at the earliest, by tomorrow morning at the latest. I'll bring them to you then."

Shen Sisi was stunned speechless. Only after a long moment did she react. "This can actually be done? You... how did you manage it?"

Gu Chengfeng was silent for a moment, his gaze dark. "The dean has a benevolent heart as a doctor. He helped you solve it. This medicine really is in short supply, so they could only coordinate two bottles. Once I go back, I'll keep an eye on it for you and help you buy it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Feng Yanzhou shot him a look that said he understood everything but would not expose it.

Could the county hospital really get the city hospital to send over two bottles of medicine in a special car?

Shen Sisi did not notice the exchanged looks at all. She only felt a weight lift from her chest and kept thanking him over and over.

"I can't believe you even know the dean, and you're still willing to help me buy medicine. Senior Gu, thank you!"

Such an capable and kindhearted man, yet unable to marry a wife. It was truly unfair.

Shen Sisi lifted her lashes and looked at him with sympathy.

Gu Chengfeng had no idea what Shen Sisi was thinking. Under that strange, searching gaze, he felt wholly ill at ease.

His eyes shifted, landing on Feng Yanzhou's face, where a suppressed grin spread faintly. Confused, he turned his head. What was this fellow up to now?

Feeling the banknotes in his hand, he suddenly remembered that he had just asked the dean about Niu Niu's condition.

Tuberculosis was not easy to treat, and it was expensive as well.

Over the years, Shen Sisi had been in the countryside, spending most of her time taking care of the child. She must not have had time to earn work points. Niu Niu's cheap father was also irresponsible, so she was likely very short of money.

Gu Chengfeng took a little over a hundred yuan from his pocket and pressed it into her hand. "Take this. Count it as a small meeting gift from me for Niu Niu."

He had come in such a hurry that he had not brought much money with him.

"That's too much. I can't accept it!" Shen Sisi refused at once.

By his count, he had already helped her twice today. She could not take his money as well.

During the struggle, her fingers accidentally brushed against his rough palm. Those distinct, powerful fingers closed around her small hand with astonishing strength, and she could not exert even the slightest force.

Gu Chengfeng's body went rigid. Feeling the small hand covered by his own, so fine and smooth and soft it seemed boneless, he did not dare use any strength at all, fearing he might crush it.

That tightly pressed skin, carrying a faint, lingering itch, seemed to pluck at his heartbeat.

Shen Sisi also fell momentarily dazed. Held so tightly by that coarse hand, the calluses from rifle training rubbed roughly against the back of her delicate hand, and something strangely subtle stirred in her mind.

She held her breath and restrained the pounding in her chest.

No one knew how long had passed before Gu Chengfeng let go. Clumsily, he curled his hand into a fist, as if only then could he retain the warmth left by her skin.

"Don't refuse. It's just a little bit of my heart for Niu Niu," Gu Chengfeng said, his tongue almost tying itself in knots, the darker skin on his face flushing red in an instant.

Shen Sisi's cheeks were also heating up, and she did not dare meet Gu Chengfeng's eyes.

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"I know you want to help me. This money... count it as a loan from you. Once I find a way to get into the city and earn some money, I'll pay you back."

He knew she was a proud girl and did not say anything more.

Still, it was enough that she accepted the money.

Over the years, to care for Niu Niu, she rarely went to work in the fields, and there were not many chances to earn money in the countryside anyway.

She had been secretly selling a few things in the black market to save up for Niu Niu's medicine.

She truly was... strapped for cash.

"Sisi, please think about what I said. My train leaves tomorrow at three-thirty in the afternoon. I'll wait for you..."

Gu Chengfeng's eyes were steadfast and earnest, holding an indestructible strength.

Shen Sisi knew his character, and she also knew he was serious this time.

If she missed Gu Chengfeng, she might never meet such a good man again in her entire life.

Even if there was no love, if they could each get what they needed and live together as a proper household, that would be fine too.

She thought for a moment, drew a deep breath, and said, "Senior Gu, I..."

Gu Chengfeng cut her off coldly. "Don't rush to refuse me. You still have one night to think it over."

Silently, he clenched his fist. Even if she refused this time, he would not give up.

Seeing how disappointed he looked, Shen Sisi suddenly smiled. "What are you thinking? I was going to say there's no need to wait until tomorrow. I can answer you now."

"Gu Chengfeng, I'm willing."

"What?" He stared at her in astonishment for a long moment.

His expression shifted from gloom to ease in an instant. Beneath those sword-like brows, the restrained cold fierceness vanished, transforming into a glittering brilliance.

She had agreed.

She had actually agreed to marry him without the slightest hesitation.

Whether she was serious or merely impulsive, once she agreed, it counted.

From now on, Shen Sisi could no longer go and meet other men for blind dates.

Gu Chengfeng lowered his gaze, his heart pounding like a drum within his chest. "Shen Sisi, with Commissar Feng here as witness, you are not allowed to go back on your word!"

Feng Yanzhou laughed so hard his eyes nearly disappeared. "Exactly. I heard it with both ears. I have already filed the report on this match."

Shen Sisi was both shy and amused by the two of them, but still replied openly and candidly, "A military marriage, and I will never regret it! However..."