Chapter 628: Chapter 541: The Real Wife

Gu Shaojun arrived in Gongdao Village late one night. Xiao Man remembered him saying he wouldn’t have any free time for at least another week, so she never expected him to come so quickly. Gu Shaojun was clearly racing against time. After a late-night snack, he was ready to take Xiao Man away, explaining that while he would have a bit more free time soon, it was limited to the base. He couldn’t leave his post freely, and this visit was on a tight schedule.

Although Grandpa and Grandma were a bit worried, Xiao Man was willing to go with Gu Shaojun. Besides, they were an engaged couple. In the end, all they could do was give her repeated instructions as they packed some things for them to take back to the military base that same night. Xiao Man asked Grandma to relay a message to Guan Ailan and Mo Shuiling. She explained that she would visit her teacher and classmate in the county town in a few days when she returned. By then, it would be the busy season for harvesting and planting, so the two of them would likely be unable to get away. They had originally planned to go with Xiao Man, but since the plans had changed, they should just forget it and focus on helping their families with farm work. Xiao Man would be fine by herself.

After saying their goodbyes, Gu Shaojun drove primly away from Gongdao Village under the watchful eyes of the Mo family. But as soon as they were over the mountain ridge at the edge of the village, he pulled the car to a stop on the roadside, reached over, and scooped Xiao Man clean out of the passenger seat and onto his lap. He spoke, his voice thick with excitement:

"Darling! There’s no family watching, no one else around. It’s just the two of us out here in the wild. You’re mine! All mine!"

Xiao Man: "..."

’So? What are you planning to do?’

Gu Shaojun didn’t actually do anything out of line. He just hugged Xiao Man with all his might, as if wishing they could merge into one.

The weather was muggy and still. The night sky was dark and starless, and it looked like a heavy rain was coming. They were both sweating, so they got out of the car and took a walk along the white gravel road that was hemmed in by the mountain forest. In the dead of night, it was quiet and peaceful—the perfect time to whisper sweet nothings. The couple clung to each other, murmuring endlessly, forgetting where they were and losing all track of time. Gu Shaojun glanced at his watch and realized it was already the middle of the night. He figured that even if they drove to the Wan City Military Sub-Region, which would take over forty minutes at best, they wouldn’t get much rest at a guesthouse before dawn. It would be better to spend two or three hours on their Cultivation. It would both restore their energy and advance their cultivation. Xiao Man nodded in agreement. Having just been reunited, they didn’t want to be apart for a single moment. They helped each other climb a rocky hill by the roadside. Without wasting time searching for traces of Spiritual Energy, they each found a suitable spot. Xiao Man took some jade from her Treasure Pearl Space, and they both began to meditate, holding the jade in their hands to focus on their Cultivation. When the eastern sky began to glow with the first light of dawn, they descended the hill, feeling refreshed and energized, got back in the car, and drove away.

Upon reaching Wancheng, they found a breakfast shop for a hot meal. Gu Shaojun wanted to buy Xiao Man some snacks for the road, but she stopped him. Her Treasure Pearl Space was a warehouse piled high with fresh fruits, dried meats, and dried fruits, not to mention the various sweets and pastries she stored away. She took some out for the car, thinking that once they reached the base, she could share them with his comrades as a taste of her hometown.

Gu Shaojun picked up a document from the Wan City Military Sub-Region, then drove like lightning toward the provincial city. After finishing his business at the Provincial Military District and having lunch, he continued on without stopping, managing to return to his border defense unit just as night fell.

The unit was stationed in a mountain hollow, situated between the towns and villages and the border.

On the way, Gu Shaojun told Xiao Man that this unit didn’t allow families to live on base because the conditions weren’t suitable, but family visits were permitted. Whenever a family member came to visit, the officers and soldiers were always thrilled and treated them like one of their own.

But Xiao Man had no idea how tight-lipped Gu Shaojun had been. Other than reporting to his superiors, he hadn’t breathed a word to his comrades. When he suddenly brought Xiao Man back to the base and introduced her as his fiancée—his family—it stunned everyone speechless.

After the initial shock, they all scrambled to get closer and be friendly. From the base entrance all the way to his dorm, the soldiers spontaneously formed two lines, creating a welcoming path. The chorus of "sister-in-law" made Xiao Man blush uncontrollably. Fortunately, having a soul decades old allowed her to keep her composure and not be overwhelmed. She simply smiled, nodding and greeting everyone. Gu Shaojun kept a protective arm around her until they reached his dorm room. A communications soldier and a few others unloaded the suitcase and several large bundles from the car. After setting the suitcase down, Gu Shaojun pointed to the bundles and said, "These are some specialties from your sister-in-law’s hometown for you all to try. Take the cured meat, cured chicken, air-dried duck, and the pickled vegetables and sauces to the mess hall. As for the rest, you can divide up whatever’s ready to eat now."

Getting snacks obviously made them happy, and the soldiers’ words grew even sweeter. Shouts of "Thanks, sister-in-law!" and "Sister-in-law, you’re the best!" echoed thunderously. At first, everyone tried to maintain their composure, politely placing the food in a pile to share. But the moment they took a bite, all pretense was dropped. This was too delicious! It was as if all the best things they had ever tasted in their entire lives were all right here.

The idyllic scene of everyone sitting in a row and sharing peacefully—one for you, one for me—quickly vanished. Every single one of them was a seasoned veteran who had been to the front lines. They had sharp eyes and lightning-fast reflexes. The mad scramble that followed was a sight to behold. It wasn’t until an officer with a stern face yelled at them to stop that the chaos ended. Then, they were all back to laughing and joking, huddling in groups to show off their spoils.

’The army is kind of like a kindergarten,’ Xiao Man thought, amused. The more she considered it, the more it seemed to fit. ’After all, kindergartens in the future have male teachers and assistants, too.’

Gu Shaojun’s old partner was still Wei Zhenqing. He had since graduated from the military academy but wasn’t on base tonight; he was out leading a team on a patrol of the front line. The deputy commander, Liao Zhiyong, was a tall, sturdy man from Shandong. His skin, never fair to begin with, had been tanned by the wind and sun until it was a deep, shining black. It was hard to read his expression—a wide grin that revealed a set of white teeth was his version of a smile. He had only just flashed those white teeth at Xiao Man when Gu Shaojun blocked him, complaining that he would scare his fiancée. Liao Zhiyong, however, insisted on leaning in closer and said with a perfectly straight face, "Commander, a room in the female soldiers’ dormitory has been prepared. Our sister-in-law has had a long day of travel and must be tired. You should take her over there to rest."

Gu Shaojun kicked him. "Get lost! You’ve got plenty of other things to worry about. My fiancée is staying with me, and she’s not going anywhere!"

As soon as the words were out, the room erupted in a chorus of wolf-like howls and whistles. No one was trying to keep order now. Liao Zhiyong grinned from ear to ear, baring his white teeth. He turned and yelled out the door, "You little brats, you see that? You can only hug, cuddle, and ’live’ together with a *real* wife! A fake one won’t cut it, no matter what! You all better remember that! If any of you dare to pull any funny business in the future, you’ll be disciplined severely!"

Amidst the raucous jeering, Gu Shaojun kicked Liao Zhiyong straight out the door and slammed it shut.

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