Chapter 78: Secret Rivalry

“Mmm…?”

Lin Zhao was left stunned by the question.

Only after piecing together the context did she realize her husband was being circuitously petty.

She burst into laughter, her shoulders shaking.

Her slender white fingers prodded the man’s solid lower back.

“Gu Chenghuai, did you grow up pickled in a vat of sour cabbage? Why are you so sour?”

She was thoroughly amused, mirth spilling from her lips, rich with delight and teasing: “Can’t you smell the sourness in the air?”

“Lin Zhaozhao!” Gu Chenghuai slammed on the brakes, planted his long, straight left leg on the ground, and turned to face her, his expression stern.

“I’m serious. Don’t dodge the issue.”

He minded it.

He minded it deeply!

He carefully nurtured his bond with Zhaozhao, determined to protect their family. No matter how capable or accomplished he was, he was still an ordinary man—and he feared that, in some unnoticed corner, his home might shatter into glass shards.

Some male demons have deep cultivation; you can’t afford to be careless!

The cautionary tales of his comrades are right there before us!!

Lin Zhao met Gu Chenghuai’s dark, emotionally charged eyes, stopped laughing, and curled her fingers around his hand, her thumb brushing the thin callus on the inner side of his thumb.

Her gaze was gentle and serious.

“I got it myself, without asking anyone for help. Why are you sour? Why are you angry? Gu Chenghuai, you’re being childish.”

“With this sour, jealous look on your face, do your comrades even recognize you?”

Suddenly.

The man’s expression softened, the frost coating his eyes melting into a faint, clear smile: “I don’t care what they think of me!”

His long, strong hand gripped his wife’s tightly. “If you want anything in the future, write to me. I’ll find a way. Doing it yourself is too dangerous.”

He assumed Zhaozhao’s claim of “getting it herself” meant sneaking into the black market to buy it.

“Alright,” Lin Zhao agreed.

Gu Chenghuai’s expression brightened.

He squeezed his wife’s hand.

Lin Zhao smiled up at him. “If it’s dangerous, I definitely won’t buy it. Don’t worry—I won’t put myself in harm’s way.”

She always kept her word. Gu Chenghuai trusted her judgment and said no more.

The bicycle resumed moving toward the photo studio.

“I had Yunjin deliver some film rolls to the studio—I wanted to check on the status. The photos include family members and villagers.”

On the back seat, Lin Zhao chatted idly.

Gu Chenghuai listened carefully to every word.

“You took all these, didn’t you? You must be tired.”

Lin Zhao smiled faintly, lips pressed together.

“Not tired at all. Taking photos is fun.”

She loved everything new.

Gu Chenghuai cherished her enthusiasm; his deep voice carried a thread of amusement: “Is it hard? Teach me. I’ll learn to take photos for you.”

A breeze swept past.

Lin Zhao pressed down her hat brim, her face mostly shadowed, revealing only her elegant, flowing jawline.

“Not hard. You’re quick to learn—it’ll be easy for you.”

Yes, his learning ability was indeed impressive.

Gu Chenghuai’s dark eyes deepened with amusement; he pedaled harder, accelerating.

Soon, they arrived at the photo studio.

The couple walked in side by side.

“Comrade, hello.”

The studio’s elderly master recognized Lin Zhao.

For one, the girl’s appearance was extraordinarily striking—once seen, hard to forget. For another, she spent lavishly, developing dozens of photos at a time, as if money were paper.

Assuming she’d come to collect her photos, the master cut her off immediately: “Not ready yet,” then lowered his head and returned to work.

“I know—it’ll be ready Sunday. I’m here to take photos,” Lin Zhao smiled.

"...?" Why bring a camera to a photo studio?!

Damn rich people.

The master’s face remained expressionless. “Wedding photos?”

“No, we’ve been married for years,” Lin Zhao said casually, pulling out her introduction letter and marriage certificate.

“?”

The master studied Lin Zhao again, scrutinizing her from every angle—he couldn’t believe she was married.

He carefully checked the introduction letter against the names on the marriage certificate, then finally believed it.

Hmm. She was from a nearby brigade.

“How many? Black-and-white or color?”

Gu Chenghuai said firmly: “Three sets. Both color and black-and-white.”

The master sighed inwardly again—youth today, spending money so freely.

He said nothing more, guiding the young couple inside to take photos.

In the studio, the master had seen many couples.

Others stood stiffly before the lens, distant and awkward, desperate to stay three meters apart—even when shoulders touched, they radiated estrangement, as if under threat of a blade.

This couple was utterly different.

The man was handsome; the woman was beautiful. Their looks and aura blended perfectly.

No matter how you looked, they were made for each other.

Compatibility was simply a feeling.

Not to mention, they didn’t treat the master as an outsider—

The woman clung to the man’s arm, her head lightly resting on his shoulder, smiling softly, her features like a painted scroll.

The young officer stood tall as a pine, his dark eyes intense and piercing, sharp as glinting blades—but when he looked at his wife, they melted like snow, overflowing with tenderness.

One hard, one soft.

“Woman, pay attention,” the master warned, gesturing for them to keep some distance.

Lin Zhao waved the marriage certificate. “It’s legal.”

“Of course I know it’s legal,” the master adjusted the tripod, giving her a look. “If it weren’t legal, you wouldn’t even be allowed in here. When it comes to relationships, just be careful.”

“We won’t tell anyone,” Lin Zhao argued.

She was just holding his arm—no neck-hugging, nothing excessive.

The master was reasonable enough to say: “Remember—don’t let anyone outside see this. Even small things get blown out of proportion.”

“Thank you,” Lin Zhao said sincerely.

The master waved his hand dismissively.

After taking the photos, paying, and collecting the receipt, the couple left.

The bicycle hadn’t gone five meters when Lin Zhao spotted a group of students walking toward them, blocking most of the road, arms raised high.

Chants rose in waves.

Lin Zhao frowned.

Slowly.

The two groups met.

The young students’ fanaticism was unmistakable.

At their head stood a thin boy with five or six large patches on his clothes, his face glowing with an unnatural radiance.

Seeing the couple ahead, his eyes flickered with hidden light, and he called out to stop them.

“You two—stop! Getting so close—are you engaging in improper relations? Do you have an introduction letter? Show me your marriage certificate!” His voice was sharp, commanding, brooking no refusal.

Lin Zhao leaned forward, scanning each of these students who had turned the county upside down. Her eyelashes trembled, her emotions tangled.

First time facing them head-on.

They looked barely ten or eleven—still middle schoolers—and yet their hostility was so intense.

No wonder Li Fen shook her head whenever she mentioned them, warning Lin Zhao to avoid them at all costs.

The road was fully blocked. Gu Chenghuai gripped the brakes, planted his left leg firmly, and swept his cold, piercing gaze over this band of insolent fools.

His face turned icy; a wave of killing intent surged out like a tide.

“Get lost!”

A battle-hardened veteran—how could he be intimidated by this?

Instantly.

The air froze.

Though the sun blazed high, the students felt their bodies turn cold.

As if an invisible force had clamped shut their throats, their blood thickened in their veins, and breathing became difficult.

“Move aside!” Another cold, slightly angry command followed.

The voice wasn’t loud, but everyone instinctively obeyed.

The Qibage unruly students stiffly shifted their limbs, obediently clearing a path.

Before someone who had truly seen blood, no one dared to be arrogant.

Gu Chenghuai withdrew his gaze, kicked off, and rode away with his wife.

Lin Zhao looked up and suddenly felt her husband’s figure growing taller, more majestic.

Even the back of his head looked better than anyone else’s.

After traveling a good distance, she noticed the man hadn’t spoken for a long while, then asked: “Why aren’t you talking?”

“Angry?”

Gu Chenghuai shook his head. “No.”

“Students should focus on studying. That defiant, combative attitude of theirs makes me furious,” he explained.

He and his comrades defended the country so ordinary people could live in peace and stability, so their fellow citizens could stand tall and proud—never wanting to see infighting.

“I know your thoughts, but we’re ordinary people. In the tide of the times, all we can do is ride the waves,” Lin Zhao hugged his waist and whispered.

She had no grand ambition to save others—she only wanted her family to live in peace.

The pressure from her grip melted away Gu Chenghuai’s icy demeanor.

He pressed his lips together, the irritation in his eyes vanishing completely.

“I understand what you mean. I just didn’t expect this wave to spread so fast.”

Lin Zhao patted his shoulder.

This was only the beginning. Things would only get more extreme. Those people were like bewitched, fighting one another as if fighting mattered more than filling their stomachs.

She thought to herself.

The original novel devoted considerable attention to these ten years—it was brutal.

“Zhaozhao, if you ever meet those people again, keep your distance,” Gu Chenghuai warned.

After speaking, he still felt uneasy and added: “Do you still remember the self-defense techniques I taught you?”

The self-defense techniques were taught right after they married.

The teaching process got a bit heated—before long, the two of them ended up kissing, cough, and those four kids were how they came to be.

“I remember.”

Gu Chenghuai’s brow relaxed. “Protect yourself. If you ever find yourself in a situation I can’t reach, go to Yang Jun. I’ve already spoken to him.”

Haicheng was in chaos—this wave of madness would rise anywhere. Since Zhaozhao worked in the county, he was naturally worried, so he’d already made the arrangements.

“Okay,” Lin Zhao replied obediently, not wanting to worry him.

As the couple talked, they returned to the village.

At the village entrance, they met four sent-down youths—two men, two women.

“Comrade Gu, Comrade Lin,” Song Qian greeted them warmly, his voice clear and smooth, dressed in a white shirt, slender and tall, looking elegant like a refined scholar.

Lin Zhao smiled in response.

In one glance, Gu Chenghuai instantly recognized him as the Song sent-down youth the two eldest boys had mentioned repeatedly.

He secretly compared himself to him.

His looks were decent.

But he was too thin—not Lin Zhao’s type.

“Mm,” he nodded calmly, then led his wife away.

The tall figure ahead radiated satisfaction.

Lin Zhao suppressed a laugh and said calmly: “Feeling better now?”

“What’s there to feel uneasy about?” Gu Chenghuai paused, a flicker of discomfort quickly passing through his eyes.

!!

Zhaozhao knew—he was competing with someone he’d never even met.

He cleared his throat slightly and said calmly: “I’m the best for you. The rich aren’t as handsome as me; those handsomer than me don’t have my physique. You’re the smartest girl—you know who to choose, right?”

“Pfft!!!” Lin Zhao burst out laughing.

She tapped his back with her fingertip, moving upward until she reached his shoulder, then gently pinched the back of his neck. “Stubborn as a duck. I know you too well.”

A guy who secretly compares himself and then gets jealous.

He was like this right after they married.

If she spoke to any young man from the village, he’d feel uneasy.

He never showed it during the day, but at night he’d deliberately tease her—so calculating.

The sweet, affectionate couple walked away, leaving the four sent-down youths stunned for a long while.

“Those two don’t look like country folk at all,” Meng Xiaoying lowered her eyes, afraid her envy and jealousy might slip through. “The twins’ mother suddenly got a job—even a good one as a salesclerk. Was that man… using his privileges to arrange it?”

Song Qian frowned, disapproving of this remark.

Because Meng had defended him earlier and taken a slap for it, he didn’t comment, only said: “It has nothing to do with us. Let’s go.”

Meng Xiaoying lowered her head, embarrassed.

The female sent-down youth Su Yi glanced at her through her bangs, then quickly looked away.

But the other male sent-down youth—

Wen Huayuan spoke bluntly: “If you have connections and don’t use them, you’re an idiot. I heard the twins’ father is a battalion commander—that’s not a low rank. The military gives special treatment to military wives; arranging a job isn’t surprising.”

“Besides,” he smiled at Meng Xiaoying, “who doesn’t use their connections? If your parents had any, wouldn’t they have found you a job instead of letting you go to the countryside?”

Meng Xiaoying’s face flushed crimson with shame—she wanted to dig a hole and bury herself.

Not wanting to be looked down upon by Song, she blushed and said: “...I spoke foolishly.”

Wen Huayuan nodded slightly, seeing her sincerity. “Everyone says things they don’t mean sometimes. The important thing is to reflect.”

Meng Xiaoying nodded vigorously.

Su Yi quietly glanced at Wen Huayuan, her peripheral vision sweeping over his patched, worn clothes, her gaze thoughtful.

Like her—pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger?

“Woof woof woof!”

Seeing the bicycle from afar, Dahuang and Hupo barked.

The twins, who had been watching Bangbang and Lai Mei play ping-pong, instantly brightened, pushed through the crowd, and ran toward their parents.

Erzai’s loud voice rang with excitement: “Mom, are we going to Grandma’s house?!”

Lin Zhao stepped off the bike and kissed each child’s forehead. The little ones’ faces were clean and fresh, slightly fragrant—no sweat at all.

“Why isn’t your face sweaty today?”

Dazai looked up. “My brother and I just washed up, applied Baby Cream, changed into clean clothes, and even scrubbed our sandals. Look, Mom.”

He lifted his right foot.

“So clean!” Lin Zhao stroked her eldest son’s cheek.

Dazai had become noticeably more cheerful—she was truly glad.

Erzai said proudly: “Mom, my brother and I washed Sanzai and Sizai too!”

“Oh, whose little angel is this?” Lin Zhao mimicked his tone, voice soft and smiling.

The twins instantly puffed out their chests.

“Gu family’s. Our dad’s and mom’s!” Dazai’s dark, bright eyes curved into a smile.

Erzai tugged one of his mother’s fingers, swaying it gently, speaking with surprising wisdom:

“Mom, when you go to your parents’ home, we have to wear our very best clothes to uphold your dignity. Dressing well lets Grandpa, Grandma, and your brothers know… we’re doing well. Which daughter wouldn’t want to return home with dignity? Mom, don’t be shy.”

“We’ll earn your face!”

He was so small, yet spoke like a little adult.

Dazai’s face was solemn, his expression serious and earnest: “When I grow up, I’ll fly a plane to take Mom back home, so everyone will envy you!”

Erzai jumped up, raising his right hand. “I’ll drive a big truck! I’ll drive Mom!”

Gu Chenghuai: “...” Where did this sudden sense of urgency come from?!

Trying to steal my presence, huh? Wait your turn.

The children’s innocent chatter was adorable and heartwarming. Lin Zhao laughed until she was doubled over. “Erzai, who told you that line about upholding your mother’s dignity?”

“Hehe!” Erzai rubbed his prickly head, proudly saying: “I heard Big Auntie talking to Second Auntie.”

His tone rose slightly, revealing a hint of smugness.

Lin Zhao smiled. “Look, your memory’s not bad at all. Still worrying you’re worse than your brother?”

Erzai loved being praised by his mother. He swung his hand. “Mom, praise me more often. I like it when you praise me.”

Lin Zhao pursed her lips and shook her head, teasing him: “No way. You’d get too full of yourself.”

“What’s ‘full of yourself’?” Erzai tilted his head.

Lin Zhao smiled. “It means being arrogant.”

Erzai lifted his little head, a clever grin on his face. “I’m not arrogant. Humility brings progress; arrogance brings decline. I’m a smart kid—I want to progress, so I won’t be arrogant.”

“Then you’re amazing!” Lin Zhao indulged him, praising him.

Erzai’s smile brightened. Seeing the cloth bag in her hand, he asked eagerly: “Mom, what’s in the bag? Let me carry it for you.”

He chattered on, words tumbling out: “What’s the point of having sons if not to use them? Mom, don’t be polite—you’re my mom! Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it.”

Lin Zhao’s heart felt warm.

This little one who came to repay kindness is so good, so good.

“This is a gift for San Zai.” She watched her son’s emotional changes closely.

Er Zai looked up. “Why did Mama suddenly buy a gift for San Zai?”

“Because I felt your father’s gift didn’t consider San Zai, so I’m giving him a supplementary one,” Lin Zhao patiently explained to the two boys.

She added, “Do you two have any complaints? If you feel it’s unfair or uncomfortable, say it outright.”

Da Zai spoke first: “Mama, I have no complaints.”

“Neither do I. My brother and I have ping pong to play with, but San Zai doesn’t. Mama giving him a gift is fair—I have no complaints.” Er Zai had even defended his brother at lunch.

Gu Chenghuai feared being labeled biased and quickly clarified: “Zhao Zhao, the dictionary, the little picture books, and the ping pong table are for all three boys.”

“You considered Si Zai’s young age, but not San Zai’s,” Lin Zhao gently lifted the brim of her hat with her finger, her beautiful eyes fixed on Gu Chenghuai. “Don’t do this again. Strive for equal fairness—our four children are all treasures; none can be ignored.”

Da Zai defended his father: “Mama, Dad already apologized to San Zai. He even said he’ll make San Zai a wooden car himself!”

Lin Zhao was stunned, then pleasantly surprised. “Gu Chenghuai, you know carpentry?”

Gu Chenghuai looked approvingly at his eldest son, a faint smile touching his eyes, his expression calm. “A little.”

“It’s not just a little! Dad made slingshots for me and Brother too! Dad’s slingshots are so beautiful—better than Yuan Bao’s father’s!” Er Zai beamed brightly.

“...Sorry, I misunderstood you,” Lin Zhao’s expression softened, and she apologized.

The twins watched, thoughtful.

“No misunderstanding—I realized it on my way back,” Gu Chenghuai admitted he’d been careless.

Especially when he remembered San Zai’s happy little face upon hearing he’d make him a little car—he now understood his wife hadn’t exaggerated at all.

As they spoke, the family of four reached the Gu household gate.

The ping pong table had been set up at the doorway, neatly and properly.

Around it gathered many adults and children, occasionally exclaiming “Wow!”

In the center, Bang Bang and Lai Mei were sweating as they played.

Lin Zhao immediately spotted the little dumpling sitting on the doorframe, head bowed, chubby cheeks puffed out, earnestly flipping through the dictionary.

“San Zai, look what Mama brought you.”

Today there’s a small extra update—over 1k words. I’ve got things this week, but I’ll give you all extra updates next week. Muah! (`)

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