Zou Liang thought she didn't want to be interviewed and pleaded in a low voice, "We're old acquaintances, aren't we? Just help me out this time. I've been waiting here for three days, which shows my sincerity, right? Just help a friend this once, and I promise it won't take long."
Chen Lishu, unable to refuse and glancing at Rui Rui standing beside her, said to Zou Liang, "It's too cold outside. Why don't you give me your newspaper's address? I'll come find you tomorrow."
"That's very kind!" Zou Liang said excitedly. He quickly took out paper and pen from his chest pocket. Because it was cold and the fountain pen was reluctant to write, he blew on it and shook it a couple of times before scribbling down the address.
"Just give my name when you get there."
Chen Lishu nodded, took the paper he handed her, and tucked it into her pocket. After parting with Zou Liang, she led Rui Rui into the military dependents' area.
The house was just as she had left it after being away for over ten days. 'Da Wang' was dozing on the mat. Hearing the door open, he stretched his two-foot-long body, gave a big yawn, and then lazily got off the mat. He strolled out from the inner room with a cat-like gait.
Seeing Chen Lishu and Rui Rui, he meowed a greeting, then turned and padded back into the room.
After taking off Rui Rui's coat and letting him play, Chen Lishu changed into her home clothes and started putting away the things she had brought back.
When she opened the bag Li Xiulan had given her, Chen Lishu discovered it was filled with quite a lot of things. Da Feng Novel Network.
Frozen pork, potato noodles, as well as melon seeds, peanuts, and goji berries. No wonder Chen Lishu felt it was so heavy all the way back. With so many items, a family of three could eat for quite some time.
On the training ground, the soldiers had just finished a drill and were resting in place.
"Hey, did you guys hear? The second battalion commander has invitations for a social event with the cultural troupe," Wang Dazhu said, raising his eyebrows and giving everyone a knowing look.
The soldiers around them immediately became excited.
"Dazhu, is that true?"
"What are you talking about? Who is Wang Dazhu? I'm the information hub of our battalion. This news is absolutely reliable. Don't you forget, our Commander Zhou's wife is in the cultural troupe. This matter is not wrong."
"That's the cultural troupe. Haven't you seen the girls when they came to perform at our battalion last time? They were all so lively. If they call it a social event, to put it plainly, it's just a matchmaking event. If only I had the chance to go."
"You? Even if they gave you an invitation, it would be useless. Your appearance isn't up to par. I, however, could go. Hey, with this physique, these conditions, I'm sure those girls would stare."
Li Weimin, standing nearby, couldn't help but pour cold water on their enthusiasm. "Dream on. Stop dreaming with your eyes open. Think about how to complete the tasks assigned by the commander later."
Wang Dazhu asked with a chuckle, "Company Commander, those are all young, straight girls from the cultural troupe. Don't you want to go?"
Li Weimin gave him a look. "I want to, but what's the use of wanting? Do you have an invitation?"
A young soldier's eyes darted around. He ingratiatingly said to Li Weimin, "Company Commander, why don't you go talk to our battalion commander and ask him to get us a couple of invitations?"
"Are you tired of living?" Li Weimin raised his hand unhappily and swatted the back of the young soldier's head.
The young soldier also felt his suggestion was a bit excessive. He didn't dare to make a sound after being hit.
...
On the other side, Gu Xingdong knocked twice on the door. Before Zhou Liang could call him in, he had already pushed the door open and entered with measured steps.
"Old Zhou, busy?"
Zhou Liang's heart skipped a beat at Gu Xingdong's amiable smile. "Old Gu, just say what you need."
Gu Xingdong nodded and got straight to the point. "Give me a few invitations."
Zhou Liang thought to himself, "As expected." He then asked knowingly, "What invitations?"
Gu Xingdong pulled over a stool and sat down. "The invitations for the cultural troupe's social event."
"Oh, you mean that? I only have a few, and they've all been given out."
Gu Xingdong looked at him with a half-smile and remained silent.
Zhou Liang felt a bit guilty. "There really aren't many. My wife only managed to get four."
"I'm not being greedy, just give me two."
Zhou Liang almost spat blood. Is this not greedy? "No, at most one. I've already promised them out, so I can't go back on my word."
"Our relationship isn't so stingy, is it? If I manage to get invitations, I'll definitely share half with you." Gu Xingdong looked at Zhou Liang with a serious expression, his meaning clear: you decide.
Zhou Liang was taken aback. These were invitations to the cultural troupe. If you, Gu Xingdong, could get them, would you come to beg me? After hesitating for a long time, Zhou Liang finally gritted his teeth, took two invitations from the drawer, and threw them on the table. "Hurry up and take your things and leave."
"You're the best." Gu Xingdong pocketed the invitations with a smile. "Don't worry, I'll give you a big red envelope when our son is born."
Zhou Liang smiled helplessly. "If you could just bother me less, I'd be eternally grateful."
...
"Report!"
Li Weimin stood at the door of Gu Xingdong's office, feeling a little anxious. He thought that he had been training quite actively lately and hadn't made any mistakes, so he didn't know why Gu Xingdong had suddenly called him over.
"Come in."
As Gu Xingdong called him in, Li Weimin pushed open the door and walked in. "Battalion Commander, did you call for me?"
Gu Xingdong nodded towards the invitations on the desk. "There are two. They're for next Sunday. See who can go and have a look when they're not on duty."
Li Weimin looked over curiously. When he saw that they were invitations for the cultural troupe's social event, his eyes widened. "Battalion Commander, how did you get them?"
Seeing his look of disbelief, Gu Xingdong raised an eyebrow and said dismissively, "What a reaction. Hurry up and take your things and leave."
"Yes." Li Weimin happily picked up the invitations from the desk and left.
"Remember to tidy yourself up. Don't embarrass our battalion."
...
In the evening, Chen Lishu cooked rice and made stewed pork with noodles, as well as cold shredded potato salad.
When Gu Xingdong returned, the meal was just being served. He quickly took off his shoes and went to the bathroom to wash his hands.
"What time did you get home?"
"Around noon. The two of us took a nap this afternoon."
Gu Xingdong reached out and rubbed Rui Rui's little head. "How was it playing at Grandpa and Grandma's house? Were you happy?"
"Brother Xiaosong gave me a lot of treasures," Rui Rui said to Gu Xingdong, listing them one by one.
"Eat quickly. We'll talk after you're done, otherwise, the food will get cold." Seeing the father and son chatting happily, Chen Lishu had to remind them.
After dinner, Chen Lishu cleaned up the kitchen. When she looked back, Rui Rui was showing Gu Xingdong the treasures he had received one by one. Gu Xingdong asked a question or two from time to time, and Rui Rui became even more animated, his little face slightly flushed, his bright eyes like stars shining in the night sky.
Gu Xingdong turned his head and happened to see Chen Lishu standing at the door, smiling at them. The dim lamplight cast a soft glow on her cheeks, and her gentle eyes made one want to get closer.
After finally coaxing Rui Rui to sleep, Gu Xingdong eagerly returned to his room.
The separation had made the reunion even sweeter. Before Chen Lishu could react, she felt a weight on her...