Volume One, Chapter 10: Her Uncle Sold Her?

They entered the house and sat down to have tea.

Looking at the pile of gifts on the floor, Zhao Shilan felt both happy and distressed. "You shouldn't have brought so much just for a visit..."

There were so many gifts that it rivaled a formal marriage proposal. It was even more than what Yang Huaidong had brought the first time he came to court her daughter, Tingting. She wondered which family this young man came from; his circumstances must be quite good.

Gu Chengfeng sat upright next to Shen Sisi, his powerful waist held straight. He followed Shen Sisi in addressing Zhao Shilan as "Aunt," his demeanor polite and courteous, a complete transformation from his earlier sharpness.

"Aunt, this is just a small token of my appreciation for how you have looked after Sisi all these years," Gu Chengfeng said, setting aside his edge and speaking with measured grace.

Shen Sisi sat down holding Niuniu. Parched, she picked up an enamel mug, blew on the tea leaves on the surface, and took a pretend sip.

Zhao Shilan had a very good impression of this young man. She glanced at Shen Sisi and said in a chiding tone, "Don't just drink tea; take care of Comrade Gu."

Shen Sisi nearly choked. Immediately after, her aunt’s barrage of questions began: "Young Gu is a fine man, polite and attentive... Tell me, how did you two meet?"

They had only just met, and her aunt already knew so much about him? As for how they met... Shen Sisi’s face turned bright red. She certainly couldn't say that she had run into danger during a blind date and that Gu Chengfeng had descended like a guardian deity to save her!

As she lowered her head, unsure of how to reply, Gu Chengfeng smiled with composed ease. "I am a student of Teacher Shen, so I have known Sisi for some time."

The single sentence brushed over the topic, explaining everything and nothing at the same time. He then shifted the conversation, casting a subtle glance toward Shen Sisi. "By the way, Niuniu seems a bit sleepy. Why don't you and your aunt go attend to the child?"

Shen Sisi frowned; it was obvious he wanted to get them out of the way. Could it be that he wanted to talk to her uncle alone? She knew her uncle was an unreasonable man, and Gu Chengfeng had a fiery temper. If they didn't see eye to eye, a fight might break out. She wasn't worried about Gu Chengfeng getting hurt in a fight, but she feared he would face disciplinary action for using violence.

"Is there something you can't say in front of me and my aunt?" Shen Sisi asked anxiously.

Gu Chengfeng raised an eyebrow mischievously. Ignoring the presence of Zhao Shilan and Chen Jianguo, he leaned in close to her ear. "It’s about our marriage, of course..."

His scorching breath felt intense, making Shen Sisi feel as if she had been burned. She instinctively pulled back, and after a long moment, she leaned toward the man in front of her, whispering in a tone only the two of them could hear, "You don't know my uncle well. He is very difficult to deal with. I’m afraid..."

Gu Chengfeng’s eyes held a hint of a smile. "Don't worry. I can handle any enemy, no matter how troublesome. Go look after Niuniu. I guarantee your uncle will be happy to see you off when we leave."

Shen Sisi felt he was being far too optimistic; he hadn't seen how stubborn and unreasonable her uncle could be. She was about to speak again, but Zhao Shilan tactfully pulled her away.

"Sisi, come inside with me. I have something to ask you."

As the door closed, Shen Sisi was temporarily cut off from the outside world. Her eyes showed unease, and her brows remained tightly furrowed.

"Mommy, sleepy..." Niuniu yawned, squirming uncomfortably in her arms, her eyelids struggling to stay open.

Shen Sisi quickly bent down to set Niuniu on the bed, her fingers deftly unbuttoning the child's cotton jacket. She removed the little one's outer clothes, helped her use the potty, tucked her into the quilt, and carefully smoothed the corners. Having been out on a blind date since early morning, the little girl was exhausted and fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow.

As soon as the child closed her eyes, Zhao Shilan pulled her to sit at the table.

"Sisi, be honest with your aunt. What does Comrade Gu’s family do, and what is really going on with you two?" Zhao Shilan was a perceptive woman; she could see at a glance that Gu Chengfeng’s feelings for Shen Sisi were far from ordinary.

Shen Sisi took a deep breath, staring at Niuniu in a daze. "I don't know much about his family background. Since he is in the military and has reached the rank of battalion commander, his family status must be fine. As for the rest... Aunt, it’s just a marriage of convenience. We are getting what we need from each other."

"A marriage of convenience?" Zhao Shilan found the term quite novel.

"It's just teaming up to get by. I need his urban household registration so I can take Niuniu to the city for medical treatment; he happens to need a wife. We just saw eye to eye, that’s all," Shen Sisi said dismissively.

Although Zhao Shilan hadn't had much schooling and wasn't as clever as Sisi’s mother, she was an experienced woman who saw things clearly.

"Comrade Gu is a soldier; his situation must be quite good. Not to mention his build and appearance—the line of people chasing him could stretch for a mile. He could find a pure, untouched girl with his eyes closed. How could he possibly..." She didn't mean to hurt Shen Sisi, but the words slipped out.

Shen Sisi pressed her lips together, her expression heavy and somber. If he hadn't been injured, he would be a golden boy, and it certainly wouldn't have been her turn. But could she tell her aunt that? No.

Shen Sisi sighed helplessly. "Don't ask anymore. In any case, we have already discussed it and reported it to the political commissar. We are just waiting for the paperwork to go through."

Zhao Shilan knew that Sisi had always been independent since she was young, but she hadn't expected her to make such a major decision about marriage so quickly. It seemed Niuniu’s condition was really taking a turn for the worse.

She turned to look at the sickly little girl on the bed. Even in her sleep, the child’s brow was furrowed, and her breathing carried the wheezing sound of phlegm in her lungs; it was truly painful to watch. She looked at Shen Sisi, who had once been such a bright and spirited girl, a little princess raised on a pedestal. Everything had changed in the years she had been sent to the countryside.

"I understand your suffering, Sisi. I don't have much to give you, but I’ve secretly saved up a hundred yuan, intending to buy you bedsheets and quilts when you got married. Take this money and use it sparingly; it's all I have."

Shen Sisi knew that Zhao Shilan had been heavily exploited by Chen Jianguo over the years and had paid off many of his debts. Seeing her about to stand up and reach into her pocket, Shen Sisi quickly held her back. "It's alright, Aunt. I understand your situation. It's the thought that counts. I don't want your money; I just want to get back the jade pendant my mother left me..."

That jade was the only thing that had escaped the raids back then, and it was the heirloom and dowry her mother had left for her.

Upon hearing the mention of the jade, Zhao Shilan’s expression stiffened. Her eyes instinctively darted away, avoiding Shen Sisi’s gaze. "I'll have to go back to the old house to look for that jade. Don't worry, I will definitely find it for you!"

With her aunt’s assurance, Shen Sisi felt relieved. "It's okay, there's no rush."

The two chatted for a while longer until, suddenly, there was a commotion outside, sounding like a teacup being knocked over. A sense of foreboding rose in Shen Sisi’s heart, and she quickly got up to open the door.

In the living room, Chen Jianguo had stood up in excitement, knocking over his teacup, a grin revealing his teeth. This obsequious, fawning expression was a complete 180-degree turn from his previous attitude, which shocked Shen Sisi.

He gripped Gu Chengfeng’s hand, shaking it repeatedly. "Well then, Comrade Gu, I shall wait for your good news."

Shen Sisi’s mouth fell open in surprise. What good news? What on earth had they been talking about?

Gu Chengfeng’s eyes crinkled at the corners, and he smiled with a deep, hidden meaning, masking a faint trace of lethal intent. "Rest assured, I, Gu Chengfeng, always keep my word. As for you, Uncle, you should start preparing Sisi’s dowry."

"Easy enough. If you can truly pull it off, I guarantee Sisi’s dowry will be no less than Tingting’s."

Shen Sisi’s hesitant expression froze, and then her face changed drastically. A dowry? Had her uncle just "sold" her?

She was about to interrupt, but Gu Chengfeng cast a restraining look in her direction and gave a subtle shake of his head, signaling her not to be impulsive.