Chapter 5: Ming Rong

The next day, Shen Zhongshan personally called the unit where Shen Mingzheng was stationed, only to learn that he had been sent on a mission and no one knew when he would return.

Feng Min was deeply disappointed but had no choice but to give up.

Gu Xi was unaware of all this. She rested at the Shen family home for three days.

Those three days passed in a haze; she couldn’t summon any energy and spent most of the time sleeping, as if making up for the sleepless decades she had endured as a Ghost.

The Shen family didn’t know the truth and assumed she was seriously ill this time, so they let her rest well.

On the third day, Shen Mingrong came back.

He was brought home by one of Old Master Shen’s Guards, who left immediately after dropping him off.

Shen Mingrong walked in with a quick tap-tap-tap of his footsteps, and when he saw Gu Xi sitting on the sofa drinking medicine, his eyes lit up. He happily rushed over: “Sister Xi, when did you get here? If I’d known you were here, I would have come back sooner.”

Although he enjoyed being at his grandfather’s house, Old Master Shen liked to train the children there in the same rigorous manner as soldiers—strict routines, physical training—and for a kid who loved to play and sleep in, it was torture.

Luckily, Grandmother cared for him and would argue with Old Master Shen on his behalf, which offered some comfort.

He also had Cousin Cheng to run wild with, almost making him forget about everything else.

Gu Xi smiled at him and reached out to embrace the boy who had just barreled toward her.

The ten-year-old was strong and sturdy, running drills every day with his cousin and coming at her like a small cannonball, making Wang Auntie’s heart leap.

Thankfully, Gu Xi held him firmly and wasn’t knocked to the floor.

Back when Feng Min had returned to her hometown for a visit, she brought along little Shen Mingrong. The five-year-old was terrified when he suddenly saw his mother get hurt, and Gu Xi stayed by his side the entire time, comforting him.

Shen Mingrong grew very attached to Gu Xi.

It was actually Shen Mingrong who first mentioned wanting an older sister, which made Feng Min consider adopting Gu Xi.

Though they were not blood-related siblings, their bond was as close as if they were.

Wang Auntie brought out the cut fruit and couldn’t help but smile at the sight of them chattering away on the sofa.

It was always Shen Mingrong doing the talking, with Gu Xi listening patiently.

Even at such a young age, Shen Mingrong was a chatterbox. Sometimes even his own mother found him annoying, but Gu Xi never minded and actually enjoyed hearing him talk.

“Sister Xi, Sister Xi, I found something really cool at Grandpa’s place this time. Guess what it is?”

Shen Mingrong was bursting with excitement and eager to share.

Gu Xi played along: “I can’t guess. Tell me.”

As expected, the boy’s need to talk was satisfied, and his little mouth chattered nonstop: “Cousin Cheng and Cousin Qi took me to the shooting range on the outskirts, and I got to touch some big stuff…”

Gu Xi was surprised but, seeing his flushed face, she understood.

Boys naturally have a fondness for weapons, and in a family like the Shens, it was only normal to grow up immersed in that world.

“Did you get hurt?”

She asked worriedly, eyeing the boy carefully.

“Nope,” Shen Mingrong pouted.

“Cousin Qi and Cousin Cheng only let me touch them a few times. They said I have to wait until I’m as big as they are before I get to handle them properly.”

The “Cousin Qi” he mentioned was Shen Mingqi, the youngest son of the Shen family’s main branch and eight years older than Shen Mingrong.

Cousin Cheng, like Shen Mingqi, was also a child from the compound, his father being the Political Commissar. These kids had grown up together and were unusually close.

As they talked, Feng Min and her husband returned from work.

Shen Mingrong, seeing his mother, fluttered over like a lively butterfly and hugged her enthusiastically. He sweetly said, “Mom, your favorite little son is back. Aren’t you happy?”

Then he smiled sweetly at his father, “Dad, your favorite little son has returned.”

Shen Zhongshan frowned, looking stern: “Stand properly. What kind of behavior is that?”

He ignored the “favorite little son” remarks, unable to understand why his child could speak so openly about love and affection—it was utterly improper. He had no idea where the boy had learned such things.

Luckily, Shen Mingrong only said things like that at home. Outside, he behaved more properly.

The boy quickly straightened up and gave a military salute, looking quite the part.

But as soon as Shen Zhongshan turned away, his true nature showed again. He cheerfully grabbed his mother’s hand and jabbered endlessly, filling the whole room with his voice, which gave Feng Min a splitting headache, as if several bees were buzzing right next to her ear.

She tapped his little head, “Alright, alright, stop talking and be quiet.”

Shen Mingrong was sulky after being scolded by his mother and promptly ran off to chat with Gu Xi.

Gu Xi smiled and gently stroked his head before heading to the kitchen to help Wang Auntie with the cooking. But after only a short while, Wang Auntie shooed her out.

“You’re still not fully recovered. Go rest and don’t overexert yourself.”

There were few people in the Shen family household, and Wang Auntie could handle all the cooking herself; there was no need for Gu Xi’s help.

Hearing this, Shen Mingrong looked up at Gu Xi with a concerned face.

Both Shen Zhongshan and Feng Min were standard handsome and beautiful types, so their children were good-looking too. At ten, Shen Mingrong was already a little charmer, and all the girls in the compound liked to play with him.

He furrowed his brows and said, “Sister Xi, are you sick again?”

“Uh… I’m almost better,” Gu Xi emphasized, “It was just an accident.”

The boy sighed like a little adult, “Then you have to take good care of yourself. Don’t get sick again. Being sick is no fun and you have to take bitter medicine.”

He thought of the bowls of dark, bitter medicine she drank and looked at her with a mixture of respect and sympathy.

Sister Xi swallowing that without flinching was basically a heroine.

During the meal, Shen Mingrong’s mouth didn’t stop. He talked about everything he did at Grandpa’s house—what he played, ate, saw…

Both Shen Zhongshan and Feng Min didn’t even have to ask to know how their youngest son’s life was going.

After dinner, everyone sat on the sofa chatting.

Suddenly, Shen Mingrong said, “Mom, Grandma asked when big brother is coming back?”

“What’s the matter?”

Feng Min asked casually.

“Your grandmother wants to see Mingzheng?”

Shen Mingrong said loudly, “Yeah! Grandma said my big brother is no longer young and it’s time to get married. Sister Xi has already graduated. Is she going to marry my brother?”

Gu Xi choked on her medicine, coughing violently.

Feng Min quickly patted her back and gave her son a stern look, telling him not to say such things in front of a young lady—it was embarrassing.

Young women were sensitive, and even mentioning these matters couldn’t be so direct.

Shen Mingrong looked bewildered by his mother’s glare. He scratched his head and then looked at his father.

Shen Zhongshan raised his newspaper, unwilling to deal with this clueless youngest son.

Gu Xi finally recovered and hurriedly finished the rest of her medicine before going back to her room.

Downstairs, Feng Min scolded her youngest son, telling him not to speak so bluntly in the future. Gu Xi was sensitive, and such questions couldn’t be asked so directly.

Shen Mingrong didn’t understand.

“But Sister Xi and my big brother already have a marriage agreement, right? They’ll get married sooner or later!”

Feng Min pointed a finger at him and sighed, patting her own forehead helplessly.

This was why she preferred daughters. Her two sons— the older one was just like Old Comrade Shen, even more cold and domineering, always scheming and making their own mother’s life miserable; the younger son had a sweet mouth but was straightforward and careless about when to speak, sometimes driving people crazy.

Shen Mingrong was unaware of his mother’s exasperation and honestly relayed Grandma’s words: “Grandma said big brother is already twenty-seven this year and should consider marriage. She asked what plans you have. What does Sister Xi want? To continue studying or get married…”

He added, “It would be good if Sister Xi marries my brother because then she’d be part of our family and wouldn’t have to go back to the Gu family.”

This struck a chord with Feng Min. She nodded, “That’s exactly what I think too. It’s just that your brother is on a mission and we don’t know when he’ll return. Once he’s back, I’ll call him and get him to come home for the wedding.”

Shen Mingrong clenched his fists and said solemnly, “That’s just how my brother is. He’s a steadfast Communist Fighter. As long as the country needs him, he’ll go without hesitation. We have to understand him!”

Feng Min laughed and gave him a pat on the back of the head.

***

Gu Xi was not as shy as Feng Min thought; she was actually very calm.

Back in her room, she pondered over the matter.

She recalled that in her previous life, after her death, Shen Mingzheng had never married, feeling lifelong guilt over her passing, which made her heart ache.

When the marriage agreement was made, Shen Zhongshan and Feng Min had never asked for Shen Mingzheng’s opinion.

In these five years, she had only met Shen Mingzheng twice—once on the day the agreement was arranged, and once two years ago.

Both times, Shen Mingzheng was in and out quickly, never spending a night at home.

If they had any feelings, it certainly wasn’t romantic.

Men in the Shen family were responsible and upright, with impeccable character. That was why Shen Mingzheng’s lifelong bachelorhood out of guilt was understandable.

Her health was poor, and she didn’t know if she would live long this time. She definitely couldn’t hold Shen Mingzheng back—the engagement shouldn’t have existed in the first place.

Actually, if she had been adopted by the Shen family as Feng Auntie’s foster daughter back then, that would have been better—there would have been no need to sacrifice Shen Mingzheng’s marriage.

Unfortunately, it was just that close.

Though conflicted inside, Gu Xi showed no sign of it on the surface.

Having taken the Chinese medicine for several days and feeling somewhat better, she planned to leave.

“You want to go back?” Feng Min said, clearly disapproving.

“Why? It’s summer vacation anyway. You should stay here and tutor Mingrong so he doesn’t run around all day.”

Although annoyed by the Gu family’s favoritism and wanting to support her, Feng Min hoped Gu Xi would stay here, away from those people, living a good life and recuperating properly.

Gu Xi thought for a moment, “Then I’ll go back and bring some luggage over.”

Though there were clothes at the Shen home, she only stayed here for a day or two at a time. If she stayed longer, she’d need more things.

“Okay,” Feng Min smiled.

“I’ll take the day off tomorrow and go with you.”

“No, no, I can manage on my own,” Gu Xi quickly declined.

Seeing her insist, Feng Min gave up and said, “Then go back and pack some things and come over. When you have a day off, I’ll take you to see the Doctor.”

Gu Xi’s health was weaker than normal because she hadn’t been properly cared for since childhood and needed good recuperation.

Gu Xi hesitated a moment before saying, “I want to take care of some things first and will come over in a few days.”