Go back to the prosperous days and become a layman

Chapter 531 Chapter 530 "Misunderstanding"

Xiao Wang was not prepared for Zhang Ye's reply, and did not dare to ask more questions. He sighed and said, "Let's go find Master Gao. He can always make things clear."

At this moment, Gao Dashan had been helped up by the public security comrades. He was sitting on the steps, smoking a cigarette with a sad face and not saying a word.

Gao Dashan scratched his head from time to time, and he couldn't figure out why a "fiancée" suddenly appeared? How could he, as the person involved, not know anything about it?

The public security comrade next to him was in so much agony. He was just trying to help others, but ended up almost becoming a missing person. Now he couldn't decide whether to stay or leave.

Fortunately, classmate Xiao Wang was very helpful. Within the time it took to smoke a cigarette, he had already taken Zhang Ye's arm, helped Zhang Ye carry the bag, and walked in through the gate.

Seeing this, Gao Dashan didn't care about saving money and threw the cigarette butt directly on the ground. He stretched out his hand and said, "It's cold outside. Come on, let's go inside and talk."

A bunch of little kids who were not afraid of the cold witnessed this scene in the yard and started to make a noise: "Oh~ Grandpa Gao picked up a wife~"

"You little bastards, stop making trouble! I'll beat you up when I catch you!" Gao Dashan was embarrassed. If word of this got out, it wouldn't matter to him as a man, but how would Zhang Ye, a girl, survive?

"Comrade Gao, you guys have a good chat. There's nothing you can't talk about. I won't bother you anymore." The public security comrade didn't want to get involved in such matters. Now that he saw Zhang Ye return safely, he planned to leave.

"Come back! Let's talk it out first. What's the point of leaving me, a grown man, behind if you leave?" Gao Dashan was upset. He was still friendly to Zhang Ye, but he looked less friendly to the young man in front of him.

Hearing Gao Dashan's aggressive tone, the public security comrade felt unhappy. He had just been wrongly accused of him. It would have been fine if he hadn't apologized, but now he had this face. Who was he looking down on?
Student Xiao Wang saw that the situation was going out of control, so he spoke up to help Gao Dashan: "Comrade, which police station are you from? What's your name? We in the Women's Federation are Gao Dashan's maternal family. If you send your maternal family's relatives here, we have to send a letter of praise to your unit."

"This...how can I say this?" When the public security comrade heard what Xiao Wang said, he felt relieved. Although the letter of commendation did not earn much money, few people in his unit would receive one throughout the year. This letter was an important basis for evaluating "advanced individuals" within the system at the end of the year.

"What's there to be embarrassed about? You've done good things, so shouldn't you be praised? You tell me, and I'll write it down." Student Wang didn't pretend. He immediately picked up the chalk on the windowsill and wrote "thank you" on the small blackboard.

"I... I'm Shu Qingcheng from the railway station police station. Shu means comfortable, Qing means celebrating, and Cheng means successful." With the letter of praise hanging in front of him, Shu Qingcheng was too lazy to get angry with Gao Dashan, so he stopped being pretentious and readily reported his work unit and name.

"This is a great name. It shows that there is a wise man in the family." Student Wang quickly wrote on the blackboard, "Thanks to Comrade Shu Qingcheng from the Railway Station Police Station!"

After receiving the compliment, Shu Qingcheng just giggled foolishly and did not dare to look at Xiao Wang, because this girl was too beautiful and dazzling.

After Xiao Wang's words, Gao Dashan realized that his tone was a bit harsh, so he softened his tone when he spoke again: "It's quite cold outside, come in and have a drink of water."

Nominally they were there to drink water, but Gao Dashan was used to being alone, and there were no teapots or tea bowls here, so he finally took out his rice bowl and poured a bowl of water for everyone.

"Ye Zi, is your sister-in-law okay?" Gao Dashan had been corresponding with the Zhang family via correspondence. He knew that the old lady had passed away a few years ago, leaving only the two sisters-in-law in the family.

"My sister-in-law observed mourning for my brother for three years and remarried a while ago." Zhang Ye sat stiffly beside Gao Dashan's bed, holding the enamel pot that Gao Dashan often used in his hand, and said.

"Okay, that's great, your sister-in-law is a loyal person. Zhang Shu doesn't have a child, so there's no reason for him to stay with him for his whole life. That's what your brother meant before he died." Gao Dashan nodded, quite satisfied with the result.

Looking at Zhang Ye in front of him, Gao Dashan couldn't help but think of Zhang Shu, a very good young man.

Zhang Shu was a soldier under Gao Dashan and died on the battlefield before the armistice of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.

Zhang Shu had one of his arms cut off by shrapnel. He used a bandage to bind up the broken bones and persevered until he defeated the enemy.

As soon as the gunfire stopped, he felt very unwell, because there were other bleeding points on his body that had not been discovered, and he had lost a lot of blood.

Before he died, Zhang Shu held Gao Dashan's hand and said, "Platoon leader, I feel a little cold."

"Wear mine, I'll take off my clothes for you!" Gao Dashan wanted to pull his hand away and take off his cotton jacket for him.

But Zhang Shu tightly grasped Gao Dashan's hand and refused to let go: "Platoon leader, I know I can't make it. I have a letter in my arms. Please help me mail it. My wife is still young. Tell her not to stay with me and to remarry."

"That's all nonsense. How old are you? You can still be cured. The stretcher team will be here soon. You have to hold on. Your family is waiting for you. You will have children in the future, and you will leave descendants for the Zhang family!" Gao Dashan encouraged his comrades.

"No, no..." After giving the instructions, Zhang Shu felt weak in his hands and murmured, "I really want to drink another sip of the spicy soup my mother made..."

Thinking of his fallen comrades, Gao Dashan turned his head and wiped away his tears: "Ye Zi, your brother is gone, and I am your brother. As long as I eat, you will never starve."

After hearing what Gao Dashan said, Xiao Wang thought something bad was going to happen!

Sure enough, Zhang Ye, who had just calmed down, started crying again.

Just now when Zhang Ye said that there was no one at home, Xiao Wang did not dare to ask further. Now it seems that it is not what he thought.

The matter could not be left to the old man to continue, so Xiao Wang said, "Uncle Gao, look at Ye Zi, she has come all the way here, do you have anything to eat? Let her have a bite first."

"Yes, yes! Look at my brain, I'll get it right away." Gao Dashan took out a bag of peach cakes from under the tableware next to him, limped over, opened it and handed it to Zhang Ye: "Come on, Ye Zi, eat something first."

Zhang Ye looked at Gao Dashan, then at classmate Xiao Wang, before he cautiously put down the enamel pot and picked up a piece of food. He held it under his other hand and began to eat it in small bites. After two bites, he lost his manners and started eating in big mouthfuls.

"Eat slowly and don't choke. These are all yours." Gao Dashan saw this and felt bad.

Zhang Ye nodded, and ate a little slower, but stopped after eating two pieces: "Brother Dashan, I don't want to eat anymore."

"Eat, eat, I still have some." Gao Dashan didn't put it away, but kept persuading him.

Zhang Ye shook his head, wrapped it up, and gave it back to Gao Dashan: "There is still a long way to go."

"Ye Zi really knows how to live." Xiao Wang praised her from the side. He didn't intend to give the right to speak to Gao Dashan again, otherwise there would be no result today. He then asked: "What did your brother tell you about marriage?"

"My brother wrote in the letter that I'm getting old and I have to talk to others." At this point, Zhang Ye secretly glanced at Gao Dashan and continued shyly: "My brother went on to say that Platoon Leader Gao looks a bit old, but he is a very good person and never hits anyone."

"Hey, this kid is actually making up stories about me in the letter." Gao Dashan laughed when he heard it, as if he saw that honest and brave young man again.

"What else did you say?" Xiao Wang felt that it was far-fetched to say there was an engagement based on just a few words.

"Hello, Platoon Leader Gao. When I am gone, I will tell Platoon Leader Gao if I have any problems at home.

"Said Platoon Leader Gao himself, he will definitely not ignore it." Zhang Ye felt a little embarrassed when he said this, he lowered his head, and twisted the tassels on his scarf with his fingers...

Xiao Wang thought Gao Dashan had said it correctly, but Zhang Ye's understanding seemed to be wrong. "Yes, I did say that. Every time before going to the battlefield, I would say that. In fact, it's not just me, everyone says that the living should try their best to take care of the family members of the deceased." Gao Dashan admitted frankly.

"The accountant who read the letter said that my brother was looking for a wife for me.

I later wrote to you, telling you that I had been taking care of my mother at home for two years, and you said you supported my decision.

Later, my mother passed away, and my sister-in-law had to observe mourning for my brother. I was worried, so I wrote to you saying that I would accompany my sister-in-law to observe mourning for my mother for three years, and you agreed.

Now the mourning period is over, my sister-in-law has bought me a red cotton-padded jacket, and I have come here, so why don’t you recognize me?”

When Zhang Ye heard Gao Dashan say this, he became anxious and tears started to fall from his eyes.

"I was... I was..." Gao Dashan was also anxious, because he was helping his comrades-in-arms to take care of their elderly and orphans.

Zhang Ye wants to stay at home to take care of her mother, that's no problem, she is definitely willing to do so.

Zhang Ye said she wanted to stay at home to observe mourning, and Gao Dashan did not object. He did send money on time. He planned to wait until the mourning period was over and Zhang Ye wrote to say she was getting married, and then he would give her a dowry, thus fulfilling their comradeship.

But I can't say these things. If I say them out loud, I'll start to suspect that Zhang Ye was trying to trick me into sending money, which is too hurtful.

"If you really don't agree, why do you keep sending me money?
Now everyone in the neighborhood knows that I promised you that I would be your lover. They say that you are a good person and have waited for me for so many years. I will serve you wholeheartedly in the future.

Now you say this is not true, how can I live in the future?

I brought the letter with me, why don't you acknowledge it?"

Zhang Ye could tell that Gao Dashan didn't want to marry her. The more she spoke, the sadder she became and she began to sob.

Both Xiao Wang and Shu Qingcheng understood that it was a misunderstanding, but it was a big misunderstanding.

Student Xiao Wang looked at Zhang Ye and thought: This silly girl probably really doesn’t understand the feelings between comrades-in-arms!
"Ye Zi, stop crying. Take out the letter and let me see what your brother said in it." Gao Dashan was so tired. He was disabled and had some old injuries. He didn't want to be a burden to others, and he was also worried that he would not have the final say after he got married and would not be able to send money to his fallen comrades.

Zhang Ye wiped her tears and sobbed as she took out the letters from her bag. There weren't many, only about ten or so.

Among the dozen or so letters, half were sent home by Zhang Shu from the battlefield, and the other half were written by himself to the Zhang family.

Gao Dashan recognized his own handwriting, so he picked out his own letter and put it aside.

Xiao Wang glanced at the envelope and saw that the recipient's address was in Henan Province. Coincidentally, it was the same hometown as his mother's.

At the same time, I also feel a little emotional. A few thin pieces of paper represent a person's entire life.

Zhang Shu's letters were not long and his handwriting was crooked. He was almost illiterate.

When he first started writing letters home, Zhang Shu would ask Gao Dashan how to write certain words.

Gao Dashan read the letters one by one, and soon he saw the one that Zhang Ye mentioned.

The previous sentence was saying that Zhang Ye was getting old, and the next sentence was about how old he looked. There was no paragraph separation or even a period in between. It would be a miracle if this wasn't misunderstood.

"Alas!" Gao Dashan sighed and put the letter down. What kind of thing is this! He made up a story about himself, and he was dead. He also dug such a big hole for himself. No, he dug such a big hole for his own sister!

What should I do? If I want to deny it, Zhang Ye will cry.

If he admitted it, how would he live his life in the future? What would happen if it got out? Gao Dashan was very conflicted.

"I can't wash myself clean even if I jump into the Yellow River?" Gao Dashan held a thin piece of paper, his face full of melancholy.

"What does the letter say? The girl didn't lie, did she?" Shu Qingcheng gently teased Gao Dashan.

"Here, read it yourself." Gao Dashan handed the letter to Shu Qingcheng, and at the same time wanted to express that he really didn't know about the existence of a "fiancée".

After reading it, Shu Qingcheng couldn't hold back the smile on his face and advised: "Comrade Gao, this is called a thread of fate that brings people together. You two are very destined to be together."

Xiao Wang was very curious and asked, "Uncle Gao, can I take a look?"

"Read it if you want." Gao Dashan took the letter from Shu Qingcheng and handed it to Xiao Wang. There was no sensitive content in the letter. It was just about whether the family members were in good health, how the harvest was, and that I was fine here and asked him not to worry.

"Ye Zi, your brother is really talented." After reading the letter, Xiao Wang finally understood why Gao Dashan and Zhang Ye said "I said hip axis and you said city gate tower".

Student Xiao Wang usually doesn't laugh unless he can't help it.

This smile made Shu Qingcheng's eyes widen. She was so beautiful.

"Don't worry about it, Jingwen is married." Gao Dashan remembered that Shu Qingcheng had tickled him just now, so he tickled him back, and at the same time reminded Shu Qingcheng that it was impolite.

Only Zhang Ye didn't understand what they were laughing at and felt a little confused.

"Uncle Gao, why don't we let Ye Zi stay here first?" Classmate Xiao Wang stopped smiling. She could see Gao Dashan's hesitation, so she decided to push him a little. That was her mother's hometown, and life there was not easy right now. Her husband had classmates there, and they had helped to exchange sweet potatoes a while ago.

"Okay. I don't have a place to live here. Please tell Director Ye, I will ask her to help find a place for Ye to live." Gao Dashan began to worry.

"That's good. We can live in it..." Zhang Ye said in a mosquito-like voice when he heard that things had taken a turn for the better.

Others may not have heard it clearly, but Xiao Wang heard it. He suppressed his laughter and said, "How about you guys discuss it first? I'll go back first."

Shu Qingcheng naturally didn't want to be a light bulb, so he stood up and walked out.

It is reasonable for Gao Dashan and Zhang Ye to come out and see them off.

As soon as the door opened, a group of children who were leaning against the door and windows and watching the excitement through the glass started to shout, "Oh, the bride is coming out!"

(End of this chapter)