Chapter 52 - 18: "Green Hat

Chapter 52: Chapter 18: "Green Hat

The letter also said she wanted him to figure out how to get bricks and tiles. The walls of their house were shedding dust, and it was filthy.

Gu Chenghuai had no objection. He’d wanted to build a brick-and-tile house from the start, but his wife hadn’t been keen on the idea back then. Now that she’d come around, they would build it. He would handle the bricks and tiles!

The young officer’s gaze slid further down the page.

It was the last paragraph of the letter.

[...Forget about this after you read it. Especially when you’re on a mission, don’t you dare think about things at home. Mom is on my side, so I can handle it myself. Just focus on staying safe. The four kids and I are waiting for you to come home.]

Ultimately, she was worried about distracting Gu Chenghuai.

A sweet feeling flooded Gu Chenghuai’s heart. His eyes crinkled, and a gentle smile flowed through his dark irises, which were usually as cold as winter stars.

He carefully folded the letter and put it away with the others Lin Zhao used to send him every few days right after they got married. There hadn’t been any new additions for years, and the young officer had often complained to himself about how heartless Lin Zhao was.

When they first started dating, she’d acted like she wanted to become the red star on his cap, stuck to him at all times. But after she got pregnant, perhaps feeling more secure, he wouldn’t see a letter for six months at a time. Eventually, they stopped coming altogether.

He used to go to the mail room all the time back then, but he never received a letter. The disappointment from those days was still fresh in his memory.

In this letter from Lin Zhao, Gu Chenghuai saw a glimpse of the Comrade Xiao Lin from when they were dating. A happiness, not overwhelming but impossible to ignore, spread through his chest.

Seeing Gu Chenghuai’s light-footed pace as he seemed to head out, Sun Yeli followed him, waggling his eyebrows knowingly. "A letter from your wife?"

"Mhm." Gu Chenghuai didn’t deny it.

"Knew it," Sun Yeli said. "Where are you headed?"

"Making a call." Leaving those three words behind, Gu Chenghuai quickened his pace, rapidly disappearing from Sun Yeli’s view.

Sun Yeli wanted to say something else, but he could only watch the tall, powerful figure recede into the distance. "What’s the big rush?" he muttered. He didn’t chase after him, though, just headed back to the dormitory to lie down.

Gu Chenghuai arrived at the communications office.

"Gu Camp Commander." The soldier on duty stood and saluted.

Gu Chenghuai returned the salute, his voice crisp. "I’m here to make a phone call."

Back then, calls had to be connected by an operator. After a flurry of activity from the soldier on duty, Gu Chenghuai was connected to the person he wanted to reach.

"Hello?" A clear, youthful voice came from the other end.

"Junzhi, it’s me, Gu Chenghuai," Gu Chenghuai said.

Yang Junzhi’s voice broke into a pleased, excited smile. "Chenghuai? What gives you the time to call me? What’s up? If it’s something I can do, I absolutely won’t say no."

He and Chenghuai were comrades-in-arms and friends, bonded by the experience of carrying a rifle side-by-side.

"As a matter of fact, there is something I need your help with," Gu Chenghuai’s low, pleasant voice traveled through the line.

"Oh? What is it?" Yang Junzhi asked, his curiosity piqued, his tone relaxed.

Gu Chenghuai said, "I was wondering if you knew of any job openings back home."

Yang Junzhi worked in the county government that administered Fengshou Team. He was well-informed and had a wide network of connections, so he was exactly the right person to ask about finding a job.

"A job?" Yang Junzhi understood immediately. He asked curiously, "Who’s it for? Your wife? Speaking of which, when are you coming home on leave? It’s been a few years since we’ve seen each other."

"I’ll get in touch when I’m back," Gu Chenghuai said. "Just help me keep an eye out for job openings."

Thinking of Lin Zhao’s letter, the sharp lines of his face softened. "My wife is feeling cooped up at home and wants to find something to do. I thought of you. Money isn’t an issue, just help me see what’s available."

"That’s a small thing," Yang Junzhi said with a laugh. "You’ve asked at the perfect time. The supply and marketing co-op is hiring two salesclerks. The work is easy and respectable. I remember your wife has a high school education, right? She could give it a try."

It was a timely coincidence. The county co-op was expanding, adding a few new counters, and they happened to need people. They only needed two, and positions like that were usually filled internally—the exam was just a formality. His brother-in-law was the director of the co-op and had a slot available. He’d originally planned to sell it, but since his comrade-in-arms was asking, he would naturally prioritize him.

"Great. I’ll owe you one for this. Just tell me how much it costs, and I’ll wire the money over." Gu Chenghuai thought a salesclerk job was perfect. All she would have to do is sit and sell things; it sounded quite relaxed.

’If it were a factory job, he’d have to think twice. His wife wasn’t very strong and wouldn’t be able to handle that kind of hardship. A salesclerk was much better; it was an easy job.’

Yang Junzhi didn’t refuse the money. He said immediately, "Since it’s for you, six hundred will be enough."

A salesclerk job was highly coveted; out on the open market, it would fetch seven hundred. The price he was quoting was truly a bargain.

’Gu Chenghuai planned to send eight hundred. He knew exactly how valuable a job was, and he couldn’t let his friend do him a favor and lose money in the process.’

"There’s one more thing. My family wants to build a brick-and-tile house, which requires an official approval slip. Could you..."

Before he could even finish, Yang Junzhi cut in. "That’s simple. A piece of cake. I’ll take care of it. I guarantee I’ll get it all sorted out for you, no problem."

"Thanks. I’ll treat you to dinner when I get back."

Yang Junzhi’s voice was full of laughter. "Deal. I’ll be waiting."

After hanging up, he grabbed a few gifts and went to see his brother-in-law to lock down that position.