Chapter 70 - 24: I Can

Chapter 70: Chapter 24: I Can

"What did you say?"

"You’re saying Lin Zhao is going to be a salesclerk at the supply and marketing co-op?"

A passerby heard her call her sister-in-law by her given name and inwardly shook their head. Still, it was another family’s business, so they decided not to get involved and simply pretended they hadn’t heard.

"It’s all over the Fengshou Team. Da Zai’s mother got a recommendation letter to go to the county. I hear she has to take a test, and once she passes, she’ll be an official salesclerk."

As for Lin Zhao not passing the test? No one in the Fengshou Team even considered it. She was a high school graduate, after all—the most educated person for miles around.

If she couldn’t pass, no one could.

Gu Xing’er’s hands clenched into fists, her face consumed by jealousy. She abandoned the firewood she was gathering and stormed home. Rushing into Father and Mother Gu’s room, she rummaged around until she found the slip of paper with the military base’s phone number. Then, she grabbed a yuan and headed straight for the county seat.

She arrived at the post office, drenched in sweat, and with the help of a staff member, managed to place a call to the military base.

When Gu Chenghuai heard there was a call from his family, he assumed it was his wife. His features relaxed, and even with a neutral expression, he couldn’t hide his good mood.

He jogged all the way to take the call.

"Third Brother."

Hearing that voice, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Yes," Gu Chenghuai replied flatly, wasting no words. "Is there a reason you’re calling?"

"Third Brother, you’re the one who got Lin Zhao that job at the supply and marketing co-op, aren’t you?" Gu Xing’er’s tone was aggressive, almost accusatory.

Gu Chenghuai’s gaze turned cold. Ignoring her question, he spoke in a chilling voice.

"While I’m not home, is this how you treat my wife? Calling her by her first name, giving her a huge lump on her head... Gu Xing’er, you really are some ’dear sister’ of mine."

The disappointment in his voice was palpable even over the phone line, reaching Gu Xing’er’s ears clearly. "I paid your tuition, covered your living expenses, and never once mistreated you growing up. Yet you can’t even tolerate my wife and child..."

Gu Xing’er instantly lost all thought of confrontation. Her face went pale as she stammered, "Third Brother, I didn’t! I don’t have a problem with them."

"You know whether you do or not," Gu Chenghuai cut off her excuses. "Our family branch has already been separated. As a son, I have a duty to support my parents, but I have no obligation to carry my sister. From now on, Mom and Dad can look after you. I won’t interfere anymore, lest you remain ungrateful."

Gu Xing’er’s expression changed. "Third Brother," she said urgently, "I’m your own sister! You can’t do this to me!"

"Yes, I can," Gu Chenghuai said coldly.

With that, he hung up the phone.

Gu Xing’er had been raised by Granny Gu since she was little, and Gu Chenghuai had left home in his teens. The bond between the siblings was already weak. He was only willing to help her because he earned more and wanted to lessen the family’s burden. Since she couldn’t see reason, it was better to withdraw his support.

When they married, he had promised his Zhaozhao that he would protect her just as he protected his country.

Being a military wife was hard enough, yet Gu Xing’er dared to bully her. Did she really think he had no temper?

Gu Chenghuai walked back to the barracks, picturing his wife being bullied and hiding in her room crying. His insides churned, and his dissatisfaction with his sister grew.

Lin Zhao was speechless. ’Cry? I only make other people cry!’

Gu Chenghuai returned to the barracks to find Sun Yeli there as well.

"Was that your wife?" he asked, ever the gossip.

"No, my sister," Gu Chenghuai replied.

After three years in the army, even a sow starts to look like a supermodel, and Sun Yeli had been in the service for much longer than three years.

His eyes lit up at once. "How old is your sister?"

Gu Chenghuai looked at him, his expression puzzled.

"Ahem..." Sun Yeli cleared his throat, smoothed the hem of his clothes, and put on an eager, fawning smile. "So, what do you think of me? Am I qualified to be your brother-in-law?"

With a look of deadpan disgust, Gu Chenghuai said, "You must be tired of the easy life."

Sun Yeli wasn’t an idiot; he understood the implication. He calmly lay down and closed his eyes.

’Why is it so hard to find a wife!’

Gu Chenghuai kicked his foot. "Can you get your hands on a bicycle coupon?"

"You need one?" Sun Yeli asked.

"Obviously."

Sun Yeli was speechless. ’Can’t a guy even ask?’

"Isn’t that what a mouth is for? Talking and eating."

"I’ll ask around. I should be able to get one." Sun Yeli knew a lot of people; if you needed a coupon for something, he was the right guy to ask.

Seeing his confidence, Gu Chenghuai thought for a moment, then added, "I also need a watch coupon."

Sun Yeli gritted his teeth. "...Fine."

At the post office, Gu Xing’er heard the dial tone from the other end of the line and panicked. "Third Brother!!" she yelled at the top of her lungs.

Seeing her emotional state, the post office worker, afraid she might slam the phone on the ground, stepped forward to take it from her. "The other party hung up," the worker reminded her.

Then they hung the receiver back up.

Gu Xing’er paid for the call and, in a daze, wandered to the entrance of the supply and marketing co-op.

The thought of Lin Zhao about to become a respectable salesclerk filled her eyes with resentment and her heart with seething anger.

’My third brother’s connections should have been for me!’