Zhang Qin couldn't help but choked up, "Mom, this is happy news, stop crying. Look, Third Sister-in-law's face has turned pale with fright."
Li Xiulan released Chen Lishu, wiping away tears, and nodded repeatedly, "Lishu, it's good news. It's good news."
Chen Lishu was almost driven crazy by everyone. What good news could make them cry like this?
"Mom, what happened?"
"Xingdong, it's Third Brother Xingdong who sent a letter. He also said that when he's less busy, he'll come back to see us." Li Xiulan took out the letter she received and put it into her hand.
"You take a look, I said Xingdong would be fine, those gossips are just talking. Even the fortune teller said our third son would live a hundred years. How could he be gone?"
Gu Shoufou opened his mouth when he heard her words. He didn't know who it was that used to hide in the covers and cry whenever they thought about it.
Now it was good, the son was fine, and the daughter-in-law was smart and capable. The family's future looked promising.
As soon as he thought that his son was still alive and well, a smile finally appeared on Gu Shoufou's dark face.
Chen Lishu didn't know how she got back to her room. When she learned that Gu Xingdong was still alive, her mind was completely blank.
Gu Xingdong was not dead, not only was he alive and well, but he had also become a military officer. She clearly remembered that in her previous life, she had never heard any news of Gu Xingdong returning until she left the village.
How could the man not be dead? What should she do now? She had married him for freedom, and now he was about to return.
The two were several years apart, and she didn't remember what Gu Xingdong was like before he joined the army. Moreover, she knew nothing about his temper and character.
Her family probably didn't mention Gu Xingdong much after she got married, fearing it would upset everyone.
Now, they hadn't even gotten their marriage certificate, and Gu Xingdong didn't know about her existence. Should she go back to her maiden home directly?
Immediately, Chen Lishu shook her head again. Whether she returned voluntarily or involuntarily, in this society, the Chen family would become the focus of gossip. The judgment and criticism a divorced woman would face were unimaginable. Otherwise, she wouldn't have persisted for so long in her previous life. Even after the divorce, she had never returned.
Besides, she had six younger sisters. With her divorced sister, they wouldn't be able to find good husbands in the future.
After the initial panic, Chen Lishu gradually calmed down.
In fact, the situation was not as bad as she had imagined.
Gu Xingdong was a soldier and would definitely be away from home for a long time. Regardless of whether he was good or bad, it wouldn't affect her much. She could still do business, study, and go to college. If she became capable, and if life became unbearable, she wouldn't have any regrets about leaving.
There was a lot of gossip in the countryside, so she would have her entire maternal family move to the city.
But after so many years, what if he was already married? Then all her previous thoughts would have been in vain.
Thinking of this, Chen Lishu sat down on the chair and slowly unfolded the crumpled letter that she had been clutching in her hand.
Only after reading all the content did her anxious heart gradually relax.
Gu Xingdong first explained in the letter why he had been out of contact. It turned out he was sent on a mission. Then he asked about the family situation and said that he would take leave to visit after the training period ended.
He didn't mention marriage, so there probably wasn't any. This made Chen Lishu breathe a sigh of relief. When she saw that he would return to visit, her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"Knock knock—"
The door was suddenly knocked, and Chen Lishu got up to open it.
Gu Xingping saw her and grinned, "Congratulations, Third Sister-in-law." She then playfully winked.
She was happy that her third brother had sent news, but she was even happier for her third sister-in-law.
Chen Lishu didn't know what expression to return, so she pursed her lips and forced a smile, "Little sister, do you need something from me?"
"Dad and Mom said you should write a reply to Third Brother, and I'll mail it when I go to school tomorrow. Today, such great news came, Mom said she's taking leave this afternoon and won't go to work. She's going to buy groceries. We'll celebrate as a family tonight."
She wanted her to write to Gu Xingdong?
Chen Lishu subconsciously refused. What was there to say to people who didn't even know each other?
"Little sister, you know I haven't even finished primary school, how can I write letters? You write it."
Gu Xingping didn't know she was unwilling, thinking she was shy. She smiled and said, "Third Sister-in-law, haven't you been reading my old books recently? This is a good time to practice your writing. You don't know how good-tempered my third brother is. He definitely won't laugh at you."
Chen Lishu still refused, "Let's forget it, Little Sister, you just write it."
Seeing her insistence, Gu Xingping had no choice but to agree.
In the late afternoon, the news that Gu Xingdong was alive spread throughout Qingshan Village.
"Did you hear? Gu family's third son didn't die outside at all, he's doing well as a soldier, and I heard he's some kind of officer."
"Where are you going to reason this? What kind of people, what kind of fate. Remember that girl from the Chen family, we all thought she would surely be a widow, but what about now?"
Chen Mantun's heart was also full of excitement listening to people's words. His daughter had finally made it through. He thought he should go to the Gu family to see them after work.
Lu Chengming's ears were filled with the discussions of the educated youths, and he was filled with hatred.
"Chengming, what are you thinking?" Zhao Hong playfully patted Lu Chengming's shoulder from behind. Unexpectedly, the other party gave her a cold look.
"Wh-what's wrong?" Zhao Hong was a little stunned. He used to reply with a smile whenever she did this: "I'm thinking of you."
Why was he looking at her like this now? "I wasn't thinking about anything."
Lu Chengming stared at her round face and suddenly thought of Chen Lishu's pretty, fair, melon-seed-shaped face. He immediately lost all interest and continued to dig with his pickaxe.
At the Gu family's house, Li Xiulan walked with a spring in her step, quickly going to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some dried tofu and peanuts, and started cooking when she got home. Ever since her son's letter arrived, she felt full of endless energy.
During dinner, Gu Shoufou even asked his grandson to fetch two liang of wine. The old man and his grandson sat together, happily drinking a few cups.
At the Chen family's house, Wu Chunmei cried heartily again when she heard the news of Gu Xingdong's letter. She was entirely happy for her daughter.
After dinner, the couple, after instructing the children, couldn't wait to go to the Gu family's house.
When the in-laws met, they couldn't help but cry with excitement. Chen Mantun and his wife sat until it was dark before going home.
Gu Xingdong's letter was like a stone thrown into the lake of the two families' hearts. Although it caused ripples, after settling down overnight, the next day they still ate and went to work as usual.
Gu Xingping went to school early in the morning, and on the way, she took the letter she had written to the commune post office to mail it.
Not long after, Gu Xingdong received the reply letter from home. When he opened it and saw the content, his brow furrowed involuntarily.