Women over twenty-five are considered taboo, a fact they would argue about even if it was just a day difference. Yet, Wang Dazhu directly announced it in front of so many people. Wang Aixiang's face immediately turned grim. "No one thinks you're mute if you don't speak. Also, who allowed you to call me Big Sister? I'm not even a year older than you, just seven months. Even if you were to call me sister, it should be Little Sister."
After saying that, she felt something was off, as if she had gotten herself tangled. She glared at Wang Dazhu, "Pah, from now on, call me Comrade Wang Aixiang, do you hear me?"
Wang Dazhu looked wronged. He had only spoken the truth, how did he earn such a barrage of words from Wang Aixiang?
"Aixiang Jie, how are the jeans and leather jackets selling?"
Chen Lishu's gaze fell on the shelves not far away. She noticed the jeans and leather jackets she had ordered from Yangcheng were already displayed and couldn't help but ask.
Interrupted, Wang Aixiang lost the desire to scold. She turned and replied with some dejection, "Two or three items are sold a day, sometimes not even one."
After all, the price was there, and it was difficult for ordinary families to afford such an expense.
Chen Lishu: "No rush, sell them slowly. It should get better after the New Year, towards spring."
After saying hello to everyone, she and Gu Xingdong left the shop.
On the way back, watching Gu Xingdong drive, Chen Lishu suddenly felt a spark of desire.
In her previous life, due to limited conditions, she had never touched a car, let alone driven one. Now that she wanted to buy a car, she paid extra attention.
Sensing her gaze constantly fixed on the steering wheel, Gu Xingdong's heart stirred, and he turned his head to ask, "Want to learn?"
Chen Lishu's bright eyes lit up, "Mm."
Seeing Gu Xingdong driving so effortlessly, she felt it shouldn't be too difficult.
Gu Xingdong smiled upon seeing her eager expression and brought the car to a stop by the roadside with a sudden brake.
In those days, vehicles were scarce, especially on this gravel road leading to the military compound. Apart from a bus that passed by half a day, there were almost no pedestrians. It was quite suitable for learning to drive.
"Let's switch seats. Since you want to learn to drive, I'll adjust the seat for you first."
Gu Xingdong said as he opened the car door. Soon, Chen Lishu sat in the driver's seat, and Gu Xingdong sat in the passenger seat.
Suddenly sitting in the driver's position, her hands on the steering wheel, Chen Lishu felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
Gu Xingdong quickly adjusted the seat to a distance suitable for her and then patiently explained the functions and positions of various controls.
After Chen Lishu meticulously memorized them, she was ready to put them into practice.
"...Remember to press the clutch all the way down with your left foot, shift gears, and keep your right foot hovering above the accelerator. Slowly release the clutch..."
"It's moving, it's moving!"
Feeling the car beneath her slowly start to move, Chen Lishu was incredibly excited. Her eyes were fixed ahead, her heart pounding in her chest, and her stiff body felt completely numb.
She had never been this nervous even when learning to ride a bicycle.
"Relax and take it slow. As long as you follow my instructions step-by-step, there won't be any problems."
Gu Xingdong's voice echoed in her ears, but Chen Lishu heard none of it. She didn't even dare to nod, afraid that too much movement might lead to an operational error.
Gu Xingdong couldn't help but tease her as he watched her cautious expression, "I'm not scared, why are you? Drive boldly. As long as you don't hit anyone, hitting a tree is fine."
"Easy for you to say. If I could drive properly, why would I hit a tree?"
His interruption suddenly made Chen Lishu's mind go blank, and she couldn't remember anything. "Where was the brake you just mentioned?"
"In the middle."
When people are highly stressed, their IQ drops sharply. Chen Lishu didn't have time to think, "Oh, okay."
After a long series of "ohs," Chen Lishu ended up stepping on the accelerator.
The car lurched forward and then shot off...
The two young soldiers on duty at the guardhouse suddenly saw a jeep zoom past them at high speed, so fast they couldn't even see the license plate number.
"Whose leader's car is it? Driving so fast?" one of them couldn't help but ask curiously.
The other shook his head, saying uncertainly, "It seems to be Deputy Commander Gu's. There must be something urgent, right?"
When Chen Lishu finally managed to stop the car, she felt completely drained, sitting in the seat for a long time before recovering.
Gu Xingdong looked sideways at her pale face and reached out to stroke her head. "It's okay, it's okay. The first time is always hard, but the second time gets easier. Learning to drive is like this, you always encounter various situations. You drove this far on your first try, how amazing is that? Much better than others."
Chen Lishu knew he was teasing her, but she couldn't muster a smile. Although she was fine, her body hadn't recovered from the intense stress. After a while, she looked up at him and said pitifully, "My legs feel weak."
Gu Xingdong smiled helplessly, opened the passenger door, got out, and helped Chen Lishu out of the driver's seat.
"Will you learn again next time?"
They got back into the car, but this time Gu Xingdong was driving. With a turn of the steering wheel, the car executed a beautiful arc on the ground as he turned it around and headed towards the military residential area.
"Yes, why wouldn't I learn?" Chen Lishu almost gritted out, "You said yourself that the first time is hard, but the second time gets easier. I'll definitely be able to drive as well as you then."
Gu Xingdong nodded, "Good, we'll continue during our next day off."
Not long after, they drove into the military residential area. The two sentries discovered it was indeed their Deputy Commander Gu's car, but they were a bit puzzled why it turned back so soon after driving out.
The car stopped downstairs, and after carrying their belongings inside, Gu Xingdong immediately drove back to the barracks.
"Mom," Rui Rui, hearing the sound, quickly came out from the Wang family's house, followed by the two Wang brothers.
Chen Lishu had truly missed the child after not seeing him for more than ten days. She raised her hand and stroked his little head, "How have you been at home with your dad during this time? Have you been starving?"
Rui Rui shook his head, "Dad bought me two boxes of peach cookies and twisted doughnuts. I can eat them if I'm hungry at noon. But Auntie Wang said they're not nutritious and insisted I eat at their house."
Chen Lishu nodded. Gu Xingdong knew to buy food for the child, which was good.
"Sister-in-law is back? I was so bored while you were away." Zhao Guiying was very happy to see her return. She led their third son and also entered the house. The room instantly became lively.
"How is the south? Is it hotter than here? Are you all wearing vests and shorts?" Zhao Guiying asked curiously.
Chen Lishu couldn't help but chuckle, "It's not hot yet. The climate right now is similar to our spring and autumn."
Knowing that Chen Lishu must be tired from the train journey, Zhao Guiying didn't stay long and tactfully called the children away.