Chapter 336: Chapter 335: Sent from Beijing City

Mr. He wasn’t exactly sure either, but he tried to comfort her anyway. "Maybe it’s because Xiao Yu has such a pitiful background that you’ve focused so much of your energy on her. He Lang and his wife can understand."

"Besides, do you think his wife wouldn’t find out even if He Lang kept quiet? Her brother, Xue Xingzhou, helped out a lot with this. She’s his sister; do you really think he’d keep it from her?"

Mrs. He froze. ’That’s right, Xue Xingzhou knows all about it.’

Mr. He continued, "So what if she knows? If she says anything, just listen. After all, you made the mistake, so you have to bear the consequences."

Mrs. He fell silent, her conscience heavy with guilt.

The next day, He Lang went to the supermarket.

When Xue Xingjun saw He Lang arrive, he went up and asked, "Brother-in-law, was Shiyi frightened?"

He Lang shook his head and then instructed Xue Xingjun to run an errand for him.

「One week later」

A mail carrier arrived in a rural village in Yu Province.

"Gu Kai Zhi, is Mr. Gu Kai Zhi here? You have a package."

When Gu Kai Zhi came out, he said with some confusion, "That’s me."

The mail carrier glanced at him and handed over a large bundle.

"It seems to be a package from Beijing City. I don’t know what’s inside, but it’s especially heavy."

’Beijing City?’

Gu Kai Zhi glanced at the package and had a good idea who had sent it.

Just then, as the mail carrier was leaving, Gu Kai Zhi’s mother ran out.

"Second Son, who was looking for you?"

"No one, just a friend who sent me something." With that, Gu Kai Zhi carried the package into the house.

His mother followed him in.

Gu Kai Zhi had an older brother and sister-in-law, as well as younger siblings. They all gathered around curiously to watch.

After Gu Kai Zhi opened the package, he saw an envelope inside. He picked it up, noting its surprising weight.

As the other contents spilled into view, a collective "WOW~" was heard.

Gu Kai Zhi’s younger siblings gasped at the contents of the package. They had never seen such things before.

"Second Brother, who sent this to you? There are so many amazing things!"

Gu Kai Zhi looked down and saw several bolts of fabric, with the rest of the package filled with food.

"Are these sausages?"

"Of course they are! They smell so good, what else could they be but meat?"

Gu Kai Zhi’s older brother asked curiously, "Do you have a friend this wealthy in the army?" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Gu Kai Zhi shook his head. A thousand emotions washed over him as he stared at all the items spread out on the kang bed. He never expected them to send him anything. ’No wonder they asked for my address before they left.’

"Second Son, you’d better tell us who sent this," Father Gu said sternly. "There are so many things here we’ve never seen before. How much money did all this cost? You’re not doing anything illegal, are you?"

Gu Kai Zhi had no choice but to briefly tell them what had happened on his way home.

As they listened, their eyes widened in astonishment.

"Wow, Second Brother, you’re amazing! So you saved a rich family’s child. No wonder they’re being so generous."

Gu Kai Zhi didn’t speak. He simply opened the envelope. As he’d suspected, it was filled with "Great Unity" banknotes and a letter.

"Mr. Gu, I’m He Lang. We were in a hurry when we met and didn’t have much money on us. Thank you so much for your selfless help. You may think it was a small matter, but to me, it was a kindness I can never repay. After much thought, the only way I could express my gratitude was to send you some money and these items. I hope you will not refuse them. I own a supermarket in Beijing City, and the address is below. If you ever have the chance to visit, please allow me to show you proper hospitality as your host. —He Lang."

Gu Kai Zhi glanced at the address at the bottom of the letter, then at the several hundred yuan in the envelope. He pressed his lips together.

Gu Kai Zhi’s mother snatched the envelope and peeked inside. Her jaw dropped, and then her face blossomed into a wide smile.

"Oh, Second Son! With this money, we can finally have Gu Xiaoqing marry you."

The entire Gu Family turned to look at Gu Kai Zhi.

Speaking of Gu Xiaoqing, she was a girl who had grown up with Gu Kai Zhi. Their families had always been on good terms, leading to a childhood engagement between them. Before Gu Kai Zhi left to join the army, Gu Xiaoqing had even told him she would marry him the next time he returned.

Unfortunately, Gu Kai Zhi was gone for five years. People in their village married young, but with Gu Kai Zhi’s continued absence, Gu Xiaoqing’s family grew impatient.

They visited the Gu Family several times, demanding a guarantee—a payment of two hundred yuan.

Yu Province was densely populated and extremely poor. Natural disasters a few years prior had resulted in poor harvests, and even now, some villagers didn’t have enough to eat.

As a result, the Gu Family couldn’t come up with two hundred yuan. Although Gu Kai Zhi sent money home every month, the family was large, and his contributions were just enough to keep food on the table.

Perhaps this caused Gu Xiaoqing’s heart to grow cold. Less than six months later, she started a relationship with the village’s Teacher Wang.

Half a month before Gu Kai Zhi’s return, her family and the Wang family had already begun discussing marriage arrangements. The Gu Family went to raise a fuss, but Gu Xiaoqing’s family stood firm on their demand: put down two hundred yuan, and they would break off the engagement with the Wang family right away. After all, Gu Kai Zhi was a soldier. But the Gu Family had no money, so they had no face to continue the argument.

But now Gu Kai Zhi was back, and they had the money. That meant Gu Xiaoqing couldn’t marry anyone else.

But just as Mrs. Gu’s heart was filled with joy, Gu Kai Zhi refused.

"Mom, I can’t accept this money. I have to send it back. We can keep the things they sent, but not the money. It’s far too much. I’m a soldier; serving the people is my duty."

The room fell so silent that only the sound of breathing could be heard.

Gu Kai Zhi’s sister-in-law muttered, "It’s not like you asked for it. They sent it to you. What’s the harm in accepting it?"

Just then, Gu Kai Zhi’s father spoke up. "Second Son is right. We can’t take this money. Our family is poor, but we must have integrity. Second Son is a soldier, and he’s doing what he should."

The sister-in-law retorted angrily, "So high and mighty... Second Brother, if you send the money back, how are you going to marry Gu Xiaoqing?"

Gu Kai Zhi shook his head. "I’m not going to marry her. That’s all in the past. The engagement was just something our parents joked about back in the day. I’ve always thought of Xiaoqing as a little sister. She has a good future ahead of her now, so she has my blessing."

Mrs. Gu asked anxiously, "Then what about you? You’ll be twenty-two after the New Year! Where am I supposed to find a wife for you?"

Gu Kai Zhi smiled at his mother. "Mom, I’m always on base. When would I have time to get married? Besides, at my current rank, a wife couldn’t even join me at the barracks. I can’t hold a woman’s life back like that."

Mrs. Gu lowered her head in disappointment. His younger siblings, on the other hand, kept their eyes glued to the items in the package, practically drooling.

「Back in Beijing City」

He Lang soon received the money Gu Kai Zhi had returned, along with a letter in reply.

The letter basically said that he was keeping the items but could not accept the money. It was a small favor, and he told He Lang not to give it another thought.

He Lang raised an eyebrow and smiled. ’This Gu Kai Zhi,’ he thought, ’is a very interesting man.’