Marriage in the 1970s: The Political Commissar's Contract Wife

Hearing the busy tone from the receiver, Fang Chu slowly put down the phone, a cold sweat breaking out on his back. His father hadn't erupted in anger or reprimanded him, but the three instructions he gave were all aimed at his Achilles' heel.

He knew that, in his father's eyes, this matter had escalated from a simple issue of conduct to an "incident" that required the use of resources and means to resolve. And he himself was the "trouble" that had ignited the incident and needed to be strictly controlled.

He wiped his face, walked to the window, and looked at the energetic young soldiers on the parade ground outside. For the first time, he felt an unprecedented heaviness and confusion. His marriage had started so poorly; how could he go on? And how would Zhixia, who hated him to the core, face everything that was about to be imposed upon her?

A few days later, Fang Chu held the marriage report in his hand, which had been swiftly approved by the division leadership and his father. The edges of the paper were crumpled from his grip. He stood at the door of Zhi Lin's house once again, his feelings more complicated than when he had been beaten last time.

When Zhilin opened the door and saw him, his face instantly darkened. His eyes swept over the documents in Zhilin's hand like knives. He snorted coldly, stepped aside to let him into the room, but gave him no friendly look.

Fang Chu placed the marriage report, stamped with a red seal, on the table in front of Zhi Lin with both hands, her voice steady but with a hint of barely perceptible tension: "Brother, the report... has been approved."

Zhi Lin didn't even glance at the report, her gaze sharp as she stared at Fang Chu, her tone curt: "So what if it's approved? Fang Chu, let me tell you, Xia Xia doesn't agree! Even if this paper is covered in stamps, if she doesn't nod, it's just a piece of waste paper! Can you kidnap her to the registration office?"

Fang Chu had expected this. He lowered his eyelashes, gently pushed the report, which Zhi Lin considered "waste paper," forward a little further, and when he looked up again, his eyes were filled with an almost pleading look, and his voice was a few decibels lower: "Brother... I know I'm a bastard, I'm not human. But things have come to this, and this is the best way to protect Zhi Xia's reputation. Please help me, persuade her."

"Who's your brother?!" Zhi Lin slammed his fist on the table, abruptly standing up, his chest heaving. "Don't you dare yell at me! Help you? Help me push my sister into a fire pit? Fang Chu, don't even think about it!"

Fang Chu stood still, enduring Zhi Lin's anger, her tone unusually humble: "Brother, I'm begging you. I know you feel sorry for Zhi Xia, and I... I promise I'll make it up to her and treat her well in the future."

"Beg me?" Zhi Lin looked at him with a mocking gaze, as if she had heard a joke. "Let me tell you, Fang Chu, the fact that I'm not stopping her is already the biggest concession I've made for the sake of the commander and your father, and for the sake of my sister's reputation! But you want me to help you persuade her? No way! You created this mess yourself, so figure it out yourself!"

These words were tantamount to acknowledging the existence of the marriage, but also drawing a clear line—he knew Lin would never act as a lobbyist.

Seeing Zhi Lin's resolute expression, Fang Chu knew that further discussion would be futile. He remained silent for a moment, then slowly put away the marriage certificate, carefully folded it, and placed it back in his pocket.

"I understand, brother," he said softly, then, as if remembering something, added, "...This afternoon, I'll go pick Zhixia up from the hospital."

Upon hearing this, Zhi Lin's brows furrowed tightly, his fists clenched and unclenched, and finally he managed to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth: "If she sees you, she'll probably get even sicker!" But he didn't explicitly object. At this point, many superficial formalities had to be done.

Fang Chu didn't say anything more, nodded slightly to Zhi Lin, and turned to leave Zhi Lin's house. His figure, under the bright summer sunlight, revealed a desolate air of desperation.

In the afternoon, at the entrance of the military hospital.

Supported by her sister-in-law, Zhixia slowly walked out. After several days of rest, her face was still somewhat pale, and her eyes had lost their former luster, carrying a fragile and wary air, like a frightened bird. The sunlight was a bit dazzling, and she subconsciously raised her hand to shield her eyes.

Just then, she saw the person she least wanted to see again.

Fang Chu stood a few steps away from the hospital entrance, still wearing his crisp military uniform, his posture upright. He stood there quietly, his gaze calmly fixed on her.

Zhi Xia stopped abruptly, her face turning even paler in an instant. Her body trembled almost imperceptibly, and she instinctively shrank behind her sister-in-law, her eyes filled with fear and repulsion.

Fang Chu took in her reaction, and his heart ached as if pricked by countless needles. He didn't immediately step forward, but stood still a few steps away, his voice low but clear, carrying a cautious probing tone:

"Zhixia, I've come to pick you up...to go home."

He spoke the word "home" with extraordinary difficulty. He knew that for her, it might not be home at all, but rather another cage.

Zhixia abruptly turned her face away, biting her lower lip tightly, and returned to her ward without saying a word. Seeing this, her sister-in-law could only sigh helplessly.

Fang Chu knew that this road was a thousand times more difficult than he had imagined. He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and followed silently behind them, maintaining a distance that wouldn't make her feel pressured.

Back in the ward, Fang Chu took a deep breath and handed the marriage certificate to Zhi Xia.

"Zhixia, let's get married." He said, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible urgency.

Zhi Xia leaned against the headboard, her face still pale, but her eyes had regained their clarity and calmness, even adding a touch of aloofness: "I told you, I won't marry you."

"I know," Fang Chu replied immediately, adopting a humble tone. "I was a jerk before. But now... I'm begging you, will you marry me?" He tried to present the most practical reason, "The news of your miscarriage has already spread throughout the family compound and the military base; it can't be covered up anymore. Now, only if we get married can we quell the rumors. This is the best option for both of us right now."

"I don't like you, I hate you." Zhi Xia looked at him and stated this cold fact clearly, word by word, without any emotional fluctuation.

These words pierced Fang Chu's heart like an ice pick. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he pleaded, "I know... I know everything. Let's not talk about feelings, let's just consider this... a temporary measure, okay? Let's get married first, get through this difficult time. Once the rumors die down and things calm down, we'll get a divorce! I promise!"

"No." Zhi Xia's answer was still crisp and decisive, rejecting his seemingly "concessionary" suggestion. She knew all too well that a marriage certificate meant more constraints and a loss of control over her own life.