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

Looking into the clear worry in her eyes, the unease and sense of unease that had always existed in his heart because of the "agreement" seemed to finally find a place to settle down.

He was no longer the "perpetrator" who needed to bind her with guilt and coercive responsibility, but for the first time in this relationship, he felt the real weight of being needed and cared for by her.

This feeling of being needed made him feel that all the effort and suffering were worthwhile.

Time flies, and Zhixia is almost four months pregnant.

Under Fang Chu's meticulous and almost "cramming" care, she became rounder, with fuller cheeks and a healthy blush, looking so good that it was hard to look away.

The earlier weakness and pallor had long been replaced by a full and gentle radiance belonging to pregnant mothers.

Whenever the military allows, people in the family compound can always see this scene in the evening: the tall and upright Fang Chu will carefully support Zhi Xia, whose belly is obviously protruding, as they take a slow walk on the path bathed in the setting sun.

He walked very slowly, his attention entirely on the person beside him, occasionally asking questions in a low voice, or nodding slightly at the amusing things she occasionally pointed out. His cold and stern features softened incredibly at that moment.

The intense rumors that Fang Chu was a "beast" and "disregarded his wife's health" gradually lost their appeal in the face of these heartwarming scenes day after day.

People are always more willing to believe the warmth they see in front of them. More and more family members are beginning to feel that Political Commissar Fang may have been young and impulsive at first, but now he is indeed a good man who loves his wife and is responsible.

Those pointing and whispering glances were gradually replaced by kind smiles and greetings.

"Political Commissar Fang, taking a walk with your wife again?"

"Yes, Aunt Chen, let's take a walk after dinner."

"Zhixia, you look great! It's obvious Political Commissar Fang has been taking good care of you!"

The reversal of the rumors was not due to any deliberate explanations, but rather stemmed from the answer Fang Chu provided day after day through his actions.

He steadily supported his wife and children as they walked in the early summer evening breeze, gradually emerging from the vortex of public opinion and moving towards a peaceful life that was recognized and blessed by those around them.

Zhi Lin had just finished a mission that took quite a while. As soon as the mission was over, he didn't even go back to his unit. Instead, he went directly to his hometown and picked up his mother, Chao Huaihua, who had just completed her retirement procedures.

Chao Huaihua had worked hard for most of her life, and what she missed most were her eldest son who was serving in the army and her daughter who had written to her saying that she was married and pregnant. As soon as she received her retirement certificate, she almost immediately started packing her bags, waiting for her son to come and pick her up.

When Chao Huaihua appeared at the gate of the courtyard, looking travel-worn, Zhixia, who was slowly pacing in the yard, could hardly believe her eyes.

She froze for a few seconds, and then all the grievances, fears, and feigned strength she had felt since becoming pregnant crumbled the moment she saw her mother's familiar face.

"Mom—!" she cried out, tears welling up instantly. With her pregnant belly protruding, she looked like a child who had finally found her parents and rushed over to them.

"Oh dear! My Xiaxia! Slow down! Slow down! You have to slow down!" When Chao Huaihua saw her daughter running with her big belly, she was so scared that her heart almost jumped out of her chest. She quickly dropped her luggage and went to meet her, hugging her daughter tightly.

The familiar scent of sunshine from her hometown enveloped Zhixia. She buried her face in her mother's shoulder, which was no longer young but was still warm, and tears streamed down her face. All the words were stuck in her throat, leaving only sobs.

Chao Huaihua felt heartbroken. Her rough hands stroked her daughter's back and hair repeatedly, her voice hoarse: "Alright, alright, don't cry, okay? Mom's here, Mom's here now, isn't she? We've wronged Xiaxia... From now on, with Mom here, you don't have to be afraid of anything, okay?"

Although she didn't know exactly what her daughter had gone through, judging from the situation, she knew her daughter must have suffered a lot of injustice. Otherwise, given her strong-willed nature since childhood, she would never have cried like this.

"Mom..." Zhixia called out again in her arms, as if she wanted to call back the confidence she had lost during this period.

Fang Chu stood aside, watching the mother and daughter embrace. He felt relieved—with his mother-in-law there, Zhi Xia would definitely feel more at ease; at the same time, he also felt an invisible pressure.

The mother, who had traveled a long way, had eyes full of unconditional love and protectiveness for her daughter.

Back home, Zhixia carefully suppressed the grievances and dependence she had expressed at the courtyard gate. She dared not, and could not, tell her mother the real reason for marrying Fang Chu.

She feared that if her mother knew about the humiliation and harm her daughter had suffered, she would be worried day and night and unable to eat or sleep.

What she feared even more was that after learning the truth, her mother would feel a deep sense of powerlessness in the face of Fang Chu's illustrious family background—as a mother, being unable to seek justice for her daughter, the pain and guilt brought about by this clear realization would probably be more tormenting than anger itself.

Even her brother, a regimental commander, could only choose a frustrating compromise. What could her mother, an ordinary woman who had just retired, do?

Therefore, she chose to remain silent, burying that dark past deep in her heart, and only letting her mother see the relatively peaceful life she had now.

However, Chao Huaihua had lived most of her life and seen it all. As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she saw the excessively exquisite meals that Fang Chu had prepared for Zhixia, the soft and expensive maternity clothes that ordinary families could not easily afford, and combined with her daughter's sudden crying just now, as well as Fang Chu's almost cautious and ingratiating tenderness in front of her daughter... she understood seven or eight parts of the situation.

My daughter's marriage is probably not something to be proud of.

Fang Chu's kindness towards Zhi Xia was mixed with too much obvious guilt. It wasn't the natural intimacy between ordinary couples, but more like a heavy, atonement attempt to make amends for something.

She watched her daughter eat the food Fang Chu had served her with feigned calmness, and saw her son-in-law's barely concealed caution and ingratiation. Her heart felt like a jumbled mess of emotions, both sour and bitter.

She didn't say anything, but silently picked up her chopsticks and put a piece of her daughter's favorite dish on her plate.

"Eat more, Xiaxia." Her voice was calm, but she suppressed all her emotions.

Some things, once revealed, will only make things more awkward for everyone. All she can do now is pretend she knows nothing, stay by her daughter's side, and use her old bones to protect her until she safely gives birth to the child.