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

Fang Chu fell silent, deep in thought.

The room was quiet, save for the soft breathing of the two of them. After a while, he spoke cautiously, with a hint of uncertainty and a touch of probing:

"If they are both sons, we'll name them An'an and Kang'kang! We don't ask for anything else, we just wish them a peaceful and healthy life."

He paused, his voice softening unconsciously, carrying a touch of dreamy longing:

"If they're both girls, then we'll name them Sweetie and Honey! I hope their lives will be as sweet as candy."

Finally, he took a deep breath and said the combination that made his heart race the most: "If it's a boy and a girl, twins... then let's name them An'an and Tiantian! The older brother protects his younger sister, safe and sweet!"

After he finished speaking, he looked at Zhixia with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation, waiting for her evaluation.

Zhixia listened to his simple yet heartfelt name, feeling the undisguised affection in his words. She didn't have much energy to ponder whether the name was good or bad; she simply felt that it was his heartfelt wish as a father.

So she nodded gently, her tone tinged with the weariness of late pregnancy, yet also revealing a natural sense of compliance: "Alright. You're the father, so it's your decision."

These ordinary words sounded like heavenly music to Fang Chu's ears!

"You're in charge"... These simple words carry a sense of recognition and entrustment, treating him as a husband and the father of her children. It's no longer a cold agreement, no longer a distant resistance.

He grinned with delight, his heart filled with the radiance of a firework exploding within him.

He felt that Zhixia was truly accepting him, genuinely intending to leave the past behind and live a good life with him. This feeling of being needed and recognized was more comforting than anything else, soothing his past guilt and unease.

He carefully lay down, gently wrapping his arms around Zhixia and her huge belly from behind, feeling the powerful movements of the two little lives inside, his heart filled with an unprecedented sense of happiness.

As the year draws to a close, the performing arts troupe's tour group is about to arrive at their accommodation, and the related reception and resettlement work is on the agenda. Fang Chu was assigned to be in charge of this task.

Upon hearing the arrangement, Fang Chu felt overwhelmed and immediately approached the group leader, Wang Jianguo, his face filled with reluctance and anxiety: "Brother Wang, can't we find someone else? My wife is five months pregnant with twins, and her belly is terrifyingly big. I really can't leave!"

Wang Jianguo didn't even lift his eyelids, slowly took a sip of tea, and then glanced at him, his tone tinged with disappointment:

"Political Commissar Fang, look around! Which regiment's reception and resettlement isn't led by the political commissar? Huh? I've been more than fair to you! For the sake of Zhixia and my sister Xiaochun, I've been understanding of your special circumstances for the past six months. I haven't assigned you a single task that required leaving the base, whether it was an external mission, a field exercise, or anything else! I've done all the work of both the regimental commander and the political commissar myself!"

He grew increasingly angry as he spoke, slamming his teacup down on the table: "Don't you dare take your blessings for granted! If you keep making excuses and piss me off, I'll immediately arrange a job for you to visit border outposts, so you won't be able to come home for the New Year!"

Fang Chu was stunned by Wang Jianguo's series of "accusations" and final "threat".

He knew that Wang Jianguo was telling the truth; in the past six months, he had indeed received a lot of extra care because of Zhixia.

He had no doubt that if he really angered this commander who kept his word, he would definitely do something like exiling him during the Chinese New Year.

The situation is better than people.

Fang Chu immediately adopted a submissive expression, waving his hands repeatedly: "Alright, alright, my good commander! I'll arrange it, I'll arrange it, okay? Please don't be impulsive!"

Wang Jianguo then gave a satisfied hum, picked up his teacup again, and said in a gentler tone, "That's more like it. Get to work, stop dawdling!"

Fang Chu smiled wryly and accepted the order, pondering how to complete the work while also squeezing out as much time as possible to go home and stay with Zhi Xia.

When the performing arts troupe's convoy arrived at their lodgings, Fang Chu, as the political commissar, reluctantly stepped forward to greet and arrange the troupe. As the car doors opened, the actors filed out, and one tall, fair-skinned girl stood out. She jumped out of the car, her gaze precisely fixed on Fang Chu, and walked straight over with a beaming smile.

Fang Chu was stunned when he saw her face, and blurted out in surprise, "Yunyun?"

"It's me, Brother Fang Chu." Zheng Yunzhu stopped in front of him, poised and confident, her bright eyes taking him in. "What, don't you recognize me?"

Fang Chu frowned slightly, her tone carrying a mixture of confusion and barely perceptible wariness: "The New Year is almost here, why aren't you at home? What are you doing here?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yunzhu's smile widened, tinged with a natural intimacy and curiosity: "You've come to see your wife! We grew up together, and you quietly got married. What kind of angel did you marry that has you so infatuated that you don't even come home anymore? I have to see for myself!"

Her words were half true and half false, containing both the playful banter between childhood sweethearts and a subtle, undeniable sense of rivalry unique to women.

Fang Chu frowned even more deeply, explaining stiffly, "It's not that she doesn't want to go home. She's pregnant with twins, it's inconvenient for her, and she was already weak before, so she can't withstand a long journey."

"Oh—the Lin Daiyu type?" Zheng Yunzhu drawled, a subtle glint in her eyes. "Then I must meet her. Let's see what kind of delicate beauty can keep our Political Commissar Fang so firmly under her spell."

Seeing her relentless attitude, Fang Chu felt a surge of annoyance and just wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible: "I'll get Li Yunxiao here and have him show you around, okay?"

"I'm not familiar with him. I don't need him to accompany me." Zheng Yunzhu refused outright, her gaze still fixed on Fang Chu.

Fang Chu lost his patience, his tone turning cold: "My wife is even less familiar with you."

Zheng Yunzhu laughed, a hint of playful arrogance in her voice: "You're my brother, so she's my sister-in-law. How could I not know my sister-in-law?"

Looking into her determined eyes, Fang Chu knew this matter was unlikely to end well. He took a deep breath and asked in a low voice, "You absolutely must see her?"

Zheng Yunzhu put away her smile, met his gaze without flinching, and repeated, word by word, "It is forbidden to see him."

The air seemed to freeze at that moment, and a silent, tense confrontation spread between the two people who had grown up together.

Fang Chu was extremely annoyed: "I'll go back and ask her."

Zheng Yunzhu smiled and said, "Okay, I'll be waiting for good news."