Chapter Three: Iron Resolve and Tenderness Entwined at the Fingertips (3)

Once he stepped down from his position, he could finally distance himself from the turmoil.

The annual Mid-Autumn Festival was fast approaching. The relationship between Fan Sijin and Gao Dingzhong had grown increasingly stable. During this time, Fan Jianguo had changed Gao Dagui’s name to Gao Dingzhong; the old name had sounded a bit rustic, but this new one suited his temperament quite well.

Previously, Gao Dingzhong had lacked confidence. After all, Fan Sijin’s appearance and presence were so extraordinary that when they stood together, he felt like nothing more than a bodyguard, looking entirely mismatched.

After spending time together, however, things had improved significantly. Fan Sijin had a natural flair for art, so her taste was impeccable; she essentially dictated every aspect of Gao Dingzhong’s life, from his clothes to his diet.

After shedding his military uniform for a suit and donning a pair of gold-rimmed glasses—which he wore purely for effect—Comrade Gao looked far less intimidating. He even exuded a faint hint of refinement, though it remained very, very subtle.

Gao Dingzhong had not yet told his family about his girlfriend. Partly, he worried their relationship was still too new and unstable, and partly, he feared that if the young woman ever regretted her choice and wanted to leave, having made their relationship public so hastily would only damage her reputation.

When Fan Sijin found out, she was speechless; Gao Dingzhong might look sharp on the surface, but he was truly a blockhead.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived, every household prepared for reunions. This year was different, however. Fan Jianguo felt that since his daughter’s relationship with Gao Dingzhong was settled, they really ought to visit the man’s family. He urged Gao Dingzhong to take Fan Sijin back to his hometown for a visit.

Since Fan Sijin happened to be on holiday, it was the perfect time for her to accompany him.

Gao Dingzhong could hardly refuse; he was overjoyed. His mindset remained quite traditional: if he brought the young woman home, it would officially solidify their bond. They would be a couple, and he wouldn’t have to worry about his wife-to-be running off. He was so excited that he grinned at everyone he saw, looking foolish to the point of being unbearable.

Fan Sijin hadn’t intended to get serious with Gao Dingzhong at first. She had always preferred younger, trendier men, and Gao did not fit her usual type. Yet, having spent the year with him, she had come to truly appreciate him. He was a good man.

She valued his heart above all else. Having been through a great deal in her life, she cherished sincerity more than anything. She would never fail anyone who treated her with a genuine heart.

For Gao Dingzhong, meeting Fan Sijin was meeting the right person.

Before he met her, he had been plagued by the arrangements his family had forced upon him. He had no real feelings for his former fiancée, Chen Chuchu—she was just someone he knew from the village—yet she had humiliated him by calling off their engagement in public. He was a man with his own pride, and for a long time, he had suffered over this messy affair. While he maintained his composure at the barracks during the day, he often felt stifled and heavy-hearted at night.

He couldn't understand it. If Chen Chuchu hadn't wanted to marry him, why hadn't she said so sooner? He had already made it clear that he wouldn't force her if she wasn't willing. Why wait until the arrangements were finalized, until she had returned, and until all the guests were present, only to slap him in the face?

It had nothing to do with romance; it was purely a matter of Gao Dingzhong’s wounded pride.

But his misery only lasted until he laid eyes on Fan Sijin.

When she stumbled, he had been too nervous to look at her, only daring to steal a glance after she fell. That single look was all it took for him to understand what it meant to have one’s heart skip a beat; his heart hammered against his ribs as if it were trying to break free.

It felt as though they had known each other for a long, long time. Love had arrived in such a mysterious way that Gao Dingzhong, a simple man, couldn't fathom it. In his heart, he even thanked Chen Chuchu—truly, he was grateful to her!

If she hadn't broken off the engagement that day, and he had met Fan Sijin while already married, he felt he would have surely thrown himself into the river in despair.

Fortunately, it hadn't happened. All that heartache and injury vanished in an instant. Now, he was taking his wife-to-be home!

The employees at his company looked at their boss with dread, wondering why the man who was usually so stern was suddenly grinning like an idiot. It wasn't the warmth of an iceberg melting, but rather a terrifying sight—so terrifying that their hair stood on end.

Gao Dingzhong’s hometown was in a village located in a township under a county-level city near the capital. The village roads were riddled with potholes and covered in yellow dust. Life was hard; many families didn't even have televisions or telephones, and some were too frugal to even turn on the electric lights. The village was small, with only a handful of houses that had been renovated into modern buildings.

Gao Dingzhong knew the roads were rough, so he had specifically chosen a Jeep for the journey. Even so, the ride was bumpy. Despite laying thick, soft blankets on the back seat before they left, Fan Sijin was still jostled until she grimaced, feeling as though her body was being rattled to pieces.

After an hour of bumping along, Gao Dingzhong finally drove into the village.

Curious children swarmed around the vehicle, and the villagers chatting by the bridge watched with great interest, as it was the first time they had seen such an impressive car.

Gao Dingzhong parked in front of his house and quickly stepped out to open the door for Fan Sijin.

Finally breathing fresh, dust-free air, Fan Sijin’s pale complexion eased, and she felt as though she had come back to life.

She stepped out with Gao Dingzhong’s help. The moment she appeared, the children and villagers watching could not help but gasp in amazement.

Chen Chuchu was generally considered the prettiest girl in the village, but no one had expected the woman Gao Dingzhong brought back to look like someone who had stepped out of a television screen. She was beautiful, radiant, and impossible to look away from.

Fan Sijin wore a white maxi dress today, her long, dark, slightly wavy hair cascading over her shoulders. Her features were exquisite, her face delicate, and she possessed a unique, youthful elegance that stood out even in the bustling capital—let alone in this relatively isolated village.

Seeing the children nearby, Fan Sijin took a jar of candies from the car to share with them.

The children had been afraid to get too close at first, but seeing the tempting sweets in her hand, they approached with a mix of trepidation and anticipation. Once a few took the lead, the others gathered their courage as well.

Fan Sijin gave away most of the candy. She was used to this; Gao Dingzhong lived a very frugal life—he would even wear socks with holes in them—yet he was incredibly generous toward her, buying her the best snacks, beautiful clothes, and expensive jewelry. To her, the candy that the villagers found so precious was nothing at all.