Rebirth to a Military Marriage: Good Morning Chief Chapter 3 - Enlightenment

“Zhai... Brother Zhai?” Qiao Nan inquired to confirm the man’s identity.

“Yes,” Zhai Sheng responded curtly.

With confirmation that she had indeed found the right person, Qiao Nan felt a wave of relief wash over her. Much like Qiao Nan, Zhai Sheng was part of the cohort of children residing in the same residential quad. He stood apart from the rest.

From a young age, his achievements were notable. His academic performance was stellar, complemented by a robust physique, which led him to enlist in the army at an early age. Unlike many who abandoned their studies for military service, Zhai Sheng pursued both, balancing rigorous training in the camp with his academic endeavors, ultimately earning a Higher Diploma.

The combination of his educational achievements and practical experience propelled Zhai Sheng’s career forward rapidly. He climbed the ranks based purely on his own merit, without leveraging his family connections, until he reached the pinnacle of his profession. Even Qiao Nan’s mother often expressed pride in residing in the same quad as Zhai Sheng.

“Thank you, Brother Zhai.” Recognizing the esteemed individual before her, Qiao Nan noticed that her nosebleed had ceased and her hands were clean. However, the front of her attire remained conspicuously stained with crimson, particularly around the chest area.

The individual responsible for stemming Qiao Nan’s nosebleed was, naturally, Zhai Sheng.

“It’s nothing. You’ve taken your medicine, and now you need to rest. Try to sleep for a while,” Zhai Sheng advised with a cool nod before returning his attention to a document completely written in English.

At Zhai Sheng’s suggestion, a sense of drowsiness overcame Qiao Nan. The moment she closed her eyes, her body gave way, and she was asleep within seconds.

Glancing up from his reading, Zhai Sheng observed Qiao Nan’s slumber. He retrieved a thin blanket and draped it over her. While one rested, the other read, a tranquil ambiance filling the space they shared.

This period of rest consumed Qiao Nan’s entire afternoon. Upon awakening, the effects of the medication had induced a bout of perspiration, yet she felt noticeably more comfortable.

“You are awake.” Detecting Qiao Nan’s stirring, Zhai Sheng’s gaze shifted from his reading to her face.

“Thank… thank you, Brother Zhai.” Meeting Zhai Sheng’s authoritative eyes, Qiao Nan felt a twinge of apprehension and stammered her response.

“Do you fear me?” Zhai Sheng inquired, recalling that Uncle Qiao’s youngest daughter did not typically exhibit such nervousness.

“No, no,” Qiao Nan replied, a hint of guilt coloring her tone. She reflected that few children within the quad were not intimidated by Zhai Sheng’s imposing presence.

She distinctly remembered that around the age of ten, Zhai Sheng possessed a youthful, fair complexion. It was evident that he would mature into a handsome and charming young man in the ensuing decades.

However, since joining the army, his fair skin had darkened considerably from sun exposure, lending him a more intimidating appearance than in his childhood.

“It is getting late,” Zhai Sheng remarked, not challenging Qiao Nan’s subtle deception.

Qiao Nan’s face appeared pale. Her small hands were nervously clenched into fists at her sides. “Well, then, I should be heading home,” she stated.

Observing the vulnerable expression on Qiao Nan’s delicate features, he was reminded of a stray kitten he had encountered during a field mission on a rainy autumn day. His heart softened, and he offered, “Should you ever find yourself in a difficult situation, do not hesitate to seek my assistance.”

Qiao Nan looked at Zhai Sheng, surprise evident in her eyes. “Certainly. Thank you, Brother Zhai.”

Feeling somewhat awkward to impose further upon Zhai Sheng’s hospitality, Qiao Nan decided it was time to return to her own residence.

Shortly after Qiao Nan’s departure, Zhai Sheng’s elder sister, Zhai Hua, arrived home. As Zhai Hua settled onto the sofa, preparing to inquire about Zhai Sheng’s return, her attention was caught by a stain of blood on the upholstery, causing her to start in alarm. “Zhai Sheng, are you injured? What has happened?”

“No,” Zhai Sheng replied with a slight frown. “That blood belongs to the youngest daughter of the Qiao family.”

“Wait, no, why is there blood on your clothes as well?!” Seeing the crimson marks on both Zhai Sheng’s chest and the sofa, Zhai Hua’s eyes narrowed shrewdly. “Zhai Sheng, tell me the truth, did you bring a girl home? Were you so impatient that you couldn’t wait until you were in the bedroom?”

Zhai Sheng’s stoic expression shifted subtly.

Gazing at the increasingly agitated Zhai Hua, he let out a dry chuckle and retorted, “If Mom and Dad were to discover you were reading such material, what do you suppose their reaction would be?”

“Oh, the weather is quite warm today. I didn’t see anything, and I know nothing, my dear brother. I am going to take a shower now,” Zhai Hua declared, her face paling. While she felt emboldened to speak disrespectfully to her brother, she was invariably as meek as a rabbit in the presence of her parents.

As Zhai Hua prepared to take a shower and Zhai Sheng softened his raised eyebrows to continue with his book, Zhai Hua’s face obstructed his view. “No matter what, we are siblings. Are you really not going to tell me which girl you ruined? Our family does not tolerate a rogue like this. If the girl comes knocking at our door, your reputation will be ruined. It would be hard for you to continue working in the army. Since you slept with her, why don’t you marry her?”

Faced with Zhai Hua’s baseless accusation, Zhai Sheng uttered only one word. “Scram.”

Afterward, he returned to his room without regard for Zhai Hua’s reaction. He changed the clothes that had been stained with Qiao Nan’s blood to prevent any further misunderstandings.

Qiao Nan was making her way towards her house with a heavy heart.

Now that her fever had subsided, Qiao Nan’s mind was clearer. She began to recall the memories of the entire preceding year.

Qiao Nan originated from a respected family.

It just so happened that her grandparents did not survive through the 1970s. Following their demise, her father enlisted in the army with the assistance of her grandfather’s close friend and subsequently married Ding Jiayi.

The older generation typically favored males, particularly Ding Jiayi. When she gave birth to their first child – Qiao Zijin – Ding Jiayi consoled herself with the thought that she would bear a son next.

As Ding Jiayi was planning for a second child, a national planning policy was implemented.

In their pursuit of a son, Qiao Dongliang and Ding Jiayi were expelled from the party and lost their secure, lifelong employment. They were pregnant with a second child, but it turned out to be their younger daughter – Qiao Nan.

This year would mark Qiao Nan’s third year in high school. Qiao Zijin had completed her middle school examinations and was soon to be enrolled in high school.

Qiao Nan attended school earlier in the morning. Nevertheless, Qiao Nan had consistently performed well, securing the top rank in school. Conversely, Qiao Zijin’s academic results were poor. Qiao Zijin felt dissatisfied about this.

In her previous existence, Ding Jiayi deceived Qiao Nan. She claimed the family’s finances were depleted due to her illness. Even the funds for Qiao Zijin’s school enrollment were purportedly borrowed.

However, several years later, Qiao Nan discovered that their savings had not been allocated to her medical expenses. It was her mother who had misappropriated the funds for bribery to benefit Qiao Zijin.

Given that her fever had significantly subsided, Qiao Nan exhaled a sigh of relief. At the very least, in this current life, her mother could no longer exploit her illness for leverage.

In this renewed life, regardless of the circumstances, she would not abandon her studies to work and support Qiao Zijin. She would forge her own path!

Upon reaching her home, Qiao Nan saw Qiao Dongliang returning on his bicycle, as he was off-duty during this period.