Sheng Zexi knew that Zhao Weiguo didn’t believe his wife’s words.
Since he didn’t believe it, then so be it. Sheng Zexi had already done his part in advising him.
After finishing their meal at the state-run restaurant, the two parties went their separate ways.
Sheng Zexi, along with Gu Jianing, Xingxing, and Yueyue, found a decent hotel and settled in.
Perhaps because the long train ride had worn them out, and now that they were full and content, the children, Xingxing and Yueyue, quickly fell asleep as soon as they lay down on the bed.
Gu Jianing took out a few things from their luggage and quietly asked Sheng Zexi, “Do you really trust me that much? Aren’t you curious how I knew there’d be a heavy rain?”
Sheng Zexi patted her head and replied matter-of-factly, “Of course I trust my wife.”
“As for how you knew… my wife must have some magical ability.”
Gu Jianing laughed and leaned in to whisper in his ear, “I wasn’t lying. I have something that can show real-time weather forecasts for a province.”
Sheng Zexi: So that’s how it is.
“Alright, as long as you know. Just remember not to tell anyone else.”
“I know. It’s just… about Brother Zhao… will this affect your relationship with him?”
Sheng Zexi shook his head. “Our relationship isn’t that deep anyway.” In truth, they were just ordinary comrades-in-arms who happened to know each other. Sheng Zexi had never been particularly close to Zhao Weiguo, mainly because he felt their ideologies didn’t align.
For such superficial relationships, Sheng Zexi didn’t bother putting in much effort to maintain them.
To him, his wife was far more important than an ordinary comrade.
“Alright then.” Hearing this, Gu Jianing let out a sigh of relief.
….
Meanwhile, Zhao Weiguo had already boarded the ship with the supplies.
As the logistics director of the Huansha Island military base, Zhao Weiguo had come with his subordinates to procure supplies and pick up Sheng Zexi’s family.
But who would’ve thought that Sheng Zexi would…
“Director Zhao, is the Sheng family not coming?” one of his subordinates asked.
They knew Zhao Weiguo had come today to fetch Sheng Zexi’s family, who were being transferred to Huansha Island.
But now, with the ship about to depart, there was still no sign of them.
“They’re here, but they’ve decided to go to Huansha Island tomorrow instead.”
“Ah? Why?”
Zhao Weiguo didn’t hide it and directly relayed what Gu Jianing had said—that there would be heavy rain within half an hour, lasting four hours.
“Brother Sheng is good in every way, except he listens to his wife too much,” Zhao Weiguo lamented.
What use did a woman have besides staying at home to take care of her husband and children?
Moreover, Sheng Zexi’s wife was said to be from the countryside. He hadn’t heard of her having any special skills.
Zhao Weiguo figured Sheng Zexi must have been swayed by his wife’s beauty and hadn’t considered anything else.
“When choosing a wife, you can’t just look at appearances. A virtuous wife is the key to a good life,” Zhao Weiguo mused.
Then, he glanced at the sky and ordered, “Set sail.”
Following his command, the ship soon departed.
But just twenty minutes after setting off, the weather remained as clear as ever.
“I knew it. That woman of Sheng Zexi’s was just spouting nonsense.”
Yet the moment Zhao Weiguo finished speaking, the clear sky suddenly darkened.
It happened in an instant!
Thick, oppressive darkness enveloped them as if swallowing the ship whole. The sea grew turbulent, waves crashing violently.
“Director Zhao, this won’t do! It’s too dark—visibility is too low. We can’t keep sailing!”
At this moment, someone timidly spoke up: “Commander Sheng’s wife said it would start raining within half an hour… Could it actually be…?”
“Impossible!” Before the person could finish, Zhao Weiguo shot him a glare.
How could a woman’s words possibly be right?
Of course, the deeper reason was that Zhao Weiguo refused to admit defeat to a woman.
But reality clearly wasn’t on his side—it swiftly delivered a harsh slap to his face.
In less than five minutes, torrential rain poured down, hammering against their heads and the ship.
“It’s really storming!”
“And it started within half an hour, just as she said.”
“Director Zhao, this is too dangerous. We can’t keep going in this downpour. Should we turn back?”
Zhao Weiguo’s face was drenched, his expression grim.
He was utterly stunned.
Sheng Zexi’s wife had actually been right.
How had she known?
How could she—a woman—be more accurate than him, someone who had lived on the island for years?
Zhao Weiguo didn’t want to turn back, so he remained silent.
If they went back now, wouldn’t that mean he was wrong?
What if the storm was just a brief squall and would soon pass?
Then someone else chimed in: “Didn’t Director Zhao say Commander Sheng’s wife predicted the storm would last four hours?”
“If it really lasts that long, we can’t stay out here!”
Otherwise, they might never make it back.
All eyes turned to Zhao Weiguo, waiting for his decision.
Zhao Weiguo: “…”
He cursed inwardly but, after a moment of hesitation, finally gritted his teeth and ordered, “Turn back!”
If the storm passed quickly, it wouldn’t matter. But if it really lasted four hours, as Sheng Zexi’s wife had said, staying out or pressing forward would be far too dangerous.
Zhao Weiguo was stubborn, especially when it came to being outdone by a woman—his pride couldn’t take it.
But!
He absolutely couldn’t risk the lives of his men or the supplies they had procured.
So…
They had no choice but to retreat!
As it turned out, Zhao Weiguo’s decision to turn back was the right one.
The storm raged on relentlessly the entire way back.
Even when they reached the county town, though the rain had lightened, it still showed no sign of stopping.
“Find a hotel and rest for now!” After securing the ship and supplies, Zhao Weiguo and his men checked into the nearest hotel.
But the moment they stepped inside, they ran straight into Sheng Zexi.
Zhao Weiguo: “…”
The contrast was painfully obvious—Sheng Zexi, clean and dry, versus Zhao Weiguo and his men, soaked and disheveled.
Sheng Zexi thought to himself: Serves you right for not listening to my wife. Now you’ve learned your lesson.
But outwardly, he simply said, “Brother Zhao, what happened to you all?”
Zhao Weiguo was mortified.
He had no choice but to explain, “We ran into the storm and had to turn back.”
Sheng Zexi gave an indifferent “Oh.” In the past, he might have fired off a few sarcastic remarks, but these days, he was more composed.
“Well, rest up at the hotel. We’ll head back together tomorrow.”
“Yeah.”
As soon as Sheng Zexi walked away, Zhao Weiguo and his men hurried to their rooms to shower and change.
Meanwhile, back in his own room, Sheng Zexi told Gu Jianing about running into Zhao Weiguo’s group.
“Are they okay?” Gu Jianing was still a little worried.
“They’re fine. Just drenched and looking pretty miserable, but nothing serious.”
“That’s good.”
Leave a Reply