“Admitted early?!”
Wen Yaozu’s eyes widened in shock. He grabbed Gu Che’s arm, grinning broadly. “Brother Gu Che, let me get some of your academic luck! I want to test into Peking University too someday.”
Gu Che didn’t discourage him, replying with a smile, “Sure thing. But you’ll have to study hard, Little Yaozu. Work hard to become my junior here in a few years.”
“Okay, okay!”
Wen Ci watched their interaction. She had to admit Gu Che was a good man; it was just a shame his girlfriend was Jiang Ye.
“Where are you planning to go first?” Gu Che asked.
Wen Yaozu answered, “My sister is taking me to find a professor to learn how to use the computer.”
“Computer?” Gu Che’s gaze involuntarily shifted to Wen Ci. He had heard from the Jiang family elders yesterday that Wen Ci had made quite a bit of money selling clothes.
But he hadn’t expected her to afford a computer so quickly.
There weren’t many computers even in the Peking University computer lab. Students could only use them during formal classes, under professor supervision.
A feeling of envy rose in Gu Che. He pointed the way. “The Computer Science professors all live in the faculty apartments in Zone C. You can go straight there.”
“Thank you.”
Wen Ci didn’t want to chat with Gu Che any longer, afraid an acquaintance might see them and tell Jiang Ye, leading to more trouble. She took Wen Yaozu’s hand and walked into the campus.
Once inside, Wen Yaozu asked curiously, “Sis, why do you seem so distant from Brother Gu Che now?”
Their relationship used to be very good. He had even heard his parents talk about possibly marrying his sister to Gu Che. He thought Gu Che would become his brother-in-law.
He never expected his Regiment Commander brother-in-law to snatch her away.
“Distant?” Wen Ci replied.
Wen Yaozu nodded vigorously. “Before, you two would always smile at each other, and you, sis, would even get shy. Now it feels like you don’t even want to acknowledge Brother Gu Che.”
Wen Ci raised an eyebrow.
That was the original Wen Ci, she thought. It has nothing to do with me.
Besides, even without Huo Jingyuan, she wouldn’t have chosen Gu Che. The 1980s were a golden opportunity to make money. Rather than falling in love, she’d focus on her career and become a wealthy businesswoman!
They arrived at the Zone C faculty residences. The Peking University faculty housing consisted of three-story buildings made of red brick. A huge locust tree stood in the center of the courtyard.
Under the tree were stone benches, where several elderly women were chatting. Wen Ci, holding Wen Yaozu’s hand, walked over and asked in a sweet, soft voice:
“Hello, professors. Could you tell me which house Professor Wu Qian lives in?”
“What business do you have with her?” one asked.
Wen Ci answered truthfully, “It’s like this. My husband is Huo Jingyuan. I came to Peking University to find Professor Wu to learn about computers.”
Hearing this, one elderly professor slowly stood up, leaning on her cane. She looked at Wen Ci with a kind, smiling face. “I am Wu Qian’s mother. She’s over at the computer classroom today. Let me take you to our home to wait.”
Wen Ci repeatedly declined. “No, no, that’s not necessary. I can just go to the computer classroom myself.”
“‘Huo Jingyuan’ sounds so familiar. He wouldn’t be the grandson of the late Chief Huo, would he?”
The old lady nodded. “Yes, he’s Old Man Huo’s grandson.”
Hearing this, a gleam of curiosity lit up Wen Ci’s eyes. The other professors were around the same age as Professor Wu’s mother, yet they all referred to Huo Jingyuan’s grandfather as ‘Chief Huo.’
Only Professor Wu’s mother called him ‘Old Man Huo.’
From the form of address, it was clear Professor Wu’s mother knew Huo Jingyuan’s grandfather, and by the looks of it, they were very, very familiar.
“Come to the house and sit for a while?” Professor Wu’s mother offered again.
Wen Ci nodded obediently. “Alright.”
After saying this, she let go of Wen Yaozu’s hand and walked over to Grandma Wu’s side. “Let me help you.”
Grandma Wu’s home was in the south-facing building, unit 103.
The door wasn’t locked, but slightly ajar. Inside was a two-bedroom apartment. There was an old-fashioned sofa in the living room, and a television set sat on the living room cabinet.
“What’s little Jingyuan’s rank now?”
Wen Ci pursed her lips, unsure how to answer.
Huo Jingyuan was currently injured and temporarily transferred to Northern Shaanxi as a Regimental Political Commissar. But being a commissar was only temporary; once he recovered, he would remain a Regiment Commander.
“Can’t you say?”
Wen Ci shook her head. “It’s not that. I just don’t know how to explain it. He’s about to be transferred to Northern Shaanxi to serve as a Regimental Political Commissar for a year. After his term ends, he’ll return to the Northwest as a Regiment Commander.”
Military appointments weren’t secret. Officers at the level of Regimental Political Commissar were publicly announced, and anyone with some connections could find out.
Grandma Wu, being a senior professor at Peking University, could easily learn about Huo Jingyuan’s rank if she wanted.
“Regimental Political Commissar? Little Jingyuan’s promotion path seems a bit slow.”
Wen Ci smiled lightly and replied, “Grandma Wu, Jingyuan’s promotions are actually quite good for the army. Times are different now than before.”
In the past, during wartime, military merits were easier to obtain and promotions faster, but it was also more dangerous.
Now it’s less dangerous than before, but officer promotions aren’t as easy either. Huo Jingyuan became a Regiment Commander at a young age and has already earned several military merits.
“That’s true too.”
Grandma Wu’s home was clean and tidy. The sofa was covered with a plain slipcover. A tea set and old-fashioned cups sat on the table. “Let me get you some water.”
“Please, don’t trouble yourself. We can help ourselves.”
As soon as she sat down, Wen Ci noticed the photo wall next to the television. The photos were dated, a group photo from the 1920s.
The man standing in the very center, the C-position, bore some resemblance to Huo Jingyuan.
Wen Ci guessed:
The person in the center of the photo was probably Huo Jingyuan’s grandfather.
Wen Ci’s eyes curved into smiles. “Grandma Wu, I’m a bit curious. Were you and Jingyuan’s grandfather comrades? Like, war comrades?”
“Like friends, but not quite.”
“Ah?”
Wen Ci raised an eyebrow. She felt like she had just heard some gossip. The term “Like friends, but not quite” was quite “ambiguous”—it could mean friendship, or it might not.
“Old stories from years gone by. Not worth mentioning.”
…
After staying at Grandma Wu’s place for half an hour, even though Wen Ci didn’t hear the gossip firsthand, after learning about Grandma Wu’s background, she could more or less guess a little.
Grandma Wu was among the first group in the country to study abroad on government funding.
In those days, it was incredibly difficult to gain the state’s recognition for government-funded study abroad. For Grandma Wu, being a woman, it was even more challenging.
Perhaps because of going abroad, Grandma Wu and Huo Jingyuan’s grandfather missed their chance with each other.
“I know about computers too. We have one right here at home.”
Wen Ci’s eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly composed herself. As one of the first to study abroad and a high-level talent who had been exposed to computers, it was actually quite normal for Grandma Wu to have a computer at home.
Figuring out how to pay Professor Wu for the lessons started to worry Wen Ci.
If she offered money, Grandma Wu definitely wouldn’t accept it.
But not paying wasn’t right either.
Suddenly, Wen Ci had an idea. Rather than struggling with this herself, she should let the one who caused the situation handle it. Huo Jingyuan was the one who intentionally had her come here.
So she’d leave it for him to deal with.
“Grandma Wu, do you have a landline at home? I’ll call Jingyuan over now. Let him chat with you. You probably haven’t seen him for many years, right?”
“That would be lovely. The phone is under the table.”
Grandma Wu bent down to get the landline phone. Wen Ci quickly stepped forward to support her. “No, no, let me get it. Please, you just sit.”
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