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

"I think so." Zhang Meili sighed, her tone filled with emotion. "After going through so much, Xiaxia has grown up. She has a sense of justice. She has seen everything Fang Chu has done in the past six months. Although he was a scoundrel at the beginning, his later behavior... is truly impeccable. He treats Xiaxia like a precious gem, afraid she might melt in his mouth or break in his hands."

"Hmph," Zhi Lin snorted again, this time without much anger, but with a somewhat complicated meaning, "I didn't expect that Fang Chu is quite capable." To make his sister, who once hated him to the bone and was also stubborn, willingly live with him and even take the initiative to hand over his ex-lover's letter to him, this "capability" is obviously not just based on family background or position.

"Then this letter..." Zhang Meili looked at her husband.

Zhilin picked up the letter, stuffed it into the pocket of his military uniform jacket, and patted it: "Okay, I'll give it to him."

Zhang Meili nodded: "Yes, it's more appropriate for you to go and say it than for me to."

Zhilin didn't say anything more, picked up his hat and put it on his head, then strode out of the office. His steady, powerful footsteps echoed down the corridor, gradually fading into the distance.

Zhang Meili sat there, watching the soldiers training on the parade ground outside the window. The weight on her heart regarding Zhixia finally lifted.

Life goes on, and we still have to keep going.

Zhi Xia chose the path she believed was right and tried her best to walk it well, and that was enough. As for Fang Chu… Zhang Meili thought, after this letter incident, that boy would probably be even more devoted to Xia Xia, right? Could this be considered… a lucky accident?

She shook her head, stopped thinking about it, got up, tidied herself up, and left the office. She still had a ton of work to do at home.

Zhi Xia's decision to have Zhang Meili deliver Zuo Qi's letter directly to Fang Chu was far more complex than simply the "frankness" and "decisiveness" that her sister-in-law saw.

In the afternoon, the baby in her womb kicked gently. Zhixia leaned against the headboard, her fingers unconsciously tracing the slightly raised curve of her belly, her eyes as clear as an autumn lake. She thought of Zuo Qi, the young man with a slightly shy smile who would weave grasshoppers for her and recite poetry to her.

The affection was real, and the warmth of childhood friendship was genuine. But she knew even more clearly that since that chaotic night last year, an insurmountable chasm had separated her and Zuo Qi.

It wasn't just that she lost her innocence and became pregnant with another man's child. It was also because she experienced another kind of life, or rather, was forced into another social class.

Zuo Qi is a good person—down-to-earth and honest—and might offer her a peaceful life. But can that kind of life still contain her now? Can it contain the terror and humiliation she has endured, and the two children carrying the Fang family bloodline in her womb?

Even if we're just hypothesizing, what if she and Fang Chu couldn't make it work and broke up? What kind of awkwardness and gossip would it be if she, a divorced woman with two children from a wealthy family, went back to her hometown and "rekindled her romance" with Zuo Qi? Could Zuo Qi bear it? Could his family accept it? And could she herself be willing to accept it?

Zhixia had long understood that there was absolutely no future for her and Zuoqi. That budding affection from her teenage years had become so fragile and insignificant under the crushing weight of reality. Therefore, whether she accepted the letter or not, read it or not, was meaningless. She might as well use it as a gesture, a bargaining chip, or perhaps, a test.

She was always a smart girl, even precocious. This intelligence wasn't about how much she read, but about a clear-headed, almost ruthless, insight. She knew how to assess situations and, within limited options, how to secure the greatest possible space for survival and future possibilities for herself.

When that incident first happened, Fang Chu proposed marriage, and she vehemently opposed it, not just out of hatred, but also because she clearly knew that a marriage formed under such circumstances was destined to be distorted. He felt only guilt and a sense of obligation towards her, while she felt only fear and hatred towards him.

How can two people bound together by negative emotions last? Forcing a union only drags them deeper into the mire. So at that time, she would rather bear the possible stigma than jump into that cage from which she could see the bottom.

Later, things spiraled out of control. Her near miscarriage caused a huge uproar, and the unsavory rumors circulating in the family compound... all these factors combined made marriage seem like the only "respectable" way out. At that time, she agreed. Because she keenly sensed that Fang Chu's attitude towards her had subtly changed.

The guilt remained, but it was mixed with something else. There was a cautious attempt to please her, the heartache in his eyes when he saw her pale face, the undisguised elation when he learned that she had agreed to marry him... and the obsession with "not being able to have" that came from her resistance and aloofness all along.

Zhi Xia knew all too well that someone like Fang Chu, a "chosen one" with a good family background and outstanding abilities, was used to having everything go smoothly and often didn't cherish what came easily. But her resistance, her "unconquerable" nature, unexpectedly drew his attention and investment in her like never before.

She had a clear understanding of the situation when she agreed to marry him. She knew that at this point, she might be able to "control" Fang Chu.

She also clearly understood the gap between reality and expectations. Her older brother was already a regimental commander, a remarkable figure in their hometown, but even so, getting her a place at the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University was extremely difficult and the hope was slim.

But Fang Chu could. He didn't even need to "make things happen"; perhaps just a casual remark from his family, or a little maneuvering using his network of connections, and things would be done.

This is the gap, this is "class". The class system in this era may not be as rigidly divided and clearly defined by bloodline as in the old society, but it still exists, hidden behind resources, connections, and information, which are both softer and more solid.

Zhi Xia is not naive. She doesn't expect Fang Chu's love to last a lifetime, nor does she fantasize that she can truly integrate into that distant "Fang family of Kyoto".

But she knew how to use her resources—Fang Chu's current guilt, affection, and anticipation for the unborn child, as well as her own clear mind and definite goals—to pave the easiest path for herself and for the two children who were about to be born.

Handing Zuo Qi's letter to Fang Chu was a conscious move. It completely severed ties with the unnecessary past, while also demonstrating "honesty" and "dependence" to Fang Chu, satisfying his hidden desire for control and security. At the same time, wasn't it also a silent reminder and restraint? See, I've decided to be with you, but you should also know that I once had choices.

She stroked her belly, feeling the strong pulse of the two little lives inside. Her eyes were calm and resolute.

Love? That's too extravagant, too ethereal. What she needs now is a stable home, a safe and healthy birth for her child, and the opportunity for her to study and see the wider world in the future. And Fang Chu is currently the most realistic and powerful guarantee that can give her these things.

There may still be thorns on this road, but she is no longer the girl who could only cry helplessly. She is learning to walk her own path in this marriage that began in the wrong way.

At the Third Regiment headquarters, Zhi Lin found Fang Chu. Without saying a word, he took the warm letter out of his pocket and slapped it into Fang Chu's hand.

"Here, Xiaxia gave it to you." Zhilin's voice was not loud, but her eyes were sharp as she stared at Fang Chu's face, not missing a single change in his expression.

Fang Chu was taken aback at first, then glanced down at the neat handwriting on the envelope, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. She then looked up, her tone somewhat somber: "Written by Zuo Qi? Why hasn't he given up yet?"

Zhi Lin snorted inwardly, "Good thing you reacted quickly enough to know who it was." "Who knows? You're just stubborn. Xia Xia didn't take it; she just told me to give it to you. You decide what to do with it." He pretended to take the letter back. "If you don't want it, I'll throw it away for you, and we'll pretend this never happened."

"I want it!" Fang Chu immediately pulled her hand back, clutching the letter tightly in her hand, as if afraid that Zhi Linzhen would snatch it away.

The gloom on his face quickly faded, replaced by a strange expression that mixed pride and appreciation. The corners of his mouth even curled up slightly. Looking at Zhilin, his tone became lighter, "Big brother, I definitely want this letter. My Qingqing baby... she must have asked you to give it to me because she was afraid I'd be jealous and unhappy. She definitely cares about me."

Zhi Lin was taken aback by his words and smug look, her brows furrowing into a knot, her face full of disgust: "...Qingqing baby? What is that? Are you calling Xiaxia?"

Fang Chu nodded confidently, his eyes shining, showing no embarrassment whatsoever: "Yes, it's my nickname for Xiaxia." He even deliberately raised his chin, "Isn't it nice? I think it's especially nice, so affectionate and soft, it suits her perfectly."

"Hiss—" Zhi Lin gasped, as if his teeth had been pierced by the sourness. He rubbed his arms. "Fang Chu, let me tell you, don't give me that! It's so cheesy, it gives me goosebumps! Are all you cultural workers like this? It's really... disgusting!"

Fang Chu wasn't annoyed at all; instead, he smiled, a smile that seemed rather irritating. He looked Zhi Lin up and down and said slowly, "Brother, you're just... envious that I'm cultured and good at expressing myself, aren't you? If you have something on your mind, you should say it. It's so uncomfortable to keep things to yourself. Feelings should be passionate."

"I'm not envious of you at all!" Zhilin almost kicked him, glaring at him angrily. "Stop talking nonsense! I've given you the letter, and you know Xiaxia's attitude. You should know what to do from now on! Don't let her down!"

"Of course!" Fang Chu immediately straightened up, solemnly put the letter into the pocket of his inner garment, and patted it. "Don't worry, brother, I understand."

Seeing his serious demeanor, Zhilin's anger subsided slightly, but she still couldn't resist her curiosity. She glanced at the pocket where he kept the letter and asked casually, "Hey, what's written in that letter? Aren't you going to take a look?"

Fang Chu paused, looked up at Zhi Lin, his eyes clear and frank: "Big brother, since Xia Xia asked you to give it to me, it's mine. As for what's written inside..." He paused, his tone calm yet firm, "It's not important. What's important is Xia Xia's attitude. She chose to let me handle the letter. It means that she and Zuo Qi are completely over, and she will live a good life with me from now on."

He looked at the soldiers sweating on the training field, his voice soft but powerful: "The past is the past. Now, I only want to look forward to our future and protect her and the child."

Looking at his straight back and the serious expression on his profile, Zhi Lin suddenly realized that although this kid sometimes spoke in a way that made people want to punch him, his sense of responsibility and insight were not just empty words.

He snorted and didn't ask any more questions about the contents of the letter. He simply raised his hand and patted Fang Chu's shoulder hard, causing Fang Chu to stumble.

"Remember what you said today! I'm leaving!" Zhi Lin said, turned around and strode away, his back still exuding a powerful aura.

Fang Chu rubbed his shoulder, which was numb from being patted, and watched Zhi Lin walk away before carefully taking the letter out of his pocket again.

The envelope was unremarkable, yet it felt incredibly heavy. He stared at the familiar yet unfamiliar handwriting for a long time, his expression complex. In the end, he didn't open it; instead, he carefully folded the letter again and placed it close to his body.

"My dear baby..." he murmured this affectionate nickname known only to himself, a gentle yet firm smile curving his lips.

He didn't want to delve into the past, nor did he need to. He only needed to grasp the present, the future, and Zhi Xia—the one who had entrusted him with the letters her childhood sweetheart had written to her, and who was willing to face the future with him. That was enough.

As night fell, a dim yellow light illuminated the courtyard. After tidying up the kitchen, Chao Huaihua checked the time and said to the inner room, "Xiaxia, Mom is going back to her room to sleep. You should get some rest too. Call Mom if you need anything."

"Okay, Mom," Zhixia replied, leaning against the headboard to continue knitting the nearly finished sweater, but her ears couldn't help but listen to the sounds from the outside room.