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

At the same time, he himself must work harder to achieve success in his career and truly become a towering tree that can make her and the children proud and can effectively protect them.

He stood up, put the letter back in the drawer, and locked it. Then he turned and quietly walked back to his bedroom.

On the bed, Zhixia slept soundly, her face serene. Fang Chu stood by the bedside for a long time, his gaze gentle yet firm.

He quietly lay back down beside her, gently pulling her into his arms once more, his movements even more tender than before.

"My dear," he whispered, placing a light, feather-like kiss on her hair, "don't worry, your only support is me."

Only I can give you happiness.

As for that Zuoqi... let him forever remain in the illusory position of "his sister's support." In reality, I'll be there for you every step of the way.

Fang Chu held the warm body in his arms and closed his eyes. This time, he felt neither the previous smugness nor simple satisfaction, but rather a heavy sense of responsibility that he had to shoulder and a fighting spirit that... arose from the subtle intrusion into his masculine territory.

It seems that protecting his beloved Qingqing not only requires guarding against unexpected events, but also against the shadows of the past lurking somewhere unknown. This battle to save his marriage appears to be more interesting and demanding than he anticipated.

Time flew by, and it was already the tenth day of the first lunar month. The festive atmosphere of the New Year hadn't completely dissipated, and the Lantern Festival was just around the corner. Fang Chu had arranged everything almost perfectly. He bought three sleeper train tickets in advance and returned home with a relaxed smile on his face.

"Qingqing, the tickets are bought. The train leaves at 4 PM on the 16th." Fang Chu handed the tickets to Zhixia, who was resting in a recliner. "Look."

Zhixia took the train ticket, feeling a mix of trepidation and a faint anticipation for the unknown. She stroked her prominently pregnant belly and asked, "How long will the train ride back take?"

"About eighteen hours." Fang Chu sat down on the small stool next to her and explained carefully, "We get on the bus at four in the afternoon, take a nap, and arrive around ten the next morning. The timing is perfect; we don't have to travel at night, and it will be daytime when we get there, which is very convenient."

"Eighteen hours..." Zhixia repeated softly, her brows furrowing slightly, her hands instinctively protecting her belly. "My belly is so big...sitting for so long, will...the bumpy ride cause me to have a premature birth?" This was her biggest worry. Twins were already a heavy burden, and this was a long journey.

Fang Chu quickly grasped her hand, his voice steady and reassuring: "No, I bought a sleeper berth. You can rest while lying down on the train. I'll stay by your side the whole time. If you feel uncomfortable, we can find the train conductor anytime, or get off to rest along the way." He paused, then added, "I've also consulted with the doctor in detail. Your condition is stable right now. As long as you rest and avoid fatigue and severe jolting, taking a sleeper train will be no problem."

Hearing how thoughtfully he had arranged everything, Zhixia felt half relieved. She nodded, then remembered something else: "What about all those little clothes, blankets, diapers and stuff I prepared for the baby? I've accumulated quite a lot, and it's too much trouble to take them with me." She was a little annoyed; she had been so focused on preparing that she hadn't realized how inconvenient moving would be.

"That's easy," Fang Chu said with a smile. "Let's pack the essentials and your change of clothes first. As for the things we need for the baby, I'll pack them all up and send them to you when I get back. The postage won't cost much, so don't worry about it."

Zhi Xia finally relaxed her brows and smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "I should have known better than to prepare so many things."

"But you were happy then, right? Don't worry about it, our family isn't short of postage, hmm." Fang Chu's tone was relaxed, with a hint of indulgence. Seeing that Zhi Xia still seemed preoccupied, he brought it up, "Are you... thinking about going back to see my parents?"

Zhi Xia looked up at him, bit her lower lip, and softly hummed in agreement. Her eyes held uncertainty and a hint of timidity. "Are your parents... easy to get along with? I'm bringing my mother along too. Will they think... it's a burden, or be unhappy?" Chao Huaihua's presence was Zhi Xia's greatest source of confidence, but also her biggest concern. She feared that wealthy families had many rules and might look down on her for bringing her mother along.

Fang Chu's smile faded, his expression becoming serious and solemn. He moved his chair closer to Zhixia, took her hands in his, looked into her eyes, and said, word by word, "Qingqing, listen to me. My parents are very understanding, especially my dad. They are both very busy with work and rarely have time for home. You are pregnant with twins, which is the time when you need care the most. Even if they wanted to take care of you themselves, they wouldn't be able to. They are overjoyed that Mom can come with us! With Mom here, they are completely at ease and know that you will receive the best care. They will not feel burdened at all; on the contrary, they will be grateful to Mom."

His tone was firm, his eyes open and honest, without a trace of perfunctoriness: "As for whether they'll get along... they might have some differences in their views at first, and they might be blunt, but they're not bad people. Besides, I'm here for you. Most importantly, you're my lawfully wedded, officially approved, and pregnant with our Fang family's twin grandchildren. No one can make you suffer. Don't be afraid of anything, just focus on your pregnancy and give birth to the children safely. That's the most important thing."

Looking into his firm and reliable eyes, and listening to his clear and considerate words, Zhixia's unease and timidity slowly subsided. She squeezed his hand in return, nodded, and gave him a gentle smile filled with dependence and trust: "Yes, I understand."

Fang Chu felt a warmth in her heart and couldn't help but lean over and gently kiss her forehead: "That's right. My Qingqing baby, as long as you're happy and healthy, that's more important than anything else."

Hearing her son-in-law's words, Chao Huaihua felt much more at ease. She had initially worried that her in-laws might have reservations, but seeing how reasonable Fang Chu was and how he always protected her daughter, her worries lessened. As long as her son-in-law was genuinely good to her daughter and willing to take responsibility, everything else could be dealt with gradually.

"Alright, stop standing there." Chao Huaihua clapped her hands. "Xiaxia, think again about what else is important to bring with you. Don't regret forgetting something when you get on the train."

The room bustled with activity again, but the atmosphere had become much more relaxed. Fang Chu watched as Zhi Xia, despite her limited mobility, began to seriously consider which small items to bring, and a smile appeared on her lips.

Zhixia leaned back in her recliner, feeling the movements of her unborn child and the unwavering support of those around her. Her fear of the upcoming trip to Kyoto lessened, replaced by a quiet anticipation. The future might still hold uncertainties, but at least for now, she wasn't alone.