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

After being repeatedly comforted by his daughter-in-law and grandson, Grandpa Fang's frantic emotions seemed to gradually calm down, but he still held Zhixia's hand tightly, gazing at her face with tears streaming down his face, murmuring repeatedly, "Xiaozhi... Dad misses you... Xiaozhi..."

At this moment, Fang Zheng, out of sheer curiosity about Zheng Qin's claim that Zhi Xia and Xiao Zhi looked alike, also put down his work and returned.

Fang Zheng strode forward, his brow furrowed, and glanced at Zhi Xia, who was pale and still shaken, with a complicated expression. Then he said to his father in a deep voice, "Dad, you're tired. Go back to your room and rest. Xiao Zhou, help the commander to rest."

His voice carried an unyielding authority. Guard Xiao Zhou quickly stepped forward, and together with Zheng Qin, half-supporting and half-persuading, they led the old man, who still refused to let go and kept looking back, out of the corridor and back to the room prepared for him.

The corridor finally returned to silence for the time being, but the heavy, sorrowful, and eerie atmosphere lingered for a long time.

Fang Chu held Zhi Xia, who was still trembling slightly and her body was weak, tightly in her arms and whispered to comfort her, "It's alright, Qingqing, it's alright. Grandpa just missed Auntie too much and mistook her for someone else. Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Chao Huaihua stepped forward, took her daughter's cold hand, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she only sighed heavily, her eyes reddening. What kind of mess is this!

Fang Zheng stood not far away, his gaze fixed on his daughter-in-law, who was being held in his son's arms and whose face bore a striking resemblance to his sister in his memory. He then glanced at his mother-in-law, Chao Huaihua, who was standing beside him with a face full of worry and confusion. The doubts and unease that his wife had stirred in his heart were like ripples spreading across a lake after a stone was thrown in.

It seems that some things need to be investigated and brought to a clear conclusion as soon as possible. Otherwise, this family may never have a peaceful day again.

The living room was deathly silent; even breathing could be heard clearly. The afternoon sun outside the window was still bright, but it couldn't penetrate the heavy atmosphere inside.

Fang Zheng looked at Chao Huaihua with sharp, hawk-like eyes, his tone carrying an unquestionable inquiry: "In-law, Xiaxia... is she your biological daughter? I mean, are you sure she's your own child, and there's no possibility of adoption, or... any other kind of mix-up?"

Chao Huaihua was taken aback by his sudden, almost offensive question, and then a surge of anger at being questioned welled up inside her.

She straightened her back, her face flushed, and her voice rose with excitement, carrying the straightforwardness and unquestionable tone characteristic of a middle-aged woman: "Commander Fang! What do you mean by that?! Zhixia is of course my biological daughter! She was born after ten months of pregnancy! I remember it clearly, on the sixth day of the third month of 57, around eight or nine in the morning, shortly after sunrise, I gave birth to her on my own kang (heated brick bed)! The midwife was Aunt Wang from the east end of the village, and several women from the neighborhood were there to help! This child has never left my side for a single day since she was born! Switched at birth? Impossible! Adoption is even more impossible!"

Her voice was resolute, each word like a hammer blow, carrying an undeniable force. It was a mother's most primal and unwavering defense of her own flesh and blood.

Looking at her excited expression and determined eyes, Fang Zheng's absurd guesses (such as Zhi Xia being his sister's child who had been separated from her family) were largely dispelled.

It seems that his background is indeed correct. His tense nerves relaxed a little. Perhaps it really is just a coincidence that he looks like someone else.

He rubbed his temples wearily, feeling a little apologetic for his earlier outburst, and was about to speak to ease the tension.

However, just as he was about to accept the explanation of "coincidence," a date detail that had surfaced earlier but had been suppressed by his subconscious suddenly crashed into his mind—March 6th!

He abruptly raised his head, his eyes fixed on Chao Huaihua, his voice slightly distorted with extreme shock, carrying an almost coercive tone: "You said... she was born on the sixth day of the third month? Around eight or nine in the morning?"

Chao Huaihua was startled by his sudden change in attitude and gaze, but she still nodded firmly: "Yes, it was on the morning of the sixth day of the third month, when the sun was high in the sky, around eight or nine o'clock."

Fang Zheng's expression instantly became extremely strange, a mixture of shock, disbelief, a sense of absurdity, and a deep-seated pain from his memories all surging into his heart.

He muttered to himself, his voice not loud, but it boomed like thunder in the quiet living room: "March 6th, around eight or nine o'clock in the morning... how could it be... such a coincidence..."

"What a coincidence?" Chao Huaihua asked, puzzled. Fang Chu also frowned deeply, and Zhi Xia shrank even more uneasy into Fang Chu's arms.

Fang Zheng did not answer immediately. His gaze seemed to pierce through time and space, returning to that equally chilly spring morning decades ago.

His voice was hoarse, carrying a distant and painful recollection: "Xiao Zhi... she was also... born on the sixth day of the third month. She was also born in the morning. The exact time... was around Chen Shi (7-9 AM), when the sun was just rising."

"What?!" Chao Huaihua exclaimed in shock, her eyes wide. Fang Chu was also completely stunned, his arm around Zhixia tightening unconsciously. Born on the same day, at the same hour? This coincidence... was simply too astonishing!

But it's not over yet.

Fang Zheng's gaze, as if drawn by some force, slowly, inch by inch, moved to Zhi Xia's slightly open neckline, which she had opened due to nervousness. There, on her delicate skin, near her collarbone…

He took a sudden step forward, his finger pointing almost uncontrollably at that spot, his voice trembling with excitement and a terrifying confirmation, even carrying a hint of fear and awe he himself didn't realize: "Here... below her collarbone, is there... is there a red, round... birthmark?!"

"!!!"

Fang Chu was struck dumb, and looked down sharply at Zhi Xia in his arms. Zhi Xia also subconsciously raised her hand to cover the area below her collarbone.

She's had that little red dot since she was a child. It doesn't hurt or itch, and her family always says it's a birthmark, but she's never paid any attention to it.

Fang Chu knew perfectly well! He had seen it countless times! It was part of his wife's body; he knew it all too well!

"Dad...you...how did you know?!" Fang Chu's voice trembled, filled with disbelief and shock. How could her father possibly know about the birthmark on Zhi Xia's body in such a private area?!

Fang Zheng did not answer his son's question.

He stared intently at the spot Zhixia had instinctively covered. Although it was obscured by her fingers, he seemed to see through the fabric and skin the unique mark that belonged to his younger sister Fang Zhi deep in his memory—a red, almost perfectly round birthmark, also below her collarbone.