Chapter 1037: Chapter 910: Secret Assistance
Zhang Guoqing chuckled ambiguously and patted his buddy’s shoulder, "Alright, I believe in you, okay? Even if I don’t have faith in you, I have faith in my wife."
"Can we still be brothers?"
"Of course, aren’t we thick as thieves?" Zhang Guoqing shamelessly lit another cigarette for him, "Calm down, when you have a daughter one day, we’ll become in-laws."
Yi Jiefang’s eyes lit up, "Really?"
"Uh, you’re on the priority list."
"Don’t mess around, let’s just say it as it is. I want Ping’an as my son-in-law, I’ll find someone this year so there’s still time to have a child by next year."
Zhang Guoqing hurriedly patted his own mouth, berating himself for speaking without thinking.
Yi Jiefang laughed heartily. This was truly satisfying, he would tell Zhou Jiao about it later and see if his wife would punish him? He had heard this buddy say that his wife didn’t allow their sons to have arranged marriages.
Zhang Guoqing gave him a playful punch. Talking about having a child next year, when his wife was still in her mother’s belly. But if Yi Jiefang indeed had a pretty daughter, he would sincerely consider becoming relatives, not for an alliance, not for the background, but for the fact that the two of them had been compatible for so many years.
However, he also knew this buddy was similar to him; liking Ping’an was one thing, but whether he would really consider letting her into the Zhang Family was another.
Moreover, his son Ping’an was almost ten. The age gap would be too big if they were to be engaged; it would be more practical to consider Liu Yiwu or May 1st.
Ping’an, in the distance, was watching over his younger brothers, completely unaware that he had almost been "sold off" by his dad in a marriage even without knowing who his future wife was.
"Xiao Wu, luckily I went to college, otherwise I would have missed out on having a friend like you in my life, which would have been a great pity. Especially when the world outside seems chaotic, it’s comforting to talk to you."
Was Zhang Guoqing not the same?
If Zhang Yuntao and Li Qinglin were childhood friends who were somewhat naive and needed his guidance often, Yi Jiefang was different.
He and Yi Jiefang shared many similarities in thought, behavior, and their attitudes towards people and things. Calling them friends was less accurate than calling them confidants.
"We were destined to meet."
The two exchanged smiles. Some people are suitable to be lifelong friends, the kind you can trust to cover your back on a battlefield.
Yi Jiefang looked around, lowered his voice, "Are you still going out of town this month?"
Zhang Guoqing knowingly nodded, "I’ve prepared things for ten people this time. You should sit this one out."
"No way, we’re brothers. I can’t let you put in all the effort while I avoid it. At the end of the month, let’s send them together. Sigh... I wonder how those guys are doing now."
Zhang Guoqing didn’t refuse. This was indeed their shared concern, whether sending too much or too little. Who knew if those who once enjoyed a good life could handle the hardships of the border and countryside?
"The situation is what it is, worrying is pointless. Let’s do what we can for now, and see if we can find a way to transfer them to better conditions later on."
Yi Jiefang’s playful demeanor faded, replaced by a heavy expression. In just a few years, the friends who laughed and played together had scattered in all directions.
Now it’s just them and a few others like Da Yong. The rest either flit about frantically or are in a desperate rush for power and gain, not realizing that however strong they may be now, if their fathers were to fall, they wouldn’t end well either.
Wouldn’t it be nice to live a stable life? Look at those classmates with jobs and stable pay, thanking their lucky stars for a simple life. Why bother?
"Xiao Wu, let’s send a little extra to those young girls this time. Normally they have aunties taking care of them at home, but who knows what kind of hardship they’ll face out there this time."
"Okay, you decide."
Yi Jiefang sighed, "Do you think they will receive the packages we send? I’ve heard that if there are good items inside, they’ll be confiscated."
Zhang Guoqing comfortingly patted his shoulder. There was nothing they could do about it. They couldn’t go visit in person, not to mention the risk involved, and they’re scattered all over; who would have the time off?
"You should be more optimistic. I bet this time those guys are going to be dumbfounded, unable to sleep, wondering whose packages these are coming from?"
Yi Jiefang chuckled at this, "They should be able to guess. At the very least, besides you, no one else would remember them, those who’ve left the inner circle."
"Nonsense, aren’t you one of them?"
"Hehe, as long as we’ve fulfilled our intentions and stay true to the crazy, wild times we’ve had, it’s fine. I’m just saying, if we wanted them to feel grateful, we wouldn’t be doing good deeds anonymously."
"Exactly! We’ve made the connections without regret. Even if we can’t pull them out of their predicaments, we can have a clear conscience."
"Xiao Wu, if I ever end up in the same situation as them, you have to remember to send me lots of jerky..."
"Spit, spit, stop talking nonsense." Zhang Guoqing quickly stopped him. How could this be something to talk about? He playfully punched Yi Jiefang, "With me around, I’ll drag you along even in death."
Yi Jiefang laughed heartily, hugging him tightly. That was a promise he’d remember for a lifetime!
A flash of inspiration hit Zhang Guoqing, "Da Yi, are you not seeking a partner because of this worry?" This seemed very possible; he remembered at first this guy wasn’t averse to blind dates.
Yi Jiefang hesitated a bit, "That’s part of it. But mostly because I haven’t met the right person, the one you talk about, wanting to spend a lifetime with."
"From what I’ve seen, they’re all too fake. The ones from well-off families are arrogant; those from less privileged backgrounds immediately ask about my current rank, talking about salary; and then there are the naive types, who, as you put it, are infatuated, looking at me as if I’m a piece of premium pork, which is a bit creepy."
Zhang Guoqing couldn’t help but find it amusing. What kind of people had they introduced to scare his buddy? "How about you set a goal? First, they should have a good education for the sake of future children, and to be safe, restrict the range to military families. I remember your dad said he had some decent comrades, didn’t he?"
Yi Jiefang shook his head, "Don’t mention it, I’ve met them all. They’re either burly or illiterate, and wouldn’t pass my mom’s test."
He hesitated for a moment, "There was one, but she’s as delicate as my little sister, which is fine if she were a sister, but not as a wife. It’d be like raising a daughter."
Zhang Guoqing was speechless. Seriously clueless! If a girl isn’t delicate, you might as well marry a man. He was being so picky. He’d be keen to see what kind of wife he could marry in the future!
"Xiao Wu, I’ve decided to look for a military doctor. I think Brother Hu Niu’s wife is quite nice. Very independent, intellectual, doesn’t talk much, and doesn’t nag or fuss."
Yi Hunu, eh? Zhang Guoqing smiled meaningfully. That’s fine, as long as you like it.
