Chapter 24: Not Reserved at All

Huo Guanghui: Huh? Wife turning into a sister?

Little Li: Sister-in-law becoming a comrade?

“Old Gu, what are you thinking?” Huo Guanghui turned his back to Qian Lai, furiously blinking at Gu Hanchuan in a wild attempt at signaling. His meaning was clear: with such a wonderful wife, why not seize the moment? If you miss this opportunity, you won't get another.

But Gu Hanchuan didn’t even lift his eyes. “If you agree to testify, I’ll let her stay for now. If not...”

“I agree!” Huo Guanghui shot his hand up like a schoolchild. “Absolutely agree.”

Qian Lai smiled gently as she walked over to the small table beside Gu Hanchuan’s sickbed and lifted the lid of the clay pot. Instantly, the delicate fragrance of fresh rice porridge filled the room.

“My goodness, sister—oh, no, Comrade Qian! Did you make this porridge? It smells incredible!” Little Li was nearly drooling.

“Sir, I asked Doctor Tan. You haven’t had a drop of water for three days; now you must start with rice broth, gradually transitioning from liquids to normal food. So today, I made a simple thin rice porridge. I wonder how it tastes?”

She ladled out a small bowl, intending to cool it and feed him, but Gu Hanchuan reached out, took the bowl, and obediently drank a mouthful.

“It’s delicious.”

Qian Lai smiled again, fetching two more bowls, one for Commissar Huo and one for Little Li.

Huo Guanghui: After all those times I spilled my porridge, it turns out the problem was not with the porridge but with the person serving it.

Little Li: How is Comrade Qian so talented? If I follow the commander, I’ll get to eat her cooking all the time.

With the divine spring water added, the porridge’s flavor was extraordinary.

After three bowls of rice broth, Gu Hanchuan felt his whole body and spirit refreshed, as if brought back to life.

But he dared not eat more.

Qian Lai, understanding, whispered softly in his ear, “Let’s start consciously training your bowel schedule now, shall we?”

It was as if he’d found a trustworthy comrade, or met a mentor who truly valued him. Gu Hanchuan didn’t know why, but he felt an unprecedented sense of safety with Qian Lai.

They had only known each other for a single day.

He had to admit, Qian Lai had a uniquely trustworthy and compelling presence.

He couldn’t help but want to follow her lead.

In the days that followed, Qian Lai always consulted with Tan Yunhai about training goals, digested the information herself, and then devised suitable training methods for Gu Hanchuan based on his situation.

“Sir, you must do upper body strength training daily. That way, you’ll have enough strength to move when your arms are needed.”

“Sir, the use of adult diapers is just as I demonstrated—see how simple it is?”

“If your upper body can support your weight, you just need to move a bit to the side and you can put them on yourself. Would you like to try?”

“Sir, you did very well. Keep it up—two more times and today’s training is done.”

“Sir, it’s time for your morning bowel movement. These days, you’ve mastered the enemy’s strategy in Area One. Next, with patience, we’ll soon defeat the smaller enemy’s assault.”

“Sir, is today’s chicken soup rich enough? I went to the market early this morning and stewed it all morning in the staff kitchen. It’s my first time making chicken soup myself.”

“Sir, you’re the most determined person I’ve ever seen. No one else could do so well!”

Qian Lai was like a little swallow, fluttering around Gu Hanchuan’s side.

In less than a week, Gu Hanchuan had become accustomed to waking every morning to see the little swallow busy around him, chirping instructions for his daily training.

Her cooking skills were superb. After each training session, what he looked forward to most was hearing her announce, “Today’s meal is...”

Gradually, a tough soldier found himself lost in the praise from the little swallow.

The evening sunlight slanted across the earth. Through the window, the distant sky was tinged with purple.

A round, crimson sun drew nearer the horizon, and the summer heat receded a little.

“Sir,” Qian Lai pushed open the door, carrying a tray of medicine, and grinned mischievously at Gu Hanchuan. “Xiao He is on leave. From today, I’ll be handling your massages.”

“What? No, absolutely not. Get another male nurse.” Gu Hanchuan’s face flushed crimson, refusing vehemently.

The lower limb massage required working medicinal juice into every inch of muscle. Pants would have to be removed, front and back...

Even imagining the scene made him mortified.

He absolutely could not let Qian Lai massage him.

“Don’t think that just because I’ve followed your instructions these days, you can do whatever you please. Don’t forget our ground rules. Go call someone else.”

Gu Hanchuan began shouting hysterically.

“Sir, don’t worry, listen to me.” Qian Lai placed the medicine tray on the small table, speaking gently and patiently. “I’ve already looked for someone, but all the nurses are busy with their own duties. Even the doctors have finished their shifts.”

“The only two doctors left are rescuing an old cadre in the back building.”

“But your massage can’t be skipped—even one missed session would ruin all our progress.”

“Xiao He has taught me all the acupoints and techniques. I assure you I’m just as good as he is...”

“That’s still unacceptable. We... men and women shouldn’t...” Gu Hanchuan cut her off, so embarrassed he wanted the earth to swallow him.

Unexpectedly, Qian Lai put away her smile and spoke solemnly, “Comrade Gu Hanchuan, I never imagined you’d be so full of feudal ideas.”

‘In the face of a doctor, there is no distinction between men and women’—have you ever heard of that?

If everyone were as old-fashioned as you, how would male doctors work in gynecology or breast surgery?”

“You’re not a doctor!” Gu Hanchuan was sweating.

“Just treat me as a doctor. If that’s too difficult, treat me as Xiao He. Close your eyes, don’t look at anything.”

“But I know it’s you.”

“Well, when I touch you, can you really tell?” Qian Lai placed her hands on his thigh, kneading firmly. “Aside from being a bit weaker, can you even tell who it is?”

Gu Hanchuan’s pupils seemed to shatter with shock. “You—you’re not shy at all!”

He even gasped. This girl was certainly fierce!

“Comrade, you’ve been to the battlefield. How can your thinking be so outdated? If you were wounded in the anus by a bullet, would you insist on a male doctor for surgery?”

“What if there’s no male doctor? Would you rather suffer than be treated?”

“Hurry up now, behave.”

Before she finished speaking, his pa