《Reborn in the 70s: Pampered by Regiment Commander》 Chapter 1 - 1 1 This Chuxia is Not That Chuxia ?1: Chapter 1: This Chuxia is Not That Chuxia 1: Chapter 1: This Chuxia is Not That Chuxia In the ramshackle courtyard of a farmhouse, a comely girl of sixteen or seventeen, wearing worn, dark blue clothes, gripped a large knife with delicate hands as she struggled to cut through the tough hemp cakes¡ªa thick, roughly ten-centimeter circular cake made from the residue of fried soybeans. Each time the knife slid over the hemp cake, it wobbled and trembled precariously, causing onlookers to feel uneasy. A few egrets wound their way around the girl, bobbing their heads and flicking their tails as they moved, occasionally snatching a peck and swiftly gobbling it down before coming back for more... By the large pot in the main room, a thin woman in her thirties with a somber expression glanced at the girl¡¯s slight figure. She banged a straw broom violently on the stove platform, then grabbed the worn ladle to scoop out the water used to scrub the pot. With too much force, some loose screws performed a free fall, and the ladle¡¯s head parted from its handle, splashing the woman¡¯s face and hand with water. Frowning, the woman fished out the ladle¡¯s head with a long-handled skimmer and flung it aside. She slapped her wet apron and sleeves and scooped the scrub water from the pot into a dirty, old leather bucket beside the stove with a ¡°glop glop glop...¡± She turned to sweep a glance at the man in the eastern room, using a tiger-headed doll to soothe a child. Rolling her eyes, she lifted the half-bucket of dirty water and splashed it into the center of the courtyard with a ¡°swoosh!¡± The egrets that had been hovering around the girl ran over cheerfully, pecking back and forth on the ground... ¡°Scram! Dirty creatures, good for nothing but eating! Get away!¡± The woman scolded, bending down to grab a handful of dirt to throw at the flock of chickens. Ignoring the shower of dirt flung their way, the contented egrets adopted a policy of indifference, which only served to fan the flames of the woman¡¯s anger. She stretched out her hand to grab a large rock from the corner and hurled it at them. ¡°Clang!¡± ¡°Cluck cluck cluck... cluck cluck cluck...¡± ¡°Flap flap flap...¡± The courtyard became instantly chaotic, but the girl cutting the hemp cake seemed deaf to all of it, her expression blank as she continued to toil away... The man holding the child burst out of the eastern room: ¡°What the hell? Can¡¯t the chickens have a drink of water without setting off your ranting and raving? I swear, you just can¡¯t enjoy an easy day without stirring up some trouble to feel content!¡± The woman hurled the dipper at the man: ¡°Easy days? Marry a man, and you¡¯re clothed and fed, but I married you and can¡¯t even dress or eat well, let alone have a decent home. Are you even a man?¡± The man twisted his body quickly, and the dipper hit him squarely on the back, sprinkling droplets on the child¡¯s little face. The baby¡¯s lips puckered, and he began to wail tremendously. The man, distressed for the child, frowned at the woman, his face full of rage. The woman, relentless, stuck her head forward at the man: ¡°What are you staring so wide-eyed for? If you¡¯re a man, hit me, kill me with a punch, come on, hit me...¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on now? What¡¯s all this commotion?¡± Just in time, a fifty-year-old woman dressed in a blue top and black trousers entered from outside, rushed up to the man in a few quick steps, and snatched the child, saying, ¡°Look how scared Shuanshuan is.¡± ¡°Mother, you have to stand up for me, wuu...¡± The woman¡¯s cries, plaintive and thunderous, drowned out the voice of the baby in swaddling clothes. ¡°Chudong, you¡¯re a man, let Meiching have her way a little,¡± said Chuxia¡¯s grandmother. ¡°Mother, how have I not let her have her way?¡± The girl put down the dull knife and rubbed her sore wrists and numb fingertips with a helpless sigh. For over half a year, similar fusses like this one had played out almost daily. Not only had she failed to grow accustomed to them, but they had become increasingly irritating. What sin had she, Lin Chuxia, committed to be punished by the heavens like this? Indeed, she was Lin Chuxia, yet at the same time, she was not Lin Chuxia... ¡°Chuxia, why is your back so wet? Did your eldest sister-in-law splash it on you?¡± The gentle inquiry greatly alleviated the annoyance in Lin Chuxia¡¯s heart. She tilted her head back, looking up at the middle-aged woman standing in front of her with concern on her face: ¡°Mother, it¡¯s nothing, just a splash. By the way, how come you¡¯re back so early today?¡± ¡°Your father and I split the tasks, and he can finish the remaining work by himself...¡± Chuxia¡¯s mother, Zhao Yulan, reached out to touch her daughter¡¯s head, ¡°Finally, it¡¯s not so hot. Sigh, your health...¡± She sighed, unable to continue. The daughter had always been frail, and ever since she fell seriously ill, she had become even weaker. However, the family simply could not afford the nourishment needed for her recovery... Zhao Yulan¡¯s heart ached. ¡°Mother, I¡¯ll get better with more activity.¡± Chuxia quickly stood up and shook Zhao Yulan¡¯s arm, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Zhao Yulan¡¯s eyes reddened slightly. Since that severe illness, her daughter had always been indifferent towards her. Because of this, she had shed many tears at night. At last, there seemed to be hope... As dusk approached, Lin Baohe, Chuxia¡¯s father, came home carrying a spade and pickaxe. After giving his daughter a few glances, the man of few words looked inquiringly at his wife. ¡°The fever has subsided, and she¡¯s almost better,¡± Zhao Yulan said cheerfully, and Lin Baohe¡¯s worried expression immediately relaxed. The genuine concern of her parents filled Chuxia with a warm feeling, ¡°Dad, Mom, let me go to work too, tomorrow.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan almost rejected the idea in unison. ¡°Chuxia, how can your frail body handle such heavy work? Rest for a while longer, and don¡¯t take your sister-in-law¡¯s words to heart. Sigh...¡± Towards the end, Chuxia¡¯s mother sighed repeatedly. In the countryside, not having a son meant lacking roots, and it was extremely looked down upon. The house they were living in consisted of one central room, one eastern room, plus an eastern and a western annex. The eastern room and annex belonged to Chuxia¡¯s eldest uncle, while the western annex belonged to Chuxia¡¯s family, and both families shared the central room. This arrangement was due to the fact that Chuxia¡¯s father didn¡¯t have a son. Chuxia¡¯s grandfather reluctantly allocated one western room for Chuxia¡¯s family to live in. Chuxia¡¯s younger aunt had given birth to twin boys, so Chuxia¡¯s grandparents gave the other house to Chuxia¡¯s younger uncle. The elderly couple also lived over there, saying that after a hundred years, the house would belong to Chuxia¡¯s younger uncle and his wife. Chuxia¡¯s elder sister-in-law always turned up her nose in disdain and made a fuss wailing, which was naturally because she disliked that Chuxia¡¯s family occupied a room and wanted to drive them out. ¡°I¡¯ll go prepare dinner,¡± Chuxia¡¯s mother said, wiping the tears in the corner of her eyes as she went to the central room. Chuxia stayed behind, still in a daze and didn¡¯t follow. ¡°Mom, does your stomach hurt again?¡± When Chuxia¡¯s mother came back carrying the food basket, she was hunched over. Thinking that her mother¡¯s old ailment flared up again, Chuxia quickly got off the kang to assist her. ¡°No...¡± Chuxia¡¯s mother inhaled sharply and pulled out an egg from the area around her belly, offering it to Chuxia in a hushed voice full of joy, ¡°I boiled this for you.¡± Chuxia immediately realized that during meal preparations, someone from her eldest uncle¡¯s family always ¡°happened¡± to come out. In her haste, her mother must have tucked it in her clothes. The freshly boiled egg... Chuxia urgently lifted Zhao Yulan¡¯s clothes and saw a red patch on her belly... Chuxia, who rarely shed tears, quietly sniffed and let down Zhao Yulan¡¯s clothes. The egg rolled on the edge of the kang as she carefully peeled it, then she broke the egg into three pieces, ¡°Dad, Mom, you should eat too.¡± ¡°I find it hard to swallow,¡± Zhao Yulan pushed the egg back towards Chuxia, ¡°Chuxia, be good. If your sister-in-law sees this, our days ahead will be even harder. This egg was given by your Fat Auntie; she said she feels so sorry for you...¡± Zhao Yulan choked up and couldn¡¯t continue. Lin Baohe, silent as always, pushed the egg back to Chuxia and got up to go to the central room. Soon after, he returned carrying three bowls of cornmeal porridge, ¡°Time to eat.¡± ¡°Dad, Mom, I will make sure we have good days ahead,¡± Chuxia suddenly blurted out after the meal. She ate the egg and drank the porridge, and even the hard-to-swallow cakes made from mixing sorghum and cornmeal, she forced down. All along, she had been passive. She felt no sense of belonging to this era, just as she could not truly feel close to this father and mother. Consequently, for the foods and drinks she disliked, she would rather let her health deteriorate than force herself. Yet, people¡¯s hearts are made of flesh, and after living together for more than half a year, her heart was gradually warmed by them. She knew that the parents of this era loved her just as her parents had in the other era. Now that she had taken over someone else¡¯s body, she could no longer live her life in such a listless way. Zhao Yulan squinted her eyes in delight, ¡°Xia, as long as you marry into a good family and live a comfortable life, your dad and I would consider those good days.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Lin Baohe¡¯s reply was as brief as it could be, but the softness in his expression showed he was happy as well. When Zhao Yulan gave birth to Chuxia, Chuxia¡¯s grandmother, learning it was a granddaughter, didn¡¯t even look at the child, let alone help with the postnatal care. Consequently, Zhao Yulan, who left her bed too early during confinement, fell ill and became infertile. About this, of course, Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan were regretful, but later, the couple came to accept the reality and cherished and doted on their daughter wholeheartedly. Their daughter, however, always kept her distance from them. Last year, when winter began, the daughter had a falling-out with her close friends and ran away from home in the rain. Thankfully, someone from the village saw her and brought her back. After getting sick from the rain, the daughter became even colder towards her parents, sometimes too lazy to even speak to them. Luckily, lately, her attitude had been gradually changing. However, such intimacy as displayed today was truly unprecedented; even the Chuxia before her illness had never been so close to them. They were somewhat astonished by her affection. That night, the family slept very contentedly. Chuxia¡¯s father and mother were happy because their daughter had finally opened up her heart, and Chuxia herself felt content for the same reason. However, the so-called knot in their hearts was entirely different for each. Chapter 2 - 2 2 Love ?2: Chapter 2 Love 2: Chapter 2 Love ¡°Clang!¡± ¡°Clang! Clang! Clang...¡± As the sky began to lighten, Chuxia was startled awake by consecutive bursts of noise. Irritated, she rubbed her tousled hair and buried her head under the covers. Last night, late after midnight, she had vaguely heard Shuanshuan crying. Liu Meiqing was just like that; if she couldn¡¯t sleep well, she was determined not to let anyone else sleep well either. And by ¡°anyone else,¡± she meant her, Lin Chuxia¡ªeveryone else in the house got up earlier than Liu Meiqing. ¡°Creak!¡± The door opened, and Zhao Yulan entered with a smile, pulled her daughter¡¯s head from under the covers, and tucked the blanket tightly around her before whispering, ¡°Mom has put a sweet potato for you to warm by the stove. Fish it out and eat it at mid-morning.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Chuxia responded, lifting her head to glance at the old wall clock. It wasn¡¯t even six o¡¯clock yet, but the noise was so loud that she would have struggled to block it out even with ten layers of blankets. Therefore, she said, ¡°Mom, close the door. I¡¯m getting up.¡± ¡°Lie down a bit longer. Your dad hasn¡¯t come back from collecting manure yet,¡± Zhao Yulan pressed her daughter down, ¡°Or would you like me to find some cotton to plug your ears?¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯m not sleepy anymore.¡± As she claimed not to be sleepy, she yawned again and then laughed embarrassedly, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m really not sleepy.¡± ¡°This child...¡± Zhao Yulan said with amusement, pinching her daughter¡¯s cheek, but she couldn¡¯t help her eyes welling up with tears¡ªpartly from joy at her daughter¡¯s sudden sensibleness, partly from heartache at her pale little face. If only she could nourish her daughter, make her hair black and shiny, her cheeks rosy... But then again, that may not be a blessing... Seeing Zhao Yulan gazing at her with mixed emotions of happiness and sorrow, Chuxia quickly sat up. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked. ¡°Chuxia, those women in the village who say you are not pretty are just sour in their hearts. Don¡¯t take it to heart. Chuxia, you¡¯ll definitely find a good husband¡¯s family,¡± Zhao Yulan said out of the blue. A smile formed at the corners of Chuxia¡¯s lips. ¡°Mom, I know.¡± In this era, due to economic scarcity, people preferred sturdy girls with broad brows and big eyes, who could work vigorously, as brides. She, on the other hand... though beautiful, just didn¡¯t quite fit the demands of the times. Actually, Lin Chuxia had always been puzzled about it. Zhao Yulan was at best considered delicate, Lin Baohe wasn¡¯t remarkably handsome either¡ªso how did they produce such an outstanding daughter? Fine, black crescent eyebrows, big watery phoenix eyes, thin double eyelids, a straight little nose, and red, luscious lips... The first time she looked in the mirror, she was truly captivated by her own stunning beauty. However... if she had the choice, she would rather be her unassuming self from the other time and space. Zhao Yulan eyed her daughter¡¯s complexion with cautious scrutiny. ¡°Chuxia, mom is not just consoling you. You are truly beautiful,¡± she said. ¡°Mom, I believe you!¡± Chuxia emphasized, laughing inwardly, knowing that the original owner of this body had often complained to her parents about her looks, and they, in turn, had worried endlessly behind her back¡ªconcerned she¡¯d have trouble finding a suitable husband¡¯s family. Little did they know that having such a figure was the envy of many girls¡ªof course, that was her, Lin Chuxia¡¯s, own opinion. Maybe the original owner of this body had confirmed the adage ¡°beauty is a curse¡±? Otherwise, how could her soul have scattered at such a young age, allowing her to take over her body? Or had the body¡¯s original owner taken over her own? Perhaps one morning, she might wake up and find they had switched back? ...Stop thinking about it! Stop thinking about it! Lin Chuxia shook her head vigorously, forcing her thoughts back to the present. Half a year had passed, and she often entertained such fantasies, but alas, she was still stuck in the late 1970s rather than the developed 2010s. It was time to accept reality. ¡°Chuxia, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhao Yulan grasped her daughter¡¯s arms, full of concern. ¡°Are you feeling unwell again? Tell mom, and I¡¯ll go get some medicine from Doctor Liu.¡± Lin Chuxia quickly put on a smile. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not that fragile. I just felt a bit out of it. Shaking my head a bit, I¡¯m much clearer now.¡± Zhao Yulan breathed a sigh of relief but couldn¡¯t help but let out another long sigh. ¡°Your dad and I are no good, you are our only child, and we haven¡¯t even been able to ensure you a healthy body...¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m hungry,¡± Lin Chuxia interrupted Zhao Yulan quickly. Otherwise, her mother would certainly dwell on this matter, repenting for a long time. After all, she had heard these kinds of confessions quite often in the past half a year. ¡°Then get dressed, and mom will prepare the meal.¡± Zhao Yulan thought to herself as her daughter, who normally showed little interest in food, was actually saying she was hungry. She hurried off to the main room. Perhaps because Chuxia was their only daughter, Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe doted on their child in ways that were not typical for parents of their era. As a result, the original Lin Chuxia was raised in a way that was hardly typical for a girl of her time: she couldn¡¯t sew, was incapable of hard labor, was picky about food, and loved to sleep in... At any rate, in this era, all these things were considered faults. But these ¡°faults¡± had actually helped the current Lin Chuxia. Otherwise, if she had been suddenly thrown into this era out of the blue, she probably would have gone looking for her original self to share her life experiences by now! >_< Breakfast consisted of cornmeal buns, corn gruel, a dish of incredibly salty pickled radish strips, and some dried green onions. Just as the meal was served, Lin Baohe returned, and upon seeing Chuxia, freshly washed and seated at the table, his facial expression immediately softened. For over half a year, Chuxia hadn¡¯t joined them for breakfast, usually still asleep when they ate. It seemed she was truly becoming more mature. With a change of heart, the coarse cornmeal cakes that were hard to swallow suddenly tasted much better, and Lin Chuxia ate two cakes and drank a bowl of corn gruel in one go. Setting down the bowl and catching her parents¡¯ joyful gazes, she suddenly realized she had eaten too much for breakfast! Lin Chuxia wanted to kick herself. What a pig-headed move ¨C how could she forget what era this was? She thought that finishing all the food her parents handed her was the best way to repay them ¡ª repay my foot! If her parents had no more food to eat, what was there to repay? The key point was that Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan both had to go work in the production team to earn work points. How would they have the strength to work without a full stomach? ¡ª Although they might not have had full stomachs regularly, they did eat. But today, she had eaten two-thirds of the breakfast ration by herself... Suddenly remembering the sweet potatoes her mother had heated for her under the pot, Lin Chuxia hurriedly got off the kang (bed-stove) to put on her shoes. Zhao Yulan grabbed her, ¡°Chuxia, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Mom...¡± Lin Chuxia¡¯s face turned as red as a ripe August plum. ¡°I... I¡¯m going to dig out the sweet potatoes. You and dad can snack on them a bit.¡± Zhao Yulan smiled and pressed Chuxia to sit on the edge of the bed. ¡°Leave the sweet potatoes for you to eat later. Chuxia, if you can eat well, you¡¯ll grow strong, and only then will your dad and I be at ease.¡± She looked towards Lin Baohe. ¡°Your dad, haven¡¯t we still got those dried sweet potatoes we¡¯ve yet to claim?¡± Lin Baohe startled, then quickly nodded. ¡°Hmm!¡± ¡°Chuxia, your dad and I are going to work. We¡¯ll pick up the dried sweet potatoes to munch on. Wait for mom to come back and cook for you later. As for the hemp cakes, don¡¯t cut them, wait for mom to come back and do it...¡± Knowing full well that Zhao Yulan was deceiving her, Lin Chuxia still smiled and nodded. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll wait for you and dad to come back.¡± Chapter 3 - 3 3 Conflict ?3: Chapter 3 Conflict 3: Chapter 3 Conflict After Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe went to work, Chuxia, bored to death, stood inside the house, looking up at the ceiling where the newspapers that she hadn¡¯t finished sweeping over still clung. In the 1970s, the interior walls of most rural cottages were pasted with newspapers. Those who could afford a bit more would go to the market to buy pretty decorative paper to paste on their walls, which was, of course, something Chuxia¡¯s family could not afford. The newspaper on the walls was requested by Zhao Yulan from her parental home, and Lin Chuxia had already swept over every place that she could reach and see N times. It was only because of her height that she missed the ones on the ceiling. In this era of material scarcity, the spiritual life was just as desperately impoverished; to say nothing of television¡ªeven radios were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. As for books and newspapers, they were even scarcer. How tormenting was this for Lin Chuxia, who was accustomed to the internet and ¡°Baidu¡±? ¡°Creak!¡± The door was pushed open, and Liu Meiqing¡¯s head popped in with a smile on her face, ¡°Chuxia...¡± Hearing the deliberately constricted voice calling out to her, Lin Chuxia couldn¡¯t help but shiver. When the yellow weasel greets the chicken for New Year¡¯s, can it possibly have good intentions? ¡°Can you help your sister-in-law watch Shuanshuan for a while?¡± Sure enough, before Chuxia said a word, Liu Meiqing stated her purpose, using an inquiring sentence but with a definite tone. ¡°No!¡± Lin Chuxia flatly refused. Her father and mother hadn¡¯t even had a full meal before they went to work for labor points; it certainly wasn¡¯t for her to stay home and babysit for Liu Meiqing! ¡°I have a book here for you, lull Shuanshuan to sleep, and take your time reading it,¡± Liu Meiqing offered a red-covered book in her hand, yet she sneered inwardly. A country girl, pretending to be cultured. Attracted to words like a moth to flame, but does she even truly recognize them or is she just pretending... ¡°I don¡¯t want to read it!¡± Glancing at the characters on the cover, Lin Chuxia refused outright. While books were scarce in this era, this type was not; didn¡¯t every family have seven or eight of them? Liu Meiqing¡¯s face instantly darkened, ¡°Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t see what your mother did yesterday. Your family¡¯s chickens haven¡¯t even begun laying, so where did the egg come from?¡± ¡°You¡¯re already seventeen, a grown girl, yet you steal food from Shuanshuan¡¯s mouth. Tell me, if this gets out, how will other people look at you?¡± Lin Chuxia stared expressionlessly at Liu Meiqing, ¡°All you want to say is, if my reputation is ruined, then I shouldn¡¯t even dream of marrying into a good husband¡¯s family, right? Heh... that¡¯s just perfect. However, the egg my mother cooked has nothing to do with your chickens, not even a half penny¡¯s worth. If you dare to spread wild rumors, Fat Aunt will seek justice for my mother and me.¡± It¡¯s Fat Aunt again! Liu Meiqing snorted coldly, turned around, and went back to her own house. The door slammed with a ¡°bang bang,¡± then the wailing of Shuanshuan could be heard. Chuxia couldn¡¯t help but rub her forehead; there is a folk saying in the village, ¡°Spanking the child on a rainy day, for lack of anything better to do¡±; and it seems Liu Meiqing also had a corresponding habit ¡°Spanking the child in anger, for lack of anything better to do¡±>_< Noticing it was nearly nine o¡¯clock, Chuxia got out of bed, put on her shoes, and turned over the cow dung Lin Baohe had left to dry by the wall. The family didn¡¯t have enough firewood to burn, so to have a warm kang (heated bed), Lin Baohe would pick up fresh cow dung every morning, dry it out, and use it as fuel. The smell when burning wasn¡¯t pleasant, but who could blame her for hating the cold? After finishing with the cow dung, Chuxia started her daily set routine¡ªcutting hemp cakes. Hemp cakes, rich in nutrition and cheap, were indispensable in any household that raised poultry or livestock. But they were pressed so tightly together that they had to be sliced into thin strips with a knife and then soaked in water to soften before feeding them to chickens or pigs. For most rural kids, cutting hemp cakes was a piece of cake, but for her, a typical ¡°outsider,¡± this task was far too technical. Zhao Yulan could finish one in ten minutes, whereas it took her two hours ( ?)¡´( ?). Feeling uncomfortable freeloading after taking over someone else¡¯s body, the only chores she could manage were feeding chickens, turning over cow dung, and cutting hemp cakes. So, even if she initially rejected this era and didn¡¯t really accept Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe, for the sake of her peace of mind, she took the initiative to take on these chores. Fortunately, the original Lin Chuxia wasn¡¯t very good at chores; otherwise, with her delicate nature, it really would have been tough to pass muster. ¡°Shuanshuan, do you like the sweet potatoes? Here, a bite for Mommy, and one for you...¡± Liu Meiqing, holding Shuanshuan in her arms, came to the entrance of the main house, with a half-eaten roasted sweet potato in her hand. Chuxia¡¯s eyelids twitched, and without a word, she got up and checked under the stove; indeed, the roasted sweet potato that Zhao Yulan had buried there was gone. Her little fist clenched and then relaxed. To quarrel with Liu Meiqing over a roasted sweet potato... was something she, with her 21st-century mindset, just couldn¡¯t do, but she was still infuriated. How could Liu Meiqing brazenly take what her parents didn¡¯t even indulge in for the sake of her recuperation? Liu Meiqing turned her head back and flicked her eyelids at Chuxia, the corner of her mouth twisting before she faced forward again: ¡°Shuanshuan, isn¡¯t it delicious? Here, Mommy will give you another bite...¡± After feeding Shuanshuan a bite, Liu Meiqing deliberately smacked her lips, savoring the sweet taste. Chuxia didn¡¯t need to look to know the expression on Liu Meiqing¡¯s face. Forget it. She wasn¡¯t about to cause a bloody scene over a sweet potato. She¡¯d just have to be more careful in the future and stash her food somewhere safe in advance. Consoling herself with these thoughts, Chuxia turned and walked toward the door. Just as she was about to step over the threshold, Liu Meiqing abruptly stretched her leg out, causing Chuxia to stumble and fall to the ground. ¡°Ha ha ha...¡± ¡°Giggle giggle giggle...¡± Right at this moment, a robust girl entered the courtyard. Seeing Liu Meiqing and Shuanshuan laughing uproariously, she grabbed a broom leaning against the wall and rushed over: ¡°You¡¯re bullying Chuxia again!...¡± Liu Meiqing did not expect Cheng Yaojin to suddenly come charging in, causing her evasion attempt to be too late. As she saw the broom head bearing down on her, she instinctively threw her head back, and Shuanshuan was completely engulfed under the broom head. The girl quickly retracted her hand and threw down the broom, rushing to tear at Liu Meiqing¡¯s hair: ¡°You venomous woman, isn¡¯t Shuanshuan your son? How could you be so cruel as to use him to shield yourself?¡± Sitting on a bench and holding the child, Liu Meiqing was no match for the girl. The pain from her scalp being pulled was so intense she gasped for air: ¡°Let go, Luo Meiying, let go right now!...¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on, what¡¯s all this commotion?¡± The woman in blue clothes from yesterday, Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife, entered just in time, which made Chuxia, who had just gotten up, extremely puzzled. Why did she always appear so timely? It was as if she was always waiting right outside the door. ¡°Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife, you¡¯re back so early today?¡± Chuxia unnoticeably placed herself in front of Zheng Sanqiao, blocking her way.¡ª¡ªNew book uploaded, please recommend, please favorite Chapter 4 - 4 4 Reinforcements ?4: Chapter 4 Reinforcements 4: Chapter 4 Reinforcements Zheng Sanqiao had no intention of making small talk with Chuxia and brushed her aside without a glance as she charged towards Luo Meiying, who was still pulling at Liu Meiqing¡¯s hair. Chuxia, having steadied herself, secretly curled her lips and took two steps back. Liu Meiqing caught this little move that Chuxia made, hoping not to get caught up in the fray, and immediately felt a pain in her heart and lungs. Luo Meiying must have taken the wrong medicine; why else would she love to stand up for Chuxia, that cold-hearted and indifferent girl? But now, even though she was furious, she couldn¡¯t do anything to Chuxia. Her hair was being pulled by Luo Meiying, and with Shuanshuan in her arms, she could only wait anxiously for her mother-in-law, Zheng Sanqiao, to save her. Unfortunately, when Zheng Sanqiao rushed over to her side, she merely snatched Shuanshuan away and had no intention of rescuing Liu Meiqing at all. Without the burden of Shuanshuan, Liu Meiqing became much more agile. However, just as her hand was about to grab Luo Meiying, she forcefully stopped herself. ¡°Meiying, let go of your sister-in-law, let¡¯s talk this over nicely, Meiying, you must have misunderstood something about your sister-in-law, Meiying...¡± Liu Meiqing pleaded with her hands caught, and finally, Luo Meiying released her hair, still looking furious, ¡°Try calling me Meiying one more time?¡± The corners of Chuxia¡¯s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, and then she seemed to casually turn her gaze to the corner of the room where a reed chicken was pecking at its feed... ¡°Mei... Xiaoqiu, I was wrong...¡± Luo Meiying stamped her foot in anger, ¡°It¡¯s not Xiaoqiu, it¡¯s Xiaoqiong, Luo Xiaoqiong!¡± ¡°Xiaoqiong, I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°Xiaoqiong, calm down, your sister-in-law isn¡¯t very good with words, don¡¯t stoop to her level, thank you, auntie, if it weren¡¯t for you, our little Shuanshuan would be suffering now.¡± Zheng Sanqiao quickly changed her tune, and after speaking, she glared at Liu Meiqing, ¡°You¡¯re a mother, how could you let such a little baby take the broom strokes for you?¡± ¡°Mom, I was just confused at that moment...¡± Liu Meiqing said, looking eagerly at Shuanshuan who was being held in Zheng Sanqiao¡¯s arms, ¡°Shuanshuan, come here, mom will hold you.¡± ¡°Step aside.¡± Zheng Sanqiao twisted her body, avoiding Liu Meiqing¡¯s reaching hand, and turned to Luo Xiaoqiong, ¡°Xiaoqiong, come sit in my room for a while, I just fried some egg cookies the other day, they¡¯re really flaky, let me get you some to try.¡± ¡°No need, I don¡¯t want to take Shuanshuan¡¯s snacks.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong glanced at Lin Chuxia, who was still focused on the reed chicken, and lightly coughed, ¡°Chuxia, what exactly happened just now?¡± Lin Chuxia, who could no longer pretend to be an uninvolved bystander, turned around and reported everything that had happened earlier to Luo Xiaoqiong without any personal bias, with a faint smile as if talking about someone else¡¯s affairs. ¡°You gluttonous woman!¡± Zheng Sanqiao slapped Liu Meiqing on the head, ¡°You know Chuxia is not in good health, and snatching her food, how can you stomach it?¡± ¡°Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife, what are you talking about?¡± Lin Chuxia¡¯s face immediately fell, ¡°What do you mean by snatching my food?¡± Don¡¯t think she doesn¡¯t know that Zheng Sanqiao is just picking on Liu Meiqing in front of Luo Xiaoqiong, not willing to scold her but not content to scold her without some complaint, that¡¯s why she¡¯s deliberately nit-picking. ¡°Look at the Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife, getting so flustered she misspoke. It¡¯s about stealing Chuxia¡¯s food...¡± Zheng Sanqiao¡¯s face was plastered with an ingratiating smile, ¡°Chuxia, there are still a few sweet potatoes at the Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife¡¯s house. Let me bring them to you so your mother can cook them for you tonight.¡± Having said that, her gaze fixed intently on Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s face. ¡°Take them,¡± Luo Xiaoqiong waved her hand, ¡°Chuxia has had such a scare, her health must be worse now. She needs to eat well to recover. Also, my mother asked me to come and tell you that from now on, our family will give Chuxia an egg every other day to help her regain her strength. And you,¡± she glanced at the others, ¡°are not allowed to take it from her. ¡°We won¡¯t! We won¡¯t!¡± Liu Meiqing and Zheng Sanqiao almost simultaneously declared. As for the sweet potatoes Zheng Sanqiao brought over, Chuxia naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse them, but she definitely wouldn¡¯t place them where those two women could see and search for them. Having lived with them for so long, she was all too clear about their temperaments. ¡°You heartless thing, I stood up for you, and you just hide away and ignore me? See if I¡¯ll help you again in the future.¡± After entering Chuxia¡¯s house and closing the door, Luo Xiaoqiong poked her in the waist to settle the score, of course, in a very low voice. ¡°If I came out to help you, how would I be able to live my life afterwards?¡± Chuxia said unhurriedly, and then added, ¡°The key point is that I know they wouldn¡¯t dare lay a finger on you.¡± The family of the Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife was not afraid of Luo Xiaoqiong, but her father Luo Gangshun, of course. Luo Gangshun was the village secretary, holding the power of life and death over the four big team leaders in the village. And Lin Baojiang, Chuxia¡¯s uncle, happened to be one of those four leaders. ¡°Chuxia, why do I feel like you¡¯ve become a lot more cunning than before?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong scrutinized Chuxia from top to bottom. ¡°I feel like I understand you less and less. Before, you used to tell me everything, but now, you prefer to keep things to yourself. Sometimes I feel, coming to find you every day is like demeaning myself.¡± ¡°People have to grow up, don¡¯t they? You wouldn¡¯t want me to stay naive forever, would you?¡± Chuxia paused, then sighed softly, ¡°You know the situation my family is in. I don¡¯t want to live as freely and recklessly as you do, but if I really did that, my father and mother wouldn¡¯t be able to cope. The family of the Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife is always scheming to drive us out. How could I carelessly give them a reason to?¡± ¡°Enough, enough...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong waved her hand, changing the subject, ¡°Chuxia, are you really going to change your name or not? I¡¯ve changed mine so long ago, why haven¡¯t you changed yours? How about, I take my father¡¯s official seal and we both go to the police station together?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s original name was Luo Meiying, and she was Chuxia¡¯s childhood friend, growing up together from their bare-bum days. Half a year ago, after sneaking a peek at a novel, Luo Meiying felt that her own name was too rustic and decisively pulled Chuxia to change their names together. After nearly three days of pondering, they finally came up with the names Luo Xiaoqiong and Lin Ziyi and then went home to discuss it with their families. As expected, both their parents disagreed. Luo Meiying was more willful than Lin Chuxia, so while Lin Chuxia was still at home negotiating with her parents, Luo Meiying had already stolen her father¡¯s official seal and run off to the police station to change her name on her own. After stealing the official seal, she did try to find Chuxia, but just as she arrived at Chuxia¡¯s doorstep, she heard Fat Auntie¡¯s voice and didn¡¯t dare enter, clutching the seal and fleeing instead. Chuxia was infuriated when she knew Luo Meiying hadn¡¯t waited for her to change their names together as promised. Luo Meiying had a temper herself, and after an exchange of harsh words, the two ended up parting ways unhappily. Chapter 5 - 5 5 Not Willing to Settle ?5: Chapter 5: Not Willing to Settle 5: Chapter 5: Not Willing to Settle Then, what happened next was Chuxia running away from home in the rain... From then on, Chuxia became much colder towards Luo Meiying, and she stopped mentioning changing her name. Perhaps out of guilt, during these past six months, no matter how cold Chuxia was to Luo Meiying, she always protected her. And while Chuxia never brought up the name change again, Luo Meiying would still mention it from time to time. ¡°There¡¯s no need to change it, Chuxia sounds quite nice.¡± Lin Chuxia felt that her name was given by her parents, and she couldn¡¯t occupy their daughter¡¯s body and then change the name they had given their daughter. Besides, the key point was that her original name was Lin Chuxia; she couldn¡¯t afford to lose the only familiar thing she had. After exchanging a few more words of small talk, Luo Xiaoqiong, not getting the enthusiastic response she yearned for from Chuxia, found it dull and thus stood up to leave. She made Chuxia promise to call her immediately if Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife¡¯s family dared to bully her again, vowing she would come to Chuxia¡¯s aid. As Chuxia watched Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s figure disappear into the distance, she sighed softly. Over these past six months, had it not been for the other¡¯s occasional support under false pretenses, her family¡¯s life would have been even harder. Or perhaps, should she really consider changing her attitude toward her? ¡°Xia, Shuanshuan is so hungry he¡¯s crying. Do you have anything to eat here?¡± As expected, no sooner had Xiaoqiong left than Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife came looking for Chuxia. ¡°Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife, what good food could I possibly have here?¡± Chuxia gave Zheng Sanqiao a wry smile and directly exposed her, ¡°Is Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife perhaps regretting giving me those sweet potatoes and wants them back?¡± ¡°No... haha...¡± Zheng Sanqiao laughed a few times, then smoothly changed the subject, ¡°Chuxia, when a family lives under one roof, there should be some warmth and affection. It¡¯s important to distinguish between insiders and outsiders, don¡¯t you think?¡± Chuxia smiled and agreed, ¡°Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife is right. However, there¡¯s one thing I don¡¯t quite understand. My uncle is the team leader, and my parents work under him. He always assigns them the dirtiest and most tiring tasks, and when it comes to tallying work points, he not only fails to record extra but even records less. How do you explain that?¡± ¡°Child, do you think being a team leader is easy? If he dared to favor your parents even slightly, people would immediately complain. Chuxia, do you really think your uncle being demoted has nothing to do with you? Silly girl, it¡¯s directly related to whether you can find a good Husband¡¯s Family in the future!¡± At this point, Zheng Sanqiao looked around cautiously and leaned closer to Chuxia, lowering her voice, ¡°In fact, your uncle has been secretly helping your parents a lot, but they haven¡¯t told you because they worry you can¡¯t keep a secret, in case it gets back to Luo Meiying. Ah, your father and mother are just too honest. Never mind, let Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife play the villain. One day, you¡¯ll understand whether I am looking out for your best interests. Let me put it this way, Luo Meiying is about your age, but she isn¡¯t as pretty as you are. When sisters don¡¯t have to live up to the term ¡®affectionate¡¯, they get along like honey mixed with oil, but when it comes down to matchmaking, who will give way?¡± Seeing Zheng Sanqiao stare at her earnestly after stopping, Lin Chuxia felt it amusing. Apparently, in the other¡¯s eyes, she was considered simple-minded. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Chuxia¡¯s expression remained calm, ¡°Doesn¡¯t everyone in the village say Meiying is prettier than me? How come it¡¯s suddenly changed to me being prettier than Meiying when it comes to Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife?¡± ¡°Ah, you silly child...¡± Zheng Sanqiao¡¯s voice softened even further, ¡°If you were the child of a wealthy family, not relying on manual labor, they would surely covet someone of your delicate features. When people in the village say that, they are being sour, do you understand?¡± Lin Chuxia just nodded: ¡°I understand, has Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife finished speaking? I need to go and cut the hemp cake.¡± Zheng Sanqiao felt suffocated with irritation. Had she just wasted her breath talking so fervently all this while? ¡°You child...¡± Zheng Sanqiao tried to hold back her anger and grabbed Lin Chuxia, ¡°What Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife means to say is that you should keep our family matters to yourself and not tell everything to Luo Meiying. If her father were to seize any leverage from you and get your uncle demoted, it would make it difficult for you to marry into a good family in the future.¡± Chuxia nodded: ¡°Mhm.¡± Zheng Sanqiao, choked up with frustration and unable to say a word, watched as Lin Chuxia was about to leave and then hurriedly pulled her back, ¡°Chuxia, are you still holding a grudge against Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Lin Chuxia looked at her, puzzled. ¡°About the incident last time when you and Luo Meiying changed your names. Everything Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife told you was true, but who knew you would take it so seriously...¡± The corners of Lin Chuxia¡¯s lips faintly curled up with a trace of cold amusement. So, that quarrel between herself and Luo Meiying, and Zheng Sanqiao¡¯s meddling, was the reason for all this. In other words, her arrival in this space, becoming this Lin Chuxia, was all thanks to Zheng Sanqiao! Damn it, this cursed Zheng Sanqiao had made her end up in this wretched era where even rabbits would refuse to defecate! Lin Chuxia now didn¡¯t want to spend another word on Zheng Sanqiao and immediately shoved her aside with a drooping face. ¡°What about the sweet potatoes?¡± Zheng Sanqiao dropped the pretense when she realized the girl was like a wall of oil and salt¡ªimpenetrable; she had not achieved even a smidge of her goal, so might as well ask for something tangible. Lin Chuxia glared at her, ¡°Aren¡¯t you old enough to stand by your word? Is there any reason to take back what has been given away? Get lost!¡± Damn it, don¡¯t blame her for not being polite. She had suffered through half a year, almost wearing her eyes out. To think that all of this was caused by this wretched woman. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that murder had consequences, she truly wanted to strangle her! ¡°You¡¯ve turned the world upside down! Truly turned your own world upside down!¡± Zheng Sanqiao was so angry that her face turned red, and she raised her hand to slap Chuxia¡¯s face. But one must not suffer immediate losses, so, in a panic, Chuxia grabbed something from the edge of the bed to block it... ¡°Ah...¡± Seeing the blood gushing from Zheng Sanqiao¡¯s hand, Chuxia was also dumbfounded. She hadn¡¯t meant to do it, truly not on purpose. How was she supposed to know that the object she grabbed was a pair of scissors, and that in the heat of the moment, with Zheng Sanqiao¡¯s callused hand... What would the consequences be if it hit her face? Liu Meiqing, who was watching the child in the east room, and Liu Meiqing, who had been waiting for her mother-in-law to bring back sweet potatoes, heard the scream and immediately ran over. Then, she shouted with a world-shaking howl: ¡°Murder! Murder! Chuxia, you wretched girl...¡± She ran into the courtyard and called out, ¡°Someone come quick, help! Murder! Someone help, murder...¡± Liu Meiqing had just been beaten by Luo Meiying and was still holding the anger inside her belly. Now was the perfect opportunity to blame it all on Chuxia, hoping to ruin Chuxia¡¯s reputation. With only three people in the house, who else could be blamed if not her and her mother-in-law simply moving their lips?¡ª- Chapter 6 - 6 6 The Bloodshed Incident ?6: Chapter 6: The Bloodshed Incident 6: Chapter 6: The Bloodshed Incident Chuxia could roughly guess Liu Meiqing¡¯s thoughts, and her mind was racing. With an inadvertent glance, she noticed Zheng Sanqiao, despite crying out in pain with ¡°aiyos,¡± had a look of triumph in her eyes. She was momentarily stunned before realizing she had been duped! It was true that Zheng Sanqiao wanted to hit her, but Chuxia accidentally hurting Zheng Sanqiao was false. Evidently, the scissors piercing her hand was intentional on Zheng Sanqiao¡¯s part, most likely aiming to drive their family out of the house. This is too much! A shadow crossed Lin Chuxia¡¯s eyes, then she softly embraced Zheng Sanqiao¡¯s arm, weeping miserably, ¡°Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife... wow wow wow... beat me if you must, but why go for my face?... wow wow wow... I¡¯m already not pretty, and if you swell it up, how can I face anyone? wow wow wow... I panicked, and just grabbed something to cover my face, wow wow wow... If I had known that you were that strong, Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife, wow wow wow... I wouldn¡¯t have blocked it, wow wow wow... after all, I almost died last time, wow wow wow... if I die from being slapped, then so be it, wow wow wow...¡± Zheng Sanqiao was astounded, watching Lin Chuxia cry as if her own mother had died, disbelief plain on her face. Since Chuxia was a child, she hardly ever shed tears; making her cry was as hard as getting a rooster to lay an egg. It was exactly because she knew this that she changed her mind at the last second and put her ¡°hand¡± forward. ¡°What happened here?¡± ¡°Meiqing, what¡¯s going on?¡± At that moment, the sound of chaotic footsteps and noisy inquiries came from outside the courtyard. ¡°Second Uncle, Third Auntie, Fourth Master... Chuxia just went crazy, she had scissors and tried to stab my mother-in-law...¡± ¡°What¡¯s happened? What¡¯s happened?¡± While Liu Meiqing was explaining loudly to the neighbors who had rushed over upon hearing her screams, a plump figure hurried into the courtyard. Before Liu Meiqing could respond, the plump figure had already entered the house. ¡°Fat Auntie... wow wow wow...¡± Seeing the woman, Lin Chuxia, who was crying boisterously, collapsed weakly, ¡°Xia, Xia, hold on, oh dear, what a sin...¡± Fat Auntie wrapped her arms around Chuxia and frowned at Zheng Sanqiao, ¡°Sanqiao, they¡¯re just a few sweet potatoes. Did you really have to snatch them right after Meiying walked out? If you¡¯re really that desperate for a few sweet potatoes, you should control your daughter-in-law and stop her from stealing Chuxia¡¯s things. Why do Yulan and Baohe go to work hungry? Isn¡¯t it to provide for Chuxia¡¯s recovery? Don¡¯t you understand why Chuxia is guarding the food so fiercely? Couldn¡¯t any daughter be pained to see her parents suffer?...¡± Fat Auntie¡¯s questioning made the outside onlookers instantly understand the full story. Although most people didn¡¯t like the delicate Chuxia, they felt that what Zheng Sanqiao and her daughter-in-law were doing was too much, considering Chuxia¡¯s slight build. Seeing that the tide of opinion was turning, Liu Meiqing got desperate and ran inside, ¡°Fat Auntie...¡± ¡°Hold your tongue!¡± Zheng Sanqiao¡¯s rebuke rang out, ¡°Isn¡¯t this mess all your doing? You didn¡¯t cook sweet potatoes for Shuanshuan when he was hungry, and instead, you just had to steal the ones left for Chuxia by Yulan and Baohe. Is this how you act as a sister-in-law?¡± Then her voice softened, ¡°Fat Auntie, this needs clarifying. I didn¡¯t come here to take sweet potatoes from Chuxia. I thought about how hard it was for Yulan and her husband, so I gave all our sweet potatoes to Chuxia. But when Shuanshuan started crying, I remembered I hadn¡¯t kept any for him, so I thought about taking a couple back. Chuxia is really protective of her parents; she didn¡¯t want to give them up. Seeing her guard the food like that, my heart hurt for her, I just wanted to reach out and pat her.¡± Who would have thought, she misunderstood and grabbed the scissors to threaten me, and I, fearing she might hurt herself, quickly reached out to snatch them away. But as luck would have it, by sheer coincidence, I ended up piercing my hand. When Meiching came in, she only saw Chuxia with scissors coming at me, and not daring to approach with a child in her arms, she ran out to call for help. Ah, what a mess this has become.¡± Fat Auntie let out a sigh and gently persuaded Chuxia, ¡°Chuxia, let¡¯s stop crying now. Your Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife¡¯s household isn¡¯t well-off either, and your sister-in-law just took one of your sweet potatoes, right? Just have her give you two back, give the rest to them, and let¡¯s put this matter behind us today. Be good, go take out the sweet potatoes.¡± Chuxia was flabbergasted as she stared at Fat Auntie, her face a picture of disbelief, at Zheng Sanqiao¡¯s incredibly flawed statement, which Fat Auntie actually believed? Then, the low murmur of conversation from outside confirmed for her that everyone else believed it too. This... this... Lin Chuxia truly felt like her brain had short-circuited. If people outside believed it, she could barely accept it, but how could Fat Auntie believe it too? ¡°Listen, Chuxia, later, Fat Auntie will have Meiching bring some over for you.¡± Clearly, Fat Auntie thought Chuxia was sulking because she didn¡¯t want to give up her sweet potatoes, so she continued to speak softly and make promises. ¡°It¡¯s not...¡± Chuxia, rubbing her forehead, looked at Fat Auntie with a pitiable gaze, ¡°Fat Auntie, do you really believe what she said? How could you just believe her? She was just making excuses...¡± Chuxia was truly a child of the eighties. Her original home wasn¡¯t extraordinarily wealthy but was comfortably off. Both her parents were civil servants, and with her being an only daughter, her parents never spoiled her but also never allowed her to be wronged excessively. Thus, even after half a year in this new era, and having adapted for so long, she still couldn¡¯t accept being falsely accused so brazenly. The tears she shed earlier were genuinely from the heart, feeling devastated just thinking about her once happy life, compared to the arduous days she now faced, sadness welled up from within... ¡°Chuxia, last time, didn¡¯t you almost beat me and Chuqiu half to death over a small frozen sweet potato? Let alone several big ones?¡± A teenage boy snickered as he barged in, followed by a spitting image of himself. ¡°I...¡± Lin Chuxia pointed at herself, ¡°beat you two half to death?¡± What a joke, right? Her slight frame, beating her brothers, who were much more robust than her, half to death? Haha... that was just too funny, right? ¡°Really, you forgot? Remember how you turned into Liu Hulan when it came to food?¡± ¡°Hehe...¡± A chorus of laughter erupted from outside the courtyard. ¡°Chuchun, Chuqiu, how long ago was that? Don¡¯t bring it up again!¡± Fat Auntie glared at them, ¡°This is none of your business, go play somewhere else.¡± ¡°Fat Auntie, you spoiled her rotten. Just keep spoiling her like that. If someone really ends up taking her home one day, I¡¯d like to see how you¡¯ll get by...¡± The half-grown lad¡¯s comment made Chuxia¡¯s head explode with a ¡°bang.¡± She had never heard of such a thing before. Neither her father nor mother and not even Meiying had mentioned it to her... One thing after another, how was she supposed to live with this? But what in the world was going on? Chapter 7 - 7 7 A Slap ?7: Chapter 7: A Slap 7: Chapter 7: A Slap ¡°Chuxia, Chuxia...¡± Zhao Yulan staggered into the room and steadied the dazed Chuxia, looking her over, ¡°Where are you hurt? Let mother see, where are you hurt?¡± ¡°Oh...¡± Zheng Sanqiao gave an ironic laugh and waved her bloody hand in front of Zhao Yulan, ¡°Fat Aunt, the injury is here.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zhao Yulan stared blankly at the blood-stained palm of Zheng Sanqiao. ¡°Did Chuxia do this? No... it can¡¯t be, right?¡± ¡°Her Fat Aunt...¡± Zheng Sanqiao moved her palm in front of Fat Aunt, ¡°Look at this, look at this, she wounded me like this, and Zhao Yulan didn¡¯t even ask, still thinking about denying it. Everyone thinks Laoer¡¯s Home couple is honest, but now, you see, honest people, they love doing dishonest things.¡± No matter how many questions she had in her heart, it wasn¡¯t right to voice them in front of outsiders, Lin Chuxia gently patted Zhao Yulan¡¯s hand, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine...¡± Then, she reiterated the events without any deviation from what she had said before, and after she finished, Fat Aunt immediately tried to smooth things over, ¡°Yulan, that¡¯s exactly what happened. We can¡¯t blame the kid, and we can¡¯t blame Sanqiao either. In my opinion, let it be.¡± What she meant was, let Zhao Yulan not dwell on the fact that Zheng Sanqiao nearly hit Lin Chuxia, and at the same time, that Zheng Sanqiao shouldn¡¯t dwell on Lin Chuxia having injured her. However, since the sympathy seemed to have already shifted towards her side, Zheng Sanqiao couldn¡¯t just let it go, immediately extending her again bleeding hand, ¡°Her Fat Aunt, look at my hand, how many days will I lose earning work points? This whole family depends on it.¡± ¡®You deliberately picked at it until it bled?¡± Chuxia assessed Zheng Sanqiao¡¯s palm with a deadpan tone, ¡°Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife, what grudge do you hold against me? To frame me, you would stab your own hand with scissors, even pick at a wound until it bleeds¡ªsomeone who can be so cruel to oneself can... well... I better not say it.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t continue this way, it¡¯s really impossible to live under the same roof anymore...¡± Zheng Sanqiao started wailing loudly, ¡°I¡¯m bullied by this young brat all day, who would respect me? Her Fat Aunt, all these incidents happened right before your eyes, am I making this up? Just look at what they have done? This life, it¡¯s unbearable.¡± ¡°Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife, you don¡¯t need to act so pitiable...¡± ¡°Smack!¡± A red handprint instantly appeared on Chuxia¡¯s pale face; the word she wanted to say stuck in her throat, unspeakable. She just stared straight at Zhao Yulan, her face full of disbelief. Zhao Yulan averted her gaze, looking towards Zheng Sanqiao, ¡°Sister-in-law, I have hit the child, calm down, it¡¯s all mine and Baohe¡¯s fault. We didn¡¯t raise our child properly, sister-in-law, we are a family, and we¡¯ll have to continue living under the same roof in the future.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s continue living under the same roof, for now,¡± said Zheng Sanqiao, standing up and sighing deeply at the still bewildered Chuxia, ¡°Chuxia, after being hit by your mother, do you resent your Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife? Oh, this child... never mind, you will understand it in a couple of years.¡± ¡°Yulan, see if you can talk some sense into Chuxia,¡± sighed Fat Aunt as she stood up, patted Zhao Yulan, and then rubbed Chuxia¡¯s head and walked out the door. In the small courtyard stood a quietly dense crowd, and Fat Aunt snorted coldly, ¡°It seems you folks aren¡¯t tired, I¡¯ll have a word with Luo Gangshun later...¡± As soon as the conversation reached that point, everyone started laughing and heading outside. They loved watching the excitement, but compared to doing more work? They¡¯d rather not watch the commotion. Fat Aunt glanced back at the windows of Chuxia¡¯s family¡¯s house and faintly heard Zhao Yulan¡¯s sobbing. She couldn¡¯t help but sigh again and hurried home. ¡°Mom, is Chuxia okay?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong asked as soon as she entered. ¡°Her mother slapped her.¡± Fat Aunt shook her head, ¡°That temper of Chuxia¡¯s, sigh...¡± She then looked her daughter up and down, ¡°It¡¯s rare for you to be so obedient and not join the commotion. Tell me, are you plotting something bad again? I¡¯m telling you, sometimes helping too much actually harms Chuxia. Don¡¯t foolishly offer yourself up for others to take advantage of.¡± ¡°Am I that kind of person?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong rolled her eyes at her mother, ¡°I¡¯m not stupid. If we both went, people would only say we¡¯re bullying others with our power. Ah, if I hadn¡¯t already had a fight with Liu Meiqing, this wouldn¡¯t even be your concern.¡± Fat Aunt felt overwhelmed: ¡°Meiying, can¡¯t you act more like a lady? Just look at you, who would dare to marry you...¡± ¡°Stop! Stop! Stop!¡± Luo Xiaoqiong took a step back and struck a formal pose, ¡°My name is Luo Xiaoqiong, Mom, if you keep getting it wrong, I will never marry in this lifetime! I mean what I say!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, Xiaoqiong...¡± Fat Aunt frowned helplessly, a look of resignation on her face, ¡°You as my daughter, really think it¡¯s good to be poor? Even a little poverty isn¡¯t good, people are better off richer, just look at what Chuxia¡¯s family tells us...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong stomped her feet in frustration: ¡°Mom, what are you even talking about? It¡¯s Xiaoqiong, not Xiaoqiu, I tell you, every one of you, why do you all get it wrong? If it¡¯s not Xiaoqiu, it¡¯s being poor. Is getting my name right that hard?¡± ¡°Meiying sounds so nice...¡± Fat Aunt muttered under her breath, seeing her daughter¡¯s expression darken, she quickly plastered on a smile, ¡°Okay, okay, Xiaoqiong, I¡¯ll talk to your father and your brother too, they can¡¯t get it wrong anymore.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong snapped her big eyes, ¡°Mom, are you nice to Chuxia because I am close to her, or because you like her? I always feel there¡¯s something off about your kindness to her.¡± A flicker of discomfort crossed Fat Aunt¡¯s face, then it returned to normal: ¡°What¡¯s off about it? Clearly, you¡¯re just jealous, unable to stand me being as nice to others as I am to you. Since you were little, you¡¯ve competed with your brother for affection. Go around the village, which family¡¯s daughter lives as comfortably as you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re starting to nag again...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong swiftly took the opportunity to slip away, ¡°I¡¯m going to check on Chuxia.¡± ¡°Come back!¡± Fat Aunt grabbed her daughter, ¡°Why are you so thoughtless? Chuxia just got slapped by her mom, right now, your aunt must be comforting her. You know what kind of person Chuxia is. If she can¡¯t release her feelings and runs away from home again, what then?¡± The originally defiant Luo Xiaoqiong promptly stopped in her tracks, fear apparent on her face. Following that, a tinge of sadness flickered through her eyes... Ever since that time, her relationship with Chuxia had never been as close as before! If time could be reversed, she would never change her name first! At this moment, the atmosphere in Chuxia¡¯s home was naturally not going to be any better... Chapter 8 - 8 8 Catharsis ?8: Chapter 8 Catharsis 8: Chapter 8 Catharsis After Zheng Sanqiao and Fat Auntie left, Zhao Yulan tenderly helped Chuxia to her feet, but she was pushed away, stumbling as Chuxia¡¯s cold gaze painfully pricked her heart! As soon as the slap was delivered, she knew her daughter would hate her, the relationship they had barely managed to foster might become distant again, but she had no choice, if she didn¡¯t do it, Zheng Sanqiao would not relent, for her daughter¡¯s reputation, she had to harden her heart. ¡°Chuxia, don¡¯t be mad at Mom ...¡± Zhao Yulan reached out again to help her daughter up, ¡°Let go of me!¡± Chuxia¡¯s tone was cold as ice. That slap, Lin Chuxia truly couldn¡¯t accept! It clearly wasn¡¯t her fault, why did she have to be hit? If hitting was necessary, why on the face? If it had been her previous parents, they would never have done this! Chuxia struggled to get up from the ground, lying on the kang with her back turned to Zhao Yulan, her shoulders trembling, making Zhao Yulan¡¯s heart ache even more. ¡°Chuxia ...¡± Zhao Yulan sat behind Chuxia, gently caressing her, ¡°Mom knows you¡¯re angry, knows you will hate her, but Mom had no choice, otherwise, how could you ever get married?¡± ¡°Marriage, marriage, marriage ...¡± Lin Chuxia suddenly sat up, her eyes filled with anger, ¡°All you think about is marriage. Just because a woman needs to marry into a good husband¡¯s family, does that mean she should endure being humiliated like this? They always bully us, it¡¯s because you and Dad indulge them, tolerating it again and again, yielding over and over, but do they appreciate it? Instead, they just intensify their bullying, what good does that do? You always say, our family has only one daughter, we are at fault, we have to yield to them. I just don¡¯t understand, where is the fault? We don¡¯t rely on them for support, what loss is there?¡± Toward the end, Lin Chuxia¡¯s speech became slang-ridden, her little face pale with rage, making the faint handprint even more visible. At this moment, Lin Baohe entered the room, examining his daughter with a slight trace of heartache barely noticeable in his eyes: ¡°Xia, don¡¯t blame your mom, she did it for your good.¡± This remark was like stirring up a hornet¡¯s nest! ¡°So hitting my face is for my good? Humph! Sure, it¡¯s really for my good! Once this gets out, I¡¯ll really ¡®save face¡¯, great, everyone already finds me ugly, now I can end up completely hideous ...¡± Lin Chuxia grew angrier as she spoke, her words becoming somewhat incoherent. ¡°Wu ...¡± Zhao Yulan, who had been silently sobbing, suddenly knelt on the floor, slapping her own face, ¡°Xia, Mom was wrong, she shouldn¡¯t have hit you, it¡¯s because Dad and Mom are incompetent, always making you suffer, unable to provide, and yet you still had to endure Mom¡¯s beating, Mom is inhuman ...¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Chuxia hugged her in shock, her voice choked as if strangled, unable to utter another word. The situation was too overwhelming for her, she suddenly realized, with different times, how could parenting be the same? She was utterly inhumane! How could she drive her closest kin to this point? She understood why Zhao Yulan did what she did. Originally, Chuxia had not been close to her parents, and after her arrival, she became even more distant. Recently, they had just started to get closer when it all might be undone by a slap, Zhao Yulan was truly frightened and anxious! ¡°Sigh!¡± Lin Baohe heaved a deep sigh, squatting on the floor with his head in his hands, tearing at his hair as veins bulged. ¡°Mom, sorry, Dad, sorry, it¡¯s my fault.¡± Chuxia, having calmed down a bit, solemnly apologized to her parents, ¡°From now on, I won¡¯t do this again, I promise.¡± ¡°Xia ...¡± Chuxia¡¯s mother held her daughter, crying a torrent of snot and tears, ¡°It¡¯s Mom¡¯s fault, Mom has no skills but still hit you, it¡¯s all Mom¡¯s fault ...¡± she repeated it over and over, just those few words. ¡°Dad, get up.¡± Chuxia let go of Zhao Yulan, got off the bed, and pulled up Lin Baohe, paused for a moment, and suddenly yanked the door open! ¡°Where could it have been placed? Why is it missing?¡± ¡°Yes, I also remember it was right in this room, why is it gone now?...¡± Standing there, sticking their heads out were Zheng Sanqiao and Liu Meiqing, who awkwardly coughed twice and pretended to look for something while walking around the main room. At the door of the east room, Eldest Uncle Lin Baojiang and cousin Lin Chudong, who was holding Shuanshuan, also had embarrassed faces. Soon, Lin Baojiang put a forced smile on his face, ¡°Baohe, Yulan, today it¡¯s Sanqiao and Meiching who aren¡¯t right. Don¡¯t blame the kids, haha...¡± Lin Baohe nodded, a grunt came from his throat with a sound of ¡°Hmm,¡± as he thought about closing the door, Lin Chuxia blocked him, ¡°Dad, there¡¯s no rush, I have something to say.¡± ¡°Chuxia...¡± Zhao Yulan had already gotten down from the bed, hurriedly calling out to her daughter with eyes full of plea, ¡°Chuxia, Mom will make you something delicious tonight.¡± ¡°Mom, I understand.¡± Chuxia held Zhao Yulan¡¯s arm and shook it, then looked again at the Eldest Uncle¡¯s family, ¡°Eldest Uncle, Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife, Big Brother, Big Sister-in-Law, I know, you¡¯ve always wanted to drive our family out of this house. The reason you do this is solely because you think that someday I will get married and my parents won¡¯t be able to leave a root for the Lin family, thus owing the Lin Family, that¡¯s your thought, right?¡± Lin Baojiang quickly waved his hands in denial, ¡°No, no, Chuxia, you¡¯re overthinking.¡± Zheng Sanqiao stared blankly at Chuxia without saying anything, Liu Meiqing pursed her lips, their expressions indirectly confirmed their thoughts, only Lin Chudong had a helpless look, his mouth opened and closed, but in the end, he said nothing. After scanning everyone, Lin Chuxia¡¯s lips curled up with a cold smile, ¡°No need to deny, that¡¯s exactly what you think, but you¡¯re all wrong. My dad and my mom will definitely have a grandson...¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Liu Meiqing immediately burst out, sarcasm evident in the corners of her eyes and brows, Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan¡¯s faces turned red with embarrassment, ¡°Chuxia, let¡¯s go back to our room.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t finished yet...¡± Chuxia knew everyone misunderstood, she quickly clarified, ¡°Dad, Mom, you always say, bearing and tolerating is for me to find a good husband¡¯s family, what a good husband¡¯s family is I don¡¯t know, but they must agree that the first child will carry the surname Lin, belonging to Lin Baohe¡¯s family! So, you will definitely have a grandson or granddaughter!¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Liu Meiqing burst out again. ¡°Pfft!¡± Zheng Sanqiao also burst out. ¡°Haha...¡± Lin Baojiang laughed painfully. ¡°Chuxia, stop talking nonsense...¡± Zhao Yulan was frantic as she dragged Chuxia towards the room. ¡°I¡¯m not talking nonsense!¡± Chuxia held onto the door frame firmly and didn¡¯t go inside, ¡°I still haven¡¯t finished.¡± ¡°Auntie, just let her finish...¡± Liu Meiqing wore a face eager for drama, ¡°Chuxia is so filial, you can¡¯t stop her, hahaha...¡± ¡ª- New book uploaded, please recommend, please collect Chapter 9 - 9 9 The Compensation of Guilt ?9: Chapter 9 The Compensation of Guilt 9: Chapter 9 The Compensation of Guilt ¡°What have your second uncle and I ever done wrong to you that you would humiliate us like this?¡± Zhao Yulan¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as she stared at the laughing Liu Meiqing, ¡°You can rest assured, even if Chuxia gets married and your uncle and I are left with no one to take care of us, we won¡¯t take a single thing from you!¡± ¡°Get inside!¡± Lin Chudong gave Liu Meiqing a shove and smiled foolishly at Zhao Yulan, ¡°Auntie, Meiqing is just like that, she doesn¡¯t really have a bad heart, don¡¯t be angry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you play the good guy here!¡± Liu Meiqing didn¡¯t appreciate Lin Chudong¡¯s gesture, twisted her body to avoid his hand, and revealed a mocking smile to Chuxia, ¡°You just want to bring in a son-in-law, but I really wonder how you¡¯re going to live then. Don¡¯t tell me the son-in-law has to squeeze onto the same kang* with his father-in-law and mother-in-law?¡± This remark was dripping with malice, and Zhao Yulan trembled violently as if she were sieving chaff, ¡°Liu... Liu Meiqing, say one more word and see if I don¡¯t tear your mouth apart!¡± Lin Baohe, who had been silent all along, twitched at these words, and immediately lunged in front of Liu Meiqing, and before she could react, ¡°Slap!¡±, he struck her across the face with the back of his hand! Liu Meiqing¡¯s sallow face was clearly imprinted with five pale fingerprints, which then slowly turned red... She stared at Lin Baohe in disbelief, and the room fell into deathly silence. Lin Baohe¡¯s personality was that of an extremely nice guy; he wouldn¡¯t even curse when others took advantage of him, let alone hit someone. Therefore, his sudden action caught everyone off guard, including Zhao Yulan and Lin Chuxia. ¡°Ow!¡± Coming to her senses, Liu Meiqing pounced on Lin Baohe and began to claw at his face. But Lin Baohe, who just moments ago had slapped Liu Meiqing with the ferocity of a tiger, now stood as docile as a lamb, completely motionless as Liu Meiqing made a scene. Everything happened so fast that by the time people managed to pull Liu Meiqing away, Lin Baohe¡¯s face was already covered with bloody scratches. ¡°Dad...¡± Lin Chuxia felt a sharp sting in her nose. Since she had arrived in this era, her understanding of Lin Baohe was that he was always silent, always enduring... She could feel his love for his daughter, but she never imagined that his love for his daughter would go this far! Lin Baohe grinned at his daughter, ¡°Chuxia, don¡¯t be angry with your mom.¡± The implication was clear: Your mother hit you because of Liu Meiqing, and I have already returned that slap to Liu Meiqing, so you shouldn¡¯t be angry with your mom anymore. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m not angry with Mom anymore, I really am not...¡± Chuxia, who wasn¡¯t the type to cry in any era, tried hard to hold back her tears and turned her gaze back to Liu Meiqing. Her clear eyes, washed over by water, were free of any impurity, making Liu Meiqing feel uncomfortable under her stare. With a huff, Liu Meiqing looked away. ¡°Since Grandpa and Grandma have divided this house to us, then it belongs to us, and nobody can take it away! That¡¯s what I was trying to say earlier!¡± With that, Lin Chuxia took Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan by the hand, one on each side, ¡°Dad, Mom, let¡¯s go back inside.¡± The couple let their daughter lead them back into the house. As for the rest of the family outside, the commotion just now had dissuaded them from their habit of eavesdropping. ¡°Bang!¡± The door to the east room also closed. Coming to her senses, Zhao Yulan urgently grabbed her daughter¡¯s arm, ¡°Chuxia, how could you say such things? If it gets out, people will laugh you to death, how can you be so rash, child?¡± Chuxia smiled calmly, ¡°Mom, get a clean cloth and wipe Dad¡¯s face. Dad, really, if you won¡¯t fight back, at least dodge, right?¡± ¡°Hehe...¡± Lin Baohe laughed heartily, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, it doesn¡¯t hurt. With her temper, if she isn¡¯t allowed to have her way, she¡¯ll definitely bully you when your mom and I aren¡¯t home. It doesn¡¯t matter if my face is scratched, but Chuxia¡¯s face mustn¡¯t be hurt; she still has to find a husband¡¯s family.¡± ¡°Dad...¡± Lin Chuxia opened and closed her mouth, not knowing what to say. In her memory, this was the longest speech Lin Baohe had ever given her. She had always thought that Lin Baohe could only speak in single words or phrases. ¡°Your dad used to talk a lot...¡± Zhao Yulan found a clean cloth and, dipping it in water, began to wipe the blood from Lin Baohe¡¯s face as she spoke, ¡°But after he was wrongfully accused, he just didn¡¯t want to talk anymore.¡± ¡°Who wrongfully accused dad?¡± Chuxia looked at Lin Baohe with curiosity. Lin Baohe¡¯s face noticeably turned unnatural: ¡°No one, no one...¡± ¡°Baohe, stop hiding it. Tell the child. Now that things have escalated to this point, it¡¯s better to speak out, sigh!¡± Zhao Yulan let out a heavy sigh, ¡°Back then, even Chuchun was called out.¡± ¡°One by one...¡± Lin Baohe sighed, rubbing his head, ¡°Ever since they were little, I¡¯ve always indulged them. Even a stone would get warm if you covered it; how come they... just don¡¯t act like a family?¡± ¡°Dad, mom, are Chuchun¡¯s words true?¡± Chuxia asked them seriously, ¡°Why have I never heard you mention this? What exactly happened?¡± Zhao Yulan let out a long, somber sigh and said, ¡°Chuxia, when you were little, you were closer to Fat Aunt than to your own parents. She sincerely cared for you too. If I tell you what happened, you mustn¡¯t harbor any grudges against your Fat Aunt. If you promise me, I¡¯ll tell you.¡± ¡°I promise!¡± Hearing Zhao Yulan speak like this, Lin Chuxia suddenly realized; she had always felt that Fat Aunt¡¯s family was implausibly kind to hers. There was indeed a reason. After Luo Gangshun¡¯s eldest son, Luo Hongqi, was born, he was extremely weak due to insufficient breast milk. Luo Gangshun, feeling sorry for his son, often took advantage of his position at the commune to stealthily take some millet home to improve his wife¡¯s milk supply. One time, Lin Baohe happened to walk in on him. To dissolve the awkwardness between them, Lin Baohe also grabbed some millet and started pocketing it, which took Luo Gangshun by surprise. He quickly reached out to stop him. But, just at that moment, the village Party Secretary Chen Fenggang barged in and saw what they were doing. His face immediately darkened. Consequently, there was a full village assembly for public criticism, solitary confinement, writing self-criticisms..., and after this ordeal, the jovial Lin Baohe underwent a complete 180-degree change in character. He often wouldn¡¯t say a word all day, just burying his head in his work. Luo Gangshun, who was held up as a positive example by the village, couldn¡¯t stand the guilt and thought about stepping forward to share the blame with Lin Baohe. However, he was threatened with her life by Fat Aunt and was stopped. Later, Fat Aunt went to Zhao Yulan, who was already engaged to Luo Gangshun, and tearfully told her everything, begging her not to divulge the incident and not to leave Lin Baohe because of it.¡ª- New book uploaded, asking for recommendations, asking for collections Chapter 10 - 10 10 Arranged Marriage ?10: Chapter 10 Arranged Marriage? 10: Chapter 10 Arranged Marriage? Zhao Yulan understood that at that point, turning in Luo Gangshun would at most just add one more person to suffer, with no other benefits. As for leaving Lin Baohe, she had even less of an idea about that; her family and Lin Baohe¡¯s grandmother¡¯s family were neighbors, and the two grew up together like childhood sweethearts. How could she abandon him at his most difficult time? And so, Zhao Yulan married Lin Baohe, and owing to feelings of guilt, Luo Gangshun and his wife always provided considerable support to the couple. After Zhao Yulan gave birth to Chuxia, Fat Aunt divided Meiying¡¯s little clothes and diapers, taking half to them, and would help out from time to time. If it weren¡¯t for Meiying being too young to be left alone, Fat Aunt might actually have gone to serve Zhao Yulan during her postpartum confinement. ¡°Xia, don¡¯t think that those little clothes and diapers are nothing. Back then, your dad and I were so poor we rattled when we walked. If it weren¡¯t for Fat Aunt, you would¡¯ve had to lie naked in your little quilt, relying on some rag to clean up your pee,¡± Zhao Yulan had said. When it became known that Zhao Yulan could no longer have children, Luo Gangshun and Fat Aunt seriously discussed with them, proposing that once Chuxia grew up, she should marry Hongqi. Chuxia and Hongqi¡¯s first child would bear the surname Lin, and only the ones born after would bear the surname Luo. Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan firmly rejected this proposition; they felt that the suffering Lin Baohe endured for Luo Gangshun back in the day did not warrant such repayment. Though they refused, Fat Aunt never gave up on the idea. Once, when she brought it up to Zhao Yulan again, it happened to be overheard by Lin Baohai, who had come looking for Lin Baohe. This was also why Chuchun and Chuqiu were aware of the matter, or perhaps, at this point, it might have already spread throughout the village. The gist of the matter was such that, in the eyes of future generations, Chuxia would find their troubles to be utterly meaningless. Yet in that era¡ªan era where food was heaven and progeny were fate¡ªwhat Luo Gangshun and his wife did could be considered having fulfilled their moral duty. ¡°Dad, did you ever hate Uncle Gangshun?¡± Chuxia asked Lin Baohe right after Zhao Yulan finished her story. Lin Baohe shook his head without hesitation, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t hate him.¡± ¡°Not... hate?¡± Lin Chuxia¡¯s eyes widened with disbelief. ¡°Your dad is telling the truth,¡± Zhao Yulan sighed softly, ¡°I was really angry back then, but later on, I thought about it and your dad was right. If Uncle Gangshun had come forward then, the suffering your dad endured wouldn¡¯t have been any less, and it would have ruined Uncle Gangshun¡¯s future as well. Then they wouldn¡¯t have been able to support us afterwards, and our family¡¯s suffering would definitely have been even greater.¡± Hearing Zhao Yulan¡¯s words, was she not only supposed to not blame them, but also be grateful for their kindness? Oh her silly parents! Chuxia had read some books from that era and knew that for Lin Baohe, being caught on the spot meant any explanation was feeble. People of that era seemed to have a fervent passion for public denunciations, so she could only try to understand some of the thoughts of people from that era. Perhaps, she was still fortunate. If she had woken up to find herself in the era when Lin Baohe and his peers were young, the only choice she might have had was to find a rope and end herself that way. ¡°Mom, if you have anything else to say, just say it. Let¡¯s clear everything up today, okay?¡± Seeing Zhao Yulan appearing as if she had more to say but hesitated, Chuxia decisively kicked off her shoes, climbed onto the kang bed and sat cross-legged, ready to listen attentively. Zhao Yulan took a deep breath, ¡°Chuxia, seeing you becoming more and more sensible, knowing how to be considerate of your dad and mom, we are truly happy. But child, how could you also say that about finding a husband¡¯s family without discussing it with us? They would have to agree to let your first child take our surname first.¡± Glancing at Chuxia, who looked utterly perplexed, Zhao Yulan realized she hadn¡¯t understood the real implication and had to explain further, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve said this, you must marry Hongqi. But you, child, have never gotten along with him since you were little. Tell me, after taking things this far, will you marry or not?¡± ¡°Why... why must I marry him?¡± Lin Chuxia felt her brain struggling to keep up. Even if the requirement she mentioned had been raised by Fat Auntie¡¯s family before, it didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t choose someone else if not Luo Hongqi, right? What kind of logic was that? Every time Luo Hongqi saw her, his face would turn red and his neck would thicken like a fighting rooster. She had always wondered what she had done to offend him. As it turned out, it was her longstanding feud with him... then why should she have to accept that blockhead? ¡°Chuxia, it was Fat Aunt and Uncle Gangshun who first came up with the idea of the first child taking our surname. Now that you¡¯ve said the same, if you don¡¯t marry Hongqi, where would Uncle Gangshun and Fat Aunt put their face?¡± Lin Chuxia stared at her mother bewilderedly. Were other people¡¯s faces more important than her happiness? Could it be that her parents were willing to tell her about the past, all because of this reason? ¡°Just marry him. We know his family¡¯s background; Gangshun¡¯s family will be good to Chuxia and won¡¯t let Hongqi bully you. That¡¯s settled then. Next time Gangshun¡¯s family raises the issue, just agree to it,¡± Lin Baohe made a definitive decision, slipping on his shoes, ¡°I¡¯m going to visit Gangshun¡¯s family.¡± Was he going to tip them off? Chuxia pulled at his sleeve in panic, ¡°Dad, how can you make this decision without asking me? This is my life we¡¯re talking about. I¡¯m your own flesh and blood; you can¡¯t do this to me.¡± ¡°If you weren¡¯t my own flesh and blood, would I even do this?¡± Lin Baohe stopped and looked at his daughter seriously, ¡°Chuxia, what you said in front of your uncle¡¯s family today will definitely spread by tomorrow.¡± What Lin Baohe meant was, if the Fat Aunt¡¯s family heard the news from somewhere else first, they would feel that Chuxia¡¯s family was not being open with them. Which husband¡¯s family would like a daughter-in-law who wasn¡¯t on the same page with them? ¡°Do you mean I can only marry Luo Hongqi?¡± Lin Chuxia tugged hard at Lin Baohe, preventing him from leaving, ¡°Dad, come back and sit down. Let¡¯s have a proper talk.¡± Zhao Yulan let out a soft sigh, ¡°My silly girl, what else is there to talk about? Your sister-in-law just went out, and this news won¡¯t need until tomorrow; it¡¯ll spread tonight. In fact, Hongqi is a good boy. He¡¯s tall, good-looking, and simple-minded. If you¡¯re not getting along now, it¡¯s because he¡¯s immature. Give it a few years, and he¡¯ll surely know how to cherish someone. Besides, with Fat Aunt and Uncle Gangshun around, how would he dare to mistreat you? Your relationship with Meiying is good, so you won¡¯t have to worry about suffering from your sister-in-law¡¯s temper. All in all, if you really marry into the Luo family, your dad and I would be most at ease.¡± ¡°Mom...¡± Chuxia looked at Zhao Yulan in dismay, ¡°Didn¡¯t you always refuse before? How come, in the blink of an eye, you¡¯ve changed your mind?¡± ------New book uploaded, seeking recommendations, seeking bookmarks Chapter 11 - 11 11 Temporary Measures ?11: Chapter 11 Temporary Measures 11: Chapter 11 Temporary Measures ¡°I refused before because I felt that our family was not in a position to climb up to the Luo family¡¯s status, and if we added that condition, it would just be taking advantage of past events to seek benefits for our daughter. Your father and I could not do such a thing.¡± ¡°But now it¡¯s different. You¡¯ve spoken, and if you don¡¯t marry Hongqi, no decent family will come to ask for your hand in marriage.¡± Zhao Yulan paused before concluding, ¡°For your well-being, your father and I could even forsake our dignity.¡± ¡°Dad, Mom, if you truly want to propose to Fat Auntie, that¡¯s fine, but I have one condition, I must not marry before I turn twenty-two. Otherwise, you will lose me forever. If you don¡¯t believe me, try me.¡± Lin Chuxia said this with a determined face that betrayed a hint of desolation. She knew clearly that, given time, she would surely blossom into an incomparable beauty. Sadly, in her era, that might not necessarily be a good thing. Her views were influenced by the novels she had read in her previous life, and she admitted to carrying some prejudices about this time period. But for a girl, reputation was always extremely important, whatever the era. As the village secretary, Luo Gangshun wielded authority, and Fat Auntie was not someone to be trifled with. If her engagement to Hongqi were settled, no one would dare have designs on her, otherwise, just a few words spread by Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife could attract all sorts of disreputable families, chasing after her based on rumors. However, even understanding all this, she could not accept living with someone devoid of feelings. Just thinking about the unavoidable intimacy made her feel sick to her stomach. How could one engage in acts of love without love itself? Therefore, her request was to postpone the marriage for five years, and moreover, the college entrance examination was set to be restored next year... That might be a way out for her. Her approach was somewhat selfish, but she had no other choice. If her wish was granted, she would definitely compensate Fat Auntie¡¯s family... ¡°Chuxia...¡± Lin Chuxia¡¯s expression frightened Zhao Yulan, who gently pat her back repeatedly, ¡°If you really don¡¯t like Hongqi that much, let it be. After dinner, I¡¯ll talk to your Fat Auntie to clarify, saying that what you said today was provoked by your sister-in-law defending me and your father, asking her not to take it to heart.¡± ¡°Mom, you¡¯re right, maybe in a few years Hongqi will learn to be more caring. Plus, Uncle Gangshun is so loving, he won¡¯t be too bad, right? It¡¯s just that... I can¡¯t accept finding a husband¡¯s family all of a sudden. Anyway... that day will come eventually. Let¡¯s not upset Fat Auntie¡¯s family. As long as they agree to wait until I¡¯m 22 to get married, we can settle this matter,¡± she said. God knows how much it went against her heart to say these words, but in that era, her survival skills were too weak. If she had any way out at all, she wouldn¡¯t choose this path. With his daughter¡¯s firm decision, Lin Baohe went to Fat Auntie¡¯s house. In less than half an hour, Fat Auntie and Luo Gangshun returned with Lin Baohe. As soon as they entered, Fat Sister-in-law took Lin Chuxia¡¯s hand and started crying, ¡°Chuxia, Auntie has waited so many years, finally, the wait is over.¡± ¡°Hehe...¡± Lin Chuxia laughed uneasily and remained silent. She truly did not know what to say. Even as a stopgap, she felt incredibly uneasy. ¡°Go play with Meiying, she is waiting for you at home,¡± said Fat Auntie, letting go of Chuxia, and shooing her to her own house. Clearly, they were there to discuss the marriage arrangements with Zhao Yulan. Feeling like she had been pardoned, Chuxia quickly put on her shoes and ran towards Fat Auntie¡¯s house. When she opened the door, it was Hongqi who greeted her. It was too dark to see his expression, but unlike before, he didn¡¯t tease her with his words. Instead, he just made a ¡°gurgle¡± sound in his throat and turned to walk into the house. ¡°What did you say? Can¡¯t you speak more ¡°Chuxia!¡± Luo Xiaoqiong ran out of the house, glaring at her brother Luo Hongqi who was a whole head taller than her, ¡°Brother, didn¡¯t Dad and Mom say you should take it easy on Chuxia? Why are you still so thoughtless?¡± Luo Hongqi, as if he hadn¡¯t heard his sister¡¯s words, entered his room without looking back and slammed the door shut with a loud ¡°bang,¡± startling Chuxia into shivering unconsciously. ¡°Lunatic!¡± murmured Luo Xiaoqiong, pulling Chuxia into her own room, ¡°Chuxia, don¡¯t stoop to his level. He¡¯s just shy and too embarrassed to show it. Who knows how happy he actually is inside...¡± Chuxia sneakily pursed her lips. She wasn¡¯t stupid; there was a huge difference between being shy and being dislikeable. Even though in that space and time she was only 22 and hadn¡¯t seriously dated, she had experienced the beginnings of romance and understood very well what mutual attraction between a man and a woman looked like. Luo Hongqi¡¯s behavior was clearly that of someone who disliked her¡ªintensely at that! This piqued her curiosity. What kind of grudge did Luo Hongqi have against her to resent her to such an extent? Once inside the house, Luo Xiaoqiong fiddled with the lamp wick of the hurricane lantern, considerably brightening the room and lifting Chuxia¡¯s spirits; her own home only had a tiny kerosene lamp that flickered dimly, oppressively so. ¡°Chuxia, how did you come to terms with it?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong asked with shining eyes, ¡°But why wait until after 22 to get married? It would be so nice to have you here earlier to keep me company!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen your brother¡¯s attitude, I have to give him time to grow fond of me if I want this to last...¡± said Chuxia, batting her large eyes, ¡°Ah, if it weren¡¯t for getting along with you, and Fat Auntie and Uncle Gangshun being so kind to me, I wouldn¡¯t even think about marrying him.¡± ¡°No, Chuxia, he¡¯s just stubborn like that. Who knows, he might actually like you...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong began to explain eagerly on her brother¡¯s behalf but was interrupted as the door flew open with a ¡°bang!¡± The loud noise made Lin Chuxia and Luo Xiaoqiong reflexively look towards the door¡ªthere stood Luo Hongqi, nearly hitting his head against the doorframe, his expression dark. Chuxia, who wanted to reprimand him for bursting in without knocking, opened her mouth but didn¡¯t dare make a sound. A wise man wouldn¡¯t pick a fight he can¡¯t win... oh no, a wise woman wouldn¡¯t either, as she didn¡¯t want to be hit for no reason. She was aware that her thoughts might be biased, but in this unfamiliar era and under the pale light of the lamp, the stout and sturdy Luo Hongqi held an absolute intimidating presence over her. ¡°Brother, didn¡¯t you go back to your room? What are you doing eavesdropping? Even if Chuxia is going to be my sister-in-law, you still have no right to do that!¡± Luo Xiaoqiong asked, displeasure evident on her face. The indignation on Luo Hongqi¡¯s stern face became apparent: ¡°I wasn¡¯t eavesdropping on purpose. I just got hungry and came out to find something to eat; who knew I would overhear you guys talking about me.¡± He then turned a fierce look towards Lin Chuxia, ¡°Lin Chuxia, you clearly know I don¡¯t like you, yet you had your dad come to my family to propose. Tell me the truth, is your family after our grain or me as a person?¡± Chapter 12 - 12 12 Vaccination ?12: Chapter 12 Vaccination 12: Chapter 12 Vaccination She was afraid of being beaten because she was afraid of pain, not because she was afraid of him! With such an insult thrown her way, if she continued to be a shrinking turtle, she wouldn¡¯t be able to respect herself! ¡°Since you¡¯ve already eavesdropped, don¡¯t look for those pointless excuses. Weren¡¯t my words clear enough just now? I¡¯m willing to marry you because of Fat Auntie and Uncle Gangshun, because of Meiying, oh no, because of Xiaoqiong. You think it¡¯s because of you? Keep dreaming!¡± At that moment, Chuxia was like a little kitten with its fur standing on end, her big eyes round and almost brimming with tears, her pale little face flushed with an unhealthy red from excitement... Such a sight of her, she seemed even more stunning, not to mention Luo Hongqi, even Luo Xiaoqiong was transfixed. ¡°Chuxia, my mother is right, you really are a beauty. If you can take care of yourself properly, you¡¯ll be even more beautiful,¡± after a moment, Luo Xiaoqiong sincerely praised. Chuxia smiled bitterly. This body was indeed beautiful; she remembered being mesmerized when she first looked in the mirror, unable to snap out of it for quite a while. But what of it? In this era, what could she do?! ¡°Tsk!¡± Luo Hongqi scoffed disdainfully, ¡°Xiaoqiong, whether a girl is beautiful should not just be judged by her looks. What¡¯s the use of marrying someone like her? To worship her like a goddess? Besides, in my opinion, she¡¯s far worse than you, far worse... than many girls in the village. Could it be that you think she has nothing else to commend, so you always spoil her like this? Yes, our parents did wrong by Uncle Baohe and Aunt Yulan in the past, but that doesn¡¯t mean we owe their family for a lifetime. These years, the best food, we gave to her; the best clothes, also to her. What was owed has by now been mostly repaid!¡± Chuxia stood up, ¡°I¡¯m tired and going home to sleep, Xiaoqiong, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Shouldn¡¯t she be so angry that her fur would explode? Her current reaction was too strange! Even if not bashing Luo Hongqi, she should at least have scolded him! It wasn¡¯t until Lin Chuxia pushed Luo Hongqi out the door that Luo Xiaoqiong came back to her senses, hurriedly slipped on her shoes and got off the kang: ¡°Chuxia, Chuxia, wait for me...¡± At the doorway, seeing Luo Hongqi still standing there dumbfounded, she pushed him angrily, ¡°Just wait for our parents to beat you!¡± Only when his sister¡¯s figure had run out of the yard did Luo Hongqi come back to his senses. He had watched Lin Chuxia grow up, but why did he feel that he understood her less and less, especially in the past six months? She was so different from the wilful, sharp-tongued person she used to be, they seemed like two different people! Could it really be that she had grown up and become sensible? Reflecting on his words just now, he felt they were indeed too excessive. Thinking this, a twinge of guilt washed over him, and he silently decided to observe her for a few more days. If she had truly become sensible, he would treat her better. But to marry her... his mood dampened again... When Luo Xiaoqiong caught up with Chuxia, she quickly grabbed her: ¡°Chuxia, don¡¯t be sulking. If you¡¯re angry, let it out. Otherwise, hit me, I¡¯m Luo Hongqi¡¯s own sister, it¡¯s only right I take a beating for him. Hit me...¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sulking,¡± Chuxia¡¯s voice carried a cheerful tone, ¡°Besides, everyone should pay their own debts. Why should you pay for Luo Hongqi?¡± She genuinely felt happy. Luo Hongqi¡¯s attitude made it clear she had made the right move; getting out of this situation in the future would definitely not be troublesome. So, hehe... ¡°Really...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong almost pressed her face close, examining her, ¡°You¡¯re not angry?¡± ¡°Do I need to pretend with you?¡± Chuxia smiled at her and shoved her back gently, ¡°It¡¯s still cold outside, you better go back inside quickly. We¡¯ll talk more tomorrow.¡± ¡°Chuxia...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong wanted to say something more, but couldn¡¯t sort out precisely what, hesitated for a moment and then stopped walking, ¡°I¡¯ll go back then, I¡¯ll come find you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Chuxia waved her hand and walked towards her own home. Watching the frail figure disappear into the night, Luo Xiaoqiong felt an inexplicable sense of irritation. Why did she feel that Chuxia had changed so much that she was becoming unrecognizable and, moreover, seemed to be drifting further away from her? Could it be that one mistake really meant there was no going back? ... ¡°Baohe, Yulan, let¡¯s head back.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have Hongqi send Chuxia back later. You don¡¯t need to worry¡ªjust go back.¡± Fat Auntie and Uncle Baohe were fussing over their goodbyes outside the courtyard gate, Witnessing this scene, a smile unconsciously curled up on Chuxia¡¯s lips. The warmth and closeness between people in this era was something she, a child who had grown up in the city, had never experienced. At first, she thought it was a bit pretentious. After all, they were just neighbors who saw each other every day. Why make such a fuss about popping in as if it were a long-awaited reunion? Over time, she came to understand that this was their way of expressing affection¡ªit seemed that only through such gestures could they make their feelings clear to others. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you hang out with Meiying a little longer?¡± Fat Auntie was the first to spot Chuxia and hurried over to grab her arm, ¡°Hongqi should have escorted you. I¡¯ll scold him when I get back. He¡¯s about to get married and still so thoughtless.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a few steps, I can walk back safely on my own.¡± Though her face couldn¡¯t be seen in the dark, her cheerful voice was evident, and Fat Auntie let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Baohe, Yulan, Chuxia is back too. You all better hurry inside.¡± ¡°Exactly, quickly go back inside. Chuxia is frail and shouldn¡¯t catch a cold and end up with a headache again.¡± As he spoke, Uncle Gangshun strode towards his house, followed by a few more pieces of nagging from Fat Auntie before she hurried after him. Once inside the house, Baohe and Yulan stared intently at Chuxia¡¯s face, making her feel uncomfortable, ¡°Dad, Mom, what¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you recognize me?¡± she asked uneasily. ¡°Chuxia, aren¡¯t you angry?¡± Yulan cautiously asked, ¡°It¡¯s so dark, and Hongqi didn¡¯t walk you home. Aren¡¯t you really angry?¡± Chuxia pouted, ¡°What¡¯s there to be angry about? It¡¯s not like he and I haven¡¯t been at odds for just a day. If he suddenly changed his ways today, I¡¯d be scared.¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯m going out for a walk.¡± Knowing that Baohe was upset by Hongqi¡¯s attitude, Chuxia quickly grabbed him, ¡°Dad, Mom just said, maybe when Hongqi is a bit older, he¡¯ll know how to care for others. Besides, I can¡¯t just suddenly start to like him. It¡¯s good this way. Both of us need time to adapt. If we feel it¡¯s right in the future, we¡¯ll get married; if not, we¡¯ll see what happens.¡± Having said this, Chuxia let go of Baohe and stepped back, looking earnestly at her parents, ¡°But, if it really doesn¡¯t work out between us, Dad and Mom, you can¡¯t force me.¡± Even though Hongqi¡¯s attitude had eased her heart a lot, she had to prepare Baohe and Yulan in advance just in case they, along with Fat Auntie, would pressure her into marrying Hongqi. Chapter 13 - 13 13 Seeking Help ?13: Chapter 13: Seeking Help 13: Chapter 13: Seeking Help From Fat Auntie¡¯s attitude toward their family, it was evident that she had always harbored resentment about the past, seemingly believing that only by marrying her and treating her well could they alleviate their guilt. Therefore, when Hongqi resisted, all she met was suppression... After exchanging a glance, Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe hesitated for a moment before reluctantly agreeing to Chuxia¡¯s request. Their daughter¡¯s words gave them a bad feeling about this marriage arrangement, yet they also felt that it couldn¡¯t be better for their daughter to marry into the Luo family. Initially, they didn¡¯t want to appear as if they were taking advantage of the Luo family, but now that it had come to this, the thought of giving up was unbearable. Yet considering their daughter¡¯s temperament... Well, if they could delay, they would. Delaying might still leave a glimmer of hope, right? Chuxia woke up with the sunlight shining on her face that morning. Glancing at the old wall clock, it was already eight o¡¯clock! Annoyed, she ruffled her messy hair and quickly got dressed. She had sworn just yesterday that she would start getting up early to have breakfast with her parents, and look at her now, not only did she get up late, but it was way past the usual time. ¡°Chuxia, you¡¯re up?¡± As soon as she opened the door, Liu Meiqing greeted her with a warm smile, ¡°Your second uncle and aunt went to work, and your sister-in-law has prepared your meal. Go wash your face.¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ll take care of it after I wash up.¡± Chuxia quickly refused, thinking to herself, as if a yellow weasel would wish a chicken well ¨C no good intentions there. ¡°Is Chuxia still angry with her sister-in-law?¡± Liu Meiqing followed behind her, prattling on regardless, ¡°But thinking about it, you have a right to be angry with her. Ever since she married into our family, she hasn¡¯t treated you well and has only bickered with you. In reality, you don¡¯t know, when the matchmaker talked about the marriage, she made your eldest brother¡¯s family out to be wonderful, but when she got here, it was nothing like what the matchmaker described. She¡¯s already married, what can she do? Sister-in-law has been holding in this frustration! Seeing how well second uncle and aunt treat you living in this eastern and western room, and remembering how she was pampered by her parents back at her own home, sister-in-law feels as distressed as if a cat were scratching her heart. If you bottle up that kind of feeling for too long, it sours your temper. Sometimes, even sister-in-law doesn¡¯t know what she says. Last night, she gave it some thought and was overcome with regret. My own marriage isn¡¯t going well, what does that have to do with your family? Taking out my frustration on you, that¡¯s just utterly unreasonable. It¡¯s only because your second uncle and aunt are so magnanimous that they don¡¯t hold it against sister-in-law. Now sister-in-law has come to her senses. She admits her past mistakes and will definitely not mess up again in the future. Chuxia, with your delicate health, you need to rest properly. From now on, sister-in-law will never disturb you in the morning. See, I didn¡¯t make any noise while cooking breakfast this morning. In the future, if there¡¯s anything tasty at home, I¡¯ll also make sure to save some for you. Chuxia, you don¡¯t really understand sister-in-law. Actually, I¡¯m just a straightforward person, harsh with words...¡± Liu Meiqing followed behind Chuxia, babbling away without stopping. Chuxia didn¡¯t interrupt her; she simply washed her face, brushed her teeth, applied a bit of cold cream to her face, lifted the pot lid, served herself some food, and began eating in her room... Finally realizing she had gotten too caught up in her own words, Liu Meiqing awkwardly laughed, ¡°Chuxia, you see? This is just how I am, completely simple-minded. But Chuxia, I really do envy you ¨C pampered by your uncle and aunt back at your parent¡¯s home, and your in-laws won¡¯t treat you poorly once you marry into your husband¡¯s family...¡± Chuxia gave Liu Meiqing a dismissive glance, finally broaching the main topic... Indeed, no matter the era, status was always the talisman that prevented others from looking down on you. Unfortunately, she was unfamiliar with this era, wishing for a distinguished status... was quite difficult! The only way was to participate in next year¡¯s college entrance exam, and as for the future, she¡¯ll just have to take it one step at a time... She had never been overly competitive by nature, but now, she was clearly being forced into it. Otherwise, her parents and she herself would be looked down upon, at the mercy of others... Sigh, what a headache! While she ate, she pondered, and Liu Meiqing just kept chattering away. Later, it turned into a direct complaint against Chuxia¡¯s eldest uncle and his wife... Just then, Luo Xiaoqiong came running in a flurry, ¡°Stop eating, if you eat any more...¡± Her gaze fell on Liu Meiqing, and she swallowed her next words, grabbing Chuxia and pulling her toward the door, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go...¡± ¡°...Last time my brother sneaked over and only stole two nets of fish, and Dad beat him so bad he couldn¡¯t sit for half a month. This time¡¯s incident is much worse than that fish business, Chuxia, hurry up! Dad¡¯s really laying into my brother...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong said as she ran, and by the time they reached her family¡¯s doorstep, Chuxia had roughly grasped the truth of the situation. Last night Fat Auntie and Uncle Gangshun brought Hongqi inside for a scolding that lasted over half an hour, during which Hongqi didn¡¯t make a peep. The couple assumed he had taken their words to heart. After breakfast, Uncle Gangshun and Fat Auntie discussed it and felt that since the marriage was settled, they should act the part of the in-laws. Thus, they instructed Hongqi to go find Lin Baohe and help him out more during work. Who knew Hongqi would stiffen his neck, defiantly dropping the words, ¡°I won¡¯t go!¡± Fat Auntie thought he was just shy, so she encouraged him, saying that helping his father-in-law was nothing to be ashamed of. Not only would no one laugh at him, but people would also praise him as a good son-in-law with human touch, which would be beneficial for future elections to positions of authority. Hongqi muttered under his breath that his refusal to help Lin Baohe was not out of fear of gossip; instead, he had thought it over the whole night and believed that Lin Chuxia was marrying him just to get a good meal at his home. A daughter-in-law who only knew how to eat without working¡ª he didn¡¯t want that! The debt his parents owed to Lin Baohe should be repaid by them, not with his entire life! When Hongqi spoke of the debt his parents owed to Lin Baohe and how they should repay it themselves, Uncle Gangshun scoffed and stormed out. Fat Auntie was also angry at her son¡¯s words, so she poked him hard on the forehead a few times with her finger and left with her tools as well. However, before she stepped out, she turned back to tell Xiaoqiong to cook extra at noon and send some food over to Chuxia¡¯s family. Hongqi, who had never been so disregarded by Fat Auntie before, probably felt a bit hurt. He stood there for a while, motionless, until Xiaoqiong reminded him that if he didn¡¯t leave soon, he would miss work. He then picked up his tools and trudged outside in a daze. Yet, before he could leave the house, he was dragged back inside by Uncle Gangshun, who had returned... Father and son, one ruthlessly beating, the other stubbornly silent, neither admitting any fault... With persuasion proving futile, Xiaoqiong had no choice but to run and seek help from Chuxia. Chapter 14 - 14 14 Getting Beaten Up ?14: Chapter 14: Getting Beaten Up 14: Chapter 14: Getting Beaten Up ¡°Thud! Thud! Thud! ...¡± Sure enough, as soon as they entered Fat Auntie¡¯s courtyard, they could hear the clear sound of something heavy striking, ¡°Quick, quick, quick...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong urgently cried out with a sobbing voice. Lin Chuxia was actually even more anxious than Luo Xiaoqiong. If Luo Gangshun seriously injured Hongqi, whether she liked it or not, she would have to marry Hongqi, otherwise her parents could forget about living with dignity. Using every last bit of her strength to rush into the house behind Luo Xiaoqiong, Chuxia couldn¡¯t even make out the situation inside before collapsing on the ground, ¡°Un... Uncle Gangshun, stop... stop hitting.¡± ¡°Get up quickly, Meiying, help Chuxia up!¡± Seeing her brother¡¯s flesh mangled, Luo Xiaoqiong sobbed as she pulled Chuxia up, ¡°Dad, he¡¯s your own son, how can you beat him so mercilessly? Not to mention, it¡¯s also delaying his work...¡± Helped to her feet, Chuxia felt much better and her mind cleared, seeing Hongqi¡¯s condition made her gasp in shock. Despite the chilly weather, his entire body was soaked, and the area around his buttocks was bright red, indicating the severity beneath. Luo Gangshun did not answer his daughter¡¯s question but frowned at Hongqi, ¡°Tell me, did you do wrong?¡± ¡°I did nothing wrong!¡± Hongqi stubbornly retorted, ¡°Lin Chuxia, tell me, did you agree to come to my house because of me or because my family had food to eat? If you don¡¯t want me to look down on you, then tell the truth in front of my dad and my sister.¡± ¡°Thud! Thud! Thud...¡± Without waiting for Chuxia¡¯s response, Luo Gangshun¡¯s plank met Hongqi again. ¡°Dad, stop hitting, wuwuwu...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong, crying, tugged at Luo Gangshun¡¯s arm, ¡°Chuxia, are you dead? I didn¡¯t bring you here just to spectate!¡± ¡°Uncle Gangshun and Fat Auntie have been good to me, I know that, but if you seriously hurt Hongqi for my sake, I will feel indebted to him for my whole life, and so will my parents. If he ends up hating me and treats me poorly because of this, how will I endure this lifetime?¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Luo Gangshun said, but he immediately stopped beating, huffing coldly at Hongqi, ¡°For Chuxia¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll let you off today. I¡¯m your father, and you should know my temper. I will let everyone in the village know, Chuxia is the daughter-in-law my wife and I like, and in our house, the daughter-in-law is the most respected!¡± With that, he exited the house without turning back. ¡°Everyone get out!¡± It has to be said, Hongqi was indeed robust, for even after being beaten like that by Luo Gangshun, his spirit was still unbroken. At that moment, whatever was said would probably fall on deaf ears for Hongqi, so Chuxia quietly slipped out towards the courtyard, ¡°Chuxia, can you not be so indifferent?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong hurried after her, visibly furious, ¡°My parents have been good to you, and I have been good to you, but that doesn¡¯t mean we owe anything to you. Can¡¯t you give us a bit of a response? It was wrong of me to go and change my name by myself, and it was wrong of my dad to take the blame for Uncle Baohe, but, mistakes were made, do we have to live with this debt forever? Do you know why I always played with you when we were little? Because both my mom and dad always reminded me, if not to play with anyone else, I must play with you, if not to share food with anyone else, I must share it with you. Gradually, I began to realize that as long as I treated you well, they would treat me well. Conversely, when my brother clashed with you, they would treat him poorly. Why did my brother despise you so much? It¡¯s because he got beaten up every time because of you. These things, my parents forbid us from mentioning. Although I don¡¯t know the reason, I knew that if I didn¡¯t listen to them, I might end up being disliked by them just like my brother. Therefore, I never told you about these things. I admit, at first I was nice to you just to make our parents treat me better. But as I grew up, I truly began to regard you as my best friend. I wanted to protect you because I truly felt you were weaker than me, and I should protect you. But Lin Chuxia, you can¡¯t take our kindness for granted! My brother was wrong, but you just left without saying a word while he was being beaten. Do you even have a heart? Do you have a conscience?¡± After Xiaoqiong finished her accusations, Lin Chuxia responded with a calm expression, ¡°Would you mind applying medicine to your brother?¡± ¡°What?¡± Still immersed in anger, Xiaoqiong gaped at Chuxia, not comprehending her intention. ¡°Could you, apply medicine to your brother?¡± Chuxia repeated slowly, enunciating each word. Seeing Xiaoqiong blinking blankly, Chuxia touched her forehead helplessly, ¡°If you can apply medicine to Luo Hongqi, I won¡¯t go to Fat Auntie.¡± ¡°Oh, oh, oh...¡± Xiaoqiong nodded repeatedly, smiling awkwardly as she linked arms with Chuxia, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say sooner you were going to see my mom? You made me so angry just now, really.¡± Chuxia gave her a blank look and seeing that her face still looked a bit off, she changed the subject, ¡°Uncle Gangshun really has some temperament, being able to contain his anger and arrange his work before coming back to beat him, hehe...¡± ¡°That¡¯s how my dad is; he won¡¯t let anything interfere with work. I bet my mom knew exactly what dad was coming back to do...¡± Xiaoqiong said, nudging Chuxia, ¡°Look at how much my parents cherish you. My brother has bullied me many times, and I have never seen my dad beat him so harshly. As for my mom, no need to mention her, always treating my brother like a precious jewel, but today she knew my dad was coming back to beat my brother and didn¡¯t stop him. Sigh, once there¡¯s a daughter-in-law, both daughter and son lose their importance, huh...¡± Chuxia, uninterested in engaging further, quickened her pace, ¡°Weren¡¯t you worried about your brother? Why the sudden change of heart?¡± ¡°I was just trying to say something nice to cheer you up because I was worried about you getting angry, who knows how anxious I am inside...¡± ¡°...¡± Spring had already passed, and in the village, the villagers were organized to turn over the soil in the fields over these few days to prepare for spring planting. So, the fields were bustling. Watching the villagers swinging their arms and sweating profusely, Chuxia looked on with envy. In fact, she was very eager to try this communal labor. However, her parents were reluctant to let her do fieldwork, and she had been listless the past half-year. So, although girls her age in this era had already begun earning work points, she hadn¡¯t earned any herself yet. Catching Chuxia¡¯s gaze, Xiaoqiong was incredulous, ¡°You used to hate farm work the most. Chuxia, what¡¯s gotten into you? I feel like you¡¯re becoming less and less like the Chuxia I knew.¡± Chapter 15 - 15 15 Its Not Easy to Work ?15: Chapter 15: It¡¯s Not Easy to Work 15: Chapter 15: It¡¯s Not Easy to Work ¡°Everyone has to grow up,¡± Chuxia said softly with a sigh, ¡°Many other families¡¯ children start working at sixteen. It¡¯s no wonder the villagers look down on me.¡± Xiaoqiong pouted discontentedly, ¡°You told me before that the village rules say you have to work every day once you turn eighteen. We should enjoy each day of leisure we have, why are you saying this now? I¡¯m the same age as you, and I haven¡¯t started working either.¡± ¡°We are different...¡± Chuxia said as she pulled her toward the field, ¡°I see Fat Auntie, she¡¯s with my dad and mom.¡± ¡°Meiying came to see your mom? And Chuxia is there too?¡± ¡°...¡± Along the way, the villagers working in the fields greeted them cheerfully, but when they mentioned Chuxia, their tone was filled with deep mockery. Although Chuxia wasn¡¯t sure about the exact reason behind everyone¡¯s differing attitudes toward her, she could somewhat guess the truth. Given her lazy and soft-eared nature, it would be odd if she actually liked working in the fields. She knew it, but pleasing the villagers was out of the question; moreover, impressions couldn¡¯t be changed in a day. She just needed to be true to herself. On the way, she simply quickened her steps toward the area where her parents and Fat Auntie were working, not bothering to greet anyone. Naturally, this led to more murmurs behind her back, causing Xiaoqiong to worryingly glance at her face, ¡°Chuxia, they¡¯re just mean, don¡¯t get angry.¡± ¡°What do I have to be angry about? I¡¯m not living off their earnings. Besides, if they say I have no humanity, does that make it true? They say my parents regretted having me for the past eight generations, but my parents think I¡¯m a blessing.¡± Xiaoqiong breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Exactly, we shouldn¡¯t bother with them. They¡¯re just jealous, jealous that you¡¯re going to marry my brother! No, if they knew you were marrying my brother, they wouldn¡¯t dare talk like this. Hmph, I¡¯ll be waiting to see how they try to please you once they find out about you and my brother!¡± Chuxia was speechless... Fat Auntie and Lin Baohe had seen them coming from a while back but kept working in the fields as it wasn¡¯t right to make too much of a display. So they waited until they were close before putting down their hoes and shovels to come over, ¡°What brings you two here?¡± asked Fat Auntie. Xiaoqiong hurriedly whispered something into her mother¡¯s ear, causing Fat Auntie¡¯s face to subtly change as she muttered, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect your father to actually be so harsh.¡± ¡°Fat Auntie, you go back. I¡¯ll stay here and help my parents,¡± Chuxia said. ¡°Pfft!¡± As soon as Chuxia finished speaking, Xiaoqiong burst out laughing, ¡°Chuxia, can you even lift that heavy shovel? Make sure you don¡¯t end up hurting yourself instead of flipping the soil.¡± Fat Auntie glared at her daughter, ¡°What kind of talk is that? You stay; Chuxia will go back with me.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Xiaoqiong deliberately crumpled her face, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not much stronger than Chuxia.¡± ¡°Look at how strong you are and then look at Chuxia. Do you really think you¡¯re about the same as her?¡± Fat Auntie pushed her daughter. ¡°If you don¡¯t finish, you¡¯re not allowed to come home for meals.¡± She then turned to Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan, ¡°Come to my house for dinner this afternoon, and let Chuxia help me with the cooking.¡± ¡°No need! No need!¡± Zhao Yulan quickly declined, although she didn¡¯t know what had happened, a bit of thought led her to guess that it must involve Luo Hongqi. Her daughter had been at odds with Brother Hongqi not just for a day, and it wasn¡¯t likely that their arranged engagement would suddenly make them see eye to eye. Chuxia felt that this wasn¡¯t the right time to meet Luo Hongqi again, so she grabbed Fat Auntie¡¯s arm and whispered, ¡°Fat Auntie, Brother Hongqi must be angry with me right now. If he sees me again, with his temper, who could calm him down? Would you let me stay and help my parents and have Xiaoqiong go back with you? My parents and I will come over for lunch; is that okay?¡± When Chuxia unusually referred to Luo Hongqi as Brother Hongqi, a smile spread across Fat Auntie¡¯s face. After thinking for a moment, she nodded, ¡°Alright!¡± She took a few steps and then turned back to glare at her daughter, ¡°Hurry up!¡± Luo Xiaoqiong waved at the family of three, ¡°Uncle, auntie, I¡¯ll go and grab a shovel then come back to help you all. Chuxia and I can together make up for one worker; it won¡¯t delay lunch.¡± Zhao Yulan hurriedly refused, ¡°No need, no need, Xiaoqiong, no need. We¡¯ll finish this work before lunch; Chuxia will just help us even out the soil. You don¡¯t need to come back over.¡± At the mention of ¡°Xiaoqiong,¡± Luo Xiaoqiong felt completely refreshed and turned back, her smile emphasizing her resolution to come, then she briskly ¡°sprinted¡± after Fat Auntie. It wasn¡¯t until the mother-daughter duo had disappeared that Zhao Yulan quietly asked her daughter, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Chuxia didn¡¯t hide it from her and immediately spilled everything about Luo Gangshun beating Luo Hongqi. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about it now, let¡¯s discuss it back at home,¡± Lin Baohe whispered to the mother-daughter duo, ¡°Other people are watching. Chuxia isn¡¯t experienced with farm work, and if you two cluster there gossiping, people will start talking again.¡± Hearing this, Zhao Yulan quickly curbed her curiosity and followed behind Lin Baohe, breaking the large clumps of soil he had dug up with a hoe. Chuxia¡¯s task was then to smooth out the broken clumps with a shovel¡ªoriginally, Zhao Yulan did the same type of work as Lin Baohe, but thinking of her daughter¡¯s frail figure, she had to rearrange the tasks, preferring to let Lin Baohe tire rather than let her daughter be ridiculed. Desires are ideal, but reality is cruel; the shovel that danced lightly in others¡¯ hands, in Chuxia¡¯s hands... Normally, when sweeping the yard or shoveling chicken manure, Chuxia also used a shovel, but usually, the Zhuang family cherished their tools, and what she had used was a half-worn, old iron shovel, nothing like the heavy, new long-handled shovel she held now. The moment she gripped the shovel handle, Chuxia was initially buoyant with enthusiasm. Previously, she and her parents had labored at suburban estates, but those trips were often cut short just as she was getting into the swing of things, and crucially, they cost money! But now? Not only did she not have to spend money, but she could also earn it and help her parents! With that comparison, Chuxia¡¯s mood instantly lightened. The ideal is plump, the reality is stark! When Lin Chuxia swung her first shovel full of expectations, she realized she might have been overly optimistic. But the arrow was on the string, and she had no choice but to retreat. She took a deep breath, channeling all her strength into her arms, and followed behind Zhao Yulan with ¡°grunt¡± ¡°grunt¡± moving forward. Five minutes later, Chuxia felt her arms struggling to lift, and her throat uncomfortably dry... Chapter 16 - 16 16 Zhong Hongying ?16: Chapter 16 Zhong Hongying 16: Chapter 16 Zhong Hongying Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe had certainly noticed that their daughter was not right, but now, they could only pretend not to see. People working hard on both sides seemed to be busy with their tasks, but in fact, they were all covertly watching their progress. If they let their daughter rest now, Chuxia¡¯s reputation would... Although Chuxia and Luo Hongqi¡¯s marriage was almost certain, as parents, who would want their child to be looked down upon? In other words, Luo Gangshun and Fat Aunt might forgive Chuxia continuously because of their guilt from the past, but what about Luo Hongqi? Today, the matter of Luo Hongqi getting beaten up had been confirmed. The main reason he disliked Chuxia might be that he thought she was not good at physical labor. If they continued to indulge Chuxia like this, over time, it might really harm her. Therefore, even though their hearts were aching terribly, the couple did not slow down, which made it even harder for Chuxia trailing behind. In order not to fall too far behind her parents, she had to desperately struggle forward with her large shovel, soon feeling her underclothes sticking wetly to her back. Her once pale face also grew more reddened, attracting the occasional glance from the two young men working to her left. ¡°Peep!¡± A sharp whistle cut through the air, and the villagers, engrossed in their work, surged towards the edge of the field¡ªthe water carriers had arrived, and everyone could drink some water and rest briefly. ¡°Chuxia, take a break,¡± Zhao Yulan dropped her hoe and turned back to wipe her daughter¡¯s sweat the moment the whistle stopped, the distress clearly visible in her eyes, ¡°Chuxia, your dad and I aren¡¯t heartless...¡± ¡°Mom, I know you are worried about the villagers making fun of me,¡± Chuxia said as she plopped down on the ground, no longer caring whether the field was clean or not. Lin Baohe glanced at his daughter and took the now empty plastic bucket toward the end of the field; his way of showing care was always through actions. ¡°Chuxia, the field work is tough, isn¡¯t it?¡± A spotty-faced woman in her forties chuckled as she approached, followed by a girl of about eighteen or nineteen who was blinking her big eyes and sizing up Chuxia from top to bottom. The woman with the spotty face clicked her tongue, ¡°Chuxia, why were you born to work in our fields? Look at this delicate skin; you¡¯re really meant for city life, ah...¡± ¡°Mom, can you not be so tactless?¡± The girl glared at the spotty-faced woman and pulled out a clean checkerboard handkerchief from her pocket to hand to Chuxia, ¡°Did you forget to bring one?¡± Chuxia recognized her, Zhong Hongying, nineteen years old. If one were to choose the two extremes of capability within the village, Zhong Hongying and she would be the representatives of capable and incapable. Zhong Hongying was sturdy, with slightly dark skin, thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a slightly flat nose, but her teeth were very even and white. To Chuxia, she wasn¡¯t particularly beautiful, but in this era, she was among the most favored women. A strong body¡ªrepresenting good labor skills and fertility. Thick eyebrows, large eyes, and even white teeth¡ªindicating beautiful features. Her nose bridge was slightly collapsed¡ªindicative of an honest nature (although Chuxia didn¡¯t understand the logic behind this, it was what the people in the village believed, or more accurately, what the women in the village believed.) ¡°Thanks, but my mom just wiped my sweat,¡± Chuxia said. Although it was hard to directly refuse the handkerchief kindly offered, it was also inappropriate to just grab and use it indiscriminately. Her upbringing didn¡¯t allow her to do such things. ¡°Hongying, why do you always cozy up to someone who¡¯s not interested?¡± the freckled-face woman said, pursing her lips at Chuxia¡¯s mother. ¡°Yulan, don¡¯t mind my bluntness, but you and Baohe spoil the child too much. A seventeen-year-old girl still kept at home, too precious to let go. Even if she earns just half the work points, it¡¯s still something, right?¡± Zhao Yulan¡¯s face clearly showed displeasure. ¡°It¡¯s not that Baohe and I spoil her. Chuxia is frail and can¡¯t overwork herself. Once she¡¯s a bit stronger, she¡¯ll naturally start earning work points with us. Besides, our Chuxia is really sensible. These days she¡¯s been nagging her dad and me about wanting to work in the fields with us. It¡¯s us, her parents, stopping her. Earning work points is important, but having a healthy body in the future is even more so.¡± Zhong Hongying smiled and continued, ¡°Chuxia, your aunt and uncle really dote on you. In our village, no one spoils their kids as much as your aunt and uncle do.¡± Chuxia nodded. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Ha...¡± the freckled-face woman giggled, staring at her. ¡°Chuxia, once everyone starts working, just look around and see if anyone works like you. If you think about being filial to your parents, unless you marry into a wealthy family, I see it being tough. Who would marry such a daughter-in-law and still have the patience to treat your parents well?¡± Chuxia smiled at the freckled-face woman. ¡°Aunt Zhong, you needn¡¯t worry about this. You and my parents aren¡¯t the same kind of people, and naturally have different views. If you really care about them, could you please speak less?¡± Aunt Zhong was about to say something when she saw Lin Baohe approaching with a small plastic bucket. She hurried back to her own field, and Zhong Hongying apologized to Zhao Yulan and Chuxia with a smile. ¡°My mom just has that kind of off-putting temperament. Aunt and Chuxia, don¡¯t take her too seriously. If I hadn¡¯t been worried about her coming over and causing trouble, I wouldn¡¯t have followed her here. Ah, she¡¯s still my mom, and I can¡¯t really say much about her...¡± she said, stuffing the handkerchief into Chuxia¡¯s hand. ¡°Chuxia, you don¡¯t need to push yourself so hard. Everyone knows you¡¯re not well. It¡¯s okay to go slower; no one will laugh at you. Even if someone did laugh, what of it? They aren¡¯t the ones feeding or clothing you. You should get healthier first before thinking of anything else. Keep the handkerchief and wipe your sweat. I¡¯ve got several more at home; they were gifts from my aunt. This one¡¯s for you.¡± After saying this, she walked away, then turned around to add, ¡°I haven¡¯t used this handkerchief yet, so don¡¯t feel bad about it.¡± ¡°Thanks!¡± Chuxia genuinely didn¡¯t have the energy to stand up and follow her, and judging from Hongying¡¯s attitude, it was unlikely she would take the handkerchief back even if she caught up. Compared to Hongying¡¯s strength, Chuxia had no chance! So, she decided to keep it for now. Whether to use it or not was another matter. She was very curious¡ªwhat was the real reason behind Hongying¡¯s kindness? Such unprovoked generosity made her suspicious. Once Hongying was far enough away, Zhao Yulan couldn¡¯t help shaking her head. ¡°They¡¯re mother and daughter, but why is their temperament so different? They say the apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree, but it doesn¡¯t seem to be the case every time.¡± Chuxia nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, aren¡¯t I an example too? Both my dad and mom are so capable, yet they ended up with someone like me who just holds them back.¡± Chapter 17 - 17 17 Not Getting Along ?17: Chapter 17 Not Getting Along 17: Chapter 17 Not Getting Along ¡°This child!¡± Zhao Yulan glared at her, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± At that moment, Lin Baohe approached with a small plastic bucket, unscrewed the lid, and handed it to his daughter, ¡°Dad filled it straight from the big tank, it¡¯s clean, drink more.¡± He then frowned and looked at his wife, ¡°What did Aunt Zhong¡¯s family say?¡± ¡°With her temper, you can guess what she said,¡± Zhao Yulan curled her lips, ¡°But Luo Hongying has a good heart, she compensated for what was said about Chuxia.¡± ¡°Real or fake kindness, who knows,¡± Lin Baohe said then turned to his daughter, ¡°Xia, from now on, you don¡¯t need to come to work, wait until you¡¯re past your eighteenth birthday to return. Let those gossips say whatever they want, don¡¯t mind them!¡± In his concern for his daughter, he forgot about his original intentions. ¡°Dad, actually doing some work is quite good for me. If I¡¯m always idle, I am always weaker than others. In the future, I¡¯ll accompany you in the morning to collect manure, help you and mom at work. If I can¡¯t earn a full day¡¯s work points, I¡¯ll earn half, that¡¯s still better than being a burden to you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to collect manure with your dad?¡± Zhao Yulan¡¯s eyes went round with surprise, she reached out to feel her daughter¡¯s forehead and quickly stood up to take a big hoe, ¡°Baohe, hurry up and finish the work so Chuxia can rest back at home. She¡¯s already so tired she¡¯s talking nonsense. Chuxia, from now on, just stay at home and help me with feeding the chickens and cutting hemp cakes.¡± ¡°Mom, drink some water.¡± Chuxia handed the water bucket to Zhao Yulan, ¡°I know you are worried about me, but if I am still doing this kind of work after I turn eighteen, I¡¯ll be laughed at even more. It¡¯s better to do what I can now, it helps me get stronger and earn work points too.¡± In reality, she wanted to start running in the mornings, but in this era, if she really did that, the spit from others could drown her. Not working, just running aimlessly¡ªwhat would people say? After taking a moment to consider, Chuxia¡¯s father nodded, ¡°Alright, from now on when the work isn¡¯t too tiring, Xia can join us. Fortunately, Uncle Gangshun is the secretary, there won¡¯t be any trouble working with others. With your mom and me in the same team, whether the work is much or little, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Baohe, now that we have more hands helping, life at home will be easier!¡± Said a man in his forties. ¡°Yeah, Baohe, Yulan, you¡¯ve persevered!¡± Exclaimed a woman also in her forties. ¡°Uncle, Auntie, Chuxia will also be coming to work from now on?¡± Asked a young woman in her early twenties. ¡°Never thought that when Chuxia really started working, she¡¯d be quite capable,¡± Commented a woman around thirty. ¡°...¡± People who had finished resting gradually returned to their work in the fields. As they passed by the family of three, they greeted them with jokes and banter. Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan responded while secretly checking their daughter¡¯s complexion. Seeing that she kept an expressionless face focused on her work, they quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Chuxia quietly curled her lips. For the original owner to be this unique in this era was quite rare. In any case, with her limited understanding of this era, the original owner¡¯s personality was definitely unique. She thought that if it wasn¡¯t for this reason, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to take over for the original owner... Thinking of this, she was flooded with worries about lawsuits. If it really was a case of swapping places, then her dear parents and the original owner would have been duped! However, looking at it from another perspective, whether successful or not, having a daughter was still better than not having one... With this thought, she particularly hoped that the original owner had indeed taken over her role. Awkward! ¡°Hahaha... Chuxia, hahaha...¡± Halfway through their work, Luo Xiaoqiong came running with a big iron shovel. As she approached, she said nothing but threw her head back and laughed uproariously. Zhao Yulan was so startled that she quickly put down her hoe and asked, ¡°Xiaoqiong, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Chuxia...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong pointed at Chuxia, laughing so hard that she couldn¡¯t even stand up straight. ¡°Hehe...¡± Seeing her daughter¡¯s dirty face, Zhao Yulan couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Chuxia, didn¡¯t your sister Hongying give you a handkerchief? Quickly wipe the dirt off your face.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Chuxia shook her head indifferently. ¡°Who doesn¡¯t get dirty when working? I have to return the handkerchief to her, so I can¡¯t use it.¡± ¡°What?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong abruptly stopped laughing. ¡°Are you saying that Zhong Hongying gave you a handkerchief?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Chuxia hummed in confirmation, but her hands did not stop working, despite the fact that she handled the shovel awkwardly and looked quite a sight. However, she didn¡¯t seem embarrassed at all. ¡°Chuxia, you really are different.¡± Taking up her shovel, Luo Xiaoqiong started working beside her, diligently and quietly. ¡°What are you so angry about?¡± Chuxia took a long breath and straightened her back, ¡°Is it because I accepted her handkerchief, or is it something else?¡± ¡°Chuxia, I want some peace,¡± said Luo Xiaoqiong and then really did remain silent, ignoring all of Chuxia and Zhao Yulan¡¯s attempts to tease a word out of her. Mother and daughter exchanged glances and could only resume their work in silence. The task for the day was to divide half an acre of land per person, and groups could form freely without limitation. The land was then measured and divided by the team leader. The boundary between groups was marked by a tall sorghum stalk. Somehow, the landmark for the piece of land assigned to Chuxia¡¯s family and Fat Auntie was gone, lost to either careless hands or the wind. The missing landmark normally wasn¡¯t a big deal. Considering the amount already plowed, one could simply follow a straight line. However, the problem arose when Luo Hongying¡¯s family, who were initially following behind Chuxia¡¯s family, began working faster and soon overtook them. Unfortunately, Aunt Zhong, who was digging next to Chuxia¡¯s family¡¯s plot, began to veer off, skewing her line more and more towards her own side. ¡°Hey!¡± Luo Xiaoqiong, already in a foul mood, found a target for her anger. Calling out, she shouldered her shovel and drew a straight line along the edge of the field. Pointing at the acute-angled triangle she created, she demanded, ¡°Aunt Zhong, is it your eyes, your legs, or your hands that are crooked? What¡¯s this for?¡± Even though Luo Xiaoqiong was the secretary¡¯s daughter, such questioning was too much for Aunt Zhong¡¯s pride. She threw down her hoe, ¡°Meiying, how can you speak like that? How did you draw that line? Just because you¡¯re the secretary¡¯s daughter, you think you can make false accusations?¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Zhong Hongying hastened to put down her hoe. ¡°You¡¯re the one who was digging at an angle; don¡¯t blame Meiying. Go to my spot, and I¡¯ll take over here.¡± After handling the situation, she gave Luo Xiaoqiong an apologetic smile. ¡°Mei... Xiaoqiong, my mom was just joking with you. She thought you guys were too quiet while working, so she tried to tease you, but it turns out she¡¯s not one to take a joke. Hehe...¡± ¡°Playing good cop, bad cop with me, huh? Do you think I¡¯m a fool?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong looked at Zhong Hongying, unimpressed. ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to. I just can¡¯t be bothered to expose you.¡± Chapter 18 - 18 18 Freeloading a Meal ?18: Chapter 18: Freeloading a Meal 18: Chapter 18: Freeloading a Meal Zhong Hongying¡¯s smile gradually faded, ¡°Luo Meiying, if you don¡¯t clarify what happened today, I¡¯ll take it up with the secretary, and I believe he won¡¯t be so biased toward his own daughter as to lose all sense of impartiality.¡± Seeing that his own daughter was about to clash with the secretary¡¯s daughter, Uncle Zhong hurried over with a big hoe, ¡°Hongying, go over there.¡± He then flashed an ingratiating smile towards Luo Xiaoqiong, ¡°Meiying, don¡¯t be angry, once we finish our tasks here, we¡¯ll give you a hand.¡± ¡°No need, just don¡¯t add your work onto ours, that would be thanks enough.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong snorted, turned her head back, and with a sweep of her eyes at Hongying, she silently headed to the area where Uncle Zhong was working. Chuxia¡¯s brows twitched slightly, she began to understand what had upset Xiaoqiong just now, but anyone witnessing this scene would likely not side with Xiaoqiong¡ªor perhaps, this wasn¡¯t the first time that Hongying had sought to climb up at Xiaoqiong¡¯s expense...surely everyone knows? However, even with this understanding, she couldn¡¯t help Xiaoqiong at this point¡ªHongying, as capable as she was, was still at a disadvantage compared to the secretary¡¯s daughter, and sympathy for the underdog is human nature. If she rashly stood up now... Zhong Hongying¡¯s family finished their work before Chuxia¡¯s. Aunt Zhong, carrying the hoe, didn¡¯t look back as she went home, while Hongying and Elder Zhong started helping Chuxia¡¯s family from the other end of the field. Zhao Yulan quickly tried to dissuade them, ¡°Brother Zhong, Hongying, our work will be done in a little while, you¡¯ve been working all morning, please go home and rest.¡± Hongying straightened up and laughed, ¡°Aunt Yulan, we wouldn¡¯t be able to eat even if we did go back now, it¡¯s just a matter of lending a hand. We¡¯ll all head back together once it¡¯s done.¡± Xiaoqiong glanced at Hongying, then at Chuxia and her parents, lifted the shovel, and was about to leave, but Chuxia quickly grabbed her and spoke in a lowered voice, ¡°Xiaoqiong, even if it¡¯s an act, you have to see it through.¡± ¡°Why should I pretend?¡± Although boiling with anger, Xiaoqiong also lowered her voice, ¡°We clearly agreed to ignore her, what have you been doing?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go home, and I¡¯ll explain everything. If you think my reasoning is flawed, from now on I¡¯ll listen to you, okay?¡± Chuxia pleaded with a rare accommodating smile, ¡°Listen, let¡¯s not make a spectacle for others.¡± Although reluctant, Xiaoqiong stayed, while Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan breathed a sigh of relief. These small spats between the kids weren¡¯t something they could rightfully involve themselves in, yet they worried about outsiders speaking ill of Xiaoqiong. Even though she was the secretary¡¯s daughter, a tarnished reputation could affect her prospects of finding a good husband¡¯s family. If Chuxia had heard their thoughts, she would surely have resented it¡ªmust all a girl¡¯s actions aim towards finding a husband¡¯s family? The six of them completed their tasks in a seemingly harmonious atmosphere, then walked back to the village, still appearing to joke and laugh harmoniously¡ªduring which Hongying kept trying to please both Chuxia and Luo Hongying, even though one clearly showed indifference and the other obvious dislike towards her. After parting ways at the crossroads, Xiaoqiong curled her lip, ¡°I hate people like that the most, annoyed as hell inside but has to pretend to be so magnanimous on the outside, pah!¡± ¡°You silly girl...¡± Zhao Yulan chuckled as she ruffled her head, ¡°She was already showing you weakness, keeping up your tough facade will only make others speak ill of you, silly child.¡± ¡°Let them speak poorly of me then, time will reveal the true heart. I¡¯m not afraid!¡± Xiaoqiong said indifferently, ¡°If I really can¡¯t find a good husband¡¯s family because of this, then so be it¡ªit¡¯s my fate.¡± Knowing it was difficult to persuade her in that moment, Zhao Yulan said no more. Chuxia was still pondering over the reason Zhong Hongying treated Luo Xiaoqiong that way and wasn¡¯t in the mood to talk either; thus, the next part of their journey was marked by a deathly silence among the four of them. At the entrance to Fat Aunt¡¯s alley, Zhao Yulan stopped, ¡°Xiaoqiong...¡± Chuxia interrupted her, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve already promised Fat Aunt.¡± She knew her parents didn¡¯t want to impose on the Luo family, but she had already agreed with Fat Aunt. If they didn¡¯t go, it would only make Fat Aunt feel like there was still a barrier between their families. It would be better to go heartily and find an excuse later to repay Fat Aunt¡¯s kindness. Okay, she admitted she had a bit of a personal motive too, Hongqi was convinced she was after his family¡¯s food, right? She might as well let him remain confident in his judgment. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± said Lin Baohe as he led the way to the Luo family. Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s face finally broke into a smile, ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Seeing Lin Baohe, Zhao Yulan, and Chuxia arrive as promised, Luo Gangshun and Fat Aunt were delighted. As they busied themselves asking the guests to wash their hands, the meal and tea were already served on the table. Hongqi tried to stay away, but could Luo Gangshun really let him have his way? He forcefully dragged him out and made him stand at the head of the table to ¡°guard¡± everyone: ¡°Eat if you want, or just look if you don¡¯t.¡± Hongqi¡¯s face turned crimson, but he did not forget his manners and greeted Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe politely. However, when he looked at Chuxia, his gaze clearly showed his disdain. Chuxia returned his look with a beaming smile, ¡°Brother Hongqi, I worked today.¡± Implicitly saying, I worked, so you can¡¯t possibly deny me a meal, right? Fat Aunt¡¯s food was very hearty: a huge basket of white flour steamed buns, a large pot of pork, vermicelli stewed with cabbage, a plate of salty mustard greens, and a bowl of radish and vermicelli soup for each, making Chuxia salivate ¡ª it was indeed a different class compared to the meals at her house! Especially those big white buns, she craved them every day! Every time she finished eating corn pancakes mixed with sorghum flour, her throat hurt. She dreamed of going back to the days when she could eat buns every day ¡ª she felt she was indeed becoming more accomplished (>c<). Probably worried they might be too shy to eat to their fill, Fat Aunt firmly implemented portion control, allocating each person two big buns, a bowl of cabbage, and a bowl of vermicelli soup. As for the mustard greens, she didn¡¯t enforce a strict division since no family was really short of that. Two big buns! A frail Lin Chuxia managed to stuff both completely into her stomach. Catching sight of Hongqi¡¯s glaring red eyes, she quickly stretched her paw and snatched the bun in front of him, ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating? Then I will, I¡¯m really hungry.¡± Everyone: (¡Ño¡Ñ) in shock... ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of bursting!¡± Glancing at her empty paws, then back at the big bun in Hongqi¡¯s paw, Chuxia quietly breathed a sigh of relief, she really couldn¡¯t have eaten another one... as if! Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan ¡°struggled¡± to finish half a bun each, and finally, when their daughter was full, they quickly stood up the moment Chuxia put down her chopsticks. Fat Aunt knew them too well and immediately blocked the door, ¡°Baohe, Yulan, if you leave like this today, it would really be disrespectful towards our Luo family!¡± Chapter 19 - 19 19 A Girls Thoughts ?19: Chapter 19: A Girl¡¯s Thoughts 19: Chapter 19: A Girl¡¯s Thoughts ¡°I ate too much this morning, I¡¯m not very hungry.¡± ¡°I drank too much water, my stomach is still full.¡± Lin Baohe said while belching deliberately. Uncle Gangshun looked amused as he eyed the couple, ¡°No matter how much you ate this morning, after working all morning, how can you not be hungry? Baohe, you¡¯re really bluffing. If you could get full by drinking water, how could so many people have starved in the past few years? You are all adults here, yet not as sensible as Chuxia. Sit down and eat quickly. I won¡¯t let you eat more than your share. Just finish what¡¯s allotted to you.¡± ¡°Really, I¡¯m not hungry...¡± Uncle Gangshun frowned, interrupting Lin Baohe who was still mumbling, ¡°Do you think your aunt and I are merely being polite with you?¡± ¡°No, no...¡± Lin Baohe, who was not good with words, looked pleadingly at his wife. Zhao Yulan hesitated slightly before speaking, ¡°Brother, sister-in-law, I won¡¯t mince words with you. You always say that once the children¡¯s matters are settled, we are family, but if you really consider us family, why would you serve us a meal fit for guests? Although brother is the secretary, he only has a little more work points than us. Most of the fine flour is given to Uncle and Fat Auntie. Probably all the house¡¯s fine flour was used up for this meal, right? How can we eat it then? Chuxia might be naive, but as her parents, we can¡¯t afford to be.¡± Chuxia turned to Hongqi and pouted, ¡°See? My dad and mom are hesitant to eat because of what you said.¡± ¡°Cough! Cough! Cough....¡± Hongqi, who was drinking soup, choked badly upon hearing this, and Fat Auntie quickly came forward to pat his back and help him catch his breath, though she didn¡¯t forget to complain, ¡°Chuxia is right. Who can eat with you making that face?¡± Uncle Gangshun glared at his son and turned to Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan, ¡°Baohe, Yulan, the meal your sister-in-law prepared today was special. It was because we just settled Chuxia and Hongqi¡¯s engagement. We¡¯re celebrating. When you eat here in the future, it won¡¯t be like this.¡± ¡°Uncle, Aunt, I was wrong. Please go ahead and eat.¡± Standing there like a wall, Hongqi apologized pitifully, which made Chuxia feel a surge of guilt. However, given the situation, she couldn¡¯t back down. So, she sighed quietly, resigned to let Hongqi endure some discomfort now rather than harm later. Xiaoqiong glanced at Uncle Gangshun, then smiled at Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan, ¡°Second uncle, second aunt, if you don¡¯t eat well this afternoon, my brother is going to get a beating tonight.¡± With the situation taken to this extent, Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan really couldn¡¯t persist further, and reluctantly returned to their seats to continue ¡°struggling¡± with their buns. Seeing her parents¡¯ discomfort, Chuxia felt a pang of heartache¡ªit was all because of her! ¡°Come chat with me for a while.¡± Xiaoqiong forcibly dragged Chuxia, who was staring blankly at her parents, into the back room. After closing the door, Xiaoqiong¡¯s expression tightened, ¡°Chuxia, have you forgotten what we agreed upon?¡± What in the world?! Chuxia internally screamed, though her face remained placid, ¡°No.¡± Xiaoqiong snorted coldly, ¡°Then why did you interact with Zhong Hongying?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to, but in that situation, I couldn¡¯t avoid her,¡± Chuxia continued along her train of thought. ¡°Nonsense, I think you just don¡¯t want to help me anymore.¡± Xiaoqiong sighed heavily, ¡°It¡¯s been six months since you told me any news about Zhao Qiliang. It¡¯s clear you don¡¯t want to help me. Do you think I¡¯m a fool?¡± Zhao Qiliang was Chuxia¡¯s older cousin, who had joined the army in province A the spring before last. Instantly, Chuxia guessed what Xiaoqiong and she had agreed upon and immediately responded with a relaxed smile, ¡°How could I not want to help you? My great uncle said that my cousin was sent on a mission and couldn¡¯t write home. I didn¡¯t tell you because I was afraid of worrying you, leading you to have all these wild thoughts, alas!¡± Xiaoqiong looked skeptical, ¡°Really?¡± Chuxia¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m lying to you?¡± ¡°Did Zhong Hongying ever write him a letter?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s eyes filled with the worries of a young girl, ¡°With all her cunningness, she might have already contacted Zhao Qiliang.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t happen. My older cousin is on a mission, he can¡¯t receive any letters, and even if she wrote, it would be useless.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Xiaoqiong, would I lie to you?¡± Though she said this, Chuxia was feeling anxious inside. She needed to hasten to her grandmother¡¯s house to inquire about her older cousin¡¯s news; otherwise, she would be letting her friend down terribly. Upon receiving Chuxia¡¯s affirmative response, Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s worries instantly dissipated, and a smile appeared on her face, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll forgive you this time, but from now on, don¡¯t accept any favors from Zhong Hongying. With all her craftiness, you can¡¯t fall for her tricks.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Chuxia nodded earnestly. In the afternoon, Chuxia wanted to go to the fields as well, but Luo Gangshun stopped her, clearly telling her that with her skills, it was really not easy to earn work points. It would be better to wait for some lighter work later on, so as not to be a burden to others. These words made Lin Chuxia¡¯s face turn red. The things she was good at were worthless in this era, and the very things she was not good at were essential for survival; alas! She never thought there would be a time she would become useless. Since Chuxia was not going to work, Luo Xiaoqiong naturally didn¡¯t go either. Seeing that Chuxia was in a gloomy mood, Luo Xiaoqiong spent the whole afternoon with her, which made Chuxia feel even more guilty. No matter what the reason was, Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s care for her was absolutely genuine. But what about her? Because she felt no sense of belonging to this era, she had always been indifferent to her... ¡°I¡¯m going to grandma¡¯s house tomorrow.¡± Chuxia¡¯s sudden statement caught Luo Xiaoqiong off guard, and it took her a while to understand. Perhaps due to being too excited, she couldn¡¯t say a word and just giggled while hugging Chuxia. ... ¡°Mom, I¡¯d like to visit grandma¡¯s house tomorrow.¡± After dinner that evening, Chuxia addressed Zhao Yulan. ¡°Alright.¡± Zhao Yulan agreed swiftly, then her expression changed, ¡°Xia, I need to talk to you. Today at your Fat Auntie¡¯s house, you should not have been so careless. Even if Fat Auntie and Uncle Gangshun are good to you, you can¡¯t take yourself too lightly. You know what people hope to gain by marrying into our family. We can¡¯t let them think we are taking advantage of past events. Moreover, you will be living with Hongqi in the future. If he gets annoyed with you, your life won¡¯t be pleasant, and Fat Auntie and Uncle Gangshun can¡¯t protect you forever, right?¡± ¡°Mom, I understand.¡± Seeing Chuxia with a receptive and teachable attitude, Zhao Yulan couldn¡¯t bear to scold her further. The next morning, after Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan went to work, Chuxia, swinging her fingers and striding on her slender legs, set off for her grandmother¡¯s house. Chapter 20 - 20 20 You Bumped into Me! ?20: Chapter 20: You Bumped into Me! 20: Chapter 20: You Bumped into Me! Chuxia¡¯s family lived in Dalin Village, while her grandmother¡¯s family resided in Xiaolin Village, merely three li away. Although it was a walk away, it didn¡¯t take too long. Fifteen minutes later, Old Master Zhao and Old Lady Zhao, who were sunbathing at the entrance of the main hall, heard the main gate creak open. Squinting towards the gate, they both happily stood up. ¡°Chuxia, why hold such a grudge...¡± Her grandmother approached, taking Chuxia¡¯s hand tenderly, ¡°Haven¡¯t you come to see your grandparents in months?¡± ¡°Grandma, Grandpa...¡± Chuxia¡¯s face turned sheepish; she knew her grandparents doted on her very much, but because she was afraid of slipping up, she had only visited twice in the past six months. ¡°The child is here now, why say such useless words?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, grandma is really becoming more muddled with age...¡± Old Lady Zhao, agreeing with her husband, pulled Chuxia inside the house where she rummaged through cupboards, and finally in a corner of a wicker chest, she found a small handful of pine nuts, ¡°Your second uncle¡¯s comrade brought these a few days ago; everyone at home has tried them, these were saved just for you.¡± ¡°Thanks, Grandma. I¡¯ll take them home and taste them with my mom and dad.¡± Chuxia unceremoniously stuffed the pine nuts into the pocket of her cotton coat. ¡°Chuxia has grown up; Yulan has finally seen better days.¡± Watching her granddaughter¡¯s actions, Old Lady Zhao looked relieved. Chuxia quietly touched her forehead, just how oblivious was she actually? ¡°I¡¯ll go cut some meat, we¡¯re making dumplings for lunch.¡± Evidently, Old Master Zhao was extremely satisfied with Chuxia¡¯s behavior, smiling with narrowed eyes, he left the room while clamping his tobacco pipe. ¡°Grandpa is really good to me.¡± Since she wasn¡¯t the real person, despite knowing how much her grandparents cherished her, Chuxia still felt some distance and couldn¡¯t show much affection. In an attempt to say something pleasant, she unintentionally made her grandmother jealous, ¡°Isn¡¯t grandma good?¡± ¡°Good, good, grandma is, of course, good.¡± Fearing Old Lady Zhao would delve further into the question, Chuxia quickly changed the subject, ¡°Grandma, has there been any news from big cousin recently? Did he mention when he might come back for a visit?¡± Old Lady Zhao immediately smiled from ear to ear: ¡°Qiliang just wrote the day before yesterday, saying he had distinguished himself and his superiors were considering him for a squad leader position. He might be able to come home and stay for a few days during the holidays.¡± ¡°Is that all he said?¡± Old Lady Zhao thought for a moment before adding: ¡°He asked about things at home, and he specifically asked how your dad and mom were doing. Remember to tell them when you go back.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Chuxia nodded, then lowered her voice mysteriously, ¡°Grandma, did big cousin mention receiving any letters from girls?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t say.¡± As soon as Old Lady Zhao was reminded by her granddaughter, she became anxious: ¡°That¡¯s right, Qiliang is already twenty-one. We can¡¯t delay any further. I¡¯ll have to see Aunt Liu (the village matchmaker) later; if there is a suitable girl, I¡¯ll get a photo for Qiliang.¡± This was certainly not the outcome she wanted! Xiaoqiong and Tongzi would scratch her to death! She would genuinely scratch her to death! In her anxiety, Chuxia blurted out: ¡°No!¡± Old Lady Zhao sighed softly: ¡°Chuxia, he is your big cousin. It¡¯s not that grandma doesn¡¯t cherish you, it¡¯s just...¡± She didn¡¯t finish the sentence, but the implication couldn¡¯t be clearer! Chuxia broke out in a cold sweat with shock. After all, could the real person actually have feelings for her cousin? No, whether real or not, it had to be false now! ¡°Grandma, Meiying likes the eldest cousin, and there¡¯s another girl in our village who likes him too. Meiying is worried that this girl is secretly writing letters to the eldest cousin. Meiying and I are good friends, so of course I have to help her,¡± Chuxia said. Upon hearing this, Old Lady Zhao clearly breathed a sigh of relief and her face brightened with joy, ¡°Meiying is a good-looking and well-built girl with a nice personality. Gangshun and his spouse are easy to get along with too. All things considered, this would be a good match...¡± She pondered for a moment, ¡°Tonight, I¡¯ll have your eldest uncle write a letter to inquire with Qiliang. If he is willing, in a few days, your eldest uncle can go to the Luo family to propose, and we can settle this early for peace of mind.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Chuxia agreed verbally but felt utterly uncomfortable inside. Were marriages in this era¡ªso hastened? Nevertheless, she was very happy to be able to help Luo Xiaoqiong. Chuxia had never met Zhao Qiliang in person, but from the photos, his thick eyebrows, big eyes, and sturdy build definitely made him a standout. Considering this, it wasn¡¯t impossible for a leader in the army to take a liking to him and either take him as a son-in-law or marry a female relative to him. Therefore, it was especially important to clearly express Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s feelings and understand Zhao Qiliang¡¯s intentions as early as possible to save Luo Xiaoqiong from constantly worrying. Following that, Chuxia discussed the recent situations of her eldest uncle, second uncle, eldest aunt, and second aunt with Old Lady Zhao. The old lady then got off the heated brick bed to start chopping filling and making dough. Chuxia, not proficient in these chores, stood there hesitating about whether to help or not. ¡°Chuxia, go to the store and buy two dime¡¯s worth of soy sauce,¡± Old Lady Zhao said as she handed her an empty soy sauce bottle, then gave her thirty cents, ¡°Use the rest to buy some candy.¡± Was she really being doted on like a child? Chuxia, with a black line on her forehead, stuffed a dime back into Old Lady Zhao¡¯s hand and dashed out the door with the soy sauce bottle. ¡°This child, she really has grown up...¡± Listening to Old Lady Zhao¡¯s mumbling, Chuxia couldn¡¯t quite determine her own feelings. As a child of the late ¡¯80s and early ¡¯90s, she genuinely was more sensible than if she had been replaced by the original herself... OMG, she dared not think any deeper. ¡°Young comrade, how do I get to Yuanbao¡¯s house?¡± On her way, Chuxia, lost in her melancholic memories, bowed her head and pushed forward. Suddenly, everything went dark before her eyes. Before she could react, her nose throbbed painfully, making her eyes involuntarily tear up. ¡°Young comrade, are you alright?¡± Chuxia quickly straightened up and looked up to see two men in military uniforms standing in front of her. The one she had bumped into was a serious-looking man in his twenties. The one who asked was a kindly-faced man in his thirties. ¡°Can¡¯t you watch where you¡¯re walking?¡± the man in his twenties said disdainfully as he glanced at a small wet patch on the ground. Feeling sentimental, Chuxia finally found an outlet for her emotions, ¡°Why don¡¯t you watch where you¡¯re walking? Did I intentionally bump into you? If you weren¡¯t blocking my way, would I have bumped into you? I didn¡¯t complain about you hurting me, but you come out condemning me first¡ªis this the awareness of a soldier? Do you deserve to wear that uniform? Do you deserve the title of PLA Soldier Uncle... ¡± Lin Chuxia¡¯s endless accusations finally caused a change in the young soldier¡¯s serious expression. He coughed uncomfortably and frowned at the middle-aged soldier. The middle-aged soldier¡¯s mouth twitched visibly, ¡°Young comrade, I¡¯m sorry, it was our fault. Don¡¯t be angry. Can you tell us where Yuanbao¡¯s house is?¡± ¡°He can¡¯t apologize to me himself?¡± Chuxia frowned at the young soldier, ¡°Hey, is that all you¡¯re capable of? It was clearly you who bumped into me. Why do you need someone else to apologize for you? If you could do it, why can¡¯t you admit it?¡± Chapter 21 - 21 21 Got it Wrong ?21: Chapter 21: Got it Wrong 21: Chapter 21: Got it Wrong ¡°Little comrade...¡± The middle-aged soldier took a step forward, blocking in front of Chuxia and the young soldier. Before he could speak, Chuxia rudely interjected, ¡°Are you his nanny?¡± In this era, being a soldier was supremely honorable. No matter where they went, they generally received looks of admiration, respect, and envy... But right now, this frail young girl, with her neck stretched and her little face flushed red, her eyes watery with grievance... was clearly genuinely angry. It was just a small bump; was it really necessary? The smile on the middle-aged soldier¡¯s face noticeably faded. ¡°Little comrade...¡± ¡°Could it be that he is mute?¡± Chuxia once again challenged the middle-aged soldier¡¯s patience. Well, normally she wasn¡¯t one to fuss over things, but who could blame her when they had just happened to catch her in a bad mood today? ¡°What do you want?¡± the young soldier finally spoke up. A flash of surprise passed through the middle-aged soldier¡¯s eyes, which Chuxia caught squarely. From this, she deduced that the young soldier¡¯s rank was higher than the middle-aged soldier¡¯s and also that the young soldier probably had a bad temper! A bad temper... Glancing at the other¡¯s tall, well-built figure, then at her own petite frame, Chuxia felt a bit nervous. But in a moment, the little head that had hung low defiantly lifted again. What was there to fear? The People¡¯s Army was here to serve the people; would they dare to hit her? The emboldened Chuxia stared unyieldingly at the young soldier. ¡°I don¡¯t want to repeat what I¡¯ve said; don¡¯t you know what I want?¡± The young soldier¡¯s narrow eyes slightly squinted, his expression unreadable as he stared at Chuxia, his chin nodding toward the ground: ¡°First understand clearly, then decide whether or not you want me to apologize.¡± Huh? How was there a sharp-edged stone at the spot where they collided? If she had stepped forward one more step... Clearly, he had stepped forward intentionally because it was inappropriate to reach out to help her, since she was a girl, making her bump into him instead... Thinking of her defiant demeanor just now, Chuxia¡¯s face immediately started burning up, and her ears and neck quickly turned a shade of rouge. Seeing the feisty little kitten suddenly transform into a caged little hamster, the young man¡¯s lips curled with a hint of a smile as he looked towards the middle-aged soldier gawking at him, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Chuxia called out urgently, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to Yuanbao¡¯s house? Wait for me, I¡¯ll bring you there after I get some soy sauce.¡± Was getting soy sauce that important? The middle-aged soldier silently turned his gaze towards the young soldier, having truly broadened his horizons today. He didn¡¯t know how to react, but, to his surprise, the colonel actually nodded slightly: ¡°Alright, hurry up!¡± The middle-aged soldier was instantly petrified, the young soldier merely glanced at him briefly: ¡°When in Rome, do as the Romans do.¡± ¡°When in Rome, do as the Romans do?¡± The middle-aged soldier continued to be petrified ¡ª don¡¯t blame him for being overly shocked; indeed, in this era, such eccentricities were absolutely unique! ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± After a moment, Chuxia returned with a small bottle of soy sauce, took the lead, and explained, ¡°His family and my grandmother are neighbors. His mom isn¡¯t very well, and his grandfather isn¡¯t doing too well either.¡± Was this a subtle reminder for them to be careful about whom to speak to later? The middle-aged soldier glanced at her, surprised, yet said nothing. However, it was apparent that he was in a bad mood, and the young soldier¡¯s lips were tightly pursed as the three of them walked silently to Chuxia¡¯s grandfather¡¯s house, ¡°That¡¯s Yuanbao¡¯s house.¡± Chuxia pointed at the gate next door, then without looking back entered her own house. ¡°She...¡± The middle-aged soldier stared at the spot where Chuxia had disappeared, disbelief on his face. ¡°She just... just...¡± ¡°What else do you want to do?¡± The young soldier¡¯s gaze returned, and he started walking toward Yuanbao¡¯s house, his intention for the visit clear, he sighed deeply and quickly followed. ¡°Xia, who did you encounter just now?¡± Old Master Zhao had heard Chuxia¡¯s voice in the yard just now; as soon as he saw her come in, he nodded towards the door and asked. Chuxia hesitated slightly and said, ¡°Grandpa, let¡¯s talk inside the house.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter, making it so mysterious?¡± Old Lady Zhao, who was chopping stuffing, said with a grin, ¡°Did something happen while you were buying soy sauce?¡± Even though she spoke lightly, Old Lady Zhao wiped her hands and followed Chuxia and Old Master Zhao into the house, ¡°Did you run into someone getting cozy? Don¡¯t worry, Chuxia, no matter whose kid it is, you¡¯ve got your eldest uncle. Nobody can bully us.¡± Chuxia¡¯s eldest uncle was the village secretary, so her words carried weight. ¡°It¡¯s not that.¡± Chuxia then told the elders about encountering the two soldiers on the road, and sure enough, the old couple¡¯s faces darkened after hearing it. ¡°Our Qiliang wouldn¡¯t also send good news without the bad, would he?¡± Old Master Zhao quickly interrupted Old Lady Zhao, ¡°Don¡¯t think nonsense.¡± Saying this, he stood up, ¡°I¡¯ll go cut some more meat, we should send more over to Yuanbao¡¯s house since those far-traveled military officers will need something warm to eat. Yuanbao¡¯s mother and grandparents can¡¯t handle all this themselves, alas...¡± ¡°Whoo, whoo, whoo...¡± ¡°...¡± A wail came through the courtyard wall; Old Master Zhao paused momentarily, sighed, and stepped out. Sitting beside the kang, Old Lady Zhao closed her eyes, letting tears roll down her cheeks. Chuxia knew that half of her grandmother¡¯s tears were for Zhao Yuanbao and the other half was due to concerns about Zhao Qiliang, but at this moment, she truly didn¡¯t know how to comfort her. After thinking a while, she sat in front of the chopping board and picked up the knife, chopping the filling ¡°thud, thud, thud...¡± ¡°Is Chuxia here?¡± ¡°Chuxia, are you planning to chop through my chopping board?¡± Eldest maternal aunt Li Aiyuan and cousin Zhao Qihui, coming back from work with a hoe, saw Chuxia, and both wore joyful expressions. ¡°Hello Auntie, hello Sister Hui.¡± Chuxia forced a smile and greeted them. ¡°Chuxia, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhao Qihui crouched down, looking at her reddened eyes, ¡°Did you have another fight with your sister-in-law?¡± The calmed Old Lady Zhao came out from the house, ¡°Everyone, come wash your hands and get ready to make dumplings.¡± ¡°Grandma always plays favorites, every time Chuxia comes, we get delicious food.¡± Zhao Qihui joked while pinching Chuxia playfully, ¡°Tell me, did you fake a conflict with your sister-in-law just because you were craving something tasty?¡± ¡°Hui!¡± Li Aiyuan glared at her daughter, looked at Chuxia¡¯s face, saw she wasn¡¯t about to storm off, then continued, ¡°Chuxia, whenever you want to eat something, just come over to Grandma¡¯s house, your aunt will cook for you.¡± ¡°Grandma, what¡¯s happened at Aunt Bao¡¯s?¡± Zhao Qihui listened intently then looked puzzled at Old Lady Zhao, ¡°Grandma, what happened at Uncle Xing¡¯s house? Why do I hear Aunt Bao and Grandma crying?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Old Lady Zhao sighed, ¡°We still don¡¯t know. When Chuxia went to buy soy sauce, she ran into two soldiers who went to his house.¡± Chapter 22 - 22 22 Qihui Wants to Join the Army ?22: Chapter 22 Qihui Wants to Join the Army 22: Chapter 22 Qihui Wants to Join the Army Relatives have come, and it feels so unbearable, sob..., asking everyone to cast a recommendation vote, add to their favorites, give a reward, don¡¯t need the PK votes, sob...... ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°What? Two soldiers went to Yuanbao¡¯s house? Chuxia, did you see it with your own eyes?¡± Along with Li Aiyuan¡¯s exclamation, Zhao Qiyun squatted down on the ground, with tears circling in her eyes without falling, her lips quivering, unable to say a word for a long time. ¡°Yeah.¡± The reaction of mother and daughter left Chuxia somewhat confused, so she weakly responded and continued chopping the filling with her head down, not daring to randomly ask, uncertain if the person in question was aware of the situation. ¡°You two don¡¯t panic, let Yushan come back and then have him go check out what exactly happened...¡± Old Lady Zhao said while sighing, ¡°Yuanbao is such a kind-hearted child, the heavens cannot be so cruel.¡± Zhao Qihui struggled to her feet: ¡°I¡¯m going to take a look.¡± ¡°Qihui, your dad will be back soon...¡± Old Lady Zhao stopped her granddaughter, ¡°Listen to your grandma and go wash your hands to make dumplings.¡± ¡°Yes, Qihui, listen to Grandma,¡± Li Aiyuan pulled at her daughter, her eyes filled with sorrow, ¡°Mother knows it¡¯s hard for you, just bear with it a little.¡± Zhao Qihui sighed: ¡°Mother, let me go, I will listen to you and grandma.¡± Li Aiyuan hesitated for a moment, then let go of her daughter; Zhao Qihui obediently went to wash her hands, then picked up the rolling pin and sat by the kang, waiting to roll out dumpling wrappers. Old Lady Zhao had already taken over the task of chopping filling from Chuxia. Unable to help otherwise, Chuxia thought of consoling Zhao Qihui with a few words, but then felt nothing she could say would be meaningful at this moment, and she simply sat silently beside her, with her head bowed in a daze. Soon after, Old Master Zhao came home carrying a small piece of meat and told the family that Zhao Yushan had already gone to Zhao Yuanbao¡¯s house. In reality, everyone understood that the likelihood of comrades-in-arms dropping by out of convenience was almost none; the best outcome would be that Zhao Yuanbao was severely injured. When more than half of the dumplings had been wrapped, Zhao Yushan came back. Seeing Chuxia, he nodded slightly, ¡°Dad, Yuanbao is okay, right?¡± Zhao Qihui hurriedly asked. ¡°Ah!¡± Zhao Yushan let out a heavy sigh, ¡°Qihui, you actually have already guessed, you¡¯re still young, and there is a long life ahead of you...¡± ¡°Woo woo woo....¡± Before Zhao Yushan could finish speaking, Zhao Qihui threw down the rolling pin and began to cry loudly on the kang, while Li Aiyuan glanced at her daughter with a pained expression and did not stop working on the dumplings¡ªin fact, she picked up the pace. ¡°Cry, it¡¯s better to let it out,¡± Old Lady Zhao patted her granddaughter soothingly, then looked at Zhao Yushan, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Saving a child who fell into an ice hole, he himself...¡± Zhao Yushan sighed, ¡°Yuanbao¡¯s mother is sick, his grandfather was so upset he passed out and has just come to, his father and grandma are also a bit confused, I need to go back and help with arrangements. Mom, when the dumplings are ready, let Qihui and her mother take them over.¡± Old Lady Zhao waved her hand, ¡°Go, have your dad go with you.¡± Once Zhao Yushan and Old Master Zhao left through the front door, Zhao Qihui sprang from the kang, ¡°I¡¯ll go too! I¡¯m also going to be a soldier!¡± ¡°Qihui...¡± Li Aiyuan grabbed at her daughter, ¡°Mother knows your affection for Yuanbao, knows you can¡¯t accept it all at once, but you¡¯re a girl, how can you become a soldier just by saying so?¡± ¡°Those soldiers must be leaders, I¡¯ll beg them to take me to the unit where Yuanbao was stationed,¡± Zhao Qihui wiped the tears off her face, ¡°Yuanbao¡¯s greatest hope was that I would don a military uniform too, and protect our homeland alongside him. Now, I want to go to the unit where he was stationed, to be with him.¡± ¡°Qihui, don¡¯t you want your mom anymore?¡± Li Aiyuan looked at her daughter through tearful eyes, ¡°Your brother has another year or more before he comes back; if you walk away like this too, how do you expect mom to cope?¡± ¡°When the child is gone, there¡¯s still me and your dad,¡± Old Lady Zhao patted Zhao Qihui, ¡°Qihui, go, if the leaders can really take you to be a soldier, then follow them, grandma supports you.¡± Then she looked at Chuxia, ¡°Chuxia, accompany your sister to go have a look.¡± As soon as they entered Zhao Yuanbao¡¯s house, the air of sorrowful atmosphere was so heavy that it made Chuxia hard to breathe; she reflexively grabbed Zhao Qihui¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Chuxia, if you don¡¯t like it here, you can go back,¡± Zhao Qihui looked at her, forcing out a smile uglier than crying, ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to them myself.¡± ¡°Sister, it¡¯s okay, I¡¯m with you,¡± Chuxia exhaled a heavy breath, ¡°Sister, if they are busy, we can come back after eating to find them.¡± ¡°I know, I won¡¯t make myself unwelcome, Chuxia, originally, I could have married Yuanbao during the New Year, you might not understand my feelings now, but one day when you fall for a man, you¡¯ll understand,¡± Zhao Qihui said aimlessly, which was actually her way of explaining why she insisted on joining the army at this time, even though she knew it wasn¡¯t the right moment, it was her last chance to be in the same place where Zhao Yuanbao had been, to feel his presence, and quietly be with him.... Chuxia couldn¡¯t understand such emotions and even felt such actions a bit foolish, but she knew she had no right to comment; all she could do was to be by Zhao Qihui¡¯s side, helping her fulfill her wish. Zhao Yuanbao¡¯s house was packed, and when the two sisters appeared, everyone looked over, ¡°Why have you come?¡± Zhao Yushan frowned upon seeing them, ¡°Is the meal ready?¡± ¡°No!¡± Zhao Qihui said and rushed straight toward the middle-aged military officer, ¡°Commander, I am Zhao Yuanbao¡¯s wife-to-be, I beg you to take me to the military to be a soldier, I want to stay there with Yuanbao!¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Zhao Yushan dragged his daughter away while looking at the middle-aged military officer, ¡°Commander, I apologize, my daughter is talking nonsense.¡± ¡°Dad, I¡¯m telling the truth; I want to be a soldier, to be with Yuanbao. You have no right to stop me. Commander, if you truly think Yuanbao was a good soldier, then please agree to my request ...¡± Zhao Qihui resisted being dragged out. Standing at the door, Chuxia felt distinctly uncomfortable¡ªas if under the gaze of the young soldiers, she seemed like a plump rabbit that had thrown itself right into the jaws of a wolf. Chapter 23 - 23 23 Do you want to be a soldier ?23: Chapter 23: Do you want to be a soldier? 23: Chapter 23: Do you want to be a soldier? With a bag of dumplings in her left hand and a bag of millet behind her right, and a bundle of dried sweet potatoes in her arms, Chuxia walked on the road home, her mind filled with the melody of ¡°A chicken in the left hand, a duck in the right hand, and a chubby baby in the arms...¡± Her grandparents were getting on in years, her eldest uncle and his wife had to go to the fields to work, her cousin Zhao Qihui was grieving, and her second uncle and his wife had never been fond of her... so Chuxia could only walk alone on the path home. Taking a few steps and stopping, she had never missed the mixed smells of sweat, foot odor, and everything else as much as she missed... the bus! In April, although the air still had a chill, it was another matter when carrying heavy loads. When she squatted by the roadside once more, nearly sticking out her tongue to cool off, she saw in the distance a vehicle-like object! Getting closer... closer... At that moment, she felt an urge to throw herself on the big metal thing and kiss it! >¨y< ¡°Screech!¡± An army green jeep stopped in front of her, kicking up a cloud of dust that made her cough repeatedly. Turning her head, she saw a middle-aged military man poking his head out from the car window¡ªCaptain Zhou Hanliang. ¡°Lin Chuxia, get in! We¡¯re heading to Dalin Village, we¡¯ll give you a lift home.¡± Chuxia quickly estimated the time it would take her to cover the half-mile distance, then decisively opened the rear car door, dumped everything in her arms onto the back seat, and after throwing it all in, climbed inside, sat down, closed the door, and looked at Zhou Hanliang: ¡°Thanks!¡± Meaning, you can drive now! During the process, her gaze definitely did ¡°not¡± sneak a peek at the passenger seat position at all. Zhou Hanliang stole a glance at the regimental commander sitting beside him, Colonel Zhou Mikang, who appeared calm as he started the car, his heart, however, was churning with undercurrents. He simply couldn¡¯t understand why Regimental Commander Zhou, who was usually not one to meddle in others¡¯ affairs and had a heart as hard as iron, would move to the front upon seeing this staggering little figure and ordered him to pick up the girl and take her along. What he understood even less was where this little girl got the audacity from. Clearly aware of their identity, she still acted so aloof, as if it was a matter of course for them to pick her up. ¡°Are you angry with me?¡± All of a sudden, the Great Regimental Commander Zhou spoke. ¡°Asking me?¡± Chuxia pointed to her own nose, shook her head quickly, ¡°No!¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s with the attitude?¡± What attitude? Chuxia looked somewhat puzzled at the back of his head: ¡°Commander Zhou, are you saying that I should be eternally grateful before getting in the car?¡± ¡°Conscription has its criteria, it doesn¡¯t count just because someone says so.¡± Was this an explanation? Chuxia was taken aback, anger quickly rising in her eyes: ¡°Of course, I know conscription has its criteria, but you shouldn¡¯t have said such words at that moment!¡± ¡°I was just telling the truth.¡± Zhou Mikang frowned. He puzzled over why he cared about this little girl¡¯s opinion and took the initiative to explain it to her. Perhaps it was to thank her for taking away that girl who cried her heart out at a crucial moment, sparing him the embarrassment? ¡°Telling the truth is fine, but couldn¡¯t you be a bit more tactful? If one could grow tall, who would choose to be short? If one could eat well, who would want to go hungry? You seem to be about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, right? To become a regimental commander at that age, there are only two possibilities: either you have strong backing, or you possess exceptional abilities, or maybe it¡¯s a combination of both. From your character and the way you conduct yourself, I would boldly guess that you are the kind that possesses both. Maybe you have been hungry during training, but you definitely weren¡¯t starving while growing! Why did my sister end up short? That¡¯s because she¡¯s considerate and felt sorry for my brother, giving all the good food to him, and as a result, she didn¡¯t develop well because of hunger. And why does she want to join the army? It¡¯s because the one thing Brother Yuanbao most wanted to see was her in military uniform; she wants to join him. You... you are too insensitive!¡± With a long sigh, Chuxia finally let out the words that had been pent up inside her chest, feeling much more relieved! ¡°Are you done?¡± ¡°Pretty much!¡± ¡°Have you ever starved as you grew up?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°How tall are you?¡± ¡°One hundred sixty-four centimeters!¡± ¡°Zhou Hanliang!¡± The petrified Zhou Hanliang, aka Tongzi, quickly focused, steering the car back on track. He had narrowly missed driving the car into a ditch! Don¡¯t blame him for the lack of danger awareness, seriously, the shock his boss, Tongzi, had given him was just too far beyond his understanding. Since when had his boss, Tongzi, learned to explain things? In his mind, his boss, Tongzi, was always the type to act first with his big feet and sparingly spare a word. Today, how many words had Tongzi said? He really regretted not bringing a recorder along! Otherwise, he would have had someone to wash a month¡¯s worth of stinky socks for him! Absolutely! ¡°Lin Chuxia, you know what rank the commander holds, right?¡± Zhou Hanliang finally couldn¡¯t help asking the question that was on his mind. Chuxia glanced at him indifferently, ¡°I know, about the same as the head of our county.¡± Zhou Hanliang: ¡°...¡± Okay, then, he didn¡¯t know what to say. Should he ask her if she knew how significant the head of the county was? Surely the kid would know if she wasn¡¯t stupid. Zhou Mikang turned his head back with a deadpan look and stared at her, ¡°Knowing full well my rank, you still talk to me like this, aren¡¯t you afraid?¡± ¡°What have I got to be afraid of?¡± Chuxia returned his gaze with a look of disbelief, ¡°I don¡¯t live off what you earn, nor do I work under you. What have I to fear?¡± Zhou Mikang sized her up, ¡°Ever thought about joining the army?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Chuxia chuckled, pointing at herself, ¡°Join the army?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Zhou Mikang nodded affirmatively. ¡°Don¡¯t you find that amusing? With my physique...¡± Chuxia shrugged, ¡°My sister didn¡¯t even qualify, and you come asking me if I want to join the army. How come I find that so hilarious?¡± ¡°You¡¯re tall enough, and with your personality, you¡¯d fit the military profession quite well,¡± Zhou Mikang said before turning back, ¡°I¡¯m just making a suggestion. If you want to join the military, you need to start training now.¡± Chuxia rolled her eyes, ¡°Will you pull strings for me when the time comes?¡± ¡°Dream on!¡± Zhou Mikang, turning back again, nodded toward the bag Chuxia used for making dumplings, ¡°We¡¯ve given you a ride all this way, shouldn¡¯t you show some gratitude?¡± ¡°Screech!¡± Zhou Hanliang couldn¡¯t hold it any longer. He stalled the car with a jolt, feeling the chill of Tongzi¡¯s gaze, his back quickly drenched with sweat. Trembling, he tried to reignite the engine while explaining, ¡°We¡¯re... nearly at the village, I... I¡¯m a bit excited.¡± Zhou Mikang expressionlessly asked, ¡°Is your mother-in-law in this village?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Chuxia quickly covered her mouth, ¡°Sorry, you two carry on.¡± Chapter 24 - 24 24 What Are You Trying to Do, Commander ?24: Chapter 24 What Are You Trying to Do, Commander? 24: Chapter 24 What Are You Trying to Do, Commander? Please vote for recommendations, and add to your favorites~ ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª- He didn¡¯t even have a mother-in-law yet! It¡¯s not like Commander Tongzi was unaware... Zhou Hanliang started the car with a look of wistful grievance, creeping forward at a speed barely faster than a bicycle. If he still couldn¡¯t figure out the situation, he guessed that next time he went out, he wouldn¡¯t know who Commander Tongzi¡¯s entourage would be. ¡°Is the car out of gas?¡± ¡°No, no, it¡¯s just that we¡¯re getting close to the village, and I thought it¡¯s better to be safe than sorry,¡± Zhou Hanliang¡¯s eyebrows twitched. Had he misunderstood Commander Tongzi¡¯s intention? ¡°Mhm, drive slower, don¡¯t scare the kids in the village.¡± Zhou Hanliang sighed with relief and continued at a snail¡¯s pace... Zhou Mikang turned to Chuxia again, nodding his chin at the bag of dumplings on the seat: ¡°Don¡¯t be so petty, hand them over.¡± ¡°You guys said it yourselves, we can¡¯t take a single cent or meal from the common folk,¡± Chuxia defended the bag like a hawk protecting her chicks. ¡°This is what my grandma saved for my parents, and it¡¯s been several months since my parents...¡± Before she could finish, a dark shadow flashed quickly before her eyes... ¡°You!¡± ¡°Screech!¡± Zhou Mikang, ignoring Chuxia¡¯s stunned expression and Zhou Hanliang¡¯s another stomp on the brakes, shamelessly opened the bag, grabbed a dumpling, and threw it into his mouth. He chewed with relish, ¡°Not bad, not bad, it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve had such authentic dumplings.¡± As if his dumplings ever tasted inauthentic! Chuxia rolled her eyes with contempt but didn¡¯t make a sound. Zhou Hanliang was at a loss, his hand frozen in place. With the village in sight, what was Commander up to? Should he keep the engine running and proceed, or should he turn it off? ¡°Try one, it¡¯s good.¡± A dumpling was suddenly stuffed into his mouth, and Zhou Hanliang, out of reflex, chewed and swallowed. It was delicious! Unable to resist, he reached out to grab another¡ªtheir noon meal had only been a few pieces of compressed biscuits, and with such deliciousness in front of him, there was no way he could hold back. Yeah, right! ¡°Smack!¡± Zhou Mikang slapped away the approaching hand, secured the bag of dumplings, then pulled out some food coupons from his pocket and handed them to Chuxia: ¡°Consider the dumplings bought with food coupons, so it doesn¡¯t violate the discipline.¡± After counting them, a total of twenty-two pounds, Chuxia tucked them unceremoniously into her pocket and squinted at Zhou Mikang with a smile: ¡°We¡¯re even now!¡± Zhou Hanliang: ¡°...¡± Miss, are your dumplings wrapped with gold? Zhou Mikang simply nodded, unsurprised: ¡°Yes, we¡¯re even now, but you should seriously consider my suggestion. If you want to be a soldier, start training your body from now. With your height and a little more physical strengthening, there shouldn¡¯t be too much trouble getting selected.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Chuxia sized him up, ¡°Can I ask why you¡¯re so eager to have me enlist? Oh right, did I forget to tell you my age? I just turned 17 this year.¡± ¡°The criteria for recruiting female soldiers are: 16¨C18 years of age, a height of 160 centimeters or more, facial features to be symmetrical without obvious defects, and a clear family background... At 17, you¡¯re exactly within the range, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°How old are you?¡± Chuxia bluntly asked. ¡°26.¡± ¡°Oh, nine years older than me.¡± Chuxia eyed him meaningfully, ¡°You get what I¡¯m saying, right?¡± ¡°Thinking I fancy you?¡± Zhou Mikang laughed as he looked her over, ¡°With those skinny bean sprout limbs of yours, where¡¯s that confidence coming from?¡± Chuxia raised an eyebrow, ¡°It¡¯s best if you don¡¯t fancy me. You¡¯re so keen on making me join the army, and you even gave me all these food coupons. If I didn¡¯t read more into it, I¡¯d be the one with a problem.¡± ¡°Cough! Cough! Cough!...¡± Zhou Hanliang almost coughed up a lung, and Chuxia looked at him with sympathy, ¡°Actually, you¡¯re thinking the same as me, but you just don¡¯t have the guts to ask outright, right?¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough...¡± Zhou Hanliang continued to cough, waving his hand around, not even sure what he was trying to express. Having been by the group leader¡¯s side for five years, today¡¯s revelations about the group leader completely overthrew everything he thought he knew! ¡°You¡¯re overthinking this!¡± Zhou Mikang¡¯s smile faded, ¡°I helped you just because your personality is so much like my little sister¡¯s, but she...¡± A chilling aura emitted, and Chuxia unconsciously shivered. Alright, she shouldn¡¯t have stirred up his sad memories, but it wasn¡¯t all her fault, his actions were too easily misinterpreted. Wanting to offer some words of comfort but feeling anything she said would be inadequate, she simply pursed her lips and remained silent. This put Zhou Hanliang in a difficult position. He had heard that the group leader had a sister four years younger than him, who at sixteen was kidnapped by some foreign organization. The group leader¡¯s father had chosen to abandon her for the sake of national interests... The group leader never talked about his private family matters, so he¡¯d always thought it was just a rumor. Now it seemed it was not just a rumor, but what should he do? Zhou Mikang also had complicated feelings at this moment. At first, when he bumped into Chuxia, he only acted out of a soldier¡¯s instinct, not wanting to see her fall in front of him. Latter on, when Chuxia showed disdain for him, it actually intrigued him how interesting the young girl was. And then, when the young girl stubbornly dragged her crying cousin away, he felt a trace of gratitude toward her. Yes, gratitude. At that time, everyone chose silence, their actions essentially forcing him to take the girl away, but he, really, couldn¡¯t do that. Seeing her from a distance on the road, he purposely stopped the car and switched to the passenger seat..., it was only just now that he suddenly understood the real reason he acted that way was because her personality was so much like his little sister! How could a young girl from such a poor and remote rural area have the same carefree nature as his precious little sister? This puzzled him. Remembering the girl¡¯s earlier questioning made him chuckle. There was no denying she was pretty, but he¡¯d seen plenty of beautiful girls before¡ªwhy would he be attracted to a bean sprout like her? Zhou Mikang unconsciously glanced at Chuxia, who happened to be carefully sneaking peeks at him. That feeling reminded him of a mouse stealthily sneaking out of its hole, and he couldn¡¯t help but scold, ¡°What¡¯s with the sneaky behavior?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your sister, can you speak more nicely?¡± Chuxia glanced out of the window, ¡°Stop the car, I don¡¯t need you guys to drive me.¡± Zhou Mikang VS Zhou Hanliang: ¡°...¡± Girl, we have brought you to the village, and now you say you don¡¯t need us to drive you, why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? After some thought, Zhou Mikang still handed Chuxia a note with his address, ¡°If you encounter any problems you can¡¯t resolve, write to me.¡± He spoke with such certainty! Who does he think he is? Chuxia rolled her eyes as she took the note, her left hand holding a pack of dumplings, her right hand a bundle of millet, and in her arms, a bag of dried sweet potatoes... Zhou Mikang¡¯s lips twitched, and he turned to Zhou Hanliang, ¡°To Elder Chen¡¯s house.¡± Chapter 25 - 25 25 Greed Can Kill the Chicken ?25: Chapter 25: Greed Can Kill the Chicken 25: Chapter 25: Greed Can Kill the Chicken ¡°I¡¯ll tell you, the chicken didn¡¯t die for nothing. Who wants to try some? Please vote and favorite~¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª- ¡°Just look at you, all over the place. I knew it, I should have gone to pick you up...¡± As soon as Chuxia¡¯s foot stepped into the courtyard, Liu Meiqing warmly went over to ¡®help¡¯ her by taking the things in her hands. Chuxia¡¯s wrist was already so tired it lacked strength, and it involuntarily loosened when Meiqing pulled on it. Smelling the scent of the dumplings, Liu Meiqing swallowed her saliva and pinched the bag, ¡°What¡¯s in here? It smells so good.¡± Chuxia quickly snatched it back, ¡°I¡¯ll hold it myself.¡± A trace of resentment flashed in Liu Meiqing¡¯s eyes, but her face was full of smiles, ¡°Look how scared you got; I was just helping you carry it in.¡± During her speech, she swallowed her saliva several times with a ¡°gu dong gu dong¡± sound. Since she had already thrown away all shame, Chuxia couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with her and headed straight into her house, ¡°clang¡± locking the door behind her with her back. Liu Meiqing, who was following closely behind, hadn¡¯t expected this move and banged her head against the door, hurting her nose as well. She jumped up in pain, about to curse, but then suddenly realized Chuxia¡¯s status was no longer the same and could only point silently at Chuxia¡¯s house door, venting her frustration. After silently cursing a few times, she found it boring and went back to the east room rubbing her forehead. Seeing Shuanshuan sound asleep, she grinned, thinking up a plan. ¡°Waaaaah... Waaaaah...¡± Just as Chuxia had picked out half of the dumplings planning to find Luo Xiaoqiong, a earth-shattering cry came from the east room. She couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. Is this what being a mother is? She thought it over, decided to lock everything neatly in the cabinet, ignored the crying from the east room, and headed to the Luo family with her little bag. ... Luo Xiaoqiong was chopping chicken in the yard. Seeing Chuxia come in, she happily threw her cleaver aside, ¡°Why are you back so early? What delicious thing did you bring me?¡± ¡°Giggle...¡± ¡°Will Fat Auntie kill you?¡± Chuxia pointed at the hen lying motionless on the ground, ¡°You¡¯re too amazing, throwing a cleaver to kill a hen. If I hadn¡¯t seen it with my own eyes, I would definitely think you did it because you were craving chicken meat, on purpose.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong was so excited just now that she hadn¡¯t heard the hen¡¯s cry. Following the direction Chuxia pointed, her forehead broke out in sweat. This was the hen that laid the most eggs in her house; her mother really would kill her! ¡°What should I do? What should I do?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong was frantic, ¡°Maybe...maybe I should bury it?¡± Chuxia reminded her painfully, ¡°Fat Auntie counts these chickens every day.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just tell my mom that it went out in the afternoon and didn¡¯t come back,¡± Luo Xiaoqiong said, really about to grab a hoe from the wall to dig a pit. ¡°Stop!¡± Luo Hongqi hobbled out from the house, glaring at his sister, ¡°You killed a perfectly good hen, and instead of thinking about nourishing our parents, you¡¯re thinking about burying it? Do you believe that if you bury it, she¡¯ll dig it out immediately and take it home to satisfy her cravings?¡± ¡°Chuxia isn¡¯t like that!¡± Luo Xiaoqiong glared back angrily, ¡°Brother, Chuxia is going to be my sister-in-law. Can you stop bullying her?¡± ¡°Anyway, whenever you and she are together, nothing good happens!¡± Luo Hongqi stepped forward, picked up the old hen, examined its eyes briefly, sighed, and started bleeding it from a cut in the neck with a large knife. Chuxia, exasperatingly indifferent, smiled at Luo Hongqi, ¡°Luo Hongqi, you take care of preparing the chicken. Remember to pluck it cleanly and oh, when you gut it, make sure you don¡¯t puncture the intestines....¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Luo Hongqi roared furiously, swinging the chicken and holding back at the last moment from throwing it. Inside the house, Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s eyes were still red, ¡°Chuxia, when my mom beats me, can you hold her off a little? She has a soft spot for you, she might listen to you. You must help me.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Chuxia handed her the bag she was carrying, ¡°These are dumplings my grandma made, I kept half for my parents, these are for you to try.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong sniffed them and remarked, ¡°They smell amazing!¡± and then set the dumplings aside, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Chuxia with a curious yet hesitant expression. Chuxia didn¡¯t keep her in suspense, ¡°I¡¯ve spoken to them about what¡¯s on your mind. My grandparents quite like you, and after discussing with my uncle and aunt, they said they¡¯ll write to my older brother tomorrow. If my brother doesn¡¯t object, we¡¯ll send a matchmaker to your house to speak with Uncle Gangshun and Fat Auntie.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong jumped off the kang happily and hugged Chuxia tightly, then rubbed her hands back and forth, ¡°Did you ask if any girls have been writing to him?¡± ¡°I asked. My grandma said my brother didn¡¯t mention it in his letters.¡± Chuxia pulled Luo Xiaoqiong to sit down, ¡°Xiaoqiong, I¡¯ve done all I can. Now we just wait for my brother¡¯s reply. You understand, my grandparents¡¯ and my uncle and aunt¡¯s approval gives only a fifty-fifty chance. It ultimately depends on my brother. If, and I say if, he already has someone in mind, don¡¯t blame us and don¡¯t torture yourself, okay?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Luo Xiaoqiong nodded vigorously, ¡°I understand what you mean. Brother Qiliang is so outstanding; maybe the leaders have already noticed him. If, and I mean if, he really has someone else, I won¡¯t blame him, nor will I blame you. It¡¯s just fate that wasn¡¯t meant to be. Regardless of the outcome, I won¡¯t regret it, because at least I spoke up and fought for myself. And no matter what happens, I¡¯ll be grateful to you for the rest of my life.¡± ¡°No, no, no...¡± Chuxia waved her hands dismissively, ¡°As long as you understand, it¡¯s a relief for me. Don¡¯t be grateful to me for a lifetime over such a trivial matter; that gratitude wouldn¡¯t be worth much.¡± ¡°Chuxia, my brother...¡± after a slight hesitation, Luo Xiaoqiong leaned in and whispered in Chuxia¡¯s ear, ¡°As for the thing between you and my brother, also see how it goes; if my brother keeps acting like a simpleton, don¡¯t marry him.¡± Chuxia glanced at her unexpectedly and kept silent. ¡°Chuxia, I¡¯m not saying this just because you helped me, but actually, I¡¯ve been thinking about this for a while. My brother isn¡¯t a bad person at heart, but ever since we were young, he hasn¡¯t gotten along with you. Take today¡¯s incident for example, it had nothing to do with you, yet he still blamed you completely. Such a deep prejudice cannot foster a happy marriage with a man who needs to love his wife,¡± Luo Xiaoqiong stared sincerely at Chuxia. ¡°Chuxia, I¡¯m really sincere, believe me, okay?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Chuxia patted her reassuringly, ¡°I¡¯m going back home to cut hemp cake. If Fat Auntie beats you, run to my house.¡± ¡°Okay...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong initially wanted to invite Chuxia¡¯s family over for a meal, but remembering that the chicken was her mother¡¯s favorite, and not being sure the meal would still happen, she refrained from making such a bold declaration. Chapter 26 - 26 26 Whats on Your Mind ?26: Chapter 26 What¡¯s on Your Mind? 26: Chapter 26 What¡¯s on Your Mind? Nuan had caught a cold and was running a fever, but she still managed to code this out. Asking for recommendation tickets and favorites, thanks for the rewards everyone~ ------------------ ¡°Chuxia, did you go to your grandma¡¯s place today?¡± As soon as Chuxia entered the courtyard, holding Shuanshuan, Madam Lin Liu, who was sitting at the doorway of the main room, cheerfully greeted her while Old Master Lin, sitting beside her with his dry pipe, nodded to Chuxia with a clatter. ¡°Yes, Grandpa, Grandma, you¡¯re here.¡± After all, they were her cheap father¡¯s real parents. Chuxia responded, and politely greeted the two. ¡°Chuxia, sit down and let¡¯s talk.¡± Madam Lin Liu gestured to a mat beside her to stop Chuxia, who was about to enter the house. Chuxia stood in place. These two elders rarely visited¡ªmatters usually involved sending Chuchun or Chuqiu over to call someone to their place. Facing such an assembly today, Chuxia instinctively felt it was not going to be good news, and she didn¡¯t want to argue with them. ¡°Sit.¡± This time, it was Old Master Lin who spoke. Reluctantly, Chuxia sat down next to Madam Lin Liu. Shuanshuan¡¯s saliva-covered fingers poked at her, and Chuxia slightly dodged while taking out a handkerchief to wipe his hands. ¡°Chuxia is sensible now.¡± Madam Lin Liu chuckled and reached out to pat Chuxia¡¯s head, ¡°Unnoticed by us, Chuxia has also grown up into a young lady.¡± Having her head touched by Old Lady Lin, who usually didn¡¯t even glance her way, made Chuxia feel as uncomfortable as if she had swallowed a fly, ¡°Grandpa, Grandma, I haven¡¯t cut the hemp cake yet.¡± Liu Meiqing quickly came out of the east room, ¡°Chuxia, I¡¯ve cut it for you.¡± If it had been before, Liu Meiqing, who didn¡¯t get to share any goods brought from the grandma¡¯s house, would certainly not have given her a peaceful day. But now, not only did she avoid causing trouble, but she even helped with chores? Power really was a wonderful thing..., lifting her head, Chuxia smiled radiantly, ¡°Thank you, sister-in-law.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all family, no need for such formalities.¡± Liu Meiqing moved a mat boldly next to Chuxia, ¡°Chuxia, when you came back, sister-in-law just wanted to help carry your stuff inside. You really misunderstood sister-in-law.¡± Old Lady Lin shot a glare at her daughter-in-law and rebuked, ¡°If you weren¡¯t always trying to snatch Chuxia¡¯s things, she wouldn¡¯t have misunderstood you.¡± As Old Lady Lin finished speaking, Old Master Lin quickly chimed in, ¡°Your second uncle and second auntie have it tough, try to help them out when you can, and stop scavenging from them.¡± Liu Meiqing hurriedly nodded, ¡°Grandpa, Grandma, I know, I was just immature before, I definitely won¡¯t do that anymore.¡± What a splendid trio act! Chuxia watched the three perform without a hint of expression and stayed silent. ¡°Chuxia, has your marriage with Hongqi been settled?¡± Old Lady Lin asked eagerly. Chuxia¡¯s expression was neutral, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± The following time was filled with Old Lady Lin¡¯s complaints, with Old Master Lin occasionally chiming in. After a long talk, the crux was one thing¡ªthey had raised their sons and daughters with difficulty, and their affection for each was the same. Chuxia listened with an expressionless face and didn¡¯t respond; she couldn¡¯t even understand what was wrong with this old couple. They could have said all this in front of her parents, so why did they specifically come over and nag her? ¡°Dad, Mom, are you off work?¡± Seeing Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe returning from work, Chuxia felt relieved, quickly stood up, and went to meet them. ¡°I¡¯ve been busy all day, let¡¯s get dinner started,¡± Old Master Lin stood up and walked outside, followed by Madam Lin Liu, who chuckled and exchanged a few words with Chuxia¡¯s parents before following him out. ¡°What are Grandpa and Grandma trying to imply now?...¡± Once inside, Chuxia quietly updated Yulan and Baohe about the elderly couple¡¯s actions that afternoon. Baohe and Yulan were also baffled by the old couple¡¯s behavior. If it was about Chuxia marrying Hongqi, they certainly didn¡¯t need to pull Chuxia aside for a private talk. ¡°Whatever it is, we¡¯ll find out sooner or later. How are your Grandma and Grandpa doing?¡± Unable to think of a reason, Yulan decided not to dwell on it. ¡°They are doing well, so are Eldest maternal aunt and uncle. Grandma and Eldest maternal aunt packed a lot of stuff for me to bring back, including the dumplings Grandma made at noon...¡± Chuxia said as she opened the cupboard and took out her spoils, placing them on the bed, ¡°I gave half of the dumplings to Fat Auntie¡¯s family. Dad, Mom, you guys should try them, they¡¯re delicious.¡± ¡°It was right to send some over to Fat Auntie¡¯s house. Chuxia did right. Your Eldest maternal aunt is truly kind. Your grandma loves you too much to allow you to bring all these things back...¡± Yulan sighed and then asked, ¡°Who brought you back?¡± Before Chuxia could respond, the door was suddenly pushed open with a bang, and Xiaoqiong barged in, panting like a bellows. Chuxia quickly helped her smooth her back, ¡°Did Fat Auntie try to hit you?¡± Yulan got up with a smile, ¡°Auntie is cooking, let¡¯s eat at her place tonight, and go back later when your mother has cooled down.¡± Yulan had grown accustomed to Xiaoqiong¡¯s frequent troublemaking and didn¡¯t even ask the reason but concluded the matter promptly. ¡°Auntie, stop cooking!¡± Xiaoqiong held onto Yulan, catching her breath before saying, ¡°I came to invite you and Chuxia to our house for dinner...¡± Yulan quickly interrupted Xiaoqiong, ¡°No need, we can¡¯t just run over to your house for meals every day.¡± ¡°No, we have guests at home, and, I accidentally killed a chicken, and my mom even praised me,¡± Xiaoqiong said, beaming with pride, ¡°My mom said I¡¯ve never been so foresighted before, hehe...¡± Astonished, Chuxia asked, ¡°You almost ran yourself to death because you killed a chicken, didn¡¯t get beaten, and got praised, and you¡¯re excited about that?¡± Yulan was so annoyed she slapped her daughter¡¯s hand, ¡°Only Xiaoqiong won¡¯t mind what you say, but if you speak such unlucky words again, I really will hit you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, Aunt, I¡¯m not even used to her talking nicely to me,¡± Xiaoqiong said as she dragged Baohe, ¡°Uncle, my dad and mom said if you and Auntie don¡¯t come, it means you still hold a grudge against them.¡± At this point, it really was impossible not to go, Baohe asked, ¡°Who came?¡± ¡°Grandpa Feng Gang and two soldiers.¡± Two soldiers... Chuxia pinched the food coupons in her pocket, feeling a headache coming on. If Tongzi let slip anything, her dad and mom would definitely make her return the food coupons. No, she had to figure out a way to warn him, and also, that chicken shouldn¡¯t have died for nothing... ¡°What are you thinking about? Let¡¯s go!¡± Chuxia, jolted by Xiaoqiong¡¯s tug, regained her senses. Yulan handed her the remaining half-bag of dumplings, ¡°You and Xiaoqiong head over first, your dad and I will wash up and follow.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Chuxia couldn¡¯t wait for her parents to leave later and immediately started walking out, inadvertently causing Xiaoqiong to stumble. Xiaoqiong looked at her puzzled, ¡°You¡¯re acting weird, all startled and distracted.¡± Chuxia pulled her along, quickening their pace, and then spoke in a hushed voice, ¡°I know those two soldiers, they gave me a ride back, and I even traded some dumplings for their food coupons. If my parents find out, won¡¯t they kill me?¡± Xiaoqiong suddenly perked up, ¡°Tell me, what do you want me to do?¡± Chapter 27 - 27 27 We Meet Again ?27: Chapter 27 We Meet Again 27: Chapter 27 We Meet Again From a distance, Lin Chuxia spotted Luo Hongqi standing at the gate like a telegraph pole, motionless. Luo Xiaoqiong couldn¡¯t help but tug at Chuxia¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Why do I feel like ever since the arrangement between you and my brother was made, my brother has become more and more neurotic?¡± Chuxia pursed her lips, ¡°Do I really have that healing effect?¡± ¡°I think, the matter between you two needs more careful consideration,¡± Luo Xiaoqiong said, shoulders slumped, shaking her head repeatedly, ¡°Anyway, I won¡¯t just stand by and watch you two head down a road of no return.¡± Chuxia with a look of annoyance, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about that later; the most important thing right now is for you to help me with this task first, then I¡¯ll treat you to something tasty.¡± ¡°Split it with me half and half!¡± ¡°Half it is, then!¡± ¡°I¡¯m risking getting beaten up to help you...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong straightened her back proudly, ¡°To save you from a beating, I took the hit myself. How about that? Am I a good sister or what?¡± ¡°Enough, definitely enough, but Grandma Chen adores you so much, she definitely won¡¯t sell you out...¡± As the two of them whispered their way to the gate, Chuxia gave Luo Hongqi a sidelong glance, ¡°It was just the buttocks that got whipped, but why do I feel like the brain¡¯s got problems too...¡± ¡°Lin Chuxia!¡± Luo Hongqi barked at Chuxia, his eyes locked on her like a fighting cock. Luo Xiaoqiong quickly stepped in front of Chuxia, ¡°Bro, what are you doing standing here stiff as a rod?¡± Luo Hongqi coughed unnaturally, ¡°Why didn¡¯t Uncle Gangshun and Auntie come over?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong suddenly realized, ¡°Dad asked you to invite Uncle Gangshun and Auntie, didn¡¯t he? Then you should hurry over.¡± After saying this, she pulled Chuxia and they dashed into the yard, leaving poor Luo Hongqi, sore in the rear, lurching towards Chuxia¡¯s house like a zombie. Naturally, his resentment towards Chuxia deepened. Fat Auntie was busy cooking at the stove. Chuxia handed over the dumplings and rubbed her hands together, ¡°Auntie, do you need any help?¡± ¡°You and Meiying just wait in the house to eat...¡± Fat Auntie opened the bag to look, then handed it back to Chuxia, ¡°Didn¡¯t you already bring some? Keep these for yourself to eat tomorrow.¡± Chuxia pushed it back emphatically, ¡°Our house doesn¡¯t have any good food to add to the feast, so if you make me take these dumplings home, my mom and dad will definitely just drink water and go hungry tonight.¡± ¡°Your mom and dad sure do talk too much...¡± Fat Auntie shook her head helplessly, placing the bag on the stove, ¡°Alright, go wait in the house.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong responded, pulling Chuxia towards the main house quickly. Before Fat Auntie could react and stop them, the two had already entered the room. ¡°Meiying, take Chuxia to your room to play!¡± ¡°Lin Chuxia, we meet again.¡± Luo Gangshun and Zhou Hanliang spoke almost simultaneously, then stopped at the same time. Luo Gangshun paused, looking at Zhou Hanliang, ¡°You know Chuxia?¡± ¡°Yes, when we went to Xiao Lin Village, we were lucky to run into Lin Chuxia. She helped us find our way...¡± Chuxia shifted her gaze to Zhou Mikang, who was sitting on the inner side of Zhou Hanliang, and saw the other person¡¯s face was cold; she didn¡¯t even glance in her direction. Meowing, who are you trying to fool? Chuxia sneered inwardly but kept a smile on her face as she greeted them in a friendly manner, ¡°Great Grandpa, good day! Uncle Gangshun, good day! Hello to both Uncle Zhou¡¯s!¡± Both Uncle Zhou¡¯s? Clearly, Zhou Mikang¡¯s mouth twitched! Chen Fenggang, who sat on the kang bed, smiled at Chuxia, ¡°Chuxia has also grown into a young lady; before we know it, we¡¯ll be drinking to Chuxia¡¯s wedding, hehe...¡± Luo Gangshun looked regretful as he said, ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m afraid the wedding drinks will have to wait a few years, as this girl Chuxia has said herself she won¡¯t marry before she is 22.¡± ¡°Great Grandpa, when Chuxia and I came over, we ran into Grandma Chen. She said there was something at home that needed your attention,¡± Luo Xiaoqiong said, glancing at Luo Gangshun, ¡°Dad, why don¡¯t you go back with Great Grandpa to check on it? We¡¯ve got Chuxia and me here.¡± Old Master Chen was deeply affectionate with his spouse, so hearing that something was up at home, he hurriedly clambered off the kang bed. Luo Gangshun hesitated, unsure what to do. He was worried about letting the elder go back alone, yet he felt it somewhat impolite to leave Zhou Mikang and Zhou Hanliang behind by themselves. ¡°Secretary Luo, why don¡¯t you accompany Elder Chen back to see what¡¯s going on? Don¡¯t worry about us,¡± Zhou Hanliang said, pointing to Chuxia, ¡°Besides, we have an acquaintance here. With her company, we can chat just the same.¡± With that, Luo Gangshun no longer hesitated. He apologized to the two men and followed Chen Fenggang out the door. Luo Xiaoqiong quietly closed the door behind them and brazenly took a seat on the edge of the kang bed. However, her slightly stiff facial expression clearly indicated¡ªshe was nervous. ¡°Why would you come to Xiaoqiong¡¯s house for a meal? I heard the People¡¯s Liberation Army doesn¡¯t take even a needle or a thread from the common folk, let alone eat at their homes?¡± Chuxia took the initiative and asked in a suppressed voice. ¡°The regiment commander¡¯s father and Elder Chen are friends. The commander came specifically to visit Elder Chen, and as for having a meal at Secretary Luo¡¯s...¡± Zhou Hanliang glanced briefly at the unexpressive Zhou Mikang and continued, ¡°It was Elder Chen¡¯s idea too. He hoped we could meet the Secretary¡¯s son beforehand.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong asked puzzledly, ¡°Meet my brother? For what?¡± ¡°In three months, we will be coming here to recruit soldiers,¡± Zhou Hanliang explained good-naturedly. Luo Xiaoqiong deliberately raised her voice, ¡°Really? My brother is going to be a soldier? I admire soldiers the most. Could you tell me about the army? Aside from secrets, just share what you can...¡± Seizing the opportunity, Chuxia leaned towards Zhou Mikang, ¡°Hey, I have something to tell you. Later, my dad and mom will also be here for the meal. They are very honest and sincere people and admire the military a lot. If they find out I took your food coupon, they will surely scold me. You¡¯re quite mature; you won¡¯t be so ungracious, right?¡± Zhou Mikang¡¯s expressionless face visibly stiffened, ¡°I¡¯m not that old yet, and besides, there¡¯s no need for the little things I give away to be broadcasted to the whole world.¡± Was this his way of agreeing with her? Chuxia quietly breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°There¡¯s another thing I want to tell you. The old hen prepared for you today was Fat Auntie¡¯s best egg-laying chicken, capable of laying an egg a day...¡± Zhou Mikang cut her off, ¡°How many food coupons should I deduct?¡± He nodded his chin towards Luo Xiaoqiong, ¡°For you or for her?¡± ¡°The chicken¡¯s food coupon should obviously go to her, but for the dumplings from my grandma¡¯s...¡± Zhou Mikang interrupted her again, ¡°Understood, just tell me the numbers separately.¡± Chuxia, who had thought it would take some convincing, unbelievingly looked up at Zhou Mikang, ¡°You¡¯ll give me however much I ask for?¡± Zhou Mikang glanced at her indifferently, ¡°I will consider it if the amount is reasonable, but on one condition¡ªI¡¯ll ask you some questions, and you must answer truthfully!¡± Chuxia¡¯s eyes rolled around for a moment, ¡°Are you wanting to ask about me and Hongqi?¡± Chapter 28 - 28 28 Bluffing ?28: Chapter 28 Bluffing 28: Chapter 28 Bluffing Under her delicate black crescent brows, those large watery phoenix eyes twinkled with slyness, and her rosy lips were slightly pouting... Chuxia, exuding an indescribable charm and playfulness, caught Zhou Mikang off guard as he averted his gaze somewhat awkwardly, ¡°Lin Chuxia, have you always been so self-admiring?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you asking about my situation with Luo Hongqi? I thought you were curious about how I found a husband¡¯s family at such a young age. What do you plan to ask me now? No, that¡¯s not right, you should give me the food coupons first.¡± Chuxia counted on her fingers, stretched out two, then another two, and finally reached out with her little hand, ¡°Fair, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Compared to the price of those two dumplings, it¡¯s fairly reasonable.¡± Zhou Mikang pulled out a stack of food coupons and handed them to her, ¡°Don¡¯t let your mind wander too much when you¡¯re dividing them.¡± ¡°Am I that kind of person?¡± Without even counting them, Chuxia shoved the food coupons into her pocket and stealthily gestured a victory sign to Luo Xiaoqiong, her mouth still busy, ¡°What did you want to ask me? Go ahead, ask.¡± ¡°Never mind.¡± Chuxia eyed him suspiciously, ¡°Once you leave this village, who knows when it¡¯ll be possible again? Next time we meet could be in the distant future.¡± ¡°Nag!¡± Zhou Mikang glared at her and waved her away disdainfully, indicating she should leave. ¡°So stingy...¡± Chuxia muttered as she pulled Luo Xiaoqiong to leave. Once the two were outside, Zhou Hanliang cautiously glanced towards his boss, ¡°Commander, why... did you just chase her away?¡± Zhou Mikang snorted, ¡°You can¡¯t let that kid get too comfortable, she¡¯ll definitely take it too far if you do.¡± Zhou Hanliang meekly agreed but inwardly snickered to himself, She only bosses us around because you¡¯ve been spoiling her. When have you ever been so easy-going? Just like that, sixty taels of food coupons given away..., Commander Tongzi, some of those were mine, you know! ... ¡°Chuxia, did my mother¡¯s chicken really earn twenty taels of food coupons?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong counted the small stack of food coupons in her hand, her expression one of disbelief as if in a dream. ¡°Here, take another ten taels.¡± Chuxia counted out ten more taels from her own stack for her, ¡°Adding what we got this afternoon, that makes sixty taels in total. We¡¯ll split it half and half.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong, holding onto Chuxia¡¯s hand, hurriedly pushed the money back, ¡°No, no, these twenty taels are already burning a hole in my pocket. If you give me another ten, I won¡¯t be able to sleep at night.¡± Chuxia didn¡¯t insist, ¡°Then I¡¯ll hold onto it for now. When it¡¯s time to buy something, I¡¯ll share it with you.¡± She glanced out of the corner of her eye as Hongqi followed Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan, shuffling in like a zombie. Chuxia nudged Xiaoqiong, ¡°I want to have a word with your brother. Bring him in for me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± At the moment, Xiaoqiong admired Chuxia so much that she would do whatever she was told. She saw Xiaoqiong go outside and whisper to Hongqi, who then stiffly entered the room, angrily glaring at Chuxia, ¡°What is it? Spit it out!¡± ¡°Do you want to join the army?¡± Chuxia asked with a mischievous smile. Hongqi replied gruffly, ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± The smile on Chuxia¡¯s face grew wider, ¡°I¡¯m your fiance?e, doesn¡¯t that make it my business?¡± ¡°Let me make it clear, I will never treat you well in this lifetime. You can marry me if you want. I won¡¯t stop you,¡± Hongqi said with a stony voice. Chuxia blinked her large eyes, ¡°Luo Hongqi, do you really, really dislike me that much?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Hongqi turned his head away awkwardly. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Chuxia quickly peered outside, ensuring Luo Xiaoqiong was keeping watch in the courtyard, before whispering confidently, ¡°I don¡¯t like you either, and of course, I have no desire to marry you. But, after what I said in front of my uncle¡¯s family, my parents think Uncle Gangshun and Fat Auntie will gossip if I don¡¯t marry you. I had no choice but to go along with their wishes. ¡°As for what you said about doing it for your family¡¯s food supply, you¡¯re overthinking it. I, Lin Chuxia, would never sell myself just for some food, and besides, I have food coupons.¡± Saying that, she took out the food coupons from her pocket to show Luo Hongqi, ¡°In the future, once I start working, our family¡¯s condition will get better and better. Do you think I would covet your family¡¯s food?¡± ¡°Where did you get those food coupons?¡± Luo Hongqi looked at Chuxia with disdain, ¡°Lin Chuxia, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve even picked up a habit of stealing?¡± ¡°It seems your prejudice against me is not just a little deep.¡± Chuxia helplessly curled her lips, ¡°I don¡¯t feel like explaining the details to you, but I got these food coupons legitimately. Not only do I have them, Xiaoqiong does too. When you¡¯re free, ask her about it, she¡¯ll tell you everything.¡± Luo Hongqi gave her a suspicious glance but said nothing. Chuxia ignored him and continued, ¡°What I¡¯m about to say is very important, you must do exactly as I say, no questioning and no objections, otherwise, I would rather suffer myself than marry you.¡± Luo Hongqi, who had wanted to retort, had no choice but to nod, ¡°Alright, speak.¡± ¡°The reason why I suggested getting married after I turn 22 is because I see clearly that you don¡¯t like me, I don¡¯t want to marry you, and also, it gives you a chance to back out. For now, we can pretend to be engaged. Once you meet a girl you like, we can call off the engagement. Don¡¯t worry, when the time comes, I¡¯ll cooperate with you.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°But right now, you must cooperate with me, pretend you don¡¯t dislike me that much.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°To get the elders to let their guard down, so it will be easier for you to meet a girl you like. Otherwise, with Uncle Gangshun beating your butt every other day, where will you find a girl willing to be with you?¡± Luo Hongqi, whose sore spot had been hit, flushed with embarrassment, his lips quivered, and it took a long while for him to stammer out a word. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking: why didn¡¯t I tell you sooner? Think about it, I had to make Fat Auntie and Uncle Gangshun think I was unreasonable first, to make it easier to call off the engagement later. Do you think I was really being reckless not caring for my life over steamed buns?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Forget it, you don¡¯t need to understand. Just do as I say; I definitely won¡¯t trick you into marrying me.¡± Chuxia stood up, tiptoed, and patted his shoulder, ¡°Trust me, you won¡¯t regret it!¡± Luo Hongqi, frightened, took a step back, ¡°I can¡¯t trust you.¡± ¡°Look at how timid you are. Aren¡¯t you aspiring to be a soldier? If you act so immature, who would take you?¡± Chuxia rolled her eyes at him, ¡°Why would I bring this up now if I could have said it at any other time? Would I be saying this now if I didn¡¯t care about delaying you?¡± ¡°Really?¡± Luo Hongqi¡¯s eyes were full of struggle, ¡°Lin Chuxia, why do I feel like you¡¯ve become a different person?¡± ¡°That¡¯s your illusion. I¡¯m still me; it¡¯s just that I¡¯ve always been selfish, always thinking about myself first in any situation. I didn¡¯t talk much before, but now I talk a little more, and that¡¯s probably why you feel uncomfortable. Get it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Luo Hongqi was even more confused. ¡°Never mind, you don¡¯t need to understand. How could someone as selfless as you understand my thoughts? Just remember what I¡¯ve said, from now on, be polite to me, understood?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Luo Hongqi, who had been successfully bamboozled, left Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s house with his eyes swirling with confusion. Chapter 29 - 29 29 Everyone is Quite Happy ?29: Chapter 29: Everyone is Quite Happy 29: Chapter 29: Everyone is Quite Happy Hongqi had just stepped outside when Xiaoqiong burst in, curiously staring at Chuxia, ¡°From the look of my brother, it seems his mind is even more unclear now. What did you say to him?¡± Chuxia, speechless, smoothed her forehead, ¡°Hey, are you his real sister? By the looks of it, are you really hoping he becomes mentally ill?¡± ¡°I was just joking with you.¡± Xiaoqiong sheepishly shrank back, twisting her fingers with her eyes downcast, no longer making a sound. Chuxia poked her playfully, laughing, ¡°Look at how petty you are... Thought I deliberately didn¡¯t tell you, and now you¡¯re upset?¡± ¡°No.¡± Xiaoqiong uncomfortably shifted in her seat, ¡°It¡¯s normal to feel embarrassed about this kind of thing, I also... about Brother Qiliang¡¯s affair.¡± ¡°Alright, alright...¡± Chuxia interrupted her, ¡°Your unhappy face is all over your expression, what¡¯s there to pretend? I just told your brother that even if he doesn¡¯t like me, he shouldn¡¯t always let it show on his face, worrying the elders.¡± Xiaoqiong anxiously looked at Chuxia, ¡°Did you hear something?¡± ¡°Do you know something?¡± Chuxia sized her up, ¡°I thought of you as my best friend, and this is how you treat me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure either. Yesterday...¡± Just as Xiaoqiong spotted Gangshun helping Chen Fenggang through the gate, she cut herself off, her ears straining. ¡°Uncle Dagang.¡± ¡°Uncle Dagang.¡± ¡°Uncle Dagang, did Auntie urgently need you for something?¡± The voices of Lin Baohe, Zhao Yulan, and Fat Auntie followed one after another. ¡°Yulan and Baohe are here, oh, never mind, the old lady¡¯s memory is getting worse, she said she forgot what she needed me for.¡± ¡°...¡± Xiaoqiong breathed out a long sigh of relief, ¡°Great-Auntie is really kind to me.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Chuxia nodded in agreement. ¡°Chuxia, Meiying, time to eat.¡± Fat Auntie¡¯s shout came through. ¡°How many times have I told you I¡¯ve changed my name, and you still can¡¯t remember!¡± Xiaoqiong grumbled discontentedly. ¡°Might as well just consider Meiying a nickname.¡± Chuxia sympathetically patted her, ¡°Now you know why I didn¡¯t change my name, right?¡± A dish of stir-fried dry beans, a dish of stir-fried leeks with yellow chives, a dish of chicken with dry chili peppers, a dish of pork with pickled vegetables, a dish of chicken eggs stir-fried with scallions, plus a pot of pork and cabbage stewed with vermicelli; everyone had a small bowl of chicken soup, the dinner was indeed plentiful. Not just the younger ones, but even the elders were swallowing their saliva. According to Gangshun¡¯s suggestion, they considered splitting into two tables, but Chen Fenggang stopped this, saying it was livelier with a large group at one table, which unexpectedly solved Hongqi¡¯s dilemma, allowing him to eat standing under the kang proudly. As the village chief and the head of the family, Gangshun lifted his water bowl: ¡°Uncle Dagang, inviting Commander Zhou and Instructor Zhou to eat with us makes me genuinely happy. Commander Zhou, Instructor Zhou, Baohe and Yulan are related by marriage to us, our whole family hosting both of you leaders, that is our honor! Uncle Dagang said discipline forbids alcohol, so let¡¯s substitute water for wine, toasting Uncle Dagang and the two leaders, the sentiment¡¯s all in the... water now!¡± Secretary Luo was used to speaking, and Luo Gangshun¡¯s words were spoken with fervor. Zhou Mikang glanced unintentionally over Chuxia¡¯s face, lifted his bowl to propose a toast to Chen Fenggang, and then to Luo Gangshun, ¡°Today we are honored by Elder Chen, thank you for Secretary Luo¡¯s hospitality!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, thank you Elder Chen, thank you Secretary Luo!¡± Zhou Hanliang quickly echoed. Taking a sip of water to signal a toast, Chen Fenggang chuckled and picked up his chopsticks, ¡°We¡¯re all family here, let¡¯s not be so formal. I suggested we eat together at one table to liven things up, not to make everyone feel constrained. Eat whatever you want, no one should feel restricted.¡± Zhou Hanliang quickly took up the conversation, ¡°Right, we won¡¯t be constrained either.¡± Luo Gangshun quietly pinched his son and gave him a look. Hongqi was slightly startled and picked up the chicken soup in front of him, offering it to Chuxia, ¡°Here, take this; you¡¯re not well, you need to nourish yourself.¡± Luo Gangshun¡¯s face darkened immediately. Chuxia also had a dark expression, alright, she had indeed wanted to have a conversation with him to make him show some appropriate warmth, so Zhou Mikang wouldn¡¯t laugh at her. But this was not the outcome she wanted. In front of everyone at the table, what was he trying to do? ¡°I have enough here.¡± Chuxia declined. Hongqi was persistent, his hand holding the bowl did not retract. Chen Fenggang laughed and diffused the situation, ¡°This boy knows how to care for his wife, haha...¡± ¡°Silly boy...¡± Luo Gangshun took the opportunity to push the bowl his son was holding back, ¡°You¡¯re making Chuxia drink so much soup, how will she eat her meal?¡± ¡°Uncle Luo, when does Hongqi plan to get married?¡± Zhou Hanliang seemed to ask casually. ¡°The matter of the two kids is already set. They are not in a rush to get married. We have discussed it with the in-laws too, thinking of letting Hongqi first join the military for some training...¡± Luo Gangshun smiled sheepishly, ¡°Commander Zhou, Instructor Zhou, in front of you both I won¡¯t utter fluff, my son is physically fit, has a kind heart, but he is quite direct and a bit simple.¡± Zhou Mikang looked up and assessed Hongqi, ¡°He does look like a talent.¡± Zhou Hanliang glanced at Zhou Mikang¡¯s expression, and promised, ¡°Secretary Luo, when it comes to recruitment, we will definitely consider Hongqi, don¡¯t worry.¡± These words practically explicitly reassured Luo Gangshun that Hongqi¡¯s enlistment was settled; even someone as worldly as Luo Gangshun got excited, ¡°Thank you, thank you so much! Thank you, Commander Zhou and Instructor Zhou, thank you Uncle Dagang, Baohe, come, let¡¯s drink water in place of wine and toast Commander Zhou, Instructor Zhou, and Uncle Dagang once more.¡± This meal was thoroughly enjoyable for all. Luo Gangshun and Fat Auntie were very happy¡ª their son¡¯s future was secured; Chen Fenggang was very happy¡ªhe remedied a past regret; Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe were also very happy¡ª their future son-in-law had prospects; Chuxia was very happy¡ªshe didn¡¯t have to worry about the Luo family forcing her into marriage; Luo Xiaoqiong was very happy¡ªher brother would become wise; Hongqi was happy¡ªmilitary service is honorable, and he wouldn¡¯t have to see Chuxia; Zhou Mikang and Zhou Hanliang were also very happy¡ªbut why? Chuxia could explain the happiness of everyone else, but she couldn¡¯t find a reason for Zhou Mikang and Zhou Hanliang¡¯s happiness. Did bypassing principles to use backdoor connections really make them so happy? ¡°We¡¯ll also recruit some female soldiers.¡± Zhou Hanliang¡¯s gaze swept over Luo Xiaoqiong, then Chuxia, before he continued, ¡°Uncle Luo and Uncle Lin are insiders, that¡¯s why we are letting you know in advance.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Luo Gangshun¡¯s voice suddenly rose in excitement, ¡°Is that what Instructor Zhou means, both Meiying and Chuxia qualify?¡± ¡°A bit more training, and there might be a chance,¡± Zhou Hanliang said ambiguously. ¡°Meiying, Chuxia, did you hear that? You¡¯ll sign up with Hongqi...¡± Chuxia¡¯s smile instantly stiffened; she didn¡¯t want to join the army, she wanted to go to college! That detestable Fox Zhou, how had she offended him? Why on earth would he pull her into the military? Chapter 30 - 30 30 Everyone Has Their Own Plan ?30: Chapter 30: Everyone Has Their Own Plan 30: Chapter 30: Everyone Has Their Own Plan ¡°I... Chuxia and I can also join the army?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s little face blushed, and her big eyes eagerly gazed at Zhou Hanliang, full of earnestness. ¡°Whether you can get through ultimately relies on your own performance,¡± Zhou Hanliang¡¯s face wore a gentle smile, ¡°The competition for female soldiers is a bit tougher than for male soldiers.¡± Glancing at the slender Chuxia, Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s eyes filled with worry: ¡°Instructor Zhou, is physical fitness the main criterion?¡± ¡°That¡¯s one aspect,¡± Zhou Hanliang said ambiguously. Seeing that Luo Xiaoqiong wanted to continue questioning, Chuxia quickly intervened, ¡°Xiaoqiong, the uncles giving us the news ahead of time is already an exception; let¡¯s not trouble them further.¡± ¡°Chuxia is really sensible,¡± Fat Auntie smiled, squinting warmly as she urged everyone, ¡°Regimental Commander Zhou, Instructor Zhou, hurry up and eat. It won¡¯t taste good once it cools.¡± Then she added more food to Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe¡¯s bowls. ¡°You two shouldn¡¯t just drink water. I am counting on, when Chuxia gets married and comes here, that we will all live together as one family. You being so outsiders, how can that work?¡± ¡°Baohe, Yulan, your two families have made such a good match,¡± Chen Fenggang put down his chopsticks. ¡°Over the years, I¡¯ve never felt at ease. Now, at last, I am.¡± Lin Baohe quickly expressed his stance, ¡°Uncle Dagang, Yulan and I don¡¯t blame you at all; you were also considering what¡¯s best for the public...¡± Chen Fenggang waved his hand, ¡°You can¡¯t say that, a mistake is a mistake. If it weren¡¯t for my sister-in-law stopping me, I would have made even more. A man, ah, marrying a good wife is a big deal...¡± He looked at Luo Hongqi, ¡°Hongqi, knowing to love your wife, good, you¡¯ve grown up.¡± Luo Hongqi, feeling uneasy, shuffled his feet and moved his lips, but no sound came out. Seeming to sense that this topic was inappropriate in front of Zhou Mikang and Zhou Hanliang, the elder looked apologetically at the two, ¡°Old age gets to a person, I just like to ramble about the past.¡± ¡°You are a person of deep loyalty,¡± Zhou Mikang glanced at the time, ¡°Elder Chen, I have a meeting early tomorrow morning, I need to go back and prepare. I¡¯ll visit you again next time.¡± Chen Fenggang cheerfully said, ¡°All right, don¡¯t let me hold up your work. Drive safely on the way.¡± ¡°Are you still not full? I¡¯ll pack some dumplings for you two leaders to eat on the road; Chuxia¡¯s grandma made them, they¡¯re really fragrant...¡± As Fat Auntie was speaking, she got off the kang diligently, but Zhou Hanliang quickly stopped her. ¡°Auntie, don¡¯t trouble yourself, this is already enough trouble.¡± ¡°Commander, Instructor, I will train hard!¡± Luo Gangshun, whose waist was pinched blue by Luo Hongqi, burst out, his face strained red. Zhou Hanliang raised his hand and patted his shoulder, ¡°We look forward to hearing your good news.¡± ... ¡°Commander...¡± After driving for a while, Zhou Hanliang glanced at Zhou Mikang, who was staring blankly out the window, ¡°Do you want to stop by home before heading to the base?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Zhou Mikang responded faintly. ¡°You...¡± Hesitating for a moment, Zhou Hanliang still asked, ¡°Do you really want Lin Chuxia to join our base?¡± Zhou Mikang coldly glanced at him, ¡°Drive your car.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhou Hanliang agreed, focusing intently on the road ahead, no longer speaking. ¡°Do I look that old?¡± Out of the blue, Zhou Mikang asked. Zhou Hanliang¡¯s eyes, eyebrows, and corners of his mouth twitched, ¡°No!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, compared to you, I don¡¯t look old at all,¡± Zhou Mikang¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile. ¡°You say you¡¯re only twenty-six, but who would believe that when they hear it?¡± Zhou Hanliang instantly wore a face as if thwarted, which was his sore spot. Commander Tongzi, could we not build your happiness on others¡¯ pain? ¡°Do you think, that child grew up in the countryside?¡± Zhou Mikang asked again. Zhou Hanliang thought for a moment, nodding, ¡°It should be, looking at his parents, they don¡¯t appear to have traveled far.¡± Indeed, upon hearing about their position, that couple didn¡¯t even know where to place their hands and feet. If they had truly been worldly, would they be so constrained? But how could that young girl remain so composed?... Zhou Hanliang carefully glanced at Zhou Mikang, then asked again, ¡°Commander, are you really letting her join our forces?¡± ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Zhou Hanliang was immediately puzzled: If it¡¯s not certain, why did you have me share the news about recruiting female soldiers with them? What exactly are you playing at? After a long moment, Zhou Mikang said, ¡°We still have two flexible quotas, give one to Luo Hongqi.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Zhou Hanliang responded, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it as soon as I get back.¡± ¡°Have him report to the troop within half a month.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Although full of doubts, Zhou Hanliang responded very decisively. He was now unsure whether Commander Tongzi was particularly attentive to Lin Chuxia because he missed his sister or for some other reason. If Commander Tongzi said he wasn¡¯t hurrying to get Luo Hongqi into the troops just because of the marital connection with Lin Chuxia, Zhou Hanliang would never believe it. But regarding his sister, was such an approach necessary? Yet, for that dry little girl, could Commander Tongzi have other thoughts? Or perhaps... is Commander Tongzi overly fond of his sister? ¡°Drive carefully!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ... ¡°Uncle Dagang, you and Commander Zhou¡¯s grandfather were?¡± After seeing off Zhou Mikang and Zhou Hanliang, everyone returned to the table to talk and eat, Luo Gangshun finally had the chance to ask the question on his mind. ¡°It¡¯s an old story, a matter of a few meals¡¯ friendship...¡± With a slight sigh, Chen Fenggang continued, ¡°I brought them over, thinking of settling an old debt with this favor; the old man is sentimental, I can¡¯t let him forever mind that affair.¡± ¡°Uncle Dagang...¡± Fat Auntie said gratefully, ¡°You¡¯ve really been too good to us.¡± ¡°Hongqi...¡± Chen Fenggang, however, looked at Luo Hongqi, ¡°This matter, your grandpa is sorting it for you, repaying the debt of Baohe and Yulan, you understand, right?¡± Luo Hongqi¡¯s face turned beet red, mouth half-open, unable to utter a word. ¡°Uncle Dagang...¡± ¡°Uncle Dagang....¡± Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan both got down from the kang and stood, faces filled with confusion. ¡°No matter who was right or wrong in the past, let¡¯s call it even now and, from now on, no one is to mention it again...¡± Pausing a moment, Chen Fenggang continued, ¡°Hongqi joining the army is settled, and Meiying is almost there too. If Chuxia can¡¯t make it, don¡¯t blame me.¡± Zhao Yulan hurriedly said, ¡°Uncle Dagang, we¡¯ve seen how considerate you¡¯ve been, how could we blame you? Even I find it unbelievable considering Chuxia¡¯s constitution.¡± ¡°If Chuxia doesn¡¯t go, I won¡¯t go either!¡± Fat Auntie pinched her daughter, ¡°You silly child, Dagang¡¯s Grandpa has put in so much effort to secure this opportunity for you, and this is how you repay him? Are you just planning to stay at home and compete with Chuxia for food?¡± Chapter 31 - 31 31 What on Earth Is Going On ?31: Chapter 31 What on Earth Is Going On 31: Chapter 31 What on Earth Is Going On Uncle Chuxia¡¯s house. Lin Baojiang, Zheng Sanqiao, Liu Meiqing, and Lin Chudong were sitting in a circle on the kang, where a tiny kerosene lamp flickered like a bean-sized flame, casting everyone¡¯s faces in intermittent light and shadow with a hint of gloom. Perhaps unable to bear the oppressive atmosphere, Lin Chudong got off the kang to find scissors and trimmed the charred wick of the lamp. The flame leapt fiercely, finally brightening the room a bit. ¡°Ah...¡± Zheng Sanqiao let out a long sigh, glancing at Lin Baojiang who was silently sucking on his tobacco pipe, ¡°Have you decided yet?¡± Lin Baojiang¡¯s furrowed brow slightly relaxed, ¡°Although the old Secretary has retired, his prestige remains in place. He¡¯s so supportive of Luo Gangshun. I think we should hold off a bit.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± The tone of Zheng Sanqiao¡¯s sigh grew heavier, ¡°Chuxia went to her grandmother¡¯s house today and came back with so many nice things. Shuanshuan cried his eyes out, but she acted as though she didn¡¯t hear him. Yet when she left, she packed half a bag of dumplings for the Luo family. We are after all one family, living in the rooms next to each other. She¡¯s acting like this even before she¡¯s married. Once she really climbs the high branches and gets married, will she still see us in her eyes?¡± ¡°This issue...¡± Lin Baojiang took a puff from his tobacco pipe, ¡°cannot be entirely blamed on Chuxia. I know how you and Meiqing have been squeezing Baohe and Yulan...¡± Zheng Sanqiao interrupted him, ¡°You know Meiqing and I were squeezing them, so why didn¡¯t you stop it? Don¡¯t start playing the good guy now, it¡¯s useless. No matter how much you pretend, she won¡¯t be as close to you as to me.¡± Liu Meiqing, who had been silent all this time, lifted her head, ¡°Dad, my sister and I have been close since we were little.¡± Lin Baojiang let out a deep sigh, ¡°Chuxia is my niece.¡± ¡°Dad, I¡¯m thinking about our family. If Chuxia isn¡¯t close to us, whoever she marries won¡¯t help us. My sister, on the other hand, I can guarantee will.¡± Zheng Sanqiao immediately agreed, ¡°You¡¯ve seen Meifeng, haven¡¯t you? In terms of looks, she¡¯s no less than Chuxia and she is really close to us too. Dad, since Chuxia and Hongqi¡¯s marriage has already been arranged, we¡¯re not hurting Chuxia by doing this.¡± ¡°Let me think about it some more.¡± Lin Baojiang was still hesitant. ¡°Stop thinking, if you keep thinking, it will all be too late.¡± Zheng Sanqiao pushing Lin Baojiang off the kang, ¡°Go now to your parents and talk to them, hurry, they¡¯ll be going to sleep soon.¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Hearing the sound of the door latch opening, Zheng Sanqiao quickly changed from pushing to pulling, ¡°Wait until they come inside before you go out.¡± Lin Chudong, who hadn¡¯t said a word from the start, got up to leave. Liu Meiqing grabbed him, ¡°Nothing¡¯s been decided yet, don¡¯t go to meet them.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to the bathroom!¡± Lin Chudong said gruffly. Liu Meiqing pursed her lips and let go. ¡°Have Second Uncle and Second Auntie returned?¡± Seeing Lin Chudong come to greet them, the family of three was somewhat surprised; these past few days, whenever they entered, Liu Meiqing was always the first to greet them. What changed today? ¡°Is Chudong going out?¡± Zhao Yulan asked cheerfully. ¡°No, I¡¯m heading to the bathroom,¡± Lin Chudong replied, continuing to walk outside. ¡°Are your dad and your mom in this room or the other one?¡± Lin Baohe asked. ¡°Baohe, I¡¯m over here.¡± Lin Baojiang¡¯s voice came from inside the house. ¡°Big brother, sister-in-law...¡± Lin Baohe didn¡¯t want things to become too stiff with his older brother¡¯s family. On the way back, he and Chuxia and Zhao Yulan had discussed being upfront about tonight¡¯s events with his brother¡¯s family. Thus, seeing their father entering their uncle¡¯s threshold, Chuxia quickly pulled Zhao Yulan back to their own home. She really didn¡¯t want to face that family whether they were fawning or scornful. ¡°Regimental Commander Zhou and Instructor Zhou truly are straightforward people.¡± Once inside, Zhao Yulan could not help but bring it up again. ¡°Mother, you¡¯ve said that at least ten times already,¡± Chuxia said, laughing as she shook her head. After seeing Zhou Mikang and Zhou Hanliang off, everyone went back to eating for a while before clearing the table, only to find twenty kilos of food coupons under the bowl Zhou Hanliang had used. As a result, throughout the evening, Zhao Yulan and Fat Auntie kept bringing it up again and again. ¡°That many times?¡± Zhao Yulan laughed. ¡°I didn¡¯t even realize.¡± ¡°Mom, there¡¯s something I need to tell you, and you mustn¡¯t hit me.¡± Hesitating for a moment, Chuxia decided to hand over the food coupons she had; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be able to spend them. Zhao Yulan sat up straight: ¡°Go on.¡± Chuxia went to the door and peeked through the crack before pulling the food coupons out of her pocket. Seeing Zhao Yulan¡¯s mouth open wider and wider, Chuxia quickly stepped forward to cover it: ¡°Mom, don¡¯t shout, I didn¡¯t steal or rob these, I got them fair and square.¡± Zhao Yulan nodded and lowered Chuxia¡¯s hand, but her expression grew serious: ¡°What exactly is going on?¡± ¡°Mom, about the female soldier recruitment, when Xiaoqiong and I were inside, Instructor Zhou spoke to us about it and even said to nourish my body well before giving us these food coupons. Xiaoqiong got some too.¡± Chuxia couldn¡¯t quite tell the whole truth and took a roundabout way. ¡°Why would he do that?¡± Zhao Yulan looked suspicious. ¡°Even if the Zhou family owed a favor to the old Secretary, it¡¯s not necessary to repay it to you. Is there anything else you¡¯re hiding from me?¡± ¡°Mom, they also knew about when I met them in Grandma¡¯s village. I led them on the road, and on the way back, we met again and they gave me a lift. They saw the things I was carrying from Grandma¡¯s house, guessed that our family was poor, and chatted with me a bit. But, it was just me alone then, so it wasn¡¯t appropriate for them to suddenly give me the food coupons, right?¡± After pondering for a while, Zhao Yulan nodded: ¡°That makes sense.¡± But then her eyes began to tear up, ¡°It¡¯s all your father¡¯s and my fault...¡± Here it comes again! Chuxia quickly interrupted her: ¡°Mom, let¡¯s not talk about that. Haven¡¯t we agreed not to bring it up anymore? Mom, there¡¯s a market tomorrow, why don¡¯t we go there?¡± Zhao Yulan readily agreed: ¡°Alright, we¡¯ve finished all the work in the fields, and we can take a couple of days off. Let¡¯s go to the market with your father and buy some treats for you.¡± ¡°Thump, thump...¡± Soft knocking sounds came through, and Chuxia paused: ¡°When did my dad start being so formal?¡± Saying this, she opened the door and saw Lin Chudong standing there, looking nervous, flashing her a quick smile as he swiftly slipped inside. ¡°Chudong?¡± Seeing it was Lin Chudong, Zhao Yulan also became extremely puzzled. What was he doing here at this hour? ¡°Auntie, Chuxia...¡± Lin Chudong¡¯s face turned beet red, and after a few grunts, he couldn¡¯t get a full sentence out. As Zhao Yulan¡¯s gaze fell upon the half bag of dumplings that Fat Auntie had insisted on sending back with him, she realized: ¡°Chudong, is it because Shuanshuan is hungry?¡± ¡°No, no...¡± Lin Chudong scratched his head, ¡°I heard Chuxia was to marry Hongqi, and I hadn¡¯t congratulated Uncle, Auntie, and Chuxia yet.¡± ¡°Chudong, what¡¯s really the matter?¡± Zhao Yulan didn¡¯t believe it. Lin Baohe was right next door; if it was just for congratulations, Lin Chudong wouldn¡¯t have needed to come over specially. Chapter 32 - 32 32 Concealment ?32: Chapter 32 Concealment 32: Chapter 32 Concealment Remembering the unexpected visit from Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin in the afternoon, Chuxia¡¯s heart stirred, and she looked at Lin Chudong: ¡°Brother, do you know something? About Grandpa and Grandma?¡± Lin Chudong rubbed his hands uncomfortably and sighed, ¡°Auntie, Chuxia, you should go to your uncle¡¯s house now. I came over just to talk about this.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Zhao Yulan responded promptly, urging him to hurry back home. She knew Liu Meiqing and Zheng Sanqiao¡¯s temperament all too well¡ªany further delay and Lin Chudong would not have peaceful days ahead for a while. ¡°Chudong really is different from them.¡± After Lin Chudong left, Zhao Yulan couldn¡¯t help but sigh with gratitude. She glanced at the time and was somewhat indecisive about whether to go to Old Master Lin¡¯s place. Seeing Zhao Yulan¡¯s hesitation, Chuxia said, ¡°Mom, let¡¯s wait for Dad to come back and decide.¡± ¡°Chudong wouldn¡¯t have come all the way over here for nothing¡ªah!¡± Zhao Yulan frowned slightly, anxiously pacing around the room. Chuxia agreed with this point. At her eldest uncle¡¯s side, the one with the least status was Lin Chudong. He was involved in cooking, looking after children, and working in the fields, but he had no say in any matter. Although Zheng Sanqiao doted on him, she never supported him when it came to expressing opinions. The reason was simple: nine times out of ten, Lin Chudong¡¯s opinions conflicted with theirs, and when interests were at stake, Zheng Sanqiao would not spoil her son. Knowing Lin Chudong¡¯s temperament was also why Zhao Yulan was worried, and Chuxia began to get anxious as well. She disliked the feeling of not being in control of everything. Ever since she came to this era, everything was out of her control. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to put in the effort to take control; she simply didn¡¯t have the strength¡ªat least, not yet! ¡°Creak!¡± Five minutes later, Lin Baohe finally pushed the door open and entered. Zhao Yulan quickly dragged him inside and whispered, ¡°Chudong just came over and said it¡¯s best for us to visit Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin tonight. He didn¡¯t specify what it was about, but I suspect it¡¯s about Chuxia. Otherwise, why would Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin come over just to chat with Chuxia this afternoon?¡± ¡°Creak!¡± The sound of the door to the eastern room being pushed open was clearly audible. Zhao Yulan immediately kept silent and peeked out through the crack in the door like a thief; moments later, the sound of the main room door opening and footsteps growing fainter, the gate opening, and the gate closing tightly followed... Zhao Yulan retreated back to Lin Baohe: ¡°It¡¯s the eldest brother who went out.¡± ¡°He must have gone to Grandpa and Grandma¡¯s.¡± After mulling over it for a while, Chuxia also pieced together some clues. Hearing that it was Lin Baojiang who went out, the clues became even clearer, ¡°Dad, Mom, you don¡¯t need to go. Go to bed.¡± ¡°This...¡± The couple was still hesitant; they knew Lin Chudong¡¯s personality all too well. If it weren¡¯t for something very important, he wouldn¡¯t have come over late at night to give them a message! ¡°Listen to me and sleep,¡± Lin Chuxia smiled at them. ¡°If Dad and Mom go now, you¡¯ll run into Uncle, what then?¡± Inside the room in the eastern wing, Liu Meiqing glared at Lin Chudong in anger, twisting his thigh with all her might. Zheng Sanqiao, who clearly saw Liu Meiqing¡¯s movements, didn¡¯t utter a sound. Lin Chudong sucked in a breath from the pain: ¡°What we¡¯re doing is not right, it¡¯s not decent. Besides, I didn¡¯t say much, just asked Auntie to visit my uncle¡¯s place.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the decent one!¡± Liu Meiqing¡¯s grip tightened to its limit. ¡°Can decency fill your stomach? If she were decent, she wouldn¡¯t have begrudged to give Shuanshuan even one dumpling! Lin Chudong, if you keep being ¡®decent,¡¯ by the time she really climbs onto a high branch, I bet she won¡¯t even recognize you, let alone give you a helping hand.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you think about working hard yourself instead of always hoping to gain advantages from others?¡± Lin Chudong glared at her helplessly. ¡°Forget it, I won¡¯t argue with you, let¡¯s sleep.¡± He lay down on his side without taking off his clothes. Zheng Sanqiao slapped her son¡¯s buttocks without moderating her voice: ¡°You ungrateful wretch, I was wrong to dote on you. All you do is sabotage me every day...¡± The scolding carried over to the west room, where Chuxia pursed her lips, ¡°Still started scolding...¡± ¡°Ah, no matter how quickly or slowly I hurried, they still found out.¡± Yulan lamented with a face full of annoyance. Baohe, who had been hesitating about whether or not to visit Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin, sighed softly, ¡°Let¡¯s sleep, no point in going now.¡± ... ¡°Big Brother didn¡¯t come back until almost ten o¡¯clock last night.¡± Yulan couldn¡¯t help but sigh during breakfast the next morning, ¡°How could I not feel anxious with the way Sister-in-law was tearing into him and shouting last night?¡± Baohe paused with his chopsticks, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, let¡¯s go to the market.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Mom, don¡¯t worry. I think this might actually be good for us and, of course, for them too.¡± Chuxia slurped her rice porridge noisily, ¡°Different people have different views, maybe this way everyone will be happy in the end.¡± The family of three set off for the marketplace after breakfast, considering that the weather was about to warm up, Yulan suggested they buy some fabric first at the supply and marketing cooperative. However, during the fabric-buying process, Chuxia¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment. She had been in this era for over half a year, but aside from Dalin Village and Xiaolin Village, she hadn¡¯t really gone anywhere else. The people in the village didn¡¯t follow the trend of reciting quotations, and this trip to the town really opened her eyes. Yulan picked out several yards of fabric and recited quotations for quite a while. In this era, fabric colors were either grey, black, blue, or white. Yulan chose a dark blue spring outfit for Chuxia and a pair of black and blue trousers for Baohe. As for herself, she didn¡¯t choose anything. ¡°Mom, pick something for yourself. Otherwise, I won¡¯t take it. Keep it to make something for yourself.¡± Chuxia insisted. Yulan firmly refused, ¡°No need, Mom has clothes to wear. In the summer, I¡¯ll make a jacket for myself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not good, spring is spring, summer is summer.¡± ... While the mother and daughter debated, Baohe stood beside them like a post, guarding them¡ªspeaking here required reciting quotations, and as the women argued, they were defying the principles of speaking. A forty-something-year-old man with a fair complexion approached them, his eyes fixed intently on Yulan as she argued with Chuxia. Baohe instinctively moved closer to his wife and daughter. When the man got close, he scrutinized Yulan and his eyes immediately brimmed with surprise, ¡°Yulan, Yulan, is it really you?¡± Chuxia reflexively shivered. That voice, why did it make her so uncomfortable? Was a this what a ducks¡¯s quack sounded like? ¡°Xue Ligang?¡± Yulan saw the man and was equally surprised, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± The man smiled beamingly, ¡°I came to buy some pastries. I never expected to run into you here. Yulan, your in-laws must have told you, right?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C That¡¯s the update for today. I ask for everyone¡¯s support. As always, the results are so-so, feeling quite down, need some comforting~ some pampering~ Chapter 33 - 33 33 Deviation ?33: Chapter 33 Deviation 33: Chapter 33 Deviation ¡°Say what?¡± Zhao Yulan asked, full of confusion, but her heart was not as calm as her face had shown. The mystery of the old man and the old lady¡¯s unusual behavior was about to be revealed, and she did not anticipate ¡ª¡ª she had never liked the old man and the old lady from their branch of the family; they would definitely not do anything to please her. ¡°Chuxia, that girl, is getting prettier as she grows.¡± Xue Ligang did not answer Zhao Yulan but instead shifted his gaze toward Chuxia, standing behind Zhao Yulan. Somewhat inexplicably, Chuxia felt all the hairs on her body stand on end; that man¡¯s gaze made her very uncomfortable! Lin Baohe stepped forward silently, standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhao Yulan, firmly shielding Chuxia. ¡°Baohe...¡± Xue Ligang, as if he had just noticed Lin Baohe, flashed a skin-deep smile, ¡°About the marriage arrangement between our two families, your dad and mom haven¡¯t told you yet, have they?¡± Zhao Yulan felt her heart suddenly shoot up to her throat, ¡°You... You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± ¡°Yulan, you...¡± Xue Ligang appeared helplessly shaking his head, ¡°The kid is all grown up, yet your temper hasn¡¯t changed, you say you... oh...¡± Chuxia made an effort to recall and was certain she had never seen this man, nor had her parents mentioned him, and as for whether she herself had ever met this man, she did not know. But one thing she was sure of was that both Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan did not like this man, and observing his demeanor, he seemed to be quite familiar with Zhao Yulan; she did not wish to think deeper. ¡°Director Xue, we still have things to do, please go ahead with your work,¡± Lin Baohe said, pulling his wife and daughter out of the supply and marketing co-op as if escaping. Xue Ligang did not speak to detain them, nor did he chase after them. As Lin Baohe slowed down, Zhao Yulan sighed deeply, ¡°Baohe, running away won¡¯t help, if we can avoid the first day of the lunar month, we can¡¯t avoid the fifteenth.¡± ¡°Who was that man?¡± Chuxia couldn¡¯t help asking. She had already decided that if she did know the man, she would claim that her memory had been poor since her recovery from illness; she believed Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan would not press her for details. Always being silent out of fear of slipping up was too stifling. ¡°He¡¯s the head of our Tingqi Commune, in charge of the twenty-seven villages including ours,¡± Zhao Yulan sighed deeply, ¡°which means, your Uncle Gangshun, your big uncle, they all fall under his jurisdiction.¡± ¡°Our dad, our mom, they are confused...¡± Lin Baohe squatted on the ground, painfully clutching his head, ¡°With Chuxia¡¯s disposition, how could she endure living in that kind of family? They want to drive me to my death!¡± ¡°They clearly know about Chuxia and Hongqi¡¯s arrangement and yet agreed to Xue Ligang. What are they trying to do?¡± Zhao Yulan stared at Lin Baohe with a face full of indignation, ¡°They look down on me, always undermining me. I can endure it, but if they plan to use Chuxia to gain favors for the family of Baohai, I will fight it with my life!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Lin Baohe stood up, ¡°I want to ask them face-to-face, whether I am truly their son, and whether Chuxia is truly their granddaughter!¡± ¡°Dad...¡± Chuxia grabbed Lin Baohe, ¡°Is it useful for you to confront them?¡± Lin Baohe paused, then his face fell into utter dejection. ¡°Dad, mom, have you forgotten about what happened last night?¡± Chuxia reminded. Zhao Yulan smacked her forehead, ¡°Your grandfather and your grandmother doing this, could it be to get benefits for your great uncle?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Lin Baohe sighed heavily, his eyes reddening. Chuxia shook her head, ¡°No, if it was for the great uncle, why would he urgently run over last night? Mom... You¡¯re quite familiar with that Director Xue, aren¡¯t you?¡± Zhao Yulan¡¯s face flashed with embarrassment, and she remained silent. ¡°He wanted to marry your mother,¡± Lin Baohe answered on her behalf. ¡°Do Grandpa and Grandma know?¡± ¡°They do.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Chuxia couldn¡¯t help sighing, ¡°It seems that for the sake of Chuchun and Chuqiu, Grandpa and Grandma can tolerate anything...¡± She paused, then said, ¡°If I don¡¯t agree, if Mom and Dad don¡¯t agree, can his family still force marriage?¡± ¡°Your grandparents have already agreed, so he has a reason to deal with your Uncle Gangshun, your eldest uncle, and your eldest uncle¡¯s family,¡± Zhao Yulan said with a gloomy face. Chuxia thought for a moment, ¡°Why did he pick me to be his daughter-in-law? Is it because of Mom, or something else?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Zhao Yulan shook her head. ¡°When they were young, during the nationwide learn-from-Dazhai campaign, your mom and he were in the same group digging ditches. Later, he sent someone to propose to our family, and your mom didn¡¯t agree. Not long after, your mom and your dad got engaged. He visited your maternal grandmother¡¯s home several times to see your mom, but she didn¡¯t meet with him. Later, after your mom and dad got married, he still came to our village to look for your mom until you were born, and only then did he give up. This man wanted to be a director so badly, he would even get rid of his own brother. His wife is unreasonable too; for Xia to marry into such a family would be like falling into a pit of fire!¡± ¡°I see, he probably can¡¯t get over not marrying Mom and now wants me to marry into his family,¡± Chuxia tugged at Lin Baohe, who was still squatting on the ground. ¡°Dad, worrying won¡¯t help. How about we go buy some rice and flour before heading home? We¡¯ll need a full stomach to figure things out, right?¡± ¡°This child, it¡¯s like she¡¯s a completely different person...¡± Zhao Yulan hugged her daughter, heartbroken, ¡°It¡¯s all because your mom and dad aren¡¯t capable enough to protect you. Sigh...¡± ¡°Mom, not this again, or I¡¯ll stop talking to you.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, Mom won¡¯t say it anymore, Mom won¡¯t say it anymore...¡± ... No one dared to sell rice, flour, or oil at the market, so the family of three had to go back to the supply and marketing cooperative. They bought twenty kilograms of flour, two kilograms of oil, and two kilograms of snacks. Zhao Yulan wanted to buy some pork for Chuxia to nourish her but, by the time they got there, there wasn¡¯t even a bit of meat left. ¡°How about we go to the market and buy a chicken?¡± Lin Baohe proposed. ¡°Who dares sell chickens at the market?¡± Zhao Yulan waved her hand, ¡°You better not come up with such a bad idea. Even if there are chickens for sale, we wouldn¡¯t dare to buy. If the militiamen caught us, it would be troublesome.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. If the militiamen catch us and take us to the commune, Chuxia¡¯s situation could be sealed for good,¡± Lin Baohe sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s slaughter one of the laying chickens then. If not, when will Chuxia be able to recover?¡± Zhao Yulan nodded, ¡°Yeah, we really need to nourish Chuxia¡¯s health. I really can¡¯t bear to have Chuxia join the military, but looking at the current situation, it¡¯s better to be prepared beforehand than be without options later.¡± She could apply to college next year. Could she really not wait until then? A sense of powerlessness surged in Chuxia¡¯s heart. In novels, whether the characters are transmigrated or reborn, they always seemed to thrive spectacularly, but what about her? This is not a YY novel after all. Being a weak girl who is unfamiliar with this era, trying to change the major rules of this time is truly a daydream! If she dared to rush forward like a headstrong youth, there was only one outcome ¡ª she would die even faster! Chapter 34 - 34 34 Uncles Thoughts ?34: Chapter 34: Uncle¡¯s Thoughts 34: Chapter 34: Uncle¡¯s Thoughts ¡°Second Uncle, Second Auntie, where have you been?¡± The family of three ran into Liu Meiqing¡¯s younger sister, Liu Meifeng, at the entrance to the village. Liu Meifeng was twenty-one this year, with attractive features and unlike Liu Meiqing¡¯s thinness, she was plump, which matched the beauty standards of the time quite well. ¡°We went to the market to buy some things. Meifeng, are you here to see your sister?¡± Zhao Yulan responded cheerily, and the less talkative Lin Baohe simply nodded. ¡°Yes, my sister sent me a message to come over, said there¡¯s something she needs to discuss.¡± Liu Meifeng smiled, her lips curving into dimples that inexplicably warmed people¡¯s hearts. ¡°Meifeng, have you found a husband¡¯s family yet?¡± Zhao Yulan asked without any ulterior meaning; she was just making idle conversation. ¡°Second Auntie, I don¡¯t have a husband¡¯s family yet.¡± Liu Meifeng¡¯s face quickly turned red. Seeing her shy away, Zhao Yulan changed the topic: ¡°Isn¡¯t your village working today?¡± ¡°Mm, we finished plowing the fields yesterday. They say it¡¯s going to rain in the next few days, so we are just waiting for the rain to start sowing...¡± As Liu Meifeng talked about farm work, her expression returned to normal. Zhao Yulan couldn¡¯t help but praise her: ¡°Meifeng is really capable.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only you, Second Auntie, who would praise me. My dad and mom always say I¡¯m only good for eating and not working...¡± Chuxia was somewhat puzzled. Could it be that she and Liu Meifeng had some unresolved issues? She had met Liu Meifeng once, and the other party hadn¡¯t spoken a word to her, but at that time, she was still wrapped up in her own world, hoping to wake up one day back in her real home, so she hadn¡¯t given it much thought. Now her mindset had changed, and she realized something was off. Ever since they met at the entrance of the village, Liu Meifeng¡¯s eyes hadn¡¯t lingered on her, and she even seemed to be deliberately avoiding her. But seeing how Liu Meifeng was acting towards Zhao Yulan, quite affectionately at that... She had wanted to chat with her, but never mind, she¡¯d wait until she understood the truth. ... Liu Meiqing was sitting in the yard, basking in the sun and slicing hemp cakes when she saw her sister, Liu Meifeng. Her thin face immediately creased with joy, but her eyes were fixed on the bag in Lin Baohe¡¯s hands: ¡°Returned from the market, Second Uncle, Second Auntie?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Lin Baohe gave a monosyllabic reply and headed straight into his own house, just as Zheng Sanqiao came out of the main room and blocked his path: ¡°Second Brother, what did you buy?¡± ¡°Just some flour and oil, and got some fabric,¡± Lin Baohe replied. Zheng Sanqiao clicked her tongue: ¡°Marrying into a good family does wonders. Just look how life improves. In the future, our big family will probably be basking in Chuxia¡¯s glow,¡± she said and headed straight toward Liu Meifeng, who was engaging warmly with Liu Meiqing, ¡°Meifeng, this girl, is getting lovelier by the day.¡± ¡°Auntie, only you praise me...¡± Seizing the moment, Chuxia and her parents quickly returned to their own house and locked the door. Chuxia asked in a low voice, ¡°Mom, how did I offend Liu Meifeng?¡± ¡°Chuxia...¡± Zhao Yulan looked at her daughter in surprise, ¡°You¡¯ve forgotten?¡± ¡°Um.¡± Chuxia scratched her head, embarrassed, ¡°I¡¯ve mentioned it before, right? Ever since I fell ill that time, I don¡¯t remember things very clearly.¡± ¡°Actually... it¡¯s nothing serious. Meifeng didn¡¯t speak to you because you told her not to. When you have a moment, just talk to her; she¡¯ll understand.¡± ¡°I got it, Mom.¡± Zhao Yulan didn¡¯t want to go on about the matter, and Chuxia didn¡¯t press any further. Considering her own gluttonous and lazy nature, she could guess that Zhao Yulan probably didn¡¯t mention it to spare her the embarrassment. Lin Baohe saw that all the women had entered the east room, so he said, ¡°I¡¯m going to check on Mom and Dad.¡± Chuxia stopped him, ¡°Dad, are you planning to ask Grandpa and Grandma about the match with the Xue family?¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± ¡°Dad, can Grandpa and Grandma really decide on my marriage?¡± As Chuxia spoke, she added another sentence, ¡°Didn¡¯t our family separate from Grandpa and Grandma¡¯s household?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Zhao Yulan sighed heavily, ¡°Your Grandpa and Grandma can¡¯t make decisions on your marriage, but to outsiders, whatever they say represents the wishes of me and your dad. Why doesn¡¯t Xue Ligang come to find me and your dad? Because he knows very well that me and your dad would definitely not agree to this marriage. What he¡¯s seeking is leverage to threaten me and your dad into agreeing.¡± ¡°Grandpa and Grandma understand this as well, right?¡± ¡°How could such shrewd people like your Grandpa and Grandma not understand? But the old couple dotes on your younger uncle the most, and they are also fully aware of your dad¡¯s temperament. They know that your dad would not do anything to harm your eldest uncle or Luo Gangshun¡¯s official position.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s no need for Dad to visit Grandpa and Grandma,¡± Chuxia pointed towards the west room, ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious why Liu Meifeng suddenly came to the Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife¡¯s home?¡± ¡°Summer means...¡± Zhao Yulan suddenly realized, ¡°Did your eldest uncle¡¯s family intercept the situation? They want Meifeng to marry into the Xue family?¡± Chuxia nodded, ¡°Right, the eldest uncle¡¯s family must be eyeing the Xue family¡¯s background, hoping to bask in their glory. But I¡¯m not close to them, so they wouldn¡¯t want me to marry into the Xue family. To speak frankly, if they could have disrupted my engagement with Luo Hongqi, they probably would have done so by now. So, for this matter, let¡¯s pretend we don¡¯t know and let them scheme.¡± Zhao Yulan furrowed her brows, ¡°How could Xue Ligang be so easily dismissed?¡± ¡°Xue Ligang may not be easy to dismiss, but his son hasn¡¯t met me yet...¡± Chuxia looked worriedly at Lin Baohe, ¡°Dad, no matter what the final outcome is, you can¡¯t force me to marry into the Xue family for the sake of Eldest Uncle or Grandpa and Grandma.¡± ¡°Never!¡± Lin Baohe waved his hand firmly, ¡°There are things Dad can endure, but Dad can¡¯t stand anyone who tries to harm my daughter, no matter who he is.¡± ¡°Actually, it might be possible for everyone to get what they want. Maybe Xue Ligang¡¯s son will be smitten with Liu Meifeng at first sight. Even if Xue Ligang disagrees, it¡¯s not he who¡¯s getting married. If his son insists, what can he do? And...¡± Chuxia¡¯s lips curled into a smile, ¡°If Xue Ligang¡¯s son does fall for Liu Meifeng, would the eldest uncle¡¯s family sit idly by?¡± Zhao Yulan sighed, ¡°It¡¯s just a pity for the girl Meifeng.¡± Chuxia shrugged, ¡°For such matters, it¡¯s a case of willing hitter and willing victim. If she isn¡¯t willing, the eldest uncle¡¯s family can¡¯t force her.¡± ¡°Summer, I¡¯m really torn inside,¡± Zhao Yulan sighed continuously, ¡°I hope she¡¯s willing, yet I don¡¯t want her to be willing. If she is willing, Summer, you are halfway out of this situation, if not, we still have to find another solution...¡± she said, nervously pointing towards the east room, ¡°I have no idea what they¡¯re discussing in there. It¡¯s really making me anxious.¡± ¡°Creak!¡± The door of the east room opened, laughter spilled out, Zhao Yulan let out a sigh of relief, and looked towards Lin Baohe, ¡°It seems Meifeng is willing. This afternoon, you should talk to Gangshun about this matter, and I¡¯ll go back to my parents¡¯ home, and also speak with my elder brother.¡± Lin Baohe nodded, ¡°Mmm, let¡¯s think ahead.¡± Chapter 35 - 35 35 Feint to the East, Strike in the West ?35: Chapter 35: Feint to the East, Strike in the West 35: Chapter 35: Feint to the East, Strike in the West This chapter has been heavily revised. If you¡¯ve read it before, please read it again. ¡ª- After lunch, Lin Baohe went to the Luo family, while Chuxia and Zhao Yulan visited Zhao¡¯s house in Xiaolin Village. Old Lady Zhao was sitting in the courtyard, twisting a hemp rope. Seeing Chuxia and Yulan come in, her eyes squinted with delight, ¡°What brings you here today?¡± ¡°Mom and I missed Grandma,¡± Chuxia said as she offered the snacks in her hand, ¡°Grandma, this is a token of our respect for you and Grandpa.¡± ¡°Yulan, you all are barely getting by, why bother with these formalities?¡± Old Lady Zhao not only refused the snacks, but her expression also darkened, ¡°Don¡¯t you know what your father and I despise the most?¡± ¡°Mom, you know what kind of person your daughter is. If I didn¡¯t have anything, would I bother with formalities?¡± Zhao Yulan responded cheerfully as she detailed to Old Lady Zhao how Chuxia had obtained the food coupon. ¡°Regimental Commander Zhao is a good man....¡± Old Lady Zhao looked at Chuxia with a pained expression, ¡°Chuxia really needs to strengthen her body, but we can¡¯t let Qihui know about this, she¡¯s still heartbroken. If she finds out that Regimental Commander Zhao refused her and chose Chuxia instead, who knows what she might do.¡± ¡°Is she around?¡± Yulan lowered her voice and gestured towards the inner room. ¡°She went to her maternal grandma¡¯s house with your sister-in-law. Her maternal uncle is in the army, right? She said he might think of a way...¡± Old Lady Zhao sighed deeply, ¡°That child, still hasn¡¯t given up on joining the army. Ah, Qihui is a sentimental child, deeply in love with Yuanbao. It¡¯s hard to say when she¡¯ll recover.¡± ¡°Yuanbao is truly a good kid...¡± In the time that followed, Zhao Yulan and Old Lady Zhao discussed Yuanbao¡¯s matters, while Chuxia, having nothing better to do, wandered around the village. On her way back, she ran into her second aunt, ¡°When did Chuxia arrive?¡± Without waiting for Chuxia to greet her, her second aunt had already started the conversation. Out of politeness, Chuxia put on a light smile, ¡°I¡¯ve only just arrived not long ago, where are you headed, second aunt?¡± ¡°Nowhere special, just to your Grandma¡¯s house.¡± Second Aunt Lin Xiaohua said, tweaking Chuxia¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Chuxia, you¡¯ve visibly gained some weight since last time, good food really nourishes.¡± Chuxia pretended not to catch the implication in her words, ¡°Second aunt, you always know what to say. If mom heard this, she¡¯d be thrilled. She loves hearing that I¡¯ve gained weight.¡± Lin Xiaohua¡¯s mouth twitched visibly, then she quickly started fishing for information, ¡°Chuxia, you and your mom visiting at this time, is there something going on?¡± Chuxia straightforwardly said, ¡°We went to the market today, where we met Director Xue. He wants me to marry his son, and my mom and dad couldn¡¯t decide, so we came to discuss it with Grandma and Grandpa.¡± Lin Xiaohua forced a laugh twice, openly praising Zhao Yulan for her good fortune, one good match after another... ¡°Yulan, I heard from Chuxia,¡± Lin Xiaohua jubilantly congratulated Zhao Yulan as soon as they entered Grandma¡¯s yard, ¡°Sister-in-law is truly happy for you. You and Baohe have really made it through.¡± ¡°Mom, I told Auntie about the Xue family¡¯s situation,¡± Chuxia explained, seeming a bit embarrassed. ¡°I just thought it was good news, and I wanted Auntie to be happy too.¡± ¡°Yulan, are you treating your sister-in-law as an outsider?¡± Lin Xiaohua plopped down next to Zhao Yulan, her large hand kneading Zhao¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Your sister-in-law treats you like her own sister, but every time you come over, you just chat with your elder sister-in-law and leave. It really breaks her heart.¡± Zhao Yulan hadn¡¯t quite understood why her daughter did this, so she just smiled and went along with it: ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t think, without even a hint of certainty, it¡¯s not good to spread words carelessly. Chuxia is quick with words and is close to your sister-in-law. Haha... if it doesn¡¯t work out eventually, let your sister-in-law not take it as a joke, just take it as kid¡¯s banter.¡± ¡°Exactly, the director of the commune is from what kind of family, let¡¯s just hear it for now,¡± Old Lady Zhao chimed in as well. She really disliked her daughter-in-law; if it weren¡¯t for her son¡¯s sake, she would have never bothered with her. ¡°Mom, you can¡¯t say that. My younger sister almost became the wife of the commune director. The Xue family doing this must mean they still remember her fondly. I think this matter with Chuxia will surely succeed. If she really marries into the Xue family, with Director Xue protecting her, her life will definitely be good.¡± Xue Ligang had visited Zhao¡¯s house several times before. By that time, Lin Xiaohua had already entered Zhao¡¯s house and was quite clear about Zhao Yulan and Xue Ligang¡¯s past. However, she, unlike other Zhao family members, always thought Zhao Yulan¡¯s decision to give up on Xue Ligang and marry Lin Baohe was foolish. The kids are all grown up now, and Lin Xiaohua still said such things, Zhao Yulan¡¯s expression clearly darkened: ¡°Sister-in-law, it¡¯s not so nice to mention these things in front of the kids, is it?¡± ¡°Look at my big mouth!¡± Lin Xiaohua pretended to smack her lips lightly. ¡°But little sister, since the topic came up, even if it upsets you, I want to babble a bit more. If you had married Xue Ligang that year, why would you have had to live your life like this? Poor living poors the whole family. Qiyan, the little short one, trying to find a good husband¡¯s family is hard! Not like your Chuxia, who has one good marriage prospect after another!¡± With the old stories being repeatedly brought up in front of her daughter, Zhao Yulan was truly angry and sharply retorted, ¡°Sister-in-law, that¡¯s not quite right, is it? Given your stature, could Qiyan grow any taller?¡± At a height of 1.47 meters, Lin Xiaohua was very sensitive about it. Being mentioned by Zhao Yulan like that, her face immediately darkened like the bottom of a pot, and her anger was directed towards Old Lady Zhao: ¡°Mom, you always side with little sister. I would like to see, when you and dad get old, who you will rely on! Just don¡¯t regret this when the time comes!¡± she said, then stormed out without looking back. This was clearly a threat to Old Lady Zhao. If she continued to protect her daughter, she shouldn¡¯t expect the second son¡¯s family to take care of her in old age. Zhao Yulan looked remorsefully at Old Lady Zhao, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s my fault. But don¡¯t worry, when you and dad get old, Baohe and I will take care of both of you. If there¡¯s not enough room at our place, we¡¯ll come over here to look after you.¡± Old Lady Zhao smilingly looked calm: ¡°Don¡¯t worry about her. She¡¯s just like that, and there¡¯s your second brother too. She doesn¡¯t get the final say. Besides, your elder brother and sister-in-law have already said, even if your father and I can¡¯t move anymore, they will stay here and take care of us. But about Chuxia, this matter needs to be carefully considered. If she really marries into the Xue family...¡± the old lady shook her head, ¡°it definitely won¡¯t be an easy life.¡± The elders were highly unappreciative of Xue Ligang, despite initially being unsatisfied with Lin Baohe. But, they disliked Xue Ligang even more. If at that time Zhao Yulan hadn¡¯t married Lin Baohe, they wouldn¡¯t have let her marry Xue Ligang either. That man, too hypocritical. ¡°Dragons birth dragons, phoenixes birth phoenixes, a mouse¡¯s son will dig holes,¡± even without seeing Xue Ligang¡¯s son, the old lady believed that this marriage prospect would definitely not be a good one. Chapter 36 - 36 36 Both the Palm and the Back of the Hand are Flesh ?36: Chapter 36 Both the Palm and the Back of the Hand are Flesh 36: Chapter 36 Both the Palm and the Back of the Hand are Flesh Old Master Zhao woke from his nap and was delighted to see Zhao Yulan and Chuxia sitting outside. ¡°Your mother was just talking about you this morning,¡± he said. ¡°She guessed that if you weren¡¯t too busy, you might come home, and sure enough, you did.¡± ¡°Dad, you just got up and didn¡¯t even put on an extra piece of clothing. What if you catch a cold and get a headache? Who would suffer then?¡± Zhao Yulan muttered as she went into the house, returning with a black jacket to put on Old Master Zhao. ¡°As the saying goes, ¡®bundle up in spring and dress warmly in autumn.¡¯ Especially as we get older, we have to be more careful.¡± Old Master Zhao chuckled. ¡°Still my little girl, caring and attentive.¡± The old lady gave him a look. ¡°At your age, you should know how to take care of yourself without making sarcastic comments. Do you have any shame?¡± Zhao Yulan laughed as she defended her father. ¡°Mom, are you upset because you think I have outdone you and are looking for a way to save face?¡± The old lady pouted. ¡°Your father isn¡¯t comparing me with you. He¡¯s lamenting that his son and daughter-in-law aren¡¯t as dutiful as his daughter. Such an ungrateful old man. Your elder brother treats him so well, yet all he does is complain. How do you think Yushan and Aiyuan would feel if they heard him?¡± With a shake of his head, Old Master Zhao said resignedly, ¡°Even a little joke between my daughter and me leads to such a long lecture from you.¡± Noticing a forced smile on Zhao Yulan¡¯s face, his brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Yulan, has something happened?¡± ¡°Dad, I came here to ask for you and Mom¡¯s advice...¡± Zhao Yulan recounted her encounter with Xue Ligang. After listening, the old man sighed. ¡°Last time Chuxia visited, she told us about her engagement to the Luo family¡¯s boy, which your mother and I didn¡¯t quite agree with. Chuxia is only seventeen. What¡¯s the rush? We were planning to find a time to visit Xiaolin Village to discuss possibly postponing the engagement. But now, before we could even settle that, another problem arises. Compared to the Xue family, it¡¯s still better for her to marry into the Luo family. If necessary, we should settle the engagement between Chuxia and Hongqi in the next few days. This is a new society; the Xue family shouldn¡¯t be expected to barge in and disrupt the engagement. No matter who ends up marrying into the Xue family, Chuxia absolutely can¡¯t. With Xue Ligang¡¯s wife, if she finds out whose daughter Chuxia is, would she let Chuxia off easily? Xue Ligang himself is a selfish man. Even if he fancies you, he shouldn¡¯t be dragging Chuxia into the fire pit of his family. And your in-laws are no good either!¡± By the end, the old man was huffing angrily. ¡°Dad, we¡¯ve already encountered Xue Ligang, and he has made his intentions clear. If we arrange the engagement between Chuxia and Hongqi now, he will certainly retaliate against Gangshun...¡± Zhao Yulan sighed heavily. ¡°No matter how much Fat Auntie and Gangshun value their old affection and care for Chuxia, if this causes them to lose their positions, being in their shoes would not be easy.¡± At this, the old lady decisively said, ¡°Under no circumstances can we set an engagement with the Luo family now!¡± ¡°Chuxia must not follow in your footsteps. When you married into the Lin Family without any regard for yourself, how did that turn out? Who treated you like a person?¡± As her past was brought up, Zhao Yulan¡¯s eyes turned red with tears. ¡°Yulan, your dad and I never disliked Baohe, it¡¯s just that you¡¯re too stubborn...¡± the old lady said, looking at Chuxia, ¡°Chuxia, today in front of you, Grandma will tell you the truth about your mom and dad¡¯s relationship, so you don¡¯t repeat your mom¡¯s old mistakes. After Fat Auntie visited your mom, your mom, worried that your grandpa and I wouldn¡¯t approve of her marriage to your dad, secretly arranged a matchmaker to discuss the marriage with the Lin family. How could the old Zhao couple, worried about your mom breaking off her engagement, raise any objections? They immediately followed the matchmaker to our house, catching your grandpa and me completely off guard. From then on, the elder Zhao couple assumed your mom was like a duck that¡¯s cooked and can¡¯t fly away, and their attitude towards our family suddenly grew cold. According to your grandpa and my wish, even if your mom was set on your dad, there was no rush at that moment. But your mom was so stubborn, insisting on marrying your dad immediately. The wedding was just your uncle accompanying your dad with a donkey cart to bring your mom over. Your grandparents only prepared an empty room for your parents¡¯ bridal chamber, and didn¡¯t provide anything else. The bedding, mattresses, and all the household items needed for daily life were all provided by your grandpa and me. Chuxia, no matter how much the Xue family pressures you, you must not see the Luo family as your only lifeline. Otherwise, sooner or later, you¡¯ll end up just like your mom.¡± ¡°Grandma, I understand...¡± After a slight hesitation, Chuxia said, ¡°Grandma, Grandpa, if my second aunt were to marry Qiyan into the Xue family, would you agree?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± The old lady was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood, ¡°Did you tell your second aunt about the marriage with the Xue family by any chance, thinking she would interfere?¡± ¡°That¡¯s one aspect. My second aunt and my aunt are from the same village and are close, so she would definitely discuss it with my aunt. My aunt is currently arranging to marry my elder cousin¡¯s sister-in-law into the Xue family. If my second aunt also involves herself, I believe they will definitely prepare on both fronts. Sister Qiyan, though not tall, is beautiful. Liu Meifeng is taller than Sister Qiyan, but not as pretty. The Xue family¡¯s son hasn¡¯t seen them yet, but if he insists, I believe even Director Xue won¡¯t have a choice, so I think, in the end, who the Xue family becomes related to is really uncertain.¡± Originally, Chuxia didn¡¯t want to mention this, but after thinking about it, with Old Master Zhao and the old lady¡¯s shrewdness, they would definitely figure it out sooner or later, so it was better for her to confess in advance. Besides, Old Master Zhao and the old lady truly love Zhao Yulan; therefore, they naturally love all connected to her. Keeping this from them also felt wrong to her. However, there was one thing she still didn¡¯t mention, that Zheng Sanqiao and Lin Xiaohua, after their discussion, would definitely try everything to prevent her from marrying into the Xue family, even if their own candidates weren¡¯t chosen; they wouldn¡¯t give up easily. Some people just feel that if they can¡¯t benefit from something, they definitely won¡¯t let others who aren¡¯t as good as them benefit either, absolutely not! Hearing Chuxia¡¯s words, everyone¡¯s expression relaxed. Old Master Zhao patted Chuxia on the head, ¡°The girl has really grown up, even able to think things through. But letting Qiyan marry there, wouldn¡¯t be appropriate either...¡± Old Master Zhao looked at the old lady, ¡°Why don¡¯t you go and find Qiyan, see how she feels?¡± Feeling compassion for her granddaughter, and naturally for her other granddaughters, the old lady immediately got up and dusted off her pants, ¡°Yulan, you guys don¡¯t go back tonight. Wait for your sister-in-law to come back, you talk with her, and Chuxia, you also chat with your Sister Qihui. That child is currently very troubled, and you¡¯ve seen Commander Zhou and Instructor Zhou, maybe she will be willing to talk to you about her feelings.¡± Chapter 37 - 37 37 Why Dont You Marry ?37: Chapter 37: Why Don¡¯t You Marry? 37: Chapter 37: Why Don¡¯t You Marry? Old Lady Zhao had just stepped out of the door when Chuxia entered the house right behind her, gathering all the dirty clothes that the old couple had changed out of. Old Master Zhao was long accustomed to his youngest daughter¡¯s diligence and filial piety and didn¡¯t stop her. Holding his dry tobacco pipe, he puffed away and said, ¡°Your mother likes to wait until there¡¯s a pile to wash, but somehow the pile always ends up in your hands. Chuxia, do you think your mother is being lazy on purpose, saving them all for you to wash?¡± Chuxia knew that Old Master Zhao was just teasing her, but she couldn¡¯t help defending Old Lady Zhao: ¡°Dad, I grew up right in front of my mother¡¯s eyes. It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t know her habits; she¡¯s doing it to save on soap.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to save? You have to use soap for each piece anyway. I think your mother is just lazy.¡± Old Master Zhao continued, poking Chuxia, ¡°Chuxia, do you think what your grandpa is saying is right?¡± ¡°Grandpa, if my grandma heard you talking about her like this...¡± Chuxia glanced at Old Master Zhao¡¯s tobacco pipe stem and stopped mid-sentence. Old Master Zhao chuckled, ¡°Chuxia, if your grandma won¡¯t give grandpa tobacco, can¡¯t you bring some for grandpa?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Chuxia took the tobacco jar away from beside him, ¡°Smoking so much is bad for your health. I¡¯d rather grandma cut off your tobacco supply.¡± ¡°This cheeky girl...¡± Old Master Zhao shook his head, amused, ¡°Both your great-grandpa and great-grandma smoked and lived to nearly ninety. There are several in the village of a similar age who didn¡¯t smoke and didn¡¯t even make it to eighty. How do you explain that?¡± ¡°Grandpa, it has to do with personal constitution. Maybe if great-grandpa and great-grandma didn¡¯t smoke, they could have lived to over a hundred,¡± Chuxia argued. ¡°Chuxia, once you find a husband¡¯s family, it¡¯ll be up to you to supply grandpa¡¯s tobacco, alright?¡± ¡°Grandpa!¡± ¡°After all, grandpa doesn¡¯t ask for much, just tobacco. If you¡¯re too stingy to give it, then forget it,¡± Old Master Zhao simply played the rascal. Out of options, Chuxia came up with a trick: ¡°I promise grandpa that once I find a husband¡¯s family, I¡¯ll do my best to provide grandpa with good tobacco. But grandpa also has to promise me that he won¡¯t smoke anything except the tobacco I give him!¡± ¡°This cheeky girl...¡± Old Master Zhao shook his head, resigned yet amused, ¡°Chuxia, did you understand what your daughter just said? It seems she¡¯ll only supply me with a pound of good tobacco a year, and after that, I¡¯ll just have to hang in there... No need for you to supply it, cheeky girl!¡± ¡°Grandpa, ¡®A gentleman¡¯s agreement is worth more than a horse¡¯s effort,¡¯ it¡¯s too late for you to go back on your word now. Besides, books say that tobacco contains nicotine...¡± Listening to Chuxia¡¯s incessant chatter made Old Master Zhao¡¯s head spin, and he waved his hands in surrender, ¡°Alright, alright, grandpa promises you. When you find a husband¡¯s family, if you give grandpa a little more, he will smoke only that bit extra, not one puff more, okay?¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Chuxia reached out to grab Old Master Zhao¡¯s tobacco pipe bowl, ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯ve already smoked two pouches, take a break.¡± ¡°This cheeky girl...¡± Old Master Zhao looked at Chuxia with a wry face, then turned to Chuxia, ¡°Chuxia, we need to find you a good husband¡¯s family, or else daddy won¡¯t have any tobacco to smoke.¡± ¡°Dad, I¡¯m back. Oh, is my little sister also here?¡± Before Chuxia could respond, a middle-aged woman about fifty years old barged in. Chuxia looked over and saw it was her aunt Zhao Yuying, so she greeted her with a smile, ¡°Hello, auntie.¡± ¡°This child, you¡¯re growing more and more attractive.¡± Zhao Yuying had already come up close, her rough hands patting Chuxia¡¯s head, then she turned to Chuxia who was battling a big basin of clothes, ¡°Little sister, you¡¯re so diligent and filial, even Yucui and I can¡¯t compare. No wonder dad and mom dote on you the most.¡± ¡°Grandpa, did you miss me?¡± A pretty young woman in her early twenties walked in, pushing a brand-new bicycle, greeted Old Master Zhao with a beaming smile, and then her expression visibly faded when she turned towards Zhao Yulan, ¡°Is Auntie also here?¡± This was Zhao Yuying¡¯s second daughter, Chuxia¡¯s cousin Wang Meifeng. Out of politeness, Chuxia called her Second Sister, but the cousin only responded faintly and didn¡¯t even deign to glance her way. Chuxia¡¯s expression also cooled. She had seen this second cousin over the New Year, and her arrogance was extreme. The reason for her arrogance was nothing more than securing a son-in-law who worked as an accountant in the town. Chuxia disliked this kind of person the most. If it weren¡¯t for Aunt Zhao Yuying being rather kind-hearted, she couldn¡¯t have cared less to bother with her! Old Master Zhao, curious, pointed at the bicycle Wang Xiaofeng was pushing, ¡°This thing isn¡¯t cheap, is it?¡± ¡°Grandpa, this isn¡¯t about being cheap or not. Even if regular folks have the money, they can¡¯t get their hands on it...¡± ¡°Dad, this is the betrothal gift from Xiaofeng¡¯s Husband¡¯s Family,¡± Zhao Yuying interrupted her daughter, shooting her a glare before continuing, ¡°The date for the engagement is set for the ninth of next month. I initially planned to deliver the letters to you and Mom today and to Yulan and Second Brother tomorrow, but since Yulan is here, there¡¯s no need to make the trip. By the way, where¡¯s mom?¡± ¡°Your mom went to your second brother¡¯s place, your eldest brother went to the village committee, and your sister-in-law took Qihui back to her maternal home,¡± Old Master Zhao recounted the whereabouts of everyone in the family. ¡°Is Qihui doing any better?¡± Zhao Yuying asked, concerned. ¡°It¡¯s still the same...¡± Old Master Zhao let out a sigh, ¡°Your sister-in-law took her back to her maternal home, trying to get Qihui¡¯s uncle to come up with a solution. Now, Qihui is hell-bent on joining the army unit where Yuanbao once served.¡± Zhao Yuying also sighed, ¡°That¡¯s not so simple, is it? Even if Qihui¡¯s big uncle has the capability to get her into the army, it¡¯s not like he can just send her anywhere. Isn¡¯t this making things difficult for her big uncle?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve all tried reasoning with her, but she¡¯s just not giving up. Your sister-in-law is out of options and worries that Qihui might become distressed. Whether it¡¯s possible or not, they¡¯ll go along with her wishes. Once they¡¯ve tried their best, she won¡¯t have any reason to blame them.¡± ¡°My eldest sister is so stubborn! Has she decided that without that soldier, she can¡¯t lead a life?¡± Wang Xiaofeng said with a face full of noble disdain. ¡°Xiaofeng!¡± Zhao Yuying scolded her daughter sharply, staring at her with stern eyes, ¡°If you dare to spout nonsense in front of Qihui, don¡¯t be surprised if I stop treating you like my own daughter!¡± ¡°I know,¡± Wang Xiaofeng clearly retorted with an indignant face. ¡°All these messy troubles, they come all at once,¡± Old Master Zhao sighed, relayed Xue Ligang¡¯s matter to his eldest daughter, and before Zhao Yuying could say anything, Wang Xiaofeng¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Auntie, is Grandpa telling the truth?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Zhao Yulan muttered in response. ¡°Why push away such a good opportunity?¡± Wang Xiaofeng pointed to her bicycle, ¡°If Chuxia could marry into the Xue family, not only would she get a bicycle, but a sewing machine and a watch would surely follow. Grandpa, Auntie, and Uncle might be confused, but how could you and great-grandma also be muddled? With my Auntie¡¯s family¡¯s situation, for someone to take an interest in them is really a stroke of good fortune, and still, they hesitate...¡± Chuxia, with a faint voice, interrupted her, ¡°Since it¡¯s so wonderful, why don¡¯t ...you marry him?¡± Chapter 38 - 38 38 All Selfish People Are Despised ?38: Chapter 38: All Selfish People Are Despised 38: Chapter 38: All Selfish People Are Despised ¡°I am doing this for your own good, how can you not appreciate it?¡± Wang Meifeng¡¯s face turned beet red as she stared at Chuxia with indignation, ¡°If it were someone else¡¯s matter, I wouldn¡¯t bother to intervene.¡± ¡°Chuxia, apologize to your sister,¡± Zhao Yulan said sternly to her daughter, ¡°Regardless of whether you agree with your sister¡¯s opinion or not, you cannot speak to her with that attitude, understand?¡± ¡°My attitude may have been wrong, but what I said is the truth,¡± Chuxia refused to admit she was in the wrong. With a frown, Wang Meifeng turned to Zhao Yulan: ¡°Aunt, you and Uncle have really spoiled Chuxia rotten. If you don¡¯t start disciplining her properly, she won¡¯t do well in any family she marries into.¡± Chuxia was Zhao Yulan¡¯s darling, and hearing Wang Meifeng curse her like this infuriated Zhao Yulan. She immediately darkened her expression, ¡°Meifeng, I asked Chuxia to apologize to you because she didn¡¯t show you enough respect, not because I think you¡¯re right. Chuxia will marry a man suitable for her, not a bicycle, a sewing machine, or a watch. Your uncle and I want Chuxia to have a good life, not to serve others or to have to watch someone¡¯s face. Even if we had mountains of gold and silver, we wouldn¡¯t covet a life of servitude. I know Chuxia¡¯s temperament better than you do. You just need to take care of your own business, and leave Chuxia¡¯s matters out of it!¡± After speaking, she turned to Zhao Yuying, ¡°Eldest sister, if you¡¯re angry with me, you can scold me all you want, and I won¡¯t talk back.¡± ¡°You...¡± Zhao Yuying shook her head with a smile, ¡°I know Chuxia is your precious child, and it was Meiying who brought this upon herself, how could I scold you? But, are you saying that it¡¯s okay for me to scold you, but if I scold Chuxia, you¡¯d get angry with me too?¡± ¡°Sister...¡± Zhao Yulan looked abashed, she knew that speaking to her older sister in that way was inappropriate, but she had finally grown closer to her daughter, and she was truly afraid of going back to square one. Feeling her efforts unappreciated, Wang Meifeng, who was always backed by her own mother and aunt, was truly angered. She turned her gaze to Old Master Zhao who had been silent all this time, ¡°Grandpa, do you also think I¡¯m in the wrong?¡± Old Master Zhao chuckled, ¡°Meifeng, do you feel particularly wronged?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°Are you upset because your mother and aunt aren¡¯t on your side, or because Chuxia refuses to marry into the Xue family, and hence won¡¯t be able to help you?¡± Old Master Zhao¡¯s incisive analysis made Wang Meifeng¡¯s face turn crimson in an instant, and the words that were about to come out of her mouth got stuck in her throat, unable to be uttered. ¡°Meifeng, your mother is a kind person, and your father is honest, I really don¡¯t know who you take after...¡± Elder Zhao let out a heavy sigh, ¡°Grandpa might be saying things you don¡¯t want to hear, but I still want to tell you, in a family, less calculation and more sincerity are what truly matter. That¡¯s also true when you go to your husband¡¯s family,¡± he advised. Wang Meifeng quickly stood up, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going home, are you coming with me?¡± Zhao Yuying looked helplessly, ¡°Meifeng, everything your grandpa says is for your own good. Why can¡¯t you listen to good advice?¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s for my good, I know it in my heart...¡± Wang Meifeng glanced at Zhao Yulan, ¡°Aunt, don¡¯t take it hard if I¡¯m being blunt, but since I don¡¯t have much clout in my husband¡¯s family and I don¡¯t dare to overstep, when trouble comes, don¡¯t expect me to help.¡± Zhao Yulan nodded earnestly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your aunt¡¯s family would rather beg than bother you.¡± ¡°This girl, she hasn¡¯t even married out yet, but she¡¯s already adopting her future family¡¯s surname...¡± Zhao Yuying was deeply disappointed in her daughter¡¯s actions, ¡°Meifeng, I can see you don¡¯t value your relatives on this side. You don¡¯t need to notify your second aunt tomorrow. You can go back; I can¡¯t afford your car ride.¡± ¡°Mom, I was wrong, Grandpa, Aunt, I was wrong, please don¡¯t be mad at me...¡± Hearing Zhao Yuying say so, Wang Meifeng panicked. It wasn¡¯t that she looked down on her aunt¡¯s family; she just didn¡¯t want her aunt to embarrass her. But it was essential that her big uncle and second aunt be informed. My eldest uncle is the village secretary, and one of my maternal aunts¡¯ husbands is the vice director of the commune. It was my maternal aunt who set up the match. If I don¡¯t notify my aunt and her husband, how will I ever be able to hold my head up in the future? ¡°Yuying and Meifeng are here too?¡± At that moment, Old Lady Zhao came in from outside with a smiling face. Noticing that something was off by everyone¡¯s expressions, she looked puzzled at Zhao Yuying, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Grandma, you must help me...¡± Wang Meifeng clung to the old lady¡¯s arm, looking utterly pitiful, ¡°Grandfather, Mom, and Aunt are angry with me. They said they won¡¯t manage my betrothal anymore. I know I was wrong. Grandma, please speak up for me.¡± ¡°Mother, don¡¯t bother about her...¡± Zhao Yuying then recounted the recent events to the old lady. Old Lady Zhao was silent for a long while before speaking, ¡°Meifeng, do you think your grandfather, your mother, and your aunt would harm Chuxia or support her?¡± ¡°Of course, they support her!¡± Wang Meifeng¡¯s tone was filled with resentment. ¡°If you weren¡¯t worried that your eldest uncle and your maternal aunt¡¯s husband wouldn¡¯t be able to arrange your betrothal, would you bow your head?¡± ¡°I...¡± Wang Meifeng was at a loss for words. ¡°Meifeng, it¡¯s not wrong to look after one¡¯s own interests, but being too self-interested...¡± The old lady shook her head and did not continue. ¡°I¡¯m leaving!¡± Wang Meifeng was a person with a strong sense of self-respect. Bowing her head like she has just done was already her limit, and facing such an unreserved questioning from Old Lady Zhao, she couldn¡¯t stay any longer. Watching her daughter leave, Zhao Yuying felt both heartache and disappointment. Zhao Yulan knew how her sister felt but was at a loss for what to advise, so she scolded her daughter instead, ¡°Chuxia, if you weren¡¯t such a troublemaker, why would your grandaunt be so heartbroken?¡± ¡°Grandaunt, I know you¡¯ve always cared for my mother and me. I shouldn¡¯t have treated my second cousin that way. Should I apologize to her sometime?¡± ¡°Silly girl...¡± Zhao Yuying poked Chuxia¡¯s forehead, half amused and half annoyed, ¡°You know full well grandaunt wouldn¡¯t let you apologize. You are getting more and more cunning.¡± Chuxia was very serious, ¡°Grandaunt, I really will apologize if you just give the word. My mother is so supportive of me, and you too. It¡¯s my responsibility to make you happy.¡± ¡°Dad, Mom, Yulan has finally come through...¡± Zhao Yuying smiled while looking at the old couple of the Zhao house, ¡°Chuxia has truly grown up. She couldn¡¯t have said such things in the past, could she?¡± The mood lightened a bit thanks to Chuxia¡¯s intervention. Zhao Yulan looked towards Old Lady Zhao, ¡°Mom, did you talk to Qiyan? What does she think?¡± ¡°That child...¡± Old Lady Zhao shook her head, ¡°As soon as she heard her mother say she was to have a blind date with the son of the commune director, she was so delighted she could hardly contain herself. I talked for a long time, but she didn¡¯t take a single word to heart.¡± Chuxia felt somewhat guilty. Because of her, everyone was unsettled, but what could she do? Surely, she couldn¡¯t marry into the Xue family without any resistance. Knowing it was a trap and still taking the bait, whom could she blame? Thinking this way, her state of mind became more peaceful again. At worst, once she made something of herself, she would repay these relatives who had been kind to her. As for those who didn¡¯t see her worth... well, she didn¡¯t see them either! Chapter 39 - 39 39 Ambiguous Attitude ?39: Chapter 39 Ambiguous Attitude 39: Chapter 39 Ambiguous Attitude Wang Meifeng huffed out of Xiaolin Village. Midway, she suddenly came to her senses. How was she returning home like this? She changed direction and headed to the town. Passing by the supply and marketing cooperative, she weighed out two pounds of Peach Crisp and one pound of White Sugar and rushed towards Red Flag Commune Central Primary School. Zhao Yucui was the natural science teacher for four classes in the third grade at Red Flag Commune Central Primary School, with a total of eight lessons a week ¡ª a rather leisurely job. When Wang Meifeng arrived, Zhao Yucui was gossiping idly with three other female teachers in the office. ¡°Second Auntie,¡± Wang Meifeng stood at the door and smiled with a hint of nervousness. ¡°Come in, come in...¡± Zhao Yucui waved her over, pointing to a woman in her thirties, ¡°Meifeng, this is Teacher Qiang who just transferred here. You¡¯re not unfamiliar with her, are you?¡± ¡°Hello, Second Aunt,¡± Wang Meifeng greeted with a flushed face. Teacher Qiang was the biological Second Aunt of her future husband, Qiang Junjie, so of course she wanted to curry favor, but she also felt a bit awkward. She had not known that her Second Aunt had transferred to the Commune Central Primary School upon arriving; she had only bought gifts for her Second Aunt. Holding the items in her hand now felt like holding hot yams, leaving her at a loss. ¡°Meifeng, we¡¯re all family, why so formal?¡± Wang Meifeng¡¯s difficulty seemed to vanish as Second Aunt Qiang very actively took all the gifts from her hands. ¡°It¡¯s only right, it¡¯s only right...¡± Wang Meifeng nodded mechanically, her mind racing with what to do next. ¡°Hahaha...¡± Seeing Wang Meifeng¡¯s flurry, Second Aunt Qiang laughed so hard she shook and casually handed the gifts to Zhao Yucui, ¡°Teacher Zhao, I was just joking, hahaha...¡± Zhao Yucui pushed the gifts back, ¡°Had I known you were also working here, how could Meifeng not bring a gift for you? I¡¯m her real Second Aunt, and you¡¯re her future grandmother-in-law. To keep her from being treated badly, from now on I must try to please you.¡± An amused teacher commented with a pursed lip, ¡°Seems like the two of us are going to be left out from now on.¡± Another quickly chimed in, ¡°Exactly, exactly. Once these two families get together, how could they possibly include us in their fun?¡± Second Aunt Qiang looked at the slightly plump teacher with a laugh, ¡°My son is nineteen this year, your daughter is seventeen, I think it would be just perfect if we became relatives.¡± Another teacher protested, ¡°What about me then? If you three become one big happy family, what am I supposed to do?¡± While everyone was causing a ruckus, Wang Meifeng softly thanked Zhao Yucui, ¡°Second Aunt, I will honor you the same way I honor my mother.¡± ¡°You¡¯re getting sweeter and sweeter,¡± Zhao Yucui knew she had come for a reason. She said her farewells to everyone, ¡°I¡¯m going to leave a bit early today, see you all tomorrow.¡± ¡°See you tomorrow!¡± ¡°Goodbye, Second Aunt! Goodbye, Teacher Wang, Teacher Li!¡± ¡°Goodbye!¡± As Zhao Yucui pushed her bike out of the bicycle shed, Wang Meifeng quickly pointed to her own bike, ¡°Second Aunt, let¡¯s swap bikes. You help me try out how this bike rides.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Zhao Yucui agreed heartily, examining the bicycle closely and nodding in approval, ¡°The Qiang Family really doesn¡¯t skimp. This bike is nice.¡± Wang Meifeng hurriedly said, ¡°Could anything Second Aunt recommended be bad?¡± ¡°So, tell me, what have you come to your Second Aunt for?¡± Zhao Yucui asked while pushing the bicycle outside. ¡°Second Aunt, I¡¯ve set the date for my engagement, it¡¯s next month on the ninth. You and my Uncle must definitely come.¡± Zhao Yucui looked puzzled at Wang Meifeng, ¡°Did you have a falling-out with your mom?¡± According to local customs, notifying about such significant events definitely requires the presence of elders. Since Wang Meifeng had come alone, Zhao Yucui naturally wondered. ¡°Second Aunt, aside from discussing that matter, there is another thing...¡± Wang Meifeng then told Zhao Yucui about how Xue Ligang had his sights set on Chuxia to be his daughter-in-law, and how everyone at Zhao¡¯s house was thinking of turning down the proposal. ¡°Xue Ligang wants Xue Guohong to marry Chuxia?¡± Zhao Yucui frowned, ¡°Meifeng, there¡¯s no misunderstanding about this?¡± ¡°None!¡± Wang Meifeng¡¯s face was full of grievance. ¡°I just thought it wasn¡¯t easy for my little aunt¡¯s family to get such a good marriage proposal. After giving a few hints, I ended up being scolded and kicked out.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t blame them for scolding you. Everyone is well aware of your aunt¡¯s past with Xue Ligang. If Chuxia were to marry into the Xue family, Wang Meihua would not treat Chuxia kindly. How could your aunt, who treasures Chuxia so much, agree to it? As for your grandparents, Chuxia is the most cherished and pitied among the grandchildren; naturally, they would put Chuxia¡¯s comfort first. And you know your mother¡¯s temperament, why would she take your side?¡± Wang Meifeng felt somewhat disappointed: ¡°Second Aunt, do you also think this marriage proposal can¡¯t happen?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Zhao Yucui sighed, ¡°It¡¯s not up to Second Aunt to decide whether it can happen or not, it¡¯s about what your little aunt and your little aunt¡¯s husband think. Of course, I hope Chuxia is happy, but considering Chuxia¡¯s health, which family would be the happiest and most comfortable for her to marry into? Even if not the Xue family but the Luo family, in the long run, it wouldn¡¯t be good either.¡± Wang Meifeng looked at Zhao Yucui in confusion; she truly couldn¡¯t make sense of what the other party meant. ¡°Forget it, let me think about it some more before I decide,¡± Zhao Yucui said with a smile as she patted her shoulder. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go to the commune and find your Second Uncle so we can go home together.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Wang Meifeng¡¯s cheeks flushed with redness. Zhao Yucui noticed her expression and the corners of her lips curled up: ¡°Meifeng, should we invite Qiang Junjie to have dinner with us tonight?¡± ¡°Second Aunt decides,¡± Wang Meifeng said, her voice as quiet as a mosquito¡¯s. ¡°Hehe...¡± Zhao Yucui laughed meaningfully, and Wang Meifeng¡¯s face turned even redder. ... Second Uncle Zhang Guojun was forty-six years old this year, and due to his frequent role as a leading cadre, he spoke and walked with great presence. When he saw his wife and Wang Meifeng, he first recited a political slogan before asking, ¡°Meifeng, what brings you here today?¡± Zhao Yucui gave him a reproachful look: ¡°Is that how you should ask? The child kindly comes to see you, and you¡¯re complaining? By the way, let¡¯s have Xiaoqiang come home for dinner tonight, call him.¡± ¡°Public property cannot be used for personal affairs,¡± Zhang Guojun glared at his wife and turned to walk outside. ¡°I¡¯ll go find him.¡± ¡°Second Aunt, Second Uncle really treats you well,¡± Wang Meifeng said enviously. Zhao Yucui¡¯s lips curved up in a smile unwittingly: ¡°Hmm, Second Aunt¡¯s life hasn¡¯t been spent in vain marrying the right person. Don¡¯t worry, Meifeng, you won¡¯t marry the wrong person either. Xiaoqiang¡¯s temperament and character are exceptional, and he has a promising future.¡± ¡°Second Aunt...¡± Wang Meifeng bashfully lowered her head, almost at the same time, Zhang Guojun and a 25- or 26-year-old refined young man walked in. ¡°I just stepped out, and I ran into this youngster.¡± ¡°Auntie, you¡¯re here? Comrade Meifeng, hello!¡± Zhao Yucui chuckled and slapped Qiang Junjie¡¯s hand: ¡°You¡¯re so familiar with Meifeng, why put on an act in front of your aunt? Come on, tonight your aunt and Meifeng will make dumplings for you to eat.¡± ¡°Then I am truly fortunate.¡± Qiang Junjie smiled until his eyes squinted. Zhang Guojun and Qiang Junjie rode their bicycles in front, while Zhao Yucui and Wang Meifeng followed behind on theirs. Halfway, they encountered a young man on a bicycle carrying a girl who laughed and greeted Zhang Guojun before turning into a small alley. ¡°Ah!¡± Zhao Yucui sighed deeply and said, ¡°Meifeng, that guy just now was Xue Guohong.¡± Chapter 40 - 40 40 Reporting the News Overnight ?40: Chapter 40: Reporting the News Overnight 40: Chapter 40: Reporting the News Overnight ¡°` ¡°Is that Xue Guohong?¡± Wang Meifeng¡¯s eyes instantly went wide as saucers, ¡°Auntie, do you recognize the girl sitting in his car?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhao Yucui nodded, but said nothing more. Wang Meifeng was no fool; she knew this was not a matter to discuss in the middle of the street, so she changed the subject, ¡°Auntie, Xiaoqing should be getting out of school by now, right? Should we go pick him up?¡± Speaking of her beloved son, Zhao Yucui¡¯s gaze warmed up, ¡°That wild monkey runs off as soon as the bell rings; how could we possibly catch him?¡± ¡°My mom always says that if Songsong were half as tough as Xiaoqing, she¡¯d be content.¡± Songsong was Wang Meifeng¡¯s younger brother, officially Wang Jinsong, born in the same year as Zhao Yucui¡¯s son Zhang Xiaoqing, both fifteen years old. ¡°That¡¯s because she hasn¡¯t had to apologize to everyone for him. Let her apologize and smile to make peace every now and then like I do; then she wouldn¡¯t envy Xiaoqing¡¯s toughness...¡± ¡°How could my family compare to Auntie¡¯s? If Songsong actually hit someone, would an apology even be useful? But no matter what, it¡¯s better for boys to be a bit tougher.¡± Zhao Yucui sighed deeply, ¡°Meifeng, some things are not as simple as you imagine. There are many tougher out there than our family. Forget it, let¡¯s not talk about this. Once you¡¯re part of that circle, you¡¯ll understand it gradually by yourself.¡± Part of that circle? Wang Meifeng¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, ¡°Auntie, are you saying there¡¯s progress with me becoming a teacher at the central primary school?¡± ¡°Your uncle has gone to a lot of trouble, but he finally succeeded. Just be observant and get along with your coworkers,¡± Zhao Yucui said sternly. ¡°I will follow Auntie¡¯s commands in everything!¡± A pleased smile appeared in Zhao Yucui¡¯s eyes, but she said, ¡°You can¡¯t talk like that. If your uncle heard it, he¡¯d lecture us again on not distinguishing between public and private interests.¡± ¡°He can¡¯t hear us from this far away.¡± Wang Meifeng pulled her car up next to Zhao Yucui, ¡°I only talk like this in front of Auntie. I know how to act.¡± ¡°If your grandma and grandpa knew I helped you get into the school, they would certainly complain about me not taking care of Chuxia... Sigh, if that girl were half as sensible and reasonable as you, your aunt wouldn¡¯t have to worry about her...¡± Zhao Yucui said with a wry smile and shook her head, ¡°That child, she¡¯s really been spoiled by your little aunt and uncle, and your grandparents.¡± Wang Meifeng quickly assured her, ¡°Auntie, once I¡¯m in the school, I¡¯ll be sure to listen more and talk less, report back to you frequently, and never cause you any trouble.¡± Zhao Yucui wanted Wang Meifeng in the school to act as her confidante, to clear the path for her promotion to vice-principal. Seeing that Meifeng understood her intent, she immediately switched topics with a grin. Zhang Xiaoqing stood with one leg propped against his bike, looking carefree as he stood at his own doorstep. Spotting Zhang Guojun and Zhao Yucui from afar, he shouted, ¡°I¡¯m starving to death!¡± ¡°Coming, coming, this kid, definitely lost his keys again...¡± Zhao Yucui headed toward him at a quicker pace, Wang Meifeng hurried to keep up. Nearing him, she glanced at Zhang Xiaoqing with a hint of flattery, ¡°It¡¯s lucky Auntie and I didn¡¯t go to the school to find you, or we would¡¯ve missed you. Speaking of which, how come you¡¯re home so early today?¡± ¡°Missed you, didn¡¯t I? Did you bring me something tasty?¡± Zhang Xiaoqing stretched out a paw towards her playfully, then switched it towards Qiang Junjie, ¡°Prospective brother-in-law, even if sister didn¡¯t bring me anything, it¡¯s fine if you did.¡± Qiang Junjie laughed and swatted away his hand, ¡°Didn¡¯t bring anything today, I¡¯ll make it up to you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Bah, tomorrow is tomorrow¡¯s business!¡± Zhang Guojun glared, ¡°Xiaoqing, who taught you to be so disrespectful?¡± ¡°` Xiaoqing slanted his eyes and curled his lip, entering the yard with one foot on his bike, ¡°Mom, hurry up and make me something delicious; I¡¯m about to starve to death.¡± Wang Meifeng¡¯s face turned even more unnatural. To her, Zhang Xiaoqing¡¯s string of complaints about hunger seemed like a complaint that she hadn¡¯t brought any tasty food and was coming over for a free meal. She couldn¡¯t help but shoot Qiang Junjie a resentful glance. Just then, Qiang Junjie was also stealthily glancing her way. When their eyes met¡ªwith hers full of silent reproach¡ªhe racked his brains, feeling like... maybe... he hadn¡¯t really done anything to wrong her... right? ... ¡°Clack!¡± After dinner, the old couple of Zhao¡¯s house, Zhao Yushan¡¯s family of three, Zhao Yuying, and Zhao Yulan, as well as Chuxia, were sitting and chatting leisurely in the east room when they suddenly heard the door latch outside. Zhao Yushan quickly grabbed a flashlight and went out to check. As he closed the door, Zhang Xiaoqing shielded his eyes with his hand: ¡°Is that Uncle? Don¡¯t shine that on me; it¡¯s dazzling!¡± ¡°Why have you come at this time?¡± There was a tone of concern in Zhao Yushan¡¯s voice. ¡°I missed Grandma and Grandpa; I missed Uncle, Eldest maternal aunt, and Sister Qihui; I also missed my little aunty and Chuxia. I missed you all so much, I couldn¡¯t take it anymore, so I came over.¡± Zhao Yushan was helpless: ¡°You child, have you had dinner?¡± ¡°I have, but if Uncle has some tasty food for me, I wouldn¡¯t mind stuffing a bit more in,¡± Zhang Xiaoqing said without any seriousness. During their conversation, the two had already entered the east room. After greeting everyone and cozying up to the Old Lady Zhao for a while, when Zhao Yushan brought up the old concern and asked him again what exactly had happened, Zhang Xiaoqing¡¯s playful manner vanished in an instant, and he looked earnestly at Chuxia: ¡°Chuxia, you can¡¯t marry Xue Guohong.¡± Chuxia wasn¡¯t familiar with this cousin and wasn¡¯t clear about his relationship with the person in question, but his coming all this way just to say this left her unsure how to react. If it was just out of concern for his cousin, she was touched. If it was because he had incomprehensible feelings for her, she was perplexed. Seeing her gaze flicker and fixed on him without a word, Zhang Xiaoqing repeated himself: ¡°Lin Chuxia, did you actually understand what I said? I said, you cannot marry Xue Guohong!¡± Chuxia could only nod her head, indicating she had understood. ¡°Xiaoqing, did you come all this way late at night just to tell your Sister Chuxia this?¡± Old Lady Zhao looked at her grandson with confusion, ¡°Did you hear something, or what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Xue Guohong doesn¡¯t have good character. If Chuxia marries into his family, she¡¯ll have a hard life. I¡¯m Chuxia¡¯s brother; of course, I can¡¯t just watch her jump into the fire pit.¡± Zhang Xiaoqing looked towards Zhao Yuying, ¡°Aunty, you are an honest person, but how could you raise such a villainous second cousin?¡± Chuxia instantly felt a headache coming on. No matter what, Zhao Yuying was an elder, and this Zhang Xiaoqing was indeed a brazen fellow. ¡°Xiaoqing, did Meifeng go to your house?¡± Zhao Yuying¡¯s facial expression turned sour. ¡°Yeah, if I hadn¡¯t heard her plotting bad ideas there, why would I rush over here this late?¡± Zhang Xiaoqing expressed his irritation, ¡°I really don¡¯t get what¡¯s wrong with my dad and mom; why would they help her and not Chuxia?¡± ¡°Xiaoqing, what exactly happened? Tell Grandpa everything,¡± Old Master Zhao spoke up. Chapter 41 - 41 41 Biological Parents ?41: Chapter 41: Biological Parents 41: Chapter 41: Biological Parents ¡°` The next morning, after breakfast, Lin Chuxia, along with Zhao Yulan, Zhao Yuying, Old Master Zhao, Old Lady Zhao, and her eldest uncle¡¯s family, bid their farewells and headed for their respective homes. Once they left the village, there was a stretch of road where both parties walked together, and Zhao Yuying kept sighing and apologizing to Zhao Yulan, although she had already said a basketful of apologies the night before. ¡°Sister, if you keep this up, I¡¯ll actually get annoyed,¡± Zhao Yulan sincerely looked at her eldest sister, ¡°We are sisters. Don¡¯t I know what you¡¯re like? As for Meifeng, wanting a good life isn¡¯t wrong. I don¡¯t blame her.¡± Chuxia quietly pursed her lips. Wanting a good life wasn¡¯t wrong, but it shouldn¡¯t be at the expense of someone else¡¯s happiness. Humph, she would remember this¡ªWang Meifeng shouldn¡¯t expect any favors from her, Lin Chuxia, in this lifetime! ¡°Chuxia, are you still angry with Sister Meifeng?¡± After parting ways with Zhao Yuying at the fork in the road, Zhao Yulan studied her daughter¡¯s expression and asked. ¡°No!¡± Chuxia shook her head, ¡°She¡¯s not worth getting upset over. Mom, let¡¯s hurry. Dad must be getting anxious waiting at home.¡± With that, she quickened her pace. Zhao Yulan hastened her steps to catch up with her daughter, a smile on her face: ¡°Chuxia, your mother is not foolish, and I know right from wrong. What I meant was that we shouldn¡¯t bother with the anger, and just keep our distance from Meifeng in the future.¡± Chuxia took a deep breath in relief: ¡°You gave me a scare. I thought mom was about to lecture me, telling me not to be angry with Wang Meifeng and to get along well with her in the future. But don¡¯t worry, Mom. Wang Meifeng is Wang Meifeng, and my aunt is my aunt. I won¡¯t take out my anger on her because of Wang Meifeng.¡± Zhao Yulan nodded, reassured: ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°There¡¯s another thing I want to make clear: my second aunt is my second aunt, and Xiaoqing is Xiaoqing. I won¡¯t forgive my second aunt just because of Xiaoqing being nice to me.¡± Zhao Yulan: ¡°...¡± Okay, she wasn¡¯t close with her second sister either, but still, shouldn¡¯t she at least put on a front? When the mother and daughter arrived home, Lin Baohe was sun-drying cow dung by the courtyard wall. Seeing his wife and daughter, he couldn¡¯t help but beam with a wide smile, ¡°You¡¯re back so early?¡± Zhao Yulan immediately felt warmth in her heart. She knew her husband¡¯s character all too well; his heartfelt smile showed just how much he had missed them! ¡°Dad, did you have cold pancakes this morning?¡± Before Lin Baohe could reply, Chuxia lifted the small cloth bag she was holding, ¡°Grandma and Grandpa sent these scallion pancakes for you and Mom. They¡¯re still warm.¡± ¡°Your grandma and grandpa, well, we always get helped by them...¡± Lin Baohe put down his shovel, stammering, his eyes looking at Zhao Yulan with guilt. Zhao Yulan rolled her eyes at him: ¡°Go wash your hands and come inside to talk.¡± Once the family settled down inside the house, Chuxia pointed toward the east room, ¡°Dad, is Uncle¡¯s family not around?¡± The unusual quietness, without even Shuanshuan¡¯s crying, made her feel uncomfortable. ¡°Hmm,¡± Lin Baohe grunted, looking at Zhao Yulan, ¡°What does your mother mean by that?¡± ¡°No matter what, we cannot let Chuxia marry into the Xue family,¡± Zhao Yulan stated bluntly. ¡°Gangshun and his wife want to set the marriage date for Chuxia and Hongqi the day after tomorrow. I didn¡¯t agree, I said we¡¯d wait for you to return so we could discuss it further,¡± Lin Baohe also shared the situation on his end. ¡°What about my eldest brother...¡± Zhao Yulan gestured with her chin toward the east room, ¡°Any news from his side?¡± ¡°` ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Lin Baohe shook his head, ¡°Anyway, they didn¡¯t go for the matchmaking yesterday, and they went out early this morning, not sure if they went for it today or not.¡± ¡°Grandpa and Grandma are here,¡± Chuxia, who was sitting in front of the window, noticed the old Lin couple coming together with the help of a cane. Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe exchanged glances, their expressions turning sour. It was almost needless to guess why the elderly couple was visiting at this time. However, they were their parents after all. No matter how reluctant they were, the couple still got up to welcome them. Chuxia pursed her lips and remained seated on the kang. ¡°Chuxia, don¡¯t you recognize your grandparents anymore?¡± Clearly, Old Lady Lin wasn¡¯t pleased her granddaughter hadn¡¯t come to greet them; she walked in and said, her words laced with irritation. ¡°How could I not recognize you? I just can¡¯t believe...¡± Chuxia said with a look of surprise, ¡°Grandpa and Grandma have always asked us to come over if there was something. You¡¯ve been coming over these past few days, and it¡¯s taken me by surprise.¡± Old Lady Lin was immediately infuriated but remembered their purpose of coming. She had to suppress her anger and put on a smiling face: ¡°Baohe, Yulan, our Chuxia is so fortunate. The director of the commune has taken a liking to her and wants her to be the Xue family¡¯s daughter-in-law.¡± ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯ve already talked to you both about Chuxia and Hongqi¡¯s engagement,¡± Lin Baohe said, and at this time, he had to be the one to speak up. ¡°That¡¯s not set in stone yet. Besides, can the Luo family compare with the Xue family?¡± Old Master Lin looked at his son with a disappointed gaze, ¡°This is a great fortune. If Chuxia can really marry into the Xue family, your mother and I could die with our eyes closed. Your oldest brother has Chudong to take care of him in old age, and your third brother has Chuchun and Chuqiu. Your mother and I have always worried about you, but now, the Xue family has agreed that once Chuxia marries in, they will provide a monthly allowance for your elderly care. Now, your mother and I can rest easy!¡± That sounds so nice! Chuxia¡¯s face was smiling, but her eyes were ice-cold: ¡°Grandpa and Grandma, if this marriage were so good, would you need to come to our house personally?¡± ¡°This child, this child...¡± Old Lady Lin pointed at Chuxia indignantly, yet her gaze was fixed on Zhao Yulan, ¡°You¡¯re brought up too spoilt; if this doesn¡¯t change, marrying into any family wouldn¡¯t be good! The reason why your father and I are only coming over today is that we¡¯re afraid she would cause trouble if she marries over and gets sent back. That would be a huge shame!¡± Mother-in-law speaking so lowly of her daughter, Zhao Yulan¡¯s expression immediately darkened: ¡°Dad, Mom, Chuxia marrying into the Xue family means Baohai can get promoted, and Chuchun and Chuqiu can join the army. That is your exchange condition with the Xue family. As for whether the Xue family will treat Chuxia kindly after she marries in, you should be very clear. In front of the kids, I won¡¯t mince words ¨C I know about the matter between you and Xue Ligang, Dad and Mom. Agreeing to this marriage means you don¡¯t consider me and Baohe as your son and daughter-in-law, and Chuxia as your granddaughter!¡± ¡°Rebellious! Absolutely rebellious!¡± Old Lady Lin trembled with anger. Old Master Lin looked at his son with a livid face: ¡°Baohe, what do you have to say?¡± Chuxia looked nervously at Lin Baohe, her usually honest and dull stepfather. Would he side with her and her mother or compromise with Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin? ¡°Yesterday at the market, we ran into Xue Ligang. I thought that Dad and Mom didn¡¯t talk to us because you had changed your minds...¡± He paused, and Lin Baohe¡¯s expression turned sorrowful, ¡°Dad, Mom, am I really your biological son?¡± ¡°Second child, to hear such words from you is like being stabbed in the heart with a knife by you and your mother! If you feel you¡¯re not our biological son, move out tomorrow.¡± With that, Old Master Lin turned and strode out. Old Lady Lin glared at her son and daughter-in-law, snorted coldly, and followed behind. ----- Next chapter preview: The elderly couple may end up shooting themselves in the foot. Chapter 42 - 42 42 Each Thinking of a Plan ?42: Chapter 42: Each Thinking of a Plan 42: Chapter 42: Each Thinking of a Plan Chuxia sat by the window and saw Old Master Lin rush to the middle of the courtyard, suddenly slowing to a snail¡¯s pace. Unexpectedly, Old Lady Lin stepped on the back of his heel, and then, both of them groaned and fell in the courtyard, startling a big rooster that was pecking at food into a frenzied flapping of its wings... Chuxia turned her head and seriously looked at Lin Baohe, who was lost in thought with his head hanging low, ¡°Dad, your dad and mom made the rooster panic.¡± ¡°Oh dear, you troublemaker, wait till I catch you and eat your meat, nothing but trouble, absolutely no cozy family feeling...¡± ¡°They got chicken poop on themselves,¡± Chuxia continued her live commentary. Zhao Yulan¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, emotionlessly looking at Lin Baohe. ¡°Ah! I¡¯ll go have a look,¡± Lin Baohe walked to the door, then turned back to add, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they can¡¯t fool me, you mother and daughter shouldn¡¯t go out!¡± The moment the door closed, Zhao Yulan¡¯s smile immediately blossomed, ¡°Your dad isn¡¯t confused at all.¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Chuxia stared eagerly outside, ¡°My dad helped his dad and his mom up, propped up one on each side and walked them out..., can¡¯t see them anymore...¡± Zhao Yulan helplessly glanced at her daughter, ¡°Still angry and not calling them Grandpa and Grandma?¡± ¡°Are such people worthy of being called Grandpa and Grandma?¡± Chuxia shrugged her shoulders and pouted, ¡°If they had any affection for me, they wouldn¡¯t make that kind of deal.¡± ¡°Ah! There are all sorts of parents in this world...¡± Zhao Yulan¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°If we don¡¯t comply with them, we might really have to move out of this house. I never thought they would do something like this. Right now, it¡¯s still cold, even a makeshift shelter wouldn¡¯t keep out the cold, let alone building a house. Say we don¡¯t have money, even if we had money, it wouldn¡¯t be soon enough, this... this really pushes people to a dead end.¡± After hesitating for a moment, Chuxia seriously looked at Zhao Yulan, ¡°Mom, do you think living in this house makes you happy?¡± ¡°What can we do if it¡¯s not happy? We have no other choice, right?¡± ¡°Uncle¡¯s family keeps eyeing this house, the minute we eat something slightly better, they come looking for trouble incessantly. But what about them? Which week do they not improve their meals with dumplings and steamed buns? Mom, I¡¯m not coveting their food, I¡¯m just stating facts. Dad and mom always say that this house was divided to our family by Grandma and Grandpa, giving us confidence to live here, yet I always feel like I owe the Lin Family because I¡¯m a daughter...¡± ¡°Chuxia...¡± Zhao Yulan looked perplexed, yet unsure how to respond. ¡°Mom, let me finish...¡± Chuxia looked earnestly at Zhao Yulan, ¡°I¡¯m not dredging up old grievances, but analyzing our current situation. Rather than constantly feeling insecure here, wouldn¡¯t it be better to move somewhere else, where we can truly live comfortably? What do you think?¡± ¡°Mom also wants to move out, but where is there a suitable place to go?¡± Chuxia¡¯s lips broke into a smile, ¡°Mom, how many food coupons and how much money do we still have in the family?¡± ¡°What are you planning to do?¡± Lin Baohe entered the house and saw his wife and daughter spreading out food coupons, cloth coupons, and money on the kang, carefully counting them. ¡°Getting ready to move to a new house...¡± Chuxia noted the counted money, then looked at Lin Baohe, ¡°Dad, what did those old folks say to you again?¡± Chuxia¡¯s way of addressing Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin made Lin Baohe feel a slight displeasure. A scolding nearly slipped from his lips, only to be swallowed back down. Given how heartless the old couple had been to their daughter, it seemed understandable that she would address them this way, but still, they were his own parents... Seeing Lin Baohe¡¯s conflict, Chuxia straightened herself and said, ¡°Dad, once this phase is over, I will address them properly, but right now, I just can¡¯t bring myself to do it.¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± Lin Baohe¡¯s expression softened. ¡°The fuss they made just now was to have you go out and persuade you to marry me off to the Xue family, right?¡± Chuxia continued to probe. ¡°Yes, they wanted me to agree...¡± Lin Baohe sighed heavily, ¡°They¡¯re a bit angry and have told us to move out in the next couple of days because they want to come and stay.¡± ¡°Food coupons are fifty-two kilograms and four taels, cloth coupons are three meters and one,¡± Zhao Yulan said while jotting the numbers down on paper, her expression growing somber, ¡°This is hardly enough.¡± Chuxia chuckled at her, ¡°Mom, how could you not have an estimate of how much money and coupons we have total?¡± Zhao Yulan¡¯s face flushed, ¡°Mom thought she might have remembered it wrong.¡± Lin Baohe stood up anxiously and approached his wife and daughter, ¡°What exactly are you two planning? Talk to me about it.¡± At that moment, Uncle Lin Baohai and his family were gathered with Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin in the east room, discussing this matter. ¡°Old man, do you think your method will really work?¡± Old Lady Lin anxiously stared at Old Master Lin, who was smoking at the edge of the kang, ¡°What if it doesn¡¯t work, what will Baohai, Chuchun, and Chuqiu do?¡± ¡°Yeah, Grandpa, if Lin Chuxia doesn¡¯t marry into the Xue family, does that mean I won¡¯t be able to become a soldier?¡± Chuchun also asked. Chuqiu frowned and glanced at his twin brother, ¡°Spineless, relying on selling your sister to become a soldier, are you not ashamed?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the noble one; stay home and farm then, don¡¯t go!¡± Chuchun glared back at his brother defiantly, ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re harming her. Marrying into a prestigious family is a blessing; she should be thanking our grandparents.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather farm than profit from a woman!¡± Chuqiu coldly looked at Lin Baohai, ¡°Dad, are you really comfortable accepting benefits obtained by trading your niece?¡± ¡°Ungrateful child, I¡¯ve spoiled you for nothing!¡± Old Lady Lin, infuriated, grabbed a shoe from the kang and threw it at Chuqiu, ¡°This situation is already urgent enough, and here you are, talking nonsense!¡± ¡°If Chuxia doesn¡¯t marry into the Xue family, not only will your dad lose his job, but neither of you will become soldiers, and your uncle¡¯s position will also be jeopardized! Hereafter, our Old Lin Family will go from the top class to a broken household in the village. Whenever you brothers walk around, people will look down on you!¡± ¡°So, this is what earns their respect?¡± Chuchun looked at Chuqiu, ¡°Are you out of your mind? Lin Chuxia is lazy, gluttonous, and can¡¯t do work. Marrying into the Xue family would mean living a life of luxury! How can you say we¡¯re benefitting from her light?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s as you say, the Xue family aren¡¯t fools either. Why would they propose such a trade with our grandparents?¡± Chuqiu sneered and shook his head, ¡°I feel chilled. One day, when selling me could benefit the family, wouldn¡¯t you hesitate to sell me too?¡± ¡°We wouldn¡¯t!¡± The door swung open, and Chuxia stood there, smiling, ¡°Lin Chuqiu, you¡¯re a boy; no one will sell you. I didn¡¯t expect you to speak up for me, I¡¯ll remember this favor.¡± ¡°Who asked you to remember!¡± Lin Chuqiu stiffened his neck awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯m not helping you; I¡¯m just speaking to the point. Don¡¯t flatter yourself.¡± Chapter 43 - 43 43 The Last Chance ?43: Chapter 43: The Last Chance 43: Chapter 43: The Last Chance No matter what they said out loud, everyone knew in their hearts that this marriage was indeed being used as a bargain for favors. Thus, when Chuxia confronted it, their faces inevitably showed a hint of discomfort¡ªexcept for Old Lady Lin. She glared at Chuxia and said in a mocking tone, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to help your parents pack? Why are you running over here?¡± Old Master Lin¡¯s brow suddenly twitched, but he didn¡¯t want to scold his wife in front of the younger family members. He could only cough lightly and tap the kang edge with his smoking pipe, ¡°Sit down.¡± ¡°Chuxia, come in and sit down to talk.¡± Auntie Yang Aihua was a clever person. Seeing that her father-in-law had spoken, a friendly smile immediately spread across her face. She stepped forward to pull Chuxia inside, ¡°Chuqiu, get the candied oranges you brought back from your maternal grandmother¡¯s house for your sister.¡± Oh, promoted to sister now? Chuxia¡¯s lips twitched unconsciously. Although she was a few months older than Chuchun and Chuqiu, her younger uncle and aunt always let them call her by her name. This subtle change was indeed telling. ¡°Chuxia, Grandpa and Grandma are just talking hot air, how could they really make you move out from that room? Go back and tell your parents to rest easy staying there.¡± Uncle Lin Baohai¡¯s voice was also unusually friendly. Obviously, he thought she came to plead for not moving her family out. ¡°Are they just talking hot air? Chuchun and Chuqiu are also of age to look for wives. If someone comes to see our family and finds this situation, the deal will fall through.¡± Old Lady Lin huffed at Chuxia, ¡°Just think of your grandpa and me as harming you. If you marry into the Xue family, you can live a good life and even help your brothers. Why are you being difficult? Do you consider yourself a part of the Lin family or not?¡± ¡°So, Grandma means that as long as I agree to marry into the Xue family, you and Grandpa won¡¯t move, and it won¡¯t affect Chuchun and Chuqiu from finding wives, right?¡± Old Lady Lin took it for granted, ¡°Of course, Chuchun and Chuqiu are soldiers. When it comes to finding wives, they¡¯ll be the ones to choose, not someone picking them.¡± ¡°Here you go.¡± Chuqiu handed some candied oranges to Chuxia, ¡°I don¡¯t expect to ride your coattails to become a soldier. I¡¯ll rely on my own ability to do so. Marry if you want; if not, then don¡¯t. But if you¡¯re unhappy later, don¡¯t think it¡¯s because we dragged you down.¡± Chuxia looked at the defiant boy in surprise. In the past six months, she didn¡¯t interact much with the twins, but every time they met, they would tease and play tricks on her, including Chuqiu. Now, it seemed that on important matters, he wasn¡¯t confused and actually showed responsibility. It was indeed rare. Unconsciously, Chuxia gave him a kind smile, but the boy glared at her awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯m not protecting you; I just can¡¯t afford to lose face.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you speak kindly?¡± Yang Aihua glared at her son and patted Chuxia¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Eat the candy, Chuxia. Auntie saved this for you. Go ahead and eat.¡± Do they still think she¡¯s the same gluttonous and lazy Lin Chuxia? The whole family was playing good cop and bad cop, thinking she would just give in? She believed in Chuqiu¡¯s sincerity, but as for the others, haha... ¡°Uncle isn¡¯t thinking about taking advantage of your marriage. He just thinks you¡¯re frail and would have a better life if you marry into the Xue family rather than the Luo family.¡± Lin Baohai spoke earnestly, ¡°We¡¯re all family; how could we not want the best for you? Right, Chuxia?¡± ¡°Uncle doesn¡¯t know about Mother¡¯s affair with Xue Ligang? Uncle doesn¡¯t know what kind of temper Xue Ligang¡¯s wife has?¡± Lin Baohai¡¯s eyes flickered uncomfortably, but his smile remained, ¡°You child, hold a grudge longer than your father. That was so many years ago, why are you still hung up on it? As for Director Xue¡¯s wife, what has she to complain about? If it weren¡¯t for your mother letting Xue Ligang go to her, could she have become a bride of the Xue family?¡± Chuxia wasn¡¯t annoyed, and she looked at him with a smile, ¡°Why does the Xue family insist on me marrying into their family? Why do they promise so many favors to ours? What about me is worth that to them?¡± After hesitating for a moment, Lin Baohai answered, ¡°That..., maybe it¡¯s to make up for past regrets, perhaps to give your mother some peace of mind.¡± Chuxia placed the candy on the kang-stove and stepped back, her expression serious as she looked at everyone, ¡°Do you know why I came here? Because my father and mother think that my uncle¡¯s attitude should be different from others¡¯. To make them resolute in their decision, I must make them understand my uncle¡¯s true feelings. Uncle, your contradictory statements just now, not even you can convince yourself, can you? My dad said, when he came, you didn¡¯t say a word, seemed very helpless, haha... your helplessness must be because you think my dad is being obstinate, right? When I came, I already told my dad and mom that if it proved their thoughts were wrong, in the future, our family will have nothing to do with yours!¡± After finishing, Chuxia¡¯s figure disappeared outside the door before the crowd could react. ¡°That wretched girl! She¡¯s becoming less and less likeable, listen, listen, what is she talking about?¡± Old Lady Lin was the first to lose her temper. ¡°It looks like what that girl said is true...¡± Old Master Lin sighed deeply, ¡°We had better think carefully about how to talk to the Xue family.¡± Old Lady Lin sneered disdainfully, ¡°I¡¯d like to see if they would rather sleep on the streets than marry into the Xue family. Chuchun, go and tell them they must move out the day after tomorrow!¡± Chuqiu caught Chuchun who was about to run out, ¡°Grandma, you¡¯re pushing them towards a dead end!¡± ¡°This child, what has gotten into you? Speaking such nonsense!¡± Old Lady Lin glared at Lin Chuqiu, ¡°It¡¯s for her own good, and for your own too. What dead end are you talking about? Let go of Chuchun and let him deliver my message.¡± Lin Chuqiu shook her head, ¡°After making herself so clear, Grandma still thinks it¡¯s for her good?¡± She then let go, ¡°Forget it, do whatever you want, just don¡¯t involve me!¡± ¡°Mother, let it be,¡± Lin Baohai sighed dejectedly, ¡°If something really happens, our whole family will be looked down upon. Isn¡¯t it just that I can¡¯t be an official and Chuchun and Chuqiu can¡¯t be soldiers? Aren¡¯t there families who don¡¯t hold office or serve as soldiers and still live well?¡± ¡°You blockhead, you know very well how much your second brother and his wife dote on Chuxia. Even if they can manage, would they be willing to let Chuxia just get by? Where could they move to? The Luo family? Even for the sake of Chuxia, they can¡¯t just move to the Luo family! Right now, whoever stands firm will reap the rewards. You must not lose heart. If there was no opportunity, then it would be another matter, but now that the opportunity is here and delivered to our doorstep, if it¡¯s let go, could you bear that?¡± Lin Baohai hesitated, his face a mask of conflict. Old Master Lin glanced at Old Lady Lin, ¡°You understand everything, so why couldn¡¯t you be a bit more gentle when speaking with Chuxia? She¡¯s a stubborn girl, and if she really becomes obstinate, Laoer and Laoer¡¯s Wife won¡¯t be able to outdo her.¡± ¡°Then let them suffer outside for a few days. As for the Xue family, Baohai will talk to them and tell them to manage things as they should,¡± Old Lady Lin said confidently. Old Master Lin tapped on his tobacco pipe and remained silent, obviously pondering the whole situation. Chuchun ran back gasping for breath, ¡°Grandma, when I went there, they were already packing their things.¡± ¡°Packing their things?¡± Old Lady Lin suddenly sat up straight, ¡°Are they really packing, or are they just pretending for your sake?¡± Chapter 44 - 44 44 Moving House ?44: Chapter 44 Moving House 44: Chapter 44 Moving House ¡°Hongqi, you always said Chuxia was eyeing our family¡¯s conditions. Now do you realize you were wrong? How much better off is the Xue family compared to ours? But was Chuxia swayed?¡± Fat Auntie said as she pushed her son to leave. ¡°Help with the move, a son-in-law is half a son. If you don¡¯t pull your weight now, then when will you?¡± ¡°Mom...¡± Luo Hongqi stretched his arm, leaning against the door frame, ¡°I¡¯m helping with the move out of pity for Uncle Baohe and Aunt Yulan, it has nothing to do with Lin Chuxia...¡± While chopping vegetables, Luo Xiaoqiong pursed her lips and interrupted, ¡°Brother, would it kill you not to be so obstinate?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not being obstinate. Lin Chuxia is more sensible than before, but I just don¡¯t like her, and I don¡¯t want her to be my wife. Mom, if you don¡¯t agree to cancel our arrangement, I won¡¯t help out,¡± Luo Hongqi said stubbornly, staring at Fat Auntie. ¡°Even if dad beats me to death, I won¡¯t change my mind.¡± ¡°Why are you so unreasonable? Could your dad and I harm you? Although Chuxia isn¡¯t great at household chores, she isn¡¯t sly or crafty. Uncle Baohe and Aunt Yulan are also good-tempered. With the four of us old folks supporting you two, life will certainly not be bad. With your inflexible nature, if you ended up with someone troublsome...¡± Fat Auntie sighed heavily, her words laden with deep concern. ¡°Even if it¡¯s to repay a favor, your dad and I can¡¯t sacrifice your lifetime of happiness to settle it. Marrying Chuxia is good for both families. Listen to your mom; t stop making a fuss. Can you do that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m marrying a wife, not a father-in-law and mother-in-law!¡± Luo Hongqi retorted, neck stiff, ¡°Mom, to be honest, I already have someone I like, and no matter whether you and dad agree or not, I intend to marry her.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Zhong Hongying?¡± Fat Auntie and Luo Xiaoqiong almost spoke at the same time. ¡°What?¡± Fat Auntie looked incredulously at her daughter, then back at her son, ¡°Hongqi, tell your mom, who is it that you¡¯ve taken a liking to?¡± ¡°Zhong Hongying.¡± Luo Hongqi¡¯s face quickly turned red to the root of his neck. The tall and sturdy man suddenly became as coy as a small bride, a complete contrast to his defiant attitude when mentioning Chuxia. Luo Xiaoqiong put down the knife and sighed faintly, ¡°Mom, a few days ago, Zhong Hongying came to see my brother. Afterwards, I saw them sneaking and whispering behind a haystack. I was suspicious of their relationship but thought it unlikely. I didn¡¯t expect it could actually be possible.¡± Fat Auntie¡¯s eyes darkened as she stared at Luo Hongqi, ¡°Is what your sister said true?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Luo Hongqi looked earnestly at Fat Auntie, ¡°Mom, you should be able to see who would make a better daughter-in-law, Hongying or Chuxia. Anyway, I like Hongying, and she likes me too.¡± ¡°She likes you?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong looked at him with amusement, ¡°Did she tell you that herself?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Luo Hongqi replied with absolute certainty. ¡°Just a week ago, she liked Zhao Qiliang, and now, she has told you herself that she likes you?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong looked toward Fat Auntie, ¡°Mom, do you believe that?¡± ¡°Whether I believe it or not, I will never agree to this marriage. Just her mother alone¡ªanyone who marries her is asking for trouble!¡± Fat Auntie looked seriously at her son, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this later. Right now, go help with Chuxia¡¯s family¡¯s move!¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll move.¡± Luo Hongqi strode out angrily. Pausing at the doorway, he stepped out. ¡°Brother really can¡¯t tell good from bad...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong sighed deeply, ¡°With all the scheming of Zhong Hongying, she¡¯d sell him out and he wouldn¡¯t have a clue, actually believing that Zhong Hongying likes him, it¡¯s laughable!¡± Fat Auntie poked her daughter¡¯s forehead, ¡°Who talks about their own brother like that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth, Uncle and Auntie could have moved into our place, but they¡¯d rather live in that small shabby house and not take advantage of our home¡¯s comfort. I really admire that about them.¡± ¡°Sigh,¡± Fat Auntie sighed deeply, hearing her daughter say this, ¡°Your uncle and auntie have just that kind of temperament, they¡¯d rather work themselves to death than live off others.¡± ... Six bundles, three large and three small, held all the clothes and bedding, a small bag contained pots and pans, and a few farming tools were outside¡ªthe pitiful household possessions made Chuxia quietly gasp in surprise. Even when she graduated and moved her things back home from the dormitory, she had more than these. ¡°Let¡¯s move, the sooner we leave, the sooner we¡¯ll be settled!¡± Lin Baohe glanced around the empty room one last time, a trace of reluctance flashed in his eyes, then waved his hand, ¡°You two don¡¯t lift a finger, this stuff isn¡¯t even enough for me to carry in two trips.¡± ¡°Dad, we¡¯re moving to our own home, of course we should all pitch in,¡± Chuxia replied with a smile as she picked up two light bundles. ¡°I¡¯ll carry these, I can¡¯t lift any of the others.¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s all help out,¡± Zhao Yulan picked up two large bundles and nodded towards the remainder with her chin, ¡°Your father will take those, and if there¡¯s anything outside you can¡¯t carry, just make another trip, because we¡¯re not coming back to help.¡± Lin Baohe snatched a bundle from both his daughter and wife¡¯s hands, then hung and draped the rest of the items all over himself. After one final sweep of the room, he declared, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Chuxia was the first to push the door open, only to find a crowd blocking the entrance. Her eldest uncle Lin Baohai was the first to speak, ¡°Baohe, Yulan, don¡¯t take it seriously. Mom was just speaking out of anger. How could you really move out?¡± Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife, Zheng Sanqiao, quickly chimed in, ¡°Exactly, exactly. If you move out, where would that leave Dad and Mom¡¯s face?¡± Eldest brother¡¯s wife, Liu Meiqing, smiled ingratiatingly, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, I swear I won¡¯t take advantage of you again.¡± The expression on eldest brother Lin Chudong was somewhat earnest, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, even if you move, do it tomorrow. That room is damp, and even if you light a fire now, it won¡¯t be comfortable.¡± ¡°Move what move!¡± Zheng Sanqiao glared at her son and turned to face Chuxia¡¯s family with what appeared to be an amicable smile. ¡°Baohe, Yulan, no matter how much we¡¯ve argued in the past, those were just words said in anger. We never truly wanted you to move out. Chudong may not be good with words, but he¡¯s right about one thing, it¡¯s too damp in there¡ªnobody could live there. And think about it, that small room will be sweltering in summer. Put your things down and stay peacefully here for now. When you have enough money to build a new house and move, I promise I won¡¯t stop you.¡± ¡°Auntie, you¡¯re just worried that Grandpa and Grandma might move in here, aren¡¯t you?¡± Chuxia bluntly pointed out the concerns of certain people. If her parents couldn¡¯t say it, then she would. Zheng Sanqiao¡¯s face turned sour immediately, ¡°Chuxia, your Auntie is truly thinking of your best interests...¡± ¡°Uncle, Auntie, my mom sent me over to help with the move,¡± Luo Hongqi arrived just in time. Chuxia raised an eyebrow at him, ¡°Just standing there is moving? Come and grab something!¡± Zhao Yulan smiled apologetically at Luo Hongqi, ¡°Hongqi, just help with the things outside, we can handle the rest here.¡± While speaking, she pushed past Zheng Sanqiao who was in front of her, ¡°Sister-in-law, Chuxia isn¡¯t the best at phrasing things, don¡¯t take it to heart. We¡¯ve got to go heat up the kang (traditional bed-stove), so we won¡¯t chat with you anymore.¡± Zheng Sanqiao was so furious she almost choked. When had she ever small-talked with them? Chapter 45 - 45 45 Stopped Before Speaking ?45: Chapter 45: Stopped Before Speaking 45: Chapter 45: Stopped Before Speaking ¡°Chen Fenggang¡¯s old house was sold to Baohe?¡± Old Lady Lin suddenly raised her buttocks as if stung by a scorpion, stretching forward, staring blankly at Lin Chuchun, ¡°Who told you that?¡± With a gloomy and dark look up close, Lin Chuchun was startled and stepped back, ¡°Grandma, Guangrong told me.¡± Guangrong was Chen Fenggang¡¯s eldest grandson, about the same age as Chuchun and Chuqiu, and was someone they had grown up with from childhood. ¡°I... I listened to grandma, went over to inquire whether they were really moving or just pretending, but before I reached the door, I saw Uncle and his family along with Hongqi carrying things out of the courtyard. I quickly hid behind a stack, and then secretly followed them, watching them enter the old house of Grandpa Gang.¡± I was thinking about going in to see, but Guangrong came out of the old house. I asked him why Uncle¡¯s family had run over to his place, and he said that that afternoon, Uncle and his wife had gone to see Grandpa Gang, and bought his old house.¡± Sweating under Old Lady Lin¡¯s intense gaze, Lin Chuchun swallowed and explained again in detail. ¡°Where did Brother get the money to buy a house?¡± Yang Aihua asked puzzledly, looking towards Old Master Lin, ¡°Dad, do you think this is real?¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s true or not, they have already moved in...¡± Old Master Lin sighed deeply, ¡°I underestimated him, he really managed to pull this off.¡± ¡°Dad, what should we do?¡± Yang Aihua looked worriedly at Old Master Lin, ¡°Baohai has already gone to the commune, if Director Xue finds out we are deceiving him, then after this...¡± Indeed, it¡¯s one thing not to succeed, but another to deceive. Old Master Lin frowned tightly, ¡°I underestimated Baohe, I really did underestimate him...¡± ¡°We can¡¯t let this be, let¡¯s talk to Chen Fenggang...¡± Old Lady Lin muttered as she got off the kang, ¡°During the New Year, Old Lu¡¯s family wanted to buy the old house, and he wouldn¡¯t sell it for any amount of money; how come he sold it now? He¡¯s trying to harm us, I must ask what has offended him so much that he would trap us like this.¡± ¡°He owes Baohe a favor, remember?¡± Old Master Lin grabbed Old Lady Lin, ¡°Back when Baohe suffered those hardships, he was always concerned, and now by asking him, aren¡¯t you just inviting him to give you a good telling-off?¡± Old Lady Lin looked defiant, ¡°What¡¯s he to tell me off about? What right does he have to tell me off?¡± ¡°What¡¯s he to tell you off about?¡± Old Master Lin snorted, ¡°Regarding the marital alliance with the Xue family, who benefited, and who owes, don¡¯t you have any idea? Fenggang is the former secretary general, and his seniority matters. If he really spoke out, could we still hold our heads up in the village afterwards?¡± ¡°If the marriage alliance does not succeed and the Xue family blames us, could we then hold our heads up?¡± Old Lady Lin¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Besides, how do we owe Chuxia anything? She was married off to enjoy a better life.¡± ¡°If you can say that, it means you also know that we owe Baohe¡¯s family...¡± Old Master Lin said as he rose, ¡°I¡¯m going outside for a walk.¡± ... The house that Chuxia¡¯s family bought was an old courtyard built in the late 1950s, with a bedroom on each of the east and west sides and a central hall, commonly referred to as the living room. Both bedrooms were the same size, about fifteen square meters each, the hall was over twenty square meters, and the courtyard was just over forty square meters. At the position by the east wall was a pigsty which, due to jurisdictional limitations, could not house pigs, so they put five chickens in it instead. After settling in, Chuxia looked around the small room freshly pasted with newspapers, her heart brimming with joy as she finally had her own independent space! The wallpaper on the walls was pasted by Grandpa Gang¡¯s two sons and grandson who had helped out. They had intended to clean and tidy up the place themselves when they bought it, but they could not win over Grandpa Gang and ended up owing the Chen family this favor. Speaking of which, the old secretary was indeed a man of loyalty and truth. Had his duties not compelled him, he wouldn¡¯t have done what he did back then; it wasn¡¯t really his fault at all, yet he conscientiously took the blame upon himself. She admitted that in persuading her parents to buy this house, she had precisely targeted Grandpa Gang¡¯s preferences. Convincing her parents had indeed cost her a lot of effort. This favor, whether they would gradually repay it to the Chen Family or stake her lifelong happiness on it, was the two options she presented to her parents, and ultimately, her parents chose the former. If it hadn¡¯t been for reaching a desperate situation, she wouldn¡¯t have wanted to do this. ¡°Look how happy you are, your smile is almost reaching your ears.¡± After making a round through each room and coming back, Luo Xiaoqiong couldn¡¯t resist teasing Chuxia. ¡°Of course, from now on we can do whatever we want without anyone watching us, naturally I¡¯m happy.¡± Chuxia¡¯s smile reached the corners of her eyes, ¡°Say whatever we want to say, eat whatever we want to eat, do whatever we want to do¡ªthings I wouldn¡¯t have dared to dream of before.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong sighed, ¡°It¡¯s just that the house and windows are a bit small, warm in winter, but probably a bit stuffy in summer.¡± ¡°The windows can be made a bit larger. The walls of this old house are thick, and it faces north and south, so when the breezes blow through in summer, it won¡¯t be too hot,¡± Chuxia was quite optimistic about this. Luo Xiaoqiong nodded, ¡°That¡¯s true, it¡¯s still better than worrying every day about being kicked out and having to watch other people¡¯s faces.¡± Chuxia glanced at her, her brow furrowing, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong quickly denied, ¡°Nothing, nothing...¡± Then she dragged Chuxia out, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, my mom has made the meal, and after we eat, she and my dad will come over to help clean up.¡± Meanwhile, Zhao Yulan, who was tending the fire in the main hall, quickly said, ¡°Xiaoqiong, tell your mom that we won¡¯t be coming over. We¡¯ll keep the fire up here so it¡¯s nice and warm for sleeping tonight. Once we¡¯re settled, we¡¯ll invite your family over to warm the stove for us.¡± Warming the stove was a celebration of moving into a new house. ¡°Auntie, my mom said if you don¡¯t come over, she¡¯ll bring the food here.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong spread her hands as she spoke, ¡°You know what my mom is like, Uncle, don¡¯t tidy up anymore, let¡¯s go.¡± Thinking of Fat Auntie¡¯s temperament, Zhao Yulan had no choice but to compromise. Moving into the new house had lifted everyone¡¯s spirits. Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe, unlike before, felt uninhibited and ate freely, which especially delighted Fat Auntie and Luo Gangshun. However, several times Hongqi seemed about to say something, but was interrupted by Fat Auntie every time. After the mother and daughter duo went out for a while and then returned, Hongqi no longer tried to interject and after the meal, said goodbye to Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan and returned to his own room, not even giving Chuxia a glance. ¡°This damn kid, I scolded him, and he is still holding a grudge,¡± Fat Auntie awkwardly tried to cover up for her son. ¡°You went too easy on him!¡± Luo Gangshun frowned, ¡°He¡¯s grown up and still so thoughtless. If I hadn¡¯t been out at a meeting, I would have really taught him a lesson today...¡± ¡°Ahem!¡± Fat Auntie coughed forcefully, ¡°Gangshun is just upset he didn¡¯t come help with the move earlier.¡± Luo Gangshun hastily added, ¡°Such a big guy and still lacks common sense!¡± ¡°At the time of cleaning, Chuxia¡¯s dad couldn¡¯t even lend a hand, let alone Hongqi. It was just the right time for him to arrive.¡± Seeing that the couple was covering something up, Zhao Yulan played along and stood up with Lin Baohe, ¡°The other side is damp; tonight Chuxia will squeeze in with Xiaoqiong.¡± Chapter 46 - 46 46 I Want to Cancel the Engagement ?46: Chapter 46 I Want to Cancel the Engagement 46: Chapter 46 I Want to Cancel the Engagement Fat Auntie paused for a moment, her face quickly filling with smiles, ¡°Let Chuxia stay here for the next few days, then she can move back once it¡¯s all dry and tidy. She¡¯s weak as it is; she can¡¯t stay in that damp room any longer.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make more fires. Everything will be dry in two days. These few days, we¡¯ll just be imposing on you.¡± ¡°Yulan, I don¡¯t like hearing that kind of talk,¡± Fat Auntie said with displeasure. ¡°What do you mean by imposing? Are you still mad that I didn¡¯t keep Chuxia here earlier?¡± Zhao Yulan waved her hands hurriedly, ¡°Fat Auntie, how could I not know what kind of people you and Gangshun are? There¡¯s also the old lady...¡± Luo Gangshun interrupted Zhao Yulan, ¡°My mother might not say pleasant things, but she¡¯s actually quite fond of Chuxia. You two just rest assured and let Chuxia stay here. When that room is aired out, then you can take Chuxia back home.¡± ¡°Uncle, Aunt, it would be nice if Chuxia could always keep me company. How about not moving her back?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong interjected with a giggle. ¡°You wish,¡± Fat Auntie chuckled as she flicked her daughter on the forehead. She turned to look at her son¡¯s room and then apologized to Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe, ¡°We¡¯re the ones who should be sorry. Hongqi is several years older than Chuxia but doesn¡¯t know any manners at all.¡± ¡°The child is just tired from moving,¡± Lin Baohe said sternly, looking at Luo Gangshun. ¡°He¡¯s grown up and cares about his pride. Don¡¯t hit him anymore.¡± ¡°He¡¯s just asking for it...¡± Seeing Lin Baohe¡¯s disapproving look, Luo Gangshun quickly changed his tone, ¡°All right, all right, I¡¯ll listen to you. I won¡¯t hit him. After these couple of days, let¡¯s sit down and discuss it, and arrange the children¡¯s marriage matters sooner rather than later.¡± Zhao Yulan quickly said, ¡°Okay, after these few days, once we get settled, we¡¯ll talk.¡± After sending Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe away, Fat Auntie quietly tugged Luo Xiaoqiong and gave her a warning look before letting her take Chuxia back to her own room. ¡°Your brother doesn¡¯t want to be betrothed to me, right?¡± After closing the door, Luo Xiaoqiong babbled on and on until Chuxia suddenly threw out that question, and she got stuck for a good while before shaking her head. ¡°No... no.¡± A slight smile appeared on Chuxia¡¯s lips, ¡°You only talk non-stop like this when you¡¯re feeling uncomfortable inside. Think about your brother¡¯s attitude and the way Fat Auntie reacted when my mother suggested I stay. I guessed what was going on. There¡¯s no need to hide it from me, tell me the truth.¡± ¡°Chuxia, you...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong shrank into herself, ¡°You¡¯re wrong.¡± The smile on Chuxia¡¯s face grew, ¡°What you really want to say is ¡®Chuxia, you¡¯re getting smarter and smarter, aren¡¯t you?¡¯ Xiaoqiong, you¡¯re my best friend, and you want me to be happy, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong unconsciously nodded. ¡°In fact, when you suggested last time that I should spend more time with your brother before deciding, I guessed that you had discovered something.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong hurriedly explained, ¡°Chuxia, I was just suspecting at the time, I wasn¡¯t sure. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have kept it from you.¡± Realizing she had let something slip in her haste, she cursed herself again and again, ¡°My mother will kill me if she finds out. Talking about it now is just adding insult to injury.¡± ¡°Which girl has your brother fallen for?¡± Chuxia grabbed her hand to stop her self-punishment. ¡°Zhong Hongying.¡± Chuxia, surprised, touched her forehead, ¡°How could it be her? Doesn¡¯t she... have a crush on my older cousin? How did it change to your brother so quickly?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong pouted, her face filled with gloom, ¡°I said the same thing to my brother, but would he believe me? He¡¯s been enchanted by that woman. He agreed to be engaged to you just a short while ago, but today he suddenly told my mother that he doesn¡¯t want to be engaged to you anymore. He wants to marry Zhong Hongying.¡± Chuxia, don¡¯t worry, my brother doesn¡¯t have the final say in this matter. Despite his burly appearance, he¡¯s actually quite timid. If my dad and mom really decided to ignore him, he would be scared on his own.¡± Chuxia nodded. ¡°I know, let¡¯s go to sleep.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the Xue family, since you don¡¯t like my brother anyway, it would be okay to call off the engagement. But at this time, even just to handle the emergency, we should get betrothed first.¡± Just as Chuxia was about to fall asleep, Luo Xiaoqiong said this, and unconsciously, Chuxia¡¯s eyes reddened. Considering the other¡¯s nature to fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, the fact that she stayed awake for Chuxia, her friend, was something she would commit to for a lifetime! But she really didn¡¯t know what to say, so she feigned sleep to cover up. Just when Chuxia¡¯s body was about to feel stiff from lying down, Luo Xiaoqiong let out a faint sigh, tucked her in, and shortly after, a soft snoring could be heard... Perhaps it was the change of setting, but as soon as dawn slightly broke, Chuxia woke up. She carefully dressed and tiptoed to open the door, slipping back home while everyone else was still asleep. Seeing her daughter return so early, Zhao Yulan was full of surprise. ¡°Chuxia, what happened?¡± ¡°Has Dad gone to collect manure again?¡± Chuxia asked, dodging the question. ¡°Yes, Chuxia, what exactly happened?¡± Zhao Yulan asked again anxiously, not getting an answer. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s nothing. When Dad gets back, I want to discuss something with you both.¡± ... When Chuxia¡¯s family visited the Luo family again, Fat Auntie and Luo Gangshun were scolding their children, one for lack of manners and warmth, the other for sleeping like a dead pig, not even aware of when Chuxia left. The couple was truly upset. ¡°Yulan, Baohe...¡± ¡°Fat Auntie, it was Chuxia who couldn¡¯t sleep and snuck back on her own.¡± Seeing that Fat Auntie seemed to want to explain, Zhao Yulan quickly interrupted her. Luo Xiaoqiong, with a face full of apology, grabbed Chuxia, ¡°Did I wake you because I wasn¡¯t sleeping still? Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t happen tonight. My mom found another quilt to air out, so we¡¯ll use two quilts tonight.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t cold; I just needed to discuss something with my parents and couldn¡¯t sleep,¡± Chuxia¡¯s gaze turned towards Luo Gangshun and Fat Auntie, ¡°Uncle Gangshun, Fat Aunt, I¡¯ve decided not to go through with the betrothal to Luo Hongqi. Please cancel the engagement.¡± ¡°Gangshun, Cha Xiang, we¡¯ve discussed this, and it¡¯s a family decision,¡± Zhao Yulan quickly took over the conversation. Lin Baohe nodded, agreeing with what his wife and daughter had said. This sudden news took the Luo family by surprise, including Luo Hongqi. Perhaps, there was even a faint sense of relief within him. ¡°You stubborn girl!¡± Fat Auntie, coming back to her senses, slapped her daughter on the buttocks, ¡°What did I tell you last night? You keep saying you and Chuxia are friends. Is this how friends behave? How could you do such a thing as to kick someone when they¡¯re down...¡± Chuxia quickly grabbed Fat Aunt, ¡°Don¡¯t blame Xiaoqiong, I forced her to say it. Last night I noticed, and my parents did too, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have let me stay.¡± Chapter 47 - 47 47 After you finish, its my turn to take the stage ?47: Chapter 47: After you finish, it¡¯s my turn to take the stage 47: Chapter 47: After you finish, it¡¯s my turn to take the stage ¡°Baohe, Yulan, if Hongqi is still causing trouble in a couple of years, I¡¯ll take the initiative to call off this engagement...¡± Luo Gangshun said with a solemn face, ¡°But at this time, the Luo family absolutely cannot lose their integrity and kick someone when they¡¯re down.¡± Fat Auntie quickly agreed, ¡°Exactly, exactly, Chuxia is just like our own daughter. We absolutely cannot do anything to make her suffer.¡± ¡°No matter what happens, I¡¯ll always side with Chuxia and not with my brother.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong said while vowing, and pinched Luo Hongqi hard. ¡°I... I...¡± Luo Hongqi stammered, without being able to finish. ¡°You little twerp!¡± Luo Gangshun slapped his son on the head, ¡°Can¡¯t even fart after half a day, are you even a man?¡± Lin Baohe quickly grabbed his arm, ¡°Have you forgotten what you promised me?¡± Luo Gangshun, face full of anger, said resentfully, ¡°This ungrateful wretch won¡¯t come to his senses without a thrashing.¡± ¡°This time I¡¯m not going to shield him either.¡± Fat Auntie¡¯s gaze towards Luo Hongqi was also full of disappointment; her son¡¯s words from that morning had truly broken her heart. Zhao Yulan looked at the couple with emotion, ¡°Gangshun, Cha Xiang, you really do care for Chuxia, and we¡¯re aware of that. We initially thought that, although the children don¡¯t get along, in a few years, perhaps things would improve...¡± Fat Auntie interrupted, ¡°Boys mature late. Give it a few more years, and he¡¯ll definitely improve. With our support, the young couple¡¯s life is bound to be fine.¡± ¡°Let Chuxia speak for herself.¡± Zhao Yulan encouraged her daughter with a look, ¡°Chuxia, repeat what you just told your father and me to your uncle and auntie.¡± Chuxia stood up, first bowing deeply to Luo Gangshun and Fat Auntie, then she said, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, being considered to be a daughter-in-law of the Luo family is my good fortune. But I don¡¯t like Luo Hongqi, and he doesn¡¯t like me either. Agreeing to the engagement was out of self-interest. I didn¡¯t want Uncle¡¯s family to keep bullying us, nor did I want all sorts of people eyeing me, so I figured getting engaged to Luo Hongqi might be the best solution.¡± Asking to get married after age 22 was a way out for myself. If there hadn¡¯t been the matter with the Xue family, I would have been content to accept your protection, but now, I cannot destroy Uncle Gangshun¡¯s future because of my selfish desires. My father and mother were also unaware of my thoughts before; they thought I truly intended to marry Luo Hongqi. I¡¯m sorry, I have deceived everyone.¡± After finishing, she bowed deeply again. As if prepared for this, Fat Auntie quickly responded after Chuxia finished speaking, ¡°Child, you¡¯re not wrong. If Hongqi wasn¡¯t always so indecisive, you wouldn¡¯t have had such selfish thoughts.¡± Luo Gangshun slapped the kang table forcefully, ¡°What¡¯s the big deal about that official position? If we don¡¯t take it, we don¡¯t take it. People live their lives all the same. We should proceed with the engagement!¡± Chuxia, with a frown, ¡°Uncle Gangshun, Fat Auntie, even if Brother Hongqi and I do get engaged, it¡¯s impossible for us to end up together, so there¡¯s no need for Uncle Gangshun to lose his position over this.¡± ¡°Chuxia, the Xue family is not a good match...¡± Fat Auntie sighed softly, ¡°If you don¡¯t get engaged, Xue Ligang won¡¯t give up easily.¡± In her eyes, Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe could see it wasn¡¯t a good match, but Chuxia might not. It seemed that Chuxia¡¯s past immaturity had left a deep impression on Fat Auntie! ¡°Auntie, I¡¯m not making up reasons to fool you, right, I had a verbal agreement with Luo Hongqi before, ask him about it. He definitely won¡¯t cover for me.¡± Luo Hongqi nodded without hesitation this time, ¡°She did talk to me about it. She didn¡¯t plan on clinging to our family. She wanted me to be engaged to her temporarily, and once I found someone I truly liked, we could call off the engagement.¡± ¡°You damn child! You damn child!...¡± Fat Auntie attacked Luo Hongqi with all her might, flailing her arms and legs, ¡°You agreed to a sham engagement, how can you just go back on your word?¡± Uh, is that really the point? Now that everything was out in the open, Chuxia bluntly asked Luo Hongqi, ¡°I heard you¡¯re fond of Zhong Hongying, but not long ago she liked my older cousin. How did she suddenly start liking you? What happened?¡± ¡°She likes soldiers,¡± Luo Hongqi muttered dully. ¡°...¡± Chuxia didn¡¯t know what to say. Communicating with this single-celled organism was indeed a difficult task. However, this only made her more puzzled¡ªwhat was Zhong Hongying really after? Of course, Chuxia wasn¡¯t one to meddle, but the Luo family had treated her well. She felt obliged to give them a heads up about anything she could. As for whether her warning would lead to increased vigilance and what the eventual outcome would be, that was beyond her control. ... By that afternoon, news that the Lin Family and Luo Family had called off the marriage spread throughout the entire village. Old Lady Lin, who was so worried she felt pain in her heart, lungs, and liver, felt immediately relieved on hearing the news. She quickly put on her shoes and stepped off the kang, poking Old Master Lin, who was squatting at the door, smoking, ¡°Let the second son¡¯s family move back.¡± Old Master Lin took a puff of his cigarette, ¡°I won¡¯t go.¡± ¡°You stubborn old man, if they don¡¯t move back, what will we do?¡± Old Lady Lin¡¯s face was full of resentment, ¡°Now the whole village knows that to find daughters-in-law for Lin Chuchun and Chuqiu, the second son¡¯s family vacated their house for us. If they don¡¯t move back, are we actually going to move there?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you just calm down for once?¡± Old Master Lin looked disgusted, ¡°How old are you now? Every time there¡¯s a problem, you thrash around like a headless fly. Think about it: why would the Luo family cancel the engagement now? That means they don¡¯t want to mess with the Xue family! The Xue family is even feared by them; don¡¯t you think Baohe and his wife can see that clearly?¡± Seeing that the old lady was still clueless, the old master had to spell it out even more plainly, ¡°If the Luo family dares not marry Chuxia, who else would dare to?¡± Old Lady Lin slapped her thigh hard, ¡°Old man, you¡¯ve thought this through so carefully. It would be beneath us to rush to their door now. Yes, we need to have Baohe and his wife come and ask us themselves. This time, I want to let them taste what it¡¯s like to be sidelined.¡± ¡°Alright, but don¡¯t go too far when that time comes...¡± Old Master Lin glared at the old lady, ¡°If Chuxia ends up marrying into their family, we¡¯ll still need her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too good for that damn girl!¡± Old Lady Lin¡¯s face was full of resentment, ¡°I say, Meiching is way better than Chuxia, how come no one sees that?¡± ¡°Their family doesn¡¯t lack someone to do the chores, and although Chuxia isn¡¯t good at those, in terms of looks, she¡¯s better than Meiching¡¯s sister,¡± Old Master Lin¡¯s eyes twinkled with mirth, ¡°The good days for the Old Lin Family are peeking through; finally worthy of our ancestors.¡± ¡°The Luo family is somewhat sensible.¡± A smile also appeared in Old Lady Lin¡¯s dark, triangular eyes, ¡°Otherwise, this matter would have been really difficult to handle.¡± ¡°Lin Chuchun!¡± The old master called his grandson over and whispered a few instructions in his ear. Lin Chuchun then ran out with a beaming smile. Overhearing the gist, Chuqiu snorted disdainfully and went back to his room. Chapter 48 - 48 48 Luo Hongqis Enlistment Notice ?48: Chapter 48 Luo Hongqi¡¯s Enlistment Notice 48: Chapter 48 Luo Hongqi¡¯s Enlistment Notice The Lin Family and the Luo family had just canceled their marriage arrangement, and at such a sensitive time, it was somewhat inappropriate for Chuxia to stay at the Luo family¡¯s house any longer. Despite Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s reluctance, both sets of parents had already decided on how to proceed. For the sake of Chuxia¡¯s reputation, she knew she couldn¡¯t be willful and, with tears in her eyes, let Chuxia return to her own home. The room was still a bit damp, so Zhao Yulan had fired up the kang. After all, the three family members used to live in one room, and even if Chuxia wanted to live alone, a few days wouldn¡¯t make a difference. In the courtyard, a pear tree near twenty years old was covered with snow-white blossoms that filled the canopy. While Zhao Yulan was heating the kang, Chuxia would move a small stool under the pear tree and chat with Zhao Yulan to pass time. Having grown up so much, it was her first time seeing a living pear tree, which excited Chuxia greatly. She had always envied this kind of life, leisurely and pastoral, with flowers, grass, trees, chickens, ducks, and geese... Unfortunately, when her wish came true, it wasn¡¯t at all in the way she had wanted. Thinking this, a trace of melancholy crossed her face. Zhao Yulan thought she was worried about the Xue family¡¯s marriage arrangement and comforted her daughter, ¡°Chuxia, don¡¯t worry. If Xue Ligang dares to play dirty, mom has ways to handle it.¡± ¡°What ways does mom have?¡± ¡°Just trust that mom has ways...¡± Under the light of the fire, Zhao Yulan¡¯s cheeks were tinged with a rosy flush. Chuxia stared, slightly stunned. This side of her mother, charming and bashful, was something she had never seen before. Could there be some romantic entanglement she didn¡¯t know about? But considering the relationship between Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe, there shouldn¡¯t be any lingering affair, right? Don¡¯t blame Chuxia for thinking wildly. Generally, what else but love could bring such an expression to a woman¡¯s face? ¡°Mom, was Dad your first love?¡± Zhao Yulan glanced quickly at her daughter and scolded, ¡°What kind of question is that? Go outside and call your father, it¡¯s time for dinner.¡± Chuxia observed Zhao Yulan, her lips unconsciously curling into a smile: ¡°Mom, you¡¯re blushing, hehe...¡± Before Zhao Yulan could get annoyed, she quickly stood up, ¡°Having my own room feels so good. I¡¯m going to call Dad to come home for dinner.¡± Lin Baohe was industrious, taking advantage of the approaching darkness; he went out with his basket to collect cow dung. Just as Chuxia was leaving the alley, she spotted him. She quickly walked up to him, ¡°Dad, Mom has finished cooking.¡± As she said this, she reached for the small shovel, but Lin Baohe pulled it back, ¡°It¡¯s dirty. Don¡¯t touch.¡± ¡°Dad, you¡¯re always like this, never wanting me to do anything...¡± Chuxia examined Lin Baohe¡¯s expression, ¡°Dad, what¡¯s wrong? You seem unhappy.¡± ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong.¡± Lin Baohe spoke and quickened his pace, ¡°Dad is hungry.¡± Chuxia quietly pouted; her dad was not good at lying. Seeing his demeanor, she knew he was making excuses, but she wasn¡¯t in a hurry. There would be plenty of time to question him after dinner. For dinner, Zhao Yulan made cornbread and stir-fried cabbage. Perhaps because they now had their own house, even Chuxia, who didn¡¯t normally like cornbread, found the meal especially delicious. ¡°Out with it, what¡¯s happened?¡± After dinner, before Chuxia could start asking, Zhao Yulan spoke first, and Chuxia grinned broadly, ¡°Dad, you still want to act as if nothing¡¯s wrong, but the more you pretend, the less convincing it looks...¡± Zhao Yulan gave her daughter a stern look: ¡°Let your dad speak.¡± ¡°Everyone in the village is talking, the Xue family has taken a liking to Liu Meifeng.¡± ¡°Dad, that¡¯s good news...¡± Chuxia chuckled moving closer to Lin Baohe, ¡°Is it because someone said, after Hongqi and I broke up, the Xue family didn¡¯t fancy me, then spoke ill behind our backs and that made you upset, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lin Baohe sighed, ¡°Some people said it outright on the road...It wasn¡¯t pleasant.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it said that the Xue family didn¡¯t fancy Meiching¡¯s sister?¡± Zhao Yulan was full of confusion, ¡°Her second aunt¡¯s Xiaoqing said that Xue Guohong saw Liu Meifeng, turned around and left, could Xiaoqing have gotten it wrong?¡± ¡°Mom, I guess someone is deliberately spreading rumors, let them say whatever they want to say. As long as they don¡¯t make me marry into the Xue family, anything goes.¡± ¡°But who said that? Even if we don¡¯t marry into the Xue family, it is still annoying to be gossiped about like this. In the future, what decent family would come to propose marriage to us?¡± Zhao Yulan¡¯s brow furrowed, ¡°Whoever is doing this clearly wants to disgrace our family, but who could it be? Could it be the Zhong family?¡± Chuxia nodded, ¡°Zhong Hongying¡¯s mother is capable of doing such a thing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to find her!¡± Lin Baohe suddenly stood up to leave, but Zhao Yulan quickly held him back, ¡°What¡¯s the use of you finding her? Would she admit it? She¡¯s nothing but a scoundrel, what advantage could you possibly gain by confronting her now?¡± ¡°If it really was her who said it, I¡¯d smack her mouth shut!¡± Lin Baohe¡¯s eyebrows twisted into a frown, ¡°We haven¡¯t done anything to block her path, how could she do such a despicable thing?¡± ¡°Dad...¡± Chuxia hesitated slightly, then said, ¡°I have another suspect in mind, don¡¯t be angry when I say it.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Grandpa, grandma, and my younger uncle¡¯s side.¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Lin Baohe¡¯s head shook like a bobblehead, ¡°Your grandparents and your uncle, no matter what, are our own family. How could they spread such rumors?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see in a couple of days. I just suddenly felt that since we¡¯ve already moved here but grandparents haven¡¯t moved to uncle¡¯s place yet. If we live here and they don¡¯t move there, what would the villagers say about them? But if our reputation gets ruined first...¡± At the same time, Fat Auntie¡¯s family was also discussing this issue. Luo Gangshun¡¯s finger poked his son¡¯s head repeatedly, his mouth opening and closing without being able to utter a word ¡ª he was too angry. Like Chuxia¡¯s family, they guessed back and forth but couldn¡¯t pin down who exactly spread the rumor. However, Luo Gangshun and Fat Auntie had made up their mind that even if they called off the marriage arrangement with the Lin family, they would not let Zhong Hongying enter the Luo family¡¯s door. If Hongqi was set on marrying Zhong HongYing, they¡¯d disown him as their son. At this point, for Hongqi, it was a dead end. Zhong Hongying was willing to marry him because he was supposed to join the army, but if his parents wouldn¡¯t support him, where could he enlist? He didn¡¯t have much time to dwell on this dilemma. The next morning, Zhou Hanliang arrived, bringing with him Hongqi¡¯s enlistment notice ¡ª it was a special recruitment. Holding that bright red enlistment notice, Luo Gangshun¡¯s hand trembled uncontrollably ¡ª the timing of this notice couldn¡¯t have been better! ¡°Do you want to marry Zhong Hongying, or do you want to enlist?¡± Hearing Luo Gangshun¡¯s inquiry, Zhou Hanliang¡¯s eyebrows suddenly twitched, what? Hongqi was supposed to marry Lin Chuxia? Then... ---- Sorry for the late update today; I will try to post earlier tomorrow. Special thanks to ¡°Paris Fashion¡± for the reward~ Chapter 49 - 49 49 Driven Away by Anger Again ?49: Chapter 49: Driven Away by Anger Again 49: Chapter 49: Driven Away by Anger Again That afternoon, Hongqi followed Zhou Hanliang and left. Though people said he wasn¡¯t the sharpest tool in the shed, this time he was quite astute. While packing up, Xiaoqiong quietly asked him what made him change his mind. He replied that if he became a soldier, he still might have a chance to marry Zhong Hongying. If he didn¡¯t, he would have no chance at all. Zhong Hongying got the news and went to the village entrance early to wait, but unfortunately, Fat Auntie and Luo Gangshun had anticipated her move. They accompanied their son all the way to the commune before returning, which meant Hongying didn¡¯t get a chance to approach Hongqi at all. ¡°My mom and dad are really determined, driving there and walking back, all to keep Zhong Hongying away from my brother...¡± Xiaoqiong sat at Chuxia¡¯s family, her words flying with vehemence. Obviously, seeing Zhong Hongying thwarted brought her the greatest joy. ¡°I really can¡¯t understand her thinking. Is she after the person or something else?¡± Chuxia looked puzzled as she turned to Zhao Yulan, ¡°Mom, do you understand?¡± ¡°Soldiers get a subsidy every month, and after demobilization, they can be assigned to work at the commune; those with good fortune might even get a placement in the county. You tell me, what is she after?¡± Yulan¡¯s explanation led to a moment of revelation for both Chuxia and Xiaoqiong. Still, they could not agree with such thinking. On this issue, they shared the same view: when getting married, one should marry the person first, and then consider other things. If the person isn¡¯t the right one, even a household of gold and silver isn¡¯t worth marrying into! With spring planting beginning, Chuxia worked daily alongside Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan. At first, the couple was reluctant to let their daughter work hard, but they soon noticed that being active had its benefits, as Chuxia¡¯s appetite increased. Consequently, they no longer held her back. Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin waited at home for a few days, but when Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan didn¡¯t come to visit, they finally lost their patience. One day, after the couple finished their day¡¯s work, the elderly couple paid them a visit. ¡°Grandpa, Grandma, came to see our new home?¡± Chuxia greeted them with a smile and pointed to the pear tree in the middle of the courtyard. ¡°Isn¡¯t it nice?¡± Old Lady Lin made a show of looking up and then nodded repeatedly, ¡°It¡¯s nice, truly nice.¡± ¡°Dad, Mom, have a seat and we can talk,¡± Baohe said, bringing out two straw mats and placing them under the pear tree. ¡°It¡¯s not too windy; it¡¯s comfortable sitting here.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go inside and have a look first.¡± Old Master Lin, hands clasped behind his back, ambled around inspecting the rooms and after coming out heaved a heavy sigh, ¡°Baohe, Yulan, the rooms are as dark as a cave and even smell damp; it¡¯s not fit for living. ¡°Your mother and I talked it over with Baohai and his wife, and we think you should live in the old house, while Chuchun and Chuqiu can set up two rooms in the southern side of the courtyard when they look for their brides.¡± Without a second thought, Baohe refused, ¡°Dad, there¡¯s no need. We like it here, and the dampness will go away after we air it out.¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s not damp, it¡¯s dark inside, which will make anyone living there feel oppressed,¡± the old man frowned and scolded his son, ¡°Are you trying to upset your parents?¡± ¡°We are not,¡± Baohe insisted. ¡°Yulan and Chuxia like this courtyard, they like this pear tree, so we decided to live here. Give it a few days and I¡¯ll make the windows larger, which will brighten up the inside.¡± With her hands covered in dough, Yulan emerged from the house, ¡°Dad, Mom, you should just move over there. Don¡¯t hold up Chuchun and Chuqiu from finding their brides.¡± ¡°These rooms may be dark, but we don¡¯t feel stifled at all because this is our own home; no one can kick us out. Although the room in uncle¡¯s house is bright, living there made us anxious and really stifled.¡± After their last falling out, Chuxia didn¡¯t mince words anymore. In her eyes, elders should be respected, but it depended on the type of elders they were. As for those who constantly sought to trade her for their benefit, she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to respect them. Old Master Lin brandished his tobacco pipe, ¡°No one dares to drive you out this time. The room that was said to be yours will be yours; nobody else has the right to take it.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t go!¡± Chuxia didn¡¯t even bother to come up with a reason, but simply looked to Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan, ¡°Dad, Mom, we¡¯re united on this. What others say doesn¡¯t matter, right?¡± ¡°Right!¡± Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe chorused. ¡°Who runs this house?¡± asked Old Master Lin with undisguised displeasure, staring at his son. ¡°Are you even a man? First, your wife was in charge of you, now your daughter is. Do you still act like a man at all?¡± Lin Baohe was unperturbed. ¡°Dad, I listen to them.¡± ¡°You...¡± Old Master Lin pointed at him, seething, ¡°With the money you¡¯ll be making in the next few years going to the Old Chen Family, I think a donkey must have kicked your head!¡± This house was bought for one hundred yuan plus sixty-two food coupons. All of the food coupons had already been given to Uncle Gangshun¡¯s family, and only twenty-one yuan had been paid, leaving a debt of seventy-nine yuan. According to the accounts settled at the end of the year in Dalin Village in previous years, it would take at least four years to pay off that seventy-nine yuan, after all, they needed to save some money for essential purchases. ¡°Never mind a few years, even if it takes over a decade, we¡¯d be happy to,¡± Lin Baohe said. Old Lady Lin trembled with rage. ¡°Baohe, is this the good daughter you¡¯ve raised? Since when does she have a say when the adults are speaking?¡± Lin Baohe¡¯s lips moved, but he said nothing. However, his look at Chuxia carried a hint of warning. No matter what, those were his parents, and his daughter¡¯s attitude was somewhat over the line. In the end, nobody was able to persuade anyone else, and Old Lady Lin and Old Master Lin left shaking all over. Watching the old couple¡¯s silhouette disappear outside the door, Zhao Yulan poked Lin Baohe. ¡°Do you really think Dad and Mom came over just to get us to move in with them?¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m dumb?¡± Lin Baohe replied sulkily, then slung his basket over his shoulder and left the house. ¡°Dad is pretty cool,¡± Chuxia couldn¡¯t help saying. Zhao Yulan looked puzzled. ¡°What does ¡®cool¡¯ mean?¡± ¡°It means having character, having an opinion,¡± Chuxia explained. Zhao Yulan nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, your dad, even though he¡¯s reserved, he¡¯s not muddled; he¡¯s got an opinion.¡± ¡°Second Aunt,¡± Lin Chuqiu came into the courtyard, calling out with an uneasy expression. ¡°Chuqiu¡¯s here, sit down, Second Aunt is about to make pancakes. Have Chuxia keep you company,¡± Zhao Yulan said enthusiastically to Chuqiu, having heard from Chuxia before that he had spoken up for their family. ¡°No need to sit, I just came to tell you, the Xue family will come two days later to set the marriage. It was Grandpa and Grandma who asked my dad to set it up; you¡¯d better start making plans ahead of time.¡± After finishing, he turned and left. When Zhao Yulan called after him, he quickened his pace instead. ¡°This child...¡± Zhao Yulan went after him, but he was already out of sight, and she could only return, dejected. ¡°I wanted to ask a few more questions. Why did he leave so quickly?¡± Chuxia sneered. ¡°It¡¯s fine that he came to tell us at all, and you want him to tell you in detail? Such an awkward kid.¡± ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C Special thanks to Yao Yao and ¡°Paris Fashion¡± for their rewards. Chapter 50 - 50 50 Why Choose the Lin Family ?50: Chapter 50: Why Choose the Lin Family 50: Chapter 50: Why Choose the Lin Family Xue Family. Wang Meihua sat on the hard chair with a sullen face, turning an enamel tumbler back and forth in her hand, while Xue Guohong sat with his legs crossed, shaking them nonchalantly, a look of indifference on his face. Facing them, Xue Ligang, however, had a face full of joy. On the table between them, there were two oval bamboo baskets covered with red cloth, filled with some pastries, snacks, and large steamed buns. ¡°What exactly do you mean by this?¡± Wang Meihua slammed the enamel tumbler down, ¡°Are we going to a matchmaking meeting or arranging a marriage tomorrow?¡± ¡°First the matchmaking, then the arrangement, if Guohong likes her, we will arrange it on the spot, if not, we will keep looking.¡± Xue Ligang said while looking at his son, ¡°You little brat, once you meet Lin Chuxia tomorrow, you¡¯ll understand why I want you to be engaged to her.¡± Xue Guohong¡¯s lips curled up with a mischievous smile, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t use me as a shield, I have a girlfriend, and you know that.¡± ¡°How can Ren Yue compare to Lin Chuxia?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t Ren Yue compare to Lin Chuxia? Ren Yue¡¯s parents are both teachers, what about Lin Chuxia¡¯s parents? Ren Yue¡¯s grandparents live in the county, where are Lin Chuxia¡¯s grandparents? Ren Yue¡¯s family has only this one daughter, and Lin Chuxia¡¯s family...¡± Seeing that Wang Meihua was at a loss for words, Xue Ligang quickly chimed in: ¡°Also has only this one daughter.¡± ¡°But is that the same?¡± Wang Meihua glared at her husband with resentment, ¡°Lin Chuxia¡¯s grandparents treat her like merchandise to be sold, while Ren Yue¡¯s grandparents dote on her like a treasure! Even for Guohong¡¯s future, you can¡¯t let him marry Lin Chuxia!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t understand, then don¡¯t blabber nonsense!¡± Xue Ligang glared at his wife, ¡°I have my reasons for doing this, you¡¯ll understand in two months whether I¡¯m looking out for Guohong¡¯s best interests.¡± ¡°No matter the reason, why don¡¯t you spell it out now?¡± Wang Meihua¡¯s face was full of mockery, ¡°What I see now is that after all these years, you still can¡¯t forget Zhao Yulan, and since you couldn¡¯t marry her, you¡¯d rather ruin our son¡¯s future just to have him marry her daughter.¡± ¡°The matter is settled just like this, you have no right to oppose,¡± Xue Ligang looked at Xue Guohong, ¡°Go see her tomorrow, and if you¡¯re satisfied, we arrange it then and there, if not, Dad won¡¯t force you, but, you must break things off with Ren Yue.¡± ¡°Give me a reason.¡± Xue Guohong spread his hands nonchalantly, ¡°Although I haven¡¯t reached the point where I must marry Ren Yue, Dad, you¡¯re suddenly arranging a girlfriend for me, you should at least give me an explanation, right?¡± ¡°She is Zhang Guojun¡¯s wife¡¯s niece.¡± Xue Ligang¡¯s expression turned serious, ¡°Listen to Dad, I won¡¯t harm you. There are some things I can¡¯t tell you now, but look, Dad promises you, if you are not satisfied after the engagement, you can still break it off, and we can just forget about the betrothal gifts.¡± Xue Guohong nodded decisively: ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll listen to you. Anything else?¡± Xue Ligang sized up his son: ¡°Go get a tidy haircut, and that¡¯s it.¡± Xue Guohong smirked and tossed his hair: ¡°Dad doesn¡¯t appreciate style, this is the most fashionable three-to-seven split nowadays.¡± ¡°Shave it a bit shorter, Lin Baohe is old-fashioned, he definitely won¡¯t like this look.¡± ¡°He¡¯s got the gall to dislike Guohong?¡± Wang Meihua laughed exaggeratedly, ¡°He¡¯d be lucky if he could stop grinning to one side and come back to his senses, and now he¡¯s picky?¡± Xue Guohong stood up: ¡°You two can keep arguing, I¡¯m heading out.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve handled all the paperwork for your job entry. Settle down and stop fooling around outside.¡± ¡°` ¡°I understand.¡± Xue Guohong¡¯s voice drifted in from far away, followed by the clanging of a bicycle... Xue Ligang sighed, ¡°This kid, when will he ever act like an adult? Or maybe, it¡¯ll be better after he¡¯s married?¡± ¡°Xue Ligang, tell me the truth...¡± With her son out of sight, Wang Meihua no longer held back, ¡°Are you doing this for the older one, or for the younger one?¡± ¡°Wang Meihua, don¡¯t think of others as dirty as yourself. Guohong is my son, do you really think I¡¯d mess around when finding him a wife? I¡¯ve already said, Lin Chuxia is Zhang Guojun¡¯s niece, and Zhang Guojun¡¯s other niece married into the Qiang Family. That¡¯s all I¡¯ll say for now; you¡¯ll understand what I mean when the time comes.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you just give it to me straight since I can¡¯t go spreading rumors anyway?¡± ¡°You...¡± Xue Ligang sighed helplessly, ¡°What I want now is for others to mistakenly believe that I¡¯m still pining for Zhao Yulan, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m having my son marry Lin Chuxia, get it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡± Wang Meihua looked puzzled, she was even more confused now, wasn¡¯t she? ¡°The Ren Family is finished, and the Qiang Family...¡± Xue Ligang pointed upward, ¡°is settled too. I¡¯ve circled around, and the only connection that could be of use is the Lin Family. But now, no one will think along those lines. This is killing two birds with one stone. You of little sense but long hair, do you understand now?¡± ¡°Are you saying?¡± Wang Meihua¡¯s eyes glistened as she pointed upward, ¡°You might have a chance?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Xue Ligang tapped his finger on the table, ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything, okay!¡± ¡°So petty!¡± Wang Meihua chuckled and sidled up to him, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just make it clear to me sooner? These last few days have left me so upset that I couldn¡¯t eat or sleep well.¡± Xue Ligang gave her a look: ¡°You deserve it! Having married me for so many years, don¡¯t you know what kind of person I am? Would I ruin my son¡¯s future for a girl like that?¡± Xue Guohong rode his bike around for a while and decided, after all to get his hair cut neatly as his father had requested. It wasn¡¯t so much that he was particularly obedient, but the recent commotion had piqued his curiosity. First, his father had told him that he had picked out a potential marriage partner for him, Lin Chuxia from the Lin Baohe family in Dalin Village, saying that although the girl might not be good at household chores, she had the advantage of being pretty. Then there was an endless stream of matchmakers knocking on his door, all knowing he had a girlfriend yet still brazenly showing up, forcibly bringing the girl along for him to meet. First was the one named Liu Meifeng, who looked just so-so. Her sister even treated her like a fairy. Then there was the one named Zhao Qiyan. My goodness, with such a small stature, she dared to show up offering herself? He didn¡¯t even need to speak up; his mother chased her out with a broom straight away. After that came the tall ones, the short ones, the fat ones, the thin ones... every type imaginable. It was said that these girls were brought together by a few families to have him consider them, with the purpose of stopping Lin Chuxia from marrying into the Xue family. Upon hearing this news, he, who initially didn¡¯t care, started to change his mind. What was so special about this girl that made people so wary of her marrying into the Xue family? It has to be said, kid, you¡¯re looking at it wrong. It¡¯s not wariness, it¡¯s unwillingness! ¡°Xue Guohong, why are you avoiding me?¡± Just as he came out of the barbershop, he was intercepted by an angry girl. Xue Guohong looked genuinely surprised: ¡°Yue Yue, how did you know I was missing you? I was just about to look for you when you showed up, it¡¯s quite magical...¡± He swaggered and flicked his head, ¡°Just got a haircut, looks sharp, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°` Chapter 51 - 51 51 Coming ?51: Chapter 51 Coming 51: Chapter 51 Coming ¡°I heard you¡¯ve been going on arranged dates lately, Guohong, aren¡¯t you planning to leave me behind?¡± Yue Yue said pitifully, clutching Xue Guohong¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Our relationship is known to everyone in the commune, if you abandon me, I¡¯ll have no way to go on.¡± ¡°Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!¡± Xue Guoxian spat several times, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Yue Yue, you¡¯re my dear wife, how could I ever stop wanting you? It¡¯s true that I¡¯ve been on those arranged dates, but that wasn¡¯t my wish. My dad, he¡¯s so fickle, just give it some time, and it¡¯ll pass. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t ever leave you.¡± ¡°You really mean that?¡± Ren Yue sighed with relief, ¡°I couldn¡¯t find you these past few days, and everyone in the commune has been talking about your daily dates, it was killing me.¡± ¡°Did our folks say anything?¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a smooth talker!¡± Ren Yue rolled her eyes at him, ¡°My parents are understanding people. They said not to believe the rumors blindly and told me to ask you in person. If it was true, they would send me back to the county and not let me stay here.¡± ¡°Where could I find in-laws as good as them?¡± Xue Guohong picked up Ren Yue and seated her on the front bar of the bicycle, ¡°Even if it¡¯s just for their sake, I couldn¡¯t possibly give up on Yue Yue.¡± ¡°What did you just say?¡± Ren Yue twisted his ear back and forth, ¡°For you, I¡¯ve thrown caution to the wind, and you still act as though you¡¯re hard done by, where is your conscience?¡± ¡°Alright, alright, it¡¯s all my fault. Let¡¯s go home and visit your folks...¡± Xue Guohong said, stretching his long legs to push off, and the bicycle smoothly rolled forward. Ren Yue, in a panic, sharply pinched his arm, ¡°I should sit at the back, it doesn¡¯t look good for others to see.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to worry about, you¡¯re my wife.¡± Although he said this, Xue Guohong still stopped the bike and let Ren Yue climb to the back. Ren Yue¡¯s eyes dimmed slightly. Before, he wouldn¡¯t have cared about this, but now, his doing so, did it signify...? A sudden unease rose within her. Once seated, she leaned her head against his back and sighed softly, ¡°Guohong, you¡¯ll definitely marry me, right?¡± ¡°Of course. What are you worrying about?¡± Xue Guohong¡¯s voice was laced with laughter, ¡°What, can¡¯t wait to get married to me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that...¡± Her voice was full of shyness. ¡°If you¡¯re really that eager, why don¡¯t we get married right now?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s in a hurry!¡± Ren Yue angrily pounded his back, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree already? We¡¯ll get married at the end of the year once your job is stable, who¡¯s being impatient?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just afraid you don¡¯t believe in me,¡± Xue Guohong chuckled, ¡°Besides, I¡¯d better hurry up and bring my wife home, I¡¯ve been saving up my public grain for so many years, I can hardly store it anymore.¡± ¡°You shameless man!¡± Forgetting she was on a bicycle, Ren Yue covered her cheeks in shyness, swaying back and forth, causing the handlebar to wobble left and right, ¡°Yue Yue... Yue Yue...¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The bicycle¡¯s front wheel smashed into a large locust tree by the roadside, one that required a hug of a man to encircle. Xue Guohong reflexively jumped off the bike and ran, and without his support, Ren Yue reached out chaotically and her head banged into the tree with a thud, rolling off and lying motionless on the ground. ¡°Yue Yue, Yue Yue...¡± Xue Guohong hurried over and helped her up, ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Ren Yue¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she pushed Xue Guohong away, ¡°Do you even care about me at all?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m so sorry, Yue Yue, it was all my fault, my mind wandered off just now...¡± ¡°You were distracted while talking to me?¡± Ren Yue¡¯s anger grew. ¡°I...¡± At a loss for words, Xue Guohong could only resort to his thick-skinned tactics, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. Don¡¯t be angry with me, Yue Yue. I promise it won¡¯t happen again. I¡¯ll lie down first to cushion you if you¡¯re going to fall.¡± ¡°Hmph, it would be more like it if I were cushioning you!¡± Ren Yue said irritably as she pushed him away, ¡°I want to walk by myself, so you go back.¡± ¡°Yue Yue...¡± Ren Yue pushed him again: ¡°Just go!¡± ¡°Alright, take care of yourself, and when you¡¯ve cooled off, come find me.¡± Xue Guohong said, then he picked up his bicycle, swung his long leg over, and pedaled away. Ren Yue: ¡°...¡± She was just talking in anger, couldn¡¯t he see that? Or, had some things really changed? ... Xue Ligang eyed his son¡¯s new hairdo with satisfaction and nodded, ¡°Not bad, this look... it finally seems somewhat respectable.¡± Wang Meihua quietly curled her lips, but unlike before, she didn¡¯t retort. Instead, she pulled her son to sit beside her, ¡°Guohong, whether you¡¯re happy about it or not, don¡¯t let it show on your face. After all, we can always call off the engagement later. We¡¯re not lacking that money.¡± ¡°Mom, why have you changed your tune?¡± Xue Guohong glanced at his mother in surprise, ¡°Didn¡¯t you particularly despise Chuxia? Are you happy now just so I can ruin her reputation for you?¡± ¡°Go on!¡± Wang Meihua pushed her son and scolded, ¡°Is your mom that kind of person? Your dad has his reasons for arranging this. We should just listen to him. After all, he wouldn¡¯t harm us.¡± ¡°Dad, you¡¯re impressive!¡± Xue Guohong gave Xue Ligang a thumbs up, ¡°You¡¯re truly skilled; you¡¯ve totally won Mom over in no time. It looks like I really should learn from you.¡± ¡°You cheeky brat, watch your language,¡± Wang Meihua smacked her son on the head, ¡°You¡¯re always so disrespectful. Don¡¯t you dare act like this once your wife comes home.¡± ¡°I know; am I that thoughtless? I¡¯ll definitely show due respect to my parents in front of my wife. I remember it well.¡± Xue Guohong stood up and waved his hand, ¡°I¡¯m going back to my room to rest. Call me when the food is ready.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± As Xue Guohong took a few steps, Wang Meihua frowned and called out to him, ¡°What happened to your pant leg there?¡± Glancing at the torn spot on his pant leg and contemplating getting a new bicycle, Xue Guohong grimaced and said, ¡°The bike chain¡¯s no good, scraped it.¡± ¡°Once the engagement is set, we¡¯ll buy you a new one.¡± ¡°Dad, why do I feel that getting engaged is so frightening?¡± Xue Guohong eyed his father¡¯s face, ¡°Otherwise, how could you possibly be so generous?¡± ... The next morning at nine o¡¯clock, Xue Ligang, Xue Guohong, Wang Meihua, and Xue Ligang¡¯s brother Xue Liwei, along with his sister-in-law Liu Xiaodi, each riding a bicycle, entered Dalin Village in grand fashion. At nine-nineteen, the group arrived on time at the entrance of Lin Baohai¡¯s home, where Old Master Lin, Old Lady Lin, Lin Baohai, his wife, and their two grandsons hurriedly greeted them: ¡°Director, Madam, everyone, you¡¯ve arrived?¡± Xue Ligang looked around with a puzzled expression: ¡°Where are Baohe, Yulan, and Chuxia?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not putting on such grand airs, are they?¡± Wang Meihua¡¯s face also turned sour, she was extremely reluctant to make such a grand entrance to the Lin Family¡¯s home. Chapter 52 - 52 52 Longing for Someones Return ?52: Chapter 52 Longing for Someone¡¯s Return 52: Chapter 52 Longing for Someone¡¯s Return ¡°...Big Brother, our parents raised us with great difficulty, and no matter if they were partial or not, we can¡¯t just abandon them now, Big Brother...¡± In Chuxia¡¯s family, a woman who looked to be about forty with ear-length short hair, bearing a six or seven points resemblance to Lin Baohe, sat at the edge of the heated brick bed, earnestly persuading Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan with all the patience of a kind mother. She was Chuxia¡¯s only aunt, Lin Baojuan. Lin Baojuan was the youngest child of the Lin Family and had the closest relationship with Lin Baohe. Without her, Lin Baohe might not even have had a room when he got married. Having her try to persuade Lin Baohe was considered Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin¡¯s trump card. If even she couldn¡¯t make Lin Baohe yield, then they would truly be out of options. From eight o¡¯clock in the morning, Lin Baojuan sat on the edge of the brick bed in Chuxia¡¯s home, repeatedly talking about the hardships Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin went through in the past, hoping to convince her brother and sister-in-law to bring their niece and comply with their parents¡¯ arrangements. Glancing at the wall clock, Lin Baojuan¡¯s face turned ugly. The guests for the betrothal had arrived, but the principals were absent¡ªwhat kind of situation was this? She had said everything she could think of, but Big Brother and Sister-in-law just wouldn¡¯t respond, and as for the niece with the usually capricious temperament, she sat on the brick bed reading a book, as if what she said had nothing to do with her. ¡°Big Brother, Sister-in-law, do you want me to kneel and beg you?¡± Lin Baojuan¡¯s voice held a sob, ¡°Even if you¡¯re reluctant, at least show up to give our parents a way out, can you do that?¡± Lin Baohe let out a long sigh, ¡°Baojuan, I remember all your kindness, but this matter, it¡¯s about my daughter, please don¡¯t make it hard for your Big Brother.¡± ¡°How have we made it difficult for you?¡± Lin Baojuan looked utterly confused, ¡°The Xue family is like lighting a lantern in the dark¡ªhard to find. If Chuxia marries there, she¡¯ll become an Official Lady. What exactly are you two resisting? I¡¯m not lying to you, if the Xue family had taken a liking to our Susu, I¡¯d be so happy I couldn¡¯t sleep at night.¡± ¡°Uncle, Aunt, Chuxia...¡± The door was suddenly pushed open, and Luo Xiaoqiong entered with a flushed face. She was startled to see Lin Baojuan sitting at the edge of the brick bed and said, ¡°Auntie is here.¡± ¡°She¡¯s grown into a young woman, I almost can¡¯t recognize her anymore.¡± Lin Baojuan said cheerfully as she pulled Luo Xiaoqiong closer, ¡°Has Meiying found a husband¡¯s family yet?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong felt awkward. Zhao Qiliang¡¯s reply hadn¡¯t arrived so how could she know his intentions? And it was too embarrassing to talk about such things in front of Zhao Yulan, so she forced a calm smile and changed the subject, ¡°Auntie, come over to our place when you have the time, my mom often talks about you.¡± Though Lin Baojuan was anxious, she couldn¡¯t very well drive Luo Xiaoqiong away, so she responded lackadaisically, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make time to visit your mom today. Is she home?¡± ¡°She is, you should go now, Auntie.¡± Lin Baojuan¡¯s expression stiffened, ¡°I can¡¯t right now, maybe in the afternoon.¡± She then pleaded with Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan, ¡°Big Brother, Sister-in-law, when shall we leave?¡± It wasn¡¯t appropriate for her to say anything, so Zhao Yulan nudged Lin Baohe. With a slight sigh, Lin Baohe finally looked up, ¡°Baojuan, Meiying is not an outsider, and there¡¯s no harm in speaking in front of her. You should know how our parents treat our family.¡± Second Brother is so foolish, not favored by our parents, I can tolerate whatever they do to me, but they should not have set their sights on Chuxia. First they agreed to the Xue family¡¯s marriage proposal without my consent, then they spread rumors everywhere that Xue Ligang had taken a fancy to Liu Meifeng, making the entire village laugh at Chuxia for being rejected by the Luo family and despised by the Xue family. Their purpose in doing this was to make me take the initiative to plead with them. No outsider would ever kick someone when they¡¯re down like this. Could a parent really be so cruel as to kick their own child when they¡¯re down? Baojuan, now you want Second Brother to use his own daughter¡¯s lifetime of happiness to save face for our parents. If it were Susu our parents were treating this way today, would you agree? Oh, there¡¯s something you might not know...¡± Then Lin Baohe recounted the past entanglement between Zhao Yulan and Xue Ligang. ¡°Second Brother, Sister-in-law, why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner?¡± Lin Baojuan¡¯s face was full of regret, ¡°If I had known about all these complications, I would never have agreed to persuade you on behalf of our parents!¡± Lin Baojuan was only eighteen when she got married. By the time Lin Baohe married, she had been out of the house for several years, so she really didn¡¯t know about the affairs between the Xue family and Zhao Yulan. Lin Baohe gave a bitter smile, ¡°We both know the place our parents hold in your heart. We wouldn¡¯t have said these things unless it was absolutely necessary.¡± Alas! Lin Baojuan sighed deeply, unsure of what to say. Maybe because she was the only girl, she really was quite cherished by our parents. If she hadn¡¯t known Second Brother¡¯s temperament, she wouldn¡¯t have believed that our parents could do such a thing. The Luo Gangshun couple were willing to give up everything for Second Brother¡¯s family, yet as parents, they only thought of trading their granddaughter for the benefits of their youngest son and grandson. In her eyes, this was simply not right. Perhaps in our parents¡¯ minds, trading a granddaughter for the prosperity of a family was a most economical deal. But did they ever consider whether they were qualified to make such a trade? At this moment, the atmosphere in the Lin Baohai household was growing tenser by the minute. After Wang Meihua raised her objections, Old Master Lin explained that his second son¡¯s family did value this matter; it was just that Chuxia, the child, was shy and embarrassed to come over, so the couple was at home persuading her. He said this, of course, with his own ulterior motives in mind. As for the ultimate outcome of sending his youngest daughter to persuade his second son, he wasn¡¯t certain. So, he might as well make his granddaughter seem a bit petty for now¡ªperhaps the Xue family would find her less appealing because of it, and the blame would naturally not fall on him. He was cornered into taking this step, but admitting that he had no control over his second son¡¯s family was something he couldn¡¯t do. Therefore, he was willing to take his chances. If he succeeded, he would achieve his heart¡¯s desire. Failure wouldn¡¯t be much different from admitting his lack of authority. If one must find a difference, it would just be between losing face and losing even more face¡ªhe was already embarrassed, so what was the big deal about adding a little more to it? For the sake of his youngest son¡¯s family, he was all in! After two pots of tea had been refilled and there was still no sign of Lin Baohe¡¯s family, Xue Ligang and Wang Meihua¡¯s expressions were getting increasingly unsightly. Old Master Lin was also anxious, hesitating whether to make a trip himself, to swallow his pride and ask his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter to save him some face, when he saw his youngest daughter Lin Baojuan enter the courtyard, followed by the family of his second son. He happily clapped his hands: ¡°They¡¯re here, they¡¯re here, Director, Baohe and the others have arrived.¡± ¡ª- Special thanks to the patron from Paris Fashion Week for their rewarding support, and for supporting both books, thank you so much~ Chapter 53 - 53 53 Facing ?53: Chapter 53: Facing 53: Chapter 53: Facing The moment his gaze landed on Chuxia, Xue Guohong¡¯s eyes lit up. Her tall figure, fine arched eyebrows, watery large almond eyes, slender double eyelids, straight little nose, and rosy lips. Although her skin was a tad sickly pale and her body seemed too frail and thin, if she were to marry into his family and be well cared for, she was definitely his type! He had never been a fan of girls with bushy eyebrows and big eyes, or those with robust figures. He chose Ren Yue because she was more delicate than most girls, but compared to Lin Chuxia in front of him now, what did Ren Yue even have to look at? Feeling the intense scrutiny, Chuxia frowned slightly and followed that gaze, just to see a tall, handsomely rugged, slightly ruffian-esque man staring intently at her. Without asking, she knew who it was and instantly showed undisguised disgust, glaring fiercely at him. ¡°Hehe...¡± Although it was clear disgust, in Xue Guohong¡¯s eyes, it somehow seemed coquettish, and he couldn¡¯t help chuckling. As Xue Ligang was greeting Baohe and Yulan, he discretely stepped on Guohong¡¯s foot, ¡°Guohong, go out for a stroll with Chuxia.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Yulan quickly pulled her daughter behind her, ¡°We came here to make things clear. Chuxia is still too young, and not in a hurry to find a husband¡¯s family. Moreover, a prominent family like the Xue family is out of our league. We apologize for making you come all this way for nothing.¡± ¡°Heh...¡± Wang Meihua couldn¡¯t help but scoff. She was about to say something but Xue Ligang sharply pinched her, forcing her to suck in a breath and swallow her words. ¡°Yulan, are you still mad at me?¡± Xue Ligang waved his hands, ¡°Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin have already forgiven me. Why are you still dwelling on that trivial matter? Our children getting married is for their happiness, and it really has nothing to do with our past issues. My wife has come to terms with it, how come you can¡¯t see it clearly?¡± Wang Meihua quickly joined in, ¡°Yes, Yulan, if Chuxia marries into our family, I will certainly treat her well. She is a girl that endears one to care, I don¡¯t have a daughter and will definitely cherish her as my own.¡± Whether intentional or not, the last ¡°cherish¡± seemed tinged with a gritting of teeth¡ªafter all, who would be entirely willing when coerced to make a statement? ¡°Dad, Mom, are you dissatisfied with me?¡± Xue Guohong stepped forward, his eyes earnestly fixated on Baohe and Yulan, ¡°I like Chuxia and will treat her well, rest assured.¡± ¡°You¡¯re calling us...¡± Yulan pointed to her nose then to Baohe, ¡°You¡¯re calling us Dad and Mom?¡± ¡°Yes, today I and Chuxia are engaged, aren¡¯t you my parents now?¡± Xue Guohong¡¯s smile was radiant, ¡°Dad, Mom, our family is very easy to get along with. Don¡¯t feel pressured, the elders. We will treat Chuxia well and you too. In the future, what is in my house will surely be available to you as well, what I have will definitely include Chuxia, and even what I don¡¯t have will certainly involve Chuxia too.¡± Listening to her son calling others mom and dad, speaking such convoluted words to express his dedication, Wang Meihua felt like her heart was being wrung¡ªher son was pandering to her rival! How could her heart not ache? No matter how her husband explained, subconsciously she still felt that choosing the Lin family was mainly because of Yulan. ¡°Are all feelings expressed now?¡± This time the speaker was Baojuan, who had been silent since she entered the house with her elder brother¡¯s family. This was the first time she spoke. ¡°Juan, what kind of way is that to speak?¡± Old Master Lin glanced at his daughter, ¡°Go over to your sister-in-law¡¯s place and see how she¡¯s managing, lend a hand.¡± After Liu Meifeng was eliminated, Zhao Qiyan was eliminated (which she had anticipated), and the girls related to Zheng Sanqiao were all eliminated, Boss Lin¡¯s family switched their allegiance to Old Master Lin. These past few days, Lin Baojiang and Zheng Sanqiao had been currying favor with Old Master Lin plenty, of course, the key reason was they were worried that Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin would really move in with them. For them, they¡¯d rather have Baohe and his family live there than have the old couple move in. Frankly speaking, the old couple was getting on in years and would soon need caregiving, which would be their immediate responsibility should the seniors live in their house. How could they not take care of them then? So at this time, they were even willing to offer money just to make sure Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin were satisfied. Early this morning, Zheng Sanqiao had started preparing the engagement feast with Liu Meifeng, while Liu Meiqing took care of the children. However, did she ask Liu Meifeng for help with some ulterior hope in mind? ¡°Dad, Mom, how could you use me like this?¡± Lin Baojuan did not go along with what Old Master Lin said but stared at the elderly couple discontentedly, ¡°I am your daughter, and he¡¯s your son, how can you manipulate our feelings and make me do such things?¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Old Lady Lin grabbed her daughter¡¯s arm, ¡°On such a joyous day, can¡¯t you act a bit more sensible?¡± ¡°Uncle Lin, Aunt Lin, what is going on with your family?¡± Xue Ligang¡¯s look at Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin had turned stern, ¡°It was you who brought up the matter of our families getting connected, and you who invited us over for the engagement. What¡¯s all this now? Anyone who didn¡¯t know better might think that my Xue family is using its power to bulldoze over others and snatch a bride. Can the elders honestly say to themselves that I, Xue Ligang, ever forced them into anything?¡± ¡°Director, no, you¡¯ve misunderstood...¡± Old Master Lin quickly gestured to Lin Baohe, ¡°Baohe, even if you¡¯re not happy with dad on this joyous day, let¡¯s first proceed with the celebration, shall we?¡± Old Lady Lin edged forward, ¡°Yes, Baohe, isn¡¯t it just the house you want? Dad and Mom have already agreed to give it to you; we¡¯ll definitely keep our word.¡± Oh, so that¡¯s their scheme? Chuxia¡¯s gaze towards the elderly couple grew colder by the moment. Disrespectful elders, isn¡¯t that what they were? They clearly did something wrong, yet they always found excuses and cover-ups for themselves. Now she was two hundred percent suspicious that her own father wasn¡¯t their biological son¡ªotherwise, why would there be such unfair treatment? Lin Baohe gave a heavy sigh, his eyes full of sorrow as he looked at Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin, ¡°Dad, Mom, do you still want me as your son? If Chuxia doesn¡¯t get engaged to Xue Guohong, will I no longer be your son?¡± ------------------ Thank you very much for your support. I apologize for the delayed update due to feeling unwell. Chapter 54 - 54 54 Severance ?54: Chapter 54: Severance 54: Chapter 54: Severance ¡°Dad...¡± Chuxia moved in front of Lin Baohe, clutching his arm, her cheeks rubbing back and forth against his rough hands, ¡°Mom and I will always stay by your side.¡± After returning home from a discordant visit at Old Master Lin¡¯s house, Lin Baohe just sat still on the kang, motionless, no matter how much Zhao Yulan tried to persuade him. Left with no choice, Chuxia had to deploy a tactic of gentle persuasion. Although she had accepted her father and had intimate interactions with Zhao Yulan already, Chuxia still held some slight reserve around Lin Baohe. Besides, she was not naturally inclined to act coquettishly. Heaven knows how long it took her to muster the courage to make such a gesture. But Lin Baohe, her father, was worth this effort. Even her parents in that other world might not have gone to such lengths for her. When he sadly asked that question, he essentially slapped Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin¡¯s faces with a heavy slap. The Xue family wasn¡¯t foolish; hearing him say that, how could they not understand that they had been duped by Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin? Wang Meihua immediately turned against him, and Xue Ligang¡¯s expression also darkened. No matter what, he was the director of the Red Flag Commune. To be rejected like that, no matter the reason, was a disgrace. He was well aware that Lin Baohe and his wife would oppose marrying into his family, which is why he had tempted Old Master Lin. However, after receiving Old Master Lin¡¯s letter, he truly thought that the old couple had already persuaded Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have eagerly brought a whole group of people to Dalin Village. He knew about Lin Baohe¡¯s past experiences and had understood his personality. He thought that the filial Lin Baohe, for the sake of his parents, would definitely agree to marry his daughter into the Xue family. Little did he expect that he had completely misjudged the situation. Given the circumstances at the time, he could only turn away with his family. The only one reluctant to leave was Xue Guohong, who kept calling Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan ¡®Mom and Dad¡¯ and promised with certainty that he would earn their acceptance through his sincerity. At that moment, Chuxia truly wanted to smash his head with a brick! After the Xue family left, Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin naturally tried very hard to stop them, adding threats toward Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan. As a result, due to Lin Baohe¡¯s firmness, both parties had to part on bad terms. The Xue family had barely left when Old Master Lin picked up a shovel and threw it at Lin Baohe. If Zhao Yulan hadn¡¯t quickly pulled Lin Baohe away, he might very well have ended up critically ill. In front of everyone, Old Master Lin declared that he no longer considered Lin Baohe his son, and from then on, they would be estranged forever. Though he questioned Old Master Lin about not letting Chuxia engage to Xue Guohong and whether that meant he didn¡¯t recognize him as his son anymore, when it all really happened, Lin Baohe was still deeply shocked. Back home, he just sat there silently, in a daze. Sure enough, after Chuxia made that intimate gesture, Lin Baohe finally sighed softly and said, ¡°Chuxia, Dad has thought it through, and everything will be all right now.¡± ¡°Dad, you had already anticipated this outcome when we were heading there. Besides, everyone is heated right now, and the words spoken in anger don¡¯t count.¡± Baohe ran his large hand soothingly over Chuxia¡¯s head. ¡°My dear, having you and your mother makes me satisfied. What I can¡¯t grasp is how could our parents really harden their hearts to do such a thing, being my own flesh and blood? They dared to send that letter to the Xue family, just hoping to coerce me into compliance by playing on filial piety. If it were before, for the sake of their reputation, for the Xue family, I might have agreed. But ever since you fell ill, I truly became scared. I would risk everything, but I can¡¯t let you be foolish anymore.¡± ¡°Dad...¡± Chuxia¡¯s voice trembled with an overwhelming sense of guilt. It¡¯s a heart transplant, goodness... she has taken over someone else¡¯s heart... ¡°Baohe, let Chuxia join the army,¡± Yulan said. ¡°Seeing how that young man from the Xue family behaved today, we won¡¯t have peaceful days ahead. With them meddling like this, who would dare to marry Chuxia?¡± ¡°Yulan...¡± Baohe sighed deeply. ¡°Though it¡¯s hard to let go, for Chuxia¡¯s future, I¡¯m willing to let her join the army. Regimental Commander Zhou and Instructor Zhou only advised us to let the kids start physical training early. But when the time really comes to recruit soldiers, it definitely won¡¯t be them who come. Joining the army requires not only a certificate from the brigade but also one from the commune. After this incident, would Xue Ligang ever issue us a certificate? Without a recommendation letter, we have no chance of even meeting the recruiting officers.¡± ¡°This is exactly the issue I wanted to discuss with you. I¡¯m thinking of asking Jiang Yuesheng to issue a direct certificate from the county so that Chuxia can bypass the village and commune. That way, it won¡¯t be hard on Gangshun. If you agree, I¡¯ll go in a few days. Settling this matter sooner will put my mind at ease.¡± Baohe hesitated for a moment before nodding. ¡°For Chuxia, I¡¯ll ask him just this once.¡± Yulan took a deep breath and looked at her husband with tender affection. ¡°Baohe, marrying you was the best decision of my life.¡± Baohe¡¯s face flushed. ¡°In front of the child, dear!¡± ¡°I want Chuxia to know...¡± Yulan turned to Lin Chuxia, ¡°Xia, there¡¯s something I haven¡¯t told you. Before I was betrothed to your father, I was in love with a man who was a technician sent from the county to our village. I even thought about marrying him, but his family looked down on me. He was quite resolute, though, and even quarreled with his family for me. If it hadn¡¯t been for your grandmother¡¯s intervention, I might have really married him. She said if his parents didn¡¯t agree, I wouldn¡¯t be happy with him in this lifetime. I couldn¡¯t accept that at first, but shortly after, another technician who came down with him was recalled to the county. He often sighed secretly when he was alone. I then realized that he wanted to advance his career, he was thinking of his own parents. Staying good to me all his life was probably too much for him. So, I ended things with him. I told your father all about this when things between us got serious. Now Jiang Yuesheng is the county head, and he has promised me that as long as it¡¯s within his power, he would always help if I asked.¡± ¡°Mom, you really had a perpetual Peach Blossom Debt back then...¡± Chuxia joked with a grin, then her expression turned serious, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t ask him, such a person isn¡¯t worthy.¡± ¡°Xia...¡± Yulan sighed softly, ¡°Worthy or not, for you, I¡¯ll ask him this once.¡± ¡°No!¡± Chuxia became stern. ¡°Mom, although you didn¡¯t go into details, I know that when you broke up with him, you were definitely forced into it, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have made that promise to you. I¡¯d rather stay unmarried than have you do such a thing. Besides, there¡¯s always a way out when we come to the mountain, dad and mom need not worry.¡± The college entrance exam was going to resume soon, pity she couldn¡¯t mention it; otherwise, her parents wouldn¡¯t have to worry so much. Chapter 55 - 55 55 News at Last ?55: Chapter 55 News at Last 55: Chapter 55 News at Last With Chuxia¡¯s strong objection, Zhao Yulan had no choice but to give up on asking Jiang Yuesheng for help; however, one look at her worried face revealed the bitterness in her heart. Lin Baohe sighed deeply, his head hanging even lower. He was consumed by self-blame¡ªif it weren¡¯t for his incompetence, neither his wife nor his daughter would have to endure such humiliations. Since parents are, after all, one¡¯s elders, it was difficult for Chuxia to advise them in a preaching manner. After some thought, she decided to seek out Luo Gangshun and his wife. Maybe talking to them would make her parents feel a bit better. Luo Hongqi had already been taken to the army by Zhou Hanliang, so Luo Gangshun and his wife were now more than satisfied. When Chuxia came by and explained the situation, the couple dropped their work and immediately went to the Lin Family. Chuxia didn¡¯t know exactly how they had persuaded her parents, but when she returned home again, she finally saw her parents smiling. Seizing this opportunity, both families gathered together for a meal, formally warming the kang for Chuxia¡¯s family. Early the next day, Zhao Yulan went to Xiaolin Village and didn¡¯t return until the evening, her face again clouded with gloom¡ªher elder brother, Zhao Yushan, indeed had no chance of becoming the secretary anymore. Chuxia didn¡¯t accept it easily, but she understood that many things in this era couldn¡¯t be resolved by acting righteously on impulse. Her uncle had been implicated by them. The favor owed could only be repaid later. ¡°Xue Guohong was recommended for university admission.¡± It wasn¡¯t until they were going to bed that Zhao Yulan finally shared the news in a faint voice, ¡°There¡¯s only one spot in the town, and Xue Ligang kept it quiet. Today, the notice came; in one more month, it¡¯s off to university. Why is life so unfair? Why does someone like him get all the good fortune for his family, while us honest folks get bullied by them? How can Heaven be so blind?¡± Chuxia softly encouraged, ¡°Mom, Heaven will see; it¡¯s just not the time yet.¡± The room was damp, and the family still slept together on the same kang. ¡°I heard that university admissions won¡¯t be based on recommendations anymore; this is the last batch. Your uncle has a classmate who is in charge of education...¡± There¡¯s news already? Chuxia sat up excitedly: ¡°Mom, if there are no more recommendations, maybe we can try for the university entrance exams. Then, wouldn¡¯t I have a chance too?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Zhao Yulan pulled her daughter back into the bedding, ¡°Silly child, even if it¡¯s true that university entrance exams are possible, the registration will surely have to go through the commune, not to mention the admission notice¡ªwon¡¯t all of that have to pass through Xue Ligang¡¯s hands?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Chuxia¡¯s voice instantly became gloomy, ¡°Mom, are you serious?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t be certain right now, but I think it¡¯s very likely how things will be done.¡± Zhao Yulan¡¯s voice was also filled with dejection, ¡°Chuxia, if it doesn¡¯t work out, maybe I should still go ask Jiang Yuesheng. Just this once, for your future, it¡¯s worth it.¡± ¡°Mom, no!¡± Chuxia firmly refused, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that Xue Guohong was getting into university on a recommendation? Wang Meihua was already displeased with me, and now she¡¯s going to be even less satisfied. Instead, I think we could try talking to her privately. What do you think?¡± ¡°No way!¡± Lin Baohe instantly voiced his rejection without a second thought, ¡°That woman is too rash; if it comes to blows, you two are no match for her.¡± ¡°How could she be a match for me?¡± ¡°You dare to fight her?¡± Zhao Yulan was at a loss for words; indeed, put that way, she really wasn¡¯t a match for Wang Meihua. If the negotiations failed, she would truly be at a disadvantage in every aspect. That night, the family of three slept restlessly. When they got up in the morning, each wore dark circles under their eyes. Chuxia couldn¡¯t help but give a wry smile, ¡°Dad, Mom, we don¡¯t know what the outcome will be until we reach the very end. We can¡¯t let ourselves fall apart with worry before we even face the problem.¡± ¡°By the way, Mom, I want to visit Grandma¡¯s house today to see if I can borrow some textbooks. Also, Brother Qiliang should be sending a letter; Xiaoqiong is waiting eagerly.¡± ¡°Alright, go ahead. I forgot about Xiaoqiong¡¯s matter yesterday. It¡¯s been tough on your grandparents too; they didn¡¯t even bring it up,¡± said Zhao Yulan as she deftly got off the kang, ¡°Starting today, Chuxia, eat an egg every day. Whether you go to university or join the army, we need to prepare in advance.¡± Chuxia didn¡¯t make a fuss, ¡°Whatever you say, Mom.¡± She indeed needed to start getting in shape urgently. These past couple of days, she had been jumping rope in the yard every morning, along with doing frog jumps. When she had lived with her eldest uncle¡¯s family, she had never dared to do such things. With her sister-in-law¡¯s sharp tongue, it wouldn¡¯t have taken long for gossip to spread. Not working in the fields, yet idly jumping around at home was highly looked down upon in the countryside. She could ignore it, but could her parents? After breakfast, before Chuxia could even step outside, her aunt Lin Baojuan arrived, her cart bearing two bulging big sacks. ¡°Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, it¡¯s not much, and I can¡¯t help much else, but these flour and dried sweet potatoes are my small gesture, consider it as my contribution to your new home.¡± ¡°Your family isn¡¯t well-off either; don¡¯t...¡± Lin Baohe quickly tried to stop her, ¡°I appreciate your sentiment, sister, but I can¡¯t let it cause trouble between you and your husband¡¯s family.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Baojuan. We know you care about us,¡± Zhao Yulan joined in while handing over a basket to Lin Baojuan, ¡°I made some steamed corn bread mixed with white flour this morning, and even boiled an egg for Chuxia. Don¡¯t always worry about us. Dajiang and Xiaoxiang are at the growing age; they shouldn¡¯t be neglected.¡± ¡°Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, I¡¯m not foolish. How could I offend my in-laws for your sake?¡± Lin Baojuan giggled, ¡°When I get back, I¡¯ll talk to them about Second Brother and Sister-in-law¡¯s situation. My parents-in-law are reasonable people. They were the ones who asked me to bring these things over. Initially, I thought to come over in a few days, but they insisted I deliver it now, saying you¡¯ve just moved out and that this is when you need things the most.¡± Checking the time, Chuxia bid farewell to Lin Baojuan, ¡°Aunt, I¡¯m heading to Grandma¡¯s so I won¡¯t keep you any longer. I¡¯ll visit you at your place another day.¡± ¡°You¡¯re getting sweeter by the day... wait a second...¡± Lin Baojuan turned to Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan, ¡°Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, if you think of me as a close sister, please accept this.¡± With the conversation having reached this point, Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe felt it would be improper to insist further, so they reluctantly accepted, thinking they would repay the favor later. ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Seeing that her brother and sister-in-law had finally stopped declining, Lin Baojuan quickly unloaded the bags and handed them to Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan, then turned her cart around, ¡°Chuxia, let your aunt give you a ride. Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhao Yulan hurried forward to intercept, ¡°Baojuan, rest a while. Eat lunch with us before heading back. Chuxia can walk to Xiaolin Village by herself; it¡¯s not far.¡± ¡°Second Sister-in-law, I still have work at home, and it¡¯s on the way to drop off Chuxia,¡± Lin Baojuan said, pointing to the rear seat of the cart. ¡°Chuxia, hurry up and get on.¡± Chuxia felt distinctly uncomfortable. She was over one meter sixty-five, and her aunt barely reached one meter fifty. Having someone so much shorter give her a bicycle ride was just too... embarrassing. Chapter 56 - 56 56 Interception ?56: Chapter 56: Interception 56: Chapter 56: Interception ¡°What, afraid your aunt can¡¯t carry you?¡± Lin Baojuan chuckled as she looked at her niece, ¡°With your petite frame, never mind one, even if two of you were tied together, I could carry you easily. Come on, get on.¡± Zhao Yulan, seeing her daughter still hesitating, then smilingly gave her a push, ¡°Chuxia, get on, remember your aunt¡¯s kindness, and repay her later.¡± But to get on first like a child, when she was already so big, was really..., ¡°Auntie, you ride first, I¡¯ll jump on by myself later,¡± Chuxia said. This time, it was Lin Baojuan¡¯s turn to feel embarrassed, ¡°Chuxia, if you jump on later, then I won¡¯t be able to ride. When I first learned to ride a bike, my mother-in-law asked me to give her a lift. She jumped on and ended up throwing both of us into a ditch. I swallowed so much dirty water that time, I¡¯ve been afraid to let anyone jump on since.¡± With no other option, Chuxia could only obediently sit on the bike, letting Lin Baojuan push her forward a few steps before kicking off and swinging her leg over the bike from the front to ride out of the village. Fortunately, apart from not daring to let anyone jump on from behind, Lin Baojuan handled the bike quite steadily. The aunt and niece talked and laughed along the way, and before they knew it, they had covered more than half the distance. ¡°Auntie, you can drop me off at the next fork, and I can walk the rest of the way,¡± noticing they were approaching a fork, Chuxia gave a heads-up. Her aunt¡¯s Dali Village and her grandma¡¯s Xiaolin Village were situated to the left and right of the fork respectively, and she truly hated to make her aunt detour again. ¡°It¡¯s not that much farther, I¡¯ll take you there and then head back.¡± Lin Baojuan felt pity for her frail niece and disliked making her walk more than necessary. ¡°It¡¯s fine, just five or six minutes¡¯ walk, moving a bit more will do me good.¡± Just as Chuxia was about to jump off the bike, remembering Lin Baojuan¡¯s aftereffect, she gave a heads-up, ¡°Auntie, it¡¯s okay if I jump down, right?¡± ¡°Ah?...Ah...Ah...Ouch...¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Chuxia, thrown sprawling, deeply regretted having given advanced notice about her jump; had she known her aunt¡¯s ¡°jump bike¡± aftereffect was so severe, she would never have mentioned it! ¡°Chuxia, Chuxia, are you alright?¡± Lin Baojuan, who was physically strong, immediately got up and seeing Chuxia lying there, her little face contorted in pain, became extremely worried. ¡°Auntie, I...I¡¯m fine... my butt... hit... a rock...¡± Chuxia gasped in a breath and reported her unfortunate and sorry state to Lin Baojuan. ¡°It¡¯s all auntie¡¯s fault, it¡¯s all auntie¡¯s fault...¡± Lin Baojuan said as she helped Chuxia up, rubbing her backside back and forth, ¡°Does it hurt anywhere else?¡± ¡°Auntie, I can rub it myself.¡± For a grown girl to have her bottom rubbed by someone was really too embarrassing. Just at that moment, a bicycle came to a screeching halt beside them, ¡°Lin Chuxia, did you hurt your rear?¡± Hearing this voice, Chuxia immediately knew who it was. Such a lack of manners! Asking a girl such things, what was a grown man thinking? Lin Baojuan quickly stopped what she was doing and looked up, slightly frowning, ¡°Comrade Xue, please move aside, I need to pick up the bike.¡± Xue Guohong¡¯s bicycle was blocking the pedal of Lin Baojuan¡¯s bike, she couldn¡¯t pick it up unless he moved it. ¡°Lin Chuxia, where are you going?¡± Xue Guohong simply couldn¡¯t be bothered dealing with Lin Baojuan. ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Chuxia glared at him, ¡°Move aside, you¡¯re blocking my aunt¡¯s bicycle. Are you blind? The road is so wide, why park on top of her bike?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do it on purpose...¡± Xue Guohong smiled and waved at Chuxia, ¡°I¡¯ll take you where you¡¯re going, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m good at biking, I won¡¯t bump into anything.¡± Lin Baojuan¡¯s face flushed red to the roots of her ears ¡ª from anger. Her niece had fallen to the ground, and she was already terribly upset; this wretch had to come and expose her shortcomings. Such a rude man was definitely not marryable material. Thinking about how her own parents were pushing her niece into a fire pit for her little brother¡¯s sake, Lin Baojuan¡¯s affection for Chuxia deepened, and she hurriedly stepped forward to block her, ¡°Comrade Xue, you are the son of a head of the commune and a boy. Whatever you do, people won¡¯t gossip, but it¡¯s different for Chuxia. Whether you truly like her or not, please consider her reputation, can you?¡± ¡°She is my wife, I don¡¯t care about her reputation, and nobody else dares to care,¡± Xue Guohong¡¯s attitude toward Lin Baojuan was extremely hostile, since she supported calling off the engagement. ¡°Who is your wife?¡± Chuxia stared at Xue Guohong furiously, ¡°Have you no shame? By the way, why are you passing through here? Were you intentionally following us?¡± ¡°Following you is hardly necessary, I just couldn¡¯t find you in your village, I asked around, and just followed you here,¡± Xue Guohong looked seriously at Chuxia, ¡°I say you¡¯re my wife, you are my wife. Who dares to court the person Xue Guohong has chosen?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to be funded through college?¡± Chuxia rolled her eyes, deciding to step back, ¡°A college student should find a college-educated wife. I only attended high school for one year, I¡¯m not good enough for you, it would embarrass you, truly.¡± ¡°If I can attend college, you definitely can too. I¡¯ve already discussed it with my dad, no matter what, we will get you into school. I came here to give you this...¡± Xue Guohong untied a cloth bundle from the back of his bike, ¡°Here are some books for you, start with these, don¡¯t worry, you will definitely be able to join me at the same school.¡± Chuxia was so conflicted; no matter how much she needed it, she couldn¡¯t accept it from him. Oh, why did the thing she wanted have to be in his hands? ¡°I don¡¯t need it, and I don¡¯t want to go to college...¡± Chuxia shrank behind Lin Baojuan, firmly keeping Xue Guohong from touching her. Lin Baojuan frowned and dragged her own bike out from under Xue Guohong¡¯s. She was now certain that Xue Guohong had intentionally trapped her bike underneath his to delay her and talk more with Chuxia. Alas, this meant the boy really was smitten with Chuxia. Good women are afraid of persistent men; if he kept this up, who knew what the outcome might be. Thinking of her niece¡¯s character, Lin Baojuan grew even more worried. A seventeen-year-old girl, how could she resist a man so eager to offer favors? Her current rejection might just be playing hard to get... The more she thought about it, the more anxious Lin Baojuan became, so she hurriedly pushed Chuxia, ¡°Let¡¯s go to Grandma¡¯s house.¡± ¡°Aunt, why must you block your niece¡¯s good marriage prospect?¡± Xue Guohong swerved his bike to block Lin Baojuan, ¡°Do you think that by doing this, I would marry your daughter?¡± ¡°Marry my daughter?¡± Lin Baojuan trembled with anger, ¡°Don¡¯t spit blood; when have I ever asked you to marry my daughter?¡± Xue Guohong raised an eyebrow, ¡°Aunt, are you going to deny sending a matchmaker to my house yesterday?¡± Chapter 57 - 57 57 Who is the Division Commander ?57: Chapter 57 Who is the Division Commander? 57: Chapter 57 Who is the Division Commander? ¡°You think I¡¯ll believe you just because you say so? That I¡¯ve become estranged from my dear aunt?¡± Chuxia glared at Xue Guohong with contempt, ¡°A grown man using such despicable tactics...¡± She finished her sentence, grabbing the trembling Lin Baojuan, ¡°Auntie, take me to Grandma¡¯s house.¡± At this time, she wouldn¡¯t dare go to Grandma¡¯s house alone, in case Xue Guohong recklessly followed her, her reputation would truly be ruined beyond redemption. Lin Baojuan looked at her niece, somewhat disbelieving: ¡°Chuxia, do you trust your auntie?¡± ¡°You¡¯re my dear aunt, of course I trust you.¡± ¡°Just because someone is blood-related, they can be trusted? Your grandparents are also your kin.¡± Chuxia smiled lightly: ¡°Should I suspect my aunt instead?¡± ¡°No...¡± Lin Baojuan¡¯s face showed reassurance, ¡°Chuxia, your aunt hasn¡¯t loved you for nothing, come on up.¡± Xue Guohong, supporting himself on one leg, moved his bike forward and teased, ¡°Hey, you¡¯re not scared of being thrown back down again? Last time you injured your buttocks, but next time if it¡¯s your face, I really won¡¯t want you then.¡± Seeing that the aunt and niece pair didn¡¯t even glance at him and directly turned onto the path leading to Xiaolin Village, Xue Guohong shook his head, smiling, and shouted, ¡°Lin Chuxia, you are my wife, and in this lifetime, you can¡¯t escape from me.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Lin Baojuan sighed heavily and advised, ¡°Chuxia, when you go back, have your eldest uncle escort you, don¡¯t walk back alone.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Auntie, I know what to do.¡± After thinking it over for a while, Lin Baojuan was still worried: ¡°No, I should come to pick you up this afternoon, let¡¯s say four o¡¯clock, I¡¯ll come to get you at four.¡± Being from a household with both elderly and young, how could her aunt always spare the time for her? Chuxia immediately responded: ¡°Auntie, I¡¯ll have my eldest uncle escort me, I definitely won¡¯t walk back alone, you can rest assured.¡± ¡°Okay, having your eldest uncle escort you is also fine. Chuxia, a girl¡¯s honor is more important than anything, you can¡¯t take your aunt¡¯s words lightly. Also, no matter how Xue Guohong tries to please you, you should not bother with him. What proper girl behaves so unruly?¡± No matter if Lin Baojuan could see or not, Chuxia quickly nodded: ¡°Mm, I know.¡± ... Office of Division A of a major military region in Province A. After Zhou Mikang reported the recent work plan to Division Commander Xu Zhenghong, he hesitated for a moment, then asked, ¡°Division Commander, what have you considered about the expansion of the medical team?¡± ¡°When did you start caring about things unrelated to equipment and training?¡± Xu Zhenghong leaned forward inquiringly, ¡°Tell me, do you have someone on your mind and you¡¯re thinking of bringing her into the medical team? If it¡¯s true, I¡¯ll take care of the hiring process for you immediately.¡± Zhou Mikang stood up, his face sour: ¡°Division Commander, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m heading back.¡± ¡°Sit down, sit down...¡± Xu Zhenghong¡¯s expression became serious, staring intently at Zhou Mikang, ¡°As soon as we talk about serious matters, you think of escaping. Take a seat properly!¡± Zhou Mikang, hands on the table, looked directly at Xu Zhenghong: ¡°Are you speaking to me now as the Division Commander of Division A or as my aunt¡¯s husband?¡± ¡°Both.¡± Xu Zhenghong quickly rose and walked behind Zhou Mikang, pressing him back into his chair, ¡°Even if it¡¯s just out of sympathy for your uncle by marriage, share the truth with me. Do you have a girl you like?¡± Zhou Mikang glanced at him indifferently: ¡°Have my grandma, my mom, and my aunt been pressuring you again?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just simple pressure...¡± Xu Zhenghong made an exaggeratedly agonized expression, ¡°You can run off to train for days without returning, not answering calls, not replying to letters, ignoring telegrams, but I can¡¯t do that. Your aunt has given me an ultimatum to reduce your workload so you go on blind dates, or else, she¡¯s said I won¡¯t be allowed to come home for a month.¡± Zhou Mikang nodded, ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Mikang, you can¡¯t be so ruthless...¡± Xu Zhenghong panicked, ¡°What do you mean you understand? Can you give me a definitive answer? You asked me several times about the expansion of the health team. Tell me the truth, do you really have someone in mind? If that¡¯s really the case, just let your family know so they can be at ease. You said that you and...¡± Sensing Zhou Mikang¡¯s suddenly colder aura, Xu Zhenghong immediately swallowed the rest of his words and said sheepishly, ¡°Okay, okay, I won¡¯t bring up the past...¡± ¡°You already did,¡± Zhou Mikang said coldly, staring at Xu Zhenghong. ¡°As for the equipment, you¡¯d better fight for it yourself. I¡¯m very busy and don¡¯t have the time.¡± ¡°Mikang, don¡¯t be like this, you already promised me...¡± Xu Zhenghong¡¯s face immediately turned into a bitter one, ¡°You know very well that Elder Zhao likes you the most...¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Uncle is wrong, but Mikang, you have to understand Uncle¡¯s difficulties. They can¡¯t get through to you, so they press me instead, sigh...¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go home tonight and talk to them.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Xu Zhenghong jumped up excitedly, ¡°That¡¯s great, Mikang, that¡¯s wonderful, Uncle is really happy for you, haha...¡± ¡°What did I say that makes you so happy?¡± Zhou Mikang glanced at him indifferently, picked up the folder, and left the office without looking back. Xu Zhenghong rubbed his face vigorously with his hands, ¡°Little ancestor, am I the Division Commander or are you? Am I the elder or are you?...¡± Muttering to himself, he quickly dialed the switchboard, transferred to the Zhou residence, and triumphantly reported the latest news to the eagerly awaiting elders. ¡°Commander, how did it go?¡± As soon as Zhou Mikang entered the office, Zhou Hanliang rushed up anxiously. ¡°Nothing much, just tell Xiao Song to wait a bit longer,¡± Zhou Mikang replied with an indifferent expression, putting down the folder. ¡°I¡¯ll go home tonight; you come with me.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Zhou Hanliang nodded, ¡°Commander, about that...¡± Zhou Mikang gave him a stern look, ¡°Speak up, stop fussing like a woman!¡± ¡°Luo Hongqi has been performing quite well in the new recruits¡¯ company; Company Commander Wang is quite satisfied.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°And, he hasn¡¯t gotten engaged to Lin Chuxia.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Commander, I said he hasn¡¯t gotten engaged to Lin Chuxia.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not deaf.¡± ¡°I... I¡¯m going out then.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± An already departing Zhou Hanliang paused, then realized, ¡°I... I didn¡¯t know whether you wanted to hear it or not. Commander, can you please give me a straight answer? I feel that you treat Lin Chuxia differently from other girls, but then, you say it¡¯s because she reminds you of Raorao. You are kind to her just out of remembrance for Raorao. I really can¡¯t figure out now what about her I should report to you and what I shouldn¡¯t.¡± A book flew from Zhou Mikang¡¯s hand, hitting him, ¡°She¡¯s several years younger than Raorao. What nonsense are you thinking? My concern for her is because I don¡¯t want her to get hurt. Understand?¡± ¡°Then...¡± Zhou Hanliang moved back towards the desk, ¡°When the approval for the health team expansion comes through, should we... recruit her too?¡± Chapter 58 - 58 58 Zhou family ?58: Chapter 58: Zhou family 58: Chapter 58: Zhou family The Zhou family had been in business for generations. During the turbulent times of war, Old Master Zhou Yanxi sent his eldest son Zhou Dabing to the army, while his second son Zhou Erbing was brutally killed by the Japanese army the following year. Not wanting to hinder Zhou Dabing, Zhou Yanxi sold the family assets and, taking his spouse and youngest daughter Zhou Yanbing, moved to the port city. From then on, Zhou Dabing, without any family concerns back home, devoted himself wholeheartedly to the revolution. The scholar-general Zhou Dabing, having faced death several times, established great military merits and was appreciated by the founders of the nation, becoming a member of their think tank. Thanks to this, the Zhou family faced minimal impacts during the unstable years. Zhou Dabing is Zhou Mikang¡¯s grandfather and is now retired, enjoying his days of peace. Zhou Dabing has three sons and one daughter, namely Zhou Jingping, Zhou Gangping, Zhou Shanping, and Zhou Yueping (female). The eldest, Zhou Jingping, Zhou Mikang¡¯s father, was the most successful among Zhou Dabing¡¯s three sons and one daughter, now serving as the commander of the Capital Military Region, wielding absolute power. Zhou Jingping has two sons and two daughters: Zhou Xikang, Zhou Jiping (female), Zhou Mikang, and Zhou Xiangping (female). Zhou Xikang, Zhou Jiping, and Zhou Xiangping are all married, leaving only the third son, Zhou Mikang, single at twenty-seven, a bachelor without even a female friend in sight. His marriage had thus become the greatest concern for the many elders of the Zhou family. Therefore, receiving a call from Xu Zhenghong brought immense joy throughout the Zhou residence; whether it panned out or not, as long as the third son began taking an interest in girls, it was the best news! ¡°Yue Yue, do you think Zhenghong¡¯s words are reliable?¡± Lin Yanqiu clasped the hand of her sister-in-law Zhou Yueping, asking for confirmation once again. ¡°Sister-in-law, I¡¯ve already given him an ultimatum. If he dares deceive me, watch me not knock his lights out!¡± Zhou Yueping chuckled joyfully, ¡°Finally, there¡¯s a glimmer of hope. Mikang has finally given up on that woman.¡± Lin Yanqiu sighed, ¡°What I fear most is that he¡¯ll never trust women again in his life. It¡¯s not good to keep pushing him, but seeing others his age whose children can even fetch soy sauce, I really get anxious. Now, as long as he is willing to give himself a chance, I will be relieved.¡± ¡°Third Brother has always taken relationships too seriously. That woman was not worth him preserving his chastity all these years.¡± The speaker was a delicately beautiful 23-24 year-old woman, Zhou Xiangping, Zhou Mikang¡¯s younger sister, who had been married for three months. Her husband¡¯s family lived less than five meters from her parental home, so for her, married life was no different from being single; she stuck to her parental home like glue. ¡°That¡¯s why I say, anyone favored by Mikang is truly blessed.¡± A sharp and handsome woman around thirty years old said; she is Zhou Jiping, Zhou Mikang¡¯s second sister. Her husband held a post in the county below, and she spent most of her time at her parental home. ¡°Right now, it¡¯s just Zhenghong saying this, we don¡¯t know what Mikang actually thinks, let¡¯s not get ahead of ourselves and laugh foolishly...¡± Second aunt Liang Xiaohong logically threw cold water on the four women¡¯s excitement. ¡°Second Aunt!¡± ¡°Sister-in-law!¡± ¡°Second Sister-in-law!¡± All four women protested in unison¡ªthey had finally seen a ray of dawn, how could she douse their hopes like that? Old Madam Zhou sighed softly, ¡°Xiaohong has a point, you aren¡¯t unaware of Mikang¡¯s temperament. When he comes back, don¡¯t rush to bombard him with questions, lest a possibly hopeful situation collapses once again.¡± ¡°What should we do then?¡± Lin Yanqiu looked frustrated, ¡°If I don¡¯t ask, I¡¯ll always be left hanging. Mom, why don¡¯t you quietly ask him?¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll ask him,¡± Old Madam Zhou smiled, showing her teeth. ¡°Actually, I feel the same as you, uneasy if I don¡¯t ask.¡± Everyone: ¡°...¡± Lin Yanqiu looked hopeful, ¡°Mom, what type of girl do you think Mikang would like?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Old Madam Zhou shook her head and answered truthfully, ¡°It¡¯s hard to guess what that boy likes, sigh, actually, I am quite fond of Meiru. That child, how could she do such a thing? I still can¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°Mom...¡± Lin Yanqiu¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that woman ever again. Even if she comes back begging, I won¡¯t accept her as my daughter-in-law. I was hoping that Mikang would quickly find a wife and have a big, chubby son. But if it were her, I¡¯d rather not have grandchildren than see Mikang suffer.¡± ¡°Look at your temper...¡± Old Madam Zhou chuckled and shook her head, ¡°It has been so many years, and you still flare up like a firecracker at the mention of it. Really, put yourself in another¡¯s shoes; Mikang is a bit slow with girls, it¡¯s not entirely Meiru¡¯s fault.¡± Lin Yanqiu looked unconvinced, ¡°Mom, is Mikang really your grandson?¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll stop talking about it...¡± Old Madam Zhou waved her hand and stood up, ¡°I¡¯m tired, I¡¯m going to rest in my room. Call me when Mikang is back.¡± ¡°Mom still likes Meiru...¡± Zhou Yueping shook her head, ¡°I really don¡¯t know what kind of spell that woman cast on Mom; after all these years, she¡¯s still on her mind.¡± ¡°Exactly, she hurt Third Brother so badly, how can Grandma side with her?¡± Zhou Xiangping snorted coldly, ¡°If she has any guts, she should hide abroad forever. The day I run into her, I¡¯ll definitely give her a face full of fists!¡± ¡°Let it be, today is a good day, let¡¯s not talk about irrelevant people and things. Mom, why don¡¯t you go and make your signature dish to pamper Laosan?¡± ¡°You just want to eat, don¡¯t you?¡± Lin Yanqiu gave her eldest daughter a stern look, ¡°I¡¯m not pointing this at you, but you¡¯re not getting any younger. It¡¯s time to think about having a child. Also, you should learn how to cook...¡± Zhou Jiping impatiently cut off Lin Yanqiu, ¡°Enough, enough, Mom, don¡¯t grab every opportunity to lecture me. Am I really your daughter? Other mothers tell their daughters to do less for their husband¡¯s family to avoid spoiling them. Yet, you seem to want me to be a lifelong servant!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it for your own good?¡± Lin Yanqiu helplessly glared back at her daughter, ¡°You are almost thirty. It¡¯s tougher for women to have children too late. You won¡¯t listen now, but you¡¯ll understand someday that I¡¯m doing this for your own good.¡± ¡°...¡± Over here, a group of women heatedly discussed household affairs, while over there, Old Master Zhou, his youngest son Zhou Shanping, and his eldest grandson Zhou Xi Kang, were also deeply engaged in conversation. Of course, they would never gossip about who Mikang was fond of; instead, they discussed topics like firearms and weapon training..., but subconsciously, they were delighted; if Laosan found a girl he liked, their ears could finally be free from constant nagging... When Zhou Mikang and Zhou Hanliang pushed open the house door, the noisy chatter in the room abruptly stopped, and everyone¡¯s eyes intensely focused on him, as if he were a piece of succulent meat that had willingly come to their doorstep... Chapter 59 - 59 59 Parting on Bad Terms ?59: Chapter 59: Parting on Bad Terms 59: Chapter 59: Parting on Bad Terms ¡°Laosan, you¡¯re back?¡± Zhou Xikang was the first to greet him. Just as his hand was about to land on Zhou Mikang¡¯s shoulder, he quickly bent it to touch his own forehead, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you for a long time, I¡¯ve missed you.¡± Zhou Xiangping, who had been watching his every move, contemptuously curled her lip, and others also had a hint of a hidden smile in their eyes. Laosan Zhou Mikang hated being touched, and, ironically, Eldest brother Zhou Xikang always tried to tease him but always failed at the last moment. Everyone was accustomed to his wolfish antics, yet they couldn¡¯t help but look forward to a breakthrough, which unfortunately, always ended in disappointment. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who came looking for me the day before yesterday?¡± Zhou Mikang glanced at Zhou Xikang indifferently and said emotionlessly, ¡°I¡¯m not the woman you adore, no need for such nonsensical flattery.¡± ¡°Eh...¡± Zhou Xikang chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Was it the day before yesterday? I feel like it¡¯s been many days. Gee, it seems that as one gets older, the memory really does decline.¡± ¡°Big brother, that¡¯s all the ambition you have!¡± Zhou Xiangping cautiously approached Zhou Mikang, clearing her throat softly, and then... the sound trailed off... Seizing the opportunity for revenge, Zhou Xikang bad-smirked at Zhou Xiangping: ¡°Little sister, you don¡¯t need to get close to Laosan if your throat hurts; he¡¯s not cough syrup!¡± Zhou Mikang frowned, ¡°She¡¯s the second sister!¡± The subtext of this statement was, ¡°She¡¯s the second sister, not the little sister!¡± Lin Yanqiu, who had been happily watching her son, had her smile disappear rapidly and her eyes reddened on hearing this reminder. Old Madam Zhou, her daughter Zhou Yueping, and granddaughters Zhou Jiping, Zhou Xiangping all had grim expressions. On the other side, Old Master Zhou, his youngest son Zhou Shanping, and grandson Zhou Xikang also lost their smiles... Sighing deeply, Old Master Zhou stood up and sat next to Old Madam Zhou, staring sternly at Zhou Mikang: ¡°Not coming home for two months, and when you do, it is to make everyone unhappy?¡± Zhou Mikang awkwardly turned his head away, saying nothing. ¡°Xiaomi...¡± he paused, Old Master Zhou continued, ¡°I believe Raorao wouldn¡¯t want her family to live in pain on her account, nor would your father...¡± Zhou Mikang¡¯s gaze suddenly turned cold, ¡°I have a meeting at work, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Saying this, he really did get up and leave without a moment¡¯s hesitation. Zhou Hanliang saw this and stood to follow. ¡°Xiaomi!¡± Lin Yanqiu cried out miserably, rushing forward to grab her son¡¯s arm, ¡°You are Raorao¡¯s brother, your mother understands your pain, but she is also the beloved of your father and mother, do we not suffer for her too? It¡¯s been six years, you refuse to speak a word to your father, to return to this home. Do you really think his heart is at ease? Would he have made those choices if it were not utterly necessary? Think for a moment, if it were you facing that decision at that time, could you truly disregard the national interest? Xiaomi, stop tormenting us, and stop tormenting yourself, would you?¡± ¡°Xiaomi...¡± Aunt Zhou Yueping stepped forward a few paces, blocking his path, and said seriously, ¡°Don¡¯t think that you are the only one in this house who misses Raorao. Everyone expresses their love differently, and you can¡¯t judge everyone by your own standards.¡± The trouble-causing Zhou Xikang came over, his smile now completely gone, he stared hard at Zhou Mikang: ¡°Laosan, you are the most accomplished among the younger generation, big brother admits. But please, stop expecting everyone to coddle you, to indulge you, okay? You always think others are immature, but what about you? If you were truly mature, you wouldn¡¯t treat your closest relatives this way. Why do we indulge you? Because we see you as our dearest family member, and you? It seems like in this world, apart from Raorao, no one else counts as family to you... sob...¡± A heavy punch landed on Zhou Xikang¡¯s mouth, blood trickling down from the corner of his lips. ¡°Xiaomi!¡± Lin Yanqiu exclaimed, blocking her eldest son, ¡°He¡¯s your own brother!¡± ¡°I know.¡± Zhou Mikang glanced indifferently at Zhou Xikang, ¡°If such words come out of your mouth again, I will knock your teeth out!¡± After saying that, he left without looking back, pulling the door behind him! Moving his lips, Zhou Hanliang ultimately said nothing, heaved a deep sigh, and followed him out. Everyone in the room fell into silence. It was supposed to be a joyful occasion, how did it turn into this? ¡°It¡¯s all my fault; if I had been more careful with my words, this wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡± Zhou Xikang was full of remorse. Lin Yanqiu sighed deeply, ¡°You can¡¯t blame yourself, Laosan¡¯s temperament is known to you. This issue, he can¡¯t figure out, such conflicts will always exist.¡± ¡°Ah, this joyful event is probably ruined now.¡± Zhou Yueping sat down on the sofa with a flop, ¡°Sister-in-law, the ideological work for Mikang, it has to be done by you. Besides Raorao, you¡¯re the closest to him. If his emotional knots are not untied, even if he gets married, with such temperamental swings...¡± Zhou Yueping shook his head and didn¡¯t continue. Zhou Mikang returned to his office, locked himself inside, and ignored Zhou Hanliang no matter how much he knocked on the door. Helpless, Zhou Hanliang had to return to the Zhou residence. Seeing Zhou Hanliang returning, Lin Yanqiu¡¯s eyes brightened, ¡°Hanliang, did Mikang send you here?¡± ¡°No.¡± Zhou Hanliang shook his head, ¡°The commander locked himself in the office. Knowing you must be worried, I came over. I know everyone is concerned whether he has found a girl he likes. He met a girl somewhat similar to Raorao, but he just treats her like a little sister. If before I doubted whether he took a liking to Lin Chuxia, now I¡¯m certain, he truly sees her as Raorao¡¯s incarnation and unconsciously cares for her a bit. But he hasn¡¯t done anything too out of line, only when we went to Elder Chen¡¯s, he gave that girl some food coupons, and suggested she enlist in the military, nothing else,¡± ¡°How old is this girl?¡± Zhou Yueping asked urgently. ¡°17!¡± The hope faded from everyone¡¯s faces. ¡°From the countryside?¡± Old Madam Zhou asked. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s the only daughter in her family, quite poor.¡± Zhou Hanliang answered truthfully. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being from the countryside?¡± Old Master Zhou glared at the old lady. ¡°Going back a few generations, weren¡¯t we also from the countryside?¡± ¡°What did I say?¡± Old Madam Zhou retorted, rolling her eyes at Old Master Zhou, ¡°I was just inquiring about the girl¡¯s background to see if there¡¯s any possibility with our Xiaomi.¡± ¡°Only seventeen, how could there be a possibility?¡± Lin Yanqiu sighed, ¡°Hanliang is right, Xiaomi just sees that girl as Raorao¡¯s substitute.¡± Chapter 60 - 60 60 Brother and Sister Affection ?60: Chapter 60 Brother and Sister Affection 60: Chapter 60 Brother and Sister Affection ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Did something bad happen?¡± Zhou Jingping pushed the door open and found the whole family sighing and lamenting, which puzzled him somewhat. ¡°It¡¯s all because of you!¡± Lin Yanqiu, who had nowhere else to vent her anger, finally found a target, ¡°Have you no shame? If it weren¡¯t for you, would our son still be without a wife at this age?¡± Zhou Hanliang¡¯s mouth twitched; what was this all about? However, it seemed no longer appropriate for him to stay here at this time. After all, Zhou Mikang had brought him over to explain Lin Chuxia¡¯s situation to everyone, and now that he had completed his mission, it was time for him to make a discreet exit. Thinking thus, he quickly stood up, bid farewell to everyone, and fled the Zhou family¡¯s home. As he stepped out the door, he let out a long sigh¡ªah, every family has its own difficult scripture to recite! Back at the regimental headquarters, the office door was still tightly locked. No matter how much he shouted, there was no response from inside. Gritting his teeth, Zhou Hanliang showed off his lock-picking skills. The room was empty! If it weren¡¯t for the pile of cigarette butts on the table indicating that Zhou Mikang had been in this room before, Zhou Hanliang would¡¯ve seriously doubted whether his previous vision of Zhou Mikang locking himself in the office was just an illusion. If there¡¯s no one in the office, then he must go to the dormitory to search. Zhou Mikang had a modest, two-bedroom apartment in the military district¡¯s family quarters, not large, but more than enough for a single man. Occasionally, Zhou Hanliang would crash there, so he had the key to Zhou Mikang¡¯s dormitory and easily opened the door¡ªstill no one to be found! Where could he have gone? Zhou Hanliang was genuinely panicked. It wasn¡¯t that he was worried Zhou Mikang might hurt himself; he was concerned Zhou Mikang might harm himself. For the first time, he felt curious about the brother-sister relationship between Zhou Mikang and Zhou Xiaorao. They were just siblings, yet how could they share such deep feelings? He had seen everything with his own eyes today: for Zhou Mikang, Zhou Xiaorao was his Achilles¡¯ heel, and not even his own elder brother was allowed to utter half a negative word about her! Zhou Hanliang had searched every corner of the division headquarters and still couldn¡¯t find a trace of Zhou Mikang. The clock was pointing towards half-past ten in the evening; where on earth could he be? An idea flashed in his mind, and he quickly dialed Xu Zhenghong¡¯s number. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Division Commander, I want to ask you something. Where is Zhou Xiaorao¡¯s grave?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± There was a heavy sigh from the other end of the phone, ¡°Laosan isn¡¯t with you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I suspect he might have gone to Raorao¡¯s gravesite, but I don¡¯t know the exact address.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come to find you right away.¡± ¡°No need...¡± Listening to the dial tone on the phone, Zhou Hanliang shook his head helplessly. There was no need to ask; the Division Commander had probably been tidied up by the Division Commander¡¯s Wife, eager to find an excuse to get away. Serves him right, who told him to be so eager to report back home! Zhou Hanliang felt a bit of schadenfreude. It took less than fifteen minutes for Xu Zhenghong¡¯s car to arrive at the gate of the military district. No matter how critical he was in his mind, the man was, after all, his direct superior. Once Zhou Hanliang got into the car, he was extremely deferential, ¡°Division Commander, I¡¯m sorry to trouble you in the middle of the night...¡± Xu Zhenghong punched him in the chest, ¡°Don¡¯t feed me that baloney. He¡¯s my nephew, no matter how late, I should come over. Still trouble, huh? Learned a few fancy words, and now you¡¯ve forgotten your own name, have you?¡± In the army, rank trumps all, but isn¡¯t it the same when you get home? Don¡¯t you still get put in line by your wife? ¡°Division Commander, you¡¯ve seen right through me. I learned a few phrases and thought to show off a bit in front of you, but I botched it again. This is like showing off my broadsword technique before Guan Yu¡ªit¡¯s courting death.¡± ¡°Enough, don¡¯t I know you?¡± Xu Zhenghong glanced at him with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile, ¡°Sweet talker, I bet your mind¡¯s working overtime figuring how to speak ill of me.¡± Zhou Hanliang continued his insincere flattery, ¡°Division Commander, how could I ever dare?¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare...¡± Xu Zhenghong snorted coldly, no longer paying him any attention. Now, it was Zhou Hanliang¡¯s turn to feel uneasy; he coughed lightly, ¡°Division Commander, I just went to the old house and told the truth.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± ¡°The regiment commander worried that if the affair wasn¡¯t explained clearly, the madam might cast a wide net; if the investigation led to Lin Chuxia, things could get complicated and difficult to handle. He himself didn¡¯t want to speak, so he had me do it.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± ¡°Division Commander...¡± Zhou Hanliang started to look troubled, ¡°I told nothing but the truth. If my sister-in-law comes home to trouble you, you really can¡¯t blame me.¡± ¡°What do you call my wife?¡± ¡°Sis... sister-in-law...¡± Zhou Hanliang said weakly, ¡°She requested it herself, said I look too old to keep calling her ¡®old lady.''¡± Chapter 61 - 61 60 Sibling Affection_2 ?61: Chapter 60 Sibling Affection_2 61: Chapter 60 Sibling Affection_2 ¡°Do you know why you look so old?¡± ¡°Natural-born.¡± ¡°Nonsense, it¡¯s all the unnecessary worrying.¡± ¡°...¡± Zhou Hanliang didn¡¯t know what to say. Did he enjoy worrying? If he didn¡¯t worry, the Division Commander Tongzi might skin him alive! ¡°Division Commander, the relationship between the commander and Xiaorao is particularly deep, right?¡± Under the pressure of silence, Zhou Hanliang tried to make conversation. But this was also something that puzzled him, so it killed two birds with one stone. Xu Zhenghong sighed deeply: ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Xiaorao, Mikang would no longer be in this world. Now tell me, isn¡¯t their relationship deep?¡± ¡°What?¡± Zhou Hanliang sat up abruptly, shocked by this news. ¡°Do you know how Mikang got his name?¡± Zhou Hanliang shook his head: ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°When he was born, it coincided with a famine. His grandfather hoped that all the people in the country could live a sweet life, so he named him Zhou Mikang. As he grew up, he hated it when his family called him Xiaomi or Mikang, but the name given by his grandfather was well-known for its meaning, so naturally, it was impossible to change his name. When he was ten years old, a brash kid in the courtyard fought him over a basketball, calling him a girl¡¯s name. He chased the kid down, but accidentally slipped into a well. Seeing this, the brash kid got scared and ran home to hide. Xiaorao, who had come out to play with Mikang, handed down a rope to rescue him under her direction. It¡¯s hard to imagine a seven-year-old child dragging up an eleven-year-old. Her small hands were bloodied. Since then, Xiaorao became the apple of Mikang¡¯s eye. Xiaorao has been gone for six years, but he has never been able to forgive his elder brother. He understands that his brother is just as heartbroken, but he just can¡¯t get over it.¡± Sighing heavily, Zhou Hanliang didn¡¯t know what to say either. Indeed, Zhou Mikang was sitting next to Zhou Xiaorao¡¯s tombstone. In the pitch-black night, sitting alone in such a place..., no wonder when they came in, the old cemetery caretaker¡¯s gaze was as if he had seen a savior. No need to ask, the old caretaker must have urged him many times, but with Zhou Mikang¡¯s stubbornness, when he didn¡¯t want to leave, urging him was useless, wasn¡¯t it? According to the rules, the cemetery keeper couldn¡¯t sleep if there were guests. He was clearly trying to kill the poor old man! Xu Zhenghong reached out to pull him¡ªyet couldn¡¯t budge him! ¡°Hanliang, help me here.¡± Xu Zhenghong instructed Zhou Hanliang. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Zhou Hanliang stepped forward, each supporting one of Zhou Mikang¡¯s arms, ¡°Commander, it¡¯s cold. If you don¡¯t rest, the old caretaker needs to rest too. Let¡¯s go.¡± Still, they couldn¡¯t move him! ¡°Zhou Mikang, what on earth are you trying to do?¡± Xu Zhenghong, angered, punched Zhou Mikang in the chest, ¡°Xiaorao has been gone for six years. You¡¯re still blaming your elder brother. You clearly know how much he¡¯s suffering inside. Yet you still blame him. If Xiaorao knew, she would be disappointed in you!¡± ¡°No!¡± Finally, Zhou Mikang reacted, though only with two words. ¡°How could it not be so?¡± Xu Zhenghong snorted coldly, ¡°Would she want her family to fall apart because of her? Everybody has to be cautious around you because one small mention of Xiaorao and you get upset. Some things really shouldn¡¯t be related to Xiaorao, yet you always relate them to her. How can your family even interact with you?¡± For a moment, Zhou Hanliang actually felt a bit relieved. Thankfully, he wasn¡¯t a family member of the Division Commander Tongzi, otherwise, he¡¯d be stuck in a cold war every day... ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Mikang stood up, swaying a bit, nearly falling over. Zhou Hanliang quickly grabbed him, ¡°Have you been sitting here for hours?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± It seemed apart from these two words, he was unwilling to say anything else. Silently, the group returned to the division headquarters. ¡°What exactly do you plan to do?¡± Xu Zhenghong, staring intently at Zhou Mikang, hands clenching the table, ¡°Your grandparents are so old, the stress really isn¡¯t good for them. Your father isn¡¯t young either. If this continues, one day you will regret it!¡± Zhou Mikang looked up, his face expressionless as he stared at him: ¡°My aunt lectured you, so you¡¯re here to find balance?¡± ¡°You...¡± Xu Zhenghong, infuriated by his response, had never seen someone so difficult to communicate with. Reasoning? It didn¡¯t work. Force? Couldn¡¯t defeat him. What could he possibly do? ¡°Go back to rest. Otherwise, you might end up kneeling and washing clothes again!¡± Zhou Hanliang¡¯s corner of the mouth twitched, thinking their commander is too malicious, always exposing people¡¯s shortfalls. Xu Zhenghong glared fiercely at Zhou Mikang, then turned and left. He couldn¡¯t and no longer wanted to manage these personal issues of this unfortunate child. From now on, he would only communicate with him on official matters. Whatever, he didn¡¯t care anymore! ¡°Uncle, in the end, you won¡¯t be able to help but worry.¡± Seemingly aware of what Xu Zhenghong was thinking, Zhou Mikang murmured just as Xu Zhenghong was about to exit the door. Xu Zhenghong stumbled, turned back and pointed his middle finger in the air, and sighed deeply, truly leaving this time. ¡°Commander...¡± ¡°You too, go back to sleep.¡± Zhou Mikang cut off Zhou Hanliang, who wanted to continue playing the caring elder brother, ¡°You can¡¯t handle my problems, don¡¯t get involved.¡± When did he even think of getting involved? The problem was, he was now completely baffled by the Division Commander Tongzi. He didn¡¯t even know what to think. If he thought he knew what to do initially, now that he had heard about Zhou Xiaorao, he really didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡ª- After turning VIP, Nuan felt apprehensive, wanting to make this chapter free, but tomorrow, Nuan has a family member¡¯s birthday. It was notified suddenly, and Nuan couldn¡¯t write, reluctantly, it won¡¯t be free just yet. Dear readers, don¡¯t worry, Nuan will post a free extra chapter after these busy days, yes, it will be what you want to read. Please support the genuine subscription for Nuan, your support is my greatest motivation. I will persist in publishing two chapters a day, this is indeed true! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote on qidian.com for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets, Your support is my greatest motivation.) Chapter 62 - 62 61 Each Struggling with Their Own Issues ?62: Chapter 61 Each Struggling with Their Own Issues 62: Chapter 61 Each Struggling with Their Own Issues Zhou Hanliang was hesitating when the sound of a whistling wind reached his ears. Instinctively, he contorted his body, and a dark shadow whizzed past his ear, crashing heavily into the wall, leaving a noticeable small dent ¡ª it was an iron pen holder! Like a gust of wind, Zhou Hanliang ¡°flew¡± out of the room. If he stayed any longer, his life would be over! After stepping outside, he took a deep breath and sighed heavily, dragging his heavy steps back to his dormitory. The moment his figure disappeared, the office door pushed open, and Zhou Mikang stood at the doorway, her expression cold, with a hint of subtle apology in her eyes... Early the next morning, the two met on the training field. Zhou Hanliang instinctively shrank, ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± he dropped the three words and sprinted ahead. It took him a while to snap out of it, and his eyes couldn¡¯t help but turn red. The commander apologizing? It was something unprecedented, and he dared not even dream of it! If it weren¡¯t for being heartbroken to the extreme, the commander wouldn¡¯t have treated him that way. He didn¡¯t know if she had gotten over it... He quickened his pace to catch up, ¡°Commander...¡± He opened his mouth but didn¡¯t know what to say, so he just shut up and ran alongside Zhou Mikang. The corner of her mouth rarely hooked upwards, her gaze lingered on Zhou Hanliang¡¯s face, and Zhou Mikang suddenly sped up: ¡°Twenty laps, finish them and I¡¯ll treat you to soup buns at Little Red Mansion.¡± ¡°Commander...¡± Zhou Hanliang immediately made a bitter face. Commander Tongzi, even if you intend to apologize by offering a meal, did you really have to add such a condition? It was just morning exercise, not a march! ... In the private room of Little Red Mansion, Zhou Mikang and Zhou Hanliang sat opposite each other, with ten empty steamer baskets piled on the table. Zhou Hanliang leaned back, contentedly rubbing his noticeably bulging stomach: ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve eaten my fill without spending a dime. It feels so good! Ah, if Lin Chuxia saw me now, she would definitely be incredibly jealous!¡± Zhou Mikang glanced at him indifferently: ¡°Another ten baskets?¡± Zhou Hanliang¡¯s eyes lit up: ¡°Can I take them to go?¡± ¡°Hmm, you can pack them in your stomach.¡± Zhou Hanliang immediately deflated like a burst balloon: ¡°Then never mind, I can¡¯t lose my life over gluttony.¡± Zhou Mikang stood up: ¡°If you¡¯re full, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Commander...¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Nothing... Nothing at all.¡± Zhou Mikang turned back to look at Zhou Hanliang: ¡°Were you going to ask me what I really think about Lin Chuxia?¡± ¡°No... Not at all!¡± Zhou Hanliang was so frightened that he hurriedly waved his hands, ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to ask that, I was wondering about our training plan for today.¡± Zhou Mikang snorted coldly and strode out the door. Zhou Hanliang angrily smacked his own mouth; the training plan was actually something the two of them had set together. Wasn¡¯t he just asking for a slap by saying that? ¡°Commander, I really did want to understand your feelings about Lin Chuxia. The recruitment plan is going to be scheduled soon, and your feelings will directly determine how I handle this matter.¡± He hurried a few steps to catch up with Zhou Mikang, and Zhou Hanliang decided to speak the truth. Drafting the report and all was his responsibility. He really didn¡¯t want to guess wrong and have to redo everything. Zhou Mikang looked at him coldly: ¡°Don¡¯t you believe what I say?¡± ¡°No...¡± After a slight hesitation, Zhou Hanliang bravely stiffened his neck, ¡°Commander, your actions yesterday left me completely clueless.¡± ¡°Since when did I need to report my actions to you?¡± Watching Zhou Mikang walk away, Zhou Hanliang once again regretfully hit his head. He knew the commander was still upset; why couldn¡¯t he just hold back and not touch her sore spot for a while longer? Ah! Pulling out the special recruitment letter Xu Zhenghong gave him last night, he became conflicted again. Should he really transfer Lin Chuxia to the medical team according to Division Commander Xu¡¯s intentions? What if he had misunderstood and that provoked the commander Tongzi¡¯s wrath? He didn¡¯t even want to think about it. With the commander¡¯s fierce temper, if she didn¡¯t eat him alive, she would definitely flay him alive! ... ¡°Aunt Xiaojuan, I¡¯m so sorry, this is all my fault.¡± Looking at Lin Baojuan whose head was bandaged, leaving only her eyes exposed, Chuxia felt terrible. Right after Aunt Lin Baojuan dropped her off at Dalin Village and returned to her own home, she was beaten up. Had it not been for Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s grandmother¡¯s house in the same village as aunt, they still would not have known that such a malicious act had befallen Lin Baojuan. ¡°Baojuan, why didn¡¯t you send us a message?¡± Zhao Yulan was also full of guilt, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your protection of Chuxia and taking the side of our family, this would never have happened.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Lin Baohe sighed deeply, looking at his daughter, ¡°Chuxia, kneel down to your Aunt Xiaojuan!¡± ¡°No need... no need...¡± Lin Baojuan hurriedly stopped him, ¡°Brother, what are you doing? Whether this beating was orchestrated by Xue Guohong is still uncertain. Brother and sister-in-law should not take the blame on themselves. It¡¯s precisely because I was worried you might overthink that I didn¡¯t notify you. As the village Women¡¯s Director, I have offended quite a few people. To be honest, it¡¯s hard to say who was behind this.¡± ¡°Chuxia, kneel down!¡± Lin Baohe insisted. The post-nineties Lin Chuxia, truly had some aversions to kneeling, but right now the face-swollen Lin Baojuan probably ended up this way because of her, causing her legs to bend unconsciously as she knelt down. ¡°Little aunt, I, Lin Chuxia, swear that in this lifetime, I will honor you just as I honor my parents! Whatever my parents have, you will have as well; however I treat them, I will treat you the same!¡± Lin Baohe nodded with satisfaction; his daughter really had become sensible. He didn¡¯t need to teach her; she knew what he wanted her to do. Seeing his little sister hurt like this, he felt an indescribable discomfort; yet, frustratingly, he was powerless to seek justice for her. The kind of pain that pierces the heart is something those who haven¡¯t experienced it could never understand. Ever since they were little, it had only been his little sister protecting him. Although the oldest brother and the third brother were siblings, they never remembered him when it came to good things; only his little sister would never forget about him. Among the four siblings, their parents cared for him the least. This always puzzled him, but he could never find the reason. The little sister was the only daughter, so their parents were lenient with her. Even so, whenever there was a disagreement between him and his parents, the little sister had always sided with him. Just as he was puzzled by the coldness from his parents, he couldn¡¯t understand why his little sister treated him so well. Upon reflection, it was probably because when they were children, the oldest brother and the third brother didn¡¯t want to play with her, while he was the only one willing to take her with him wherever he went. But for him, that companionship was mutual. Every time he said this, his little sister would just smile and shake her head; the next time, she would still do what she wanted. This time was no exception. After finding out the truth, his little sister didn¡¯t hesitate to stand by his side, which led her to this outcome. He believed that whatever she said about offending people by becoming a women¡¯s director was all to comfort their family, hoping they wouldn¡¯t carry a psychological burden. Now, with his sister¡¯s head bandaged, he couldn¡¯t see her real face, but he could imagine that to be bandaged up like this, the wound must be severe. That day, he and Zhao Yulan had no intention of sending their daughter to Xiao Lin Village; thinking back, both he and Zhao Yulan were terrified. If it weren¡¯t for his little sister being there, the consequences now might not have been bearable for them. ¡°Chuxia, get up. Little aunt knows you¡¯re a filial child. Good, little aunt is looking forward to you marrying into a good family, and honoring your little aunt.¡± Lin Baojuan moved closer to the edge of the bed and extended her hand to help Chuxia up, but due to pulling at her wound, she froze in place. Noticing the pained expression on Lin Baojuan¡¯s face, Chuxia quickly stood up and sat beside her, letting her lean on her. ¡°Little aunt, I want to acknowledge you as my godmother, from now on, you have to love me as if I were your daughter.¡± ¡°Silly child, little aunt has always loved you as her own daughter.¡± Lin Baojuan moved back, resting against the quilt, ¡°Now I have another daughter to take care of me when I¡¯m old. Second brother, second sister-in-law, I¡¯m taking advantage of this, and you can¡¯t regret it.¡± Knowing that she was trying to lighten their guilt, the couple choked up, also family... If all their relatives were like this, how happy would they be? ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Clang!¡± Two loud noises startled Chuxia, causing her to shiver involuntarily. She knew this sound too well¡ªthe sound of a ladle falling into an iron pot, and it had to be intentional! The only people in the house were the little aunt and her mother-in-law, so without asking, it was clear who made the move. That meant, what little aunt had said about her mother-in-law feeling sorry for their family, sending them food that day, was all false. To put it bluntly, these past years, little aunt had deceived them! With a fake display of happiness, she let them accept her help with a clear conscience. ¡°Just eating without working, freeloading all day long, always clucking away, but never see you hatching anything...¡± The accusatory yelling in the courtyard, wave after wave, accompanied by the clucking of hens and scurrying noises. Poor hens, just because they are so common in the countryside, do they always have to bear the blame? When others are too cowardly to address their issues directly, everything falls upon them, yet they still lay eggs for their owners... Lin Baohe, who had always thought his sister married into a good family, fiercely slammed his hand on the side of the bed: ¡°Baojuan, are you trying to make me lose face?¡± Zhao Yulan¡¯s eyes also reddened, ¡°Yes, Baojuan, by doing this, how can your second brother and I face you in the future?¡± ¡°Second brother, second sister-in-law, you¡¯re overthinking it. My mother-in-law had an argument with someone these past few days and had nowhere to vent her anger. Her memory isn¡¯t good; she probably forgot you were still here.¡± A bad memory, yet she can still quarrel with nowhere to vent her anger? How absurd this lie is... ¡°Little aunt...¡± Chuxia, also teary-eyed, was at a loss for words. No matter if she was truly her aunt by blood, such a relative was deeply moving! ¡ª¨C Stay tuned for the second release (to be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it and give it monthly support on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest inspiration. Chapter 63 - 63 62 The Dilemma of Being a Daughter-in-law ?63: Chapter 62: The Dilemma of Being a Daughter-in-law 63: Chapter 62: The Dilemma of Being a Daughter-in-law As soon as the words left her mouth, Lin Baojuan realized the illogic in what she had said, but it was too late to take them back. The layers of gauze on her face might have concealed her expression, but they couldn¡¯t hide her embarrassment. Her mother-in-law was going crazy outside, and there was no way for her to smooth over this lie! ¡°...Troublemaker, you eat plenty of grain, drink plenty of water, but you don¡¯t lay an extra egg. What¡¯s the use of raising a troublemaker like you? I¡¯m going to sharpen my knife tomorrow and slaughter you, let¡¯s see if you can still go out and cause trouble! It¡¯s better to feed myself than to feed others¡¯ gossip. Run, and let¡¯s see where you can run to...¡± In the yard, Baojuan¡¯s mother-in-law¡¯s tirade at the chickens continued..., only the volume had increased another notch. Lin Baojuan suddenly sat up straight, swung her legs, and was about to get out of the kang bed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhao Yulan stopped her, ¡°Over the years, you¡¯ve given so much to help us out. This time, after what Chuxia has been through, how could she not be upset? She¡¯s not berating you, she¡¯s annoyed that we¡¯re taking advantage of your kindness, and bringing disaster upon you. On a fundamental level, she pities you.¡± ¡°Sister-in-law...¡± Lin Baojuan¡¯s eyes revealed a bitter smile, ¡°You don¡¯t have to save face for me. Since you¡¯ve seen what happened, I don¡¯t want to hide it from you anymore. My in-laws prefer to have many children, but these years my belly has been quiet, and they¡¯ve grown more disdainful of me.¡± Zhao Yulan¡¯s brows furrowed: ¡°Aren¡¯t Dajiang and Xiaoxiang their grandchildren?¡± ¡°They want more children to gain face,¡± Lin Baojuan let out a heavy sigh, ¡°With Qingshu being their only son, they indeed cherish having many people around.¡± ¡°How many is too many?¡± Lin Baohe snorted, ¡°Just Chuxia alone, and we are still content!¡± ¡°Dad...¡± Chuxia couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°I¡¯ve realized Dad doesn¡¯t talk much, but he¡¯s really good at reassuring people. The things he says are also particularly heartwarming!¡± ¡°Dad is speaking the truth. Of course, it would be the best if we could have another child to keep Chuxia company, but if it¡¯s not meant to be, Dad and Mom have no complaints. Life¡¯s fulfillment isn¡¯t measured by the number of children one has; it¡¯s something one cannot force.¡± ¡°Chuxia, your dad is telling the truth. Knowing that we can¡¯t have more children, I¡¯ve always felt quite distressed, but it was your dad who consoled me, saying that having you, we should be content. He even compared us to Fifth Guarantee Household Fourth Grandpa Luo from our village. That old couple had three sons and a daughter. However, the eldest drowned in a bayou at the age of nine, the second died of dysentery at four, the third fell off the kang and died at nine months old, the fourth was stillborn, and after that, they couldn¡¯t conceive again. In their old age, they were left with nobody; when they died, there wasn¡¯t even anyone to smash the funeral pots for them.¡± When compared to them, your dad and I would rather have just one child. As long as you live a peaceful life, we¡¯ll be quite content.¡± Originally, Zhao Yulan¡¯s story was quite sad, yet somehow, Chuxia felt it was amusing. She couldn¡¯t help but show a hint of a smile: ¡°Dad, if Fourth Grandpa Luo could hear you using him as an example, do you think he might climb out of his grave to settle scores with you?¡± Lin Baohe coughed awkwardly: ¡°I was just worried, didn¡¯t want your mother to be heartbroken and make herself sick.¡± Lin Baojuan looked enviously at Zhao Yulan: ¡°Sister-in-law, my brother may be poor, but he has a kind heart and knows how to care for others. If Qingshu were even half as caring as my brother, I would be content.¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The door was thrust open. Baojuan¡¯s mother-in-law stood at the entrance, her face holding a smile that was not quite a smile, looking at Lin Baojuan: ¡°Qingshu¡¯s wife, by the sound of it, you¡¯re dissatisfied with our family¡¯s Qingshu?¡± Faced with her sudden appearance, Lin Baojuan was not at all surprised, and spoke calmly: ¡°My brother and sister-in-law have finally come to visit, and there you are outside, making insinuations and smashing bowls, expecting a reaction, now you¡¯ve come to address it in person? Fine, let me say it in front of you, Mother. The affection my brother shows my sister-in-law, Qingshu couldn¡¯t match if he were multiplied by ten. Over the years, whenever you felt discontented, Mother, you took it out on me. When has Qingshu ever defended me? Other than consoling me in private, he doesn¡¯t dare utter a word against you in public. My brother may be straightforward, but nobody dares to mistreat my sister-in-law and Chuxia, including my own parents. I truly envy my sister-in-law. Mother, you can go back and repeat my words to Qingshu.¡± ¡°Her brother and sister-in-law...¡± Baojuan¡¯s mother-in-law looked at Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan with the same semi-smile, ¡°Now that you are here, she finally has some support. If I weren¡¯t so frail, she might even come to strike her mother-in-law.¡± Chapter 64 - 64 62 The Dilemma of Being a Daughter-in-law_2 ?64: Chapter 62: The Dilemma of Being a Daughter-in-law_2 64: Chapter 62: The Dilemma of Being a Daughter-in-law_2 ¡°Alright, you don¡¯t have to be so snide with me about my elder brother and sister-in-law,¡± Nuan snapped, ¡°Since it¡¯s all out in the open, let me just say it clearly. Over the years, I¡¯ve occasionally helped out my elder brother and sister-in-law, but the money I¡¯ve spent has all come from what I earn extra.¡± ¡°While other women earn seven or eight points at work, when have I not made ten? Plus the subsidy for being the women¡¯s director, I earn one and a half times what Qingshu does.¡± ¡°Mom has brothers and sisters too, and she still helps out my tight-fisted Third Aunt with things. Why is it that when Mom does this, it¡¯s considered affection, but when I do it, it¡¯s not allowed? Mom had Qingshu and my elder sister as one of each, a perfect combination. Why is it that when it comes to me, I¡¯m suddenly the hen that can¡¯t lay eggs?¡± ¡°Listen to this... listen to this...¡± Baojuan¡¯s mother-in-law looked mockingly at Lin Baohe, ¡°So you¡¯re the brother who¡¯s been constantly supported by her? You¡¯re a man too, how can you shamelessly depend on your sister for a living?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re upset, take it out on me, don¡¯t be hard on my elder brother and sister-in-law.¡± Lin Baojuan, anxious, pulled at Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan, ¡°Elder brother, sister-in-law, don¡¯t take her seriously. She just speaks her mind. If you really take it to heart, you¡¯re only looking for trouble.¡± Zhao Yulan patted Lin Baojuan¡¯s hand and looked at Baojuan¡¯s mother-in-law, ¡°Auntie, Baojuan feels for Chuxia and always wants to share the good things with us. Every time she tells us, Auntie, you have a good heart and you look after us. We¡¯re really incredibly grateful to you.¡± ¡°Auntie, what¡¯s all this anger about today? Both Baohe and I understand. Baojuan has been seriously injured, and it¡¯s our fault you¡¯re angry. But as guests, it¡¯s not right for you to vent on us, so you take it out on Baojuan instead.¡± ¡°Auntie, we¡¯re well aware of the kindness you and Baojuan¡¯s husband have shown us. Right now, we¡¯ve just moved and money is really tight. Once things get a little easier, we¡¯ll definitely show our gratitude. Chuxia is our daughter, but she¡¯s also Baojuan¡¯s close niece. In the future, she¡¯ll be as devoted to her little aunt as she is to us.¡± Baojuan¡¯s mother-in-law narrowed her rheumy eyes and curled her lips: ¡°Her sister-in-law, you have a way with words. After what she¡¯s said, you still believe those gifts were sent with my blessing?¡± ¡°Even if Auntie didn¡¯t ask Baojuan to send them, it would still have been with your approval,¡± said Zhao Yulan resolutely. ¡°Fine, remember what you said today.¡± Baojuan¡¯s mother-in-law said, then went into the house and sat on the bench under the kang, her little eyes gleaming as they fixed on Chuxia: ¡°And you¡¯re Chuxia?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Although she was extremely reluctant to deal with this old woman, Chuxia still managed to suppress the irritation in her heart and answered for the sake of her aunt. Baojuan¡¯s mother-in-law just nodded: ¡°Hmm, you¡¯ve got the kind of look that rich families admire. But what¡¯s the use of marrying someone like you in our farming fields?¡± ¡°Mom, how can you say that? My sister-in-law is giving you face, saying these things to give me a better life. Don¡¯t you feel embarrassed...¡± ¡°Baojuan...¡± Zhao Yulan quickly stopped Lin Baojuan from continuing, hoping to flatter Baojuan¡¯s mother-in-law so Baojuan could have a better life. But this sister-in-law, she just couldn¡¯t stop being so straightforward, could she? Lin Baojuan was the youngest at home, and although she was a girl, she had three older brothers, and both Old Master Lin and Old Lady Lin doted on her quite a bit. So, her temperament was straightforward and bold, with a strong sense of justice. She was not malicious, but she absolutely couldn¡¯t stand others bullying her. This was evident when she came back to her parents¡¯ home to speak up for Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan. Expect her to ingratiate herself with others against her will? Don¡¯t even think about it! ¡°Elder brother, sister-in-law, are you here?¡± At the doorway, a forty-something lean man with a simple face and a genuine smile appeared, ¡°Had I known elder brother and sister-in-law were coming, I would have come back from work earlier.¡± He then called over his shoulder, ¡°Dajiang, Xiaoxiang, come quickly, your second uncle and aunt are here.¡± ¡°Second uncle, aunt, hello.¡± A robust young man about twenty and a girl similar in age to Chuxia quickly showed up at the door, greeting Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan in unison. Here were Baojuan¡¯s husband, Luan Qingshu, and their children, son Luan Dajiang and daughter Luan Xiaoxiang. ¡°Are you all blind?¡± The ignored Baojuan¡¯s mother-in-law was not pleased. Luan Qingshu smilingly appeased her: ¡°Mom, Dad went to Second Uncle¡¯s place. It¡¯s Great-Grandpa¡¯s birthday tonight; he wants you to come too.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going,¡± Old Lady Luan huffed coldly: ¡°You think I¡¯d go empty-handed?¡± ¡°Dad bought a bag of pastries and a pound of White Sugar for Second Uncle. He¡¯s already taken them over.¡± ¡°Pretentious even when poor!¡± Old Lady Luan¡¯s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, ¡°A whole family of paupers, giving away what little they have like rich folks. If you¡¯re so capable, go without food yourself.¡± Luan Qingshu looked puzzledly towards his wife. ¡°Mom¡¯s been ranting for quite a while now...¡± Lin Baojuan proceeded to recount everything that had happened. Luan Qingshu¡¯s face flickered with changing emotions. After a moment, he stepped forward, looked earnestly at Old Lady Luan and said, ¡°Mom, Baojuan speaks the truth. She¡¯s told me more than once how she envies my sister-in-law. I admit, I¡¯m not as good as my elder brother at cherishing my wife and kids.¡± ¡°So what, you¡¯re saying your father and I have wronged your wife?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean.¡± ¡°Then what are you saying?¡± ¡°I just want us, as a family, to live together peacefully. Mom, just kill me...¡± Luan Qingshu thrust his head forward, his emotions running high, ¡°Mom, you gave birth to me, raised me; my life is yours. Mom, take my life back, please. I really can¡¯t stand these thankless days.¡± ¡ª- PS: When going live, Nuan must go home for Dad¡¯s birthday. Didn¡¯t have enough of a backlog and no internet at home, so I had to type up a chapter and find a network to send out a chapter. I appreciate the support, and I¡¯ll set up a schedule when I return. (To be continued. If you like this work, you¡¯re welcome to vote for it on Qidian.com and support me with your monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) Chapter 65 - 65 63 The Way Out ?65: Chapter 63: The Way Out 65: Chapter 63: The Way Out The second watch had arrived. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª On the way home, the family of three was all withdrawn and unhappy. ¡°I still...¡± ¡°I think...¡± Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan opened their mouths at the same time, then paused simultaneously. ¡°You go first...¡± ¡°You go first...¡± Chuxia looked at her parents with amusement, ¡°Dad, Mom, do you really need to show off your understanding like this?¡± ¡°Hehe...¡± ¡°Hehe...¡± The couple touched their heads and chuckled awkwardly. Chuxia really wanted to kneel; could it be that her dad and mom developed a twin-like understanding after being praised by her aunt? ¡°I¡¯ll start...¡± Zhao Yulan pulled her husband and daughter to the side of the road and said, ¡°I¡¯ll still go find Jiang Yuesheng. For Chuxia¡¯s lifelong happiness, I think it¡¯s worth it.¡± Lin Baohe immediately nodded, ¡°That works.¡± Chuxia hesitated for a moment but said nothing. It wasn¡¯t that her opinion had changed, but the encounter at her aunt¡¯s home today made her even more aware of the stark differences between many things in this era and the one she came from. In the era she had lived in, there were conflicts between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, but the control a mother-in-law held over her son and daughter-in-law was never as severe as now, it could even be called pathological. Like her original grandmother and her own mother, their relationship was just average, but at most, they were polite like guests to each other and definitely didn¡¯t speak well of each other behind their backs. Of course, in that era, there were still mothers-in-law who liked to make a fuss and lash out, but they were very few. Similarly, there were daughters-in-law who loved to make a fuss and lash out, and their numbers were not fewer than the unreasonable mothers-in-law. The trouble today was initially started by Baojuan¡¯s mother-in-law, but in the end, after all the commotion, it was Baojuan, her husband, and their family who apologized to the old lady to settle the matter. Obviously, she knew that ¡®settling the matter¡¯ was just temporary peace, but from now on, Baojuan would find it even more difficult in that household. However, no matter how much Chuxia sympathized with her aunt¡¯s situation, she was completely powerless at the moment. She wanted to confront that old hag. If possible, she would love to give her a slap. But for her aunt¡¯s sake, she couldn¡¯t! It wasn¡¯t that she lacked personality, but having been in this era for so long, she had clearly understood that here, personality was the least desirable trait. If it wouldn¡¯t affect others, she wouldn¡¯t mind flaunting her personality, but she couldn¡¯t forgive herself for involving the people closest to her because of her antics. The good upbringing and education from her parents in her previous life ensured that she couldn¡¯t do anything too outrageous, but she had her stubbornness. If, before, she had only wished to get by with good food and not starve, now, she was determined to make her parents and her aunt live happily through her own abilities! And also her grandparents, her eldest maternal aunt, Fat Auntie, Uncle Gangshun, and Luo Xiaoqiong, all of whom truly cared for her¡ªonce she was capable, she definitely planned to repay everyone. But now, she had entered a dead end. It was the Xue family, to be precise, Xue Guohong, who had pushed her into this dead end. She really wanted to confront Xue Guohong boldly, have him realize his conscience, and restore justice to her, but she was very clear that if she did that, she would be truly foolish, like bringing a lamb to a tiger¡¯s mouth. Even if Xue Guohong hadn¡¯t done anything to her, what if he slandered her on purpose? No matter the era, public opinion in these matters has always been more lenient towards men; even if Xue Guohong slandered her, she wouldn¡¯t marry, but others still would. However, any respectable family who heard the rumors, even if she were offered for free, would absolutely have no interest in marrying her. Even though she was the victim, the outcome was still this unfairly discriminated. So when Zhao Yulan again suggested seeking out Jiang Yuesheng, Chuxia could not accept it emotionally, but logically, she had come to accept it. The silence from his daughter let the couple sigh with relief. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. I¡¯ll go borrow the car from Gangshun tomorrow morning,¡± Zhao Yulan decided. ¡°Mom...¡± Chuxia hesitated, then sighed, ¡°I¡¯ll accompany Mom.¡± ¡°This steering technique of Mom¡¯s...¡± Zhao Yulan hesitated, fearing she might cause her daughter an accident. ¡°We¡¯ll borrow another bike from Dagang¡¯s Grandpa, and Mom and I will both ride. Dad and Mom can trust my cycling skills; Xiaoqiong has practiced with me,¡± Chuxia said. With the conversation going this far, Zhao Yulan found it hard to oppose further, so she agreed on one condition: once home, Chuxia had to ride the bike around for her to see. If she passed the test, she would take her along. After finalizing their decision, though the mood of the family of three was still somewhat heavy, it was much better than when they had first left Lin Baojuan¡¯s house. If Luan Qingshu hadn¡¯t repeatedly assured them he would take good care of Lin Baojuan, how could the three of them dare leave with peace of mind? However, even with those assurances, the family of three still found it hard to feel at ease. They had already witnessed the authority of Old Lady Luan, and were skeptical that she would let Lin Baojuan live comfortably! So now, all they could do was use every possible means to improve their own strengths. That way, they might genuinely be able to help those who were kind to them. As they reached the entrance of the village, Xue Guohong, like a lingering spirit, appeared again, ¡°Dad, mom, Chuxia, where have you been? I¡¯ve been waiting almost a day for you.¡± ¡°Damn!¡± Chuxia, who never cursed, couldn¡¯t help it and burst out a curse, then she realized that cursing indeed made her feel a bit better. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®damn¡¯?¡± Xue Guohong looked up at the sun, ¡°The sun isn¡¯t hot either, Chuxia, what do you mean by ¡®damn¡¯ you just said?¡± Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan had already exhausted their patience, so no matter what Xue Guohong said, the couple merely showed indifferent expressions. It seemed like the person nagging them wasn¡¯t even human. ¡°Also, it won¡¯t be long before I go to university, Chuxia. I¡¯ve already spoken with my dad, and right after the exam, I¡¯ll register your name first.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll only be apart for a year, and then, we can stay together forever. My dad will find a way to get us assigned together after we graduate.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Chuxia, what exactly do I need to do to get you to pay attention to me?¡± She gave him a cold look, Chuxia kept silent. ¡°Even the way you roll your eyes is beautiful...¡± Xue Guohong, walking the bicycle alongside Chuxia, said, ¡°Look, Chuxia, I like every expression, every look of yours, so I¡¯m telling you, marrying me would be the happiest. To love someone to the fullest is to see their flaws as strengths, just like I see you now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± Xue Guohong¡¯s face froze, his gaze towards Chuxia carried a hint of impatience, ¡°What exactly do you want? If it weren¡¯t for you, why would I listen to such nonsense?¡± ¡°No need!¡± Chuxia glared at him coldly, ¡°Xue Guohong, you know what you¡¯ve done. My cousin is the closest person to me, and you dare to beat her up like that. Is this your so-called liking for me? Yes, I have no evidence, I can¡¯t do anything to you, but Xue Guohong, don¡¯t let me catch any dirt on you, I will find a way to send you to prison.¡± ¡°You...¡± Barely over twenty years old and spoiled at home, being provoked this way by Chuxia made Xue Guohong¡¯s face turn red and his neck swell. ¡°Wanting to beat me up too?¡± Chuxia looked at him, her eyes full of lethal intent, ¡°If you have the guts, hit me now, Xue Guohong, do it now if you dare!¡± ¡°You...¡± ¡°What ¡®you¡¯?¡± Chuxia rolled her eyes again, ¡°I¡¯ve seen shameless people, but never someone as shameless as you. I¡¯m telling you, even if all the men in the world were dead, I still wouldn¡¯t marry you. This phrase might be cliche? and overused, but it expresses my true feelings. Think about it, if someone who hates you as much as I do actually married you, do you think I wouldn¡¯t take a pair of scissors and kill you in your sleep?¡± ¡°Lin Chuxia! Don¡¯t think that by saying this you¡¯ll scare me off. Let me tell you, I won¡¯t stop until I¡¯ve made it impossible for you to marry anyone else in your lifetime!¡± ¡°So that¡¯s your purpose...¡± Chuxia nodded in understanding, ¡°Then I¡¯m relieved.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Xue Guohong asked reflexively. ¡°Compared to marrying you, staying unmarried for life is far more appealing.¡± Chuxia flashed a radiant smile like spring blossoms, ¡°No worries, just keep coming every day.¡± ¡°You...¡± Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe, always guarding their daughter from both sides, had expressions that contrasted sharply with Chuxia¡¯s; when Xue Guohong said he would bother them until no one dared marry Chuxia, both parents¡¯ faces darkened. Their daughter might join the army or perhaps get into a university to strive for a better future, but whichever path she took, she would need to find a husband¡¯s family. Even if the husband¡¯s family wasn¡¯t local, there would always be formal visits for arranging the marriage. If they heard of these troubles upon inquiring, the marriage proposal was likely doomed. They wanted their daughter to succeed, not to make a particularly successful career, but so she could marry into a family where she wouldn¡¯t suffer. Now, seeing this only option being blocked, how could the couple feel any ease? In that moment, Zhao Yulan felt the impulse to ride a bicycle to the county town to find Jiang Yuesheng. The next morning, the mother and daughter rode their bicycles to Songshui County. Dalin Village was over fifty miles away from Songshui County; it took them more than two and a half hours to arrive, and after asking for directions, they reached the county government by 11:30 a.m. They then found a small restaurant, ordered a bowl of mutton soup, and ate it with the dry buns they had brought from home to fill their stomachs. At 1:30 p.m., they finally entered the county government. After several rounds of notifications and approvals, they stood in Jiang Yuesheng¡¯s office a bit after two o¡¯clock. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Dear ones, Nuan worked hard typing this out till midnight and posted it from an internet cafe?. Oh, how diligent! Please support the official release by subscribing! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to support by casting your recommendation votes or monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.) Chapter 66 - 66 64 Going Home ?66: Chapter 64 Going Home 66: Chapter 64 Going Home Chuxia and Zhao Yulan had returned to Dalin Village by evening. Lin Baohe, who had been waiting at the entrance of the village, saw the mother and daughter from afar and ran over to meet them. ¡°Dad, you must have been worried, huh?¡± ¡°Mm-hmm,¡± Lin Baohe nodded, taking the bicycle from his daughter¡¯s hands and looking towards his wife, ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk at home,¡± Zhao Yulan said. Lin Baohe¡¯s gaze turned to his daughter, with a clear look of inquiry. Chuxia hung her head awkwardly, ¡°Dad, let¡¯s talk at home.¡± ¡°Right, right,¡± Lin Baohe nodded repeatedly, unconsciously quickening his pace. ¡°Second Aunt, Chuxia, you¡¯re finally back?¡± Halfway through their walk, they ran into Luo Xiaoqiong, who had hurried over, ¡°My mom asked me to check if you had arrived. Dinner¡¯s almost ready; come to our house first.¡± Zhao Yulan forced a smile, ¡°Xiaoqiong, ride the bike back, and let your parents know that Second Aunt is a bit tired today, so we won¡¯t be coming over.¡± After a slight hesitation, Luo Xiaoqiong took the bicycle from Zhao Yulan¡¯s hands, ¡°Second Aunt, I¡¯ll report to my parents as truthfully as I can, but I can¡¯t guarantee what the outcome will be.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Chuxia said. Zhao Yulan glanced at her daughter and hung her head, saying nothing. Letting out a quiet sigh, Chuxia poked Luo Xiaoqiong, who was still in a daze, ¡°Let¡¯s go...¡± ¡°Chuxia...¡± Having put some distance between themselves and Zhao Yulan and her husband, Luo Xiaoqiong looked at Chuxia with concern, ¡°Were things not handled smoothly?¡± ¡°You could say that,¡± Chuxia sighed with a wry smile, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you more when we get to your place. My mom doesn¡¯t plan to keep it from you all; she just doesn¡¯t know how to start telling it right now.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll just wait until Second Aunt feels like talking. Consider that I never asked anything just now.¡± For Luo Xiaoqiong to hold back her curiosity was quite the improvement. ¡°It¡¯s okay, my mom sent me over here because she agrees that I should tell you guys. She also needs to talk alone with my dad. I¡¯ll be crashing at your place for dinner tonight; when your brother finds out, he¡¯ll be worried again.¡± ¡°Pfft, what does he think he is?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong pouted, ¡°What good has he ever done, aside from causing our parents worry from childhood till now? That Zhong Hongying, she doesn¡¯t truly like him at all, but my brother, as if bewitched, can¡¯t do without that girl. During his time in the army, he sent one letter home and eight to that girl. And you know well enough what sort of person her mother is, always boasting outside. My mom is almost driven mad by my brother, last night she even told my dad that they¡¯ve basically raised him in vain. If he really marries Zhong Hongying, my mom said she and my dad would have their lives shortened by ten years.¡± Chuxia just smiled and didn¡¯t join in the conversation. ¡°To think he wouldn¡¯t choose the good parents-in-law that you and my uncle are, and instead chooses someone like Zhong Hongying¡¯s mom ¨C I¡¯m beyond understanding him.¡± ¡°Xiaoqiong, Chuxia...¡± Speak of the devil, and he shall appear ¨C Zhong Hongying came over with a smile. ¡°Humph!¡± Luo Xiaoqiong huffily turned her head away. ¡°What¡¯s the use?¡± Zhong Hongying had a face of helplessness, ¡°If you could, make your brother stop caring about me, stop writing me letters, showing me his petty temper. Does it make sense? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m the one chasing after him.¡± ¡°Are you proud of yourself?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong frowned and stared at her, ¡°Only my brother likes you. Do you think you¡¯d be happy marrying into our family?¡± ¡°Marry?¡± Zhong Hongying gave a light laugh, ¡°I haven¡¯t thought that far ahead.¡± ¡°Then what are you and my brother together for?¡± Zhong Hongying nodded her chin towards Chuxia, ¡°To save her.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with me?¡± Chuxia said incredulously, ¡°Please, don¡¯t drag me into everything, all right?¡± ¡°What I said is true. You don¡¯t like Hongqi, and he doesn¡¯t like you. If I hadn¡¯t taken him off your hands, you would¡¯ve had to be tied down to him. So, in a way, haven¡¯t I saved you?¡± Chuxia shook her head and kept silent. ¡°Honestly, marrying into the Xue family is indeed more comfortable than marrying into the Luo family. Lin Chuxia, you¡¯re a smart person; with your frailty, marrying into the Xue family is the wisest choice.¡± ¡°Crazy!¡± Chuxia glanced at her disdainfully, tugging at Luo Xiaoqiong, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Why are you still following?¡± After taking a few steps, they realized Zhong Hongying was still behind them. Luo Xiaoqiong glared at her, displeased, ¡°Don¡¯t you know we dislike you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here on behalf of your brother, to deliver a message to your parents.¡± Zhong Hongying spoke indifferently, ¡°Otherwise, do you think it¡¯s just a coincidence that I happened to meet you all here?¡± ¡°What are you really after?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong looked at her speechlessly, ¡°If you are after our family¡¯s conditions, then you ought to be courting favor with me and my parents. Also, I can tell that you don¡¯t like my brother at all. So I¡¯m sure you have other motives, Zhong¡± Chapter 67 - 67 64 Going Home_2 ?67: Chapter 64 Going Home_2 67: Chapter 64 Going Home_2 Hongying, decent people don¡¯t act secretively. Can you dare to tell the truth straight?¡± ¡°The truth is, I originally didn¡¯t like your brother, but ever since I was sensible, I¡¯ve admired soldiers. What I wanted most was to marry a soldier.¡± Regarding family background, your family is top-notch in the village. Regarding character, your brother doesn¡¯t have any ill intentions. Uncle Gangshun and Fat Aunt, are also decent people. As for you, other than your fiery temper, you don¡¯t have any other bad habits.¡± Moreover, your family has only your brother as a son; there¡¯s no issue of dealing with co-wives. So, marrying your brother counts as a top choice.¡± I¡¯m not young anymore, and it¡¯s time to consider my lifelong matters. As for liking or not liking, does it matter? After being together for a long time, one naturally grows fond.¡± Zhong Hongying¡¯s argument didn¡¯t seem to have any flaws, but still, something felt off, and Luo Xiaoqiong frowned, a face full of conflict. ¡°Based on what you¡¯ve said, you should have a hopeful attitude toward this marriage. But why does it feel like you¡¯re always trying to provoke Xiaoqiong¡¯s anger? You can¡¯t possibly be unaware of Xiaoqiong¡¯s position in Fat Aunt and Uncle Gangshun¡¯s hearts. What good does it do to make your sister-in-law dislike you?¡± ¡°Lin Chuxia, if it were you, would you want your sister-in-law to be especially nice to a love rival?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Chuxia chuckled as she regarded Luo Xiaoqiong, ¡°It sounds like you care quite a bit about my presence?¡± ¡°Of course, after all, you were the person Luo Hongqi¡¯s parents preferred. You were nearly engaged to Luo Hongqi. No matter the final outcome, the fact that you were once my rival cannot be denied.¡± ¡°Earlier you said, you knew that Luo Hongqi and I dislike each other, and being with him amounted to rescuing me. But now, how has it turned out that I am your love rival?¡± Zhong Hongying¡¯s expression became slightly unnatural: ¡°This isn¡¯t contradictory. Your mutual dislike only means he wouldn¡¯t choose you, not that his family wouldn¡¯t choose you. I¡¯ve said, people together for a long time naturally develop feelings. If in the end he follows his family¡¯s wishes, then, the one marrying him could be you, not me. In that case, aren¡¯t you my rival?¡± ¡°That¡¯s an eye-opener.¡± Chuxia laughed as she shook her head, ¡°Why does it feel like you¡¯ve agreed to something with someone else, intentionally trying to break me and him up, yet you yourself do not want to marry him, thus using this method to deal with his family?¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking...¡± Zhong Hongying gave a faint smile, ¡°You really are overthinking. Anyway, arguing more with you now won¡¯t change your way of thinking, so I won¡¯t say more.¡± She quickened her pace, stepping ahead to Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s house. ¡°Chuxia, you¡¯re too clever...¡± The moment Zhong Hongying¡¯s figure vanished, Luo Xiaoqiong slapped Chuxia¡¯s back hard, ¡°I knew something was off, and now I understand what it was. She must have accepted some benefit from the Xue family, deliberately seducing my brother. The aim is to make my brother cancel the engagement with you, then, the Xue family could legitimately pressure you, and the day Xue Guohong succeeds, she¡¯d surely break up with my brother!¡± ¡°The benefit is the military enrollment quota.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong stared at Chuxia in astonishment, ¡°You thought of that too?¡± ¡°She said her greatest admiration is for soldiers. Rather than marrying a soldier, why not become one herself? Considering how hard she works, you should know that her ambitions aren¡¯t ordinary.¡± ¡°This woman, so disgusting. I wondered why she thought of marrying into our family yet treated me so poorly. Obviously, she harbored these intentions. No, I must write to my brother tonight, he can¡¯t be deceived by that woman any longer.¡± ¡°Will it work?¡± Chuxia eyed her lightly, ¡°Do you think your brother would listen to you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s also true.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s face fell, ¡°So what do I do, just watch as my brother jumps into a pit?¡± ¡°Write to him, make your words more sincere. Whether or not your brother listens, you must at least do your part.¡± ¡°Is there a more permanent solution?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong pouted, her face convoluted, ¡°Why bother writing if it doesn¡¯t change my brother¡¯s mind.¡± ¡°The effort still needs to be made; he¡¯s your real brother. If you don¡¯t do your best, won¡¯t you regret it later?¡± ¡°Ugh...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong glared at Chuxia resentfully. Was this truly her friend? Why did she feel like Chuxia was enjoying this too much? ¡°Don¡¯t glare at me like that. I¡¯m being serious. Right now, your brother has completely fallen into his own concept of happiness, and your relationship with Zhong Hongying isn¡¯t great. So whatever you say, he won¡¯t believe. But you still must try, at least ¡ª consider it a vaccine for your brother in advance. If one day he does get hurt, he might think, ¡®I should listen to my sister more; she cares about me more than anyone else.''¡± ¡°Pah!¡± Luo Xiaoqiong spat, ¡°Do I care if he listens to me? Let it be.¡± ¡°Then let it be.¡± ¡°But he¡¯s my real brother.¡± ¡°Then deal with it.¡± ¡°Annoying, can¡¯t you give some constructive advice?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t do, matters of the heart have no constructive advice. Only through experience can one truly understand. Pain isn¡¯t always bad, it helps you mature.¡± ¡°Ha...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong gave Chuxia an incredulous look, ¡°Please, can you not be so pretentiously profound? It sounds like you know so much about relationships.¡± Chuxia chuckled: ¡°At least more than you. ¡°No way?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong hastily grabbed Chuxia¡¯s sleeve, ¡°My mom said a good woman fears a persistent suitor. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve really fallen for Xue Guohong.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) Chapter 68 - 68 65 Refusal ?68: Chapter 65 Refusal 68: Chapter 65 Refusal ¡°` ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Chuxia looked at Luo Xiaoqiong speechlessly. ¡°Can¡¯t you think of something more reliable?¡± ¡°But you just said that you understand better than I do because we grew up together, and it¡¯s not like I don¡¯t know that you¡¯ve never liked boys, so how could you understand better than I do?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong said with a puzzled face. ¡°Aren¡¯t my dad and mom¡¯s relationship an example? Aren¡¯t Sister Qihui and Brother Yuanbao¡¯s relationship an example?¡± Unable to tell the truth, she could only resort to such reasons. In her past life, although she had never truly dated seriously, she had experienced unrequited love, being secretly admired, and a faint first love. It wasn¡¯t heart-wrenching, but it was enough to let her taste what affection felt like. No matter if it¡¯s a girl or a boy, when you truly fall for someone, warnings from others won¡¯t be believed; only a genuine experience of betrayal, coming to a clear realization about the other person, might make it possible to let go for good. However, there was another kind of person who, when faced with unrequited love, might end up doing something to hurt themselves and others. Hopefully, Hongqi wasn¡¯t someone so stubborn at heart. When Luo Xiaoqiong and Lin Chuxia entered the courtyard, Zhong Hongying was sitting there chatting idly with Fat Auntie. Upon seeing the two of them, she smiled reservedly and turned her head back. Seeing Chuxia, Fat Auntie stood up happily: ¡°Xiaoqiong went to the village entrance to wait I don¡¯t know how many times, and finally you came, hey, where are your dad and mom?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll be here in a moment; they just went back to clean up. My mom loves cleanliness and was afraid of being laughed at by the auntie,¡± Chuxia said as she pinched Luo Xiaoqiong, who was staring blankly at her. Luo Xiaoqiong reflexively cooperated: ¡°Right, right, my second auntie fell and got all dirty, so she went back to change clothes.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t Yulan¡¯s carriage driving just fine?¡± Fat Auntie frowned. ¡°Chuxia, did your mother fall hard? Did she say she was in pain anywhere?¡± ¡°Fat Auntie, my mom¡¯s fine; she just got her clothes dirty; she¡¯ll be over in a while,¡± Chuxia said as she politely greeted Zhong Hongying, ¡°Hongying sister is also here.¡± Zhong Hongying¡¯s eyes twitched, and she stood up: ¡°Lin Chuxia, didn¡¯t we run into each other on the road? Your memory can¡¯t be that bad, can it?¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be that bad, but I thought you¡¯d be scared of us telling Fat Auntie about what was said on the road. Since you don¡¯t mind, then it¡¯s me who did something unnecessary.¡± ¡°Auntie, I¡¯m going back first, I¡¯ll come to visit you some other day,¡± Zhong Hongying said, then left the courtyard without looking back. ¡°Mom, how did you end up chatting with her?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong said with an unhappy face. ¡°She came on behalf of your brother; she said your brother wrote in the letter that he¡¯s getting taken seriously by his leaders in the army, and he told me and your dad to not worry. She even showed the letter to me,¡± Fat Auntie sighed. ¡°It¡¯s come to this point already, what can I do?¡± ¡°Such an act, she wasn¡¯t like this with us on the road...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong proceeded to recount to Fat Auntie the encounter with Zhong Hongying on the road, as well as Chuxia¡¯s speculation. ¡°Alas!¡± Fat Auntie sighed deeply. ¡°Your dad and I had guessed it earlier, but as Chuxia said, with your brother¡¯s temperament, he¡¯s not going to listen to us. If he wants to hit a wall, let him hit it. I believe after really hitting a wall, he¡¯ll understand where he¡¯s gone wrong.¡± ¡°You had guessed earlier but didn¡¯t tell me?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong glared at Fat Auntie indignantly. ¡°You and my dad say you care about me, but you never tell me things proactively. Am I even a member of this family?¡± ¡°With the way you treat Zhong Hongying, how could your dad and I dare to tell you?¡± Fat Auntie looked at Chuxia. ¡°Chuxia, it¡¯s not that we¡¯re seeing you heading towards a pit and deliberately not pulling you back; it¡¯s just that at this point, the matter is already beyond what your uncle and I can handle. It¡¯s better to say nothing and let you two feel more at ease in your hearts.¡± ¡°Fat Auntie, I understand.¡± Chuxia nodded with a wry smile. ¡°Worst comes to worst, I¡¯ll just not get married in this life. There¡¯s nothing scary about it; it¡¯s just living life alone, what¡¯s there to be afraid of.¡± ¡°This child, talking nonsense again...¡± Fat Auntie glared at Chuxia, ¡°Your mom took you to the county, did you meet Jiang Yuesheng or not?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside.¡± Chuxia, whose mood had been somewhat better, immediately looked downcast and trudged into the house, saying, ¡°I did meet him, but...¡± Upon hearing footsteps outside, Chuxia quickly shut her mouth. ¡°How long has Chuxia been back?¡± The one who entered was Luo Gangshun. ¡°Just a little over ten minutes since I entered the village. Where have you been, Uncle Gangshun?¡± ¡°Went to your Dagang¡¯s Grandpa¡¯s place. The commune sent a notice that they¡¯ll start recruiting female soldiers in half a month. I¡¯ve registered you and Xiaoqiong. Worried that Xue Guohong would make trouble, I went to consult with Uncle Dagang. He has a wide network of contacts. Maybe he can help press the issue when the time comes and make this work.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope so,¡± Chuxia said listlessly. ¡°Chuxia, don¡¯t be so disheartened. Humans make their own fate. Xue Ligang also can¡¯t cover the sky with one hand. I¡¯ve heard that people on top are investigating him; at this time, he probably won¡¯t dare to go too far. By the way, everything I¡¯ve told you, you mustn¡¯t say it outside. If I weren¡¯t worried about your parents getting concerned, I wouldn¡¯t even tell you this.¡± ¡°` Chuxia nodded, ¡°Uncle Gangshun, I understand. I won¡¯t talk nonsense. When I go back, I¡¯ll let my parents know, so they can also be at ease.¡± ¡°Chuxia has plumped up quite a bit recently, her stature is good, and she has quite the presence. With the military conscription, there shouldn¡¯t be much of a problem.¡± Fat Auntie looked at Luo Gangshun with confusion, ¡°Last time Regimental Commander Zhou came, he didn¡¯t say they would be recruiting so soon. Is this the same thing they talked about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not. Commander Zhou talked about recruiting ordinary female soldiers. This time, they are looking for medical soldiers, who will be assigned to the health team. Being a medical soldier is better than an ordinary one. Once in the army, you start by learning skills, then you¡¯re assigned to the health team, and depending on how well you perform, they decide whether to keep you or not. Dagang¡¯s Grandpa said that eight or nine out of ten of these female soldiers won¡¯t be returning to the farmlands. Chuxia and Xiaoqiong both reached high school level, so the culture exam shouldn¡¯t be a big problem. For the physical assessment, Xiaoqiong will be fine, but Chuxia, you must train harder in the time you have left, to ensure you can show more spirit when it¡¯s time.¡± ¡°Uncle Dagang, I will. Actually, I¡¯ve been consistently training recently. I¡¯m a lot stronger than before. Today, when I went to the county, my mom and I rode at the same speed, and I didn¡¯t feel tired.¡± Fat Auntie sized up Chuxia and clicked her tongue, ¡°I didn¡¯t notice until Chuxia mentioned it, but her little face is all rosy now, and even her hair looks a bit shiny. You know, now that I look at it, our Chuxia is really a stunning beauty. That darn kid, Hongqi ¨C he¡¯s got no luck. Sooner or later, he¡¯s going to regret it.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s focus on the matter at hand and not bring up that worthless brat,¡± Luo Gangshun waved his hands in irritation, ¡°Thinking about him just makes me angry. I won¡¯t bother with his affairs anymore; let him do as he pleases. Right, Chuxia, I rushed to register your name, and it was only on the way back that I remembered you and your mom had gone to the county for something. How did it go with your mom? If she managed to get things done, I shouldn¡¯t interfere unnecessarily and botch things.¡± ¡°I was about to talk about that, but you came back, so I didn¡¯t continue,¡± Chuxia sighed before carrying on, ¡°By the time we saw him, it was already past two in the afternoon. He was pretty polite to my mom, but when she stated her request, he just spouted official nonsense, making it clear he didn¡¯t want to help. My mom, whose temper you both know, isn¡¯t one to beg people. So she immediately stood up with me to leave, and just as we were about to leave, Jiang Yuesheng¡¯s wife arrived. She came in and started scratching and clawing without any reason. If my mom hadn¡¯t reacted quickly, her face would have been scratched up. Since my mom cares about her reputation, she didn¡¯t make a scene with that woman and just left with me. During all that, Jiang Yuesheng didn¡¯t say a word, he just let his wife create such a commotion. If it hadn¡¯t been for Uncle Gangshun bringing this good news, I¡¯d still be worrying about how to cheer my mom up, but at least now there¡¯s some good news to ease her mind.¡± ¡°Men are just unreliable!¡± Fat Auntie said with resentment, ¡°Back in the day, they would sweet-talk you, but in reality, it¡¯s all just to climb the social ladder. His wife is the daughter of the old county committee secretary, and that alone makes me think this man¡¯s no good. Yet Yulan really thought he was a man of his word. At the time, I wanted to stop Yulan from seeing him, but then I thought, with such a clear opportunity, if we didn¡¯t try it, how could Yulan be content? Now look what¡¯s happened...¡± ¡°Enough already...¡± Luo Gangshun waved his hand to interrupt her, ¡°Don¡¯t start being hindsight experts. Things have already come to this; what¡¯s the point of going on about it?¡± ¡°Chuxia, did your mother agree to you telling us all this?¡± Fat Auntie looked at Chuxia with concern, ¡°I know your mom¡¯s pride, and she wouldn¡¯t want to see us again if she knew you told us. When you go back, don¡¯t mention you¡¯ve already told us. We¡¯ll pretend we don¡¯t know anything, and after some time, she¡¯ll forget about it.¡± ¡°On the way here, I asked my mom, and she told me to inform you both. She said she couldn¡¯t say it herself, but also didn¡¯t want to keep it from you.¡± Noticing Chuxia¡¯s slightly furrowed brows, Luo Xiaoqiong quickly glance at where her hand had been and, without asking, pulled Chuxia into her own room, lifted up her clothing to reveal a series of scratched wounds on her back! ¡°Did that woman do this? Are there injuries anywhere else? Show me, take off your clothes!¡± Luo Xiaoqiong insisted as she tried to strip Chuxia¡¯s clothes off. ¡°It¡¯s just my back. When she hit my mom, I covered her, so the woman reached under my clothes and scratched me...¡± she paused to calm herself, then continued, ¡°Don¡¯t tell my mom; she doesn¡¯t know. She would be so upset if she saw.¡± ¡°You fool, why didn¡¯t you scratch that woman back? Since her husband didn¡¯t help, why didn¡¯t you settle scores then come back?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong was so angry her face was beet red, ¡°If she ever crosses me, I swear I¡¯ll scratch her to death!¡± ¡°Do you really think I¡¯d just let her scratch me without fighting back?¡± Chuxia¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile, ¡°Tonight, she¡¯ll find out that bullying others comes with consequences!¡± Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, ¡°What did you do to her? And it¡¯s something that will only be known at night? Are you suggesting you used poison or a poison master?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes, your support is my biggest motivation.) Chapter 69 - 69 66 The Break ?69: Chapter 66: The Break 69: Chapter 66: The Break The first watch arrived, seeking pink. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª- ¡°Uh...¡± Chuxia looked speechlessly at Luo Xiaoqiong, ¡°You¡¯ve been reading too much martial arts fiction, haven¡¯t you?¡± After she said it, she realized that in this era, such books were forbidden. It was too late to correct herself, so she just maintained a nonchalant expression as if nothing was amiss. ¡°I¡¯ve only read one, and it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to lend it to you. I¡¯m just worried it might get you in trouble. You¡¯re in a very precarious position right now, Chuxia, don¡¯t be mad at me...¡± What a coincidence! Listening to Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s rambling explanation, Chuxia nearly burst internally, yet she still maintained an indifferent face. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll give it to you to read. Is that okay?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong whispered mysteriously, leaning close to Chuxia¡¯s ear ¡°But you have to promise me that no one else will know.¡± ¡°Keep it to yourself.¡± ¡°Come on, Chuxia, don¡¯t be mad. With all the mess going on these days, how could I not share something good with you?¡± She fished under the blanket for a while and then presented the tattered book to Chuxia like a treasure, ¡°Take a look, it¡¯s really interesting.¡± Water Margin. Seeing the title, a flicker of surprise passed through Chuxia¡¯s eyes. ¡°Where did you dig this up from?¡± ¡°I found it tucked in a desk when cleaning out the house Dagang¡¯s Grandpa sold to your family, and I secretly kept it.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong lowered her voice again, ¡°Chuxia...¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, I won¡¯t tell anyone.¡± Chuxia handed the book back to her. ¡°Holding it like this is too conspicuous, wrap it in a cloth for me and bring it over tomorrow.¡± ¡°Okay, Chuxia, you haven¡¯t told me yet, how did you deal with that old witch?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong remembered the urgent matter she had initially asked about. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who dealt with her. Stop asking, she¡¯ll get her comeuppance for sure.¡± ¡°No way, you must tell me. I even showed you the book, it¡¯s not fair to act like this!¡± Luo Xiaoqiong pouted stubbornly. ¡°My mom and I were at the restaurant, and a woman next to us was talking with a man about how to deal with a woman who always bullied their family. They agreed that she would drag the woman out at eight-thirty in the evening, and then the man would hide around the corner to hit both her and the woman with a club. The man said it wasn¡¯t worth it, why should he get hit too just for dealing with someone else? The woman said that getting clubbed by the magistrate¡¯s wife isn¡¯t easy, and without setting herself up as bait, she couldn¡¯t easily escape.¡± ¡°Back then, my mom and I thought about warning Jiang Yuesheng. But then everything happened so quickly that we just didn¡¯t have the time to speak up, and to be honest, even if there was time, I wouldn¡¯t have said a thing. People like that deserve to be knocked dead.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong nodded solemnly, ¡°Right, knocking her dead is the best. Even her own family thinks about fighting back like this, you can imagine how bad she must be. But, how could those two dare to discuss such a thing without avoiding others?¡± ¡°In that run-down little restaurant, and seeing how my mom and I were dressed, even if we said we knew the magistrate, would anyone believe it?¡± ¡°True...¡± Luo Xiaoqiong bared her teeth gleefully, ¡°Bad people meet bad ends, I believe that.¡± ¡°Xiaoqiong, let me ask you something serious. If you enlist in the army, what are you planning to do about your marriage?¡± Chuxia changed the subject. Hesitating for a moment, Luo Xiaoqiong replied, ¡°I haven¡¯t received the reply yet, what plans can I make?¡± ¡°Yesterday, when I went to visit my little aunt¡¯s home, I also stopped by my maternal grandparents¡¯ place. Eldest cousin has already replied. He¡¯s quite satisfied with you and said he will listen to whatever the family decides. My mom and dad wanted to discuss this matter yesterday, but the atmosphere at the time wasn¡¯t right to talk about such things. They planned to wait until we got back from the county and then formally discuss it with Fat Auntie and Uncle Gangshun. You wouldn¡¯t believe it, but just a day later, the military recruitment notice arrived. So, first, I need to know what you think. If you really like Brother Qiliang, then let my parents and yours talk about it. Otherwise, let¡¯s not mention it.¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m fickle?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong stared discontentedly at Chuxia. ¡°In your eyes, am I that fickle?¡± ¡°Okay, okay, my fault...¡± Chuxia hurriedly apologized, ¡°I was overthinking it. Don¡¯t be mad at me, okay? Tomorrow I¡¯ll have my mom talk to Uncle Gangshun and Fat Auntie about this, and the day after, I¡¯ll reply to my maternal grandparents. Then let my eldest cousin come back to finalize the engagement. This series of arrangements will just about converge with enlistment time, and then you can join as a medical orderly in peace.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s eyes twinkled, and her lips curved into a dimple. ¡°Right, we mustn¡¯t tell Eldest Cousin about this. I want to surprise him.¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking of testing his character, aren¡¯t you?¡± Chuxia looked at her disdainfully. ¡°It¡¯s a matter for life. Isn¡¯t it right to test it a bit?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong simply spoke her mind, being exposed, ¡°Even if I like him, I can¡¯t lose myself.¡± ¡°Right, right, you should definitely test him, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t sabotage you...¡± Chuxia said with a laugh, noting how recently her friend had been speaking fancily because of her reading. ¡°Chuxia, don¡¯t think I¡¯m petty. I liked him first, so obviously I care more about whether he truly likes me too. Look at my parents, and yours, and then look at Zhong Hongying and her parents. What kind of life are they living? ¡°I heard from my mom that her mom was the first to fall for her dad. Initially, her dad didn¡¯t want to marry her mom, but her mom brought a hefty dowry, so her grandparents decided to let her dad marry her. However, for most of their lives, her dad never really treated her mom like a person.¡± ¡°My mom said that if it wasn¡¯t for her dad not caring about her mom, her mom wouldn¡¯t have developed such a temperament. People tend to show off more when they don¡¯t have much. I certainly hope I never end up like her!¡± ¡°It mainly comes down to each individual¡¯s personality. Of course, mutual affection is also very important. Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re so lovable, how could Cousin not like you?¡± Chuxia was truly helpless. When it came to emotions, why did girls have to be so tangled? After staying at the Luo family¡¯s home for dinner and chatting for a while, Chuxia finally returned to her own house. Upon opening the door, she was startled by a roomful of people in the dim light, ¡°Uncle, Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife, Big Brother, Sister-in-law...¡± she greeted each in turn. ¡°Our Chuxia is getting prettier and prettier.¡± Zheng Sanqiao smiled and pointed to a spot beside her, ¡°Come sit next to Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife.¡± Chuxia smiled and sat down next to Zhao Yulan instead. Zheng Sanqiao awkwardly grinned, ¡°Is Chuxia still mad at Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you want to interact with Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife?¡± ¡°Enough, don¡¯t pick on the child...¡± Lin Baojiang gave his wife a glare and then turned to Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan, ¡°Laoer, Laoer¡¯s Wife, now that Chuxia is back, you need to make a decision.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± Chuxia looked puzzled at Zhao Yulan. ¡°Your uncle and Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife are discussing us moving over there...¡± ¡°This is our home!¡± Chuxia cut off Zhao Yulan, adamantly voicing her thoughts. ¡°Big Brother, Sister-in-law, you always wanted us to clear out the house, and now we finally moved out; you should be happy about that. Even if dad and mom move there, that house will still be yours in the future, which is better than us occupying it permanently.¡± ¡°Baohe, are you mad at Big Brother and Sister-in-law? Big Brother knows, oh!¡± Lin Baojiang sighed deeply and wiped the corners of his eyes, ¡°People are like this, not realizing when living together, but once separated, they feel it in their heart. Thinking of you living in this dark, rundown house, your big sister-in-law and I feel bad. It was our fault before, don¡¯t be mad, okay?¡± ¡°Big Brother, we are not mad, really...¡± Lin Baohe said earnestly, ¡°We truly like having a home of our own.¡± ¡°Chuxia, Uncle knows you are a good kid. Whatever you say, your parents will listen for sure. When you get married, having your parents live in this small, dark room alone, you wouldn¡¯t feel comfortable, would you?¡± Lin Baojiang quickly switched targets. By now, Chuxia had heard Zhao Yulan explain the situation briefly. The room they cleared out was still vacant, and village gossip had reached the grandparents¡¯ ears. Having fallen out with their younger son¡¯s family, they pressured their elder son¡¯s family to persuade the younger ones to move back, otherwise, they themselves would move in, but then, the burden of supporting them would fall on the elder son¡¯s family. Clearly, this terrified the elder son¡¯s family. The grandparents were indulgent towards the younger son¡¯s family, getting whatever they wanted. Living with the elder son was the last resort, unthinkable even. ¡°Didn¡¯t they already disown my dad? If we grovelingly move back, what would that make us?¡± Chuxia smiled at Lin Baojiang, ¡°Uncle, if you can convince them to come to our house personally and tell my dad they take back their words, and also announce it on the village loudspeaker, we might consider moving back.¡± ¡°Chuxia...¡± Lin Baojiang¡¯s expression changed. Grandpa and Grandma, proud as they were, asking them to admit their mistake about their younger son on the loudspeaker in front of the whole village was downright impossible! ¡°Uncle, Eldest Uncle¡¯s Wife, mom and I have been traveling all day, I¡¯m too tired...¡± As she spoke, Chuxia yawned and, taking off her shoes, crawled towards the coach. ¡°Laoer...¡± Lin Baojiang frowned at Lin Baohe, ¡°You¡¯re getting more capable, making a child block us with words you dare not say. Fine, if you don¡¯t acknowledge me as your big brother, then I don¡¯t have a younger brother like you!¡± After saying this, he turned and left the room, though his steps were very slow. Lin Baohe¡¯s lips twitched, but in the end, not a word came out. ¡°Laoer, you¡¯re something! You really are!¡± After waiting a while without getting the response he expected, Lin Baojiang grudgingly squeezed out a few words and left the yard with firm steps. Seeing this, Zheng Sanqiao and the others hurriedly followed him out. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote at Qidian (qidian.com); your support is my greatest motivation.) Chapter 70 - 70 67 Matched or Not Matched ?70: Chapter 67: Matched or Not Matched 70: Chapter 67: Matched or Not Matched It was after midnight. ¡ª¡ª¡ª- ¡°Dad...¡± Chuxia hesitated before looking at Lin Baohe, who hung his head in silence, ¡°Dad, are you angry with me? ¡°Not at all...¡± Lin Baohe gently patted his daughter¡¯s head, ¡°Dad would risk his life to make sure no one ever mistreats you and your mom.¡± ¡°Baohe, marrying you was my fortune,¡± Zhao Yulan said. Clearly, Zhao Yulan had already discussed with Lin Baohe what had happened in the county; if she had any lingering regrets about giving up her first love, they were now completely replaced by deep relief. A man who knows warmth and care, a man who sees his wife and daughter as his life, no matter how poor he is, being with him is happiness itself! ¡°In front of the child, don¡¯t say such things...¡± Lin Baohe coughed uncomfortably and couldn¡¯t help adding, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind my poverty and are willing to marry me, who else should I treat well if not you?¡± Chuxia quietly breathed a sigh of relief, secretly grateful that, although she had come to this undesired era, being the daughter of such a loving couple, she should be content. Glancing at her slender fingers, she remembered how her parents had forced her to practice piano in her previous life, her feelings inexplicably complex. Compared to the parents of that era, Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe truly loved her to the core; if conditions had permitted, they would not have been inferior to any parents from that time. However, every time she dreamed at midnight, she still hoped she could return to her biological parents, letting that Chuxia also return to hers... ¡°...Chuxia, Chuxia, what are you thinking about?¡± Zhao Yulan tugged at Chuxia¡¯s arm worriedly, ¡°Chuxia, don¡¯t worry, even if Jiang Yuesheng helps, your mom will still think of other solutions.¡± Chuxia quickly smiled, ¡°Mom, I was thinking about what Uncle Gangshun said. In half a month, they will be recruiting female soldiers. Uncle Gangshun has already registered me and Xiaoqiong, and told me to discuss it with you and dad. He¡¯s already spoken to Dagang¡¯s Grandpa to help organize things. Who knows, I might really become a soldier.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Zhao Yulan¡¯s eyes sparkled with joy, ¡°If Dagang¡¯s Grandpa is willing to intervene, even Xue Ligang can¡¯t stop it. Chuxia, if this really works out, we¡¯ll owe Dagang¡¯s Grandpa even more... ¡± Chuxia nodded, ¡°Mom, I understand, I will never forget those who are good to me.¡± Lin Baohe¡¯s expression also relaxed, joy apparent on his face, though he said nothing complimentary. ¡°Right, wasn¡¯t it supposed to be a little over a month according to Regimental Commander Zhou? Is this early?¡± Zhao Yulan asked, puzzled. ¡°Mom, are you doubting I¡¯d lie to you?¡± Chuxia shook her head helplessly, ¡°Could I lie about something like this? This recruitment isn¡¯t the same as the one Commander Zhou mentioned. They¡¯re recruiting medics this time, which is better than ordinary female soldiers.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Zhao Yulan poked Lin Baohe excitedly, ¡°Hear that, her dad? Our Chuxia has a chance to become a doctor!¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Lin Baohe responded happily, his large hand still patting his daughter¡¯s head, ¡°I always knew, my girl is blessed.¡± ¡°Medics need to be literate, and Chuxia definitely won¡¯t have any problems there. It¡¯s just this physique...¡± Remembering how her daughter had ridden with her for dozens of miles, Zhao Yulan¡¯s smile grew thicker, ¡°This physique should also be no problem.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you say a few more words?¡± Zhao Yulan punched Lin Baohe¡¯s chest, ¡°Uncle Dagang has laid it all out already. Now is not like the old times where so much had to be said, can¡¯t you drop the taciturn act at least in front of your family?¡± Lin Baohe smiled innocently, ¡°It¡¯s a habit.¡± The next morning after breakfast, Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan went to Gangshun¡¯s family to discuss the prospective match between Xiaoqiong and Zhao¡¯s family. Fat Auntie immediately said with a smile, ¡°Yulan, we know the character of your parents and your brother and sister-in-law. A family like yours, her dad and I are 100% pleased.¡± ¡°Right, Cha Xiang and I are of the same mind about this match.¡± Luo Gangshun looked at his daughter, ¡°Meiying, you also agree, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll listen to my dad and mom,¡± Luo Xiaoqiong said with blushed cheeks. Seeing her daughter¡¯s expression, Fat Auntie continued, ¡°Yulan, from the looks of it, Meiying won¡¯t be staying at home much longer. Ask your family what they think, see what their thoughts are.¡± ¡°My mom and dad and my brother and sister-in-law have told me repeatedly, there¡¯s something I must make clear to you; my brother is no longer a secretary, and in terms of family conditions, we might not match up to yours...¡± Fat Auntie interrupted Zhao Yulan displeasedly, ¡°Having known you and us for so many years, don¡¯t you know what kind of people Meiying¡¯s dad and I are?¡± Chapter 71 - 71 67 Matched or Not Matched_2 ?71: Chapter 67: Matched or Not Matched_2 71: Chapter 67: Matched or Not Matched_2 ¡°I¡¯m well aware, but I must convey my family¡¯s concerns...¡± Zhao Yulan smiled, ¡°Otherwise, they feel uneasy.¡± After discussing the matter, Zhao Yulan rode her bicycle back to her parent¡¯s home. Forty minutes later, she returned to the Luo family, saying her family had sent a telegram to Zhao Qiliang, urging him to hurry back home. That evening, as Fat Auntie and Luo Xiaoqiong were chatting with Lin Chuxia¡¯s family in the courtyard, Aunt Zhong arrived with a pretty young girl. ¡°I was looking for Chuxia. Since I found me on the way, I brought her over.¡± After saying this, Aunt Zhong moved back a step, adopting a stance of detachment. Wearing navy blue gabardine trousers, a red plaid cotton blouse, her shiny black hair tied into two thick braids over her shoulders, and black leather shoes, her attire set her apart from the villagers. After a moment¡¯s thought, Chuxia guessed her identity and got straight to the point, ¡°You¡¯re here for Xue Guohong, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the young girl said, smiling shyly while fidgeting with the hem of her blouse, looking visibly uncomfortable. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, I mean no harm. I just want to talk to you alone, if that¡¯s okay?¡± The girl¡¯s voice was soft and delicate, her gaze timid as she spoke, which made Luo Xiaoqiong, who was initially ready to stand up for Chuxia, feel embarrassed to say anything. ¡°Okay, come inside with me.¡± Chuxia stood up to walk into the house. The girl smiled at everyone and quickly followed. Luo Xiaoqiong, after a moment¡¯s hesitation, followed them in as well. ¡°Old Zhong¡¯s family, what are you still doing standing there?¡± Fat Auntie had no patience with Aunt Zhong, who was eagerly peering into the house, and bluntly asked her to leave. ¡°Aren¡¯t we relatives after all? Can¡¯t I try to get closer to you when I see you?¡± Aunt Zhong said, inching closer to Fat Auntie, but her eyes kept darting towards the house. Fat Auntie glared at her: ¡°Enough, you¡¯re the type who enjoys seeing other people¡¯s misfortune. Better not get too close to me. Honestly, I find it odd ¡ª how on earth did that girl end up with you?¡± ¡°Just happened to run into her...¡± Once the three were seated inside, the young girl nervously began, ¡°My name is Ren Yue, and I¡¯m Xue Guohong¡¯s girlfriend.¡± Chuxia merely nodded for her to continue. ¡°We¡¯ve been together for almost two years, he¡¯s already met my parents...¡± Ren Yue bit her lower lip forcefully, her eyes becoming red. It took her a while to speak again, ¡°I always thought he would definitely marry me, but then suddenly, he made this decision.¡± Deep down, I knew he wasn¡¯t a faithful man, but I just liked him. I thought that maybe it was a good thing, as it could help me give up on him. ¡°But these past few days, I¡¯ve felt so restless, unable to do anything. I finally decided to come and talk to you, Lin Chuxia. Do you have any feelings for him?¡± Chuxia didn¡¯t want to engage in a probing conversation, so she said, ¡°Just state your intention.¡± ¡°If you have even the slightest feelings for him, I¡¯ll back off immediately. Because I¡¯m very clear, I can¡¯t compete with you. If you don¡¯t like him, or...¡± She paused for a long while, then Ren Yue gave a wry smile, ¡°I would still like to hold on a bit longer.¡± Chuxia nodded. ¡°I can tell you categorically that I don¡¯t just dislike him, I detest him! I wish I never have to see him again in my life.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Hope shone in Ren Yue¡¯s eyes. ¡°You really hate him that much?¡± ¡°Really!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Ren Yue got to her feet. ¡°I know it¡¯s abrupt and rude of me to come here like this, but I couldn¡¯t help it. I couldn¡¯t just let go of years of relationship without getting a clear answer from you. Thank you, really!¡± Luo Xiaoqiong couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°I¡¯m puzzled, knowing his philandering ways, what will you do when he sets his sights on another girl in the future?¡± Ren Yue gave a resigned smile, ¡°I trust that by then, I¡¯ll be willing to let go. Thank you both for your time, goodbye.¡± ¡°Goodbye.¡± Chuxia waved her off without getting up. After a brief hesitation, Ren Yue left the house. ¡°How could she love such a man?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong murmured, ¡°Xue Guohong is not worthy of her at all. Why would she do this for him?¡± ¡°Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.¡± ... The next day, as Chuxia was working in the fields with Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe, Xue Guohong came to her. His attitude had completely changed from the huffy departure the other day. He kept apologizing to Chuxia, assuring her with slaps to his chest that he had completely broken off with Ren Yue and begging her to believe in his fidelity. His actions made Chuxia think better of Ren Yue. With such forthrightness, Xue Guohong didn¡¯t deserve her. However, this was none of her concern, since everyone¡¯s happiness was in their own hands. Seeing Chuxia¡¯s indifferent demeanor and unwilling to engage with him, Xue Guohong resorted to drastic measures: ¡°I know you¡¯ve applied to be selected as a female soldier. My father has significant influence there. If we get engaged now, I guarantee you¡¯ll be selected.¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± Chuxia¡¯s heart skipped a beat at his words, but her face remained expressionless. She looked at him calmly. ¡°You deliberately came here to find me, and I¡¯m well aware of your intentions. So, do whatever you want, I don¡¯t care.¡± Unable to restrain herself, Luo Xiaoqiong rushed over to speak up for Chuxia: ¡°You should have some dignity. Knowing Chuxia hates you, why do you keep doing things that hurt both of us?¡± ¡°Mind your own business!¡± Xue Guohong glared at her, but when he turned back to Chuxia, his face was all smiles again, ¡°I have patience, and I don¡¯t mind that my future wife comes from the countryside.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.) Chapter 72 - 72 68 Getting Beaten UpConscription Begins ?72: Chapter 68: Getting Beaten Up/Conscription Begins 72: Chapter 68: Getting Beaten Up/Conscription Begins A new watch had begun, seeking pink, seeking genuine subscription. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°I have the patience to wait, and I don¡¯t mind that my wife is a rural woman.¡± This statement was nothing short of a blatant threat! Chuxia snorted coldly and swung her hoe toward Xue Guohong¡¯s feet, scaring him into jumping back repeatedly: ¡°Hey, what are you trying to do?¡± Chuxia straightened up: ¡°Young master, I need to work; I need to eat. I¡¯m not like you, having a powerful father who can get you food without working!¡± ¡°You...¡± Xue Guohong didn¡¯t expect Chuxia to say such a thing in front of everyone. He wanted to retort but couldn¡¯t find the right words at the moment, so he just stood there, his face turning red in embarrassment. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®you¡¯? Move aside!¡± Chuxia tapped his leg with her hoe, ¡°I¡¯m not very skilled. If I chop or bruise you, I¡¯m not responsible!¡± As the son of the commune director, Xue Guohong had never been so humiliated. Blood rushed to his head in a flash, and he grabbed Chuxia¡¯s arm and dragged her outside, ¡°What are you doing? Crazy woman, let go of me...¡± ¡°Thump!¡± Xue Guohong was thrown a meter away by Lin Baohe, who grabbed him by the collar. ¡°If you dare to bother my daughter again, I¡¯ll beat you every time I see you. I don¡¯t believe, in this new country and society, that there¡¯s no law!¡± Lin Baohe pointed at Xue Guohong angrily. He had been tolerating the situation to avoid making it too stiff, but this time, the man dared to touch his daughter right in front of him. If he tolerated any further, could he still call himself a father? ¡°I just wanted to pull her aside to talk, I meant no harm!¡± Although embarrassed and annoyed, Xue Guohong realized his behavior was inappropriate and stiffly tried to explain. ¡°Scram!¡± Chuxia knocked her hoe onto his back, ¡°Shameless, if you dare show up in front of me again, just try!¡± Since her father had already taken action, there was no need to endure any longer. Moreover, she had endured so much that she was almost sick of it. As someone born in the ¡¯90s, when had she ever suffered such indignity? When it was time to act, she acted! Her father was right. In a new country and society, how could there really be no rule of law? The more they tolerated, the more he would take them for granted. Enough was enough, right? Moreover, according to Luo Gangshun, Xue Ligang should be cherishing his reputation now. She didn¡¯t believe he would risk his official position just to target their family! ¡°You guys... you guys...¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®you guys¡¯?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong stepped forward to give him another whack with her hoe, ¡°As a commune director, you condone your son oppressing others. If we report this, what do you think the outcome will be?¡± Although Xue Guohong was over 1.8 meters tall, he had never done physical labor since childhood. Compared to the robust Lin Baohe, he wasn¡¯t a match at all. Now, with Luo Xiaoqiong and Lin Chuxia joining in... before the situation escalated, they might have spared him some embarrassment, but now it had come to this. It was better to retreat than to lose further face. He thought so and got up without a word, heading towards the edge of the field, ¡°Smack!¡± Just two steps later, a stinky shoe hit him solidly on his back, this was too much! He turned around angrily: ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Sorry, just trying to shake the dirt off my shoe...¡± Fat Auntie said, shaking the other foot. Before Xue Guohong could react, another shoe flew over and ¡°smack¡± hit him solidly on the chest. ¡°You¡¯ll see!¡± Fuming with humiliation, Xue Guohong¡¯s face contorted in anger. Fortunately, he hadn¡¯t lost his senses completely and threw a threatening statement before quickening his pace out of the beating range. ¡°Cha Xiang...¡± Zhao Yulan held onto Fat Auntie and pulled Luo Xiaoqiong as well, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have gotten involved. Ah, if it drags Gangshun down...¡± ¡°Yulan, what are you talking about?¡± Fat Auntie interrupted her. ¡°Even if we can¡¯t become family by marriage, our affections remain. I want him to know that the Lin family is not without support!¡± Luo Xiaoqiong chuckled: ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve progressed, even using idioms now!¡± ¡°Go on, get out of here...¡± Fat Auntie said, half-annoyed and half-amused as she pushed her daughter, ¡°Do you think your mom is some rough old peasant who can¡¯t even use an idiom? Your mother did go to school after all.¡± Luo Xiaoqiong nodded in agreement: ¡°Yes, yes, my mom is really amazing...¡± Lin Chuxia was, of course, very touched by Fat Auntie and Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s loyalty, but with the Luo family now involved, it would be hypocritical to speak politely. She smiled and said: ¡°Fat Auntie, how come your shoe throwing is so accurate? Absolutely at the level of a female knight!¡± ¡°Yeah, if my mom was born during the anti-Japanese war, she would definitely have been a heroine!¡± said Luo Xiaoqiong. Fat Auntie waved her hands dismissively: ¡°Forget it, I¡¯d rather not be a hero than to have been born in that era.¡± ¡°Fat Auntie...¡± Luo Gangshun finally found an opportunity to express his gratitude, but was immediately interrupted by Fat Auntie, ¡°Alright, alright, saying more would just be pretense...¡± Lin Baohe nodded: ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk anymore. Back to work!¡± Chuxia looked around, and indeed, those working in the fields were grouped in twos and threes, often looking their way. Especially Zheng Sanqiao, Liu Meiqing, and Aunt Zhong, their expressions of schadenfreude were clear to see. After dinner in the evening, Chuxia¡¯s family went to Gangshun¡¯s house, and it happened that Dagang¡¯s Grandpa was also there. Seeing Lin Baohe, he immediately patted him with a smile, ¡°Baohe, true man, Uncle supports you!¡± ¡°Uncle...¡± Lin Baohe blushed, ¡°I don¡¯t want to cause trouble, but he bullied my daughter, and as a father, even if it means going to jail, I can¡¯t let him bully her!¡± ¡°It won¡¯t get to that...¡± Chen Fenggang waved his hand, ¡°Xue Ligang doesn¡¯t have the guts. They¡¯re restructuring now, and he¡¯s probably unsure about some things. At this time, he wouldn¡¯t go too far. If it leads to public outrage and he gets reported, his position as commune director will end anyway. He should know that.¡± Upon hearing Chen Fenggang¡¯s words, Lin Baohe, who felt like there was a stone blocking his heart, felt relieved. Although he would risk anything for his daughter, he was more concerned about his wife and daughter facing more bullying if he were really to be imprisoned. ¡°Ah, as long as Xue Guohong doesn¡¯t bother Chuxia in the future, that would be a blessing. But...¡± hesitating for a moment, Zhao Yulan looked anxiously towards Chen Fenggang and Gangshun, ¡°But Chuxia joining the military seems unlikely now, right?¡± Chen Fenggang said, ¡°I¡¯ll do my best, but I can¡¯t guarantee the outcome.¡± ¡°Thank you, Dagang¡¯s Grandpa.¡± Chuxia stepped forward to thank him. ¡°This child, why be so polite?¡± Chen Fenggang chuckled and shook his head, then added, ¡°But Chuxia is really getting more sensible. If she goes to the army for training, she¡¯s bound to succeed.¡± ¡°What about me?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong looked earnestly at Chen Fenggang, ¡°Dagang¡¯s Grandpa, do you think I can be successful? Will I be better or worse than Chuxia?¡± ¡°You can also be successful...¡± Chen Fenggang laughed, ¡°Who is more successful will depend on yourselves. Dagang¡¯s Grandpa wouldn¡¯t dare make a hasty judgment.¡± In the days that followed, indeed Xue Guohong did not come looking for trouble, nor did Xue Ligang make a move, clearly, what Chen Fenggang said was true. For that father and son, tolerating was absolutely not their way of doing things. Ten days later, Zhao Qiliang¡¯s telegram arrived stating he would return on May the first and stay at home for half a month, asking his family to make arrangements accordingly. The date for the engagement was then set for May sixth, just eight days away from now. Two days later, it was the day for the selection of female soldiers. Early in the morning, Zhao Yulan and Fat Auntie accompanied Chuxia and Luo Xiaoqiong to the commune. In the commune courtyard, more than fifty young girls were already waiting there, amongst them were familiar faces like Zhong Hongying, Ren Yue, Zhao Qihui, and Miao Yuehua from the same village. Zhao Qihui was notified by Zhao Yulan, and Yushan managed to register her name. From afar, seeing Chuxia and Zhao Yulan, she quickly came over: ¡°Auntie, Chuxia, you are here?¡± Zhao Yulan warmly held her hand, ¡°Did Qihui come alone?¡± ¡°Yes, my mom wanted to accompany me, but I didn¡¯t let her.¡± Zhao Qihui said while pinching Chuxia¡¯s cheek, ¡°I¡¯m not as pampered as Xia.¡± Seeing her in better spirits than before, Chuxia was quite happy and introduced, ¡°This is Fat Auntie, you know Xiaoqiong, no need for introductions.¡± Now with a different status, Luo Xiaoqiong was somewhat shy, hiding behind Fat Auntie, her face flushed without saying a word. Fat Auntie warmly took over Zhao Yulan¡¯s hand and chatted, then forcibly pulled Luo Xiaoqiong to the front, ¡°Why hide? Don¡¯t you want to talk to Sister Qihui?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s face turned even redder, and she whispered shyly, ¡°Hello, Sister Qihui.¡± Zhao Qihui smiled and pulled her, ¡°We saw each other before, why act like strangers now? Xiaoqiong, we all know how good you are to Chuxia. Being my sister-in-law, our whole family would wholeheartedly agree. Having you as a sister-in-law, I would be really happy.¡± Someone¡¯s ears turned blood red. ¡°Sister, stop teasing her...¡± Chuxia suddenly widened her eyes, ¡°No...no way?¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Zhao Qihui looked puzzled and followed her line of sight, then immediately, her expression turned the same as Chuxia¡¯s. My goodness, surely it must be her eyes playing tricks. Zhao Qiyan actually came? Next to her was unmistakably Aunt Lin Xiaohua. The conscription requirements were clear and stated, no shorter than one meter sixty. Zhao Qiyan, barely over one and a half meters, had also come to join in the excitement? And she looked thrilled? Subsequently, Zhao Yulan¡¯s smile also froze on her face. Fat Auntie and Luo Xiaoqiong, not knowing Zhao Qiyan, but seeing her height, both curled their lips up. At that moment, Lin Xiaohua had already spotted them and dragged Zhao Qiyan over, ¡°Little sister, a niece is not only one. From this matter, you can tell.¡± Indeed, there is more than one niece, but only one meets the criteria, ah! ¡°Sister-in-law...¡± Zhao Yulan¡¯s words stuck in her throat unable to come out, knowing Lin Xiaohua¡¯s temper, if she dared to question Zhao Qiyan¡¯s height now, the other could really start a fight right here.(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it and give monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) Chapter 73 - 73 69 Disappointed ?73: Chapter 69 Disappointed? 73: Chapter 69 Disappointed? The second update has arrived, asking for pink and for legitimate subscriptions. PS: Don¡¯t worry, dear readers, this story won¡¯t be painful to read. A little spoiler ¨C Chuxia will soon be enlisted. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª- ¡°That¡¯s enough, no need to say more. Even without your help, we can still come to compete...¡± Lin Xiaohua looked smugly at Zhao Yulan, ¡°Her second aunt helped us with the registration.¡± Chuxia was at a loss. Even if her second aunt, Zhao Yucui, helped with the registration, there was still the issue of Zhao Qiyan¡¯s height. Could the second aunt also influence the decisions of the military conscription officials? Chuxia truly couldn¡¯t understand Lin Xiaohua¡¯s thought process. ¡°My second sister is capable indeed.¡± Unable to say otherwise, Zhao Yulan just had to compliment thus. ¡°That¡¯s right...¡± ¡°Those comrades who signed up, come over here. Parents, please don¡¯t come over.¡± The shouted instructions from a female military officer in her mid-twenties, amplified by a megaphone, drowned out what Lin Xiaohua was saying. ¡°Little aunt, Fat Auntie, let¡¯s go.¡± Zhao Qihui, dragging Chuxia and Luo Xiaoqiong, rushed towards the rendezvous, while Lin Xiaohua gave Zhao Qiyan a push, ¡°Hurry up.¡± Zhao Yulan watched Zhao Qiyan¡¯s retreating figure in puzzlement ¨C why did she feel that, in just a moment, Qiyan had grown much taller? Noticing her walking posture, Zhao Yulan had a sudden realization and glanced at Lin Xiaohua, who indeed was staring tensely at Zhao Qiyan, as if she wanted to rush over and support her daughter at any moment. Zhao Yulan opened her mouth but eventually refrained from speaking a word. After all, her words would be futile; her sister-in-law and second sister had no regard for her. Since they chose to do this, she might as well not interfere like a dog trying to catch a mouse ¨C it was none of her business. There were a total of one hundred twenty-five applicants, an imposing sight. The female officer explained some precautions before proceeding to the first selection phase ¨C the academic exam, which was held in the classrooms of Red Flag Middle School. On her way to the exam, Chuxia ended up in front of Zhao Qiyan. Observing Qiyan, who was only about three centimeters shorter than her, Chuxia couldn¡¯t help but sneak a peek at her feet. Good lord, walking in such a sprightly manner was truly impressive. Zhao Qiyan¡¯s height should have been 153 centimeters, while Chuxia¡¯s was 165 centimeters, meaning Zhao Qiyan¡¯s shoes had been padded with a full ten centimeters (not heels, but the sole itself). Chuxia wondered what it felt like to walk in them, whether it was like riding on clouds. But the problem was that shoes had to be removed when measuring height. What would she do then? With much curiosity, Chuxia entered the examination room. When the test paper was handed out, she took a glance and felt confident. With her university education, these questions were child¡¯s play. There were other selections to come, and with her physical condition, Chuxia should avoid standing out to prevent becoming a target for those with narrow minds. Therefore, she controlled her pace, answering the questions slowly. Zhao Qiyan, seated beside her, flipped through the test paper noisily. After forty-five minutes, she was the first to hand in her paper and did not forget to cast a disdainful glance at Chuxia as she left the room. Chuxia waited until the last moment to submit her paper, leaving the room with the rest of the group. Outside, she found Luo Xiaoqiong and Zhao Qihui already waiting, ¡°How did you do?¡± asked Luo Xiaoqiong eagerly. ¡°Not bad, how about you?¡± After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Zhao Qihui nodded, ¡°I did okay as well.¡± ¡°I did quite well,¡± Luo Xiaoqiong answered with great confidence. To save time, the remainder of the selection would wait until after the results were out. So the three of them went to find Zhao Yulan and Fat Auntie to wait together. With no one else around, Chuxia asked with confusion, ¡°Mom, what will Zhao Qiyan do when it¡¯s time to measure her height? They can¡¯t possibly let her keep her shoes on, and I can¡¯t think of any trick she could use to fool them.¡± Zhao Yulan shook her head, ¡°Your aunt and Fat Auntie can¡¯t figure it out either. Let it go; it¡¯s not our concern. If your second aunt managed to bring her this far, she must have a way.¡± ¡°You¡¯re giving my second aunt too much credit,¡± Chuxia murmured under her breath. An hour later, the results were in. Out of one hundred twenty-five candidates, only thirty remained. The scores were not announced; only the names of those selected were called. Chuxia and Luo Xiaoqiong made it through. Zhao Qihui was eliminated, but she didn¡¯t seem too upset. She simply smiled wryly and patted the other two, ¡°I had a feeling I probably wouldn¡¯t make it. I¡¯ve got the strength, but academically, I¡¯m just not there. You two keep up the good work and I¡¯ll wait for your good news.¡± Among those they knew, Ren Yue and Zhong Hongying were selected. Although the position was for medical soldiers, there was a certain physical requirement; thus, the second selection phase was a medium-long distance run around the track for five laps totaling 2000 meters. In this period, Chuxia had not neglected her training, so her fitness, while not quite at Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s level, was no longer as poor as before. In the end, she narrowly made the cut for the last qualifying spot. In this round, both Ren Yue and Zhong Hongying were selected. Surprisingly, Zhao Qiyan was eliminated, yet she appeared to be all smiles. By this point, only sixteen candidates remained qualified. With only six spots available in the Red Flag Brigade, the upcoming medical exam would have to eliminate another ten candidates. During the vision test, Ren Yue was eliminated. Before leaving, she smiled at Chuxia, ¡°Good luck!¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Chuxia responded with a smile. That¡¯s how she was ¨C if you showed her respect, she¡¯d reciprocate generously; if you ignored her, she wouldn¡¯t bother with you. The final item was the physical examination. The so-called physical examination was for a group of people to strip completely and stand in front of a female medical staff member, who would observe whether their physical appearance had any defects. Upon hearing the manner of examination, five girls could not accept it and withdrew voluntarily. Standing there stark naked, Chuxia also felt uncomfortable, but compared to the civil servant physical examination she had heard about from classmates in her previous life, she felt it was still acceptable. After the examination was complete, the results were not announced immediately as in the previous rounds, but instead, everyone was told to go home and wait for a notification; anyone who did not receive a notification within three days could be sure they were not selected. Throughout the whole process, Xue family did not cause any trouble, which made Chuxia feel somewhat uneasy. She was feeling confused as she walked out when everything went dark before her eyes: the female officer was blocking her way, smiling, ¡°Lin Chuxia, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Chuxia nodded and looked at her with confusion. The female soldier waved her hand, ¡°Alright, go back and wait for the notification.¡± What did that mean? Though her head was filled with official matters, Chuxia still politely responded, and she left the commune health center with Luo Xiaoqiong. Upon seeing the two of them come out, Zhao Yulan and Fat Auntie who were waiting outside exhaled a sigh of relief and asked in unison, ¡°How did it go? Were you selected?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong pouted her lips, ¡°Wait for the notification.¡± ¡°Who knows what criteria they¡¯re using to select people,¡± Zhao Yulan said with worry in her eyes, ¡°During the running, Chuxia was the last one.¡± Fat Auntie quickly comforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, maybe it¡¯s by height, and our Chuxia was among the top five.¡± Zhao Yulan sighed, ¡°Well, we can¡¯t control the outcome anyway, let¡¯s go home. If we¡¯re not selected this time, we just need to train more and wait for the next opportunity.¡± In an office of the Red Flag Commune, Major Liang Xiangyang and Captain Zeng Meili consulted for over an hour before picking out two girls who met the criteria. ¡°Knock, knock, knock...¡± ¡°Come in,¡± Liang Xiangyang said. The door was pushed open, and Xue Ligang entered with a sycophantic smile, ¡°The leaders have worked hard!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Director Xue who has worked hard,¡± Liang Xiangyang said with a smile as he stood up, ¡°This selection couldn¡¯t have gone so smoothly without Director Xue¡¯s strong support. We¡¯ll definitely report this to our superiors.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I should do,¡± Xue Ligang waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°The leaders can¡¯t just work without eating. If it¡¯s not too much trouble, may I have the honor of inviting the leaders to grace my humble home for dinner?¡± Liang Xiangyang smilingly declined, ¡°No trouble needed, we¡¯ll just eat in the canteen.¡± ¡°Chief, you¡¯re looking down on me, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯m not asking you and Chief Zeng to eat anything fancy, just dumplings that my wife made with pork and cabbage fillings, simple homemade food.¡± ¡°Really, we won¡¯t go,¡± Liang Xiangyang glanced at the time, ¡°Thank you for Director Xue¡¯s kindness, but Captain Zeng and I will just eat in the canteen. By the way, could you trouble you to give us the keys to this office? After dinner, we¡¯ll come back to finish up and try to send out the enlistment notifications as soon as possible.¡± ¡°The chiefs are really modest people,¡± Xue Ligang said as he called out, ¡°Xiaoqiang, Qiang Junjie, come here for a moment.¡± ¡°Director, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Qiang Junjie quickly appeared at the door. Xue Ligang then instructed, ¡°Hand over the keys to this office to the two chiefs.¡± ... When mother and daughter arrived home, Lin Baohe asked his daughter about the selection situation, and his eyes too filled with worry. Among the eleven candidates, six were to be selected, almost a fifty percent elimination rate. Given his daughter¡¯s physique, she really did not have the advantage. ¡°Her father, it¡¯s the military people who are selecting on their own, which is great news for us. If she doesn¡¯t get picked even then, it just means our Chuxia isn¡¯t qualified yet. Anyway, our Chuxia is young, it won¡¯t hold her back to try again next year.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Lin Baohe nodded, his smile slightly embarrassed, ¡°When there was no hope before, I didn¡¯t have these thoughts. Sigh, I¡¯ve made the mistake of being ungrateful too.¡± ¡°Baohe, I heard that Chuxia is joining the army? You and Yulan have finally made it through. Why bother with collecting manure anymore? Isn¡¯t Chuxia¡¯s allowance enough for you to spend?¡± ¡°Baohe, Chuxia has been selected for the army, right? I say you just sit back and wait for good fortune. With Chuxia in the future, what do you and Yulan have to worry about?¡± ¡°Baohe...¡± The next morning, Lin Baohe went to collect manure as usual, carrying his basket, and everyone he met joked with him cheerfully, making him feel uneasy. If his daughter wasn¡¯t selected... His worries were confirmed on the third day when, early in the morning, the commune¡¯s courier delivered a notification letter by bicycle to Luo Xiaoqiong; Chuxia and Zhong Hongying were both not selected. When receiving the notification, Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s first question was whether there was one for Chuxia, which is why she immediately became downcast as soon as she learned of Chuxia¡¯s non-selection despite her initial excitement. After hesitating for a long time, she still went to Chuxia¡¯s family with Fat Auntie and Luo Gangshun, ¡°Chuxia, don¡¯t be sad, I¡¯m waiting for you to come find me next year.¡± As soon as she entered the house, Luo Xiaoqiong hugged Chuxia and started to cry. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommended tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) Chapter 74 - 74 70 Big Cousin ?74: Chapter 70 Big Cousin 74: Chapter 70 Big Cousin By the first watch of the night, seeking pink, seeking official subscription~ ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª At five-thirty in the early morning, amidst the misty, curling fog, a tall and upright young soldier with a military green duffel bag strode into Dalin Village. Everything familiar before his eyes made his expression grow more eager, and he unconsciously quickened his pace to a light jog toward home. A middle-aged man carrying a basket was coming from the opposite direction. The young soldier quickly stopped: ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re up so early collecting manure?¡± The middle-aged man looked over the soldier with confusion. After a moment, he smacked his forehead: ¡°Oh dear, it¡¯s Qiliang, isn¡¯t it? I heard you¡¯re getting married? What a joyous occasion.¡± ¡°Uncle, it¡¯s an engagement, not a wedding. Will you come to my house for a drink tonight?¡± ¡°Sure, sure, you¡¯d best hurry home. Your grandparents and your parents will be so happy to see you.¡± After bidding farewell to the middle-aged man and taking just a few steps, Qiliang encountered an elderly man and quickly stopped to greet him: ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re up so early. Where are you headed?¡± After a painstaking scrutiny, the old man finally recognized him: ¡°Oh my, I barely recognized you, Qiliang. You¡¯ve grown so tall? And strong too, the army sure does toughen people up!¡± ¡°Grandpa, come over to my house tonight for a drink.¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± ¡°...¡± Along the way, he kept running into this person or that. By the time he reached his home, a quarter of an hour had passed. ¡°Creak,¡± he pushed open the courtyard door and excitedly shouted, ¡°Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, I¡¯m back!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Three doors opened almost simultaneously. Old Master Zhao and his wife, along with Zhao Yushan and his wife and Zhao Qihui, rushed out excitedly, ¡°Brother, didn¡¯t you say you would arrive in the evening?¡± Zhao Qihui asked, puzzled. ¡°The army truck left in the evening, so I returned my train ticket and came back with the truck. A comrade kindly dropped me off at the Red Flag Commune, and then took a detour.¡± Zhao Qiliang said while tightly embracing each family member. It had been a year and a half since he had seen them. Heaven knows how much he had missed them. Life in the army was fulfilling, yet, his family was his eternal concern. Since the moment he sent the telegram, he had been unable to stop imagining their reunion. Yet now that the moment was here, he found that no words could express the excitement and eagerness he felt! Old Master and Old Lady Zhao and the couple Yushan were also too excited for words. Since he was little, this was the first time their son (grandson) had been away from home for so long. They remembered when he first left home, how they missed him so much they couldn¡¯t sleep night after night. They got used to it eventually, but whenever they saw boys of his age, their hearts would still ache. Now that he was in front of them, the elders felt that no amount of hugging or kissing was enough. Zhao Qihui stood aside with mixed feelings as she watched the others. She couldn¡¯t quite describe the feeling ¨C if Zhao Yuanbao hadn¡¯t sacrificed himself, he could have been here too, right? The day she was straightforwardly refused by Zhou Mikang to join the army, she even thought of ending it all¡ªto join Yuanbao in that other world. Yet when it came time to act on those thoughts, she hesitated. Her brother had gone to serve in the military, and her grandparents and parents only had her left. If she did something foolish, how would they cope? Death didn¡¯t scare her, but the thought of harming her family meant she would never rest in peace! Due to these concerns, her thoughts of death faded more and more. Now, she was finally able to accept living without Zhao Yuanbao. Forgetting him wasn¡¯t possible. What she needed to do was to bury him deep in her heart and live a good life, so her family wouldn¡¯t worry about her any longer. But today, seeing her brother in his military uniform, those suppressed memories uncontrollably surged to the forefront, and tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably. ¡°Fool!¡± In a trance, she found herself in a warm embrace, a deep and honest baritone voice by her ear: ¡°Xiao Hui, Yuanbao isn¡¯t worth your tears, truly, he isn¡¯t...¡± Zhao Qihui¡¯s body shook, and she pushed Zhao Qiliang away fiercely, her eyes angry and defiant: ¡°Brother, how can you speak like that? He was your best friend!¡± Zhao Qiliang, with pain in his heart, gently stroked his sister¡¯s head and sighed: ¡°Look how scared you¡¯ve made Grandma and Grandpa and our parents. Come on, let¡¯s go inside and talk. Let¡¯s not stand around in the courtyard anymore.¡± Zhao Qihui¡¯s gaze shifted to Old Master Zhao, Old Lady Zhao, and the couple Zhao Yushan. Indeed, the elders all looked at her with concern, just like when they first received the news of Zhao Yuanbao¡¯s sacrifice, the way they looked at her. So, she forced a smile, ¡°Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, Brother has been sitting on a bus all night. He must be tired. Let him go inside and rest.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, go inside and rest.¡± Li Aiyuan subtly moved behind her daughter, half embracing her as they entered the inner room. ¡°Xiao Hui, chat with your brother. Mom will cook.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you, it will be quicker.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go spread out the cow dung in the courtyard.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go give Dad a hand.¡± In perfect unison, the family all left, giving the siblings some private space. ¡°Brother...¡± After a moment of hesitation, Zhao Qihui looked eagerly at Zhao Qiliang, ¡°You said Yuanbao wasn¡¯t worth the way I treated him. What did you mean by that?¡± ¡°Xiao Hui, I¡¯ll only tell you this. Remember not to let it slip. Yuanbao fell for a female soldier in the army. Later, that female soldier¡¯s boyfriend found out and came to settle the score. In terms of ability, the boyfriend was no match for Yuanbao, but the guy brought two friends, and they ended up injuring Yuanbao. On the way back to the army base, he heard someone shouting for help, so Yuanbao ran over. After helping the person out of the water, he went under himself. If he hadn¡¯t been injured, it wouldn¡¯t have ended like that. It was because of this incident that there was a disagreement among the leaders about whether to honor him as a martyr. In the end, it was because the parents of the child he saved went to thank him personally that the leaders decided to grant him the title of a martyr.¡± Could the truth be like this? Zhao Qihui stared blankly at Zhao Qiliang, her mind a muddled mess, unable to comprehend how Brother Yuanbao she grew up with could fall for someone else in such a short time. She knew her brother wouldn¡¯t deceive her, nor would he slander Zhao Yuanbao to comfort her. That meant the Brother Yuanbao she held in her memory, the one she even thought of dying to prove her loyalty to, turned out to be such a heartless Chen Shimei? Zhao Qiliang sighed again, ¡°Xiao Hui, I know it¡¯s hard for you to accept this. I hesitated about telling you, but seeing you this morning, I thought that keeping it from you would be unfair. You¡¯re still so young. You¡¯ll definitely meet a man who truly likes you and cherishes you. I don¡¯t want you to miss out on a full life because of that guy who¡¯s not worth it. So, knowing it would make you sad, I still had to tell you the truth. However, Yuanbao¡¯s parents have had a hard time. Let¡¯s keep this between us. In the future, we¡¯ll continue to treat them as we always have. I believe my sister is the strongest!¡± Zhao Qihui tilted her head back, trying hard not to let the tears in her eyes fall. Yes, she was strong. She had gotten through difficult times before, and now, she would do so even more effortlessly. ¡°Brother, I really want to join the army!¡± She looked determinedly at Zhao Qiliang. ¡°I didn¡¯t get selected as a medical soldier this time, but next time, for the regular military selections, I still want to try.¡± ¡°Brother supports you, but your age...¡± Zhao Qiliang furrowed his brows slightly, ¡°Why don¡¯t you consider military school? I¡¯ve heard they¡¯re going to restore the college entrance examination this year. That¡¯s another path, and they¡¯re not so strict about age.¡± Zhao Qihui¡¯s face fell, ¡°Brother, I didn¡¯t pass the medical soldier test; do you think letting me take the college entrance exam is realistic?¡± ¡°But if you want to join the army, this is the only path you can take. As long as you¡¯re willing to work hard, I believe you can pass. If not this year, then next year. I¡¯ll send you books, and if you have any questions, you can ask Liu Guanglin. Later, I¡¯ll talk to him and try to persuade him to apply as well so you can study together and he can tutor you.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll listen to you, Brother.¡± Zhao Qihui¡¯s eyes brightened, and a smile finally appeared on her face. ¡°Brother, I like being a soldier, and it¡¯s not because of Zhao Yuanbao.¡± ¡°I know, Brother is reassured.¡± Zhao Qiliang understood that his sister was assuring him that her determination was not because of someone else, but for herself. ¡°Brother, lie down and take a rest. I¡¯ll go see if there are any of my old school books left.¡± Zhao Qihui said as she opened the door, and Li Aiyuan, who was eavesdropping by the door, couldn¡¯t dodge in time and stumbled into her daughter¡¯s arms. ¡°Hehe...¡± She laughed awkwardly, ¡°Mom was just going in to get some things.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Zhao Qihui didn¡¯t expose her, just smiled at her, returned to her room, and closed the door. In that moment, her tears flowed like a fountain... How could years of affection be let go just because of a few words from her brother? How could she let go of someone she had loved so deeply, who had betrayed her in such a short time? He liked a female soldier, so she would make herself a proud female soldier. She would show him through her actions that she would always be the best one! At ten o¡¯clock in the morning, Zhao Qihui accompanied Zhao Qiliang to Zhao Yulan¡¯s house in Dalin Village. Standing just over 1.8 meters tall, with a straight back, thick brows and big eyes, deep-set eye sockets, a tall nose, and dark skin... Chuxia saw Zhao Qiliang for the first time and couldn¡¯t help but silently compliment him; he was indeed a handsome man. No wonder Xiaoqiong couldn¡¯t forget him. ¡°Chuxia, don¡¯t recognize your big cousin anymore?¡± Zhao Qiliang teased, ruffling Chuxia¡¯s hair. ¡°You used to love to cling to your big cousin and have him hold you. What, after more than a year, do you feel distant?¡± Clinging to her big cousin, letting... letting her big cousin... hold her? Hearing this remark, Chuxia felt a shiver, unable to imagine what it looked like for a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl to be in the arms of an eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy. No wonder, no wonder Luo Xiaoqiong always probed her attitude towards Zhao Qiliang without declaring her feelings for him. It turned out she had such fondness for her big cousin. How could anyone not misunderstand?(To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) Chapter 75 - 75 71 Visit ?75: Chapter 71 Visit 75: Chapter 71 Visit Second watch is here, seeking pink, seeking subscriptions, and I certainly love rewards, but dear readers, remember to act within your means~ ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Brother, how long ago was that? How old is Chuxia now?¡± Zhao Qihui gave Zhao Qiliang a glare and pulled Chuxia to her side, ¡°Chuxia, let¡¯s ignore him. This guy, he¡¯s never comfortable unless he¡¯s pointing out other people¡¯s flaws.¡± ¡°Qiliang, drink some water...¡± Zhao Yulan came in holding an enamel mug, smilingly handing it to her nephew, ¡°Your little aunt added three spoons of sugar, it¡¯s sweet.¡± Zhao Qiliang had a black line on his forehead: ¡°Little aunt, I¡¯m already so grown up and still drinking this...¡± while saying this, he pushed Zhao Yulan¡¯s hand towards Chuxia, ¡°For the greedy girl.¡± Chuxia didn¡¯t accept: ¡°I don¡¯t like drinking it.¡± Zhao Qiliang said with amusement, ¡°In the past, you would have grabbed it and drunk it without me letting you, and now you¡¯re being polite to your elder brother, heh..., go ahead and drink it. Are you drooling with longing for it? Stop pretending, elder brother won¡¯t laugh at you.¡± Chuxia was truly speechless. What image did she have in Zhao Qiliang¡¯s mind? She couldn¡¯t be bothered to push back and forth with him anymore, so she simply turned around and walked outside: ¡°I¡¯m going to Fat Auntie¡¯s house to see how the preparations are going, I¡¯ll come back and call you guys later.¡± The reason Zhao Qiliang came today was to have Luo Gangshun¡¯s family take another look at each other. Although the date for the engagement had been set, for caution¡¯s sake, it was better for both sides to communicate and understand each other more. Watching his little cousin¡¯s figure disappear outside the door, Zhao Qiliang turned to Zhao Yulan in confusion: ¡°Little aunt, why do I feel like Chuxia has become a different person? What happened to her while I was away?¡± ¡°Nothing much...¡± Zhao Yulan then told Zhao Qiliang about the name change incident, and concluded, ¡°But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, your little aunt and uncle, we never dreamed that Chuxia could become so sensible.¡± ¡°Little aunt and uncle are good-hearted, of course, they deserve good fortune.¡± Zhao Yulan gave her nephew a glare: ¡°You kid, all you do is say nice things to flatter your little aunt.¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± ¡°Alright, bro, where are you trying to put me?¡± Zhao Qihui protested, ¡°Since coming to little aunt¡¯s house, you haven¡¯t stopped praising her, making it impossible for me to get a word in, it¡¯s too much.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, you talk, you have the floor.¡± Glancing at Zhao Qiliang¡¯s constantly clenched fist, Zhao Qihui laughed: ¡°Brother, only when you¡¯re nervous do you become especially sweet-tongued, really good at coaxing people.¡± ¡°Nonsense, what I¡¯m saying is true, where am I coaxing anyone?¡± Zhao Qiliang glared at his sister, then changed the subject, ¡°Little aunt, I¡¯ve heard about Xiaoqiong¡¯s family¡¯s situation, what¡¯s your plan going forward? Are you going to let Chuxia take college entrance exams or join the army?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll take it one step at a time. They say that the college entrance examination is going to be restored, but the commune has to issue a certificate, and how could Xue Ligang easily meet our wishes? Besides, even if he issued the certification, when the time comes to send out the admission notice, if he quietly withholds it, we still wouldn¡¯t have any solution. Joining the army is another path, but even for this medical corps opportunity, where the physical requirements weren¡¯t so strict, she wasn¡¯t selected, so next time..., sigh!¡± Sighing, Zhao Yulan didn¡¯t continue. After thinking for a moment, Zhao Qiliang said: ¡°Little aunt, didn¡¯t Regimental Commander Zhou come by our place? When I go back, I¡¯ll talk to him about this matter and see if he might pay special attention to it in the future. Anyway, we¡¯re not asking for any special treatment, just to follow the normal process. Although Commander Zhou is not the easiest to deal with, he¡¯s quite upright and doesn¡¯t put on airs. If I speak to him about it, it might actually work out.¡± ¡°It¡¯s always such a hassle to ask others... how embarrassing.¡± Zhao Yulan said. ¡°This is something that is beyond our power, no matter how hard we try, but for Commander Zhou, it¡¯s a matter of one word. Little aunt, it¡¯s settled then, when I return, I¡¯ll report this matter to Commander Zhou.¡± ¡°Qiliang, ever since you were little, you¡¯ve been the one who doted on Chuxia the most.¡± Zhao Qihui protested dissatisfiedly: ¡°Little aunt, are you implying I don¡¯t care for Chuxia?¡± ¡°When have you ever cared for me? Always complaining I don¡¯t work in the fields...¡± Chuxia stepped in and made her complaint against Zhao Qihui, then looked at Zhao Qiliang, ¡°Big brother, tell me the truth, do you like Xiaoqiong?¡± ¡°What a thing to say, little girl!¡± Zhao Qiliang looked at her amusedly, ¡°If I didn¡¯t like her, would I have agreed so readily? Do you think your elder brother is a fool?¡± ¡°Why does elder brother like her?¡± Chuxia continued to probe deeply. It wasn¡¯t that she was meddling, but when she had gone to the Luo family a moment ago, Luo Xiaoqiong was so flustered she hardly looked herself. As her only friend, she had to consider Xiaoqiong¡¯s happiness. A marriage without love, she couldn¡¯t even imagine it. Chapter 76 - 76 71 Visit_2 ?76: Chapter 71 Visit_2 76: Chapter 71 Visit_2 Just then, Lin Baohe pushed the door open and waved at Zhao Qiliang, ¡°Qiliang, let¡¯s go. Visit your Uncle Gangshun¡¯s house.¡± Seeing Zhao Qiliang getting up to leave, Chuxia quickly blocked his way, ¡°No, finish talking and then you can go.¡± ¡°This child...¡± Zhao Yulan reached out to pull her daughter back, ¡°Don¡¯t bother your older brother, Xia, you¡¯re already grown up, you should be sensible.¡± Chuxia¡¯s face was stubborn, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m serious. Brother has to answer me, this is very important.¡± ¡°Xia...¡± Zhao Yulan gently advised, ¡°Behave, Xiaoqiong is going to be your sister-in-law, and that makes her a relative for life. Isn¡¯t that better than having a sister-in-law whose temper you can¡¯t understand?¡± Zhao Qihui quickly agreed, ¡°Yes, Chuxia, if you could marry into Zhao¡¯s house, Xiaoqiong will treat you even better, and then, you would have another person who loves and cherishes you, how wonderful.¡± Sweating, her mother and cousin apparently thought she was jealous? Helplessly, she could only explain, ¡°Even when she wasn¡¯t my sister-in-law, Xiaoqiong treated me well. I¡¯m afraid that Brother is marrying just for the sake of marrying. If he were marrying someone else, I wouldn¡¯t ask, but Xiaoqiong is my best friend, and I hope she has someone who truly cherishes and loves her, only then will she be happy.¡± His little cousin had once shared her thoughts with him; he knew them well. Therefore, as his little cousin blocked his way and questioned him, he felt extremely troubled and conflicted. Now, hearing this explanation, Zhao Qiliang¡¯s face immediately relaxed, ¡°Chuxia, you used to bring Xiaoqiong to Xiaolin Village, and as your elder brother, I grew to understand her. Her straightforwardness and kindness are what I like the most.¡± Chuxia stepped aside, ¡°Good, you passed. Go ahead.¡± Lin Baohe fondly patted his daughter on the head and led the way outside. Entering the Luo family¡¯s courtyard, Uncle Gangshun and Fat Auntie greeted them, followed by a blushing Luo Xiaoqiong. Over a year since their last meeting, Luo Xiaoqiong was so nervous that she stumbled over her words. Zhao Qiliang, however, performed well, chatting amiably with Uncle Gangshun and Fat Auntie. The year plus of military experience had tempered him, further solidifying his innate stability, and he was able to respond adeptly to any topic of conversation. This meeting ultimately solidified the marriage arrangement between the two families. In the afternoon, Zhao Yulan went with Zhao Qiliang and Zhao Qihui back to Xiaolin Village to discuss the engagement details with the elders, scheduled for five days later. On the way, Zhao Qihui occasionally sneaked peeks at Zhao Qiliang and smiled. ¡°Xiao Hui, what are you laughing about?¡± Zhao Yulan asked curiously. Ignoring Zhao Qiliang¡¯s warning glance, Zhao Qihui moved her bicycle closer to Zhao Yulan and chimed, ¡°Big brother was so nervous that he nearly tore the skin on his palms, hehe...¡± ¡°This child...¡± Zhao Yulan looked at Zhao Qiliang with sympathy, ¡°Let your aunt see your hand.¡± ¡°Aunt, don¡¯t listen to her nonsense,¡± Zhao Qiliang glared at his sister, then said, ¡°It¡¯s not as exaggerated as she¡¯s saying. I was a bit nervous, but not to the point of tearing the skin on my palms.¡± ¡°Let your aunt see.¡± Zhao Yulan still didn¡¯t believe it. Zhao Qihui suddenly pointed forward, ¡°Auntie, isn¡¯t that Xue Guohong? How come he¡¯s coming out of our village?¡± ¡°Is it that kid who always bullies Chuxia?¡± Zhao Qiliang heard this and quickly sped up, ¡°Dare to bully my sister, thinking our family is easy to bully? I¡¯ll go and see.¡± Zhao Yulan quickly tried to stop him, ¡°Qiliang, don¡¯t bother with him, he hasn¡¯t been causing trouble recently.¡± ¡°Brother, it was his dad who got our dad demoted.¡± Seeing that she couldn¡¯t stop the siblings, Zhao Yulan had no choice but to speed up and catch up to them. ¡°Xue Guohong!¡± Zhao Qiliang called out. Xue Guohong not only didn¡¯t stop but sped up even more. However, his stamina couldn¡¯t match that of Zhao Guoliang, who had trained in the military for two years; soon, he was overtaken and blocked on the path. Xue Guohong, somewhat timidly, glared at Zhao Guoliang, ¡°How dare you try to rob me in broad daylight? When did the PLA soldiers turn into bandits?¡± As he spoke, he began pulling money and food coupons out of his pocket, ¡°Here, take these, is that enough?¡± ¡°Would a robber call out your name?¡± Zhao Qiliang looked at him amusedly, ¡°I am Lin Chuxia¡¯s older cousin. I came here to warn you, my sister doesn¡¯t like you, so bother her less from now on!¡± Xue Guohong smirked, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t plan on bothering her anymore. Such a shrew, I wouldn¡¯t take her even if she were given to me for free.¡± ¡°Who are you calling a shrew?¡± Zhao Qihui caught up, stopped the bike, and gave Xue Guohong a kick, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the trouble you caused my aunt¡¯s family, would they have beaten you up? Tell me, did you tamper with the military draft this time?¡± Xue Guohong snorted coldly, ¡°Are you suffering from paranoia? The commune has no say in the military draft, I couldn¡¯t have tampered with it even if I wanted to!¡± ¡°What were you doing in our village?¡± Zhao Qihui continued to press, feeling that something was off. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit too much that you¡¯re meddling so much? A classmate of mine lives in this village, I went to see him. Can you move aside so I can leave?¡± Intimidated by Zhao Qiliang¡¯s strength, Xue Guohong reluctantly explained. ¡°What¡¯s your classmate¡¯s name?¡± ¡°Hey, woman, aren¡¯t you being too much?¡± Xue Guohong looked at Zhao Qiliang, ¡°Taking advantage of having more people to bully me, one person, has the PLA really become this disgraceful? If you let me go now, we can forget about this matter, otherwise, we¡¯ll see! It¡¯s just a beating from you guys, right? I¡¯ll take it, come on, do it!¡± He indeed resorted to being shameless. By then, Zhao Yulan had finally caught up, and seeing her, Xue Guohong visibly relaxed, a faint smile appearing on his face, ¡°Auntie, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t bother Chuxia anymore. I¡¯ve realized that a twisted melon isn¡¯t sweet, I won¡¯t force her anymore.¡± That evening, when they returned home, Zhao Yulan¡¯s complexion was very ugly. Chuxia and her father Lin Baohe exchanged glances, then pulled Zhao Yulan into the back room, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong? Is there some problem with the marriage arrangements?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, we invite you to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com) with your recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) Chapter 77 - 77 72 Heartless ?77: Chapter 72: Heartless? 77: Chapter 72: Heartless? The first update has arrived, asking for pink hearts and subscriptions. Nuan has decided, 30 extra hearts for an additional update, three updates in a day if we get 30 hearts that day. Everyone, if you have hearts, cast them, Nuan is going all out~ ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°There was nothing wrong with the engagement,¡± Zhao Yulan said shortly, then lowered her head and stared blankly at the ground. Seeing her like this, Lin Baohe hurriedly comforted her, ¡°Yulan, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll go and explain to Gangshun and his wife...¡± Zhao Yulan interrupted him, ¡°On May 6, my dad, my mom, my older brother and his family, my second brother and his family, and my eldest and second sisters all came to the Luo family to finalize the engagement. They even made me bring the invitations back.¡± ¡°Mom, whatever it is, talk to us about it,¡± Chuxia said. She sighed, shook her head, sighed again, shook her head again, opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it and continued to stare blankly at the ground. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s so difficult to say?¡± Chuxia was getting anxious, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree? Anything that happens, we face it together as a family. What¡¯s this about then?¡± ¡°Is it about Chuxia joining the army?¡± Lin Baohe asked. Zhao Yulan nodded, took a deep breath, trying to exhale all the stifled emotions from her heart, and managed to slightly relax her facial expression, ¡°Definitely, someone else was subbed in for our Chuxia.¡± ¡°How can that be?¡± Lin Baohe sat up straight, his brows furrowing tightly. ¡°Today, when I went to my mother¡¯s house, my second sister was there too. When I came in, she greeted me. She is my real second sister, and even though she hasn¡¯t been very good to me, she¡¯s still my second sister. I really didn¡¯t expect her to do such a thing to our family, to our Chuxia,¡± said Zhao Yulan, covering her face and beginning to cry softly. Chuxia suddenly thought of Zhao Qiyan¡¯s confident demeanor when she was running for election, and her joyous expression after losing, ¡°Mom, are you implying that Qiyan was chosen? Was it second aunt who arranged it?¡± Then, tapping her forehead in confusion, she added, ¡°That can¡¯t be right, second uncle is a deputy; he can¡¯t even pull strings for Xue Ligang, how could he have any influence here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s precisely because Qiyan wasn¡¯t chosen that she started causing trouble. Your second aunt brought Qiyan to your grandparents to seek justice. Seeing your second aunt there, they started arguing with her right away. They said your second aunt promised them that if you got in and Qiyan didn¡¯t, then Qiyan would take your place. Your second aunt even guaranteed them that you would definitely make it, saying that what mattered for a medical soldier was education, looks, and posture. Qiyan¡¯s participation in the selection was just a formality; your second aunt dared to do this because she thought that Qiyan¡¯s education was good enough, and even if she took your place, she wouldn¡¯t get sent back. I really don¡¯t understand, what deep grudge does she have against me, to treat our family this way? After all, we¡¯re sisters by blood, how could she do this?¡± ¡°What did second aunt say?¡± Chuxia felt something was off; surely second aunt wouldn¡¯t be foolish to this extent? These matters weren¡¯t something she could interfere with. Moreover, second aunt wasn¡¯t very close with second aunt-in-law and Zhao Qiyan. If it was for her elder cousin Wang Meifeng¡¯s sake, that would be somewhat understandable. ¡°Of course, your second aunt denied it, but your second aunt-in-law and Qiyan were adamant that she had promised. Judging by your second aunt¡¯s expression, she must have said something of the sort; anyway, she seemed very uneasy looking at me,¡± Zhao Yulan sighed deeply, her face reflecting her despair, ¡°Your grandma and grandpa pressed her to tell the truth, but she remained silent.¡± ¡°But Mom, I just feel like something doesn¡¯t add up,¡± Chuxia shared her concerns, ¡°You and second aunt grew up together, so even if her personality has changed over the years, do you think she would disregard second uncle¡¯s career and do this for second aunt-in-law?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve thought about all that, but your second aunt...¡± Zhao Yulan paused for a moment, then continued, ¡°Your second aunt let your second aunt-in-law scratch and grab her without arguing back.¡± What in the world was going on? Chuxia was perplexed too. With second aunt¡¯s temperament, she wasn¡¯t one to suffer in silence. Among the Zhao siblings, eldest uncle Zhao Yushan and second aunt Zhao Yucui were considered the most successful. Unlike her straightforward elder sister, second aunt was definitely opportunistic. Every Chinese New Year, when she returned home, she only had eyes for Zhao Yushan and was indifferent to the other siblings, including her elder sister Zhao Yuying. She was nice to Wang Meifeng because Meifeng had married into the Qiang Family, which could bring substantial support to her husband. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t always favor Wang Meifeng for good opportunities. With Zhao Qihui, Zhao Qiyan, Wang Meifeng, and Chuxia among the Zhao girls, second aunt chose Wang Meifeng as a marriage alliance, which must have been a well-considered decision. Chapter 78 - 78 72 Heartless ?78: Chapter 72: Heartless? _2 78: Chapter 72: Heartless? _2 Zhao Qihui was a straightforward person, and her heart only had room for Zhao Yuanbao. Of course, even if her heart didn¡¯t contain Zhao Yuanbao, her second aunt would not have chosen her; she was too difficult to control. Zhao Qiyan was decent-looking, but she was too short. Given the Qiang Family¡¯s background, it was impossible for them to take an interest in her, and thus, she was also eliminated. As for Chuxia, she was even less within her consideration. Firstly, her age was not suitable. Secondly, she particularly disliked Zhao Yulan, the youngest sister, which meant she was also indifferent towards Chuxia, not even bothering to give her a glance. In past encounters, she had more than once picked on Chuxia, complaining that Zhao Yulan had spoiled Chuxia, making her frail. For these reasons, Chuxia was not selected. That left Wang Meifeng. Her vain and opportunistic character was identical to Zhao Yucui¡¯s, and moreover, in terms of height and appearance, she was an excellent choice. Wang Meifeng, being such a person, would not treat anyone selflessly, but when it came to her own interests, she was sure to be obedient. This was precisely why Zhao Yucui valued her. Therefore, even if indeed she chose to lend her full support to someone, it definitely wouldn¡¯t be Zhao Qiyan; there was no benefit in it for Zhao Yucui! Could it be that female soldier? Chuxia suddenly recalled the day of the selection when the female soldier stopped her to ask her name before she left and told her to wait for a notification at home. Could it be that those words had some hidden implication? But, without any reason, why would a female soldier she didn¡¯t know do anything to her? The most crucial point was, what made her worthy of such intrigue? Forget it, forget it, she was really being paranoid. ¡°I just feel like our Chuxia must have been selected, definitely got blocked by someone. If her second aunt could do this, Xue Ligang would most certainly do the same. I have the feeling, it must be that her second aunt couldn¡¯t win against Xue Ligang, so, that¡¯s why she couldn¡¯t secure the spot for Qiyan. Ah, my dear second sister, all these years have passed; why still make things so hard for me?¡± ¡°Mom, what exactly is the grudge you can¡¯t resolve with second aunt?¡± Hearing the underlying meaning in Zhao Yulan¡¯s words, Chuxia asked. ¡°Your second aunt, she liked Jiang Yuesheng, but at that time, Jiang Yuesheng liked mom. Your second aunt has hated mom since then. Haven¡¯t you seen over the years that it¡¯s always mom trying to talk to her, and she never speaks to mom? Also, no matter what good food or fun things she has, she would give them to anyone but Chuxia. Seeing your maternal grandparents give you something, she could glare daggers at mom. All these things, I can bear, but what I can¡¯t bear is her standing in my daughter¡¯s way. Whether or not she succeeds with this matter this time, mom will have nothing to do with her as a relative in the future! When Qiliang and Xiaoqiong set their wedding date, she will probably come, but mom won¡¯t bother with her, and neither of you two are allowed to either. This time, she¡¯s gone too far. Oh, and Baohe, talk to Gangshun about this as well, don¡¯t let them misunderstand that I am unsatisfied with the marriage arrangement. It¡¯s not easy for me to say this...¡± Zhao Yulan rambled on, her eyes somewhat unfocused, clearly wounded by the events... ... A military region in Province A. Zhou Hanliang was buried in work, preparing next week¡¯s training plan in his office when the door was suddenly pushed open¡ªa middle-aged military officer walked in cheerfully: ¡°Commander Zhou, are you busy?¡± ¡°President Liang...¡± Zhou Hanliang said with surprise and delight as he greeted his visitor, ¡°when did you get back? Why didn¡¯t you notify me in advance so I could have picked you up?¡± ¡°You...¡± Liang Xiangyang pointed his finger at him, ¡°your mouth is so sweet, you could charm the dead back to life. Tell me the truth, did you sweet-talk Yun Doudou into your hands?¡± The Yun Doudou Liang Xiangyang was talking about was Zhou Hanliang¡¯s newly-got girlfriend, full name Yun Doudou, with long hair and big eyes, and such fair skin¡ªshe was stunningly beautiful! ¡°Haha...¡± Zhou Hanliang laughed, ushering Liang Xiangyang to sit on the sofa, then said, ¡°You are absolutely right; how could someone like her fancy a plain face like mine otherwise?¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll be meeting more often from now on. How are you going to thank me?¡± ¡°However you want me to thank you, that¡¯s how I¡¯ll do it, I am at your disposal,¡± Zhou Hanliang said with an ingratiating smile, ¡°my happiness in this life is all thanks to President Liang!¡± ¡°You...¡± Liang Xiangyang chuckled as he pointed at him, ¡°I¡¯m baffled, how is it that you follow Commander Zhou around every day and yet your personality hasn¡¯t been influenced in the least?¡± Zhou Hanliang¡¯s expression became serious, and he stopped joking: ¡°Were those two girls selected?¡± Liang Xiangyang just nodded: ¡°How could they not be selected? I¡¯ve even got the special recruitment notices. Would I dare not select them? But honestly, both are promising prospects. In the cultural exams, Lin Chuxia ranked first, and Luo Xiaoqiong fifth. Physically, Lin Chuxia is a bit weaker, but with hard work, I believe she will meet the standards.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good...¡± Zhou Hanliang sighed in relief and lowered his voice, ¡°Let¡¯s keep this between us for now and surprise the commander later.¡± ¡°To be honest with you, brother, which of those two girls...¡± Liang Xiangyang gestured to the side, ¡°are you interested in?¡± Zhou Hanliang smiled wryly: ¡°It¡¯s not like what you think. The special recruitment wasn¡¯t arranged by the commander; it was the lady who did it behind everyone¡¯s backs. You know how much she dotes on the commander and how worried she is about him.¡± Liang Xiangyang¡¯s eyes conveyed a hint of worry: ¡°The question is, has the imperial intention been clearly discerned? What if it¡¯s misinterpreted, how will we handle it?¡± With a calm face, Zhou Hanliang replied: ¡°There¡¯s nothing problematic about it. If there¡¯s a misunderstanding, at worst we¡¯ve given those two kids a good opportunity. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re recruiting them to feed them for nothing. Once they acquire the skills to become qualified medics, who could object, right?¡±(To be continued. If you like this work, I welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) Chapter 79 - 79 73 EngagedMixed Thoughts (Begging for Pink) ?79: Chapter 73 Engaged/Mixed Thoughts (Begging for Pink) 79: Chapter 73 Engaged/Mixed Thoughts (Begging for Pink) The second watch arrived. ¡ª¡ª¡ª- After giving it some thought, Liang Xiangyang nodded, ¡°That¡¯s true, these two kids may have special recruitment authority, but they were actually selected through the standard procedure. No one can find fault with that, but can you give your brother a hint as to whether the regimental commander has any hidden intentions?¡± Zhou Hanliang¡¯s face was filled with amusement, ¡°Division Commander, are you worrying a bit too much?¡± ¡°It¡¯s well-intentioned, well-intentioned...¡± Liang Xiangyang said with an embarrassed smile, ¡°I purely mean well. It¡¯s about time the regimental commander had a wife.¡± ¡°If you have the guts, go and say that to the regimental commander¡¯s face.¡± ¡°How could I do that?¡± Liang Xiangyang quickly shook his head, ¡°Brother, you can¡¯t let me down like that. If I didn¡¯t consider you a brother, why would I say these things to you, right?¡± ¡°Enough, I won¡¯t expose you in front of the regimental commander, rest assured...¡± Zhou Hanliang looked at him with disdain, ¡°Do I come across as such a gossip in your eyes?¡± ¡°No, no, it¡¯s about preventing trouble before it happens, haha...¡± After glancing at the time, Liang Xiangyang sighed, ¡°I need to hurry off now. Establishing such a large-scale mobile hospital is a nationwide first, and the leaders are taking it very seriously. Last night, they suddenly issued a notification, summoning the preparatory staff to a meeting at the general military region. There was no choice. I had to hand over all the home visit duties to Xiao Zeng. I rushed back overnight, and when I was entering the division headquarters, I happened to meet the Division Commander leaving. After greeting him, I came straight to you. How¡¯s that for thoughtfulness?¡± ¡°Thoughtful, very thoughtful...¡± Zhou Hanliang frowned slightly, ¡°Is it appropriate for Zeng Meili to do the home visits by herself? Being a girl, couldn¡¯t that be unsafe?¡± Liang Xiangyang waved his hand dismissively, ¡°Before I left, I notified the commune directors of each commune. Whichever commune Xiao Zeng visits, that commune will assign two accompanying staff, one male and one female, for the home visit. Don¡¯t worry, there won¡¯t be any safety issues.¡± Zhou Hanliang nodded, ¡°In that case, it¡¯s acceptable. If she gets too busy, there¡¯s no need to visit Lin Chuxia and Luo Xiaoqiong. These two kids won¡¯t cause any trouble.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give Xiao Zeng a call later and tell her not to go to Dalin Village. One less place to visit is still one less place. Thanks, Old Zhou!¡± ... Jiang Xiaodie, 18, from Little Shop Village of Red Flag Commune in Yunping County, father: Jiang Aiguo, mother: Lian Xiangcui. Xue Qinqin, 19, from Xue Family Village of Red Flag Commune in Yunping County, father: Xue Lisheng, mother: Miao Aifang. Luo Xiaoqiong, 18, from Dalin Village of Red Flag Commune in Yunping County, father: Luo Gangshun, mother: Xiao Chaxiang. Qiao Ningyi, 18, from Yin Family Village of Red Flag Commune in Yunping County, father: Qiao Guanghui, mother: Yu Naling. Lin Chuxia, 17, from Xiaoxia Village of Red Flag Commune in Yunping County, father: Lin Weiguo, mother: Zhao Xiangxiang. Sun Shangmei, 19, from Xiaoxia Village of Red Flag Commune in Yunping County, father: Sun Qidong, mother: Liu Aimei. This list consisted of the home address registration materials for the selected candidates from Red Flag Commune. Zeng Meili was reviewing it when Xue Ligang arrived with a sturdy black young man in his early twenties and a plump woman of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years: ¡°Chief Zeng, these are Liu Yuqiang and Yang Xiaohui, who will accompany you for the home visits. They are very familiar with the villages in this area.¡± Zeng Meili stood up politely, ¡°Thank you, I have really troubled Director Xue too much during this period.¡± Xue Ligang waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°Not at all, not at all, we ought to do this. Our Red Flag Commune can¡¯t fall behind others.¡± Zeng Meili¡¯s gaze shifted to Liu Yuqiang and Yang Xiaohui, ¡°It¡¯s already half-past seven, shall we head out?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The two stood at attention, saluting in unison. Zeng Meili smiled, ¡°No need to be so formal, I¡¯ll be relying on you guys a lot. I don¡¯t know anything about the villages around here, I¡¯d probably get lost on my own.¡± ¡°It¡¯s our honor to assist Chief Zeng!¡± Liu Yuqiang said. Yang Xiaohui didn¡¯t want to be outdone, ¡°It¡¯s our privilege to work with Chief Zeng!¡± These flatteries..., a slight twitch tugged at the corner of Zeng Meili¡¯s mouth. She thanked Xue Ligang again and led the way out. ¡°Take a look at the list and see in what order we could save some time?¡± Liu Yuqiang took a look at the list for a while and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go to Xue Family Village first, then Little Shop Village, followed by Yin Family Village, Dalin Village, and finally Xiaoxia Village. We should be able to cover it all in one day.¡± Zeng Meili nodded, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do as you suggest.¡± The three had just pushed their bicycles out the door when Xue Ligang came running out of breath, ¡°Chief Zeng, Chief Zeng, wait a moment!¡± Zeng Meili turned around, puzzled, ¡°Is there something else?¡± ¡°Chief Liang just called, saying you don¡¯t have to visit the homes of Lin Chuxia and Luo Xiaoqiong.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Chief Liang said, he is familiar with those two families, so there¡¯s no need to visit...¡± ¡°Director Xue, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Zeng Meili looked puzzled at Xue Ligang, who seemed suddenly frozen, confused about what had stunned him mid-sentence. ¡°No... no... nothing.¡± Xue Ligang quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead, smiling with his face full of wrinkles, ¡°I got a stitch in my side just now, it hurt, heh heh...¡± Zeng Meili laughed, ¡°Why are you running so fast? Even if we¡¯re gone, at worst, we would just have to visit a few more places. Alright, we¡¯ll decide based on the actual situation if we want to go to Lin Chuxia¡¯s and Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s homes.¡± ¡°Uh... uh...¡± Xue Ligang responded woodenly, somewhat absent-minded. Thinking that he was still feeling unwell, Zeng Meili smiled and said, ¡°Director Xue, you should go back and rest. We¡¯re leaving right now.¡± Xue Ligang quickly said, ¡°Have a safe trip.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Zeng Meili smiled and looked at Liu Yuqiang and Yang Xiaohui: ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Liu Yuqiang, with facial muscles slightly trembling from excitement, smiled at Xue Ligang, ¡°Director, we¡¯re off. Don¡¯t worry, with us leading the way, Chief Zeng will definitely have a safe journey.¡± Xue Ligang smiled and waved his hand at the group, ¡°Go on, the sooner you leave, the sooner you¡¯ll return. Tonight, I¡¯ll make sure the canteen prepares something delicious for you.¡± Watching Zeng Meili and the others disappear, Xue Ligang quickly returned to his office, gave some work instructions, then immediately mounted his bicycle and left the commune yard. ... In the Luo family, the atmosphere was joyful and festive. At nine nineteen in the morning, the folks from Zhao¡¯s house arrived at the Luo family compound with the bride price in tow. ¡°Meiying is really lucky, look at all these preparations. They¡¯ve already brought so much just for the engagement, what will the wedding look like?¡± ¡°Indeed, indeed. Meiying is highly valued by her husband¡¯s family.¡± ¡°I wish my daughter could find a husband¡¯s family that values her this much.¡± ¡°Dream on, a good family like that isn¡¯t easy to find.¡± ¡°...¡± Red-covered oval bamboo baskets¡ªfour in total¡ªand two square-shaped food containers, not to mention a brand new bicycle, left the onlookers gossiping about the array of colorful bridal gifts in the yard. After some initial pleasantries, male guests were seated in the east room and female guests in the west room. Fat Auntie then took Zhao Yulan to the east room, ¡°Yulan, it¡¯s just an engagement, why have you prepared so much? And the bicycle, it¡¯s not even the wedding yet, why have you bought it already?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the will of my dad and mom. They said they are content with finding such a good daughter-in-law as Xiaoqiong and insisted that those be given to their future daughter-in-law, asking you to definitely accept them.¡± After hesitating for a moment, Fat Auntie said, ¡°Yulan, we¡¯re willing to marry into this family because we value the Zhao family¡¯s character, not their wealth. People here think that less bride price means the bride won¡¯t be valued in her new home. But we don¡¯t care about such things. We¡¯ll accept the gifts for the engagement, but when it comes to the wedding, we won¡¯t ask for a bride price. Just make sure the wedding banquet is well-organized.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. If I¡¯m happy, why shouldn¡¯t I be? Xiaoqiong is such a good girl marrying Qiliang, how can we let her be slighted?¡± Zhao Yulan playfully scolded. ¡°My older brother and sister-in-law only have Qiliang as their son, how could they not prepare properly? Don¡¯t worry about it, they will do what they can afford.¡± ¡°What are you two whispering about here?¡± Zhao Yucui came in smiling. Zhao Yulan, without even looking at her, turned and walked away. ¡°Little sister!¡± Zhao Yucui grabbed hold of her, ¡°Do you really believe what your second sister-in-law said? Do you really think that Qiyan replaced Chuxia because of me?¡± Zhao Yulan didn¡¯t say a word, but her facial expression clearly showed she believed just that. Seeing this, Fat Auntie quickly said, ¡°You sisters chat slowly, I¡¯m going outside to check if the helpers have arrived for cooking. We can¡¯t miss the right timing for this.¡± Zhao Yucui smiled at Fat Auntie and tightened her grip on Zhao Yulan¡¯s hand, ¡°Little sister, do you think I¡¯m capable of that? Even if I dislike you, I wouldn¡¯t use such a method to get revenge, right?¡± Zhao Yulan looked at her, ¡°If you didn¡¯t do it, why explain?¡± ¡°Something about this doesn¡¯t sit right with me, really...¡± Zhao Yucui furrowed her brows, ¡°Yes, I did something wrong to you, but not this. I didn¡¯t want to tell you, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt something was off, so I decided to take this opportunity to tell you the truth. The teaching position meant for Meifeng at eldest sister¡¯s home should¡¯ve been Chuxia¡¯s. It was me who took the liberty of giving it to Meifeng. My brother-in-law chewed me out when he found out. But what¡¯s done is done; the decision was final. Second sister-in-law somehow heard about it and threatened me, saying if I didn¡¯t cooperate with her, she would tell you about it, so...¡± Zhao Yulan said, baffled, ¡°Why would my second brother-in-law arrange a teaching job for Chuxia?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Baohe tell you? During the New Year¡¯s visit, he asked your brother-in-law for that favor. I always thought you knew. Yulan, I¡¯m in the wrong about this, but, but...¡± Zhao Yulan scoffed, ¡°But you couldn¡¯t stand to see our family¡¯s Chuxia benefiting from your influence, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhao Yucui nodded, ¡°But this matter with the military enlistment, it really wasn¡¯t my doing. Even if I wanted to do it, I wouldn¡¯t have had the means. Little sister, you should be able to figure this out if you think about it a little, right?¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Zhao Yulan nodded. ¡°Little sister...¡± Zhao Yulan frowned at her, ¡°Do you have anything else to say?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, please head over to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) Chapter 80 - 80 74 Open and Covert Struggle (Request for Pink) ?80: Chapter 74: Open and Covert Struggle (Request for Pink) 80: Chapter 74: Open and Covert Struggle (Request for Pink) The first watch had passed. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Seeing Zhao Yucui remaining silent for a long time without a word, Zhao Yulan lifted her foot to walk away, ¡°Yulan, we are sisters,¡± Zhao Yucui hurriedly grabbed her. With a hint of scornful smile on her lips, Zhao Yulan said, ¡°Sisters? How have you treated me all these years? I call you second sister, but I never dare to really think of you as my second sister!¡± ¡°For Qiliang¡¯s sake, for the reputation of our father and mother, can we not make a scene right now?¡± Zhao Yucui¡¯s eyes were filled with annoyance, ¡°When Chuxia gets married, she will also need her family¡¯s support.¡± This was a blatant threat! It meant that if she didn¡¯t comply today, she would make things difficult for her when Chuxia got married! This was her dear second sister, who would not hesitate to stab someone in the heart the moment things didn¡¯t go her way! ¡°For my daughter, I could even give up my life!¡± Zhao Yulan stared solemnly at Zhao Yucui, ¡°I mean what I say!¡± ¡°You...¡± Never expecting such harsh words from her usually submissive younger sister, Zhao Yucui stood there gaping. ¡°I¡¯m not scaring you!¡± Zhao Yulan repeated every word slowly, ¡°For my daughter, I really could give up my life!¡± This version of her sister, Zhao Yucui had never seen before. In her eyes, her younger sister was always a pushover, married to another pushover, and her daughter was nothing but a incapabable one prone to internal squabbles; thus, among the five siblings, she looked down on her younger sister the most. Because of this, she couldn¡¯t accept that Jiang Yuesheng liked her younger sister and not her. Why would he like someone less smart and less beautiful than her? And so, this hatred had lasted for twenty years. Has she come to terms with it now? No! The answer is definite, this matter will always be a thorn in her throat! Therefore, she could never truly be close to her younger sister in this lifetime. Old Lady Zhao pushed the door open and entered, sizing up her granddaughters who looked like they were ready to fight, and then looking at her second daughter brooding with a somber face, she immediately became angry: ¡°What day is it today, can I have some peace?¡± ¡°Mother...¡± Tears appeared in Zhao Yulan¡¯s eyes, ¡°I...¡± Seeing her choking up and unable to continue, Zhao Yucui sneered, ¡°What are you pretending for? Weren¡¯t you the one who spoke harshly? Think you¡¯re still a child? Is there anything else you can do apart from tattling to mother to suppress me?¡± ¡°You shut up!¡± Old Lady Zhao shouted, her gaze shifting between the faces of her two daughters, ¡°I don¡¯t care who has grievances, let¡¯s wait until today is over to discuss them. Whoever dares spoil this joyful day, don¡¯t call me mother ever again!¡± ¡°Mother, I trusted what second sister-in-law said, that¡¯s why I was indifferent to me, so I sought her out to discuss this, worrying about outsiders gossiping, but who knew...¡± Old Lady Zhao cut her off, ¡°Enough, mother doesn¡¯t want to hear it. Both of you, even if you have to pretend today, show me a united family front. Can you do that?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Yucui quickly said. Despite feeling full of grievances, given today was indeed not the time for conflict, Zhao Yulan reluctantly nodded in agreement: ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve both said it, let¡¯s go.¡± Zhao Yucui smiled and grabbed Old Lady Zhao¡¯s arm, ¡°Mother, let me help you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that old yet. If you have that intention, just be nicer to your younger sister,¡± Old Lady Zhao said, her tone full of helplessness, ¡°You¡¯ve known for years what kind of temperament your sister has. Why can¡¯t you figure out who is right and who is wrong?¡± ¡°Mother...¡± The smile on Zhao Yucui¡¯s face faded, ¡°From a young age, you always favored her, sometimes I wonder whether I am really your daughter.¡± ¡°If I were...¡± Pausing, then shaking her head, Old Lady Zhao said, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about favoritism, we¡¯ll discuss it after today. Now, smile as we go outside.¡± As they stepped out, a stout old lady came over beaming with joy, ¡°My dear lady, I have been looking for you everywhere, come, let¡¯s have a good chat like in the old days.¡± Old Lady Zhao hurried forward, warmly grabbing her hand, ¡°My dear lady, good to see you, how many years has it been? You still look so young, haha...¡± ¡°Younger sister, this is Xiaoqiong¡¯s grandmother, right?¡± Zhao Yucui warmly pulled Zhao Yulan aside and asked. The cold touch gave Zhao Yulan goosebumps, she reflexively pulled her hand but couldn¡¯t free it, she then smiled and introduced Zhao Yucui and Old Lady Luo... To outsiders, the sisters appeared quite affectionate. With too many guests, the house couldn¡¯t accommodate everyone, so tables were set in the courtyard. With the warm weather of May, everyone found sitting in the courtyard even more comfortable. Elderly, middle-aged, young adults, teenagers... People of all ages found others in the same age group to chat with, making the courtyard bustling and lively for a while. The Luo family had organized a lavish banquet, and as dish after dish was served, everyone¡¯s eyes unconsciously drifted towards the table, their conversations fading as they became distracted, and the yard quieted down significantly. In that era, resources were extremely scarce, and even during the New Year, a family would only slaughter two or three pounds of meat for dumplings to satisfy their cravings. Who could imagine a scene like today, with dishes of chicken, duck, fish, and meat being served continuously? The hosts, of course, understood the guests¡¯ thoughts. When the serving of dishes was nearly complete, Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s grandfather, Luo Dashan, and grandmother, Mrs. Luo, led the male and female guests respectively to start eating. In the kitchen, Fat Auntie, Zhao Yulan, and two daughters-in-law who had come to help were bustling about swiftly. Occasionally, they peeked outside to see everyone eating happily, which pleased them immensely. After the bustle, Zhao Yulan had forgotten the unhappiness between her and Zhao Yucui. With Fat Auntie intentionally bringing up joyful topics, by the time the cooking was almost done, the smile on Zhao Yulan¡¯s face was genuinely heartfelt. This meal was the most lavish one Chuxia had had since arriving in this era. Luo family¡¯s female cousins and Zhao family¡¯s female cousins were sitting at the table near the east wall, with Lin Chuxia and Luo Xiaoqiong handling the guests. When young girls gather, comparisons are inevitable. Compared to other tables, this one was particularly undercurrent. Well, not just undercurrents; Zhao Qiyan, Chuxia¡¯s cousin, was openly competitive. Holding a grudge against Chuxia, she found her even more displeasing after this incident. She felt that in terms of looks, she was better than Chuxia, in terms of work, she was better, in terms of study, still better. The only thing she was slightly inferior at was height. Why should she need to rely on Chuxia¡¯s influence to join the army?¡ªEven though it hadn¡¯t worked out, that was supposed to be the case. Once the cover was opened, her attitude toward Chuxia was specially malicious. From the way Chuxia ate, to what and how much she ate, there was nothing Zhao Qiyan couldn¡¯t criticize. On a normal day, Luo Xiaoqiong would have stepped up to defend Chuxia, but today was her engagement, a truly joyous occasion. Her mother had told her more than ten times to bear any grievances for now and discuss them later. Reluctantly, she had to endure it, and by the end of the meal, she hadn¡¯t eaten much but was full of frustration. ¡°Chuxia, if I had such a cousin, I really could strangle her!¡± Seizing the opportunity, she whispered bitterly in Chuxia¡¯s ear. Knowing that Luo Xiaoqiong thought she was too meek, Chuxia just smiled and said nothing. Luo Lixiang, Luo Xiaoqiong¡¯s cousin, cheerfully looked at the other girls. ¡°Don¡¯t think just because I¡¯m Meiying¡¯s direct cousin, that I take up a big place in her heart. Meiying and Chuxia are so close, closer than real sisters.¡± ¡°Big sister, aren¡¯t you and Zhong Hongying just as close?¡± Luo Xiaoqiong quickly retorted, unable to hold back any longer and not so polite to her own cousin. Luo Lixiang¡¯s expression turned slightly unnatural. She knew her uncle¡¯s family didn¡¯t like Zhong Hongying, but frustratingly, she was best friends with Zhong Hongying. Knowing that her little cousin had grievances was one thing, but what could she do about it? Without any obvious reaction, Luo Lixiang changed the topic. ¡°Wang Meifeng, among our classmates, you are the most successful, becoming a teacher and marrying an officer. If I come to you in the future, please don¡¯t pretend not to recognize me.¡± ¡°How could I not recognize you? If you consider me your old classmate, I would be more than happy; how could I dare not to recognize you?¡± Wang Meifeng responded with a restrained smile, preferring this overt form of flattery over covert bragging. Zhao Qiyan sneered. ¡°She¡¯s not the most successful without my second aunt. Where would her success come from without her?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t deny that my aunt helped me to where I am today. But, if I didn¡¯t have the capabilities myself, even she couldn¡¯t have helped. Qiyan, you should understand this feeling more than anyone, right?¡± ¡°Enough, both of you should say less.¡± Zhao Qihui frowned. ¡°What day is it today, and you still can¡¯t read the room?¡± Although they were both defiant, Zhao Qihui¡¯s character was something they were cautious of, so they unwillingly fell silent. ¡°By the way, Chuxia, how are things going with your marriage?¡± Luo Lixiang asked Chuxia, seemingly casually. Chuxia looked up at her, ¡°What do you mean, how are things going?¡± ¡°Of course, I mean about your marriage to the Xue family.¡± Luo Lixiang smiled. ¡°Every unmarried girl in the village is so envious, if you don¡¯t hurry and set things straight, be careful or someone else might take your place.¡± Chuxia fixed her gaze, ¡°Are you envious?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Luo Lixiang pointed to her nose and laughed, ¡°What¡¯s the use of me being envious? They didn¡¯t choose me.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Chuxia nodded faintly, ¡°Your envy is useless.¡± Luo Lixiang was left open-mouthed by Chuxia¡¯s comment, unable to recover her breath for a long time. ¡°Serves her right!¡± Luo Xiaoqiong muttered quietly, squeezing Chuxia¡¯s hand covertly. That¡¯s right, why always tolerate others? If a fight really breaks out, isn¡¯t she still there? As her cousin, she¡¯s the most cunning. If she could take the opportunity to thrash her, she¡¯d be thrilled! ¡°Is Comrade Luo Xiaoqiong at home?¡± Accompanying the inquiry, a man and two women entered the yard. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com), cast monthly tickets, and your support is my greatest motivation.)