Chapter 19 Qiao Xingyue used to be a chubby girl

In late April, around six o'clock in the morning, the sun had already slowly risen.

The entire courtyard was bathed in the warm morning light.

Sunlight streamed in through the stained-glass windows of the main room, falling on Xie Zhongming's tall and straight back. He thought about how Comrade Qiao had accepted his mother Huang Guilan's face cream but not his. The sudden morning light made him feel a little dizzy, but he didn't realize that the stifling feeling wasn't from the sun, but from a sense of defeat that he himself couldn't quite distinguish.

A feeling of tightness rose in my chest.

Huang Guilan came out of the kitchen and saw her son, who had just finished his morning exercise and was full of masculine energy, so she pulled him to the vegetable garden outside the main room.

"Fourth brother, any news about Fatty?"

Huang Guilan thought that Xingyue's refusal to accept snow cream was too distant.

However, when she delivered the face cream to Xingyue, Xingyue accepted it. This shows that Xingyue and her fourth son have a very clear line between them. She wants to keep her distance from her fourth son and doesn't want to have anything to do with him.

This is so worrying!

Xingyue doesn't seem to have any romantic feelings for her fourth son. It's probably because her fourth son has a wife that Xingyue is deliberately maintaining a proper distance.

Before Xie Zhongming could answer, Huang Guilan continued, "Fourth brother, you need to divorce Fatty as soon as possible. Why don't you print out the divorce papers and submit them to your superiors first?"

Huang Guilan didn't want Pangya to disappear like this. She just wanted to find Pangya as soon as possible, make amends to Pangya, and then get Pangya and Zhongming to get their divorce done. The two of them didn't have any feelings for each other, and being tied together like this wouldn't be good for either of them.

Xie Zhongming said firmly, "Mom, Fatty's disappearance is also related to me. Let's put the divorce report on hold for now, and I'll look for Fatty again."

For the past five years, he shouldn't have just sent money to Chadian Village while ignoring Fatty.

"Why are you taking all the blame? This is clearly Fatty's mother's fault. If Fatty's mother hadn't kicked Fatty out, how could Fatty have disappeared? Listen to me, let's get the divorce papers filed first, okay?"

Even if Lao Si wanted to bring Xingyue and Lao Si together, there's no reason for him not to get a divorce.

When will we finally see Xingyue and Lao Si together?

Huang Guilan was extremely anxious.

"Mom, I have my own plans for this matter."

Behind the double doors of the main room, Deng Yingying stood quietly.

Deng Yingying heard every word Huang Guilan said clearly. She gripped the wooden door latch tightly, her heart filled with panic and unease—was Aunt Lan so eager to urge Zhongming to file for divorce because she wanted to match Qiao Xingyue and Zhongming together? To Deng Yingying, the way Aunt Lan looked at Qiao Xingyue was like that of a gentle mother-in-law looking at her future daughter-in-law, satisfied and fond of Qiao Xingyue in every way.

But she also wanted to wait until Zhongming got divorced before marrying him. Last time she wanted to date Zhongming, but he refused. This time, she absolutely couldn't let Qiao Xingyue ruin her plans.

After breakfast, Deng Yingying called Jiang Chunyan out, and the two women walked on the ridges of the self-sufficient farmland outside the compound.

On the left side of the field, peas and broad beans, already ripe for harvest, were being picked by the army's logistics soldiers. On the right, in the cornfield, the corn had grown to head height, with newly sprouted ears of corn hanging from them, the green corn silks drooping down, and the air filled with the refreshing scent of corn silks when the wind blew.

The mother and daughter walked and talked.

“Mom, I always feel that Aunt Lan wants Qiao Xingyue to be her fourth daughter-in-law. Zhongming doesn’t seem to dislike Qiao Xingyue, and even seems to like her a little. We can’t just sit here and wait for things to get worse.”

"What should we do then? Are we going to drug Xie Zhongming? Then Mom will have to go to the veterinary station and buy a few more packets of breeding drugs."

"Mom, you can't use this method unless it's absolutely necessary. Otherwise, Zhongming will hate me to death. What I want is to win Zhongming's heart."

"Why are you so stubborn? What's the difference between getting his body and getting his heart? As long as you get his body, you can marry him and then control his money every month. Xie Zhongming gives you a monthly allowance of 168 yuan. Even if you don't get his heart, just with that money, your life will be too good."

"Mom, I'm not like you."

Deng Yingying knew that Jiang Chunyan had used dishonorable means, such as drugging, to marry Xie Shizhang's subordinate, who was also her father. Therefore, her father had basically no feelings for her mother.

“Yingying, even if you can’t marry Xie Zhongming as you wish, you should still seize this opportunity to return to the Jincheng Military Region. Jiang Beisong has always liked you, but he refuses to date anyone who tries to introduce him to someone. So, let’s not just focus on Xie Zhongming; we need to pursue both sides simultaneously. Understand? Jiang Beisong also receives a monthly allowance of over ninety yuan, which is not a small amount.”

Jiang Beisong is Jiang Beiyang's older brother, one year older than Xie Zhongming. They grew up together in the same compound. He is currently serving in the Jincheng Military Region as a battalion commander.

Although Jiang Beisong's qualifications are not as good as Xie Zhongming's, he is still on Jiang Chunyan's shortlist of potential sons-in-law.

Deng Yingying didn't not want to marry Jiang Beisong. She thought Jiang Beisong's monthly military allowance of 98 yuan was not bad, but didn't she prefer Xie Zhongming?

"Mom, let's win over Zhongming first. If we can't, we can marry Jiang Beisong later. Anyway, Jiang Beisong only has me in his heart. He can't possibly marry another woman."

Oh!

Not only did Deng Yingying have designs on Commander Xie, but she had also already found a backup plan. People in this era are very simple and honest, so how could there be a woman like Deng Yingying who finds a backup plan?

What a rotten apple!

As Qiao Xingyue passed by the field ridge, the water bottle she was carrying was to be delivered to Commander Xie. Commander Xie had been leading his troops to harvest peas and broad beans in this self-sufficient farmland that day, and unexpectedly overheard Deng Yingying and Jiang Chunyan's conversation.

"Mom, I have a way to get Qiao Xingyue away from Aunt Lan's house. Come here, I'll tell you quietly so no one can hear."

Qiao Xingyue, who was standing behind a corn stalk as tall as a person, did not hear what the mother and daughter said next.

Xie Zhongming ate lunch at the army base, while Qiao Xingyue went to the self-sufficient farmland of the army base to deliver lunch to Commander Xie.

The farmland was three miles from the compound, and Qiao Xingyue rode there on the Xie family's old bicycle.

Almost half an hour had passed and Qiao Xingyue still hadn't returned. Jiang Chunyan, who was sitting at the square table in the main room of the Xie family, was starving. "Guilan, Qiao Xingyue is just a nanny. Why do we have to wait for her to come back before we can eat? Can't we eat first?"

Huang Guilan held the chopsticks in her hand, not allowing Jiang Chunyan to start eating first. Even when she was angry, her voice was soft. "Chunyan, let me make this clear again: Xingyue is not our family's nanny. I treat her like a daughter. No one is allowed to start eating until she comes back."

Glug glug!

This time, the ones whose stomachs were growling were An'an and Ningning, who were sitting next to Huang Guilan. She immediately put on a kind and gentle smile, gave each of them a cornbread, and then wrapped two pieces of meat inside.

"An'an and Ningning are hungry. Let's eat some pancakes to fill our stomachs first."

"Huang Guilan, why are these two kids allowed to eat first?"

"You know they're still kids, don't you?"

"Why can the kid eat it, but I can't?"

Jiang Chunyan was unconvinced and grabbed a piece of cornbread, but Huang Guilan knocked it away with her chopsticks.

"Don't look like you're starving to death. I said we have to wait for Xingyue to come back before we can start eating."

Huang Guilan would never have spoken to Jiang Chunyan like this before, but since Xingyue came to the house, she listened to Xingyue's advice that people shouldn't live too repressed, and that they should learn to refuse and resist anyone who makes them uncomfortable or unhappy.

Why should Jiang Chunyan eat and live in her house for free, and why should she be allowed to do whatever she wants? That doesn't make sense.

Huang Guilan found that ever since she used the method Xingyue taught her to express all her pent-up feelings, she felt much better. Her liver no longer hurt, her chest no longer felt tight, and she felt incredibly comfortable.

Seeing this, Deng Yingying quickly grabbed Jiang Chunyan's arm, "Mom, can you be reasonable? Sister Xingyue works very hard cooking every day, we have to wait for her to come back before we can eat."

Deng Yingying said this specifically to Huang Guilan.

Jiang Chunyan, whose stomach was growling with hunger, said irritably, "Qiao Xingyue delivered food to Commander Xie and hasn't come back for ages. Could she have fallen into a ditch while riding her bicycle?"

This time, Huang Guilan was truly enraged. She slammed a pair of chopsticks on the table and said sternly, "Jiang Chunyan, shut your mouth. If you keep doing this, move out of my house and don't stay here anymore."

Even if Jiang Chunyan wanted to go out and make a scene, saying that she was ungrateful, Huang Guilan would never allow Jiang Chunyan to curse her Xingyue like that, even if it meant bearing the infamy.

Xingyue hadn't returned yet, and Huang Guilan was getting anxious. She spat several times, got up, and went outside to look. Following behind her were An'an and Ningning, who happened to run into Qiao Xingyue riding her old bicycle back into the yard.

Huang Guilan breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Qiao Xingyue's slender figure nimbly and gracefully jump off the bicycle.

No sooner had the group entered the main room than more people arrived.

"Oh, Aunt Lan, having lunch? Perfect timing, I haven't eaten yet either, so I won't stand on ceremony."

The person who followed him in and sat down at the square table was a man.

He had a buzz cut, was slightly chubby, tall and strong, with a face full of pimples and large pores. Qiao Xingyue recognized him at a glance because of his big, red, bulbous nose.

How could it be him?

Four years ago, she had just given birth to An'an and Ningning for less than two months when Ningning fell ill. She took both children to the provincial hospital in Kunming for treatment. On the way, she took shelter from the rain in a dilapidated temple and met a man who was also taking shelter from the rain. This is the man in front of her.

The man, attracted by her beauty, attempted to sexually assault her.

She was weak at the time and had two children with her, and was almost violated by him. Fortunately, a kind person saved her in time.

What's this man doing in the Jincheng Military Region compound, and why is he wearing a military uniform?

The man sat down and started eating with chopsticks. He only ate the meat, feeding it to his mouth piece by piece, without even glancing at Qiao Xingyue. It seemed he didn't recognize her.

It's not surprising, though, because Qiao Xingyue hadn't completely lost weight at that time. Although she wasn't as chubby as she used to be (over 200 pounds), she was still over 140 pounds.

She now weighs just over 90 pounds.

It's normal that I wasn't recognized.

"Aunt Lan, who is he?" Qiao Xingyue asked in a low voice.

Huang Guilan also whispered a reply, "Jiang Chunyan's second brother's son is named Jiang Yongqiang."

Three years ago, Jiang Chunyan, taking advantage of Xie Jiang's kindness, forced Xie Jiang to arrange a job as a logistics soldier in the army for this man named Jiang Yongqiang with a bulbous nose, and only then did things calm down.

Jiang Chunyan patted Jiang Yongqiang on the shoulder, "Yongqiang, don't just focus on eating, go and see what Xingyue is like?"

A pair of lewd eyes stared at Qiao Xingyue, immediately making her feel nauseous and uncomfortable all over.

"This girl is really pretty!"

The man with the bulbous nose looked Qiao Xingyue up and down as if she were a piece of jewelry, making Huang Guilan, who was standing next to him, so angry that she wanted to gouge out his eyes.

"Girl, I heard your husband died, and you're struggling to raise your two kids alone. Why don't you date me? I'm willing to help you raise your kids, and I currently only get a 26 yuan monthly allowance, which is enough to support you all. If you..."

"You scoundrel, how dare you make a move on Xingyue?" Huang Guilan grabbed Wang Yongqiang by the ear and pulled him up.

"Ouch, Aunt Lan, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts! Please be gentle."

"What are you doing, Guilan? I've been thinking that Xingyue is a widow with two children, and she's having a tough time. I was thinking of introducing her to Yongqiang so he can help her out..."

"Share my ass!" Huang Guilan, who never swore, not only swore in anger, but also trembled with rage.

She grabbed a broom from the side and hit Jiang Yongqiang with it, making him run out of the main room. "Jiang Yongqiang, if you dare to come to my house again and try to take advantage of my Xingyue, I'll beat you to a pulp."

Qiao Xingyue quickly pulled her back, who was trembling with anger. "Aunt Lan, don't be angry. Sit down and take a break."

"Xingyue, don't worry, with Aunt Lan here, there's no way she'll marry you off to such a lecherous man."

“Aunt Lan…” Qiao Xingyue’s eyes welled up with tears. She was just a nanny in the Xie family. Why was Aunt Lan protecting her like this?

Jiang Chunyan, standing nearby, said a lot of nice things, seemingly trying to persuade Huang Guilan to introduce Xingyue to Jiang Yongqiang. Huang Guilan glared at her sharply and said, "Would you be willing to marry your Yingying to a man like Jiang Yongqiang?"

“Yingying is my daughter, Qiao Xingyue is your nanny, how can you compare them?”

“Xingyue is like my own daughter, how can she not be compared to me?”

"Huang Guilan, I think you just want to wait until your fourth son gets divorced before marrying Qiao Xingyue. No wonder you're so protective of her. I don't know if you've lost your mind. Even if your fourth son is a divorced man, there's a long line of women who want to marry him. Why do you want to marry this widow?"

"You are the widow."

"Huang Guilan, you..."

"Mom," Deng Yingying grabbed Jiang Chunyan's arm tightly, "If you keep arguing with Aunt Lan, we'll pack our things and move out."

Seeing that Huang Guilan was really angry, Deng Yingying quickly tried to appease her, "Aunt Lan, please don't be angry. Sister Xingyue is beautiful and capable. My cousin is really not good enough for her. I will definitely give my mother a good scolding later. She shouldn't have had such a crooked idea."

"Deng Yingying, it wasn't you..."

"Shut up. If you say another word, I'm going upstairs to pack my things and move out right now, so you don't upset Aunt Lan."

...

evening.

Qiao Xingyue was taking down the clothes that were drying on bamboo poles in the Xie family's courtyard when Jiang Yongqiang walked in carrying a bundle of brown sugar.

Jiang Yongqiang is 36 years old this year and still hasn't found a wife. Seeing that Jiang Chunyan has introduced him to such a beautiful girl, he is determined to try again.

At this moment, Jiang Yongqiang carefully examined Qiao Xingyue's profile and felt more and more familiar with her, as if he had seen her somewhere before. After seeing the black mole on her ear, he suddenly remembered—could she be the young widow he met in the dilapidated temple in Kunming?

"Comrade Qiao, you wouldn't happen to be that chubby girl, would you?"

Jiang Yongqiang walked up carrying brown sugar, and Qiao Xingyue glared at him, "What are you doing here?"

"Comrade Qiao, don't misunderstand. I genuinely want to help you share the burden. How about you consider dating me?" Jiang Yongqiang handed over the brown sugar.

A strong, powerful hand caught the brown sugar and stuffed it into Jiang Yongqiang's arms. "Jiang Yongqiang, you old bachelor, you still want to make a move on Comrade Qiao? Are you asking for trouble?"

The person who came was Xie Zhongming, who had just returned from outside.

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling authority, and his icy gaze made Jiang Yongqiang take two steps back.

About half a year ago, Jiang Yongqiang followed a young woman. Although he did nothing, he frightened her so much that she turned pale. Xie Zhongming happened to witness this and gave Jiang Yongqiang a severe beating.

Jiang Yongqiang still remembers the beating he received. He quickly grabbed the brown sugar and ran away.

At this moment, Xie Zhongming's gaze returned to Qiao Xingyue, and he looked her up and down. "Comrade Qiao, Jiang Yongqiang didn't bully you, did he?"

"No." Qiao Xingyue shook her head.

"Is Aunt Jiang going to introduce Jiang Yongqiang to you as a potential partner?"

"Yes, it was Aunt Jiang's idea."

"Comrade Qiao, don't worry. With the Xie family here, Jiang Yongqiang won't dare to act recklessly."

"..." Qiao Xingyue's heart suddenly warmed. Not only was Aunt Lan protecting her, but Comrade Xie was also protecting her like a family member.

At this moment, Xie Zhongming frowned slightly, looking puzzled, and asked again, "Comrade Qiao, Jiang Yongqiang just said that you were the chubby girl he had met before? You used to be very fat?"