Chapter 30 Supporting Xingyue

A 15-watt light bulb hung from the roof beam, its dim yellow light barely enveloping half the room, casting Xie Zhongming's long shadow diagonally against the wall covered with newspaper.

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat somber!

This topic is so dull!

Huang Guilan remained silent. She thought that Pangya was just as lazy and troublesome as her mother. What kind of child would Pangya raise? But the child was still a descendant of the Xie family. Huang Guilan was both worried and conflicted. She could only clench her fingers together and sigh heavily several times.

If it weren't for this child, Zhongming would probably have filed for divorce very decisively!

"Why did you have to have a child of all people?"

Xie Zhongming unbuttoned the top button of his military uniform jacket, tugged at the collar, and said in a deep voice, "Mom, let me find out more about Fatty and the child before we talk about it."

As he spoke, Xie Zhongming pulled a toothpaste-sized box from his pocket, which was labeled "Huaxia No. 1" scar removal cream.

This scar removal cream, also known as You San Ointment, was made by the renowned medical scientist Mr. Wang You San using extracts from pure natural Chinese herbal medicines. It is also a commonly used external wound medicine in the military. Xie Zhongming brought it back from his unit.

He handed it to Huang Guilan, "Mom, could you please give this box of scar removal cream to Comrade Qiao so she can apply it to the wounds on her face and hands?"

Huang Guilan suppressed a smile—oh! Who said her fourth son was clueless? He's quite attentive to the woman he likes. This kid must have feelings for Comrade Qiao, otherwise he would definitely treat her with the same indifference as he did towards Deng Yingying.

Huang Guilan, suppressing a laugh, deliberately said, "Mom is sleepy and wants to go to bed. Besides, Mom's back hurts from climbing stairs. Since you're going upstairs anyway, you can just give it to Comrade Qiao."

Under the dim light, Xie Zhongming's face was tense, his back was tense, and even the fingers holding the box were clenched tightly. "Mom, it's not appropriate for me to give this kind of thing to Comrade Qiao."

"What's inappropriate about it? Are you afraid of what others will say?" Huang Guilan retorted, then deliberately asked, "You don't have any other feelings for Xingyue, so why are you afraid of what others will say?"

"..." Xie Zhongming did not answer.

After feigning a yawn, Huang Guilan added, "Besides, Comrade Lu Xun also said, 'Let others talk as they please, just follow your own path. Unless…'"

After carefully observing her son's expression and reaction, Huang Guilan deliberately asked, "Fourth son, unless you're giving Comrade Qiao scar removal cream, is there really some other meaning behind it?"

"Mom, how could that be?" Xie Zhongming's ears quickly turned a light red. "I'm just showing concern for Comrade Qiao like I would for family. After all, Comrade Qiao works for us and has always taken good care of Grandma."

Seeing Xie Zhongming's burning ears, Huang Guilan felt she had achieved her goal. She was secretly pleased, but said calmly, "That's right. If you're upright, you have nothing to fear. Just give it to Xingyue when you go upstairs. My back is sore, if I really need to sleep, close the door behind me when you leave."

That seems to make sense!

After going upstairs, Xie Zhongming stood at the door of Qiao Xingyue's room and raised his hand. He clasped his hands together, and the two knuckles on the back of his hand rested on the red-painted wooden door, gently knocking three times.

Knock knock knock!

Qiao Xingyue was changing clothes inside the room.

She planned to put the two children to sleep before reading for a while. Although she had read extensively in her previous life, was a medical doctor, and had an excellent memory, the high school textbooks of this era were different from those of later generations. Before the college entrance examination, she still needed to review her material thoroughly.

Hearing a knock at the door, I quickly put on my coat and went to open it.

The door opened, and Qiao Xingyue stood in the doorway, glancing at her. "Comrade Xie, it's so late, is there something urgent?"

The window in Qiao Xingyue's room was open, and the wind from the doorway and window flowed through the room in a cross-flow. She had just washed her hair, which was half-dry, and a few strands were blown by the wind, carrying a faint scent of soap. With her long hair flowing, a slender, fair neck was revealed, and her collarbone was faintly visible under the fluttering collar of her coat, revealing a shallow dimple.

Xie Zhongming's gaze seemed to be burned, and he quickly looked away, the scar removal cream and desk lamp in his hands becoming hot from gripping them so tightly.

He handed it over without blinking, his expression as calm and resolute as ever, though his ears were burning and his back was taut. “Comrade Qiao, here’s a box of scar removal cream for you. Apply it to the scars morning and night. If you persist, it will remove the scars. It works very well.”

Then she added, "And this desk lamp, turn it on when you read at night, so you don't hurt your eyes."

An old-fashioned table lamp with a stamped gold base and a box of Huaxia No. 1 scar removal cream were handed to Qiao Xingyue.

The lamp had a stamped gold base and was quite heavy, but Xie Zhongming held it steadily in his hand. The fresh scent of soap emanating from Qiao Xingyue made him clench his fingers tightly around the lamp post.

Qiao Xingyue didn't take either of the two items. She looked at Xie Zhongming politely and said, "Comrade Xie, thank you for your kindness. I've already applied the scar removal cream, and I'm more used to the light bulb in the room. Changing the lamp would feel strange. Please take them back."

As she spoke, she added, "An'an and Ningning need to go to sleep now, and Comrade Xie should also go back to his room to rest early."

Immediately, they closed the door, keeping Xie Zhongming out.

Xie Zhongming's arm was still frozen in mid-air. The scar removal cream and the desk lamp suddenly felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead. His knuckles tightened, and his steps were much heavier than when he came.

Why does Comrade Qiao always deliberately keep his distance from him?

Halfway there, Deng Yingying opened the door and looked at him. "Brother Zhongming, it's very dark in my room. I also need to read and study. Could you lend me your desk lamp?"

Xie Zhongming glanced at her indifferently and continued walking towards his room door. "It's inconvenient."

As he spoke, he pushed open his door and prepared to go inside. Deng Yingying then said from behind, "Brother Zhongming, why can you lend this lamp to Sister Xingyue, but not to me?"

Xie Zhongming did not answer.

Feeling resentful, Deng Yingying said with great grievance, "Brother Zhongming, do you have a crush on Sister Xingyue?"

Xie Zhongming still didn't answer; half of his body was already inside the house.

Deng Yingying quickly stepped forward and specifically reminded him, "Brother Zhongming, don't forget, you have a wife."

"This is my way of reminding you that I have a wife, and you should keep your distance from me." Xie Zhongming never gave Deng Yingying a proper look. After speaking with his back to her, he coldly closed the door and ignored the person standing outside.

The coldness brought tears of grievance to Deng Yingying's eyes, but when those aggrieved eyes looked at Qiao Xingyue's red-painted wooden door, they also carried a fierce glint in them—it's all Qiao Xingyue's fault! She shouldn't have stayed in the Xie family, but everyone in the Xie family likes her so much.

Why is Qiao Xingyue like a nemesis standing in her way? No matter what method she tries, it has no effect on Qiao Xingyue.

Deng Yingying's hatred for Qiao Xingyue deepened even further.

...

Downstairs, Xie Jiang washed up, closed the door, walked to the bed, lifted the covers, and lay down.

Huang Guilan, leaning against the headboard, put down a copy of "Selected Works of Mao Zedong" in her hand and looked at Xie Jiang with a smile, "Old Xie, I think our fourth brother definitely likes Xingyue."

"Don't talk nonsense. Fourth Brother has a wife. He wouldn't be so inconsiderate. Guilan, did Fourth Brother tell you that Fatty might have had his child?"

"You found out too?" Huang Guilan was worried about this. "Sigh, why is our fourth son's life so miserable?"

She took off her reading glasses and sighed deeply. "If the fourth brother hadn't been schemed against by Fatty and Fatty's mother five years ago, he wouldn't have fallen for a girl but been too afraid to face his own feelings."

Xie Jiang was also quite worried about this. "We'll talk about it after we find Fatty and that kid."

"How do you find someone who's been missing for four or five years? It's like looking for a needle in a haystack! If Fatty doesn't have any leads, Lao Si and Xingyue won't make any progress either. Lao Xie, not only is our Lao Si sensible, but Xingyue is even more sensible. Xingyue is just too sensible, it's driving me crazy."

The elderly couple talked all night long, discussing nothing but Qiao Xingyue and Xie Zhongming.

...

The next day, Qiao Xingyue was preparing to cook dinner. She kneaded the dough and prepared to roll it into noodles.

Jiang Chunyan suddenly grabbed her hand, "Xingyue, let's not cook dinner tonight. Aunt Jiang will treat you and Guilan's family to a meal at a state-run restaurant. Let's go eat something good."

As she spoke, she looked at An'an and Ningning, who were sitting in front of the stove, and said, "An'an and Ningning, Grandma Jiang is treating you to meat tonight, okay?"

An An and Ning Ning shook their heads. "We won't eat."

Their mothers taught them that if a bad person suddenly becomes ingratiating, it's definitely because they're offering help for no reason.

Qiao Xingyue brushed Jiang Chunyan's hand away, dusted off her hands, and said crisply, "Aunt Jiang, what is it?"

"Aunt Jiang does need to ask you for a favor, but let's go to the state-run restaurant for a meal first. You don't need to cook tonight." Jiang Chunyan smiled awkwardly.

The fact that someone like Jiang Chunyan would suddenly fawn over her and smile like that couldn't be a good thing, Qiao Xingyue had already guessed. "Aunt Jiang, if you're here to plead for Jiang Yongqiang, forget it. Jiang Yongqiang's crimes are the responsibility of the police, not me. Your flattery won't help."

Jiang Chunyan knew that when asking someone for a favor, you had to adopt the attitude of someone asking for a favor.

It's normal for Qiao Xingyue to refuse her before they've even eaten. Once they get to the state-run restaurant and have their meal, she can say a few more nice words, and then Qiao Xingyue will have no reason to refuse. After all, as the saying goes, "He who eats another's food is bound to do his bidding."

"Xingyue, Yingying and I have been staying here these past few days, and we are so grateful for your care. I really just wanted to thank you, which is why I invited you to dinner."

Huang Guilan walked in from outside the kitchen door and said, "Chunyan, did you say that you only invited us to a restaurant to thank us for taking care of you?"

“Yes, yes, yes.” Jiang Chunyan nodded repeatedly. Huang Guilan stepped forward to help Qiao Xingyue untie her apron. “Let’s go, Xingyue. It’s rare for your Aunt Jiang to treat us to a meal. It would be disrespectful not to go.”

As she spoke, Huang Guilan glanced at Jiang Chunyan, who was making her own plans, and added a special note:

"Chunyan, let me make this clear first: after you treat us to dinner, please don't make any unreasonable requests. You said you just wanted to thank us for taking care of you and your daughter, and especially don't mention Jiang Yongqiang."

"..." Jiang Chunyan was speechless for a moment.

Isn't this setting a trap for her? What will she do when she brings up Jiang Yongqiang after dinner?

"Chunyan, I don't think you're very sincere in inviting us to dinner. Maybe we shouldn't go?"

"How am I not sincere? Go, go now."

Half an hour later, the group arrived at the Oriental Hotel, which was one kilometer away from the military compound.

Huang Guilan pointed to the menu on the small blackboard hanging on the wall and said, "An'an and Ningning, your Grandma Jiang is treating today. I'll read out the names of the dishes for you, and you can order, okay?"

"Grandma, Ningning and I can read. Mom taught us."

"You recognize all the words on the wall?"

"Um."

"Then please order whatever you like."

As she spoke, she specifically looked at Jiang Chunyan and asked, "Chunyan, the kids can order whatever they want to eat, right?"

Sitting opposite her, Jiang Chunyan looked at the large table of people: Huang Guilan and her husband, Xie Zhongming and Xie's eldest sons Mingyuan and Zhiyuan, Qiao Xingyue and her two daughters, plus herself and Yingying—a total of ten people. How many dishes would they order, and how much would it cost?

But in order to save Jiang Yongqiang, Jiang Chunyan forced a smile and said, "Yes, An'an Ningning, order whatever you want to eat."

An An and Ning Ning ordered braised pork, steamed pork ribs with rice flour, and braised pork with potatoes... Jiang Chunyan silently calculated the price. Oh my god, it's already five yuan and sixty cents! She quickly stopped her, "An An and Ning Ning, a balanced diet of meat and vegetables is nutritious and healthy. Let's get two vegetable dishes."

Huang Guilan said specifically, "Chunyan, didn't you say that the kids could order whatever they wanted to eat? Why are you so stingy with just three dishes? Don't be so petty."

Ever since Xingyue taught her that one shouldn't live a life that's too stifled, and that as long as it's not illegal, one can do whatever one wants and say whatever one wants, Huang Guilan seems like a completely different person.

This way of life is just too awesome!

Just like now, she used Jiang Chunyan's words to shut her up, which was incredibly satisfying!

Qiao Xingyue, who was standing next to her, secretly gave her a thumbs up: Aunt Lan, well done, just like that!

Huang Guilan gave Qiao Xingyue a proud look, secretly pleased with herself: "Look who taught her that!" she thought. "If Xingyue really becomes her fourth daughter-in-law, with the two of them working together, what villain can't they handle?"

Huang Guilan ordered a few more hearty dishes, and after she finished, she specifically said to Jiang Chunyan, "Chunyan, we've known each other for over fifty years, and this is the first time you've ever treated me to a meal. You said you're being very sincere today, so you don't have any objections to the dishes I ordered, do you?"

Jiang Chunyan's forehead was sweating: "...No, no objection."

Who told her to ask for a favor?

Sitting at the dining table, Deng Yingying leaned close to Jiang Chunyan's ear and whispered, "Mom, what show are you performing today?"

Jiang Chunyan whispered, "It's all because of your brother Yongqiang. Your second uncle is still sick in bed, waiting for your brother Yongqiang to send money back. We have to find a way to get your brother Yongqiang out of the detention center."

Deng Yingying lowered her voice, "Mom, Yongqiang's problems are all his own fault. Aunt Lan and Uncle Xie don't like us very much anymore. Don't bother them anymore, or how will I marry Zhongming?"

Jiang Chunyan: "You really have to marry Xie Zhongming? Jiang Beisong, the second son of the Jiang family, has liked you for so many years. If you marry him, you can still be a military wife, right?"

Deng Yingying: "Jiang Beisong is just a backup plan, how can he be the first choice? Mom, anyway, don't make Aunt Lan and Uncle Xie hate you again because of Yongqiang's matter."

Jiang Chunyan: "Don't worry about this."

After all the dishes were served, Jiang Chunyan invited everyone to eat.

I wanted to bring up Jiang Yongqiang's matter several times, but I waited until everyone had eaten and drunk their fill before bringing it up. "Guilan, Xingyue, Yongqiang's father has been bedridden for years..."

"Stop." Huang Guilan's voice was gentle.

Her attitude was firm: "Yan Chun, we agreed before we came that we would only treat you to a meal and not mention Jiang Yongqiang. You are not allowed to force us. Jiang Yongqiang committed a crime, so it was only right for the police to lock him up. It's not my Xingyue's fault."

Jiang Chunyan knew that acting tough at this point would be useless, so she had no choice but to lower her stance and plead, "Guilan, please remember that my husband saved you..."

“Chunyan.” Huang Guilan gestured for a stop. “Let’s keep things separate. Yingying’s father has been kind to us, but your family, the Jiang family, has nothing to do with our Xie family. We’ve already helped your family a lot before. Besides, Jiang Yongqiang is breaking the law.”

At this point, Xie Jiang stated, "Comrade Jiang Chunyan, Jiang Yongqiang knowingly broke the law. After the public security organs transfer the case to the court, he should be sentenced according to the law. As the widow of a martyr, you should have a clear stance."

Jiang Chunyan: "Commander Xie, isn't there still room for maneuver? As long as Xingyue drops the case, Yongqiang will be fine, right?"

*Smack!* Xie Jiang, who rarely lost his temper, slammed his hand on the table. "Comrade Jiang Chunyan, you are protecting a criminal."

Seeing Xie Jiang's resolute attitude, Jiang Chunyan had no choice but to place her hopes on Qiao Xingyue, "Xingyue..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xie Jiang said decisively, "Comrade Jiang Chunyan, you don't need to beg Xingyue. Xingyue is also a victim. It's thanks to Xingyue's courage and her ability to use acupuncture that she was able to survive. Otherwise, she would have been dragged into the cornfield by Jiang Yongqiang, and her life's happiness would have been ruined."

Xie Jiang also treats Xingyue like his own daughter, so at this time, the Xie family will definitely support Qiao Xingyue.