Chapter 35
She has to go
"Yes," Xie Shiyu affirmed, "'Falling at the slightest breeze' doesn't mean she's frail, it means she's truly broken down. Long-term mental depression, malnutrition, and constant fear have left her physically and mentally exhausted.
Meng Hui asked Dr. Qin, the doctor from the city hospital who was proficient in both psychiatry and internal medicine, to see and treat her privately.
What she needed was quiet rest, a complete break from the excitement of the past. Meng Hui didn't explain the rumors about the "engaged couple" because he realized that Lin Xiu, in her extreme vulnerability and dependence, seemed to regard this "status" as her only source of security, a false umbrella of protection.
He was afraid that once the truth was exposed, she would have a complete mental breakdown, just like the public accusation by Mrs. Zhang today, which would be a fatal blow to her.
The truth hit Gu Qiuyue's heart like a heavy stone.
So that's how it is! Meng Hui endured rumors, endured misunderstandings, and even was willing to be accused of being "unfaithful," just to protect a soul that was shattered by fate.
The words "I'll have to pay with my whole life" are the voice that he has suppressed for too long - he takes the responsibility and takes care of things, but he can't and shouldn't let a twisted "entrustment" tie down his lifelong happiness.
"What should we do now?" Gu Qiuyue was worried. "Everyone in the family compound knows about what happened today, and Lin Xiu must have also..."
"We can't stay here any longer." Xie Shiyu said firmly, "The environment here is too detrimental to her recovery. Rumors are like invisible knives. And..." His eyes became sharp, "The woman in the blue cloth coat you saw is most likely a spy sent by the old Zhao family.
They've been keeping an eye on Lin Xiu, trying to get her back. They might still be after Old Zhao's pension or something else. With Lin Xiu here, they don't dare come out in the open, but they're secretly spying, spreading rumors, and inciting people like Mrs. Zhang. Today's conflict might just be what they're hoping for."
Things turned out to be much darker than Gu Qiuyue had imagined.
The next day, the atmosphere in the family compound was almost frozen. Various rumors about Meng Hui and Lin Xiu circulated. Some sympathized with Meng Hui, some despised Zhang Saozi, but the majority focused on Lin Xiu's role as a burden to Meng Hui, even mingling with malicious speculation that she was a "husband-killer" and "unlucky." These voices, even through the windows and doors, were enough to break a fragile person.
At this moment, Sister Li, the women's director of the family compound, had a stern face and, accompanied by the political commissar, called an emergency meeting of all the military wives in the family compound in the drying yard.
Sister Wang got straight to the point, her tone serious and heavy: "Comrades, the organization has already understood the matter regarding Secretary Meng Hui and Comrade Lin Xiu. We have gathered everyone here today to clarify the facts, stop the rumors, and more importantly, protect our sister who has suffered so much!"
She told the details of the organization's investigation results told by Xie Shiyu (the specific details of Lin Xiu's mental condition were concealed, but the severity of the long-term mental oppression and physical and mental damage she suffered in her husband's family were emphasized), and Meng Hui's original intention of merely fulfilling his comrade's dying wishes and taking care of his widow.
"...Comrade Meng Hui's refusal to explain those rumors was not tacit approval, but rather a desire to protect Comrade Lin Xiu's fragile mental state. He silently bore the misunderstanding and privately asked a doctor to treat Comrade Lin Xiu. Everything he did was out of deep affection for his fallen comrades and his responsibility to his revolutionary comrades. And some of our comrades,"
Sister Li's eyes swept sternly over Mrs. Zhang, whose face was pale and she wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground. "Making a fuss based on hearsay and publicly attacking others not only seriously damages the reputation of Comrade Meng Hui and Doctor Qin, but also causes irreparable secondary harm to Comrade Lin Xiu. This is extremely wrong."
The truth was revealed and the yard fell silent.
The military families who had been discussing the matter before showed shock, shame and deep sympathy on their faces. Sister Chen was the first to speak, her voice choked with sobs: "Oh my God... We all blamed Director Meng wrongly. Sister Lin Xiu is so pitiful..." Many people also had tears in their eyes, and looked at Sister Zhang with eyes full of blame.
Mrs. Zhang covered her face and sobbed, feeling embarrassed and even more scared.
"Now," Sister Wang said, raising her voice, "the organization has decided that in order to protect Comrade Lin Xiu's physical and mental health and to prevent her from further provocation and potential threats (she alluded to the possibility of someone from her 'hometown' spying on her), she must be immediately transferred to a safer and more suitable place for recuperation! Comrade Meng Hui will personally arrange for her to be escorted."
This decision received unanimous silent support from everyone. Everyone understood that Lin Xiu truly could no longer remain at the center of this rumor. Leaving was the greatest protection for her.
The meeting ended, and everyone dispersed with heavy hearts. Gu Qiuyue followed Sister Wang and the political commissar and knocked on Lin Xiu's door.
The door opened and Lin Xiu stood behind it, her face paler than paper, her body shaky, her eyes empty and desperate. It was obvious that she had heard some words in the yard, or worse, the woman in the blue cloth coat might have looked for her.
"Sister Lin Xiu..." Sister Wang walked forward with concern.
Lin Xiu, however, stepped back like a frightened rabbit, her lips trembling, tears silently rolling down her cheeks, and she murmured, "I'm leaving... I'm leaving now... I'm a burden to him... I'm dirty... I'm unlucky..." Her words were fragmented and filled with morbid self-loathing, which was the terrible mark left by long-term mental abuse.
Gu Qiuyue watched this scene with a broken heart. She finally understood Meng Hui's silence, pain and that heavy question.
He carries a mountain of love and morality on his back, carefully guarding a soul that may be shattered at any time, but has to endure the misunderstanding and moral kidnapping of the world.
But what Lin Xiu needs is not an imposed marriage, but a completely safe environment where she can slowly lick her wounds and find herself again.
That afternoon, a jeep drove into the family compound in a low-key manner. Meng Hui came in person. He had a stern expression and a heavy shadow under his eyes, but his movements were extremely gentle. Together with Dr. Qin, he carefully helped Lin Xiu, who was almost unable to walk on her own and was in a trance, into the car. Lin Xiu kept his head down from beginning to end, his body trembling slightly, and he did not dare to look at anyone.
Gu Qiuyue stood at the door of her house and watched the car go away.
Lin Xiu left, carrying with her pain and the remnants of rumors, leaving the military family compound where she had never truly integrated and was unable to bear its pressure.
Meng Hui can finally temporarily remove the heavy shackles of being a "fiancé", although he knows that his responsibility to Lin Xiu and his inner sense of morality will still follow him like a shadow.
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