Chapter 106 The Night Before the Storm
Looking at Zhang Hongmei, who seemed somewhat disappointed, Huang Guilan comforted her while washing the enamel cup:
“Hongmei, as long as your Beisong doesn’t marry Deng Yingying, and can see through Deng Yingying’s true colors, that’s better than anything else.”
"That's right, Beisong will definitely not be so stubborn this time."
Zhang Hongmei responded while helping Huang Guilan dry the cleaned enamel cup with a cloth.
When the two men started talking about Deng Yingying, their expressions turned somber.
Huang Guilan sighed heavily, "If Beisong hadn't seen through Deng Yingying's true colors and had been tricked by her, you and Lao Jiang would have had to become the grandparents of the child after she gave birth to her baby. Wouldn't that be unfair?"
Huang Guilan still feels a chill when she thinks about Xingyue's schemes and plots.
Deng Yingying is pregnant with the child of an unknown man, but she plans to have Jia Ming and Hongmei's Bei Song become the father of the child.
Whether it was Zhongming or Beisong who were framed, it was something Huang Guilan didn't want to see.
Fortunately, Xingyue exposed Deng Yingying's schemes.
The Xie family and the Jiang and Chen families worked until eight or nine o'clock at night before they finished tidying up and returning all the tables, chairs, benches, pots, pans and utensils.
Everything was over by 9 p.m.
Huang Guilan and Xie Jiang thanked Jiang Degui, Zhang Hongmei, Jiang's two sons Jiang Beisong and Jiang Beiyang for their help, as well as Chen Shenghua, Wang Shufen, Chen Jiahui and their family of three, and Xiao Songhua.
The Jiang and Chen families then returned to their respective homes.
A bright, round moon hung in the night sky, its clear light casting a thin layer of silvery glow over the military compound.
The Chen and Jiang families walked back, their conversations mingling with the chirping of cicadas and croaking of frogs in the summer night, echoing in the moonlight.
Zhang Hongmei said regretfully, "Shufen, back then, Xie's fourth son and your Zhongming were born one day apart at the health center. At that time, we all hoped that Jia Hui and Zhongming would become a couple. I even thought that if Jia Hui and Zhongming were to get married one day, I, Zhang Hongmei, would definitely be the first to help. In the blink of an eye, these kids have all reached the age of marriage and having children, and Zhongming and Jia Hui just aren't destined to be together. But when Jia Hui finally gets married, I, Zhang Hongmei, will definitely still be the first to help."
Chen Shenghua and Wang Shufen were very pleased to hear this.
Wang Shufen spoke up, "Then I must thank you first, Hongmei. But please don't bring up Jia Hui and Zhongming's childhood stories anymore. Zhongming has a wife and children now. Xingyue is excellent in every way, and our Jia Hui is no less so. It's just that Jia Hui's time hasn't come yet."
Zhang Hongmei thought that her two sons, Jiang Beisong and Jiang Beiyang, did not like Jia Hui.
The children have been like brothers and sisters since they were little.
Otherwise, she would have wanted Jia Hui to be her daughter-in-law.
As the two families were talking, they arrived at the Jiang family's house first.
The Jiang family and the Xie family were not far apart; it only took a few steps to get there.
However, when everyone saw Deng Yingying looking disheveled outside the Jiang family's gate, their good mood vanished instantly.
The first to speak up was Zhang Hongmei, who was very agitated. She yelled at Deng Yingying, who was squatting at her doorstep pretending to be pitiful, "Who told you to squat at my doorstep? Get out of my way!"
As she spoke, Zhang Hongmei strode up to Deng Yingying, picked her up, and threw her a meter or two away, saying, "Don't squat at my doorstep."
Deng Yingying, who was left two meters behind, almost fell.
Fortunately, Jiang Beisong strode forward and helped her up.
Deng Yingying slowly raised her head towards the hands supporting her, her tearful gaze meeting Jiang Beisong's gloomy eyes.
Tears streamed down my face.
"Brother Beisong, the baby in my belly was an accident, I'm a victim too. I, I..."
She spoke while tears streamed down her face.
Tears flow like a tap that's been turned on; you can't turn it off.
“I met a lecher, and he, he… raped me.”
"I haven't had a promiscuous private life, I'm innocent, Brother Beisong, you have to believe me..."
If it were in the past, Jiang Beisong would have believed Deng Yingying immediately if she had said such a thing, and would even have felt sorry for Deng Yingying's situation.
No matter what she's been through, he's willing to protect her, and if she's willing, he can be the father of the child in her womb.
But today, Zhongming's wife, Qiao Xingyue, said that Deng Yingying is pregnant out of wedlock and is plotting against him and Zhongming. Her first goal is to make Zhongming the father of the child, and her second goal is him, as he is Deng Yingying's backup boyfriend.
This kind of scheming is no longer the Deng Yingying that Jiang Beisong knew.
He immediately shook off Deng Yingying's hand, which had been supporting her.
Jiang Beisong's face darkened, and he snorted, "Deng Yingying, the child in your belly is probably your second backup boyfriend, isn't it? Just how many backup boyfriends do you have?"
“No, no…” Deng Yingying shook her head, crying, “Brother Beisong, I have never had a backup partner.”
At this moment, Zhang Hongmei had already taken a broom from the yard and was using it to separate Deng Yingying and Jiang Beisong. "Deng Yingying, don't try to seduce my son. As long as I'm here, you can forget about marrying into my Jiang family."
Jiang Beisong grasped the broom in Zhang Hongmei's hand. "Mom, don't worry. I won't have any more thoughts about Deng Yingying, but don't make things difficult for her. I'll just say a few words to her and be right back."
After saying that, Jiang Beisong released Zhang Hongmei's broom, his gloomy gaze falling on Deng Yingying, "Come with me."
After saying that, he turned around and walked two steps away in the opposite direction of his house. Deng Yingying wiped away her tears and followed him.
Zhang Hongmei tried to step forward to stop him, but Jiang Beiyang pulled her back, saying, "Mom, trust Second Brother. He won't fall for Deng Yingying's tricks again."
Wang Shufen also advised Zhang Hongmei, "Hongmei, Beisong is a sensible man. He won't marry a woman with questionable behavior."
...
Jiang Beisong and Deng Yingying walked several hundred steps away, one after the other.
The two stood in front of a red brick house.
The tile-roofed house was not lit, so it must have been a house that had not been divided up.
Jiang Beisong had barely stopped when Deng Yingying rushed up and hugged him from behind, saying, "Brother Beisong, didn't you say you'd marry me anytime I wanted? I really haven't been messing around outside, the baby in my belly is..."
"Enough!" Jiang Beisong forcefully pried Deng Yingying apart and turned to face her directly.
She tried to pounce on him, but he blocked her with his hand, his face grim. "Comrade Deng Yingying, please have some self-respect!"
“Brother Bei Song…” Deng Yingying’s tears streamed down her face.
Jiang Beisong's brow furrowed, his resolve hardening. "Comrade Deng Yingying, if you had told me immediately when you were pregnant, whether it was from your promiscuous lifestyle or, as you claim, from being raped, I would have believed you and been willing to marry you. But you were only thinking of crooked ways, plotting against others. Even today, when you and your mother went to the Xie family's house, you two kept accusing Uncle Xie and Aunt Lan of being ungrateful. It's clear that I was truly blind before, thinking you were a good comrade."
He's really incredibly blind.
His younger brother Jiangbei Yang, Zhongming, Songhua, Jiahui, and his parents all advised him that Deng Yingying did not appear as innocent and kind as she seemed.
He didn't disbelieve.
Fortunately, Qiao Xingyue saw through Deng Yingying's schemes; otherwise, he would have been kept in the dark for the rest of his life and would have been a sucker for life.
Jiang Beisong felt a tightness in his chest, but his tone was firm. "Comrade Deng Yingying, we've never been in a relationship, and I have no responsibility or obligation towards you. If you have any shame, then don't bother me anymore. The woman I, Jiang Beisong, want to marry may not be physically clean, but her heart must be clean."
As he spoke, Jiang Beisong brushed past Deng Yingying.
Suddenly, Deng Yingying grabbed his arm, but he shook her off forcefully without turning his head.
Standing there, Deng Yingying threatened through tears, "Brother Beisong, if you don't want to marry me, I'll jump into the river."
Jiang Beisong didn't even turn his head. "Whatever."
That statement no longer threatens him.
Under the moonlight, Jiang Beisong's figure walked further and further away until he disappeared from sight.
A few barks could be heard from not far away.
Deng Yingying squatted on the ground and cried loudly. Finally, she wiped away her tears, clenched her fists, and gritted her teeth: "Qiao Xingyue, if it weren't for you, how could I be in such a miserable state? Qiao Xingyue, you will die a horrible death..."
...
The Xie family.
Huang Guilan looked at this large family.
It's rare to see everyone all together today. Our five sons: Zhongyi, Zhongjie, Zhongwen, Zhongming, and Zhongyan; our three daughters-in-law: Liping, Xiuxiu, and Xingyue; and our six grandchildren: Zhiyuan, Chengyuan, Mingyuan, Boyuan, An'an, and Ningning are all gathered here.
Huang Guilan said happily, "Thank you all for your hard work today. Please get some rest. Tomorrow is the official wedding banquet for Lao Si and Xingyue, and we'll be busy all day."
After saying that, Huang Guilan's gaze fell on Xie Zhongming. "Fourth brother, you only have one task tomorrow: take good care of Xingyue. When you toast the relatives and elders at the wedding banquet, you drink for Xingyue. Don't let Xingyue touch a drop of alcohol. Leave everything else to your eldest brother, second brother, third brother, and fifth brother."
Xie Jiang chimed in, "Zhongming, you and Xingyue should go back and rest."
An'an and Ningning, holding hands with their eldest brother Zhiyuan and second brother Chengyuan respectively, glanced at their parents. An'an spoke first, "Dad, Mom, tonight we want to sleep on the floor with our brothers again."
These two children have been clinging to their four older brothers every day since they came back.
Qiao Xingyue and Xie Zhongming had no choice but to comply.
Sitting in her armchair, the elderly Chen Suying couldn't stop smiling as she watched her descendants having such a lively time.
But it was getting late, so she said, "Alright, everyone, go wash up and go to bed."
Shen Liping stepped forward and said, "Grandma, I'll give you a bath tonight, and after I'm done, I'll give An'an and Ningning a bath."
Just then, someone arrived at the Xie family's main room.
That was Chen Suying's youngest son, Xie Jiang's third brother, Xie Bing.
Xie Jiang and his elder brother Xie Jun look like their father, both with a robust physique. But Xie Bing looks more like Chen Suying, wearing glasses and having a refined and gentle demeanor.
As soon as Xie Bing entered the main room of the Xie family, he pushed up the glasses that were on his nose. His expression under the glasses was heavy and somber, as if he was carrying a heavy burden of worries.
Upon seeing Xie Jiang's sons, daughters-in-law, and grandson, Xie Bing first called out to Chen Suying, "Mom!"
Then he glanced at everyone, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
It was his hesitant expression, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't, that instantly chilled the atmosphere in the main room.
"Third brother, what's wrong? Why are you looking so gloomy?" Huang Guilan was the first to ask.
"Second Sister-in-law," Xie Bing said to Huang Guilan, "I need to speak with Second Brother about something."
Then, he said to Xie Jiang, "Second Brother, let's go upstairs to talk."
Seeing Xie Bing's cautiousness, Xie Jiang's face darkened. He nodded, and then he and Xie Bing went upstairs one after the other.
Nobody knew what had happened.
Second floor.
After Qiao Xingyue and Xie Zhongming moved out, the room where Qiao Xingyue used to sleep was transformed into Xie Jiang's study.
Xie Bing deliberately closed the door and shut the window of the study, which was covered with newspaper, before lowering his voice and saying to Xie Jiang in a heavy tone, "Second brother, eldest brother was taken away by the police as soon as he returned to the guesthouse. He was handcuffed when he left, so it seems to be quite serious."
"Didn't you say what it was about?" Xie Jiang asked, his thick eyebrows furrowed.
The more one doesn't know what happened, the more anxious and worried one becomes, but at this moment Xie Jiang maintains his composure and calmness.
“They didn’t say anything, and they didn’t let me ask anything.” Xie Bing sighed heavily. “When the police took my brother away, they were armed, and there were more than a dozen of them, a very large group.”
Are they armed?
That means this matter is very serious.
When the police took Xie Jun away, were they afraid he would resist arrest?
If they resist arrest, they may be executed on the spot.
That's a really serious matter.
But my older brother was just the factory manager of a match factory; he couldn't have committed a serious crime.
In its early years, this match factory was owned by the Xie family. Later, in line with the country's complete nationalization transformation, the match factory was completely nationalized.
What exactly happened?
Just then, there were a few knocks on the door.
Knock knock knock...
The sound was neither soft nor loud, but it struck Xie Jiang's chest heavily like a boulder.
Through the door, Xie Zhongming, the fourth son, said, "Dad, Uncle Chen has something urgent to tell you."
Xie Jiang opened the door and saw Chen Shenghua with a furrowed brow and a gloomy expression. Before he could speak, Chen Shenghua sighed heavily and said, "Old Xie, something terrible has happened."
Xie Jiang felt another jolt in his chest. He called Chen Shenghua inside to talk slowly, then closed the door.
He didn't let Xie Zhongming go in with him, which shows how serious the matter was.
Xie Zhongming stood outside the house; there was no sound from inside.
Time passed second by second.
Xie Jiang, Chen Shenghua, and Xie Bing were still not out of the study. Xie Zhongming's back was tense, his forehead was taut, and his fists were clenched. He had never seen so many elders with such gloomy faces in his life.
He sensed that something big was about to happen.
When Xie Jiang opened the door, he saw that his three elders looked gloomy. He quickly asked, "Dad, Uncle Chen, Third Uncle, what happened?"
Chen Shenghua and Xie Bing remained silent, letting out long sighs. Xie Zhongming then turned his worried gaze to Xie Jiang, "Dad, what exactly happened?"
"Fourth brother, no matter what, your wedding banquet with Xingyue will proceed as planned tomorrow. Take good care of Xingyue and don't ask what happened. If anything happens, Dad will take care of it."
The words "Dad, take care of it" made Xie Zhongming realize that things were much more serious than he had imagined, many times more serious. "Dad, what exactly happened?"
"Don't ask anymore," Xie Bing patted his nephew on the shoulder. "Be a good groom tomorrow."
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