Chapter 56 I'm afraid you'll be bullied when you go back.
However, Xie Zhongming promised Qiao Xingyue that he wouldn't tell his parents that she was Fatty.
She was afraid that if her two elders knew they were going through divorce proceedings, they would be upset.
Having promised Comrade Qiao, Xie Zhongming had to keep his word. Fatty's identity information was the key issue, and in the end, Xie Zhongming chose to lie.
"Mom, I've already arranged for An'an and Ningning to start school. I'll personally take them to kindergarten to register on Monday. You don't need to worry about it; I'll take care of it."
Hearing her son's explanation, Huang Guilan was secretly delighted. "Oh, fourth son, you've finally blossomed! You know how to improve your relationship with Xingyue and how to help her solve her problems. Since you care so much about Xingyue and the two kids, why did you tell me that you and Pangya aren't getting a divorce?"
Huang Guilan looked troubled as she spoke the last sentence.
She was completely baffled by Xie Zhongming's actions. "Fourth brother, what are you thinking? You've confused me."
Xie Zhongming smiled, a smile that was both simple and honest, and one that came from the bottom of his heart.
To his utter surprise, the first woman he truly cared about was actually his wife, Fatty, whom he had married years ago, and who had even given him two children.
But the relief in his eyes lasted only two seconds before being replaced by deep sorrow and self-blame and guilt. All the suffering that Comrade Qiao and his two children had endured over the years was caused by him.
"Zhongming, say something."
Xie Zhongming didn't want to affect Huang Guilan, so he relaxed his brow and comforted her, "Mom, I'll give you a surprise in a while, and you'll find out then. Don't worry, what you're thinking will definitely come true."
Huang Guilan looked at Xie Zhongming and said, "What I've been hoping for is for Xingyue to become a member of the Xie family. If you don't divorce Pangya, my dream will come true."
Xie Zhongming said firmly, "You'll find out when the time comes."
He heard the sound of a door opening outside the main room, probably coming from the direction of the toilet, and he turned his head to look.
Sure enough, An'an and Ningning, the two little children, came out of the toilet looking fresh and clean after taking a bath, while Qiao Xingyue squatted in front of the toilet faucet and started rubbing soap on her dirty clothes.
Xie Zhongming greeted Huang Guilan with his back turned, "Mom, I'm going out now. Remember what I told you."
Watching her son walk out through the main room and head towards the toilet door, Huang Guilan replied, "Okay, Mom knows."
Huang Guilan just wanted to use An An Ning Ning's enrollment as an opportunity to get closer to Xing Yue, so of course she would give up such an opportunity to Xie Zhongming.
Recently, however, the fourth brother has been overly attentive to Xingyue. When he got to the toilet door, he insisted on washing Xingyue's and An'an Ningning's dirty clothes.
After seeing Xie Zhongming snatch the enamel basin and soap, Huang Guilan chased Xingyue out of the toilet.
"Comrade Xie, why are you insisting on washing other people's clothes?"
Qiao Xingyue stood at the door, watching Xie Zhongming squatting on the ground washing clothes.
The man was so engrossed in scrubbing the dirty clothes in the basin that he didn't even look up. As he scrubbed the clothes, his lean, strong arms were full of muscle, each muscle showing its power.
Behind her, Huang Guilan said, "Xingyue, let Zhongming wash if he wants to. Men should do more work and be more considerate of women. Zhongming's father usually doesn't let me do these chores either."
Qiao Xingyue wiped her hands, turned around and walked back to Huang Guilan, asking, "Aunt Lan, Comrade Xie didn't say anything to you, did he?"
She suspected that Xie Zhongming had told Aunt Lan that she was Fatty.
Otherwise, how could Aunt Lan have said something like, "Men should do more work"?
Huang Guilan was completely confused. "Zhongming didn't tell me anything. What should he have told me?"
Qiao Xingyue did not respond.
Aunt Lan doesn't seem to know that she is Fatty, otherwise she wouldn't be so calm. Comrade Xie probably hasn't revealed it yet.
It startled her.
"Xingyue," Huang Guilan whispered in Qiao Xingyue's ear, "Tell Aunt Lan the truth, did Zhongming confess his feelings to you?"
Otherwise, why would this kid be so eager to wash An'an, Ningning, and Xingyue's clothes, and so openly treat Xingyue well?
Huang Guilan lowered her voice again and asked, "Xingyue, tell Aunt Lan the truth, do you have feelings for Zhongming? If you do, your Uncle Xie and I will fully support you and Zhongming starting a new family."
Upon hearing Huang Guilan's words, Qiao Xingyue was absolutely certain that Xie Zhongming had not told Aunt Lan that she was Fatty.
She turned and looked back at the man washing clothes.
Right now, Xie Zhongming is rubbing her underwear. This man is quite considerate, but if she were still Fatty's appearance and personality, the Fatty that everyone hates, would he still be so diligent and eager to do these chores? He would probably avoid her like the plague.
"Aunt Lan..."
She didn't know how to answer Huang Guilan.
Putting Xie Zhongming aside, Aunt Lan and Uncle Xie are both very good people, as is the old lady. Everyone in the Xie family is very well-mannered and would not look down on her.
Being the daughter-in-law of the Xie family should be a very happy thing.
She didn't know whether she should confess to Aunt Lan that she was Fatty.
While she was struggling with her decision, Huang Guilan assumed she was just shy and told her in an extremely firm tone, "Xingyue, you don't need to be shy. If you are really willing to start a new family with Zhongming, Aunt Lan will definitely welcome you into our Xie family."
Qiao Xingyue's eyes welled up with tears. "Aunt Lan, you're such a kind person!"
Such a wonderful mother-in-law is hard to find even with a lantern.
Perhaps she should confess to Huang Guilan...
...
After washing An An, Ning Ning, and Qiao Xing Yue's clothes and hanging them on bamboo poles in the yard to dry, Xie Zhongming also took a shower.
After going upstairs, I noticed that Comrade Qiao's room door was not closed.
He stood in the doorway, his fingers lightly tapping on the painted wooden board.
Inside the room, the two children were playing on the bed, while Qiao Xingyue sat in front of a desk lamp, reviewing her lessons in preparation for the college entrance examination.
She plans to get a diploma after the college entrance exam, then find a government job in Jincheng, and rent a place. She plans to bring An'an and Ningning back every weekend to visit Aunt Lan, Uncle Xie, and the old lady.
She'll wait until she's saved up some money, and then wait for the country's system to reform so she can freely engage in business, before starting a business.
She couldn't possibly pin her future on a man, especially an irresponsible one.
She had planned everything.
The knocking at the door interrupted her thoughts, and she turned to look.
It is Xie Zhongming.
Xie Zhongming stood at the door, carrying a brand-new fan, and said, "Comrade Qiao, it's getting hot, so I bought a fan for you and An'an Ningning. May I come in?"
If it were before, and she didn't know he was An An Ning Ning's biological father, Qiao Xing Yue might not have accepted his overtures, since she knew he had a wife.
But now that she knows he is An An Ning Ning's father, she won't refuse when he brings her a brand new fan.
It's only right for the child's father to buy a fan for the child.
Under the dim light, Xie Zhongming was wearing a white cotton vest and trousers, his hair was wet, he must have just taken a shower.
His short hair was clean and neat, and under the dim light, the tough and masculine buzz cut had a touch of softness.
However, Qiao Xingyue quickly looked away and focused on her book. "Come in."
She was focused on her review when, without realizing it, a cool breeze came from behind her. An'an and Ningning were overjoyed.
"Uncle Zhongming, this fan is so refreshing!"
"Even if it's cool at night, you shouldn't keep the fan blowing directly on you. To keep things quiet, press this button to make the fan oscillate. This is setting one, setting two, and setting three is the strongest. Just turn it on to setting one or two when you go to sleep at night, so you don't catch a cold."
Xie Zhongming then specifically instructed, "An An Ning Ning, you absolutely must not put your hand in, otherwise you will hurt your fingers when the fan blades are spinning rapidly."
After teaching An An and Ning Ning how to use the fan, he stood to Qiao Xingyue's right and saw that her notes were neat and detailed.
Many of the knowledge points are key points for the exam.
"Comrade Qiao, you are very good at grasping the key points, and your handwriting is also very beautiful! I remember that you couldn't read before, and you couldn't even write your own name."
Qiao Xingyue tightened her grip on the pen.
From the illiterate chubby girl to Qiao Xingyue, there are indeed too many suspicious aspects.
Fearing she would be mistaken for a spy, she quickly stood up to explain, "Comrade Xie, do you remember when I told you before that my parents were highly educated intellectuals who went to the countryside?"
Xie Zhongming nodded. "I remember."
Qiao Xingyue added, “Actually, those weren’t my parents; they were my saviors. They were indeed highly educated intellectuals who went to the countryside. After saving me, they taught me to read and write and to study medicine, but they both passed away later. That’s why I know medicine and have knowledge. I know that knowledge can change one’s destiny, which is why I was determined to take the college entrance examination and get a diploma.”
Hopefully Xie Zhongming won't doubt her identity.
If she said she came from the future, Xie Zhongming would probably think it was a fantasy and would even consider her a spy.
Xie Zhongming seemed to have seen through her thoughts. "Comrade Qiao, you performed surgery on me before and saved my life. Then you immediately appeared at my house as a nanny. I did suspect that you were a spy. But now I believe what you said. You can't be a spy. Don't worry, I won't doubt you anymore."
The two locked eyes.
Xie Zhongming's gaze held appreciation and affirmation for her.
Qiao Xingyue, however, was somewhat puzzled. "Comrade Xie, do you trust me that much?"
Xie Zhongming said firmly, "I believe you! Not because you're my wife, but because your eyes are full of justice. You can't fake someone's eyes. By the way, Comrade Qiao, I didn't just buy you a fan at the department store today. When I was washing your underwear yesterday, I noticed it had several holes, so I bought you a few pairs. They're washed and drying on the bamboo pole. An'an and Ningning have some too, and there are three new sets of clothes, all washed and drying."
He added, "It's getting late, you should go to sleep early. Remember to come with me tomorrow morning to complete the formalities so that An'an and Ningning can start kindergarten as soon as possible."
An'an, lying on the bed, looked at Xie Zhongming with shining eyes, "Uncle Zhongming, do you mean you want my sister and me to go to kindergarten?"
"Hmm." Xie Zhongming returned to the bedside, bent down and patted An Anning's head. "An Anning, it's time for you to go to school."
He couldn't bear to see his two children suffer even the slightest bit more. He wanted them to attend the best preschool and go on to the best primary school, so that they would be loved by their parents and pampered by their grandparents, uncles, and aunts, growing up carefree like little princesses.
We will never let them go hungry or cold again, and we will never let them wander and suffer again.
"Yay! My sister and I can finally go to kindergarten!"
Are you happy?
"Yes, I'm happy, thank you Uncle Zhongming."
"Uncle will protect you from now on..." Even now, Xie Zhongming still can't recognize the two children. Looking at the happy smiles in their eyes, he feels very guilty. His throat tightens and his eyes well up with tears. "I will never let anyone bully you again."
Qiao Xingyue, sitting at her desk, noticed the tears in Xie Zhongming's eyes.
This man is a responsible father, and his love for An An and Ning Ning is genuine. However, this cannot make up for the suffering An An and Ning Ning have endured. If he hadn't ignored her for more than five years, An An and Ning Ning would have been in kindergarten long ago.
"An'an and Ningning, go to sleep early. You can grow taller if you sleep. Uncle Zhongming has also gone back to his room."
Xie Zhongming was reluctant to leave the room, reluctant to part with An An and Ning Ning, and his last look at Qiao Xingyue was restrained.
But we have to be very careful when we go out.
Qiao Xingyue put down her book and pen, followed them out, and then gently closed the door.
Standing at the door, Qiao Xingyue said to Xie Zhongming, "Comrade Xie, next month after I take the college entrance examination and get my diploma, I might change jobs and move out of the Xie family home with An An and Ning Ning."
These words made Xie Zhongming's entire back tense up.
The 15-watt light bulb reflected the sudden panic in his eyes. "What, you're moving out?"
“Yes. Once An'an and Ningning’s household registration and school enrollment are settled, let’s get the divorce certificate. I will then tell Aunt Lan and Uncle Xie the truth, and I will also let An'an and Ningning recognize you as their father.”
Her series of decisions were like a sharp icicle, forcefully piercing Xie Zhongming's chest.
"Comrade Xie, I have no right to stop An'an and Ningning from recognizing each other with your Xie family. Besides, it is An'an and Ningning's blessing to have such wonderful grandparents and great-grandmothers."
"Also, Comrade Xie, I also have the right to choose my own life. I want to work hard and settle down in Jincheng. In the future, I will often bring An'an and Ningning back to visit Aunt Lan, Uncle Xie, and Great-Grandma."
Xie Zhongming: "...Comrade Qiao, I respect your choice. However, to process the divorce, we need a divorce report and the original marriage certificate. So we need to get a replacement marriage certificate first."
Qiao Xingyue: "I know, I'll go get it replaced tomorrow."
In any era, to obtain a divorce certificate, one must first have the original marriage certificate in order to proceed with the divorce proceedings.
Qiao Xingyue knew this.
...
The next morning, Qiao Xingyue asked An An and Ning Ning to stay at the Xie family home with her great-grandmother and Huang Guilan.
She and Xie Zhongming went to the Jincheng Subdistrict Office to renew their marriage certificate. The staff at the office looked at Qiao Xingyue's ID card and then at Xie Zhongming's marriage certificate, and seemed somewhat hesitant.
"Comrade, your wife's name is Liu Pangya. But the comrade you're applying for a replacement marriage certificate with is named Qiao Xingyue. We can't process the paperwork for you. Besides, it's obvious that Liu Pangya and Qiao Xingyue in the photo are not the same person."
When she arrived, Qiao Xingyue had already explained, but she didn't mind explaining again patiently, "Comrade, I am indeed Liu Pangya from Chadian Village. However, I was kicked out by my mother. Later, I went to Kuncheng City and happened to save a leader, who helped me get a new ID card."
The other party patiently said, "Comrade, I believe you are not lying, but you must go back to Chadian Village to obtain proof that you are Liu Pangya before we can issue you a certificate to reissue your marriage certificate."
Xie Zhongming was so focused on getting a new marriage certificate with Qiao Xingyue that he forgot about this matter.
As they walked out of the red brick bungalow of the neighborhood office, Xie Zhongming held an umbrella over Qiao Xingyue.
The sun was blazing hot.
"Comrade Qiao, let's go back to Chadian Village together. An'an Ningning needs to get back to school, and we need the original marriage certificate for the divorce certificate."
"I'll go back by myself."
“That won’t do. Your mother is difficult to deal with. I’m afraid you’ll be bullied when you go back.”
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