Chapter 94 Xie Zhongming is back
The lively atmosphere at home dispelled Qiao Xingyue's gloomy mood.
Last night, Qiao Xingyue was worried that Xie Zhongming would suffer in the security department. She heard from her second brother, Xie Zhongjie, that the security department might punish Xie Zhongming by making him stand, interrogate him all night, not give him food or water, expose him to strong light, and keep him awake all night. She imagined such a scene and tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.
But seeing how much An'an and Ning Ning were pampered in the Xie family, with her uncles, aunts, and brothers treating her twin daughters like little princesses, her gloomy mood was instantly dispelled.
Just because the Xie family has such a warm and harmonious atmosphere, no matter how much Xie Zhongming ignored her before, she is determined to stay in the Xie family.
Such a warm and loving family, where the affection between each member is truly precious.
Qiao Xingyue should cherish this.
She smiled at Xie Boyuan, who was a head taller than An An and Ning Ning, and said, "Boyuan, An An and Ning Ning will stay in the Xie family from now on and won't leave. They will always be your sisters."
Second sister-in-law Sun Xiuxiu smiled and said to Qiao Xingyue, "Xingyue, these four boys in the family have been nagging your eldest sister-in-law and me to have a little sister. But in this era, we advocate fewer births and better upbringing. Although it's not mandatory, we hold important positions in the army and have to set an example. We can't easily have another baby. Now, the four brothers suddenly have two more little sisters. Look how much they cherish these two little sisters."
Qiao Xingyue didn't know much about the family planning policy of that era.
But she remembers that family planning only started to be strictly enforced in the 1980s.
It is now 1975, and the policy of having fewer and better births is being promoted. The Xie family members all hold important positions, so they should indeed set a good example.
No wonder my eldest and second sisters-in-law seem to really like girls, but they haven't had any more children.
As they spoke, Sun Xiuxiu and Shen Liping's gazes simultaneously fell on An Anning, who had her hair tied in two braids with bows tied on them.
Looking at the two children, their eyes were bright and full of cleverness, and the two sisters-in-law were quite envious.
It wasn't because Huang Guilan and Xie Jiang liked girls that Shen Liping and Sun Xiuxiu wanted to have a girl; it was because they themselves liked girls.
So right now, Qiao Xingyue, who gave birth to twin girls, is the envy of Sun Xiuxiu and Shen Liping.
Sun Xiuxiu picked at the noodles in her bowl that were almost lumped together, and said as she ate, "Xingyue, I really admire you. You gave birth to two children all by yourself. Back then, conditions were so tough, and we didn't even know you were the one who made it through."
“What can’t a mother overcome?” Qiao Xingyue said to Sun Xiuxiu while eating noodles.
Shen Liping also chimed in, "Xingyue, if I had known back then that you were the fourth son's wife, and that you were being bullied by that lecherous man in the dilapidated temple, I should have brought you and the two children back to Jincheng."
Sun Xiuxiu asked curiously, "Xingyue, why didn't you go to Jincheng Military Region to find Zhongming back then? When your mother kicked you out, you should have gone directly to Jincheng Military Region to find him. Xingyue, don't misunderstand, your second sister-in-law didn't mean to blame you. Your second sister-in-law just felt sorry for you having suffered so much with An'an and Ningning all these years."
Huang Guilan explained on Qiao Xingyue's behalf, "This is all Lao Si's fault, and also my fault. I never let Lao Si go back to Chadian Village to see Xingyue. You know, Lao Si was tricked by Xingyue's mother into getting married to Xingyue. Xingyue's mother is holding onto Xingyue's marriage certificate because she's afraid she'll find out what Ming looks like or what his name is. So she's withholding the marriage certificate and also keeping all the money Lao Si sent back."
Qiao Xingyue chimed in, "Yes, Second Sister-in-law, I really thought An'an and Ningning's father was dead at the time, and I really didn't know his name or what he looked like. When we were taking the marriage certificate photos, I was so confused and dizzy that I couldn't remember anything at all. The veterinary drug had a really strong aftereffect; I was dizzy for several days afterward."
Shen Liping stopped eating her noodles: "Xingyue, don't mention that veterinary medicine. From now on, live a good life. Fourth Brother will definitely treat you well."
The whole family squeezed into the main room to eat noodles.
The group of women chatted more and more enthusiastically, and soon they started talking about going to the department store to buy furniture for Xingyue and Xie Zhongming.
After breakfast, Huang Guilan led her three daughters-in-law to the department store to buy two new style palm fiber beds for Qiao Xingyue. These beds were made of elm wood with hemp rope woven in the middle, making them elastic, breathable, and high-end.
Qiao Xingyue asked about the price; a bed cost 96 yuan.
She stopped Huang Guilan, saying, "Mom, this bed is too expensive. Let's just buy an iron bed."
But Huang Guilan paid the money directly.
Keep in mind that 96 yuan in those days was equivalent to one or two months' salary for an average worker.
But Huang Guilan didn't even blink.
“Xingyue, you’ve already suffered a lot following Lao Si, how can we let you suffer any more? These furniture pieces must be of good quality.”
Qiao Xingyue pulled Huang Guilan's hand, who was about to pay, and said, "Mom, I have money. Zhongming gave me all the money he had saved over the years, and I also brought back more than three thousand yuan from my parents' home. I will pay for the furniture myself."
“That won’t do.” Huang Guilan pushed Qiao Xingyue away and took out several large ten-yuan bills from her handkerchief.
When Qiao Xingyue tried to stop her again, Shen Liping and Sun Xiuxiu quickly grabbed her hands.
Shen Liping chimed in, "Yes, Xingyue, don't worry about the money. Our mom has money. She's a university professor, and her retirement pension is almost two hundred yuan. Our dad also gets two hundred and sixty-eight yuan a month."
“Liping, Xiuxiu, Mom has to make this clear first. Your dad said that every month after he gets his salary, he will set aside 168 yuan to subsidize Xingyue and An'an Ningning. An'an Ningning has really suffered a lot with Xingyue, and Mom and Dad want to subsidize the three of them more. Please don’t say that Mom and Dad are being biased, and please don’t have any objections.”
Huang Guilan gave the money for two palm-fiber beds and then folded up the handkerchief containing the money.
Shen Liping, standing nearby, said understandingly, "What objection could Xiuxiu and I have? My parents helped me out when my family needed money urgently. I wanted to repay that money, but you absolutely refused to accept it."
Shen Liping added, "Mom, besides, during the time my eldest son and I were away from home, whenever something happened at my parents' house, it was always you and Dad who helped us out. You two have helped us so much. Now it's time to take better care of Xingyue."
“Mom, you have the right to allocate your pension and Dad’s salary however you want. Besides, you helped me out a lot when I was hospitalized,” Sun Xiuxiu added.
Sun Xiuxiu is grateful, because her mother-in-law took care of her whether she was giving birth and in confinement or when she was sick and hospitalized.
This mother-in-law not only helped her cleanse her lochia after she gave birth, but also washed her underwear.
Even when her mother-in-law was sick, her second son, Xie Zhongjie, couldn't come back in time to empty her bedpan.
Sun Xiuxiu held Huang Guilan's hand and said with a smile, "Mom, we support whatever you do."
Shen Liping interjected, "Mom, our old bicycle is worn out. Xiuxiu and I have discussed it and decided to buy Xingyue a new one. Xiuxiu and I will pay for the three-wheeled radio and a microphone for Xingyue. This is money that the eldest and second sons' families should pay, so please don't argue with me, Mom."
Huang Guilan knew that her eldest and second daughters-in-law were both reasonable, so she patted Shen Liping's hand and smiled from ear to ear, "Good, good, good. This is your kind intention as the eldest brother and sister-in-law, Mom won't argue with you."
Such hospitality made Qiao Xingyue feel like she had gotten a great deal, so she quickly declined, "Mom, sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, that won't do..."
Before she could finish speaking, Shen Liping interrupted, "What's wrong with that? It has to be possible. Xingyue, you'll be the fourth sister-in-law someday. When the fifth brother, Xie Zhongyan, gets married, you and the fourth brother will have to contribute money and effort."
Qiao Xingyue has not yet met the third and fifth sons of the Xie family.
Even if you've never met them, you can imagine that these two brothers must be just as handsome and talented as the eldest brother, the second brother, and Xie Zhongming.
She happily replied, "Okay!"
Next, the family picked out a four-door wardrobe and a two-door wardrobe for Qiao Xingyue, one for their main room and the other for An An Ning Ning's room.
There are also octagonal tables with clear varnish and fretwork patterns on the legs.
We bought a black and white television, a radio, a sewing machine, a writing desk, a chair, a dressing mirror, a bedside table, a camphor wood chest, a bright red pure cotton quilt, pillows, a towel blanket, a radio, a table lamp, an enamel basin, an enamel jar, pots and pans, and even a washboard and soap.
Sun Xiuxiu held up the light brown birch washboard and joked, "Xingyue, if Fourth Brother ever makes a mistake, make him kneel on this washboard."
“The Xie brothers are all good men, how could they make any big mistakes?” Shen Liping said with a smile. “Xingyue, let the fourth brother use this washboard, don’t you wash the clothes, let the fourth brother wash all the clothes. But the fourth brother should take the initiative to do these housework, right? Our dad, and your eldest and second brothers, they always fight to do these chores at home. I have to say, our mom has trained her husband and five sons to be very considerate.”
Qiao Xingyue couldn't stop smiling.
These Xie brothers are indeed all like Xie Jiang: considerate, family-oriented, well-mannered, respectful of their wives, and energetic in their work.
Let alone in this era, such a man would be extremely rare, even in later generations.
By the time we finished buying all these items, big and small, it was already midday.
Huang Guilan hired several carts to haul the purchased furniture and items back to the compound. Several men in the family helped carry them into the family compound that Xie Zhongming had applied for. The family spent only one afternoon tidying up the compound and making it neat and clean.
This courtyard is not as big as Huang Guilan's courtyard; it's about half the size.
There are only three rooms on the two floors, but in addition to a small courtyard of 30 to 40 square meters on the first floor, there is also a terrace on the second floor.
Qiao Xingyue loves flowers and plants, and she also enjoys growing vegetables. Her yard and terrace, with their separate upper and lower sections, are enough for her to manage on a daily basis.
An An and Ning Ning especially liked the new room that their two aunts had decorated for them.
With a large family, they quickly tidied up the new house, leaving it bright, clean, and cozy.
After wiping the cabinets in the main room, Huang Guilan went to the kitchen and asked Qiao Xingyue, who was boiling water to make tea for everyone, "Xingyue, stop what you're doing and come see if there's anything else we need. Mom will buy it for you."
Qiao Xingyue looked around.
A red-lacquered octagonal table was polished to a shine, the wood grain was clearly visible, the edges were rounded and smooth, and the legs were carved with meander patterns, exuding Chinese elegance.
Next to the octagonal table were two sets of mahogany sofas with cushions on them.
A rattan chair was placed next to the sofa, the rattan woven sturdily and evenly.
Against the wall stood a brand-new Butterfly brand sewing machine, next to which was a tall cabinet with a brand-new black-and-white television on it. Beside it was a brand-new thermos flask with the words "Serve the People" written on it. Even the enamel mug next to the thermos flask was brand new.
At this moment, Xie Jiang handed a calligraphy and painting to his eldest brother, Xie Zhongyi. Xie Zhongyi, who was standing on a stool, took the calligraphy and painting and hung it on the wall. The calligraphy on the painting was in large handwritten characters: "Honesty and kindness are passed down through generations" and "Harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things".
The words were written by Xie Jiang himself in regular script, with strong strokes and glossy black ink. They were mounted on light brown paper. Between the lines, one could sense the old father's expectations for the young couple, hoping for harmony in their family and for the stability of the country.
Qiao Xingyue was already very satisfied with this spotless and fully-equipped little home.
Before, when she was with An'an and Ningning, they always lived in thatched huts. Forget about these brand-new furniture, the house was always drafty and leaky. When she worked as a nanny in Kuncheng, she and An'an and Ningning slept on the floor in the main room. The three of them were the last to go to bed and the first to get up. The employer would get up and pass through the main room several times in the middle of the night, making it impossible for them to sleep properly.
Now I have a two-story house, three rooms, a small courtyard, a terrace, complete and brand-new furniture, and such easy-going sisters-in-law, and a mother-in-law who is even closer than my own mother. What a wonderful life this is!
At this moment, Jiang Beiyang learned that the Xie family had come here to set up Xingyue and Xie Zhongming's new home. He walked in from outside the courtyard, saying as he went, "Aunt Lan, Xingyue, good news! The Central Inspection Team came to Jincheng Military Region today. I guess Zhao Guangliang won't dare to take revenge. Without irrefutable evidence, he will definitely have to release Zhongming."
As they were talking, Jiang Beiyang had already arrived at the main room.
Looking around the bright and tidy house, Jiang Beiyang's eyes lit up. "This is Zhongming and Xingyue's new house. It's so clean and tidy."
"You should hurry up and get married, apply for a family compound, and Aunt Lan will come over to help you decorate your little home." Huang Guilan joked with a smile, then asked, "What did you say about the Central Inspection Team?"
The eldest brother, Xie Zhongyi, knew the most about the Central Inspection Team.
Upon hearing Jiang Beiyang's words, Xie Zhongyi got off the stool but remained silent, as the matter was confidential.
Jiang Beiyang added, "I'm not quite sure what they came for, but as soon as they arrived, they called Zhao Guangliang over."
"Could it be that they came here specifically to investigate Zhao Guangliang?" Huang Guilan looked disgusted and repulsed at the mention of Zhao Guangliang.
Zhao Guangliang was not only ugly, with small, narrow eyes like a rat, but also had a large nose, making him unpleasant to look at. He was also cowardly, treacherous, and cunning. He was clearly a deserter, but when he was captured and sent to cross the Yalu River, the front lines achieved victory, and he was allowed to join the main force and receive military merits without any compensation.
Over the years, Huang Guilan has witnessed Zhao Guangliang grow from a thin and dark-skinned man to a fat and big-eared man. Since he climbed all the way to the position of division commander, she doesn't know how many bad things he has done.
The eldest brother, Xie Zhongyi, put the stool back in front of the octagonal table and echoed, "Who knows? Maybe they really are here to thoroughly investigate Zhao Guangliang. When I was in the capital, I heard some bad rumors about Zhao Guangliang."
Jiang Beiyang took a sip of the water Qiao Xingyue poured and said, "Whether they're here to investigate Zhao Guangliang or not, it's definitely not good news that Zhao Guangliang has been called in for questioning. They also have no evidence to prove that Xingyue and Zhongming are enemy agents, so Zhongming is definitely fine."
Just then, a familiar voice came from outside the main room, "Dad, Mom, Xingyue, are you here?"
Before the words outside had even faded, An'an and Ningning, who were standing next to Qiao Xingyue, ran happily out of the main room like two little sparrows just released from their cage, shouting, "It's Daddy! Daddy's back!"
An'an ran to the threshold of the main room, tripped and fell, but didn't cry. She got up, clapped her hands, and continued to run out happily.
"dad!"
"dad!"
The clear shouts, like two small bells, entered Xie Zhongming's ears.
When An Anning saw him, her eyes instantly lit up like water-soaked black grapes. Her legs moved quickly, as eager as two little sparrows returning to their nest, and she rushed into Xie Zhongming's arms as he bent down.
Xie Zhongming picked up the two babies, supporting their knees and letting their little bottoms sit on his arms, steadily supporting the two babies.
The two little ones were not light, but Xie Zhongming held them steadily. Even after a night of exertion, a soldier's arms were still strong and powerful.
An'an suddenly hugged his neck, rubbing her little head against his neck, "Daddy, I missed you so much."
"Dad, I miss you so much too." Ningning's voice was soft and gentle.
The sight of the two soft, adorable dolls suddenly warmed his heart, and the exhaustion from being interrogated all night was instantly dispelled by their calls of "Daddy."
Seeing the two children, who had only recognized Xie Zhongming two days ago, being so affectionate, and the scene of the three of them embracing each other, suddenly brought tears to Qiao Xingyue's eyes...
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