Chapter 116 A Meeting Too Late
Qiao Xingyue knew that the matter between the Xie and Chen families could not be publicized, otherwise it would only hasten their demotion and re-education.
If it weren't for the fact that both Chen Shenghua and Xie Jiang had acquaintances in Beijing, neither family would have received any news about it.
Qiao Xingyue stared wide-eyed at Xie Zhongming, looking both aggrieved and angry. "Xie Zhongming, come out here."
Director Zhao, wearing black-rimmed glasses, noticed Qiao Xingyue standing next to Chen Jiahui. The woman looked unfamiliar to him, so he walked up to Xie Zhongming and asked, "Commander Xie, who is this?"
Xiao Songhua quickly pushed Director Zhao inside, saying, "Director Zhao, this is Commander Xie's wife. She has something to discuss with Commander Xie, so we won't get involved."
Director Zhao was sensible and didn't ask any further questions.
Outside the door.
Qiao Xingyue walked to a jujube tree outside the bungalow of the regimental political department, with her back to Xie Zhongming, waiting for Xie Zhongming to give her an explanation.
The shade of the jujube tree fell on Qiao Xingyue, and the branches swayed in the wind, casting indistinct shadows that made Qiao Xingyue's mood even more chaotic.
Behind him, Xie Zhongming stood ramrod straight, his rank insignia still brand new, but his face had lost its former spiritedness, replaced only by profound weariness and resolute determination.
“Xingyue, stop making trouble. This marriage must end. If what you say is true, and this Down to the Countryside Movement will be completely over in four years, and our Xie family can clear our names, then I will definitely marry you back.”
His voice was hoarse, yet carried an undeniable force.
Hearing this forceful tone, Qiao Xingyue turned around abruptly and looked at the man she had entrusted her life to.
"Xie Zhongming, let me ask you, what did you say to me when we were getting our marriage certificate renewed?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
With her head full of bright red dates, she walked step by step to Xie Zhongming, her gaze fixed on Xie Zhongming's evasive eyes.
Xie Zhongming avoided her gaze, lowered his head slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly as he spoke in a low voice, "Those times were different, but the situation is different now..."
"What's different?" Qiao Xingyue's voice suddenly rose considerably.
The pent-up grievances and anger finally broke through her restraint, and she loudly questioned him, "You said you would treat me well in the future, through thick and thin, and let me wait and see. Your answer will have to be proven by your actions over the rest of your life."
She raised her hand to wipe her face, drying the last of her tears, her fingertips turning white from the force.
Her originally delicate features now revealed a stubborn strength.
She straightened her back, a sharp questioning glint in her eyes. "Xie Zhongming, do you know what it means to weather the storm together? Do you know what a lifetime means? Is your lifetime just about the daily necessities when things are going well? Are you going to abandon me when things go wrong?"
Xie Zhongming was speechless.
The wind is blowing under the jujube tree, and the leaves are rustling.
But then an unusual, deathly silence fell over the atmosphere.
Xie Zhongming's shoulders trembled slightly, and his clenched fist tightened even more.
Qiao Xingyue stood before him, her straight back like a poplar tree braving the wind. Her swollen eyes were no longer wet with tears, only a resolute determination remained. "So what if you have a divorce petition? I'll still take An'an and Ningning with me to the countryside. Jia Hui and Song Hua got their marriage certificate and they were able to go to the countryside with Uncle Chen and Aunt Wang, so can I."
Her resolve hardened further. "Xie Zhongming, you can't stop me."
This last sentence was like a final, decisive statement, carried in her firm and resolute tone.
Firstly, Qiao Xingyue had decided that Xie Zhongming was the right man for her.
Aside from not returning to Chadian Village for the past five years, he has done a great job in every other aspect. Even though he was tricked by Zeng Xiuzhu, he still married her, sent her a lot of living expenses every month, and was very meticulous and considerate towards An An and Ning Ning.
Not only does she need him as her husband, but An An and Ning Ning also need him as their father.
She recalled the knife he took for her in Chadian Village and the bullet he shielded her from on the train. These scenes flashed through Qiao Xingyue's mind, further strengthening her resolve to go to the countryside with him.
"Xingyue..." Xie Zhongming had just started to speak when Qiao Xingyue couldn't help but choke up, "Xie Zhongming, I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing it for Mom and Dad, for An'an and Ningning."
After saying that, she wiped away the tears that were still wet at the corners of her eyes and walked straight toward the red brick building of the Political Department.
Xiao Songhua and Chen Jiahui stood at the threshold of the political department's bungalow. Seeing her approach, Chen Jiahui spoke first, "Xingyue..."
Meeting Chen Jiahui's gaze, Qiao Xingyue forced a smile, indicating that she was alright, and then asked, "Jiahui, what are the names of the leaders in the Political Department? How should I address them?"
Chen Jiahui spoke first, "Director Zhao."
Qiao Xingyue nodded, stepped across the threshold, and walked towards Director Zhao. When she reached him, she politely greeted him, "Director Zhao, hello. I am Qiao Xingyue, Xie Zhongming's wife. I do not agree to the divorce."
She guessed that Xie Zhongming must have found a very convincing reason to get Director Zhao to sign the divorce application.
However, Xie Zhongming certainly did not reveal that the Xie and Chen families were about to be liquidated and relocated for reform.
This is a matter of great importance, and such reasons are not to be given lightly.
She thought for a moment and asked, "Director Zhao, did my husband tell you that he was going to carry out a very difficult and dangerous mission, and that he might sacrifice himself? Was he afraid that he wouldn't come back and that I would be left to live a widowed life, so he submitted a divorce application to you?"
Besides this reason, Qiao Xingyue couldn't think of any other reason that would make Director Zhao sign off without even going through the mediation process.
Divorce proceedings for military personnel are extremely complicated.
It's impossible for a divorce to be granted simply because Xie Zhongming filed the request unilaterally. Besides, Qiao Xingyue isn't at fault.
Seeing the look of admiration in Director Zhao's eyes, Qiao Xingyue became even more certain of her guess.
I had long heard that Commander Xie's wife was exceptionally intelligent.
Seeing it today, I can confirm that it truly lives up to its reputation.
Director Zhao looked at her with admiration, "Comrade Qiao, you guessed it!"
Upon hearing this, Qiao Xingyue glanced back at Xie Zhongming, who had followed her in, her eyes filled with reproach and anger. She then turned to Director Zhao and said, "Director Zhao, Xie Zhongming and I are husband and wife. We should share happiness and hardship together. No matter what happens, even if what Xie Zhongming says is true—that he goes on a mission and his life is in danger, and he sacrifices himself for the country—I will still be his wife, a military wife. It is my honor to be a military wife. He is fighting on the front lines, so I should take care of this home for him and be filial to his parents. Anyway, I do not agree to a divorce."
As she spoke, Qiao Xingyue added, "Director Zhao, I know that if officers at the regimental level or above in the military want to get a divorce, the divorce application report has to be approved level by level. Please tell the leaders above that I do not agree to the divorce. Thank you."
Director Zhao looked at Qiao Xingyue and thought to himself: She is truly a good comrade.
After Qiao Xingyue turned and left, Director Zhao looked at Xie Zhongming and said, "Commander Xie, your wife is a good comrade. You really shouldn't have divorced her. I won't submit your divorce application to the higher authorities."
As he spoke, Director Zhao stepped forward and patted Xie Zhongming on the shoulder, saying, "Be careful and cautious when carrying out the mission, and be sure to come back alive."
The claim that the mission was arduous and life-threatening was merely a pretext fabricated by Xie Zhongming.
The real reason, Xie Zhongming could not say.
He stared at the slender figure walking further and further away from the entrance of the regimental headquarters bungalow, his brows furrowed tightly, and he said nothing more.
Then they stepped out of the regimental headquarters' bungalow.
Standing at the door, Chen Jiahui comforted him, "Commander Xie, Xingyue has made up her mind, so just go with her. She went to the countryside with you. Life may be tough, but An'an and Ningning can be with their grandparents and parents. No matter how hard life is, they will be happy."
Xie Zhongming didn't say anything and walked forward.
Chen Jiahui and Xiao Songhua followed behind, watching Xie Ming and Qiao Xingyue walk forward one after the other.
Suddenly, Qiao Xingyue stopped, and Xie Zhongming stopped as well.
Looking at Qiao Xingyue's stubborn yet slender back, Xie Zhongming recalled the past five years. She had given birth to An An and Ning Ning in a dilapidated temple all by herself, and she had cut An An and Ning Ning's umbilical cord with a shard of broken ceramic. She had raised two children alone and had gone from weighing over 200 pounds to just over 90 pounds.
How many times did she go hungry during those five years?
He couldn't bear the thought of Xingyue going to the countryside for reform if it meant she would suffer hunger and hardship.
“Xingyue, why are you so stubborn? If you get divorced and go to live with your uncle Huang, at least you won’t starve. If, as you say, the Xie and Chen families are exonerated, I can return to the city, and we can remarry. Besides…”
Qiao Xingyue wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, turned around, and looked back with a resolute look in her eyes. "You don't need to say anything. I'm just stubborn, like a bull."
"Xingyue, it's not worth it for me."
"Whether it's worth it or not isn't up to you to decide. Also, don't be so conceited. I'm not going to go to the countryside entirely for you. I'm doing it for my in-laws, who are even better than my own parents, and for my child."
Qiao Xingyue's voice was hoarse, choked with sobs, filled with grievance, but also with stubbornness and determination: "If I go back, Mom will definitely be upset too. I have to go back and keep her company."
As she spoke, Qiao Xingyue turned and walked out onto the dirt road leading from the regimental headquarters. Xie Zhongming watched her go until she was out of sight and was still standing there.
Xiao Songhua walked up from behind and patted him on the shoulder. “Zhongming, what Comrade Xingyue said makes sense. Why don’t you stop insisting? When you go to the countryside, just do more work and take good care of her. I will visit you whenever I have time. I will bring you meat, cloth, and grain. I will bring you whatever you need.”
“Yes, Commander Xie.” Chen Jiahui stepped forward and looked at Xie Zhongming. “After Songhua and I get our marriage certificate, I will also go to the countryside with you. At that time, I will be a free person and will not be subject to the supervision and restrictions of the production brigade and militia organization. I will take care of everyone.”
Xie Zhongming looked at Xiao Songhua and Chen Jiahui and said, "You two should hurry up and get the documents signed at the political department of the division headquarters, and then go to the community to get your marriage certificate. There's no time to lose."
Xiao Songhua nodded, his gaze falling on Chen Jiahui's profile. He saw that Chen Jiahui also nodded and smiled at Xie Zhongming.
The morning sun shone on Chen Jiahui's face, and the wisps of hair at her temples were brushed behind her ears by the wind, revealing a section of her fair neck. A smile still lingered on the corners of her mouth.
That smile was like a gummy candy, gently bumping into Xiao Songhua's heart.
His stern gaze softened inexplicably.
In the past, he would feel like a thief if he even glanced at her, and he never dared to linger on her profile for more than two seconds like he did today.
The wind blew the stray hairs on her forehead and made her clothes sway gently. Xiao Songhua looked at her profile with a kind expression. His usually sharp and tough gaze softened inch by inch, like cotton soaked in water.
The girl he had been longing for was finally going to become his wife.
"Let's go." Xiao Songhua's voice, which was usually a bit rough, was unusually gentle at this moment. Even Xie Zhongming could hear the gentleness in the boy's voice, and Xie Zhongming even smiled along with him—this kid Xiao Songhua had finally gotten what he wanted.
It really is true that fortune and misfortune are intertwined!
Chen Jiahui looked at Xiao Songhua, "Songhua, I want to say a few words to Commander Xie, could you...?"
Xiao Songhua was stunned for a moment, remembering that Chen Jiahui had liked Xie Zhongming since childhood. Perhaps there was something she didn't want him to hear, maybe it was a farewell, maybe it was a blessing. Whatever it was, it stirred up a thousand waves in Xiao Songhua's heart at this moment.
Suddenly, a surge of jealousy welled up inside me.
But Xiao Songhua, still a tough guy, nodded and said, "Okay, I'll wait for you under that tree over there."
After saying that, Xiao Songhua straightened his back and walked in that direction with a unique firmness and uprightness in every step.
In fact, Chen Jiahui had already let go of Xie Zhongming long ago.
When she intended to bring Xie Zhongming and Qiao Xingyue together, she already regarded him only as an older brother in the family and silently wished him well.
At this moment, what Chen Jiahui wanted to say to Xie Zhongming was not anything else, but rather the future prospects that Qiao Xingyue had mentioned. She comforted Xie Zhongming, "Commander Xie, we should look on the bright side and not worry too much. Xingyue told me that she traveled from 50 years in the future. Although this is a bit far-fetched, like a fantasy, I believe what Xingyue said. She said that this 'Down to the Countryside Movement' would end completely in four years, and it definitely will. She said that every family would live a good life in the future, and it definitely will. Four years sounds short, but it's also long. You and Xingyue have already missed five years; if you miss another four, it will be almost ten years. How many decades does one have in a lifetime? Commander Xie, if you really care about Xingyue and An'an and Ningning, you can't just consider things from your own perspective. You need to think about Xingyue and the two children. What do they really need? Whatever they need, that's the best thing you can give them."
Chen Jiahui's words suddenly enlightened Xie Zhongming. "...Jiahui, thank you!"
"Commander Xie, I should be thanking you. You brought such a good friend as Xingyue to me, giving me a confidante. Xingyue and I are like kindred spirits!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com