Chapter 55 Comrade Xie's Methods of Pursuing His Wife Are a Little More Complex
A 28-inch bicycle drove through the streets and came to a steady stop in front of a state-run restaurant.
Qiao Xingyue, who was sitting in the back row, jumped down lightly. As she carried Ningning, who was sitting in the front row, down, Xie Zhongming also carried An'an down.
Xie Zhongming stared at the identical faces of Qiao Xingyue, An An, and Ning Ning, mother and daughters. The two dolls were as exquisite as porcelain dolls. They were his wife and twin daughters. Even now, Xie Zhongming was still in shock, fearing that this was just a dream.
Xie Zhongming held An'an in his arms and glanced at Qiao Xingyue cautiously. "Comrade Qiao, we've arrived."
Qiao Xingyue held Ningning and responded faintly, "Mm."
She didn't say a single word.
She then carried Ningning and walked into the state-run restaurant ahead of him, leaving Xie Zhongming, who was carrying An'an, feeling very uncomfortable looking at her deliberately distant back.
He knew that Comrade Qiao was still complaining about him and angry with him, but he shamelessly followed him.
The family of four sat down at a square table. Xie Zhongming patted An'an's head and said, "An'an, what do you and your sister want to eat? Look at the menu on the blackboard and order. Don't be stingy, order whatever you want. Uncle Zhongming is treating today."
The words "Uncle Zhongming" stuck in his throat for a moment, but he still managed to say them.
Xie Zhongming really wanted to change that title.
But now is not the time.
He was afraid that An An and Ning Ning would see the scene of his discord with Comrade Qiao, so he could only temporarily deny their relationship.
Then, looking at Ningning, he said, "Ningning, take a look at the menu on the blackboard and order whatever you want to eat."
Qiao Xingyue, who was used to being frugal, said to the two children, "An'an and Ningning, don't order too much, we can't waste it."
Xie Zhongming quickly chimed in, "Comrade Qiao, it's alright, let the kids order whatever they want. It's a rare occasion for the two kids to come to a state-run restaurant."
Qiao Xingyue looked at him, unable to forget the suffering her two children had endured with her over the years. During their most difficult times, they relied on wild vegetables to stave off hunger, the two children wolfing down the bitter vegetable porridge each time. Whenever she recalled these past events, her heart ached terribly as a mother. She always felt she hadn't taken good care of her two children, only caring about giving birth but failing to provide them with a good environment to grow up in, leaving them hungry and thirsty.
However, this era was different from later generations; it wasn't simply a matter of having hands and feet to go out and work to earn money.
In those days, living in the countryside meant earning work points to receive food. She was raising two children alone, and even with superhuman abilities, she couldn't earn many work points. Later, she went to the city and even had to beg for food. If she hadn't fainted at the Furong Restaurant in Kunming, where the manager kindly gave her a meal and let her stay to wash dishes, she and An'an and Ningning would probably have starved to death. Later, she went to Shantang Village and became a village doctor, which finally prevented her two children from going hungry so often.
This man thought that by taking his two children to a state-run restaurant for a meal, he could make up for his past shortcomings.
Nothing can make up for it.
However, she didn't want to say these things in front of her two children, lest it have a negative impact on them.
She gently instructed the two children, "An'an and Ningning, order as much as you can eat. Don't order too much because your eyes are bigger than your stomach, or it will all go to waste later."
An'an and Ningning were very well-behaved. They nodded, and An'an ordered braised chicken legs and Ningning ordered brown sugar steamed buns. Xie Zhongming then asked the two children to order more, but both of them shook their heads.
"Uncle Zhongming, although you work in the army and have tickets and money, it's still hard work to earn money. This is enough for you."
The one speaking is the lively and adorable An'an.
These words stirred up Xie Zhongming's emotions. What an understanding child he was.
It must be said that Comrade Qiao has raised her two children very well. They are not even five years old and have not attended preschool. Other children who have not gone to school may not even know how to count to 1, 2, 3, but An'an and Ningning can look at the blackboard of the state-run restaurant and read out all the names of the dishes. In addition to being literate and cultured, they are also so sensible that it breaks your heart.
Comrade Qiao is truly an amazing mother for raising two such well-behaved and sensible children even when she herself is struggling to get enough to eat.
He patted An An's head, his palm resting on her head. "Okay, order as much as you can eat. Don't waste food. Order more if you're still hungry."
He then looked at Qiao Xingyue and said, "Comrade Qiao, what would you like to eat? You can order a dish too."
Qiao Xingyue looked at the blackboard with the names of the dishes written on it, "I'll just have sweet potato leaves."
Xie Zhongming wrote down the dishes she wanted in the order book, intending to hand it to the waiter later. Then, looking up at her, he said, "Comrade Qiao, please order a meat dish."
Qiao Xingyue: "That's enough, just order this much, it'll be enough for us."
Xie Zhongming assumed she was used to being frugal and wouldn't want to order any more meat dishes, so he took it upon himself to add a braised pork knuckle and braised pork ribs with potatoes, and then handed them to the waiter.
The waiter took the notebook with the menu and was about to leave when Qiao Xingyue called out, "Excuse me, please don't use pork lard to stir-fry the sweet potato leaves I ordered. Use vegetable oil and make it lighter."
The waitress was a woman in her twenties, wearing a white uniform and a white round hat with her hair tucked inside, looking clean and hygienic. She said very politely, "Comrade, sweet potato leaves only have a good aroma when stir-fried with lard and pork cracklings. Stir-frying them with vegetable oil makes them a bit bland. I suggest you stir-fry them with lard and pork cracklings."
Qiao Xingyue smiled and said, "Thank you for your kind reminder, comrade. However, my stomach hasn't been feeling well lately, so I don't want to eat anything too greasy. Just stir-fry it for me with vegetable oil."
Hearing that she had an upset stomach, Xie Zhongming asked with concern, "Comrade Qiao, are you having an upset stomach? After we finish eating, I'll take you to the clinic."
Qiao Xingyue looked at him and said, "You've forgotten, I am a doctor myself."
During the months she worked as a nanny at the Xie family's house, Aunt Lan would always give her a lot of meat.
The food was so good that she gained a lot of weight around her waist.
The original owner of this chubby girl was prone to weight gain, and if she continued to eat like this, she would only get fatter and fatter.
When the man heard her say that she had a stomach problem, he looked at her with concern.
But then Qiao Xingyue thought again, if the person sitting in front of him now was a chubby girl weighing over 200 pounds, would he still have such a concerned look and tone?
She responded coldly, "Comrade Xie, there's no need to worry. I'm not sick, I just don't have a good appetite and don't want to eat anything too greasy. I'd like something lighter."
Upon hearing this, Xie Zhongming specifically instructed the waiter, "Comrade, please tell the kitchen that the red scallion leaves must be stir-fried with vegetable oil, not lard, and without any pork cracklings. Also, do you have hawthorn fruit syrup? If so, bring three bottles."
The comrade nodded, "Yes, okay!"
When the dishes were served, Xie Zhongming used a bottle opener to open the bottle of hawthorn fruit syrup, handed it to An Ningning, and then to Qiao Xingyue, saying, "Comrade Qiao, if you don't have a good appetite, drink some of this hawthorn fruit syrup. It's very appetizing."
This man is quite good at taking care of people.
However, after accepting the hawthorn fruit syrup in the glass, Qiao Xingyue simply said thank you.
After the meal, Xie Zhongming wiped the sauce off An'an and Ningning's little mouths, then told the two children, "An'an and Ningning, go play outside for a while. Uncle Zhongming and Mommy have something to discuss."
As he spoke, Xie Zhongming took out a handful of colorful marbles from his pocket and stuffed them into the palms of the two children.
"Let's go outside and play marbles."
After the two kids skipped off to play with their marbles, Xie Zhongming took out a tin box of cookies and handed it to Qiao Xingyue.
Qiao Xingyue looked at the tin box. "Why are you giving me a box of cookies?"
Xie Zhongming, thinking of the hardships he had caused his wife and daughters over the years due to his negligence and deliberate avoidance, felt endless guilt and self-reproach in his eyes. "Comrade Qiao, this isn't a cookie. It's an empty cookie tin. For the past few years, I've gone to the post office every month and sent money back to Chadian Village. Before I became the head of the village, my monthly salary plus allowance was 48 yuan, and I only kept 10 yuan, sending the rest of 38 yuan back to Chadian Village. Later, when I became the head of the village, I sent 100 yuan back every month. But I didn't know that all that money ended up in my mother-in-law's pocket. I know that even if I sent money back, it doesn't mean I'm a good husband. On the contrary, all the suffering you three have endured over the years is my fault. I haven't saved much money over the years, just two thousand yuan, and I'm entrusting it all to you for safekeeping."
As he spoke, he added, "Before, I kept all my money with my mother, but from now on, I'll give it all to you as soon as I get my salary, and you'll take care of the household."
Qiao Xingyue was still angry. Now that An An and Ning Ning were not around, she finally didn't have to hide her anger. "Who told you I was going to take care of this family? We're getting a divorce anyway, I'm not going to take care of the family."
“But,” she picked up the tin box of cookies, “I’ll take the money, consider it compensation for An An and Ning Ning.”
Only a fool wouldn't accept this money.
This was something Xie Zhongming was supposed to give An An Ning Ning.
Seeing her put the metal box containing the money into her canvas bag, Xie Zhongming smiled with satisfaction. "I don't care. I'll give you all my salary from now on, and I won't keep a single penny."
Once the family compound was approved, he personally went over to make some repairs and add some furniture, and then brought Comrade Qiao and An'an and Ningning to their own small courtyard. The four of them lived separately, not with their parents and grandmother.
At that time, he will listen to Comrade Qiao on all matters, big and small, at home.
After fastening the canvas bag, Qiao Xingyue looked up and said, "Comrade Xie, consider this money as a gift for An'an and Ningning. Also, I need to discuss the divorce with you again. I will have custody of An'an and Ningning, but I will make sure they treat Aunt Lan and Uncle Xie like their own grandparents and visit them often. Also, I don't want all your salary, but you have to pay child support every month, and you also have to pay for Ningning's medicine."
“I agree,” Xie Zhongming said firmly. “I’ll give you all the money as soon as I get paid.”
“I didn’t say I wanted everything. I just want An’an and Ning’s child support and Ning’s medical expenses.”
Xie Zhongming didn't say anything more. Anyway, he made up his mind that he would give all his military salary to Qiao Xingyue from now on.
Looking at An An and Ning Ning squatting outside the state-run restaurant, playing marbles with each other, Xie Zhongming said again, "Comrade Qiao, I know you don't want to live with me. I am indeed an irresponsible man. I understand that you want a divorce. I agree to the divorce, but the divorce procedures may not be completed so quickly. First, Commander Chen is away on a business trip and has not returned yet, so the divorce report will not be approved so quickly. Second, An An and Ning Ning should have started preschool a long time ago. I want to send An An and Ning Ning to the affiliated kindergarten of Jincheng No. 1 Primary School."
Xie Zhongming withdrew his gaze from the two children. "But I've inquired, and neither of the children has a Jincheng household registration. Either we get divorced, and I get custody of An'an and Ningning, and their household registration is under my name. Or you and An'an and Ningning can transfer to my household registration so you can attend school here."
He specifically asked, "Comrade Qiao, did you lose the marriage certificate that we got in Chadian Village?"
“It wasn’t lost,” Qiao Xingyue replied. “When Zeng Xiuzhu kicked me out, she didn’t give me the marriage certificate. I never even saw it.”
Otherwise, I wouldn't have only found out a few days ago that he was An An Ning Ning's father.
Xie Zhongming understood immediately; she indeed did not have a marriage certificate, otherwise she would have recognized him much earlier.
He picked up the thermos from the state-run restaurant, poured half a cup of water into Qiao Xingyue's enamel mug, and continued, "Comrade Qiao, no matter which of the two methods we choose, we must first get our marriage certificate replaced. A divorce requires a marriage certificate to proceed with the paperwork."
He put down the thermos and said, "Of course, if you can give me another chance to take care of you and your two daughters, we'll have to get our marriage certificate renewed, and then I'll transfer your and An'an and Ningning's household registration to mine so that An'an and Ningning can go to school."
He continued, "However, if you insist on getting a divorce, I respect your choice."
Regardless of which option you choose, you'll ultimately need to get a marriage certificate first so that you can go to school peacefully.
Once the marriage certificate is reissued, he will find a way to keep Comrade Qiao.
Qiao Xingyue could easily see through the man's ulterior motives. Humph, he just wanted to live a good life with her now that she wasn't her ugly, 200-pound self anymore.
But she saw through it but didn't expose it, saying, "Let's solve An'an's schooling problem first."
Hearing her say that, Xie Zhongming tensed up, looked at her, and asked, "Comrade Qiao, shall we go and reissue our marriage certificate tomorrow morning, and then handle the procedures for transferring An'an and Ningning's household registration?"
Qiao Xingyue nodded decisively, "Okay, but I have one condition. My household registration must be transferred to Jincheng along with An An and Ning Ning. Then we'll get a divorce. After the divorce, my household registration will be transferred separately, and An An and Ning Ning will be registered under my household registration. Later, I'll find an opportunity to tell An An and Ning Ning that you are their father, but custody must belong to me."
Xie Zhongming decided to take it one step at a time and said, "Okay."
After the two finished discussing, Xie Zhongming paid the bill and took the mother and her two daughters back to the compound.
After entering the main room, Qiao Xingyue took the two children to wash up first. Huang Guilan called Xie Zhongming into the room and asked, "Zhongming, what did you talk about when you went out to eat?"
"It's nothing."
"Try to find more topics to talk about with Xingyue. By the way, Zhongming, weren't An'an and Ningning stuck when they wanted to enroll last time? I pulled some strings and finally got them into school. I'll tell Xingyue the good news later."
"Mom," Xie Zhongming immediately retorted, "You can't let Xingyue know that you've helped An'an and Ningning settle their schooling."
Huang Guilan didn't understand why her fourth child was so strongly opposed. "Why? An'an and Ningning should have been in preschool long ago. If Xingyue knew that the two kids could stay and go to school, she would be so happy."
Xie Zhongming wouldn't lie, and if he didn't tell Huang Guilan the truth now, they probably wouldn't be able to get their marriage certificate tomorrow.
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