Chapter 78 A Couple of One Mind
Qiao Xingyue held the clothes in her hands and looked at them again and again. There was a large, irregularly torn piece on the front of the clothes, and the buttons were also missing.
She looked up and glanced at Xie Zhongming.
Newspapers were pasted on the windows of the room, and the strong sunlight from outside shone through, illuminating Xie Zhongming's tall and straight figure.
His tall, lean figure was backlit, his back straight like a poplar tree standing on the parade ground. His hands were neatly placed on the seams of his military green trousers, and even his breathing became much lighter. "Xingyue, I didn't tear your clothes."
He looked somewhat aggrieved when Qiao Xingyue gave him that look.
The Seagull brand floor fan was shaking its head, blowing right in front of him, lifting the fabric of his torn shirt to reveal his tanned, strong, and muscular body underneath. He quickly pressed down on one corner of the shirt with his hand, clutching it tightly.
Seeing that Qiao Xingyue didn't speak, he straightened his back and said, "Really, I really didn't tear it."
That soldier's fortitude had lost half its sharpness, leaving only a boyish helplessness and nervousness.
He was clearly a tough and resolute man, but at this moment he stood there like a wronged child.
Qiao Xingyue placed the clothes by the bedside. "I'm not blaming you. I tore them, not you. Okay, don't be so tense."
Looking at his arm exposed outside his sleeve, the muscles were taut, and he was probably tense all over.
She placed her hand on Xie Zhongming's arm, which she had scratched, and softened her tone, "I've torn both of our clothes. Go buy us a couple of new outfits and hurry back. If we don't go back, Aunt Lan and Uncle Xie probably won't have slept a wink last night."
And then there's An'an and Ningning, who might start overthinking and imagine something bad has happened to her.
When she was a village doctor in Shantang Village, sometimes when a villager's wife gave birth late at night or fell seriously ill in the middle of the night, she would often leave her two little babies, An'an and Ningning, in the dilapidated thatched hut when she went out for night clinics.
Fearing that bad people might come to her house, she would have An An and Ning Ning lock the door from the inside with several locks.
She installed the lock herself.
Sometimes she wouldn't return until noon the next day. As soon as the two children saw her, they would burst into tears, thinking that she had been carried away by wolves, that she had fallen into the river, or that she had encountered bad people. The two little heads were afraid that they would never have a mother again.
Even now, recalling that painful past still brings tears to her eyes.
She needed to hurry back and calm An'an and Ningning down; the two little ones must be terribly worried.
Xie Zhongming quickly went to the department store and bought two outfits. He bought himself a shirt and Xingyue a light green Angela dress with velvet trim at the waist and hem.
It fit Qiao Xingyue perfectly.
Wearing a light green Angela dress that reached just to her calves, she took a few light steps and walked back to Xie Zhongming, as if she had emerged from the spring mist.
She was naturally slender, with a straight back that didn't make her look thin, and her light green Angela dress made her skin look as translucent as fine porcelain bathed in moonlight.
Xie Zhongming glanced at it.
For a moment, it was hard to tell whether she was wearing spring on her body or whether she seemed to have walked out of spring.
He was so engrossed in watching that his mind went completely blank for a moment, and all his thoughts about how to explain things to his parents and grandmother when he got back vanished.
Suddenly, as if realizing something, he snapped back to reality.
Her gaze, as if burned by hot coals, quickly averted, landing on her muddy rubber shoes. Her earlobes flushed slightly, and even her neck felt warm.
He then deliberately maintained the composure of a soldier, but his fingertips clenched nervously.
He knew that Xingyue cared most about his reaction to her appearance, and that she resented his coldness towards her when she weighed over 200 pounds.
He didn't dare look at her too closely, his eyes lowered and his fingers clenched tightly. "Xingyue, you have so many shining qualities, as bright as stars. You know how to save people, you are tenacious, no difficulty can defeat you, you are a great mother..."
His back was ramrod straight, his fingers clenched even tighter, and when he looked up at Qiao Xingyue, his eyes were filled with respect for her. "Actually, I want to spend my life with you, not because you've lost weight or become more beautiful."
He was certain of one thing: if Xingyue still weighed around 200 pounds and came to him with An'an and Ningning, he would definitely live with her, give her all his salary and allowances, and respect her. Even if he didn't feel any romantic attraction, he would still be a responsible husband and father.
Qiao Xingyue tied a bow on the belt at the front of Angela's dress.
Her slender, tall body turned around.
A smooth back was exposed in front of Xie Zhongming.
She said decisively, "I can't button the back buttons, can you help me?"
Xie Zhongming paused for a moment, then quickly stepped forward, his slender fingers landing on the buttons on the fabric, one, two... helping her fasten them.
Qiao Xingyue gathered her long hair, which had been draped over her shoulders, and let it fall in front of her. She then asked decisively, "Xie Zhongming, I only have one question for you. If I live with you, and nothing happens in the future, even if I get fat or ugly, will you still dislike me as before?"
Xie Zhongming did not answer immediately.
He thought about the question seriously. If he answered no, would Xingyue believe him?
He had already abandoned her once, leaving her alone in Chadian Village for more than five years without ever asking about her. Even if he sent money to Chadian Village every month, what difference would it make? It still couldn't change the fact that she was living a life of wandering around with her two children, An'an and Ningning.
He fastened the last button on the back of Qiao Xingyue's dress, then lowered his hands, clenching them tightly.
Qiao Xingyue turned around and looked at him, waiting for his answer.
His gaze became exceptionally serious, and when he frowned slightly, it was as if he were pondering an important tactical problem.
After a long pause, he finally answered, "From now on, through the daily grind and all the ups and downs, you'll see how I treat you. I'll have to prove my answer with my actions over the rest of my life."
The voice carried the composure unique to soldiers, yet also revealed a touch of clumsiness and gentleness.
The tone was very serious!
Qiao Xingyue didn't actually need any promises from him. In the long river of life, no one will accompany you forever. She had to rely on herself to make a living in this era.
In fact, not only in this era, but in any era, women have had a harder time than men.
Her original plan remained unchanged: after successfully completing the college entrance examination, she would find a job with better prospects, work steadily for a while, raise her child and save money. When the reform and opening up policy changed, she would go into business and create her own wealth.
If Xie Zhongming can continue to be a responsible husband in the future, that would be the icing on the cake.
Who wouldn't want a caring and considerate man by their side, especially one with an amazing physique, a high salary, and who is incredibly gentle and attentive to An An and Ning Ning?
If you get sick peacefully, you'll have someone to help take care of you and share the burden.
What a wonderful thing.
Furthermore, Aunt Lan, Uncle Xie, and the old lady are even closer to her than her own relatives.
Thinking of how this man had saved her from danger twice, on the train and in Chadian Village, and even selflessly shielded her from bullets, a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
After thinking it through, she said firmly, "Don't worry, I will take responsibility for what I did to you last night. When I get back, I will tell Aunt Lan, Uncle Xie, and Grandma that I am Fatty. And I will tell An'an and Ningning that you are their father."
As soon as he finished speaking, a bright light flashed in Xie Zhongming's eyes, as if a cluster of bright light had suddenly been ignited.
His originally straight back tensed even more subconsciously, but because of these sudden words, his fingertips trembled slightly, and his clenched hands loosened and tightened again.
That surge of excitement rushed to the top of my head, my eyebrows lifted, and the corners of my mouth involuntarily turned up.
Her Adam's apple bobbed, she opened her mouth and then closed it again, taking a couple of seconds to find her voice. Her tone was filled with undisguised joy, yet every word was still sincere, "Xingyue, are you... serious?"
Look how excited he is!
Qiao Xingyue couldn't help but chuckle and nodded readily, "Yes, if An'an and Ningning knew that their favorite Uncle Zhongming was actually their father, they would definitely be so happy they couldn't sleep."
Upon receiving a response, Xie Zhongming's eyes shone even brighter, as if they held the entire starry sky.
He took a half step forward, wanting to raise his hand to hug her, but stopped halfway and pulled back, his fingertips quietly rubbing against the seam of his trousers.
Her back was still straight, her jawline was taut, but the smile in her eyes was undeniable, and even her gaze was warm and tender.
Taking a deep breath, trying to suppress the surging excitement in her chest, her voice was a little more steady than before, "Okay, let's go back together and tell Dad, Mom, and Grandma that you are Fatty. I'll also give my daughters a good hug and apologize to them. It's all my fault for not being able to take care of my two daughters all these years."
Qiao Xingyue finally understood.
At that time, she weighed over 200 pounds and was notorious in the village for petty theft. Xie Zhongming was tricked and slept with by her, so it was already quite good that he still married her.
He hadn't been back to Chadian Village for more than five years. When his monthly allowance was 48 yuan, he sent 38 yuan back. When it rose to over 100 yuan, he sent a full 100 yuan.
Zeng Xiuzhu would use various excuses, such as accusing him of stealing money from the villagers or causing trouble, to trick him into sending money back to cover up the mess, and he would send it every time.
"The biggest mistake was Zeng Xiuzhu. If he hadn't lied to both of them, you wouldn't have known I was pregnant with An An and Ning Ning. When I was kicked out, I wanted to go to the army to find you, but I never saw our marriage certificate. I don't know where Zeng Xiuzhu hid it. Even when we went to take our wedding photos the next day, I was completely dizzy and my memory was all over the place."
She stopped worrying about it. Life is only a little over 30,000 days long, so she should just cherish the present.
"Alright, let's hurry back. Aunt Lan and Uncle Xie must be worried. Let's go."
...
Military compound.
The summer sun shone down on the Xie family's red brick building, making the roof tiles look like they were about to smoke.
In the muddy courtyard in front of the house, the muddy ground, which had been trampled and hardened, was scorching hot from the sun.
Huang Guilan stood in front of the row of eggplant and bean trellises, craning her neck under the scorching afternoon sun, gazing into the distance outside the courtyard.
The two children stood beside her. "Grandma, where did Uncle Zhongming and Mom go? When are they coming back?"
The one speaking was Ningning, who spoke softly.
This child has never been in good health, and his voice clearly lacks strength.
An'an, standing nearby, kept fanning her younger sister, saying, "Ningning, don't ask Grandma anymore, she's worried too."
At first, the two children also called Huang Guilan Grandma, but they would add the word "Huang" before "Grandma".
Now the "Huang" in front of her name has long been removed, and the two children call her "Grandma" so naturally and affectionately that they have long regarded Huang Guilan as their own grandmother.
Fearing that her two children would suffer from heatstroke, Huang Guilan led them into the main room, one in each hand, saying, "Let's go inside and wait."
Upon entering the main room, Huang Guilan quickly poured two glasses of warm water for the two children, saying, "An'an, drink some water and don't get heatstroke."
Watching the two children pick up their enamel cups and gulp down their drinks, Huang Guilan couldn't help but pat their heads to comfort them, "Don't worry, An'an and Ningning, Mommy is with Uncle Zhongming. With Uncle Zhongming protecting Mommy, nothing will happen. Maybe they're on their way home and they've found someone lying on the roadside and are helping them at the hospital."
Ningning put down her enamel cup, her big eyes filled with worry. "Grandma, won't Mommy be carried off by wolves?"
An'an put down her enamel cup and grabbed her sister's hand. "Ningning, there won't be any wolves in the city. Even if there are, Uncle Zhongming can kill many wolves by himself. He will definitely protect Mom."
Huang Guilan also believes that with Zhongming around, he will definitely be able to protect Xingyue.
But the two of them didn't come home all night, and it's already past noon and she still hasn't seen them. She can't help but feel uneasy.
As the old lady sat in her chair, fanning An An and Ning Ning, she looked at Huang Guilan and said, "Guilan, fourth brother wouldn't be seeing Xingyue behind our backs, would he?"
Huang Guilan responded, "Even if they really are dating, why would they need to hide it from us? Besides, Lao Si isn't that inconsiderate. Lao Xie said he'd take some time to come back at noon, so we'll ask him what's going on when he gets back."
Seeing that the two children's faces were rosy from the sun and their hair was wet with sweat and stuck to their foreheads, Huang Guilan poured a basin of hot water and washed the children's faces, then turned on the fan.
"Mom, let's use the fan."
Normally, Huang Guilan is reluctant to turn on the fan, but seeing how hot An An and Ning Ning are, she turned it on without hesitation.
...
Under the shade of the trees in the courtyard, the villagers sat on small stools, enjoying the cool air and chatting about this and that.
Xie Jiang rode his old bicycle past the locust tree with its lush foliage.
Normally, he wouldn't listen to a word of these people's idle chatter, but today, after riding his old bicycle several meters away, he suddenly slammed on the brakes and stopped.
Under the shade of the trees behind them, the villagers chatted amongst themselves.
"Did you know that Xie's fourth son and his housekeeper are having an affair? They're hiding in the cornfield."
"Really? Isn't Xie's fourth son a regimental commander in the army? How could he do something so shameless?"
"Commander Xie is an upright man, but the Xie family's nanny is a seductive vixen. She's the one who seduced Commander Xie. Men, you know, can't always resist beautiful women."
Which cornfield are we going into?
"It's that cornfield outside our compound."
When did this happen?
"It was only discovered yesterday, and I heard he was caught red-handed. I wonder if Commander Xie can still keep his position as commander."
Xie Jiang wasn't at the scene yesterday; he only heard about it from Chen Jiahui's father when he returned.
Those present that day were all soldiers, but the story still got out, and it must have been spread by Deng Yingying.
How come he never noticed before that this girl had such a vicious mind? Is she trying to ruin his fourth son because she can't marry him as she wants?
Xingyue and Lao Si were both slandered, and Xie Jiang could not tolerate it. He rode his old bicycle around and returned to the tall locust tree.
Under the locust tree, at the stone table, several family members were huddled together whispering, their words cutting to the heart.
When Xie Jiang stopped in front of them on his old bicycle, the group quickly shut their mouths, their eyes filled with panic.
"Thank you, Commander!"
Xie Jiang's military green shirt was faded from washing, and he stood ramrod straight, exuding an air of authority. "Gossiping about people behind their backs, without any real evidence, is a corrupt practice that undermines unity within the military. You all accept criticism, right?"
"Commander Xie, we didn't say anything, just chatted casually for a bit."
Xie Jiang thought that it didn't matter that his fourth son was slandered; the organization would investigate and find out the truth. It was impossible for these people to say that he was no longer a regimental commander, and that would really mean he was no longer a regimental commander.
But Xingyue was different. As a woman living in the compound, she was constantly subjected to gossip and criticism.
How can Xingyue live in the compound in the future after these people have ruined Xingyue's reputation?
Xie Jiang could not tolerate this. His face was ashen. "From now on, keep your mouths shut. Think more about how to support the work of the compound and how to make a good living. Stop gossiping about others. If I hear anyone talking behind my back again, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Spreading rumors and gossip within the compound is a very serious matter.
If the circumstances are serious, public criticism and a formal education notice will be issued.
The group quickly shut up and dispersed, each carrying their own small stools.
Xie Jiang then rode his old bicycle back to his own courtyard. His fourth brother had crashed the bicycle yesterday, and the chain was a bit stuck, making it difficult for Xie Jiang to pedal.
When he arrived at the gate, just as he was about to jump out of the car, he saw Xingyue and his fourth son walking towards him from the opposite direction, side by side...
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