Chapter 57 No, I got my period today.
A mother who kicks her own daughter out of the house, disregarding her pregnancy, is definitely a heartless and wicked woman.
When Xie Zhongming mentioned Zeng Xiuzhu, his entire back tensed up, and even his resolute eyes showed deep concern for Qiao Xingyue.
He held up an oilcloth umbrella for Qiao Xingyue, shielding her from most of the scorching sun.
Under the umbrella, he gripped the cabinet handle tightly, his gaze unwavering as he said:
“No, I can’t let you go back to Chadian Village alone. I know what kind of person your mother is. If you go back, she might sell you off.”
Qiao Xingyue completely agreed with this point.
Zeng Xiuzhu was a very feudal and patriarchal rural woman who believed that raising daughters was useless and that she would only extract the greatest benefit from them.
If she goes back alone, Zeng Xiuzhu will definitely have some bad ideas when she sees that she has lost weight and changed her appearance, and will sell her again.
But she is no longer the chubby girl who weighed over 200 pounds, so Zeng Xiuzhu can no longer bully her.
"Don't worry, I can handle it."
The afternoon sun was scorching, and the ground was burning hot.
Stepping out of the red-brick bungalow of the street office, Qiao Xingyue was filled with the chirping of cicadas in the sweltering summer heat. Thinking of that hateful Zeng Xiuzhu and listening to the noisy cicadas, she felt irritated.
"I can do it myself." She originally intended to take the oilcloth umbrella from Xie Zhongming and hold it herself.
He grasped the handle of the oilcloth umbrella.
Xie Zhongming held the umbrella firmly in his hand, refusing to let go.
Their hands touched accidentally.
Xie Zhongming kept holding the umbrella, but his fingers felt as if they had been burned by her, so he quickly moved it down below the handle. "My arm is tired from holding it up, let me do it."
Qiao Xingyue stopped insisting and let go, allowing him to hold the umbrella to shield her from the sun.
The neighborhood office wasn't far from the military compound. The two stood side by side under the umbrella and walked back together.
"Popsicles for sale!"
The ice cream vendor rode past the two men on his bicycle, carrying a box of ice creams inside a styrofoam box. The styrofoam box was completely covered with cotton cloth.
Xie Zhongming called out, "Popsicle, wait a minute."
In such hot weather, an ice pop would make you feel much cooler. After handing the umbrella to Qiao Xingyue, Xie Zhongming walked a few steps to the ice pop vendor.
"Grandpa, give me a few popsicles."
"Okay!"
The old man jumped off his bicycle, lifted the thick quilt covering the styrofoam box, and asked, "Comrade, how many would you like?"
At this moment, Qiao Xingyue also walked up to the styrofoam box. Xie Zhongming counted the number of people in his family and said to the old man selling popsicles, "Give me six."
Qiao Xingyue glanced at him, "Why buy so much?"
"Take it back to An'an and Ningning, Mom and Grandma also like popsicles."
Qiao Xingyue ate the remaining two.
The popsicles in the styrofoam box were colorful: orange was orange-flavored, red was watermelon-flavored, green was mint-flavored, and white was fructose-flavored.
Xie Zhongming's gaze fell on Qiao Xingyue's fair and rosy face. Seeing the fine sweat on her forehead, he wanted to get her an ice pop to cool her down. "What flavor do you want? I'll get it for you."
Qiao Xingyue didn't answer, but looked at the old man selling popsicles and said decisively, "Grandpa, five popsicles will do, all orange flavored."
Xie Zhongming thought she was just used to being frugal and didn't want to spend money, so he quickly said, "Don't be stingy with money. With me here, you and An'an and Ningning won't have to live a hard life in the future."
As he spoke, he asked the old man to get him another one.
But Qiao Xingyue insisted on returning one, saying, "It's not that I'm unwilling to spend money, I really don't want to eat it."
For the past few months, Qiao Xingyue has been living at the Xie family's house, and Xie Zhongming has witnessed how frugal she has been.
If it weren't for saving money, she wouldn't have worn the same pair of underwear until it had holes and then refused to buy new ones.
To pay for Ningning's medical treatment, she always had to be extremely frugal with every penny she had.
Despite her insistence, Xie Zhongming forced an ice pop into her hand.
Qiao Xingyue was both amused and exasperated. "Xie Zhongming, it's not that I'm unwilling to spend money, it's just that my stomach hurts today."
"..." Xie Zhongming paused for a moment before reacting, "You're on your period?"
I've heard that women experience menstrual cramps during their period.
Xie Zhongming then understood why she insisted on not eating the popsicle. He took the popsicle back, gave one back to the old man, counted out 25 cents for him, and then left with Qiao Xingyue, holding the umbrella again.
He held five popsicles wrapped in brown paper in one hand and an umbrella in the other, glancing at Qiao Xingyue every now and then. "Does it hurt?"
Qiao Xingyue: "It's alright, let's hurry back, the sun is quite strong."
Back at the Xie family home, the popsicles wrapped in brown paper had melted a bit, but An An and Ning Ning held them in their hands and licked them with relish.
On this sweltering day, the old lady and Huang Guilan felt refreshed after having an ice pop, but when they noticed that Qiao Xingyue didn't have one, Huang Guilan asked, "Zhongming, why isn't Xingyue eating an ice pop?"
Seeing that Xie Zhongming's popsicle was still wrapped in kraft paper, Huang Guilan snatched it away, saying, "Don't eat this one, I'll give it to Xingyue."
Xie Zhongming pulled Huang Guilan back, lowered his voice, and said, "...Um, Mom, Comrade Qiao is on her period today, so she can't eat cold food."
Upon hearing this, Huang Guilan couldn't help but laugh. "What? Zhongming, you even know that Xingyue got her period today? How far have things progressed between you two? Have you held hands yet?"
"Mom, what are you saying?"
Faced with Huang Guilan's gossip, Xie Zhongming's expression immediately turned gloomy and serious.
Is he the kind of person who lacks tact?
How could I hold Comrade Qiao's hand without his consent?
Maintaining the serious atmosphere, Xie Zhongming asked earnestly in a low voice, "Mom, besides drinking sugar water, are there any other ways for women to relieve menstrual cramps?"
Huang Guilan held the popsicle in her hand, but then remembered that Xingyue was having menstrual cramps, so she forgot to eat the popsicle.
The popsicle melted and dripped down the stick into the gaps between her fingers, but she didn't notice at all, focusing only on instructing Xie Zhongming on how to relieve the women's menstrual cramps.
Xie Zhongming wrote everything down, then boiled a kettle of water and made a pot of brown sugar ginger water for Qiao Xingyue. He also put a thermos in Qiao Xingyue's warm water.
That thermos was a glass bottle that was used to hold glucose, which we got from the clinic when someone in our family needed an IV drip. After filling it with hot water, it was tightly sealed with a rubber stopper.
The glass bottle was a little hot to the touch.
Afraid of burning Qiao Xingyue, Xie Zhongming found a sleeve that Huang Guilan used to wear when he made shoe soles, put it on, and then tied both ends with rubber bands.
In this way, the thermos made from a glass infusion bottle will not be too hot to handle.
He took the brown sugar ginger water and thermos to the second floor, knocked on the door, and heard Qiao Xingyue's voice from inside, "The door is unlocked."
Every time Xie Zhongming arrived at Qiao Xingyue's door, he couldn't help but tense up.
You can't just barge into a woman's room. He gently pushed open the wooden door, which was being painted and had most of the paint chipped off, and stood in the doorway, saying, "Comrade Qiao, I've made you a bowl of sweet soup and packed you a thermos. Use it to warm your stomach."
Seeing Qiao Xingyue sitting at her desk, she was probably reviewing her lessons in preparation for the college entrance examination.
He added, “Comrade Qiao, if your stomach hurts, you should lie down for a while. I’ve taken the day off today. I’ll be going out for a bit and will be back in an hour. I’ll cook dinner tonight, so don’t do any housework and just rest.”
When Qiao Xingyue put down her pen, Xie Zhongming was still standing there. She glanced at him.
Ever since the man learned that she was Fatty, he had taken great care of her in every way.
But Qiao Xingyue saw it clearly. She wouldn't be moved by such trivial matters. A man who had disliked her appearance and deliberately distanced himself from her couldn't possibly be completely sincere.
She got up, took the bowl of sweet soup and the thermos, and said thank you.
Xie Zhongming handed her a small box. "Comrade Qiao, this is aspirin. It has a pain-relieving effect. My mother said that if the pain is severe, you can take one."
"No need, I have aspirin in my cabinet. You forgot, I'm a doctor too. Anyway, thank you. I need to review my homework now."
As she spoke, Qiao Xingyue, who was holding a bowl of brown sugar water in one hand and a thermos in the other, kicked the wooden door and closed it.
As the door closed, a gust of wind blew, hitting Xie Zhongming's face. Despite it being the height of summer, the wind carried a chill that went straight to his heart.
Xie Zhongming knew that Comrade Qiao was still angry.
He understands.
In the afternoon, Xie Zhongming rode his old bicycle to the train station alone.
In the sweltering summer heat, the ticket hall was packed with people, and the whole hall reeked of sweat, feet, and even chicken and duck droppings.
Taking the train in the summer is the most miserable thing.
Xie Zhongming had a military officer's ID, so the waiting time was shorter. He got two sleeper tickets to Kunming for the day after tomorrow.
I was planning to leave tomorrow morning, but the only tickets available for tomorrow morning are hard seat tickets. The hard seat carriages are crowded and the smell is unbearable.
He wanted to minimize Qiao's suffering on this journey, so he couldn't rush it and bought tickets for the day after tomorrow.
Back at the Xie family home, An'an and Ningning were taking a nap on a straw mat in the main room, with a wind-up frog and glass marbles next to them, and Huang Guilan was fanning the two children.
Xie Zhongming went inside and brought out a fan, then plugged it in.
A cool breeze blew by.
Xie Zhongming said to Huang Guilan, "Mom, let's use the fan. Your arms hurt from waving it."
Huang Guilan, enjoying the cool breeze, placed her hand fan on the mat and asked in a low voice, "Zhongming, tell me the truth, how far have things progressed between you and Xingyue? Did Xingyue tell you that she got her period today?"
If Xingyue really told him on her own initiative, it means that the relationship between the two people is no longer simple. At least Xingyue no longer rejects her fourth son.
Huang Guilan couldn't stop smiling.
Xie Zhongming wiped the fine sweat from An Anning's forehead. "Mom, I know you want Comrade Qiao to be your daughter-in-law. I promise you, Comrade Qiao will definitely be a member of the Xie family in the future."
"What about Fatty's matter? Why are you still dragging your feet on the divorce? Hurry up and get your Uncle Chen to approve your divorce."
"Mom, I will also give you an explanation regarding Fatty's matter, don't worry."
With those words from him, Huang Guilan felt relieved.
Xie Zhongming pulled two train tickets out of his military uniform pocket. "Mom, I'm going to Chadian Village the day after tomorrow. Comrade Qiao is also going to Chadian Village on business, so we'll take the same train."
"What? What's Xingyue doing in Chadian Village?"
“She used to live in Chadian Village and is going there to take care of some business.”
"Okay, I'll take good care of Grandma and An'an and Ningning at home. You take good care of Xingyue for me. Prepare plenty of food for the journey."
"Don't worry, I will take good care of Comrade Qiao."
Her fourth son never took care of other women, but he was exceptionally attentive to Xingyue. Thinking that this trip to Chadian Village would allow the two of them to spend time alone, Huang Guilan hoped that sparks would fly between them.
Two days later, Qiao Xingyue and Xie Zhongming boarded a train to Kunming.
When they arrived at the sleeper car, Qiao Xingyue realized that Xie Zhongming had bought a bedroom. She couldn't help but scold him, "It's only a ten-hour journey, why did you buy a sleeper berth? What a waste of money!"
Xie Zhongming did not explain.
As long as it makes her trip more comfortable, it doesn't matter if she gets scolded.
Upon arriving at Kuncheng Railway Station, the two took an oxcart for another two or three hours before finally reaching Chadian Village.
There was only one guesthouse at the entrance of the village, but it was not open to the public; it was used by the commune to entertain visiting cadres.
Xie Zhongming took out his military officer's ID, saying he was there on business, and then asked for two guest rooms.
The village had limited resources; the rooms didn't have private bathrooms or toilets, so people had to use a communal bathhouse to shower. That bathhouse didn't even have a proper door; a curtain separated it from the outside, and inside served as both a dry toilet and a bathing area.
It's so uncomfortable not to shower in the middle of summer.
Xie Zhongming proactively prepared a bucket of hot water for Qiao Xingyue, lowered the curtain, stood by the door with his back to the person inside, and said with a stiff back, "Comrade Qiao, I'll be standing right outside the curtain. Don't worry, it's absolutely safe. No one will be watching."
"Thanks."
With his back to the people inside, Xie Zhongming continued, "Comrade Qiao, the nails for hanging clothes inside are rusty, and there are cobwebs on the newspapers pasted on the wall. If you're worried about them getting dirty, you can hand me your clothes, and I'll hold them for you. After you take a shower, don't wash your clothes with cold water; I'll wash them for you."
Qiao Xingyue wanted to say no, but no.
But when I turned around and saw the wall covered with yellowed newspapers, it was truly an eyesore.
It was indeed covered with a layer of cobwebs and looked filthy.
She had no choice but to take off her clothes and pass them out through the gap in the curtain, saying, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Comrade Xie."
Outside the curtain, only Xie Zhongming's hand could be seen reaching out. He seemed to be facing away from her, and it took him a while to find his clothes. "Comrade Qiao, don't worry about washing, I've turned my back."
Qiao Xingyue, who was inside, lowered the curtain and couldn't help but smile. This man was quite honest.
Most gay men in this era are very honest; lecherous men like Jiang Yongqiang are a minority.
If it weren't for the fact that Fatty was disliked before, and the hardships she has suffered over the years, Qiao Xingyue would think that Xie Zhongming is a pretty good man. He is tall, handsome, and considerate, but he is just a dog who judges people by their appearance.
Qiao Xingyue was still angry.
She quickly finished showering, and Xie Zhongming insisted on washing her clothes and then helping her hang them on the rope outside the guesthouse.
Back inside, Xie Zhongming was carrying a bucket of hot water. "Comrade Qiao, could you keep watch outside for me while I take a shower?"
Qiao Xingyue dried her wet hair. "You're a gay man, what are you afraid of?"
Xie Zhongming's ears turned red. "That curtain can't keep people out. I'm afraid someone will pass by when I'm taking a shower. Besides you, no one has ever seen me take off my clothes."
When this was mentioned, Xie Zhongming's ears burned even more, and his gaze seemed to return as well, lowering his eyes and not daring to look at her again.
Qiao Xingyue's heart skipped a beat, and she muttered, "What do you mean I saw you take your clothes off? It was dark that night, and I didn't see anything. It's not like I took advantage of you."
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