Chapter 4 The clear, crisp voice made Zhou Xiye turn around involuntarily.
Zhou Xiye returned this time to carry out a secret mission: to assist the police in escorting several people to Beijing. However, one of them escaped halfway through the journey, and when they caught up with him, the scene just now unfolded.
He wondered why Jiang Zhizhi avoided him like the plague, yet he also felt sorry that such a talented person was not in the army.
After Zhou Xiye finished handing over the duties at the police station, it was already past 4 a.m. They needed to catch the earliest train back to their base at around 7 a.m., which would take three hours. He decided to go home to settle the marriage that his family had arranged for him.
This marriage came out of nowhere. The woman was the daughter of Jiang Zhenhua from the compound. He remembered that the girl was eight or nine years younger than him. When he joined the army, she was a short, stocky girl with two pigtails sticking up in the air.
How did he suddenly become his wife? It's utterly absurd.
He knew about the Jiang family's situation, but he couldn't accept resolving it through marriage.
Arriving home late at night, Zhou's parents were awakened, and even Zhou Xiaochuan came out rubbing his sleepy eyes.
Seeing his older brother sitting in the living room, and remembering what had happened at the Jiang family's house that evening, Zhou Xiye ran over to complain before he could speak to his parents!
"Brother, you can't marry Jiang Zhizhi. That woman is vicious and wicked. Besides, she's not Uncle Jiang's biological daughter. She's just a wild country girl. Her mother switched Uncle Jiang's daughters back then. If her mother is so vicious, she must be no better."
"Zhou Xiaochuan!"
Mr. Zhou angrily shouted, "Shut up! Don't talk nonsense if you don't know!"
Zhou Xiaochuan was somewhat unconvinced: "Am I making things up? I saw her bullying Xiaoyue. In order to avoid going to the countryside and to marry my older brother, she even attempted suicide by cutting her wrists. And at night, she pushed Xiaoyue down."
Zhou Xiye frowned as he listened: "What exactly happened?"
Mr. Zhou said solemnly, "This is what happened..."
She recounted the story of the Jiang family switching babies and then explained the Jiang family's current predicament: "Originally, Xiaoyue was supposed to marry you, but Xiaoyue is a filial child and wanted to stay with your Uncle Jiang. So, we let Zhizhi marry you instead."
Zhou Xiye's face was grim: "This is no joke!"
Mr. Zhou spoke sternly: "We've had a long-standing relationship with your Uncle Jiang's family. Everyone in the compound knows that our two families are related by marriage. If you go back on your word now, where will our families' reputations be? You must go through with this marriage."
Zhou Xiaochuan snorted coldly: "Dad, how can you be so domineering? That Jiang Zhizhi is no good at all. When she heard that she could marry you, she packed her bags and left today, saying that she would take the train to Ganbei to find you. She made Auntie cry."
Zhou Xiye ignored his father's attitude: "What did you say? Jiang Zhizhi has already gone to northern Gansu?"
Zhou Xiaochuan nodded: "That's right, she's not only an ingrate, but also shameless, so eager to marry you. Brother, you absolutely cannot agree to it."
Zhou Xiye's face darkened even more; this was simply outrageous!
Zhou's mother, who had been silent until now, cautiously probed, "Xiye, you're twenty-eight now. It's time to think about your personal life. Do you have someone suitable over there? Or is it that you still can't forget Xiaoxiao?"
Zhou Xiye said helplessly, "Mom, don't make wild guesses. I'm not in the mood to get married right now. Besides, the border has been unstable these past few years, and we're very busy every day."
Zhou Xiaochuan snorted from the side: "Brother, if you see Jiang Zhizhi when you get back, make it clear to her and tell her to come back and obediently go to the countryside!"
Zhou Xiye was naturally unwilling to get married. He was too busy every day to have time to coax a delicate young girl.
After checking the time, Zhou Xiye didn't say anything more, said goodbye to his parents, and went out to the train station.
Zhou Xiaochuan chased after her all the way to the gate: "Brother, you absolutely must not marry Jiang Zhizhi. She's pretty, but she's spoiled and unreasonable, and she's even ganged up with other girls her age in the compound to ostracize Xiaoyue!"
After a pause, she spoke with heartache, "Xiaoyue is so pitiful. She grew up in the countryside, and her adoptive mother abused her and made her do a lot of work. Now she's back, and she still has to endure the bullying. I really don't understand what Uncle Jiang and the others are thinking. They should just send Jiang Zhizhi back to the countryside, back to where she belongs."
Zhou Xiye felt like his ears were about to fall off from being used so much, so he reached out and tapped Zhou Xiaochuan on the head: "Why does a man like to gossip like his wife? Everything has two sides. Don't do impulsive and foolish things in a moment of passion."
Zhou Xiaochuan was indignant. The thought of his brother leaving, and not knowing when they would see each other again, made him sad. He spoke with a sob in his voice, "Brother, I've applied to join the army so many times. I said that since there's someone in the family in the army, I can't go. Why is that?"
Zhou Xiye looked at his 22-year-old brother who was still so childish, feeling somewhat helpless: "Okay, this is not the first day you know this rule, hurry back, I have to go to the train station."
Zhou Xiaochuan stopped and watched Zhou Xiye stride into the dawn, then couldn't help but call out, "Brother, you can't marry Jiang Zhizhi. That woman is wicked."
...
Jiang Zhizhi was relieved that she had a letter of introduction to get into the train station and wait. She held her handbag and waited until dawn. As soon as the ticket window opened, she rushed to buy a ticket to northern Gansu.
I vaguely heard the ticket seller say that the journey would take more than fifty hours, but I don't know if I misheard.
As I left with my train ticket, I thought I should buy some food to take on the journey.
She didn't know exactly how long it would take for the train to reach northern Gansu, but she did know that the train at this time was the kind that stopped and started frequently, a very old-fashioned green train.
Since Zhou Xiye doesn't know her and is currently in Beijing, she'll go to northern Gansu. Once there, she'll find a place to stay, as things should be less strict in the Northwest.
Then she'll figure out a way to make a living, and once those years are over, that's when she can really put her skills to use.
These past few years have also been a good time to take a break and enjoy a relaxed, laid-back lifestyle.
The more I thought about it, the more hopeful I felt for the future, and my steps as I carried my bag to the state-run canteen became much lighter.
Zhou Xiye had arranged to meet his two subordinates at the state-run canteen at the train station. When he arrived, Zhang Zhao and Wang Changkun were already there.
The three of them ordered ten steamed buns and three bowls of fried liver, ready to eat before boarding the train.
Zhang Zhao was quite curious about what happened last night: "Boss, that woman last night was really skilled. I don't think I could have beaten her."
Zhou Xiye recalled what he had seen last night and told Zhang Zhao with certainty, "Neither you nor Wang Changkun can beat them."
Wang Changkun, who was eating fried liver, looked up in surprise: "Boss, you praised Zhang Zhao and me before."
Zhou Xiye ignored him and kept his head down while eating. Then he heard someone call out in a clear voice, "Comrade, I need twenty steamed buns. How many jin of grain coupons do I need?"
Looking up and turning around, I saw the girl from last night standing prettily in front of the counter, her face radiating youthful energy...
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