Chapter 143: Fashionable Eye
The knocking was extremely abrupt.
Everyone instinctively looked over.
Xu Qiaoyan, who was closest to the door, frowned and got up to open it, wondering, "Who is it so late at night?"
The door opened.
Everyone saw Zhang Yanfei standing outside the door.
He was covered in sweat, and his collar was ripped open; it was unclear what he had been through.
His usual arrogant demeanor had vanished, and he looked inexplicably like a beggar on the street, utterly pathetic.
"Why are you here?" Xu Qiaoyan's tone instantly turned cold, his eyes full of disdain.
“We, the Xu family, do not welcome you. Leave now, or I will have to say it again.”
Ignoring his argument, Zhang Yanfei grabbed the door frame and tried to force her way in.
Xu Qiaoyan was caught off guard.
He suddenly bumped into me, and a gap instantly appeared in the doorway.
When Zhang Yanfei saw Ning Tang sitting on the sofa, his eyes lit up, and he quickly got up to go inside.
"Ning Tang! Come with me now!"
He rushed to the woman, his face full of urgency.
The tone was like a command, which was extremely annoying.
"Your sister is in terrible pain right now, and she's having miscarriage. The doctors at the hospital can't do anything about it. Only you can save her now."
Everyone in the living room was stunned when he said that.
Immediately, everyone's expression darkened.
Xu Qiaofeng stood up almost instantly, shielding Ning Tang behind him, his eyes as cold as ice, staring intently at Zhang Yanfei.
"Zhang Yanfei, have you forgotten who you are? Coming to our house to cause trouble in the middle of the night, huh? Get out of here right now!"
Zhang Yanfei was so frightened by the man's gaze that she took several steps back.
But then I thought about it again.
Thinking that he was now standing in the Xu family, if he were to lose his confidence like this, wouldn't he just be making a fool of himself?
Zhang Yanfei forced a smile and shouted, "I know you don't want to see me, but this is a matter of life and death. Ningxin is carrying my child. If the baby is lost, do you know how devastating that would be for us?"
"What do I care about your crackdown?"
"Even if you were standing right in front of me today, I wouldn't react in the slightest." Xu Qiaofeng sneered, his expression sinister, looking as if he were about to beat Zhang Yanfei up at any moment.
Ning Tang was worried that he would act impulsively and hurt himself.
She quickly went over and gently tugged at him from behind, indicating that she was alright.
Meanwhile, Su Ying, the eldest sister-in-law, was also furious. Without thinking, she grabbed a feather duster from the sofa and threw it hard at Zhang Yanfei.
The feather duster landed on him, making him wince in pain.
Zhang Yanfei was about to speak, but then he thought that Ning Tang was his only lifeline, and he couldn't afford to offend her.
"Ning Tang, I know you hate us."
"But for the sake of Ning Xin's pregnancy and for the sake of the Ning family's adoption you back then, please go and save her. As long as you are willing to help, Ning Xin and I will never cause you any more trouble in the future."
Ning Tang stood behind Xu Qiaofeng.
Upon hearing this, she simply raised her eyes to look at Zhang Yanfei in front of her, her gaze calm.
I found it funny when I heard him use the word "affection".
Ning Tang slowly spoke: "Zhang Yanfei, what kind of relationship have I ever had with the Ning family, with you, and with Ning Xin?"
“Ningxin’s miscarriage was caused by her emotional fluctuations, and she has only herself to blame.”
"The hospital's obstetricians and gynecologists were helpless. It's her fate, what does it have to do with me?"
Zhang Yanfei never expected Ning Tang to be so heartless.
His face was a mix of blue and black, almost like a palette of paints, all sorts of colors.
As if she had just thought of something, Zhang Yanfei blurted out without thinking, "You're not going, are you?"
"Ning Xin said she'll come to the military compound tomorrow and make a scene. She'll tell everyone that you, Ning Tang, are cold-blooded and heartless, and that you wouldn't help someone in distress!"
"When everyone knows that you watched your sister miscarry, I'd like to see how you'll maintain your standing in the Xu family compound then."
"Are you threatening me?" Ning Tang's eyes turned cold instantly.
It's like receiving an instruction.
The man in front of him stepped forward and, without saying a word, grabbed Zhang Yanfei's arm with great force, causing him to cry out in pain.
"Zhang Yanfei, I think you're tired of living." Xu Qiaofeng's voice was frightening, full of hostility.
"The military compound is not a place for you to run wild! You have no right to question my wife's reputation! Get out of here now, or if you dare to say another word, I won't hesitate to let you know what it means to regret your actions."
The excruciating pain in her wrist turned Zhang Yanfei's face as white as paper.
Looking at the fierceness in Xu Qiaofeng's eyes, he finally realized that he was no match for this man at all.
Today's visit is nothing more than a different way of deceiving oneself.
He struggled to break free, but Xu Qiaofeng threw him aside, causing him to stagger and fall to the ground.
"Get out!" Xu Qiaoyan stepped forward, pointed to the door, and said in an icy tone.
Zhang Yanfei scrambled to her feet, and seeing the cold stares of everyone in the living room, she knew that staying any longer would be pointless. She could only glare at Ning Tang resentfully, clutch her wrist, and slink away.
Xu Qiaoyan slammed the door shut, cutting off everything outside.
Silence returned to the living room.
However, most of the joyful mood from just now dissipated.
Grandma Xu took Ning Tang's hand with heartache and patted the back of her hand to comfort her: "Tang girl, don't pay attention to that rascal, it's not good for your health if you get angry."
Ning Tang shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Grandma, I'm fine, I didn't take it to heart."
She truly didn't care; Ning Xin's life or death was none of her concern.
However, she did not expect Zhang Yanfei to come to her door so quickly, and even dare to use such a threatening tone.
Xu Qiaofeng looked at her, reached out and ruffled her hair, his voice gentle: "Don't think about it. With me here, no one can bully you."
Ning Tang looked up at him, the coldness in her eyes dissipating and replaced by a touch of warmth.
Grandpa Xu said with a stern face, "Zhang Yanfei and Ning Xin are two scourges! We'll kick them out every time we see them, and we won't let them tarnish the Xu family's reputation!"
Xu Qiaolan chimed in, "Exactly! Do they really think our Xu family is easy to bully? Don't worry, sister-in-law, next time they come, I'll just throw them out!"
Seeing how protective her family was, Ning Tang felt a warmth in her heart, and the unpleasantness she had just felt vanished instantly.
She leaned against Xu Qiaofeng's chest and whispered, "Alright, let's not let irrelevant people spoil our fun."
Grandma Xu slapped her thigh, realizing what she meant: "Right! Let's not talk about those unlucky people! Let's talk about our own things! Tang'er, I'll dig out those little clothes and fabrics tomorrow, I need to pick them out carefully!"
Grandpa Xu nodded, "Leave the milk powder and malted milk powder to me. I'll make sure my great-grandson gets the best!"
The atmosphere in the living room gradually returned to its previous liveliness.
No one knew that Zhang Yanfei had been kicked out.
He stood at the entrance of the Xu family's house, his face terrifyingly gloomy.
He took out a cigarette, took a few deep drags, and his eyes were filled with resentment.
Ning Tang refuses to go, right?
Then don't blame him for using ruthless tactics!
——
After being rebuffed, Zhang Yanfei did not go straight back to the hospital.
Just thinking about Ning Xin's chaotic state made him feel incredibly annoyed.
So I went back to the family dormitory first.
Zhang Yanfei had just walked downstairs when it was just getting dark, the time when a group of women in the family building were gossiping together.
They didn't see Zhang Yanfei, and they were all beaming with excitement.
"Speaking of the Xu family, I think they really struck gold."
"Look at their new daughter-in-law, she looks quiet and gentle, and I've heard she has a very good personality. She's also very filial to her elders, and she's very loving with their third son. I heard she's about to give birth recently, so the Xu family's lineage is definitely thriving."
"Isn't that right? Compared to Zhang Yanfei's family, it's like heaven and earth. You didn't see Ning Xin coming downstairs last time. That shrew was completely out of line. No wonder Zhang Yanfei looks terrible now. Having this wife is like he's had the worst luck in eight lifetimes."
"There's more."
Another, younger sister-in-law leaned over and lowered her voice.
"I heard that Ningxin's pregnancy was already unstable. She and Zhang Yanfei were always arguing and bickering, and she never knew how to behave. This time, she got into trouble with the pregnancy, which is probably her own fault!"
Every comment was like it was free, drilling into Zhang Yanfei's ears.
His face grew increasingly pale; if an acquaintance had seen him, they would have certainly kept their distance.
These gossipy women, who fawn over him in public, dare to talk about him and Ning Xin like this behind his back!
What infuriated him even more was...
When they mentioned Ning Tang, their faces were full of envy and praise, which, compared to their disdain for Ning Xin, was like rubbing salt into his heart.
Zhang Yanfei coughed suddenly.
The women gathered together immediately fell silent, turning their heads in unison. When they saw it was him, their expressions became somewhat subtle.
Wang's wife, who had been talking the most enthusiastically, awkwardly put away her palm-leaf fan and gave a dry laugh: "Comrade Zhang... you're back?"
The others nodded in agreement, but their eyes betrayed their enjoyment of the spectacle.
Zhang Yanfei, her face ashen, walked through them without saying a word.
As they passed each other, he heard someone whispering behind him.
"Judging from his expression, he probably ran into a wall at the Xu family again, right?"
"That's right! He doesn't even know his own worth, yet he wants Ning Tang to help him. There's no way Ning Tang would agree to help him!"
"I heard Ning Xin was writhing in pain in the hospital. Tsk tsk, what do you call that? Karma!"
He quickened his pace and rushed into the stairwell almost as if he were fleeing.
Pushing open the dilapidated front door of my house, a strong smell of mildew hits me.
The room was a mess, with unwashed dishes piled on the table.
Ningxin's dirty clothes were lying on the ground, along with the trash that should have been taken out of the house and placed behind the door.
Compared to the warmth and harmony of the Xu family, it was like night and day.
Zhang Yanfei tugged at her collar in frustration.
I threw myself onto the sofa, my mind a complete mess.
Ning Tang refused to save Ning Xin, the hospital was helpless, and the sisters-in-law downstairs were gossiping behind her back. This was simply unbearable!
He grew angrier the more he thought about it, grabbed a teacup from the table, and smashed it on the ground.
With a loud bang, the teacup shattered into pieces.
Just then, someone outside called him to come out, saying that someone had called him from his hometown.
Zhang Yanfei asked who it was.
Some people outside were disgusted and told him to come out and see for himself.
Zhang Yanfei irritably pulled out his clothes, staring at the menacing look in the eyes, and walked all the way to the first floor.
This is usually where people send letters and make phone calls.
However, it's not free; you have to pay for it, and it's a bit pricey compared to other places.
Zhang Yanfei picked up the phone, and upon hearing the name on the other end, her casual gaze suddenly turned sinister.
It was his lazy, good-for-nothing cousin, Gou Dan.
"Hello?" His voice was terribly hoarse.
"Brother, I've taken care of what you asked me to do!"
Dog Egg's voice carried a hint of smugness, "I asked a few of my old buddies, and they all agreed to help you, but..."
He paused, his tone becoming hesitant: "Brother, are you sure you want to do this? If this gets out of hand, it might be hard to handle!"
Zhang Yanfei sneered, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.
This is going to end badly?
He's already desperate, so what's there to be afraid of?
Isn't Ning Tang hard-hearted? Wasn't she unwilling to save Ning Xin? Wasn't she just taking him for granted because of the Xu family's backing?
He wanted to show her that if she pushed him too far, he was capable of anything!
"Enough with the nonsense!" Zhang Yanfei gritted her teeth and said, "Do as I say, and you'll get your share of the rewards after it's done!"
I hung up the phone.
He stood up, walked outside, and looked at the brightly lit building in the military compound not far away.
That's the direction the Xu family is heading.
As night deepened, it swallowed up the ferocity and resentment on Zhang Yanfei's face.
He took out his cigarette case, and with trembling hands, pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
Amidst the swirling smoke, Zhang Yanfei's lips curled into a twisted smile.
Ning Tang, Xu Qiaofeng, you wait.
If this military compound doesn't erupt into a huge uproar tomorrow, then he's not Zhang!
On the other side.
After driving away the unlucky person, Grandma Xu couldn't stay idle, so she pulled Ning Tang and Su Ying back to her room.
She remembered buying a lot of fabric and storing it in her wardrobe.
Now that she has a great-grandson, she, as the grandmother, has to show some appreciation.
Grandma Xu's room was clean and bright, and the wardrobe by the window was polished to a shine.
She tiptoed and opened the top cabinet door, and a faint scent of mothballs wafted out.
"Look at these, these are all good materials that I've been saving up for many years."
As Grandma Xu spoke, she carefully took out several bolts of cloth, her eyes filled with joy.
"This is soft satin, it feels so smooth, it's perfect for making a little bib for our great-grandson. And this little floral fabric, the colors are so bright, it would definitely look beautiful making a little jacket."
Ning Tang leaned closer to take a look. It was the first time she had ever seen this kind of fabric, but more than anything, she felt a sense of being cared for, which warmed her heart.
Su Ying smiled and chimed in, "Grandma has such good taste! These fabrics are still very fashionable today. When the baby is born, he'll definitely be the most dashing little one in the compound wearing them."
Grandma Xu beamed with joy at the praise and pulled out several more balls of colorful yarn.
“I’m also thinking of knitting a few pairs of socks for the child and crocheting a little hat. Look at this blue color, it really complements a boy’s complexion.”
"By the way, do you two know whether the baby in your belly is a boy or a girl?"
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