Hong Xing was the one who came to pick him up again. Unlike the first time he picked someone up, he was happy. This time, even though he forced a smile, he still looked worried.
"Sister-in-law, nobody wants this to happen, don't be too sad." He even tried to comfort Jiang Wanqing with an optimistic attitude.
Xue He, who knew what had happened, was already in tears. In contrast, Jiang Wanqing, though pale, remained calm.
She grabbed her mother's hand: "You just need to take good care of my dad. I'll be fine. Cheng Ran... Once he's better, I'll bring him back to see you and Dad."
"Wanqing... Mom is sorry."
Xue He felt that she was powerless to stop the substitution marriage from happening, which led her to face the predicament of possibly becoming a widow right after getting married.
"Mom, don't say that."
Jiang Wanqing still held onto hope, even though she didn't know how things would turn out.
To avoid saying too many sad things, she gave Hong Xing a look, and he immediately understood and stepped forward to comfort Xue He.
"Auntie, don't worry, our Battalion Commander Cheng is just injured. He will be fine after treatment. You and Uncle, please take care of yourselves."
"Okay, drive carefully on the road. If you need anything, write to me or call the commune."
"Yes, you should go back; it's windy outside."
Jiang Wanqing nodded in agreement with Hong Xing's words, and the two turned to leave to take a car to the military hospital.
However, Jiang Xiu, oblivious to everything, suddenly appeared, cracking sunflower seeds in her hand.
Jiang Xiu had overheard their conversation. She recalled that in her previous life, Cheng Ran had been on the verge of death around this time as well.
Finally, Jiang Wanqing was about to experience this day, and she sneered triumphantly.
"I heard your husband is dying? Oh, what a pity. You just became the battalion commander's wife and you're going to be a widow. How pitiful. Don't come back when you have nowhere to go. We don't welcome a jinx like you. If all else fails, just find another man to remarry. Just don't come back and cause trouble for us."
Jiang Xiu said some very hurtful things, and Hong Xing's face turned extremely ugly. He clenched his fists and was about to step forward to vent his anger for Jiang Wanqing, but he was pulled back.
If a dog bites you, are you going to bite it back?
"sister in law……"
"We have important business to attend to, let's go."
Jiang Wanqing gave Jiang Xiu a look that said "You'd better watch yourself," and then left.
She caught a glimpse of Molly passing by the door, stopped, gave her a deep look, and as they passed each other, Molly left a message.
"You helped me last time, so I'll help you get revenge this time. Don't worry, I'll take care of your difficult cousin."
"Thanks."
Jiang Wanqing had already witnessed Molly's fighting prowess and didn't need to worry that she couldn't defeat Jiang Xiu, that brainless idiot.
Jiang Xiu was about to chase after them and say more hurtful things to provoke them, but Molly raised her hand to stop her.
What are you doing!
“I have something to settle with you,” Molly said coldly.
Jiang Xiu, confused, retorted, "Who has a score to settle with you! Get out of my way!"
"Didn't Yuan Zhong tell you where your new clothes came from?"
These words made Jiang Xiu freeze, and she quickly crossed her arms in anger, raising her chin to look at Molly.
"None of your business! He gave this to me. I've heard you're interested in him, but he ignores you, and you've gone to great lengths to get close to him. Now you have the nerve to come to me? Comrade Molly, do you even know how to spell 'propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame'?"
“I not only know about propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame, but I’ve also witnessed petty theft in you and Yuan Zhong. The clothes you’re wearing were intercepted by him and sent to me from my family. He then gave them to you. Now that you’ve worn out my clothes, don’t you think it’s time to settle the score?”
The Jiang family was always bustling with activity. Just after Jiang Wanqing left, Jiang Xiu got into trouble with the educated youth Mo Li, and onlookers quickly swarmed around them.
"You... what makes you think this dress is yours? It was clearly given to me by Yuan Zhiqing. I think you're just jealous!"
Still haunted by the radio blunder, Jiang Xiu felt a little embarrassed. But then she thought that clothes and valuables were different. Yuan Zhong wouldn't give her someone else's clothes, and why would he stop Molly's letter? That didn't make sense.
With this belief, she felt more confident. However, Molly grabbed her collar, and her already tall stature became an advantage, creating a sense of pressure on Jiang Xiu.
"Just look at the tag inside this shirt with my name embroidered on it. My mom sewed it on for me specially. Do you dare take it off and take a look?"
The letter that Yuan Zhong intercepted mentioned this incident. Molly's mother was afraid that she would have conflicts with other educated youth over belongings if they lived together, so she marked all the things she sent as a precaution. Food was fine once it was eaten, but clothes were solid evidence.
"You...how would you explain if you didn't have one!"
Jiang Xiu found the whole thing absurd. There was indeed a tag inside the clothes, but she had never seen any name on it. She believed that Yuan Zhong wouldn't be so foolish as to give her a dress embroidered with another woman's name.
"What if there is?"
"If I were to run two laps around the village naked, and you were to accept the same punishment even if I weren't, would you dare to agree?"
In this era, let alone being naked, even dressing a little revealing would draw criticism. Jiang Xiu felt that this woman might be a potential rival in love, which is why she came up with this plan.
Unexpectedly, Molly agreed without even thinking about it.
"Okay, you can take your clothes off first."
"Fine, I'll take it off. Who's afraid of who? Wait for me to change my clothes."
She quickly went inside to change her clothes, and before coming out, she checked that the tag was in perfect condition.
To everyone's surprise, when Molly received the clothes, she didn't look at the front of the label, but turned it over to the back, where a jasmine flower and the character "Mo" were embroidered in a special stitch.
"Last time it was the radio, this time it's the clothes, what other petty thievery wouldn't you and Yuan Zhong do?"
"Wow, she even steals other people's clothes to wear! Xiuer is really bold!"
"Tsk tsk tsk...This is truly eye-opening."
...
"Aaaaaah... Yuan Zhong, you actually lied to me!"
Jiang Xiu's attempt to provoke others backfired, and she rushed out to cause trouble for Yuan Zhong, but Molly held her back.
"Fulfill your promise first. Don't tell me you're not only petty thieves, but also untrustworthy!"
"You... this dress was a gift from Yuan Zhong. If there's any problem, go talk to him. I'm a victim too. We're both women, why are you making things difficult for me?"
"Oh, so you know you're both women, then why do you always make things difficult for your cousin? Do you turn into a man when you make things difficult for her?"
Every word she said made sense and no one could refute it. Jiang Xiu was furious but dared not speak out. She was so angry that her chest heaved violently and she almost fainted.
Molly, knowing when to stop, pushed her back, saying, "You unlucky thing, stay away from me."
Hongxing only looked away from the rearview mirror after the jeep had driven quite a distance from Xiyang Village.
"Sister-in-law, was that woman your friend?"
"Yes, she was a sent-down youth, a very nice girl."
"I can tell, she's good-looking too. This is what they mean by 'the face reflects the heart.'"
It was rare for Hung Hing to show a hint of happiness amidst his worries...
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