Chapter 108 Chen Laowu and his mother come to make things difficult for Cuiping
Sui Sui dodges the sight of her eyes, then tries to force a smile.
No, no.
She didn't want Zhizhi to see her outburst, but she also felt really guilty towards her younger sister.
So she stood up and quickly said goodbye, "Zhizhi, I have to go home and put the groceries away. You guys play here for a bit, I'll be going now."
Zhizhi wanted to ask something more, but Yuanhui stopped her.
Yuan Hui's tone was very calm, "Okay, take it easy."
After Sui Sui left completely, Zhi Zhi looked at Yuan Hui, puzzled.
"Brother, Sister Sui Sui is a little sad. I want to go and ask her what happened."
"Don't go." Yuan Hui lowered his eyes, his handsome features displaying a maturity beyond his years. He looked directly into Zhi Zhi's eyes, his expression somewhat helpless. "Don't you understand? Sui Sui approached you with an ulterior motive. When we went to buy groceries just now, didn't you notice that she was deliberately getting close to me?"
Zhizhi's eyes widened, and even her mouth turned into the shape of a small pufferfish's 'O'.
ha?
Is Sister Sui Sui deliberately getting close to Yuan Hui?
She's so gentle, kind, and generous, how could she possibly be playing a villainous supporting character?
Back when I was in the orphanage, the director liked to listen to novels. The novels mentioned that those who deliberately approached the protagonists were all malicious female supporting characters with ulterior motives, trying to sow discord between the main characters.
But Sister Sui Sui is clearly not like that.
She didn't splash water on herself to frame someone else for splashing water on her, nor did she slap anyone behind their back or do any bad things. How could she be like a vicious female supporting character?
Yuan Hui watched her blinking eyes and guessed that she was thinking hard in her little head.
So he subtly reminded her, "Have you noticed... that she dresses very similarly to you every day? And that she imitates you intentionally or unintentionally in everything she says and does?"
Zhizhi was even more stunned. "I thought it was because we had a tacit understanding!"
"So she's so telepathic that she specially brought a shopping basket similar to yours and went grocery shopping with you?" Yuan Hui twitched the corners of his mouth, completely defeated by Zhi Zhi's innocent cuteness.
This silly child, how come he hasn't noticed that some of Sui Sui's actions are very deliberate?
Knowing that Zhizhi was going grocery shopping, she specially went with her.
Knowing Zhizhi's style of dress, they dressed similarly in advance. There were too many coincidences, so it wasn't a coincidence, but rather someone deliberately did it.
Sui Sui is like that. Even if she is not willing, being forced to do these things by her parents is not being a good person.
Zhizhi's brain is in a state of emergency.
So, Sister Sui Sui was imitating her?
After a while, the little cub covered its collar blankly, looking shy, and asked, "Does Sister Sui Sui have a crush on me, so she imitates me in everything she does?"
Yuan Hui: "...No."
Zhizhi pouted and gave him a haughty glare. "Then why doesn't Sister Suisui learn from you and only learn from me? Why does she only play with me after coming to the military dependents' home? Why doesn't she play with you? Isn't that because Sister Suisui likes me?"
They all felt that Sister Sui Sui approached her with ulterior motives.
But Sister Sui Sui also admitted that it was her parents who made her do it.
If I give up playing with Sister Sui Sui, then Sui Sui will be just like she is in a textile factory, with no good friends at the military dependents' home.
What bad thoughts could a child possibly have? It's the adults who have bad thoughts.
Even if Sister Sui Sui is a bad person, as long as she is good to her and acts like a great person in front of her, then in her eyes, Sister Sui Sui is not a bad person.
Yuan Hui was a little angry, and he couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you realize that Sui Sui is taking the initiative to approach me?"
Even though Sui Sui was closer to Zhi Zhi, she insisted on going grocery shopping with her.
I always consciously or unconsciously pamper myself when I'm grocery shopping.
Even if it was her father who told her to get along well with him, isn't it wrong for Sui Sui to listen to her father so obediently?
Zhizhi chuckled, "I couldn't tell. Maybe she thinks you're pretty, so she wants to spend more time with you."
Yuan Hui fell completely silent, then poked Zhi Zhi's forehead in exasperation.
"A friendship between three people is too crowded. It's impossible for the three of them to keep playing together forever. She just wants to take your place and then kick you out!"
"Who said that!" Zhizhi retorted, hands on her hips. "Triangles are stable, so the three of us can definitely be the best in the world!"
Besides, there weren't just three of them.
There are also two older brothers, Gansu and Zhenwei, who are five-pointed stars!
The most popular and authentic five-pointed star friendship group!
Cuiping sighed, "Suisui is still young. I hope she can understand the reasons and not really become a tool for her parents. Zhizhi, your brother Yuanhui is just trying to remind you, he doesn't really mean to stop you from playing with her."
"I understand, don't worry."
While they were chatting, there was a knock on Grandma Li's gate.
Just then, an elderly woman with gray hair walked in carrying a basket of eggs. "Is Cuiping here? Where is my daughter-in-law?"
"Mom, nothing's even started yet, please don't call us so affectionately. We're here to apologize."
Chen Laowu stood behind the old lady and whispered a reprimand, his face showing barely suppressed anxiety.
The mother and son entered Grandma Li's yard.
Chen Laowu's eyes lit up when he saw Cuiping. "Cuiping? Great! You're here too! Please help me!"
As he spoke, he strode forward and grabbed Cuiping's hand. "Zhizhi's grandfather ruined my job. Can you put in a good word for me? I really need this job."
Cuiping instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but he gripped it so tightly that it hurt.
"I can't help you. You shouldn't have treated Zhizhi that way..."
"Let go of my aunt!"
Jiang Zhizhi frowned and looked at Chen Laowu warily. "Who gave you permission to come in?"
Chen Laowu glanced at the child, his heart brimming with anger. He had only wanted to scare her a little, but now he had lost his job.
It's all that brat's fault!
He forced a humble smile, "Zhizhi, please, for the sake of my relationship with your Aunt Cuiping, could you please give my job back? I have several children at home who are crying for food, and without a job, they'll really starve to death this winter!"
Jiang Zhizhi didn't want to listen to his arguing, so she simply pulled their tightly clasped hands apart.
She looked at the red marks on Aunt Cuiping's wrist where it had been gripped tightly with heartache, and her anger deepened.
"What are you doing? You lost your job, so go find your boss. It's not like I made you lose your job. Why don't you think about what you did to lose your job? Don't blame the victim here!"
Hearing the girl's sharp tongue, Chen Laowu's mother leaned on her cane and said angrily, "You worthless brat, what nonsense are you talking about? If you hadn't slandered my son for being ugly, would he have even tried to scare you? It was just a game with you, and you even got your family to ruin my son's job. You vicious little brat!"
"You're talking nonsense!"
Zhizhi was puffed up with anger, and her little mouth rattled off a barrage of complaints like firecrackers.
"Was that playing a game? He was practically grabbing my hat, ready to punch me! Do you think my 40-plus-pound frame could withstand a single punch from him? If he punched me, I'd be dead. Why call this violence playing a game?"
"And another thing! Your son was wrong to begin with, what do you mean I'm slandering him? What does his unemployment have to do with me? Did I lie about it? Or did I tell him to only sell meat to relatives? If he can't do his job well, then it's his own fault if they don't let him work!"
Old Mrs. Chen glared at him with a sharp look in her eyes, her wrinkled face filled with bitterness.
"If you hadn't provoked my son, would he have caused trouble? What could a grown man have done wrong? Isn't it always the woman who makes the mistakes? Let me tell you, you'd better apologize to him right now and get his job back, or your aunt can forget about ever stepping foot in our house!"
Entering?
Who came in?
Whose house are we entering?
Jiang Zhizhi's face turned red with anger as she struggled to rush in front of Aunt Cuiping to shield her.
"Stop being so narcissistic, okay? Aunt Cuiping never intended to come to your house from the beginning, and now you're acting like a mother-in-law. Are you kidding me? Someone give me a rotten egg so I can smash it in and wake you two up! You're so greedy!"
Cuiping frowned, her eyes filled with incomprehension. "You've misunderstood, haven't you? When did I say I wanted to come into your house? We only went on a blind date once before. A blind date isn't like getting a wife."
As she spoke, Cuiping suddenly remembered something. She turned to look at Chen Laowu, her tone unconsciously carrying a hint of doubt, "I made it clear to you before, what exactly did you say to your mother?"
These days, she's also heard some rumors outside the military dependents' compound.
Some ill-intentioned people even asked her when she was planning to get married and move there. She didn't take it seriously at the time, thinking that some people were deliberately trying to sow discord.
Given Old Mrs. Chen's tone, it's hard not to suspect that Old Man Chen said something behind her back.
A hint of guilt flashed in Chen Laowu's eyes, but he quickly dismissed it with a bluff.
"What did I say? Was I wrong? A divorced woman like you is just being coy and pretentious. You want to be with me, but you also want me to pursue you. I've already agreed, so what else is there to be coy about?"
Chen Laowu took the initiative to step forward and reached out to take Cuiping's hand.
Cuiping picked up Zhizhi and took a step back, raising her voice warily, "What are you doing! Don't touch me!"
Her shout completely enraged Chen Laowu.
Chen Laowu's eyes were filled with undisguised shock and anger. "You've already taken my pork, and you still won't agree to marry me? What more do you want? Huh?! Is there any woman like you? Are you and this brat deliberately trying to make things difficult for me?"
Grandma Chen felt resentful seeing her son treated this way.
Back then, every neighbor would rush to praise her son for being tall and strong. When food was scarce, many people would try to curry favor with her, hoping her son would help them make money.
Why do the people from their military dependents' compound like to show off their power so much?
She doesn't even care about her own precious son? What does a divorced woman want? Does she think she can marry the Jade Emperor?
"Son, don't argue with them. Take Cuiping away and bring her back. Let's see if this brat dares to cause any more trouble!"
While encouraging her, Old Mrs. Chen glared fiercely at Zhizhi with her sidelong glances.
She had never seen anyone put so much effort into raising a little girl. Her clothes were so pretty; they must have cost a lot of money. Her three grandsons were always complaining that they didn't have enough to eat. If only the money saved from this brat's clothes could be used for her.
Maybe they've eaten it all over the house!
Grandma Chen nudged her son with her elbow and muttered, "That girl's family is so rich. You should ask around and see if Cuiping is short of money either. They live together, and she's also a nanny for a political commissar's family, right? If we let her steal some things, our family will be set for life!"
"mom!"
Chen Laowu, feeling embarrassed, scolded her in a low voice to shut up.
He stood in front of Cuiping, his fleshy face threatening. "Cuiping, this is the last time I'm giving you a way out. If you take it, I'll take you back, and we'll get our marriage certificate tomorrow. You can ask Zhizhi to give me back my job, and after I've explained things to my mother, we'll still have a chance to become a harmonious family. If you don't take this step now, once you step out this door... you'll never see me again!"
Zhizhi's lips twitched, and she couldn't help but silently wipe her face.
"No... ...Are you really not going to pee?"
Not only does his house not have a mirror, but it doesn't even have a place to pee?
Don't you know how to look in the mirror before going out?
They even said they were giving Aunt Cuiping a way out, begging her! They should take that back quickly!
Chen Laowu has lost even the job he was most proud of. How dare he come here and say such things?
It smells like pig poop as soon as it opens its mouth, it's so smelly!
What? You're asking why I know what pig poop tastes like?
When Chen Laowu opened his mouth, a mixture of porky and foul smells wafted out, as if it were the smell of a public toilet. Wasn't that right?
Jiang Zhizhi glared back fiercely and shouted in a loud voice, "Get out of here! Get out of here! Just touching this door makes me want Daddy to come back and tear it down and throw it into the West River! It stinks!"
"My Aunt Cuiping is so good, why should she be the one to fill your family's fire pit? You are not good enough for her, where does your sense of superiority come from?"
"And another thing! Stop barking like a dog! You deserved to lose your job! Think about where you went wrong, and stop acting like everyone in the world owes you something. Just because you're a man doesn't mean everyone should cater to you!"
The little cub's barrage of angry retorts made Chen Laowu's face turn extremely ugly.
Grandma Chen was so angry that she dropped her cane on the ground.
She looked at her son in disbelief, "Your wife's child is cursing you like this, and you're not going to slap her! Women need to be disciplined, otherwise they won't listen. Can't you handle this? Are you even my son anymore!"
"Mom! Shut up!"
Veins bulged on Chen Laowu's forehead as he glared menacingly at Cuiping. "You...you just allow her to belittle me like this?"
Cuiping had a lot of cursing words in her mouth, but unexpectedly, Zhizhi said them all for her.
That's good, it also helped her vent her anger.
A cold smile played on her lips, and her eyes held a newfound assertiveness. "So what if she said something? I think she's absolutely right. Chen Laowu, I made it very clear to you before that there's no future for us. Now you've come here with your mother to ruin my peaceful life, so it's your own fault for being scolded. You deserve it. I even think Zhizhi's scolding wasn't lenient!"
Zhizhi was surprised that Aunt Cuiping, such a quiet person, could say such sharp things.
She silently applauded Aunt Cuiping in her heart.
Then he turned and glared at Chen Laowu, his chubby little face trying to force a fierce expression, "What are you looking at? Get lost!"
Chen Laowu's expression was extremely interesting; his drooping hand gradually clenched into a fist, making a cracking sound.
His mother was right; women need to be beaten, the more they are beaten, the more submissive they become.
Cuiping is just taking advantage of her good looks to act tough in my presence.
He was determined to teach her a lesson!
Thinking of this, Chen Laowu stepped forward and grabbed Cuiping's shoulder. He was very strong, and Cuiping's face turned pale instantly.
"Let me go!"
"Now you know what pain is? You didn't give me any face in front of others, so I don't need to be so considerate of you anymore. Come with me!"
Chen Laowu grabbed her and tried to drag her outside.
Cuiping winced in pain and almost dropped Zhizhi in her arms. Luckily, the little cub reacted quickly and opened her mouth to bite Chen Laowu's wrist.
Two small tiger teeth were deeply embedded in the skin of Chen Laowu's hand. She used all her strength, more ferocious than when she was gnawing on a big chicken leg.
Chen Laowu was caught off guard and almost lost his grip.
Seeing this, Zhizhi stretched out her little fist and punched him twice in the face.
Now Chen Laowu completely let go of Cuiping. Seeing this, Cuiping quickly hugged the child and hid in Grandma Li's house. Chen Laowu rushed forward, wanting to grab her again.
Just as his hand was about to grab Cuiping's clothes, his shoulder was pressed down from behind, followed by a dizzying spin.
Chen Laowu didn't know what happened to him. After a moment of feeling like he was floating, he was thrown to the ground.
A thin layer of soil splashed up on the ground.
"Cough cough, which bastard did this? Step forward and I'll kill you!"
Chen Laowu struggled to open his eyes, only to find a pair of men wearing combat boots in his line of sight. He looked up to try and see them clearly.
At this moment, the little cub spoke first.
"—Uncle Zhengyang!"
Li Zhengyang twisted his wrist, looking down at Chen Laowu with an icy tone, "This is my home, not a place for you to run wild. You think I'm dead when you beat someone up in my house?"
The moment he finished speaking, his foot was already on Chen Laowu's neck.
The hard sole of the shoe pressed against Chen Laowu's neck. He didn't have much of a neck to begin with, and now he was even more unable to move, panting heavily and looking extremely disheveled.
Grandma Chen was stunned. She struggled with her old arms and legs to try to push Li Zhengyang away.
"Where did this young man come from? This is our family matter, what are you interfering in? My son is disciplining his daughter-in-law, let go of her now, don't let him trample on her! Let go!"
Li Zhengyang curled his lips coldly, then moved his toes, just as Old Madam Chen thought he was about to let go of the person.
Li Zhengyang kicked Chen Laowu hard in the stomach.
This kick was fueled by anger, and even with Chen Laowu's physique, he was kicked a meter away.
He was in so much pain that he was rolling on the ground, clutching his side.
Li Zhengyang looked at Cuiping, his dark eyes filled with undisguised concern.
"Are you alright? Does it hurt?"
Cuiping met his blatant gaze and felt somewhat at a loss.
She quickly lowered her head, "No, he didn't gain anything. Let the guards take him away."
Zhizhi, standing nearby, spat twice in disgust, "He just bit me, and I don't want to eat pork this month. It's so disgusting. I need to brush my teeth right away, or I might catch swine fever!"
The childish voice rang out, but the words that came out were incredibly venomous.
Li Zhengyang dragged Chen Laowu out. Old Mrs. Chen still wanted to cause trouble, but he scared her into not moving after giving her a look.
Only after the two of them had been driven away did Li Zhengyang turn around and find Cuiping standing at the alley entrance, holding Zhizhi's hand and looking at him.
Li Zhengyang lowered his eyes and thought for a long time before slowly walking up to them.
"I... ..."
"That you..."
The two of them spoke at the same time, then suddenly froze.
Finally, Cuiping broke the awkward silence first, saying, "You go first."
Li Zhengyang noticed the stain on her shoulder left by Chen Laowu when he grabbed her. He pointed to the spot on her clothes and said hesitantly, "Your shoulder... remember to put some medicated wine on it when you get back."
"Oh, okay." Only then did Cuiping notice the dirt on her shoulder.
The situation was so urgent that I only realized I was experiencing intermittent pain in my shoulder now that I've calmed down.
Chen Laowu has been slaughtering pigs for many years, and his strength is frightening.
Cuiping pursed her lips and asked him, "How... how have you been lately?"
He left without a word, packing all his valuables.
Actually, Grandma Li's house is big enough for him to live in. After all, he only built a small room next door. There is no need for him to actually move out and never come back for his sake.
This would make her feel like she was causing him a lot of trouble, and she would feel guilty.
Besides, this is his home.
She also hopes he will come back.
"I'm fine." Li Zhengyang smiled indifferently. He subconsciously reached for the cigarettes in his pocket, but when his eyes met Cuiping's worried gaze, his hand froze for a moment, and then he casually withdrew it.
"You... you're really dating Chen Laowu?"
“No.” Cuiping shook her head. “He’s spreading rumors. Now that he’s lost his job, he’s come here to cause trouble for Zhizhi, bringing his mother with him. He’s only saying that because he sees me as the wife he’s determined to have.”
She was stunned when she said those words herself.
What is she doing? Is she explaining something?
This sounds like I'm deliberately explaining it to him so he won't misunderstand.
Cuiping pursed her lips, realizing that what she said might cause him to misunderstand.
She quickly added, "I'll go on blind dates as soon as possible. If I meet someone good, I'll move out. Zhengyang is your home after all, so you should move back in. Don't let me go to the dormitory. Grandma Li is getting old, and she'll still miss her son."
The smile on Li Zhengyang's face immediately changed.
In winter, even his breath turned into white mist, but he felt a cold wind blowing into his chest, chilling him to the core.
"I had to go out on a mission, and the military granted me a day off to come back and have a meal with my family."
Cuiping's eyes widened slightly, and she asked instinctively with concern, "What mission? Is it very dangerous?"
Li Zhengyang turned his head and looked at her earnestly, "You care about me?"
There was a moment of silence in the air.
Cuiping nervously clutched the hem of her clothes, and opened her mouth as if to deny it.
But after a long while, he couldn't bring himself to say the word "no."
She desperately wanted to deny that she hadn't cared.
But her true feelings told her.
She was very worried...
She knew the rules in the military: only when there was a dangerous mission would one be allowed to go home and reunite with their family; some even required to write their wills before going on a mission.
For her, Li Zhengyang was warmth and a sense of security.
She didn't want anything to happen to him.
Li Zhengyang seemed to see through her insincerity, which pleased him.
So he curled the corners of his mouth, raised his hand and pinched Cuiping's cheek. The force was neither too light nor too heavy, but the temperature of his fingers made her feel an unprecedented burning sensation, and her entire face instantly turned red.
Li Zhengyang smiled and approached her, his voice low and pleading.
"I know, I understand, you don't need to say more. Don't worry, this mission isn't that dangerous. I've been through this countless times, and there definitely won't be any problems this time either. But I don't mind if you show me a little more concern, because I value you so much."
Cuiping was both surprised and embarrassed, and subconsciously took a step back.
But Li Zhengyang took her hand, not caring at all that they might run into someone he knew at the alley entrance.
I know you have feelings for me.
He whispered softly in her ear, like a lover's whisper.
"Sister, when I come back with my military merits, will you be my wife?"
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