Chapter 8 Three Turns, One Sound, and Thirty-Six Legs
Deng Qiu narrowed his eyes, beginning to sense that something was amiss.
She had heard Jiang Anchao mention this Liu Qing before.
After all, Jiang Anchao had briefly explained the situation at home to her while cooking noodles in the kitchen last night.
There are two children in the family, the older one is five years old and the younger one is four and a half years old.
Deng Qiu felt that the age seemed off, but she didn't dare to ask directly, afraid of touching on his sore spot.
The two children lost their mother at a young age, and he, a grown man, didn't know how to take care of them. Fortunately, his neighbor's wife was kind-hearted and often came to help take care of them.
Liu Qing is the widow of a fallen comrade. She has a son and a daughter. She comes from the countryside and doesn't have a good job in the city. She lives a meager life on her pension.
So Jiang Anchao simply gave her some wages and tickets, which could be considered a mutual favor.
If that's the case, Liu Qing should be on good terms with Jiang Anchao.
Why would someone suddenly come to my door and say these things?
Or perhaps Jiang Anchao is two-faced.
Either... or this Mrs. Liu in front of me is secretly plotting something.
"Sister-in-law, you're saying this because you know something?"
"Hey! I'm telling you this for your own good. Otherwise, if you just go to his house and he rejects you on the spot, you'll lose face."
Liu Qing's eyes flickered slightly as he offered an awkward explanation.
Deng Qiu raised an eyebrow without changing his expression, and said with a smile, "Okay, I understand."
After saying that, she prepared to go back to the living room to get her coat and go out.
"Huh?!"
Seeing that she showed no sign of leaving, Liu Qing became somewhat anxious.
Upon entering, she found the living room furniture neatly cleaned, and alarm bells went off in her head.
"Why aren't you leaving yet?"
Why should I leave?
Deng Qiu found it somewhat amusing. She had also received her coat and generously extended her hand to introduce herself: "My name is Deng Qiu, and I am Jiang Anchao's fiancé."
"What? How is that possible!"
Liu Qing blurted out the question, and as soon as he finished speaking, he wished he could bite off his own tongue.
An Chao has never had a woman by his side before, so how did she suddenly become his marriage partner?!
In her shock, she couldn't hide her true emotions, which Deng Qiu could see clearly.
Deng Qiu also understood.
Why was this overly friendly sister-in-law making things up about Jiang Anchao in front of me?
She feels that she's taken her place and wants to get rid of me as soon as possible.
"I have to go out and look for the child, sister-in-law, so I won't keep you any longer."
Deng Qiu was worried about the three little kids, and after saying that, she wanted to lock the door and leave quickly.
He completely ignored the complex and varied expressions on Liu Qing's face.
At the same time, a commotion was heard outside the courtyard.
"Who gave you permission to take your younger siblings and run away from home?! Did I say it wasn't safe outside?"
Jiang Anchao's voice grew louder as it approached, accompanied by tinkling and clanging sounds.
"Xiao Jiang, how did you manage to bring back so much stuff? You even carried back a radio and a refrigerator! That's incredible!"
"A Phoenix brand 28-inch bicycle? All three features (pivot, turn signal, and radio) are complete. Are you getting married?!"
"There's so much furniture behind here. Let me count how many legs there are. This new bride has quite the prestige!"
"Yes! I'm getting married!"
Jiang Anchao readily agreed.
Hearing the noise inside the courtyard, Deng Qiu didn't have time to lock the door and hurriedly went out to see what was going on.
Two tricycles were parked outside, filled with solid wood tables, chairs and benches. Behind them was a blue scooter with boxes of various sizes, all of which were decorated with red "double happiness" characters.
Jiang Anchao carried the eldest child in one hand and held Sang Zhizhi in the other.
Deng Qiu stared blankly, then asked a question in a daze.
"You...you robbed a furniture factory?"
Jiang Anchao laughed and said, "I exchanged some industrial coupons with my comrades. I thought that you wouldn't be wronged if you married me, so I had to get some things. But I was in too much of a hurry and only managed to get thirty-six legs. Don't feel wronged."
The neighbors, always eager to join in the fun, all came over to take a look at the 'new bride'.
Deng Qiu's eyes welled up with tears, and she stared blankly at the 'dowry' without being able to speak.
Sang Zhizhi climbed down from the riverbank into Chaohuai's arms, but did not immediately run to Deng Qiu's side.
She didn't shout for her mother as loudly as before.
Instead, he quietly shrank to one side of the crowd.
She thought, today is the little stepmother's big day.
She shouldn't be too conspicuous.
After all, if people knew that the stepmother brought a child into the family with her, even if they didn't gossip in public, they would still talk about her behind her back.
Little Zhizhi stretched out her little hand and placed it on her face, trying hard to smile.
It doesn't matter!
Anyway, life is lived behind closed doors.
She hopes her stepmother won't be talked about by anyone!
"Oh, Commander Jiang, you're so lucky! Your new bride is so beautiful, even more beautiful than the stars on TV!"
"Xiao Jiang, whose daughter is your wife? Aren't you going to introduce her?"
Liu Qing followed later out and stood in the crowd. When he heard someone ask that question, he immediately burst out laughing.
"Grandma Li, you've finally hit the nail on the head."
She turned her gaze to Deng Qiu, her smile widening, "It's hard to find a beautiful first wife, Brother Jiang, you should talk to everyone about it."
When she first saw Deng Qiu, she felt uncomfortable. Not only was her skin fair, but her waist was also so thin, her hair was jet black and shiny, and her face was so fair and tender that it looked like you could squeeze water out of it.
Looking at myself, I've been in the city for so long, but my face hasn't gotten any whiter, and my figure has changed a lot since giving birth.
She was wondering how someone who looked like a rich city girl could be willing to become a stepmother.
It was only when I saw the child accompanying her that I realized she was probably a cunning woman who had tricked me into marriage.
I don't know which random man she was with outside, but she's pregnant now.
I guess she saw that Jiang Anchao was nice to people, so she came to flirt with him.
The words "first marriage" were uttered.
Deng Qiu's expression became somewhat unnatural.
Her marriage in Sangjiapo was a shameful past.
The first time I met my neighbors, they deliberately brought it up in a sarcastic way.
The goal was to embarrass her.
Deng Qiu took a deep breath, just about to stand up and admit it, but before he could say anything, he was suddenly interrupted by Jiang Anchao.
"Zhizhi, what are you doing standing there?"
Jiang Anchao put down his eldest son, who had caused the trouble, and waved to the little dumpling.
Sang Zhizhi heard him being called, but hesitated and stood still, unwilling to go forward.
Jiang Anchao instantly understood that the child didn't want to cause trouble.
After realizing what had happened, I felt even more sorry for my sweet and sensible child.
He strode over, picked up Zhizhi, and stood next to Deng Qiu.
Facing the curious crowd, he loudly introduced:
"This is my wife, Deng Qiu, and in her arms is my daughter, Zhizhi. This isn't our first marriage, and it's my blessing to have married her. We'll be having our wedding banquet in a couple of days, and I hope everyone can come and have a drink."
His cheerful voice, filled with pride and candor, instantly shattered the previous sarcastic tone.
Although the neighbors were somewhat surprised, most of them still cheered for the young couple, seeing how well-matched they were.
"Great! Call me when you're setting the table. We're drinking until we drop!"
"I think this sister-in-law is beautiful, you two are a perfect match!"
"Stop talking nonsense, Jiang'er, remember to take out your treasured Maozi to drink!"
Liu Qing almost couldn't maintain her smile.
Don't worry, there's plenty!
Jiang Gansu looked at his father's spirited appearance, curled his lip, and muttered under his breath, "Loading cargo!"
Sang Zhizhi felt as if a small drum was beating in her heart, making a thumping sound.
She never imagined that being supported and valued by others would feel like this.
This new father will proudly introduce his daughter to everyone.
He doesn't see himself as a burden, a money-loser, or a disliked liability...
Zhizhi's eyes welled up with tears as she tightly hugged Jiang Anchao's neck.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Jiang Anchao was the first to notice her unusual behavior.
"It's okay, Dad."
Xiao Zhizhi's voice was muffled, like a whimpering little animal, "I think... I need to pee..."
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