Chapter 42: First Impression
Fubao in Shen Lingning's arms was wearing the same clean little cotton-padded jacket with floral patterns without a single patch. His little face was rosy white, and his eyes were as black as black grapes. He looked around this strange place curiously, like a lucky doll that had walked out of a New Year picture.
Wang Xiuqin and Li Jinhua finally came to their senses, hurriedly let go of each other, patted the dirt off their bodies, their faces turning red and white, and stood there awkwardly, the wild onions that caused the fight completely forgotten under their feet.
More and more people who heard the noise gradually gathered around the dirt platform.
There were women with rolled-up sleeves and flour on their hands, barefoot children with runny noses, and men in faded military uniforms.
Seeing these two people who were out of place in the camp, everyone was talking about it:
"Which leader's family member is this? I've never seen him before!"
"It's quite a show! They came in a car!"
"She's quite pretty, like a rich man's daughter!"
"No leader can have such a young wife, right? That would be a mistake!"
"Which young wife is so pretty? She doesn't look like the young officer's daughter."
"I think he's better looking than Jiang Weiyi!"
"Why compare with Jiang Weiyi when there are so many other options?"
…
"Ding-ling-ling——" the crisp sound of a car bell pierced the silence.
A half-new Forever 28-inch truck parted the crowd, and Jiang Weiyi climbed down, holding onto the handlebars. She had two shiny pigtails, a brand new navy blue Lenin suit, and shiny black leather shoes. She was the younger sister of Jiang Weimin, deputy director of the base's logistics department.
Jiang Weiyi's gaze was like a hook, first sweeping across the jeep, then scraping across Xiao Li's uniform, and finally pinning itself on Shen Lingning. With a twitch of his lips, his voice rose high and bright, carrying an irrepressible sense of superiority:
"Wow! I was wondering why the courtyard was in such a commotion today. It turns out a distinguished guest has arrived! Cars and cars are everywhere, what a grand ceremony! If you didn't know, you'd think it was some leader's family visiting the grassroots for an inspection."
She emphasized the issues of "leaders' families" and "visits to the grassroots" in particular.
Everyone's eyes quickly turned to Jiang Weiyi again, and the atmosphere on the dirt floor became even weirder.
"Mom, this woman doesn't even know us, and she's already messing with the females? Tsk tsk, there's going to be some fun to watch!"
Fubao was held upright in Shen Lingning's arms. He opened his big black eyes and scanned the people in front of him. He was talking in his mouth and looking at the young woman named Jiang Weiyi with his eyes full of excitement.
Shen Lingning shook his head speechlessly, wondering where this child had learned so many witty remarks in his previous life.
Female?
It doesn't sound like a good thing.
Shen Lingning smiled gently and nodded slightly to greet everyone.
Shen Lingning met Jiang Weiyi's scrutinizing gaze with no expression on his face. He just calmly pulled Fubao closer to him, as if he didn't hear the sting in the other person's words.
But her fingers, holding the child, curled slightly, almost imperceptibly.
It seems that the Songtaogou camp is as lively as the Majiaji camp?
At this moment, Xiao Li stepped forward and announced to the crowd in a loud and clear voice:
"By order of Commander Zhao Changhe! Escort Comrade Zhou Weiguo's family, Comrade Shen Lingning, to the base to report and settle down!"
"Zhou Weiguo?!"
"What? Zhou Weiguo's wife?"
The fake smile on Jiang Weiyi's face froze instantly, like ice shattered by a sledgehammer. Her eyes widened suddenly, her voice shrill and changed tone, and she pointed at Fubao in Shen Lingning's arms, as if she had seen a ghost:
"Who are you talking about?! Zhou Weiguo's family member?! She...she is Zhou Weiguo's..."
Shock, jealousy, and a surge of anger rushed to her head, distorting her rather pretty face!
Zhou Weiguo!
Zhou Weiguo, the one her brother wanted to bring together and the one she herself had some thoughts about!
When did he get a wife and kids?!
Jiang Weiyi couldn't accept this reality. She asked sharply, "Who are you? Zhou Weiguo's life or death is uncertain. What is your purpose in pretending to be his family member?"
Facing this naked hostility and shrill questioning, Shen Lingning's face remained calm.
She just held Fubao firmly, without even raising her eyelids, and calmly met Jiang Weiyi's poisonous gaze.
The free hand was raised slowly and unhurriedly, and a strand of hair that had been blown by the wind was gently tucked behind the ear. The movement was so calm and unpretentious.
Fubao blew out a bubble from his pink little mouth and said in his heart, "Mom, she looks like a horse! Her face is so ugly!"
Shen Lingning's calmness, which remained unchanged even when facing a crisis, and Jiang Weiyi's out-of-control screams and distorted face formed the most glaring contrast.
Who is superior, who is inferior, who is magnanimous, the onlookers know it clearly in their hearts like a mirror, and a silent slap in the face is the loudest.
The air on the dirt floor suddenly became subtle and tense.
"Comrade Jiang Weiyi! Watch your attitude and words!"
A stern rebuke was heard.
Base political commissar Zhang Qinjian and his wife Wang Shufen rushed over upon hearing the news.
Political Commissar Zhang frowned and glared at Jiang Weiyi who was yelling at Shen Lingning with dissatisfaction.
"Comrade Shen Lingning is the surviving relative of martyr Zhou Weiguo, a member of the revolutionary army! Commander Zhao Changhe personally called the base to take care of him! What's wrong with you?
Is there any class camaraderie left among revolutionary comrades?!"
Jiang Weiyi became even more frantic after hearing this, and screamed, "Who said Comrade Zhou Weiguo is dead? He can't be dead. He hasn't even married me yet!"
With a roar, the crowd started talking again.
Shen Lingning lowered his eyes to hide the impatience in his eyes.
She had been traveling all the way from southern Shanxi with her child by bus for almost thirty hours without a good rest, and she was very tired.
I really don't want to get entangled with the woman in front of me.
However, she couldn't show up at this time. She wanted to see what the family compound's attitude towards her was.
Then it depends on how she treats it!
Wang Shufen quickly stepped forward, took Shen Lingning's arm, and affectionately protected her and Fubao by her side, using her body to block Jiang Weiyi's piercing gaze:
"Oh, Comrade Shen, you must have had a hard time along the way. Stop standing here! Come on, let your sister-in-law take you and the child to settle down first! The place has been cleaned up!"
As he said that, he turned his head and glared at Jiang Weiyi, giving her a warning look.
She half pushed and half hugged Shen Lingning and her daughter, and walked straight towards the east end of the family compound.
Political Commissar Zhang Qinjian, who was following behind him, waved his hand and shouted at the crowd, "Everyone, go away! Go away! Why don't you go back and make soup for the kids? What are you all waiting for here to eat?!"
Someone in the crowd whispered, "Waiting to eat shit..."
Zhang Qinjian glared at the person who was talking. "What are you talking about?"
This is the first time that Zhou Weiguo’s family members have come here, and they all have a bad impression!
With a burst of laughter, everyone chatted and made faces at Jiang Weiyi who was standing there in a daze.
Everyone goes back home and looks for their own children.
Jiang Weiyi's face turned blue and red, the bicycle handle in his hand was almost crushed, and he was left hanging in the middle of the dirt floor, like a jumping clown.
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