Extra 12
Lai Jiaxing pushed open the door and entered the room. He immediately saw the old man sitting on the sofa and excitedly called out, "Old Chief?"
Tang Jianye's grandfather, Tang Anzheng, looked up at Lai Jiaxing. After recognizing Lai Jiaxing, he stood up with a smile. "Heh! So Xiangxiang is actually your daughter, Little Lai. What a coincidence!"
Tang Chongguang, Tang's father, excitedly stood up and walked to Lai Jiaxing's side. The two bumped fists and then laughed together. This silent understanding left Liu Cuilian and Wu Jinghua exchanging bewildered glances.
After exchanging pleasantries, Tang Jianye, Lai Xiang, and their two mothers finally understood that Lai Jiaxing and Tang Chongguang had both served in the military in Hebei Province, and that Tang's grandfather was the highest-ranking general in that military region.
Later, they both received commendations and were assigned to different military regions. They kept in touch for several years, but as they became busier, they lost contact. Unexpectedly, their children became acquainted.
Lai Jiaxing was clearly very happy. "What else is there to say? We've known Jianye for a long time and we know his character. We had no objection to the two of them being together."
Only now do I realize that Jianye is actually the old commander's grandson. Commander, do you think Xiangxiang, this granddaughter-in-law, is pleasing to your eye?
Old Master Tang rolled his eyes at Lai Jiaxing. "It's the greatest blessing Tang Jianye has ever had to marry Xiangxiang." The two families exchanged a knowing smile, everything understood without a word.
But some clueless people just have to ruin the atmosphere.
A knocking sound came from the door, and Lai Jiaxing, who was in high spirits, went straight to open it.
His face darkened immediately when he saw the people outside the door. "What are you doing here? You're not welcome in our home."
Before Lai Jiaxing was sent to the cowshed, he was a regimental commander; now that he's back, he's been promoted to division commander. Chen Zheng's father was a deputy regimental commander before Lai Jiaxing was sent down; now he's just been promoted to regimental commander.
Chen You looked at Lai Jiaxing with a fawning expression, "Commander, we've come to apologize. Could you please let us come inside to talk?"
Lai Jiaxing was about to close the door when he said, "Commander Chen, we're not that close, and there's nothing I need to apologize for. Please leave."
Before Lai Jiaxing could close the door, Chen Zheng grabbed it. "Xiangxiang, Xiangxiang, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me. Otherwise, I will kneel here forever."
He was about to kneel down when he spoke. Lai Jiaxing's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. He grabbed Chen Zheng, "Chen Zheng, your affair with Xiangxiang ended when I was sent to the cowshed. What are you trying to achieve by making such a scene now?"
Chen Zheng shook his head. "No, Uncle Lai, I didn't. I love Xiangxiang, I've always loved her. Uncle Lai, please give me another chance."
Lai Jiaxing was amused by Chen Zheng's words. He nodded and said, "Fine, fine. You want to make things clear, right? Okay, then there's no need to come inside. There are so many people outside, let's just speak frankly."
Chen You and Cui Aihua felt uneasy when they saw Lai Jiaxing's appearance. Chen You immediately stepped forward and said, "Commander Lai, you see, these are all matters between the children. Isn't it inappropriate to talk about them outside?"
Lai Jiaxing looked at Chen You and said, "Commander Chen, what's wrong with this? Is it wrong for you to chase my daughter out with a broom when she came to us for help, or is it wrong for you to say those extremely humiliating things to my daughter?"
Or is it inappropriate that Chen Zheng got another woman pregnant while he was still dating my Xiangxiang? Or is it inappropriate that you pressured your daughter-in-law to divorce your son after finding out we were coming back and that my Xiangxiang wasn't married?
The faces of Chen Zheng and his family of three grew paler with each word Lai Jiaxing spoke. They hadn't expected the Lai family to know what they had been so desperately trying to hide. And the fact that the Lai family hadn't made a scene for so long wasn't because they didn't know, but simply because they didn't want to?
Lai Jiaxing looked at Chen You and said, "Commander Chen, how your family behaves and how you conduct yourself is none of my business. We all live in the same military region, and to save face for each other, I'm prepared to let some things slide."
Although my daughter suffered injustice, it's because her mother and I were so useless, so we can't blame anyone else. But look at what your Chen Zheng has done!
He came to confront Xiangxiang the very day we returned, acting all lovey-dovey, as if my Xiangxiang owed him something. Do I need to repeat what Chen Zheng said before Xiangxiang went to the countryside in front of everyone?
Chen Zheng stared at Lai Xiang in the room, his face deathly pale. Lai Xiang had been surprised when her father told her that Chen Zheng had gotten another woman pregnant while they were still dating. But only for a moment. She hadn't expected that the boy's affections had all been a one-woman show for her.
Chen Zheng took two steps back, gave a self-deprecating laugh, and looked at Lai Xiang. "Xiangxiang, are you very surprised and think that I, Chen Zheng, have betrayed you? But, Xiangxiang, why don't you think about it? How many times have you come back since you went to Kyoto when you were eleven years old?"
What do you take our relationship for? Just one or two letters a month? Xiangxiang, I'm a man, and I want my partner to be by my side every day.
When I'm unhappy, someone shares my joy; when I'm happy, someone shares my happiness. When I miss you, I can hold you in my arms. But what about you?
Only those few cold, large words remained. "I've had enough, that's why I got involved with other women. But Xiangxiang, do you know? When I was with them, you were all I could think about."
A sharp slap landed on Chen Zheng's face. He glared angrily at Chen Zheng, "Enough, Chen Zheng. Don't blame your filth on my daughter, and don't defile her."
You're right. Ever since Xiangxiang went to Kyoto, you two haven't even seen each other a few times. You're not even dating. Get out of here, and don't let me see you again.
When Tang Jianye heard Chen Zheng say that he was thinking about Lai Xiang while he was with other women, he wanted to make a move, but Lai Xiang stopped him.
She came out of the house. "Chen Zheng, I never expected you to think like this. Actually, you should have told me sooner. I wouldn't have clung to you like that. Now that you're married, you should live a good life with someone else."
I'm marrying Ah Ye now; let bygones be bygones.
Chen Zheng's face was full of pain. "But I can't get over it, Xiangxiang. How can I just forget a relationship of more than ten years?"
Lai Xiang smiled. Although she was now considered an older single woman, her smile seemed to change the color of the world. "But Chen Zheng, for the past ten years or so, your feelings haven't all been for me. What's there to be nostalgic about?"
Perhaps you still naively believe I would like secondhand goods? Sorry, I'm not interested.
After saying that, he turned to look at Tang Jianye and asked, "Aye, when are we getting married?"
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